A study on selective precipitation of U(VI) by hydrophilic cyclic urea derivatives for development of a reprocessing system based on precipitation method

Selective precipitation ability of 2-imidazolidone (EU) and tetrahydro-2-pyrimidinone (PU) for U(VI) species in HNO₃ solutions containing U(VI), U(IV) (simulant of Pu(IV)), and simulated fission products (FPs) was investigated. As a result, it was found that these compounds precipitate almost quantitatively U(VI) as UO₂(NO₃)₂L₂ (L = EU, PU) from 3.0 M HNO₃ solution. In contrast, these urea derivatives form neither solid precipitates nor oily products with U(IV) in HNO₃ solutions containing only U(IV) species and even in U(VI)–U(IV) admixture system. Therefore, the separation of U(VI) from U(IV) was demonstrated to be achieved in use of EU and PU. Furthermore, EU and PU are capable to remove most of simulated FPs[Sr(II), Ru(III), Rh(III), Re(VII) La(III), Ce(III), Pr(III), Nd(III), and Sm(III)] from U(VI) to give their decontamination factors (DFs) higher than 100, while those values of Zr(IV), Mo(VI), Pd(II), and Ba(II) are necessary to be improved in both systems. From these results, it is expected that EU and PU are the promising precipitants for selective separation of U(VI) from HNO₃ solutions dissolving spent FBR fuels.     

Distinctive flow properties of liquid jet generated by EHD pump and conical nozzle

The electrohydrodynamic liquid jets induced by the mechanism which is referred to as pure conduction pumping were investigated in isothermal weakly conducting liquids, HFC43‐10 and HCFC123. The properties of the liquid jets (flow velocity, pumping pressure, and flow pattern) were examined by using grounded electrodes of four different types opposite a pseudo‐doughnut electrode under an applied DC voltage. These electrode systems gave rise to a powerful liquid jet, but in the working liquids used here, there was an effect of the voltage polarity on the flow direction. In order to create a more effective liquid jet with high directivity, a special nozzle (referred to as a conical nozzle in this paper) was used together with the electrode system. This nozzle can produce a distinctive pattern (spiral structure) of jets emerging from the outlet of the nozzle. In this paper, the spiral structure of the liquid jets has been analyzed using the basic equations of fluid mechanics. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 154(1): 9–19, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20133     

Changes of proximate and fatty acid compositions of the dorsal and ventral ordinary muscles of the full-cycle cultured Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis with the growth

Using the full-cycle cultured (FC) Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis [body weights: 13.1 ± 4.5 (FC1; April in 2004), 20.2 ± 1.8 (FC2; July in 2004), 28.5 ± 6.3 (FC3; November in 2004), 27.0 ± 3.3 (FC4; February in 2005) and 33.5 ± 4.7 kg (FC5; May in 2005), n = 3, respectively] and wild bluefin tuna [33.3 ± 1.5kg (June in 2005), n = 3], proximate and fatty acid compositions of the cephalal (Ce-) and caudal (Ca-) parts of the dorsal (D) and ventral (V) ordinary muscles (OMs) were investigated. Lipid contents of the Ce-DOM and VOMs of FC1-5 increased with growth. In particular, lipid content of the Ce-DOM (23.0%) and VOMs (55.1%) of FC5 was higher (P < 0.05) than those of wild tuna [D-(2.0%) and VOMs (16.2%)]. However, lipid contents of the Ca-DOM and VOMs of FC1-5 did not change with growth. On the other hand, the fatty acid compositions of the Ce-DOM and VOMs of FC2-5 resembled each other. However, there was no specific tendency of the changes of each fatty acid composition of the Ce-DOM of FC tuna with growth. On the other hand, total monounsaturated fatty acid content (30.1%) of the Ce-DOM of FC5 was higher (P < 0.05) than that (25.5%) of wild tuna. The ratio of n–3: n–6 (9.4%) of the Ce-VOM of FC5 was lower (P < 0.05) than that (14.0%) of wild tuna. However, the fatty acid compositions of the Ce-DOM and VOMs of FC tuna were not reflected by those of feed (whole fish bodies of sesame mackerel).     

