Proton diffusion in the superprotonic phase of [(NH4)1 − xRbx]3H(SO4)2 as studied by 1H spin-lattice relaxation

Proton diffusion in [(NH₄)_1 ? xRb_x]₃H(SO₄)₂ (0 < x < 1) has been studied by means of ¹H spin-lattice relaxation times, T₁. The relaxation times were measured at 200.13 MHz in the range of 296–490 K and at 19.65 MHz in the range of 300–470 K. In the high-temperature phase (phase I), translational diffusion of the acidic protons relaxes both the acidic protons and the ammonium protons. Spin diffusion averages the relaxation rate of the two kinds of protons, whereas proton exchange between them are slow. The spin-lattice relaxation times in phase I were analyzed theoretically, and parameters of proton diffusion were obtained. The mean residence time of the acidic protons increases with increase in x for [(NH₄)_1 ? xRb_x]₃H(SO₄)₂ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.54). Rb₃H(SO₄)₂ does not obey this trend. The results of NMR well explain the macroscopic proton conductivity.     

Quantum-correlated photon pair generation in tellurite microstructured optical fibers

We theoretically investigated the generation of quantum-correlated photon pair through spontaneous four-wave mixing in tellurite microstructured optical fiber (MOF). We evaluated the performance of photon pair generation in tellurite fibers based on Raman gain coefficient spectra. It was shown that the TBSN16P6W tellurite fiber provided a low Raman noise on correlation photon generation over a wide pump-idler detuning range. We can choose proper tellurite composition to obtain a low Raman gain window over wide range for correlated photon pair generation. We also designed the tellurite MOF structure to obtain a small dispersion value with high nonlinear coefficient at telecommunication wavelengths, thus realize efficient quantum-correlated photon pair generation.     

Detection and grading for esophageal varices in patients with chronic liver damage: comparison of gadolinium-enhanced and unenhanced steady-state coherent MR images

The purpose of this study was to compare observer interpreted steady-state coherent coronal images and gadolinium-enhanced axial images in terms of the detection and grading of esophageal varices. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and gastrointestinal endoscopy were performed within 2 weeks in 90 patients with chronic liver damage, including 55 with untreated esophageal varices, for periodic screening purposes. Two blinded readers retrospectively reviewed T1- and T2-weighted images with gadolinium-enhanced (gadolinium image set) and steady-state coherent (coherent image set) images. Sensitivity for the detection of esophageal varices was higher (P<.001) in the gadolinium image set (76%) than in the coherent image set (35%); on the other hand, specificity was higher (P<.001) in the coherent image set (91%) than in the gadolinium image set (66%). Furthermore, area under the ROC curve was higher for the gadolinium image set (Az=0.823) than the coherent image set (Az=0.761) (P=.48). Moderate and weak positive correlations with endoscopic grades were found for the gadolinium image (r=0.48, P<.01) and coherent image sets (r=0.34, P=.018). The addition of steady-state coherent imaging to the current routine liver imaging protocol did not improve the detection or grading of esophageal varices, whereas gadolinium-enhanced imaging was found to be potentially valuable. Nevertheless, endoscopy was confirmed to be mandatory in patients with esophageal varices suspected by MRI of the liver.     

Antiparticle Contribution in the Cross Ladder Diagram for Bethe-Salpeter Equation in the Light-Front

We construct the homogeneous integral equation for the vertex of the bound state in the light front with the kernel approximated to order g ⁴. We will truncate the hierarchical equations from Green functions to construct dynamical equations for the two boson bound state exchanging interacting intermediate σ bosons and including pair creation process contributing to the crossed ladder diagram.     

Foreword

At the hadron experimental hall of J-PARC, a lot of interesting experiments on strangeness nuclear physics and hadron physics are going to be carried out. Here I introduce several examples, and report the status of the J-PARC.     

SQUID sensor application for small metallic particle detection

High-Tc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is an ultra-sensitive magnetic sensor. Since the performance of the SQUID is improved and stabilized, now it is ready for application. One strong candidate for application is a detection system of magnetic foreign matters in industrial products or beverages. There is a possibility that ultra-small metallic foreign matter has been accidentally mixed with industrial products such as lithium ion batteries. If this happens, the manufacturer of the product suffers a great loss recalling products. The outer dimension of metallic particles less than 100 μm cannot be detected by an X-ray imaging, which is commonly used for the inspection. Ionization of the material is also a big issue for beverages in the case of the X-ray imaging. Therefore a highly sensitive and safety detection system for small foreign matters is required. We developed detection systems based on high-Tc SQUID with a high-performance magnetic shield. We could successfully measure small iron particles of 100 μm on a belt conveyer and stainless steel balls of 300 μm in water. These detection levels were hard to be achieved by a conventional X-ray detection or other methods.     

