Controlling the Morphology of Mesostructured Silicas by Pseudomorphic Transformation: a Route Towards Applications

Micelle‐templated silicas (MTSs) such as MCM‐41 and MCM‐48 feature unique textural properties owing to their uniform distribution of mesopores with tunable sizes. MTS synthesis is relevant to unique self‐assembly processes between surfactants and inorganic matter. The properties of MTSs have been explored in view of applications in fields as diverse as catalysis, chromatography, sensing, photonics, optics, drug delivery, etc. The aim of this contribution is to review, and to highlight by new results, a synthesis strategy we have developed since 2002 to control the particle morphology of MTSs at the micro‐ to millimeter scale, a key step for transferring these materials from the status of beautiful artworks to applicable products. It is based on the concept of pseudomorphic synthesis. Pseudomorphism is well known in the mineral world. It allows preparation of a mineral with a morphology that is not related to its crystallographic symmetry group. The resulting mineral assumes the outward crystal habit of a different mineral. This principle occurs at a nonconstant matter content by using a mineralization solution that exchanges anions (or cations) with an existing (preshaped) solid body, and allows the new structure to precipitate while maintaining the existing morphology. The concept of pseudomorphic transformation is now applied to amorphous preshaped silica particles to produce MTSs with the same morphology, using an alkaline solution to dissolve the silica and reprecipitate it around surfactant micelles into the ordered MTS structures. MTSs with hexagonal and cubic symmetry, different pore sizes, and controlled morphology have been synthesized. The new pseudomorphs have been successfully used as supports in chromatography, a very demanding application in terms of particle size and morphology.     

Contribution of parenchymal and non-parenchymal liver cells to the clearance of hepatocyte growth factor from the circulation in rats

PURPOSE: The distribution of 125I-hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to either liver parenchymal cells (PC) or non-parenchymal cells (NPC) was investigated in rats. METHODS: After injection of a trace amount of 125I-HGF, the distribution of radioactivity determined by microautoradiography closely resembled that of 125I-epidermal growth factor which distributes mainly to PC. RESULTS: The uptake clearance of 125I-HGF estimated by determining the radioactivity of isolated liver cells was three times higher for PC than for NPC. This suggests that HGF distributes mainly to PC at relatively low doses. On the other hand, the uptake clearance by PC fell on coadministering an excess (80 micrograms/kg) of unlabeled HGF, while no change was observed for NPC, indicating that a saturable process for the hepatic handling of HGF exists only in PC where the HGF receptor is expressed. CONCLUSIONS: At such a dose the uptake clearance was comparable for both PC and NPC showing that HGF distributes to both cell types although NPC have few HGF receptors. Since the distribution to NPC was relatively non-specific and heparin-sensitive, it may be that heparin-like substances, which are believed to exist on PC and/or the extracellular matrix, also exist on NPC.     

Purification and some properties of ribonuclease from Xenopus laevis eggs

A 122 kDa RNase from eggs of Xenopus laevis was purified by sequential chromatography on Sephadex G-75, DEAE-cellulose, heparin-Sepharose and TSK gel G3000SW columns, and gave a single 60 kDa band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis under reducing and nonreducing conditions. The RNase composed of two 60 kDa subunits is able to recognize pyrimidine bases specifically. The pH optimum of the RNase was 7.5 in Tris-HCl buffer. The enzyme activity was abolished by treatment at 80 degrees C for 5 min and pH 2 or 12 for 1 h. Since egg lectins with RNase activity obtained from Rana catesbeiana and R. japonica and bovine pancreatic RNase A show about 30% protein homology and these three proteins are 12-14 kDa heat-stable RNases, [K. Titani, K. Takio, M. Kuwada, K. Nitta, F. Sakakibara, H. Kawauchi, G. Takayanagi and S. Hakomori, Biochemistry, 26, 2189 (1987); Y: Kamiya, F. Oyama, R. Oyama, F. Sakakibara, K. Nitta, H. Kawauchi, Y. Takayanagi and K. Titani, J. Biochem. (Tokyo), 108, 139 (1990)], the data suggest that the X. laevis egg RNase is a unique protein compared with RNases from not only amphibians, but also mammals.     

