Production of ultra fine SiC powder from SiC bulk by arc-plasma irradiation under different atmospheres and its application to photocatalysts

The production of ultrafine SiC powder from a SiC bulk (containing 10wt% Si) was examined by the arc-plasma method under different atmospheres such as argon, argon and hydrogen, argon and helium, and argon and nitrogen. No melting of SiC bulk occurred during arcplasma irradiation, and even pure argon gas was effective for the production of the ultrafine powder. The SiC powder produced has the structure of -SiC, compared to -structure of the bulk SiC. The average particle size of the SiC powder produced decreased to one-half of the value when hydrogen or helium was added to argon. Smaller particles of SiC are formed by the arc-plasma gases with a large thermal conductivity. The present results confirm that sublimation is a major process in the production of ultrafine SiC powder. The SiC powder is found to be effective as a photocatalyst for the decomposition of water.     

Suppression of Rhombohedral-Phase Appearance and Low-Temperature Sintering of Scandia-Doped Cubic-Zirconia

Inhibition of cubic-rhombohedral phase transformation and low-temperature sintering at 1000°C were achieved for 10-mol%-Sc₂O₃-doped cubic-ZrO₂ by the presence of 1 mol% Bi₂O₃. The powders of 1-mol%-Bi₂O₃–10-mol%-Sc₂O₃-doped ZrO₂ were prepared using a hydrolysis and homogeneous precipitation technique. No trace of rhombohedral-ZrO₂ phase could be detected, even after sintering at 1000°–1400°C. The average grain size of the ZrO₂ sintered at 1200°C was >2 μm because of grain growth in the presence of Bi³⁺. Cubic, stabilized Bi-Sc-doped ZrO₂ sintered at 1200°C had sufficient conductivity at 1000°C (0.33 S/cm) to be used as an electrolyte for a solid-oxide fuel cell (SOFC) and at 800°C (0.12 S/cm) for an intermediate-temperature SOFC.     

Minimal effective dose on serum cholesterol concentration and the safety evaluation of dressing containing plant sterol in Japanese subjects

We examined the minimal effective dose on serum cholesterol concentration and the safety of dressing containing plant sterol in humans. EXP.1: Sixty-eight healthy Japanese males (total cholesterol (TC) > or = 170 mg/dL) were randomly divided into four groups, and were given 0, 400, 800 or 1200 mg/day of plant sterol in 15 g dressing for 4 weeks followed by the washout period of 4 weeks. Although there were no significant differences in serum TC and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations among all groups after feeding plant sterol for 4 weeks, in 36 subjects with TC > or = 220 mg/dL, serum LDL-C concentration tended to reduce when received 800 or 1200 mg of plant sterol, and the difference between 0 and 1200 mg groups was statistically significant. The difference between 0 and 800 mg groups was near significant (p=0.053). Intake of 400 mg of plant sterol did not change serum LDL-C concentration. EXP.2: Twenty-one healthy Japanese subjects (TC > or = 180 mg/dL, 10 men, 11 women) were given 2400 mg/day of plant sterol in 45 g dressing for 4 weeks. Clinical data were all remained normal. These results indicated that minimal effective dose of the plant sterol on serum cholesterol concentration in healthy male subjects is around 800 mg/day, and intake of 2400 mg/day of plant sterol is regarded to be safe.     

Development and verification of a new nuclear data processing system FRENDY

Japan Atomic Energy Agency developed the new nuclear data processing system FRom Evaluated Nuclear Data librarY to any application (FRENDY) in order to solve the problems of the current widely used nuclear data processing systems and process the new evaluated nuclear data file. Verification of FRENDY was carried out by three steps, i.e. verification of each function, comparison of the results, and comparison of the k_eff values for the 79 benchmark experiments in the ICSBEP handbook using cross section data library processed by FRENDY with those by NJOY99. These results verified that FRENDY generates the ACE (A Compact ENDF) file correctly.     

