Analysis of Mg content of Zn_(1-x)Mg_xO film grown on sapphire substrates by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

Semiconductor materials with wide band gap have been extensively used to fabri-cate the blue laser light emitting diodes and ultraviolet photodetectors, which are impor-tant elements of semiconductor instruments, such as displays, optical data storages, ul-traviolet sensors, electroluminescent devices and solar-blind detectors. This kind of ma-terials is now becoming a hot research object in semiconductor physics. GaN was the first suitable ultraviolet laser material people found in this real…     

A two-degree-of-freedom motor-powered gait orthosis for spinal cord injury patients

A number of orthoses have been developed to restore stance and walking in paraplegic subjects. Compliance, however, has been limited, mainly owing to walking effort. Use of the forces produced by actuators is an effective way to solve the problem of the considerable effort required for orthotic gait, namely high muscular effort and high energy expenditure. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of assistance by external actuators on the orthotic gait of spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Two kinds of linear actuator were developed by using direct current (d.c.) motors for assisting the knee and hip joint of a gait orthosis. They were mounted on the knee and hip joint of a commercial advanced reciprocating gait orthosis (ARGO), and a new two-degree-of-freedom externally powered gait orthosis was thus developed. The orthosis was assessed through inter-subject experiments on five male adult complete SCI patients. Owing to the short training period available for the assisted gait, simultaneous operation of both joint actuators was not conducted: either the knee actuation or the hip actuation was executed only. Thus, the knee actuator and the hip actuator were assessed with a T12 subject and with subjects for T5, T8, T11, and T12 respectively. The motions of the gaits, assisted by the linear actuators, were measured by a Vicon 370 system, and the general gait parameters and compensatory motions were evaluated. Results demonstrated that (a) all subjects could walk without falling, assisted either by the knee or the hip actuator; (b) both the knee and hip joint actuator increased the gait speed and the step length; (c) the knee flexion produced by the orthosis improved the dynamic cosmesis of walking; and (d) lateral compensatory motions as well as vertical ones tended to decrease when the hip joint was assisted, which could contribute to a reduction in walking effort.     

A framework for capacity planning and machine configuration in flexible assembly systems

We consider the problem of simultaneously determining the number of machines (and/or workers), the assignment of tasks (and related tools and components) to these machines, and the number of jobs circulating in a flexible assembly system (FAS), to satisfy steady-state throughput requirements for a family of similar products at minimum cost. We focus on situations where there are precedence relations among the various tasks, as is common in assembly systems. We present a framework for solving this problem based on a heuristic decomposition approach which involves the solution of only a few types of sub-problems. We demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of the overall procedure using a number of example problems.     

湖滨房屋 日本山梨

<正>这间房屋是一间单层别墅,坐落于山梨县富士山山脚的海滨地区。该地区面朝美丽的湖泊,是个非常迷人的地方。湖泊在微风和阳光的抚摸下泛起丝丝涟漪。湖泊两旁种植了高大的榉树和日本枫树。在设计房屋时,我们的主旨就是欣赏周围美丽的自然环境。整间房屋30米×6.3米,沿湖而建,因此在每个房间都可以欣赏湖泊的全景。房屋室内采用以白色为主题色的简约设计。没有任何装饰性元素的中性空间面朝美丽的大自然。室内采光十分充足,室     

Forgetting curve of cricket,Gryllus bimaculatus,derived by using serotonin hypothesis

It is thought that the adjustment of intraspecific aggression is an essential factor in the development of a social structure. To understand the natural laws for organizing the social structure, we focus on the fighting behavior of crickets, Gryllus bimaculatus, and investigate the neuronal mechanisms to adjust aggressiveness associated with a neuromodulatory biological amine: serotonin (5-HT).In this paper, we present a working theory of a neurophysiological mechanism based on the past biological studies on the 5-HT hypothesis, and a mathematical model of the mechanism. We analyzed this model and concluded that this neurophysiological mechanism makes the forgetting process slower. Next, we fitted our theoretical forgetting curve to an experimental curve and estimated the parameters of our model. These estimated values were in agreement with common belief in biological science.     

