Novel CO2 Absorbents Using Lithium-Containing Oxide

We have discovered a series of lithium-containing oxides that immediately react with ambient carbon dioxide (CO₂) up to 700°C. The products react and return reversibly to the oxides at a temperatures higher than about 700°C. The absorption capacity surpasses that of other CO₂ absorbents by a factor of 10. Utilizing these absorbents, the possibility of a CO₂ separation system that operates at around 500°C is proposed. It is generally believed that a CO₂ separation process operable at temperatures higher than 500°C has the special benefit of a small energy penalty. Moreover, the absorption also proceeds at ambient temperature in the atmospheric environment. This property offers the possibility of many other applications, such as air cleaners or cartridges. Therefore, we think these materials have the potential to make a valuable contribution to the realization of CO₂ emission control.     

Electrical characterization of homoepitaxial diamond p–n junction

Electrical properties of homoepitaxial diamond p–n⁺ junction of boron (B)-doped p-type layer and phosphorus-doped n-type layer on Ib (111) diamond single crystal have been characterized. Current–voltage characteristics show a clear rectifying property with rectification ratio of over 10⁵ at ± 10 V. From capacitance–voltage characteristics, it is found that a spatial distribution of space-charge density N_i of the p–n⁺ junction is not uniform and N_i at a middle region of the space-charge layer formed at zero bias voltage is higher than that of other region of the space-charge layer. This peculiar characteristic can be explained by superposition of two effects; one is the deep dopant effect due to B atoms in the p-type layer, which makes to reduce N_i at around the edge of the space-charge layer formed at zero bias voltage. The other is the compensation of B acceptors by impurity atoms diffusing during the p–n⁺ interface and incorporating during the growth of p-type layer, which makes to reduce N_i at the vicinity of the p–n⁺ interface.     

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.     

Partial discharge measurements in SF6 and air usingphase-resolved pulse-height analysis

Carries out a study on partial discharge (PD) phenomena in SF₆ gas and tries to construct a diagnostic system capable of separating noise from observed PD signals for assessing the condition of insulation performance in power apparatus. The authors have constructed a computer-aided PD measuring system which permits a time-sequential data acquisition and phase-resolved pulse height analysis. Using the PD measurement system, the authors measured 60 Hz AC PD in SF₆ gas and in air at atmospheric pressure for needle-plane electrodes with three different radii at the tip of the needle, 3, 30 and 500 μm. They proposed particular PD statistical parameters, unbalance ratios U _T and U_q of the pulse repetition rate and average of charge, respectively, between positive and negative PD pulses occurring per cycle; these parameters proved to be good indicators to distinguish PD occurring in SF₆ from that in air. The mechanism of PD inception was also discussed     

C57BL/KsJ-db/db-Apc Mice Exhibit an Increased Incidence of Intestinal Neoplasms

The numbers of obese people and diabetic patients are ever increasing. Obesity and diabetes are high-risk conditions for chronic diseases, including certain types of cancer, such as colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to develop a novel animal model in order to clarify the pathobiology of CRC development in obese and diabetic patients. We developed an animal model of obesity and colorectal cancer by breeding the C57BL/KsJ-db/db (db/db) mouse, an animal model of obesity and type II diabetes, and the C57BL/6J-Apc(Min/+) (Min/+) mouse, a model of familial adenomatous polyposis. At 15 weeks of age, the N9 backcross generation of C57BL/KsJ-db/db-Apc(Min/+) (db/db-Min/+) mice developed an increased incidence and multiplicity of adenomas in the intestinal tract when compared to the db/m-Min/+ and m/m-Min/+ mice. Blood biochemical profile showed significant increases in insulin (8.3-fold to 11.7-fold), cholesterol (1.2-fold to 1.7-fold), and triglyceride (1.2-fold to 1.3-fold) in the db/db-Min/+ mice, when compared to those of the db/m-Min/+ and m/m-Min/+ mice. Increases (1.4-fold to 2.6-fold) in RNA levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IRF-1R, and IGF-2 were also observed in the db/db- Min/+ mice. These results suggested that the IGFs, as well as hyperlipidemia and hyperinsulinemia, promoted adenoma formation in the db/db-Min/+ mice. Our results thus suggested that the db/db-Min/+ mice should be invaluable for studies on the pathogenesis of CRC in obese and diabetes patients and the therapy and prevention of CRC in these patients.     

