Parametric embedding for class visualization

We propose a new method, parametric embedding (PE), that embeds objects with the class structure into a low-dimensional visualization space. PE takes as input a set of class conditional probabilities for given data points and tries to preserve the structure in an embedding space by minimizing a sum of Kullback-Leibler divergences, under the assumption that samples are generated by a gaussian mixture with equal covariances in the embedding space. PE has many potential uses depending on the source of the input data, providing insight into the classifier's behavior in supervised, semisupervised, and unsupervised settings. The PE algorithm has a computational advantage over conventional embedding methods based on pairwise object relations since its complexity scales with the product of the number of objects and the number of classes. We demonstrate PE by visualizing supervised categorization of Web pages, semisupervised categorization of digits, and the relations of words and latent topics found by an unsupervised algorithm, latent Dirichlet allocation.     

Site-specific electronic structure analysis by channeling EELS and first-principles calculations

Site-specific electronic structures were investigated by electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) under electron channeling conditions. The Al-K and Mn-L(2,3) electron energy loss near-edge structure (ELNES) of, respectively, NiAl2O4 and Mn3O4 were measured. Deconvolution of the raw spectra with the instrumental resolution function restored the blunt and hidden fine features, which allowed us to interpret the experimental spectral features by comparing with theoretical spectra obtained by first-principles calculations. The present method successfully revealed the electronic structures specific to the differently coordinated cationic sites.     

Gradually intractable problems and nondeterministic log-space lower bounds

The paper places five different problems (thek-pebble game problem, two problems aboutk finite automata, the reachability problem for Petri nets withk tokens, and the teachability problem for graphs whose k-dimensional edge sets are described by Cartesian products ofk factors) into the hierarchyNL _k of problems solvable by nondeterministic Turing machines ink-log₂ n space (and binary tape alphabet, to avoid tape speed-up). The results, when combined with the conjecture thatNL _i contains problems that requireO(n ^k ) deterministic time, show that these problems, while inP for every fixed value ofk, have polynomial deterministic time complexities with the degree of the polynomial growing linearly with the parameterk, and hence are, in this sense, gradually intractable.     

Effects of 4He impurities on 3He nuclear spin-lattice relaxation in hcp solid 3He

Nuclear spin-lattice relaxation properties of hcp solid ³He with ⁴He impurities have been studied. At temperatures below the exchange plateau region, three kinds of relaxation time were observed. To analyze the data, a phenomenological four-bath model was developed, the four baths being the Zeeman bath, the phonon bath, an X-bath, and a Y-bath. The X-bath consists of the exchange bath and a part of the ⁴He-⁴He elastic interaction bath. The Y-bath is the main part of the elastic interaction bath. We measured the concentration dependence of the energy constants of all the baths, as well as the temperature and concentration dependences of the three kinds of relaxation time. The relaxation behavior corresponding to the process between the X-bath and the Y-bath could not be expressed by a single exponential function of time and the relaxation rate was strongly dependent on the concentration. This process may be related to the internal thermal equilibrium process within the elastic interaction bath. The impurity-dependent relaxation time between the X-bath and the phonon bath had a temperature dependence of T ^–n with n = 7.4±0.3.     

Magnetic field analysis by edge elements of magnetic components considering inhomogeneous current distribution within conductor windings

For magnetic field analysis by edge elements of the magnetic components, the method considering inhomogeneous current distribution within the conductor windings is investigated. To consider the inhomogeneous current distribution within the windings, we utilized the magnetic vector potential represented by edge elements and the current conservation equation represented by nodal elements in the region of the windings. In the first application, the eddy-current model, which has the conventional wire winding, was analyzed. For correct analysis using our method, it is required that all turns of the wire winding be divided into meshes. However, if the region of the wire winding does not exceed the winding window of the magnetic core, even the combination of our method and the solidly modeled wire winding enables us to correctly analyze the transformer and the inductor with conventional wire winding. In the second application, a flat transformer with conductor winding, such as a copper foil or sheet, was analyzed. The magnetic flux densities within the flat core and the inductance calculated by our method were in good agreement with the experiments. Thus, we confirmed the effectiveness of our method considering inhomogeneous current distribution within the conductor windings.     

