Dielectric Dispersion of Polycrystalline Aluminum Nitride at Microwave Frequencies

Complex permittivity of polycrystalline AlN was measured over the frequency range 100 MHz to 13 GHz using reflection coefficient and cavity resonator methods. Dielectric relaxation peaks of loss tangent were observed in the frequency range 200 MHz to 3 GHz. The maximum value of loss tangent was ∼200 × 10⁻⁴. Relative permittivities decreased by ∼4% with increased frequency at the region of relaxation peaks. It was shown that these dispersion frequencies were inversely proportional to the grain sizes of AlN and independent of purities and processes. Model calculations for elastic vibration of a single-crystal grain of AlN were performed to investigate the origin of the dielectric dispersion due to piezoelectric effect. The calculated results of elastic sphere and 14-faced-polyhedron models showed a good quantitative agreement with the observed dispersion frequencies, which suggested that the dispersion was due to a piezoelectric vibration of a single grain of AlN ceramics at microwave frequencies.     

Synthesis of thermoresponsive block and graft copolymers via the combination of living cationic polymerization and RAFT polymerization using a vinyl ether-type RAFT agent

A novel vinyl ether-type RAFT agent, benzyl 2-(vinyloxy)ethyl carbonotrithioate (BVCT) was synthesized for various block copolymers via the combination of living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers and reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The novel BVCT–trifluoroacetic acid adduct play an important role to produce well-defined block copolymers, which is both as a cationogen under EtAlCl₂ initiation system in the presence of ethyl acetate for living cationic polymerization and a RAFT agent for blocks by RAFT polymerization. The resulting polymer, poly(vinyl ether)s, by living cationic polymerization had a high number average α-end functionality (≥0.9) as determined by both ¹H NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS spectrometry. In addition, this poly(vinyl ether)s worked well as a macromolecular chain transfer agent for RAFT polymerization. The RAFT polymerization of radically polymerizable monomers was conducted in toluene using 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) at 70 °C. For example, a double thermoresponsive block copolymer (MOVE₆₁-b-NIPAM₁₅₀) consisting of 2-methoxyethyl vinyl ether (MOVE) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) was prepared via the combination of living cationic polymerization and RAFT polymerization. The block copolymer reversibly formed and deformed micellar assemblies above the phase separation temperature (T_ps) of poly(NIPAM) block in water. This BVCT is not only functioned as an initiator, but also acted as a monomer. When BVCT was copolymerized with MOVE by living cationic polymerization, followed by graft copolymerization with NIPAM via RAFT polymerization, well-defined graft copolymers (MOVE_n-co-BVCT_m)-g-NIPAM_x (n = 62–73, m = 1–9, x = 19–214) were successfully obtained. However, no micelle formed in water above T_ps of poly(NIPAM) graft chain unlike the case of block copolymers.     

The Effects of Different Types of Maleic Anhydride-Modified Polypropylene on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene-based Wood/Plastic Composites

Maleic anhydride-modified polypropylene (MAPP) is a compatibilizer used to improve the physical and mechanical properties of many wood/plastic composites (WPCs). The properties of WPCs containing MAPP differ according to the characteristics of the specific MAPP that it is used. In this study, the physical and mechanical properties, including shear viscosity, of polypropylene-based WPCs containing different types of MAPP were investigated before and after water absorption. The shear viscosity of MAPP increased with increasing molecular weight, but remained nearly constant for WPCs containing different types of MAPP. In dry conditions, the strongest WPC contained the MAPP with the highest acid value. The highest flexural modulus was observed with the WPC containing the MAPP with the highest molecular weight. In wet conditions, the WPC exhibiting the best mechanical properties contained a MAPP with a molecular weight of 58,000.     

Structure-Based Design,Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Imidazo[4,5-b]Pyridin-2-one-Based p38 MAP Kinase Inhibitors: Part 2

We identified novel potent inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase using a structure-based design strategy, beginning with lead compound, 3-(butan-2-yl)-6-(2,4-difluoroanilino)-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one ( 1 ). To enhance the inhibitory activity of 1 against production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in human whole blood (hWB) cell assays, we designed and synthesized hybrid compounds in which the imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one core was successfully linked with the p-methylbenzamide fragment. Among the compounds evaluated, 3-(3-tert-butyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-6-yl)-4-methyl-N-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)benzamide ( 25 ) exhibited potent p38 inhibition, superior suppression of TNF-α production in hWB cells, and also significant in vivo efficacy in a rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). In this paper, we report the discovery of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one-based p38 MAP kinase inhibitors.     

