Experimental investigation on self-leveling behavior in debris beds

During a hypothetical core-disruptive accident in a sodium-cooled fast breeder reactor, degraded core materials can form debris beds on the core-support structure and/or in the lower inlet plenum of the reactor vessel from rapid quenching and fragmentation of core material pool. Coolant boiling may lead ultimately to leveling of the debris bed that is crucial to the relocation of molten core and heat-removal capability of the debris bed. In the present study, we elected to use depressurization boiling to simulate an axially increasing void distribution in the debris bed. Bottom-heating boiling was also chosen to confirm that characteristics of the self-leveling process do not depend on the boiling mode. Particle size (between 0.5 and 6 mm), shape (spherical and non-spherical), bed volume (between 5 and 8 l) and density (namely of alumina, zirconia, lead and stainless steel) along with boiling intensity and total volume were taken as experimental parameters to obtain the general characteristics of the self-leveling process. A series of experiments with simulant materials were conducted and analyzed in detail. The good concordance of the transient processes obtained from the different boiling methods sufficiently demonstrates that the present results obtained using the depressurization boiling method exhibit these general self-leveling characteristics. Detailed comparisons of deduced time variations of the inclination angle provides qualitative tendencies based on the experimental parameters considered influential to self-leveling behavior. The rationale behind the definition introduced for equivalent power density is also presented.     

Effects of electrolyte pH and temperature on dielectric properties of anodic oxide films formed on niobium

The effects of electrolyte pH and temperature on the structure and properties of anodic oxide films formed on niobium in phosphoric acid solution with the addition of NH₄OH for pH adjustment have been investigated. The film thickness formed at the same voltage slightly increased with increasing pH and significantly increased with increasing electrolyte temperature. The capacitance of the film was independent of electrolyte pH in an acid region, while it notably increased with increasing pH in an alkaline region. The relative permittivity of the film changed 43.7-80.5 when the electrolyte pH was increased from 1.6 to 10. The incorporation depth and content of phosphorus in the film were markedly suppressed at pH 10, and nitrogen was found to penetrate into a depth of 70%. Furthermore, the apparent transport number of Nb⁵⁺ ion decreased from 0.26 to 0.02 by a pH increase from 1.6 to 10. The notable changes in structure and dielectric properties of the anodic niobia film formed in the alkaline region would primarily be caused by the different incorporation behavior of electrolyte species such as phosphorous and nitrogen.     

Brominated and organophosphate flame retardants in selected consumer products on the Japanese market in 2008

The concentrations of traditional brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) in new consumer products, including electronic equipment, curtains, wallpaper, and building materials, on the Japanese market in 2008 were investigated. Although some components of the electronic equipment contained bromine at concentrations on the order of percent by weight, as indicated by X-ray fluorescence analysis, the bromine content could not be fully accounted for by the BFRs analyzed in this study, which included polybrominated diphenylethers, decabromodiphenyl ethane, tetrabromobisphenol A, polybromophenols, and hexabromocyclododecanes. These results suggest the use of alternative BFRs such as newly developed formulations derived from tribromophenol, tetrabromobisphenol A, or both. Among the 11 OPFRs analyzed, triphenylphosphate was present at the highest concentrations in all the products investigated, which suggests the use of condensed-type OPFRs as alternative flame retardants, because they contain triphenylphosphate as an impurity. Tripropylphosphate was not detected in any samples; and trimethylphosphate, tributyl tris(2-butoxyethyl)phosphate, and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate were detected in only some components and at low concentrations. Note that all the consumer products evaluated in this study also contained traditional BFRs in amounts that were inadequate to impart flame retardancy, which implies the incorporation of recycled plastic materials containing BFRs that are of global concern.     

Molecular epidemiological analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis]

In order to see the nosocomial infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) in the Akita University Hospital, we analyzed the serotype and genotype for 150 strains isolated from various clinical specimens from 1994 to 1996. One hundred strains chosen at random were divided into 11 serotypes by serotyping and into 50 genotypes by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of Spe I-digested P. aeruginosa genomic DNAs. Serotype E strains, most common, gave 17 genome patterns. Fifty strains separated periodically in certain wards had further 7 genome patterns. The strains isolated from one patient with different times or with different serotypes showed the same stable genotype. Genome patterns were inconsistent with susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Both drug-susceptible and -resistant strains were found in strains with the same genome pattern. The genome pattern was identical, even though the susceptibility was different due to isolation time or storage. This suggested that the multidrug-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa expanded in the hospital were not derived from one original strain.     

