Dynamic epistemic logic of belief change in legal judgments

This study realizes belief/reliability change of a judge in a legal judgment by dynamic epistemic logic (DEL). A key feature of DEL is that possibilities in an agent’s belief can be represented by a Kripke model. This study addresses two difficulties in applying DEL to a legal case. First, since there are several methods for constructing a Kripke model, our question is how we can construct the model from a legal case. Second, since this study employs several dynamic operators, our question is how we can decide which operators are to be applied for belief/reliability change of a judge. In order to solve these difficulties, we have implemented a computer system which provides two functions. First, the system can generate a Kripke model from a legal case. Second, the system provides an inconsistency solving algorithm which can automatically perform several operations in order to reduce the effort needed to decide which operators are to be applied. By our implementation, the above questions can be adequately solved. With our analysis method, six legal cases are analyzed to demonstrate our implementation.     

Effect of matrix's type on the dynamic properties for short fiber-elastomer composite

The dynamic moduli, E′ and E″, and tan δ for PET–CR, PET–EPDM, and PET–UR composites with unidirectional short fibers were studied as a function of temperature by using a Rheovibron. The temperature dependence of tan δ showed three peaks for PET–elastomer composites. The peaks at the low temperature corresponded to the main dispersion of the respective matrixes and the peak at about 140°C to the α-dispersion of PET fiber. A small and broad peak observed at a temperature between 60 and 120°C may be caused by the relaxation of the interface region between fibers and matrix. The longitudinal storage modulus for the composite E was given by the parallel model as \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ {\rm E'}_\parallel = V_f \cdot E'_f + V_m \cdot E'_m $\end{document}, where E and E are the storage moduli for fiber and matrix and V_f and V_m are the volume fraction of fiber and matrix, respectively. In the transverse direction of fibers, the composite modulus E was expressed by the logarithmic law of mixing as follows: \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}$ \log E'_ \bot = V_f \cdot \log E'_f + V_m \cdot \log E'_m $\end{document}. The peak values of tan δ from the main dispersion of the respective matrixes were given by the equation, (tan δ_⊥max)_c/(tan δ_max)_m 1 ? β · V_f, where (tan δ_⊥max)_c and (tan δ_max)_m are the maximum values of the loss tangent for the composite and matrix, respectively, and β is coefficient depending on matrix's type. The β value of PET–CR composite is the largest one among those of the composites.     

Biosynthesis of Trehangelin in Polymorphospora rubra K07–0510: Identification of Metabolic Pathway to Angelyl‐CoA

Trehangelins are trehalose angelates discovered from endophytic actinomycete Polymorphospora rubra K07‐0510. We identified the trehangelin biosynthetic gene cluster, including genes that encode a glycoside hydrolase‐like protein (thgC), α‐amylase (thgD), 3‐ketoacyl‐ACP synthase III (thgI), 3‐ketoacyl‐ACP reductase (thgK), enoyl‐CoA hydratase (thgH) and acyl transferase (thgJ). Heterologous expression of thgH, thgI, thgJ and thgK confirmed the importance of these genes in the biosynthesis of trehangelin A. Enzymatic activity studies showed that ThgI catalyses the condensation of acetyl‐CoA and methylmalonyl‐CoA to 2‐methylacetoacetyl‐CoA (MAA‐CoA), ThgK catalyses NADPH‐dependent reduction of MAA‐CoA to 3‐hydroxy‐2‐methylbutyryl‐CoA (HMB‐CoA) and ThgH catalyses the dehydration of HMB‐CoA to angelyl‐CoA (AN‐CoA). This is the first report on the elucidation of the enzymatic formation of AN‐CoA.     

Graded evolution of anisotropic microstructure during sintering from crystal-oriented powder compact

Anisotropic sintering, including shrinkage and grain growth, was examined for c-axis-oriented (Sr,Ca)₂NaNb₅O₁₅ (SCNN) ceramics, which were prepared by colloidal processing under a magnetic field. In the c-axis-oriented SCNN powder compact, shrinkage and grain growth along the c-axis were higher than those along the a-axis. The anisotropic microstructural development was clearly associated with anisotropic sintering shrinkage. X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy back scattering diffraction showed that the grain growth of oriented particles by including random grains contribute to the development of the oriented microstructure. Finally, the highly crystal-oriented SCNN ceramics with a densified microstructure were obtained through anisotropic sintering. These results clearly showed the potential to develop a well-defined anisotropic microstructure during sintering by designing and controlling the particle packing structure in a powder compact.     

Mass transfer in polycrystalline ytterbium monosilicate under oxygen potential gradients at high temperatures

Mass transfer in polycrystalline Yb₂SiO₅ wafers with precise composition control was evaluated and analyzed by oxygen permeation experiments at high temperatures using an oxygen tracer. Oxygen permeation proceeded due to mutual grain boundary diffusion of oxide ions and Yb ions without synergistic effects such as acceleration or suppression. The oxygen shielding properties of Yb₂SiO₅ were compared with those of the other line compounds such as Yb₂Si₂O₇ and Al₂O₃ based on the determined mass transfer parameters. It was found that the more preferentially an oxide ion diffuses in the grain boundary compared to the interior of the grain, the greater the effect of suppressing the movement of the oxide ion by applying an oxygen potential gradient becomes.     

Consideration on the Relationship Between Dielectric Breakdown Voltage and Water Content in Fatty Acid Esters

Mineral oil is commonly used as an electrical insulating oil in transformers because of its relatively high electrical insulating ability and fluidity. Considering the depletion of resources and environmental problems, however, fatty acid esters synthesized from natural plant oils are attracting attention as an environmentally friendly insulating oil. In addition, fatty acid esters such as methyl octanoate, methyl dodecanoate, 2-ethylhexyl octanoate, and 2-ethylhexyl dodecanoate have high fluidity, and also show excellent moisture tolerance against dielectric breakdown compared to mineral oil. In the present study, to clarify the reason for the superior moisture tolerance of fatty acid esters, the status of dissolved water in esters is investigated with IR spectroscopic measurements and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. It is revealed that water molecules in fatty acid esters are trapped by the ester moiety of fatty acid esters. As a result, fatty acid esters have a higher moisture tolerance against dielectric breakdown than mineral oil.     

Novel synthesis of poly(methyl methacrylate) brush encapsulated silica particles

Silica (SiO₂)‐crosslinked polystyrene (PS) particles possessing photofunctional N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate (DC) groups on their surface were prepared by the free‐radical emulsion copolymerization of a mixture of SiO₂ (diameter = 20 nm), styrene, divinyl benzene, 4‐vinylbenzyl N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate (VBDC), and 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate with a radical initiator under UV irradiation. In this copolymerization, the inimer VBDC had the formation of a hyperbranched structure by a living radical mechanism. The particle sizes of such core–shell structures [number‐average particle diameter (D_n) = 35–40 nm] were controlled by the variation of the feed amounts of the monomers and surfactant, or emulsion system. The size distributions were relatively narrow (weight‐average particle diameter/D_n ≈ 1.05). These particles had DC groups on their surface. Subsequently, poly(methyl methacrylate) brush encapsulated SiO₂ particles were synthesized by the grafting from a photoinduced atom transfer radical polymerization approach of methyl methacrylate initiated by SiO₂‐crosslinked PS particles as a macroinitiator. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008