CO2 decomposition with oxygen-deficient Mn(II) ferrite

An oxygen-deficient Mn(II) ferrite (Mn_0.97Fe_2.02O_3.92) was synthesized and its reactivity to reduce CO₂ gas into carbon was studied at 300°C. The oxygen-deficient Mn(II) ferrite was obtained by flowing H₂ gas through Mn(II) ferrite with a nearly stoichiometric composition of Mn_0.97Fe_2.02O_4.00 at 300° C. The lattice constant of the oxygen-deficient Mn(II) ferrite (0.8505nm) is larger than that of the Mn(II) ferrite with a nearly stoichiometric composition (0.8498nm). The chemical composition of the Mn(II) ferrite changed from Mn_0.97Fe_2.02O_4.00 to Mn_0.97Fe_2.02O_3.92 during the H₂ reduction process, indicating that the oxygen is deficient in the spinel structure of the Mn(II) ferrite. This was confirmed by Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry. The efficiency of CO₂ decomposition into carbon at 300°C with the oxygen-deficient Mn(II) ferrite was much lower by about 10⁵ than that of oxygen-deficient magnetite. This is considered to be due to the difference in electron conductivity between Mn(II) ferrite and magnetite, which determines the reductivity for CO₂ into carbon by donation of an electron at the adsorption site.     

Studies on chitin. VI. Binding of metal cations

The adsorption abilities of chitin and its congeners with two series of degrees of deacetylation prepared by two different deacetylation procedures were compared. Among the polysaccharides obtained by the heterogeneous method, those with higher amino group content had higher adsorption ability. Plots of collection percentages versus amino group content, however, did not give straight lines. The plot for the chelation on the congeners that were prepared by homogeneous hydrolysis had a maximum at about 50% amino group content, and the value was higher than that for the sample with the highest amino group content, which was prepared by heterogeneous hydrolysis. These results suggest that the polysaccharides with about 50% amino group content obtained by the homogeneous procedure are potentially useful for the removal of metals.     

Thickness effect of notched metal sheets on deformation and fracture under tension

The deformation field in notched metal sheets stretched under tension was analysed experimentally. The results of strain distribution were explained by using the result of the near-tip deformation field of non-linear elastic material, combined with a simple model of the plastic state under a mixed plane stress and plane strain condition. Next, the relationship among fracture mechanics parameters, i.e. the notch-tip opening displacement, the notch-tip contraction and $\text{J-}\text{integral}$ was established based on the rigid plastic strip model. Finally, the effect of the specimen thickness on the toughness value at crack initiation and instability was discussed by improving Bluhm's idea that the total fracture resistance was the sum of the fracture work for slant and flat fractures.     

Functional cloning of a cDNA encoding Mei2-like protein from Arabidopsis thaliana using a fission yeast pheromone receptor deficient mutant

Aromatherapy has been defined as 'the art--and science--of using essential plant oils in treatments ... a truly holistic therapy, taking into account mind, body and spirit ...' (Davis 1991). Aromatherapy is a valuable means of maintaining optimum health, particularly when the dis-ease of the body or mind is related to stress. The process of hospitalization is a potentially stressful experience that has been well researched (Broome et al 1990, Kachoyeanos & Friedhoff 1993, Strachan 1993, Taylor 1991). This paper examines the ways in which massage and aromatherapy could be of benefit to hospitalized children, particularly those infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Wright (1995) states that nurses should encourage self-healing by 'putting the patient in the best condition for nature to act'. Aromatherapy massage has the potential to achieve this through inducing relaxation and reducing the stressful aspects of hospitalization. Thus, the author would like to propose the use of this valuable skill as an extension of the nursing role.     

A grammatical inference for harmonic linear languages

We propose an effective algorithm to infer linear grammars from given finite sample sets. It is shown that the algorithm is complete for harmonic linear languages being a superclass of regular languages. A necessary and sufficient condition under which the algorithm converges to an expected grammar is given.     

Isoelectric focusing in a poly(dimethylsiloxane) microfluidic chip

This paper reports the application of ampholyte-based isoelectric focusing in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) using methylcellulose (MC) to reduce electroosmosis and peak drift. Although the characteristics of PDMS make it possible to fabricate microfluidic chips using soft lithography, unstable electroosmotic flow (EOF) and cathodic drift are significant problems when this medium is used. This paper demonstrates that EOF is greatly reduced in PDMS by applying a dynamic coat of MC to the channel walls and that higher concentrations of MC can be used to increase the viscosity of the electrode solutions in order to suppress pH gradient drift and reduce "compression"of the pH gradient. To illustrate the effect of MC on performance, several fluorescent proteins were focused in microchip channels 5 microm deep by 300 microm wide by 2 cm long in 3-10 min using broad-range ampholytes at electric field strengths ranging from 25 to 100 V/cm.     

Pseudomonas spp. convert metmyoglobin into deoxymyoglobin

Meat ‘reddening’ by bacteria was observed in chilled beef. To identify the reddening bacteria, isolates were inoculated onto beef and the changes in CIE L^*a^*b^* values monitored. As a result, two Pseudomonas spp., including Pseudomonas fragi which is commonly observed in raw meat, were selected and identified as reddening bacteria. The reddening was coincidentally occurred with the appearance of slime, and the increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) was simultaneously suppressed. In myoglobin-containing nutrient broth, it is shown spectroscopically that P. fragi converted metmyoglobin into deoxymyoglobin. It was concluded that the meat reddening was due to the formation of deoxymyoglobin, induced by the very-low-oxygen tension brought about by Pseudomonad’s oxygen consumption: This oxygen depletion simultaneously suppressed TBARS increase.     

Development of in-process visualization system for laser-assisted three-dimensional microfabrication using photocatalyst nanoparticles

Recently, microfabrication technology has been used to develop micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMSs), micro-total analysis systems (μ-TASs), and photonic crystals. Various microfabrication techniques have been proposed; however, a technique that can be used to efficiently fabricate 3-D structures via a simple procedure has not been reported thus far. Because 3-D metal structures have not only mechanical functions but also electromagnetic functions, it is desirable to develop such a technique. Our research group is in the process of developing a new technique for 3-D microfabrication that involves the use of a lower power continuous wave laser. Our technique is characterized by the reduction of silver ions via the photocatalysis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) excited at the laser beam waist. For the analysis and development of our microfabrication technique, we developed a microscope system that enabled us to observe the microfabrication process along the fabrication beam optical axis and its radial direction. We successfully visualized the microfabrication process in 3-D. The visualization showed that when the beam waist was swept, the silver structure grew in 3-D following its path. The effect of the substrate on the deposition condition was examined.     

Modeling the trajectory of window flames with regard to flow attachment to the adjacent wall

A model for predicting the trajectory of window flame ejected from a fire compartment was formulated incorporating the effect of wall above the opening. Based on the observation in the reduced scale experiments, window flames were divided into the following categories with regard to its trajectory configuration: the flow which ascends almost vertically up after ejection maintaining a certain separation from the wall; and the flow which ascends upward after ejection and gradually approaches to the wall in the downstream. In the model, trajectories of these flows were approximated by cubic polynomials whose coefficients were given as functions of a dimensionless parameter F*. The parameter F* was derived from the conservation equation of momentum which incorporates the effect of pressure gradient across the ascending flows. Critical condition for the occurrence of flow attachment was described as a proportion of the maximum separation from the wall versus the opening width. Trajectories predicted by the proposed model were then compared with the measurement data which indicated reasonable agreements.