Reaction Kinetics of Methanol Carbonylation to Methyl Formate Catalyzed by CH3O− Exchange Resin

The carbonylation of methanol with CO using CH₃O⁻ exchange resin as a heterogeneous catalyst at temperatures near 350 K is examined systematically in an attempt to derive kinetic rate expressions for the reaction. The activation energies for the carbonylation and decarbonylation reactions are found to be 68 kJ/mol and 105 kJ/mol, respectively. The CH₃O⁻ exchange resin is also shown to suffer no degradation of catalytic activity upon repeated separation and re-use at 353 K.     

Application of land use regression to regulatory air quality data in Japan

A land use regression (LUR) model has been used successfully for predicting traffic-related pollutants, although its application has been limited to Europe and North America. Therefore, we modeled traffic-related pollutants by LUR then examined whether LUR models could be constructed using a regulatory monitoring network in Shizuoka, Japan. We used the annual-mean nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) concentrations between April 2000 and March 2006 in the study area. SPM accounts for particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than 8 μm (PM₈). Geographic variables that are considered to predict traffic-related pollutants were classified into four groups: road type, traffic intensity, land use, and physical component. Using geographical variables, we then constructed a model to predict the monitored levels of NO₂ and SPM. The mean concentrations of NO₂ and SPM were 35.75 μg/m³ (standard deviation of 11.28) and 28.67 μg/m³ (standard deviation of 4.73), respectively. The final regression model for the NO₂ concentration included five independent variables. R² for the NO₂ model was 0.54. On the other hand, the regression model for the SPM concentration included only one independent variable. R² for the SPM model was quite low (R² = 0.11). The present study showed that even if we used regulatory monitoring air quality data, we could estimate NO₂ moderately well. This result could encourage the wide use of LUR models in Asian countries.     

Characterization of acidic property of sulfo-group functionalized microporous and mesoporous silica by adsorption microcalorimetry

Sulfo-group functionalized microporous and mesoporous silica based-on a MCM-41 framework which showed solid acid property were synthesized and characterized by adsorption microcalorimetry. Both the sulfo-functionalized microporous and mesoporous silica (Micro-SO₃H and Meso-SO₃H) were prepared by the oxidation of thiol group (–SH) included mesoporous silica which was obtained through the hydrolysis and co-condensation of tetramethoxysilane (TMOS) and mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane (MPTMS). The samples have an ordered two-dimensional hexagonal pore array similar to that of MCM-41 as depicted from the XRD patterns. Nitrogen adsorption also shows that both microporous and mesoporous silica have pore characteristics similar to MCM-41, i.e. high surface area and high pore volume. However, pore regularity, surface area and pore volume decreased as the MPTMS loading increased. Solid-state ²⁹Si NMR indicated that the sulfo groups were successfully incorporated into both microporous and mesoporous silica frameworks. This sulfo-functionalized porous silica have high NH₃ uptakes and high differential heats of NH₃ adsorption, suggesting the presence of strong acidic sulfo groups on the silica surface. Acid catalyses of the samples were characterized by the isomerization reaction of but-1-ene to cis, trans-but-2-ene.     

Tribological properties of asperity arrays coated with self-assembled monolayers

The effects of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) coating on the friction and pull-off forces were determined by using two-dimensional asperity arrays on silicon wafers. The arrays were coated with SAM composed of one of five different alkylchlorsilanes. First, two-dimensional asperity arrays were created by using a focussed ion beam (FIB) system to mill patterns on silicon plates. Each silicon plate had different patterns of equally spaced asperities. Each pattern (5 × 5 μm²) had a different radius of curvature of the asperity peaks, ranging from about 200 to 2500 nm. Then, each silicon plate was immersed in a solution of a different alkylchlorsilane in hexane (either hexyltrichlorosilane, octyltrichlorosilane, dodecyltrichlorosilane, tetradecyltrichlorosilane, or octadecyltrichlorosilane), thus coating the asperity arrays with SAM. The friction and pull-off forces on the SAM-coated arrays were measured by using an atomic force microscope (AFM) that had a square flat probe. The pull-off force for SAM-coated silicon was roughly proportional to the radius of curvature of the asperity peaks. The magnitude of the pull-off force corresponded approximately to the capillary force calculated by using the contact angle of water on the surface of SAM. The friction coefficient correlated with the inverse of the alkyl-chain length of the SAM.     

