Effects of nondensifying inclusions on the densification and microstructure of zinc oxide matrix composites

The densification and microstructure development of ZnO containing Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂, ZrO₂, and aggregated ZnO were investigated to elucidate the effect of nondensifying inclusions on the sintering of ceramic/ceramic composites. The inclusion retarded the densification, and the degree of retardation was found to depend on the chemical species of inclusion; Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ had the largest effect, followed by ZrO₂ and then aggregated ZnO last. The experimental results for aggregated ZnO was explained by the theory which predicts the generation of backstresses. The backstresses give a less significant effect on the densification. For Zn₇Sb₂O₁₂ and ZrO₂, the microstructure of the matrix varied with distance from an inclusion particle; much porosity was observed in the region surrounding the inclusion. Circumferential voids, which are responsible for the suppression of densification, form during the initial stage of sintering. Inclusion particles generate an anchoring effect which retards the densification of the matrix immediately surrounding the inclusion particle during the intermediate stage.Supported by the Inamori Foundation.     

Integration of multianalyte sensing functions on a capillary-assembled microchip: simultaneous determination of ion concentrations and enzymatic activities by a "drop-and-sip" technique

A general and simple implementation of simultaneous multiparametric sensing in a single microchip is presented by using a capillary-assembled microchip (CAs-CHIP) integrated with the plural different reagent-release capillaries (RRCs), acting as various biochemical sensors. A novel "drop-and-sip" technique of fluid handling is performed with a microliter droplet of a model sample solution containing proteases (trypsin, chymotrypsin, thrombin, elastase) and divalent cations (Ca2+, Zn2+, Mg2+) that passes through the microchannel with the aid of a micropipette as a vacuum pump, concurrently filling each RRC via capillary force. To avert the evaporation of the nanoliter sample volume in each capillary, PDMS oil is dropped on the outlet hole of the CAs-CHIP exploiting the capillary force that results in spontaneous sealing of all the RRCs. In addition, this high-speed sample introduction alleviates the possibility of protein adsorption and capillary cross-contamination, allowing a reliable and multianalyte determination of a sample containing many different proteases and divalent cations by using the fluorescence image analysis. Presented results suggested the possible application of this microchip in the field of drug discovery and systems biology.     

An evaluation of the optimal generation mix for controlling carbon dioxide emissions

This paper presents an efficient computational algorithm for selecting the optimal generation mix considering CO₂ emissions. To demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed method, a fundamental study of the evaluation of the optimal generation mix for controlling CO₂ emissions is indicated. Furthermore, by using a parametric analysis which considers load characteristics as parameters, a general trend for the optimal generation mix which is affected by controlling CO₂ can be derived. The proposed method is based on an optimization method known as simulated annealing. In the method, solutions in a generation mix problem are equivalent to state of a physical system, and the cost of a solution is equivalent to the energy of a state. The proposed method can easily accommodate not only CO₂ emissions but also many practical constraints of generation expansion planning, such as integer solutions of unit capacities, condition of existing units, and so on. Case studies with various annual load patterns (combinations of annual load factors and the shapes of annual load duration curve) are presented and discussed. Consequently, a general trend for selecting generation technologies that should be added to a power system is derived, i.e., a useful guideline for studying generation expansion planning under controlling CO₂ emissions can be provided.     

Correspondence among PL measurement, MBIC measurement and defect delineation in polycrystalline cast-Si solar cells

We report the correspondence between the photoluminescence (PL) measurement, monochromatic-light-beam-induced current (MBIC) measurement and defect delineation in polycrystalline cast-Si solar cells. It was found that the peak of the band-edge PL emission in the hydrogenerated and non-hydrogenerated cast-Si shifted from 1.093 eV in the single crystalline CZ-Si to 1.075 eV at room temperature and the band-edge PL mapping corresponded with the MBIC mapping and defect delineation pattern if excluding the surface damages delineated by the MD-1 etchant.     

