Cyclic Oxidation Behaviors of TiAl–Nb–Si-Based Alloys

For this study, several TiAl–Nb–Si-based alloys were designed for a ductility improvement, whereby the high-temperature strength and oxidation resistance were not sacrificed. The environmental properties under the cyclic oxidation behaviors of the TiAl alloys were evaluated at 900 °C for up to 360 cycles. The compositions of the as-cast alloys determined their microstructures, and the cyclic oxidation behavior of the selected alloy was relatively comparable to that of a commercial TiAl alloy that is currently used in automotive engines.     

Quantitative evaluation of image sticking on displays with different gradual luminous variation

Abstract— To comparatively evaluate various driving methods of an electronic display in respect to image sticking, a consistent and reliable quantification method is required. For proper evaluation, the entire area of a display is often monitored by using a chessboard pattern, and long‐range gradual luminous variation in the background is eliminated. Estimation in terms of a single number is also preferred for simple comparison of image sticking. However, the prior method that uses the initial luminance for normalization and estimates the range‐to‐maximum ratio is not well‐suited for the driving methods that relieve image sticking by restoring luminance uniformity. We have developed a method of extracting reference values for normalization and introduced the relative standard deviation (RSD) into our estimation. The resulting method is insensitive to the temporal change in the long‐range gradual luminous variation and sufficiently indicative to allow driving methods to be compared effectively. The reference extraction method and the indicative capability of the RSD have been assessed by experiments using a real active‐matrix organic light‐emitting‐diode (AMOLED) display cell.     

Side chain dynamics in semiconducting polymer MEH-PPV

The characteristic nanoscale dynamics of the alkyl side groups in the light-emitting polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] have been investigated using quasi-elastic neutron scattering (QENS). The measurements were taken below the polymer's glass transition (T ≤ T_g ≃ 353 K), where the main backbone is in a rigid state and does not contribute to the broadening of the QENS signal. An analytical diffusion model consisting of a static term and two dynamical components, characterizing the flexible side groups, provide an excellent fit to the experimental data. The two observed dynamical processes are all localized in character, with no meaningful dependence on temperature. The faster process, with characteristic timescale of ∼18 ps at room temperature (RT), can be linked to the average mobility of the terminal protons of the alkyl chain, while the slower process, with characteristic timescale of ∼170 ps at RT, to those protons at the other end of the alkyl chain, closest to the backbone. While the fraction of mobile protons contributing to the QENS signal increases with increasing temperature, the characteristic timescale and confining volume within which the protons are able to move locally depend chiefly on the polymer conformational state. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47394.     

Dietary Black Raspberry Seed Oil Ameliorates Inflammatory Activities in db/db Mice

The objective of this study was to evaluate the status of the markers related to inflammation in db/db mice fed black raspberry seed (BRS) oil, which is rich in α‐linolenic acid. Mice were divided into four groups: (1) C57BL/6 mice fed 16 % calories from soybean oil (normal CON); (2) C57BL/KsJ‐db/db mice fed 16 % calories from soybean oil (CON); (3) C57BL/KsJ‐db/db mice fed 8 % calories from soybean and 8 % calories from BRS oil (BRS 50 %); and (4) C57BL/KsJ‐db/db mice fed 16 % calories from BRS oil (BRS 100 %). After 10 weeks, n‐6/n‐3 fatty acid ratios were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the livers and epididymal adipose tissues of the BRS 50 % and BRS 100 % mice than in the CON. Serum TNFα and IL‐6 were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the BRS 50 % and BRS 100 % than in the CON. Serum IL‐10 was significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the BRS 100 % than the CON. In the liver and epididymal adipose tissue, mRNA levels of pro‐inflammatory markers in the BRS 50 % and BRS 100 % were lower than in the CON. Anti‐inflammatory markers were higher in the epididymal adipose tissues of the BRS 50 % and BRS 100 % than in the CON. In the epididymal adipose tissue, macrophage infiltration markers (F4/80 and CD68) and leptin mRNA were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the BRS 50 % and BRS 100 % than in the CON. Results of this study suggest that BRS oil may have anti‐inflammatory effects in obese diabetic mice by ameliorating inflammatory responses.     

