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Using our new program code, we have calculated the temperature dependence of the Seebeck coefficient ( S - T ) in the linearized Boltzmann transport equation with a constant relaxation time (LBT-CRT) for Fe2VAl (cF16) and its quaternary compounds for the range from − 263 °C (10 K) to 727 °C (1000 K). We revealed that Fe2VAl compound free from any defects exhibited the Seebeck coefficient with a negative sign at odds with experimental data with a positive sign. However, this dilemma could be removed after the introduction of Al/V near neighbor inversion defects into the perfect Fe2VAl. A key point in developing a reliable temperature-dependent Seebeck coefficient software lies in how precisely we calculate the density of states times square of the group velocity v x 2 along the direction x of thermal gradient. The present method is contrasted to the Fourier Transform Interpolation method in BoltzTraP developed by Madsen and Singh (2006). Nevertheless, both could reproduce the experimental data of Fe2VAl once the inversion effect was taken into account. Our new software allows us to seek the origin of characteristic behaviors in the S - T curve by decomposing the electronic parameter above into sub-bands and analyzing the sub-band dependence of the energy spectrum A ε in the LBT-CRT equation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have investigated the electronic structure of a potential thermoelectric material, higher manganese silicide, and its solid solutions with supersaturated Re by means of hard x-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The unusual Re substitution dependence of thermoelectric properties in the higher manganese silicide, reducing the electrical resistivity without altering the Seebeck coefficient, can be explained in terms of the variation of the density of states at the Fermi level and its energy derivative. Such an electronic structure variation contributes to an improvement in the thermoelectric performance in combination with the suppressed thermal conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detailed demographics play an important role in the development of smart cities. However, especially in developing countries, the maintenance and management of this data is incomplete, which hinders the promotion of smart cities. The objective of this study is to develop a method to create detailed building distribution maps from satellite images, which will serve as a basis for developing detailed demographic data to support the promotion of smart cities around the world. The target area is several areas of Tokyo where validation data is available. We first developed a method for extracting buildings from satellite images and then estimating the building use to determine the buildings where residents are distributed. Both methods use deep learning. As a result, it was possible to extract buildings with an extraction rate (the number of buildings in the automatically extracted building data divided by the number of buildings in the data for verification) of up to 60.3% for the entire target area. In addition, in the estimation of building use, our method was able to classify detached and non-detached buildings with an average accuracy of 78.7% for the entire target area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heusler-type Fe2VAl thermoelectric materials have been processed by high-pressure torsion (HPT) to improve their thermoelectric performance through a drastic reduction of the thermal conductivity. While the thermal conductivity for Fe2VTa0.05Al0.95 is about 10 W/m K at 300 K, it is reduced to about 5.0 W/m K due to HPT processing. Furthermore, even after annealing at 873 K for recurrence of the Heusler-type structure, Ta-doped Fe2VTa0.05Al0.95 possesses an ultra-fine grained structure with an average grain size of about 80 nm, in contrast to the presence of large grains of about 270 nm for non-doped Fe2V1.05Al0.95. Since scanning transmission electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis reveals the solute segregation of Ta along grain boundaries and recrystallization interfaces, the retardation of recrystallization could be caused by the solute drag effect, leading to a suppression of grain coarsening. Thus, it is possible to retain the low thermal conductivity of about 5.0 W/m K at 300 K for Fe2VTa0.05Al0.95, in parallel with the restoration of a large power factor, so that the dimensionless figure of merit reaches ZT = 0.30 at around 500 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The online version of the original article can be found at https://doi.org/10.1007/s11669-024-01086-yCorrection: Journal of Phase Equilibria and Diffusionhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11669-024-01086-yThe original article has been updated to correct the assignment of author affiliations and to correct a missing symbol in the paragraph following Eq. (2).Publisher's NoteSpringer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.By H. Sato; H. Miyazaki; Y. Nishino and U. MizutaniReported by Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

