Magnetic field analysis of polar anisotropic plastic magnet and application for dc brushless motor

In this paper we propose an analytical method of DCBLM with polar anisotropic plastic rotor magnets. The orientation of the polar anisotropic plastic magnet is different for each part. In our method, the magnetic flux distribution of the injection mold for polar anisotropic plastic magnets is analyzed by FEM first. Next, the orientation is determined from the magnetic flux distribution. Finally, based on the latter, the nonlinear dynamic magnetic field of DCBLM is analyzed. The analytical value was in good agreement with the experimental value of magnetic flux distribution in the magnet unit and the characteristic of DCBLM. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 127(3): 53–61, 1999     

Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water with nonfood hydrocarbons as oxidizing sacrifice agents

To enhance photocatalytic water splitting, various oxidizing sacrifice agents (OSA) have been added to the system in order to scavenge the coproduced O₂, and, thus, to hinder the reverse reactions. In the aim of achieving carbon‐neutral photocatalytic water splitting, nonfood hydrocarbons of castor‐ and jojoba‐oils were evaluated as OSA. Moreover, various surfactants were tested as emulsifiers for W/O binary solution for promoting photocatalytic water splitting rate. Among the OSA used, the castor‐oil was found to be more suitable candidate compared to jojoba‐oil, which was attributed to its smaller carbon chain numbers of mainly 18. Without surfactants, around 20 vol %‐castor‐oil aqueous binary solution with TiO₂/Pt(0.10 wt %) provided the highest water splitting rate of about 30 mL‐H₂/(m²·h). Among tested surfactants, liquid‐detergent was the best due to its optical transparency. 40 vol %‐ or 60 vol %‐castor‐oil emulsion with a drop of liquid‐detergent resulted in a water splitting rate of 125 mL‐H₂/(m²·h), which was four times greater that the aforementioned highest value. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011     

Peripherally administered tetrahydrobiopterin increases in vivo tryptophan hydroxylase activity in the striatum after transplantation of fetal ventral mesencephalon in six hydroxydopamine lesioned rats

The CD4 receptor of T-helper cells is an essential participant in immune response formation and HIV infection. We report here that the extracellular domains of CD4 receptor can catalyze the phosphotransferase (kinase) reaction. Incubation of rsCD4 in solution with [gamma-32P]ATP results in the Ca2+-dependent autophosphorylation of the protein presumably at a His residue because the reaction is prevented by the diethylpyrocarbonate treatment. The rsCD4 phosphorylates milk casein or human plasma proteins as a Ser/Thr protein kinase.     

Selective hydrogen generation from real biomass through hydrothermal reaction at relatively low temperatures

The effect of additives, such as an inorganic alkali and a nickel catalyst, on the hydrothermal process was examined to generate hydrogen from biomass with high selectivity at relatively low temperatures around 400 °C. At first, a cellulose sample as model biomass was subjected to the hydrothermal process at 400 °C under 25 MPa in the presence of an alkali (Na₂CO₃) and a nickel catalyst (Ni/SiO₂). The combination of these two additives led not only to highly efficient generation of hydrogen but also to effective dissolution of CO₂ into an alkaline liquid layer. Here the molar yields of gas products from the cellulose sample were compared with the equilibrium quantities obtained using a thermodynamics calculation software. Furthermore, the hydrothermal process of real biomass, such as wood chips, organic fertilizer and food waste, in the presence of both the two additives resulted in highly selective production of hydrogen even at 400 °C.     

Novel Biological Based Method for Robot Navigation and Localization

The capability and reliability are crucial characteristics of mobile robots while navigating in complex environments. These robots are expected to perform many useful tasks which can improve the quality of life greatly. Robot localization and decision-making are the most important cognitive processes during navigation. However, most of these algorithms are not efficient and are challenging tasks while robots navigate through complex environments. In this paper, we propose a biologically inspired method for robot decision-making, based on rat’s brain signals. Rodents accurately and rapidly navigate in complex spaces by localizing themselves in reference to the surrounding environmental landmarks. Firstly, we analyzed the rats’ strategies while navigating in the complex Y-maze, and recorded local field potentials (LFPs), simultaneously. The recorded LFPs were processed and different features were extracted which were used as the input in the artificial neural network (ANN) to predict the rat’s decision-making in each junction. The ANN performance was tested in a real robot and good performance is achieved. The implementation of our method on a real robot, demonstrates its abilities to imitate the rat’s decision-making and integrate the internal states with external sensors, in order to perform reliable navigation in complex maze.     

