Ruthenium dye-sensitized SnO2/TiO2 coupled solar cells

The photoelectrochemical behaviors of RuL₂(NCS)₂ dye-sensitized SnO₂/TiO₂ coupled solar cell was studied and compared with TiO₂ single system. The coupled system shows higher incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) value than the single system. A maximum IPCE value in the coupled system with 3.5 μm-thick SnO₂ and 7 μm-thick TiO₂ attained 82.4% at 530 nm wavelength. The higher IPCE value in the coupled system is attributed to the charge separation by fast electron transfer process from the excited RuL₂(NCS)₂ dye to TiO₂ to SnO₂ in the system with different energy level.     

Partial scan design and test sequence generation based on reduced scan shift method

This paper presents a partial scan algorithm, calledPARES (PartialscanAlgorithm based onREduced Scan shift), for designing partial scan circuits. PARES is based on the reduced scan shift that has been previously proposed for generating short test sequences for full scan circuits. In the reduced scan shift method, one determines proch FFs must be controlled and observed for each test vector. According to the results of similar analysis, PARES selects these FFs that must be controlled or observed for a large number of test vectors, as scanned FFs. Short test sequences are generated by reducing scan shift operations using a static test compaction method. To minimize the loss of fault coverage, the order of test vectors is so determined that the unscanned FFs are in the state required by the next test vector. If there are any faults undetected yet by a test sequence derived from the test vectors, then PARES uses a sequential circuit test generator to detect the faults. Experimental results for ISCAS'89 benchmark circuits are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of PARES.     

IL-1 beta enhances neurite regeneration from transected-nerve terminals of adult rat DRG

We clarified the roles of IL-1 beta in peripheral neural regeneration after axotomy in a three-dimensional collagen gel culture system ranging from a single neurone to a dorsal root ganglion (DRG) explant with its associated nerve bundles. Application of 30 U/ml IL-1 beta to the culture systems clearly enhanced neural regeneration. This regeneration was evident in transected nerve terminals of DRG explants with or without associated nerve bundles, but not in dissociated single neurones. Neural survival was not affected by IL-1 beta in any of these culture systems. These results suggest that IL-1 beta stimulates surrounding non-neuronal cells to secrete neurotrophic factors, thus enhancing neurite regeneration from transected nerve terminals in cultured adult DRG explants.     

An abnormally shortened fatigue life of steels caused by anelasticity

Some abnormal fatigue life shortenings dependent upon load frequency for several steels are discussed. A possible relation between anelasticity caused by interstitial atoms and the abnormal fatigue life drop is presented. Normally, interstitial atoms are in a position which minimizes the energy around a dislocation, the Snoek ordering sites. We consider the Snoek effect as a typical example of anelasticity, and the possibility on atoms moving from attractive sites to repulsive ones when repeated stresses are applied and discuss a theory to explain the reduction of the fatigue life using Snoek ordered atoms moving out by fatigue stress at the frequency of Snoek effect. Bending fatigue tests were conducted to obtain the relationship between fatigue life and load frequency at two different temperatures (298 K and 333 K) for an iron nitrided steel. A sharp fatigue life drop was observed at a load frequency corresponding to the resonant frequency of the Snoek effect for nitrogen atoms. The frequency was about 3 Hz and 298 K and shifted to a higher frequency — about 6 Hz — at 333 K. Results reveal that the possible explanation to those abnormal phenomena may be anelasticity.Work partially conducted at Laboratorio E and Departamento de Ciencias de Materiales, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela.     

On the merits of ancient Chinese eye acupressure practices

Chinese schoolchildren and adults with strenuous visual tasks routinely perform massage-and-pressure exercises on selected acupressure points around the eyes. This practice, taught by the Jing-Luo school of acupuncture for more than 4000 years, is claimed to prevent and cure myopia and other afflictions thought to result from visual close work. A four-week pilot experiment was carried out with the aim of designing a proper study on the possible short-term benefits of eye acupressure programmes. Questionnaire data revealed that the subjects did experience various eye/vision symptoms as a result of the 90 min experimental task. This could not be verified by the measurements of accommodation precision and critical flicker fusion, nor could any beneficial effects of acupressure be seen over the four experimental weeks.     