Surface Analysis of Cr2O3‐, CoO‐, and Al2O3‐Doped Iron–Phosphate Glasses at High Temperature

Surface structures of iron–phosphate glasses were examined using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cr₂O₃, CoO, and Al₂O₃ were introduced to the glass by the replacement of a part of Fe₂O₃, and the simulated fission products are also added. The obtained glasses showed high chemical durabilities by MCC‐1 test. In situ high‐temperature and room‐temperature XPS measurements were conducted on the polished sample surfaces and also those after 1‐week chemical durability test. Unique trends were observed in XPS spectra on heating and after the chemical durability test, respectively. Nature of the glass surface of iron–phosphate glasses was explained from the point of view of surface energy, and the origin of high chemical durability and the effect of chromium ions were discussed based on the changes on surface composition and valence states of transition‐metal ions.     

Metastatic Voyage of Ovarian Cancer Cells in Ascites with the Assistance of Various Cellular Components

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the most lethal gynecologic malignancy and has a unique metastatic route using ascites, known as the transcoelomic root. However, studies on ascites and contained cellular components have not yet been sufficiently clarified. In this review, we focus on the significance of accumulating ascites, contained EOC cells in the form of spheroids, and interaction with non-malignant host cells. To become resistant against anoikis, EOC cells form spheroids in ascites, where epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition stimulated by transforming growth factor-β can be a key pathway. As spheroids form, EOC cells are also gaining the ability to attach and invade the peritoneum to induce intraperitoneal metastasis, as well as resistance to conventional chemotherapy. Recently, accumulating evidence suggests that EOC spheroids in ascites are composed of not only cancer cells, but also non-malignant cells existing with higher abundance than EOC cells in ascites, including macrophages, mesothelial cells, and lymphocytes. Moreover, hetero-cellular spheroids are demonstrated to form more aggregated spheroids and have higher adhesion ability for the mesothelial layer. To improve the poor prognosis, we need to elucidate the mechanisms of spheroid formation and interactions with non-malignant cells in ascites that are a unique tumor microenvironment for EOC.     

Crystallization behavior of poly(l-lactic acid)

The crystallization behavior of poly(l-lactic acid) was studied in the range of 80-160 °C. The peak crystallization time (τ_p) was defined and obtained from the crystallization isotherm measured with a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Isothermal crystallization temperature (T_c) dependence of log(τ_p) discretely changed at 113 °C (= T_b). The linear growth rate of spherulite, G, was measured with a polarizing microscope. The T_c dependence of G and the size of the spherulite also discretely changed at T_b. Crystal structures for samples isothermally crystallized at temperatures which were higher and lower than T_b were orthorhombic (α-form) and trigonal (β-form), respectively. The discrete change of the crystallization behavior was explained by the formation of different crystal.     

Effect of copper pretreatment on the zincate process and subsequent electroplating of a protective copper/nickel deposit on the AZ91D magnesium alloy

To obtain a durable Ni coating with excellent adhesion strength on an AZ91D Mg alloy, a pretreatment was performed with a small amount of Cu²⁺ ions added to the activation bath used in the pretreatment prior to the plating process. In the pretreatment activation process, a high density Cu layer was deposited on both the α-phase and β-phase areas of the substrate accompanied with Mg dissolution. The Cu deposit acted as nucleation seeds for the Zn deposition in the following zincate process which provided a uniform and dense Zn layer almost completely covering the substrate. Then a thin Cu layer was electroplated on this zincated substrate as an undercoating for the succeeding electroplating with Ni. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy observations showed that the Cu deposited by the pretreatment enabled the deposition of a protective Ni layer with few defects. This structure also contributed to the improvement of adhesion strength and corrosion resistance as compared with the non-Cu added sample.