Factors determining the stability, resolution, and precision of a conventional Raman spectrometer

We verified the performance of a conventional Raman spectrometer, which is composed of a 30 cm single polychromator, a Si based charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, and a holographic supernotch filter. For that purpose, the time change of the peak positions of Raman spectra of naphthalene and fluorescence spectra of ruby (Cr-doped Al(2)O(3)) were monitored continually. A time-dependent deviation composed of two components was observed: a monotonous drift up to 0.4 cm(-1) and a periodic oscillation with a range of 0.15 cm(-1). The former component was stabilized at approximately 2000 s after the CCD detector was cooled, indicating that incomplete refrigeration of the CCD detector induced the drift. The latter component synchronized with the periodic oscillation of the room temperature, indicating that thermal expansion or contraction of the whole apparatus induced this oscillation. The implemental deviation is reduced when measurements are conducted using a sufficiently cooled CCD detector at a constant room temperature. Moreover, the effect of the room temperature oscillation is lowered in a spectrum acquired over a duration that is longer than one cycle of this oscillation. Applying the least squares fitting method to carefully measured spectra enhanced the precision of the determination of the peak position to 0.05 cm(-1) using the spectrometer with pixel resolution of 1.5 cm(-1).     

Alignment of glycolipid nanotubes on a planar glass substrate using a two-step microextrusion technique

We have developed a two-step microextrusion technique to align lipid nanotubes of 200 nm in diameter in parallel on planar glass substrates. This technique is useful to align self-assembled molecular nanofibers or nanotubes with diameters ranging from 100 to 300 nm. In the first step, we applied relatively large air pressure (approximately 40 hPa) onto a microcapillary filled with aqueous dispersion of lipid nanotubes to push them out. An aqueous droplet with 60 microm diameter was then extruded from the tip of the microcapillary. After one end of the lipid nanotube moved out, we changed the air pressure to be smaller, approximately 20 hPa to reduce the flow rate of the dispersion. The decrease in size of the droplet allowed us to fix the exposed end of the lipid nanotube onto the planar substrate. By dragging the microcapillary along the planar surface, we were able to align the whole nanotube onto the substrate. Using this technique, we have achieved the parallel alignment of the lipid nanotubes on the glass substrate.     

Microbial communities in the garbage composting with rice hull as an amendment revealed by culture-dependent and -independent approaches

The diversity and succession of microbial communities during the garbage composting with rice hull as an amendment were studied by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and clone library analysis of PCR-amplified 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) with universal primers. Based on temperature changes, the composting process could be divided into thermophilic, cooling-down, and maturing stages. The DGGE profiles and clone library analysis revealed that the microbial community drastically changed during the composting process from the thermophilic to the maturing stages. The dominant bacterial group changed from the phylum Firmicutes in the thermophilic stage to the phylum Bacteroidetes in the maturing stage. This change in microbial communities may be significant for the composting process. The diversity of cultivated bacteria isolated from samples taken at various stages of the composting process was low. A total of 87 isolates were classified as belonging to only four different groups. These groups were also detected in the DGGE profiles and by the clone library analysis. Our study indicated that a combination of culture-dependent and -independent approaches could be very useful for monitoring both bacterial diversity and the succession of communities during the composting process. This study would be beneficial for assessing the ecological consequences of disposal of organic waste.     

Laboratory-performance study of quantitative PCR methods to analyze an approved genetically modified maize (Mon810 Line)

A laboratory-performance study was carried out to investigate factors affecting the reliability of the quantitative PCR method to analyze an approved genetically modified (GM) maize (Mon810 line). Test maize powdered samples were prepared as blind samples containing a high (assigned value; 5.45%) or low (assigned value; 0.35%) concentration of the Mon810 line. After confirmation of their homogeneity, they were provided to 27 laboratories participating in the collaborative study. The data were collected from all laboratories and statistically analyzed. Two laboratories, which used a Roche LightCycler (LC), reported significantly high test values. A further examination showed that the LC method is greatly affected by the equipment itself or PCR reagents, resulting in poor repeatability. On the other hand, some laboratories, which used ABI quantitative PCR equipment, reported erroneous test values. In these laboratories, the errors appeared to have been due to inadequate quality and/or yield of DNA. To identify factors affecting the test values, analysis of the measured values for the taxon-specific gene will be useful. Furthermore, the modified silica-gel membrane DNA extraction method made it possible to extract the required amounts of DNA more easily and in a shorter time than before.     

