Olfactory Responses of the Predatory Mites (N eoseiulus cucumeris) and Insects (O rius strigicollis ) to Two Different Plant Species Infested with Onion Thrips (T hrips tabaci)

Responses of Neoseiulus cucumeris (a predatory mite) and the predatory insect Orius strigicollis to volatiles associated with two different plant species infested with onion thrips, Thrips tabaci, were examined in a Y-tube olfactometer. Both predators species showed a significant preference for volatiles from infested cucumber leaves without T. tabaci over clean air. However, they were not attracted to volatiles from uninfested cucumber leaves, artificially damaged cucumber leaves, or volatiles from T. tabaci plus their visible products collected from cucumber leaves. These results suggest that both predator species are capable of exploiting herbivore-induced volatiles from T. tabaci-infested cucumber leaves as a foraging cue. Neither predator was attracted to volatiles from uninfested spring onion leaves, infested spring onion leaves without T. tabaci, or volatiles from T. tabaci plus their visible products collected from spring onion leaves. Interestingly, they avoided volatiles from artificially damaged spring onion leaves. A possible explanation for the non-significant olfactory responses of the predator species to spring onion plants with infestation damage of T. tabaci is discussed.     

A multi-walled carbon nanotube/polymer actuator that surpasses the performance of a single-walled carbon nanotube/polymer actuator

Actuators were developed using activated and non-activated multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)–ionic liquid (IL) gel electrodes and compared to a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)-based actuator with respect to the electrochemical and electromechanical properties. The activated MWCNT–COOH/polymer actuator surpassed the SWCNT/polymer actuator in terms of the generated strain.     

Optimization of L-lactic acid feeding for the production of poly-D-3-hydroxybutyric acid by Alcaligenes eutrophus in fed-batch culture

We investigated optimization of the feeding of L-lactic acid for the production of poly-D-3-hydroxybutyric acid [P(3HB)] by Alcaligenes eutrophus in a fed-batch culture system. An acidic substrate solution was fed automatically so as to maintain the pH of the culture liquid at 7.0. Feeding of a substrate solution containing 45% (w/v) L-lactic acid, 6.2% (w/v) sodium L-lactate, 5.8% (w/v) ammonia water and 1.8% (w/v) potassium phosphate [at a molar ratio of carbon to nitrogen (C/N molar ratio) of 10], allowed the L-lactate concentration in the culture liquid to be maintained at approximately 2 g/l and the cell concentration reached 27.4 g/l after 15 h of cultivation. To promote P(3HB) production, a two-stage fed-batch culture consisting of a culture for cell growth and one for P(3HB) accumulation was carried out. When the substrate solution, whose C N molar ratio was 23, was fed during the P(3HB) accumulation phase, the cell concentration and the P(3HB) content in the cells reached 103 g/l and 57.6% (w/w), respectively, in 51.5 h.     

CHARACTERISTICS OF WATER UPTAKE OF AUSTRALIAN POLISHED BARLEY IN SHOCHU-MAKING

Characteristics of water uptake during steeping of 70% polished Australian barley, used as material for shochu making, were studied on 6 grain samples. There were some similarities in water uptake curves in spite of the differences in varieties and regions of harvest. Polished barley abruptly absorbed water at the same time when in contact with water. After 5 h the water uptake content reached 52 to 56, 54 to 59, and 58 to 63% grain wet weight at 15, 20, and 30°C respectively. The relationship between water uptake and steeping time may be described by the equation Y=aX^b, where Y is the water uptake (%), X is the time (min), and a and b are coefficients¹. From the data obtained with Schooner (South), the water uptake curve in steeping at 15°C was described as Y=5.50X^0.40 (r²=0.993). Furthermore a log-log plot of water uptake (%) against integrated steeping temperature (1ST), which was presented by the product of temperature and time, showed a very clear linear relationship, and could be represented by Y=2.047(T · t)^0.382 (r²=0.987). The coefficient values a and b determined the relationship of water uptake and 1ST on 6 samples. The values of 5 samples, excluding Stirling (West) were close (a=2.05 to 2.33 and b= 0.37 to 0.38), and no differences were apparent amongst these varieties and regions. Stirling (West) with a=1.81 and b=0.40 were similar to the Japanese barley cultivar Nishinochikara (a=1.99, b=0.39). The Schooner (South) equation could generally be applied to control water uptake during steeping on 70% polished Australian barley supplied to our factory. The water uptake values from the steeping experiments were between 35.1 and 36.7% when the objective value was set at 35% .     

