Cyclic behaviour of plates under in-plane loading

The theoretical cyclic behaviour of simply supported steel rectangular plates under alternating in-plane uni-axial forces is described. A method of elastic and perfectly plastic large deflection-small analysis is explained briefly and the hysteretic loops of square plates are obtained for two breadth-thickness ratios ($\text{b/t = 40}\text{and}\text{80}$) under constant edge displacement conditions. The ultimate strength of plates is found to decrease with an increasing number of cycles. The double flange section member is used to clarify the influence of local deformation, caused by alternating local buckling of plate elements, on the load-deformation relationship of an entire member. It is shown that the cyclic behaviour of a flange element significantly affects the deformation and energy dissipation of a thin-walled beam-column under cyclic bending, and the axial force promotes considerable deterioration of the beam-columns.     

Three-dimensional structure of the rat pancreatic duct in normal and inflammated pancreas

We observed the corrosion casts of the Wistar rats' pancreatic ducts with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and their conventionally fixed pancreatic tissue with SEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These findings revealed the following facts about the three-dimensional structure of pancreatic duct. (1) The interlobular and intralobular ducts branch like a tree, and the intercalated ducts wind and fork into two branches, although parts of the intercalated ducts anastomose with each other. The intercellular secretory canaliculi extend from the central lumina, which run straight through the center of the acini, finally approaching close to the basement membranes of acini. (2) The lumina of pancreatic ducts (i.e., the interlobular up to the intercalated ducts) are cylindric and have smooth surfaces. The luminal surface of each epithelial cell, however, is decorated by numerous microvilli and a single cilium. The length of the latter tends to be short in proportion to the diameter of pancreatic duct. Moreover the epithelial cell surfaces, which border each central lumen, have various densities of microvilli. (3) The intraductal cilium core is provided with nine microtubules, which is different from the number of microtubules encountered within the cilium core of uterine tube or bronchial epithelium. The number of microtubules in the cross-sectioned intraductal cilia decreases toward the distal portion of cilia. SEM and TEM observations on WBN/Kob rats' pancreatic ducts suggest that increased pancreatic ductal pressure causes the helical shape of the pancreatic ductal lumen. Such a helical form might also be caused by the protrusion of epithelial cell boundaries into their lumen and the hypertrophy and hyperplasia of epithelial cells, thus leading to the formation of numerous depressions equipped with elongated cilia.     

NMOS device characteristics in electron-beam-recrystallized SOI

Characteristics of n-channel MOSFETs fabricated in cold-cathode electron-beam-recrystallized silicon-on-oxide layers have been examined. Assorted crystallographic defects exist in the recrystallized silicon layer, ranging from highly branched subgrain boundaries to widely spaced parallel subgrains and rows of threading dislocations. Some of these MOSFET transistors have characteristics approaching those fabricated in bulk silicon including ≈828 cm²/V-s electron surface mobilities and 130 mV/decade inverse subthreshold slopes. However, many of the devices tested exhibited leakage currents up to 10^-6 A/μm, resulting in high inverse subthreshold slopes and reduced threshold voltages. Some effects of crystal imperfections on device behavior are discussed     

Fabrication of Ag-Sheathed Bi-2223 tapes using powders produced by aerosol spray pyrolysis

Bi-2223 tapes were manufactured from a fine “two-powder” product produced by using an aerosol spray pyrolysis technique. Critical current density of 22000 A/ cm2 at 77K and 0 T was achieved. Nondestructive transmission x-ray diffraction study indicated good alignment of the superconducting grains. The texturing process of the superconducting phase was found to be nearly complete after the first 24 h of heat treatment for the samples studied. Pressing was found to play little role in the texturing process. The texturing can be enhanced by Ag-doping. J_c, however, was not found to be improved significantly, presumably due to the reduced effective cross-sectional area. A new phase, Bi-4435, was identified which may play a significant role in the formation of 2223. On leave from Northeastern University, Shenyang, P.R.C. On leave from Kobe Steel Ltd., Kobe, Japan     

The role of rolling friction in granular packing

In order to study the effects of the rolling friction of the particles on granular packing, we present a detailed analysis of circular disk assemblies with the rolling friction under macroscopic one-dimensional compression. The rolling friction of the particles produces a resisting moment to the rolling at each contact. A series of 2-D DEM simulations are performed with various values for the rolling friction parameter. We focus on several macroscopic and microstructural properties of granular media and analyze them as a functions of the rolling friction. From these results, we show that the rolling resistance, which results from the rolling friction of the particles, contributes to the inhibition of the rearrangement of the particles and increases the magnitude of the fabric anisotropy under packing. In addition, from both microscopic and macroscopic points of view, we describe that the stress state in a granular packing can vary considerably depending on the rolling resistance.     

Temporal resolution of the skin impedance measurement in frequency-domain method

The temporal-resolution of the frequency-domain method for the identification of the impedance locus depends on the basis frequency used in the current waveform construction, i.e., the higher basis frequency provides the better temporal resolution. The impedance locus can be characterized by the impedance parameters Z0, beta, and taum. The frequency distribution of limited number of data in the impedance locus would affect the accuracy of the estimated impedance parameters. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the estimation accuracy of the impedance parameters and the frequency coverage of the impedance locus in relatively low to high impedance conditions (dc impedance Z0= 51 k ohms - 45 M ohms). As the basis frequency, 100 Hz was enough for the usual impedance with Z0 less than 203 k ohms. On the other hand, 10 Hz and 1 Hz were required for the medium-level (Z0 = 517 k ohms), and high-level (Z0 = 45 M ohms) impedance, respectively. The required basis frequency, accordingly the temporal resolution, depended much on the central relaxation time taum which affects the frequency distribution on the impedance locus. The results of this study are expected to serve as the reference of the frequency selection in the frequency-domain analysis of the skin impedance.     

Glass Substrates for OLED Lighting with High Out-coupling Efficiency

Glass substrates which realize high out-coupling efficiency OLEDs （organic light emitting diodes） were developed. A scattering layer whose matrix was made of high refractive index glass was formed on a glass substrate, and pores in the glass matrix work as scattering centers. The out-coupling efficiency of an OLED using this substrate is 1.8 times higher compared with an OLED using an untreated glass substrate. Furthermore angular dependency of the color and color variation between panels can be successfully suppressed.