Elemental Technologies Research Articles

Application of laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) coupled with PCA for rapid classification of soil samples in geothermal areas.

The Manuguru geothermal area, located in the Telangana state, is one of the least explored geothermal fields in India. In this study, characterization of the soil samples is carried out by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) coupled with analytical spectral-dependent principal component analysis. A total of 20 soil samples were collected both from near the thermal discharges as well as away from the thermal manifestations. LIBS spectra were recorded for all the collected soil samples and principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to easily identify the emission lines majorly responsible for variety classification of the soil samples. In this submission, a modified PCA was developed which is based on the spectral truncation method to reduce the huge number of spectral data obtained from LIBS. The PCA bi-plot on the LIBS data reveals the presence of two different clusters. One cluster represents the soil samples collected from the close vicinity of the thermal manifestations whereas the other cluster contains the soil samples collected away from the thermal sprouts. PCA performed on the chemical dataset of the soil samples also reveals the same clustering of the soil samples. Both LIBS and chemical analysis data shows that soil samples near the thermal waters are found to be enriched in B, Sr, Cs, Rb, Fe, Co, Al, Si, Ti, Ru, Mn, Mg, Cu, and Eu concentrations compared to the soil samples located away from thermal manifestations. This study demonstrates the potential use of LIBS coupled with PCA as a tool for variety discrimination of soil samples in a geothermal area. LIBS is shown to be a viable real-time elemental characterization technology for these samples, avoiding the rigorous dissolution required by other analytical techniques.

HMD-based cover test system for the diagnosis of ocular misalignment

The diagnosis of ocular misalignment is difficult and needs examination by ophthalmologists and orthoptists. However, there are not enough qualified personnel to perform such diagnoses. The eye position check is in part systematized. With this check system, we can detect not only the symptoms but also the angle and the extent of strabismus. However, the types of strabismus that can be detected with this technique are limited to exotropia. The purpose of this study is to develop a simplified check system to screen at least the presence of strabismus apart from the type of strabismus or amount of ocular deviation. First, we digitalized the check process. Specifically, we digitized the elemental technology, i.e., the cover–uncover function, required for automation of the typical cover test for eye position check. Furthermore, we developed and implemented an abnormality determination process and evaluated the performance of the system through this experiment, the results of which indicated a higher detection capability than the conventional cover test performed by ophthalmologists and orthoptists.

Self-Localization using Spatially Seamless Local Communication System

In controlling the mobile robots, self-localization is an important elemental technology. As a self-localization method of the wheel type mobile robots, there is a dead reckoning method which estimates a movement distance from a rotation amount calculated based on values from an encoder mounted on wheels or motors. However, in practice,there is an error caused by external factors such as idling of the wheels. As one of choices to reduce the error, methods of estimating the self position by using relative positions of other robots are introduced, especially in swarm robot environment. Although these methods can effectively utilize the existence of surrounding robots, they are often limited to verification in simulation. One of the reasons is the difficulty in developing communication devices for swarm robot environments. The spatially seamless local communication system we have developed is effective as a device for that purpose. However, it is difficult to mount it on small robots due to its large size and its complicated structure. In this paper, we propose the communication system redesigned to from a structure that is compact and suitable for self-localization.

最適なオフィス環境の創造を目指した要素技術に関する研究 （第7報）自然換気の給気口高さ位置による室内環境への影響の検討

最適なオフィス環境の創造を目指した要素技術に関する研究 （第7報）自然換気の給気口高さ位置による室内環境への影響の検討

Exceptionally preserved soft parts in fossils from the Lower Ordovician of Morocco clarify stylophoran affinities within basal deuterostomes

The extinct echinoderm clade Stylophora consists of some of the strangest known deuterostomes. Stylophorans are known from complete, fully articulated skeletal remains from the middle Cambrian to the Pennsylvanian, but remain difficult to interpret. Their bizarre morphology, with a single appendage extending from a main body, has spawned vigorous debate over the phylogenetic significance of stylophorans, which were long considered modified but bona fide echinoderms with a feeding appendage. More recent interpretation of this appendage as a posterior “tail-like” structure has literally turned the animal back to front, leading to consideration of stylophorans as ancestral chordates, or as hemichordate-like, early echinoderms. Until now, the data feeding the debate have been restricted to evaluations of skeletal anatomy. Here, we apply novel elemental mapping technologies to describe, for the first time, soft tissue traces in stylophorans in conjunction with skeletal molds. The single stylophoran appendage contains a longitudinal canal with perpendicular, elongate extensions projecting beyond hinged biserial plates. This pattern of soft tissues compares most favorably with the hydrocoel, including a water vascular canal and tube feet found in all typical echinoderms. Presence of both calcite stereom and now, an apparent water vascular system, supports echinoderm and not hemichordate-like affinities.

