CO2 laser-induced weakening in chemically strengthened glass: Improvement in processability and its visualization by Raman mapping

Chemically strengthened glass has become essential in our daily lives and the demand is rapidly increasing in a variety of fields. However, the conventional cutting process is not applicable because of its tough layer with the compressive stress. To achieve higher-throughput production of the glass, we report spatially selective weakening of the compression layer by CO₂ laser scanning and provide its visualization by Raman mapping. We demonstrate cutting the scanned glass without shattering using a typical scribing wheel. Finally, we discuss the improvement in processability from the viewpoint of microscopic structures by means of thermal analysis and Raman spectroscopy.     

Human impacts on groundwater flow and contamination deduced by multiple isotopes in Seoul City, South Korea

The influence of human activities on the flow system and contamination of groundwater were investigated in Seoul City, South Korea, one of the largest Asian cities, using a combination of isotopes (δD, T, δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, δ³⁴S, and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr). Eighteen representative groundwater and river water samples, which were collected over a wide area of the city, were compared with previously reported data. The distribution of stable isotopes (δD and δ¹⁸O) with groundwater potential data shows that recharged groundwater from either the surrounding mountainous area as well as the Han River and other surface streams discharged towards the northern-central part of the city, where a subway tunnel pumping station is located. It is suggested from T values (3.3 to 5.8 T.U.) that groundwater was recharged in the last 30 to 40 years. The δ³⁴S and δ¹⁵N of SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻ data were efficiently used as indicators of contamination by human activities. These isotopes clarified that the contribution of anthropogenic contaminants i.e., industrial and household effluents, waste landfills, and fertilizers, are responsible for the enrichment by SO₄²⁻ (> 30 ppm as SO₄²⁻) and NO₃⁻ (> 20 ppm as NO₃⁻) of groundwater. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr values of groundwater vary (0.71326 to 0.75058) in accordance with the host rocks of different origins. Mineral elements such as Ca are also suggested to be derived naturally from rocks. The groundwater under Seoul City is greatly affected by transportation of pollutants along the groundwater flow controlled by subway tunnel pumping, contributing to the degradation of water quality in urbanized areas.     

Effects of support method and mechanical property of 300 mm silicon wafer on sori measurement

This paper describes the effects of support methods and mechanical properties of 300 mm silicon wafer on sori measurement. A new supporting method, named three-point-support method, used in the sori measurement of a large diameter silicon wafer was proposed in this study to obtain a more stable measuring process. The wafer was supported horizontally by three steel balls on the vertexes of a regular triangle at the wafer edge. The measuring repeatability and anti-disturbance ability were compared between the proposed method and the conventional one-point-support method, in which the wafer is supported with a small-area chuck at the wafer center. The effects of friction between the supports and wafer surface for the three-point-support were also estimated. Finally, the influences of different mechanical characteristics at the front and back surfaces and the crystal orientation on sori measurement were investigated.     

Regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and inhibition of tumor invasion by the membrane-anchored glycoprotein RECK

A human fibroblast cDNA expression library was screened for cDNA clones giving rise to flat colonies when transfected into v-Ki-ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. One such gene, RECK, encodes a membrane-anchored glycoprotein of about 110 kDa with multiple epidermal growth factor-like repeats and serine-protease inhibitor-like domains. While RECK mRNA is expressed in various human tissues and untransformed cells, it is undetectable in tumor-derived cell lines and oncogenically transformed cells. Restored expression of RECK in malignant cells resulted in suppression of invasive activity with concomitant decrease in the secretion of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a key enzyme involved in tumor invasion and metastasis. Moreover, purified RECK protein was found to bind to, and inhibit the proteolytic activity of, MMP-9. Thus, RECK may link oncogenic signals to tumor invasion and metastasis.     

Leaching of actinide elements from simulated fuel debris into seawater

For the prediction of the leaching behavior of actinide elements contained in the fuel debris that has arisen from the severe accident in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station (NPS), a simulated fuel debris consisting of UO₂–ZrO₂ solid solution doped with ¹³⁷Cs, ²³⁷Np, ²³⁶Pu and ²⁴¹Am tracers was synthesized, and agitated leaching tests were conducted for the simulated fuel debris in seawater. The synthesized simulated fuel debris was immersed and shaken in natural seawater collected at a coast 11 km away from Fukushima Daiichi NPS. The brief leaching test conditions were T = 25 °C and solid–liquid ratio = 4 g/l, and the test duration was up to 31 days. The ratio of tracers leached into seawater from the simulated fuel debris by the agitated leaching test for 4 days was evaluated to be 0.09% for U, 0.01% for Np, 0.01% for Pu, 0.01% for Am and 35.39% for Cs by the α or γ spectrometry of the soluble fraction. The leaching of actinides from the real fuel debris in reactor units 1–3 in Fukushima Daiichi NPS is expected to be suppressed in comparison with that from normal light water reactor spent fuel.     

Asymmetric Hydrophosphonylation of Aldehydes using a Cinchona–Diaminomethylenemalononitrile Organocatalyst

For the asymmetric hydrophosphonylation of aldehydes, an efficient organocatalytic approach with a diaminomethylenemalononitrile‐based hydrogen‐bonding donor catalyst is presented. The catalyst induces high yields and excellent enantioselectivities (up to 98% yield, 96% ee).

     

热时效对X80钢级埋弧焊管变形能力的影响

X80钢级管线钢管的应用促进了管线运行压力的提高,因此对基于应变的管线设计(SBD)来说,有必要对X80钢级埋弧焊管的应变能力进行测定。在对应变能力的测定中,热时效对屈服现象的影响便成为其重要因素。本次研究中,进行了全尺寸钢管弯曲试验和有限元分析(FEA),用以弄清热时效对X80钢级UOE直缝焊管应变能力的影响;并采用有限元分析法对应变能力与应变要求之间的关系进行了研究。     

Aerodynamic stabilization of a flexible optical disk with an asymmetrically and triangularly arranged stabilizer

We studied a flexible optical disk (FOD) system comprising a flexible disk and stabilizer. We improved the stabilizer system based on our previous design: a triangularlly arranged stabilizer system. The part that was improved was the arrangement of the stabilizers; we made them asymmetrically. We experimentally demonstrated that the asymmetrical design effectively controls the aerodynamic stabilization at a pickup focal point. The suppressed axial runout we actually evaluated at the focal point was less than 10 µm at a rotational speed from 1,000 to 7,000 and at radii from 35 to 50 mm. The asymmetrical effect corresponded well with the pressure field calculated using a coupled analysis, which combined a fluid and structural analysis.