Gaussian Thermal Flux model—I theory

The Gaussian Thermal Flux model is a fast thermal radiation sub-model which operates with minimal input and predicts flux on sloped surfaces for both clear and cloudy days. This paper presents the model's theoretical basis. It is distinguished from empirical models by its detailed two dimensional treatment of clouds, its computation of air layer transmissivity above and below cloud layers and its consideration of cloud height effects. The model improves upon existing flux emissivity and multi-band or line models by being independent of soundings and by its use of gaussian quadrature to speed the numerical integrations. It may be input entirely from standard screen level meteorological measurements.     

Computer controlled ESCA for nondestructive surface characterization utilizing a TV-type position sensitive detector

A position sensitive detector system composed of a channel plate, a vidicon TV camera, and a computer is utilized for multichannel detection of ESCA spectra. It is demonstrated that the system achieves a marked improvement of measurement speed, S/N ratio, and sensitivity. The system also realized an improvement of spatial resolution while retaining energy resolution.     

Preparation of KTiOPO4 thin films on different substrates by pulsed laser deposition

Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique is applied in fabrication of thin films of KTiOPO₄ (KTP) material, which possesses electro-optic and nonlinear optical properties. Thin film fabrication of optically functional KTP on fused silica and different sapphire substrates by changing an ambient oxygen pressure and a substrate temperature during PLD is investigated. Highly oriented KTP thin films could be grown on sapphire $ {\left( {11\overline{2} 0} \right)} $ in an oxygen atmosphere by PLD using a composite target whose stoichiometry is nearly same as KTP. Although the film contained polycrystalline crystallites, predominant crystallites seemed to be epitaxially grown.     

Solution properties of polyamic acids and their amine salts

Solution properties such as viscosity, critical concentration, radius of gyration, and activation energy in aqueous solutions are described for [BPDA/PDA]polyamic acid (PAA) and their salts with various amines (PAS). Although PAA and their salts with Bu₃N, Hex₃N, Oct₃N, and pyridine, were insoluble in H₂O, only the salt with Et₃N (PAS(Et₃N)) was soluble in H₂O. The different solubility of PAS suggests that higher base strength as well as shorter alkyl length of amines enhance water solubility of PAS. PAS(Et₃N) showed critical concentrations at 18, 14, and 7.8 wt% in NMP, NMP/H₂O (1/1), and H₂O, respectively. The radius of gyration, which is calculated from the critical concentration, in H₂O is 1.3 times larger than that in NMP; that is, the polymer chain expands in H₂O rather than in NMP. PAS(Et₃N) in H₂O showed larger activation energy of viscosity than that in NMP. However, PAA and PAS(Et₃N) showed similar activation energies in the NMP solution. Therefore, it is concluded that the amine salts of the polyamic acids are hydrated by several water molecules in H₂O, resulting in the larger radius of gyration and lager activation energies.     

Adsorption of 2-X-benzoic acids (X = fluoro, chloro, and bromo) on Au(1 0 0) electrode in acidic media studied by IRAS

Adsorption behaviors of 2-fluoro-, 2-chloro-, and 2-bromobenzoic acids on Au(1 0 0) electrode in 0.1 M HClO₄ have been investigated by using in situ reflection adsorption IR spectroscopy and differential capacity measurements. It is found for the 2-substitued benzoic acids that the flat lying adsorbed species is present at negative potentials, and the vertically adsorbed benzoate with both oxygen atoms oriented toward the metal surface is present at positive potentials. A new adsorbed state due to the vertical orientation was observed around 0.75 V only in 2-fluorobenzoic acid solution, as well as the case of benzoic acid. This indicates that the new band is due to the formation of an ordered adsorption layer of the vertical 2-fluorobenzoate, and the formation of the arrangement adsorption is dependent on the size of the adsorbed molecule.     

Preparation and properties of sulfonated ETFE‐g‐polyvinyltoluene membranes for application in fuel cells

A new polymer electrolyte membrane prepared by radiation grafting of vinyltoluene into poly(ethylene‐co‐tetrafluoroethylene) (ETFE) film and subsequent sulfonation was developed for application in fuel cells. The effect of grafting condition on the degree of grafting was investigated in detail. Results indicated that the degree of grafting can be controlled over a wide range. The grafted films were sulfonated in a chlorosulfonic acid solution to obtain the polymer electrolyte membranes, which were characterized with respect to their use in fuel cells. It is concluded that the substituted methyl group on the vinyltoluene can improve the chemical stability of the resulting membranes, and the crosslinked ETFE‐g‐poly(vinyltoluene‐co‐divinylbenzene) membranes can be proposed for the future development of alternative low‐cost and high‐performance membranes for fuel cells. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 2661–2667, 2006     

