Wave-optical evaluation of interference fringes and wavefront phase in a hard-x-ray beam totally reflected by mirror optics

The intensity flatness and wavefront shape in a coherent hard-x-ray beam totally reflected by flat mirrors that have surface bumps modeled by Gaussian functions were investigated by use of a wave-optical simulation code. Simulated results revealed the necessity for peak-to-valley height accuracy of better than 1 nm at a lateral resolution near 0.1 mm to remove high-contrast interference fringes and appreciable wavefront phase errors. Three mirrors that had different surface qualities were tested at the 1 km-long beam line at the SPring-8/Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute. Interference fringes faded when the surface figure was corrected below the subnanometer level to a spatial resolution close to 0.1 mm, as indicated by the simulated results.     

Prototyping and optical evaluation of 9‐in. OCB time‐division‐multiplexing 18‐view 3‐D display

Abstract— An integral imaging time‐division‐multiplexing 18‐view 3‐D display based on the one‐dimensional integral‐imaging (1‐D‐II) technique using a 9‐in. OCB‐LCD, lenticular sheet, and active shutter has been developed. By simulating a lens shape and a shutter structure and analyzing the light‐beam profile of the increasing‐parallax‐number region to find the best conditions, depth range, and viewing angle were an enhanced and a brighter and flicker‐less 3‐D image with smooth motion parallax was obtained.     

Assessment of the activities of catalysts for the hydrocracking of coal by means of hydrogen evolution

A close relation has been found between hydrogen evolution from coal-catalyst and pitch-catalyst systems and catalytic activities of liquefaction reactions. A MoO₃?TiO₂ catalyst has the highest activity and the order of activity of the catalysts for hydrogen evolution is: MoO₃?TiO₃> MoO₃?SiO₂>10% $\text{Fe}{}_2\text{O}{}_3\text{TiO}{}_2\text{?AI}{}_2\text{O}{}_3\text{>}\text{coal alone}$. The same trend was observed for benzene-soluble materials for the hydrocracking of Akabira Coal.     

Treatment of Single or Multiple Brain Metastases by Hypofractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy Using Helical Tomotherapy

This study investigated the clinical outcomes of a 4-fraction stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) study using helical tomotherapy for brain metastases. Between August 2009 and June 2013, 54 patients with a total of 128 brain metastases underwent SRT using tomotherapy. A total dose of 28 or 28.8 Gy at 80% isodose was administered in 4 fractions for all tumors. The mean gross tumor volume (GTV) was 1.9 cc. Local control (LC) rates at 6, 12, and 18 months were 96%, 91%, and 88%, respectively. The 12-month LC rates for tumors with GTV ≤0.25, >0.25 and ≤1, and >1 cc were 98%, 82%, and 93%, respectively; the rates were 92% for tumors >3 cc and 100% for >10 cc. The 6-month rates for freedom from distant brain failure were 57%, 71%, and 55% for patients with 1, 2, and ≥3 brain metastases, respectively. No differences were significant. No major complications were observed. The 4-fraction SRT protocol provided excellent tumor control with minimal toxicity. Distant brain failure was not so frequent, even in patients with multiple tumors. The results of the current study warrant a prospective randomized study comparing single-fraction stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with SRT in this patient population.     

Molten-Salt Synthesis and Characterization of Nickel-Doped Forsterite Nanocrystals

Nickel-doped forsterite (Ni²⁺:Mg₂SiO₄) nanocrystals have been synthesized by a facile molten-salt approach in the presence of NaCl and a surfactant (NP-7.5). The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution TEM, selected area electron diffraction (SAED), and luminescence spectra measurements. The crystal size could be controlled by tailoring the synthesis parameters. TEM, high-resolution TEM, and SAED results revealed the single crystalline character of Mg₂SiO₄ nanoparticles. A possible model for the growth of Ni²⁺:Mg₂SiO₄ nanocrystals was postulated. The obtained Ni²⁺:Mg₂SiO₄ nanocrystals show strong, super broad, near-infrared luminescence at room temperature. These doped Mg₂SiO₄ nanocrystals are promising gain mediums for super broadband optical amplification.     

