Immunomodulatory effect of mushrooms on cytotoxic activity and cytokine production of intestinal lamina propria leukocytes does not necessarily depend on β-glucan contents

We evaluated the effects of seven mushroom extracts (Grifola frondosa, Pholiota nameko, Panellus serotinus, Hypsizygus marmoreus, Pleurotus cornucopiae, Armillaria mellea, and Flammulina velutipes) on cytotoxic activity and cytokine production of lamina propria leukocytes (LPLs) isolated from rat small (S) and large (L) intestinal mucosa. Boiling water extracts from seven species of mushrooms showed no direct cytotoxicity against the YAC-1 target cells. However, prominent increases of cytotoxicity were observed in S- and L-LPLs co-cultured with P. serotinus extract. Cytokine production (TNFα, IFNγ, IL-12 p70, and IL-4) of S- and L-LPLs was stimulated in response to P. cornucopiae extract. Mushroom extracts contributed to target cell adhesion and/or cytokine production in the effector cells. The promotion of cytotoxic activity in S- and L-LPLs was not necessarily related to β-glucan content of the mushroom.     

Development of biobased microwave absorbing composites with various magnetic metals and carbons

The preparation and characterization of a biobased electromagnetic absorbing composites derived from natural lacquer as a renewable resource with microwave‐absorption fillers, including Ni–Zn ferrite and carbonyl iron (CI) as magnetic metals and soot and carbon nanotube (CNT) as carbon materials, were investigated in terms of the gel content, hardness, drying properties, and electromagnetic absorption properties. Interestingly, composites with ferrite and CI contained up to 320 and 550 wt %, respectively, of these compounds. This quite high loading capacity of the metal fillers in a natural‐lacquer base could have been due to the high compatibility between the filler and the natural lacquer; this indicated that the natural lacquer worked as a binder for these metals. The morphology of the biobased composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The electromagnetic absorption properties of composites were characterized in the frequency range from 0.05 and 20 GHz by the reflection loss (RL) measurement method in terms of the kind of fillers and filler loading. The natural lacquer did not affect the absorption properties of the fillers. Biobased composites showed over 99% electromagnetic absorption in the frequency range 3.0–4.0 GHz for 280 wt % ferrite and 8.9–9.7 GHz for 200 wt % CI. Conversely, 10 and 20 wt % soot exhibited good performance (RL < ?20 dB) between 16.5 and 17.3 and between 8.8 and 9.2 GHz, respectively. The areas with RL values of less than ?20 dB of the CNT composites were 10.4–11.0 GHz for 5 wt % and 14.6–15.2 GHz for 10 wt %. Hence, natural lacquer can be used as a binder material for electromagnetic absorption composites. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44131.     

Laser brazing of a dissimilar joint of austenitic stainless steel and pure copper

In many industries, there are applications that require the joining of stainless steel and copper components; therefore, the welding of dissimilar stainless steel/copper joints is a common process. For this investigation, the optimal brazing conditions and suitable filler metals for laser brazing of stainless steel/copper lap joints were studied. Tensile shear force increases with increases in the laser spot diameter or in the laser irradiation angle, which is associated with increased bonding width; however, as bonding width approaches 2 mm, tensile shear force reaches a saturated value due to fracturing at the HAZ of the Cu base plate. In order to obtain joints with high tensile shear strength, laser brazing was optimized by using Cu–Si-based filler metal under the following conditions: laser power, 4 kW; spot diameter, 3 mm; laser irradiation angle, 80°; irradiation position shift, 0.6 mm; brazing speed, 0.30 m/min; and filler metal feed speed, 0.30 min. Concerning filler metals, it was found that the Ni–Cu type showed relatively large tensile shear force even at high welding speeds in comparison with those of the Cu–Si, Cu, Cu–Ni, Ni–Cu and Ni types, respectively.     

Applicability of the generalized scaling law to a pile-inclined ground system subject to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading

The generalized scaling law is based on the concept of two-stage scaling and allows currently available centrifuge facilities to model a large-scale prototype expanding over the spatial dimension ranging from 30 m or larger subject to earthquake motions. This paper presents the results of investigation on the applicability of the generalized scaling law to the fully nonlinear regime of soil-structure system with the induced strain level of 10% in the order of magnitude. The centrifuge model tests performed in this study under the modeling of models scheme consist of a pile model embedded in a inclined ground subject to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading. Four different centrifugal accelerations ranging from 13g to 50g are used whereas the actual size of the physical model is kept constant with an overall scaling factor of 1/100. The models are exposed to tapered sinusoidal input accelerations of frequency 0.59 Hz and amplitude 3.0 m/s² in prototype scale, and the results are compared in terms of prototype by applying the generalized scaling law. As for the response of the ground during shaking, essentially identical accelerations and excess pore water pressures are recorded for all cases, while the lateral displacement shows a variation ranging from 5% to 9% in terms of shear strain due to a slight variation in experimental conditions (e.g., input peak acceleration, achieved density distribution). Practically the same responses are measured among the cases in the dissipation phase of excess pore water pressure. With regard to pile behavior, nearly identical responses for the lateral displacements and bending moments are obtained for all cases both during and after shaking. These results demonstrated that the generalized scaling law is applicable to the fully nonlinear regime of soil-structure system subject to the cumulative shear strain in the order of 10% due to cyclic mobility of sands during earthquakes.     

