Pyrolysis of amine-intercalated lithium vanadates applicable as an oxygen-preferential adsorbent

Intercalation compounds were prepared from layered lithium vanadates with n-alkylamine molecules. Changes in their oxygen adsorption behavior when heated up to 500 °C were investigated. TG-DTA revealed that amine molecules exist in at least two forms in the host vanadate, i.e., cohesive amines and intercalated amines. The intercalation compounds showed significantly high oxygen adsorption by heat treatment at 300 °C where a radical formation was enhanced by the pyrolysis of the intercalated amines. Oxygen molecules adsorb chemically on the compounds while nitrogen molecules do not; however, reheating with evacuation after the first chemisorption could reactivate them to oxygen.     

Myristic Acid Enhances Diacylglycerol Kinase δ-Dependent Glucose Uptake in Myotubes

Decreased expression of diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) δ in skeletal muscles attenuates glucose uptake and is closely related to the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, up‐regulation of DGKδ expression is thought to protect and improve glucose homoeostasis in type 2 diabetes. We recently determined that myristic acid (14:0), but not palmitic (16:0) or stearic (18:0) acid, significantly increased DGKδ2 protein expression in mouse C2C12 myotubes. In the current study, we analyzed whether myristic acid indeed enhances glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. We observed that myristic acid caused ~1.4‐fold increase in insulin‐independent glucose uptake. However, palmitic and stearic acids failed to enhance glucose uptake. DGKδ‐specific siRNA decreased myristic acid‐dependent increase of glucose uptake. Moreover, overexpression of DGKδ2 enhanced glucose uptake in C2C12 cells in the absence of myristic acid treatment. Taken together, these results strongly suggest that myristic acid enhances basal glucose uptake in myotubes in a DGKδ2 expression‐dependent manner.     

Systematics for (n, 2n) excitation functions in the neutron energy between 13.4 and 14.9 MeV

A systematics of (n, 2n) partial excitation functions was studied on the basis of our 58 sets of experimental data measured using intense neutron source facilities of FNS at the Japan Atomic Energy Agency and of OKTAVIAN at Osaka University. The empirically predictive formulas based on the evaporation theory are applicable for the neutron energy between 13.4 and 14.9 MeV, and in the mass range between 14 and 238. About 83% of the cross sections and the slopes of excitation functions can be reproduced within an uncertainty of 15%. The formulas were expressed in terms of a mass number A, an asymmetry parameter S = (N ? Z)/A, and threshold energies of the (n, 2n) and (n, 3n) reactions, where N and Z are the neutron and proton numbers for the target nuclei, respectively. The excitation functions were well reproduced for the nuclei in the region with S < 0.05 and 14 ? A ? 58 for the first time. The general characteristics of the excitation functions, consisting of steep rising in the light mass nuclei, gently-sloping or nearly flat in the middle and heavy mass nuclei, and slow falling in the heavy mass regions with possible (n, 3n) reactions, are well expressed.     

Molecules in focus: diacylglycerol kinase

Recent observations suggest that diacylglycerol kinase (DGK) is one of the key enzymes involved in the regulation of signal transduction. It attenuates protein kinase C activity and cell cycle progression of T-lymphocytes, through controlling the intracellular levels of the second messengers, diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid. To date, eight DGK isozymes containing characteristic zinc finger structures in common have been identified. Type I DGKs (alpha, beta and gamma) contain EF-hand motifs that contribute to the calcium-dependent activities of this type of DGK. A pleckstrin homology and/or an EPH C-terminal tail homology domains are found in type II isozymes (DGK delta and eta). DGK epsilon represents a third type of DGK that selectively phosphorylates arachidonate-containing diacylglycerol. DGK zeta (type IV) and DGK theta (type V) contain four tandem ankyrin repeats and a Ras-associating domain, respectively.     

