Roasting effects on the distribution of tocopherols and phospholipids within each structural part and section of soybeans

To clarify the effects of microwave roasting on the distribution of tocopherols and FA of phospholipids within soybeans, whole soybeans (Glycine max) were treated by microwave and further evaluted as compared to a raw sample. Tocopherol homologs, measured using HPLC, and phospholipid profiles, quantified with GC, were determined in the seed coat, the embryonic axis, and selections of cotyledons separated from three cultivars. The tocopherols were predominantly detected in the axis, followed by the cotyledons, and then very little in the coat. As much as 25% of the individual tocopherols originally present in the coat were lost at 12 min of roasting, whereas <25% was lost in the cotyledons and the axis after 20 min of roasting. The greatest rate of phospholipid loss (P<0.05) was observed in PE, followed by PC and PI, and their changing patterns were more pronounced in the coat than in the cotyledons or the axis. Thus, tocopherol content and phospholipid profiles change with microwave roasting according to tissue.     

Study on chemical structures of poly (tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoroalkylvinylether) by soft-EB irradiation in solid and molten state

Poly (tetrafluoroethylene-co-perfluoroalkylvinylether) (PFA) was irradiated by soft electron beam (soft-EB) under nitrogen gas atmosphere in solid-state and its molten state, respectively. The changes of thermal property and chemical structures of irradiated PFA in solid-state and molten state were studied by differential scanning calorimetric analysis (DSC) and solid-state ¹⁹F magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. By DSC analysis, the melting temperature shifted to lower temperatures, and crystallinity decreased with increasing soft-EB dose. By solid-state ¹⁹F MAS NMR spectroscopy, the new signals was observed and the detected new signals in irradiated PFA at 315 °C and at 30 °C were due to the tertiary carbon group with branching site (Y-type crosslinking site), perfluoro-propylene site and chain end methylene groups, respectively.Moreover, the molar ratio of perfluoroalkylvinylether (FAVE) structure to -CF₂- units decreased with increasing dose.     

Self-assembly of three dimensional micro mechanisms using thermal shrinkage of polyimide

This paper describes three-dimensional microstructures fabricated using a simple self-assembly process involving the thermal shrinkage of polyimide. The proposed method enables hinged structures to be automatically rotated out of the wafer plane and to remain bent without the need to use any interlocking mechanisms. The hinged structures were fabricated using surface micromachining techniques involving heating in a furnace. An increase in the bending angle due to the shrinkage of polyimide was observed with increasing heating temperature, heating time, and length of the polyimide hinge. Of these three parameters, the heating time was found to be the most suitable for precise control of the bending angle. Furthermore, microcubes were fabricated by this method and the self-assembly process was successfully visualized using a CCD camera.     

Crosstalk Countermeasures for High-Density Inductive-Coupling Channel Array

Inductive coupling among stacked chips in a package enables 1 Gb/s/channel data communications. Array arrangement of the channel increases data bandwidth, while signal may be degraded by crosstalk. In this paper, crosstalk is measured and analyzed, and crosstalk countermeasures are discussed. Received signal waveforms through the inductive coupling are measured by embedded voltage detectors on a test chip. Interference-to-signal ratio (ISR) has good agreement between the measurements and calculations. It is found that crosstalk is reduced negligibly at a certain distance. If the channels are arranged at intervals of this distance, ISR is minimized. A technique based on time interleaving is also proposed to further reduce crosstalk. A 3times17 channel array is implemented with the crosstalk countermeasures. The channel pitch is taken down to 50 mum. Inter-chip communication with data rate of 1 Gb/s/channel and bit error rate (BER) lower than 10^-9 is demonstrated     

Local Dynamics of Adhesives in Aggressive Environment in the Pre-Damage Stage

Molecular aspects of chemical and physical changes in adhesive joints caused by absorbed moisture were investigated. The focus was on the pre-damage stage that precedes the formation of voids and microcracks. A model and a commercial epoxy-amine formulation were studied. Local dynamics were monitored by broad-band dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). One portion of the absorbed water does not form hydrogen bonds with the network and gives rise to a fast relaxation process (termed γ) with activation energy of 28 kJ/mol. The local β dynamics are slowed down by the interactions between water and various sites on the network that include the ether oxygen, the hydroxyl group and the tertiary amine nitrogen. One particularly significant finding is that the average relaxation time for the β process above 20°C is of the order of nanoseconds or less and, hence, the detection and monitoring of this process hinges upon the ability to perform high-precision DRS at frequencies above 1 MHz. This is an important consideration in the ongoing efforts aimed at the implementation of DRS as nondestructive inspection (NDI) tool for adhesive joints.     

