Solid-state amorphization of Cu + Zr multi-stacks by ARB and HPT techniques

A series of CuZr binary alloys with wide composition range were fabricated through ARB and HPT techniques using pure Cu and Zr metals as the starting materials. Bulk alloy sheets with thickness of about 0.8 mm after ARB process and alloy disks with 0.30 mm in thickness and 10 mm in diameter after HPT process can be obtained, respectively. The structures of all the alloys were found to be gradually refined with the increase of ARB cycles or HPT rotations. As a result, nanoscale multiple-layered structure was formed for the 10 cycled ARBed specimens, which could partially transform into amorphous phase during subsequent low temperature annealing. While for the as-HPTed sample, the alloy was completely amorphized after 20 rotations without any heat treatment. The thermal stabilities of the amorphous alloys were studied. The deformation behavior and the amorphization mechanism during the ARB and HPT process were put forward and discussed.     

Removal of organic compounds by alginate gel beads with entrapped activated carbon

The adsorption of alginate gel (AG) beads and AG with activated carbon entrapped (AG–AC) beads prepared using different types of metal ions were investigated by measuring the removal of several organic compounds with different charges and size. AG–AC beads prepared in a CaCl₂ solution adsorbed strongly positively charged compounds as well as electrically neutral and low molecular weight compounds such as p-chlorophenol. However, a high molecular weight humic acid was not adsorbed by AG–AC. The AG–AC selectively adsorbed p-chlorophenol from a humic acid solution. The adsorption capacity obtained from the adsorption isotherm of AC entrapped in AG was compared with that of AC. The AG–AC beads prepared in a solution of FeCl₃ were able to specifically adsorb negatively charged gallic acid. Thus, entrapping AC into AG resulted in the selective adsorption.     

Horseradish peroxidase degrades lipid hydroperoxides and suppresses lipid peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the presence of phenolic antioxidants

Linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAOOH) was effectively degraded by horseradish peroxidase (HRP) in the presence of quercetin. Several natural phenolic antioxidants, such as quercetin, capsaicin, and alpha-tocopherol, acted as good hydrogen donors in the peroxidase reaction that occurs during lipid hydroperoxide degradation. However, glutathione, which is a non-phenolic antioxidant that acts as a hydrogen donor for glutathione peroxidase, could not suppress lipid peroxidation in the presence of HRP. Lipid hydroperoxides generated from eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were also degraded with HRP in the presence of quercetin, and oxidative decomposition of DHA was suppressed by this reaction.     

Behavior navigation system for harsh environments

Performing general human behavior by experts’ navigation is expected to be realized as wearable technologies and computing systems are further developed. We have proposed and developed the prototype of the advanced behavior navigation system (BNS) using augmented reality technology. Utilizing the BNS, an expert can guide a non-expert to perform a variety of tasks. The BNSs are useful in tasks to be performed in harsh and hazardous environments, such as factories, construction sites, and areas affected by natural disasters (e.g. earthquakes and tsunamis). In this paper, we present a BNS that is specifically designed to operate in harsh environments, with characteristics such as wet or dusty conditions. The implementation, experimental results, and evaluation of the BNS prototypes are presented.     

Serum autoantibody to sideroflexin 3 as a novel tumor marker for oral squamous cell carcinoma

The purpose of this study is to establish a tumor marker that can be applied for the early detection and follow-up of oral cancer patients. Employing the proteomic approach using MALDI TOF-MS, 2-DE, patient's sera and culturing cell lines, the serum autoantibodies (autoAbs) were screened and the serum levels were estimated by ELISA. Targeting the tumor cell invasion into the surrounding stromal tissues, MRC-5 human fibroblasts were employed as the target cells and a mitochondrial membrane protein, sideroflexin 3 (SFXN3), was identified. The serum anti-SFXN3-autoAb levels elevated in patients with the oral squamous cell carcinoma significantly: with 77% sensitivity and 89% specificity against control samples. The serum anti-SFXN3-autoAb levels were mildly correlated with the primary tumor sizes, however, the levels were slightly highly elevated in T1 early cancer. An immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the SFXN3 protein is expressed in the stromal fibroblasts between the caner nests and also in the basal layer of the squamous epithelium. Changes in the serum anti-SFXN3-autoAb levels after therapy correlated with the clinical tumor burden. These findings demonstrated that the serum anti-SFXN3-autoAb is worthy of clinical evaluation as a potentially of the novel tumor maker for the early detection of oral squamous cell carcinoma.     

