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ABSTRACTDolomite [CaMg(CO3)2] is used widely for soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr. production in Japan to amend soil pH, although magnesium (Mg) in the dolomite can inhibit soybean growth and yield. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Mg on soybean production in a paddy – upland rotation field in 2019–2020 by comparing the application of dolomite and calcite (CaCO3). The field test included three replications with three lime applications: control (no lime), dolomite, and calcite. The amounts of calcite and dolomite applied in each year were 253 and 259 g m−2, respectively. The soil pH was almost similar following the applications of calcite and dolomite, whereas the soil exchangeable Mg content was higher following the dolomite application than following the other applications. The shoot weight from the flowering stage to the harvest stage (R8) was significantly higher following the calcite application than following the other applications. However, the shoot weight at only R8 was significantly higher following the dolomite application than following the control application. In 2019–2020, the highest soybean yield was resulted from the calcite application (355 g m−2) followed by the dolomite application (312 g m−2) and the control application (260 g m−2). The severity of soil-borne diseases was lower following the dolomite application than following the control application, and even lower following the calcite application. Thus, the application of dolomite increased soybean yield by improving soil pH; however, Mg in the dolomite inhibited a further increase in soybean yield in a paddy – upland rotation field.

Fluctuations in olfactory sensitivity are widely known to occur during pregnancy and may be responsible for hyperemesis gravidarum. These changes are thought to be caused by structural and functional alterations in neurons in response to marked changes of the hormonal milieu. In this study, we examined changes in neurons in the olfactory cortex during pregnancy and after delivery in rats. Dendritic spine densities were measured in the piriform cortex (PIR) and posterolateral cortical amygdala (COApl), which are involved in olfaction. The results showed increased numbers of dendritic spines in the PIR in mid-pregnancy and in the COApl during early and late pregnancy, but not in the motor area of the cerebral cortex, indicating a correlation with changes in olfactory sensitivity during pregnancy. Immunohistochemical analysis of expression of ovarian hormone receptors in these brain regions revealed a decrease in the number of estrogen receptor α-positive cells during pregnancy in the PIR and during pregnancy and the postpartum period in the COApl. Regarding pregnancy-related peptide hormones, oxytocin receptors were expressed in the PIR and COApl, while prolactin receptors were not found in these regions. Accordingly, oxytocin-containing neurites were distributed in both regions. These results suggest that the balance of these hormonal signals has an effect on olfactory sensitivity in pregnant females.

IntroductionIn recent years, experiential consumption, which refers to purchases involving hedonic experiences, has been gathering attention in marketing research. Experiential consumption is closely related to cognitive biases, and among them, we focus on the IKEA effect, which is a cognitive bias in which the maximum willingness to pay (WTP) for a product is high because the experience of assembling the product is highly valued. Since no studies have examined the neural mechanism behind the IKEA effect, here we present the first study exploring the neural substrates of the IKEA effect using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). During the WTP evaluation, we expect the attachment to and memory retrieval of DIY products to be the cognitive mechanism for the IKEA effect.MethodsThirty healthy students, of which 24 were confirmed to have undergone the IKEA effect, were asked to perform a WTP evaluation task after assembling three types of do-it-yourself (DIY) products and handling three types of Non-DIY products. Their cerebral hemodynamic responses during the evaluation were measured using fNIRS. In order to adjust for temporal variability of cortical responses among participants, a personalized adaptive general linear model (GLM) analysis was adopted. Then, one-sample t-tests were performed for each DIY and Non-DIY condition for the obtained β values, and a paired t-test was performed between DIY and Non-DIY conditions.ResultsWe identified brain regions, including the left-inferior frontal gyrus (L-IFG) and left-middle frontal gyrus (L-MFG), which were probably related to cognitive processing related to the IKEA effect. Among them, the L-MFG exhibited more activation during the DIY condition than during the Non-DIY condition.ConclusionTo our knowledge, the current study is the first to reveal the neural basis of the IKEA effect. The cortical activation during evaluation of WTP for DIY and Non-DIY products exhibited marked differences. In addition to the R-IFG activation often reported for WTP evaluations, we revealed that other regions, in particular the L-IFG and L-MFG, were activated during the DIY condition. These areas are considered to be related to memory and attachment, which would serve as reasonable cognitive constituents for the IKEA effect. In conclusion, this study suggests that the value of experiential consumption can be assessed using fNIRS-based neuroimaging and provides a novel approach to consumer neuroergonomics. It is predicted that visualization the value of experiential consumption will create marketing opportunities for more and more companies and the visualization will become an indispensable method in the future.

