Using bottom surface reflectance to map coastal marine areas: a new application method for Lyzenga's model

Remote sensing is widely used in coastal management. Lyzenga's model has been traditionally used to explain the relationship between bottom surface reflectance and the radiance level measured by satellite. Due to its central assumption, this model lacks accuracy compared with the other radiative transfer models. Nonetheless, it enables, with a single and simple equation, representation of the multiple optical processes taking place in coastal areas. Mapping processes associated with this model may include radiometric correction, a technique previously pointed out as a major driver of mapping accuracy. Radiometric correction is generally based on a depth-invariant index, efficient for clear waters (Jerlov water type I to II) but largely unsuitable when transparency decreases (Jerlov water type II to III). In order to overcome this problem, we developed a new index for radiometric correction, which combines bathymetry data with attenuation coefficients. The improved efficiency of our model with regard to the traditional depth invariant index was demonstrated through two case studies: Funakoshi Bay (Japan; Jerlov water type II) and the Gabes Gulf part located off Mahares (Tunisia; Jerlov water type II to III).     

A rapid-detection method for radioactive cesium in the air

We propose a method of rapidly detecting radioactive cesium floating in the air for the purpose of alerting people active in the ‘difficult-to-return zone’ of Fukushima to changes in airborne radioactivity. With this purpose in mind, we set requirement specifications and created a new system concept. The targeted detection limit was 30 Bq/m³ and the mandatory level of measurement time was 48 min with a target level of 12 min, and these periods are 10 times faster than those of conventional air monitors. The system consists of a conventional gamma-spectrometer with a novel shaped shield. The targeted peak region of the measured energy spectrum is analyzed. After the basic design and confirmation of feasibility, we perform some experiments in the normal environment of Yokohama city and the difficult-to-return zone of Fukushima. Using the results, we conducted the design improvement and performance evaluation. As a result, the system performance is found to satisfy requirements. We thus conclude that this system is a promising candidate for rapid detection of airborne radioactivity in the difficult-to-return zone of Fukushima.     

Ubiquitous Memories: a memory externalization system using physical objects

In this paper we propose an object-triggered human memory augmentation system named “Ubiquitous Memories” that enables a user to directly associate his/her experience data with physical objects by using a “touching” operation. A user conceptually encloses his/her experiences gathered through sense organs into physical objects by simply touching an object. The user can also disclose and re-experience for himself/herself the experiences accumulated in an object by the same operation. We implemented a prototype system composed basically of a radio frequency identification (RFID) device. Physical objects are also attached to RFID tags. We conducted two experiments. The first experiment confirms a succession of the “encoding specificity principle,” which is well known in the research field of psychology, to the Ubiquitous Memories system. The second experiment aims at a clarification of the system’s characteristics by comparing the system with other memory externalization strategies. The results show the Ubiquitous Memories system is effective for supporting memorization and recollection of contextual events.     

Diamond-like carbon thin film with controlled zeta potential for medical material application

With the purpose of applying diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films as a biocompatible material, we experimented with introducing functional groups such as amino and carboxyl groups to the surface of DLC thin films by plasma surface treatment. From the results, it was found that the contact angle values of the DLC thin films surface were decreased with increasing in the OCO bonded network on the surface. Measurement of the zeta potential when the amounts of the functional groups were varied showed that this successfully varied the zeta potential over the wide range of − 48 mV to + 12 mV. It was found that when carboxyl groups are introduced by O₂ plasma modification of the DLC thin films surface, the zeta potential was lower than that of untreated DLC thin films sample. It was also found that amino groups can be introduced to the DLC thin films surface by NH₃ plasma treatment, the zeta potential was higher than that of untreated DLC thin films sample. This means that zeta potential of the DLC thin films can also be controlled by controlling these two functional groups. Therefore, we have succeeded in developing a multifunctional DLC thin films that does not use polymers and is suitable as a biocompatible material.     

An approach for protein to be completely reversible to thermal denaturation even at autoclave temperatures

Reversibility of protein denaturation is a prerequisite forall applications that depend on reliable enzyme catalysis, particularly,for using steam to sterilize enzyme reactors or enzyme sensortips, and for developing protein-based devices that performon–off switching of the protein function such as enzymaticactivity, ligand binding and so on. In this study, we have successfullyconstructed an immobilized protein that retains full enzymaticactivity even after thermal treatments as high as 120°C.The key for the complete reversibility was the development ofa new reaction that allowed a protein to be covalently attachedto a surface through its C-terminus and the protein engineeringapproach that was used to make the protein compatible with thenew attachment chemistry.     

Nucleation of supercooled water on solid surfaces

Heterogeneous nucleation of water was investigated using molecular dynamics simulation. Solid with fcc (111) surface was placed at the bottom of a cell consisting of 864 water molecules. ST2 model with NPT ensemble was used. The pressure and temperature were set to be 0.1 MPa and 275 K, respectively. The interaction between water and the solid was based on the equations proposed by Spohr. Exception was made on the lattice constant which was slightly modified to fit with that for ice structure. The shape of the solid surface was considered. It was found that the only one layer of water molecules was adsorbed in a case of a flat surface, whereas ice nucleation occurred by removing some of the atoms from the surface. Spohr's interaction was also modified so that the dipole moment of water became anti-ferroelectric. It was found that the modification increased the ice growth, further. The effect of lattice constant of solid on nucleation was also investigated. It was found that the variation on lattice constant with a few percent from that of ice was acceptable for nucleation, especially on shrinking side. On expanding side, however, it gave some gaps for water molecules to fit in other than that for ice structure, and it prevented the growth of ice. Hence, a guideline for the selection of ice nucleus material was obtained.     

Reconstruction of complex-valued electron density with x-ray in-line holograms

A reconstruction algorithm is proposed to analyze the complex-valued electron-density distribution in an object with x-ray in-line holograms. The real and imaginary parts of the electron density correspond to local variations of x-ray phase shift and absorption, respectively. In the algorithm, the least-squares error of the holograms is iteratively minimized under sign constraints on the real and imaginary parts. The constraints, which are derived from the physical conditions in the interaction between x rays and materials, facilitate robust reconstruction. The reconstruction was applied to holograms of a biological specimen that caused both phase shift and absorption.     

Preparation of monodisperse polymer samples by solubility difference method

An attempt was made to prepare the polymer fractions having extremely sharp molecular weight distribution (MWD), by using a successive solutional fractionation (SSF) method, in which a polymer-lean phase was separated as a fraction from a polymer-rich phase. For this purpose a large-scale preparative SSF apparatus was constructed. Atactic polystyrene (PS) high-density polyethylene (PE), and cellulose di- and tri-acetates (CDA and CTA) were fractionated by SSF. The fractions isolated from a quasi-binary mixture (polymer/solvent system) have the same MWD as that predicted by the computer simulation technique. Even under the conventional fractionation conditions (initial polymer volume fraction v^o_p = ～ 0.01, total number of fractions n_t = 10 ～ 20) the fractions with the ratio of the weight to number-average molecular weight M_w/M_n less than 1.1 for PS, 1.2 for PE, 1.3 for CDA and 1.4 for CTA were obtained, with exception of a few initial fractions. The advantage of the SSF method was clarified over the conventional preparative methods such as gel permeation chromatography and the column fractionation method.