Improvement in microstructure of SBT thin films

Abstract

Various attempts to improve the microstructure of SBT thin films were carried out. One was to employ ultra-thin BT film as a top layer on the conventional SBT thin film. After optimization of the BT top layer thickness, a very smooth SBT surface was successfully achieved. Particularly, the insulation break down field was improved to more than 1.0 MV/cm. Next we used UV exposure during the baking process. By optimizing the UV assisted process, surface morphology was successfully improved with fine grain microstructure. The break down field was improved to more than 1.0 MV/cm. Also, these two process combinations successfully lead to more reliable SBT thin films. The break down field was drastically improved to more than 1.2 MV/cm.     

A New Form of Rolling Contact Damage in Grease-Lubricated,Deep-Groove Ball Bearings

A new form of rolling contact damage was discovered in the fatigue tests of series 6206 deep groove ball bearings under pure radial load with grease lubrication. The appearance of the damage reveals a few cracks at right angles to the rolling direction of the ball, along with the formation of a dent about 20 μ m deep in the raceway surface. This is found to occur only on the stationary outer ring raceway and the ball surface and is distributed widely within the load zone. Furthermore, under the raceway surface several cracks propagating into the substrate at an angle of about 60-80 degrees relative to the raceway surface are observed not only under the damage site but also in other nearby locations. Only the cracks at the damage position open up to the surface. The grease used for the test contained a lithium complex thickener with mineral oil as the base oil with a kinematic viscosity of 141 mm²/s at 40°C. On the test bearings two pure radial load levels of 9.14 and 12.13 kN were applied. In order to prevent the occurrence of seizure at each load, the speed of the inner ring of the test bearing was maintained at 1800-2500 min^{? 1} and 600-800 min^{? 1}, respectively, to keep the outer ring circumference temperature below 65°C. It is suggested that the damage is caused by metal-to-metal contacts due to lubricant starvation under grease lubrication and to a decrease in oil film thickness due to local increases in temperature.     

Laser manipulation of micro untransmissive particles in water

The laser trapping of untransmissive particles are discussed in this paper. Photon can generate the momentum to the untransmissive particle by diffraction and reflection on the surface of the particles. We tried laser trapping of untransmissive particles using an attractive force caused by the diffraction and radiation force caused by reflection. The laser trapping system includes CW YAG laser, which has 1.064 μm in wave length and an optical microscope. The motions of particles were monitored by a CCD camera on the top of the microscope and recorded by PC connected to the CCD camera.     

Semi-transparent PV: Thermal performance, power generation, daylight modelling and energy saving potential in a residential application

In this research, semi-transparent PV is proposed as top light material for residential application. Using the results of field measurements, essential parameters pertaining to the power generation, thermal and optical characteristics of semi-transparent PV panels are understood. Calculation models presenting the above characteristics are developed and validated. The validated models are incorporated into Energy Plus to carry out overall energy consumption analyses in five climate regions in Japan to assess the energy saving potential of the semi-transparent PV panels. With appropriate optimization measures, the semi-transparent PV top light with 50% radiation transmission rate contributes to a maximum of 5.3% reduction in heating and cooling energy consumption compared with a standard BiPV roof. The effect of daylighting in lighting energy saving is subtle as most of the residential lighting demand occur during night-time. In the aspect of total energy consumption, net energy savings in the range of 3.0–8.7% are achieved for the 50% radiation transmission semi-transparent PV top light case relative to the base case of BiPV roof, where reduction in heating and cooling energy demand contributes most to the total energy saving.     

鹿儿岛机场候机楼抗震补强——增设粘滞阻尼墙的结构三维弹塑性分析

通过对日本鹿儿岛机场不规则平面的3层框架结构候机楼每一榀框架的静力弹塑性分析,建立起X,Y方向每榀框架的三折线型弹塑性层抗剪恢复力特性模型.每榀框架的三折线层刚度模型用楼盖相连,组成一个三维的弹塑性结构模型,根据每一榀框架刚度退化型三折线滞回特性模型来完成非线性时程地震反应分析.最后,决定在候机楼适当部位增设速度型粘滞阻尼墙,并进行完整的三维结构体系的非线性地震时程分析.速度型阻尼墙的使用减小了结构加速度谱值和位移谱值,增大了地震时结构的有效刚度,减小了有效周期及位移反应谱值(S_d=S_aT~2/4π~2),将结构的变形控制在弹性区域即屈服点之内,几乎所有的结构构件都保持弹性功能状态.