Bloch-wave-based STEM image simulation with layer-by-layer representation

In a dynamical STEM image simulation by the Bloch-wave method, Allen et al. formulated a framework for calculating the cross-section for any incoherent scattering process from the inelastic scattering coefficients: thermal diffuse scattering (TDS) for high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) and back-scattered electron (BSE) STEM, and ionization for electron energy-loss spectroscopy (EELS) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) STEM. Furthermore, their method employed a skilful approach for deriving the excitation amplitude and block diagonalization in the eigenvalue equation. In the present work, we extend their scheme to a layer-by-layer representation for application to inhomogeneous crystals that include precipitates, defects and atomic displacement. Calculations for a multi-layer sample of Si–Sb–Si were performed by multiplying Allen et al.'s block-diagonalized matrices. Electron intensities within the sample and EDX STEM images, as an example of the inelastic scattering, were calculated at various conditions. From the calculations, 3-dimensional STEM analysis was considered.     

Fatty acid distribution in triacylglycerols and phospholipids of broad beans (Vicia faba)

Fatty acid distribution of triacylglycerols (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) obtained from the four cultivars of broad beans (Vicia faba) was investigated. Total lipids extracted from the beans were separated by thin-layer chromatography into eight fractions. The major lipid components were TAG (47.7–50.1%) and PL (47.5–50.5%), while hydrocarbons, steryl esters, free fatty acids, diacylglycerols (1,3-DAG and 1,2-DAG) and monoacylglycerols were present in minor proportions (1.8–2.4%). The major PL components were phosphatidylcholine (56.4–58.4%), phosphatidylethanolamine (20.3–21.7%) and phosphatidylinositol (16.6–18.6%). Phosphatidylinositol was unique in that it had the highest saturated fatty acid content among the three PL. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in fatty acid distribution existed when the different cultivars were compared. The fatty acid distributions in the TAG were evident among the four cultivars: unsaturated fatty acids were predominantly concentrated in the sn−2 position, and saturated fatty acids primarily occupied the sn−1 or sn−3 position in the oils. These results could be useful to both consumers and producers for manufacture of traditional foods in Japan and elsewhere.     

フライアッシュを用いたコンクリ一トの中性化に及ぼす暴露条件の影響

本報告はフライアッシュを使用したコンクリートの中性化についての測定結果を取りまとめたものである.シリーズⅠでは、暴露地、フライアッシュの種類、置換率における比較を行った.シリーズⅡでは、供試体の向き、設置場所、設置条件、調合条件における比較を行った.その結果、シリーズⅠにおいては、屋外暴露の場合、地域による中性化の差はあまり見られず、屋内と屋外の中性化速度係数の比は既往の実態調査結果より小さくなり、また、同一水結合材比では、フライアッシュの種類による中性化の差は認められなかった.シリーズⅡでは、中性化速度係数は屋外に置いて屋根なしより屋根ありのほうが大きい値を示し、また、建物の南側より北側のほうが小さい値となった.     

Bending behavior of Cu-plated Pd–Ni alloys ribbon driven by hydrogenation

In recent years, human-type robots attract much attention in the field of medical welfare and industrial applications under severe environmental conditions, such as in space. For the realization of such robots, the development of an actuator having superior functions as human fingers is required. It is known that hydrogen storage alloys exhibit a significant volume change of 10–30% on hydrogenation, which is several tens times greater than that caused by thermal expansion. Since the driving force of an actuator driven by hydrogenation is based on phase transformation, the actuator can be expected to show high power. In the present work, a bending module having a sheet form of palladium-base hydrogen storage alloy foils bond with a copper foil was prepared and its bending behaviors were investigated.     

Extension of the Optical Absorption Range in Zn-Doped MgO Powders and Its Effect on Antibacterial Activity

In order to produce powder samples of Zn-doped MgO, the precursors, MgO and ZnO, were mixed in a molar ratio higher than 1.86 and subsequently treated at 1200 °C for 5 h in air atmosphere. With increasing Zn content in MgO, the lattice constant increased linearly, and the optical absorption intensity increased in the wavelength ranging from 200 to 400 nm. Antibacterial activity of the obtained powder samples was examined by colony count method using Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. In the antibacterial tests, it was found that the antibacterial activity enhanced with increasing Zn content in MgO. Antibacterial action toward S. aureus was greater than that toward E. coli, irrespective of the Zn content in MgO. From these results, the enhancement of the antibacterial activity could be related with the optical absorption of Zn-doped MgO.     

