Reprocessing of spent nuclear waste using ionic liquids

Nuclear power has once again attracted from all over the world due to many factors including the rise in oil process and environmental concerns on greenhouse gas emission resulting in global warming. However, spent fuel from nuclear power reactors is an enormous problem both from radiation hazard and economical point of view. Therefore, this review presents an overview of application of ionic liquids (ILs) in spent fuel reprocessing, particularly in the extraction of high-level radioactive aqueous waste from the processing of nuclear fuel.     

Prediction of the melt flow index using partial least squares and support vector regression in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) process

In polyolefin processes the melt flow index (MFI) is the most important control variable indicating product quality. Because of the difficulty in the on-line measurement of MFI, a large number of MFI estimation and correlation methods have been proposed. In this work, mechanical predicting methods such as partial least squares (PLS) method and support vector regression (SVR) method are employed in contrast to conventional dynamic prediction schemes. Results of predictions are compared with other prediction results obtained from various dynamic prediction schemes to evaluate predicting performance. Hourly MFIs are predicted and compared with operation data for the high density polyethylene process involving frequent grade changes. We can see that PLS and SVR exhibit excellent predicting performance even for severe operating situations accompanying frequent grade changes.     

Nanorod-assembled spinel Li1.05Mn1.95O4 rods with a central tunnel along the rod-axis for high rate capability of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries

Nanorod-assembled spinel Li_1.05Mn_1.95O₄ rods with a central tunnel along the rod-axis were synthesized using highly crystalline β-MnO₂ rods as self-templates. The synthesized spinel Li_1.05Mn_1.95O₄ is an assembly of several single crystal-like nanorods with an average diameter and length of 100 and 400 nm, respectively, which was determined by microstructural Rietveld refinement using the synchrotron powder XRD data. Galvanostatic battery testing showed that central-tunneled and nanorod-assembled Li_1.05Mn_1.95O₄ rods have a high charge storage capacity at high current densities in comparison with those of the spinel rods without a tunnel structure and commercial powders. Moreover, a capacity retention value of ∼81% was observed at the end of 100 cycles at a current of 250 mAh g⁻¹.     

AP2M1 Supports TGF-β Signals to Promote Collagen Expression by Inhibiting Caveolin Expression

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is important for normal development and disease states, including inflammation and fibrosis. To understand the complex regulation of ECM, we performed a suppressor screening using Caenorhabditis elegans expressing the mutant ROL-6 collagen protein. One cuticle mutant has a mutation in dpy-23 that encodes the μ2 adaptin (AP2M1) of clathrin-associated protein complex II (AP-2). The subsequent suppressor screening for dpy-23 revealed the lon-2 mutation. LON-2 functions to regulate body size through negative regulation of the tumor growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway responsible for ECM production. RNA-seq analysis showed a dominant change in the expression of collagen genes and cuticle components. We noted an increase in the cav-1 gene encoding caveolin-1, which functions in clathrin-independent endocytosis. By knockdown of cav-1, the reduced TGF-β signal was significantly restored in the dpy-23 mutant. In conclusion, the dpy-23 mutation upregulated cav-1 expression in the hypodermis, and increased CAV-1 resulted in a decrease of TβRI. Finally, the reduction of collagen expression including rol-6 by the reduced TGF-β signal influenced the cuticle formation of the dpy-23 mutant. These findings could help us to understand the complex process of ECM regulation in organism development and disease conditions.     

Regulation of ADAM10 by the TspanC8 Family of Tetraspanins and Their Therapeutic Potential

The ubiquitously expressed transmembrane protein a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) functions as a “molecular scissor”, by cleaving the extracellular regions from its membrane protein substrates in a process termed ectodomain shedding. ADAM10 is known to have over 100 substrates including Notch, amyloid precursor protein, cadherins, and growth factors, and is important in health and implicated in diseases such as cancer and Alzheimer’s. The tetraspanins are a superfamily of membrane proteins that interact with specific partner proteins to regulate their intracellular trafficking, lateral mobility, and clustering at the cell surface. We and others have shown that ADAM10 interacts with a subgroup of six tetraspanins, termed the TspanC8 subgroup, which are closely related by protein sequence and comprise Tspan5, Tspan10, Tspan14, Tspan15, Tspan17, and Tspan33. Recent evidence suggests that different TspanC8/ADAM10 complexes have distinct substrates and that ADAM10 should not be regarded as a single scissor, but as six different TspanC8/ADAM10 scissor complexes. This review discusses the published evidence for this “six scissor” hypothesis and the therapeutic potential this offers.     