Production of 8,11,14,17-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4ω-3) by a Δ5 and Δ12 desaturase-defective mutant of an arachidonic acid-producing fungus Mortierella alpina 1S-4

A Δ5 and Δ12 desaturase-defective mutant of an arachidonic acid-producing fungus, Mortierella alpina 1S-4, produced 8,11,14,17-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid (20:4ω3) intracellularly when grown with linseed oil. Dihomo-γ-linolenic acid was the only C₂₀ polyunsaturated fatty acid (4.9 wt% of total mycelial fatty acids) other than 20:4ω3. AA and 5,8,11,14,17-cis-eicosapentaenoic acid were not detected. The mycelial lipids consisted of 82.2% (by mol) triacylglycerol (TG), 7.1% diacylglycerol, 8.9% phospholipids (PL), and 1.9% free fatty acids. The percentage of 20:4ω3 was higher in PL (30.1%) than in TG (11.6%), and highest in phosphatidylcholine (38.9%). Under the optimal conditions with a 5-L jar fermenter, 20:4ω3 production amounted to 97.4 mg/g dry mycelia with a mycelial yield of 23 g/L on the twelfth day (corresponding to 2.24 g/L medium and 37.1% of total mycelial fatty acids).     

Sliding wear properties of HVOF sprayed WC-20%Cr3C2-7%Ni cermet coatings

WC-20 mass%Cr₃C₂-7 mass%Ni powder was sprayed onto low-carbon steel substrates by a commercial high velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) spray process as well as by an improved HVOF process equipped with a gas shroud attachment. The latter process utilizes a nitrogen gas flow to shield the region between the spray gun and the substrate in order to suppress the material's degradation caused by reaction with air such as oxidation and decarburization. Some coatings were further heat-treated in air at 773 K for 30 h to form a thin oxide film on the surface. The sliding wear properties of these coatings against an iron pin were evaluated by using a pin-on-disk wear tester. The specific wear rate of the as-sprayed cermet coatings prepared under the conventional spray condition was about three times higher than that of the chrome plating but by using the gas shroud, the wear rate was reduced to the same level with the chrome plating. The specific wear rate could be further decreased by the oxidation heat-treatment. It was found that a proper amount of oxides existing on the surface or within the coatings have a great beneficial effects on the wear properties such as to promote the transition from severe wear to mild wear and thus to reduce the wear rate remarkably. XPS analysis of the transfer particles collected from the wear track revealed a shift in the oxidation state of iron depending on the wear condition.     

Promotion of allergic immune responses by intranasally-administrated nanosilica particles in mice

With the increase in use of nanomaterials, there is growing concern regarding their potential health risks. However, few studies have assessed the role of the different physical characteristics of nanomaterials in allergic responses. Here, we examined whether intranasally administered silica particles of various sizes have the capacity to promote allergic immune responses in mice. We used nanosilica particles with diameters of 30 or 70 nm (nSP30 or nSP70, respectively), and conventional micro-sized silica particles with diameters of 300 or 1000 nm (nSP300 or mSP1000, respectively). Mice were intranasally exposed to ovalbumin (OVA) plus each silica particle, and the levels of OVA-specific antibodies (Abs) in the plasma were determined. Intranasal exposure to OVA plus smaller nanosilica particles tended to induce a higher level of OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, IgG and IgG1 Abs than did exposure to OVA plus larger silica particles. Splenocytes from mice exposed to OVA plus nSP30 secreted higher levels of Th2-type cytokines than mice exposed to OVA alone. Taken together, these results indicate that nanosilica particles can induce allergen-specific Th2-type allergic immune responses in vivo. This study provides the foundations for the establishment of safe and effective forms of nanosilica particles.     

FTY720 Inhibits Expansion of Breast Cancer Stem Cells via PP2A Activation

Growing evidence suggests that breast cancer originates from a minor population of cancer cells termed cancer stem cells (CSCs), which can be identified by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity-based flow cytometry analysis. However, novel therapeutic drugs for the eradication of CSCs have not been discovered yet. Recently, drug repositioning, which finds new medical uses from existing drugs, has been expected to facilitate drug discovery. We have previously reported that sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) induced proliferation of breast CSCs. In the present study, we focused on the immunosuppressive agent FTY720 (also known as fingolimod or Gilenya), since FTY720 is known to be an inhibitor of SphK1. We found that FTY720 blocked both proliferation of ALDH-positive cells and formation of mammospheres. In addition, we showed that FTY720 reduced the expression of stem cell markers such as Oct3/4, Sox2 and Nanog via upregulation of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). These results suggest that FTY720 is an effective drug for breast CSCs in vitro.