Combustion synthesis of single-phase β-sialons (z = 2–4)

Single-phase β-sialon powders (z = 2–4) have been prepared with homogeneous compositions by the combustion synthesis. The raw materials (Si, Al and SiO₂) were combusted under N₂ pressure of 1 MPa. Without using a diluent, the reaction temperatures were very high (>2000 °C) and the combustion products contained Si and Al residues. With addition of commercial β-sialon (z = 1) as a diluent (up to 50 wt%), both the reaction temperatures and amount of residual Si and Al significantly decreased. The combustion reactions completed at 50 wt% dilution, and pure β-sialon phases were synthesized. When the combustion product itself is used instead of the commercial diluent, the phase content of desired z value increased with the repetition times until a single-phase powder is produced. The sinterability of the synthesized powders was then tested using 5 wt% Y₂O₃ as a sintering aid by the spark plasma sintering (SPS).     

Corrosion resistance and chemical stability of super-hydrophobic film deposited on magnesium alloy AZ31 by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition

A super-hydrophobic film was successfully deposited on magnesium alloy AZ31 by the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (MPECVD) process. The film surface showed a static water contact angle of more than 150°. The hydrophobicity and root mean square roughness of the film surface increased with an increase in deposition time. The anticorrosion resistance of the deposited film was estimated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements. The EIS measurements and appropriate equivalent circuit models revealed that the super-hydrophobic film considerably improved the anticorrosion resistant performance of magnesium alloy AZ31. The anticorrosion mechanism of the super-hydrophobic film was also considered. Moreover, the chemical stability of the super-hydrophobic film in acidic, neutral, and alkaline aqueous solutions was investigated. The super-hydrophobic film showed high chemical stability in acidic and neutral aqueous solutions.     

Surface Relief Induced by Martensitic Transformation in Phosphorus-Bearing Dicalcium Silicate

Crystals of (Ca_1.955□_0.045)(Si_0.91P_0.09)O₄, where □ denotes a vacancy, have been prepared and examined by XRD, optical microscopy, SEM, and AFM. At 20°C, the crystals are composed of 38%α' _L and 62%β phases. Upon cooling to −185°C, the α' _L - to β-phase transformation occurs, which increases the β-phase composition to 72%. The transformation is also accompanied by the formation of platelike surface reliefs. The surface relief angles have been determined from observations (7.9°± 0.2°) and calculations based on a phenomenological analysis (7.84°). The fair agreement of these values indicates that the transformation is martensitic and mainly governed by a shear mechanism.     

Analytical Method for Diacylglycerol Kinase ζ Activity in Cells Using Protein Myristoylation and Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Specific inhibitors of diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) ζ can be promising anticancer medications via the activation of cancer immunity. Although the detection of cellular activities of target enzymes is essential for drug screening in addition to in vitro assays, it is difficult to detect the activity of DGKζ in cells. In the present study, we generated AcGFP-DGKζ cDNA with a consensus N-myristoylation sequence at the 5′ end (Myr-AcGFP-DGKζ) to target DGKζ to membranes. Using liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) (LC–MS/MS), we showed that Myr-AcGFP-DGKζ, but not AcGFP-DGKζ without the myristoylation sequence, substantially augmented the levels of several phosphatidic acid (PtdOH) species. In contrast to Myr-AcGFP-DGKζ, its inactive mutant did not exhibit an increase in PtdOH production, indicating that the increase in PtdOH production was DGK activity-dependent. This method will be useful in chemical compound selection for the development of drugs targeting DGKζ and can be applicable to various soluble (nonmembrane bound) lipid-metabolizing enzymes, including other DGK isozymes.     

Comparative NO x reduction behavior of Pt,Pd, and Rh supported catalysts in simulated exhaust gases as a function of oxygen concentration

Topics in Catalysis - NO x reduction activity on Pt and Pd catalysts had a maximum for S value as stoichiometry number at a fixed temperature, and the S value at the maximum NO x conversion...     

Reappraisal of human CYP isoforms involved in imipramine N-demethylation and 2-hydroxylation: a study using microsomes obtained from putative extensive and poor metabolizers of S-mephenytoin and eleven recombinant human CYPs

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) involved in the two major pathways of imipramine (IMI) was reappraised using human liver microsomes phenotyped for S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation in vitro and 11 recombinant human CYP isoforms. Individual Eadie-Hoffstee plots for IMI N-demethylation and 2-hydroxylation showed a monophasic profile in microsomes obtained from three putative S-mephenytoin poor metabolizer (PM) livers, whereas the plots gave a biphasic relationship (except for one case in 2-hydroxylation) in those from the three extensive metabolizer (EM) livers. Effects of CYP-selective inhibitor/substrate probes on the two metabolic reactions were examined at the two IMI concentrations (2 and 400 microM) with microsomes obtained from the two PM and three EM livers. S-mephenytoin inhibited IMI N-demethylation by 50% at the low concentration in microsomes from the EM livers with no discernible effect on this pathway in those from the PM livers. Furafylline inhibited the N-demethylation by about 60% at the low and high substrate concentrations in microsomes from both the EM and PM livers. Quinidine abolished the 2-hydroxylation at the low and high concentrations in microsomes from both the EM and the PM livers. Among the recombinant human CYPs, CYP2C19, 2C18, 2D6, 1A2, 3A4 and 2B6 in rank order catalyzed the N-demethylation, whereas CYP2D6, 2C19, 1A2, 2C18 and 3A4 catalyzed the 2-hydroxylation. The Km values obtained from recombinant CYP2C19 and 1A2 approximated those of the high- and low-affinity components from human liver microsomes for IMI N-demethylation, respectively. For IMI 2-hydroxylation, the respective Km values obtained from recombinant CYP2D6 and 2C19 were close to those of the high- and low-affinity components from human liver microsomes. Our human liver microsomal study using the near-therapeutic IMI concentration (2 microM) suggests that 1) CYP2C19 and 1A2 are involved in the N-demethylation and the 2-hydroxylation is mediated exclusively by CYP2D6 and partially by CYP2C19 in the EM livers, and 2) CYP1A2 and 2D6 play a major role in IMI N-demethylation and 2-hydroxylation, respectively, in the PM livers. Our recombinant human CYP isoform study, in general, supports this conclusion.     

通信协议在建筑领域内的应用

本文例举了目前智能建筑领域中的几种控制系统的应用，并根据这些应用阐述了采用开放式系统的重要性。     

Three-Dimensional Numerical Modeling of Convective Heat Transfer During Shallow-Depth Forced-Air Drying of Brown Rice Grains

We describe here a three-dimensional (3D) numerical study of the convective thermal transfer during forced-air drying of brown rice grains with the inclusion of moisture evaporation. Three levels of temperature were tested across a range from 40 to 60°C. The objective of the study was to determine the temperature distributions in the drying chamber as well as the surface and intra-kernel temperature gradients during convective drying of rice grains. The numerical model was based on the Navier-Stokes equation for fluid flow and the Fourier's equation for heat transfer. Results of the numerical solution showed that temperature distribution in the air and brown rice grains during the early minutes of drying were significantly influenced by the direction of flow of the heated air. Air gaps between grains and at the periphery of the drying chamber affected the rate and direction of airflow. The temperature history of the rice grains showed variations at different levels within the layers of grains. Moreover, the stream of heated air showed regions with airflows eight times greater than the inlet air velocity.