The significance of a positive flow cytometry crossmatch test in primary kidney transplantation

This study was conducted to determine the efficacy of the T cell flow cytometry crossmatch (T-FCXM) test in 841 first cadaver donor transplants. Results showed one-year graft survival rates were 82% for T-FCXM-negative patients, compared with 75% for T-FCXM-positive patients (P = 0.01). Early one-month graft failure was 13 percentage points higher in those with a positive T-FCXM than those with a negative T-FCXM. The positive crossmatch patients also had more frequent immunological failures. A positive T-FCXM was found in 39% of the sensitized patients (PRA > 10%) and 8% of those who had not been sensitized. Patients with a positive T-FCXM in either category had a 74% graft survival rate. Thus, most of the T-FCXM-positive results occurred in patients with complement-fixing antibodies. It is suggested that flow cytometry crossmatching (FCXM) be used prospectively, despite the fact that many patients with a positive crossmatch did have successful transplants (TXs). In the current climate of a cadaver kidney scarcity and large recipient waiting pools, utilization of kidneys for patients with the highest probability of success seems a most prudent policy.     

Orbital hemangiopericytoma--case report

OBJECTIVE: To describe the radiological features of duodenal injury during endoscopic retrograde sphincterotomy (ERS) with special reference to limited papillary trauma and minor perforation. METHODS: The radiological and clinical features of duodenal injuries out of 284 ERS performed in the last 4 years were evaluated retrospectively to document various patterns of trauma and correlation with clinical outcome. RESULTS: Duodenal injuries occurred in eight patients: mild papillary injuries in five subjects (intrapapillary extravasation of contrast medium in one, peri-Vaterian submucosal diffusion in four) and duodenal perforation in three (peri-choledochal diffusion in one, retroperitoneal leakage in two). CONCLUSION: The radiological findings in papillary and duodenal injuries are protean and knowledge of their variable appearance is important since their detection may have practical consequences.     

Effect of non-uniform electron energy distribution function on plasma production in large arc driven negative ion source

Spatially non-uniform electron energy distribution function (EEDF) in an arc driven negative ion source (JAEA 10A negative ion source: 10 A NIS) is calculated numerically by a three-dimensional Monte Carlo kinetic model for electrons to understand spatial distribution of plasma production (such as atomic and ionic hydrogen (H(0)∕H(+)) production) in source chamber. The local EEDFs were directly calculated from electron orbits including electromagnetic effects and elastic∕inelastic collision forces. From the EEDF, spatial distributions of H(0)∕H(+) production rate were obtained. The results suggest that spatial non-uniformity of H(0)∕H(+) productions is enhanced by high energy component of EEDF.     

Zn-substitution effects on the normal optical conductivity and the superconducting gap

The Zn-substitution effects on the c-axis optical spectra have been investigated for highly oxygenated YBa₂ Cu₃O_y crystals with y = 6.88 – 6.92. In the normal state, the Zn-substitution does not affect the high frequency conductivity but changes the -dependence of the scattering rate at low frequencies, leading to the increase in the dc resistivity in the c-direction. In the superconducting state, we observed a pronounced effect of Zn-substitution that a large number of unpaired carriers form a Drude-like absorption band within the gap, keeping the maximum gap amplitude unchanged. The missing area which gives the superfluid density is found to correlate with T_c.     

Highly reliable mobile liquid crystal display using AlOx deposited by atomic layer deposition for side sealing structure

A side sealing structure including, outside a sealant, AlO_x deposited using an atomic layer deposition apparatus was employed for a low‐frequency driving liquid crystal display (LCD) with a bezel width of 0.7 mm. This side‐sealing structure can effectively prevent the entry of external moisture. Prevention of decrease in voltage‐holding ratio was confirmed with a test cell having this structure. A narrow‐bezel LCD with c‐axis‐aligned a‐b‐plane‐anchored crystal In‐Ga‐Zn Oxide backplane can have long‐term high reliability as a low‐frequency driving LCD.     

Obstacle avoidance control on omnidirectional vehicle robots using range sensor

There is a strong demand for intelligent vehicle robots in many fields. They are expected to assist in our daily lives. In order to implement them in practice, the robots should include useful functions such as path planning, navigation, and obstacle avoidance. This paper focuses on obstacle avoidance control techniques for multiple obstacles. The vehicle used as a platform is a mecanum wheel omnidirectional vehicle, which is driven on floors and includes a mounted scanner range sensor. The presented algorithm has the advantage of reducing multiple obstacle avoidance control to a single obstacle avoidance control scheme. Finally, experimental results are presented in order to evaluate the avoidance algorithms. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 172(1): 58–68, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20933     

Structure and thermal stability of mesostructured zirconium oxophosphates

Highly ordered mesoporous zirconium oxophosphates (designated as ZOP) with hexagonal P6₃/mmc and cubic symmetries were firstly prepared by using gemini cationic surfactants as templates. It has been found that the thermal stability was elevated with the structure curvature order: cubic , hexagonal P6₃/mmc and cubic . The ZOP mesoporous materials with cubic and hexagonal P6₃/mmc structures were stable up to 800 °C, which provides a new insight into the structural factors governing self-assembly of thermally stable mesoporous materials and would open up new possibilities of porous materials for advanced applications.