Measurements of the (n, np+d) activation cross sections with 13.4–14.9 MeV neutrons using a fusion neutronics source/JAERI

The activation cross sections for 20 (n, np+d) reactions were measured in the energy range between 13.4 and 14.9 MeV by the activation method. The mass-separated isotopes of ⁸⁷Sr, ^95,100Mo, ¹⁰⁴Ru, ¹⁰⁶Pd, ^113,116Cd, ^118,119,120Sn, ^123,128,130Te, ^184,186W, and ^189,190Os were irradiated. The 16 cross sections, excepting those for ¹¹⁸Sn, ¹²⁸Te and ^184,186W, were obtained for the first time. The d–T neutron source of the fusion neutronics source (FNS) at the Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) was used for irradiation. All cross section values were determined relative to that of the ²⁷Al (n, ) ²⁴Na reaction (ENDF/B-VI). To measure weakly induced activities, an efficiency calibration technique with a well-type HPGe detector was applied. The present results were compared with the comprehensive evaluated data in the JENDL-3.3, the JENDL-Activation File, the ENDF/B-VI and the FENDL/A-2.0. Most of the data in the JENDL-3.3 and the JENDL-Activation File were in good agreement with the present result. However, relative to our values, 13 of the 20 evaluated data in FENDL/A-2.0 were overestimated more than 2 times or underestimated by less than one tenth.     

A Flexible electronic‐paper display with an ultra‐thin and flexible LSI driver using quick‐response liquid‐powder technology

Abstract— A thin and flexible LSI driver with a thickness of less than 35 μm for a passive‐matrix‐driven Quick‐Response Liquid‐Powder Display (QR‐LPD?) was successfully mounted onto the flexible printed circuit (FPC) and the back substrates of a flexible QR‐LPD?. Amounted LSI driver on a plastic substrate shows no significant degradation in the driving performances and maintains physical flexibility without any connection failures. This technology can realize a fully flexible electronic paper in combination with a plastic‐substrate QR‐LPD? fabricated by a roll‐to‐roll process.     

Enzyme-resistant fractions of beans lowered serum cholesterol and increased sterol excretions and hepatic mRNA levels in rats

Feeding rats beans with resistant starch reduces their serum cholesterol concentration; however, the mechanism by which this occurs is not fully understood. We examined the effects of enzyme-resistant fractions of adzuki (Vigna angularis) and tebou (Phaseolus vulgaris, var.) beans on serum cholesterol and hepatic mRNA in rats. Rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet with 50 g of cellulose powder (CP)/kg, 50 g of an enzyme-resistant fraction of adzuki starch (AS)/kg, or 50 g of an enzyme-resistant fraction of tebou starch (TS)/kg diet for 4 wk. There were no significant differences in body weight, liver weight, and cecum contents among the groups, nor was there a significant difference in food intake among the groups. The levels of serum total cholesterol, VLDL + intermediate density lipoprotein + LDL-cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol in the AS and TS groups were significantly (P<0.05) lower than in the CP group throughout the feeding period. Total hepatic cholesterol in the CP group was significantly (P<0.05) lower than in the AS and TS groups, fecal cholesterol excretion in the TS group was significantly (P<0.05) greater than in the CP and AS groups, and the fecal total bile acid concentrations in the AS and TS groups were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the CP group. Cecal acetate, propionate, and n-butyrate concentrations in the AS and TS groups were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the CP group. The level of hepatic scavenger receptor class B1 (SR-B1) mRNA in the TS group was significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the CP group, and the levels of hepatic cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase mRNA in the AS and TS groups were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in the CP group. These results suggest that AS and TS have a serum cholesterol-lowering function due to the enhanced levels of hepatic SR-B1 and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase mRNA.     

Large edge magnetism in oxidized few-layer black phosphorus nanomeshes

The formation and control of a room-temperature magnetic order in twodimensional (2D) materials is a challenging quest for the advent of innovative magnetic-and spintronic-based technologies.To date,edge magnetism in 2D materials has been experimentally observed in hydrogen (H)-terminated graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and graphene nanomeshes (GNMs),but the measured magnetization remains far too small to allow envisioning practical applications.Herein,we report experimental evidences of large room-temperature edge ferromagnetism (FM) obtained from oxygen (O)-terminated zigzag pore edges of few-layer black phosphorus (P) nanomeshes (BPNMs).The magnetization values per unit area are ～100 times larger than those reported for H-terminated GNMs,while the magnetism is absent for H-terminated BPNMs.The magnetization measurements and the first-principles simulations suggest that the origin of such a magnetic order could stem from ferromagnetic spin coupling between edge P with O atoms,resulting in a strong spin localization at the edge valence band,and from uniform oxidation of full pore edges over a large area and interlayer spin interaction.Our findings pave the way for realizing high-efficiency 2D flexible magnetic and spintronic devices without the use of rare magnetic elements.     

