The stability of monochlorotriazinyl reactive dyes on cellulose films in aqueous alkaline solutions containing peroxide bleaching agents

The stability of seven reactive (one difluoromonochloropyrimidinyl and six monochlorotriazinyl) dyes on cellulose immersed in sodium peroxoborate (PB) solution (UK–TO solution) containing tetraacetylethylenediamine (TAED) was examined using cellulosic films at 60 °C. The extent of dye loss that occurred from the dyed cellulosic films which were immersed in the UK–TO solution without detergent correlated closely to the ratings obtained using the BS 1006 UK–TO wash test. The dye loss that occurred from the dyed cellophane films was attributed to three contributions, namely, alkaline hydrolysis of dye–fibre bonds, oxidative fading of the dye chromophore by peroxides and cellulose degradation accelerated by PB and TAED. The alkaline hydrolysis of the dye–fibre bond and the extent of cellulose degradation in the UK–TO solution were the main contributions to the dye loss; dye oxidation was a minor factor in the dye loss mechanism. The physical bonding of the dye molecules reinforced the covalent dye–fibre bond stability towards the UK–TO solution.     

Preparation and mesostructure control of highly ordered zirconia particles having crystalline walls

Mesostructured zirconia particles having monoclinic-type crystalline walls were prepared using a low-temperature crystallization technique. Crystalline zirconia particles with highly-ordered mesostructures were obtained through the sol–gel process of zirconium sulfate tetrahydrate at 333 K in the presence of molecular self-assemblies of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or mixtures of CTAB and anionic molecules such as sodium dodecyl sulfate and sodium p-toluenesulfonate. Variations in the molar ratios of CTAB and the chemical species of anionic molecules led to the variations in the periods of highly-ordered zirconia having crystalline walls. Calcination of the mesostructured zirconia particles prepared using templates consisting solely of CTAB yielded crystalline mesoporous zirconia particles.     

Preparation of Plate‐Like Sodium Niobate Particles by Hydrothermal Method

Sodium niobate NaNbO₃ hydrate (NN‐hydrate) particles with a plate‐like morphology were prepared at 140°C for 2 h in 12 mol/L of NaOH by the hydrothermal method. Bar‐like Na₈Nb₆O₁₉·13H₂O particles were synthesized at as low as 100°C for 2 h. This work demonstrates that by carefully optimizing the reaction condition, we can selectively fabricate niobate structures, including the bar‐like, plate‐like, fibers and cube particles through a direct reaction between NaOH solution and Nb₂O₅. It was found that Nb₆O₁₉^8? formed was an important premise for formation of the NN‐hydrate, and lower [OH^–] was not favorable in preparing the NN‐hydrate as there was an optimum [OH^?]. Through researching effects of the reaction temperature, time, concentration of NaOH, and content of Nb₂O₅ on the NN‐hydrate structure and evolution, the formation mechanism from solid reactants to the intermediate were investigated. After calcining at 800°C, the synthesized NN‐hydrate particles made a phase almost transform to the perovskite NaNbO₃, and the morphology of these calcined particles was still plate‐like.     

Preparation of Morphology‐Controlled Plate‐Like Sodium Niobate Particles by Hydrothermal Synthesis

Sodium niobate (NaNbO₃) particles with plate‐like morphology and hexagonal unit cells were prepared by the hydrothermal method. The result of SEM showed that the hexagonal NaNbO₃ were characterized by plate‐like morphology with a diameter of 5–15 μm and a thickness of 1–2 μm. The crucial influences on the morphology and crystal phase of the NaNbO₃, such as concentration of [OH^?], surfactant, and K⁺:Na⁺ ratio, were established. By further calcination treatment, the plate‐like hexagonal NaNbO₃ particles could be completely transformed into perovskite structure without morphology change. The XRD and EBSD results indicate that the major face of the calcined particles is parallel to the crystallographic (001)_pc (pseudo cubic index) plane. Compared with the traditional high‐temperature molten salt method, this work provides a simpler way to prepare the template for fabricating textured ceramics.     

