Three-dimensional evaluation of an independent multi-walled carbon nanotube probe by tomography with high-resolution transmission electron microscope

We evaluated an independent multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWNT) probe by using tomography with a high-resolution transmission electron microscope to verify the three-dimensional structure of the probe tip. The new method of probe evaluation revealed the following features: (i) cutting the end of the MWNT probe caused the wall structure to disintegrate and encapsulated the graphene sheets fragmented by the discharged pulse; (ii) the cap of the MWNT probe was an open cylinder covered by walls similar in shape to a rectangular slit; (iii) the grooves of the inner walls of the MWNT probe, which were created by the discharge cutting method, maintained a cylindrical shape that was different from the peeling-off mechanism.     

Some distinguishable properties between acid-stable and neutral types of alpha-amylases from acid-producing koji

The highly humid climate of Japan facilitates the growth of various molds. Among these molds, Aspergillus oryzae is the most important and popular in Japan, and has been used as yellow-koji in producing many traditional fermented beverages and foods, such as Japanese sake, and soy sauce. Taka-amylase A (TAA), a major enzyme produced by the mold, is well known worldwide to be a leading enzyme for industrial utilization and academic study, since many extensive studies have been carried out with TAA. In southern Kyushu, the other koji's of citric acid-producing molds have often been used, such as in the production of a traditional distilled liquor of shochu. The koji molds black-koji and white-koji produce two types of alpha-amylase, namely, acid-stable (AA) and common neutral (NA). The latter enzyme is enzymatically and genetically similar to TAA. In this review, we investigate AA from three molds, Aspergillus niger, A. kawachii and A. awamori, and the yeast Cryptococcus sp. regarding the distinguishable properties between AA and NA. (i) The N-terminus amino acid sequences of AA determined by molecular cloning started with the sequence of L-S-A-, whereas those of NA started with A-T-P-. (ii) Most of the full sequences of AA were composed of, besides a core catalytic domain, an extra domain of a hinge region and a carbohydrate binding domain, which could be responsible for raw-starch-digestibility. The AA from A. niger has no exceptionally extra domain, similarly to NA. (iii) Simple methods for distinguishing AA from NA using CNP-alpha-G3 and G5 as substrates were developed by our group. (iv) The number of subsite in AA on the basis of its cleavage pattern of maltooligosaccharides was estimated to be five, which differs from that of TAA, 7-9. AA has many advantages in industrial applications, such as its acid-stability, thermostability, and raw-starch digesting properties.     

Establishment and characterization of rat dental epithelial derived ameloblast-lineage clones

Teeth are the hardest tissues covered with enamel produced by ameloblasts. The ameloblast differentiation is controlled by sequential epithelial-mesenchymal interactions during tooth morphogenesis. However, the molecular mechanism of ameloblast differentiation remains unclear. To address this question, we developed an in vitro assay system to evaluate the molecular mechanism of amelogenesis. First, we established dental epithelium-derived clones from 6-day-old rat incisors and established that cells of the clone SRE-G5 were the largest producers of amelogenin mRNA. Next, we analyzed the effects of several chemicals on the amelogenin expression in SRE-G5 cells. Only mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activators enhanced amelogenin mRNA expression. This finding corresponded to the immunohistochemical data showing the presence of phosphorylated forms of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) during ameloblast differentiation. To examine the roles of MAPK signals, we compared the effects of anisomycin and sodium salicylate on the expression of tooth-related differentiation markers. Both anisomycin and sodium salicylate induced amelogenin, Abcg2, and Bmp4 mRNA and down-regulated p75NGFR mRNA. On the other hand, ALP, ectodin, Bmp2 and Fgf8 mRNA were up-regulated only by anisomycin. These results indicate that MAPK signaling functions, at least in part, as the inducer of ameloblast differentiation.     

Internal stress behavior of the short ceramic fiber reinforced aluminum alloy under tensile deformation

The in situ measurement of phase stress under tensile deformation on an A6061 alloy reinforced with SiC whiskers (Al/SiCw MMC: Metal Matrix Composite) was performed using the X-ray diffraction technique. In order to raise a preciseness of measurements, we applied a profile fitting technique to separate the nearby located diffraction peak. Tensile deformation on elastic to plastic range was applied by four points bending device and discussed internal stress behavior in the short ceramic fiber reinforced MMC. Phase stress in Al matrix was increased linearly up to 2800×10⁻⁶ in strain and then saturated immediately. On the other hand phase stress in SiC whiskers shows an unstable stress behavior. It was decreased at first because of the Poisson's effect from Al matrix but reversed over 500×10⁻⁶ applied strain. The measured phase stress behavior in elastic region agreed with the calculations using micromechanics based on Eshelby/Mori–Tanaka model except for this unstable internal stress region. The macro stress behavior in plastic region was extremely small than that of the tensile test results. It supposed that the mechanism of strength is not so much the fiber reinforcing as the dispersion strengthening like the Orowan mechanism. Regarding the fatigue property, ΔK_th of the Al/SiC MMC, this was lower than that of the A6061 alloy. On the Al/SiCw MMC specimen, many micro void formations were observed around the fatigue crack tip even under the ΔK_th of A6061. It was considered that these were caused by the high gradient of residual stress on composite process and the unstable stress behavior in low ΔK region.     

