The effect of surface modification with silane coupling agent on suppressing the photo-catalytic activity of fine TiO2 particles as inorganic UV filter

The effect of surface modification with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and n-propyltriethoxysilane (PTES) on photo-catalytic activity and UV-shielding ability of fine TiO₂ particles were investigated. The number of surface groups (N_R) [nm⁻²] which shows the density of modifier on TiO₂ surface was calculated from the results of elemental analysis and BET measurement. The modified samples of which N_R are different were obtained by changing the concentration of modifier. When the photo-catalytic activity and UV-shielding ability of modified samples were evaluated, it was found that APTES was more effective modifier than PTES to obtained samples with low photo-catalytic activity and high UV-shielding ability. This is probably because the adsorption mechanisms on TiO₂ surface between modifiers were different and N_R is a key factor to control the performances of fine TiO₂ particles. The result of zeta potential showed that surface character of modified samples was varied by changing N_R. It suggested from these results that N_R affected the photo-catalytic activity and UV-shielding ability because N_R changed surface character of modified samples.     

Fermi-surface reconstruction without breakdown of Kondo screening at the quantum critical point

Motivated by recent Hall-effect experiment in YbRh(2)Si(2), we study ground state properties of a Kondo lattice model in a two-dimensional square lattice using variational Monte Carlo method. We show that there are two types of phase transition, an antiferromagnetic transition and a topological one (Fermi-surface reconstruction). In a wide region of parameters, these two transitions occur simultaneously without the breakdown of Kondo screening, accompanied by a discontinuous change of the Hall coefficient. This result is consistent with the experiment and gives a novel theoretical picture for the quantum critical point in heavy-fermion systems.     

Imprinting modulates processing of visual information in the visual wulst of chicks

Background  

Imprinting behavior is one form of learning and memory in precocial birds. With the aim of elucidating of the neural basis for visual imprinting, we focused on visual information processing.     

Current-voltage characteristics of charge-ordered organic crystals

The current-voltage characteristics of layered organic crystals theta-(BEDT-TTF)2MZn(SCN)4 (M = Cs, Rb) follow the power law with a large exponent (e.g., 8.4 at 0.29 K for M = Cs) over a wide range of currents in the low-temperature insulating state. The power-law characteristics are attributed to electric field-induced unbinding of electron-hole pairs that are thermally excited in the background of the two-dimensional charge order. The magnitude of crossover electric fields from Ohmic to the power-law characteristics indicates that the electron-electron Coulomb interaction is significantly long-ranged: The screening length is greater than 10 molecule sites.     

Effect of cooling rate on microstructure of friction-stir welded AA1100 aluminum alloy

In this work, the microstructural changes occurring during cooling of friction-stir welded aluminum alloy AA1100 were evaluated. To this end, friction-stir welding (FSW) was performed in a wide range of cooling rates of 20–62 K/s and the evolved microstructures were studied by using electron backscatter diffraction. Below 0.6 T_m (T_m being the melting point), the stir zone material was found to experience no significant changes during cooling. At higher FSW temperatures, however, notable changes occurred in the welded material, including grain growth, sharpening of texture, reduction of the fraction of high-angle boundaries and material softening.     

Changes in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) eigenvalues of skeletal muscle due to hybrid exercise training

Several studies have proposed the cell membrane as the main water diffusion restricting factor in the skeletal muscle cell. We sought to establish whether a particular form of exercise training (which is likely to affect only intracellular components) could affect water diffusion. The purpose of this study is to characterise prospectively the changes in diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) eigenvalues of thigh muscle resulting from hybrid training (HYBT) in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Twenty-one NAFLD patients underwent HYBT for 30 minutes per day, twice a week for 6 months. Patients were scanned using DTI of the thigh pre- and post-HYBT. Fractional anisotropy (FA), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), the three eigenvalues lambda 1 (λ1), λ2, λ3, and the maximal cross sectional area (CSA) were measured in bilateral thigh muscles: knee flexors (biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus (ST), semimembranous (SM)) and knee extensors (medial vastus (MV), intermediate vastus (IV), lateral vastus (LV), and rectus femoris (RF)), and compared pre- and post-HYBT by paired t-test. Muscle strength of extensors (P < 0.01), but not flexors, increased significantly post-HYBT. For FA, ADC and eigenvalues, the overall picture was of increase. Some (P < 0.05 in λ2 and P < 0.01 in λ1) eigenvalues of flexors and all (λ1-λ3) eigenvalues of extensors increased significantly (P < 0.01) post-HYBT. HYBT increased all 3 eigenvalues. We suggest this might be caused by enlargement of muscle intracellular space.     

