Stable equilibrium shift of methane steam reforming in membrane reactors with hydrogen‐selective silica membranes

Equilibrium shifts of methane steam reforming in membrane reactors consisting of either tetramethoxysilane‐derived amorphous hydrogen‐selective silica membrane and rhodium catalysts, or hexamethyldisiloxane‐derived membrane and nickel catalysts is experimentally demonstrated. The hexamethyldisiloxane‐derived silica membrane showed stable permeance as high as 8 × 10^?8 mol m^?2 s^?1 Pa^?1 of H₂ after exposure to 76 kPa of vapor pressure at 773 K for 60 h, which was a much better performance than that from the tetramethoxysilane‐derived silica membrane. Furthermore, the better silica membrane also maintained selectivity of H₂/N₂ as high as 10³ under the above hydrothermal conditions. The degree of the equilibrium shifts under various feedrate and pressure conditions coincided with the order of H₂ permeance. In addition, the equilibrium shift of methane steam reforming was stable for 30 h with an S/C ratio of 2.5 at 773 K using a membrane reactor integrated with hexamethyldisiloxane‐derived membrane and nickel catalyst. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2011     

Synthesis of Superconducting 2212 Phase in the Bi–Pb–Sr–La–Cu–O System

There have been no report about synthesis of the Bi-2212 compound in the Bi–r–La–Cu–O system. We have succeeded in synthesizing the Bi-2212 compound by partial substitution of Pb for Sr and/or Bi in the Bi–Sr–La–Cu–O system. Two samples of nearly the single 2212 phase have been obtained at a nominal composition of Bi_1.5Pb_0.5Sr_2.5La_0.5Cu₂O _z . Both of the samples crystallize in a psedotetragonal lattice, and their lattice parameters are a = 0.5476 nm and c = 3.085 nm or a = 0.5479 nm and c = 3.055 nm. They are both superconductors. The sample with longer lattice parameter c shows an onset of the resistivity drop and zero resistivity at higher temperatures of about 40 K and about 13 K, respectively. This sample also shows a diamagnetic signal starting at about 35 K with lowering temperature.     

A 0.5 V single power supply operated high-speed boosted andoffset-grounded data storage (BOGS) SRAM cell architecture

This paper proposes a 0.5 V/100 MHz/sub-5 mW-operated 1-Mbit SRAM cell architecture which uses a boosted and offset-grounded data storage (BOGS) scheme. The key target of BOGS is to minimize the charge amount supplied from the embedded charge pump circuits, which are required to boost the effective gate to source voltage (V₀=V_GS-V_T) up to 0.8 V necessary to achieve 100 MHz operation even at 0.5 V single power supply. Thus, the key low-power strategy of BOGS is “putting the right (higher efficiency) boosted power-supply from charge pump circuit into the right position (less power consumed transistor) in a SRAM cell.” This paper is focused on why BOGS can realize a greater savings of the charge amount supplied from the boosted power-line and can reduce the power dissipation to ⩽1/30.4 and ⩽1/3.9 compared to the previously reported negative source-line drive (NSD) scheme and negative word-line drive (NWD) scheme, respectively, while achieving a 0.5 V/100 MHz operation     

A compact micro-beam system using a tapered glass capillary for proton-induced X-ray radiography

A compact micro-beam system, containing a tapered glass capillary tube with a tip diameter on the order of 10 μm, was constructed to examine the applicability of capillary-generated micro-beams to high-contrast radiography based on proton-induced quasi-monochromatic X-rays. The transport efficiency of swift protons (2-3 MeV) through the capillary was examined as a function of the capillary tilt angle and the capillary tip diameter. We obtained transport efficiencies of approximately three times larger than would be expected from the geometrical shape of the capillary. This enhancement indicates that a focusing effect occurred in the capillary. A metallic thin foil was irradiated with the micro-beam and quasi-monochromatic X-rays were produced. By calculating the X-ray yields induced by proton bombardment in the foil and comparing them with the X-ray counts observed at the detector, the throughput efficiency of the X-ray imaging system was evaluated. We demonstrated magnification radiography of a small object to show that a spatial resolution on the order of 10 μm was achievable in our system.     

