Phase fluctuations of cross-polarized signals at 4 GHz in fine weather on earth-space paths

On an earthspace propagation path with the low elevation angle of 10 deg, the phase between co- and crosspolar signals occasionally showed rapid and irregular fluctuations during fine weather. These fluctuations were generally significant during the daytime, and were strongly in phase with the occurrence of the copolar amplitude scintillations. This could be attributed to the combined effects of the crosspolar phase pattern of the receiving antenna and small fluctuations of the angle of arrival of the radiowaves.     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Formation Process of Na-X Zeolite from Coal Fly Ash

Using the SiO₂ and Al₂O₃ components of the amorphous phase in coal fly ash (Fa), Fa was converted to Na-X zeolites in NaOH-NaAlO₂ solutions by stirring at 35°C for 72 hr and then aging at 85°C for a given period. The molar ratio SiO₂/Al₂O₃ of the starting materials was controlled from 2.0 to 13.2. The resulting materials were characterized by various means. Increasing the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of the starting material increased the degree of crystallinity of faujasite, exhibiting a maximum at SiO₂/Al₂O₃ = 8.0. The faujasite formed was identified as Na-X zeolite with Si/Al = 1.20. The amorphous phase in Fa was dissolved during the stirring to form a precursor of zeolite, such as amorphous aluminosilicate. The Na-X zeolite was formed by aging for 24 hr, and the degree of crystallinity of this material was increased with the increasing aging period. The cation exchange capacity and specific surface area were increased with the increasing degree of crystallinity of the Na-X zeolites.     

Antimony activities in copper mattes

A mass spectrometric technique combined with a double Knudsen cell was used to determine the antimony and copper activities in the Cu-Sb binary system at 1373 K and in the two-melt composition range of the Cu−S−Sb ternary system at 1423 K. The antimony and copper activities were calculated based on the intensity ration of the gaseous Sb and Cu species, over the unknown and known activity samples, respectively. γ _Sb ^o were found to be 1.1×10⁻² in molten copper at 1373 K, and 1.8×10⁻² and 0.44 in a copper-rich phase and in a matter phase, of the Cu−S−Sb ternary system at 1423 K, respectively. These values indicate, that antimony can be removed during the matte smelting and slagging stage of the copper smelting process. Interaction parameters of antimony in molten copper slagging stage of the copper smelting process. Interaction parameters of antimony in molten copper at 1423 K were calculated and found to be 10.7, −5.4, and 6.3 for ε _Sb ^Sb · ρ_Sb ^Sb, and ε _Sb ^S , respectively. M. HINO, formerly Visiting Scientist at the University of Toronto     

Extensions of polyacrylic acid ammonium salts in the adsorption layer to fluidize alumina slurries

An average shell volume occupied in the adsorption layer on alumina by a polyacrylic acid ammonium salts molecule (PAA) defined as the average area occupied by an adsorbed PAA on alumina multiplied by the average thickness of the water layer at the limit of thickening, has been calculated from the adsorbed amount of PAA and from the flow points of alumina in the presence of PAA of different molecular weights. A steric effect of the PAA dispersant on the dispersion of alumina resulted in a flow with no yield stress. This was due to the change of the extension of PAA in the adsorption shell from a sphere to an ellipsoid with a long axis which exceeded the effective distance that the van der Waals attraction force reaches at a molecular weight for the PAA of between 10 000–20 000.     

Hydroliquefaction of low-sulfur coals using iron carbonyl complexes—Sulfur as catalysts

Hydroliquefaction of low-sulfur Australian coals (Wandoan and Yallourn) was studied using iron carbonyl complexes as catalyst. The addition of Fe(CO)₅ (2.8 wt% Fe of coal) increased coal conversion from 48.6 to 85.2% for Wandoan coal, and from 36.7 to 69.7% for Yallourn coal in 1-methylnaphthalene at 425°C under an initial hydrogen pressure of 50 kg cm^?2. When molecular sulfur was added to iron carbonyls (Fe(CO)₅, Fe₂(CO)₉ and Fe₃(CO)₁₂), higher coal converions ( > 92%) and higher oil yields (>46%) were obtained, along with an increase in the amount of hydrogen transferred to coal from the gas phase (0.2 to 2.8%, d.a.f. coal basis). In the liquefaction studies using a hydrogen donor solvent, tetralin, Fe(CO)₅S catalyst increased the amount of hydrogen absorbed from the gaseous phase and decreased the amount of naphthalene dehydrogenated from tetralin. The direct hydrogen transfer reaction from molecular hydrogen to coal fragment radicals seems to be a major reaction pathway. Organic sulfur compounds, dimethyldisulfide and benzothiophene, and inorganic FeS₂ and NiS were found to be good sulfur sources to Fe(CO)₅. From X-ray diffraction analyses of liquefaction residues, it is concluded that Fe(CO)₅ was converted into pyrrhotite (Fe_1?xS) when sulfur was present, but into Fe₃O₄ in the absence of sulfur.     