ESR studies on calcite encrustation on Fili neotectonic fault, Greece

Electron spin resonance (ESR) study was done on calcite encrustation on Fili neotectonic fault surface, Greece. Normally such calcite encrustations on fault surfaces are not observed. Significantly, the ESR study has detected the presence of nitrate NO₃²⁻ radical in this calcite encrustation, havingg _⊥=2.0063±0.0001 and hyperfine coupling constantA _⊥=3.44 mT, the second such detection of nitrate NO₃²⁻ radical following a sample from Scott Glacier, Antarctica. From isochronal thermal annealing measurement the NO₃²⁻ radical was found to be quite stable, only fully annealed at 475°C. This study also shows that the ESR, as a tool, can be suitably applied to date the age of formation of the calcite encrustation with SO₃⁻ as an ESR dating signal by additive γ-ray irradiation. A preliminary estimation indicates the age of formation of calcite precipitation at Fili fault, Greece to be about 5600 years.     

The Weight-Bearing Rate on the Paretic Limb of Cerebrovascular Hemiplegic Patients Necessary for an Independent Obstacle Negotiation Gait

Purpose: The obstacle negotiation gait (ONG) is a fundamental activity of daily living. In cerebrovascular hemiplegic patients (stroke patients), the weight-bearing rate (WBR) on the paretic limb necessary for an independent ONG was studied. Methods: One hundred and seventeen stroke patients were involved. The patients'' average age at the time of the study was 67 years, and the average time from stroke onset was 102 days. There were 68 men and 49 women. Seventy patients were right hemiplegics, and 47 were left hemiplegics. The correlations between ONG and age, sex, body mass index (BMI), time from stroke onset, muscle strength of both the paretic and non-paretic limbs, Brunnstrom stage of the lower limbs, deep sensation, and the WBR on both the paretic and non-paretic limbs were studied. Patients who could perform ONG independently and safely were categorized as the independent group (IG), and those who needed observation or any assistance were categorized as the dependent group (DG). Results: The BMI, muscle strength of both the paretic and non-paretic limbs, Brunnstrom stage of the lower limbs, deep sensation and the WBR for both the paretic and non-paretic limbs were significantly different between the IG and DG groups. In particular, the WBR on the paretic limb was found to correlate significantly with the ONG, and a WBR value of 80.5% on the paretic limb gave a clear cut-off value. Conclusion: Although multiple factors influenced the ONG of stroke patients, the WBR on the paretic limb was the most influential.     

Three-dimensional vector holograms in photoreactive polymer dissolved liquid crystal composite

A detailed analysis of three-dimensional vector holograms is presented which were recorded in a photoreactive polymer dissolved liquid crystal. The diffraction properties of resultant periodic anisotropic structures were investigated. Experimental observations confirmed that the diffraction efficiencies of the structures varied with slight changes of the grating pitch, and also that they strongly depended on the incident angle of the probe beam. These diffraction properties were explained by the finite-difference time-domain optical simulations.     

Genetic algorithm-based design method for multilevel anisotropic diffraction gratings

We developed a method for the design of multilevel anisotropic diffraction gratings based on a genetic algorithm. The method is used to design the multilevel anisotropic diffraction gratings based on input data that represent the output from the required grating. The validity of the proposed method was evaluated by designing a multilevel anisotropic diffraction grating using the outputs from an orthogonal circular polarization grating. The design results corresponded to the orthogonal circular polarization grating structures that were used to provide outputs to act as the input data for the process. Comparison with existing design methods shows that the proposed method can reduce the number of human processes that are required to design multilevel anisotropic diffraction gratings. Additionally, the method will be able to design complex structures without any requirement for subsequent examination by a human designer. The method can contribute to the development of optical elements by designing multilevel anisotropic diffraction gratings.