Comparative hypocholesterolemic effects of capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris dabbenei) oil, horse oil, and sardine oil in cholesterol-fed rats

The hypocholesterolemic efficacy of various polyunsaturated fatty acids was compared in rats given cholesterol-enriched diets. Capybara oil (CO, linoleic+α-linolenic acids), horse oil (HO, α-linolenic acid), and sardine oil (SO, eicosapentaenoic+docosahexaenoic acids) were added to diets at 50 g/kg. The weight gain, food intake, and liver weight in the CO-fed group were significantly higher than those in other groups during the 6-wk experimental period. The serum total and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)+intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL)+low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations of the CO-fed and SO-fed groups were significantly lower than in the HO-fed group after 6 wk. The serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration in the SO-fed group was significantly higher than that in the CO-fed and HO-fed groups. The fecal neutral sterol concentration in the CO-fed group was reduced significantly compared with the other groups, and the fecal bile acid concentration in the HO-fed group was significantly higher than that in the SO-fed group. The results of this study demonstrate that CO lowers the serum total cholesterol and VLDL+IDL+LDL-cholesterol concentrations in the presence of excess cholesterol in the diet as well as SO.     

A 1.3-cycle lock time, non-PLL/DLL clock multiplier based on directclock cycle interpolation for “clock on demand”

A 1.3-cycle lock-in time, non-PLL/DLL clock multiplier based on direct clock cycle interpolation is proposed with an array structure of short-circuit-current-suppression interpolators. The circuits have been fabricated with a 0.25-μm digital CMOS and operated in any condition where digital CMOS circuits operate. Measured results have achieved 1.3 clock cycle lock time and cycle-to-cycle jitter suppression characteristics. The circuits have been verified in 622-Mb/s clock and data recovery that satisfied the ITU-T G.958 jitter tolerance specification     

A recommended esterification method for gas chromatographic measurement of conjugated linoleic acid

The effect of the methylation method on isomerization of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in gas chromatographic analysis was studied. Among methylation methods examined, the magnitude of isomerization of CLA was greatest with BF₃ catalyst, followed by HCI and H₂SO₄ catalyst. Short-time methylation did not extensively change the CLA composition in all methods, and c,t and t,c isomers were essentially maintained, while the appearance of t,t isomers and unknown peaks was practically restricted. After 120 min of methylation, there was essentially no conversion in the H₂SO₄ method, in contrast to a marked change in the BF₃ method. The antioxidants butylated hydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, β-carotene, and α-tocopherol did not suppress conversion, while dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylformamide (DMF) attenuated the changes in CLA composition. Suppression was more effective in the H₂SO₄ method than in the BF₃ method. Thus, methylation with H₂SO₄ in the presence of a proper amount of DMSO or DMF is recommended for esterification of CLA.     

Stability of vitamin A in oil-in-water-in-oil-type multiple emulsions

The stabilityof vitamin A was studied in thee different emulsions: oil-in-water (O/W), water-in-oil (W/O), and oil-in-water-in-oil (O/W/O). The stability of retinol (vitamin A alcohol) in the O/W/O emulsion was the highest among the thee types of emulsions; remaining percentages at 50°C after 4 wk in the O/W/O, W/O, and O/W emulsions were 56.9, 45.7, and 32.3, respectively. With increasing peroxide value of O/W and W/O emulsifiers, the remaining percentage of vitamin A palmitate and retinol in the emulsions decreased significantly, indicating that peroxides in the formulae accelerate the decomposition of vitamin A. Organophilic clay mineral (an oil gelling agent and a W/O emulsifier) also affected the stability of retinol; synthesized saponite was better than naturally occurring bentonite for retinol stability. The stability of retinol in the O/W/O emulsion increased with increasing inner oil phase ratio (φ_i), whereas in O/W it was unaffected by φ_i. Encapsulation percent of retinol in the O/W/O emulsion, the ratio of retinol in the inner oil phase to the total amount in the emulsion, increased with increasing φ_i. The remaining percent of retinol in the O/W/O emulsion was in excellent agreement with encapsulation percent, suggesting that retinol in the inner oil phase is more stable than that in the outer oil phase. Addition of antioxidants (tert-butylhydroxytoluene, sodium ascorbate, and EDTA) to the O/W/O emulsion improved the stability of retinol up to 77.1% at 50°C after 4 wk. We conclude that the O/W/O emulsion is a useful formula to stabilize vitamin A.     

Converting rice husk activated carbon into active material for capacitor using three-dimensional porous current collector

We have successfully applied rice husk activated carbon (RHAC) as an active material for the electric double layer capacitor using a three-dimensional (3D) porous current collector. The capacity and cycle stability were evaluated in a 1.0 mol dm⁻³ tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate/propylene carbonate solution in the range of 0-2.5 V. The specific capacity of the RHAC was about 14 mAh g⁻¹ at the 50 mA g⁻¹ discharge rate, corresponding to 19 F g⁻¹ under the present conditions. The RHAC cell using the 3D porous current collector possessed a lower internal resistance and better high-rate discharge properties than the RHAC cell using a conventional aluminum (Al) foil collector. After 5000 cycles of charging and discharging, the RHAC cell with the 3D current collector maintained 95% of its initial capacity, while the capacity of the one with the Al foil collector dropped to only 30%.