Open-field scale-model experiments of fire whirls over L-shaped line fires

This paper presents the results of open-field scale-model experiments of fire-whirl formation over line fires. L-shaped line fires were burned in crosswinds, and the processes of fire-whirl formation were observed. The flame height was measured using an image-processing technique, while two-dimensional velocity components were measured at two different locations using ultrasonic anemometers. Two tests were selected for comparison: test A, in which intense fire whirls repeatedly formed, and test B, in which no whirls were observed. In test A, the wind flow was bent by the fire plume, creating swirling flows near the burning area, thereby forming fire whirls. On the other hand, the crosswind in test B was too fast to be affected by the fire plume. These results confirmed the existence of critical wind velocity to form intense fire whirls. The critical wind velocity, approximately 1 m/s, agreed with the scaling law on the critical wind velocity which was previously developed based on similar experiments of a smaller scale

Epitaxial growth of Ca(Ge₁₋ₓSnₓ)₂ with group IV 2D layers on Si substrate

Yoshizaki T., Terada T., Uematsu Y., et al. Epitaxial growth of Ca(Ge₁₋ₓSnₓ)₂ with group IV 2D layers on Si substrate. Applied Physics Express 17, 055501 (2024); https://doi.org/10.35848/1882-0786/ad3ee2.Two-dimensional (2D) material is drawing considerable attention as a promising thermoelectric material. This study establishes the formation method of renewed Ca-intercalated group IV 2D materials, Ca(Ge₁₋ₓSnₓ)₂ crystals including germanene-based 2D layers. The solid phase epitaxy allows us to form epitaxial Ca(Ge₁₋ₓSnₓ)₂ on Si. Atomic force microscopy reveals that the Ca(Ge₁₋ₓSnₓ)₂ has island structures. X-ray diffraction proved the epitaxial growth of the Ca(Ge₁₋ₓSnₓ)₂ island structures and the increase of the c-axis lattice constant with Sn content increase. The formation of this renewed intermetallic compound including group IV 2D layer opens an avenue for high performance thermoelectric generator/Si

Intrinsic insulating transport characteristics in low-carrier density EuCd2As2 films

Searching for an ideal magnetic Weyl semimetal hosting only a single pair of Weyl points has been a focal point for systematic clarification of its unique magnetotransport derived from the interplay between topology and magnetization. Among the candidates, triangular-lattice antiferromagnet EuCd$_2$As$_2$ has been attracting special attention due to the prediction of the ideal Weyl semimetal phase in the ferromagnetic state, however, transport properties of low-carrier density samples have remained elusive. Here we report molecular beam epitaxy growth of EuCd$_2$As$_2$ films, achieving low-hole density in the range of $10^{15}$-$10^{16}$ cm$^{-3}$ at low temperature. Transport measurements of such low-carrier density films reveal an insulating behavior with an activation gap of about 200 meV, which persists even in the field-induced ferromagnetic state. Our work provides an important experimental clue that EuCd$_2$As$_2$ is intrinsically insulating, contrary to the previous prediction.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Acid Responsive Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks

A porous hydrogen-bonded organic framework (HOF) responsive to acid was constructed from a hexaazatrinaphthylene derivative with carboxyphenyl groups (CPHATN). Precise structures of both 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene solvate [CPHATN-1(TCB)] and activated HOF with permanent porosity (CPHATN-1a) were successfully determined by single-crystalline X-ray diffraction analysis. Permanent porosity of CPHATN-1a was evaluated by gas sorption experiments at low temperature. CPHATN-1a also shows significant thermal stability up to 633 K. Its crystals exhibit a rich photochemistry thanks to intramolecular charge-transfer and interunit proton-transfer reactions. Femtosecond (fs) experiments on crystals demonstrate that these events occur in ≤200 fs and 1.2 ps, respectively. Moreover, single-crystal fluorescence microscopy reveals a shift of the emission spectra most probably as a result of defects and a high anisotropic behavior, reflecting an ordered crystalline structure with a preferential orientation of the molecular dipole moments. Remarkably, CPHATN-1a, as a result of the protonation of pyradyl nitrogen atoms embedded in its π-conjugated core, shows reversible vapor acid-induced color changes from yellow to reddish-brown, which can be also followed by an ON/OFF of its emission. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first HOF that exhibits acid-responsive color changes. The present work provides new findings for developing stimuli responsive HOFs.Hisaki I., Suzuki Y., Gomez E., et al. Acid Responsive Hydrogen-Bonded Organic Frameworks. Journal of the American Chemical Society. 141(5), 2111-2121, (2019), 6 February 2019; © 2019 American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.8b12124

Relationship Between Balance Recovery From a Forward Fall and Lower-Limb Rate of Torque Development

