Super environment-friendly electrodeposition paint

Super low VOC due to new composition/reaction mechanism can minimize the environmental risk as it does not contain lead and tin, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) and endocrine disrupters (EPA/67 items, SPEED’98/JEA/67 items) currently specified as contaminants. New EAD (electrolyzed activate deposition paint) is not the only conventional cure agent or solvent, but also the super low VOC, HAPs materials and endocrine disrupters. The electric energy used by EAD is utilized for the reaction but not for the deposition. EAD consists of two technologies. One is propargyl group change to the allene by using electrodeposition. Propargyl group is stable, but allene group is highly polymerizing. As a result, EAD had high bath stability. The other is sulfonium change to sulfide by using electrodeposition. This sulfonium salt is lost as a result of the electrolytic reduction, and hence can be irreversibly rendered non-conductive. As a result, EAD showed high throwing power.     

Back surface reflectors with periodic textures fabricated by self-ordering process for light trapping in thin-film microcrystalline silicon solar cells

Back surface reflectors (BSRs) with grating structures have been developed to enhance light trapping in thin-film hydrogenated microcrystalline Si (μc-Si:H) solar cells. As a grating structure, a periodic honeycomb-like dimple pattern with a period of ～450 nm has been fabricated on Al substrates by a self-ordering process using anodic oxidation of Al. The clear diffraction effect has been confirmed on the patterned Al from the angle-dependent reflection. From quantum efficiency measurements, we found that the periodically patterned BSR can confine the incident light more effectively than the random textured BSR, especially at longer wavelengths.     

INTERFACIAL ADSORPTION OF 2-HYDROXY-5-NONYLBENZOPHENONE OXIME IN STATIC AND VIGOROUSLY STIRRED DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS

ABSTRACT

The interfacial adsorption of 2-hydroxy-5-nonylbenzo-phenone oxime (LIX65N) at a n-heptane/water interphase was examined under static and vigorously stirred conditions, varying the aqueous pH from 2 to 12. In static systems, the pH and the concentration dependences of the interfacial tension were analysed on the basis of the Gibbs equation. The acid dissociation equilibrium at the interface was evaluated. In vigorously stirred systems, the interfacial adsorption was observed as a reversible, reproducible decrease of the organic phase concentration in response to stirring. A Langmuir isotherm was applicable for the adsorption of neutral LIX65N in acidic condition. The greater adsorption of the anionic form of LIX65N occurring in alkaline condition required an alternative isotherm.     

An electrochemical ionic liquid membrane reactor for NO x selective separation under excess oxygen conditions

A novel electrochemical ionic liquid membrane reactor capable of separating NO from a mixture of NO and oxygen with high current efficiency at low temperatures was designed and tested. This reactor consists of a combination of an ionic liquid and a thin film of anodised alumina with two platinum electrodes. During operation of the reactor, NO is electrically transported from the cathode side to the anode side.     

Performances of metal fluoride added carbon anodes with pre-electrolysis for electrolytic synthesis of NF3

Metal fluoride added carbon anodes treated by pre-electrolysis were investigated for electrolytic production of nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃) in molten NH₄F·KF·4HF at 100 °C. The conditions for pre-electrolysis were first optimized using a graphite sheet anode as a model anode. The formation of fluorine-graphite intercalation compounds (fluorine-GICs) with semi-covalent C–F bonds, (C_xF)_n, on the MgF₂ and CaF₂ added carbon anode surface was accelerated by pre-electrolysis at potentials less than 4.0 V. Critical current densities (CCD) on the MgF₂ added carbon anodes pre-electrolyzed under various conditions were determined, and the highest CCD was 290 mA cm⁻² obtained for that pre-electrolyzed at 3.5 V for 500 C cm⁻². This anode was successfully used in the electrolysis at 100 mA cm⁻² for 290 h and the maximum NF₃ current efficiency was 55%. From these results, it was concluded that the metal fluoride added carbon anode treated by pre-electrolysis has a high potential for electrolytic production of NF₃ at higher current density.     

Thermotropic and Barotropic Phase Behavior of Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers

Bilayers formed by phospholipids are frequently used as model biological membranes in various life science studies. A characteristic feature of phospholipid bilayers is to undergo a structural change called a phase transition in response to environmental changes of their surroundings. In this review, we focus our attention on phase transitions of some major phospholipids contained in biological membranes, phosphatidylcholines (PCs), depending on temperature and pressure. Bilayers of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), which is the most representative lipid in model membrane studies, will first be explained. Then, the bilayer phase behavior of various kinds of PCs with different molecular structures is revealed from the temperature–pressure phase diagrams, and the difference in phase stability among these PC bilayers is discussed in connection with the molecular structure of the PC molecules. Furthermore, the solvent effect on the phase behavior is also described briefly.     

A Comparison Between Machine Flexibility and Routing Flexibility

In this paper, we evaluate two types of flexibility, machine flexibility and routing flexibility, in terms of manufacturing performance in various shop environments. A simulation-based investigation was conducted to analyze the impact of these types of flexibility on the average flow time of parts under various job flow pattern conditions, which characterize the shop nature from a random job shop to a flow shop, operation time variance, setup time, and shop load. The experimental results show how these types of flexibility affect the average flow time of parts and which type is superior under what conditions. Management can obtain better insight and guidelines for determining priorities or the scale, or scope, of various decision items relating to design standardization, process and operations improvement, investment in new equipment and tools, and the like.     

Micro-/nanostructural investigation of laser-cut surfaces of single- and polycrystalline diamonds

Micrometer- to nanometer-scale structures of the cut surfaces of single- and polycrystalline diamonds by a pulsed ultraviolet laser have been thoroughly investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Within the laser-cut grooves, the processed diamond surfaces are extensively covered with laser-modified debris which consists of complex layered units of graphite with various crystallinities. The units consist of 1) highly oriented graphite, 2) corrugated graphite, and 3) nanocrystalline graphite, which are sequentially located from the surface of the underlying diamond substrate to the center of the grooves. Detailed textural examinations revealed that the highly oriented graphite unit is a product of the initial graphitization of diamond by a solid-state diffusion process, whereas the latter two units are deposition products from the liquid and/or vapor phases of carbon in the later stage. The present study demonstrates that the laser-cutting of diamonds proceeds in a two-step process: 1) extensive graphitization of laser-scanning path and 2) subsequent sublimation of the pre-formed graphite. These processes are basically identical among the three different types of diamonds (single crystal type Ib, single crystal type IIa and nano-polycrystalline aggregate) tested in this study.     

Solving constraint-satisfaction problems by a genetic algorithm adopting viral infection

Several approximate algorithms have been reported to solve large constraint-satisfaction problems (CSPs) within a practical time. While those papers discuss techniques to escape from local optima, this paper describes a method that actively performs global searches. The present method improves the rate of search of genetic algorithms by using viral infection instead of mutation. Partial solutions of a CSP are considered to be viruses, and a population of viruses is created, as well as a population of candidate solutions. The search for a solution is conducted by crossover and infection. Infection substitutes the gene of a virus for the locus decided by the virus. Experimental results using randomly generated CSPs prove that the proposed method is faster that usual genetic algorithms at finding a solution when the constraint density of a CSP is low.     

Application of proteomic analysis to renal disease in the clinic

Chronic kidney disease accounts for a significant portion of many national health-care budgets. In this viewpoint, we highlight recent advances in urinary proteomic analyses that potentially may soon enhance the care of afflicted patients. To achieve this goal, cooperation of interdisciplinary teams from around the world will be vital, so as to standardize methodology for preparation urine samples and technical aspects of the analyses, and for better application of results. These collaborative activities will facilitate translational research in kidney diseases.