Synthesis of polyamides from sugar derived d-glucaric acid and xylylenediamines

d -Glucaric acid (GA) is the one of aldaric acids and is an important bio-based building block for polymers. In this study, poly(m-xylylene-acetyl glucaramide) and poly(p-xylylene-acetyl glucaramide) were synthesized from GA acetate and two kind of aromatic diamines by solution polymerization. The chemical structures of the polyamides were analyzed by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The weight-average molecular weights ranged from 3.3 × 10³ to 1.15 × 10⁴ with a polydispersity of 1.6–1.9, depending on monomer ratio or monomer concentration in solution. The 10% decomposition temperature of the polymers was about 210 °C. Differential scanning calorimetry revealed that the polyamides exhibited no peaks attributed to crystallization or melting point, which indicated that the polyamides were amorphous. No crystalline pattern was observed in the X-ray diffractograms, supporting this result. Polarized optical microscopy observation revealed that the polyamides exhibited melting-like behavior at above 150 °C, which was attributed to glass-transition behavior. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47255.     

Supramolecular morphology of two-step melt-spun poly(dioxanone) fibers

Structure of poly(dioxanone) (PPDX) fibers produced through a two-step melt-spinning process with an additional short-period annealing above the melting temperature of PPDX was investigated and the effect of annealing on the degradation behavior was discussed. The morphological study carried out by etching the fibers using a phosphate or permanganate solution suggested that the fibers take a skin–core structure, and both the skin layer and the core region consist of a bundle of microfibrils. The micro-beam X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that the short-period annealing in the production process only slightly promotes the crystallization in the skin layer but contributes to increasing the packing of amorphous chains near the skin, which seems to be the controlling factor of the hydrolytic degradation behavior of the fibers.     

Time dependence of mesoscopic strain distribution for triaxial woven carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer under creep loading measured by digital image correlation

This paper presents the time dependence of the mesoscopic strain of a triaxial woven carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer under creep loading measured using digital image correlation (DIC). Two types of DIC techniques were employed for the measurement: conventional subset DIC and mesh DIC. Static tensile and creep tests were carried out, and the time dependence of the mesoscopic strain distribution was investigated by applying these techniques. The ultimate failure of this material is dominated by inter-bundle decohesion caused by relative rigid rotation and relating shear stress. Therefore, these were focused on in the present study. During the creep tests, the fiber directional strain, shear strain, and rotation were monitored using the DIC, and the mechanism for the increase in the specimen’s macro-strain over time was investigated based on the results obtained by the DIC measurement.     

Adhesion between polymer surface modified by graft polymerization and tissue during surgery using an ultrasonically activated scalpel device

In the field of surgery, achieving adhesion between a polymer implant and tissue poses a challenge considering that suturing is not appropriate for the stability of such implants. An ultrasonically activated scalpel that generates heat by mechanical vibration and promotes adhesion between a polymer implant and native tissue by pressing the two materials together has very good potential for application in the field. To determine the type of polymer that is suitable for the purpose, we investigated polyethylene (PE) and polystyrene (PS) films, the surfaces of which were activated by corona discharge. Graft polymerization was then performed on the corona‐treated surfaces to vary their properties. The corona‐treated PE and PS films grafted with poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(vinyl benzylacrylic acid), and poly(hydroxylethyl acrylate), respectively, adhered to the tissue when the ultrasonically activated scalpel was applied. The heat generated by the mechanical vibration and the applied pressure enabled the carboxyl or hydroxyl groups to bond with the proteins in the extracellular matrix. We therefore concluded that it was possible to integrate this technique in the development of new types of polymer devices that could be stably implanted in a living body. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 40885.     

Acoustic Resonance in Exhaust Gas Economizer Tube Bundles Prediction and Suppression of Resonance

The tendency for air column resonance generation in structures with a constant volume behind a tube array like that of an exhaust gas economizer has been reported, but many points remain unclear with respect to the mechanism and conditions that generate acoustical resonance. When acoustical resonance is generated, in reality, prevention and suppression measures are implemented by inserting a baffle plate into the ducts through a process of trial and error. The purpose of this study is to clarify the mechanism of generation of acoustical resonance, and to establish an appropriate measure to prevent such resonance. Noise generated in an exhaust gas economizer was correlated with the flow inside the tube array and experimentally analyzed, and the mechanism for resonance generation was considered. In addition, the effectiveness of a baffle plate positioned in order to prevent resonance was investigated. We have successfully employed a single baffle plate to suppress resonance.