Changes in thyroid volume in response to radioactive iodine for Graves' hyperthyroidism correlated with activity of thyroid-stimulating antibody and treatment outcome

This study investigated 1) the relationship between thyroid volume and thyroid function in radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment for Graves' disease, and 2) the activity of thyroid-related Ig in serum on the responsiveness of thyroid tissue to RAI. The changes in thyroid volume per megabecquerel (MBq) of 131I retained in thyroid tissue was calculated by ultrasonography as a quantitative indicator of the effect of RAI on thyroid volume. Of the 52 patients treated with 131I (3.7 MBq retained/g thyroid tissue), 26 patients showed thyrotoxicosis, 20 patients became euthyroid, and 6 patients developed hypothyroidism 6 months after therapy. The change in thyroid volume per MBq 131I was lower (P < 0.01) in the hyperthyroid patients than in the euthyroid or hypothyroid patients. The activity of thyroid-stimulating antibody in serum immediately before the therapy was greater (P < 0.01) in the hyperthyroid patients than in the euthyroid patients and was greater (P < 0.05) in the euthyroid patients than in the hypothyroid patients; it was inversely correlated with the changes in thyroid volume per MBq 131I (r = -0.667; P < 0.01). Accurate measurement of changes in thyroid volume during the course of RAI treatment provides evidence of the responsiveness of Graves' disease thyroid tissue to RAI, which is related to the outcome of thyroid function. Thyroid-stimulating antibody determination may be useful in deciding the appropriate dose of RAI to obtain euthyroidism instead of hyperthyroidism.     

Novel interconnection method using electrically conductive paste with fusible filler

A new class of electrically conductive adhesives (ECAs) was developed using fusible filler particles. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to examine the curing behavior of the base resin material and the melting behavior of the filler particles. The formation of the interconnection before and after the curing process was observed by means of a microfocus x-ray system. The cross-sectional morphology of the electrical conduction path was investigated by optical microscopy. It is believed that the wetting and coalescence behavior of the molten filler particles are the main driving forces leading to the production of the interconnection between the electrodes. In addition, the metallurgical connections both between the particles and between the particles and the copper substrate were observed using scanning electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA).     

The reaction sequence in the synthesis of aluminium borate whiskers

The reaction sequences in the synthesis of aluminium borate whiskers from the raw material mixtures (Al₂(SO₄)₃/H₃BO₃/K₂SO₄, K₂SO₄ as a flux) were investigated by differential thermal analysis-thermogravimetric analysis (DTA-TG), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), and a direct observation of the reacting mixture. DTA of a mixture with the optimum composition for obtaining well-grown whiskerswith a high yield, and XRD of the same mixtures quenched at various temperatures, showed that the reaction proceeds through formation and decomposition of double salts of aluminium: first tripotassium aluminium sulphate and then monopotassium aluminium sulphate. This reaction sequence and the DTA results of mixtures with different K₂SO₄/(Al-B) ratios were successfully explained by the phase diagram of the Al₂(SO₄)₃ K₂SO₄ system. Direct observation of the reacting mixture confirmed the explanation. The compositions of reacting mixtures were then calculated from the TG data and traced on the phase diagram. The tracing showed that the decomposition of aluminium salts occurred in different physical states, depending on the K₂SO₄/(Al+B) ratio, in solid, solid and then liquid, or liquid phase. This difference in decomposition explained well the effect of the K₂SO₄/(Al+B) ratio on the morphology of the whiskers. The effect of the B/Al ratio in the mixture was similarly explained by the correlated change in the K₂SO₄/Al ratio.Previously known as the Government Industrial Research Institute, Shikoku.     

Isotropic conductive adhesives with fusible filler particles

A new low-temperature assembly process using a new class of isotropic conductive adhesives (ICAs) with fusible filler particles was proposed to realize a low-temperature, fluxless and cost-effective, alternative, solder flip-chip interconnection technology. New ICA formulations were developed using two different resin materials and fusible filler particles. The curing behavior of the resin materials and the melting of the fusible filler were observed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The coalescence and wetting states, the size distribution of the fusible fillers, and the formation of the conduction path in each ICA formulation were observed with a laser microscope. It was found that two different types of electrical conductive paths, necking type and bump type, were produced. The bump-type conductive path was more effective than that of the necking type in achieving a lower electrical resistance through resistance measurement. The reduction capability of the base resin material was effective for the coalescence and the wetting of the fusible fillers and affected the conductive path type. A good metallurgical connection was formed between the fusible fillers in ICAs and between the fusible fillers and the copper surface even at the lower filler-volume fraction of 30%.