Diagnostics of Rovibrational Distribution of H2 in Low Temperature Plasmas by Fulcher-α band Spectroscopy - on the Reaction Ratesand Transition Probabilities

A novel fitting procedure is proposed for a better determination of H2 rovibrational distribution from the Fulcher-α band spectroscopy. We have recalculated the transition probabilities and the results show that they deviate from Franck-Condon approximation especially for the non-diagonal transitions. We also calculated the complete sets of vibrationally resolved cross sections for electron impact d^3IIu- X^3∑g transition based on the semi-classical Gryzinski theory. An example of experimental study confirms that current approach provides a tool for a better diagnostics of H2 rovibrational distribution in electronic ground state.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the structural and mechanical property changes in the Brill transition of nylon 10/10 crystal

In order to confirm the structural features in the Brill transition of aliphatic nylons, molecular dynamics calculation has been performed at the various temperatures for nylon 10/10 crystal as a model. With an increase in temperature, the torsional motions around the methylene-amide and methylene-methylene bonds were activated. These motions became more remarkable above 420 K and the interconversion between trans and gauche forms occurred frequently, resulting in the disordered conformation of the methylene sequences and the pseudo-hexagonal packing of these parts. During such a drastic structural disordering, however, the hydrogen bonds were kept alive although the bond strength became weaker. These calculations were found to be consistent with the experimental results by the temperature-dependent X-ray diffraction and infrared spectral measurements. The Young's modulus along the chain axis was also calculated as a function of temperature: it decreased remarkably from 250 GPa at 0 K to 180 GPa at 300 K due to a small contraction of the skeletal chain by only about 0.2-0.5% through the torsional motion of the skeletal chains, and the modulus decreased furthermore to 80 GPa at 550 K because of the larger conformational disordering of the skeletal chains. The Young's modulus in the direction perpendicular to the chain axis was also found to decrease remarkably in parallel to the change of the chain packing mode.     

Structural change in the Brill transition of Nylon m/n (2) conformational disordering as viewed from the temperature-dependent infrared spectral measurements

The structural changes in the Brill transition of aliphatic Nylons m/n have been investigated by carrying out the temperature-dependent infrared spectral measurement for Nylon 6/10 -[-NH-(CH₂)₆-NHCO-(CH₂)₈-CO-]_n-, Nylon 6/12 -[-NH-(CH₂)₆-NHCO-(CH₂)₁₀-CO-]_n- and Nylon 10/10 -[-NH-(CH₂)₁₀-NHCO-(CH₂)₈-CO-]_n-. They took the crystal structure of α-form at room temperature. By heating the samples up to the Brill transition temperature region, the conformation of the methylene segments was found to change remarkably from the all trans-zigzag form to the disordered conformation constructed by shorter trans-zigzag segments combined with some gauche bonds. At the same time, the twisting motion was found to occur around the CH₂-amide bonds. During this order-to-disorder transition of molecular conformation, the intermolecular hydrogen bonds were kept alive although they were weaker gradually with increasing temperature. The methylene segments sandwiched by NH groups [NH(CH₂)_mNH] were found to be disordered more remarkably than those of CO(CH₂)_nCO sequence due to the difference in torsional energy barriers around the CH₂-NH and CH₂-CO bonds.     

Interaction of nanogel with cyclodextrin or protein: Study by dynamic light scattering and small-angle neutron scattering

The structure of hydrogel nanoparticles (CHP nanogels), formed by self-aggregation of cholesterol-bearing pullulan (CHP) was studied by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). The interactions between the CHP nanogel and methyl-β-cyclodextrin (CD) or protein (hen egg white) were also investigated. It was revealed by SANS that the nanogels were spherical in shape with a radius of 6.7 nm. The following two functions were disclosed. (1) CHP nanogels were dissociated by the addition of CD and formed inclusion complexes with cholesteryl groups, leading to suppression of hydrophobic interaction between the cholesteryl groups. (2) The nanogel behaved as a molecular chaperone (heat shock protein-like activity) when CHP nanogel was mixed with hen egg white and heated up to 75 °C. The egg white aqueous solutions with CHP nanogel remained transparent while the egg white without CHP nanogel became opaque.     

Tuning magnetic domain structure in nanoscale La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 islands

The realization of spin-based devices requires high density, ordered arrays of magnetic materials with a high degree of spin polarization at surfaces. We have synthesized, for the first time, highly spin polarized complex magnetic oxide nanostructures embedded in a paramagnetic matrix by electron beam lithography and ion implantation. Imaging the magnetic domains with X-ray photoemission electron microscopy and magnetic force microscopy reveals a delicate balance between magnetocrystalline, magnetoelastic, and magnetostatic energies that can be tuned by the choice of SrTiO3 substrate orientation, film thickness, island size, and island shape.     

