Heat Capacity Measurement of Oxygen-Dissolved V–Ti Alloys1

The heat capacities of (V_1–y Ti _y ) O _x alloys (x=0.13 to 0.18, y=0.06 to 0.23) were measured in the temperature range from 380 to 900K with a differential scanning calorimeter. A -type peak corresponding to the order–disorder phase transition was observed in the heat capacity curves of each (V_1–y Ti _y ) O _x alloy (x0.18, y0.09). The baseline of the measured heat capacity was estimated with the harmonic term and the anharmonic term of the lattice vibration. The entropy changes at the phase transition were determined by subtracting the baseline mentioned above from the measured heat capacities. The experimental entropy changes were in good agreement with those calculated theoretically, based on the arrangement of oxygen and the limited coordination number of oxygen around vanadium. There were no peaks in the heat capacity curves for the samples with compositions y0.16. Introduction of titanium, which has a larger ionic radius than that of vanadium, may disturb the ordering of oxygen around the metal.     

Electronic nature of vanadium nitride-carbon cluster composite materials obtained by the calcination of oxovanadylphthalocyanine

Calcination of oxovanadylphthalocyanine at 500-1000 °C under an argon atmosphere was performed. Elemental analyses, XRD and TEM measurements revealed that the calcined materials are composed of nano-sized vanadium nitride and carbon clusters. ESR spectral examinations suggested that the calcined materials have a photo-responsive charge separation feature. The decomposition of methylene blue and trimethylhydroquinone in the presence of the material calcined at 900 °C was accelerated by visible light irradiation. H₂ evolution was detected from a mixture of the calcined material and water under the visible light irradiation.     

Thermocapillary convection in a shallow annular pool heated from inner wall

In order to discover the effect of heating direction on the thermocapillary convection, three-dimensional numerical simulations have been conducted in a shallow annular pool (depth d=1 mm) of silicone oil (0.65 cSt, Pr=6.7) differentially heated from the inner wall. The linear stability analysis predicts a critical temperature difference (ΔT_c) for the incipience of hydrothermal wave (HTW) is 4.58K, which is less than ΔT_c=5.0K for a pool heated at the outer wall. Numerical simulations predict that two groups of HTWs, propagating in azimuthal directions opposite to each other, always coexist in the pool. Simulations with pool rotation around the axis elucidate that pool rotation up to 1.05 rad/s gives no distinguishable effect on the behavior of HTW in an inner heated pool, whereas the HTW patterns in an outer heated pool are significantly modified by rotation.     

ArchaeoSTOR: A data curation system for research on the archeological frontier

The broad adoption of diagnostic and analytical techniques in the field of archeology, presents a unique opportunity for e-Science in the form of scientific explanation, drawing from methodologies aimed at recording, archiving, analyzing, and disseminating, rich data collections to create the needed infrastructure for both research and web-based curation and data management system. This paper presents a needed stepping stone towards synergy between information technology and archeology, by introducing a data acquisition, tagging and characterization pipeline along with a novel method for spatially querying archeological data.     

In-plane detection of scattered light from a minute particle using a resin-based light waveguide incorporated with a microfluidic channel

An optical sensor combined total analysis system (TAS) is thought to be one of the most powerful functional elements needed to realize a “ubiquitous human healthcare” system. In accordance with this concept, we have proposed a fundamental structure of detecting side scattered light from a minute cell or particle running along a microfluidic channel, partially utilizing the channel filled with water or saline solution as a light waveguide. Based on this concept, we have fabricated a trial-manufactured optical TAS chip and carefully evaluated its side scattered light measuring performance in in-plane direction, supplying and detecting visible laser power by using multiple optical fibers and their precise positioning mechanisms. We have successfully obtained experimental results of both transmitted light power change and that of side scattered light, and we confirmed that there was a strong relationship between their signal waveforms. Furthermore, we have developed a hybrid numerical calculation method on the basis of the finite-difference time-domain method, in addition to the beam propagation method. Based on this hybrid method, we tried to compare results between the experimental inverse pulse of transmitted light and a pulse of side scattered light, and those based on numerical calculations. Excellent qualitative accordance was obtained between the inverse pulse of numerical and experimental results. In contrast, the experimental pulse of side scattered light indicated a considerably spread base in comparison to the numerical results.     

PREPARATION AND PERMEABILITY CONTROL OF ELECTRO-SENSITIVE MICROCAPSULES WITH IMMOBILIZED FERROELECTRIC LIQUID CRYSTALLINE SEGMENTS

Nylon-polystyrene microcapsules with immobilized ferroelectric liquid crystalline segments were prepared, and the permeability control of the encapsulated core material was investigated under an external electric field. A ferroelectric liquid crystal monomer possessing both mesogenicity and chirality effectively responded to an external electrical field. Permeation of the material (oxprenolol) contained in the inner aqueous core of the microcapsules was enhanced under a feeble electric field (2 V). Furthermore, it was found that the permeability of the microcapsules without the ferroelectric liquid crystal group did not depend on the external electrical field. In order to clarify the controlled release mechanism of the core material, the transmittance was quantitatively evaluated under an external electric field using a handmade polarized light transmittance apparatus.     