Pemafibrate Prevents Retinal Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Unilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion

Cardiovascular diseases lead to retinal ischemia, one of the leading causes of blindness. Retinal ischemia triggers pathological retinal glial responses and functional deficits. Therefore, maintaining retinal neuronal activities and modulating pathological gliosis may prevent loss of vision. Previously, pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator, was nominated as a promising drug in retinal ischemia. However, a protective role of pemafibrate remains untouched in cardiovascular diseases-mediated retinal ischemia. Therefore, we aimed to unravel systemic and retinal alterations by treating pemafibrate in a new murine model of retinal ischemia caused by cardiovascular diseases. Adult C57BL/6 mice were orally administered pemafibrate (0.5 mg/kg) for 4 days, followed by unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (UCCAO). After UCCAO, pemafibrate was continuously supplied to mice until the end of experiments. Retinal function (a-and b-waves and the oscillatory potentials) was measured using electroretinography on day 5 and 12 after UCCAO. Moreover, the retina, liver, and serum were subjected to qPCR, immunohistochemistry, or ELISA analysis. We found that pemafibrate enhanced liver function, elevated serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), one of the neuroprotective molecules in the eye, and protected against UCCAO-induced retinal dysfunction, observed with modulation of retinal gliosis and preservation of oscillatory potentials. Our current data suggest a promising pemafibrate therapy for the suppression of retinal dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases.     

Arc welding of annular seams under flux in high-strength X80 steel pipe

The relation between the content of martensitic-austenitic phase and the final temperature in accelerated cooling is investigated, in terms of the attainment of high deformability without failure. The ratio of the yield point to the strength (Y/T) in the longitudinal direction (L) of X80 steel pipe produced by UOE technology is found to be between 0.74–0.79. This indicates good deformability of the pipe. A welding technology has been developed such that the metal in the seam matches the strength of the X80 steel pipe. In industrial flexure tests, when the internal pressure is 72% of the standard yield point (SMYS) of X80 steel, the failure of X80 steel pipe welded by the given technology occurs in the basic metal, far from the annular weld.     

Local anesthetic lidocaine inhibits the effect of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor on human neutrophil functions

Recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) enhanced superoxide (O2-) release in human neutrophils stimulated by the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and inversely regulated the surface expression of cellular adhesion molecules, leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (LAM-1) and CD11b/CD18 leukocyte integrin, on human neutrophils; that is, rhG-CSF downregulated the expression of LAM-1 and upregulated the expression of CD11b on neutrophils. The cationic local anesthetic lidocaine inhibited not only FMLP-induced O2- release in neutrophils but also FMLP-induced CD11b upregulation and LAM-1 downregulation on neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. Lidocaine also abolished the priming effect of rhG-CSF for enhanced release of O2- in neutrophils and inhibited rhG-CSF-induced CD11b upregulation and LAM-1 downregulation on neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that lidocaine inhibits human neutrophil functions, such as adherence to endothelial cells, by interfering with the expression of cellular adhesion molecules on neutrophils, and that lidocaine might have anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the effect of inflammatory cytokines.     

A personal perspective on problem solving by general purpose solvers

To solve the problems that abound in real‐world applications, we are proposing an approach of using general‐purpose solvers, as we cannot afford to develop special‐purpose algorithms for all individual problems. The existing general‐purpose solvers such as linear programming and integer programming are very useful but not sufficient. To improve the situation, we have developed solvers for other standard problems such as the constraint satisfaction problem and the resource‐constrained project scheduling problem among others. In this article, we describe why general‐purpose solvers are needed, what kinds of solvers we considered, how they were developed and where they have been applied.