This article compares the outcomes of two minimally invasive treatments, endoscopic dissection (ESD) and transoral videolaryngoscopic surgery (TOVS), for superficial pharyngeal tumors. The study reviewed 47 cases treated with either ESD or TOVS from 2013 to 2022. The results showed that ESD had a higher R0 resection rate and fewer recurrences compared to TOVS. The authors suggest that ESD's reliable range diagnosis using endoscopic magnification and image enhancement may contribute to its higher success rate. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the efficacy of gel immersion endoscopic submucosal dissection (GI-ESD) for superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs) larger than 20 mm. The study compares the short-term outcomes of GI-ESD and conventional ESD for SNADETs. The results show that GI-ESD improves endoscopic maneuverability, provides a good field of view, and reduces damage to the muscle layer. It suggests that GI-ESD may be a safer option for the resection of SNADETs. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses a study that aimed to determine whether image-enhanced endoscopies (IEEs) improve the visibility of superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs) compared to white light imaging (WLI). The study analyzed 50 lesions and found that texture and color enhancement imaging (TXI) improved SNADET visibility compared to WLI, particularly during underwater observation. The findings suggest that TXI may be useful for the detection and assessment of the lateral extent of SNADETs. [Extracted from the article]

Improvement of p-type thermoelectric performance for Heusler-type Fe2V1.08−yTiyAl0.92 alloys with y = 0–0.34 has been investigated, focusing on the valence electron concentration (VEC) effect for tuning the Fermi level across the center of the pseudogap via Ti doping, combined with a constructive modification of the electronic structure around the pseudogap through the off-stoichiometric V/Al composition change. The Seebeck coefficient changes its sign from negative to positive at around VEC = 6.0 due to Ti doping, and the peak value reaches approximately 120 μV/K at 350 K for y = 0.22. As a result of a drastic reduction in the electrical resistivity at 300–600 K, the power factor enhances up to 3.7 × 10−3 W/mK2 at 300 K for y = 0.30. The thermal conductivity increases with Ti doping to 15.5 W/mK at 350 K for y = 0.16, because of an increased stability of the L21 structure for VEC closer to 6.0, but then decreases to approximately 12 W/mK for y = 0.34. While the dimensionless figure of merit ZT = 0.13 is achieved at 500 K for y = 0.34, the codoping of Ta (Fe2V0.69Ti0.34Ta0.05Al0.92) leads to a further enhancement of up to ZT = 0.18 at 500 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many cities across the world are exposed to more than one hazards. Focus on only the most prominent natural hazards, or the most recent event can be dangerous, as many potential threats to urban development are not assessed. Even when multiple hazards in a given area is assessed, there is a lot of confusion on how to utilize hazard information in making decisions for urban land-use planning. This study is aimed to develop a method to utilize hazard maps in urban land-use decision making. The study has identified numerous applications of GIS-based multi-criteria decision model (MCDM) for land-use suitability evaluation. It has then tried to integrate multiple hazard maps, a product of multi-hazard risk assessment, into the model to generate suitability maps for further development. The used parameters were correlated using the Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP), one of the MCDM tool and incorporated into the GIS environment, with a comparison between the cases with- and without-hazard considerations. The application of the proposed method was tested for Madang Province, Papua New Guinea for four land-uses, i.e., residential, industrial, commercial, and agricultural. The results of the model i.e., land-use suitability maps were spatially reflective of the model user's decisions and understanding. This model gave considerable results for the urban development plan. Furthermore, comparison of the model outputs with and without hazard considerations led to notable differences. For example, almost 1% of the study area was rendered unsuitable for residential development in the assessment without hazard consideration. Besides, approximately 14% of the study area were assessed as suitable for without-hazard consideration but less suitable for with-hazard consideration. Since the hazard maps represented patterns and locations of natural hazards, our approach of incorporating them could help highlight the gaps in risk recognition with future development in hazardous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flooding is one of the major disasters occurring in various parts of the world. Estimation of economic loss due to flood often becomes necessary for flood damage mitigation. This present practice to carry out post flood survey to estimate damage, which is a laborious and time-consuming task. This paper presents a framework of rapid estimation of flood damage using SAR earth observation satellite data.In Nakhon Si Thammarat, a southern province in Thailand, flooding is a recurrent event affecting the entire province, especially the urban area. Every year, it causes lives and damages to infrastructure, agricultural production and severely affects local economic development. In order to monitor and estimate flood damages in near-real time, numerous techniques can be used, from a simply digitizing on maps, to using detailed surveys or remote sensing techniques. However, when using the last-mentioned technique, the results are conditioned by the time of data acquisition (day or night) as well as by weather conditions. Although, these impediments can be surpassed by using RADAR satellite imagery. The aim of this study is to delineate the land surface of Chian Yai, Pak Phanang and Hua Sai districts of that was affected by floods in December 2018 and January 2019. For this case study, Sentinel-1 C-Band SAR data provided by ESA (European Space Agency) were used. The data sets were taken before and after the flood took place, all within 1 days and were processed using Sentinel Toolbox. Cropland mapping has been carried out to assess the agricultural loss in study area using Sentinel-1 SAR data. The thematic accuracy has been assessed for cropland classification for test site shows encouraging overall accuracy as 82.63 % and kappa coefficients (κ) as 0.78. