Development of 170 GHz/500 kW gyrotron

A development of 170GHz/500kW level gyrotron was carried out as R&D work of ITER. The oscillation mode is TE_31,8. In a short pulse experiment, the maximum power of 750kW was achieved at 85kV/40A. The efficiency was 22%. In the depressed collector operation, 500kW/36%/50ms was obtained. The maximum efficiency of 40% was obtained at P_RF=470kW whereas the power decrease by the electron trapping was observed. Pulse extension was done up to 10s at P_RF=170kW with the depressed collector operation. The power was limited by the temperature increase of the output window.     

Discharge properties and chemical stability of SrZrO films

Abstract— MgO thin film is currently used as a surface protective layer for dielectric materials because MgO has a high resistance during ion sputtering and exhibits effective secondary electron emission. The secondary‐electron‐emission coefficient γ of MgO is high for Ne ions; however, it is low for Xe ions. The Xe content of the discharge gas of PDPs needs to be raised in order to increase the luminous efficiency. Thus, the development of high‐γ materials replacing MgO is required. The discharge properties and chemical surface stability of SrO containing Zr (SrZrO) as the candidate high‐γ protective layer for noble PDPs have been characterized. SrZrO films have superior chemical stability, especially the resistance to carbonation because of the existence of a few adsorption sites due to their amorphous structure. The firing voltage is 60 V lower than that of MgO films for a discharge gas of Ne/Xe = 85/15 at 60 kPa.     

Fabrication of transparent TiO2 film with high adhesion by using self-assembly methods: Application to super-hydrophilic film

A transparent and super-hydrophilic TiO₂ film with high adhesion was prepared by simple self-assembly methods from aqueous solution at low temperature. The excellent adherence of TiO₂ films was accomplished by introducing a buffer layer with sulfonate-modified surfaces and nanoasperity. Moreover, the structure and morphology of the films were successfully controlled by deposition temperature and the pH of precursor solution. By optimizing the several parameters of solution as well as the surface functionality of the substrate, the nano-structured TiO₂ film with high adhesion showed a water contact angle of below 5° and the relative transmittance to slide glass of over 90%. The fabricated TiO₂ film deposited under the optimized condition is not removed from substrate after several Scotch tape (STT) tests and immersing into several kinds of solvent.     

Fabrication and flow-sensor application of flexible thermal MEMS device based on Cu on polyimide substrate

A Cu on polyimide (COP) substrate was proposed as a MEMS material, and the fabrication process for a flexible thermal MEMS sensor was developed. The COP substrate application to MEMS devices has the advantage that typical MEMS structures fabricated in a SOI wafer in the past—such as a diaphragm, a beam, a heater formed on a diaphragm—can also be easily produced in the COP substrate in the flexible fashion. These structures can be used as the sensing element in various physical sensors, such as flow, acceleration, and shear stress sensors. A flexible thermal MEMS sensor was produced by using a lift-off process and sacrificial etching of a copper layer on the COP substrate. A metal film working as a flow sensing element was formed on a thin polyimide membrane produced by the sacrificial etching. The fabricated flexible thermal MEMS sensor was used as a flow sensor, and its characteristics were evaluated. The obtained sensor output versus the flow rate curve closely matched the approximate curve derived using King’s law. The rising and falling response times obtained were 0.50 and 0.67 s, respectively.

     

PVC、EPR和CSM材料辐照后热氧化降解的反应动力学分析

采用气相色谱定量测量了聚氯乙烯(PVC)、乙丙橡胶(EPR)和氯磺化聚乙烯(CSM)等线缆绝缘材料经辐照后在不同温度下热老化过程中的O2消耗量.对实验数据进行了反应动力学分析,发现线缆绝缘材料的热氧化降解反应为一级反应.同时获得了不同温度下的反应常数,并与根据Arrhenius 方程计算的理论结果进行了比较.     

Downregulation of miR-122-5p Activates Glycolysis via PKM2 in Kupffer Cells of Rat and Mouse Models of Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has pathological characteristics similar to those of alcoholic hepatitis, despite the absence of a drinking history. The greatest threat associated with NASH is its progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The pathophysiology of NASH is not fully understood to date. In this study, we investigated the pathophysiology of NASH from the perspective of glycolysis and the Warburg effect, with a particular focus on microRNA regulation in liver-specific macrophages, also known as Kupffer cells. We established NASH rat and mouse models and evaluated various parameters including the liver-to-body weight ratio, blood indexes, and histopathology. A quantitative phosphoproteomic analysis of the NASH rat model livers revealed the activation of glycolysis. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry results indicated that the expression of pyruvate kinase muscle 2 (PKM2), a rate-limiting enzyme of glycolysis, was upregulated in the liver tissues of both NASH models. Moreover, increases in PKM2 and p-PKM2 were observed in the early phase of NASH. These observations were partially induced by the downregulation of microRNA122-5p (miR-122-5p) and occurred particularly in the Kupffer cells. Our results suggest that the activation of glycolysis in Kupffer cells during NASH was partially induced by the upregulation of PKM2 via miR-122-5p suppression.     

Mutated KIT Tyrosine Kinase as a Novel Molecular Target in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

KIT is a type-III receptor tyrosine kinase that contributes to cell signaling in various cells. Since KIT is activated by overexpression or mutation and plays an important role in the development of some cancers, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors and mast cell disease, molecular therapies targeting KIT mutations are being developed. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), genome profiling via next-generation sequencing has shown that several genes that are mutated in patients with AML impact patients’ prognosis. Moreover, it was suggested that precision-medicine-based treatment using genomic data will improve treatment outcomes for AML patients. This paper presents (1) previous studies regarding the role of KIT mutations in AML, (2) the data in AML with KIT mutations from the HM-SCREEN-Japan-01 study, a genome profiling study for patients newly diagnosed with AML who are unsuitable for the standard first-line treatment (unfit) or have relapsed/refractory AML, and (3) new therapies targeting KIT mutations, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and heat shock protein 90 inhibitors. In this era when genome profiling via next-generation sequencing is becoming more common, KIT mutations are attractive novel molecular targets in AML.     

Iron–Nitrogen‐Doped Vertically Aligned Carbon Nanotube Electrocatalyst for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

A highly active iron–nitrogen‐doped carbon nanotube catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is produced by employing vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VA‐CNT) with a high specific surface area and iron(II) phthalocyanine (FePc) molecules. Pyrolyzing the composite easily transforms the adsorbed FePc molecules into a large number of iron coordinated nitrogen functionalized nanographene (Fe–N–C) structures, which serve as ORR active sites on the individual VA‐CNT surfaces. The catalyst exhibits a high ORR activity, with onset and half‐wave potentials of 0.97 and 0.79 V, respectively, versus reversible hydrogen electrode, a high selectivity of above 3.92 electron transfer number, and a high electrochemical durability, with a 17 mV negative shift of E _1/2 after 10 000 cycles in an oxygen‐saturated 0.5 m H₂SO₄ solution. The catalyst demonstrates one of the highest ORR performances in previously reported any‐nanotube‐based catalysts in acid media. The excellent ORR performance can be attributed to the formation of a greater number of catalytically active Fe–N–C centers and their dense immobilization on individual tubes, in addition to more efficient mass transport due to the mesoporous nature of the VA‐CNTs.