The authors examined the relationship between the maximum recoverable lean angle via the tether-release method with early- or late-phase rate of torque development (RTD) and maximum torque of lower-limb muscle groups in 56 young healthy adults. Maximal isometric torque and RTD at the hip, knee, and ankle were recorded. The RTD at 50-ms intervals up to 250 ms from force onset was calculated. The results of a stepwise multiple regression analysis, early RTD for hip flexion, and knee flexion were chosen as predictive variables for the maximum recoverable lean angle. The present study suggests that some of the early RTD in the lower limb muscles, but not the maximum isometric torque, can predict the maximum recoverable lean angle

Optimization of Ladle Tilting Speed for Preventing Temperature Drops in the Die Casting Process

In die casting, molten metal poured into a shot sleeve is pressed into a mold by a plunger at high speed. The temperature of the metal drops significantly while it is being poured from the ladle to the shot sleeve, resulting in casting defects such as misrun flow lines. Although it is important to control the temperature at all stages of the process, a method for minimizing temperature loss has not yet been clarified to date. In this study, the cause of the temperature drop in the shot sleeve was clarified, and a method of optimizing the ladle tilting speed was proposed to prevent temperature drop. First, experiments were conducted to measure the decrease in metal temperature in the sleeve during pouring. These experiments revealed that the metal cools significantly from the moment it touches the shot sleeve. Therefore, the time from the first contact between the shot sleeve and the metal to the start of pouring was set as the objective function. A genetic algorithm was then used to derive the optimal ladle tilting speed pattern to suppress the temperature drop. This analysis confirmed that the metal was poured without flowing out or running ahead and that the immediate liquid level vibration after pouring was suppressed, thus ensuring stable pouring

Anomalous enhancement of thermoelectric power factor in multiple two-dimensional electron gas system

Uematsu Y., Ishibe T., Mano T., et al. Anomalous enhancement of thermoelectric power factor in multiple two-dimensional electron gas system. Nature Communications 15, 322 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1038/S41467-023-44165-3.Toward drastic enhancement of thermoelectric power factor, quantum confinement effect proposed by Hicks and Dresselhaus has intrigued a lot of researchers. There has been much effort to increase power factor using step-like density-of-states in two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) system. Here, we pay attention to another effect caused by confining electrons spatially along one-dimensional direction: multiplied 2DEG effect, where multiple discrete subbands contribute to electrical conduction, resulting in high Seebeck coefficient. The power factor of multiple 2DEG in GaAs reaches the ultrahigh value of ~100 μWcm−1 K−2 at 300 K. We evaluate the enhancement rate defined as power factor of 2DEG divided by that of three-dimensional bulk. The experimental enhancement rate relative to the theoretical one of conventional 2DEG reaches anomalously high (~4) in multiple 2DEG compared with those in various conventional 2DEG systems (~1). This proposed methodology for power factor enhancement opens the next era of thermoelectric research

Additive Intraocular Pressure-Lowering Effects of Ripasudil with Glaucoma Therapeutic Agents in Rabbits and Monkeys

Ripasudil hydrochloride hydrate (K-115), a specific Rho-associated coiled-coil containing protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor, is developed for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Topical administration of ripasudil decreases intraocular pressure (IOP) by increasing conventional outflow through the trabeculae to Schlemm’s canal, which is different from existing agents that suppress aqueous humor production or promote uveoscleral outflow. In this study, we demonstrated that ripasudil significantly lowered IOP in combined regimens with other glaucoma therapeutic agents in rabbits and monkeys. Ripasudil showed additional effects on maximum IOP lowering or prolonged the duration of IOP-lowering effects with combined administration of timolol, nipradilol, brimonidine, brinzolamide, latanoprost, latanoprost/timolol fixed combination, and dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination. These results indicate that facilitation of conventional outflow by ripasudil provides additive IOP-lowering effect with other classes of antiglaucoma agents. Ripasudil is expected to have substantial utility in combined regimens with existing agents for glaucoma treatment

Anisotropic Optical Conductivity Accompanied by a Small Energy Gap in One-Dimensional Thermoelectric Telluride Ta4SiTe4

We investigated the optical properties of single crystals of one-dimensional telluride Ta4SiTe4, which shows high thermoelectric performance below room temperature. Optical conductivity estimated from reflectivity spectra indicates the presence of a small energy gap of 0.1-0.15 eV at the Fermi energy. At the lowest energy, optical conductivity along the Ta4SiTe4 chain is an order of magnitude higher than that perpendicular to this direction, reflecting the anisotropic electron conduction in Ta4SiTe4. These results indicate that coexistence of a very small band gap and anisotropic electron conduction is a promising strategy to develop a high-performance thermoelectric material for low temperature applications.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure