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%.     

Hydrogen distribution in titanium materials with low outgassing property

This paper addresses a hydrogen outgassing mechanism in titanium materials with extremely low outgassing property by investigating hydrogen atoms distribution in depth around the surface in a titanium material and stainless steel. The evacuation time dependence of depth profiles of positive hydrogen ions was measured by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). In the stainless steel, concentration of hydrogen atoms decreases slowly at the surface oxide layer, while it decreases rapidly in the bulk by vacuum evacuation. Thus, the surface oxide layer is considered to prevent hydrogen diffusions in the bulk. On the other hand, in the titanium material, hydrogen atoms show maximum concentration at the boundary between the surface oxide layer and the bulk titanium. Moreover, concentration of hydrogen atoms decreases rapidly at the surface oxide layer, while those decrease slowly in the deep region below the surface-bulk boundary by vacuum evacuation. It is suggested that the boundary between the surface oxide layer and bulk titanium plays a role of a barrier for bulk hydrogen diffusions. These facts give very low hydrogen concentration near the surface, which results in an extremely low outgassing rate in titanium materials.     

Angiotensin I‐converting enzyme inhibitory peptides in skim milk fermented with Lactobacillus helveticus 130B4 from camel milk in Inner Mongolia,China

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) is a dipeptidyl carboxypeptidase associated with the regulation of blood pressure. ACE inhibition results in a lowering of blood pressure. Lactic acid bacteria are known to produce ACE inhibitors during fermentation. Fermented camel milk is the main traditionally fermented dairy food for desert nomads. The beneficial effects of fermented camel milk, which include the prevention of such diseases and conditions as gastroenteritis, tuberculosis and hypertension, have been demonstrated experimentally. RESULTS: ACE inhibitory activity was observed in fermented milk containing Lactobacillus helveticus 130B4, a strain isolated from traditionally fermented camel milk. The peptide that inhibited ACE was purified from the fermented milk by reverse‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. The amino acid sequence of the peptide was identified as Ala‐Ile‐Pro‐Pro‐Lys‐Lys‐Asn‐Gln‐Asp (IC₅₀ = 19.9 µmol L^?1). The same Ala‐Ile‐Pro‐Pro‐Lys‐Lys‐Asn‐Gln‐Asp sequence was found in κ‐casein (κ‐CN) f107–115 from milk. The inhibitory activity of this nonapeptide (κ‐CN f107–115) was almost preserved even after successive digestion with pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin. Furthermore, the inhibitory activity of the purified peptide was completely preserved after heat treatment at 100 °C for 20 min. CONCLUSION: The fermented milk prepared with Lactobacillus helveticus 130B4 contained an ACE inhibitory peptide, κ‐CN 107–115. This fermented milk was expected to have anti‐hypertensive effect after ingestion because the peptide was stable to digestive protease and heat treatment in vitro. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effect of particle geometry on the properties of binderless particleboard manufactured from oil palm trunk

Experimental binderless composite panels were manufactured using fine particles and strands of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) trunks. Modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bond strength (IB), dimensional stability, and surface roughness of the panels made with a target density of 0.80 g/cm³ were evaluated. Strand type samples had MOR and IB values of 24.95 and 0.95 MPa, respectively. Corresponding values for the fine particle type samples were 4.04 and 0.49 MPa. Panels made from strands met MOR requirement stated in Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS). Enhanced bonding between strands observed by micrographs taken using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) also supported the findings. However, the samples having fine particles had lower MOR values than minimum requirement listed in JIS. Strand type panels had 41.6% thickness swelling which is only 4.6% lower than that of the panels made from fine particles. It appears that dimensional stability of both types of panels exhibited insufficient results according to JIS. Surface roughness quality of the samples made from fine particles had average surface roughness values comparable to those of panels made in past studies. Based on initial results of this work, raw material from oil palm trunks can have some potential to be used to manufacture binderless panels without using any adhesives. This study revealed that mechanical and physical properties of such experimental panels were influenced by the particle geometry. It would be important to consider possible addition of chemical or wax in the particles to improve their dimensional stability in further studies.     

Heavy Ion Beam Probe Measurement in Turbulence Diagnostic Simulator

A numerical measurement module simulating a heavy ion beam probe was developed, and numerical measurements of electrostatic potential and density fluctuations are carried out for 3-D turbulent data generated by a global simulation of drift-interchange mode turbulence in helical plasmas. The deviation between measured and local values is estimated. It is found that the characteristic structures can be detected in spite of the screening e®ect due to the ¯nite spatial resolution.     

Identity of osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor (OCIF) and osteoprotegerin (OPG): a mechanism by which OPG/OCIF inhibits osteoclastogenesis in vitro

The morphogenesis and remodeling of bone depends on the integrated activity of osteoblasts that form bone and osteoclasts that resorb bone. We previously reported the isolation of a new cytokine termed osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor, OCIF, which specifically inhibits osteoclast development. Here we report the cloning of a complementary DNA of human OCIF. OCIF is identical to osteoprotegerin (OPG), a soluble member of the tumor-necrosis factor receptor family that inhibits osteoclastogenesis. Recombinant human OPG/OCIF specifically acts on bone tissues and increases bone mineral density and bone volume associated with a decrease of active osteoclast number in normal rats. Osteoblasts or bone marrow-derived stromal cells support osteoclastogenesis through cell-to-cell interactions. A single class of high affinity binding sites for OPG/OCIF appears on a mouse stromal cell line, ST2, in response to 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. An anti-OPG/OCIF antibody that blocks the binding abolishes the biological activity of OPG/OCIF. When the sites are blocked with OPG/OCIF, ST2 cells fail to support osteoclastogenesis. These results suggest that the sites are involved in cell-to-cell signaling between stromal cells and osteoclast progenitors and that OPG/OCIF inhibits osteoclastogenesis by interrupting the signaling through the sites.     