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of TiC and NbC carbides on creep life has been investigated for 321HTB and 347HTB steels at 600-750°C for about 20-200,000 h. The creep data for 304HTB steel are used as reference data. The precipitation hardening is larger for the 321HTB than for the 347HTB at short times during creep. Then the reduction of precipitation hardening due to coarsening of TiC and NbC carbides takes place for up to long times, which is less significant in the 321HTB than in the 347HTB. The smaller coarsening rate of the TiC carbides than the NbC carbides during creep is discussed on the base of a rate equation for diffusion-controlled Ostwald ripening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine whether maximum bite force ( MBF), an objective measure of oral function, is associated with development of frailty in community-dwelling older adults. This prospective cohort study included community-dwelling Japanese adults aged 75 years at baseline (n = 322). Baseline MBF was measured using an electronic recording device (Occlusal Force-Meter GM10). Follow-up examinations, including physical fitness and anthropometric evaluation and structured questionnaires, were administered annually over a 5-year period to determine the incidence of frailty, which was defined by the presence of 3 or more of the following 5 components derived from the Cardiovascular Health Study: low level of mobility, low physical activity level, weakness, shrinking and poor endurance and energy. Adjusted hazard ratios ( HRs) of incidence of frailty according to sex-stratified tertiles of baseline MBF were calculated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. During the follow-up, 49 participants (15.2%) developed frailty. Participants in the lower tertile of MBF exhibited a significantly greater risk of frailty than those in the upper tertile. After adjustment for sex, depression, diabetes and Eichner index, the adjusted HRs for frailty in the upper through lower tertiles of MBF were 1.00 (reference), 1.27 (95% confidence interval [ CI]: 0.50-3.20) and 2.78 (95% CI: 1.15-6.72), respectively ( P for trend = .01). Poor oral function, as indicated by low MBF, increases the risk of development of frailty among elderly men and women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the preliminary results of a new in-situ three-dimensional (3D) imaging system for observing plastic deformation behavior in a transmission electron microscope (TEM) as a directly relevant development of the recently reported straining-and-tomography holder [Sato K et al. (2015) Development of a novel straining holder for transmission electron microscopy compatible with single tilt-axis electron tomography. Microsc. 64: 369-375]. We designed an integrated system using the holder and newly developed straining and image-acquisition software and then developed an experimental procedure for in-situ straining and time-resolved electron tomography (ET) data acquisition. The software for image acquisition and 3D visualization was developed based on the commercially available ET software TEMographyTM. We achieved time-resolved 3D visualization of nanometer-scale plastic deformation behavior in a Pb-Sn alloy sample, thus demonstrating the capability of this system for potential applications in materials science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia is an age-related loss of muscle mass and muscle strength or physical performance. There are limited data on the association between oral health and sarcopenia. To test the hypothesis that impaired dentition status was associated with sarcopenia, we conducted a cross-sectional study. A total of 272 community-dwelling Japanese adults aged ≥75 years for whom data were available from comprehensive health examinations conducted in 2015 were included in this study. During dental examination, the number of natural teeth and occluding pairs of natural teeth was counted. In denture wearers, the fit of the removable dentures was also evaluated. The criteria proposed by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia were used to define sarcopenia. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between dentition status and the presence of sarcopenia. