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.     

Impedance analysis of PLD LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 film electrode

The kinetics of intercalation are discussed using a pulsed laser deposition (PLD) film electrode and electrochemical impedance analysis. Films of LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂, deposited on single crystal substrates, were used for the study. The films have intercalative or blocking orientations on different crystal surfaces of the substrates. Impedance spectra show that there are at least three elemental processes in intercalation. Two processes at higher frequencies suggest that they occur at the electrode surface and are influenced by the orientation of the film. The third process appearing at low frequencies below 1 Hz indicates lithium motion in the bulk structure and shows the largest resistance among the three processes. This lithium conduction in a thin PLD film shows a semicircular response and is considered to be influenced more by the structure due to the nanometer-scale thickness.     

Permeability and blood compatibility of nanoporous parylene film‐coated polyethersulfone membrane under long‐term blood diffusion

Nanoporous polyethersulfone (PES) membranes are widely used in dialysis systems due to their permeability and diffusion characteristics. However, PES membranes lack blood compatibility, which influences their permeability performance when employed in blood contact devices. Parylene film was deposited on a PES membrane surface and the membrane permeability and blood compatibility were investigated by long‐term blood diffusion testing. After 28 days of testing, 90% of a bare PES membrane was covered with platelets, while the parylene film coated PES membrane had improved biocompatibility with a platelet coverage of only 20–30%. The permeability of the bare PES membrane significantly declined during the first 7 days of the blood diffusion and became stable after 8 days. In contrast, the permeability of the parylene film coated PES membrane exhibited more consistent performance during the entire test. Thus, parylene film coating on PES membrane has potential for application in hemodialysis systems. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 40024.     

Performance of a partially packed charcoal pellet bioreactor for acetic acid fermentation

The performance of a partially packed charcoal pellet bioreactor was compared to that of a fully packed bioreactor for aerobic acetic acid production. In the fully packed charcoal pellet bioreactor, it was considered that the shortening of an actual retention time of the culture broth limited the bioreactor performance under high dilution rate and high aeration conditions. By reducing the filling ratio of charcoal pellets to 44%, which increased the actual retention time of the culture broth, the maximum productivity increased from 3.9 g/l/h in the fully packed bed bioreactor to 5.7 g/l/h in the partially packed bioreactor without affecting the operational stability.     

8-[2-(2-Pentyl-Cyclopropylmethyl)-Cyclopropyl]-Octanoic Acid and Its Diastereomers Improve Age-Related Cognitive Deterioration

Racemic 8-[2-(2-pentyl-cyclopropylmethyl)-cyclopropyl]-octanoic acid (DCP-LA), a linoleic acid derivative with cyclopropane rings instead of cis-double bonds, contains possible four diastereomers such as α,α-, α,β-, β,α-, and β,β-DCP-LA. The present study examined the effect of racemic and diastereomeric DCP-LA on age-related learning and memory disorders using accelerated-senescence-prone mice 8 (SAMP8) and accelerated-senescence-resistant mice 1 (SAMR1). In the water maze test, the acquisition and retention latencies for SAMP8 mice were significantly longer than the latency for SAMR1 mice, indicating spatial learning and memory impairment for SAMP8 mice. All the racemic (1?mg/kg, per os) and diastereomeric DCP-LA (0.25?mg/kg, per os) significantly shortened the acquisition latency for SAMP8 mice, and racemic, α,α- and α,β-DCP-LA significantly shortened the retention latency, with the advantage greater than the acetylcholine (ACh) esterase inhibitor galanthamine. The results of the present study show that all the racemic and diastereomeric DCP-LA, has the potential to improve age-related learning and memory deterioration, the potential varying among them.     

Spin gap in Tl2Ru2O7 and the possible formation of Haldane chains in three-dimensional crystals

Dimensionality is one of the most important parameters of physical phenomena. Only two things determine the universality class of a phase transition: the dimensionality of a given system and the symmetry of the order parameter. In most cases, the dimensionality of a substance is predetermined by its crystal structure. Examples in which the effective dimensionality is reduced are quite rare. Here we show that the three-dimensional cubic system of Tl(2)Ru(2)O(7) most probably evolves into a one-dimensional spin-one Haldane system with a spin gap below 120 K, accompanied by anomalies in the structure, resistivity and susceptibility. We argue that these anomalies are due to an orbital ordering of Ru 4d electrons, with a strong coupling among three degrees of freedom: orbital, spin and lattice. Our work provides a unique example of the spontaneous formation of Haldane system with an insight into the intriguing interplay of different degrees of freedom.     

Survey of epoxidized soybean oil in cap sealing for bottled foods

Epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) was surveyed in the 103 samples of cap sealing for bottled foods on the Japanese market. Most of the sealings were made of polyvinyl chloride, while a few were made of polyethylene or acrylic resin. All the sealings contained ESBO in the range of 0.006-42.4%. Sealings for baby food, jam, etc. contained higher levels of ESBO, though those for beverages contained lower levels. Sealings in lug caps and press-on twist caps contained higher levels of ESBO, though that in pilfer-proof caps contained lower levels. Some sealings in screw caps and lug caps also contained other plasticizers, for example, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate and diisononyl phthalate, and their ESBO contents were 1/10 of those in sealings containing only ESBO. In this survey, ESBO was the most common plasticizer in cap sealing resin for bottled foods on the Japanese market.     

Determination of epoxidized soybean oil and linseed oil in wrapping film and cap sealing

A determination method was developed for epoxidized soybean oil (ESBO) and epoxidized linseed oil (ELO), which are used as plasticizers and/or stabilizers, in wrapping film and cap sealings. The ESBO method reported by Castle et al. was improved. Samples were extracted with acetone-hexane (3: 7), transmethylated under alkaline conditions, then derivatized to the 1,3-dioxolanes and analyzed by GC/MS. The recoveries of spiked ESBO and ELO were between 92.6% and 104.4%. The determination limits were 0.01 mg/g for ESBO and 0.02 mg/g for ELO in the wrapping film, and 0.04 mg/g and 0.08 mg/g in the cap sealing. ESBO and ELO were surveyed in 10 samples each of wrapping film and cap sealings currently available on the Japanese market. ESBO was found at 34.7-82.8 mg/g in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) wrapping films and at 5.47-399 mg/g in cap sealings. ELO was detected at 8.6-11.4 mg/g in polyvinylidene chloride (PVDC) wrapping films, and at 46.4 mg/g in a PVC wrapping film.