UV-induced switching behavior of novel fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer/titanium oxide nanocomposite between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity with good oleophobicity

Fluoroalkyl end-capped vinyltrimethoxysilane oligomer suffered the sol–gel reaction under alkaline conditions in the presence of titanium oxide nanoparticles in tetrahydrofuran to afford the corresponding fluorinated oligomer/titanium oxide nanocomposites[R_F-(VM-SiO₂)_n-R_F/TiO₂] in excellent to moderate isolated yields. These fluorinated composites thus obtained were nanometer size-controlled fine particles, and exhibited good dispersibility and stability in traditional organic solvents except for water. These fluorinated nanocomposites were applied to the surface modification of glass to exhibit not only a completely superhydrophobic characteristic (a water contact angle: 180°) with a non-wetting property against water droplets but also a good oleophobicity imparted by fluoroalkyl segments in the composites on their surface. Of particular interest, we have found that the wettability for water can be switched between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity by alternation of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and dark storage with keeping a good oleophobicity on the modified surface treated with the anatase-type titanium oxide composite.     

Fundamental Study on Interaction between Top Blown Jet and Liquid Bath

It is important to understand the physical interaction between top‐blown oxygen jets and liquid steel in basic oxygen steelmaking furnaces (BOF). In the present study, cold model experiments and CFD simulations were carried out with single‐ and multi‐hole nozzles and the velocity profiles of jets were successfully simulated. Water model experiments were also performed to study the cavity formation and the spitting phenomena by the impinging jets. The cavity shapes and the spitting behavior were correlated to the top‐blowing conditions by considering the characteristics of multi‐hole nozzle jets.     

Mechanical properties of a medical β-type titanium alloy with specific microstructural evolution through high-pressure torsion

The effect of high-pressure torsion (HPT) processing on the microstructure and mechanical biocompatibility includes Young's modulus, tensile strength, ductility, fatigue life, fretting fatigue, wear properties and other functionalities such as super elasticity and shape memory effect, etc. at levels suitable for structural biomaterials used in implants that replace hard tissue in the broad sense (Sumitomo et al., 2008 [4]). In particular, in this study, the mechanical biocompatibility implies a combination of great hardness and high strength with an adequate ductility while keeping low Young's modulus of a novel Ti–29Nb–13Ta–4.6Zr (TNTZ) for biomedical applications at rotation numbers (N) ranging from 1 to 60 under a pressure of 1.25 GPa at room temperature was systematically investigated in order to increase its mechanical strength with maintaining low Young's modulus and an adequate ductility.TNTZ subjected to HPT processing (TNTZ_HPT) at low N exhibits a heterogeneous microstructure in micro-scale and nano-scale consisting of a matrix and a non-etched band, which has nanosized equiaxed and elongated single β grains, along its cross section. The grains exhibit high dislocation densities, consequently non-equilibrium grain boundaries, and non-uniform subgrains distorted by severe deformation. At high N which is N > 20, TNTZ_HPT has a more homogeneous microstructure in nano-scale with increasing equivalent strain, ε_eq. Therefore, TNTZ_HPT at high N exhibits a more homogenous hardness distribution. The tensile strength and 0.2% proof stress of TNTZ_HPT increase significantly with N over the range of 0 ≤ N ≤ 5, and then become saturated at around 1100 MPa and 800 MPa at N ≥ 10. However, the ductility of TNTZ_HPT shows a reverse trend and a low-level elongation, at around 7%. And, Young's modulus of TNTZ_HPT decreases slightly to 60 GPa with increasing N and then becomes saturated at N ≥ 10. These obtained results confirm that the mechanical strength of TNTZ can be improved while maintaining a low Young's modulus in single β grain structures through severe plastic deformation.     

Single-Step Reconstitution of Apo-Hemoproteins at the Disruption Stage of Escherichia coli Cells

Hemoproteins on their metal: We report a novel strategy for the reconstitution of hemoproteins with non-natural metal complexes; simple addition of manganese and ruthenium porphyrin to E. coli cells immediately prior to homogenization yields the reconstituted proteins. We believe that this simple approach could become a standard reconstitution method for hemoproteins.