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 25·7% (70/272). Compared to individuals with ≥10 occluding pairs of natural teeth, those with no occluding pairs of natural teeth had significantly higher risk of having sarcopenia (adjusted odds ratio, 3·37; 95% confidence interval, 1·07-10·61), after adjusting for possible confounders. In addition, compared to individuals with well-fitting dentures, those with ill-fitting dentures had significantly higher risk of having sarcopenia (adjusted odds ratio, 5·07; 95% confidence interval, 1·59-16·19). Our findings suggest that impaired dentition status is significantly associated with sarcopenia among community-dwelling Japanese adults aged ≥75 years. Future longitudinal studies with larger, more diverse populations are necessary to validate our findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective Epidemiologic data examining the longitudinal relationship between periodontitis and cognitive status are very limited, especially in Asian populations. The present study examined the longitudinal relationship of periodontitis with cognitive decline in 85 Japanese community-dwelling individuals (average age: 79.3 years) for whom data were available from comprehensive health examinations conducted in 2010 and 2013. Material and Methods Based on a baseline full-mouth periodontal examination, severe periodontitis was defined using a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/American Academy of Periodontology definition. Cognitive decline during the 3-year study period was defined using the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination ( MMSE). Information on age, gender, education, depression, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol use, exercise, hypertension, diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease and stroke, and baseline MMSE scores were obtained and tested as potential confounders in the statistical models. Results Among 85 study participants, 21 (24.7%) were defined as having severe periodontitis. Multivariable Poisson regression analyses revealed that severe periodontitis was significantly associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline [adjusted relative risk = 2.2; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.1-4.5]. Furthermore, multivariable linear regression analyses revealed that participants with severe periodontitis had a 1.8-point greater decrease (95% CI: −3.3 to −0.2) in MMSE score than those without severe periodontitis. Conclusion Within the limitations related to its small sample size, the findings of the present study suggest that severe periodontitis is significantly associated with future decline in cognitive function among community-dwelling older Japanese subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited information is available on the temporal association between dentition status and dietary intake. The aim of this 5-year prospective cohort study was to investigate whether impaired dentition was associated with subsequent decline in dietary intake in older Japanese adults. Two hundred and eighty-six community-dwelling Japanese individuals, all aged 75 years at baseline, were included in the study. Functional tooth units (FTUs), defined as a pair of opposing natural or prosthetic teeth excluding third molars (range: 0-14), were counted on the basis of baseline dental examinations. Individuals with ≤5 FTUs were defined as having impaired dentition. Dietary intake was assessed at baseline and 5 years later, using a validated dietary questionnaire. Robust regression analyses were used to evaluate the differences in change in dietary intake between participants with and without impaired functional dentition, after adjustment for potential confounders. Sixty-one study participants (21·3 %) were defined as having impaired dentition. Overall, mean values for all estimated dietary variables (energy, nutrients and food groups) declined over time. Notably, individuals with impaired dentition demonstrated a significantly ( P < 0·05) greater degree of decline in the intake of multiple nutrients (protein, sodium, potassium, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin E and dietary fibre) and food groups (vegetable and meat) than those without impaired dentition, after adjusting for potential confounders. The results of this study describe the temporal association of impaired dentition with the decline in selected nutrient and food group intake among older Japanese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is limited information on the impact of oral function on mortality among older adults. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to examine whether an objective measure of oral function, maximum bite force ( MBF), is associated with mortality in older adults during a 13-year follow-up period. Five hundred and fifty-nine community-dwelling Japanese (282 men and 277 women) aged 70 years at baseline were included in the study. Medical and dental examinations and a questionnaire survey were conducted at baseline. Maximum bite force was measured using an electronic recording device (Occlusal Force-Meter GM10). Follow-up investigation to ascertain vital status was conducted 13 years after baseline examinations. Survival rates among MBF tertiles were compared using Cox proportional hazards regression models stratified by sex. There were a total of 111 deaths (82 events for men and 29 for women). Univariable analysis revealed that male participants in the lower MBF tertile had increased risk of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio ( HR) = 1·94, 95% confidence interval ( CI) = 1·13-3·34] compared with those in the upper MBF tertile. This association remained significant after adjustment for confounders (adjusted HR = 1·84, 95% CI = 1·07-3·19). Conversely, no association between MBF and all-cause mortality was observed in female participants. Maximum bite force was independently