Interference effects on local peak pressures between two buildings

Local peak pressure coefficients between two buildings were studied by using wind tunnel experiments for various locations, different height ratios of interfering building and wind directions. The measured local peak pressure coefficients were compared to those obtained previously from a study on an isolated building. This study also investigated interference effects for local peak pressures on a principal building with various configurations and different height ratios of an interfering building. The experimental results have been examined and presented from the viewpoint of cladding design. The results show that highest peak suctions on a principal building increased with increase in height ratios of the interfering building. The oblique configuration generated more severe peak suction than the tandem configuration. To examine the interference effects for local peak pressures in detail, interference factors for maximum positive and minimum negative peak pressures at each measurement point (i, j) of the principal building for all wind directions are presented and discussed.     

Simulation experiments on the effect of freezing of carbon substrate catalyst

By adiabatic expansion due to the introduction of an evacuation process, the water drop of about 2 mm diameter were cooled to 243 K by forming ice drops at the triple point of water. The sublimation temperature of ice rapidly decreased 243 K within 60 s and remained constant for 80 s. Subsequently, it became room temperature in about 60 s and the water drop disappeared owing to sublimation. By repeating this process, carbon and catalyst were markedly altered. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based on in situ observation elucidated the freezing problem in polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC). Structural alterations of carbon due to freezing were observed and discussed as the oxidation phenomenon of carbon.     

Self-efficacy and learning experience of information education: in case of junior high school

The purpose of this study is to make clear the relationships between student’s self-efficacy and learning experience of information education in case of junior high school. Two investigations were implemented in this study. The aim of first investigation was to grasp the present status of students’ feeling of effectiveness of their learning experience in information education. Also, the aim of second investigation was to verify the relationships between students’ self-efficacy and the abilities for information utilizing that promoted in information education. The first investigation with a question: “What kind of a learning experience do you feel is useful in your life?” was conducted on 426 junior high school students. As a result, almost half of the students feel effectiveness of gaining computer-operating skills in “Information and Computer” class. Also, it is suggested that utilization of Internet could promote the feeling of effectiveness in current daily lives. In second investigation, the relationship between self-efficacy and abilities for information utilizing was examined by using multi-regression analysis on 544 junior high school students. As a result, abilities for information utilizing were affected from self-evaluation of “social position of abilities” and “positive attitude to activities” in self-efficacy. Also, self-efficacy was affected from “processing ability of information” and “creation ability of information” in abilities for information utilizing. By the results of these investigations, it is suggested that these two factors are formed as a gradual cycle which promote each other. From these results, some suggestions for improvement of classroom activities in information education were proposed.     

Improvement of tribological characteristics under water lubrication of DLC-coatings by surface polishing

To achieve a hydraulic power system, it is important to control tribology because water has a lack of lubricity. Therefore, coated surface is necessary under water lubrication. Diamond-like-carbon (DLC)-coating is known as a useful material because of its high hardness and low friction, therefore it can be used as a coating durable for the water lubrication. Deposition methods of DLC-coating are developed in various ways. Particles called “droplets” are observed on the surface of DLC-coating depends on deposition methods and it can affect friction and wear properties. In this study, DLC-coating was prepared using a multi-cathode unbalanced magnetron sputtering (UBMS) system. The surface was polished with diamond slurry solution and aero lap to remove droplets. DLC-coatings were evaluated by tribo-tests before and after polishing. It is considered that some surface modification occurred. Moreover, the results of tribo-tests show that friction coefficients became lower and more stable than before polishing. Although partial delamination was observed after tribo-tests without polishing, no appreciable wear was observed after polishing.     

Crisscross addition polymerization of alkyl aldazines and 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate

Crisscross addition polymerization of alkyl aldazines (i.e., acetaldehyde azine, propionaldehyde azine, and butyraldehyde azine (BuAz)) and 1,4-phenylene diisocyanate (Ph(IC)₂) was investigated under various conditions. The crisscross addition polymerizations in pyridine yielded polymers in higher yields. The polymers obtained in the present study exhibited very limited solubilities and contained fractions insoluble in conventional organic solvents. However, since the BuAz/Ph(IC)₂ polymers obtained at 24 and 48 h were soluble in pyridine, the M_w values for these polymers were determined to be 2.2 × 10³ and 4.4 × 10³, respectively, by small angle X-ray scattering. These data indicated that molecular weights of the pyridine-insoluble polymers were as high as or close to 10⁴. IR, ¹H NMR, and MALDI-TOF-MS data confirmed the formation of linear polymers by crisscross addition polymerization. Thermogravimetric analyses indicated that the polymers were considerably decomposed in the region of 300-400 °C, but the polymers exhibited residual weights of 15-25% even at 500 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry data indicated that glass transition temperatures for the polymers were higher than the onset of decomposition presumably because of the rigid backbone.     