HPLC/PDA determination of carminic acid and 4-aminocarminic acid using relative molar sensitivities with respect to caffeine

To accurately determine carminic acid (CA) and its derivative 4-aminocarminic acid (4-ACA), a novel, high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC/PDA) method using relative molar sensitivity (RMS) was developed. The method requires no analytical standards of CA and 4-ACA; instead it uses the RMS values with respect to caffeine (CAF), which is used as an internal standard. An off-line combination of ¹H-quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-qNMR) and HPLC/PDA was able to precisely determine the RMSs of CA^274nm/CAF^274nm and 4-ACA^274nm/CAF^274nm. To confirm the performance of the HPLC/PDA method using RMSs, the CA and 4-ACA contents in test samples were tested using four different HPLC-PDA instruments and one HPLC-UV. The relative standard deviations of the results obtained from five chromatographs and two columns were less than 2.7% for CA^274nm/CAF^274nm and 1.1% for 4-ACA^274nm/CAF^274nm. The ¹H-qNMR method was directly employed to analyse the CA and 4-ACA contents in test samples. The differences between the quantitative values obtained from both methods were less than 5% for CA and 3% for 4-ACA. These results demonstrate that the HPLC/PDA method using RMSs to CAF is a simple and reliable quantification method that does not require CA and 4-ACA certified reference materials.     

Characteristic analysis and trial manufacture of permanent‐magnetic type linear generator

This paper describes the design and trial manufacture of a linear generator which can convert any mechanical vibration of an automobile to electrical energy. A mover, which includes permanent magnets, is linearly driven through a stator by vibrations. The Nd‐Fe‐B magnets in the mover are placed facing the same magnetic poles in order to produce a change of magnetic flux in the coils of the stator. The coils are placed in the stator with the same intervals as the magnets. Successive coils are wound in opposite directions and are connected in series. A magnetic iron core covering the stator makes the magnetic flux extend through the case and reduces flux canceling in the coils of the stator. The distribution of the magnetic field, the electromotive force, and the driven power of the mover were calculated by numerical simulations in order to determine the size of the linear generator. A linear generator and experimental apparatus were built on the basis of the simulation. The performance characteristics were tested in experiments, and the produced linear generator was confirmed to be useful as an onboard auxiliary power supply. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 166(3): 94– 100, 2009; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20751     

Cytocompatibility and mechanical properties of novel porous 316 L stainless steel

Novel 316 L stainless steel (SS) foam with 85% porosity and an open pore diameter of 70–440 μm was developed for hard tissue application. The foam sheet with a 200-μm diameter had superior cell proliferation and penetration as identified through in vitro experiments. Calcification of human osteosarcoma cells in the SS foam was observed. Multi-layered foam preparation is a potential alternative technique that satisfies multi-functional requirements such as cell penetration and binding strength to the solid metal. In tensile tests, Young's modulus and the strength of the SS foam were 4.0 GPa and 11.2 MPa respectively, which is comparable with human cancellous bone.     

Effects of electric field stimulation timing on calcium dynamics of cultured cardiomyocytes

In this article, in order to propose the effective and low‐intensity stimulation method for cardiomyocyte, electric field stimulation was applied to cultured cardiomyocytes, and its responses were recorded and analyzed in term of applied timing by calcium imaging. As a result, we confirmed that electric field stimulation after peak of calcium transients (late‐phase stimulation) lengthened the full width at third maximum of calcium transient cycles temporarily. By optimizing the applied timing, electric field stimulation would be more effective method for controlling cardiomyocyte dynamics. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Visible-light active photocatalytic WO3 films loaded with Pt nanoparticles deposited by sputtering

Visible-Light active photocatalytic tungsten trioxide (WO3) films were deposited at a substrate temperature of 800 degrees C by dc reactive magnetron sputtering using a W metal target. In addition, Platinum (Pt) was deposited on the WO3 film surfaces at room temperature, also by sputtering. In the early stages of Pt growth, formation of Pt nanoparticles could be expected because of the island structure observed in Volmer-Weber-type growth mode. The surface coverage of Pt on the WO3 films was estimated quantitatively by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and was found to be approximately 60% after 7 s deposition. High resolution electron microscopy (HREM) demonstrated that Pt nanoparticles with a diameter of about 2.5 nm were generated and dispersed uniformly on the entire surface area of the columnar polycrystalline WO3 films. These Pt-loaded films exhibited high photocatalytic activity in the decomposition of acetaldehyde (CH3CHO) under visible light irradiation.