Analysis of speech signals based on frequency distribution and intonation

In this study, the atmosphere as a communication mode of humans was defined by time information about speech. The objective of this study was the development of a technique for the quantitative measurement of the atmosphere as KANSEI in a group. The communication mode of the group was indexed by using a time-frequency distribution analysis of conversational voices, and in particular the duration of speech. The correlation between the time series of the speech duration time and the communication modality was also evaluated. Consequently, the differences in the communication mode between a man and a woman was seen in the speech duration time. Differences in the characteristics of speech were also found in the duration time and the frequency.     

Internal friction of Ti–Ni–Cu ternary shape memory alloys

Low frequency internal friction was measured on three specimens of Ti–Ni–Cu ternary alloys, the Cu content varying from 10 to 20 at.%, while Ti content was fixed at 50 at.%. The internal friction spectrum consists mainly of two peaks, a sharper one associated with the B2–B19 transformation and the other one at around 250 K, which is much broader and higher than the former. The peak height of the latter is 0.2 for the specimen containing 20% Cu, which shows that this alloy can be an excellent high damping material. Transformation behavior was studied by electrical resistivity, thermopower and DSC measurements, and was compared with the result of internal friction measurements. Solution treatment at higher temperatures lowers the internal friction peak markedly. Scanning electron microscopy observation reveals that the behaviors of precipitates are different for different solution treatment temperature, suggesting that the precipitation behavior is crucial in the damping properties.     

Thermal decomposition of vitamin C: An evolved gas analysis−ion attachment mass spectrometry study

Evolved gas analysis−ion attachment mass spectrometry (EGA−IAMS) was utilised to study the real-time non-isothermal decomposition of vitamin C. Dehydro-l-ascorbic acid, which has until this study been undetectable from the solid phase degradation of vitamin C, was observed as a decomposition product. While it is an important compound because it possesses some biological activity, dehydro-l-ascorbic acid is difficult to measure due to its chemical instability. In the present study using EGA−IAMS, we were able to detect dehydro-l-ascorbic acid from the thermal degradation of vitamin C. Our EGA−IAMS results obtained from the thermal decomposition of vitamin C were compared with a previous study employing pyrolysis-gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC−MS). The observed quantitative and qualitative differences of the pyrolysis products obtained by the two techniques (EGA−IAMS vs. Pyr-GC–MS) are in part due to the difference in transportation time of the products out of the pyrolysis chamber.     

High-Resolution Electron Microscopic Study of the Growth Mechanism of Gigantic Tubular Super-Fullerenes

I report a new synthesis of gigantic tubular super-fullerenes : tubular carbon cages with shell structure showing maximum sizes of ～ 10 μ m in length and ～ 30 nm in the outermost diameter. For the innermost tubule a similar diameter to C₆₀ is found occasionally. Direct evidence of coaxial tubules capped on the ends is presented by high-resolution electron microscopy. I propose a new growth model: growth of the tubular super-fullerenes initiates at the outermost cage and proceeds towards the core. I would like to thank Oosuna, T. for obtaining TEM images and Shida, S. for preparing photographs.     

Some aspects of the application of adsorption isotherms to ion exchange reactions

In the adsorption isotherm approach, ion exchange should be considered as a competitive adsorption of two sorbates. This would lead to adsorption isotherms equivalent to the law of mass action. The simple Langmuir equation, representing a single-sorbate system, should not be used to represent ion exchange even at low occupancy values of an ideal reaction. The application of this equation generally leads to erroneous values of selectivity constants. In case of heterovalent exchange, it also leads to erroneous capacity values. These facts have been revealed by the isotherm of Boyd et al. [G.E. Boyd, J. Schubert, A.W. Adamson. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 69 (1947) 2816] for homovalent exchange, and by the approximate isotherm of Misak for heterovalent exchange. Cases of constancy of the equilibrium quotient of equivalent ion exchange are numerous. Adsorption isotherms can also be applied to the more frequent cases where such constancy is only observed over a certain composition range of the solid. Binding constants represented by the simple Langmuir equation are actually not constants, being dependent on solution concentration. Except under certain particular conditions, such constants are generally meaningless.     

Water-soluble polyaniline/graphene prepared by in situ polymerization in graphene dispersions and use as counter-electrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells

Water-soluble polyaniline/graphene nanocomposites have been prepared via a simple in situ polymerization of aniline in graphene dispersion. TEM measurement confirmed that polyaniline was homogeneously coated on the graphene sheets. The nanocomposites solution can be used for film fabrication by common technology, such as drop coating. When these different polyaniline/graphene nanocomposites were applied as the counter electrode materials for dye-sensitized solar cells, the short-circuit current density and power-conversion efficiency of the devices were measured to be 12.19 mA cm⁻² and 4.46%, respectively, which was comparable to 5.71% for the cell with a Pt counter electrode under the same experimental conditions.     

Study on contact angles of Au,Ag, Cu,Sn, Al and Al alloys to SiC

Contact angles of Au, Ag, Cu, Sn, Al and Al alloys to SiC were measured by use of sessile drops heated by a high frequency induction coil designed to be convex against the SiC plate. Three crystal configurations of -SiC, polycrystalline plane of sintered SiC, SiC (1 1 1) plane, and SiC (1 0 0 0) plane were used as base plates. Au, Sn, Al and Al alloys showed a large contact angle of about 150 ° at each melting temperature, however those of Ag and Cu were in the range of 105–121°. Every contact angle of Al and its alloys decreased to under 90° when held at 1350 °C. SiC (1 0 0 0) plane gave a lower contact angle than the other two SiC planes for Cu, Al and Al-Si alloys.     

Silicate glass-to-glass hermetic bonding for encapsulation of next-generation optoelectronics: A review

Many of the new organic–inorganic hybrid materials for next generation optoelectronics have organic components sensitive to oxygen, moisture, and temperature, requiring hermetic encapsulation. Silicate glasses offer the wide optical transmission window needed for the optimal functioning of optoelectronic devices. The low oxygen and moisture permeability required for hermetic encapsulation can be achieved by glass-to-glass bonding with or without an intermediate layer. However, most of the traditional glass bonding techniques require processing at high temperatures not compatible with the new hybrid device materials that are temperature sensitive. In this work, we review the current state of knowledge in low-temperature (<150 °C) silicate glass-to-glass bonding. Hermeticity and bond strength testing methods are described and opportunities for hermetic electrical feedthroughs using silicate glass-to-metal bonding are discussed.     

Ozone‐gas treatment of cationic dyeable polyester and poly(butylene terephthalate) fibers

Cationic dyeable polyester and poly(butylene terephthalate) fabrics were treated with ozone gas under atmospheric pressure and at a pressure of 0.1 MPa. The effect of the ozone‐gas treatment was investigated on the basis of electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectrum, X‐ray diffraction, moisture regain, water absorption, and dyeing properties. The ozone‐gas treatment caused an increase in the oxygen content of each fiber. From the wave separation of C_1s, the oxygen was incorporated in the form of ? CO? and ? COO? on the fiber surface, and also, despite an increase in the water absorption, the fiber density as an index of crystallinity increased a little with the treatment. As the result, we concluded that the treatment caused a change not only on the fiber surface but also in the internal structure of both fibers. Then, it seemed that the treatment brought about an effect on the dyeing properties. The apparent dyeing rate with the cationic dye increased remarkably with the ozone‐gas treatment, whereas that with the disperse dye increased slightly. Therefore, it was clear that the ozone‐gas treatment caused a change not only in the fine structure but also in the dyeing behavior. These phenomena were the same as those of poly(ethylene terephthalate) fibers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 2423–2429, 2007