Spatial distribution and formation of nitrate radical NO<Stack><Subscript>3</Subscript><Superscript>2−</Superscript></Stack> in Antarctic calcitic evaporates

Nitrate radical NO₃²⁻ in calcitic evaporate was discovered in Antarctica. The distribution and formation of nitrate radical NO₃²⁻ in the calcite have been studied by pulse and continuous-wave electron spin resonance. In samples that had been annealed to destroy the NO₃²⁻, regeneration of the radical by γ-rays or UV light indicated that the radical was formed by UV light (with wavelengths less than 340 nm) from solar rays, not by environmental radiation. The nonuniform spatial distribution of the nitrate radical, which was deduced from high ratios of local spin density to total spin density, suggests that the nitrate impurity was introduced into the calcium carbonate after carbonate grain formation. Formation of the carbonate-containing nitrate requires the presence of high amounts of nitrate and a dry climate. Formation of the nitrate radical requires sample exposure to UV light. These conditions are satisfied in the environment of Antarctica.     

Numerical analysis of finite amplitude motion of waves and a moored floating body under severe storm conditions

The motion of a moored floating body under the action of wave forces, which is influenced by fluid forces, shape of the floating body and mooring forces, should be analysed as a complex coupled motion system. Especially under severe storm conditions or resonant motion of the floating body it is necessary to consider finite amplitude motions of the waves, the floating body and the mooring lines as well as non-linear interactions of these finite amplitude motions. The problem of a floating body has been studied on the basis of linear wave theory by many researchers. However, the finite amplitude motion under a correlated motion system has rarely been taken into account. This paper presents a numerical method for calculating the finite amplitude motion when a floating body is moored by non-linear mooring lines such as chains and cables under severe storm conditions.     

Approximate Solution of the Saha Equation — Temperature as an Explicit Function of Particle Densities

The Saha equation for a plasma in thermodynamic equilibrium (TE) is approximately solved to give the temperature as an explicit function of population densities. It is shown that the derived expressions for the Saha temperature are valid approximations to the exact solution. An application of the approximate temperature to the calculation of TE plasma parameters is also described.     

Almost Hermitian structures induced from a Kähler structure which has constant holomorphic sectional curvature

We obtain a non-Kähler almost Hermitian manifold of constant holomorphic sectional curvature by changing the almost complex structure in a Kähler manifold of constant holomorphic sectional curvature.

     

X-ray damage characterization in BaLiF3,KMgF3 and LiCaAlF6 complex fluorides

Two-inch sized KMgF₃,BaLiF₃ and LiCaAlF₆ (LiCAF) single crystals were grown by the Czochralski method under a CF₄ atmosphere. X-ray irradiation was used to carry out a comparative study of induced optical absorption phenomena and colour centre creation in the ultra-violet and visible spectral regions. The integral of the induced absorption spectra is significantly lower in LiCAF with respect to the other studied materials. It is found that the amplitude of the F-absorption band is suppressed more than a factor of 3 by Mg-doping. For Mg-doped crystals, the optimum doping concentration is about 0.2 mol% of Mg²⁺.     

Simultaneous Measurement of Droplet Size and Three-Components of Velocity in Spray

The combination of the optical diagnostics and image processing technique has produced various methods of practical measurement in engineering. The measurement of size and velocity of droplets in fuel spray is one typical example. In general, the spray is a complicated and three-dimensional two-phase flow; therefore multi-dimensional field measurement of the spray field is indispensable. In the present paper, a technique of simultaneous measurement of droplet size and three-components of velocity is proposed and applied to spray issuing from the swirl nozzle as a practical application. The focused image of glare points is captured by a stereoscopic arrangement, and droplet size and the three-components of velocity are evaluated from the doublet image. Fundamental optical arrangements to capture the image of the glare points with a stereo view are established, and the feasibility and the accuracy of the technique are confirmed. © 2004 The Optical Society of Japan     

Growth process of TiC clusters from Ti nanoparticles with evaporated carbon layer

Titanium carbide formation by the solid–solid reaction on the surface of Ti nanoparticles was studied in situ using a high-resolution transmission electron microscope with a heating stage. The cross-sectional image of the Ti surface was clearly observed. Vacuum-deposited carbon covered the whole the surface of Ti nanoparticles in spite of the partly evaporation on the nanoparticle surface. The diffusion of the carbon atoms inside the Ti nanoparticles depended on the size of the nanoparticles. When the Ti nanoparticle diameter was less than 30 nm, carbon atoms diffused into the Ti nanoparticle and formed TiC. The superstructure of the Ti nanoparticles was observed, which revealed the growth process of TiC to be the diffusion of carbon atoms. For Ti nanoparticles with diameter larger than 30 nm it was observed that diffusion of Ti atoms into the carbon layer was dominant, which resulted in formation of TiC in the carbon layer at the surface of Ti nanoparticles.     

Extremal Self-Dual [50, 25, 10] Codes with Automorphisms of Order 3 and Quasi-Symmetric 2-(49, 9,6) Designs

Five non-isomorphic quasi-symmetric 2-(49, 9, 6) designs are known. They arise from extremal self-dual [50, 25, 10] codes with a certain weight enumerator. Four of them have an automorphism of order 3 fixing two points. In this paper, it is shown that there are exactly 48 inequivalent extremal self-dual [50, 25, 10] code with this weight enumerator and an automorphism of order 3 fixing two points. 44 new quasi-symmetric 2-(49, 9, 6) designs with an automorphism of order 3 are constructed from these codes.     

Reaction kinetics and pathway of hydrothermal decomposition of aspartic acid

The kinetics and pathway of hydrothermal decomposition of aspartic acid were studied using a continuous‐flow tubular reactor. The reaction was carried out in the temperature range of 200–260°C and at a pressure of 20 MPa. Deamination was the primary reaction, indicated by the presence of significant amount of ammonia, fumaric acid, or maleic acid in the products. Other reaction products were pyruvic acid, malic acid, and traces of succinic and lactic acid. Traces of alanine were also detected, showing the possibility of decomposing high‐molecular weight amino acids to obtain simple amino acids such as glycine or alanine. Results on the effect of reaction parameters demonstrated that decomposition of aspartic acid is highly temperature dependent under hydrothermal conditions. For a slight temperature difference of 60°C (from 200 to 260°C), the first‐order reaction rate constants of 0.003 significantly increased to 0.231 s^?1. The activation energy was 144 kJ/mol, as calculated by the Arrhenius equation. No significant effect was exhibited by other reaction parameters such as pH and pressure. The results are useful in controlling the hydrolysis of proteinaceous materials toward high yield of aspartic acid under hydrothermal conditions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 39: 175–180, 2007