An Automatic Guidance System of a Self-Controlled Vehicle

An automatically guided vehicle, traveling without fixed guide ways, has been developed. In this paper, the construction of the vehicle, the control algorithm, and its general performance are described.     

Efficient Assembly of Bridged β‐Ga2O3 Nanowires for Solar‐Blind Photodetection

An increasing number of applications using ultraviolet radiation have renewed interest in ultraviolet photodetector research. Particularly, solar‐blind photodetectors sensitive to only deep UV (<280 nm), have attracted growing attention because of their wide applicability. Among recent advances in UV detection, nanowire (NW)‐based photodetectors seem promising, however, none of the reported devices possesses the required attributes for practical solar‐blind photodetection, namely, an efficient fabrication process, a high solar light rejection ratio, a low photocurrent noise, and a fast response. Herein, the assembly of β‐Ga₂O₃ NWs into high‐performance solar‐blind photodetectors by use of an efficient bridging method is reported. The device is made in a single‐step chemical vapor deposition process and has a high 250‐to‐280‐nm rejection ratio (～2 × 10³), low photocurrent fluctuation (<3%), and a fast decay time (<<20 ms). Further, variations in the synthesis parameters of the NWs induce drastic changes in the photoresponse properties, which suggest a possibility for tuning the performance of the photodetectors. The efficient fabrication method and high performance of the bridged β‐Ga₂O₃ NW photodetectors make them highly suitable for solar‐blind photodetection.     

Stability of hydrogen incorporated in ZnO nanowires by plasma treatment

The stability of hydrogen in ZnO is studied using hydrogenated nanowires by plasma treatment. Enhanced near band edge UV emission and reduced defect level green emission is observed after hydrogen plasma treatment. Through thermal stability tests, this effect is found to be stable at room temperature and nearly stable up to ~500 K, but begins to deteriorate at higher temperature. The study of the irradiation stability of the hydrogen in ZnO nanowires shows that the hydrogen is stable under an electron beam with an accelerating voltage lower than 5 kV, but is not stable under 10 kV or under an intensive laser beam. The results could benefit the further understanding of the role of hydrogen in ZnO and light-emitting devices based on hydrogenated ZnO.     

Plant Dynamics Evaluation of a MONJU Ex-vessel Fuel Storage System during a Station Blackout

The prototype fast breeder reactor ＂MONJU＂ has an EVSS （ex-vessel fuel storage system） which consists mainly of an EVST （ex-vessel fuel storage tank） and an EVST sodium cooling system. EVST sodium cooling system consists of three independent loops. During the normal operation, the primary sodium in the EVST is circulated by natural convection and the secondary circulation in the EVST sodium cooling system is powered by electromagnetic pumps. When an SBO （station blackout） occurs, all the pumps and blowers are tripped. Therefore, it was necessary to evaluate the cooling ability by the natural circulation of sodium in the EVST sodium cooling system and air through the air cooler during the SBO. In this study, an analysis and evaluation of the plant dynamics for the spent fuel and the EVSS structural integrity during an SBO were performed. When the number of cooling loops was not changed and natural circulation occurred in only two loops, the sodium temperature in the EVST increased to approximately 450 ~C. However, the structural integrity of the EVSS was maintained. The analytical results, therefore, help clarify the number of necessary cooling loops for efficient decay heat removal and sodium temperature behavior in an SBO.     

Fermentation-induced changes in the concentrations of organic acids,amino acids,sugars, and minerals and superoxide dismutase-like activity in tomato vinegar

Various raw materials are used to produce vinegars that contain functional compounds associated with disease prevention. We evaluated changes in functional compounds during tomato vinegar production and superoxide dismutase-like activity of tomato vinegar. Tomato vinegar contained abundant anti-hypertensive compounds, e.g., γ-aminobutyric acid and potassium derived from tomatoes and acetic acid and pyroglutamic acid produced during fermentation. It had stronger superoxide dismutase-like activity than commercial vinegars because of tomato-derived superoxide dismutase-like compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, and glutathione. These data indicate that tomato vinegar is a candidate dietary supplement with potential preventive effects against cardiovascular diseases due to its anti-hypertensive and superoxide dismutase-like compounds.     

