Efficient spin resolved spectroscopy observation machine at Hiroshima Synchrotron Radiation Center

Highly efficient spin- and angle-resolved photoelectron spectrometer named ESPRESSO (Efficient SPin REsolved SpectroScopy Observation) machine has been developed at the beamline BL-9B in Hiroshima Synchrotron Radiation Center. Combination of high-resolution hemispherical electron analyzer and the high-efficient spin detector based on very low energy electron diffraction by the ferromagnetic target makes the high-energy resolution and angular resolution compatible with spin- and angle-resolved photoemission (SARPES) measurement. 7.5 meV in energy and ±0.18° in angular resolution have been achieved with spin resolution. The ESPRESSO machine, combination of quick energy-band dispersion measurement and Fermi surface mapping by two-dimensional electron detector for the spin integrated ARPES and the high-efficient spin analysis by the efficient spin detector realizes the comprehensive investigation of spin electronic structure of materials.     

Thermodynamic assessment of the Cu−Pt system

A CALPHAD assessment of the Cu−Pt system has been carried out. Two and four sublattice models were applied to describe the Gibbs free energies of ordered phases where the contribution of SRO is taken explicity into account through the reciprocal parameters. The disordered fcc A1 and liquid phases were treated as substitutional solutions. A consistent set of parameters for the phases in the Cu−Pt system as obtained, and those parameters can satisfactorily reproduce the experimental phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties, such as enthalpies, activity of Cu, and long-range order parameters. This paper was presented at the International Symposium on User Aspects of Phase Diagrams. Materials Solutions Conference and Exposition, Columbus, Ohio, 18–20 October, 2004.     

Experimental attempts of sub-micrometer order size machining using micro-EDM

So far, parts larger than several micrometers can be machined by micro-electrical discharge machining (micro-EDM). However, with the growing demands for even smaller parts, sub-micrometer order machining or even nanometer order machining are increasingly required in various industrial areas. In order to meet these requirements, the study on sub-micrometer order manufacturing has become considerably important. In the present study, experimental attempts of sub-micrometer order size machining using micro-EDM was performed, in which the smallest possible size that can be achieved for machined parts was examined, and the factors affecting the manufacturing of sub-micrometer parts were investigated. The results showed that insufficient positioning accuracy, smallest discharge energy and the machined shape error due to the influence of gap control and thermal deformation are not suitable for sub-micrometer machining. Disregarding positioning accuracy and machined shape error, cemented tungsten carbide (WC) and cemented tungsten carbide made of super fine particles (SWC) are relatively better than tungsten (W) from the viewpoint of material structure and influence of residual stress. In particular, SWC is more suitable than WC because both crystal grains size and size of defects among grains are smaller. Setting the polarity of workpiece negative was found to contribute to achieving sub-micrometer machining if the material removal rate is disregarded. Based on these investigation results, sub-micrometer machining using SWC was attempted. The minimum diameter obtained was about 2.8 μm.     

Experimental validation of steering torque feedback simulator through vehicle running test

This paper describes a force feedback system based on real-time multibody dynamic analysis. This system can provide the analyzed reactive force to the operator through the operational device. In this study, this system is used as a steering torque feedback simulator of an automobile. This simulator can provide the haptic sensation of the steering wheel to the operator. For the purpose of evaluating the validity of the developed simulator, we conducted some vehicle running tests with an experimental electric vehicle. The results of these tests were compared with the results simulated on the steering torque feedback simulator. It was shown that the developed simulator can provide a suitable steering torque to the operator. This paper was presented at the 4th Asian Conference on Multibody Dynamics(ACMD2008), Jeju, Korea, August 20–23, 2008. Dr. Taichi Shiiba received a Doctor of Engineering from The University of Tokyo in 2001. He became an Associate Professor at Meiji University in 2007. A Member of JSME and JSAE, his major areas are multibody dynamics, vehicle dynamics, and driving simulators. Wataru Murata received a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Meiji University in 2007. His research interests are vehicle dynamics, real-time analysis, and multibody dynamics.     

Fast unsupervised adaptation based on efficient statistics accumulation using frame independent confidence within monophone states

This paper proposes a fast unsupervised acoustic model adaptation technique with efficient statistics accumulation for speech recognition. Conventional adaptation techniques accumulate the acoustic statistics based on a forward–backward algorithm or a Viterbi algorithm. Since both algorithms require a state sequence prior to statistic accumulation, the conventional techniques need time to determine the state sequence by transcribing the target speech in advance. Instead of pre-determining the state sequence, the proposed technique reduces the computation time by accumulating the statistics with state confidence within monophone per frame. It also rapidly selects the appropriate gender acoustic model before adaptation, and further increases the accuracy by employing a power term after adaptation. Recognition experiments using spontaneous speech show that the proposed technique reduces computation time by 57.3% while providing the same accuracy as the conventional adaptation technique.     

