10 micrometer-scale SPM local oxidation lithography

10 micrometer-scale scanning probe microscopy (SPM) local oxidation lithography was performed on Si. In order to realize large-scale oxidation, an SPM tip with a contact length of 15 microm was prepared by focused-ion-beam (FIB) etching. The oxidation was carried out in contact mode operation with the contact force ranging from 0.1 to 2.1 microN. The applied bias voltage was 50 V, and scanning speed was varied from 10 to 200 microm/s. The scan length was 15 microm for one cycle. The influence of contact force on the large-scale oxidation was investigated. At high contact force, the Si oxide with good size uniformity was obtained even with high scanning speed. The SPM tip with larger contact length may increase the spatial dimensions of the water meniscus between the SPM tip and sample surface, resulting in the larger dimensions of the fabricated oxide. Furthermore, the throughput of large-scale oxidation reached about 10(3) microm2/s by controlling the scanning speed and contact force of the SPM tip. It is suggested that SPM local oxidation can be upscaled by using a SPM tip with large contact length.     

Faradaic impedance of dye-sensitized solar cells

Theoretical equations of the Faradaic impedance of the photoelectrode and the counter electrode of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) were derived. The Faradaic impedance is the frequency dependent resistance related to the time constants of elementary electrode processes like photoexcitation, electron transfer, charge transfer reaction and diffusion. The typical cell impedance spectrum describes the locus of three semicircles on the Nyquist plane. The locus of three semicircles is generally analyzed by using the equivalent circuit composed of charge transfer resistance (R_ct,1) and capacitance (C_dl,1) of counter electrode, charge transfer resistance (R_ct,2) and capacitance (C_dl,2) of photoelectrode, the finite diffusion impedance due to the diffusion of I₃⁻ on the counter electrode (Z_w), and total resistance of the substrate and solution (R_s). The physical meanings of R_ct,1 and R_ct,2 can be elucidated by the interpretations of Faradaic impedance derived in the present paper. The R_ct,1 is represented as the function of the potential-dependent rate constants of I₃⁻ reduction and I⁻ oxidation. On the other hand, the R_ct,2 is the function of the photoelectrode potential, the surface concentration of I₃⁻ and the potential-independent rate constant of the back electron transfer reaction. The theoretical expressions of the current-voltage (I-V) curve of the DSC can be also derived. In the present paper, the relations between the impedance and I-V curve of the DSC are discussed.     

Effects of the cultivation period of sweet potato on the sensory quality of imo‐shochu,a Japanese traditional spirit

Imo‐shochu is a Japanese traditional spirit made from sweet potatoes. Characteristic volatile compounds in imo‐shochu are mainly derived from the sweet potato and its flavour significantly depends on the quality and cultivar of sweet potato used. Thus, the effects of the cultivation period of sweet potatoes on sensory characteristics and composition of volatile compounds of imo‐shochu were investigated. Sweet potatoes (cv. Koganesengan) used in this study were harvested at 120, 150 or 180 days after planting, and each sample was used to prepare imo‐shochu. The imo‐shochu samples were evaluated by eight panellists in a blind study, who ranked them on the basis of various odour and taste attributes. Rank sums were calculated and data were analysed using the Friedman test. The compositions of the volatile compounds in the imo‐shochu samples were analysed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Sensory evaluations showed that a longer cultivation period of the sweet potatoes enhanced the floral aroma and characteristic taste of imo‐shochu. In addition, imo‐shochu prepared with the sample cultivated for 150 days was evaluated to have a sweeter taste than that prepared with the other samples. The GC‐MS analysis showed that imo‐shochu prepared with the sample cultivated for 180 days contained a lower concentration of monoterpene alcohols, but higher concentrations of β‐damascenone, rose oxide, and fatty acid esters than the imo‐shochu prepared with the sample cultivated for 120 days. These differences in the composition of the volatile compounds affected the sensory qualities of the imo‐shochu. Copyright © 2016 The Institute of Brewing & Distilling     

Automatic electron beam alignment adjustment system and automatic filament current adjustment system for electron beam welder

Recently, the electron beam welders with high acceleration voltage (more than 100 kV) and high electrical power (more than 15 kW) have been reviewed the role of the high-energy electron beam density again, due to space or aircraft development or automobile industry desired high productivity and high accurate welding for saving energy. NEC group have supplied these electron beam welders. This time, the automatic alignment adjustment system of the electron beam orbit and the automatic adjustment system of filament current were developed and put to a practical use. As a result, the great effectiveness for the stability of welding quality was apparent.     

