Effect of fermented milk prepared with two probiotic strains on Japanese cedar pollinosis in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical study

There has been much interest in the potential of using probiotic bacteria for treating allergic diseases. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted to examine the effectiveness of Lactobacillus GG (LGG) and L. gasseri TMC0356 (TMC0356) in alleviating Japanese cedar pollinosis (JCP), a seasonal allergic rhinitis caused by Japanese cedar pollen. Fermented milk prepared with the tested bacteria or placebo yoghurt was administered to 40 subjects with a clinical history of JCP for 10 weeks. Subjective symptoms, self-care measures and blood samples were compared between the two groups. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were collected from seven patients with JCP and in vitro cytokine production by the isolated PBMCs was analysed in the presence of heat-killed lactic acid bacteria. Consumption of the fermented milk significantly decreased the mean symptom score for nasal blockage after 9 weeks (P<0.05) and mean symptom-medication scores after 9 and 10 weeks when compared with the placebo group (P<0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). The tested strains of lactic acid bacteria affected cytokine production by isolated PBMCs in vitro in a strain-dependent manner. LGG significantly inhibited IL-4 and IL-5 production by PBMCs stimulated by both Cry j 1 and PHA. TMC0356 only suppressed IL-5 production stimulated by PHA. The fermented milk prepared with LGG and TMC0356 might be beneficial in JCP because of its effect on nasal blockage. The effects of LGG and TMC0356 might arise at least partly from their specific down-regulation of the human Th2 immune response.     

High-performance polymer-based monolithic capillary column

In this report, we introduce a new entry of high-performance polymer-based monolithic capillary column for mainly small molecules. This capillary column was prepared using a newly introduced epoxy monomer with diamines. Simply heat-induced polycondensation in an appropriate porogenic solvent afforded a really homogeneous co-continuous monolithic structure having submicrometer-size skeletons with micrometer-size through-pores. We were also able to prepare chiral monolithic columns using a chiral epoxy monomer as well as a chiral diamine. A 21.5-cm-long, 100-mum-i.d. column afforded up to 40 000 theoretical plate numbers (N) for alkylbenzenes in 60% aqueous acetonitrile as a reversed-phase-mode stationary phase. Due to a quite low column pressure drop, a 150-cm-long column was prepared. This long column afforded up to 200 000 plates for alkylbenzenes with only a 4-MPa column pressure drop. In contrast, in 100% acetonitrile, this column has "HILIC" property to show up to 60 000 plates for methanol with a 17.5-cm-long column. In this mode, we were able to separate nucleic acids. In addition, we have prepared a chiral column with both of the chiral epoxy monomers and an amine. This column was able to chirally discriminate a racemic alcohol in a reversed-phase mode.     

Nanofork for single cells adhesion measurement via ESEM-nanomanipulator system

In this paper, single cells adhesion force was measured using a nanofork. The nanofork was used to pick up a single cell on a line array substrate inside an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). The line array substrate was used to provide small gaps between the single cells and the substrate. Therefore, the nanofork could be inserted through these gaps in order to successfully pick up a single cell. Adhesion force was measured during the cell pick-up process from the deflection of the cantilever beam. The nanofork was fabricated using focused ion beam (FIB) etching process while the line array substrate was fabricated using nanoimprinting technology. As to investigate the effect of contact area on the strength of the adhesion force, two sizes of gap distance of line array substrate were used, i.e., 1 μm and 2 μm. Results showed that cells attached on the 1 μm gap line array substrate required more force to be released as compared to the cells attached on the 1 μm gap line array substrate.     

Photon-assisted synthesis of ultra-thin yttria-doped zirconia membranes: Structure, variable temperature conductivity and micro-fuel cell devices

We report on the synthesis and functional properties of nanoscale (50 nm) dense Y-doped zirconia (YDZ) electrolyte thin films by photon-assisted oxidation of Zr–Y precursor alloy thin films. Crystalline zirconia films with grain size of 5 nm were successfully grown at room temperature by oxidation under ultra-violet (UV) photon irradiation. Microstructure of the films was characterized by transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical conductivity of UV grown YDZ electrolytes was investigated over a broad range of temperatures using Pt electrodes as a function of yttria doping concentration. The slightly lower electrical conductivity in UV grown films at intermediate temperature range (400–550 °C) is consistent with previous reports on oxygen defect annihilation under photo-excitation. Micro-fuel cells utilizing such ultra-thin YDZ membranes yielded 12 mW cm⁻² power density at 550 °C. The results are of potential relevance in advancing low temperature ultra-thin oxide membrane synthesis for energy applications.     

