Tetragonal to monoclinic transformation and microstructural evolution in ZrO2–9.7 mol% MgO during cyclic heating and cooling

The tetragonal (t) to monoclinic (m) transformation behaviour and its relationship to microstructural evolution were investigated by means of dilatometry and transmission electron microscopy for ZrO2–9.7 mol% MgO during cyclic heating and cooling between room temperature and 1490 K. In the as-sintered specimens, fine oblate ellipsoidal t-phase precipitates, 20–50 nm in diameter and 100–200 nm long, were distributed in the cubic (c)-phase matrix. They were below a critical size for transformation and exhibited no transformation in the first three cycles. In the fourth and further cycles, transformation occurred in two distinct stages. A low-temperature stage appeared at 850–1000 K on heating and at 400–700 K on cooling, while a high-temperature stage appeared at 1350–1400 K on heating and at 1000–1200 K on cooling. With the increasing number of cycles, at first the size of low-temperature stages increased and then decreased above ten cycles accompanying the development of the high-temperature stage. During cyclic heating and cooling, coarsening of ellipsoidal precipitates and decomposition of c- and t-phases occurred. As a result of the decomposition, MgO particles and a new m-phase containing a very low concentration of MgO were produced. The coarsened ellipsoidal t-phase precipitates were responsible for the low-temperature stage. The new m- or t-phase containing very low MgO produced by the decomposition was responsible for the high-temperature stage.     

Interfacial structures and mechanical properties of steel–Ni and steel–Ti diffusion bonds

Static and fatigue shear tests of steel–Ni bonds and steel–Ti bonds were carried out to obtain the relations between the strengths and the bonding conditions. Ultrasonic measurements were also made to examine the relations between the strengths and the size of the bonded region (the estimated diameter). At the bonding interface of the steel–Ni bonds, no intermediate phase was observed. At the bonding interface of the steel–Ti bonds, a thin layer of intermetallic compound was formed at lower bonding temperatures but, at higher bonding temperatures, the interlayer melted and the bonding interface became rough. The intensity of the ultrasonic wave reflected from the bonding interface changed, depending on the state of the bonding interface. In shear tests of the steel–Ni and steel–Ti bonds, cracks propagated along the bonding interface, and the strength was proportional to the square of the estimated diameter. In fatigue tests, cracks propagated in the thickness direction of the plate and no relation was obtained between the fatigue life and the estimated diameter. Fatigue life distributions were represented by two- and three-parameter Weibull distributions. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Uncertain variance in an optimal linear system with white gain

For scalar quadratic optimal linear systems with a white gain coefficient, the influence of the uncertainty of the gain variance is analysed by means of elementary methods. First, the mean-square stability of the closed loop systems is analysed on the assumption that the controller is designed with an erroneous variance. It is shown that the use of an overestimated value of the variance less than a threshold value, which is infinite for the stable free systems, does not damage the stability of closed-loop systems. A relative underestimation error bound guaranteeing the stability of closed-loop systems is obtained. Secondly, performance of the controller designed with an erroneous variance is compared analytically with that of the certainty equivalence controller. An explicit relative overestimation error bound on the variance guaranteeing the superiority of the controller over the certainty equivalence controller is obtained.     

改定JASS 5における再生骨材コンクリ一トの規定の概要

日本建築学会建築工事標準仕様書JASS 5鉄筋コンクリート工事が2009年2月に大改定された.今回の改定では、新技術の取込みはもとより、エコセメントや再生骨材コンクリートの節の新設などによる環境配慮への取組みの強化、かぶり厚さなどの規定の検査方法の充実、計画供用期間の級の超長期への対応や耐久性向上にかかわる乾燥収縮率*ヤング係数*許容ひび割れ幅などのコンクリートの品質基準の設定、調合強度の定め方の合理化を目指した構造体強度補正値(S値)の適用の拡大など、きわめて多岐にわたっている.また、水密コンクリートをはじめ特別な仕様のコンクリートについて、より実情に即した形で規定の充実が図られている.この報告は、そのうち、再生骨材コンクリートに関する規定について紹介する.     

Ethylene Absorbent to Maintain Quality of Lightly Processed Fruits and Vegetables

Ethylene had an undesirable effect on the quality of kiwifruits, bananas, broccoli, and spinach leaves that were prepared and stored as lightly processed products. A 2.or 20 ppm ethylene treatment hastened the softening of the pulp of kiwifruits and bananas held at 20°C. Use of charcoal with palladium chloride, as ethylene absorbent, prevented the accumulation of the ethylene and was effective in reducing the rate of softening in kiwifruits and bananas and of chlorophyll loss in spinach leaves, but not in broccoli.     

A LRT Control Method Using Sensor Information in Distribution Systems with a Large Amount of PVs and EVs

It is of prime importance to maintain voltage profile within the proper range in distribution systems with a large amount of photovoltaics and electric vehicles (EVs). In particular, there is a possibility that line drop compensation (LDC) logic, which is utilized for the control of load ratio tap transformer (LRT) does not work properly when reverse power flow is included partially. Hence, in this paper, we have developed a new LRT control method based on the sensor information supposing that some section switchgears with sensors are introduced in the future distribution systems. Specifically, the extreme value of voltage profile is estimated by convergence calculation in the section between the section switchgear with sensor and LRT. Moreover, the voltage at the end node can be estimated by LDC method using sensor information of section switchgear. The proposed method was tested using a distribution system model and its effectiveness was shown.     

Fractionation of water insoluble solids and extraction of pectins from residues of juice-extracted satsuma mandarin fruit by wet grinding

The waste biomass residue from satsuma mandarin juice production was extracted by wet-fine grinding and separated by centrifugation into insoluble and soluble fractions. The insoluble material was wet-screened into four fractions and analysed for crude fibre and total hydrolysable sugars. Crude fibre was almost exclusively in fractions containing particles over 50 μm, comprising about 65% of the insoluble material; this could provide a raw material high in crude fibre. The remaining insoluble fraction was almost devoid of crude fibre.
The soluble extract contained up to 63% of the total pectic substances with very similar methoxyl contents and degree of esterification, but double the viscometric molecular weight of a standard citrus pectin. The method provides an alternative to that of hot acid extraction.     

Entrance effect correction on the flow of moisturized soy protein isolate melt in an extrusion viscometer

A newly developed capillary viscometer, having an airtight sample cell and capillary system, was utilized to determine the flow properties of moisturized [70% dry basis (d.b.)] soy protein isolate (SPI) melt at 140°C. Pressure drop measurement with an orifice die was done to clarify the large end effect. An end effect correction method was performed by subtracting the orifice die data from the capillary tube data, and reasonable results were obtained. The flow properties of the SPI melt were thus elucidated and could be classified as those of a power law fluid with flow behaviour index of 0.35. It was concluded that SPI with 70% d.b. moisture is an extremely high pseudoplastic fluid at 140°C.     

PHYTOCYSTATINS AND THEIR TARGET ENZYMES: FROM MOLECULAR BIOLOGY TO PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A REVIEW

Cystatins are protein inhibitors of cysteine proteinases. Oryzacystatin I (OC-I) has been cloned and is apparently the first well-defined cystatin of plant origin (phytocystatin). Besides OC-I, various other phytocystatins occur in rice, corn, wheat and soybean. Phytocystatins have endogenous target enzymes whose expression is induced by gibberellin, and also exogenous target enzymes from viruses and insects. It is thus likely that phytocystatins are involved in the regulation of intracellular protein catabolism as well as in the defense from infection. Better understanding of this phenomenon and cloning of appropriate genes will facilitate the creation of transgenic crops with enhanced resistance to viruses and insects.