All-fiber Q-switched operation of thulium-doped silica fiber laser by piezoelectric microbending

We demonstrate an all-fiber Q-switched laser operation in the 2 μm region on the basis of a dynamic periodic microbend and pulsed-pump configuration. A single-mode thulium-doped silica fiber is pumped by 1.6 μm-band laser diodes, and the dynamic loss is introduced in the fiber ring resonator by the periodic microbend that is electrically controlled with a piezoelectric actuator. When the voltage-off period of the piezoelectric actuator is set at 20 μs for the pump power of 120 mW, the output pulse power is measured by 420 mW with a pulse width of 1.3 μs.     

Radiation effects on mixed turbulent natural and forced convection in a horizontal channel using direct numerical simulation

The purpose of this study is to clarify the radiation effects on mixed turbulent convection in a horizontal channel. The present study provides turbulence statistics using direct numerical simulation (DNS) in an optically thin medium. When the radiation effect is considered, the flow structure and the temperature distribution in the channel change with an increase in the optical thickness of the fluid. The radiation effect changes the distributions of the temperature fluctuation intensity and the turbulent heat flux. These radiation effects on mixed convection can be clearly explained by the turbulence statistics obtained from the DNS results.     

Effects of grain size and dislocation density on the susceptibility to high-pressure hydrogen environment embrittlement of high-strength low-alloy steels

The tensile properties of several high-strength low-alloy steels in a 45 MPa hydrogen atmosphere at ambient temperature were examined with respect to the effects of grain size and dislocation density on hydrogen environment embrittlement. Grain size was measured using an optical microscope and dislocation density was determined by X-ray diffractometry. Both grain refinement and a reduction in dislocation density are effective in reducing the susceptibility to embrittlement. The steel that has high dislocation density or large grain size inclines to show a smooth intergranular fracture surface. Given only the grain size and dislocation density, a simple approximation of the embrittlement property of high-strength steel could be obtained. This method could be useful in selecting candidate materials in advance of the mechanical tests in high-pressure hydrogen gas.     

Intercalation-induced Esterification over a Layered Transition Metal Oxide

The layered transition metal oxide HNbMoO₆ is demonstrated to catalyze the esterification of lactic acid (a hydroxycarboxylic acid) with activity superior or comparable to conventional ion-exchange resins. Layered HNbMoO₆ also catalyzes the esterification of propionic acid (a carboxylic acid) in the presence of lactic acid, despite exhibiting negligible activity for any carboxylic acid as the sole reactant. X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements indicate that lactic acid is intercalated into the interlayer structure of the oxide whereas carboxylic acid is not. The intercalation mechanism thus greatly affects the catalytic activity of this layered catalyst.     

P2-type Na(x)[Fe(1/2)Mn(1/2)]O2 made from earth-abundant elements for rechargeable Na batteries

Rechargeable lithium batteries have risen to prominence as key devices for green and sustainable energy development. Electric vehicles, which are not equipped with an internal combustion engine, have been launched in the market. Manganese- and iron-based positive-electrode materials, such as LiMn(2)O(4) and LiFePO(4), are used in large-scale batteries for electric vehicles. Manganese and iron are abundant elements in the Earth's crust, but lithium is not. In contrast to lithium, sodium is an attractive charge carrier on the basis of elemental abundance. Recently, some layered materials, where sodium can be electrochemically and reversibly extracted/inserted, have been reported. However, their reversible capacity is typically limited to 100 mAh g(-1). Herein, we report a new electrode material, P2-Na(2/3)[Fe(1/2)Mn(1/2)]O(2), that delivers 190 mAh g(-1) of reversible capacity in the sodium cells with the electrochemically active Fe(3+)/Fe(4+) redox. These results will contribute to the development of rechargeable batteries from the earth-abundant elements operable at room temperature.     

A Study on Development of a Hybrid Aerial/Terrestrial Robot System for Avoiding Ground Obstacles by Flight

To date, many studies related to robots have been performed around the world. Many of these studies have assumed operation at locations where entry is difficult, such as disaster sites, and have focused on various terrestrial robots, such as snake-like, humanoid, spider-type, and wheeled units. Another area of active research in recent years has been aerial robots with small helicopters for operation indoors and outdoors. However, less research has been performed on robots that operate both on the ground and in the air. Accordingly, in this paper, we propose a hybrid aerial/terrestrial robot system. The proposed robot system was developed by equipping a quadcopter with a mechanism for ground movement. It does not use power dedicated to ground movement, and instead uses the flight mechanism of the quadcopter to achieve ground movement as well. Furthermore, we addressed the issue of obstacle avoidance as part of studies on autonomous control. Thus, we found that autonomous control of ground movement and flight was possible for the hybrid aerial/terrestrial robot system, as was autonomous obstacle avoidance by flight when an obstacle appeared during ground movement.      

The Potential of Using an Autogenous Tendon Graft by Injecting Bone Marrow Aspirate in a Rabbit Meniscectomy Model

Bone marrow aspirate (BMA) is an excellent source of cells and growth factors and has been used successfully for bone, cartilage, and soft-tissue healing. This study aimed to investigate the histological and biomechanical properties of autogenous tendon graft by injecting BMA and its protective effect against degenerative changes in a rabbit model of meniscal defects. Adult white rabbits were divided into untreated, tendon, and tendon + BMA groups, and meniscal defects were created in the knees. The tendon graft and articular cartilage status were evaluated by macroscopic and histological analysis at 4, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively among the three groups. The tendon graft in the tendon and tendon + BMA groups were used for biomechanical evaluation at 4, 12, and 24 weeks postoperatively. The meniscal covering ratio in the tendon + BMA group was better than that in the tendon and untreated groups at 12 and 24 weeks postoperatively. The matrix around the central portion of cells in the tendon + BMA group was positively stained by safranin O and toluidine blue staining with metachromasia at 24 weeks. The histological score of the tendon graft in the tendon + BMA group was significantly higher than that in the untreated and tendon groups at 12 and 24 weeks postoperatively. In the tendon + BMA group, cartilage erosion was not shown at 4 weeks, developed slowly, and was better preserved at 12 and 24 weeks compared to the untreated and tendon groups. Histological scores for the articular cartilage were significantly better in the tendon + BMA group at 24 weeks. The compressive stress on the tendon graft in the tendon + BMA group was significantly higher than that in the tendon group at 12 weeks postoperatively. Transplantation of autogenous tendon grafts by injecting BMA improved the histologic score of the regenerated meniscal tissue and was more effective than the tendon and untreated group for preventing cartilage degeneration in a rabbit model of massive meniscal defects.     

Premixed flame propagating into a narrow channel at a high speed, part 1: Flame behaviors in the channel

This paper deals with the transient behavior of a flame flowing into a narrow channel from a chamber filled with a propane---air mixture.

The flame was observed through direct or schlieren high speed photography, and at the same time the arrival at the entrance and exit of the channel were detected by ion gaps. From the experimental results it was found that in some cases the flame extinguished or hesitated in the channel before passing through. These behaviors were dependent on the equivalence ratio of the mixture, the channel width, and the flame inflow velocity.

Flame standstill in the channel is assumed to be caused by continuous quenching of hot reacting gas due to turbulent mixing with cold unburned gas at the contraction region established near the entrance of the channel. For any specific mixture, when the channel entrance is rounded or the inflow velocity is low, the minimum width of the channel for which a flame will run through without any retardation becomes smaller compared with the case of a sharp-edged entrance or a high inflow velocity. On the contrary, the minimum width of the channel for which a flame cannot pass through does not depend on the corner roundness of the channel entrance or the inflow gas velocity.