Catalytic graphitization of cokes by indigeneous mineral matter

Indigeneous mineral matter in coals acts catalytically towards graphitization during heat treatment of coals to 2273 K. Nineteen coals of a wide range of rank were demineralized by acid extraction. Original and demineralized coals were carbonized in the range 1073–2273 K, and the resulting cokes examined by optical microscopy, X-ray diffraction and phase-contrast high resolution electron microscopy. Optical microscopy indicated the extent of formation of anisotropic carbon in the resultant cokes. The (002) X-ray diffraction profiles indicated three types of catalytic effect, for which electron microscopy demonstrated different crystallite structures and interrelations. The importance of catalytic graphitization in metallurgical cokes in relation to their strength and reactivity is discussed.     

A novel immunostimulating aspect of Lactobacillus gasseri: induction of "Gasserokine" as chemoattractants for macrophages

The chemotactic activity of the culture supernatants from 14 strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. gasseri was examined for murine macrophages. Significant macrophage chemotactic activity was observed in three strains of L. acidophilus and all strains of L. gasseri. The highest activity was observed in the supernatant (1131-sup) from 24-h cultures of L. gasseri JCM1131T. The chemotactic factor from 1131-sup, designated as "Gasserokine", was purified by the C18 reverse phase and ion-exchange chromatography. The purity of Gasserokine was checked by HPLC with the reverse-phase mode. The chemotactic activity of Gasserokine was also observed for human monocytes. The macrophage chemotaxis induced by L. gasseri JCM1131T culture supernatants was discovered to be a new biological function exerted by probiotic lactic acid bacteria. Therefore, the activity is expected to be used for one of the functional parameters in the immunomodulating properties of probiotic lactic acid bacteria.     

Efficient use of an improved radiative transfer code to simulate near-global distributions of satellite-measured radiances

Two new extension modules that give the water-leaving radiance from the ocean and the snow bidirectional reflectance distribution function were implemented in the latest radiative transfer code. In addition, to simulate the near-global distributions of satellite-measured radiances by using the improved radiative transfer code, we tested and applied the look-up table method together with the process-separation technique of the radiative transfer calculation. The computing time was reduced from 1 year to 20 s to simulate one channel, one scene of the Global Imager image by use of an Alpha 21164A-2 (600-MHz) machine. The error analyses showed that the radiances were simulated with less than 1% error for the nonabsorbing visible channels and approximately 2% error for absorbing channels by use of this method.     

Origin and development of through-the-thickness variations of texture in the processing of grain-oriented silicon steel

In the production of high-permeability grain-oriented silicon steel, through-the-thickness variations of texture in the hot-rolled sheet make an important contribution to the perfection of secondary recrystallization. In particular, large grains at a depth of 20 to 25 Pct of the thickness are thought to provide the nuclei for secondary recrystallization. In this report, formation of the Goss orientation in the subsurface to intermediate layer of hot-rolled sheets has been studied by rolling with a variety of draft schedules and also by rolling in a high-speed laboratory mill equipped with a means for quenching at predetermined times as short as 10 msec after rolling. Formation of a texture gradient in the hot-rolled sheet is shown to be controlled by the sequence of deformation and recrystallization during rolling. The Goss grains are found to originate from a shear deformation of ferrite crystals due to the high friction in hot rolling and to grow by a coalescence process. The effects of through-the-thickness variations of the hot-rolling texture, together with the inhomogeneities originating from the history of partial phase transformation in the hot-rolling stage, are discussed in connection with optimal selection of the processing variables leading to the perfection of secondary recrystallization, in terms of the sites providing the source of potential nuclei and those preparing the favorable surroundings for an extensive growth of the viable nuclei in the final annealing. This paper is based on a presentation made at the symposium “Physical Metallurgy of Electrical Steels” held at the 1985 annual AIME meeting in New York on February 24–28, 1985, under the auspices of the TMS Ferrous Metallurgy Committee.     

