The strength properties of iron aluminides

For the development of Fe−Al alloys as structural materials, a deep understanding of slip and deformation properties is necessary. In particular, since mechanical properties of the iron aluminides are affected by excess vacancy strengthening as well as the positive-temperature dependence of yield stress, controlling these strength features is essential. In this article, the strength properties of iron aluminides are reviewed. Author’s Note: All compositions are provided in mole percent. Kyosuke Yoshimi earned his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Tohoku University in 1997. He is currently a research associate at Tohoku University. Shuji Hanada earned his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering at Tohoku University. He is currently a professor at Tohoku University. Dr. Hanada is also a member of TMS.     

The effects of di-D-fructofuranose-1,2':2,3'-dianhydride (DFA III) administration on human intestinal microbiota

Di-D-fructofuranose-1,2':2,3'-dianhydride (DFA III) was shown to enhance Ca absorption in rat and human intestine. The effects of DFA III administration (9 g per day for 4 weeks that corresponded to 3-fold the optimal dosage of DFA III) on human intestinal microbiota were studied using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The major groups of human intestinal microbiota reported previously: the Bacteroides, the Clostridium coccoides group (Clostridium cluster XIVa), the Clostridium leptum group (Clostridium cluster IV), and the Bifidobacterium group were detected. The similarity of 30 DGGE profiles based on the V3 region (before and after administration to the 15 subjects) of the 16S rDNA were calculated using Pearson's correlation based on numbers, positions and intensity of bands, and then a dendrogram of DGGE profiles was constructed by the unweighted pair group method using arithmetic average (UPGMA) clustering method. By these analyses, no difference in DGGE profiles after DFA III administration was observed in healthy subjects, while two subjects with chronic constipation showed different profiles, namely on numbers, positions and the intensity of some bands. Their stools were softer and stool frequencies increased and they obtained relief from constipation.     

220,000‐r/min, 2‐kW PM motor drive for turbocharger

This paper describes an ultrahigh‐speed permanent‐magnet synchronous motor drive, which is embedded in a turbocharger of an internal‐combustion engine. The electrical drive makes it possible to enhance output power of the turbocharger in a motoring mode and to retrieve combustion energy from exhaust gas in a regenerating mode. Computer simulations and experimental tests are conducted to examine various operation characteristics of a prototype. The experimental data demonstrate 220,000‐r/min operation at 2.2‐kW inverter output power, in good agreement with the simulation results and proving the feasibility of the proposed system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 161(3): 31–40, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20408     

High fibre coupled output power 37 nm tunable laser module using matrix DFB laser

The thermally-controlled laser module, integrating 12 distributed feedback (DFB) lasers in the form of a 2/spl times/6 matrix to realise both high output power and wide wavelength tunability, has been fabricated. The module has shown excellent characteristics, such as high fibre coupled power over 30 mW and tunability over 37 nm.     

Colloidal Processing and Mechanical Properties of Whisker-Reinforced Mullite Matrix Composites

Aqueous colloidal suspensions in the two systems of CVD-processed ultrafine mullite powder (<0.1 μm), -Si₃N₄ whisker and -mullite whisker, were prepared near the isoelectric point of mullite (pH 7.0) to prevent cracking during drying of wet green compacts consolidated by filtration. The freeze-dried porous green compacts were hot-pressed with a carbon die at 1500°C for 1 h at a pressure of 39 MPa in N₂ atmosphere. The relative densities of the mullite matrix composites with whiskers of 0 to 10 vol% were in the range of 95.2% to 99.8%. Increasing the fraction of Si₃N₄ whisker increased the density, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of the hot-pressed composites. On the other hand, addition of the mullite whisker increased the fracture toughness but decreased the density and strength of the composites.     

Enhancement of optical absorption for below 5 μm thin-film poly-Si solar cell on glass substrate

Optical confinement effect of thin-film polycrystalline-Si (poly-Si) solar cell on glass substrate fabricated at low-temperature has been investigated as a function of cell thickness of less than 5 μm. We found that it is possible to fabricate the textured Si thin film in situ on a glass substrate and that the reflectance at long-wavelength light is reduced by surface texturing. Thin-film poly-Si solar cell and a-Si:H/(0.45 μm)/poly-Si (5 μm) tandem solar cell exhibit the efficiency of 8.6% and 12.8%, respectively. The numerical study in terms of the light trapping explains the excellent high short-circuit current density (_sc above 27 mA/cm² at the 4.7 μm thin-film poly-Si solar cell.     

Evaluation of system configuration of FMC for metal cutting

In the FMS of the next generation, the system configuration is to be of modular type, in which the basic module is that of an FMC. In addition, this FMC enables the FMS technology to be avialable for town and medium-size industries. To cope with such trends surrounding the FMC, it is now required to establish a design theory for special-purpose FMC and also a standardization method of FMC. Regarding the latter problem, thus, the similarity evaluation method of the FMC for metal cutting has been investigated to propose a classification method of FMC. The similarity evaluation proposed here puts its main stress on the system configuration, especially on the characteristics of the system component and work flow pattern, and to enable the evaluation procedure to be simplified, the FMC is represented with a directed graph. Through some trial applications, it can be verified that the proposed method is reliable and effective from the practical point of view.     

Alterations in the enzyme activity and protein contents of protein disulfide isomerase in rat tissues during fasting and refeeding

Elevated level of cellular lipid peroxidation can increase the incidence of vascular disease. The mechanism by which ketosis causes accelerated cellular damage and vascular disease in diabetes is not known. This study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that elevated levels of ketone bodies increase lipid peroxidation in endothelial cells. Human umbilical venous endothelial cells (HUVEC) were cultured for 24 h at 37 degrees C with ketone bodies (acetoacetate, beta-hydroxybutyrate). Acetoacetate, but not beta-hydroxybutyrate, caused an increase in lipid peroxidation and growth inhibition in cultured HUVEC. To determine whether ketone bodies generate oxygen radicals, studies using cell-free buffered solution were performed. They showed a significant superoxide dismutase (SOD) inhibitable reduction of cytochrome C by acetoacetate, but not by beta-hydroxybutyrate, suggesting the generation of superoxide anion radicals by acetoacetate. Additional studies show that Fe2+ potentiates oxygen radical generation by acetoacetate. Thus, elevated levels of ketone body acetoacetate can generate oxygen radicals and cause lipid peroxidation in endothelial cells, providing a possible mechanism for the increased incidence of vascular disease in diabetes.