Physicochemical Characterization of Chrysin‐Derivative‐Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carriers with Special Reference to Anticancer Activity

Homologues long‐chain chrysin derivatives (LCD, C _n: 8–18) were synthesized and incorporated into nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC) with the aim to treat human neuroblastoma. Mutual miscibility and attractive interactions among the NLC components, namely tripalmitin (TP), cetyl palmitate (CP), oleic acid (OA), and the chrysin (CHR) derivatives (LCD) at the air–water interface were assessed by the Langmuir monolayer approach. Optimum combination for the NLC formulations was found to be 2:2:1 (M/M/M) for TP/CP/OA, respectively. NLC formulations, both in the absence and presence of LCD, were characterized by combined dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The size and zeta potential of the NLC formulations were found in the range 200–350 nm and ?12 to ?18 mV, respectively. Encapsulation efficiency and release kinetics of CHR and LCD when loaded into NLC were also evaluated. LCD exhibited maximum incorporation, drug‐loading capacity, and sustained release because of its enhanced hydrophobicity. Superior incorporation efficiency and sustained‐release profile of LCD were able to enhance their anticancer activity against human neuroblastoma cell lines, compared to CHR, making them promising agents in combating cancer.     

Separation of aromatic components from light cycle oil by solvent extraction

To improve the versatility of light cycle oil (LCO), separation of aromatic compounds from LCO by solvent extraction was investigated. LCO was analyzed to identify 35 components: 19 aromatics and 16 alkanes. The batch liquid–liquid equilibrium extraction of LCO was performed using furfural, sulfolane, and methanol as extraction solvents. In each solvent, the aromatics present in LCO were selectively extracted relative to the alkanes. The separation selectivities of aromatics relative to alkanes were larger in sulfolane than in the other solvents. Among the aromatic components, di- and tricyclic compounds were selectively extracted relative to the monocyclic ones.     

Thermal and electrical properties of perovskite-type strontium molybdate

Polycrystalline samples of perovskite-type strontium molybdate, SrMoO₃, have been prepared and the thermal and electrical properties have been measured from room temperature to about 1000 K. The electrical resistivity is of an order of magnitude of 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻⁶ (Ω m) in the whole temperature range. The Seebeck coefficient is around 4–9 μV K⁻¹. At room temperature, the thermal conductivity is about 30 W m⁻¹ K⁻¹, and it decreases with increasing temperature.     

Selective dissolution of nanolamellar Ti–41 at.% Al alloy single crystals

The selective dissolution behavior of Ti–41 at.% Al single crystals having a α₂/γ-lamellar structure with a lamellar thickness in the range 20 nm to 1 μm have been investigated in 0.5 M NaCl aqueous solution focusing on the effect of lamellar thickness on the dissolution of γ-lamellae. In the case where γ-lamellae were thicker than ～100 nm on average, γ-lamellae were selectively dissolved and, as a result, crevasses whose widths were close to the γ-lamellae thicknesses were formed. However, not all γ-lamellae were dissolved and the distribution of crevasses was much less uniform compared with that of the γ-lamellae. On the other hand, when the average γ-lamellae thickness was <100 nm relatively thick γ-lamellae were preferentially dissolved, but the distribution of the crevasses was relatively uniform compared with that obtained from the coarse lamellar structure. The reasons for this difference are discussed from the viewpoint of the absence of misfit dislocations in nanoscaled lamellae and the difference in ion transport through crevasses of different width formed by dissolution of γ-lamellae.     

Ab initio study on plane defects in zirconium–hydrogen solid solution and zirconium hydride

Hydrogen embrittlement of zirconium alloys is one of the main causes of the mechanical degradation of the fuel cladding in light water reactors, and has therefore been extensively studied. Although various conjectures have been proposed as the origin of such embrittlement, it is not known which one plays the most important role: the brittle nature of the hydride, micro-crack nucleation by interaction of hydride precipitates with dislocations or void nucleation at the interface between hydride precipitates and zirconium matrix. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate the origin of the embrittlement by investigating the fracture properties of the hydride. We have evaluated the surface energy γ_S and unstable stacking energy γ_US of Zr–H systems by using ab initio calculations. The ductile/brittle behavior of the hydride is discussed based on the difference between γ_S and γ_US among the hydride, pure zirconium and hydrogen solid solution. For the solid solution at a H/Zr ratio less than 0.5 we obtained a monotonous decrease by 15–34% and 50–100% in γ_S and γ_US, respectively, from those in pure zirconium, indicating a reduction in both brittleness and ductility. Thus, hydrogen-induced embrittlement of the hcp Zr matrix was not confirmed. On the other hand, for the hydride we obtained a 25% smaller γ_S and a 200–300% larger γ_US than those in pure zirconium. This indicates that zirconium hydride has an extremely brittle nature due to the synergistic effect of a small γ_S, implying easy generation of a fracture surface, and large γ_US, implying a difficulty in dislocation motion, compared with pure zirconium. Furthermore, Rice’s ductile/brittle parameter D was 1.4 in the δ-hydride, indicating that it undergoes brittle fracture more easily than iridium, known as an extremely brittle material. These results seem sufficient to attribute hydrogen embrittlement of zirconium alloys substantially to the brittle nature of the hydride.     

Formation Mechanism and Synthesis of Apatite-Type Structure Ba2+xLa8−x(SiO4)6O2−δ

The formation process of Ba₂La₈(SiO₄)₆O₂ was clarified using thermogravimetry–differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) and a high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction (HT-XRD) method. Phase changes identified from the HT-XRD data surprisingly corresponded to the weight loss and/or endothermic peaks observed in the TG-DTA curves. Raw material with the composition Ba₂La₈(SiO₄)₆O₂ was completely reacted at 1400°C and produced only an apatite-type compound without a secondary phase. Moreover, the synthesis of Ba_{2+ x} La_{8− x} (SiO₄)₆O_2−δ crystals with x = 0–2 was attempted using a solid-state reaction.     

Optical Amplification at 1.3 μm in a Praseodymium-Doped Sulfide-Glass Fiber

Praseodymium-doped glasses were prepared in the Ga-Na-S (GNS) system and their optical properties were studied. A single-mode fiber with an attenuation loss of 1.2 dB/m at a wavelength of 1.31 μm was fabricated using an extrusion method, and the amplification characteristics were measured in the bidirectional pumping configuration. We demonstrated a gain coefficient of 0.81 dB/mW at a wavelength of 1.34 μm, which is the highest we have ever reported, and achieved a net gain of 32 dB for a pump power of 90 mW. Highly efficient optical amplification at a wavelength of 1.3 μm was demonstrated in the praseodymium-doped GNS fiber.     

Lipid analog with 2-nitrophenol trigger designed for liposome fusion at physiological pH

A novel lipid analog with two long alkyl (C₁₆) chains, an aspartate skeleton, a connecting alkyl (C₈) chain, and 2-nitrophenol trigger group is synthesized by an efficient synthetic route, which can induce liposome fusion at physiological pH.     

High-Resolution Electron Microscopy Observations of Stacking Faults in β-SiC

Structural images of the stacking faults in β-SiC were obtained with a high-resolution electron microscope. Stacking faults initially present in β-SiC powder particles were eliminated as grain growth proceeded at elevated temperatures.