Off-Center Guest Vibrations and Their Effect on Lattice Thermal Conductivity in <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>- and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Type β-Ba<Subscript>8</Subscript>Ga<Subscript>16</Subscript>Sn<Subscript>30</Subscript>

We report on thermoelectric and Raman scattering studies of single crystalline samples of a type I clathrate Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀. The n- and p-type samples have a thermopower of −300 μV/K and +270 μV/K, and electrical resistivity of 20 mΩ cm and 40 mΩ cm at room temperature, respectively. Regardless of the charge carrier type, the lattice thermal conductivity κ _L shows typical glass-like behavior. The low-energy vibration of Ba(2) in the tetrakaidecahedron is manifested in the Raman scattering spectrum as a peak at 15 cm⁻¹. This energy agrees with the characteristic vibrational temperature of 20 K derived from the analysis of the specific heat data with a soft-potential model. The fact that both the vibrational energy and the magnitude of κ _L for Ba₈Ga₁₆Sn₃₀ are lowest among the type I clathrates is evidence that off-center vibrations are responsible for the strong reduction of κ _L. Analysis of κ _L(T) revealed that the positional disorder associated with the off-center vibrations acts as the Rayleigh scattering center, and the coupling between guest vibrational modes and acoustic phonons is stronger than that in Sr₈Ga₁₆Ge₃₀ and Eu₈Ga₁₆Ge₃₀.     

Effect of oral administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 on total and ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E production through the improvement of Th1/Th2 balance

We examined the effect of 59 strains of heat-killed Lactobacillus brevis on interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon (IFN)-gamma production from mouse Peyer's patch (PP) cells. L. brevis has a great variety of strains that induce the production of these cytokines. Some L. brevis strains, which were selected for their ability to induce a strong Th1 immune response, inhibited both total immunoglobulin E (IgE) and antigen specific IgE production, and improved the Th1/Th2 balance by enhancing IL-12 and IFN-gamma and inhibiting IL-4 production from ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mouse splenocytes. Based on the results of this screening, we selected L. brevis SBC8803 as a potent inhibitor of IgE production, and investigated the effect of oral administration of heat-killed SBC8803 on IgE production in OVA-sensitized mice. OVA-sensitized mice were fed SBC8803 0% (control), 0.05%, or 0.5% added diet for 4 weeks during the period of the experiment. Total and OVA-specific IgE in the serum of mice, which were fed the 0.5% added diet, was significantly lower than that of the control diet fed mice. The IFN-gamma/IL-4 value, which represents the Th1/Th2 balance, from the 0.5% added diet fed mice splenocytes was also significantly higher than that of the control diet fed mouse splenocytes. Histamine release from OVA-sensitized mice into sera that were induced by the intraperitoneal antigen challenge decreased following the oral administration of SBC8803. The inhibition of IgE production and histamine secretion by the oral administration of heat-killed SBC8803 was probably due to the improvement of the Th1/Th2 balance toward Th1 dominance.     

Mixed electrolyte consisting of ethylmagnesiumbromide with ionic liquid for rechargeable magnesium electrode

A novel electrolyte system for a rechargeable magnesium battery has been developed. The electrolyte consists of ethylmagnesiumbromide in tetrahydrofuran (EtMgBr/THF) with an ionic liquid (IL) of quaternary ammonium salt. The ionic conductivity of the electrolyte with the composition of EtMgBr/THF:IL being 3:1 in volume was 7.44 mS cm⁻¹ at 25 °C. A reversible processes of cathodic deposition and anodic dissolution of magnesium has been successfully achieved in the mixed electrolyte system of EtMgBr/THF + IL at room temperature.     

城市景观规划设计在创建花园城市中的角色——以新加坡创建花园城市为例

新加坡从上世纪六十年代开始致力于创造“花园城市（Garden City）”,目前成果已得到世界各国的公认。由最初规划的“花园城市”发展到“城市花园”（Cityina Garden）,对整个国家进行的此般规划设想,与新加坡的整体景观规划及一系列的实践是分不开的。     

MAGNETIC AND GRAVITATIONAL CONVECTION OF AIR WITH A COIL INCLINED AROUND THE X AXIS

Air is filled in a cubic enclosure whose one vertical wall is isothermally heated and the opposite one is cooled while the other four walls are thermally insulated. A large coil is placed outside of this enclosure with the coil center coinciding with the cube center. An electric current in the coil generates a magnetic field to affect the convection of air, because the air contains oxygen whose magnetic susceptibility is exceptionally large among gases. The coil is further inclined around the X axis, which is horizontal and perpendicular to the hot and cold walls through the wall center. The heat transfer rate changes depending on the inclination angle. This system is studied numerically for convection for the following combination of parameters: Ra = 1.51 × 10⁴, 9.06 × 10⁴; Pr = 0.71; γ = 0 ? 100; x_Euler = 0–π/2, where γ represents the strength of magnetic field and x_Euler is the angle of inclination of the coil. For example, at Ra = 1.51 × 10⁴ and γ = 30, the average Nusselt number 2.535 at x_Euler = 0 increased to 2.823 at x_Euler = π/2. This study suggests that the coil inclination affects the heat transfer rate extensively.