Excessively warm and fresh surface water along the Amery Ice Shelf, Antarctica, in 2017 led to more ice melt and delayed dense water formation, according to analyses of in situ observations.

In an aging society, the number of femoral fractures is increasing, as well as the incidence of periprosthetic fractures. These secondary fractures are often difficult to fixate stably because of the osteoporotic bone and the existence of the former implant. Herein, we present two cases of secondary femoral shaft fractures after osteosyntheses for distal femur fractures with polyaxial locking plates (Non-Contact-Bridging Distal Femur, NCB-DF®, ZimmerBIOMET, Winterthur, Switzerland). Antegrade intramedullary nails (Natural Nail®-GT Femoral, ZimmerBIOMET, Winterthur, Switzerland) were utilized without removal of the NCB-DFs. In these osteosyntheses, proximal locking screws of NCB-DFs were inserted and locked into the distal inter-locking holes of Natural Nails. This “nail-plate docking technique” could allow for more stable fixation of the whole femur with minimally invasive surgical intervention while preserving the existing implant. Although there are a few surgical technical knacks and pitfalls in inserting the screw, further fractures of the femur could also be prevented with this technique.

An area-detector CT (ADCT) has a 320-detector row and can obtain isotropic volume data without helical scanning within an area of nearly 160 mm. The actual-perfusion CT data within this area can, thus, be obtained by means of continuous dynamic scanning for the qualitative or quantitative evaluation of regional perfusion within nodules, lymph nodes, or tumors. Moreover, this system can obtain CT data with not only helical but also step-and-shoot or wide-volume scanning for body CT imaging. ADCT also has the potential to use dual-energy CT and subtraction CT to enable contrast-enhanced visualization by means of not only iodine but also xenon or krypton for functional evaluations. Therefore, systems using ADCT may be able to function as a pulmonary functional imaging tool. This review is intended to help the reader understand, with study results published during the last a few decades, the basic or clinical evidence about (1) newly applied reconstruction methods for radiation dose reduction for functional ADCT, (2) morphology-based pulmonary functional imaging, (3) pulmonary perfusion evaluation, (4) ventilation assessment, and (5) biomechanical evaluation.

Abstract Background Periarticular anesthetic infiltration (PAI) with a corticosteroid is a modality for pain control following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Systemic corticosteroids are an established antiemetic for the prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). The purpose of this retrospective observational study was to elucidate the relationship between dexamethasone added to PAI and PONV in patients who underwent TKA. Methods Data from 435 patients who received PAI using ropivacaine with or without dexamethasone were reviewed. The primary outcome was the incidence of PONV within 24 h following TKA. The incidence of deep incisional and organ/space surgical site infection (SSI) within the first year was also assessed. Results The overall incidence of PONV was 23.2%. A multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that dexamethasone added to PAI was independently associated with a reduced incidence of PONV (adjusted odds ratio, 0.23; 95% confidence interval, 0.12–0.44, P < 0.001). The incidence of PONV and rescue analgesic requirements within 24 h were lower in patients who received PAI with dexamethasone than in those who received PAI alone (19.5% vs 49.1%, P < 0.001, 7.9% vs 29.1%, P < 0.001, respectively). SSI developed in one out of the 55 patients who received PAI alone, but in none of those who received PAI with dexamethasone. Conclusions Dexamethasone added to PAI for postoperative pain management was independently associated with a lower risk of PONV within 24 h of TKA.

Atypical femoral fractures (AFF) are more difficult to treat than typical femoral fractures; they require strong fixation and good reduction. Intramedullary (IM) nailing is the first option for the treatment of complete AFF; however, there are few reports comparing IM nailing and extramedullary fixation. Moreover, there are no reports on the outcomes of bilateral atypical subtrochanteric femoral fractures treated with an IM nail on one side and a compression hip screw (CHS) on the other. We report the case of a 69-year-old woman who had been on risedronate sodium once a month since she was 58 years old. She reportedly felt pain in both her thighs due to an undiagnosed cause. Six months later, she fell and was diagnosed with bilateral complete atypical femoral subtrochanteric fractures (right side: Seinsheimer type IIC; left side: Seinsheimer type IIA). Four days later, she underwent CHS on the right side and IM nailing after open reduction surgery on the left. The reduction was successful. The left side healed 6 months after surgery, but the right side healed only after 14 months, despite assistance with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound. In atypical femoral subtrochanteric fractures, good reduction is important for healing, but, in this case, the CHS side healed slowly despite achievement of good reduction because of the difference in the fixation force between IM nailing and CHS, in addition to a probable occurrence of severely suppressed bone turnover (SSBT). Furthermore, reaming was not done on the CHS side, which may have contributed to the delay in bony union. IM nailing is the first option for atypical femoral subtrochanteric fractures because of faster union and lower reoperation rate than extramedullary fixation. Based on our findings, we recommend IM nailing as the first option for atypical femoral subtrochanteric fractures when good reduction can be achieved.