Surface Hardening of Carbon Steel Using High Powered YAG Laser

A high powered YAG laser with kaleidoscope for surface modification was applied to the surface hardening of carbon steels containing 0. 18-0.54 wt% C without the absorbents, and the relationships between laser processing and surface hardening were investigated by hardness and microstructure. The structure of the hardened zone underwent complete martensitic transformation in all of the carbon steels tested, and its hardness increased with greater carbon content. Under identical irradiated conditions, the hardened zone expanded with increasing carbon content. A hardened zone extending from the surface to a depth of 1.0 mm was obtained at a laser power of 1.0 kW and a scanning speed of 1 mm/sec. It was found that in the surface hardening of carbon steels, a high powered YAG laser can be used to control the hardened zone by selecting the appropriate irradiation conditions, however, the hardened zone was affected by the assistant gas and the flow rate.     

Effects of partial recrystallization on high-cycle fatigue deformation and crack generation of a nitrogen-strengthened 32Mn-7Cr austenitic steel at liquid-nitrogen temperature

To achieve higher fatigue resistance against subsurface crack generation, both the refinement of grain structure and the introduction of mobile dislocations on various slip systems have been shown to be effective in the 32Mn-7Cr austenitic steel. A novel treatment which consisted of cold grooved rolling and partial recrystallization was introduced to modify the microstructure. High-cycle fatigue properties and fatigue-crack generation were investigated for both the solution-treated (ST) and the partially recrystallized (PR) materials at 77 K. The PR material displayed higher fatigue strength than the ST material, especially in the high-cycle regime. No subsurface crack generation was detected for the PR material; however, it appeared in the lower peak stress and/or in the longer-life range for the ST material. Intergranular facets formed a subsurface crack initiation site in the ST material. Since the dislocation structure that developed in the fatigued PR material assisted homogeneous and multidirectional plastic deformation, the localized deformation and/or the stress concentration at the grain boundaries by coplanar arrays were believed to be relieved. Therefore, intergranular cracking due to incompatibility at a grain boundary may disappear.     

Present status and future prospects of PV activities in Japan

The photovoltaic (PV) power systems in Japan made great strides in the past decade. The PV industry in the 1990s greatly depended on the research projects and dissemination programs carried out by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. However, the industrial structure for full-scale deployment of the PV system is currently being established by the manufacturers’ continuous efforts to reduce the PV system cost and the government’s consecutive supports to create the initial market. It is expected that the synergetic effect of the cost reduction and incentives for introduction will activate the PV industry and its market more and more toward achieving 5000 MW of the capacity in FY 2010.     

Paxillin isoforms in mouse. Lack of the gamma isoform and developmentally specific beta isoform expression

Paxillin, a focal adhesion protein, exists as multiple isoforms in humans (alpha, beta, and gamma). To understand more about the physiological role of each isoform, we have employed the mouse system. We found that although the alpha and beta isoforms are present in the mouse, the gamma isoform is not. The alpha isoform protein was detected clearly in most adult tissues, whereas the beta isoform protein was almost undetectable except in spleen, testis, thymus, and lung. On the other hand, mRNAs of both isoforms were detectable in all tissues we examined. High levels of the beta isoform protein was detected in peritoneal exudate macrophage cells in adult mouse as well as in cultured fibroblasts, together with the alpha isoform. The alpha isoform was expressed at a constant level throughout the embryonic stages we examined, whereas the beta isoform protein was detected at the mid-stages of development and increased to levels almost equal to those of the alpha isoform during the late stages of embryogenesis. Therefore, unlike the alpha isoform, expression of the beta isoform protein is restricted in adult tissues. Moreover, we showed that alpha and beta isoforms were colocalized within the same focal adhesion plaques, and cytoplasmic pools of both isoforms exist in the perinuclear area, colocalized with the Golgi apparatus.