Single-Crystalline KNbO3Thin Film Grown by Liquid Phase Epitaxy

The effects of melt composition on the transmittance of single-crystalline KNbO₃ films grown on SrTiO₃ substrates by liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) technique were investigated. The growth morphology and transmittance of the KNbO₃ films strongly depended on the extra K₂CO₃ self-flux content in K₂CO₃ (K₂O)-Nb₂O₅ system. With increasing K₂CO₃ content close to the eutectic composition (66 mol%) in the phase diagram, the transmittance of KNbO₃ film/SrTiO₃ substrate increased up to 70% in the visible wavelength range. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) clearly showed that the parallel flat steps formed toward the dipping direction and their interval decreased with increasing the K₂CO₃ content.     

Esterification of polyunsaturated fatty acids by various forms of immobilized lipase from Rhizomucor miehei

Ethyl esterification specificity of a lipase from Rhizomucor miehei for polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was compared at 1 and 100 mM to study molecular recognition of PUFA. The chemical shift of methylene adjacent to carboxyl groups in the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in ethanol moved to a lower magnetic field as the concentration of DHA increased, suggesting that the degree of dissociation of DHA decreased. Specificity constants or apparent second-order rate constants (V _max/K _m or catalytic power) for 1 mM esterification by immobilized lipases were higher than the native lipase. Immobilized hydrophobic carrier of low mass transfer resistance for the esterification substrate may improve maximal velocity and affinity for the substrate. Higher specificity constants for 1 mM substrates were observed using immobilized lipases fixed on an anion exchange resin with glutaraldehyde and on a cation exchange carrier with carbodiimide. Activity yields measured with 1 mM PUFA substrate were high. For the substrates at a concentration of 100 mM, higher specific constants with these bifunctional reagents were not observed but higher activity yields were found.     

Evaluation of fat-free mass by whole-body counter in Japanese healthy young adults

Whole-body counters (WBCs) are special instruments for measuring internal irradiation doses and are usually housed within or around nuclear facilities in the event of unexpected radiation emergencies. As a substantial proportion of total body potassium (TBK) is found in fat-free mass (FFM), FFM volume can be predicted from WBC-measured (40)K. We screened TBK in Japanese healthy young adults using a WBC and found strong linear correlations between TBK and lean body mass (LBM) and body mass index (r = 0.97, P < 0.01 and r = 0.47, P < 0.01, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis, following adjustments for sex, indicates that only LBM has a significant correlation with TBK (P < 0.01). These results strongly support the feasibility of using WBCs for estimating FFM.     

Discussion on population kinetics and number densities of excited species of low‐pressure discharge nitrogen plasma

A numerical model is constructed to calculate the number densities of some excited species of nitrogen in low‐pressure discharge nitrogen plasma, together with simultaneous solution of the self‐consistent electron energy distribution function and N₂‐vibration distribution function. We consider species N₂(X), N₂(A), N₂(B), N₂(C), N₂(a), N₂(a′), N2+, N4+, N(⁴S) ande⁻. In addition to electron collisional reactions, diffusion losses and molecular relations are included. It is found that the ratio of number densities of N₂(B) and N₂(C) states can be a good measure of the electron kinetic temperature. The N₂(C) state is found to be almost in a corona equilibrium, whereas the N₂(B) state becomes mainly populated by N₂(X,v≥6) + N₂(A) reaction and depopulated by collisional relaxation by the ground‐state N₂(X) molecule. © 2016 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Development of can-type low NOx combustor for micro gas turbine (fundamental characteristics in a primary combustion zone with upward swirl)

A low NO_x combustor for kerosene-fueled micro gas turbine based on a new concept was proposed, and the combustion characteristics of the prototype combustor were investigated. The new concept combustor consisted of primary and secondary combustion zones, and they were connected by a throat. A swirler was set between the primary and secondary combustion zones. In order to enhance the recirculation of burned gas in the primary combustion zone, the combustion air was introduced through the swirler and forced to flow upward to the combustor bottom, from where fuel spray was supplied through a nozzle. An optimum configuration of the primary combustion zone such as length of primary zone, swirler vane angle, diameter of throat, etc. were investigated to achieve high combustion stability and low emission in wide ranges of fuel flow rate and excess air ratio. The optimum value of each part in the primary combustion zone was found out by measuring fundamental combustion characteristics such as lean combustion limit, flame luminosity, exhaust gas composition and combustion gas temperature.