Preparation of carbon-based transparent and conductive thin films by pyrolysis of silylated graphite oxides

Thin films of silylated graphite oxide were obtained from a chloroform/cyclohexane dispersion of n-hexadecylamine-intercalated silylated graphite oxide by a casting method at a low temperature. Carbon-based thin films were obtained from the pyrolysis of the resulting films under a reduced pressure at 500 °C or higher temperatures. The resulting samples were well adhered to the substrate because of the presence of silicon containing species as a “glue”. The resistivity decreased with an increase in the film thickness or a decrease in the transparency. Based on the data obtained for the samples prepared from graphite with different particle sizes and graphite oxide with different oxygen contents, the conduction of the electrons within each carbon sheet seemed important for large film thickness and conduction through the boundary seemed important when the film thickness was small. A low sheet resistance of 3.7 kΩ/sq for 80% of transmittance was achieved, when graphite oxide with a lower oxygen content was prepared from graphite with smaller particle sizes and the precursor film was heated at 500 °C. At 900 °C, it further decreased to a value of 700 Ω/sq.     

Migration of dehydroabietic and abietic acids from paper and paperboard food packaging into food-simulating solvents and Tenax TA

An investigation was undertaken to establish the concentration in paper products of dehydroabietic (DHA) and abietic (AA) resin acids, present in rosin, which are major toxicants of pulp- and paper-mill effluent. Their migration was studied from paper and paperboard products into various food-simulating solvents and the substitute fatty food simulant Tenax TA (modified polyphenylene oxide). DHA and AA were detected in five of 10 virgin paper products and in all 10 recycled paperboard products for food-contact use at concentrations of 14-500 and 110-1200 µg/g, respectively. In virgin paper products, the highest migration was into 95% ethanol or heptane, with negligible or no migration into other solvents. In recycled paperboard products, migration was highest into 95% ethanol, but was also observed into 20% ethanol, water and heptane. Migration to Tenax TA was also observed and the migration level increased with time. The maximum migration levels of DHA and AA into food simulants were 0.853 and 3.14 µg/g, respectively. The results suggest that, in the worst case, the daily intake of DHA and AA from paper and paperboard products was 50 times lower than the tolerable daily intake of rosin.     

Novel transdermal drug delivery system with polyhydroxyalkanoate and starburst polyamidoamine dendrimer

In search of an efficient transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS), a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based system with a polyamidoamine dendrimer was examined. Tamsulosin was used as the model drug. The dendrimer was found to act as the weak enhancer. By adding the dendrimer, the dendrimer-containing PHA matrix achieved the clinically required amount of tamsulosin permeating through the skin model. This is also the first report of the application of PHA and dendrimer to the TDDS.     

Thermoplastic 0–3 Ceramic–Polymer Composites With Adjustable Magnetic and Dielectric Characteristics for Radio Frequency Applications

Magnetic and electrical properties of thermoplastic ceramic-polymer 0–3 composites with Z-type hexaferrite, and MnZn ferrite inclusions were investigated. The complex permeability and permittivity were measured up to 1 GHz where maximum values of ɛ′_r=30.47 and μ′_r=4.32 and ɛ′_r=10.95 and μ′_r=1.80 were obtained for MnZn-ER182 and Co₂Z-ER182 composites with ∼44.7 vol% and 43.0 vol% filler loadings, respectively. MnZn and Co₂Z composites exhibit miniaturization factors as low as 0.09 and 0.23, together with reduced magnetic losses and frequency dispersion. The results indicate that the composites offer novel possibilities for wider feasible frequency bandwidth and adjustable impedance matching and magnetic and dielectric properties.     

Integrated protocol for optimized link state routing and localization: OLSR-L

Localization protocol is important for estimating node positions in a wireless multi-hop network. Routing protocol is also important for controlling paths. In previous research, localization and routing protocols have been discussed and evaluated separately. In this paper, we propose an integrated protocol for optimized link state routing (OLSR) and OLSR based localization (ROULA). Our protocol enables simultaneous localization and routing. ROULA’s localization is performed using OLSR overhead such as hello packets and routing tables. The routing overheads and the processing procedures can be efficiently integrated. We demonstrate that the integrated protocol for ROULA and OLSR enables simultaneous localization and routing.     

Calculations of heats of formation for nitroaromatics with PM3 and MM2

Abstract

We have attempted to calculate heats of formation (Δ H _f °) for various aromatic nitro compounds with the semi-empirical molecular orbital theory and the molecular mechanics. As the results we may say that PM3, a semi-empirical MO method, and MM2, molecular mechanics, can estimate Δ H _f ° of energetic materials with accuracy enough to use Δ H_f° for energy hazards prediction. In case of aromatic polynitro compounds, both methods may be able to calculate accurate Δ H_f°.     

Vertical liquid transportation through capillary bundle structure using centrifugal force

The use of three-dimensional (3D) microstructures is becoming essential attempt to develop next generations’ microdevices, to integrate many modules and various functions, and enhance the performance of device. In this paper, we present a new concept for lab on a chip using 3D structure and centrifugal pumping for integrated functional fluid systems such as high-throughput screening, and point of care testing systems which has stacked multiple structures with 3D-interconnection. The use of 3D structure brings many benefits for above high throughput systems, such as possibility to integrate various modules enabling to perform total assay operation, from sample preparation for biochemical reaction and their detection on one platform. For this concept, the most important key technology is control of a vertical valving and transportation of liquid between different 2D micro channel networks with different height levels. We demonstrated such vertical liquid transportation in 3D micro channel networks through the high aspect ratio capillary bundle filter by controlling spinning speed of device and centrifugal force as a pumping force, and confirmed capillary bundle could be employed as vertical microvalve for 3D fluidic systems using centrifugal force as a pumping method.     

Ultrasonic-Assisted Soldering of 5056 Aluminum Alloy Using Quasi-Melting Zn-Sn Alloy

To obtain sound butt-joints of 5056 aluminum alloy rods, ultrasonic-assisted soldering was conducted using Zn-18Sn and Zn-60Sn alloys. Each solder foil was inserted between rods of 5056 aluminum alloy. Ultrasonic vibration was propagated to faying surfaces at soldering temperatures below the liquidus temperature of the solder alloys, and then the samples were air cooled to room temperature. The optimum vibration time at the soldering temperature must be more than 2 seconds to have complete wetting and less than 4 seconds to avoid excessive dissolution of the 5056 alloy. The 5056 alloy joints soldered using quasi-melting. Zn-Sn alloys showed greater strength than the joints soldered at the temperatures over its respective liquidus temperature. As the soldering temperature was increased, the increased formation of the intermetallic compound Mg₂Sn or phases containing Mg generated by dissolution of 5056 into the solder layer decreased the joint strength. Ultrasonic-assisted soldering at an optimum temperature between solidus and liquidus of the Zn-Sn alloys is an important consideration for producing sound joints with sufficient strength.