Comparison between numerical simulation and visualization experiment on water behavior in single straight flow channel polymer electrolyte fuel cells

A relationship between a flooding and a cell voltage drop for polymer electrolyte fuel cell was investigated experimentally and numerically. A visualization cell, which has single straight gas flow channel (GFC) and observation window, was fabricated to visualize the flooding in GFC. We ran the cell with changing operation condition, and measured the time evolution of cell voltage and took the images of cathode GFC. Considering the operation condition, we executed a developed numerical simulation, which is based on multiphase mixture model with a formulation on water transport through the surface of polymer electrolyte membrane and the interface of gas diffusion layer/GFC. As a result in experiment, we found that the cell voltage decreased with time and this decrease was accelerated by larger current and smaller air flow rate. Our simulation succeeded to demonstrate this trend of cell voltage. In experiment, we also found that the water flushing in GFC caused an immediate voltage change, resulting in voltage recovery or electricity generation stop. Although our simulation could not replicate this immediate voltage change, the supersaturated area obtained by our simulation well corresponded to fogging area appeared on the window surface in the GFC.     

Purified Canola Lutein Selectively Inhibits Specific Isoforms of Mammalian DNA Polymerases and Reduces Inflammatory Response

In the screening of DNA polymerase (pol) inhibitor, we isolated lutein, a carotenoid, from the crude (unrefined) pressed oil of canola (low erucic acid rapeseed, Brassica napus L.). Commercially prepared carotenoids such as lutein (1), zeaxanthin (2), β-cryptoxanthin (3), astaxanthin (4), canthaxanthin (5), β-carotene (6), lycopene (7), capsanthin (8), fucoxanthin (9) and fucoxanthinol (10), were investigated for the inhibitory activities of pols. Compounds 1, 2 and 8 exhibited strong inhibition of the activities of mammalian pols β and λ, which are DNA repair- and/or recombination-related pols. On the other hand, all carotenoids tested had no influence on the activity of a mammalian pol α, which is a DNA replicative pol. Lutein (1) was the strongest pol inhibitor of mammalian pols β and λ in the prepared ten carotenoids tested, but did not influence of the activities of mammalian pols α, γ, δ and ε. The tendency for pols β and λ inhibition by these carotenoids showed a positive correlation with the suppression of TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate)-induced inflammation. These results suggest that cold pressed unrefined canola/rapeseed oil, or other oils with high levels of lutein and other carotenoids, may be useful for their anti-inflammatory properties.     

Partial hydrothermal oxidation of unsaturated high molecular weight carboxylic acids for enhancing the cold flow properties of biodiesel fuel

Biodiesel fuel has become more attractive recently because of its environmental benefits and the fact that it is a product made from renewable resources. However the less favorable cold flow properties or the low temperature operability of biodiesel fuel compared to conventional diesel is a major drawback limiting its use. The poor flow properties of biodiesel at cold temperatures are mainly due to biodiesel fuel being composed of long-chain fatty acids with an alcohol molecule attached. If the double bond of unsaturated fatty acids in these long-chain fatty acids could be ruptured selectively, then the cold flow properties of biodiesel fuel would be enhanced by reducing its viscosity.In this study, the selective hydrothermal oxidation of oleic acid, as a model compound of unsaturated high molecular weight carboxylic acids, was studied experimentally. The objective was to use this as a model to investigate whether the double bond of unsaturated fatty acids can be ruptured selectively by partial hydrothermal oxidation. Demonstration of this method could then be used to show the potential to improve the cold flow properties of biodiesel. Results showed that the amount of mono-carboxylic acids, aldehyde, di-carboxylic acids, and aldehyde-acids with a carbon number of 9 was significantly higher than other oxidative products. This suggests that the oxidative cleavage may principally occur at the double bond in hydrothermal conditions. The cloud and pour points for biodiesel fuel (B100) and B100 blend with a mixture of methyl esters or acetals were measured. These are the most important indicators for the cold flow properties of biodiesel fuel. The methyl esters or acetals used were made from the esterification of carboxylic acids or aldehydes by simulating the major oxidation products. These were obtained from the hydrothermal oxidation of oleic acid at different oxygen supply rates. Results showed that the cloud and pour points of the blend were significantly enhanced compared to those of B100.     

β-Sitosteryl (6'-O-linoleoyl)-glucoside of soybean (Glycine max L.) crude extract inhibits Y-family DNA polymerases

In the screening of selective DNA polymerase (pol) inhibitors, we isolated an acylated steryl glycoside, β-sitosteryl (6'-O-linoleoyl)-glucoside (compound 1), from the waste extract of soybean (Glycine max L.) oil. This compound exhibited a marked ability to inhibit the activities of eukaryotic Y-family pols (pols η, ι and κ), which are repair-related pols. Among mammalian Y-family pols, the activity of mouse pol κ was most strongly inhibited by compound 1, with an IC(50) value of 10.2 μM. On the other hand, compound 1 had no effect on the activities of other eukaryotic pols such as A-family (pol γ), B-family (pols α, δ, and ε), or X-family (pols β, λ and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase) pols. In addition, compound 1 had no effect on prokaryotic pols or other DNA metabolic enzymes such as calf primase of pol α, T7 RNA polymerase, T4 polynucleotide kinase, or bovine deoxyribonuclease I. Compound 1 consists of 3 groups: β-sitosteryl (compound 2), linoleic acid (compound 3), and D-glucose (compound 4). Compound 3 inhibited the activities of all mammalian pols tested, but compounds 2 and 4 did not have any effect on the tested pols. Kinetic studies showed that the inhibition of pol κ activity by compound 1 was noncompetitive with both the DNA template-primer and nucleotide substrate, whereas compound 3-induced inhibition was competitive with the DNA template-primer and noncompetitive with the nucleotide substrate. The relationship between the structure of compound 1 and the selective inhibition of eukaryotic Y-family pols is discussed.     