Mechanical and thermal properties of potassium salts of poly(ethylene‐co‐ethylacrylate): Polyolefin ionomers in the absence of acid groups

The thermal and mechanical properties of ionomers prepared by partial saponification of poly(ethylene‐co‐ethylacrylate) (EEA) with potassium were investigated by using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The Vicat softening temperature (VST) and bending modulus were also evaluated. Molecular design of the present EEA‐based ionomers eliminates acid groups, which affect ionic aggregates for conventional ionomers. The DSC results showed that the melting enthalpy and main crystallization temperature decreased as the ion content increased, whereas on the other hand, the crystal melting temperature at about 360 K did not depend on the ion content, and a secondary exothermal peak was observed in the cooling process. The variance of the VST increased as the crystallinity decreased. The temperature‐dependent curves of DMA data of the EEA‐based potassium ionomers with a higher ion content showed elastic plateau even at temperatures above their crystal melting points. Our results indicate the existence of strong cross‐linking mediated by ion aggregates. The quadratic increase of stiffness as a function of ion content, increasing VST with decreasing crystallinity, and elastic plateau of temperature‐dependent moduli above crystal melting temperature are significant characteristics of the EEA‐based potassium ionomers, which contain ionic aggregations without acid group presence. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:1843–1848, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Abiotrophia defectiva DnaK Promotes Fibronectin-Mediated Adherence to HUVECs and Induces a Proinflammatory Response

Abiotrophia defectiva is a nutritionally variant streptococci that is found in the oral cavity, and it is an etiologic agent of infective endocarditis. We have previously reported the binding activity of A. defectiva to fibronectin and to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). However, the contribution of some adhesion factors on the binding properties has not been well delineated. In this study, we identified DnaK, a chaperon protein, as being one of the binding molecules of A. defectiva to fibronectin. Recombinant DnaK (rDnaK) bound immobilized fibronectin in a concentration-dependent manner, and anti-DnaK antiserum reduced the binding activity of A. defectiva with both fibronectin and HUVECs. Furthermore, DnaK were observed on the cell surfaces via immune-electroscopic analysis with anti-DnaK antiserum. Expression of IL-8, CCL2, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 was upregulated with the A. defectiva rDnaK treatment in HUVECs. Furthermore, TNF-α secretion of THP-1 macrophages was also upregulated with the rDnaK. We observed these upregulations in rDnaK treated with polymyxin B, but not in the heat-treated rDnaK. The findings show that A. defectiva DnaK functions not only as an adhesin to HUVECs via the binding to fibronectin but also as a proinflammatory agent in the pathogenicity to cause infective endocarditis.     

Synthesis,Chiroptical, and Redox Properties of Ferrocene‐Containing Optically Active Polymers

The Sonogashira–Hagihara coupling polymerization of ferrocene‐containing l ‐phenylalanine‐derived optically active o‐, m‐, p‐substituted bis(iodophenylene) monomers 1o , 1m , 1p with 1,4‐diethynylbenzene ( 2 ) and 1,4‐diethynyl‐2,5‐bis[2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]benzene ( 3 ) is carried out to obtain the corresponding polymers consisting of ferrocene, amino acid, and phenyleneethynylene moieties. In the solution state, poly( 1o ‐ 2 ), poly( 1o‐3 ), and poly( 1m ‐ 2 ) exhibit no circular dichroism (CD) signals in N,N‐dimethylformamide (DMF), while poly( 1m‐3 ), poly( 1p ‐ 2 ), and poly( 1p ‐ 3 ) exhibit CD signals assignable to the main chain chromophore, indicating the formation of certain chiral structures. In the solid state, poly( 1o ‐ 2 ), poly( 1o‐3 ), poly( 1m ‐ 2 ), and poly( 1m‐3 ) exhibit CD signals in the solid state, while poly( 1p ‐ 2 ), poly( 1p ‐ 3 ) does not, indicating the different aggregation manners of the polymers in the solution and solid states. The monomer and the polymers exhibit redox properties assignable to the ferrocene moieties. Thermal gravimetry analysis (TGA) measurements reveal that a 30% weight reduction occurs at 500 °C yielding black ferromagnetic solids.     

Thermodynamic modeling of hydrogen fueling process from high-pressure storage tank to vehicle tank

This study develops a hydrogen fueling station (HFS) thermodynamic model that simulates the actual fueling process in which hydrogen is supplied from a high-pressure (HP) storage tank into a fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) tank. To make the model as accurate as possible, we use the same components and specifications as in actual HFSs, such as a pressure control valve, a pre-cooling system, and an FCEV tank. After the components and their specifications are set, pressure and temperature profiles are set as the HP tank supply conditions. Based on the pressure and temperature profiles, the model solves for the temperature, pressure, and mass flow rate of hydrogen at each downstream position, including the inside of the vehicle tank. The values predicted by the model are compared with experimental data, and we show that the developed model makes it possible to accurately simulate those values at any position during the fueling process.     

A thin layer including a carbon material improves the rate capability of an electric double layer capacitor

We present a new method to improve the rate capability of an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC) using a thin polymer layer having a high concentration of carbon material on a current collector (CLC). A novel thermocuring coating composed of a glycol-chitosan, a pyromellitic acid and a conductive carbon powder can form stable CLC on a metal foil current collector simply by spreading and curing at 160 °C for a couple of minutes. We compared the performance of some demonstration EDLC cells using three kinds of current collector: a conventional aluminum oxide foil for EDLC, an aluminum foil and an aluminum foil with CLC. The cell with the CLC had a much higher rate capability than the cell without CLC. Only the CLC cell was able to discharge at a current density of 500C. This cell shows a slight deterioration in capacity in a high temperature, continuous charging, life test, and the CLC has a suppressing effect on the internal resistance increase of EDLCs. The use of a CLC film current collector is one of the most effective and simple methods for the improvement of EDLC rate performance. In particular, a current collector consisting of aluminum foil coupled with a CLC promises to be a low cost alternative to the aluminum oxide foil commonly used in EDLCs.