Ion beam modification of TiO2 films prepared by Cat-CVD for solar cell

The effects of nitrogen ion bombardment on TiO₂ films prepared by the Cat-CVD method have been studied to improve the optical and electrical properties of the material for use in Si thin film solar cells. The refractive index n and the dark conductivity of the TiO₂ film increased with irradiation time. The refractive index n of the TiO₂ film was changed from 2.1 to 2.4 and the electrical conductivity was improved from 3.4 × 10^− 2 to 1.2 × 10^− 1 S/cm by the irradiation. These results are due to the formation of Ti-N bonds and oxygen vacancies in the film.     

A simple and highly productive solar still: a vertical multiple-effect diffusion-type solar still coupled with a flat-plate mirror

This paper presents a newly designed simple solar still: a vertical multiple-effect diffusion-type solar still consisting of a flat-plate mirror, a number of vertical parallel partitions in contact with saline-soaked wicks with narrow air gaps between partitions, and casters for azimuth tracking by human power. The proposed still is designed so that non-skilled persons can construct it with common materials in developing countries. We theoretically analyzed the dependence of the solar absorption on the first (or heated) partition on the angle of the flat-plate mirror and the azimuth angle of the still, and found that the solar absorption on the first partition can be significantly increased by rotating the still at southing of the sun just once a day, and the daily solar absorption would be about 85% or 99% of the daily solar radiation on a horizontal surface on the spring equinox or winter solstice, respectively. We also theoretically analyzed the heat and mass transfer in the proposed still, and found that a proposed still of 10 partitions with 10 mm diffusion gaps between partitions was predicted to produce 29.2 34.5 kg/m²d on sunny spring equinox and winter solstice days respectively at the equator.     

Analysis of Gravity Filtration Behaviors of Waterworks Sludge Based upon Sedimentation Tests

Both gravity filtration experiments under constant pressure conditions and gravity sedimentation experiments were conducted using the municipal waterworks sludge. It was clarified from the theoretical analysis that the effect of sedimentation on the filtration rate was noticeable for the sludge used in this study. The local specific flow resistance at various sludge concentrations was determined by the sedimentation velocity method. The local porosity was related to the local solid compressive pressure by the sedimentation equilibrium method. The decline behaviors in the filtration rate in gravity filtration accompanied by sedimentation were well evaluated only from the sedimentation data based upon the sedimentation velocity method and the sedimentation equilibrium method.     

Lipase-Catalyzed Esterification of Triterpene Alcohols and Phytosterols with Oleic Acid

Oleic acid esters of phytosterols (PSs) and triterpene alcohols (TAs), derived from rice bran, were synthesized using lipases under mild conditions. Some lipases, especially from Candida rugosa, type VII, showed very high substrate specificity towards both PSs and TAs, when a mixture of PS and TA (PS/TA mixture) was used as the substrate source. The maximum yield of PS esters was ca. 80 % in each case; however, the maximum yield of TA esters was much lower when the reaction was continued for 7 days. Due to the difficulty in purifying the esters obtained when the PS/TA mixture was used as source of substrate, free PSs and TAs were separated from the PS/TA mixture by silica-gel and reverse-phase chromatography prior to esterification. The pure PSs or TAs were esterified with oleic acid to obtain the corresponding esters with high purity. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis of the resulting esters revealed that their melting points ranged from 7.0 to 42 °C. These values were at least 100 °C lower than those of the free PSs and TAs.     

Photo-curing composite paint containing urushi (Oriental lacquer), and wrinkled coating caused by phase separation

To improve the production of traditional lacquerwares by urushi (Oriental lacquerwork) through accelerated drying, we mixed photo-curing monomers with urushi lacquer. We used commercial monomers bearing epoxy, oxetane, or vinyl ether functional groups in conjunction with a photo-cationic initiator [bis(4-tert-butylphenyl)iodonium hexafluorophosphate] and a high-pressure mercury lamp as a UV source. Even in the presence of a large amount of urushi (50 wt% of raw urushi content in the composite paint), photo-cationic polymerization proceeded and gave cured films within a few hours. Photo-differential scanning calorimetry showed negligible retardation of the reaction rate and conversion. Whereas efficient exposure (3.2 J/cm²) gave cured paint films with glossy smooth surfaces, less exposure unexpectedly gave lusterless surfaces. Microscopy revealed phase separation and wrinkling of the surface with minute ripples, several tens of micrometers in width and height. The outer surface consisted of cross-linked hard polymer, but the inner part under the ripples consisted mainly of monomeric urushi components that solidified slowly. A photo-mask for UV exposure could be used to create a pattern based on variations in the gloss of the paint surface.     

Different In Vitro-Generated MUTZ-3-Derived Dendritic Cell Types Secrete Dexosomes with Distinct Phenotypes and Antigen Presentation Potencies

Human dendritic cell (DC) dexosomes were evaluated for their function and preclinical validation for vaccines. Dexosomes are small DC-secreted vesicles that contain absorbing immune signals. Vaccine manufacturing requires a significant number of monocyte-derived DCs (Mo-DCs) from donor blood; thus, Mo-DC dexosomes are expected to serve as novel materials for cancer vaccination. In this study, we characterized a potential dexosome model using immature and mature MUTZ3-derived DCs (M-imIL-4-DC, M-imIFN-DC, M-mIL-4-DC, and M-mIFN-DC) and their dexosomes (M-imIL-4-Dex, M-imIFN-Dex, M-mIL4-Dex, and M-mIFN-Dex). Despite the lack of significant differences in viability, M-mIFN-DC showed a significantly higher level of yield and higher levels of maturation surface markers, such as CD86 and HLA-ABC, than M-mIL-4-DC. In addition, M-mIFN-Dex expressed a higher level of markers, such as HLA-ABC, than M-mIL-4-Dex. Furthermore, M-mIFN-Dex exhibited a higher level of antigen presentation potency, as evaluated using a MART-1 system, than either M-imIFN-Dex or M-mIL-4-Dex. We found that M-mIFN-Dex is one of the four types of MUTZ3-derived DCs that harbor potential immunogenicity, suggesting that DC dexosomes could be useful resources in cancer immunotherapy.     