Development, reliability evaluation and service experiences of gas turbine blade life regeneration technology

To reduce the maintenance cost by extending the replacement life of gas turbine hot parts, various methods are being developed and practically used. The life-regeneration process using hot iso-static pressing (HIP), BLE (Blade Life Extension) process ^?, for the 1100°C-class gas turbine buckets is one of our accomplishments and is applied for more than 16 sets since 1999. Based on those accomplishments this technology was modified and applied for the 1300°C-class gas turbine buckets. Serviced buckets operated up to the scheduled life were used to identify how the microstructures and the mechanical properties of tensile, v-notch Charpy impact, creep and low cycle fatigue properties were rejuvenated by using this technology. The microstructures and mechanical properties were confirmed to rejuvenate equivalent to or even better than the new ones. Based on the above mentioned accomplishments, the regenerated buckets were reinstalled to 1300°C-class gas turbine rotors and operated successfully since 2004.     

Toward a mechanism of rattler coupling in the β-pyrochlores AOs2O6 (A = K,Rb, Cs)

We have applied ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to study metal–metal coupling on the alkali-metal sublattice in the β-pyrochlore osmates, AOs₂O₆ (A = K, Rb, Cs) at 300 K. We find that the dynamics of the alkali-metal atoms (rattlers) exhibit stronger rattler–rattler correlations than rattler–cage correlations, and that, at 300 K, this correlation is strongest for Cs. We show that the rattler–rattler correlations control the dominant dynamics in the rattling of these atoms. We provide preliminary evidence that the rattler correlated motion occurs primarily through two somewhat distinct vibrational modes: a high-energy mode (peak A) couples the rattlers to each other and a low-energy mode (peak B) couples the rattlers to the cage modes. Rattler–rattler correlated motion through the high-energy mode provides insight into the trend in spectral broadening from Cs to K. The spectral broadening is inversely proportional to the strength of the dynamical correlations on the alkali-metal sublattice which in turn depend on the atomic size of the rattler, decreasing from Cs to K. Thus, the broadest spectrum exhibited by the K is partly a consequence of the small size of this rattler which permits a greater range of motions involving combinations of both correlated and anti-correlated dynamics. We emphasize that the identification of the somewhat distinct roles of the high-energy (peak A) and low-energy (peak B) modes in rattler coupling reported in this work is a significant step toward a complete fundamental mechanism of rattler dynamical coupling in these osmates. We believe that such a mechanism will have profound implications for a broad class of cage compounds, including clathrates and skutterudites.     

High Power Characterization of Piezoelectric Materials

Three techniques for measuring high voltage/power piezoelectric properties, which have been developed recently, are compared: a voltage-constant piezoelectric resonance method, a current-constant piezoelectric resonance method, and a pulse drive method. The conventional resonance method with a constant voltage circuit exhibits significant distortion (or a hysteresis) in the resonance frequency spectrum under a high vibration level due to large elastic non-linearity, which limits precise determination of the electromechanical coupling parameters. To the contrary, the resonance method with a constant current circuit (i.e., constant velocity) can determine the coupling parameters more precisely from a perfectly-symmetrical resonance spectrum. The general problem in both resonance methods is heat generation in the sample during the measurement. In order to separate the temperature characteristic from the non-linearity, it is recommended that the pulse method be used in parallel, even though the accuracy is not very high.     

Metal–Ceramic Composite Actuators

A new type of actuator composed of metal (brass) end caps and piezoelectric ceramics has been developed as a displacement transducer. Shallow cavities positioned between the metal caps and the central ceramic disk convert and amplify the radial displacement of the piezoelectric ceramic into a large axial motion of the metal end caps. Large d ₃₃ coefficients exceeding 2500 pC/N are obtained with the composite actuators. The behavior of the electrically induced strain with geometric variables, such as the thickness of the metal end caps, and with pressing force and driving frequency has been evaluated. Sizeable strains are obtained with both PZT (piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate) and PMN (electrostrictive lead magnesium niobate) ceramics.