Superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic micropatterning on a carbon nanotube film using a laser plasma-type hyperthermal atom beam facility

Superhydrophobic/superhydrophilic micropatterning on a carbon nanotube (CNT) film has been achieved using a laser plasma-type hyperthermal atom beam facility, which produces a small amount of damage and generates a highly anisotropic beam. Fluorination and oxidation on CNT films by exposure to fluorine-atom and oxygen-atom beams caused superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic surfaces, respectively, while maintaining the as-grown fibrous forms of the CNT films. Micropatterned oxidation on CNT films without using photoresists created superhydrophilic microdots and microchannels.     

Structural motif of phosphate-binding site common to various protein superfamilies: all-against-all structural comparison of proteinmononucleotide complexes

In order to search for a common structural motif in the phosphate-bindingsites of protein–mononucleotide complexes, we investigatedthe structural variety of phosphate-binding schemes by an all-against-allcomparison of 491 binding sites found in the Protein Data Bank.We found four frequently occurring structural motifs composedof protein atoms interacting with phosphate groups, each ofwhich appears in different protein superfamilies with differentfolds. The most frequently occurring motif, which we call thestructural P-loop, is shared by 13 superfamilies and is characterizedby a four-residue fragment, GXXX, interacting with a phosphategroup through the backbone atoms. Various sequence motifs, includingWalker's A motif or the P-loop, turn out to be a structuralP-loop found in a few specific superfamilies. The other threemotifs are found in pairs of superfamilies: protein kinase andglutathione synthetase ATPase domain like, actin-like ATPasedomain and nucleotidyltransferase, and FMN-linked oxidoreductaseand PRTase.     

Transformation and fragmentation behavior of molten metal drop in sodium pool

In order to clarify the fragmentation mechanism of a metallic alloy (U–Pu–Zr) fuel on liquid phase formed by metallurgical reactions (liquefaction temperature = 650 °C), which is important in evaluating the sequence of core disruptive accidents for metallic fuel fast reactors, a series of experiments was carried out using molten aluminum (melting point = 660 °C) and sodium mainly under the condition that the boiling of sodium does not occur. When the instantaneous contact interface temperature (T_i) between molten aluminum drop and sodium is lower than the boiling point of sodium (T_c,bp), the molten aluminum drop can be fragmented and the mass median diameter (D_m) of aluminum fragments becomes small with increasing T_i. When T_i is roughly equivalent to or higher than T_c,bp, the fragmentation of aluminum drop is promoted by thermal interaction caused by the boiling of sodium on the surface of the drop. Furthermore, even under the condition that the boiling of sodium does not occur and the solid crust is formed on the surface of the drop, it is confirmed from an analytical evaluation that the thermal fragmentation of molten aluminum drop with solid crust has a potential to be caused by the transient pressurization within the melt confined by the crust. These results indicate the possibility that the metallic alloy fuel on liquid phase formed by the metallurgical reactions can be fragmented without occurring the boiling of sodium on the surface of the melt.     

Breakdown Characteristics of N2O Gas Mixtures for Quasiuniform Electric Field under Lightning Impulse Voltage

From the viewpoint of mitigating global warming by SF₆ gas, this paper discusses breakdown (BD) characteristics of different electronegative gas mixtures with N₂O gas as SF₆ gas substitutes for quasi-uniform electric field under lightning impulse voltage applications. Experimental results revealed the positive synergism in breakdown strength of binary N₂O / CO₂ and ternary N₂O / CO₂ / O₂ gas mixtures, respectively. Furthermore, N₂ gas as a retardant gas was also mixed with the electronegative gas mixtures in order to reduce the electron energy into the effective levels of electron attachment ability by the electronegative gas mixtures. As the result, ternary N₂O / CO₂ / N₂ and quaternary N₂O / CO₂ / O₂ / N₂ gas mixtures could exhibit the significant synergistic effect in breakdown strength. The optimum mixture rate of quaternary N₂O / CO₂ / O₂ / N₂ gas mixtures was consistent with that estimated by assuming the independent contribution of component gases to the improvement of impulse BD characteristics.     

Control of Thermal Conductance of Peltier Device Using Heat Disturbance Observer

In industry, temperature control and heat flow control are now applied in many thermal devices, including Peltier devices, which facilitates heat transfer by the Peltier effect. Generally, temperature control compensates for heat flowing from the external environment, while heat actively flows into the system during heat flow control. Thus, temperature control and heat flow control differ from each other. However, there have been no detailed discussions of a thermal control process in which the thermal conductance control ranges between 0 and ∞. This paper focuses on thermal conductance control and the construction of a thermal conductance control system for a Peltier device using a heat disturbance observer. When using the thermal conductance controller, the thermal conductance control is altered and the system becomes thermally compliant with the external environment. This paper also presents experimental results that confirm the validity of the proposed control system. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 185(4): 44–52, 2013; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.22411     