New Chiral Diphosphine Ligands Designed to have a Narrow Dihedral Angle in the Biaryl Backbone

A series of novel optically active diphosphine ligands, (4,4′‐bi‐1,3‐benzodioxole)‐5,5′‐diylbis(diarylphosphine)s ( 6 ), which are called SEGPHOS, has been designed and synthesized with dihedral angles in the Ru complexes being less than that in the corresponding BINAP‐Ru complex. The stereorecognition abilities of SEGPHOS‐Ru complex catalysts in the asymmetric catalytic hydrogenation of a wide variety of carbonyl compounds are superior to those observed with BINAP‐Ru complex catalysts.     

Serum sulfatide abnormality is associated with increased oxidative stress in hemodialysis patients

Sulfatides are major glycosphingolipids of lipoproteins that influence atherosclerosis and blood coagulation. Our previous cross‐sectional study of hemodialysis patients showed that serum sulfatide levels decreased markedly with increasing duration of hemodialysis treatment, which may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. However, this past study could not demonstrate the time‐dependent change in serum sulfatide levels in each patient, and the underlying mechanism is unknown. To confirm the time‐dependent aggravation of serum sulfatide abnormality, 95 stable hemodialysis outpatients were followed up for 3 years. To show the underlying mechanisms, we statistically analyzed correlations between serum sulfatide levels and clinical factors, including an oxidative stress marker, malondialdehyde. Serum sulfatides were quantified by mass spectrometry after conversion to lysosulfatides. Malondialdehyde was measured using a colorimetric assay. The results showed a time‐dependent decrease in serum sulfatide levels associated with increased malondialdehyde levels, although the absolute level of serum malondialdehyde does not determine the baseline level of serum sulfatides. Multiple linear regression analysis showed a significant correlation only between the time‐dependent change in serum sulfatide levels and the time‐dependent change in serum malondialdehyde levels. This study demonstrated, for the first time, a time‐dependent aggravation of serum sulfatide abnormality in hemodialysis patients, as well as the potential relationship between serum sulfatide abnormality and increasing oxidative stress. These findings suggest that oxidative stress might be an aggravating factor in serum sulfatide abnormality. As continuation of hemodialysis treatment hardly improves abnormal serum sulfatide levels or increased oxidative stress, development of novel therapeutic strategies may be important.     

Vinyl polymerization initiated with alkali metal adducts of triphenylamine and triphenylphosphine

The polymerizations of styrene, methyl methacrylate, isoprene, butadiene and acrylonitrile initiated with alkali metal adducts of triphenylamine or triphenylphosphine at 0°C in tetrahydrofuran take place by an anionic mechanism. Biphenyl alkali metal anion radical and alkali metal adducts of benzene, aniline and diphenylamine are formed in the reaction of triphenylamine with the alkali metal and it was shown that styrene was polymerized with both the anion radical and alkali metal adducts of benzene, whereas methyl methacrylate and acrylonitrile were polymerized by all anion species.     

Monomeric dihydroperoxide concentrates from autoxidized methyl docosahexaenoate

An amount of 97% methyl docosahexaenoate (obtained from mackerel pike oil) was prepared, and then its autoxidized products were concd by a countercurrent extraction procedure. By partition chromatography, the autoxidized concs were separated into three fractions. From the first fraction, methyl docosahexaenoate monomeric dihydroperoxide concs were obtained for the first time, though the presence of the dihydroperoxide had been ascertained by the authors before. The dihydroperoxide concs were identified by determining the peroxide value, the mol wt, and UV and IR spectra. From IR data it was confirmed that weak absorptions due toa-methylene groups and C=C stretching vibrations, respectively, were present in the concs. Thetrans-trans conjugated diene andcis nonconjugated double bond absorptions appear as relatively strong bands, but thecis-trans conjugated one is weak. Therefore, the molecules of the concs may have relatively symmetrical structures. The second fraction eluted after the first one contains the products to which the dihydroperoxides have changed on the chromatographic column.