Quantum Melting of Domain Walls in 2D Incommensurate Phases

We investigate quantum fluctuations of striped and honeycomb domain walls in 2D incommensurate states at T=0 near the commensurate-incommensurate transition point. It is revealed that stripes melt due to quantum fluctuations and become a soliton liquid for a large-wall-spacing region. Zero-point energies of striped and honeycomb phases are calculated using an elastic theory. As a consequence of these results, phase diagrams for soliton-lattice and liquid phases are discussed for various domain-wall masses.     

Seismic proof test of a reinforced concrete containment vessel (RCCV): Part 1: Test model and pressure test

In Japan, the Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (NUPEC), sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), has been conducting a series of seismic reliability proving tests using full-scale or close to full-scale models to simulate actual important equipment that is critical for seismic safety of nuclear power plants. The tests are intended to validate the seismic design and reliability with a sufficient margin even under destructive earthquakes. A series of tests was carried out on a reinforced concrete containment vessel (RCCV) for advanced boiling water reactor (ABWR) from 1992 to 1999. A large-scale high-performance shaking table at Tadotsu Engineering Laboratory, the largest in the world, was used for this test. Part 1 reports the test model and the results of pressure and leak tests. Part 2 describes test procedures, input waves and the results of verification tests such as changes of stiffness, characteristic frequency and damping ratio, the failure of the model and the load deflection. Part 3 shows the seismic safety margin that was evaluated from the energy input during the failure test to a design basis earthquake. Part 4 reports simulation analysis results by a stick model with lumped masses.     

Reliability aspects of man-machine interface

Issues related to the reliability of man-machine interfaces (MMIs) are discussed from a multi-faceted point of view. Reliability concerning the human operator, the user of MMIs, is discussed using the stimulator data obtained under abnormal plant conditions. Based on the analysis, requirements for MMI design are derived. Cognitive task analysis is also performed to derive design requirements related to human problem solving.Reliability of software, one of the major components of the MMI, is then discussed from the viewpoint of software diversity. Other issues are also discussed to reduce design and implementation errors in the software development process.An experience in carrying out the evaluation of MMIs, one of the critical issues in developing dependable MMIs, is presented to clarify the methodological issues to be solved in the future.The discussions included in this paper show the necessity for a multi-faceted approach to the reliability of MMI both as an integrated object and as a component in a complex human-machine system.     

Oral intake of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 prevents collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

Oral intake of some lactic acid bacteria can have beneficial effects on the host by activating immune responses and enhancing resistance to infection by pathogens. In this study, effects of Lactobacillus sp. on the development of autoimmune disease were examined in mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). CIA, a model of some types of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), can be induced in DBA/1J mice by immunizing them with bovine type II collagen (bCII). Oral intake of skimmed milk (SM) fermented with Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 (SM/OLL1073R-1) was found to markedly inhibit the development of CIA in these mice, compared with a control group fed the control foodstuff. The inhibitory effect of SM fermented with L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus OLLI 102 (SM/OLL1102) or fresh SM was weaker than that of SM/ OLL1073R-1. A deMan Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth culture of OLL1073R-1 without any major components of SM had the same inhibitory effect as SM/OLL1073R-1, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of SM/OLL1073R-1 is attributable not only to SM components but also to OLL1073R-1 cells, their metabolites, or both. We found that SM/OLL1073R-1 and SM caused reduced secretion of the cytokine IFN-gamma by lymph node cells (LNCs) in response to bCII. However, SM/OLL1102 did not affect the secretion of IFN-gamma. A polysaccharide fraction secreted by OLL1073R-1 also exhibited the inhibitory effects on both development of CIA and secretion of IFN-gamma.     

Asymmetric anionic polymerization of n-diphenyl-methylitaconimide with chiral ligand-organometal complex

Summary Asymmetric anionic polymerizations of achiral N-diphenylmethylitaconimide (DPII) were performed with chiral ligand — organometal complexes in toluene. The obtained poly(DPII)s exhibited molecular weights of 1.5 × 10³ to 6.3 × 10³ and specific rotation between +7.5 to −18.4° (THF). The chirality of polymer was significantly affected by the organometals and chiral ligands. The poly(DPII) obtained with (4S)-2,2′-(1-ethylpropylidene)bis(4-benzyl-4,5-dihydrooxazole) (Bnbox) / n-butyllithium (n-BuLi) exhibited the highest specific rotation (−18.4°). The optical activities of the poly(DPII)s were attributed to configurational chirality of the main chain more than conformational chirality, judged from NMR, circular dichroism (CD) and GPC analyses using UV and polarimetric detectors. Received: 10 January 2002/ Revised: 12 April 2002/ Accepted: 22 April 2002     

High density packaging technology ultra thin package & new tab package

As electronic devices become more highly integrated, the demand for small, high pin count packages has been increasing. We have developed two new types of IC packages in response to this demand. One is an ultra thin small outline package (TSOP) which has been reduced in size from the standard SOP and the other, which uses Tape Automated Bonding (TAB) technology, is a super thin, high pin count TAB in cap (T.I.C.) package. In this paper, we present these packages and their features along with the technologies used to improve package reliability and TAB. Thin packages are vulnerable to high humidity exposure, especially after heat shock.1 The following items were therefore investigated in order to improve humidity resistance: (1) The molding compound thermal stress, (2) Water absorption into the molding compound and its effect on package cracking during solder dipping, (3) Chip attach pad area and its affect on package cracking, (4) Adhesion between molding resin and chip attach pad and its affect on humidity resistance. With the improvements made as a result of these investigations, the reliability of the new thin packages is similar to that of the standard thicker plastic packages.     

Mesh-connected parallel computer PAX for scientific applications

Nearest-neighbor-mesh connection plus global broadcasting/control bus characterizes the architecture of the processor array PAX, that was constructed for and is now operating in many typical scientific applications. Not only these inter-processor connections, but also an MIMD structure of the machine were found effective in the particle transport problems, that require asynchronous operation.

The paper describes the bases of architecture of two recent versions of the PAX computer, their hardware and software systems, and, based on the implementation of scientific applications, the effectiveness of the PAX type architecture is presented.     

Formation Process of Super-Water-Repellent Al2O3 Coating Films with High Transparency by the Sol–Gel Method

Alumina thin films with a roughness of 20 to 50 nm were formed by immersing porous alumina gel films prepared by the sol-gel method in boiling water. When hydrolyzed fluoroalkyltrimethoxysilane was coated on the alumina films, the contact angle for water was increased with an increase of immersion time, and immersion for 30 s was long enough to give super-water-repellency and high transparency; the contact angle for water of the film was 165° and the transmittance for the visible light was higher than 92%. It was found that the surface of the alumina gel films immersed in boiling water consisted of boehmite crystals. It was shown that the existence of air in the hydrophobic pores on the surface caused the super-water-repellency.     

Effect of filler surface treatment on the properties of recycled high‐density polyethylene/(natural rubber)/(Kenaf powder) biocomposites

Biocomposites were prepared from a kenaf core powder and recycled high‐density polyethylene/(natural rubber) blend by using an internal mixer at 165^oC and 50 rpm. The effect of the filler content and the filler surface treatment was studied. Chemical modification of kenaf filler was performed with alkali pretreatment followed by treatment with silane. Scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy studies confirmed changes in the chemical compositions and structural characteristics induced through the modification. It was found that treated biocomposites offered higher tensile strength and tensile modulus, but lower elongation at break compared with untreated biocomposites. Lower water absorption and higher thermal stability of the resultant biocomposites were also obtained when treated fillers were used. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 20:218–224, 2014. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers