Polymerization of propylene over titanium exchanged Y-zeolite

Summary It was found that isotactic polymerization of propylene took place over titanium ion-exchanged Y-zeolite without organometallic compounds. The results obtained have led to the conclusions that Ti⁴⁺ species as well as Ti³⁺ species are active for the polymerization and that neither Ti-alkyl bonds nor Cl ligands are necessarily essential for polymerization of propylene.     

Prooxidant effects of inorganic chromium compounds in the autoxidation of methyl linoleate

The prooxidant property of inorganic chromium compounds was determined in methyl linoleate free from natural antioxidants and metals. Prooxidant properties of inorganic chromium compounds appeared in order of sodium chromate > chromium (VI)-oxide > chromium chloride > potassium chromate > chromium (III)-oxide > potassium dichomate. In comparison with the control, additions of chromium compounds induced different amounts of autoxidation products derived from methyl linoleate, such as small amounts of hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes and large amounts of hydroxy groups,α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated carbonyls, isolatedtrans double bonds, polymers, and free radicals. From these analytical data, the catalysis of chromium compounds in the autoxidation of methyl linoleate seemed to be based on their abilities of abstracting a hydrogen from methyl linoleate and decomposing hydroperoxides derived from the autoxidation of methyl linoleate.     

Clinicopathological significance of intratubular giant macrophages in progressive glomerulonephritis

Very large macrophages, which we have termed "giant macrophages" (G-M phi), have been found in renal tubules, some containing cytoplasmic vacuoles. To elucidate their pathophysiological roles, we examined renal biopsy tissues from various primary glomerulonephritis (GN) and tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) using immunohistochemistry with monoclonal antibodies against M phi and other cell surface markers. Giant macrophages were absent or rare in TIN, minimal change nephrotic syndrome, and minor glomerular abnormalities, but G-M phi was plentiful in progressive glomerulonephrides such as IgA nephropathy with crescents, membranoproliferative GN, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, and especially in crescentic GN. These G-M phi were usually seen in the lumen of renal tubules, but occasionally were found in the Bowman's spaces and glomerular tufts, and similar cells were also found in urine. Moreover, they frequently made contact with tubular epithelial cells expressing intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and the tubular epithelial cells in such lesions often had degenerative changes. Giant M phi may damage tubular epithelial cells from the luminal side. Phenotypically, G-M phi showed activated (CD71+) and mature (25F9+) characteristics along with features of M phi (CD68+), and the cytoplasm contained a great deal of lipids. The numbers of G-M phi in renal tissues closely correlated with the degree of hematuria (rho = 0.5, P < 0.001), serum creatinine value (r = 0.63, P < 0.001) in GN patients (N = 96) and with proteinuria in IgA nephropathy patients (r = 0.89, P < 0.001, N = 27). These data suggest that G-M phi are M phi that were activated and matured in certain active inflammatory sites, which flowed into tubules and then into urine. Thus, the existence of G-M phi in biopsy tissue or urine reflect the activity of GN and may have a predictive value for the progression of GN.     

Analgesic Effect of Tranilast in an Animal Model of Neuropathic Pain and Its Role in the Regulation of Tetrahydrobiopterin Synthesis

Trigeminal neuralgia is unilateral, lancinating, episodic pain that can be provoked by routine activities. Anticonvulsants, such as carbamazepine, are the drugs of choice; however, these possess side-effects. Microvascular decompression is the most effective surgical technique with a higher success rate, although occasionally causes adverse effects. The potential treatment for this type of pain remains unmet. Increased tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) levels have been reported in association with axonal injury. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of tranilast on relieving neuropathic pain in animal models and analyze the changes in BH4 synthesis. Neuropathic pain was induced via infraorbital nerve constriction. Tranilast, carbamazepine, or saline was injected intraperitoneally to assess the rat’s post-intervention pain response. In the von Frey’s test, the tranilast and carbamazepine groups showed significant changes in the head withdrawal threshold in the ipsilateral whisker pad area. The motor coordination test showed no changes in the tranilast group, whereas the carbamazepine group showed decreased performance, indicating impaired motor coordination. Trigeminal ganglion tissues were used for the PCR array analysis of genes that regulate the BH4 pathway. Downregulation of the sepiapterin reductase (Spr) and aldoketo reductase (Akr) genes after tranilast injection was observed compared to the pain model. These findings suggest that tranilast effectively treats neuropathic pain.     

A study of reactor neutrino monitoring at the experimental fast reactor JOYO

We carried out a study of neutrino detection at the experimental fast reactor JOYO using a 0.76 tons gadolinium loaded liquid scintillator detector. The detector was set up on the ground level at 24.3 m from the JOYO reactor core of 140 MW thermal power. The measured neutrino event rate from reactor on-off comparison was 1.11±1.24(stat.)±0.46(syst.) events/day. Although the statistical significance of the measurement was not enough, backgrounds in such a compact detector at the ground level were studied in detail and MC simulations were found to describe the data well. A study for improvement of the detector for future such experiments is also shown.     

Bottom-gate poly-Si thin film transistors using XeCl excimer laserannealing and ion doping techniques

High mobility bottom-gate poly-Si thin film transistors (TFTs) have been successfully fabricated on a hard glass substrate using XeCl excimer laser annealing and ion doping techniques. The authors used an a-Si:H film which is deposited by a plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) as a precursor film, and then they crystallized the a-Si film by XeCl excimer laser annealing. The maximum field effect mobility and grain size obtained were 200 cm²/V-s (n-channel), and 250 nm, respectively. The poly-Si TFTs showed excellent transfer characteristics, and an ON/OFF current ratio of over 10⁶ was obtained. Successful control of the threshold voltage within 4 V using an ion doping technique is also demonstrated     

A High-Speed, High-Sensitivity Digital CMOS Image Sensor With a Global Shutter and 12-bit Column-Parallel Cyclic A/D Converters

This paper presents a high-speed, high-sensitivity 512times512 CMOS image sensor with column parallel cyclic 12-bit ADCs and a global electronic shutter. Each pixel has a charge amplifier for high charge-to-voltage conversion gain despite of using a large-size photodiode, and two sample-and-hold stages for the global shutter and fixed pattern noise (FPN) canceling. High-speed column-parallel cyclic ADC arrays with 12-bit resolution having a small layout size of 0.09 mm ² are integrated at both sides of image array. A technique for accelerating the conversion speed using variable clocking and sampling capacitance is developed. A digital gain control function using 14-bit temporal digital code is also set in the column parallel ADC. The fabricated chip in 0.25-mum CMOS image sensor technology achieves the full frame rate in excess of 3500 frames/s. The in-pixel charge amplifier achieves the optical sensitivity of 19.9 V/lxmiddots. The signal full scale at the pixel output is 1.8 V at 3.3-V supply and the noise level is measured to be 1.8mV_rms, and the resulting signal dynamic range is 60 dB     

Improving the photovoltaic performance of co‐evaporated Cu2ZnSnS4 thin‐film solar cells by incorporation of sodium from NaF layers

We have investigated the influence of sodium (Na) on the properties of co‐evaporated Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) layer microstructures and solar cells. The photovoltaic performance and diode properties were improved by incorporating Na from NaF layers into the CZTS layers, while Na had a negligible effect on the microstructural properties of the layer. The best cell fabricated by using an optimal CZTS layer (Cu/(Zn + Sn) = 0.70, Zn/Sn = 1.8) yielded an active area efficiency of 5.23%. The analysis of device properties suggests that charge‐carrier recombination at CZTS/CdS interface is suppressed by intentional Na incorporation from NaF layers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.