Study on effects of solar radiation and rain on shrinkage, shrinkage cracking and creep of concrete

In this paper, the effects of actual environmental actions on shrinkage, creep and shrinkage cracking of concrete are studied comprehensively. Prismatic specimens of plain concrete were exposed to three sets of artificial outdoor conditions with or without solar radiation and rain to examine the shrinkage. For the purpose of studying shrinkage cracking behavior, prismatic concrete specimens with reinforcing steel were also subjected to the above conditions at the same time. The shrinkage behavior is described focusing on the effects of solar radiation and rain based on the moisture loss. The significant environment actions to induce shrinkage cracks are investigated from viewpoints of the amount of the shrinkage and the tensile strength. Finally, specific compressive creep behavior according to solar radiation and rainfall is discussed. It is found that rain can greatly inhibit the progresses of concrete shrinkage and creep while solar radiation is likely to promote shrinkage cracking and creep.     

Size Measurement of Polystyrene Latex Particles Larger than 1 Micrometer using a Long Differential Mobility Analyzer

We describe a newly constructed annular-type differential mobility analyzer (DMA) with an effective electrode length of 60 cm, which is longer than that of our original DMA (40 cm length). This long DMA was developed to extend the classification size of particles measuring up to 1.5 μm. As an application of this DMA, the mean diameters and standard deviations were determined for six samples of monodisperse polystyrene latex (PSL) particles ranging from 0.94 to 1.27 μm in nominal diameter. These PSL particles suspended in double-distilled water were aerosolized by a glass nebulizer and then introduced into the DMA. The mean diameters and standard deviations of these PSL particles were calculated by Ehara's method and compared with the nominal diameters and uncertainties. There was good correlation between the nominal diameters of these samples—particularly for recently certified samples—and the measured diameters. Classification of aerosol particles more than 1 micrometer in diameter using this DMA will be useful for many purposes.     

Increase in weld penetration depth by two Nd: YAG laser beams combined

Summary

As part of current R&;D work focused on developing the intelligence of arc welding robots, this paper deals with the problem of weldpool sensing and control. To obtain high‐quality welding, it is important to control the weldpool depth in robot welding regardless of any external disturbance, such as irregular groove gap. The method of controlling the weldpool depth without a mathematical model is discussed.

Since it is difficult to measure the weldpool depth directly, it is estimated from the weldpool surface shape, groove gap, and welding current. A neural network is used to estimate the weldpool depth without a mathematical model. The weldpool depth is controlled from the output of the neural network using the fuzzy controller. Neural network and fuzzy controller application is validated in welding experiments.     

An Intrinsically Fluorescent Recognition Ligand Scaffold Based on Chaperonin Protein and Semiconductor Quantum‐Dot Conjugates

Genetic engineering of a novel protein–nanoparticle hybrid system with great potential for biosensing applications and for patterning of various types of nanoparticles is described. The hybrid system is based on a genetically modified chaperonin protein from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus shibatae. This chaperonin is an 18‐subunit double ring, which self‐assembles in the presence of Mg ions and ATP. Described here is a mutant chaperonin (His‐β‐loopless, HBLL) with increased access to the central cavity and His‐tags on each subunit extending into the central cavity. This mutant binds water‐soluble semiconductor quantum dots, creating a protein‐encapsulated fluorescent nanoparticle. The new bioconjugate has high affinity, in the order of strong antibody–antigen interactions, a one‐to‐one protein–nanoparticle stoichiometry, and high stability. By adding selective binding sites to the solvent‐exposed regions of the chaperonin, this protein–nanoparticle bioconjugate becomes a sensor for specific targets.