Molecular Analysis of the Polymeric Glutenins with Gliadin‐Like Characteristics That Were Produced by Acid Dispersion of Wheat Gluten

We had earlier shown that the dispersion of wheat gluten in acetic acid solution conferred gliadin‐like characteristics to the polymeric glutenins. To elucidate the molecular behavior of its polymeric glutenins, the characteristics of gluten powder prepared from dispersions with various types of acid were investigated in this study. Mixograph measurements showed that the acid‐treated gluten powders, regardless of the type of acid, had dough properties markedly weakened in both resistance and elasticity properties, as though gliadin was supplemented. The polymeric glutenins extracted with 70% ethanol increased greatly in all acid‐treated gluten powders. Size exclusion HPLC and SDS‐PAGE indicated that the behavior of polymeric glutenins due to acid treatment was attributed to their subunit composition rich in high molecular weight glutenin subunit (HMW‐GS) and not their molecular size. The gluten prepared with the addition of NaCl in acid dispersion had properties similar to those of the control gluten. The results suggest that ionic repulsion induced by acid dispersion made the polymeric glutenins rich in HMW‐GS disaggregate, and therefore, act like gliadins.     

Transparent conducting Nb-doped anatase TiO2 (TNO) thin films sputtered from various oxide targets

Transparent conducting Nb-doped anatase TiO₂ (TNO) epitaxial films were sputtered from TiO₂-, Ti₂O₃-, and Ti-based targets at various oxygen partial pressures (Po₂). Using the TiO₂- and Ti₂O₃-based targets, highly conductive films showing a resistivity (ρ) of ~ 3 × 10^− 4 Ω cm could be formed without postdeposition treatment. In the case of the TNO films formed from the Ti-based target, reductive annealing had to be carried out at a temperature of 600 °C to achieve similar resistivity values. Thus, the use of oxide targets is preferable to obtain as-grown transparent conducting TNO films. In particular, the Ti₂O₃-based target is practically advantageous, because it offers a wide range of optimal Po₂ values at which ρ values of the order of 10^− 4 Ω cm are achievable.     

New Frontiers in Materials Science Opened by Ionic Liquids

Ionic liquids (ILs) including ambient‐temperature molten salts, which exist in the liquid state even at room temperature, have a long research history. However, their applications were once limited because ILs were considered as highly moisture‐sensitive solvents that should be handled in a glove box. After the first synthesis of moisture‐stable ILs in 1992, their unique physicochemical properties became known in all scientific fields. ILs are composed solely of ions and exhibit several specific liquid‐like properties, e.g., some ILs enable dissolution of insoluble bio‐related materials and the use as tailor‐made lubricants in industrial applications under extreme physicochemical conditions. Hybridization of ILs and other materials provides quasi‐solid materials, which can be used to fabricate highly functional devices. ILs are also used as reaction media for electrochemical and chemical synthesis of nanomaterials. In addition, the negligible vapor pressure of ILs allows the fabrication of electrochemical devices that are operated under ambient conditions, and many liquid‐vacuum technologies, such as X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of liquids, electron microscopy of liquids, and sputtering and physical vapor deposition onto liquids. In this article, we review recent studies on ILs that are employed as functional advanced materials, advanced mediums for materials production, and components for preparing highly functional materials.     

Evaluation on plastic deformation property of copper nano-film by nano-scale cantilever specimen

We investigate the elasto-plastic deformation properties of a 20-nm-thick copper (Cu) thin film. A nano-scale cantilever specimen is fabricated from multilayer thin films, where the Cu thin film is sandwiched between a silicon nitride layer and a silicon substrate. During bending, the load, P, and displacement, d, are carefully monitored using an electron microscope, and a distinct non-linearity is observed. The plastic constitutive equation of the Cu thin film, which is assumed to obey a power hardening law (σ = Rεⁿ (σ > σ_y)), is inversely derived by finite element method fitting the experimental results. The residual stress in each layer is experimentally examined, and the effect is included in the inverse analysis. We obtain σ = 3316ε^0.29 [MPa] and a yield stress of 765 MPa for the Cu film. The yield stress is about 10 times higher than that of the bulk, and the exponent is also larger. Moreover, inverse analysis based on the bending experiment data, without considering the residual stress, gives a good approximation of the plastic law. This is because the plastic deformation preferentially takes place at the top and bottom surfaces, where the residual stress is relieved during fabrication of the specimen.     

