Effects of rice cleaning and cooking process on the residues of flutolanil,fenobucarb, silafluofen and buprofezin in rice

We studied the effect of cleaning and cooking on the residues of flutolanil, fenobucarb, silafluofen and buprofezin in rice. The rice had been sprayed in a paddy field in Wakayama city, with 3 kinds of pesticide application protocols: spraying once at the usual concentration of pesticides, repeated spraying (3 times) with the usual concentration of pesticides and spraying once with 3 times the usual concentration of pesticides. The residue levels of pesticide decreased during the rice cleaning process. Silafluofen, which has a higher log Pow value, remained in the hull of the rice. Fenobucarb, which has a lower log Pow value, penetrated inside the rice. The residue concentration of pesticide in polished rice was higher than that in pre-washed rice processed ready for cooking. During the cooking procedure, the reduction of pesticides in polished rice was higher than that in brown rice.     

Analysis of protein adsorption and binding at biosensor polymer interfaces using X-ray photon spectroscopy and scanning electrochemical microscopy

We describe a method, based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements, to assess the extent of protein adsorption or binding on a variety of different muTAS and biosensor interfaces. Underpinning this method is the labeling of protein molecules with either iodine- or bromine-containing motifs by using protocols previously developed for radiotracer studies. Using this method, we have examined the adsorption and binding properties of a variety of modified electrodeposited polymer interfaces as well as other materials used in muTAS device fabrication. Using polymer interfaces modified with poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) chains, our results indicate that a chain of at least approximately 30 monomer units is required to inhibit nonspecific adsorption from concentrated protein solutions. The XPS methodology was also used to probe specific binding of avidins and enzyme conjugates thereof to biotinylated and mixed biotin/PPG-modified polymer interfaces. In one example, using competitive binding, it was established that the mode of binding of a peroxidase-streptavidin conjugate to a biotinylated modified polymer interface was primarily via the streptavidin moiety (as opposed to nonspecific binding via the enzyme conjugate). XPS evaluation of nonspecific and specific peroxidase-streptavidin immobilization on various functionalized polymers has guided the design and fabrication of functionalized interdigitated electrodes in a biosensing muTAS device. Subsequent characterization of this device using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) corroborated the adsorption and binding previously inferred from XPS measurements on macroscale electrodes.     

Effect of heating temperature on dielectric properties of Pb(Zr,Ti)O3 [PZT] fibers

Ferroelectric Pb(Zr_0.53Ti_0.47)O₃ fibers were reproducibly fabricated by sol-gel technique using triethanolamine (TEA) complexed alkoxide. The phase transition from pyrochlore to perovskite took place about 400°C and a stable single perovskite phase was obtained at 550°C. PZT gel fibers spun through nozzle were heat-treated at 700°C, and at 1000°C for 1 h to certify the effect of heat-treatment temperature on the electrical properties. The PZT fibers had elliptical cross sections with diameter of 72 m–92 m, and dense microstructure was obtained by heating at 1000°C. In the PZT fibers heat-treated at 1000°C, a distinguishable relative permittivity peak and a pyroelectric current peak were observed at their Curie temperature. The P-E hysteresis loops of the crystalline PZT fibers were also observed.     

Electrochemical Fabrication of Metallic Nanowires and Metal Oxide Nanopores

A nuclear track etched polycarbonate membrane filter with numerous cylindrical nanopores was applied as a nanoporous template for growing metallic nanowires. Nickel, cobalt, and iron nanowires were electrodeposited into the cylindrical nanopores. Cathodic polarization curves were measured to determine an optimum condition for growing nanowires. The shape of nanowires was observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the crystal structure was analyzed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Diameter and length of nanowires corresponded to those of nanopores and each nanowire was composed of a single crystal. Anodized aluminum oxide films were also fabricated as a novel nanoporous template. The pore length and diameter was controlled changing anodizing conditions. Ordering behavior of nanopores array in an anodized aluminum oxide film was also investigated to make a novel nanoporous template with a highly ordered honeycomb array of nanopores.     

