Evaluation of SOFC anode polarization simulation using three-dimensional microstructures reconstructed by FIB tomography

In order to evaluate the numerical simulation method for solid oxide fuel cell anode polarization, three-dimensional lattice Boltzmann method simulation is carried out using Ni–YSZ microstructures reconstructed by a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope. The effects of reconstructed sample volume size on the three phase boundary length, tortuosity factors and overpotential are first investigated. The YSZ tortuosity factor has remained nearly unchanged when the cross-sectional area exceeds approximately 200 μm², while the pore tortuosity factor is almost independent of the sample volume size. On the other hand, the Ni tortuosity shows very large variation regardless of the sample volume size. The overpotential predicted with the largest volume size sample is slightly larger than those of smaller volume samples. Two exchange current models based on patterned electrodes are assessed presently. Both models give weaker dependence on the steam concentration than the experimental data. From the predicted three-dimensional current stream lines, it is found that the mirrored computational structure gives a thinner reactive layer because of the factitious connection of Ni phase. Thus, it is recommended to use larger volume size samples which can cover whole reactive thickness when discussing the local potential and flux distributions.     

Enhancement in Performance of the Tubular Thermoelectric Generator (TTEG)

For use in a tubular thermoelectric generator (TTEG), we fabricated tubular Bi_0.5Sb_1.5Te₃/Ni composite using a melt-spinning technique combined with the spark plasma sintering (SPS) process. With this method, powder sintering, joining of two different materials, and tubular shaping can be achieved simultaneously. The tilted laminate structure which is crucial for the transverse thermoelectric effect was successfully achieved in the sample after SPS densification. The sintered samples showed better mechanical stability and thermoelectric properties compared with the previously studied melt-cast sample. We confirmed larger open-circuit voltage of 240 mV and generating power of 2.5 W with a 100-mm-long TTEG under the small temperature difference of 83 K, and the corresponding power density for a unit heat transfer surface area was approximately 800 W m^?2.     

Physicochemical properties of ZrF4-BaF2-LnF3 glasses (Ln=Y or rare-earth elements)

The influence of lanthanoid fluorides on physicochemical properties of fluorozirconate glasses has been examined on 60ZrF₄ · 30BaF₂ · 10LnF₃ glasses (Ln=Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Tm, Yb or Lu). Physicochemical properties such as ion packing, hardness, molecular refraction, thermal stability and fluoride-ion conduction have been evaluated on the glasses by the density, refractive index, differential thermal analysis, thermomechanical analysis, Vickers hardness and electrical conductivity measurements. The variation of these properties with lanthanoid species and the relationships between them have been discussed to characterize lanthanoid fluoride-containing fluorozirconate glasses.     

Assessment of the expression of p53, MIB-1 (Ki-67 antigen), and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer regions in carcinoma of the extrahepatic bile duct

Group B streptococci (GBS) are an important cause of neonatal sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis. In the early phase of infection, macrophages and polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) are the first immune cells that interact with GBS. In this in vitro study, to gain insight into GBS-macrophage interaction in the absence of type-specific antibodies, we examined the features of GBS survival in thioglycollate-elicited murine peritoneal macrophages and the effect of GBS on the protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent transduction pathway. Our results demonstrate that type Ia GBS, strain 090 (GBS-Ia) and type III GBS strain COH 31r/s (GBS-III), after in vitro phagocytosis survive and persist intracellularly in macrophages for up to 24 and 48 hr, respectively. However, macrophage activation by interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli (LPS) caused a significant reduction in the time of intracellular persistence. Macrophage activation by IFN-gamma and LPS seems to be a multifactorial event involving multiple intracellular signal pathways also including PKC. Since PKC is one of the components in the signal network leading to macrophage activation and an important target for several intracellular micro-organisms, we wondered whether PKC could have a role in intracellular GBS survival. Both PKC depletion by treatment with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 18 hr and PKC inhibition by Calphostin C rendered macrophages more permissive for the intracellular GBS survival. Furthermore, GBS-infected macrophages were unable to respond to PMA and LPS, activators of PKC, by inducing antimicrobial activity. The ability of GBS to impair PKC-dependent cell signalling was also demonstrated by the reduced c-fos gene expression in GBS-infected macrophages with respect to control macrophages, after LPS stimulation. In conclusion, our results indicate that GBS survive in macrophages and impairment of PKC signal transduction contributes to their intracellular survival.     

