Sulfidation Properties of Ni–20Cr and Ni–13.5Co–20Cr Alloys at 873 K under Low Sulfur Pressures in H2S-H2 Atmospheres

The sulfidation properties of Ni–20Cr and Ni–13.5Co–20Cralloys as well as a nickel-base superalloy AISI685 were investigated at873 K in H₂S–H₂ gas mixtures with sulfur partial pressures of10^–4, 10^–5.5, and 10^–7Pa by mass-gain measurements,electron-probe microanalysis (EPMA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD)analysis. Sulfidation obeyed the parabolic rate law, and the parabolic rateconstants decreased in the order Ni–20Cr, Ni–13.5Co–20Cr,and AISI685 at each sulfur pressure. With decreasing sulfur pressure, therate constants first decreased slowly and then rapidly at a 10–7 Pasulfur pressure. At both 10^–4 and 10^–5.5 Pa sulfur pressures,Ni–20Cr formed a surface scale with a duplex structure of inner(Cr₃S₄) and outer (Ni₃S₂) layers, while Ni–13.5Co–20Cr formeda triplex structure of inner (Cr₃S₄), intermediate(Ni,Co)Cr₂S₄, and outer[Ni₃S₂+(Co,Ni)₉S₈] layers. Thesurface scale formed on AISI685 was verycomplex, comprising at least four layers, a fibrous (Co,Ni)₉S₈ top surface,outer [Ni₃S₂+(Co,Ni)₉S₈], and intermediate [(Cr,Ti)₃S₄] layers, as well asan inner layer containing Cr, Ti, Mo, Al, and S. At the 10^–7 Pa sulfurpressure, which is lower than the dissociation pressure of Ni₃S₂, bothNi–20Cr and Ni–13.5Co–20Cr formed a surface scale ofCr₃S₄ covered by a thin NiCr₂S₄ layer, accompanied by copious internalsulfidation of Cr₃S₄ and/or CrS. On AISI685 there was a surface scale of(Cr,Ti)₃S₄ accompanied by the usual internal sulfidation. It is discussedthat diffusion of cations in the inner Cr₃S₄ layer is the rate-determiningstep for the growth of the multilayer structures. At the 10^–7 Pasulfur pressure, diffusion of Cr and S contribute to form a thin surfacescale and internal sulfidation, respectively.     

缓变弯道河道冲刷试验研究

有关弯道水流及其河道演变特性的研究一直为人们所关注。本文引入了在直线段和单一曲率圆弯道间插入曲率渐变的过渡段这一新的弯道型式,舒缓水流冲击力和离心力作用,以减轻水流对河床及堤身、堤脚的冲蚀破坏。作者首先对这一弯道和圆弯道的水流流速、副流强度进行了数值模拟的计算和比较;又通过变换床沙、流量及放水时间,进行了24组合的动床试验;最后,通过整理分析所有实验数据,对插有缓变曲线的弯道的减蚀作用进行了探讨。结果表明：插有缓变曲线的弯道可以减轻水流对两岸堤身和堤脚的冲蚀破坏;在弯道同一横断上的最大冲深与沙洲波高的比值最终稳定在0．58。     

Identification of Multiple Domains of Entamoeba histolytica Intermediate Subunit Lectin-1 with Hemolytic and Cytotoxic Activities

Galactose and N-acetyl-D-galactosamine-inhibitable lectin of Entamoeba histolytica have roles in the pathogenicity of intestinal amoebiasis. Igl1, the intermediate subunit lectin-1 of E. histolytica, has been shown to have both hemolytic and cytotoxic activities that reside in the C-terminus of the protein. To identify the amino acid regions responsible for these activities, recombinant proteins were prepared and used in hemolytic and cytotoxic assays. The results revealed that Igl1 has multiple domains with hemolytic and cytotoxic activities and that amino acids 787-846, 968-1028 and 1029-1088 are involved in these activities. The hemolytic activities of the fragments were partly inhibited by mannose, galactose and N-acetylgalactosamine, and glucose showed lower or negligible inhibitory effects for the activities. This is the first report of a protozoan protein with hemolytic and cytotoxic activities in multiple domains.     

Immunomagnetic flow cytometric detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B in raw and dry milk

A rapid and sensitive method for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in raw and dry milk samples with the use of antibody-based immunomagnetic separation (IMS) in conjunction with flow cytometry (FCM) was developed. Sheep anti-SEB immunoglobulin G (IgG) was immobilized on Dynabeads M-280. The SEB initially binds to the capturing antibody, which is bound on the magnetic beads. The rabbit anti-SEB IgG binds to the captured toxin and is further labeled with a Cy5-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody. The percentage of the beads that were fluorescent was measured by FCM. FCM was carried out for 1 min, and the data obtained were expressed as histograms for particle size (forward light scatter) and histograms for fluorescence intensity. A peak corresponding to the magnetic beads was clearly distinguished from a peak derived from contaminating particles in the sample solution. In the absence of SEB, about 10% of the beads emitted fluorescence. The percentage of fluorescent beads and the fluorescence intensity increased with increasing SEB concentrations. For this IMS-FCM assay, the lower limits of detection for SEB were estimated to be 0.01 and 0.25 ng/ml for buffer and milk samples, respectively.     