Design of a super‐ductile polypropylene/polycarbonate blend with high heat resistance by using reactive plasticizer

High‐performance blend of polypropylene (PP) and polycarbonate (PC) has not been explored. The difficulty is caused by the big differences in melt viscosity (PP: low viscosity vs. PC: high viscosity) and polarity (PP: nonpolar vs. PC: polar). We put forth a new approach using a reactive plasticizer which is preferentially soluble with PC and polymerizable by organic peroxide. As the plasticizer, diallyl phthalate and triallyl cyanurate (TAC) were used. By reactive extrusion of PP/PC/plasticizer/dicumyl peroxide (e.g., 80/14/6/0.12 wt. ratio), reaction‐induced phase decomposition took place in the dispersed PC particles to develop a regularly phase‐separated nanostructure and the graft copolymer of PP and polymerized plasticizer was in situ generated at the interface. The extruded blend showed an excellent ductile behavior with about 500%‐elongation at break. TAC was very effective to elevate the heat resistance. Then, a super‐ductile PP/PC blend with high heat resistance was successfully developed. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Selective formation of light olefin by n-heptane cracking over HZSM-5 at high temperatures

The catalytic cracking of n-heptane has been performed over HZSM-5 catalysts with various Si/Al ratios at 723-923 K to form light olefins selectively. The HZSM-5 zeolites with various acid site densities exhibited almost the same selectivity at the same conversion. The ethylene + propylene selectivity increased, while the propylene/ethylene ratio decreased with an increase in reaction temperatures. It is found that a high temperature is required to obtain a high ethylene + propylene yield. The highest ethylene + propylene yield obtained in this study was 59.7 C-% with a propylene/ethylene ratio of ca. 0.72 at 99.6% conversion over HZSM-5 (Si/Al = 31) at 923 K. Moreover, it is concluded from the selectivities and activation energies that the monomolecular cracking is predominant at a high temperature as 923 K.     

Hemopexin as biomarkers for analyzing the biological responses associated with exposure to silica nanoparticles

Practical uses of nanomaterials are rapidly spreading to a wide variety of fields. However, potential harmful effects of nanomaterials are raising concerns about their safety. Therefore, it is important that a risk assessment system is developed so that the safety of nanomaterials can be evaluated or predicted. Here, we attempted to identify novel biomarkers of nanomaterial-induced health effects by a comprehensive screen of plasma proteins using two-dimensional differential in gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) analysis. Initially, we used 2D-DIGE to analyze changes in the level of plasma proteins in mice after intravenous injection via tail veins of 0.8 mg/mouse silica nanoparticles with diameters of 70 nm (nSP70) or saline as controls. By quantitative image analysis, protein spots representing >2.0-fold alteration in expression were found and identified by mass spectrometry. Among these proteins, we focused on hemopexin as a potential biomarker. The levels of hemopexin in the plasma increased as the silica particle size decreased. In addition, the production of hemopexin depended on the characteristics of the nanomaterials. These results suggested that hemopexin could be an additional biomarker for analyzing the biological responses associated with exposure to silica nanoparticles. We believe that this study will contribute to the development of biomarkers to ensure the safety of silica nanoparticles.     

Effect of ectopic expression of homeoprotein EGAM1C on the cell morphology, growth, and differentiation in a mouse embryonic stem cell line, MG1.19 cells

The homeoprotein EGAM1C was identified in preimplantation mouse embryos and embryonic stem (ES) cells. To explore the impact of EGAM1C on the hallmarks of mouse ES cells, MG1.19 cells stably expressing EGAM1C at levels similar to those in blastocysts were established using an episomal expression system. In the presence of leukemia inhibitory factor (+LIF), control transfectants with an empty vector formed flattened cell colonies, while Egam1c transfectants formed compacted colonies with increased E-CADHERIN expression. In Egam1c transfectants, the cellular contents of POU5F1 (OCT4), SOX2, TBX3, and NANOG increased. Cell growth was accelerated in an undifferentiated state sustained by LIF and in the course of differentiation. During clonal proliferation, EGAM1C stabilized the undifferentiated state. In adherent culture conditions, EGAM1C partly inhibited the progression of differentiation at least within a 4-day culture period in the presence of retinoic acid by preventing the downregulation of LIF signaling with a robust increase in TBX3 expression. Conversely, EGAM1C enhanced the expression of lineage marker genes Fgf5 (epiblast), T (mesoderm), Gata6 (primitive endoderm), and Cdx2 (trophectoderm) in -LIF conditions. In embryoid bodies expressing EGAM1C, the expression of marker genes for extraembryonic cell lineages, including Tpbpa (spongiotrophoblast) and Plat (parietal endoderm), increased. These results demonstrated that the ectopic expression of EGAM1C is capable of affecting the stabilization of an undifferentiated state and the progression of differentiation in MG1.19 ES cells, in addition to affecting cellular morphology and growth.