Aside from cases of mechanical complications or infection short femoral nails (SFNs) are not removed after open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) because femoral trochanteric fractures often occur in older osteoporotic females. Occasionally, SFN removal is performed because of severe chronic hip and thigh pain after surgery. However, cases of large hematoma formation in the gluteus medius with associated severe pain have not been reported in patients after ORIF.A 58-year-old healthy woman fell and incurred a femoral trochanteric fracture at work. ORIF was performed using Gamma nail for the fracture, which was classified as AO31-1.2 according to the AO Foundation/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification. The bone healed sufficiently. The patient reported chronic hip and thigh pain after ORIF, but the SFN was not removed because of concerns about further fractures. After 1 year and 8 months, she suddenly experienced severe hip and thigh pain with hip swelling, but without prior trauma. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a large hematoma in the gluteus medius near the greater trochanter. Under general anesthesia, SFN removal was performed because of the persistent pain. After SFN removal, the chronic pain resolved without any complications, such as a femoral neck fracture.In this case, chronic hip and thigh pain and delayed hematoma may have been caused by SFN protrusion over the greater trochanter, damaging soft tissues around the gluteus medius. Thus, soft tissue injury and hematoma are possible in patients with chronic hip and thigh pain after ORIF using SFN. In using SFN for femoral trochanteric fractures, it is important to prevent protrusion of SFN over the greater trochanter. Further careful follow-up with MRI and/or ultrasonography is needed to study delayed hematoma after ORIF using SFN.

Purpose The Japanese Human Milk Study, a longitudinal prospective cohort study, was set up to clarify how maternal health, nutritional status, lifestyle and sociodemographic and economic factors affect breastfeeding practices and human milk composition. This would eventually determine factors affecting the growth and development of infants and children.Participants A total of 1210 Japanese lactating women who satisfied the inclusion criteria, were invited across the country at various participating sites, between 2014 and 2019. Finally a total of 1122 women were enrolled in this study.Findings to date Among 1122 eligible participants, mean age at delivery was 31.2 (SD 4.4) years and mean prepregnancy BMI was 20.8 (SD 2.7). Among these women, 35% were previously nulliparous and 77.7% had college, university or higher education. The mean gestational period was 39.0 (SD 1.3) weeks. Caesarean section was reported among 11.9%; mean infant birth weight was 3082 (SD 360) g. Of the infants, 53.7% were male. Overall, our participants appeared to be healthier than the general population in Japan. Analyses of the 1079 eligible human milk samples obtained at the first and second months postpartum showed the following composition: carbohydrate, 8.13 (SD 0.32) g/100 mL; fat, 3.77 (SD 1.29) g/100 mL; and crude protein, 1.20 (SD 0.23) g/100 mL. We also analysed osteopontin, fatty acid, vitamin D and phospholipid levels in limited subcohorts of the samples.Future plans Follow-up surveys will be conducted to obtain milk samples every 2 months for 12 months and to investigate mother and child health until the children reach 5 years of age. These will be completed in 2024. We plan to longitudinally analyse the composition of macronutrients and various bioactive factors in human milk and investigate the lifestyle and environmental factors that influence breastfeeding practices, maternal and child health, and child development.Trial registration number UMIN000015494; pre-results.

