Proposal for selective isotope transmutation of long-lived fission products using quasi-monochromatic γ-ray beams

We have proposed a new selective isotope transmutation method using photonuclear reactions with quasi-monochromatic γ-ray beams. This method is based on the fact that the particle threshold of a long-lived fission product (LLFP) such as ⁹³Zr, ¹⁰⁷Pd, or ⁷⁹Se is lower than those of stable isotopes of the same chemical element. Therefore, this method has the excellent advantage that LLFPs cannot, in principle, be produced newly even if the target materials include stable isotopes in addition to LLFPs. Furthermore, this method is effective for ¹²⁶Sn, ^{135, 137}Cs, ⁹⁰Sr, and ³H. The nuclear data involved and suitable γ-ray sources are discussed. Laser Compton scattering γ-ray sources and neutron capture γ-rays in nuclear reactors are candidates for this method.     

Different Narrow-Band Light Ranges Alter Plant Secondary Metabolism and Plant Defense Response to Aphids

Light of different wavelengths affects various physiological processes in plants. Short-wavelength radiation (like UV) can activate defense pathways in plants and enhance the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (such as flavonoids and glucosinolates) responsible for resistance against certain herbivorous insects. The intensity of light-induced, metabolite-based resistance is plant- and insect species-specific and depends on herbivore feeding guild and specialization. In this study, broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) plants were grown for 4 weeks in a climate chamber under conventional fluorescent tubes and were additionally treated with UV-B (310 nm), UV-A (365 or 385 nm), or violet (420 nm) light generated with UV-B tubes or light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The objective was to determine the influence of narrow bandwidths of light (from UV-B to violet) on plant secondary metabolism and on the performance of the cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (a specialist) and the green peach aphid Myzus persicae (a generalist). Among flavonol glycosides, specific quercetin and kaempferol glycosides increased markedly under UV-B, while among glucosinolates only 4-methoxy-3-indolylmethyl showed a 2-fold increase in plants exposed to UV-B and UV-A. The concentration of 3-indolylmethyl glucosinolate in broccoli plants increased with UV-B treatment. Brevicoryne brassicae adult weights and fecundity were lower on UV-B treated plants compared to UV-A or violet light-treated plants. Adult weights and fecundity of M. persicae were increased under UV-B and UV-A treatments. When specific light wavelengths are used to induce metabolic changes in plants, the specificity of the induced effects on herbivores should be considered.     

High speed and reproducible analysis of nitrosamines by capillary electrophoresis with a sulfonated capillary

Recently environmental control is regarded as important for good human health conditions, and toxic substances, including carcinogens and endocrine disruptors should be eliminated from our living environment. Hence easy quantitative methods are expected for a high level of environmental control. Our previous paper describes an easy quantitative analysis of nitrosamines (NAs) by capillary electrophoresis with an untreated fused silica capillary installed in an ordinary apparatus. In this paper, utilizing a novel type capillary column having sulfonated inner wall was investigated for improvements of separation performance and reproducibility. A sulfonated capillary causes fast and stabile electroosmotic flow because its inner wall is strongly negative charged. On a performance comparison of a sulfonated capillary with an untreated fused silica, analysis time reduction of c.a. forty percent was achieved, and relative standard deviations of migration times and peak responses were less than one third. In addition sample concentrations giving detection and quantitation limits were also reduced to a half.     

Effect of growth conditions of Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2809 on the immunostimulatory activity for production of interleukin-12 (p70) by murine splenocytes

Lactobacillus gasseri OLL2809, a probiotic lactic acid bacterium, strongly stimulates interleukin (IL)-12 (p70) production by murine splenocytes; therefore, it is expected to ameliorate allergic diseases. Although many studies have investigated characteristics of the immunostimulatory activity of probiotics, little is known about how bacterial growth conditions affect the activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of the growth conditions of L. gasseri OLL2809 on the stimulation of IL-12 (p70) production. L. gasseri OLL2809 was grown under various culture conditions including different cultivation periods, media, and culture pH, and IL-12 (p70) production by murine splenocytes stimulated with these bacterial cells was determined. The results revealed that IL-12 (p70) production (i) increased with the growth of the bacterial cells and was higher in stationary-phase cells than in logarithmic-phase cells; (ii) it was higher in the cells grown in acidic pH; and (iii) it decreased when the cells were incubated in a buffer at neutral pH prior to heat treatment. These observations indicated that stimulation of IL-12 (p70) production is affected by culture medium pH. In addition, the observations of a difference in the stimulation of IL-12 (p70) production by L. gasseri OLL2809 grown under various conditions are consistent with the characteristics of autolysis. Therefore, it was deduced that the integrity of the bacterial cells is necessary for the stimulatory effect on IL-12 (p70) production and that acidic pH and heat treatment contributed to the stimulation by inhibiting the activity of autolysins indigenous to the bacteria. Our result suggests that cultivation until the stationary phase under acidic pH is required for the effective production of probiotics with immunostimulatory activity.     