Advanced resonance self-shielding method for gray resonance treatment in lattice physics code GALAXY

A new resonance self-shielding method based on the equivalence theory is developed for general application to the lattice physics calculations. The present scope includes commercial light water reactor (LWR) design applications which require both calculation accuracy and calculation speed. In order to develop the new method, all the calculation processes from cross-section library preparation to effective cross-section generation are reviewed and reframed by adopting the current enhanced methodologies for lattice calculations. The new method is composed of the following four key methods: (1) cross-section library generation method with a polynomial hyperbolic tangent formulation, (2) resonance self-shielding method based on the multi-term rational approximation for general lattice geometry and gray resonance absorbers, (3) spatially dependent gray resonance self-shielding method for generation of intra-pellet power profile and (4) integrated reaction rate preservation method between the multi-group and the ultra-fine-group calculations. From the various verifications and validations, applicability of the present resonance treatment is totally confirmed. As a result, the new resonance self-shielding method is established, not only by extension of a past concentrated effort in the reactor physics research field, but also by unification of newly developed unique and challenging techniques for practical application to the lattice physics calculations.     

Catalytic performance of Ni/CeO2/Al2O3 modified with noble metals in steam gasification of biomass

In the steam gasification of biomass, the additive effect of noble metals such as Pt, Pd, Rh and Ru to the Ni/CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst was investigated. Among these noble metals, the addition of Pt was most effective even when the loading amount of added Pt was as small as 0.01 wt.%. In addition, the catalyst characterization suggests the formation of the Pt–Ni alloy over the Pt/Ni/CeO₂/Al₂O₃.     

Hot explosive compaction of diamond powder using cylindrical geometry

Diamond powders were attempted to be consolidated at elevated temperature using an explosive compaction technique employing a cylindrical configuration. A compacted diamond sample recovered from the center of a cylinder, close to the end plug made of stainless steel showed high hardness and tight interparticle bonding between the diamond powders. The sample was characterized on the basis of X-ray diffraction patterns. No graphitization was observed due to heating or compaction, and the hot compacted sample was highly strained by intensive deformation at elevated temperature.     

Fabrication of laser induced periodic surface structure for geometrical engineering

The paper presents the highly ordered geometrical structures of laser induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) in azobenzene urethane polymer (DR19 polymer) from 4-(N,N-dihydroxyethylamino)-4′-nitroazobenzene (Disperse red 19) with tolylene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI). One or two regulated striped LIPSS was formed in confined spaces between surface relief gratings (SRG) induced by the s-polarized interfered beams. The pitch of LIPSS was one-half or one-third of SRG pitch. Standing wave with some selected mode between SRG in the surface waveguide is responsible for the formation of the regulated striped LIPSS. The crossed illumination of the interfered beams showed the waffle-like structure for s-polarization beam and the egg crate-like (ECL) structure for p-polarized beam. Photoinduced microscopic molecular ordering was also investigated. The linear polarized beam gave the large optical anisotropy in the polymer and the circularly polarized beam produced the chiral structure. The circular dichroism spectra showed the sharp peak due to the circular Bragg reflection from which the chiral pitch was evaluated.     

Model predictive control for line pacing in steel processing

Line pacing control in steel processing lines is known to be a difficult task for operators.?They usually take a conservative control policy in order to avoid shutdown, and the processing capacity of the line has not been fully utilized yet. This paper presents a new modeling and control technique for line pacing based on a hybrid petri net (HPN) and mixed logical dynamical system (MLDS) expressions. The proposed modeling method can harmoniously integrate continuous and discrete aspects of the system. Moreover, the proposed method can provide a suitable formulation for numerical optimization. Based on this hybrid system modeling, the closed‐loop control can be realized by the receding horizon scheme. Numerical examples demonstrate that the processing capacity can be fully utilized by the proposed method. © 2012 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Systematic transient assays of promoter activities for leaf-specific genes identified by gene-expression profiling with cDNA microarrays in Arabidopsis thaliana

We identified 85 genes highly expressed in leaves using an Arabidopsis cDNA microarray. A vector, pRAB5, was designed to allow cloning and assaying of the promoters. Fifty-one promoters from the selected genes were cloned and then assayed using a microprojectile bombardment and dual luciferase reporter assay system. This system allowed efficient systematic assays of promoter activity.