Comparison of Klinkenberg-corrected gas permeability and water permeability in sedimentary rocks

We measured intrinsic permeability of sedimentary rocks from the western foothills of Taiwan by using nitrogen gas and distilled water as pore fluids in effective-pressure cycling tests at room temperature. The observed difference in gas and water permeabilities was analyzed in view of the Klinkenberg effect. This effect is due to the slip flow of gases at pore walls, which enhances gas flow when pore sizes are very small. Our experimental results showed that (1) gas permeability was larger than water permeability by several times to one order of magnitude, (2) gas permeability increased with increasing pore pressure, and (3) water permeability increased slightly as the pore-pressure gradient across the specimen increased. Results (1) and (2) can be explained quantitatively by an empirical power law in relation to the Klinkenberg constant b that is applicable in low permeable range. This correlation enables us to estimate water permeability from gas permeability. The Klinkenberg effect is important when permeability is lower than 10^?18 m² and at low pore-pressure differentials, and correction for the effect is essential to estimate water permeability from gas permeability measurement data. A simplified Bingham flow model for water can partially explain the trend of result (3), although non-Darcy flow behavior or inertial forces of water–rock interaction are needed to account for the observed deviation from Darcy's law.     

An overview on oxyfuel coal combustion—State of the art research and technology development

Oxyfuel combustion is seen as one of the major options for CO₂ capture for future clean coal technologies. The paper provides an overview on research activities and technology development through a fundamental research underpinning the Australia/Japan Oxyfuel Feasibility Project. Studies on oxyfuel combustion on a pilot-scale furnace and a laboratory scale drop tube furnace are presented and compared with computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions. The research has made several contributions to current knowledge, including; comprehensive assessment on oxyfuel combustion in a pilot-scale oxyfuel furnace, modifying the design criterion for an oxy retrofit by matching heat transfer, a new 4-grey gas model which accurately predicts emissivity of the gases in oxy-fired furnaces has been developed for furnace modelling, the first measurements of coal reactivity comparisons in air and oxyfuel at laboratory and pilot-scale; and predictions of observed delays in flame ignition in oxy-firing.     

Applying secondary ion mass spectrometry to the analysis of elements in goblet cells of conjunctiva

We investigated the location of elements in the goblet cells of rat conjunctiva by analyzing ion images produced by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and comparing them with those produced by energy dispersive X-ray analyser (EDX). Conjunctivas of normal Spraque-Dawley rats were quenched in propane prechilled liquid nitrogen. Semi-thin sections were made with a cryo-ultramicrotome, freeze-dried, carbon-coated and observed under a light microscope, SIMS and scanning electron microscope (SEM). In the element analysis by SIMS, images of positive ions were examined with an O2+ primary ion source and images of negative ions with a Ga+ ion source. The same sections were observed and analysed with SEM-EDX. Morphological features and images of elements with SIMS and EDX were compared. Na, Mg, K, and Ca were detected as positive ions and OH, CN, P, S, and Cl as negative ions with SIMS, but C, N, O, Na, Mg, P, S, Cl, K, and Ca were detected with EDX. The spatial resolution of SIMS in element location was higher than that of EDX. Many elements were clearly located in the goblet cells on ion images by SIMS. Element ion images were demonstrated more densely in goblet cells than in other parts within conjunctiva and by SIMS compared to EDX. SIMS is a useful method for the detection of elements and their locations in ocular tissues and cells.     

Evaluation of counterions for electrospray ionization mass spectral analysis of a highly sulfated carbohydrate,sucrose octasulfate

A systematic approach was used to evaluate the electrospray ionization mass spectral (ESI-MS) analysis of sucrose octasulfate (SOS), an important pharmaceutical agent. SOS represents a model for other suffated carbohydrates, such as heparin and glycosaminoglycan-derived oligosaccharides that also are highly sulfated and pose difficult analytical problems. A survey of ammonium counterions showed that 1 degree, 2 degrees, and 3 degrees ammonium salts of SOS gave substantial fragmentation as a result of sulfate loss. In contrast, quaternary ammonium and phosphonium salts gave excellent ESI spectra, particularly in the positive ion mode. This represents the first report of the ESI-MS analysis of sulfated carbohydrates in the positive ion mode.