Effect of Grain Boundaries on Thermal Conductivity of Silicon Carbide Ceramic at 5 to 1300 K

The thermal conductivity of a SiC ceramic was measured as 270 W·m⁻¹·K⁻¹ at room temperature. At low temperatures ( T < 25 K), the decrease in the conductivity was proportional to T ³ on a logarithmic scale, which indicated that the conductivity was controlled by boundaries. The calculated phonon mean free path in the ceramic increased with decreased temperature, but was limited to ∼4 μm, a length almost equal to the grain size, at temperatures below 30 K. We concluded that the thermal conductivity of the ceramic below 30 K was influenced significantly by grain boundaries and grain junctions.     

Proposed Phenomenological PTCR Model and Accompanying Phenomenological PTCR Chart

The positive temperature coefficient of resistivity (PTCR) behavior of semiconductive BaTiO₃ is well explained by the Heywang model, which predicts the resistivity behavior above the Curie point based on the acceptor state density at the grain boundaries, the charge carrier density, and the energy gap, E _s, between the conduction band and the acceptor levels. However, the relationship between these parameters and the production parameters (sintering time, composition, and cooling rate) is not well understood. Recently, the present authors have found that E _s can be increased by thorough oxidation. This increase is attributed to a change in the oxidation state of the acceptor. Based on this finding and results from the literature, a phenomenological PTCR model and an accompanying PTCR chart for acceptor–donor-codoped BaTiO₃ are proposed to clarify this relationship. The PTCR chart clarifies that acceptor dopant concentrations, oxidation time, and oxygen partial pressure during oxidation or cooling can be optimized simultaneously to obtain optical PTCR properties.     

Experimental Evaluation of the Acceptor-States Compensation in Positive-Temperature-Coefficient-Type Barium Titanate

Experimental evidence shows that the acceptor-state levels in Sb-doped positive-temperature-coefficient-type BaTiO₃ are compensated up to a critical acceptor-state density. Using the slope of the natural logarithm of the resistivity with respect to 1/ T , instead of maximum resistivity as a measure for the acceptor-state density, it is possible to estimate this critical value. The value obtained (4.2 × 10¹⁷ m⁻²) is believed to be the first reported estimate based on experimental data. It is in good agreement with the estimate of 6 × 10¹⁷ m⁻² (first reported by Jonker) obtained from the spontaneous polarization of BaTiO₃. This shows that the ferroelectric behavior of BaTiO₃ is indeed a feasible explanation for the low resistivity below the Curie point, as proposed by Jonker.     

Bromine addition and successive amine substitution of mesoporous ethylenesilica: Reaction, characterizations and arsenate adsorption

Bromination and subsequent ethylenediamine substitution of the CC double bond in mesoporous ethylenesilica were carried out to explore the characteristics of this periodic mesoporous organosilica. The structures of the products (BrPMO and EDA–BrPMO, respectively) were analysed by IR, Br K-edge EXAFS and NMR spectroscopies, as well as X-ray diffraction and nitrogen adsorption. We showed (1) that the formulae of the two products that formed were [CHBrSiO_1.5]_0.45[CHSiO_1.5]_0.55 and [NH₂CH₂CH₂NHCHSiO_1.5]_0.05 [CHBrSiO_1.5]_0.40[CHSiO_1.5]_0.55, respectively, (2) that the addition of Br₂ at room temperature occurred on the CC double bonds with disturbing the framework structure, (3) that IR absorption band of CC bonds that reacted with Br₂ is significantly different from that of inactive CC bond, (4) that the length of the C–Br bond was considerably longer than in conventional alkyl bromides, and (5) that a large proportion of the ν(C–Br) band remained at the same position in the IR absorption spectrum after the ethylenediamine (EDA) substitution, while a new ν(C–Br) absorption also appeared. The mechanisms of these reactions are discussed at both the micro and mesoscopic levels.

Arsenate adsorption on EDA–BrPMO, in which the EDA is directly bound to the “surface” of the mesopores, was compared with adsorption on EDA–Pr–PMO, which was prepared by the direct synthesis of 3-chloropropyl-functionalized mesoporous ethanesilica followed by the substitution of Cl with EDA. The strength of the adsorption, as measured with the distribution coefficient, was greater for the former adsorbent than the latter. The origin of this difference was attributed to the distance between amino group and the surface.