Novel WV film for wide‐viewing‐angle TN‐mode LCDs

Abstract— A new optical compensation film refered to as WV‐EA film for TN‐mode TFT‐LCDs has been developed, resulting in higher contrast ratio, wider‐viewing‐angle characteristics, and improved color shift than their predecessors, especially in the horizontal direction. These features of the new WV film were achieved as a result of haze reduction and optimizing the optical characteristics of the polymerized discotic material layer and TAC film. These features are suitable for large‐sized and wide‐aspect‐ratio LCD monitors and TVs.     

Oxidation behavior of furan-resin-derived carbon alloyed with Ta or Ti

The effect of Ti, Nb and Ta on the anti-oxidation of furan-resin-derived carbons was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis combined with gas/mass spectroscopy, Hall coefficient and magnetoresistance measurements, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction analysis. Hall coefficient and magnetoresistance measurements revealed that the electronic properties of carbons with the above metal elements, and thus their crystallinity, are similar to that of neat carbon. The oxidation rates of the carbons with a small amount of Ti or Ta are decreased up to 1000 °C compared to that of neat carbon. The number of working active sites in carbons with Ta or Ti is smaller than that in carbons with Nb or neat carbon. Ta or Ti terminates some active sites in the carbons, or somehow modifies the structures of the active sites and retards the formation of oxygen-carbon intermediate products (surface complexes) on the materials. Thus, the oxidation rate of the carbons is decreased.     

Secondary calcium-binding parameter of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase obtained from inhibition kinetics

Calcium is required for the stabilization of alpha-amylase because of primary binding (essential binding), but has been shown to inhibit hydrolytic catalysis due to secondary binding at the catalytic site in the enzyme. The role of calcium in the hydrolysis of soluble amylose by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alpha-amylase was characterized using the equilibrium dissociation constant (K(m)) and k(cat) for the hydrolytic catalysis. The enzymatic hydrolysis was inhibited by a relatively high concentration of calcium ions ([Ca2+] > or = 2.0 mM). The dissociation constant (Km) was increased with increasing calcium ion concentration. Because k(cat) was practically constant at the high calcium concentration range, a competitive inhibition kinetic model was applied to calculate the inhibition parameters in terms of the secondary calcium binding to the alpha-amylase. The enthalpy and entropy changes for the secondary binding were 54.8 kJ/mol and 215 J/mol.K, respectively, and these values suggest a strong entropic affinity for the bivalent ion binding to the enzyme. The thermodynamical analysis clearly shows the conformational changes in this a-amylase during the primary and secondary calcium ion binding.     

Positologica: A Positron ECT Device with a Continuously Rotating Detector Ring

A rotary positron emission computed tomography device is developed for human brain and animal studies. The device utilizes 64 rectangular BGO detectors arranged at unequal spacing on a circular ring. The detector ring is continuously rotated at a constant speed of 60 rpm or less. This single continuous motion of the ring with the detector array provides excellent sampling characteristics and high detector redundancy. The device has a field of view 24 cm in diameter with a slice thickness adjustable from 1 cm to 2 cm. Measured width of system response to a 2 mm diameter line source is 5.8 mm FWHM at the center and less than 9 mm FWHM within a circle 16 cm in diameter. Measured sensitivity including scattered coincidence events is about 17 kcps/pCi/ml for a 20 cm diameter water phantom and 2 cm thick slice.     

The co-deposition of copper and zinc inclusion in electrodeposition of silver from silver cyanide bath

The co-deposition behavior of a trace of copper and zinc as an impurity in cyanide baths for silver plating was studied by means of a radioactive tracer. The authors selected ⁶⁴CuCN and ⁶⁵Zn(CN)₂ as a labelled compound and added it to the cyanide baths for silver plating.Each amount of copper and zinc co-deposited with silver increased with increasing copper and zinc concentration in silver plating baths and temperature. It was found that the co-deposition of copper and zinc depended on cathode potentials and was not diffusion-determining. The co-deposition of copper abruptly increased in the high current density range. In the potential range Cu co-deposition is observed with Cu reversible potential through limiting current of silver deposition, and evolution of hydrogen. At low current density, Cu and Zn co-deposition are saturated at about 6400 Å thickness of electrodeposited silver and occluded in the electrodeposits is not smooth and coarse structure is observed on it.     

Radiation effects on triglyceride

High energy electron beam irradiations up to 900 mrads were given to tristearin and triolein. Differential thermal analysis and x-ray diffraction measurements revealed that the degree of crystallinity decreased with radiation dose after an initial small rise and that the unstable forms in crystal modification were increasingly stabilized. Measurements of intrinsic viscosity and gel fraction for solutions of tristearin and triolein showed that the gel formation took place at about 700 and 350 mrads, respectively. The number of unsaturated bonds determined by iodine absorption increased with radiation dose in tristearin but decreased in triolein.     

Solid state ionics—The ionic conductivity of the Ag2S-Ag1.70Te-AgX system (AgX; Ag4P2O7, Ag3PO4 and AgPO3)

The thermal reaction products in the Ag₂S-Ag_1.70 Te-Ag₄P₂O₇, Ag₂S-Ag_1.70 Te-Ag₃PO₄ and Ag₂S-Ag_1.70 Te-AgPO₃ systems were found to exhibit both high ionic and electronic conductivity at room temperature. For example, the ionic conductivities of (Ag₂S)_0.69 (Ag_1.70Te)_0.285 (Ag₄P₂O₇)_0.025, (Ag₂S)_0.5(Ag_1.70Te)_0.45 (Ag₃PO₄)_0.05 and (Ag₂S)_0.65 (Ag_1.70Te)_0.25(AgPO₃)_0.1 were 0.25, 0.25 and 0.22 (ohm. cm)^–1 at 25°C, respectively. Differential thermal analysis and X-ray diffraction showed that these high ionic conductivity solids had an -Ag₂S-like structure at room temperature.     

Acetylene–butadiene copolymer for polymer coatings

Low molecular weight, M?_n 1800–2400, and soluble copolymers of acetylene and butadiene were prepared by nickel naphthenate–diethylaluminum chloride catalyst. These copolymers possess high cure tendency to give insoluble and highly crosslinked films. The curing ability can be controlled by the amount of acetylene content in the copolymer and is in the following order: acetylene–butadiene copolymer > tung oil > cis-1,4-polybutadiene ? linseed oil, 1,2-polybutadiene, butadiene–isobutylene copolymer. Chemical modifications of the copolymer such as maleic reaction, metallation by lithium or sodium, graft polymerization by methyl methacrylate, 4-vinylpyridine or vinyl acetate, and epoxidation were also examined. The divinyl methylene in the copolymer gives a high cure tendency and high chemical reactivity.