Silica oxide encapsulated natural zeolite for high efficiency removal of low concentration heavy metals in water

The removal of trace heavy metals from water is of great importance for human’s health, and it is highly desirable to develop efficient adsorption material to reach this target. SiO2 encapsulated natural zeolite (SiEZ) was prepared as the adsorption material, which was characterized with TEM, SEM, XRD and BET. The adsorption capacitance of Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+ over SiEZ are 186, 10.3, 12.3, 9.0, and 4.2 mg g−1, respectively. The highest removal percentages of Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Zn2+, and Mn2+ over SiEZ can reach 99%, 98%, 98%, 98%, and 97%, respectively, at the initial heavy metals’ concentrations of 10 ppm. SiEZ is highly selective for the removal of Pb2+ when five metals co-exist. SiEZ can be recycled for heavy metal removal; at the first cycle, the removal percentage of Pb2+ can reach 99%; after SiEZ is repeatedly used for four times, the removal percentage of Pb2+ can still remain 83.8%. More importantly, elemental distribution measurement technology reveals that Pb2+ and Zn2+ in SiEZ can move from SiO2 to NZ, which is helpful to understand the heavy metal transport in the composite.

Robust Road-Following Navigation System with a Simple Map

This paper presents a novel autonomous navigation system. Our proposed system is based on a simple map (an Edge-Node Graph, which is created from an electronic map). This system consists of “Localization,” which estimates which edge is on the Edge-Node Graph, “Environmental Recognition,” which recognizes the environment around the robot, and “Path Planning,” which avoids objects. Since the robot travels using the Edge-Node Graph, there is no need to prepare an environmental map in advance. In addition, the system is quite robust, since it relies less on prior information. To show the effectiveness of our system, we conducted experiments on each elemental technology as well as some traveling tests.

Cellulose Nanofibers as a Module for Paper-Based Microfluidic Analytical Devices: Labile Substance Storage, Processability, and Reaction Field Provision and Control.

While basic concepts of paper-based microfluidic analytical devices (μPADs) have appeared considerably, elemental technology development is worth working from different specialized points of view. Herein, we show that 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl radical (TEMPO)-oxidized cellulose nanofiber (TOCN) can be reasonably used as a module of μPADs; we adopted a biochemical reaction of indigo formation by oxidation of indoxyl acetate (IDA) via its hydrolysis with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) as an example. First, we demonstrate that TOCN stably stores unstable AChE and IDA when dried and acts as a biochemical reaction field when wet. The thixotropic nature of TOCN aqueous dispersion gave inkjet printability, which will facilitate the μPADs production. The exchange of substances in the wet TOCN network took more time than in solution, but this can be read as control of reaction kinetics. Finally, we constructed semiquantitative μPADs for an organic phosphorus pesticide. We illustrate that by mounting TOCN, various functions can be incorporated on one sheet of paper to lead to the extension of design flexibility and universal use for μPADs.

Evolution Theory of Ink Jet Technologies: Progress by Component or Architectural Knowledge

Ink jet technology has extended its market by upgrading functions and improving performances of a few key components (printhead, ink and media) under a simple marking process for years. However, this trend has been saturated in the personal market, and the market has been stagnant. In this situation, two directions for ink jet technology progress have become obvious. One is expansion of the ink jet to various applications such as digital fabrications utilizing a simple process and the other is facing challenges (to the commercial printing market) from performance limitations derived by imaging processes that are achieved only by the interaction between ink and media. The differences of technical approaches in each direction also exist. The progress of an elemental technology region (key components) has been noticeable in the expansion of the possibility. The challenge to the limitation has been effective in the progress of system integration or peripheral technology. The former evolution (Concentrating Functions Progress) can generate “Incremental Innovation” and needs component knowledge to improve component performances. The latter (Sharing Functions Progress) demands architectural knowledge to test the optimum combination of components maximizing system performances and is one of the driving forces generating “Architectural Innovation”. Generically, venture companies or small start-ups play a role in Architectural Innovation because they are free from resource allocation mechanisms or an organizational form for Incremental Innovation. But in the current commercial printing market, many big companies have introduced ink jet printers with different component combinations (architectures) and the Dominant Design has not been fixed yet. The shift from Incremental Innovation to Architectural Innovation has also occurred in additive manufacturing.