Selective photooxidation of methane into methanol by nitric oxide over V-MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves

The partial photooxidation of methane by nitric oxide selectively led to methanol formation over the V-MCM-41 catalysts under UV irradiation ( > 270 nm) at room temperature, while only a complete oxidation of methane could occur in the presence of oxygen. The yield of methanol corresponds with the yield of the photoluminescence of the isolated tetrahedrally coordinated V-oxides species, indicating that the charge transfer excited triplet state of these species are active sites in this photooxidation reaction.     

Caspase inhibitors increase the rate of recovery of neural stem/progenitor cells from post-mortem rat brains stored at room temperature

To match the demand of regenerative medicine for nerve system, collection of stem cells from the post-mortem body is one of the most practical ways. In this study, the storage condition of the post-mortem body was examined. We prepared neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) from post-mortem rat brains stored at different temperatures. When brains were stored at 4 °C, for one week, we were able to obtain neurospheres (a spheroid body containing NSPCs) by stimulation of cells with epidermal growth factor (EGF). Incremental increases in storage temperature decreased the rate of appearance of neurospheres. Within 48 h at 15 °C, 24 h at 25 °C, in both condition, we were able to recover NSPCs from post-mortem rat brains. At 15 °C, 90% of neurosphere-forming activity was lost within 24 h. However, even after 24 h at 25 °C, 2% neurosphere-forming activity remained. After 6 h of death, there was very little difference between the rates of NSPC recovery at 4 °C and 25 °C. Addition of caspase inhibitors to both the rat brain storage solution and the NSPC culture medium increased the rate of neurosphere-forming activity. In particular, an inhibitor of caspase-8 activity increased the NSPC recovery rate approximately three-fold, with no accompanying detrimental effects on neural differentiation in vitro.     

Mechanisms of single-walled carbon nanotube nucleation, growth, and healing determined using QM/MD methods

Since their discovery in the early 1990s, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have spawned previously unimaginable commercial and industrial technologies. Their versatility stems from their unique electronic, physical/chemical, and mechanical properties, which set them apart from traditional materials. Many researchers have investigated SWNT growth mechanisms in the years since their discovery. The most prevalent of these is the vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism, which is based on experimental observations. Within the VLS mechanism, researchers assume that the formation of a SWNT starts with co-condensation of carbon and metal atoms from vapor to form liquid metal carbide. Once the liquid reaches supersaturation, the solid phase nanotubes begin to grow. The growth process is partitioned into three distinct stages: nucleation of a carbon "cap-precursor," "cap-to-tube" transformation, and continued SWNT growth. In recent years, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have come to the fore with respect to SWNT growth. MD simulations lead to spatial and temporal resolutions of these processes that are superior to those possible using current experimental techniques, and so provide valuable information regarding the growth process that researchers cannot obtain experimentally. In this Account, we review our own recent efforts to simulate SWNT nucleation, growth, and healing phenomena on transition-metal catalysts using quantum mechanical molecular dynamics (QM/MD) methods. In particular, we have validated each stage of the SWNT condensation mechanism using a self-consistent-charge density-functional tight-binding (SCC-DFTB) methodology. With respect to the nucleation of a SWNT cap-precursor (stage 1), we have shown that the presence of a transition-metal carbide particle is not a necessary prerequisite for SWNT nucleation, contrary to conventional experimental presumptions. The formation and coalescence of polyyne chains on the metal surface occur first, followed by the formation of the SWNT cap-precursor, "ring condensation", and the creation of an sp(2)-hybridized carbon structure. In our simulations, the nucleation process takes approximately 400 ps. This first step occurs over a much longer time scale than the second stage of SWNT condensation (approximately 50 ps). We therefore observe SWNT nucleation to be akin to the rate-limiting step of the SWNT formation process. In addition to the QM/MD simulation of various stages of SWNT nucleation, growth, and healing processes, we have determined the effects of temperature, catalyst composition, and catalyst size on the kinetics and mechanism of SWNT growth. With respect to temperature dependence, we observe a "sweet-spot" with respect to the efficiency of SWNT growth. In addition, Ni-catalyzed SWNT growth is observed to be 70-100% faster compared to Fe-catalyzed SWNT growth, depending on the catalyst particle size. We also observe a noticeable increase in SWNT growth rates using smaller catalyst particles. Finally, we review our recent QM/MD investigation of SWNT healing. In particular, we recount mechanisms by which adatom defects, monovacancy defects, and a "5-7 defect" are removed from a nascent SWNT. The effectiveness of these healing mechanisms depends on the rate at which carbon moieties are incorporated into the growing SWNT. Explicitly, we observe that healing is promoted using a slower carbon supply rate. From this rudimentary control of SWNT healing, we propose a route towards chirality-controlled SWNT growth.