[en] We have developed a new strategy for the generation of patterned fluorescence images in polymer film. A fluorescent acetyl protected indole 6 was transformed to a nonfluorescent indigo dye 7 by UV irradiation. In addition, a t-Boc protected fluorescent indigo molecule 8 was also converted to a nonfluorescent indigo derivative 7 under a chemical amplification condition. Photomasked UV irradiation of the precursor molecules allowed efficient generation of patterned fluorescence images in polymer film. The strategy described in current investigation is believed to be an important addition to the fluorescent patterning technology

[en] Fabrication of metallic nanomaterial patterns is very important in the electronic industry. A variety of techniques for producing these metallic nanoparticle patterns have been developed, such as ink-jet printing, 2 direct writing, 3,4 electroplati ng, 5,6 screen printing, 7 and soft lithography including micro-contact printing (μCP) 8–10 and we developed a simple and facile strategy for the fabrication of silver micropatterns on the surface of PANI patterns which were prepared by employing a photo- lithographic method. The silver was metallized along the PANI pattern through the oxidation-reduction reaction without requiring any reducing agent. The straightforward approach described above could open new avenues for the fabrication of metal micropatterns

[en] This paper discusses a non-contact optical technique, electronic speckle pattern interferometry, that is well suited for thermal deformation measurement without the need of any surface preparation and temperature compensating process. Also, three kinds of composite materials with fiber and epoxy -unidirectional laminates([0]₁₆ and [90]₁₆) and Cross-ply laminates([0/90]_s) have been analyzed by ESPI to determine their thermal expansion behavior.

[en] The electrocatalytic conversion of CO₂ into value-added fuels has received increasing attention as a promising way to mitigate the atmospheric CO₂ concentration and close the broken carbon-cycle. Early studies, focused on polycrystalline metal electrodes, outlined in detail the overall trends in the catalytic activity and product selectivity of pure metals; however, several inherent limitations were found, such as low current density and high overpotential, which hindered electrocatalytic CO₂ reduction from practical application. Fortunately, the recent development of precisely synthesized nanocatalysts has led to several breakthroughs in catalytic CO₂ conversion. By carefully controlling the thermodynamic adsorption energies and flow dynamics of reaction intermediates, nanosized electrocatalysts afford more versatile and energetically efficient routes to convert CO₂ into desired chemicals. In this article, we review the state-of-the-art nanocatalysts applied for CO₂ conversion and discuss newly found phenomena at the local environment near the catalyst surface. The mechanistic understanding of these findings can provide insight into the future design of catalysts for the efficient and selective reduction of CO₂. (topical review)

[en] This paper proposes an analytical approach that can describe the Pulsed Eddy Current Testing (PECT) of stratified conductive structures by a single air coil used for detecting and sizing of metal loss due to interlayer corrosion. Specifically for a single air cored coil above a multilayered conductive structure, the coil impendance response of the cylindrical eddy current probe is calculated based on the truncated region eigenfunction expansion (TREE) method using the generalized matrix coefficients in series form. Analytical modeling of pulsed eddy current is developed using the Fourier series for multilayered conductive structures. A simulation study is carried out for demonstrating the capability of the proposed approach for sizing the metal loss in a two-layer specimen. Furthermore, the experiment is set up to confirm the simulating results of the analytical model for multilayered steels. Good agreement between the theoretical results and measured signals is observed

[en] The 20-minute ^99mTc-pertechnetate uptake became readily available for routine use and it replaced ¹³¹I for thyroid imaging. However measuring thyroid uptake during a 5-minute minimizes pertechnetate uptake by the salivary glands and presence of contaminated saliva from those glands in to the pharynx and esophagus. A study was carried out to determine the suitability of the utility of a 5-minute and 20-minute interval from administration of ^99mTc-pertechnetate to imaging and uptake measurement as a replacement for the 24 hour standard originally established with ¹³¹I, and to evaluate the relationship between 5-minute ^99mTc-pertechnetate uptake and other thyroid functions. A 5-minute and 20-minute uptake of ^99mTc-pertechnetate were measured in 70 patients with thyroid disease at Yeungnam University Hospital from March 1, 1991 to Feb. 29, 1992. The results were as follows. 1) The 5-minute ^99mTc-pertechnetate uptake in Graves' disease, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, simple goiter non toxic nodular goiter, subacute thyroiditis and euthyroid were 18.2%, 14.6%, 2.8%, 3.2%, 1.2% and 1.1%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the mean of the euthyroid group and the mean of the Graves' disease. So differentiation between them can be easily made. 2) The 5 minute ^99mTc- pertechnetate thyroid uptake was well correlated with 24 hour ¹³¹I thyroid uptake (r=0.75, p<0.001). These data provided an equation for estimating the 24 hour uptake of iodide given the 5 minute pertechnetate uptake: Estimated 24-hour '1³¹I thyroid Uptake = 7.188^*In (5 minute ^99mTc-Pertechnetate uptake)+16.94 3) The 20-minute ^99mTc-pertechnetate thyroid uptake was well correlated with 24-hour ¹³¹I uptake (r=0.72, p<0.001) and 5-minute ^99mTc-pertechnetate thyroid uptake (r=0.96, p<0.001). 4) In the Graves' disease, The 5-minute ^99mTc-pertechnetate thyroid uptake was well correlated with serum T₃-resin uptake (r=0.46, p<0.01), serum total T₃ (r=0.55, p<0.05), serum total T₄ (r=0.46, p<0.05). These results suggest that 5-minute ^99mTc-pertechnetate thyroid uptake has been found at least as useful as 24-hour ¹³¹I uptake for diagnostic confirmation at our hospital, the logistical advantages of completing the diagnosis. The exam in 5-minutes led us to abandon the 24-hour study in the majority of patients, but the 24-hour ¹³¹I uptake is still obtained in patients with planned or potential radioiodine therapy.

[en] Laser scanning systems have been used for material processing tasks such as welding, cutting, marking, and drilling. However, applications have been limited by the small range of motion and slow speed of the focusing unit, which carries the focusing optics. To overcome these limitations, a dynamic focusing system with a long travel range and high speed is needed. In this study, a dynamic focusing unit for a laser scanning system with a voice coil motor (VCM) mechanism is proposed to enable fast speed and a wide focusing range. The VCM has finer precision and higher speed than conventional step motors and a longer travel range than earlier lead zirconium titanate actuators. The system has a hollow configuration to provide a laser beam path. This also makes it compact and transmission-free and gives it low inertia. The VCM's magnetics are modeled using a permeance model. Its design parameters are determined by optimization using the Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno method and a sequential quadratic programming algorithm. After the VCM is designed, the dynamic focusing unit is fabricated and assembled. The permeance model is verified by a magnetic finite element method simulation tool, Maxwell 2D and 3D, and by measurement data from a gauss meter. The performance is verified experimentally. The results show a resolution of 0.2 μm and travel range of 16 mm. These are better than those of conventional focusing systems; therefore, this focusing unit can be applied to laser scanning systems for good machining capability

[en] We have developed a generic approach to micro-patterned fluorescent images using the terpolymer with side groups containing chromophores such as phenolphthalein and phenoxynaphthacenequinone. We expect this photolithography technology in combination with photochromic pendant materials to be useful in the color sensor area. The development of efficient fluorescent and color changeable compounds has gained much attention in both fundamental and applied research areas. Among numerous photochromic and fluorescent compounds, certain phenoxynaphthacenequinone derivatives are attractive molecules due to their excellent properties, such as low fatigue as well as negligible thermal interconversion at room temperature. For example, 6-phenoxy-5,12-naphthacenequinone is well known to iso-merize from the trans-quinone to the ana-quinone upon irradiation with UV light and to isomerize back to the trans form with visible light. We have previously reported the first successful direct synthesis of norbornene- or styrene-derived photochromic polymers. In addition, phenolphtha-leins are increasingly important as the active components of color change indicators, temperature resistant polymers, and optoelectronic photosensors

[en] Comparison between strain values of plates measured by Electronic Speckle Pattern Interferometry(ESPI) method and strain gauge method is discussed. Unlike traditional method, such ax strain gauge and moire method, ESPI method requires no special surface preparations or attachments and can be measured in-plane displacement with non-contacting in real-time. In this study, specimens are loaded in parallel using tensile testing machine. In front of a specimen three strain gauges are bonded with 5 mm gap from edge of a specimen strain values are measured at each strain gauge position and compared. The results by ESPI method agree well with the result by strain gauge method.

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