Pore structure of carbons coated on ceramic particles

Pore structure of carbon coated on ceramic particles by carbonization of precursor in a powder mixture at 900 °C was studied by focusing on the effects of substrate ceramics (MgO, TiO₂ and various phases of Al₂O₃) and of carbon precursor (poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and hydroxyl propyl cellulose (HPC)). By dissolving substrate MgO particles, carbon coated was found to have a high BET surface area, more than 1000 m²/g, which was almost the same as the value estimated from apparent surface area measured on carbon-coated MgO particles under the assumption of zero surface area of the substrate. The carbon separated was found to be rich in micropores from the analyses by DFT method and α_s plot. The dependence of the BET surface area on the amount of carbon coated on TiO₂ with a high surface area was the same for three carbon precursors, although the carbon yields from the precursors were slightly different. Porous Al₂O₃ substrates, γ-Al₂O₃as-received and that formed from Al(OH)₃ during carbonization, gave a high BET surface area, but dense Al₂O₃, α-Al₂O₃, gave a low surface area.     

Accumulation of nitrous oxide in aerobic groundwaters

N₂O concentrations in the groundwaters collected in the Kanto District and Nagano Prefecture in Japan and five counties in New York State were determined. These N₂O data were obtained from the water samples from wells, springs and seepages from soils in forests and cropping fields. The N₂O concentrations in all samples greatly exceeded those of atmospheric equilibration. The average concentration of 690 nM N₂O is one order of magnitude larger than that in deep ocean. All groundwaters of the present study were aerobic with a high level of NO₃⁻, but with the absence of NO₂⁻ and NH₄⁺, and with a very low level of dissolved organic carbon. These characteristics suggest that the nitrate respiration in the aquifers is of little significance for the production of N₂O.

ΔN₂O/NO₃⁻ molar ratios in the groundwaters were between 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻² (Δ indicates the excess gas over that which would be in equilibrium). This supports the above view since the observed N₂O yield agrees with that reported for the production during an ammonia oxidation. If nitrification was indeed a major mechanism for the production of groundwater N₂O, subsequent release of N₂O from the aquifers that are polluted with nitrogen may deserve more close attention as a potential source of atmospheric N₂O via diffusion and discharge.     

Synthesis and properties of bis(sodium sulfonated ester) types of cleavable surfactants derived from 1-O-alkylglycerols

Novel sulfonated ester types of cleavable surfactants were easily prepared by acid-catalyzed esterification of 1-O-alkylglycerols with bromocarboxylic acids, followed by the Strecker reaction. These surfactants have good solubility in water. Though this series of cleavable surfactants are divalent in type, they show good micelle formation and the ability to lower surface tension. The solubility of these surfactants in hard water was more than 10 times higher than sodium 1-dodecanesulfonate. They decompose quickly and completely in 0.5 M NaOD. Their biodegradabilities were higher or almost the same as that of sodium 1-dodecanesulfonate.     

Extracellular Environment-Controlled Angiogenesis,and Potential Application for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration

Endothelial cells acquire different phenotypes to establish functional vascular networks. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling induces endothelial proliferation, migration, and survival to regulate vascular development, which leads to the construction of a vascular plexuses with a regular morphology. The spatiotemporal localization of angiogenic factors and the extracellular matrix play fundamental roles in ensuring the proper regulation of angiogenesis. This review article highlights how and what kinds of extracellular environmental molecules regulate angiogenesis. Close interactions between the vascular and neural systems involve shared molecular mechanisms to coordinate developmental and regenerative processes. This review article focuses on current knowledge about the roles of angiogenesis in peripheral nerve regeneration and the latest therapeutic strategies for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.     

Magnetic field analysis of polar anisotropic plastic magnet and application for dc brushless motor

In this paper we propose an analytical method of DCBLM with polar anisotropic plastic rotor magnets. The orientation of the polar anisotropic plastic magnet is different for each part. In our method, the magnetic flux distribution of the injection mold for polar anisotropic plastic magnets is analyzed by FEM first. Next, the orientation is determined from the magnetic flux distribution. Finally, based on the latter, the nonlinear dynamic magnetic field of DCBLM is analyzed. The analytical value was in good agreement with the experimental value of magnetic flux distribution in the magnet unit and the characteristic of DCBLM. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 127(3): 53–61, 1999     

High-melt-strength polypropylene with electron beam irradiation in the presence of polyfunctional monomers