A case of glycogen storage disease type Ia with multiple hepatic adenomas and G727T mutation in the glucose-6-phosphatase gene, and a comparison with other mutations previously reported

We report a case of 23-yr-old man with glycogen storage disease (GSD) type Ia complicated by multiple hepatic adenomas. Analysis of the G-6-Pase gene using peripheral blood sample showed this patient to be homozygous for a G-to-T transversion at nucleotide 727 in exon 5. This mutation is prevalent among Japanese patients, suggesting that specific genotypes may correlate with different clinical courses or outcomes.     

Influence of molecular structure on propagation of positive streamer discharge in dielectric liquids

In this paper, streamer discharges in dielectric liquids which have various molecular structures, such as a double bond or a triple bond in the molecular formula, are observed in detail for positive point polarity under the application of an impulse voltage to the point electrode. As test liquids, four straight‐chain hydrocarbon liquids—n‐hexane, n‐heptane, n‐octane, and n‐decane—are selected and in addition the influence of a double or triple bond included in their molecular formula on the propagation of positive streamers is investigated in detail by simultaneously using a high‐speed schlieren method and an LED current measurement system. Some differences in the mean propagation velocity and the propagation shape of positive streamers are evident. Their shape is mainly filamentary in test liquids including a double or triple bond. Also, positive streamer propagation is promoted in these liquids. It is thought that this is due to the effect of π bonds which have smaller bond energies than σ bonds. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 149(1): 15–21, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10366     

Effect of genetic differences in omeprazole metabolism on cure rates for Helicobacter pylori infection and peptic ulcer

We report a 65-year-old woman with thyrotropin (TSH) secreting pituitary adenoma, who was diagnosed based on the lack of inhibition of serum TSH despite an increased serum free thyroxine (T4), a low response of serum TSH to thyrotropin releasing hormone, and a pituitary tumor as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging. The pituitary adenoma was, however, inoperable due to chronic respiratory failure. The treatment with octreotide in a dose of 100 microg b.i.d. resulted in inhibition of serum TSH and free T4 to euthyroid levels and considerable shrinkage of the pituitary tumor. These effects were continued over 8 months after the start of octreotide therapy without any adverse effects. These findings add further evidence that octreotide is useful for treating inoperable TSH secreting pituitary adenoma.     

Radiation degradation of large fluence irradiated space silicon solar cells

In this paper, we present data on the electrical properties of 50 gm thick space silicon BSFR cells irradiated with 10 MeV protons with a fluence exceeding 1 x 10¹³ p/cm² and irradiated with 1 MeV electrons with a fluence exceeding 1 x 10¹⁶ e/cm², and discuss the anomalous degradation which was found in these large-fluence regions. These data show an increase of saturation current density and a decrease of diffusion voltage of the pn junction, and a decrease of majority carrier density and an increase of series resistance of the p-substrate as a result of the formation of a large amount of carrier traps by the large-fluence irradiation.     

New method for specifying color‐rendering properties of light sources based on feeling of contrast

“Visual clarity” or “feeling of contrast” of object colors under illumination is affected significantly by changing color‐rendering property of light source used. Though the feeling of contrast is considered one of the most important characteristics on color‐rendering properties of light sources, it cannot be estimated adequately by using the present R_a method. The new index FCI is proposed for estimating the effect of feeling of contrast quantitatively under any light sources. The FCI is derived using a simple transformation of the gamut area, which is constituted by a specially selected four‐color combination in CIE LAB color space. The FCI correlates well with the illuminance ratio for equal feeling of contrast (or equal visual clarity) on various light sources reported so far. Using the FCI together with the present CIE R_a, the color‐rendering capability of a light source can be well clarified. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 361–371, 2007     

Photocatalytic N-alkylation of benzylamine in microreactors

A photocatalytic process of N-alkylation of benzylamine in alcohol media was successfully observed by using microreactors with immobilized Pt-free TiO₂ as well as Pt-loaded TiO₂, while it has been reported that the N-alkylation did not occur by the irradiation of Pt-free TiO₂ in conventional batch reactors. The use of continuous-flow microreactor inhibited the formation of N,N-dialkylation products. These results suggest the possibilities of a catalytic microreaction system on organic photoreactions.