Kass-controlled Hg transport from Crystal Violet Lactone to Fluoran

We have investigated the Hg²⁺ transport from Crystal Violet Lactone to Fluoran dye based on the association constant, K_ass. Upon addition of Hg²⁺, the Crystal Violet Lactone shows a new peak at around 603 nm, and the color of the solution changed from colorless to blue. With the addition of Fluoran dye in this solution containing Crystal Violet Lactone and Hg²⁺, the absorption intensity of Fluoran dye at 447 nm and 586 nm was all increased. So the color of solution gradually became black from blue color. From the changes of the ratio A₅₈₆/A₄₄₇, it is apparent that the Hg²⁺ in Crystal Violet Lactone-Hg²⁺ was transported to colored Fluoran. The Hg²⁺ transport from Crystal Violet Lactone to Fluoran dye was also carried out by the calculation of the association constant: the binding ability for the complex formation of Fluoran dye and Crystal Violet Lactone-Hg²⁺ is much greater in CH₃CN solution (K_ass = 3.0 × 10⁴ M⁻¹) than that of the Crystal Violet Lactone with Hg²⁺ (K_ass = 1.2 × 10³ M⁻¹).     

Plasma Aldo-Keto Reductase Family 1 Member B10 as a Biomarker Performs Well in the Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis and Fibrosis

We found several blood biomarkers through computational secretome analyses, including aldo-keto reductase family 1 member B10 (AKR1B10), which reflected the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). After confirming that hepatic AKR1B10 reflected the progression of NAFLD in a subgroup with NAFLD, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of plasma AKR1B10 and other biomarkers for the diagnosis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and fibrosis in replication cohort. We enrolled healthy control subjects and patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD (n = 102) and evaluated the performance of various diagnostic markers. Plasma AKR1B10 performed well in the diagnosis of NASH with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.834 and a cutoff value of 1078.2 pg/mL, as well as advanced fibrosis (AUROC curve value of 0.914 and cutoff level 1078.2 pg/mL), with further improvement in combination with C3. When we monitored a subgroup of obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery (n = 35), plasma AKR1B10 decreased dramatically, and 40.0% of patients with NASH at baseline showed a decrease in plasma AKR1B10 levels to below the cutoff level after the surgery. In an independent validation study, we proved that plasma AKR1B10 was a specific biomarker of NAFLD progression across varying degrees of renal dysfunction. Despite perfect correlation between plasma and serum levels of AKR1B10 in paired sample analysis, its serum level was 1.4-fold higher than that in plasma. Plasma AKR1B10 alone and in combination with C3 could be a useful noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis of NASH and hepatic fibrosis.     

Fabrication of n-type Schottky barrier thin-film transistor with channel length and width of 0.1 μm and erbium silicide source/drain

In this paper, a Schottky barrier polycrystalline silicon thin-film transistor (SB TFT) with erbium silicide source/drain is demonstrated using low temperature processes. A low temperature oxide is used for a gate dielectric and the transistor channel is crystallized by a metal-induced lateral crystallization process. An n-type SB TFT shows a normal electrical performance with subthreshold slope of 239 mV/dec, I_ON/I_OFF ratio of 5.8 × 10⁴ and I_ON of 2 μA/µm at V_G = 3 V, V_D = 2.5 V for 0.1 μm device. A process temperature is maintained at less than 600 °C throughout the whole processes. The SB TFT is expected to be a promising candidate for a next system-on-glass technology and an alternative 3D integration technology.     

Photoswitching electrospun nanofiber based on a spironaphthoxazine-isophorone-based fluorescent dye system

A bistable photoswitching photochromic spironaphthoxazine/isophorone-based fluorescent dye system was investigated. The photoregulated fluorescence switching behavior of a spironaphthoxazine/isophorone dye loaded poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofiber was also studied. Reversible modulation of fluorescence intensity was achieved using alternating irradiation with UV and visible light. The erasable and rewritable optical storage based on spironaphthoxazine/isophorone dye loaded poly(methyl methacrylate) nanofiber has been developed.     