Synthesis and properties of elastic polyurethane‐imide

A new synthesis route for elastic polyurethane‐imides (EPUIs) has been established by a method involving the use of urea. Various EPUIs were synthesized from polyurethane‐urea, which was prepared from 4,4′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), polyoxytetramethylene glycol (PTMG) and 4,4′‐diphenylmethanediamine (MDA), and pyromellitic dianhydride in N‐methyl‐2‐pyrrolidone (NMP). Flexible films were cast from these solutions that had different inherent viscosities. Imidization of the EPUI films was completed at 200°C for 4 h in vacuo. The EPUIs were determined by FTIR, ¹H NMR, and ¹³C NMR spectra. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Phase transition and hydrogenation properties of Ce2Ni7-type Pr2Co7 during the hydrogen absorption process

The crystal structure and hydrogenation properties of Pr₂Co₇ with a Ce₂Ni₇-type structure were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and observation of the pressure–composition (PC) isotherms. The reversible hydrogen capacity reached 0.8 H/M, and two plateaus were observed in the absorption–desorption process. The two observed hydride phases, Pr₂Co₇H_2.7 and Pr₂Co₇H_7.2, were determined to have hexagonal (space group: P6₃/mmc) and orthorhombic (space group: Pbcn) crystal structures, respectively. The crystal structure transformed in the order of hexagonal with a Ce₂Ni₇-type structure (original alloy) → same Ce₂Ni₇-type structure (Pr₂Co₇H_2.7) → orthorhombic (Pr₂Co₇H_7.2). The crystal lattice of the Pr₂Co₇H_2.7 underwent anisotropic expansion along the c-axis of the original alloy, whereas that of Pr₂Co₇H_7.2 exhibited isotropic expansion. The full width at half maximum (FWHM) values for the original alloy and hydride phases during the hydrogen absorption–desorption process were evaluated based on the XRD data. The FWHM values for the main peaks decreased as the hydrogen content increased during the absorption process, indicating that the number of lattice defects did not increase upon hydrogenation. The plateau pressures during the absorption process of the second cycle were the same as those of the first cycle, which also suggests that there were no lattice defects.     

Statistical scatter of fracture toughness in the ductile-brittle transition of a structural steel

The statistical scatter of fracture toughness in the ductile-brittle transition temperature range was experimentally examined on a 500 MPa class low carbon steel. Fracture toughness tests were replicatedly performed at −60 °C, −20 °C and −10 °C. The tests at −60 °C resulted in a single modal Weibull distribution with a shape parameter of 4 for the critical stress intensity factor converted from J-integral, whereas the Weibull distributions of the critical stress intensity factor at −20 °C and −10 °C showed a bilinear pattern with an elbow point, which caused a wider scatter than that at −60 °C. Such scatter transition behavior was discussed with reference to stable crack initiation. A model of the statistical scatter transition has been proposed in this work and the model reasonably explains the experimental results.     

Effect of power interchange operation of multiple household gas engine cogeneration systems on energy-saving

The effect of power interchange operation of multiple household gas engine cogeneration systems (H-GCGS) on the energy-saving is investigated using an optimization approach based on the mixed-integer linear programming. In this power interchange operation, electricity generated by H-GCGS is shared among households in a housing complex without transmitting to a commercial electric power system so that the operating time of these systems may increase. This paper numerically analyzes optimal operational strategies for 20 households and three types of household energy supply configurations: the power interchange operation of the H-GCGSs (IC), stand-alone operation of each H-GCGSs (SA), and conventional energy supply system without the H-GCGSs. A numerical result clarifies the effectiveness of the power interchange operation from the energy-saving viewpoint and a dominant parameter for evaluating the energy-saving effect.     

Cell performance of Pd–Sn catalyst in passive direct methanol alkaline fuel cell using anion exchange membrane

Direct methanol alkaline fuel cell (DMAFC) using anion exchange membrane (AEM) was operated in passive condition. Cell with AEM exhibits a higher open circuit voltage (OCV) and superior cell performance than those in cell using Nafion. From the concentration dependences of methanol, KOH in fuel and ionomer in anode catalyst layer, it is found that the key factors are to improve the ionic conductivity at the anode and to form a favorable ion conductive path in catalyst layer in order to enhance the cell performance. In addition, by using home-made Pd–Sn/C catalyst as a cathode catalyst on DMAFC, the membrane electrode assembly (MEA) using Pd–Sn/C catalyst as cathode exhibits the higher performance than the usual commercially available Pt/C catalyst in high methanol concentration. Therefore, the Pd–Sn/C catalyst with high tolerance for methanol is expected as the promising oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst in DMAFC.