Enhancement of the thermal stability and mechanical properties of a PMMA/aluminum trihydroxide composite synthesized via bead milling

The use of aluminum trihydroxide (ATH) fillers as non-halogen flame retardants for polymethylmethacrylates (PMMA) creates a conflict between the mechanical properties and heat resistance of the composites. Therefore, to ensure that the PMMA mechanical properties remain satisfactory, improvements in both the filler–polymer interactions and the ability to control the size and size distribution, morphology and dispersion of the fillers are required. Thus, in the present study, bead milling was used to control both the size distribution and dispersion of ATH fillers in MMA, which had an initial average size of 0.75 μm. The dispersion was obtained by alteration of the surface characteristics of ATH fillers using a silane-based dispersing agent, (3-acryloxypropyl) trimethoxysilane (APTMS). Bead milling successfully comminuted the ATH particles and prevented the formation of ATH agglomerates. The smallest average size of the ATH particles after bead milling was 300 nm. Highly dispersed ATH filler particles were observed in the TEM images of the PMMA/ATH composites. The filler–polymer interaction, i.e. the interaction parameter (B), was calculated. The effects of volume fraction, particle size distribution, and surface modification of the fillers on the results of dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) are discussed. The thermal stability of the PMMA/ATH composites was also investigated using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).     

Synthesis of chloromethylstyrene‐tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate copolymer beads having various phenolic derivatives immobilized via amide bond and their antioxidation activity

Resins having phenolic derivatives were prepared by treating a resin (RAS‐4G), having benzylamino groups, with benzoic acids containing phenolic hydroxyl groups. The RAS‐4G was prepared by treating macroreticular chloromethylstyrene‐tetraethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (4G) copolymer beads with potassium phthalimide in N,N‐dimethylformamide, followed by reflux in an ethanol/hydrazine monohydrate mixture. 4‐Hydroxy benzoic acid, (2,4‐, 3,4‐, and 3,5‐)dihydroxy benzoic acids, 3,4,5‐trihydroxy benzoic acid, etc., were used as benzoic acids with phenolic hydroxyl groups. The antioxidation ability of the resins having phenolic derivatives was investigated against the generation of 1,4‐dioxane hydroperoxide. The resins showed high inhibition ability against the generation of hydroperoxide. In particular, the resin (RAS‐4G‐3,4‐DHBA) having two phenolic hydroxyl groups had the highest inhibition ability. The resins were found to act as radical scavengers during the generation of 1,4‐dioxane hydroperoxide by UV irradiation in the presence of oxygen. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 2097–2104, 2005     

Hardware-based neural identification: Linear dynamical systems

In this paper, a hardware-based neural identification method is proposed in order to learn the characteristics or structure of a discrete linear dynamical system. Quick or instant identification of unknown dynamical systems is particularly required for practical controls not only in intelligent mechatronics such as, for example, automatic selforganized running of mobile vehicles, but in intelligent self-controlled systems. We developed a new method of hardware-based identification for general dynamical systems using a digital neural network very large scale integration (VLSI) chip, RN-200, where sixteen neurons and a total of 256 synapses are integrated in a 13.73×13.73 mm² VLSI chip, fabricated using RICOH 0.8 μm complementary metal oxide semiconductor CMOS technology (RICOH, Yokohama, Japan). This paper describes how to implement neural ideitification in both learning and feedfoward processing (recognizing) using a RICOH RN-2000 neurocomputer which consists of seven RN-200 digital neural network VLSI chips.     

Real-Time Planning of Humanoid Robot's Gait for Force-Controlled Manipulation

This paper proposes a new style of manipulation by a humanoid robot. Focusing on the task of pushing an object, the foot placement is planned in real time according to the result of manipulation of the object. By using the impedance control of the arms, the humanoid robot can stably push the object regardless of the mass of the object. If the object is heavy, the humanoid robot pushes it by walking slowly and vice versa. Also, for planning the gait in real time, we propose a new analytical method where a newly calculated trajectory of the robot motion is smoothly connected to the current one. The effectiveness of the proposed method is confirmed by simulation and experiment     

n-3 long-chain FA decrease serum levels of TG and remnant-like particle-cholesterol in humans

A large number of papers have reported that administration of n−3 FA reduced serum TG concentrations in hypertriglyceridemic patients. However, few studies have examined the effect of n−3 FA on serum concentrations of remnant-like particle (RLP) cholesterol. Volunteers (n=41) whose serum TG concentrations were 100–300 mg/dL were recruited and randomly assigned to either an n−3 FA group or a control group with stratification by sex, age, and serum TG level in a double-blind manner. The subjects in the n−3 FA group were administered 125 ml of fermented soybean milk with fish oil containing 600 mg of EPA and 260 mg of DHA/d for 12 wk. The controls consumed control soybean milk with olive oil. Fasting blood samples were obtained before the start of administration and at 4, 8 and 12 wk. EPA concentrations in red blood cells increased significantly in all but one subject in the n−3 FA group, with no significant changes in the control group. TG levels decreased more in the n−3 FA group than in the control group at weeks 4 (P<0.05), 8 (P<0.01), and 12 (P<0.05) with their baseline as covariate. RLP cholesterol levels decreased more in the n−3 FA group than in the control at weeks 8 (P<0.01) and 12 (P<0.05) with their baseline as covariate. The groups did not differ in the other lipid levels. It is likely that n−3 long-chain FA may exert anti-atherosclerotic effects by lowering serum TG and RLP-cholesterol levels even at the dose of 860 mg/d.     

Humanoid robotics platforms developed in HRP

This paper presents humanoid robotics platform that consists of a humanoid robot and an open architecture software platform developed in METI’s Humanoid Robotics Project (HRP). The final version of the robot, called HRP-2, has 1540 mm height, 58 kg weight and 30 degrees of the freedom. The software platform includes a dynamics simulator and motion controllers of the robot for biped locomotion, falling and getting up motions. The platform has been used to develop various applications and is expected to initiate more humanoid robotics research.     

验证e-Hf照明和照明控制系统的节能效果

从保护地球环境角度来讲,全世界都越来越关心节约能源(以下略称为节能)。本文对e-Hf照明和照明控制系统的节能效果做一论述。     

Synthesis of copolymer beads with various phenolic derivatives attached via different linkages and their antioxidation activity

Macroporous copolymer beads with various phenolic derivatives introduced via three types of linkages—amide, methylene, and ether—were prepared from chloromethyl styrene/tetra(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylate copolymer beads. The antioxidation activity of these phenolic copolymer beads was investigated by the measurement of the inhibition activity against the hydroperoxidation of 1,4-dioxane. The phenolic copolymer beads with the dihydroxybenzene moiety exhibited the highest antioxidation activity, and the antioxidation activity of methylene- or ether-linked phenolic copolymer beads was higher than that of amide-linked copolymer beads. Thus, the antioxidation activity of the phenolic copolymer beads was affected by not only the kinds of phenolic moieties attached but also the type of linkage group. In addition, the swelling of the copolymer beads in an organic solvent was greatly affected by the linkage type of the phenolic copolymer beads. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Adaptive Gait Control of a Biped Robot Based on Realtime Sensing of the Ground Profile

In this paper, realtime control of dynamic biped locomotion usingsensor information is investigated. We used an ultrasonic rangesensor mounted on the robot to measure the distance from the robot tothe ground surface. During the walking control, the sensor data isconverted into a simple representation of the ground profile inrealtime. We also developed a control architecture based on theLinear Inverted Pendulum Mode which we proposed previously fordynamic walking control. Combining the sensory system and thecontrol system enabled our biped robot, Meltran II, to walk overground of unknown profile successfully.