Microstructure and Dielectric Properties of YMnO3 Thin Films Prepared by Dip-Coating

YMnO₃ thin films with Y/Mn ratios from 1.00/1.05 to 1.00/0.90 were prepared by dip-coating from solution, in which starting materials were refluxed, and the effects of the Y/Mn ratio on the structure and dielectric properties of YMnO₃ thin films were investigated. XRD measurements indicated that the films with the Y/Mn ratios in this study were a single phase of polycrystalline YMnO₃. The lattice constants along the a -axis and c -axis lengthened with an increase in the Y/Mn ratio. FE-SEM micrographs of the films showed that the surface of the films became smoother and denser with an increase in the Y/Mn ratio. YMnO₃ thin films with good dielectric properties were obtained with an Y/Mn ratio of 1.00/0.90, which gave the smoothest and densest microstructure and the smallest leakage current.     

Property evolution on annealing deformed 304 austenitic stainless steel

Property changes and microstructural evolution of deformed and subsequently annealed austenitic stainless steel are investigated. SUS304 samples were deformed by high pressure torsion to obtain 100 % α′ volume fraction. When plastically deformed SUS304 is annealed in the temperature range of 200–600 °C for 1 h, peak maxima in hardness, electrical resistivity, and saturation magnetization appears at 400 °C. In this study, SUS304 containing 100 % α′ was investigated on the basis of changes in microstructure and mechanical properties after annealing at the temperature of 400 °C for up to 500 h. The observed property changes are attributed to solute segregation, strain relaxation, and G phase precipitation.     

Deciphering Pactamycin Biosynthesis and Engineered Production of New Pactamycin Analogues

Pactamycin is an aminocyclopentitol‐derived natural product that has potent antibacterial and antitumor activities. Sequence analysis of an 86 kb continuous region of the chromosome from Streptomyces pactum ATCC 27456 revealed a gene cluster involved in the biosynthesis of pactamycin. Gene inactivation of the Fe‐S radical SAM oxidoreductase (ptmC) and the glycosyltransferase (ptmJ), individually abrogated pactamycin biosynthesis; this confirmed the involvement of the ptm gene cluster in pactamycin biosynthesis. The polyketide synthase gene (ptmQ) was found to support 6‐methylsalicylic acid (6‐MSA) synthesis in a heterologous host, S. lividans T7. In vivo inactivation of ptmQ in S. pactum impaired pactamycin and pactamycate production but led to production of two new pactamycin analogues, de‐6‐MSA‐pactamycin and de‐6‐MSA‐pactamycate. The new compounds showed equivalent cytotoxic and antibacterial activities with the corresponding parent molecules and shed more light on the structure–activity relationship of pactamycin.     

Directed Vertical Diffusion of Photovoltaic Active Layer Components into Porous ZnO‐Based Cathode Buffer Layers

Cathode buffer layers (CBLs) can effectively further the efficiency of polymer solar cells (PSCs), after optimization of the active layer. Hidden between the active layer and cathode of the inverted PSC device configuration is the critical yet often unattended vertical diffusion of the active layer components across CBL. Here, a novel methodology of contrast variation with neutron and anomalous X‐ray reflectivity to map the multicomponent depth compositions of inverted PSCs, covering from the active layer surface down to the bottom of the ZnO‐based CBL, is developed. Uniquely revealed for a high‐performance model PSC are the often overlooked porosity distributions of the ZnO‐based CBL and the differential diffusions of the polymer PTB7‐Th and fullerene derivative PC₇₁BM of the active layer into the CBL. Interface modification of the ZnO‐based CBL with fullerene derivative PCBE? OH for size‐selective nanochannels can selectively improve the diffusion of PC₇₁BM more than that of the polymer. The deeper penetration of PC₇₁BM establishes a gradient distribution of fullerene derivatives over the ZnO/PCBE‐OH CBL, resulting in markedly improved electron mobility and device efficiency of the inverted PSC. The result suggests a new CBL design concept of progressive matching of the conduction bands.