Elemental imaging method based on a dielectric barrier discharge probe coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An elemental imaging method based on a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) probe as a sputtering source coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) has been demonstrated. The DBD probe is simple to construct and the discharge power for producing micro plasma jet at ambient condition is as low as 3.75 W. To investigate the sputtering process, the major operating parameters of this technique are demonstrated by detecting 23Na, 27Al, 29Si, 44Ca, 55Mn and 57Fe in rock standard reference materials GBW07108. The reproducibility of the parallel detection was 1% (n = 7) for Hg in ABS sample was obtained. Based on these conditions, the elemental imaging is successfully obtained in the lead-based glaze ceramic with 206Pb, 207Pb, and 208Pb, Chinese seal script with 202Hg and siliceous stromatolites with 27Al, 29Si, and 44Ca. When the 100 μm capillary was used to ablate the ABS sample, the washout time of 600 ms for Hg was obtained, and the spatial resolution of 106 μm was obtained. In addition, the potential quantitative analysis of this method has been studied, which provide the detection limits of ABS samples with 252 μg g−1 for 52Cr, 24 μg g−1 for 202Hg and 167 μg g−1 for 208Pb, respectively. The present imaging method has the unique capabilities of multi-elemental analysis, easy set-up and low consumption, which may serve as a complementary technology for current elemental imaging technology.

Shielding analysis of Transmutation Experimental Facility

The Japan Atomic Energy Agency is planning to construct the Transmutation Experimental Facility (TEF) to promote research, development, and demonstration of elemental technologies for accelerator-driven systems (ADSs). At ADS Target Test Facility (TEF-T), 250-kW H– beams accelerated by the 400-MeV LINAC will be derived to a lead-bismuth eutectic target. Toward the construction of TEF, a shielding analysis is carried out for the whole structure of the TEF-T in detail. The analysis for the beam tunnel shows that backward neutrons produced from the LBE target have large a impact on the radiation dose in the TEF beam tunnel. This paper presents the analytical results for components such as target station, hot cell and beam tunnel, and the shielding structure of the whole TEF.

A Newly Developed 8K/HLG Broadcasting Camera System With Three CMOS Image Sensors

To date, we have developed various types of 8K cameras while considering the tradeoff between the cost and performance at each period of development. In preparation for both the 4K/8K broadcasting starting in 2018 and the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, we have reconsidered which parameters should be seen as the most important ones for 8K broadcast cameras. We have also reviewed the appropriate elemental technologies for these cameras. In light of the technological advancements that have been made, we decided to develop a three-chip 8K camera with 5/4-in. image sensors. The camera supports both high dynamic ranges and high frame rates; we reduced its size to that of a high-definition television camera. Both its signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity achieved the best performances of all 8K cameras. This paper discusses both the parameters and the elemental technologies of all of the 8K broadcast cameras that we have examined. <disp-quote xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> In light of the technological advancements that have been made, we decided to develop a three-chip 8K camera with 5/4-in. image sensors. </disp-quote>

Chemometrics in laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy

AbstractLaser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new type of elemental analytical technology with the advantages of real‐time, online, and noncontact as well as enabling the simultaneous analysis of multiple elements. It has become a frontier analytical technique in spectral analysis. However, the issue of how to improve the accuracy of qualitative and quantitative analyses by extracting useful information from a large amount of complex LIBS data remains the main problem for the LIBS technique. Chemometrics is a chemical subdiscipline of multi‐interdisciplinary methods; it offers advantages in data processing, signal analysis, and pattern recognition. It can solve some complicated problems that are difficult for traditional chemical methods. In this paper, we reviewed the research progress of chemometrics methods in LIBS for spectral data preprocessing as well as for qualitative and quantitative analyses in the most recent 5 years (2012‐2016).

Application of Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy in Soil Element Analysis of Watershed

With the rapid development of spectroscopy technology, laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) has become the focus of elemental analysis technology in recent years. With its advantages of non-destructive testing, rapid and multi-element detection, LIBS has been successfully applied to the analysis of geochemical characteristics of soil elements in river basins. The application of LIBS technology in soil elemental analysis of watershed is reviewed in detail. The accuracy of LIBS technology in soil element analysis is studied with the Masha River Basin as the research area. On this basis, the key problems in the process of soil element analysis, such as spectral enhancement methods and quantitative analysis methods, were analyzed. The analysis results show that the accuracy of elemental analysis between LIBS and traditional chemical methods is not much different, but the analysis time of LIBS method is shorter. Methods such as MLR, PLSR, and internal standard methods can improve the fit of the calibration curve and reduce the quantitative analysis error. By changing parameters such as laser energy and delay time, the spectral intensity can be enhanced to reduce the effects of matrix effects. In the process of elemental analysis, the effects of soil physical and chemical parameters should be considered comprehensively, and appropriate quantitative analysis methods should be adopted to improve the accuracy of the analysis results.