associated with all-cause mortality in older Japanese male adults. These data provide additional evidence for the association between oral function and geriatric health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methodology of automated human settlement mapping is highly needed for utilization of historical satellite data archives for urgent issues of urban growth in global scale, such as disaster risk management, public health, food security, and urban management. As development of global data with spatial resolution of 10-100 m was achieved by some initiatives using ASTER, Landsat, and TerraSAR-X, next goal has targeted to development of time-series data which can contribute to studies urban development with background context of socioeconomy, disaster risk management, public health, transport and other development issues. We developed an automated algorithm to detect human settlement by classification of built-up and non-built-up in time-series Landsat images. A machine learning algorithm, Local and Global Consistency (LLGC), was applied with improvements for remote sensing data. The algorithm enables to use MCD12Q1, a MODIS-based global land cover map with 500-m resolution, as training data so that any manual process is not required for preparation of training data. In addition, we designed the method to composite multiple results of LLGC into a single output to reduce uncertainty. The LLGC results has a confidence value ranging 0.0 to 1.0 representing probability of builtup and non-built-up. The median value of the confidence for a certain period around a target time was expected to be a robust output of confidence to identify built-up or non-built-up areas against uncertainties in satellite data quality, such as cloud and haze contamination. Four scenes of Landsat data for each target years, 1990, 2000, 2005, and 2010, were chosen among the Landsat archive data with cloud contamination less than 20%.We developed a system with the algorithms on the Data Integration and Analysis System (DIAS) in the University of Tokyo and processed 5200 scenes of Landsat data for cities with more than one million people worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ISPRS) Student Consortium (SC) is a network for young professionals studying or working within the fields of photogrammetry, remote sensing, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), and other related geo-spatial sciences. The main goal of the network is to provide means for information exchange for its young members and thus help promote and integrate youth into the ISPRS. Over the past four years the Student Consortium has successfully continued to fulfil its mission in both formal and informal ways. The formal means of communication of the SC are its website, newsletter, e-mail announcements and summer schools, while its informal ones are multiple social media outlets and various social activities during student related events. The newsletter is published every three to four months and provides both technical and experiential content relevant for the young people in the ISPRS. The SC has been in charge or at least has helped with organizing one or more summer schools every year. The organization's e-mail list has over 1,100 subscribers, its website hosts over 1,300 members from 100 countries across the entire globe, and its public Facebook group currently has over 4,500 joined visitors, who connect among one another and share information relevant for their professional careers. These numbers show that the Student Consortium has grown into a significant online-united community. The paper will present the organization's on-going and past activities for the last four years, its current priorities and a strategic plan and aspirations for the future four-year period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heusler-type FeVAl sintered alloys with micrometer-sized grains were fabricated by the powder metallurgical process using mechanical alloying and pulse-current sintering. Both positive (∼90 μV/K) and negative (∼−140 μV/K) Seebeck coefficients were obtained for the composition ranges of x > 0 and x < 0, respectively, resulting from a Fermi level shift caused by the change in the valence electron concentration. The electrical resistivity was reduced by the carrier doping effect, especially at lower temperatures, resulting in an increased thermoelectric power factor of 2.8 mW/m-K for the p-type alloy with x = 0.06 and 5.0 mW/m-K for the n-type alloy with x = −0.06. In addition, the lattice thermal conductivity decreased with | x| because of phonon scattering at crystal lattice defects induced by the off-stoichiometry. Consequently, the thermoelectric figure of merit, ZT, was enhanced and reached 0.07 for p-type alloys with 0.06 < x < 0.15 and 0.18 for n-type alloys with −0.15 < x < −0.10 around 500 K. The ZT value was especially enhanced at higher temperatures by the off-stoichiometric composition control, which could extend the range of heat source temperatures for thermoelectric power generation applications using this alloy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STM/STS experiments have been performed in (R-Bi2201) systems with and Eu, which are of a nearly optimal doping level but have different values, 35 K and 20 K, respectively, to examine interplane disorder effects on the superconducting (SC) gap and the pseudogap (PG) that is accompanied by a checkerboard-type charge order (CCO). We report that as interplane disorders are strengthened by replacing La with Eu in optimal Bi2201, the antinodal PG size increases from to , which is comparable to the value for an underdoping level in La-Bi2201. On the other hand, the period of CCO in optimal Eu-Bi2201 is the same as in optimal La-Bi2201, about five times lattice constant along the Cu-O bond directions; it remains unchanged even if the PG develops markedly to the same degree as for in La-Bi2201, whose period is . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibacterial photodynamic therapy (PDT) has come to attract attention as an alternative therapy for drug-resistant bacteria. Recent reports revealed that antibacterial PDT induces innate immune response and stimulates abundant cytokine secretion as a part of inflammatory responses. However, the underlying mechanism how antibacterial PDT interacts with immune cells responsible for cytokine secretion has not been well outlined. In this study, we aimed to clarify the difference in gene expression and cytokine secretion between combined culture of fibroblasts and macrophages and their independent cultures. SCRC-1008, mouse fibroblast cell line and J774, mouse macrophage-like cell line were co-cultured and PDT treatments with different parameters were carried out. After various incubation periods (1-24 h), cells and culture medium were collected, and mRNA and protein levels for cytokines were measured using real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. Our results showed that fibroblasts and macrophages interact with each other to mediate the immune response. We propose that fibroblasts initially respond to PDT by expressing Hspa1b, which regulates the NF-κB pathway via Tlr2 and Tlr4. Activation of the NF-κB pathway then results in an enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) and neutrophil chemoattractant MIP-2 and KC from macrophages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have developed a newly designed straining specimen holder for in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) compatible with high-angle single tilt-axis electron tomography. The holder can deform a TEM specimen under tensile stress with the strain rate between 1.5 × 10-6 and 5.2 × 10-3 s-1. We have also confirmed that the maximum tilt angle of the specimen holder reaches ±60° with a rectangular shape aluminum specimen. The new specimen holder, termed as 'straining and tomography holder', will have wide range potential applications in materials science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel visualizing technique of the crack tips was developed in order to improve the accuracy of the indentation fracture (IF) method since the faint image of the crack tip was a major origin of the large misreading of crack length. Coating a transparent visualizing solution on the indented surface of silicon carbide could enhance the contrast of the crack tips. Three operators observed same indentations and gave the crack length almost identical to that obtained in previous round-robin test through the powerful microscopy for the same material, indicating that the clear image of the crack tips could reduce the errors in reading crack lengths markedly even when measured with the ordinal metallurgical microscope at a low total magnification of 100x. Good matching of indentation fracture toughness, KIFR was obtained between this study and the previous round-robin using powerful microscopy, which indicated the reproducibility of the IF method could be improved through our new coating method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A cryogen-free 20 T superconducting magnet with a 52 mm room-temperature bore was developed and installed in Tohoku University in 2013. This magnet consists of a Bi2223 insert coil, which generates 4.5 T, and outer low-temperature superconducting (LTS) coils. Both coils were cooled by a GM/JT cryocooler with 4.2 W-class cooling capacity at 4.3 K. To generate a higher magnetic field, a new cryogen-free 25 T superconducting magnet using a REBCO insert coil, which generates 11.5 T, and new outer LTS coils is now under development. The magnetic field contribution of this REBCO insert coil is considerably higher than that of the previous Bi2223 insert coil, and the ac-loss of the insert coil during field ramping rises to approximately 9.7 W. The LTS coils have to operate at about 4 K, but the REBCO coil can operate at various temperatures above 4 K. In addition, the cooling capacity of a GM cryocooler is greater than that of a GM/JT cryocooler around 10 K. Thus, the REBCO insert coil is cooled to about 10 K by using two GM cryocoolers, independently of the LTS coils, which are cooled by two GM/JT cryocoolers. To protect the cryocoolers from the leakage field of the magnet, the two GM cryocoolers cool circulating helium gas through heat exchangers, and the gas is transported over a long distance to another heat exchanger provided for the REBCO insert coil. The maximum temperature of the REBCO insert coil was calculated under the most severe condition where an insert coil ac-loss of 9.7 W was generated continuously. And it was confirmed to be less than the target maximum temperature of 12 K. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this work, we investigated the effect of surface treatment of the Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) thin films using ammonia solution. CZTS thin films were prepared by RF sputtering using single CZTS target with sulfurization process. In order to study the effect of surface treatment using ammonia solution, solution temperature was varied. Structural properties of the samples are almost same with and without ammonia surface treatment measured by XRD and Raman spectroscopy. From the measurement of the chemical composition, the Zn is dissolved by ammonia solution. In addition, the removal rate of oxygen and sodium is different between deionised water and ammonia solution. Ammonia could have prevented their removal from the surface to solution. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) material has many advantages for high-efficiency thin-film solar cell absorber layer. A detailed study of the surface of the CZTS and the hetero-interface of the CZTS/buffer layer is important to improve the conversion efficiency of CZTS thin film solar cells. We investigated the surface condition of the CZTS films by carrying out the surface treatment using bromine solution. The activation energy of the etching using bromine solution was estimated from the slope of the line fitting the graph of the temperature dependence of the etching rate. The activation energy is about 0.35 eV. This value suggests that etching mechanism of CZTS using bromine solution is diffusion-limited process. There were no significant changes in the structural characteristics after surface treatment by X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. From the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements, a relative surface composition was shifted to Cu- and Zn-rich phase after surface treatment. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is one of the promising materials for high efficiency thin film solar cells. Here we report on the chemical and structural characterization of the CZTS thin films before and after the surface treatment using deionized water. X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering spectroscopy results showed that the deionized water treatment did not affect the bulk characterization. Copper chemical composition ratio increases and sulphur composition ratio decreases with increasing deionized water treatment temperature on the film surface. In the case of the sample treated at 353 K, the surface composition changes to Cu-rich composition. However, the chemical composition ratio of the bulk still remained before deionized water (DIW) surface treatment. The change in the CZTS surface composition according to the DIW surface treatment temperature, we think these results may help to be studied in CZTS surface in more detail. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective Potentially significant associations between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and periodontitis have been reported in recent studies; however, there are limited data on their association in the very old. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between MetS and periodontitis among 80-year-old Japanese subjects. Material and Methods The subjects were 234 Japanese aged 80 years old who participated in a health and periodontal examination in June 2008 in Niigata city, Japan, and were classified into three groups: (i) severe periodontitis: having six or more interproximal sites with clinical attachment level ≥ 6 mm and three or more interproximal sites with probing pocket depth ( PPD) ≥ 5 mm (not on the same tooth) ( n = 19); (ii) moderate periodontitis: having six or more interproximal sites with clinical attachment level ≥ 4 mm or six or more interproximal sites with PPD ≥ 5 mm (not on the same tooth) ( n = 162); and (iii) no or mild periodontitis: neither 'moderate' nor 'severe' periodontitis ( n = 53). MetS was defined using the modified criteria of the guidelines for the diagnosis of MetS in Japan. An ordinal logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between MetS and periodontitis. Adjustments for gender, income, education, smoking status, dental visiting patterns, brushing frequency, exercise habits and dietary energy and food intake were considered. Results Overall, 57 individuals (24.4%) were diagnosed as having MetS. MetS was associated with the presence and severity of periodontitis (crude odds ratio = 2.24, 95% confidence interval = 1.14-4.41). This association remained statistically significant after multivariate adjustments (adjusted odds ratio = 2.10, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-4.28). Conclusion Our findings provide evidence of an association between MetS and periodontitis in elderly Japanese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ISPRS Student Consortium is an international organization for students and young professionals in the fields of photogrammetry, remote sensing, and the geospatial information sciences. Since its start ten years ago, the number of members of the Student Consortium has been steadily growing, now reaching close to 1000. Its increased popularity, especially in recent years, is mainly due to the organization's worldwide involvement in student matters. The Student Consortium has helped organize numerous summer schools, youth forums, and student technical sessions at ISPRS sponsored conferences. In addition, the organization publishes a newsletter, and hosts several social media outlets in order to keep its global membership up-to-date on a regular basis. This paper will describe the structure of the organization, and it will give some example of its past student related activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]