A convenient preparative method of 3-hydroxy acids,and the reaction of 3-hydroxy acids with acidic materials

3-Hydroxy acids were synthesised in good yield from ketones and carboxylic acids using lithium naphthalenide in the presence of diethylamine. From cyclohexanone and propionic acid, 2-(1′-hydroxycyclohexan-1′-yl) propionic acid ( I ) was obtained in 98.3% yield. 3-Hydroxy acids were treated with various acidic materials to give 3,4-unsaturated carboxylic acids and γ-butyrolactones. From the reaction of ( I ) with p-toluenesulphonic acid or potassium bisulphate, 2-(cyclohexen-1′-yl) propionic acid ( II ) (a 3,4-unsaturated acid) was obtained (yield 98%), and with 97% sulphuric acid 2-(1′-hydroxycyclohexan-1′-yl) propionic acid lactone ( III ) was formed (93% yield). Several new γ-butyrolactones were obtained in good yield by this method.     

Enzymatic synthesis of N-acyl-l-amino acids in a glycerol-water system using acylase I from pig kidney

N-Medium- and long-chain acyl-l-amino acids were enzymatically synthesized from the corresponding l-amino acids and fatty acids using a reverse hydrolysis. Enzymes that are suitable for the synthetic reaction of N-acyl-l-amino acids were screened on the basis of hydrolytic activity toward N-lauroyl-l-glutamic acid as an indicator. Acylase I from pig kidney (EC 3.5.1.14) showed the highest N-acyl-l-amino acid hydrolytic activity among 57 commercially available enzymes tested. Acylase I effectively catalyzed the synthesis of N-lauroyl-l-amino acids except for N-lauroyl-l-proline and N-lauroyl-l-tyrosine in a glycerol-water system. Under the optimized reaction conditions, N-lauroyl-l-arginine and N-lauroyl-l-glutamic acid were obtained in conversions of 82 and 44%, respectively. The equilibrium constants calculated from the conversion obtained were 5.6, 15.4, 18.0, and 39.4 for the syntheses of N-lauroyl-l-glutamic acid, N_α-lauroyl-l-lysine, N-lauroyl-l-glutamine, and N-lauroyl-l-methionine, respectively. N-Acyl-l-arginines with myristic acid and palmitic acid as the fatty acid were also synthesized using acylase I.     

Three DOF parallel link mechanism utilizing smooth impact drive mechanism

For a wide range of purposes, a compact and smart positioning stage is in strong demand. Our final goal is to fabricate a positioning mechanism that possesses multi-degrees of freedom, a wide movable area, dexterity, rigidity, and high speed. To meet most of requirements, i.e., except that of a wide movable area, a parallel mechanism is superior to a serial link mechanism. However, a lack of smart actuators has previously resulted in a large and complicated construction of a parallel mechanism.A purpose of this paper is to propose a new parallel link that utilizes a smart actuator called smooth impact drive mechanism (SIDM), and to verify its advantage for a smart and compact positioning stage. The SIDM actuator is an interesting mechanism that achieves a long stroke with fine positioning resolution. This paper treats a three DOF stage containing three SIDM actuators and a two-dimensional positioning sensor. The first operation test was carried out, and it was confirmed that a position control was successful. The average deviation was 18.6 μm and the standard deviation was 9.31 μm. As another trial, a circle 3.0 mm in diameter was successfully drawn. These values were insufficient for the SIDM actuator that has potentially nanometer-level resolution. The rough positioning resolution seems to be due to inferior driving method and mechanical ricketiness of the joints. In the near future, high speed and accurate positioning control could be realized with overcoming these problems.     

Decomposition of Perfluorinated Compounds in Water by DC Plasma within Oxygen Bubbles

Complete decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) at a concentration of 41.4 mg/L and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) at a concentration of 60 mg/L in water was successfully completed by DC plasma within oxygen bubbles. PFOA and PFOS were decomposed completely after 3‐h operation and 8‐h operation, respectively. The decomposition efficiency was evaluated by measuring the amounts of fluorine ions that were detached from PFOA and PFOS in the solution. As indicated by the measurement of LC/MS, the main byproducts generated during the plasma treatment turned out to be perfluorocarboxylic acids. For practical application, 2‐parallel operation of DC plasma was also demonstrated as a basic technology for a large capacity reactor. The decomposition efficiency of 2‐parallel operation was at the same level as that of single operation.