Self-diffusion of cadmium in cadmium telluride annealed in tellurium-saturated atmosphere

Diffusion behavior of Cd in volume and along dislocations in high-purity CdTe annealed in Te-saturated atmosphere has been studied by the radioactive tracer method with a serial ion-beam sputter-microsectioning technique. The temperature dependence of volume diffusion coefficients shows a bend around 773 K, whereas that of the self-diffusion along dislocations shows a straight line. This suggests that the defect induced by impurities enhances the volume diffusion but does not affect the diffusion along dislocations.     

Controlling gate-CD uniformity by means of a CD prediction model and wafer-temperature distribution control

A technique for predicting wafer temperature was developed, and a model for predicting critical dimension (CD) was devised. Using this technique and model in combination makes it possible to calculate wafer temperature during gate etching within an accuracy of 1 °C and to predict CD distribution after plasma etching. Etching at a temperature for uniform CD given by the CD prediction model reduces the CD variation (3σ) during gate etching from 2.3 to 1.5 nm. Applying this temperature prediction technique and CD prediction model together will contribute to improving etching apparatus design and process development.     

Micro cell encapsulation and its hydrogel-beads production using microfluidic device

In this paper, we propose a cell encapsulation and hydrogel-beads production method using droplet formation in a microchannel. The hydrogel-beads produced by the microfluidic device developed here have smaller diameter and narrower distribution in their diameter compared to the conventional method, such as the droplet extrusion and the emulsification. The effects of the flow velocity and microchannel wall were analyzed based on fluid dynamical analysis. The results revealed that the wall effect of the microchannel strongly affected to the diameter of the droplet and the shape of the hydrogel-beads.     

Immunoreactivity of neoplastic and non-neoplastic monocytoid B lymphocytes for DBA.44 and other antibodies

AIMS--To evaluate the immunoreactivities of neoplastic and non-neoplastic monocytoid B cells (MBC) and compare them with hairy cell leukemia (HCL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). METHODS--An immunohistochemical study of paraffin wax embedded sections was done on surgically resected specimens of spleens with MBC clusters from patients with gastric cancer (14 cases), tonsils (five cases), and lymph node (two cases) showing lymphoid follicular hyperplasia (LFH), submandibular lymph nodes containing MBC in Sj?gren's syndrome (one case). Extranodal organs affected by MCL (three cases) and monocytoid B cell lymphoma (MBCL) (seven cases), and spleens from HCL (four cases) were also studied. These specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and routinely processed for paraffin wax embedding. Fresh spleen specimens from patients with liver cirrhosis (one case) and gastric cancer (seven cases) were snap frozen. RESULTS--Mantle zone lymphocytes were DBA.44, CD74 positive and showed a weaker reaction for CDw75 than marginal zone lymphocytes and MBC, which were almost DBA negative. In neoplastic diseases tumour cells in MCL were DBA.44, CD74, and CDw75 positive. MBCL showed a positive reaction for CD74 and CDw75, but positivity for DBA.44 was observed in only one of seven cases. The HCL specimens, all positive for DBA.44, showed a weaker reaction for CD74 and a stronger reaction for CDw75 than either MCL and MBCL specimens. CONCLUSION--These results show that mantle zone lymphocytes and MCL more closely matched HCL for reactivity to DBA.44 than MBC and MBCL. Reactivities for DBA.44 and CDw75 were greater in MBCL compared with its non-neoplastic counterpart, MBC.     

The piggyBac-Based Gene Delivery System Can Confer Successful Production of Cloned Porcine Blastocysts with Multigene Constructs

The introduction of multigene constructs into single cells is important for improving the performance of domestic animals, as well as understanding basic biological processes. In particular, multigene constructs allow the engineering and integration of multiple genes related to xenotransplantation into the porcine genome. The piggyBac (PB) transposon system allows multiple genes to be stably integrated into target genomes through a single transfection event. However, to our knowledge, no attempt to introduce multiple genes into a porcine genome has been made using this system. In this study, we simultaneously introduced seven transposons into a single porcine embryonic fibroblast (PEF). PEFs were transfected with seven transposons containing genes for five drug resistance proteins and two (red and green) fluorescent proteins, together with a PB transposase expression vector, pTrans (experimental group). The above seven transposons (without pTrans) were transfected concomitantly (control group). Selection of these transfected cells in the presence of multiple selection drugs resulted in the survival of several clones derived from the experimental group, but not from the control. PCR analysis demonstrated that approximately 90% (12/13 tested) of the surviving clones possessed all of the introduced transposons. Splinkerette PCR demonstrated that the transposons were inserted through the TTAA target sites of PB. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) using a PEF clone with multigene constructs demonstrated successful production of cloned blastocysts expressing both red and green fluorescence. These results indicate the feasibility of this PB-mediated method for simultaneous transfer of multigene constructs into the porcine cell genome, which is useful for production of cloned transgenic pigs expressing multiple transgenes.