Thermal treatment effect on the magnetoelectric properties of (Ni0.5Zn0.5)Fe2O4/Pt/Pb(Zr0.3Ti0.7)O3 heterostructured thin films

Magnetoelectric (ME) property modulation in heterostructured (Ni_0.5Zn_0.5)Fe₂O₄/Pt/Pb(Zr_0.3Ti_0.7)O₃ (NZFO/Pt/PZT) thin films on platinized Si substrate by thermal annealing condition variation was studied. In an attempt to prevent interfacial reaction between NZFO and PZT layers during high temperature annealing, thin Pt layer was deposited which can serve as inter-diffusion barrier as well as electrode. The ferroelectric, magnetic, and ME properties of the heterostructured film were noticeably modulated due to microstructural evolution and clamping relaxation developed during thermal annealing process. Room temperature ME voltage coefficient of the heterostructured thin films was enhanced with increasing annealing temperature and reached to 29 mV/cm·Oe when annealed at 650 °C.     

Evaluation of pre‐heating and extraction solvents in antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of garlic,and their application in fresh pork patties

The objectives of this study were to screen the optimum conditions for antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of garlic as affected by pre‐heating and different extraction solvents, and to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of these extracts in ground meat during refrigerated storage. Methanol extracted garlic had a greater total phenolic content, 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)‐radical scavenging activity and reducing power than water extracted one (P < 0.05), whereas the latter had a greater yield and iron chelating ability than the former (P < 0.05). Moreover, water extract from fresh garlic (WEFG) and methanol extract from heated garlic (MEHG) produced an inhibition zone against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. The addition of garlic extracts (WEFG, MEHG and their combinations WEFMEHG)) to pork patties decreased the pH, hunter a values (redness), thiobarbituric acid substances values and the number of total plate count and Enterobacteriaceae (P < 0.05), while the hunter b values (yellowness) increased (P < 0.05). Results of this study indicated that the use of the garlic extracts was able to control lipid oxidation and microbial growth in pork patties.     

Fabrication of a 3-dimensional microstructure by sequential anodic oxidation (SAO)

Scanning probe lithography (SPL) has considerable potential for producing small features (<100 nm) with a high spatial precision, and would be useful for fabricating 2-dimensional (2D) structures. However, it has not been used successfully in the fabrication of 3-dimensional (3D) structures due to the low aspect ratio of the resulting feature. Herein, we describe a simple 3D pattering method with repeated SPL, in which precise layer-by-layer alignment is not needed. Results and processes of the pattern can be readily observed in real-time. Using the proposed method, we successfully fabricated a 3D pyramidal structure. Additional growth for repeated oxidation was observed due to the superposition of energy absorbed on the pre-oxidized species.     

The cytoplasmic membrane is a primary target for the staphylocidal action of thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein

Thrombin-induced platelet microbicidal protein (tPMP-1) is a small, cationic peptide released from rabbit platelets exposed to thrombin in vitro. tPMP-1 is microbicidal against a broad spectrum of bloodstream pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus. Preliminary evidence suggests that tPMP-1 targets and disrupts the staphylococcal cytoplasmic membrane. However, it is not clear if the cytoplasmic membrane is a direct or indirect target of tPMP-1. Therefore, we assessed the in vitro activity of tPMP-1 versus protoplasts prepared from logarithmic-phase (LOG) or stationary-phase (STAT) cells of the genetically related S. aureus strains 19S and 19R (tPMP-1 susceptible and resistant, respectively). Protoplasts exposed to tPMP-1 (2 microg/ml) for 2 h at 37 degrees C were monitored for lysis (decrease in optical density at 420 nm) and ultrastructural alterations (by transmission electron microscopy [TEM]). Exposure to tPMP-1 resulted in substantial lysis of LOG but not STAT protoplasts of 19S, coinciding with protoplast membrane disruption observed by TEM. Thus, it appears that tPMP-1-induced membrane damage is influenced by the bacterial growth phase but is independent of the staphylococcal cell wall. In contrast to 19S, neither LOG nor STAT protoplasts of 19R were lysed by tPMP-1. tPMP-1-induced membrane damage was further characterized with anionic planar lipid bilayers subjected to various trans-negative voltages. tPMP-1 increased conductance across bilayers at -90 mV but not at -30 mV. Once initiated, a reduction in voltage from -90 to -30 mV diminished conductance magnitude but did not eliminate tPMP-1-mediated membrane permeabilization. Therefore, tPMP-1 appears to directly target the staphylococcal cytoplasmic membrane as a primary event in its mechanism of action. Specifically, tPMP-1 likely leads to staphylococcal death, at least in part by permeabilizing the bacterial membrane in a voltage-dependent manner.