Non-contact acoustic tests based on nanosecond laser ablation: Generation of a pulse sound source with a small amplitude

A method to generate a pulse sound source for acoustic tests based on nanosecond laser ablation with a plasma plume is discussed. Irradiating a solid surface with a laser beam expands a high-temperature plasma plume composed of free electrons, ionized atoms, etc. at a high velocity throughout ambient air. The shockwave generated by the plasma plume becomes the pulse sound source. A laser ablation sound source has two features. Because laser ablation is induced when the laser fluence reaches 10¹²–10¹⁴ W/m², which is less than that for laser-induced breakdown (10¹⁵ W/m²), laser ablation can generate a lower sound pressure, and the sound source has a hemispherical radiation pattern on the surface where laser ablation is generated. Additionally, another feature is that laser-induced breakdown sound sources can fluctuate, whereas laser ablation sound sources do not because laser ablation is produced at a laser beam–irradiation point. We validate this laser ablation method for acoustic tests by comparing the measured and theoretical resonant frequencies of an impedance tube.     

Effects of cryoprotectant agents and equilibration methods on developmental competence of porcine oocytes

Chemical toxicity of cryoprotectants to in vitro developmental competence of porcine oocytes was examined. In vitro-matured oocytes were exposed to 40 percent ethylene glycol (EG), glycerol (GLY), or 1,2-propanediol (PD), fertilized with spermatozoa, and cultured for 8 days. Compared to treatment with other cryoprotectants, exposure to EG resulted in the development of significantly more blastocysts, but the rate was significantly lower than that of non-exposed control oocytes. In vitro-matured oocytes were also equilibrated in 40 percent EG by 3 multi-step methods, after which their developmental competence was evaluated. The rate of blastocyst development was higher in the 4-step method than in the 2- and 3-step methods of equilibrium. These results indicate that cryoprotectants and equilibration methods affect the developmental competence of porcine oocytes and that EG may be a superior cryoprotectant for vitrification of these cells.     

Direct Measurement of 12C?+?4 He Fusion Cross Section Near Stellar energy

The reaction ¹²C?+?⁴He ?? ¹⁶O?+??? at E _cm?= 0.3?MeV plays an important role in stellar evolution, but the reaction cross section has not been measured yet. Recently we succeeded to measure total cross section of the reaction down to E _cm?= 1.5?MeV at Kyushu University. We have a plan to measure the cross section down to 0.7?MeV in several years, and to extrapolate the results to 0.3?MeV.     

Synthesis of C2-symmetric chiral crown ethers by lipase-catalyzed reactions

Kinetic resolution of a racemic mixture of C₂-symmetric 18-crown-6 diols (rac-1a) and 15-crown-5 diol (rac-1c) was achieved by lipase-catalyzed acetylation. The enantiomeric excess of the chiral crown diols (95% ee and 82% ee) was determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy, using (R)-(+)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylammonium hydrochloride as a shift reagent. The C₂-symmetric chiral 15-crown-5 diol (>95% ee) was also obtained by kinetic resolution of the racemic diacetate (rac-2c) using lipase-catalyzed solvolysis.     

Influence of microwave heating on fluoride, chloride, nitrate and sulfate concentrations in water

This paper describes a study about the influence of microwave radiation using closed vessels on fluoride, chloride, nitrate and sulfate concentrations in aqueous media. The experiments were processed by heating water using PFA vessels and a microwave cavity oven, determining the anions by ion chromatography. The influence of the exposure time, the atmospheric composition, the kind of heating (water bath or microwave radiation) and the possible formation of hydrogen peroxide were investigated. The limits of quantification for fluoride, chloride, nitrate and sulfate were respectively of 0.17, 0.15, 0.55 and 0.57 μg L⁻¹, and precision, expressed as RSD, was <4% for all considered anions. The hydrogen peroxide was quantified by spectrophotometry, and the limit of quantification and precision were 24 μg L⁻¹ and <5% (n = 10), respectively. The results demonstrate a significant increase in the anion concentration levels (between 63 and 89%) when microwave heating was used in comparison with heating by water bath. In addition, these changes observed can be mainly attributed to the species transfers, either between gaseous (atmospheric gases) and liquid (water) phases for nitrate, or between vessels walls and water for fluoride, chloride and sulfate. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide concentration higher than 45 μg L⁻¹ was determined when water was exposed to microwave radiation.     

