Improved direct bonding method of Nd:YVO4 and YVO4 laser crystals

We succeeded in the fabrication of bonded laser crystals composed of a neodymium-doped YVO₄ laser crystal (Nd:YVO₄) and its host crystals YVO₄ by a newly developed dry etching technique using an argon ion beam. The optical distortion caused by the bonded interface of size 5 mm × 6 mm was estimated to be 0.05λ at 633 nm. From the comparison of laser performance pumped by a laser diode, the bonded crystals could increase the laser output power by nearly twice that of the non-bonded crystals with the same degree of polarization of 99.2%. To analyze the mechanism of the enhanced reduction of the thermal load in the bonded crystals, numerical simulations with a finite-element method were also performed.     

Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-3-acetic acids. A new class of nonpeptide endothelin receptor antagonists

On the basis of structural information for the cyclic hexapeptide endothelin (ET) receptor antagonist, TAK-044, a series of thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine-2,4-dione derivatives bearing a carboxyl group and aromatic rings that were important for receptor binding were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for ET receptor binding affinities and inhibitory activities against ET-induced vasoconstriction. Optimization of each substituent in the thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine ring led to the discovery of a novel and potent nonpeptide ET receptor antagonist, 6-(4-methoxymethoxyphenyl)-5-methylsulfonylaminomethyl-1-(2- methylthiobenzyl)-2,4-dioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-d]p yrimidine-3- acetic acid (32 g), which binded to human ETA and ETB receptor subtypes with affinities (IC50) of 7.6 and 100 nM, respectively. Compound 32 g effectively antagonized ET-induced vasoconstriction and the inhibitory effect mediated by the ETB receptor was more potent than that of bosentan, while the inhibitory effect mediated by the ETA receptor was slightly less potent than that of bosentan.     

Flash pyrolysis of coal: effect of nitrogen,argon and other atmospheres in increasing olefin concentration and its significance on the mechanism of coal pyrolysis

Samples of three Indian coals, of widely differing origin and rank, were subjected to flash pyrolysis at a temperature of about 1150 °C for 30 s in vacuo, and under atmospheres of nitrogen, argon, ammonia, and perdeuterobenzene. The gaseous products of the pyrolyses were analysed by infra-red and mass spectroscopy and by gas chromatography. Observed variations in gas compositions are discussed relative to the possible mode of influence by the pyrolytic atmospheres. It would appear that the pyrolytic atmosphere is an important factor in determining the composition of the pyrolysis products; the influence of nitrogen, argon and perdeuterobenzene is a physical one, leading especially to higher yields of olefins.     

Comparison between SiO2 films deposited by atomic layer deposition with SiH2[N(CH3)2]2 and SiH[N(CH3)2]3 precursors

Thin SiO₂ layers were deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) using either Bis-dimethylamino-silane (BDMAS: SiH₂(N(CH₃)₂)₂) or Tris-dimethylamino-silane (TDMAS: SiH(N(CH₃)₂)₃) precursors. The purpose of this study is to evaluate these precursors for their suitability for ALD of hafnium (Hf)-silicate gate dielectrics. The advantages of these precursors are that the melting points and vapor pressures are moderate. The thickness of SiO₂ deposited using ALD process is controlled by the number of growth cycles and the growth rate was different for each precursor, that for BDMAS being 1.5 times that for TDMAS at the same reactor pressure. The carbon impurity in the SiO₂ film deposited using BDMAS was about half an order of magnitude less than that using for TDMAS. Furthermore, the carbon impurity was reduced to about the detection limit of secondary ion mass spectrometry after high temperature annealing at 1000 °C during 5 s.     

Dynamical Responses of Chaotic Memory Dynamics to Weak Input in a Recurrent Neural Network Model

Chaotic dynamics in a recurrent neural network model, in which limit cycle memory attractors are stored, is investigated by means of numerical methods. In particular, we focus on quick and sensitive response characteristics of chaotic memory dynamics to external input, which consists of part of an embedded memory attractor. We have calculated the correlation functions between the firing activities of neurons to understand the dynamical mechanisms of rapid responses. The results of the latter calculation show that quite strong correlations occur very quickly between almost all neurons within 1 ~ 2 updating steps after applying a partial input. They suggest that the existence of dynamical correlations or, in other words, transient correlations in chaos, play a very important role in quick and/or sensitive responses.     

Effect of the atmosphere on chemical composition and electrochemical properties of solid electrolyte interface on electrodeposited Li metal

Many efforts have been paid to realize the superior anodes for future Li batteries in either the dry Ar atmosphere or the dry air atmosphere. In this work, in order to clarify the effects of such atmospheres, the most reactive anodes of Li were freshly electrodeposited under the dry Ar or under the dry air condition. The Solid Electrolyte Interface (SEI) formed during the electrodeposition of Li anodes is revealed to have a different chemical composition and protective feature. The Li deposited under the dry air was revealed to have longer cycle life in the electrolyte than that deposited in Ar, even in the electrolyte containing ionic liquid. From the XPS results, the SEI formed in dry air is proved to be different from that formed in Ar gas atmospheres, that is, the SEI formed in dry air consists of Li₂CO₃ and Li nitride. In order to improve the performance of the anodes, the atmosphere for the initial preparation of the anode/electrolyte interface should be tuned.     

Crystallinity of Acid Treated Corn Starch

The hydrolysis of corn starch by 1N H₂SO₄-30% ethanol aqueous solution at 45°C increased linearly with increasing of hydrolysis time for 20 d. The relative crystallinity of native corn starch showed 0.350 by X-ray diffraction and it increased gradually with increasing of hydrolysis time up to 8 d. The increasing ratio of 1/hydrolysis residue to hydrolysis time increased more largely than that of relative crystallinity after 14 d. On the other hand, the relative crystallinity of native corn starch by deuteration showed 0.341 very near to the value by X-ray diffraction. Moreover, this increasing ratio of the crystallinity accompanied by acid hydrolysis showed an inclination similar to that given by X-ray diffraction. These facts suggest that the exchanging of OH for OD groups may be caused very a little in crystalline region of corn starch granules.     

Experimental and Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Tribochemical Reactions with ZDDP: Zinc Phosphate–Iron Oxide Reaction

Zinc phosphate glass is considered to be the main constituent of tribofilms generated under boundary lubrication with zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), a well-known antiwear additive. The reaction occurring during friction between zinc phosphate glasses and steel native iron oxide layer is investigated by both an experimental approach and by Molecular Dynamics simulations (MD). The importance of this “tribochemical” reaction in the general ZDDP antiwear process is discussed.     

Elasto-plastic analysis of orthogonally stiffened plates with initial imperfections under uniaxial compression

In general, the stiffened plates consisting of steel plate elements are unavoidably accompanied by initial imperfections such as residual stresses and initial deflections, which have considerable effects on their ultimate strength. Therefore, it is needed for designing them to develop more rational method taking the ultimate strength influenced by initial imperfections into account rather than the conventional design method being on the basis of the linear elastic buckling theory.From this point of view, this study aims to evaluate rigorously the ultimate strength of orthogonally stiffened plate with initial imperfections under uniaxial in-plane compression. The elasto-plastic finite element method is applied to attain this purpose. By a happy combination of modal analytical technique and conventional finite element method, much reduction of the degree of freedom can be expected to be realized herewith. Some numerical calculations are performed by means of this rigorous method to examine the exactness of the analysis. Moreover, the numerical results are compared with the experimental ones.