Ion beam induced luminescence of polyethylene terephthalate foils under MeV H and He ion bombardment

The evolution of the ion beam induced luminescence (IBIL) of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) foils was studied under the irradiation of H and He ions of MeV energy. The optical and chemical changes of the samples were also examined by photo-stimulated luminescence and optical absorption measurements after the irradiation. A prominent broad emission peak of IBIL appeared at around 380 nm, and its intensity monotonically decreased during the ion irradiation. The decay curves of the emission intensity were quantitatively explained as a function of the electronic energy deposition of the incident H and He ions. On the contrary, to the decrease of the main emission peak, a growth of new peaks was observed in the wavelengths between 500 and 600 nm.     

Mixing speed-controlled gold nanoparticle synthesis with pulsed mixing microfluidic system

Gold nanoparticles with diameters of a few tens of nanometer and a narrow size distribution were synthesized using a pulsed mixing method with a microfluidic system which consists of a Y-shaped mixing microchannel and two piezoelectric valveless micropumps. This mixing method enables control of the mixing speed of gold salts and reducing agent by changing the switching frequency of the micropumps, which was our focus to improve the particle size distribution, which is an essential parameter in gold nanoparticle synthesis. In the proposed method, the mixing time was inversely proportional to the switching frequency and the minimum mixing time was 95 ms at a switching frequency of 200 Hz. During synthesis experiments, the mean diameter of the synthesized gold nanoparticles was found to increase, and the coefficient of variation of particle size was found to decrease with decreasing mixing time. We successfully improved the coefficient of variation to less than 10% for a mean diameter of around 40 nm.     

Effects of plating factors on morphology and appearance of electrogalvanized steel sheets

Because the lightness, the gloss and the press-formability of electrogalvanized steel sheets change depending on the morphology of deposited Zn, control of this factor is essential to improving these properties. The effects of plating factors on the morphology of deposited Zn were systematically discussed both from the crystallographic viewpoint of epitaxy between Zn and steel and from the electrochemical viewpoint of the overpotential for Zn deposition. Plating factors include crystal orientation of steel substrate, current density, flow rate, temperature, addition of inorganic compounds to the solution and pre-adsorption of organic compounds. These plating factors affect the overpotential for Zn deposition and epitaxy between Zn and steel. The crystal orientation index of the Zn basal plane and the platelet crystal size of Zn are decreased with increasing the overpotential for Zn deposition. They are also decreased with decreasing the epitaxy between Zn and steel, even when the overpotential is kept constant. When the overpotential for Zn deposition is increased, the surface roughness of deposited Zn increases because of an increase in the inclination of the Zn basal plane to the steel substrate. When the epitaxy between Zn and steel is decreased without changing the overpotential, the surface roughness is reduced due to the decrease in platelet crystal size of Zn, although the inclination of the Zn basal plane is somewhat increased. The lightness of deposited Zn is enhanced with decreasing the surface roughness of Zn.     

Fabrication and operation limit of lead-free PTCR ceramics using BaTiO3–(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3 system

The electric properties of BaTiO₃–(Bi_1/2Na_1/2)TiO₃ (BT–BNT) solid solution ceramics were studied as a lead-free PTCR (positive temperature coefficient of resistivity) thermistor material usable over 130°C. For determining the maximum switching temperature T _s, the phase diagram of BT–BNT binary system was clarified. Two semiconductorization processes and their electric properties are described. The lanthanum(La)-doped BBNT ceramics sintered in air still showed dielectric behaviors, but the niobium(Nb)-doped ones had a low resistivity at room temperature, ρ _RT, on the order of 10³ Ωcm and showed a PTC behavior. Sintering under a low O₂ atmosphere produces BT–BNT ceramics with less than 10² Ωcm compared to those prepared in air. Our current research produced the BBNT ceramics with T _s values around 210°C by increasing the (Bi_1/2Na_1/2) content in the ceramics.     

Biochip with integrated pumps for plug-based sequential exchange of solutions

A novel method for exchanging solutions used in biochemical analyses and a device to carry out the exchange are proposed. An array of plugs formed using six injectors was transported in a microflow channel using a main pump located at one end of the main flow channel. The injectors and main pump were operated on the basis of the change in volume caused by the electrolysis of water. Bubbles were produced from working electrodes; these bubbles caused a diaphragm placed below the injectors to inflate and occlude the inlet of the solution reservoir. Increase in the number of bubbles caused the reservoir to inject the solution into the main flow channel in the form of a plug. Each plug was individually transported downstream to the sensing area by the main pump, which was operated in a similar manner to the injector. The device was used for the detection of a tumor marker, α-fetoprotein (AFP). Plugs of necessary solutions were individually transported to the sensing area with immobilized primary antibodies to allow antigen–antibody binding, cleaning, and detection. The fluorescence intensity from the antibodies showed clear dependence on the concentration of AFP. The immobilization of antibodies could also be carried out on-chip.     

