Surface structures and osteoblast response of hydrothermally produced CaTiO3 thin film on Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy

This study investigated the surface characteristics and in vitro biocompatibility of a titanium (Ti) oxide layer incorporating calcium ions (Ca) obtained by hydrothermal treatment with or without post heat-treatment in the Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy. The surface characteristics were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy, thin-film X-ray diffractometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements. In vitro biocompatibility of the Ca-containing surfaces was assessed in comparison with untreated surfaces using a pre-osteoblast cell line. Hydrothermal treatment produced a crystalline CaTiO₃ layer. Post heat-treatment at 400 °C for 2 h in air significantly decreased water contact angles in the CaTiO₃ layer (p < 0.001). The Ca-incorporated alloy surfaces displayed markedly increased cell viability and ALP activity compared with untreated surfaces (p < 0.001), and also an upregulated expression of various integrin genes (α1, α2, α5, αv, β1 and β3) at an early incubation time-point. Post heat-treatment further increased attachment and ALP activity in cells grown on Ca-incorporated Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy surfaces. The results indicate that the Ca-incorporated oxide layer produced by hydrothermal treatment and a simple post heat-treatment may be effective in improving bone healing in Ti-13Nb-13Zr alloy implants by enhancing the viability and differentiation of osteoblastic cells.     

Real‐Time Measurement of the Size Distribution of Diesel Exhaust Particles using a Portable 4‐stage Electrical Low Pressure Impactor

For this study, a 4 stage electrical low pressure impactor was designed to measure the real‐time size distribution of diesel particulate matter (DPM). For the performance evaluation, sodium chloride (NaCl) particles and dioctyl sebacate (DOS) particles were used. After evaluating the collection efficiency of each stage of the impactor, the size distributions of test particles were estimated using electrical current data and their inversion algorithm, and this was found to agree with the results obtained by a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS). For measurement of DPM, a common‐rail direct injection (CRDI) diesel engine, for engine speeds of 1,200 rpm and 1,500 rpm at 2.7 kgf·m, was used. Therefore, it was found that the size distribution of the DPM could be easily obtained, with the currents measured by the impactor and the data inversion algorithm, in less than 5 seconds. Furthermore, the effective density of the DPM could be obtained using the calculated results and the SMPS data.     

Charmonium states in quark-gluon plasma

We discuss how the spectral changes of quarkonia at T _c can reflect the ‘critical’ behaviour of QCD phase transition. Starting from the temperature dependencies of the energy density and pressure from lattice QCD calculation, we extract the temperature dependencies of the scalar and spin-2 gluon condensates near T _c. We also parametrize these changes into the electric and magnetic condensate near T _c. While the magnetic condensate hardly changes across T _c, we find that the electric condensate increases abruptly above T _c. Similar abrupt change is also seen in the scalar condensate. Using the QCD second-order Stark effect and QCD sum rules, we show that these sudden changes induce equally abrupt changes in the mass and width of J/ψ, both of which are larger than 100 MeV at slightly above T _c.      

MR microscopy of micron scale structures

Magnetic resonance (MR) microscopy of up to 1–5-μm resolutions have been reported previously. The tested phantom structures, however, had widths one order of magnitude bigger than the reported resolutions, e.g., spherical beads or capillary tubes of tens-of-micron diameters or wall thicknesses have been imaged. In this study, we fabricated structures having a few micron widths on a silicon wafer and imaged them using our 1-μm-resolution MR microscopy at 14.1 T. Micron scale width structures were, for the first time, resolved by MR microscopy.     

Easy fabrication of large-size superhydrophobic surfaces by atmospheric pressure plasma polymerization with non-polar aromatic hydrocarbon in an in-line process

We report on the formation of superhydrophobic surfaces on glass by plasma polymerization with non-polar aromatic hydrocarbon, at atmospheric pressure, in an in-line process. The glass was simply treated by radio frequency (RF) plasma with a mixture of toluene and hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). The hydrophobicity of the sample surfaces increase with increasing plasma treatments; contact angles of 150° for water droplets are achieved. It is attributed mainly to its high content of non-polar hydrophobic phenyl groups and its rough surface.     

Transient heating effects in electromagnetic launchers with complex geometries: A 3D hybrid FE/BE analysis

A time-stepping finite-element (FE) and boundary-element (BE) coupling method was implemented to include 3D transient eddy current under electromagnetic heating effects in electromagnetic launchers. Lagrangian formulations were used to model electromagnetic and thermal diffusive processes with moving conductors. The finite-element formulation was employed for the general diffusion equation in a bounded conductor region including rail and armature; while, in the exterior region, the boundary element method was developed for Laplace's equation. The coupled boundary was employed directly on the surface of conductors and no special treatment on boundary was required. The electromagnetic and temperature fields were coupled through iterative calculations. This method results in considerable time saving in modeling as it eliminates the surrounding air region.     

Correction to Molière’s formula for multiple scattering

The semiclassical correction to Molière’s formula for multiple scattering is derived. The consideration is based on the scattering amplitude obtained with the first semiclassical correction taken into account for an arbitrary localized but not spherically symmetric potential. Unlike the leading term, the correction to Molière’s formula contains the target density n and thickness L not only in the combination nL (areal density). Therefore, this correction can be referred to as the bulk density correction. It turns out that the bulk density correction is small even for high density. This result explains the wide range of applicability of Molière’s formula.     

Study of Proton Resonances in ~(22)Mg by Resonant Elastic Scattering of ~(21)Na+p and Its Astrophysical Implication in ~(18)Ne(α,p)~(21)Na Reaction Rate

Proton resonant states in ~(22)Mg have been investigated by the resonant elastic scattering of ~(21)Na+p.The ~(21)Na beam with a mean energy of 4.00 MeV/u was separated by the CNS radioactive ion beam separator(CRIB) and bombarded a thick(CH_2)_n target.The energy spectra of recoiled protons were measured at scattering angles of θ_(cm)～172° and 146°,respectively.A new state at 7.06 MeV has been observed clearly and another new one at 7.28 MeV is tentatively identified due to its low statistics.The proton resonant parameters were deduced from an R-matrix analysis of the differential cross section data.The astrophysical resonant reaction rate for the ~(18)Ne(α,p) ~(21)Na reaction has been estimated,and it is about five times larger than that assumed before.