Dioxin-like and transthyretin-binding compounds in indoor dusts collected from Japan: average daily dose and possible implications for children

Many researchers are increasingly interested in human exposure to house dust containing household compounds such as polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). Nevertheless, no investigations have addressed the endocrine-disrupting potencies of compounds contained in indoor dust. This study specifically addresses endocrine-disrupting potencies such as dioxin-like activity and human transthyretin (TTR)-binding potencies. Using in vitro bioassays, we investigated these activity levels in indoor dusts. We performed exposure assessments of active compounds that are contained in house dust for subsequent evaluation of house dusts' risks to humans. Dioxin-like and TTR-binding activities in sulfuric acid treatment extracts of house and office dust were investigated using Dioxin-Responsive Chemical-Activated LUciferase gene eXpression assay (DR-CALUX) and TTR-binding assay (in vitro competitive human TTR-binding assay). Dioxin-like activities in indoor dust were 38-1400 pg CALUX-TEQ (2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalent)/g (median 160 pg CALUX-TEQ/g) and TTR-binding potencies were 300-5000 pmol T4EQ (thyroxine (T4) equivalent)/g (median 1000 pmol T4EQ/g), which are higher values than those in other environmental samples, e.g., contaminated sediments. These exposure results suggest that children might be affected by both dioxin-like compounds and TTR-binding compounds via house dust. When the ingestion rate, CALUX-TEQ, and T4EQ for house dust are high, thyroid hormone homeostasis in children may be disrupted.     

Role of protein kinase Cbeta in rhythmic contractions of human pregnant myometrium

To assess the role of protein kinase Cbeta (PKCbeta) in human myometrial contractions during pregnancy, we evaluated the effect of a PKCbeta inhibitor (LY333531) on the pregnant and nonpregnant myometrial contractions and compared the level of PKCbeta in the pregnant myometrium with that in the nonpregnant myometrium. The effects of LY333531 on the myometrial contractions were examined by measuring contractile activity (frequency and amplitude). PKCbeta in human myometrium was assessed at mRNA level using real-time PCR method. The characteristics of contractile activity were different between the pregnant and the nonpregnant myometrium. The amplitude of rhythmic contractions in the preterm and term myometrium was increased 2- to 2.5-fold when compared with that in the nonpregnant myometrium, but the frequency of rhythmic contractions was decreased by about half. LY333531 (10(-6) M) reduced the increased amplitude in the preterm and term myometrium by about 50%, and the inhibitory effects of LY333531 in the pregnant myometrium were significantly greater than that in the nonpregnant myometrium (about 50 vs 25%). However, the frequency in the pregnant and nonpregnant myometrium was not influenced by LY333531. Real-time PCR revealed a significant, five- to sevenfold increase in the expression of PKCbeta mRNA in the preterm and term myometrium when compared with the nonpregnant myometrium. These findings suggest that the increased amplitude of human myometrial contractions during pregnancy is related to the increased level of PKCbeta. A PKCbeta inhibitor may reduce preterm uterine contractions and prevent preterm delivery.     

Efficient synthesis of nonnatural mutants in Escherichia coli S30 in vitro protein synthesizing system

Factors that affect the efficiency of in vitro synthesis of mutant proteins that contain nonnatural amino acids were investigated. The process of the nonnatural mutagenesis consists of chemical aminoacylation of a tRNA that contains a 4-base anticodon, followed by in vitro synthesis in the presence of an mRNA that contains the corresponding 4-base codon. Detailed studies on the time courses of the synthesis revealed two major factors that suppress the yield of nonnatural mutants compared with the wild-type protein. First, a cyclic tRNA that exists as a by-product of the chemical aminoacylation inhibits the protein synthesis. Second, the very short lifetime of a tRNA aminoacylated with a nonnatural amino acid limits the protein yield. As a simple and practical way of surmounting these factors, aminoacyl tRNA was added into the in vitro system at 5 min after the start of the synthesis. The addition increased the protein yield up to the level of conventional proteins in the in vitro system.     

Development of an anisotropic conductive adhesive film (ACAF) from epoxy resins

A thermoset type anisotropic conductive adhesive film (ACAF), which electrically connects an ITO glass and a flex circuit both having conducting pattersn of less than 100 μm in pitch, has been developed. In this development, bisphenol A and bisphenol F epoxy resins were tested to formulate an ACAF with easy-to-handle tackiness, flexibility, and strenght. A curing agent that gives fast cure and long shelf-life properties to the epoxy resin was also selected. The tensile stress–strain responses of obtained adhesive films were successfully used for determining the formulation. Good aftercure physical properties (electrical and mechanical) were obtained. Durability against high temperature and high humidity were also tested to confirm long-term stability of the conduction of this ACAF. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

The effect of polycation on the light fastness of CI Acid Red 249

Cationic compounds are frequently used in direct dyeing processes and in ink-jet printing as dyefixing agents. In some cases, however, they can reduce the light fastness of dyes used. This report deals with the effect of a polycationic compound, Polyfix 601, on the light fastness of CI Acid Red 249, an anionic 2-phenylazo-1-naphthol dye, in aqueous solutions and in PVA films. As a comparison, the much smaller ammonium cation was used, which had no observable effect on hue or dye light fastness. However, some changes to the dye's physical properties were observed. The effect of the polycation is explained as a consequence of dye aggregation, facilitated by presence of polycation. Self-sensitised singlet oxygen seemed to play no part in dye photofading, but other oxygen species could participate in the process.