A stochastic analysis of contaminant transport through a rough-surfaced fracture

A stochastic model for the calculation of flow and contaminant transport in a single fracture with variable apertures was presented. The spatially varying apertures of the fracture were generated using a geostatistical method, based on a given aperture probability density distribution and a specified spatial correlation length. Fluid flowed between two points in the fracture plane. The fluid potential at each node of the discretization mesh was computed and the steady state flow rates between all the nodes were obtained. Then the contaminant transport was calculated using a particle tracking method. The migration plumes of contaminant between the inlet and the outlet were displayed in contour plots and contaminant elution profiles were also plotted. Calculations showed that fluid flow occured predominantly in a few preferred paths. Hence, the large range of apertures in the fracture gives rise to flow channeling. Simulation results were correlated with the basic input parameters: standard deviation of a lognormal aperture distribution function and the spatial correlation length.     

Deuterated dicondensed indolinobenzospiropyran formed from the reaction of Fischer base-d2 and salicylaldehyde: Mechanism involving a carbinol intermediate

From the deuterium content (x-value) of deuterated molecules obtained from the reaction of an excess of Fischer base-d₂ with salicylaldehydes, it is found that the formation of the dicondensed indolinobenzospiropyrans occurred via a carbinol intermediate, rather than an open merocyanine form of spiropyran. ¹H NMR behavior supported this proposed mechanism, indicating that a carbinol intermediate was simultaneously, and not consecutively, formed prior to the transformation to both spiropyrans and dicondensed indolinobenzospiropyran.     

Efficient Puncturing Method for Rate-Compatible Low-Density Parity-Check Codes

In this paper, we propose an efficient puncturing method for LDPC codes. The proposed algorithm provides the order of variable nodes for puncturing based on the proposed cost function. The proposed cost function tries to maximize the minimum reliability among those provided from all check nodes. Also, it tries to allocate survived check nodes evenly to all punctured variable nodes. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm prevents the formation of a stopping set from the punctured variable nodes even when the amount of puncturing is quite large. Simulation results show that the proposed punctured LDPC codes perform better than existing punctured LDPC codes.     

Design, assembly, and activity of antisense DNA nanostructures

Discrete DNA nanostructures allow simultaneous features not possible with traditional DNA forms: encapsulation of cargo, display of multiple ligands, and resistance to enzymatic digestion. These properties suggested using DNA nanostructures as a delivery platform. Here, DNA pyramids displaying antisense motifs are shown to be able to specifically degrade mRNA and inhibit protein expression in vitro, and they show improved cell uptake and gene silencing when compared to linear DNA. Furthermore, the activity of these pyramids can be regulated by the introduction of an appropriate complementary strand. These results highlight the versatility of DNA nanostructures as functional devices.     

PS-b-P3HT copolymers as P3HT/PCBM interfacial compatibilizers for high efficiency photovoltaics

A conducting diblock copolymer of PS-b-P3HT was added to serve as a compatibilizer in a P3HT/PCBM blend, which improved the power-conversion efficiency from 3.3% to 4.1% due to the enhanced crystallinity, morphology, interface interaction, and depth profile of PCBM.     

The size control of silver nanocrystals with different polyols and its application to low-reflection coating materials

The size of silver nanocrystals in polyol synthesis can be simply controlled by tuning the viscosity of the reaction medium such as ethylene glycol, 1,2-propanediol, 1,4-butanediol and 1,5-pentanediol. We found that a higher viscose medium (1,5-pentanediol) led to monodispersed smaller particles thanks to the slow addition of silver atoms into the nuclei. Size-controlled silver nanocrystals of 30 nm were obtained in a viscosity controlled medium of 1,5-pentanediol to synthesize a low refractive index filler by coating with silica and subsequent etching of the silver core. The coated low-reflection layer from the hollow silica nanoparticles on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film can greatly reduce the reflection of the PET film from 10% to 2% over the entire visible region.