Factors affecting stretching limits of Aluminum sheet

The purpose of the present paper is to study methods to improve the stretching limit of metal sheet. The factors affecting the stretching limit were sheet thickness, blank diameter, blank holding pressure, and forming rate. Punch radius, die radius, and clearance between a punch and a die were retained constant. Tested materials were softened and half hardened types of aluminum sheet. The effect of lubrication was also studied. Lubricants used were a press working oil and graphite. Stretching by two types of punch shape, a spherical head punch and a truncated cone one, was tried in order to research the effect of punch shape. The half hardened aluminium, which has a larger n-value, showed the larger stretching limit. The larger thickness gave rise to the larger stretching limit. Flow characteristic of materials was poorer in larger diameter of a blank, so its stretching limit was lower. A bit lower holding pressure, which allows drawing of materials to some extent, yielded larger stretching limit than rigid holding. The forming rate did not so much affect stretching limit. Concerning the effect of lubrication, applied position of lubricants was important.     

hiPSC-Derived Cardiac Tissue for Disease Modeling and Drug Discovery

Relevant, predictive normal, or disease model systems are of vital importance for drug development. The difference between nonhuman models and humans could contribute to clinical trial failures despite ideal nonhuman results. As a potential substitute for animal models, human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) provide a powerful tool for drug toxicity screening, modeling cardiovascular diseases, and drug discovery. Here, we review recent hiPSC-CM disease models and discuss the features of hiPSC-CMs, including subtype and maturation and the tissue engineering technologies for drug assessment. Updates from the international multisite collaborators/administrations for development of novel drug discovery paradigms are also summarized.     

Development of water re-use treatment system for municipal wastewater

The move for environmental protection and preservation of clean water sources has given rise to the latest tendency in Japan toward reuse of waste water after advanced treatment. As a means of saving water and securing water sources, water reuse systems are beginning to be installed to treat waste water for reuse as flushing water and cooling water for air conditioners.This study was conducted with the aim of developing a compact high-performance water treatment system that may meet the stated requirement.Most water reuse systems in practical use today are based on biological treatment. With this process, treatment is slow and equipment takes up much space. In addition, it involves a large amount of sludge.In an attempt to overcome these disadvantages, we developed a physico- chemical treatment technique that combines the three elementary techniques of dissolved air flotation, foaming separation, and activated carbon packed electrolyzer, and that permits multifunctional treatment with compact equipment. The activated carbon packed electrolyzer, which forms the core of the new system, is a newly developed technique. The purification mechanism was established, and conditions of application to actual waste water were determined. The electrolyzer was combined with the dissolved air flotation and foaming separation methods, to make up an optimum system.With a 10 m³/d trially manufactured apparatus, a demonstration test on reuse of sewage was performed to study the performance and economics of the system. The desired target was achieved and prospects were gained for commercialization.     

Synthesis,assembled structure,and chiroptical properties of amino acid-based amphiphilic block copolymers containing carbazole moiety

Novel amphiphilic block copolymers composed of amino acid-based hydrophilic segment and carbazole-containing hydrophobic segment were synthesized by reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. N-Ethyl-3-vinylcarbazole (E3VC) was employed as a carbazole-containing monomer, which can be regarded as a styrene derivative. N-Acryloyl-l-proline methyl ester (A-Pro-OMe) was selected as an amino acid-containing monomer, which is a disubstituted acrylamide with proline moiety in the side chain. Chain extension from poly(A-Pro-OMe) to E3VC could be well controlled under suitable conditions and provided block copolymers with as-designed chain structures and low polydispersities. The block copolymers were also synthesized by RAFT polymerization of A-Pro-OMe using poly(E3VC) as a macro-chain transfer agent (macro-CTA). In both cases, the dithiobenzoate- and dithiocarbamate-terminated CTAs were compared, in terms of the polymerization rate, polydispersity of the product, controlled character, and block efficiency. We investigated the relationship between the ordered structures, optoelectronic and chiroptical properties of the resulting block copolymers, which were evaluated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), UV–vis, fluorescent, and CD measurements.     