Four-point probe resistance measurements using PtIr-coated carbon nanotube tips

We performed four-terminal conductivity measurements on a CoSi2 nanowire (NW) at room temperature by using PtIr-coated carbon nanotube (CNT) tips in a four-tip scanning tunneling microscope. The physical stability and high aspect ratio of the CNT tips made it possible to reduce the probe spacing down to ca. 30 nm. The probe-spacing dependence of resistance showed diffusive transport even at 30 nm and no current leakage to the Si substrate.     

一种微小物体精密定位的直线微工作台

提出了一种基于平滑冲击驱动原理的精密定位直线微工作台.通过采用微小强磁铁作为摩擦元件,减小了由摩擦元件磨损而产生的摩擦力的变化,从而提高了微工作台的稳定性.设计制作了微工作台样机,并对精密定位工作台的动态特性和静态特性进行了实验研究.结果表明,微工作台体积小(20mm×10 mm×3 mm),可实现6 nm的精确定位,最高驱动速度可达5.4 mm/s,最大行程可达20 mm.     

Proposal of new iterative scheme in GMRES

In the paper, GMRES is applied to various large matrices appearing in 3D field analyses. By changing the condition of the matrices, effective preconditioning of the matrix is sought. Also studied is a relationship between the residual norm and the precision evaluated during GMRES. The paper shows that the residual norm, which is indirectly computed in GMRES and has so far been used as a measure of precision, cannot be used as an indicator of the solution's accuracy. After discussing deterioration of precision, GMRES(m1), which solves matrices with a modified iterative scheme, is proposed. It is to be confirmed that GMRES(m1) is faster and more accurate than any of GMRES and its modified version, GMRES(m). © 1998 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 123(4): 15–24, 1998     

酶法动态动力学拆分制备R-(-)-乙酰基邻氯扁桃酸

采用假单胞菌脂肪酶Pseudomonas sp. ECU1011催化乙酰基邻氯扁桃酸进行不对称水解,利用突变后的扁桃酸消旋酶(V29I)对拆分后的产物S-(-)-邻氯扁桃酸进行消旋,消旋后的邻氯扁桃酸经过酰化重新被利用到水解反应中,实现了酶法动态动力学拆分制备R-(-)-乙酰基邻氯扁桃酸。通过对拆分反应、拆分混合物的分离回收以及消旋反应的工艺优化,最终获得光学纯度ee>99.9%的R-(-)-乙酰基邻氯扁桃酸,其收率达80%。本研究建立的R-(-)-乙酰基邻氯扁桃酸的动态动力学拆分工艺,对其工业化应用具有重要的指导意义。     

Cavitation erosion resistance of stellite alloy weld overlays

Stellite alloys have excellent cavitation erosion resistance and are often used for liquid machinery, but the erosion properties of various stellite alloys have not been evaluated by a standard method. In this study, we evaluate the erosion resistance for various stellite alloy weld overlays of ST6 and ST21 in a vibrating method and in a cavitating liquid jet method. The grain size of the Co matrix affects the cavitation erosion resistance of stellite alloy weld overlays of ST6. The erosion rate of the maximum rate stage of stellite weld overlay alloys of ST6-1, ST6-2 and ST6-3 were found to be about 1/13 to 1/7 times that of SUS304. Moreover, we clarified the cavitation erosion mechanism of SUS304 and ST6 by scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, by comparing the erosion behavior in a cavitating liquid jet method with that in a vibratory method, it was found that the erosion rate of the cavitating jet method and the vibratory method have a good correlation.