Characterization of the Oxide Scale Formed on T12 Water Wall Tube After Long-term Service in Supercritical Power Plant

Oxidation of Metals - Oxide scale control is one of the critical maintenance issues in fossil fuel power plant. Hence, the water treatment of the feed water has been changed from all-volatile...     

Surface Analysis of Cr2O3‐, CoO‐, and Al2O3‐Doped Iron–Phosphate Glasses at High Temperature

Surface structures of iron–phosphate glasses were examined using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cr₂O₃, CoO, and Al₂O₃ were introduced to the glass by the replacement of a part of Fe₂O₃, and the simulated fission products are also added. The obtained glasses showed high chemical durabilities by MCC‐1 test. In situ high‐temperature and room‐temperature XPS measurements were conducted on the polished sample surfaces and also those after 1‐week chemical durability test. Unique trends were observed in XPS spectra on heating and after the chemical durability test, respectively. Nature of the glass surface of iron–phosphate glasses was explained from the point of view of surface energy, and the origin of high chemical durability and the effect of chromium ions were discussed based on the changes on surface composition and valence states of transition‐metal ions.     

Role of interfacial potential in coagulation of cuprammonium cellulose solution

The electric potential, copper ion flux, and ammonia flux across the interface of cuprammonium cellulose solution (CCS) and various 1.0 equiv/Lelectrolyte solutions (ES) at 25°C were measured. The interfacial potentials were strongly negative (–10 to –35 mV) with H₂SO_4, HCI, and (NH₄)₂SO₄ as ES, weakly positive (6 to 8 mV) with NaCl, KCl, LiCl, CsCL, and RbCl as ES, and strongly positive (19 to 34 mV) with KOH and NaOH as ES, generally showing values similar to the diffusion potentials for electrolyte solutions comprising ions of the same absolute charge. The ammonia flux (about 1 X 10^-4 mol/cm₂/s) was relatively unaffected by the interfacial potential, but the copper ion flux was clearly dependent on it. These results, together with the observed rates of CCS coagulation, indicate that the mechanism of the coagulation was largely determined by the interfacial potential, with strongly negative potential gradients accelerating the Cu²⁺ flux into the ES and CCS coagulation proceeding rapidly by Cu²⁺ removal, strongly positive potential gradients accelerating the Na⁺ flux into the CCS and coagulation proceeding rapidly via the formation of cellulose-Na⁺ complex, and the absence of a strong potential gradient capable of accelerating the ion flux resulting in slow coagulation by ammonia removal. It may therefore be possible to control the interfacial potential and the ion flux by the ES composition, and thus to influence the structure of regenerated cellulosic fibers and membranes. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Photoacoustic Spectroscopy of Some Energetic Materials

To find an effective laser source to ignite energetic materials, the absorption spectra of some energetic materials are obtained by means of a photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS). In this experiment, PAS covers the wavelength region of 400 nm-1600 nm in which no other conventional method can take absorption spectra for powdered energetic materials. Photoacoustic spectra of 18 energetic materials are reported. In general, energetic materials tested showed peaks in 600 nm–800 nm and 1400 nm–1600 nm ranges. It is found that the energy required to initiate explosives in the case of ruby laser initiation were correlated with their photoacoustic signal intensities.     

Metabolic Activation of Heterocyclic Amines and Expression of Xenobiotic‐Metabolizing Enzymes in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Rats

Heterocyclic amines get entry into human body mainly through ingestion of pan‐fried meats cooked at high temperatures. Exposure of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) to ingested xenobiotics prior to delivery to the liver may lead to metabolic activation, which may explain the high incidence of GIT carcinogenesis. Therefore, this study investigated the mutagenic activation of 2 heterocyclic amines, 2‐aminoanthracene (2‐AA) and 3‐amino‐1‐methyl‐5H‐prydo[4,3‐b]indole (Trp‐P‐2), in the GIT of rats. In addition, the constitutive mRNA expression profiles of xenobiotic‐metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) in the GIT of rats were examined. Metabolic activation of 2‐AA was detected in all GIT tissues except the duodenum and rectum, and it was detected at high levels in the ileum and cecum. Furthermore, we revealed high metabolic activation of 2‐AA and Trp‐P‐2 in the jejunum. The mRNA expression of phase I and II enzymes in rat GIT corresponded with their mutagenic activation ability. In conclusion, our results suggest that different expression levels of XME among GIT tissues may contribute to the tissue‐specific differences in metabolic activation of xenobiotics such as heterocyclic amines in rats.