LaBGeO5 single crystals in glass and second-harmonic generation

Flower-shaped crystals with diameters of 100–200 μm consisting of LaBGeO₅ (LBGO) single crystals similar to petals were observed in the interior of transparent LBGO surface-crystallized glasses. Each flower-shaped crystal was radially grown from the surface of the included bubbles. A more intense second-harmonic generation was observed from the LBGO crystallized glasses with the flower-shaped LBGO single crystals compared to the samples without such crystals based on the Maker fringe technique and second-harmonic (SH) generation microscopy. The SH intensity for the flower-shaped LBGO single crystals monotonically decreased with increasing temperature up to 350 °C, less than the Curie temperature reported so far (530 °C). It is considered that the internal compressive stress induced by the difference in the thermal expansion between the LBGO single crystal and the corresponding glass affect the ferroelectric property of the flower-shaped LBGO single crystals in glass.     

The Atmospheric Scanning Electron Microscope with open sample space observes dynamic phenomena in liquid or gas

Although conventional electron microscopy (EM) requires samples to be in vacuum, most chemical and physical reactions occur in liquid or gas. The Atmospheric Scanning Electron Microscope (ASEM) can observe dynamic phenomena in liquid or gas under atmospheric pressure in real time. An electron-permeable window made of pressure-resistant 100 nm-thick silicon nitride (SiN) film, set into the bottom of the open ASEM sample dish, allows an electron beam to be projected from underneath the sample. A detector positioned below captures backscattered electrons. Using the ASEM, we observed the radiation-induced self-organization process of particles, as well as phenomena accompanying volume change, including evaporation-induced crystallization. Using the electrochemical ASEM dish, we observed tree-like electrochemical depositions on the cathode. In silver nitrate solution, we observed silver depositions near the cathode forming incidental internal voids. The heated ASEM dish allowed observation of patterns of contrast in melting and solidifying solder. Finally, to demonstrate its applicability for monitoring and control of industrial processes, silver paste and solder paste were examined at high throughput. High resolution, imaging speed, flexibility, adaptability, and ease of use facilitate the observation of previously difficult-to-image phenomena, and make the ASEM applicable to various fields.     

Macrophage Activation Markers Predict Liver-Related Complications in Primary Biliary Cholangitis

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) has a wide variation in clinical presentation and course. There is no significant correlation between these symptoms and the disease stage, although patients with more advanced stages generally have more symptoms. It is important to develop biomarkers in order to identify patients with an increased risk of complications and end-stage liver disease. This study investigated surrogate markers for risk estimation of PBC-related complications, including a study population of 77 patients with PBC who underwent liver biopsy and were measured for serum levels of macrophage activation markers, soluble CD163 (sCD163), soluble mannose receptor (sMR), and zonulin. Patients with PBC were divided into symptomatic (Group S, n = 20) and asymptomatic (Group A, n = 57) groups. The correlations of histological stages based on both Scheuer and Nakanuma classifications with the three serum markers were investigated. The Nakanuma classification involves grading for liver fibrosis and bile duct loss. The three biomarkers were assessed for their diagnostic ability to identify patients with PBC having high risk of developing complications. The predictive factors of these complications were examined as well. Group S had significantly higher serum sMR (p = 0.011) and sCD163 (p = 0.048) levels versus Group A. A composite index of sMR and sCD163 measurements had significantly better prediction performance than sCD163 alone (p = 0.012), although not when compared to sMR alone (p = 0.129). Serum sMR was an independent factor for developing complications on both univariate (Odds ratio (OR) = 30.20, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 3.410–267.0, p = 0.00220), and multivariate (OR = 33.70, 95% CI: 3.6600–311.0, p = 0.0019) analyses. Patients with PBC having sMR of ≥56.6 had a higher incidence of clinical complications versus those with a sMR of <56.6. Serum sMR predicts the development of complications in patients with PBC. sMR plus sCD163 showed better predictive power than either marker alone, although the addition of sCD163 did not improve the predictive power of sMR. Future prospective studies are required in order to validate the findings of the present study.     

Interface control for resolved CFD-DEM with capillary interactions

In this work, a resolved CFD–DEM coupling model for the simulation of gas-liquid-solid flows is developed: the interface capturing method based on the colour function is employed for fluids (i.e. a gas and liquid) whilst Discrete Element Method (DEM) is used for particles. The Volume Penalisation (VP) method is adopted to consider the hydrodynamic interactions between fluids and particles along with the Immersed Free Surface (IFS) method, which artificially extends the gas-liquid interface into the interior of the particle to account for the wettability. The unique point of the proposed model is that the thickness of the gas-liquid interface can be controlled by using both interface compression and diffuse interface techniques simultaneously. From the simulation results, it is presented that the accurate evaluation of the surface tension force as well as the capillary force can be achieved by appropriately controlling the interface thickness. Moreover, the major two methods in the literature to calculate the capillary force are compared in this work. The validity of the proposed model is presented for both static and dynamic cases. The behaviour of two colliding particles with a dynamic liquid bridge is then simulated to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed model to a complex three-phase system.     

Performance improvement of the filter-type ‘transXend’ energy-resolving detector by considering noise sensitivity

The filter-type ‘transXend’ detector is an energy-resolving X-ray detector consisting of an energy-integrating flat-panel detector and multiple filters. In our previous studies, we have shown the effectiveness of the transXend detector, but the filters used were not optimized. To obtain better performance, the filters, especially their thickness and material, should be considered. In this paper, we present a method that can preliminarily estimate filter performance by comparing their noise sensitivity before carrying out numerous experiments. Two kinds of filter sets, Cu–Sn and W–Ag, with various thicknesses were evaluated. The results suggest that to image a 20-cm-thick object with 120-kV X-rays, an unfiltered channel and a channel filtered with 0.5-mm-thick Sn or 0.4-mm-thick Ag may be the best combination. The optimal filter thickness will be smaller if the object is thinner and the tube voltage is lower. For applications that require a wide dynamic range of detector response, a channel with a W filter may be better than an unfiltered channel. To verify the calculation results, computed tomography imaging experiments with a 3-cm-diameter phantom were also performed, and the experimental results showed good agreement with the calculation results.     

Filter-based energy-resolved X-ray computed tomography with a clinical imager

Filter-based energy-resolved X-ray computed tomography (CT) is an approach for implementing energy-resolved CT imaging using a flat-panel-detector-based cone-beam system. In this study, we performed experiments with a 20-cm-diameter phantom on a clinical X-ray imager. The material density results showed good agreement with the ideal values. We also propose an improved method for obtaining the detector response function and the X-ray spectrum, which requires fewer measurements and will be practical for future clinical use. Issues such as scatter and image noise remain to be addressed.     

Digital Computer Control of a Research Reactor

This report describes a feasibility experiment for a fully automatic operation of Hitachi Training Reactor, emploving an digital computer control system. The system consists of a small control computer (2K words), an input-output peripherals, 3 BF3 counters and a countrol rod mechanism driven by a pulse motor.     

Development of flexible displays using back‐channel‐etched In–Sn–Zn–O thin‐film transistors and air‐stable inverted organic light‐emitting diodes

We developed flexible displays using back‐channel‐etched In–Sn–Zn–O (ITZO) thin‐film transistors (TFTs) and air‐stable inverted organic light‐emitting diodes (iOLEDs). The TFTs fabricated on a polyimide film exhibited high mobility (32.9 cm²/Vs) and stability by utilization of a solution‐processed organic passivation layer. ITZO was also used as an electron injection layer (EIL) in the iOLEDs instead of conventional air‐sensitive materials. The iOLED with ITZO as an EIL exhibited higher efficiency and a lower driving voltage than that of conventional iOLEDs. Our approach of the simultaneous formation of ITZO film as both of a channel layer in TFTs and of an EIL in iOLEDs offers simple fabrication process.