Uncertainty quantification via bayesian inference using sequential monte carlo methods for CO2 adsorption process

This work presents the uncertainty quantification, which includes parametric inference along with uncertainty propagation, for CO₂ adsorption in a hollow fiber sorbent, a complex dynamic chemical process. Parametric inference via Bayesian approach is performed using Sequential Monte Carlo, a completely parallel algorithm, and the predictions are obtained by propagating the posterior distribution through the model. The presence of residual variability in the observed data and model inadequacy often present a significant challenge in performing the parametric inference. In this work, residual variability in the observed data is handled by three different approaches: (a) by performing inference with isolated data sets, (b) by increasing the uncertainty in model parameters, and finally, (c) by using a model discrepancy term to account for the uncertainty. The pros and cons of each of the three approaches are illustrated along with the predicted distributions of CO₂ breakthrough capacity for a scaled‐up process. © 2016 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 3352–3368, 2016     

Investigation report of geotechnical disaster on river area due to typhoon landfall three times on Okhotsk region,Hokkaido, Japan

For one week from August 17 to 23, 2016, three consecutive typhoons made landfall in Hokkaido for the first time on record. These typhoons and the front they stimulated brought record-breaking torrential rain over the eastern part of Hokkaido. To investigate the damage to grounds and rivers resulting from this rainfall, the Japan Society of Civil Engineers (JSCE) and the Japanese Geotechnical Society (JGS) formed a disaster research group to conduct an investigation. This report provides the results of the investigation into damage to the grounds of areas along the Tokoro River of the Okhotsk region, Hokkaido, that suffered from this tremendous and diverse disaster. Specifically, the report describes the situation of the levees which were broken and eroded by the overflowing water, the shape of the levee bodies, the levee body soil properties examined by observation of the sections, as well as the occurrence of sand boiling and air blows. The washout of road embankments as well as damage to road bridge mounting fills and abutment backfills were also investigated. The investigation has demonstrated the need to clarify the resistance of the abutment backfills and levee bodies to flowing water as well as the geotechnical predominant factors in order to clarify the mechanisms behind erosion and washout, the need to review new measures that allow for the scale of sand boiling and resultant changes in levee body stability, and the fact that the existing embankments were able to temporarily suppress the flooding water which had spilled over from the river. Furthermore, although it has been identified that the findings of a study on an embankment washout associated with a tsunami can be applied to measures taken against the overflowing water, it has also been found necessary to clarify the predominant geotechnical factors using model tests and to use a more sophisticated analytical approach to establish a geotechnical stability review as soon as possible in order to prevent the levees and embankments from being eroded and washed out due to overflowing water.     

Structural analysis and transistor properties of hetero-molecular bilayers

We examined the film morphologies and transistor properties of hetero-molecular bilayer consisting of N, N’-dioctyl-3, 4, 9, 10-perylenedicarboximide (PTCDI-C₈) and quaterrylene. First, the structure and carrier conduction of PTCDI-C₈ films were studied, followed by an analysis of the carrier accumulation process in a PTCDI-C₈/quaterrylene hetero-bilayer transistor. Based on the displacement current measurement (DCM), we stress the potential of the hetero-bilayer for tuning carrier accumulation like carrier doping techniques in field-effect transistors.     

Deep-submicrometer BiCMOS circuit technology for sub-10-ns ECL 4-MbDRAM's

A 0.3-μm sub-10-ns ECL 4-Mb BiCMOS DRAM design is described. The results obtained are: (1) a V_cc connection limiter with a BiCMOS output circuit is chosen due to ease of design, excellent device reliability and layout area; (2) a mostly CMOS periphery with a specific bipolar use provides better performances at high speed and low power; (3) the direct sensing scheme of a single-stage MOS preamplifier combined with a bipolar main amplifier offers high speed; and (4) the strict control of MOS transistor parameters has been proven to be more important in obtaining high speed DRAMs, based on the 4-Mb design     

Radical-induced degradation mechanism of perfluorinated polymer electrolyte membrane

The degradation mechanism induced by radicals was investigated for Nafion^®-117 by solution analysis. Nafion^® was exposed independently to three kinds of radicals, OH, H and O₂⁻ which were produced separately by γ-irradiation. Based on the eluted elements, the scission site in the membrane was analyzed. The results showed that the scission site was classified into two and these locations were closely relating to oxidative and reductive reactions. The decreasing rate of proton conductivity was more significant under the influence of reductive radicals. The progression of the unzipping reaction of main chain was suggested to be initiated by the production of tertiary carbon radical by reductive radicals such as H and O₂⁻ with the aid of OH. The structural degradation such as collapse of cluster and the cluster decomposition as well as the performance degradation was found to be initiated by such reductive radicals.     

