Electroelastic Response of Cylindrical Fiber with D∞ Symmetry Exposed to Local Electric Field Through Opposed Electrode Pair

To obtain practical information on the electroelastic behavior of poly-l-lactic acid microtweezers or catheters, a previously constructed analytical technique is used to obtain the electroelastic field solution of a poly-l-lactic acid cylindrical fiber exposed to a local electric field, which is applied through an opposed pair of square-sectioned electrodes. The numerical representation of the solution reveals the detailed field quantity distributions, their importance in the design of microtweezers and catheters, the overall deformation of such devices, and the effects of the electrode dimensions on the deformation.     

Circulating Organ-Specific MicroRNAs Serve as Biomarkers in Organ-Specific Diseases: Implications for Organ Allo- and Xeno-Transplantation

Different cell types possess different miRNA expression profiles, and cell/tissue/organ-specific miRNAs (or profiles) indicate different diseases. Circulating miRNA is either actively secreted by living cells or passively released during cell death. Circulating cell/tissue/organ-specific miRNA may serve as a non-invasive biomarker for allo- or xeno-transplantation to monitor organ survival and immune rejection. In this review, we summarize the proof of concept that circulating organ-specific miRNAs serve as non-invasive biomarkers for a wide spectrum of clinical organ-specific manifestations such as liver-related disease, heart-related disease, kidney-related disease, and lung-related disease. Furthermore, we summarize how circulating organ-specific miRNAs may have advantages over conventional methods for monitoring immune rejection in organ transplantation. Finally, we discuss the implications and challenges of applying miRNA to monitor organ survival and immune rejection in allo- or xeno-transplantation.     

Preparation of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Thin Films on Strontium-Doped LaMnO3 Cathode Substrates via Electrophoretic Deposition for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

A yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) thin film on an La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ porous cathode substrate was prepared, using electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to fabricate a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The electrical conductivity of an La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ substrate is satisfactorily high at room temperature; therefore, YSZ powder could be deposited electrophoretically onto an La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ substrate without any extra surface treatment, such as a metal coating. Successive repetition of EPD and sintering was required to obtain a film without gas leakage, because of the thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the YSZ and the La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ substrate. On the other hand, the electromotive force of the oxygen concentration in the cell that used YSZ film prepared via EPD increased and attained the theoretical value when the number of deposition and calcination cycles was increased. Six or more successive repetitions were required to obtain a YSZ film without gas leakage. A planar-type SOFC was fabricated, using nickel as the anode and YSZ film (∼10 μm thick) that had been deposited onto the La_0.8Sr_0.2MnO₃ substrate as the electrolyte and cathode. The cell exhibited an open circuit voltage of 1.0 V and a maximum power density of 1.5 W/cm². Thus, the EPD method could be used as a colloidal process to prepare YSZ thin-film electrolytes for SOFCs.     

Si-C-O glass-like compound/exfoliated graphite composites for negative electrode of lithium ion battery

Two low molecular weight silicone compounds, a cyclic type having vinyl groups and a chain-type having Si-H bonds, a catalyst for curing, and a catalyst regulator were mixed. The mixture was impregnated into exfoliated graphite (EG) by sorption, and cured in air at 200 °C. By this process cross-linked silicone coatings were formed on graphite flakes. The composites of Si-C-O glass-like compounds and EG were synthesized by heat treatment of this precursor at 1000-1400 °C for 1 h in argon. The composites formed at 1000-1300 °C were amorphous by XRD and had practically the same chemical composition: Si 44-45, C 27-29, O 25-26, H < 0.5, all in mass%. The ²⁹Si MAS-NMR spectra indicated that the compound formed at 1000 °C was mainly composed of siloxane bonds and amorphous silica, whereas in the compound formed at 1300°C, Si-C bonds and amorphous silica were predominant. The insertion/extraction characteristics of lithium ions for the electrode prepared with composite:poly(vinylidene fluoride) = 90:10 mass% were examined in 1 mol L⁻¹ LiClO₄ solution of ethylene carbonate:diethyl carbonate = 50:50 vol%. High, 650-700 mA h g⁻¹, capacities and steady cycle performance at 50 mA g⁻¹ were achieved with the composites formed at 1250-1300 °C. Capacities of the composites formed at 1200 °C and lower were initially higher but decreased with increasing number of cycles. The composites formed at 1350 °C showed good cycle performance but the capacity was about 500 mA h g⁻¹ due to the formation of β-SiC. Except for the first cycle, the capacity-potential characteristics were similar to those of hard carbons and the coulomb efficiency was 95-100%. For all the composites the capacity was larger than that of graphite (372 mA h g⁻¹) in the range of 50-200 mA g⁻¹. Due to the large insertion capacity of the first cycle, the efficiency was low (60-70%) at first. By short-circuiting the working electrode to the lithium foil counter electrode for a certain period, the irreversible capacity of the first cycle was almost eliminated. It indicates that direct doping of lithium ions into composites is a promising way to increase the efficiency of the first cycle.     

Decomposition of CCl2F2 over metal sulfate catalysts

Activity for hydrolysis of CCl₂F₂ (CFC12) on various metal sulfate was investigated. Zr(SO₄)₂ was found to be the most active while FeSO₄, Cr₂(SO₄)₃, Al₂(SO₄)₃, La₂(SO₄)₃ and Ce₂(SO₄)₃ had intermediate activity. MnSO₄, CoSO₄, and MgSO₄ showed low activity and SrSO₄, CaSO₄, and BaSO₄ had even less activity. The major carbon containing product was CO₂ and small amount of CClF₃ and CO were formed over several sulfates. The crystal structure of the sulfates was stable during decomposition of CCl₂F₂, and the conversion reached a steady state after initial decrease at 275 °C over Zr(SO₄)₂ catalyst. The concentration of surface hydroxyl was larger than that over AlPO₄-based catalysts and a reaction mechanism similar to that over AlPO₄-based catalysts was proposed.     

Mechano-electrochemistry of a passive surface using an in situ micro-indentation test

Depassivation–repassivation of iron surfaces in boric–borate solutions were investigated by using the micro-indentation test. A pair of current peaks due to repair of the passive film following rupture of the film were observed during a series of indenter drives, i.e., loading and unloading of the indenter. The shape of the current peak depended on environmental conditions (conductivity and pH of the solution) and substrate conditions (mechanical processing history, alloyed element) as well as indentation conditions (repetition, maximum depth, and maximum load). Plastic deformation of the surface was accompanied by surface depassivation, while no depassivation occurred during the elastic deformation, indicating that the passive film on iron has a ductile property. The solution conditions did not affect the scale of depassivation but affected the rate of repassivation. Dislocations in the substrate made surface depassivation difficult but enhanced reactivity during the repassivation. The test also revealed that type-312L stainless steel has high corrosion resistance in a concentrated NaCl solution.