Rapid determination of terephthalic acid in the hydrothermal decomposition product of poly(ethylene terephthalate) by thermochemolysis-gas chromatography in the presence of tetramethylammonium acetate

Thermochemolysis-gas chromatography in the presence of tetramethylammonium acetate was applied to the direct determination of terephthalic acid (TPA) contained in solid decomposition products obtained from the hydrothermal recycling process of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). On the chromatograms of the hydrothermal decomposition products of PET, a sharp peak of the TPA component was clearly observed as its corresponding dimethyl ester formed through the thermochemolysis reaction. Based on the peak intensities, the contents of TPA in the decomposition products were determined precisely and rapidly without using any cumbersome sample pretreatments.     

Large eddy simulation of a pulverized coal jet flame ignited by a preheated gas flow

Large eddy simulation (LES) is applied to a pulverized coal jet flame ignited by a preheated gas flow. The simulation results are compared to experimental data obtained for the inlet stoichiometric ratios of 0.14, 0.22, and 0.36. An accurate and computationally inexpensive devolatilization model suitable for combustion simulation in LES is proposed and incorporated into the LES. The numerical results of gas temperature and coal burnout on the centerline show good agreement with the experimental data. Two kinds of lift-off heights are introduced to verify the combustion simulation. One is the height from the primary nozzle exit to the starting point of the growing flame region. The other is the height from the primary nozzle exit to the starting point of the continuous flame region. The calculated results of the two lift-off heights show good agreement with the experimental data. In contrast to LES, the standard k–ε model overestimates the lift-off heights because it calculates time-averaged temperature which does not contain information about local flame structure. The stoichiometric ratio in the gas phase at the starting point of the growing flame region is found to be independent of the inlet stoichiometric ratio in the range from 0.14 to 0.36.     

Preparation and lectin binding specificity of polystyrene particles grafted with glycopolymers bearing S-linked carbohydrates

Polystyrene particles bearing ATRP initiating groups, obtained by emulsifier-free emulsion polymerization of styrene (St) and 2-chloropropyloxyethyl methacrylate (CPEM), were subjected to surface-initiated activator generated by electron transfer for atom transfer radical polymerization (AGET ATRP) using glycomonomers, i.e., 4-vinylbenzenesulfonamidoethyl 1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside (1) and 4-vinylbenzenesulfonamidoethyl 1-thio-β-d-lactoside (2). The glycopolymer-grafted polystyrene particles obtained Gp1 and Gp2 were shown to have hydrated graft layers of 15–65 nm in thickness on the cores of 370 nm in diameter. Gp1 and Gp2 coagulated in the presence of concanavalin A (Con A) and that of peanut agglutinin (PNA), respectively, showing highly specific response toward lectins.     

Highly photoactive porous anatase films obtained by deformation of 3D mesostructures

A transparent film of three‐dimensional (3D) hexagonal (P6₃/mmc) mesostructured titania was fabricated according to a modified procedure using triblock copolymer Pluronic P123. The precursor solution was diluted with ethanol and spin‐coated to afford a transparent film with a thickness of less than 100 nm. The mesostructure was maintained (deteriorated) at 400 °C, converted to regularly arranged anatase nanopillars with sufficient porosity at 550 °C, and deformed at 700 °C to nanocrystals with intercrystalline mesospaces. The mesostructural variation was related to the degree of shrinkage of the film owing to condensation and crystallization of the titania frameworks. An anatase nanocrystal film having sufficient porosity and high crystallinity was most active in the photodegradation of methylene blue. Such intercrystalline mesospaces can be controlled by regular deformation of 3D mesostructures through anatase nanopillar structures. In addition to adequate crystallinity of the titania frameworks, smooth diffusion of target organic molecules and/or degraded organic compounds was important for effective photodegradation.     

Shock Wave Structure in a Rarefied Polyatomic Gas Based on Extended Thermodynamics

A theory of the shock wave structure in a rarefied polyatomic gas is developed on the basis of the recent new approach to extended thermodynamics. We summarize the following points (i) and (ii) based on the previous study on this subject and also show the new point (iii): (i) The theory can explain the change of types of the shock wave structure observed experimentally with the increase of the Mach number from unity; the nearly symmetric shock wave structure (Type A, small Mach number), the asymmetric structure (Type B, moderate Mach number), and the structure composed of thin and thick layers (Type C, large Mach number). (ii) The theoretical prediction of the mass density profile agrees well with experimental data. (iii) The points (i) and (ii) are not strongly affected by the details of the temperature dependence of the bulk viscosity.