Non‐cooperative game‐based packet ferry forwarding for sparse mobile wireless networks

In sparse mobile wireless networks, normally, the mobile nodes are carried by people, and the moving activity of nodes always happens in a specific area, which corresponds to some specific community. Between the isolated communities, there is no stable communication link. Therefore, it is difficult to ensure the effective packet transmission among communities, which leads to the higher packet delivery delay and lower successful delivery ratio. Recently, an additional ferry node was introduced to forward packets between the isolated communities. However, most of the existing algorithms are working on how to control the trajectory of only one ferry work in the network. In this paper, we consider multiple ferries working in the network scenario and put our main focus on the optimal packet selection strategy, under the condition of mutual influence between the ferries and the buffer limitation. We introduce a non‐cooperative Bayesian game to achieve the optimal packet selection strategy. By maximizing the individual income of a ferry, we optimize the network performance on packet delivery delay and successful delivery ratio. Simulation results show that our proposed packet selection strategy improves the network performance on packet delivery delay and successful delivery ratio. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Separation of Ru(III), Rh(III) and Pd(II) from nitric acid solutions using ion-exchange resins bearing carboxylic betaine

To understand the adsorption properties of a styrene–divinylbenzene copolymer functionalized with N,N,N-trimethylglycine, AMP03, the adsorption behaviours for platinoid ions (Ru(III), Rh(III) and Pd(II)) were examined. Furthermore, we performed adsorption experiments using sample solutions by adding triethylamine, thiourea and N,N,N-trimethylglycine. Based on the adsorption data obtained in this study, we performed chromatographic experiments. The results indicated that all platinoid ions in the feed solution completely adsorbed on AMP03, and almost 80% of the adsorbed platinoid ions were recovered. These results show that AMP03 has the potential to recover Ru(III), Rh(III) and Pd(II) from high-level liquid waste.     

Correlations of Hepatic Hemodynamics,Liver Function,and Fibrosis Markers in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Comparison with Chronic Hepatitis Related to Hepatitis C Virus

The progression of chronic liver disease differs by etiology. The aim of this study was to elucidate the difference in disease progression between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by means of fibrosis markers, liver function, and hepatic tissue blood flow (TBF). Xenon computed tomography (Xe-CT) was performed in 139 patients with NAFLD and 152 patients with CHC (including liver cirrhosis (LC)). The cutoff values for fibrosis markers were compared between NAFLD and CHC, and correlations between hepatic TBF and liver function tests were examined at each fibrosis stage. The cutoff values for detection of the advanced fibrosis stage were lower in NAFLD than in CHC. Although portal venous TBF (PVTBF) correlated with liver function tests, PVTBF in initial LC caused by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH-LC) was significantly lower than that in hepatitis C virus (C-LC) (p = 0.014). Conversely, the liver function tests in NASH-LC were higher than those in C-LC (p < 0.05). It is important to recognize the difference between NAFLD and CHC. We concluded that changes in hepatic blood flow occurred during the earliest stage of hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD; therefore, patients with NAFLD need to be followed carefully.     

Blood Pressure Elevation of Tubular Specific (P)RR Transgenic Mice and Lethal Tubular Degeneration due to Possible Intracellular Interactions between (P)RR and Alternative Renin Products

The prorenin/renin receptor ((P)RR) is a multifunctional protein that is widely distributed in various organs. Despite intensive research for more than 20 years, this receptor has not been fully characterized. In this study, we generated mice overexpressing the tubular epithelial (P)RR gene ((P)RR-TG mice) to test the previously reported functional role of (P)RR by Ramkumar et al. in 2015 using tubular specific (P)RR KO mice. (P)RR-TG mice were maintained and analyzed in individual metabolic cages and were administered angiotensin II blocker (ARB), direct renin inhibitor (DRI), and bafilomycin, that is, vacuolar ATPase (V-ATPase) antagonist. (P)RR-TG mice were hypertensive and had alkalized urine with lower osmolality and Na⁺ excretion. ARB and DRI, but not bafilomycin, concurrently decreased blood pressure. Bafilomycin acidized urine of (P)RR-TG mice, or equivalently this phenomenon restored the effect of overexpressed transgene, suggesting that (P)RR functioned as a V-ATPase in renal tubules. Afterall, (P)RR-TG mice were mated with alternative renin transgenic mice (ARen2-TG), which we identified as intracellular renin previously, to generate double transgenic mice (DT-TG). Lethal renal tubular damage was observed in DT-TG mice, suggesting that intracellular renin may be a ligand for (P)RR in tubules. In summary, (P)RR did not substantially affect the tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in our model of tubular specific (P)RR gene over-expression, but alternative intracellular renin may be involved in (P)RR signaling in addition to conventional V-ATPase function. Further investigations are warranted.     

Identification of genes from Aspergillus oryzae that are preferentially expressed in membrane-surface liquid culture

We identified 22 genes from Aspergillus oryzae that are preferentially expressed in membrane-surface liquid culture (MSLC), among which Ser/Thr protein kinase (aopk1) and phosphatase (aoppt) genes were cloned. We also revealed that aopk1 encodes a protein with an N-terminal sequence 150 amino acid residues longer than that predicted from the registered sequence in GenBank.