Heat Shock-Induced Three-Dimensional-Like Proliferation of Normal Human Fibroblasts Mediated by Pressed Silk

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal heat treatment conditions for enhancement of pressed silk-mediated 3D-like proliferation of normal human dermal fibroblasts, as well as to determine the responses to heat shock of cells and intracellular signaling pathways. The beginning of 3D-like pattern formation of cells was observed in the second week after the start of the experiment. The mean rates of beginning of 3D-like pattern formation by cells heat-treated at 40 ºC and 43 ºC for 10 min were significantly higher (3.2- and 8.6-fold, respectively) than that of untreated cells. We found that apoptosis had occurred in 7.5% and 50.0% of the cells at one week after heat treatment for 10 min at 43 ºC and 45 ºC, respectively. Western blot analysis demonstrated that phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and that of Hsp27 were markedly increased by heat treatment at 43 ºC for 10 min. The results of an experiment using a p38 MAPK inhibitor and Hsp27 inhibitor suggest that activation of p38 MAPK by heat shock is associated with 3D-like cell proliferation and that Hsp27 contributes to the inhibition of apoptosis. The results of this study should be useful for further studies aimed at elucidation of the physiologic mechanisms underlying thermotherapy.     

On the optimal number of machines operated by a single worker

An optimal design problem is considered for man-machine systems, where a group of numerically controlled (NC) machines is operated by a single worker. The processing time at each machine and the service time by the worker are assumed to be random variables. The decision variable is the number of machines in the group and the optimal criterion is to minimize the cost for producing a product. It is found that the minimum-cost number of machines, N_c, is the lower bound on the optimal numbers of machines under other important criteria. We present the upper and lower bounds on N_cs for the systems where the coefficients of variations of the service- and processing-time distributions are less than 1. Moreover, it is shown that the bounds are tight for such systems.     

Automatic composition and simulation system for ballet sequences

We have developed an automatic composition system for ballet choreographies by using 3DCG animation. Our goal is to develop useful tools in dance education such as a creation-support system for ballet teachers and a self-study system for students. The algorithm for automatic composition was integrated to create utilitarian choreographies. As a result of an evaluation test, we verified that the created choreographies had a possibility to be used in the actual lessons. This system is valuable for online virtual dance experimentation and exploration by teachers and choreographers involved in creative practices, improvisation, creative movement, or dance composition.     

Response characteristics of all-solid-state pH sensor using Li5YSi4O12 glass

A new type of all-solid-state pH sensor was investigated for the monitoring of pH in high temperature. The all-solid-state pH sensor consists of two half-cells: indicator electrode using the Li₅YSi₄O₁₂ glass and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode coated with Nafion film. A stable Nafion film was achieved by heat treating at 100 °C for 1 h. The electromotive force (EMF) of the all-solid-state pH sensor decreased linearly with pH increase in water in accordance with the Nernst's equation. The all-solid-state pH sensor operated stably up to 80 °C. The sensitivity of the all-solid-state pH sensor against pH was high, and the EMF was also scarcely influenced by the presence of inorganic ions such as Li⁺, Na⁺ and Cl⁻. It was practically confirmed by the pH titration test that the all-solid-state pH sensor behaved similar to the commercial pH meter with the conventional glass electrode. In addition, the all-solid-state pH sensor showed same equivalence point both at high temperature and low temperature operations.     

Study on underground thermal characteristics by using digital national land information, and its application for energy utilization

This paper describes a method for evaluating characteristics of underground thermal properties and groundwater, whose evaluation is essential for designing systems of underground thermal energy utilization. First, the systems using underground thermal energy are classified into two categories: borehole system with indirect heat exchange, and aquifer system with direct use of underground water. These systems are also divided into thermal storage systems and heat source/sink systems. Second, the characteristics of the underground in Japan are analyzed by using a geographical information system (GIS) and hydrogeological information. Regulations on environmental protection, such as those relating to national parks for instance, and the distribution of thermal energy demand eliminate 77% of Japan from consideration for underground thermal energy utilization. Areas limited to borehole thermal energy utilization account for 17% of areas where underground thermal energy can be used, with the remaining 74% suitable for both boreholes and aquifers. Finally, we estimate the thickness of aquifer and groundwater velocity in Sapporo. We find that most parts of Sapporo are suitable for aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES).     

Synthesis of polymer gel with chiral helical cavity by molecular imprinting using bifunctional vinyl monomers

The molecular imprinting method was applied for synthesizing gels with a chiral helical cavity using various bifunctional vinyl monomers, such as α-(benzyloxymethyl)acrylic acid derivatives as a monomer, and one-handed helical (+)-poly(diphenyl-2-pyridylmethyl methacrylate) as a template. The chiral gels were almost quantitatively prepared after removal of the template polymer by hydrolysis of the ester groups. The obtained gels exhibited chiral resolution powers toward various racemates, such as trans-stilbene oxide and Tröger's base, and the substituents on the phenyl group of the monomer significantly affected the recognition ability. The observed separation factors were higher than those of the gels prepared from the mono-functional vinyl monomer, methacrylic acid.