Sonochemical decomposition of perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are shown to be globally distributed, environmentally persistent, and bioaccumulative. Although the toxicities of these compounds were reported, the cleanup procedure from the environment is not developed because of their inertness. In this report the sonochemical degradations of PFOS and PFOA to the products through the fission of the perfluorocarbon chains were observed and the half-life times of the PFOS and PFOA degradations under an argon atmosphere determined to be 43 and 22 min, respectively. The shortening of perfluorocarbon chain of PFOS and PFOA leads to the lowering of the toxicity in view of the decrease of the persistence, and the technique would contribute to the remediation of the environmental pollution by these compounds.     

Cathode properties of metal trifluorides in Li and Na secondary batteries

Fluorine compounds have high discharge voltage due to its highly ionic metal-ligand bonds. In them, perovskite-type metal trifluorides with corner sharing matrix have large bottlenecks of diffusion pathways for intercalants. Iron trifluoride composites (FeF₃-C) prepared by planetary ball milling with carbon showed reversible charge/discharge behavior not only for Li, but also for Na anodes. X-ray diffraction and ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy were applied to characterize the electrochemical properties of FeF₃ vs. Li and Na anodes. The cathode performances of the other commercially available transition metal trifluorides such as MF₃ (M = Ti, V, Mn, Co) have been also investigated.     

Microstructure and mechanical properties of Pt-added and Pd-added Zr-20Nb alloys and their metal release in 1 mass% lactic acid solution

The effects of Pt and Pd addition to a Zr-20Nb alloy on its microstructure and mechanical property, as well as the elution of metals from the alloys in lactic acid solution, were investigated. The microstructure was characterized with an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), an optical microscope (OM), and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The mechanical properties were evaluated by a tensile test. The β phase is dominantly observed in the Zr-20Nb as well as in the Pt-added and Pd-added Zr-20Nb alloys. Needle-like microstructures are observed in equiaxed grains in all alloys. Pd addition to the Zr-20Nb alloy suppresses ω phase formation more than Pt addition does. The 0.2% offset yield strength and the ultimate tensile strength of the Pt-added and Pd-added Zr-20Nb alloys increase with the Pt and Pd concentrations. XRD analysis revealed that the lattice parameter of β-Zr in the Pt-added and Pd-added Zr-20Nb alloys decreases with the Pt and Pd concentrations. Pt and Pd solute in β-Zr as a substitutional element and contribute to the increase in the strength by solid solution hardening. The addition of 2Pt and 2Pd to the Zr-20Nb alloy also improves metal elution from the alloys in lactic acid solution.     

Electro-mechanical coupling in ionic gels

An ionic-polymer–metal-composite film shows electro-mechanical coupling. When the film is bent, electric current is induced. Measurement of the induced current indicates that the current depends on the speed of bending, but the total amount of the charge transferred across the film is independent of the speed, and depends only on the magnitude of the bending. The result indicates that in addition to previously proposed dynamical coupling effect, there is a static electro-mechanical coupling effect. Mathematical model is proposed to describe this phenomena.     

A high-performance cross-current type cycloconverter-fed inductionmotor drive system

Making use of the latest techniques, the authors have successfully developed a cross-current-type cycloconverter-fed, squirrel-cage induction motor drive system, which far exceeds DC drive systems over a wide range from zero speed to high speed. It is best suited for tandem cold mill main and various other large-scale rolling mills     

Effect of heat treatment with the mould on the super-elastic property of Ti–Ni alloy castings for dental application

Tensile property of Ti–50.85Ni (mol %) alloy castings was investigated quantitatively in relation to the thermal behavior accompanied with phase transformation to evaluate the effect of heat treatment after casting with the mould in air. The heat treatment temperature was 713 or 773 K, and the period was 0.9, 1.8, or 3.6 ks. Apparent proof stress of the castings decreased with increasing period of heat treatment, and the decrease was larger with the treatment at 773 K. Residual strain also decreased by the heat treatment, however, it was low with the treatment for relatively short period, i.e. 713 K-0.9 and 1.8 ks, and 773 K-0.9 ks treatments. From the thermal behavior measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the ascent in the transformation temperatures and the increase in the thermal peak height appeared to influence the changes in the tensile property. These changes by heat treatment were believed to be effective to utilize more flexibility, less stress and less permanent deformation in dental castings.     

Bending property and phase transformation of Ti–Ni–Cu alloy dental castings for orthodontic application

Bending property of Ti–Ni–Cu alloy castings was investigated in a three-point bending test for orthodontic application in relation to the phase transformation. The compositions of the alloys were Ti–50.8Ni and Ti–40.8Ni–10.0Cu (mol %), and four cross-sectional shapes of the specimens were selected. Heat treatment was performed at 713, 753 or 793 K for 1.8 ks. The bending load changed by the cross-sectional size and shape mainly because of the difference in the moment of inertia of area, but the load–deflection relation did not differ proportionally in the unloading process. The difference between the load values in the loading and the unloading processes was relatively small for Ti–Ni–Cu alloy. With respect to the residual deflection, there was no significant difference between Ti–Ni and Ti–Ni–Cu alloys with the same treatment condition. The load values in the loading and the unloading processes decreased by each heat treatment for Ti–Ni alloy; however, the decrease in the load values for Ti–Ni–Cu alloy was not distinct. It is proved that Ti–Ni–Cu alloy castings produce effective orthodontic force as well as stable low residual deflection, which is likely to be caused by the high and sharp thermal peaks during phase transformation.     

Remnants of chylomicron and very low density lipoprotein impair endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation

Given the multiple impairments in host defense that occur during HIV infection, patients with AIDS are at risk for a variety of pleural infections and neoplasms. Of infectious causes, bacterial parapneumonic effusions and empyemas and tuberculous pleurisy occur more frequently than effusions caused by P. carinii. In each case, therapy is directed at eradication of the causative organisms. In the setting of systemic Kaposi's sarcoma, pleural involvement is common, although diagnosis is difficult and therapeutic options are limited. Pleural effusions caused by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma often occur in the setting of pulmonary parenchymal disease and can be diagnosed cytologically. The recently described entity of primary effusion lymphoma occurs in the absence of solid-organ involvement. The development of a spontaneous pneumothorax in a HIV-infected individual should prompt a search for P. carinii infection. Although these pneumothoraces often recur and are difficult to manage, recent series suggest that surgical approaches to bronchopleural fistulas are reasonable in selected patients.