Enhancement of the hydrophobicity and oleophobicity of a polyurethane coating using a fluorine-free polyfarnesene-based polyol

The development of hydrophobic and oleophobic surfaces on materials has attracted significant attention in various research fields. Fluoropolymers, which possess low surface energy and are both highly hydrophobic and oleophobic in nature, are widely used to enhance the liquid repellency of materials. However, during fluoropolymer manufacture, fluorine-containing compounds are released into the environment; thus, alternatives to fluoropolymers are required for maintaining environmental safety and realizing a sustainable society. Notably, the development of such alternative materials has been limited. Thus, we herein report the application of a novel polyurethane (PU) coating synthesized from bio-based raw materials. The prepared hydrogenated polyfarnesene PU (HHPF PU), which possesses an amorphous bottlebrush-like polyalkyl structure, was found to exhibit higher hydrophobicity and oleophobicity than polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which is a typical low-surface-energy material. The water and n-hexadecane contact angles of the HHPF PU were determined to be 119° and 68°, respectively, whereas those of PTFE were 108° and 46°, respectively. In addition, the density depth profile of the PU thin film was confirmed through x-ray reflectometry. This study provides a novel approach for enhancing the hydrophobicity and oleophobicity of materials using bottlebrush-like polyalkyl structure instead of fluorine.     

The motion capturing of female divers under water and the trial production of motion viewers for developing a virtual diving experience learning system

The virtual diving experience learning system of “Ama”, Japanese traditional female divers, has been developed to simulate how divers move in a virtual space using the diving interface and utilizing an accelerometer and a gyroscope. This interface not only detects the diving motion but also outputs the movement. Diving motion is shown in the ways of hand motion while standing. Although this makes it possible for a learner to understand the divers’ actions more clearly, this system’s difficulty is in visualizing a divers’ actions including their hands or bodies. Therefore, our study focuses on developing the operation system to reproduce actual ways of Amas’ diving with a virtual human body in a virtual space. First, the motion capture was done in an underwater condition. In the next process, the virtual human body was created. Finally, with the motion viewer, the more vivid actions of the Ama were successfully reproduced much more than in previous attempts. Using this system, the effectiveness of the Amas’ movement learning was confirmed, because a learner practices Amas’ movement.     

Catalytic decomposition of HCFC22 (CHClF2)

The catalytic decomposition of CHClF₂ was studied over various acidic metal oxides in a fixed-bed reactor. The Cr₂O₃ZrO₂ exhibited the highest activity. The presence of water vapor in the reaction system suppresses the transformation of oxides to fluorides, progresses the formation of CO₂, and it improves the catalysts life.     

Characterization of C-S-H from Highly Reactive β-Dicalcium Silicate Prepared from Hillebrandite

β-dicalcium silicate synthesized by thermal dissociation of hydrothermally prepared hillebrandite (Ca₂(SiO₃)(OH)₂) exhibits extremely high hydration activity. Characterization of the hydrates obtained and investigation of the hydration mechanism was carried out with the aid of trimethylsilylation analysis, ²⁹Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy selected area electron diffraction, and XRD. The silicate anion structure of C-S-H consisted mainly of a dimer and a single-chain polymer. Polymerization advances with increasing curing temperature and curing time. The C-S-H has an oriented fibrous structure and exhibits a 0.73-nm dreierketten in the longitudinal direction. On heating, the C-S-H dissociates to form β-C₂S. The temperature at which βC₂S begins to form decreases with increasing chain length of the C-S-H or as the Ca/Si ratio becomes higher. The high activity of β-C₂S is due to its large specific surface area and the fact that the hydration is chemical-reaction-rate-controlled until its completion. As a result, the hydration progresses in situ and C-S-H with a high Ca/Si ratio is formed.     