Practical Application of ±250‐kV DC‐XLPE Cable for Hokkaido–Honshu HVDC Link

The long‐term dc properties of DC‐XLPE insulation materials, which have been developed for dc use, were investigated. It was found that the lifetime of DC‐XLPE under dc voltage application is extended by the addition of nano‐sized filler. The time dependence of the space charge distribution at 50 kV/mm was observed for 7 days. Almost no accumulation of space charge in DC‐XLPE was found. The 250‐kV DC‐XLPE cables and accessories were manufactured and subjected to a type test and PQ test for use in the Hokkaido–Honshu dc link facility owned by the Electric Power Development Co., Ltd. These tests were performed under conditions that included a polarity reversal test for line commutated converter (LCC) systems as recommended in CIGRE TB 219. The test temperature was 90 °C. The type test and PQ test were successfully completed. The DC‐XLPE cable and accessories were installed in summer 2012 for the Hokkaido–Honshu dc link. After the installation of the dc extruded cable system, a dc high‐voltage test at 362.5 kV (=1.45 PU) for 15 min was successfully completed in accordance with CIGRE TB 219. This dc extruded cable system was put into operation in December 2012 as the world's highest‐voltage extruded dc cable in service and the world's first dc extruded cable for a LCC system including polarity reversal operation.     

X-ray absorption fine structure study on residue bromine in carbons with different degrees of graphitization

The structure of bromine residue compounds was investigated by X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) in order to interpret where and how bromine is present in carbons with different degrees of graphitization. The residue compounds can be classified into three groups, as obtained from X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectra and the values of the intramolecular distance r_Br–Br determined by extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS). In Group I, prepared from the host carbons heat treated at temperatures higher than 1900 °C, bromine exists in the interlayer space of graphite in the form of Br₂ molecules with interaction of the π electrons of graphite. In Group III, from carbon heat treated at 1000 °C, most of the bromine probably reacts with carbon atoms having a dangling bond or functional groups. For Group II, where the host carbons are heat treated at intermediate temperatures, it is likely that bromine exists in undeveloped defects with a unique electronic state.     

Identification of Tumor Suppressive Genes Regulated by miR-31-5p and miR-31-3p in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

We identified the microRNA (miRNA) expression signature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues by RNA sequencing, in which 168 miRNAs were significantly upregulated, including both strands of the miR-31 duplex (miR-31-5p and miR-31-3p). The aims of this study were to identify networks of tumor suppressor genes regulated by miR-31-5p and miR-31-3p in HNSCC cells. Our functional assays showed that inhibition of miR-31-5p and miR-31-3p attenuated cancer cell malignant phenotypes (cell proliferation, migration, and invasion), suggesting that they had oncogenic potential in HNSCC cells. Our in silico analysis revealed 146 genes regulated by miR-31 in HNSCC cells. Among these targets, the low expression of seven genes (miR-31-5p targets: CACNB2 and IL34; miR-31-3p targets: CGNL1, CNTN3, GAS7, HOPX, and PBX1) was closely associated with poor prognosis in HNSCC. According to multivariate Cox regression analyses, the expression levels of five of those genes (CACNB2: p = 0.0189; IL34: p = 0.0425; CGNL1: p = 0.0014; CNTN3: p = 0.0304; and GAS7: p = 0.0412) were independent prognostic factors in patients with HNSCC. Our miRNA signature and miRNA-based approach will provide new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of HNSCC.     

Impact of Oncogenic Targets by Tumor-Suppressive miR-139-5p and miR-139-3p Regulation in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

We newly generated an RNA-sequencing-based microRNA (miRNA) expression signature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Analysis of the signature revealed that both strands of some miRNAs, including miR-139-5p (the guide strand) and miR-139-3p (the passenger strand) of miR-139, were downregulated in HNSCC tissues. Analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas confirmed the low expression levels of miR-139 in HNSCC. Ectopic expression of these miRNAs attenuated the characteristics of cancer cell aggressiveness (e.g., cell proliferation, migration, and invasion). Our in silico analyses revealed a total of 28 putative targets regulated by pre-miR-139 (miR-139-5p and miR-139-3p) in HNSCC cells. Of these, the GNA12 (guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit alpha-12) and OLR1 (oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1) expression levels were identified as independent factors that predicted patient survival according to multivariate Cox regression analyses (p = 0.0018 and p = 0.0104, respectively). Direct regulation of GNA12 and OLR1 by miR-139-3p in HNSCC cells was confirmed through luciferase reporter assays. Moreover, overexpression of GNA12 and OLR1 was detected in clinical specimens of HNSCC through immunostaining. The involvement of miR-139-3p (the passenger strand) in the oncogenesis of HNSCC is a new concept in cancer biology. Our miRNA-based strategy will increase knowledge on the molecular pathogenesis of HNSCC.