Evaluation of drug toxicity with hepatocytes cultured in a micro-space cell culture system

A micro-space cell culture system was recently developed in which cells such as hepatocytes can be cultured and formed into a multicellular three-dimensional (3D) architecture. In this study, we assessed the performance of HepG2 cells cultured in this micro-space cell culture system in a drug toxicity test, and evaluated the effects of micro-space culture on their hepatocyte-specific functions. The micro-space cell culture facilitated the formation of 3D HepG2 cell architecture. HepG2 cells cultured in a micro-space culture plate exhibited increased albumin secretion and enhanced mRNA expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme compared to those cultured in a monolayer culture. When the cells were exposed to acetaminophen, a hepatotoxic drug, the damage to the HepG2 cells grown in micro-space culture was greater than the damage to the HepG2 cells grown in monolayer culture. In addition, human primary hepatocytes grown in micro-space culture also exhibited increased albumin secretion, enhanced CYP mRNA expression levels and increased sensitivity to acetaminophen compared to those grown in monolayer culture. These results suggest that this micro-space culture method enhances the hepatocyte-specific functions of hepatocytes, including drug-metabolizing enzyme activities, making hepatocytes grown in the micro-space culture system a useful tool for evaluating drug toxicity in vitro.     

A histochemical method using a substrate of beta-glucuronidase for detection of genetically modified papaya

A histochemical assay for detecting genetically modified (GM) papaya (derived from Line 55-1) is described. GM papaya, currently undergoing a safety assessment in Japan, was developed using a construct that included a beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene linked to a virus coat protein (CP) gene. Histochemical assay was used to visualize the blue GUS reaction product from transgenic seed embryos. Twelve embryos per fruit were extracted from the papaya seeds using a surgical knife. The embryos were incubated with the substrate 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronide (X-Gluc) in a 96-well microtiter plate for 10-15 hours at 37 degrees C. Seventy-five percent of GM papaya embryos should turn blue theoretically. The histochemical assay results were completely consistent with those from a qualitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method developed by this laboratory. Furthermore, the method was validated in a five-laboratory study. The method for detection of GM papaya is rapid and simple, and does not require use of specialized equipment.     

Direct ethanol production from barley beta-glucan by sake yeast displaying Aspergillus oryzae beta-glucosidase and endoglucanase

Three beta-glucosidase- and two endoglucanase-encoding genes were cloned from Aspergillus oryzae, and their gene products were displayed on the cell surface of the sake yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae GRI-117-UK. GRI-117-UK/pUDB7 displaying beta-glucosidase AO090009000356 showed the highest activity against various substrates and efficiently produced ethanol from cellobiose. On the other hand, GRI-117-UK/pUDCB displaying endoglucanase AO090010000314 efficiently degraded barley beta-glucan to glucose and smaller cellooligosaccharides. GRI-117-UK/pUDB7CB codisplaying both beta-glucosidase AO090009000356 and endoglucanase AO090010000314 was constructed. When direct ethanol fermentation from 20 g/l barley beta-glucan as a model substrate was performed with the codisplaying strain, the ethanol concentration reached 7.94 g/l after 24 h of fermentation. The conversion ratio of ethanol from beta-glucan was 69.6% of the theoretical ethanol concentration produced from 20 g/l barley beta-glucan. These results showed that sake yeast displaying A. oryzae cellulolytic enzymes can be used to produce ethanol from cellulosic materials. Our constructs have higher ethanol production potential than the laboratory constructs previously reported.     

Development of a homogeneous competitive immunoassay for phosphorylated protein antigen based on the enhanced fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology

We describe a homogeneous competitive immunoassay for a phosphorylated protein antigen. The assay takes advantage of the enhanced fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology, which has a unique characteristic that the FRET signal is increased by the specific interaction of two fluorolabeled leucine zippers. We chose extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) as a model antigen and constructed two molecular probes in which either anti-phosphorylation site antibody or the antigen peptide was chemically conjugated to the enhanced FRET probes. While these molecular probes indicated sufficient FRET signal without antigen, they displayed a significant change in the fluorescent spectrum by mixing with phosphorylated antigens. With this competitive enhanced FRET immunoassay, a phosphorylated ERK concentration within the range from 15 nM to 250 nM could be determined. Because the assay is very simple, it would be applied to not only in vitro assay but also in vivo detection of protein phosphorylation.     

Manipulation of micro solid particles and induced flows in water by laser irradiation

Q-switch for pulsing laser beam and Galvano scanner for rapid scanning laser beam were adapted to manipulatemicro solid particles in a water droplet.The trapping of fine particles at micron-sized diameters by a YAG lasersystem,induced flows,and the induced motion of the particles by laser beam irradiations are discussed.Particlerotations are observed by using anisotropic micro objects,and moreover the rotational rate with clockwise direc-tion is 22 r/min.The fragments of a cover glass were mixed in a water droplet,and their size and shape are un-even.The rotation of that non-spheres without scanning by the Galvano scanner is also observed in water.     

东京电力公司采用特高压输电技术的论证经过

东京电力公司(Tokyo Electric Power Company,TEPCO)在20世纪90年代建成了1000kV南北输电线路和1000kV东西输电线路.文中介绍了日本选择特高压输电技术的经过和TEPCO采用特高压输电的必要性,指出了选择特高压交流最高运行电压时应考虑的因素;还对交流输电方式和直流输电方式进行了比较,分析了直流输电方式存在的问题,说明了TEPCO在特高压输电中采用交流输电方式的原因.对中国发展特高压输电有一定的借鉴意义.