Pipe Jacking Method for Long Curve Construction

The D301 pipe jacking method is the first to accomplish long spans, curves and high speed construction in the field of small diameter (300 mm) tunneling. The design of the system components are described: tunneling machine with directional control ability, jacking machine, power unit, and control unit which contains a microprocessor. As a result of field tests in about 100 m in length with a 200 curvature radius, the following capabilities are confirmed: the span length is up to 100 m, the curvature radius is down to 200 m, it is useable in either cohesive or sandy soils having N‐curves up to 10, and the construction speed is up to 3 m∕h.     

Newly proposed hybrid resonant commutation bridge‐leg link snubber‐assisted three‐phase ZVZCS‐PWM soft‐switching inverter

This paper presents the newly proposed hybrid resonant commutation bridge‐leg link (HRCB) snubber circuit which can achieve zero voltage and zero current soft‐switching commutation for single‐phase and three‐phase voltage source‐type inverter, along with its unique features and operation principle. The circuit parameter design approach for the HRCB snubber circuit and the determination estimating scheme of the gate pulse timing processing which is more suitable and acceptable for single‐phase and space voltage vector modulated three‐phase voltage source inverter using the HRCB snubber circuit are described in this paper. In particular, the three‐phase voltage source soft‐switching inverter associated with the proposed HRCB circuits are evaluated and discussed from simulation and experimental viewpoints. The practical effectiveness of the HRCB snubber‐assisted three‐phase voltage source soft‐switching inverter using IGBT power modules which is based on the instantaneous space voltage vector modulation is clarified on the output voltage waveform, actual efficiency of electromagnetic noise in comparison with three‐phase voltage source‐type conventional hard‐switching inverter. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 157(4): 75–84, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20111     

Essence of generalized partial computation

Generalized partial computation (GPC) is a program optimization principle based on partial computation and theorem proving. Conventional partial computation methods (or partial evaluators) explicitly make use of only given parameter values to partially evaluate programs. However, GPC explicitly utilizes not only given values but also the following information: (1) logical structure of a program to be partially evaluated; (2) abstract data type of a programming language. The main purpose of this paper is to present comprehensible examples of GPC. Graphical notations, called GPC trees, are introduced to visibly describe GPC processes.     

Potato and soy peptides alter caecal fermentation and reduce serum non‐HDL cholesterol in rats fed cholesterol

We examined the effect of potato peptides (PPC) in rats fed a cholesterol‐enriched diet, in comparison with two cholesterol‐enriched diets containing soy peptides (SPC) or casein (CNC), and a cholesterol‐free diet containing casein (CN) for 4 weeks. The serum non‐high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level was lower in the PPC‐ (–18.39%) and SPC‐fed (–32.76%) groups (p <0.05) than in the CNC‐fed group at the end of the feeding period. The low‐density lipoprotein receptor mRNA level in the PPC‐fed group, and cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase and scavenger receptor class B type 1 mRNA levels in the SPC‐fed group, were higher (p <0.05) than in the CN‐ and CNC‐fed groups. Faecal neutral sterol and caecal short‐chain fatty acid concentrations in the PPC‐ and SPC‐fed groups were higher (p <0.05) than in the CN‐ and CNC‐fed groups. The faecal total acidic sterol concentration was higher in the SPC‐fed group than in the CN‐ and PPC‐fed groups. Caecal anaerobe and Bifidobacterium populations were higher (p <0.05) in the PPC‐ and SPC‐fed groups than in the CN‐fed group. This study suggests that potato peptides, as soy peptides, alter caecal fermentation and steroid absorption and reduce the serum non‐HDL cholesterol level in rats fed cholesterol.     

Research on capacity addition using market model with transmission congestion under competitive environment

In this research, the fundamental premises for deregulation of the electric power industry are reevaluated. The authors develop a simple model to represent the wholesale electricity market with a highly congested network. The model is developed by simplifying the power system and market in the New York ISO based on available data for the New York ISO in 2004 along with some estimation. Based on the developed model and construction cost data from the past, the economic impact of transmission line addition on market participants and the impact of deregulation on power plant additions in a market with transmission congestion are studied. Simulation results show that market signals may fail to facilitate proper capacity additions and results in the undesirable overconstruction and insufficient construction cycle of capacity addition. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 178(3): 11–20, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21013