In the midst of globalization, English is regarded as an international language, or Lingua Franca, but learning it as a second language (L2) remains still difficult to speakers of other languages. This is true especially for the speakers of languages distantly related to English such as Japanese. In this sense, exploring neural basis for translation between the first language (L1) and L2 is of great interest. There have been relatively many previous researches revealing brain activation patterns during translations between L1 and English as L2. These studies, which focused on language translation with close or moderate linguistic distance (LD), have suggested that the Broca area (BA 44/45) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; BA 46) may play an important role on translation. However, the neural mechanism of language translation between Japanese and English, having large LD, has not been clarified. Thus, we used functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to investigate the brain activation patterns during word translation between Japanese and English. We also assessed the effects of translation directions and word familiarity. All participants’ first language was Japanese and they were learning English. Their English proficiency was advanced or elementary. We selected English and Japanese words as stimuli based on the familiarity for Japanese people. Our results showed that the brain activation patterns during word translation largely differed depending on their English proficiency. The advanced group elicited greater activation on the left prefrontal cortex around the Broca’s area while translating words with low familiarity, but no activation was observed while translating words with high familiarity. On the other hand, the elementary group evoked greater activation on the left temporal area including the superior temporal gyrus (STG) irrespective of the word familiarity. These results suggested that different cognitive process could be involved in word translation corresponding to English proficiency in Japanese learners of English. These difference on the brain activation patterns between the advanced and elementary group may reflect the difference on the cognitive loads depending on the levels of automatization in one’s language processing.

The changes occurring in knee osteoarthritis often cause alterations in the spinal loading condition, which further lead to degenerative changes. This close relationship of the knee and spine has been reported as knee-spine syndrome. A 60-year-old woman with Parkinson’s disease (PD; Hoehn-Yahr stage IV) had severe knee pain with moderate lateral osteoarthritis of the knee (Kellgren-Lawrence classification grade II). Conservative therapy had no effect at all, and the knee developed destructive osteoarthritis rapidly without any traumatic episodes. The radiographic findings progressed to Kellgren-Lawrence grade IV within a month. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed partial depression of the joint surface, including shredded ossicles and substantial amounts of synovial fluid. The imaging findings were considered to be caused by a subchondral insufficiency fracture (SIF). Total knee arthroplasty was performed using a semiconstrained prosthesis. The alignment of her lower extremity improved, and the patient could walk without knee pain. The patient had Pisa syndrome, a lateral flexion of the trunk, which is a postural deformity of the trunk secondary to long-standing PD. The postural deformity in PD is not based on spinal deformity itself but on the loss of postural reflexes and the imbalance of muscle tonus. Her left knee pain appeared 1 month after L1-L4 posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) as the Pisa syndrome to her left side worsened. The more the trunk tilts to the lateral side, the center of the gravity axis will shift and pass through more lateral points of the knee and result in higher knee load. The stress concentration from the spine to the lateral joint of the knee caused lateral knee osteoarthritis, namely, knee-spine syndrome. When patients undergo correction surgery for adult spinal disorder with impairment of postural reflexes, they need to be followed up carefully regarding not only the spinal alignment but also the lower extremities.

Forward osmosis (FO) membrane process is expected to realize energy-saving seawater desalination. To this end, energy-saving water recovery from a draw solution (DS) and effective DS regeneration are essential. Recently, thermo-responsive DSs have been developed to realize energy-saving water recovery and DS regeneration. We previously reported that high-temperature reverse osmosis (RO) treatment was effective in recovering water from a thermo-responsive ionic liquid (IL)-based DS. In this study, to confirm the advantages of the high-temperature RO operation, thermo-sensitive IL-based DS was treated by an RO membrane at temperatures higher than the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the DS. Tetrabutylammonium 2,4,6-trimethylbenznenesulfonate ([N4444][TMBS]) with an LCST of 58 °C was used as the DS. The high-temperature RO treatment was conducted at 60 °C above the LCST using the [N4444][TMBS]-based DS-lean phase after phase separation. Because the [N4444][TMBS]-based DS has a significantly temperature-dependent osmotic pressure, the DS-lean phase can be concentrated to an osmotic pressure higher than that of seawater at room temperature (20 °C). In addition, water can be effectively recovered from the DS-lean phase until the DS concentration increased to 40 wt%, and the final DS concentration reached 70 wt%. From the results, the advantages of RO treatment of the thermo-responsive DS at temperatures higher than the LCST were confirmed.