Kinetic model study of moisture sorption–desorption–resorption in triangular-shaped vinyl ester filler/epoxy composites

A phenomenological diffusion model was used to study and describe moisture sorption–desorption–resorption kinetics in triangular-shaped vinyl ester filler/epoxy composites at 80 °C. The model was derived to predict the experimental anomalous weight gain behaviors of epoxy composites during moisture sorption and resorption, and estimate the degree of material degradation and loss observed as negative weight change during desorption. To verify the applicability of the model, acid anhydride–cured epoxy composites were prepared at varied alignment (parallel or staggered), spacing (1 or 5 mm), and orientation (pointed or flat) of triangular-shaped vinyl ester fillers. Moisture sorption–desorption–resorption experiment was performed by immersion of specimens in deionized water for 1200 h, followed by vacuum drying for 300 h, and water reimmersion for 300 h. The parameters of the model were calculated from nonlinear regression of percent weight change versus time experimental data. The model was found to be in good agreement with the weight change kinetic curves of all specimens. Results of three-way analysis of variance of model parameters showed the degree of material degradation and moisture diffusion coefficients during sorption, desorption, and resorption to be significantly affected by triangular-shaped filler alignment, spacing, and orientation. Using staggered over parallel alignment and 5-mm over 1-mm spacing decreased material degradation and moisture transport rate during desorption in composites. Increasing the spacing from 1 to 5 mm decreased moisture diffusion during sorption. Orienting the fillers from pointed to flat decreased moisture diffusion during resorption. Effect of interaction of filler spacing and orientation was also found to be statistically significant on the diffusion rate during sorption.     

Calculation of energy distributions of charged particles produced by neutrons from 0.14 to 65 MeV in tissue substitutes

Energy distributions of secondary charged particles were calculated in tissue substitutes irradiated by neutrons from 0.14 to 65 MeV, using the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System. The calculations were compared with experimental data measured by tissue equivalent proportional counters (TEPC). It is found that the calculated distributions of the lineal energy, y, generally agree well with the measured ones for neutrons from several 100 keV to 15 MeV. In the case of 40 and 65 MeV neutron irradiations, wall effects of TEPC should be considered and the fluence of alphas is underestimated by the calculations. Integrated dose contributions of the secondary charged particles are generally in good agreement with those of the measured ones.     

Development and on-orbit operation of lithium-ion pouch battery for small scientific satellite “REIMEI”

A lithium-ion battery was developed using off-the-shelf pouch cells and launched with a small scientific satellite “REIMEI.” The cells were potted with polyurethane or epoxy resin to protect the battery from vacuum in space. Preliminary experimental test results of pouch cells potted in a soft aluminum cap suggested that the cells tended to swell in vacuum, although they had been reinforced with the resins. Bread board models (BBMs), in which pouch cells were potted with resins in a hard aluminum case, were fabricated for cycle life performance tests in the laboratory. The test results indicated that the performance of epoxy-potted BBM was superior to that of the polyurethane-potted BBM. The measured cell resistance implied that the electrolyte solution leaked through the polyurethane resin, resulting in premature deterioration. The epoxy resin was used for the flight battery. The end-of-discharge-voltage (EoDV) trend of the flight battery on orbit was compared with the laboratory test results corrected based on a post-launch cycle test using a fresh cell. The corrected EoDV trend in the laboratory was in good agreement with the on-orbit trend for the early cycle period, indicating that the on-orbit battery was not inadvertently affected by conditions in space.     

Pt/C catalyst degradation in proton exchange membrane fuel cells due to high-frequency potential cycling induced by switching power converters

Proton exchange membrane fuel cells are operated using switching power converters that produce high-frequency ripple currents. These ripples cause high-frequency potential cycling of cells, which is believed to lead premature deterioration in the electrochemical surface area (ECA) of Pt/C catalysts. The qualitative relationship between ECA losses and the frequency of potential cycling was investigated in the range of 1 Hz to 1 kHz. For frequencies higher than 100 Hz, ECA losses were comparable with those at the potential hold condition. However, for lower frequencies, ECA decreased significantly with decreasing frequency. TEM observations showed that there was marked Pt particle growth for the 1-Hz cycling condition, whereas particle size distributions at 100 Hz and potential hold conditions were comparable. The currents associated with Pt oxidation and reduction during potential cycling were also investigated at various potentials and frequencies, and the charges associated with Pt loss (ΔQ) were determined by integrating the measured current. A correlation between the ECA trend and ΔQ was observed. The results obtained in this study are considered informative for electrical engineering research, because it relates to the design of switching power converters that do not negatively influence the Pt/C catalyst durability.