Discrimination of poly(vinyl chloride) samples with different plasticizers and prediction of plasticizer contents in poly(vinyl chloride) using near-infrared spectroscopy and neural-network analysis.

In the recycling of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), it is required to discriminate every plasticizer for quality control. For this purpose, the near-infrared spectra were measured for 41 kinds of PVC samples with different plasticizers (DINP, DOP, DOA, TOTM and Polyester) and different plasticizer contents (0-49%). A neural-network analysis was applied to the near-infrared spectra pretreated by second-derivative processing. They were discriminated from one another. The neural-network analysis also allowed us to propose a calibration model which predicts the contents of plasticizers in PVC. The correlation coefficient (R) and the root-mean-square error of prediction (RMSEP) for the DINP calibration model were found to be 0.999 and 0.41 wt%, respectively. In comparison, a partial least-squares regression analysis was carried out. The R and RMSEP of the DINP calibration model were calculated to be 0.993 and 1.27 wt%, respectively. It is found that a near-infrared spectra measurement combined with a neural-network analysis is useful for plastic recycling.     

Revaluation of the correlation of isomer shift with Np-O bond length in various neptunyl(V and VI) compounds

Summary The correlations of isomer shifts in various neptunyl(V and VI) compounds with crystallographic structures were revaluated. A linear correlation between the isomer shifts of neptunyl(VI) compounds and Np-O bond lengths of neptunyl group has been demonstrated. On the other hand, it has been evidenced that the isomer shifts of neptunyl(V) compounds are correlated much stronger with the mean Np-O distances in the crystals than the lengths in neptunyl(V) group.     

Crystal structures of V3S4 and V5S8

Crystal structures of the ordered phases of V₃S₄ and V₅S₈ were refined with single crystal data. Both are monoclinic. Chemical compositions, space groups and lattice constants are as follows: VS_1.47, $\text{I2}\text{m}$ (No. 12), a = 5.831(1), b = 3.267(1), c = 11.317(2)Å, β = 91.78(1)° and VS_1.64, $\text{F}\text{2}\text{m}$ (No. 12), a = 11.396(11), b = 6.645(7), c = 11.293(4), Å, β = 91.45(6)°. In both structures, short metal-metal bonds were found between the layers as well as within them. In comparison with the structure of Fe₇S₈, the stability of NiAs-type structure was discussed based on the detailed metal-sulfur distances.     

Observation of spatial distribution of laser-induced refractive index change in dye-doped liquid crystals

Spatial distributions of photothermal refractive index changes in dye-doped liquid crystals were determined by an optical interferometric method. The refractive index change of the order of 10^-1, including spatial distribution, was estimated by the described experimental technique. The absolute value of the refractive index change was proportional to the pump beam power, and the diameter of the index distribution was slightly larger than that of the pump laser beam due to heat conduction.     

Power extraction using flow-induced vibration of a circular cylinder placed near another fixed cylinder

We conducted an experiment in a towing tank to investigate the performance of an energy extraction system using the flow-induced vibration of a circular cylinder. This experiment tested three different cases involving the following arrangements of cylinder(s) of identical diameter: the upstream fixed–downstream movable arrangement (case F); the upstream movable–downstream fixed arrangement (case R); and a movable isolated cylinder (case I). In cases F and R, the separation distance (ratio of the distance between the centers of the two cylinders to their diameters) is fixed at 1.30. Measurement results show that while cases F and I generate vortex-induced vibration (VIV) resonance responses, case R yields wake-induced vibration (WIV) at reduced velocity over 9.0, which is significantly larger than that of the VIV response, leading to the induction of higher electronic power in a generator. Accordingly, primary energy conversion efficiency is higher in the case involving WIV.     

Comparative investigation of Au nano-particle formation process dependent upon various protective agents

Formation process of gold nanoparticles was investigated by near-field heterodyne transient grating method. In the absence of the protective agents, although the diffusion of H[Au^ICl₂] could be observed after the photo-reduction of H[Au^IIICl₄], the diffusion of nanoparticle-seeds was not observed. On the other hand, in the presence of the protective agents, the diffusion of a complex molecule (Au and protective agent) and nanoparticle-seeds could be observed. From these results, it was found that enough amount of the complex is essential for the nanoparticle formation. We also investigated the formation process with four different chemicals as a protective agent. The hydrodynamic radius of nanoparticle-seeds generated in the poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and TritonX-100 solutions were larger than those generated in the Tween 20 and Brij 58 solutions. The former two have hydrophilic chain in the molecular structure; on the other hand, the latter two have hydrophobic alkyl chain. Based on those facts, we concluded that the interaction between the chains of the complex molecule plays an important role in the nanoparticle formation process.     

Optical interconnection between different spatial modes using double phase conjugate mirror with polarization alignment system

We propose a fundamental interconnection method using a polarization alignment system for waveguides having different spatial modes. In addition, as an example for the verification of the fundamental operation, we demonstrate an interconnection between a photonic crystal fiber and a laser that have obviously different spatial modes. The polarization alignment system operates synergistically with a self-written waveguide formed with a double phaseconjugate mirror. This technique enables us to interconnect a photonic crystal fiber with a laser source without complicated and time-consuming optical alignment. In this method, although it is not necessary to perform an external control for interconnection, the waveguide most suitable for connection is formed autonomously in a Sn₂P₂S₆:Sb crystal developed for this purpose. There was a marked reduction in the polarization dependence of coupling efficiency, compared with that observed using a stand-alone double phase-conjugate mirror.     

Baryogenesis in false vacuum

The null result in the LHC may indicate that the standard model is not drastically modified up to very high scales, such as the GUT/string scale. Having this in the mind, we suggest a novel leptogenesis scenario realized in the false vacuum of the Higgs field. If the Higgs field develops a large vacuum expectation value in the early universe, a lepton number violating process is enhanced, which we use for baryogenesis. To demonstrate the scenario, several models are discussed. For example, we show that the observed baryon asymmetry is successfully generated in the standard model with higher-dimensional operators.