Background: Dietary probiotics supplementation in lactating mothers may help prevent allergic disease in infants. However, owing to a lack of consistency in nutritional and safety outcomes associated with probiotics, this topic remains controversial.Methods: In this open-label pilot trial conducted between April 2013 and December 2013, we evaluated the safety of probiotic supplementation with 5 × 109 CFU of Lactobacillus casei LC5, 5 × 109 CFU of Bifidobacterium longum BG7, and 2 × 108 CFU of Bacillus coagulans SANK70258 in lactating women who exhibited allergies for 2 months (1–3 months postpartum); we also evaluated the effects of probiotic supplementation on transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in human milk. Participants self-selected to join the probiotic (n = 41; age [median (interquartile range [IQR]), y] 33 [27–39], body mass index [BMI] [median (IQR), kg/m2] 21.8 [19.5–22.8]) or no supplementation control group (n = 19; age [median (IQR), y] 33 [23–43], BMI [median (IQR), kg/m2) 19.6 [18.4–22.1]). Probiotics (three tablets) received were taken as daily supplements. Milk samples were collected at 1, 2, and 3 months postpartum, and TGF-β1, TGF-β2, and IgA levels were measured.Results: No adverse effects were observed in the probiotic group, according to the self-recorded diary during the study period. Milk IgA decreased with increasing postpartum months in both groups. In contrast, TGF- β1 and β2 were not affected by lactation periods, and showed different patterns over time between the two groups. TGF-β1, TGF-β1, and IgA levels were significantly correlated at baseline (respectively p < 0.05). However, the correlation between TGF-β1 and IgA became non-significant by the end of the intervention (p = 0.063).Conclusion: Altogether, probiotic supplementation was tolerated with respect to no dropout and 91.5% adherence. Although probiotic supplementation might affect human milk TGF-β levels, a positive effect of probiotic supplementation was not entirely supported. Future placebo-controlled studies are needed to further support the efficacy and safety of probiotic supplementation.Clinical Trial Registration:www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/, identifier: UMIN000036059.

Implant fracture is one of the rarest complications of total hip arthroplasty (THA). A 57-year-old woman experienced a fracture of the femoral stem (AHFIX Q, KYOCERA, Japan) about five years after THA. We examined the broken stem by digital microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and finite element method. The anterolateral corner of the stem’s neck was found to be the origin point of the fracture. Finite element method analysis revealed that the stress concentration was highest in the corner of the hollow for apparatus attachment. The stem’s design has been considered one of the risk factors for stem fracture. In this patient, multiple risk factors, including thin stem (the smallest size, NAR #1), use of the long neck (+3 mm), obesity (body mass index: 27.3), and adjacent osteoarthritis (contralateral THA loosening and knee osteoarthritis), were present. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an AHFIX Q stem fracture. Surgeons must keep in mind that fracture of the femoral stem in patients with several risk factors is possible even several years after THA.

Recently, navigation systems have been more widely utilized in total hip arthroplasty. However, almost all of these systems have been developed for cementless cups. In the case of cemented total hip arthroplasty using a navigation system, a special-ordered cemented holder is needed. We propose a novel cemented cup-holding technique for navigation systems using readily available articles. We combine a cementless cup holder with an inverted cementless trial cup. The resulting apparatus is used as a cemented cup holder. The upside-down cup-holding technique is useful and permits cemented cup users to utilize a navigation system for placement of the acetabular component.

Yields decrease when soybean is sown later than recommended in the cool climate of the Tohoku region of Japan. However, the factors responsible for this decrease are not fully understood. We investigated the effects of late sowing on growth, phenological development, yield, yield components, and radiation interception of three soybean cultivars in two consecutive years and analyzed the relationships of those variables with temperature and soil volumetric moisture content (SMC). Averaged across years and cultivars, yields decreased significantly when plants were sown approximately three weeks late. Yield reductions were partially due to reductions in node number per plant, dry matter production, and capture of cumulative irradiance, resulting from slowed canopy development during vegetative and early reproductive stages. The number of seeds per pod was one of the major determinants of the variation in yield. Owing to the delay in sowing date, the reduction in seeds per pod was likely due to low temperatures during the 20 days after seed filling began. Occasional lower SMC during reproductive stages did not affect yield, yield components, and growth parameters. However, these results were obtained from the two years’ experiments. Therefore, further investigations of the relationship of yield with temperature and SMC under different years and sites are needed.

The effect of lipid concentrated-butter serum (LC-BS) on the plasma and hepatic cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels of obese-model mouse (KK-Ay) was evaluated. The same analysis was done on the main lipid fractions from LC-BS, namely, ceramide rich fraction (Ceramide-fr), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) rich fraction (PE-fr), and sphingomyelin (SPM) rich fraction (SPM-fr). Plasma cholesterol of mice fed LC-BS and Ceramide-fr was significantly (P