A simple and fast method to disperse long single-walled carbon nanotubes introducing few defects

A simple and fast dispersion method that incorporates heating is used to disperse long (more than 10 μm) single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with minimal defects. The method enables a dispersed solution of SWCNTs to be produced in less than 10 min in only three steps: (1) addition of the dispersant, (2) heating, and (3) grinding. The dispersion method does not require sonication, which shortens the SWCNTs and can generate surface defects. SWCNT films were prepared from the dispersed solution, and the films exhibited a resistance of 380 Ω/sq at a transparency of 64.8%. This dispersion method can be easily scaled up, making it useful for the preparation of dispersed SWCNTs for commercial and industrial applications.     

Preparation and characterization of stable dispersions of carbon black and nanodiamond in culture medium for in vitro toxicity assessment

Stable dispersions of carbon black and nanodiamond in culture medium were prepared by adding a pre-mixed dispersion of commercial carbon black or nanodiamond in aqueous bovine serum albumin (BSA) solution to culture medium. Dynamic light scattering revealed that carbon black and nanodiamond dispersions prepared in both NaCl solution and culture medium were highly stable. From DLVO theory and the results of zeta potential measurements, the theoretical effect of the electrostatic interactions between adsorbed BSA molecules was found to be minimal. The asymmetric flow field-flow fractionation measurements revealed that 0.05 or 0.56 mg/mL of BSA molecules were adsorbed on 0.11 or 1.09 mg/mL of carbon black, respectively, indicating 1:2 complexation of BSA with the colloidal particles. In the case of nanodiamond, 0.06 or 0.60 mg/mL of BSA molecules were adsorbed on 0.10 or 1.05 mg/mL of nanodiamond, respectively, indicating 1:2 complexation of BSA, which is the same ratio as in the case of carbon black. The adsorbed BSA molecules served as an effective stabilizing agent for the carbon black and nanodiamond, ensuring dispersion stability for at least 1 week. The preparation of the dispersions can be easily carried out by other researchers for toxicity studies.     

Synthesis of poly[(methyl methacrylate)-co-acrylamide] modified by titanium-triisopropoxide and their thermal stability

Poly[(methyl methacrylate)-co-acrylamide] of various compositions were previously prepared by the radical copolymerization reaction of methyl methacrylate and the acrylamide monomer in a solvent. The copolymers were modified through a resonating salt by the addition reaction of a chlorotitanium-triisopropoxide; the modified resins are called Ti hybrid copolymers. The chemical structure of acrylamide side chain groups in the Ti hybrid copolymers was confirmed by the ash weight after combustion, the characteristic absorption band determined by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (IR) and elementary analysis (EA). The curing temperature and time of the resins were determined from the change in the insoluble resin weight when the extraction was done with a mixture of acetone and methanol using the curing resin samples. The thermal stability of the Ti hybrid copolymers was evaluated using both the thermal-degradation temperature (T_x) measured by thermogravimetric analysis and the thermal degradation at 130 °C for 720 h. The cured resins improved the weight loss of the resins at the T_x, and exhibited a high thermal stability.     

Spray-dry synthesis of β-Cu1.8Zn0.2V2O7 ceramic fine particles showing giant negative thermal expansion

We used spray-dry method to synthesize fine powder of β-Cu_1.8Zn_0.2V₂O₇ showing large negative thermal expansion (NTE) linearly to temperature over a wide temperature range. The NTE of β-Cu_1.8Zn_0.2V₂O₇ is produced by microstructures consisting of voids and anisotropic thermal deformation of crystal grains in ceramics. By reducing the size of the microstructures that produce NTE, large NTE equivalent to that of bulk was realized, even for ceramic particles of about 2 μm size. Comparison with particles produced using a conventional method demonstrates that the particle size distribution is narrow and that the particles are nearly spherical. This achievement is expected to pave the way to use of NTE materials in micrometer-scale control of thermal expansion.