Near-infrared spectroscopic monitoring of the diffusion process of deuterium-labeled molecules in wood. Part I: softwood

The diffusion process of several molecules (D2O, n-butanol (OD) and t-butanol (OD)) in softwood (Sitka spruce) was investigated by means of a deuterium exchange method and Fourier transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) polarization spectroscopy. The location of OH groups in different states of order of cellulose in wood was clarified by analyzing the FT-NIR transmission spectra ranging from 7200 to 6000 cm(-1). Four absorption bands were assigned to 2 x v(OH) absorptions of the amorphous regions, OH groups in semi-crystalline regions, and two types of intramolecular hydrogen-bonded OH groups in the crystalline regions, respectively. The saturation level of accessibility was very different for these absorption bands (i.e., 70-80, 60, and 40-50% for the amorphous, semi-crystalline, and crystalline regions, respectively). However, the saturation accessibilities for each absorption band varied little with molecular structure and geometry of the diffusants. The diffusion rate of D2O was much faster than that of n-butanol (OD) and t-butanol (OD) for all states of orders. The size effect of the butanols led to slight differences in the diffusive transport in the crystalline regions.     

Budding of fowlpox and pigeonpox viruses at the surface of infected cells

Chick embryo fibroblasts and chorioallantoic membranes infected with fowlpox virus (FWPV) or pigeonpox virus (PPV) were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Immature virus particles were observed in finely granular areas, i.e. virus factories, of the cytoplasm. These particles had various forms depending on their stages of development. Many tubular structures were also seen in these regions. Mature virus particles with ellipsoidal or brick-shaped forms enclosing electron-dense cores were detected throughout the cytoplasm. Notably, there was a high frequency of virus budding at the cell surface, but only occasional virus wrapping in the cytoplasm. Another remarkable feature of the infected cells was accumulation of many virions just beneath the plasma membrane, indicating that this phenomenon is closely related to virus budding. Based on the observed frequency of budding, this mechanism seems to be the predominant way for FWPV and PPV to exit the cell.     

Ultraviolet bonding of perfluoropolyethers to carbon surfaces investigated using quantum chemical methods

For improving the tribological performance of hard disk drives, nanometer-thick perfluoropolyether (PFPE) lubricant films are generally treated with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to bond them to the carbon overcoats of the disks. By modeling UV irradiation as an electron emission and attachment process, we investigate the UV bonding of nonfunctional PFPE Z and functional PFPE Zdol to hydrogenated and nitrogenated carbon surfaces with quantum chemical methods. Our calculation results show that, upon electron attachment, Z dissociates at its main chain to two fragments terminated by CF₂CF₂ and CF₂O groups, whereas Zdol dissociates to a hydrogen fluoride and a fragment. The perfluoromethoxy oxygen in one of the Z fragments and the carbon radical and the hydrogen-truncated end group in the Zdol fragment interact strongly with sp² and oxidized sites on carbon surfaces. Imine moieties on the CNx surface also contribute considerably to the UV bonding of Zdol.     

Interactive learning and management of visual information via human-like software robot

To achieve smooth real-world interaction between people and computers, we developed a system that displays a three-dimensional computer-graphic human-like image from the waist up (anthropomorphic software robot: hereinafter “robot”) on the display, that interactively sees and hears, and that has fine and detailed control functions such as facial expressions, line of sight, and pointing at targets with its finger. The robot visually searches and identifies persons and objects in real space that it has learned in advance (registered space, which was our office in this case), manages the history information of the places and times it found objects and/or persons, and tells the user, indicating their three-dimensional positions with line of sight and its finger. It interactively learns new objects and persons with line of with their names and owners. By using this function, the robot can engage in simple dialogue (do a task) with the user. Osamu Hasegawa, Ph.D.: He received the B.E. and M.E. degrees from the Science University of Tokyo, in 1988, 1990 respectively. He received Ph.D. degree from the University of Tokyo, in 1993. Currently, he is a senior research scientist at the Electrotechnical Laboratory (ETL), Tsukuba, Japan. His research interests include Computer Vision and Multi-modal Human Interface. Dr. Hasegawa is a member of the AAAI, the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, Japan (IEICE), Information Processing Society of Japan and others. Katsuhiko Sakaue, Ph.D.: He received the B.E., M.E., and Ph.D. degrees all in electronic engineering from the University of Tokyo, in 1976, 1978 and 1981, respectively. In 1981, he joined the Electrotechnical Laboratory, Ministry of International Trade and Industry, and engaged in researches in image processing and computer vision. He received the Encouragement Prize in 1979 from IEICE, and the Paper Award in 1985 from Information Processing Society of Japan. He is a member of IEICE, IEEE, IPSJ, ITE. Satoru Hayamizu, Ph.D.: He is a leader of Interactive Intermodal Integration Lab. at Electrotechnical Laboratory. He received the B.E., M.E., Ph.D. degrees from Tokyo University. Since 1981, he has been working on speech recognition, spoken dialogue, and communication with artifacts. From 1989 to 1990, he was a visiting scholar in Carnegie Mellon University and in 1994 a visiting scientist in LIMSI/CNRS.     