Effect of sweep gas species on tritium release behavior from lithium titanate packed bed during 14 MeV neutron irradiation

In a fusion reactor, the prediction of tritium release behavior from breeder blanket is important to design the tritium recovery system, but the amount of tritium generated is necessary information to do that. Hence, tritium generation and recovery studies on lithium ceramics packed bed have been started by using fusion neutron source (FNS) in Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). Lithium titanate (Li₂TiO₃) was selected as tritium breeding material, and its packed bed was enclosed by the beryllium blocks, and was kept at certain temperature during fusion neutron irradiation. During irradiation, the packed bed was purged with the sweep gas continuously, and tritium released was trapped in each gas absorber selectively by chemical form. In this work, the effect of sweep gas species on tritium release behavior was investigated. In the case of sweep by helium with 1% of hydrogen, tritium in water form was released sensitively corresponding to the irradiation. This is due to existence of the water vapor in the sweep gas. On the other hand, in the case of sweep by helium without water vapor, tritium in gaseous form was released first, and release of tritium in water form was delayed from gaseous tritium and was gradually increased.     

Development of the Water Cooled Ceramic Breeder Test Blanket Module in Japan

The development of a Water Cooled Ceramic Breeder (WCCB) Test Blanket Module (TBM) is being performed as one of the most important steps toward DEMO blanket in Japan. For the TBM testing and evaluation toward DEMO blanket, the module fabrication technology development by a candidate structural material, reduced activation martensitic/ferritic steel, F82H, is one of the most critical items from the viewpoint of realization of TBM testing in ITER. In Japan, fabrication of a real scale first wall, side walls, a breeder pebble bed box and assembling of the first wall and side walls have succeeded. Recently, the real scale partial mockup of the back wall was fabricated. The fabrication procedure of the back wall, whose thickness is up to 90 mm, was confirmed toward the fabrication of the real scale back wall by F82H. Important key technologies are almost clarified for the fabrication of the real scale TBM module mockup. From the view point of testing and evaluation, development of the technology of the blanket tritium recovery, development of advanced breeder and multiplier pebbles and the development of the blanket neutronics measurement technology are also performed. Also, tritium production and recovery test using D-T neutron in the Fusion Neutronics Source (FNS) facility has been started as the verification test of tritium production performance. This paper overviews the recent achievements of the development of the WCCB TBM in Japan.     

Evaluation of corrosion behaviors for reactor pressure vessels/primary containment vessels in Fukushima Daiichi units 1–3 nuclear power plant

Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants (1F) were damaged by unprecedented severe accident in the Great East Japan Earthquake on 11 March 2011, and seawater has been injected as an emergency countermeasure for the core cooling. Although, the RPV and PCV were not supposed to be exposed to diluted seawater, they have been exposed to diluted seawater environment or high-moisture environment. Therefore, seawater corrosion has become an important issue. Immersion corrosion tests were performed for low-alloy steel of RPV material and carbon steel of PCV material in 1F cooling-water-simulated environment. As a result, the mass loss by corrosion was reduced with the decreasing temperature and chloride ion concentration. Moreover, the effects of nitrogen deaeration and Na₂WO₄ addition on corrosion protection were remarkable among the selected corrosion countermeasures. In addition, the integrity assessments of RPV and PCV were performed considering the reduction of plate thickness based on corrosion test data and the load condition based on earthquake response analysis results. It had been confirmed that primary stresses for RPV and PCV equipment satisfied with the allowable values until at least 15 years after the accident.     

Measurement Techniques for Distribution Line Impedance by Minimum Pulse Injection

With a live wire, line impedance could be measured by means of only passive elements such as inductors or resistors, whose techniques are well known. However, as the voltage and current used for the measurement are increased, the size of the inductor or resistor being used also needs to be increased, so it would be virtually impossible to make an accurate measurement. Because of this, the authors have developed a novel measurement method for line impedance using LC resonance, which the authors describe first place. In the second place, the authors propose another line impedance. The novel method is that the rectangular wave with minimum voltage is injected into the distribution line system. By means of this method, the line capacitance and the line inductance can be measured. These proposals are confirmed by the simulation or experiment. Finally, the frequency response analysis method is to be examined, whose mechanism and results are to be presented and discussed.     

High-rate properties of LiFePO4/carbon composites as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries

Electrochemical properties of LiFePO₄/carbon composites were investigated to achieve a high-rate lithium electrode performance. LiFePO₄/carbon composites were synthesized by a hydrothermal reaction of a solution of FeSO₄·7H₂O, H₃PO₄, and LiOH·H₂O mixed with carbon powders under nitrogen atmosphere followed by annealing under 1% H₂–99% Ar atmosphere. Particle size of the obtained LiFePO₄/carbon composites observed by scanning electron microscopy was less than 100 nm. At a high current density of 1000 mA g⁻¹, the LiFePO₄/carbon composites showed a high discharge capacity of 113 mA h g⁻¹, and a flat discharge potential plateau was observed around 3.4 V. The discharge capacity at the high current density, 85% of that at a low current density of 30 mA g⁻¹, is a quite high value for LiFePO₄ cathodes. Homogeneous microstructure consisting of small particles contributed to the high-rate properties of the LiFePO₄/carbon composites.