Thermal Degradation Under Pulse Operation in Low-Temperature p-Channel Poly-Si Thin-Film Transistors

We analyzed the heat generation of a low-temperature polycrystalline thin-film transistor in pulse operation and proposed a technique for accurately measuring its thermal temperature in high-frequency operation. From this measurement, we were able to calculate the time constants for heating and radiation for the first time. At a low frequency, the temperature difference between when the pulse was on and off was remarkable. As the frequency was increased, the maximum and minimum temperatures approached each other and became equal at a frequency of approximately 1 kHz. We also measured the degradation in pulse operation and discussed the relationship between the thermal temperature and the degradation in the pulse operation     

Application to cleaning of waste plastic surfaces using atmospheric non-thermal plasma jets

The removal of paint on the surface of waste plastics is difficult by the conventional process; in this research, a new cleaning mechanism using atmospheric plasmas was examined through optical emission spectroscopy, electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Results indicate that an increase of pulse frequency enables for a short processing time for the removal of the paint film, signifying that the production of radicals in plasma, especially oxygen radicals, can be controlled by pulse frequency.Plasma jets were generated under the experimental conditions of an input power of 250 W to 400 W, a pulse frequency of 2 kHz to 12 kHz, and a plasma gas flow rate of 30 L/min. Examination of the intensity ratio of the reactive species, as measured by emission spectroscopy, showed that the O/N value increased with an increase in pulse frequency. Results of analysis with electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis show that nitrogen atoms and molybdenum in only the paint film decreased through plasma processing.     

Design and evaluation of robot patient for nursing skill training in patient transfer

We developed a robot patient for patient transfer training for simulating a patient’s performance during patient transfer and for enabling nurses to practice their nursing skills on it. To realize the robot patient, we focused on addressing the problems of designing its limb actions to enable it to respond to nurses’ operations. RC servos and electromagnetic brakes were installed in the joints to enable the robot to simulate a patient’s limb actions, such as embracing and remaining standing. To enable the robot to automatically respond to nurses’ operations, an identification method for these operations was developed that used voice commands and the features of the limbs’ posture measured by angle sensors installed in the robot’s joints. The robot patient’s performance was examined by a control test in which four experienced nursing teachers performed patient transfer with the robot patient and a human-simulated patient. The results revealed that the robot patient could successfully simulate the actions of a patient’s limbs according to the nursing teachers’ operations and that it is suitable for nursing skill training.     

Formation of high-purity organic thin films by gas flow deposition and the effect of impurities on device characteristics

A gas flow deposition (GFD) system was developed to manufacture large-scale organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). A N,N′-di(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenylbenzidine (α-NPD) thin film with a high purity of 99.97% was obtained using the GFD system. The film properties such as morphology, and electrical and optical characteristics were almost the same as those of films made by conventional vacuum thermal evaporation.     

Context-dependent product line engineering with lightweight formal approaches

This paper proposes a new style of product line engineering methods. It focuses on constructing embedded systems that take into account the contexts such as the external physical environments. In current product line development projects, Feature Analysis is mainly conducted from the viewpoint of system configurations: how hardware and software components are configured to constitute a system. In most cases, contexts are not considered explicitly. As a result, unexpected and unfavorable behavior might emerge in a system if a developer does not recognize any possible conflicting combinations between the system and contexts. To deal with this problem, this paper provides the notion of a context-dependent product line, which is composed of the system and context lines. The former is obtained by analyzing a family of systems. The latter is obtained by analyzing features of contexts associated to the systems. The system and context lines contain reusable core assets. The configuration of selected system components and contexts can be formally checked at the specification level. In this paper, we show a development process that includes the creation of both product line assets as well as context assets.     

Robust model-following controller design for LTI systems affected by parametric uncertainties: a design example for aircraft motion

This article addresses the design problem of a robust model-following controller (MFC) which minimises the error between plant controlled output and model output for a linear time-invariant (LTI) plant system affected by parametric uncertainties and an LTI target model. To design such an MFC, a previously proposed MFC scheme, whose applicability has already been demonstrated with flight controller design, is adopted in this article. Our design procedure is as follows: first, a basic MFC is designed using the nominal LTI plant model and the LTI target model while a structured free matrix in the MFC is not assigned; second, model-following performance of the MFC for appropriately defined disturbance input and model input for the parametric uncertain plant model and the LTI target model is minimised using the structured free matrix; and finally, a robust MFC is obtained using the basic MFC and the optimal structured matrix. In the second step, an iterative design method for robust H ₂ controllers for LTI parameter-dependent (LTIPD) systems using parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions (PDLFs), which is also proposed in this article, is applied. Two MFCs for the lateral-directional (L/D) motions of a research aircraft, which has been developed for an in-flight simulator, for two different real aircraft models, i.e. a Boeing 747 model and a Lockheed Jetstar model, are designed and their performance is confirmed via numerical simulations and flight tests.