The Effects of Conventional Stabilizers and Phenol Compounds Used as Antioxidants on the Stabilization of Nitrocellulose

The thermal behavior of nitrocellulose (NC) containing diphenylamine (DPA), 2‐nitrodiphenylamine (2‐NO₂‐DPA), N‐nitrosodiphenylamine (N‐NO‐DPA), ethyl centralite (EC), akardite II (AKII), 1,1,3‐tri‐(2‐methyl‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐tert‐butyl‐phenyl)‐butane (BP_less), 3‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy‐phenyl)‐propionic acid octadecyl ester (BP_hin), and 3‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐phenyl)‐propionic acid 2‐(9‐{2‐[3‐(3‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐phenyl)‐propionyloxy]‐1,1‐dimethyl‐ethyl}‐2,4,8,10‐tetraoxa‐spiro [5.5] undec‐3‐yl)‐2‐methyl‐propyl ester (BP_semi) was observed during isothermal storage at 393 K using a C80 microcalorimeter. The results indicate that each stabilizer decreased NC's maximum heat release rate and increased the induction period of heat release. We also observed that the maximum heat release rate and the induction period were dependent on the amount of stabilizer. DPA decreased the maximum heat release rate to the greatest extent, with the other stabilizers having similar effects on the decrease of maximum heat release rate. AKII prolonged the induction period of heat release most. The order of prolongation of the induction period was AKII>2‐NO₂‐DPA≈DPA>N‐NO‐DPA≈EC>BP_less≈BP_semi≈BP_hin.     

A new scaling algorithm for the maximum mean cut problem

We present a new scaling algorithm for the maximum mean cut problem. The mean of a cut is defined by the cut capacity divided by the number of arcs crossing the cut. The algorithm uses an approximate binary search and solves the circulation feasibility problem with relaxed capacity bounds. The maximum mean cut problem has recently been studied as a dual analogue of the minimum mean cycle problem in the framework of the minimum cost flow problem by Ervolina and McCormick. A networkN=(G, lower, upper) with lower and upper arc capacities is said to be -feasible ifN has a feasible circulation when we relax the capacity bounds by ; that is, we use (lower(a)- , upper(a)+) bounds instead of (lower(a), upper(a)) bounds for each arca A. During an approximate binary search we maintain two bounds,LB andUB, such thatN is LB-infeasible andUB-feasible, and we reduce the interval size (LB, UB) by at least one-third at each iteration. For a graph withn vertices, m arcs, and integer capacities bounded byU, the running time of this algorithm is O(mn log(nU). This time bound is better than the time achieved by McCormick and Ervolina under thesimilarity condition (that is,U=O(n^o(1))). Our algorithm can be naturally used for the circulation feasibility problem, and thus provides a new scaling algorithm for the minimum cut problem.Research supported by a grant-in-aid of the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture of Japan.     

Survey of actual viewing conditions at home and appropriate luminance of LCD‐TV screens

Abstract— To understand actual viewing conditions at home is important for TV design. And the preferred luminance level of LCD TVs under actual viewing conditions is also important in order to obtain both good picture quality and low power consumption. The actual viewing conditions of households and the preferred luminance levels was investigated. In a field test of 83 households, the display luminance, screen illuminance, and viewing locations were measured on site. In laboratory experiments, young and elderly subjects adjusted the luminance of an LCD‐TV screen to their preferred levels under different screen illuminance levels, angular screen sizes, and average luminance levels (ALL) of the images. As a result, two equations, which represent the preferred luminance level of LCD‐TV screens corresponding to different viewing conditions for young and elderly subjects were obtained. When the ALL of the images was 25% and the screen illuminance and angular screen size were set at 100 lx and 20°, respectively, the preferred luminance was 1 60 cd/m² for the young subjects and 248 cd/m² for the elderly subjects. By using the setting of the preferred luminance of an LCD TV under actual viewing conditions, it is possible to conserve energy consumption.     

Cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control

Since controller teams are in charge of en-route air traffic control, team cooperation is a key issue for good control performance. We conducted ethnographic field observation at the Tokyo Area Control Center and then analyzed the obtained data to develop a cognitive model of team cooperation in en-route air traffic control. We segmented conversational records, behavioral records, and so on by control unit, and then clarified relations between the segments and identified expert knowledge and judgment behind them. Cognitive processes of controller teams were reconstructed based on a concept of distributed cognition. The analysis revealed that the mutual belief model is applicable to team cooperation processes, the role assignment of tasks within a controller team is implicit and that control plans are implemented smoothly once team situation awareness has been established. A cognitive model of controllers?? team cooperation has been constructed based on these findings.     

Hydrodynamics of Superfluid Bose Gases in an Optical Lattice at Finite Temperatures

Starting from an effective action for the order parameter field, we derive a coupled set of generalized hydrodynamic equations for a Bose condensate in an optical lattice at finite temperatures. Using the linearized hydrodynamic equations, we study the microscopic mechanism of the Landau instability due to the collisional damping process between the condensate and noncondensate atoms. It is shown that the Landau criterion for the stability of a superfluid in a uniform system is modified due to the presence of the periodic optical lattice potential.     

Development and evaluation of a certificate validation system in mobile environments

We have developed a public key certificate validation system considering the restrictions peculiar to the mobile environment, such as processing the speed and memory capacity of a cellular‐phone terminal, and the network transmission speed. In this paper we derive a theoretical formula showing the performance of a validity check of the public key certificate of the conventional system and of the proposed system, and compare and examine a theoretical value in a mobile environment. Moreover, we evaluate the actual measurement that uses the server and cellular‐phone terminal that we developed. We show that our proposed system based on the certificate validation server (CVS) system is better than the conventional system from the viewpoint of processing speed and transmission speed. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.