Development of biobased microwave absorbing composites with various magnetic metals and carbons

The preparation and characterization of a biobased electromagnetic absorbing composites derived from natural lacquer as a renewable resource with microwave‐absorption fillers, including Ni–Zn ferrite and carbonyl iron (CI) as magnetic metals and soot and carbon nanotube (CNT) as carbon materials, were investigated in terms of the gel content, hardness, drying properties, and electromagnetic absorption properties. Interestingly, composites with ferrite and CI contained up to 320 and 550 wt %, respectively, of these compounds. This quite high loading capacity of the metal fillers in a natural‐lacquer base could have been due to the high compatibility between the filler and the natural lacquer; this indicated that the natural lacquer worked as a binder for these metals. The morphology of the biobased composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The electromagnetic absorption properties of composites were characterized in the frequency range from 0.05 and 20 GHz by the reflection loss (RL) measurement method in terms of the kind of fillers and filler loading. The natural lacquer did not affect the absorption properties of the fillers. Biobased composites showed over 99% electromagnetic absorption in the frequency range 3.0–4.0 GHz for 280 wt % ferrite and 8.9–9.7 GHz for 200 wt % CI. Conversely, 10 and 20 wt % soot exhibited good performance (RL < ?20 dB) between 16.5 and 17.3 and between 8.8 and 9.2 GHz, respectively. The areas with RL values of less than ?20 dB of the CNT composites were 10.4–11.0 GHz for 5 wt % and 14.6–15.2 GHz for 10 wt %. Hence, natural lacquer can be used as a binder material for electromagnetic absorption composites. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44131.     

Analysis of Plasmalogen Species in Foodstuffs

Ethanolamine plasmalogen (PlsEtn), which is present at high levels in brains, is believed to be involved in neuronal protection. The present study was performed to search for PlsEtn resources in foodstuffs. The foodstuffs examined showed a wide range of PlsEtn contents from 5 to 549 μmol/100 g wet wt. The marine invertebrates, blue mussel, and ascidian had high PlsEtn contents (over 200 μmol/100 g wet wt). Profiling of the molecular species showed that the predominant fatty acids of PlsEtn species were 20:5 (EPA) and 22:6 (DHA) at the sn‐2 position of the glycerol moiety in marine foodstuffs, whereas major PlsEtn species in land foodstuffs were 20:4. Following quantitative analysis by multiple reaction monitoring, the ascidian viscera were shown to contain the highest levels of 18:0/20:5‐PlsEtn and 18:0/22:6‐PlsEtn (86 and 68 μmol/100 g wet wt, respectively). In order to evaluate a neuronal antiapoptotic effect of these PlsEtn species, human neuroblastoma SH‐SY5Y cells were treated with ethanolamine glycerophospholipid (EtnGpl), purified from the ascidian viscera, under serum starvation conditions. Extrinsic EtnGpl from ascidian viscera showed stronger suppression of cell death induced by serum starvation than with bovine brain EtnGpl. The EtnGpl from ascidian viscera strongly suppressed the activation of caspase 3. These results suggest that PlsEtn, especially that containing EPA and DHA, from marine foodstuffs is potentially useful for a therapeutic dietary supplement preventing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD).     

Sensorless vector controlled converter for variable speed wind generation system using an induction generator

This paper proposed two types of speed sensorless converters that can control rotational speed and electric power. One is based on a slip frequency control system. The other is based on a vector control system. The rotational speed of the wind turbine is estimated with the phase voltage and phase current of the induction generator by the adaptive rotor flux observer. The estimated wind turbine rotational speed ω_r^est is used as the feedback of the speed control loop in the converter control system. Also, the estimated rotor flux ?_2d^est is used for the vector control. The simulation results confirm that both of them perform satisfactorily under the speed sensorless operation. The method based on the vector control system generates more electrical energy than does the method based on the slip frequency control system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 159(4): 62–75, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20323     

Potentiality of a new minimum‐order back‐EMF state observer taking acceleration into account for sensorless vector control of permanent‐magnet synchronous motors

This paper proposes new sensorless vector control methods for permanent‐magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), which are based on a new minimum‐order back‐EMF state observer taking acceleration into account, and examines potentiality of the improved back‐EMF observer through experiments. Conventional sensorless vector control methods for PMSMs using an estimate of back‐EMF are established under the assumption of constant speed or zero acceleration, and consequently cannot operate properly at modes requiring rapid speed change especially in low speed region. On the other hand, the proposed back‐EMF observer has the following features: (1) it is a new back‐EMF state observer taking acceleration into account and requiring no additional approximation to motor mathematical model; (2) it is a minimum‐order state observer; (3) it utilizes motor parameters in the simplest manner; (4) it can be applied to both salient‐pole and non‐salient‐pole PMSMs; (5) it can be realized in both rotor and stator reference frames. Detailed designs and analyses for the improved state observer and the sensorless vector control systems in both rotor and stator reference frames are given. In relation to the sensorless vector control systems, this paper newly proposes a double‐integral‐type PLL method and an integral‐feedback‐type acceleration/speed estimation method. Their potentialities are examined through experiments. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 164(4): 78–92, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/ eej.20630     

To develop a quantitative method for predicting shrinkage porosity in squeeze casting

In order to secure high strength and high elongation of suspension parts, it is critical to predict shrinkage porosity quantitatively. A new simulation method for quantitative predic'don of shrinkage porosity when replenishing molten metal has been proposed for squeeze casting process. To examine the accuracy of the calculation model, the proposed method was applied to a plate model.