DUSP-1 Induced by PGE2 and PGE1 Attenuates IL-1β-Activated MAPK Signaling,Leading to Suppression of NGF Expression in Human Intervertebral Disc Cells

The molecular mechanism of discogenic low back pain (LBP) involves nonphysiological nerve invasion into a degenerated intervertebral disc (IVD), induced by nerve growth factor (NGF). Selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitors are mainly used in the treatment of LBP, and act by suppressing the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), which is induced by inflammatory stimuli, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β). However, in our previous in vitro study using cultured human IVD cells, we demonstrated that the induction of NGF by IL-1β is augmented by a selective COX-2 inhibitor, and that PGE₂ and PGE₁ suppress NGF expression. Therefore, in this study, to elucidate the mechanism of NGF suppression by PGE₂ and PGE₁, we focused on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and its phosphatase, dual-specificity phosphatase (DUSP)-1. IL-1β-induced NGF expression was altered in human IVD cells by MAPK pathway inhibitors. PGE₂ and PGE₁ enhanced IL-1β-induced DUSP-1 expression, and suppressed the phosphorylation of MAPKs in human IVD cells. In DUSP-1 knockdown cells established using small interfering RNA, IL-1β-induced phosphorylation of MAPKs was enhanced and prolonged, and NGF expression was significantly enhanced. These results suggest that PGE₂ and PGE₁ suppress IL-1β-induced NGF expression by suppression of the MAPK signaling pathway, accompanied by increased DUSP-1 expression.     

Recovery time to superconducting state after quench in superconducting fault‐current limiter

Since fault current tends to increase with electrical power demand, current‐limiting technology for overcurrents has been investigated. As a promising candidate, the superconducting fault‐current limiter (SC‐FCL) is expected to be introduced into power systems. One of the most important features of the SC‐FCL is recovery to a normal operating mode, that is, superconducting state rapidly after current interruption. In this paper, the recovery time of an SC‐FCL introduced into a distribution power system is discussed. To obtain the fundamental data, the recovery time of short Nb‐Ti superconducting cables was measured. We developed a method of calculation of the recovery time and it was confirmed that the calculated results agree with the measured ones. We studied the recovery characteristics of an SC‐FCL in a 6.6‐kV distribution system for the short‐circuit fault near the substation. We considered 3 and 17 cycles as the period from fault occurrence until current interruption. As a result, the superconducting cable length required to recover within the high‐speed reclosing time of 0.3 s are more that 270 and 480 m for 3 and 17 cycles, respectively. © 2000 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 132(4): 34–44, 2000     

A finite element analysis for inverse heat conduction problems

This paper presents an efficient inverse analysis technique based on a sensitivity coefficient algorithm to estimate the unknown boundary conditions of multidimensional steady and transient heat conduction problems. Sensitivity coefficients were used to represent the temperature response of a system under unit loading conditions. The proposed method, coupled with the sensitivity analysis in the finite element formulation, is capable of estimating both the unknown temperature and heat flux on the surface provided that temperature data are given at discrete points in the interior of a solid body. Inverse heat conduction problems are referred to as ill-posed because minor inaccuracy or error in temperature measurements cause a drastic effect on the predicted surface temperature and heat flux. To verify the accuracy and validity of the new method, two-dimensional steady and transient problems are considered. Their surface temperature and heat flux are evaluated. From a comparison with the exact solution, the effects of measurement accuracy, number and location of measuring points, a time step, and regularization terms are discussed. © 1998 Scripta Technica. Heat Trans Jpn Res, 26(6): 345–359, 1997     

Estimation of long-term dietary exposure to acrylamide of the Japanese people

Acrylamide is a probable human carcinogen and known human neurotoxin. This study estimated hypothetical long-term dietary exposure to acrylamide of the Japanese people using probabilistic and deterministic approaches by combining the concentration of acrylamide in foods with the amount and frequency of food consumption in the population. Data included acrylamide concentrations in more than 2400 individual food samples from a national survey and the literature from 2004 to 2013. Food consumption amounts were derived from the data of 24,293 Japanese citizens aged 1 year and older in the 2012 National Health and Nutrition Survey. Median lifetime average dietary exposure to acrylamide was estimated as 147–154 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day (95th percentile, 226–261 ng/kg bw/day). The deterministic estimate of lifetime exposure was 158 ng/kg bw/day and ranged from 119 ng/kg bw/day for the period of life after 60 years old to 409 ng/kg bw/day for the period between 1 and 6 years old. This study found that vegetables cooked at a high temperature, coffee and cooked potato were the major food groups contributing to long-term dietary acrylamide exposure of the Japanese people.     

Note: Light output enhanced fast response and low afterglow 6Li glass scintillator as potential down-scattered neutron diagnostics for inertial confinement fusion

The characteristics of an APLF80+3Ce scintillator are presented. Its sufficiently fast decay profile, low afterglow, and an improved light output compared to the recently developed APLF80+3Pr, were experimentally demonstrated. This scintillator material holds promise for applications in neutron imaging diagnostics at the energy regions of 0.27 MeV of DD fusion down-scattered neutron peak at the world's largest inertial confinement fusion facilities such as the National Ignition Facility and the Laser Me?gajoule.