Experimental Study of the Atomic and Molecular Processes Related to Plasma Detachment in Steady-State Divertor Simulator MAP-Ⅱ

Atomic and molecular processes relevant to the volumetric recombination phcnom-ena were investigated in a linear divertor plasma simulator MAP-Ⅱ. Volumetric recombination isinduced in He plasma by puffing of He or H_2. In the He puffing case, the reduction of the ion fluxis dominated by the electron-ion recombination. In the H_2 puffing case, however, it is dominatedby the molecule-assisted recombination (MAR), which is characterized by the disappearance of theHelium Rydberg spectra and by the existence of the hydrogen negative ions. Current achievementand the future prospect are described.     

Axial and transverse characterizations of ceramic candle filters

Ceramic candle filters are stiff composite tubes used in particle-removal during hot-gas filtration in coal energy generation. These filters are designed to withstand high temperature and pressure gradients. To determine the consistency in manufactured qualities of these filters, dynamic characterization method is recommended as a nondestructive evaluation technique. Six filters of the same manufactured batch were tested dynamically to establish the baseline properties of these filters. The test results are compared to theoretical values and are used to identify the variation in the manufactured products. This paper reports the frequencies in both transverse and axial directions indicating acceptable variations between all filters that are compatible to variations in measured physical parameters including density, stiffness and elastic modulus.     

LXR Agonist Increases the Lymph HDL Transport in Rats by Promoting Reciprocally Intestinal ABCA1 and apo A-I mRNA Levels

Liver and intestine are major sites of apo A-I synthesis in mammals. ABCAI is reported to be involved in the secretion of nascent HDL from cultured intestinal cells. However, whether ABCA1 participates in the secretion of nascent HDL from the intestine has not been assessed directly in vivo. This study examined the effect of a synthetic LXR-agonist “TO” on the lymphatic transport of HDL in thoracic duct-cannulated rats. The feeding of a TO-containing diet resulted in an increased transport of cholesterol and apo A-I in the lymph d > 1.063 g/ml lipoprotein fraction than did the feeding of a control diet without TO. The transport of cholesterol in whole lymph was lower, whereas the transport of apo A-I was higher, in the TO group. The abundance of mRNAs for ABCAI and apo A-I in the intestine was increased in the TO group. Furthermore, although the TO-containing diet reportedly increased the serum HDL concentration in intact mice and rats, no such effect was observed in the cannulated rats. The LXR agonist stimulated in vivo the synthesis of nascent HDL by increasing reciprocally the mRNA for ABCAI and apo A-I in the intestine, thereby contributing to an increase in the circulating HDL.     

Fabrication of high‐quality two‐dimensional photonic crystals based on porous alumina

We fabricated porous alumina templates with a well‐ordered pore array by a pre‐triggered anodization method. The arrangement of pores in the fabricated templates was set by a Ni‐dot stamper. The structure of the templates was analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), two‐dimensional Fourier transformation of FESEM images and optical means. It was found that the porous alumina templates have a high‐quality, extended, two‐dimensional hexagonal lattice, which can be used in the fabrication of two‐dimensional magnetophotonic crystals (2D‐MPCs). © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Histological and Immunohistochemical Studies to Determine the Mechanism of Cleft Palate Induction after Palatal Fusion in Mice Exposed to TCDD

Rupture of the basement membrane in fused palate tissue can cause the palate to separate after fusion in mice, leading to the development of cleft palate. Here, we further elucidate the mechanism of palatal separation after palatal fusion in 8–10-week-old ICR female mice. On day 12 of gestation, 40 μg/kg of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), sufficient to cause cleft palate in 100% of mice, was dissolved in 0.4 mL of olive oil containing toluene and administered as a single dose via a gastric tube. Fetal palatine frontal sections were observed by H&E staining, and epithelial cell adhesion factors, apoptosis, and cell proliferation were observed from the anterior to posterior palate. TUNEL-positive cells and Ki67-positive cells were observed around the posterior palatal dissection area of the TCDD-treated group. Moreover, in fetal mice exposed to TCDD, some fetuses exhibited cleft palate dehiscence during fusion. The results suggest that palatal dehiscence may be caused by abnormal cell proliferation in epithelial tissues, decreased intercellular adhesion, and inhibition of mesenchymal cell proliferation. By elucidating the mechanism of cleavage after palatal fusion, this research can contribute to establishing methods for the prevention of cleft palate development.