Phase transition in polymer gels due to local heating by illumination of light

The volume phase transition in gels induced by visible light and its related properties are presented, the mechanism of which is based on local heating of a polymer network by illumination of light. The gels consist of a covalently cross-linked copolymer network of thermosensitive N-isopropylacrylamide and a chromophore. Without light illumination, the gel volume changes sharply, but continuously at approximately 34°C when the temperature is varied. At a fixed temperature of an appropriate value, a discontinuous volume transition is observed when the light intensity is gradually changed. The phase transitions can be understood in terms of the temperature increment at the immediate vicinity of polymer chains due to the local heating via light absorption and subsequent thermal dissipation of light by the chromophore. The results can be qualitatively described by the Flory-Huggins mean-field equation of state of gels. In order to make clear the mechanism of the light-induced phase transition in the present system, we measured the light transmitting properties and the swelling as well as shrinking kinetics. These preliminary results are described semi-qualitatively by making use of a simple phenomenological model.     

Recent developments of optical fiber sensors for automotive use

Optical fiber sensing technologies are expected to apply for many future electronic control systems in automobiles, because of their inherent outstanding features, such as high noise immunity, high heat resistance, and flexible light propagation paths which can be applied to measure the movements and directions of the mobiles. In this paper, two typical applications of fiber sensing technologies in automobiles are described in detail. The combustion flame detector is one of the typical applications of a fiber spectroscopic technology which utilizes the feature of high noise and heat resistibility and remote sensibility. Measurement of engine combustion conditions, such as the detonation, the combustion initiation, and the air-fuel ratio, have been demonstrated in an experimental fiber sensing method. Fiber interferometers, such as a fiber gyroscope, have great possibilities in future mobile applications because they are applicable to many kinds of measurements for movements and physical variables. An optical fiber gyroscope utilizing the single polarized optical fiber and other optical devices has been developed. Quite an accurate measurement of vehicle position was displayed on a prototype navigation system which installed the fiber gyroscope as a rotational speed sensor.     

Effects of pressure and temperature on the solubility of monosodium L-glutamate monohydrate in water

Abstract

The solubility of monosodium L-glutamate monohydrate (MSG.H₂O) in water was measured at pressures in the range of 0.10-300MPa and 298.15K. The density of MSG solution at high concentrations and heat of solution at saturated concentration were also measured at atmospheric pressure. The solubility, m_s, increased with increasing pressure and the pressure coefficient, Θ_p, [?(? In m_s,? p)_T] at 0.10 MPa was (2.0 ± 0.1) × 10-¹⁰Pa-1. It agrees well with (2.1 ±0.2)× 10-¹⁰ Pa-¹ thermodynamically estimated using the partial molar volume, the activity coefficient of the solute in solution, and the molar volume of the crystal. The excellent agreement at 0.10MPa gives us confidence in the solubility data at higher pressures. The heat of solution data and other pertinent values were used to calculate the temperature coefficient of solubility, Θ_T [? (? In m_s/?(1/T))_p], by a thermodynamic equality. The resulting Θ_T compares well with the data directly measured by Ogawa.     

Effect of high pressure treatment on sarcoplasmic reticulum

Abstract

This paper describes the changes in biochemical activities of sarcoplasmic reticulum(SR) and Ca²⁺ release from SR in the rabbit skeletal muscle subjected to a high pressure treatment(100∽300 MPa) to investigate the mechanism for pressure-induced meat tenderization and acceleration of meat conditioning. Pressure-dependent changes were observed in the both extra and basal ATPase activities of SR prepared from the muscles exposed to high pressure. Ca²⁺ uptaking ability of SR vesicles measured by fluorescent chelating reagent, indo-1, decreased with increasing pressure applied to the muscle. Ultrastructural studies revealed that Ca²⁺ which was mainly localized in the SR region of the untreated fiber bundles was translocated into myofibrils in the pressurized muscle. Obtained results in this report may be one of the causes for meat tenderization and acceleration of meat conditioning induced by high pressure treatment.