The Pursuits of Ultimate Membrane Technology including Low Pressure Seawater Reverse Osmosis Membrane developed by “Mega-ton Water System” Project

Reverse osmosis (RO) technology has been widely applied to water treatment such as seawater desalination, and large RO plants are many in operation around the world. Moreover, much larger plants will be required to secure sufcient water resource in the near future because global water shortage and quality problems are still getting more serious. Mega-ton Water System project was carried out for sustainable management of water environment and for low-carbon path to develop advanced key technologies of water treatment. Lowpressure RO membrane for seawater desalination has been studied in the project as a part of the core technologies to realize mega plant that is capable of producing 1,000,000 m3 of freshwater per day. Fundamental and scientifc research for RO membranes based on fne structure analyses by means of transmission electron microscopy with a special technique was conducted, and practical tools for designing new innovative RO membrane were acquired by the structure analyses to quantify the physicochemical and chemical properties of RO membranes. As the result of studying on structural design of RO membrane, low pressure SWRO membrane was obtained to reduce energy consumption compared to conventional ones in the past of SWRO. The vision of the “Mega-ton Water System” is sustainable desalination and reclamation. The missions are: 1) energy reduction (20-30%), 2) water production cost reduction (50%), and 3) low environmental impact (fewer chemical operations). Water cycle in “Mega-ton Water System” is separated into two parts including i) Seawater RO (SWRO) system, and ii) Seawater RO system with PRO system. The main challenge of development goal is the construction of mega-ton-scale system for seawater desalination for half the current cost. Accordingly, we developed the world’s frst low-pressure, multi-stage, high yield RO system, using a low-pressure seawater desalination membrane, and as a result of incorporating into it the elemental technologies gained from research in subthemes, such as highly-efcient pressure energy recovery, low-cost and highly durable plastic piping, pretreatment without the use of chemicals.

Low-power-consumption flat-panel light-emitting device driven by field-emission electron source using high-crystallinity single-walled carbon nanotubes

Thin electrode films assembled through a wet process using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are expected to play a role in reducing power consumption and saving energy in field-emission electron sources. The flat-panel light-emitting device for this study featured a line-sequential-scanning-type electrode structure equipped with electrodes for on-and-off controls of electron emissions, on which high-crystallinity SWCNTs were uniformly distributed. The device successfully emitted electrons on the flat panel in a stable manner. A technology for amplifying the luminance output by controlling the persistence characteristics of a fluorescent screen was also successfully developed. By combining such elemental technologies, a flat-panel light-emission device, as a stand-alone planar lighting device, which achieves a high-luminance efficiency of 87 lm/W and energy-conserved driving, was assembled for the first time in the world. The creation of field-emission electron sources driven with ultralow power consumption, along with applications that utilize such devices, is expected in the future.

Secure and light IoT protocol (SLIP) for anti-hacking

In the elemental technologies, it is necessary to realize the Internet service of things (IoT), sensors and devices, network, platform (hardware platforms, open software platform, such as specific OS platforms). Web services, data analysis and prediction, big data processing, such as security and privacy protection technology, there are a variety of techniques. These elements technology provide a specific function. The element technology is integrated with each other. However, by several techniques are integrated, it can be problems with integration of security technologies that existed for each element technology. Even if individual technologies basic security features are constituting Internet Services (CIA: Confidentiality, integrity, authentication or authorization). It also offers security technology not connected to each other. Therefore, I will look at the security technology and proposes a lightweight routing protocol indispensable for realizing a secure Internet services things.

6-4-5 サーバー排熱で駆動可能な小型吸着式冷凍機の設計と要素技術開発(6-4 分散システム要素技術・開発,Session 6 省エネルギー,研究発表)

6-4-5 サーバー排熱で駆動可能な小型吸着式冷凍機の設計と要素技術開発(6-4 分散システム要素技術・開発,Session 6 省エネルギー,研究発表)

Research on whole blending end-point evaluation method of Angong Niuhuang Wan based on QbD concept

The blending end-point determination of Angong Niuhuang Wan (AGNH) is a key technology problem. The control strategy based on quality by design (QbD) concept proposes a whole blending end-point determination method, and provides a methodology for blending the Chinese materia medica containing mineral substances. Based on QbD concept, the laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) was used to assess the cinnabar, realgar and pearl powder blending of AGNH in a pilot-scale experiment, especially the whole blending end-point in this study. The blending variability of three mineral medicines including cinnabar, realgar and pearl powder, was measured by moving window relative standard deviation (MWRSD) based on LIBS. The time profiles of realgar and pearl powder did not produce consistent results completely, but all of them reached even blending at the last blending stage, so that the whole proposal blending end point was determined. LIBS is a promising Process Analytical Technology (PAT) for process control. Unlike other elemental determination technologies such ICP-OES, LIBS does not need an elaborate digestion procedure, which is a promising and rapid technique to understand the blending process of Chinese materia medica (CMM) containing cinnabar, realgar and other mineral traditional Chinese medicine. This study proposed a novel method for the research of large varieties of traditional Chinese medicines..

Bionic Humanoid and Its Elemental Technologies

Bionic Humanoid and Its Elemental Technologies