Effect of temperature on PV potential in the world

This work aims to identify the geographic distribution of photovoltaic (PV) energy potential considering the effect of temperature on PV system performance. A simple framework is developed that uses the JIS C 8907 Japanese industrial standard to evaluate the effects of irradiation and temperature on PV potential. The global distributions of PV potential and yearly performance ratio are obtained by this framework. Generally, the performance ratio decreases with latitude because of temperature. However, regions with high altitude have higher performance ratios due to low temperature. The southern Andes, the Himalaya region, and Antarctica have the largest PV potentials. Although PV modules with less sensitivity to temperature are preferable for the high temperature regions, PV modules that are more responsive to temperature may be more effective in the low temperature regions. The correlation between the estimates obtained by our framework and results from a more data-intensive method increases when the temperature effects are considered.     

Differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis

Differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis is discussed. Chest X-ray findings of pulmonary tuberculosis may be greatly varied, because tuberculosis may cause three different lesions: an exudative lesion, a proliferative lesion, and a fibrotic lesion, and because it may invade all the structure. Thus, the differential diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis includes very many diseases. The most important differential diagnosis of nodule is tuberculoma and lung cancer. The clue of the diagnosis is the feature of the nodule and surrounding structure, such as pleural indentation, or knotching. There is, however, the limitation of the diagnosis by imaging: some tuberculoma may show the identical feature with the pulmonary adenocarcinoma. It is important to gather the pathological or bacteriological evidences by means of suitable procedures.     

Statistical optimization of a DC-RF hybrid plasma flow system for in-flight particle treatment

There are many input parameters to control a DC-RF hybrid plasma flow system, such as total gas flow rate, central gas flow rate, swirl gas ratio, RF power and DC power. Furthermore, the interactive effects among these parameters should be considered. In the present study, statistical analysis using simple linear model is conducted to clarify the effects of the input parameters and their interactions on the outputs such as particle residence time and average temperature in a DC-RF hybrid plasma flow system. The thermofluid characteristics of a DC-RF hybrid plasma flow are compared with those of an RF plasma flow. It is shown that the plasma characteristics are changed drastically by adding even small DC power. Furthermore, controllability is also improved by optimizing the operating conditions of a DC-RF hybrid plasma flow system.     

Primary structure of microbial transglutaminase from Streptoverticillium sp. strain s-8112

The complete amino acid sequence of transglutaminase (EC 2.3.2.13) (TGase), which is produced by a microorganism, Streptoverticillium sp. strain s-8112, and catalyzes the acyl transfer reaction between gamma-carboxyamide groups of glutamine residues in proteins and various primary amines, has been established by a combination of fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and standard Edman degradation of peptide fragments produced by treatment of the TGase with various proteolytic enzymes and purified by a reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography. The TGase consists of 331 amino acid residues with a chemical molecular weight of 37,863, in agreement with the observed molecular weight (37,869.2 +/- 8.8) determined from its electrospray ionization mass spectrum. The sequence of the enzyme is very different from those of mammalian TGases represented by guinea pig liver enzyme. The enzyme contains a sole Cys residue, which is essential for its catalytic activity. Hydropathy analysis indicated that the secondary structure of the region around the active site Cys residue is similar to those of mammalian TGases. These results suggest that this microbial protein evolved by a different pathway from that of mammalian TGases and acquired acyl transfer activity during the evolutional process.     

The right place for the right job in the photovoltaic life cycle

The potential for photovoltaic power generation (PV) to reduce primary energy consumption (PEC) and CO(2) emissions depends on the physical locations of each stage of its life cycle. When stages are optimally located, CO(2) emissions are reduced nearly ten times as much as when each stage is located in the country having the largest current market share. The usage stage contributes the most to reducing CO(2) emissions and PEC, and total CO(2) emissions actually increase when PV is installed in countries having small CO(2) emissions from electricity generation. Global maps of CO(2) reduction potential indicate that Botswana and Gobi in Mongolia are the optimal locations to install PV due to favorable conditions for PV power generation and high CO(2) emissions from current electricity generation. However, the small electricity demand in those countries limits the contribution to global CO(2) reduction. The type of PVs has a small but significant effect on life cycle PEC and CO(2) emissions.