High-melt-strength polypropylene (PP) was achieved with irradiation by an electron beam generated from an accelerator in the presence of polyfunctional monomers (PFM). Among 16 PFMs, the relatively shorter molecular chain bifunctional monomers such as 1,4-butanediol diacrylate (BDDA) and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate (HDDA) were the most effective for enhancing the melt strength of PP. The concentration and dose of the HDDA to obtain the high melt strength PP in irradiation under nitrogen gas atmosphere were 1.5 mmol/100 g PP and 1 kGy, respectively. DSC measurement and dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the thermal behavior of the high-melt-strength PP was different from that of the original PP. Crystallinity and crystallization temperature during cooling after heating were lower and higher in high melt strength PP than original PP, respectively. Elongational viscosity at 180°C of the high-melt-strength PP showed a remarkable increase at a certain elongational time with constant strain rate, demonstrating the typical property of high-melt-strength samples. This implies that a few higher molecular chains of PP, formed by intermolecular combination of its chain by HDDA in irradiation, give higher melt strength to induce entanglement of molecular chains. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Enhancement of Anti-Tumoral Immunity by β-Casomorphin-7 Inhibits Cancer Development and Metastasis of Colorectal Cancer

β-Casomorphin-7 (BCM) is a degradation product of β-casein, a milk component, and has been suggested to affect the immune system. However, its effect on mucosal immunity, especially anti-tumor immunity, in cancer-bearing individuals is not clear. We investigated the effects of BCM on lymphocytes using an in vitro system comprising mouse splenocytes, a mouse colorectal carcinogenesis model, and a mouse orthotopic colorectal cancer model. Treatment of mouse splenocytes with BCM in vitro reduced numbers of cluster of differentiation (CD) 20⁺ B cells, CD4⁺ T cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), and increased CD8⁺ T cells. Administration of BCM and the CD10 inhibitor thiorphan (TOP) to mice resulted in similar alterations in the lymphocyte subsets in the spleen and intestinal mucosa. BCM was degraded in a concentration- and time-dependent manner by the neutral endopeptidase CD10, and the formed BCM degradation product did not affect the lymphocyte counts. Furthermore, degradation was completely suppressed by TOP. In the azoxymethane mouse colorectal carcinogenesis model, the incidence of aberrant crypt foci, adenoma, and adenocarcinoma was reduced by co-treatment with BCM and TOP. Furthermore, when CT26 mouse colon cancer cells were inoculated into the cecum of syngeneic BALB/c mice and concurrently treated with BCM and TOP, infiltration of CD8⁺ T cells was promoted, and tumor growth and liver metastasis were suppressed. These results suggest that by suppressing the BCM degradation system, the anti-tumor effect of BCM is enhanced and it can suppress the development and progression of colorectal cancer.     

Ultramultiple roundtrips of surface acoustic wave on sphere realizing innovation of gas sensors

A thin beam of wave usually diverges due to diffraction, which is a limitation of any device using such waves. However, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) on a sphere with an appropriate aperture does not diverge but is naturally collimated, realizing ultramultiple roundtrips along an equator of the sphere. This effect is caused by the balance between diffraction and focusing on a spherical surface, and it enables realization of high-performance ball SAW sensors. The advantage of ball SAW is most fully appreciated when applied to a very thin sensitive film for which the multiple-roundtrip enhances the sensitivity, but the attenuation loss is not very large. It is exemplified in a hydrogen gas sensor that realizes a wide sensing range of 10 ppm to 100% for the first time, and realizes relatively fast response time of 20 s without heating the sensitive film.     

Transition of solidification mode and the as-cast γ grain structure in hyperperitectic carbon steels

Formation processes of as-cast γ grain structures during casting of hyperperitectic carbon steels with 0.15–0.45 mass% carbon concentrations have been studied by means of a rapid unidirectional solidification technique. In steels with 0.15–0.41 mass% carbon concentrations, coarse columnar γ grains (CCGs) with a minor axis diameter of 1–3 mm developed along the direction of temperature gradient. In a steel with 0.38 mass% carbon, importantly, columnar γ grains (CGs) whose minor axis diameter is less than 500 μm form before the formation of CCGs and the grain structure changes discontinuously from CG to CCG. The fraction of the CG region increases with an increase in the carbon concentration. In the samples with a carbon concentration higher than 0.43 mass%, the as-cast structure consists of CGs over almost the entire ingots. Analyses of the relation between γ grain and dendrite structures and their crystallographic orientations indicate that the formation of CGs originates from the primary solidification of γ phase instead of δ phase. This is supported by numerical analysis of the dendrite growths.     

Crystal growth and scintillation properties of Ce-doped sodium calcium lutetium complex fluoride

0.1%, 0.5%, 1% and 3% Ce doped scintillation crystals based on NaF-CaF₂-LuF₃ solid solutions were grown from the melt using Micro-Pulling-Down (μ-PD) method. The grown crystals were transparent and their transmittance was approximately 80% for the wavelengths longer than 320 nm. Concerning the scintillation properties, radio-luminescence peaks of the crystals were detected at approximately 330 nm. The light yield of the crystals was also measured using γ-ray (¹³⁷Cs and ²²Na) as the excitation source.