Japanese expectations for green building assessments

The background and feedback on the Green Building Challenge '98 process in Japan is provided by a representative from one of two Japanese teams (representing the Building Constructors' Society). The positive process of validating and adapting the international criteria to particular national circumstances and then customizing these criteria is explained. Three significant benefits to the Japanese building industry are discussed: existing technologies and methodologies were validated, it was discovered that these have potential for world-wide application, the life expectancy of Japanese buildings needs to be lengthened. Future expectations from Japan include: the ongoing refinement of the international framework for the environmental assessment of buildings; the customization of criteria requires further structure and limits, a critical review of the customization process; an expansion embracing both developed and developing nations' new and existing buildings. The prototype green building assessment from GBC '98 has the potential to be refined and adopted as a world-wide methodology and is endorsed as the fastest way to achieve world-wide consensus. Les generalites et le retour d'informations se rapportant au projet Green Building Challenge 98 au Japon sont fournies par un representant de l'une des deux equipes japonaises (association de constructeurs). Cet article s'interesse a la procedure positive de validation et d'adaptation des criteres internationaux a des circonstances nationales specifiques puis leur particularisation. L'auteur examine egalement trois avantages significatifs pour l'industrie japonaise du batiment: le GBC a permis de valider des technologies et des methodologies existantes; on a decouvert qu'elles recelaient un potentieal pour une application mondiale; la duree de vie des batiments japonais doit etre allongee. On attend egalement du Japon des contributions dans les domaines suivants: l'affinage, deja en cours, du cadre international de l'evaluation environnementale des batiments; l'adaptation des criteres exige une autre structure ainsi que des limites; une revue critique du procede d'adaptation; une expansion englobant les batiments nouveaux et existants dans les pays en developpement et dans les pays industrialises. Le prototype d'evaluation des batiments verts a partir du projet GBC 98 peut etre affine et adopte sous forme d'une methodologie mondiale et etre considere comme la methode la plus rapide pour aboutir a un consensus global.     

Impact of the Coulomb interaction on nano-scale silicon device characteristics

Monte Carlo simulations coupled self-consistently with the three-dimensional Poisson equation are carried out under the double-gate MOSFET structures. The Coulomb force experienced by an electron inside the device is directly evaluated by performing the Monte Carlo simulations with or without the full Coulomb interaction and the Coulomb force on the channel electron corresponding to plasmon excitations is clarified. It is pointed out that the consistency of the boundary condition is achieved only if the long-range Coulomb interaction is properly taken into account, and this is crucial for predicting reliable device characteristics in ultra-small devices. The drain current and transconductance are greatly reduced if the self-consistent potential fluctuations are taken into account.     

Self-dissolving micropile array tips for percutaneous administration of insulin

Two kinds of insulin were loaded into self-dissolving micropile array tip (following tip). Fully-loaded tip (f-tip) and partially-loaded tip (p-tip) were prepared using chondroitin sulfate for the percutaneous administration of insulin. One hundred micropiles were constructed on a 1.0 × 1.0 cm tip. The mean length of the micropile in a tip were 483.4 ± 4.7 μm for the f-tip and 492.6 ± 2.4 μm for the p-tip. The insulin content of the p-tip was 28.5% of that of the f-tip. The pharmacological efficiency of insulin loaded tip was evaluated in rat experiments by measuring their hypoglycemic effects. The maximum hypoglycemic effect of insulin was observed at 1.7 ± 0.2 h for the f-tip and 1.5 ± 0.2 h for the p-tip. Good dose-dependency was observed for the plasma glucose level vs. time curves. These results suggest the usefulness of p-tip as a percutaneous DDS of insulin.     

Theoretical high-efficiency extraction study of a short-pulseelectron-beam-pumped ArF laser amplifier with atmospheric pressureAr-rich mixtures

The single-pass (50 cm) amplifier performance of an atmospheric-pressure ArF laser pumped by a 65-ns full-width-at-half-maximum short-pulse electron beam was investigated theoretically for a wide range of excitation rates (0.1-2.0 MW/cm³ ). Atmospheric mixtures of Ne, Ar, and F₂ (three mixtures of Ar=40%, 70%, and Ne-free) were studied. A kinetic numerical model of the ArF amplifier with a Ne buffer system was constructed. A one-dimensional propagation treatment considered the gain depletion and saturation absorption spatially and temporally along the optical axis. In this model the rate constants for electron quenching of ArF* of 1.6×10^-7, 1.9×10^-7, and 2.4×10 ^-7 cm³/s were used for Ar concentration of 40, 70 percent, and Ar/F₂ mixture, respectively