Dependence of Josephson Current on Orientational Angle in Diffusive p-Wave Superconductor Junctions

We calculate Josephson current in p-wave superconductor (P)/diffusive normal metal (DN)/insulator/diffusive normal metal/p-wave superconductor junctions, using quasi-classical Green’s function theory. We study the dependence of the critical current on the orientational angle at various temperatures. We find that the critical current in these junctions are proportional to cos?αcos?β. Here, α and β are angles between the direction perpendicular to the interfaces, located between the DN and P, and the crystal axis of left and right P respectively.     

Theory of Josephson Effect in Sr2RuO4/Diffusive Ferromagnet/Sr2RuO4 Junctions

We study Josephson effect in Sr₂RuO₄/insulator/diffusive ferromagnet (DF)/insulator/Sr₂RuO₄ junctions, solving the Usadel equation under a new boundary condition for DF/Sr₂RuO₄ interface. Josephson current is calculated changing temperatures, resistances of the interfaces between the DF and Sr₂RuO₄, the exchange field in the DF, and a length of the DF. We find that the exchange field can induce the 0–π transition in these junctions.     

An influence of commutation arc in gasoline on brush wear andcommutator

Many DC motors are used for automotive electrical equipment. Particularly, a motor for a fuel pump has a distinctive feature that its commutation is carried out in gasoline. Our previous study reported that brush wear in gasoline was much more than that in air. And also carbon brushes were sometimes severely worn in negative polar. In this paper, the wear of carbon brushes for negative polar, sliding against the copper commutator in gasoline and air is reported. In order to find the cause of severe wear on the carbon brush, we examined the range of brush wear, arc energy and the influence of arc on the commutator with changing commutation current: 5 A to 10 A. As a result, arc energy in air is larger than that in gasoline, but the range of brush wear is narrow. Commutator surface in gasoline is rougher than that in air. Excessive film is observed on the commutator surface when severe wear takes place     

Modeling of fuel performance and metallic fission product release behavior during HTTR normal operating conditions

The computer codes PANAMA and FRESCO developed at the Research Center Jülich have been used for the prediction of fuel performance and fission product release behavior during the normal operation of the Japanese High-Temperature Engineering Test Reactor, HTTR. Basis for the calculations was the so-called ‘Standard HTTR Operation Plan’ with a nominal operation time of 660 efpd including a 110 efpd period with enhanced fuel temperatures. Fuel performance model calculations with the PANAMA code have shown that for the temperature distribution given, only a small additional failure fraction is expected. The diffusive release of metallic fission products from the fuel occurs mainly from the central core layers with the maximum temperatures whereas there is little contribution from the upper layer. Silver most easily escapes the fuel. The release data for strontium and cesium also reveal a significant fraction to originate from still intact particles. The comparison with the calculations obtained with the JAERI models has shown a good agreement for the release from the coated particles.     

Interface Stress Response of Laminated Plates Subjected to Static and Impact Loads

This paper deals with the stress analysis of laminated sandwich beams subjected to static loads and impact loads. When the laminated sandwich beams are subjected to static loads, stress distribution at the interfaces is analyzed, by using two-dimensional theory of elasticity, as a contact problem. When the laminated sandwich beams are subjected to impact loads, the interface stress response is analyzed using FEM (DYNA3D). Experiments were conducted. A fairly good agreement is seen between the analytical and the experimental results. The effects of the ratios of Young's moduli for each beam on the interface stress response are clarified.     

Detection of codon 72 polymorphism of p53 gene from blood and loss of heterozygosity in brain tumors using polymerase chain reaction

We evaluated the efficacy of a new laparoscopic ultrasonic aspirator and applied it in gynecologic endoscopy. Two procedures were selected for preliminary evaluation of the instrument; ultrasonic aspiration for selective presacral neurectomies and total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH). The aspirator worked successfully in evacuating soft tissue and in adequately exposing the presacral plexus. In TLH we were able to skeletonize the broad ligament adventitia all the way to the level of the uterine arteries bilaterally, including exposure of the ureters. The time required for the procedures varied from case to case, and strongly depended on tissue type and on instruments used to dissect and improve visualization of the operative field. The aspirator may prove useful as an adjunctive in the surgical management of endometriosis, in laparoscopic lymphadenectomy, and in treating complex adhesions after further evaluation is completed.