Hydrothermal Corrosion and Strength Degradation of Aluminum Nitride Ceramics

The hydrothermal corrosion and strength degradation of aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramics were investigated. The weight gain in AlN ceramics after corrosion occurred because of the formation of boehmite. The reaction kinetics of AlN with water were diffusion controlled through the boehmite product layer. At 180°C, immersion in water caused no strength degradation, and water vapor caused a 20% strength degradation. At 300°C, immersion in water caused a 20% strength degradation, and water vapor caused a 30% strength degradation.     

Senescence Marker Protein-30 (SMP30) Deficiency Impairs Myocardium-Induced Dilation of Coronary Arterioles Associated with Reactive Oxygen Species

Senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30) decreases with aging. Mice with SMP30 deficiency, a model of aging, have a short lifespan with increased oxidant stress. To elucidate SMP30’s effect on coronary circulation derived from myocytes, we measured the changes in the diameter of isolated coronary arterioles in wild-type (WT) mice exposed to supernatant collected from isolated paced cardiac myocytes from SMP30 KO or WT mice. Pacing increased hydrogen peroxide in myocytes, and hydrogen peroxide was greater in SMP30 KO myocytes compared to WT myocytes. Antimycin enhanced and FCCP (oxidative phosphorylation uncoupler in mitochondria) decreased superoxide production in both groups. Addition of supernatant from stimulated myocytes, either SMP30 KO or WT, caused vasodilation. The degree of the vasodilation response to supernatant was smaller in SMP30 KO mice compared to WT mice. Administration of catalase to arterioles eliminated vasodilation in myocyte supernatant of WT mice and converted vasodilation to vasoconstriction in myocyte supernatant of SMP30 KO mice. This vasoconstriction was eliminated by olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Thus, SMP30 deficiency combined with oxidant stress increases angiotensin and hydrogen peroxide release from cardiac myocytes. SMP30 plays an important role in the regulation of coronary vascular tone by myocardium.     

Nitric oxide inhibits the formation of zinc protoporphyrin IX and protoporphyrin IX

The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism by which curing agents, especially nitrite, inhibit the formation of zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZPP) in dry-cured hams such as Parma ham. The oxidation–reduction potential of model solutions was increased by the addition of nitrite, but it was not clear whether the formation of ZPP is inhibited by the oxidizing property of nitrite. The effect of nitric oxide (NO) produced from nitrite on the formation of ZPP was examined. The amount of ZPP formed was decreased by the addition of NO donors. The amount of protoporphyrin IX (PPIX), which is the precursor of ZPP, was also decreased by the addition of NO donors. It is concluded that NO produced from nitrite inhibited the formation of PPIX and ZPP was therefore not formed in cured meat products with the addition of nitrite or nitrate.     

Crossover of work engagement among Japanese couples: Perspective taking by both partners.

This study among 426 Japanese couples working in different occupational sectors tested the hypothesis that perspective taking moderates the crossover of work engagement. More specifically, we predicted that husbands' work engagement would cross over to their wives, particularly when wives scored high on perspective taking (the spontaneous tendency to adopt the psychological perspective of other people). A similar effect was predicted from wives to husbands. In addition, we hypothesized that the crossover effect would be most pronounced when both partners were high in perspective taking (i.e., a 3-way interaction effect). The results of moderated structural equation modeling analyses confirmed the moderating role of perspective taking, but only for women; women who took the perspective of their partner scored higher on engagement with increasing partner engagement. Moreover, the results showed that engagement crossover was strongest when both men and women were high (vs. low) in perspective taking. This 3-way interaction effect was found from husbands to wives, and vice versa. These findings expand the crossover literature by shedding light on the crossover process. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A super‐fine‐pitch screen for rear‐projection TV

Abstract— An advanced screen for use with LCD/LCoS/DMD rear‐projection TV has been developed. A lenticular lens having a pitch of 64 μm has been developed without loss in any other optical property. A 70% black‐stripe ratio was obtained by optimizing the patterning process, which maintains high contrast. As described in this paper, the FC‐Screen manufacturing technology has been further developed.