Deformation map for hot working of AA2024 composites reinforced with SiC particle

The dynamic deformation behavior of Al 2024 composites reinforced with 1 and 8 μm SiCp (15 vol.%) has been investigated in the temperature range of 370 to 500°C and strain rate range of 0.1 to 3.0/sec by torsion testing. Processing maps showing the variation of the efficiency of power dissipation expressed by [2m/(m+l)], where m is the strain rate sensitivity, with temperature and strain rate have been described for the composites. Also, the domain of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) and peak efficiency of the composites were analyzed to suggest an optimum hot working condition for DRX. The SiCp/A12024 composite with 8 (μm SiCp showed 40% efficiency at the DRX domain (370~460°C, 0.1~0.5/sec). The optimum temperature and strain rate condition for the DRX of the composites is 430~450°C and 0.5/sec. The characteristics of these results were discussed with the help of microstructural observation during hot deformation. This article based on a presentation made in the symposium “The 1^st Korea—Japan Structural Dynamic Symposium”, held at Sunchon National University, Sunchon, Korea, August 5–8, 1999 under the auspices of The Korean Insitute of Metals and Materials and Research and Development Center for Automobile Parts and Materials.     

Adsorption of rhenium and rhodium in nitric acid solution by Amberlite XAD-4 impregnated with Aliquat 336

An Extractant Impregnated Resin (EIR) was prepared by impregnation of Aliquat 336 into Amberlite XAD-4 for tentative separation of rhenium from rhodium in nitric acid solution. An optimum loading ratio of the XAD-4 resin for Aliquat 336 was found to be about 0.4 (g Aliquat 336/g resin). The prepared EIR showed high preference for rhenium over rhodium and adsorption isotherms for rhenium were described well by Langmuir equation in both the single and multi-component systems. Maximum adsorption capacities obtained by modeling the isotherms of rhenium were 2.01 and 1.97 meq/g for the single and the multi-component systems, respectively. On the other hand, only little adsorption of rhodium ions was observed. The homogeneous model fitted the kinetic data quite well and the obtained effective diffusivities of rhenium and rhodium ions were on the order of 10^-7 and 10^-6 cm² min^-1, respectively.     

Adsorptive separation of rhenium and rhodium in nitric acid solution using a column packed with an extractant impregnated resin

An adsorptive separation of rhenium and rhodium was performed by using a jacketed glass column packed with an extractant impregnated resin (EIR). The EIR bed showed a successful separation of rhenium and rhodium with about 122 BV of a breakthrough volume. The breakthrough behavior in the column was modeled to assess the mass transfer resistances in the column. The model predicted the column dynamics for rhenium quite well by assuming a homogeneous diffusion in the particle phase. The effective diffusivities of rhenium were in the order of 10⁻⁷ cm²/min. The EIR loaded beds could be eluted with a high purity of more than 99% by using a nitric acid solution.     

Measurement of bubble point pressures and critical points of carbon dioxide and chlorodifluoromethane mixtures using the variable-volume view cell apparatus

The bubble point pressures and the critical points of carbon dioxide (CO₂) and chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22) mixtures were measured by using a high-pressure experimental apparatus equipped with a variable-volume view cell, at various CO₂ compositions in the range of temperatures above the critical temperature of CO₂ and below the critical temperature of HCFC-22. The experimental bubble point pressure data were correlated with the Peng-Robinson equation of state (PR-EOS) to estimate the corresponding dew point compositions at equilibrium with the bubble point compositions. The experimentally measured bubble point pressures and the mixture critical points gave good agreement with those calculated by the PR-EOS. The variable-volume view cell equipment was verified to be an easy and quick way to measure the bubble point pressures and the mixture critical points of high-pressure compressible fluid mixtures.     

The effect of material arrangement on mechanical properties in Friction Stir Welded dissimilar A5052/A5J32 aluminum alloys

The joining of dissimilar A5052 and A5J32 alloy sheets with thicknesses of 1.5mm and 1.6mm, respectively, was carried out using the Friction Stir Welding (FSW) technique. The tool rotated at a speed in a range of 1000 rpm to 1500 rpm with a welding speed ranging from 100 mm/min to 400 mm/min. The hardness and tensile properties of the friction stir welded A5052/A5J32 joint were investigated according to the fixing location. In the case where the A5J32 aluminum alloy was fixed on the retreating side, defect-free welds were obtained under all welding conditions. However, in the case where the A5052 aluminum alloy was fixed on the retreating side, some welding defects were observed at the joint under certain welding conditions with a lower heat input. However, the welding defects had no effect on the mechanical properties. A good correlation between the hardness distribution and the welding zones was observed. The experimental results showed that the tensile properties differed depending on the fixing location of the materials and were also affected by the welding conditions.