Product mix problems considering several probabilistic conditions and flexibility of constraints

This paper considers product mix problems including randomness of future returns, ambiguity of coefficients and flexibility of upper value with respect to each constraint such as budget, human resource, time and several costs. Particularly, the flexibility is assumed to be a fuzzy goal. Then, several models based on maximizing total future profits under a level of satisfaction to each fuzzy goal are proposed. Furthermore, the model considering preference ranking to each fuzzy goal of constraints is proposed. Since these problems are basically formulated as nonlinear programming problems, the transformations into deterministic equivalent problems are introduced and the efficient solution methods are developed. A numerical example for product mix problem is given to illustrate our proposed models.     

Elevation of plasma levels of L-dopa in transdermal administration of L-dopa-butylester in rats

To increase delivery of L-dopa in its transdermal absorption, a new lipophilic derivative of L-dopa, L-dopa-butylester, was synthesized. An in-vitro study employing two-chamber diffusion cells, in which the excised rat abdominal skin was mounted, revealed that, in the presence of L-menthol and ethanol, L-dopa-butylester penetrated in its original form more effectively than L-dopa. L-Dopa-butylester sheets were made by immersing wiper sheets in methanol containing the compound, and then evaporating the methanol. An extraction study of the compound from the sheets revealed that its stability was maintained for at least 12 weeks. In an in-vivo cutaneous absorption study, an L-dopa-butylester sheet was attached to the shaved rat abdominal skin. A hydrogel containing L-menthol and ethanol was spread on vinyl tape, and this sheet was placed over it. In plasma, the L-dopa level rose linearly between 30 and 180 min after the cutaneous application; L-dopa-butylester was not detected. The L-dopa level was higher than that in which L-dopa was applied. These findings indicated that the lipophilic nature of L-dopa-butylester further increased its penetration through the skin, and that L-dopa-butylester that was taken up into the general circulation system was rapidly converted to L-dopa by hydrolysis in the body.     

Composition dependence of young’s modulus in Ti-V, Ti-Nb, and Ti-V-Sn alloys

The Young’s modulus of Ti-V and Ti-V-Sn alloys quenched from the β-phase region after solution treatment and cold rolling was investigated in relation to alloy compositions, microstructures, and constituent phases. The composition dependence of the Young’s modulus for quenched Ti-V binary alloys shows two minima of 69 GPa at Ti-10 mass pct V and 72 GPa at Ti-26 mass pct V. Between the two compositions, athermalω or stress-induced ω is introduced in retainedβ phase and increases Young’s modulus. That is, a low Young’s modulus is attained unless alloys undergoω transformation. In Ti-5 and -8 mass pct V, which under goα′ (hcp) martensitic transformation on quenching, the Young’s modulus further decreases by cold rolling, which can be reasonably explained by the formation ofα′ rolling texture. Comparing Young’s modulus in Ti-V binary alloy with that in Ti-Nb binary alloy, it is found that Young’s modulus is remarkably increased by athermal- or stress inducedω phase, and it shows a minimum when both martensitic andω transformation are suppressed during quenching in metastableβ alloys. The Sn addition to Ti-V binary alloy retards or suppresses athermal and stress-inducedω transformation, thereby decreasing Young’s modulus. Young’s modulus exhibits minimum values of 51 GPa in quenched (Ti-12 pct V)-2 pct Sn and of 57 GPa in cold-rolled (Ti-12 pct V)-6 pct Sn.     

Immobilization-induced and crowded environment-induced stress delay barrier recovery in murine skin

To examine the effect of stress on skin homeostasis, cutaneous barrier recovery was measured in rate exposed to immobilization stress after tape stripping or sodium dodecyl sulphate treatment. The barrier function was evaluated by measuring transepidermal water loss. Barrier recovery was delayed in rats exposed to stress in comparison with untreated controls. This tendency was observed in both male and female animals. The delay in barrier recovery was blocked by application of the sedative drugs diazepam and chlorpromazine. The barrier recovery rate in mice which were kept at a high population density (10 animals per cage) for 2 weeks was slower than that in mice kept at lower population densities (five animals or one animal per cage). These animal models could be useful for objectively quantifying the influence of stress on the cutaneous function.     

Leaching and cytotoxicity of formaldehyde and methyl methacrylate from acrylic resin denture base materials

Acrylic resin dentures have the potential to elicit irritation, inflammation, and an allergic response of the oral mucosa. Studies of substances leachable from acrylic resins, their cytotoxicity to cultured cells, and means of reducing their leaching were systematically conducted. Under in vivo and in vitro conditions, formaldehyde and methyl methacrylate were significantly leached into human saliva and saliva-substitute buffer, especially from autopolymerized resins. Both leachable substances showed cytotoxic potentials in the range of their leaching concentrations. Formaldehyde was cytotoxic at lower concentrations than methyl methacrylate. Preleaching in water reduced subsequent leaching of both formaldehyde and methyl methacrylate, and the amount of reduction depended on an increase in the preleaching temperatures. Immersion of acrylic resin dentures in hot water (50 degrees C) before insertion is recommended, especially for autopolymerized resins used either for rebasing or as denture base materials, to minimize the risk of adverse reactions in patients who wear acrylic resin dentures.