Membrane processes have been used in numerous applications such as drinking water production from surface water. However, in the water treatment processes with membrane, a membrane fouling is a major problem. In this paper, we investigated the effect of microbubbles (MBs) and ultrafine bubbles (UFBs) on reversible and irreversible fouling in a river water treatment with ultrafiltration process to make a drinking water. The fouling was evaluated by fouling indexes. The relation between a fouling property and a content of dissolved organic matter was also discussed. As a result, it was found that the fouling was mainly a reversible fouling due to biopolymers in feedwater. It was also confirmed that MBs and UFBs prevented sedimentation of foulants on membrane surface for both irreversible and reversible foulings. MBs were more effective to reduce the fouling than UFBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anaerobic treatment is a potential way to realize the energy production in wastewater treatment. However, it is necessary to increase the organic matter concentration in municipal wastewater. In this study, we proposed a wastewater treatment system that involved an anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) combined with a forward osmosis (FO) process to concentrate the wastewater. The energy balance of this system was estimated by the calculation based on the FO condensation test and batch methane fermentation test. The methane yield from the condensed municipal wastewater in the batch methane fermentation test at 40°C was 0.22 m3 -CH4 /kg-CODCr_rem, putting CODCr as the chemical oxygen demand was determined by chromium oxidation method. The energy generated from the yielded methane was estimated to be 0.33 kWh/m3. Nevertheless, the total energy consumption was 0.39 kWh/m3, which was higher than 0.2 kWh/m3 of a conventional activated sludge process. It was found that it is possible to get a net energy if the fermentation temperature in the AnMBR process can be reduced to below 34°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Case: A sixty-five-year-old man with diabetes mellitus had bilateral calcaneal avulsion fracture without a history of trauma. Both fractures were treated surgically with modified tension-band wiring, cerclage wiring, and screws. Six months after the surgery on the left side, the patient had a left Achilles tendon rupture proximal to its insertion into the calcaneus. Conclusion: Calcaneal avulsion fractures are rare but often have complications. Even if these fractures are managed by well-established treatment methods, an unanticipated complication, namely a delayed Achilles tendon rupture, can occur in patients with diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a future high-precision space structure system, smart structure systems which measure and correct their shape on orbit have been studied. In the smart structure systems piezoelectric ceramics are often used as an actuator. To correct and retain the shape of the structure, electric voltage must be applied continuously. To reduce the amount of electricity usage, a new control method was proposed, where the fact that strain of the piezoelectric ceramics remains without applied voltage after a pulsed voltage input was utilized effectively. In the previous study, the feasibility of the proposed method had been verified for a piezoelectric ceramic plate and a beam with the piezoelectric ceramic plate bonded. The result had shown that the strain of the piezoelectric ceramic plate and the tip displacement of the beam had remained after the pulse, although the beam had vibrated. In this study the strain response for the pulsed voltage was observed for various types of piezoelectric ceramic plates including hard type and soft type, and the vibration of the beam was suppressed by applying a feedback control or a trigonometric shaped pulse input. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ultrasonic degradation of hazardous organic compounds in an aqueous solution is an attractive technology for wastewater treatment. The kinetics of ultrasonic degradation has been investigated. However, there have been only a few quantitative studies of the effect of ultrasonic frequency on degradation rate. In this study, the ultrasonic degradation of methylene blue was performed at various frequencies, especially in the high frequency region, and various initial concentrations. From the results of the time dependence of the methylene blue concentration in this study, ultrasonic degradation was considered to be a pseudo-first-order reaction. The apparent degradation rate constant and sonochemical efficiency have a linear relationship, and the apparent rate constant and initial concentration have an inversely proportional relationship. These phenomena well agree with our proposed formula for estimating the apparent degradation rate constant. In addition, our proposed model is also applicable to the ultrasonic degradation of nonvolatile and hydrophilic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) is the battery of the system, which directly supplies methanol to the cell containing a polyelectrolyte membrane. As for DMFC, a miniaturization and weight saving in the whole system are possible, because device does not have to constitute reformer. Therefore, DMFC is expected as a power source of a mobile device. Polyelectrolyte membranes for DMFC need a characteristic of the proton conductivity and the reduction of methanol crossover (MCO). In this research, hybrid membrane comprising a polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) and a glycol chitosan (G-Ch) was investigated. PSS/G-Ch hybrid membranes were prepared by cast method and were cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) to reduce the water content. From the Attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) measurement, the amino group of the G-Ch origin and the sulfonate group of the PSS origin in hybrid membranes generated ionic bond. On the other hand, the proton conductivity of the hybrid membranes increased with increasing amount of PSS and/or concentration of GA, and maximum value was 0.013 S/cm in case of composition of 4/2/2 (PSS/G-Ch/GA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]