Soret coefficient of a sodium germanate glass melt: Experiment,theory, and molecular dynamics simulation

The Soret effect is a diffusion phenomenon driven by a temperature gradient in a multicomponent system. This effect in condensed systems is not fully understood. Previously, we reported a theoretical model called “adjusted Kempers model” to predict the Soret coefficient in glass melts, and compared the experimental value to the theoretical value for 11Na₂O-89B₂O₃ (mol%) melts. Here, molecular dynamics calculations, as well as theoretical and experimental values, are quantitatively compared in 10Na₂O-90GeO₂ melts. We used a vertical tubular furnace to cause a temperature gradient and heated the sample from top side to reduce the natural convection. We measured the composition of 10Na₂O-90GeO₂ glass samples after 45, 90, and 180 hours of heat treatment under a temperature gradient, and estimated the steady-state Soret coefficient near 1373 K to be 1.09 × 10⁻³ K⁻¹. In addition, we calculated Soret coefficients to be 3.65 × 10⁻³ K⁻¹ and 1.85 × 10⁻³ K⁻¹ in theory and molecular dynamics calculation, respectively. The ratios between the experimental and theoretical Soret coefficients were 1.2 and 3.3 for 11Na₂O-89B₂O₃ melts and 10Na₂O-90GeO₂ melts, respectively. The difference in ratios may be attributed to the mass and size of diffusion species in the glass melts.     

Stereoselective Covalent Adduct Formation of Acyl Glucuronide Metabolite of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs with UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase

A reactive metabolite of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acyl-β-D-glucuronide (AG), covalently binds to endogenous proteins. The covalent adduct formation of NSAIDs-AG may lead to the dysfunction of target proteins. Therefore, it is important to clarify the detailed characterization of the formation of covalent protein adducts of NSAID-AG. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) catalyzes the conversion of NSAIDs to NSAIDs-AG. The aim of this study was to perform a quantitative analysis of the covalent adduct formation of NSAIDs-AG with UGT. Diclofenac-AG and ketoprofen-AG formed covalent adducts with organelle proteins. Next, the number of covalent adducts formed between NSAIDs-AG and UGT isoforms (UGT1A1, UGT1A9, UGT2B4, and UGT2B9) was determined. The capacity of diclofenac-AG to form covalent adducts with UGT1A9 or UGT2B7 was approximately 10 times higher than that of mefenamic acid-AG. The amounts of covalent adducts of AG of propionic acid derivative NSAIDs with UGT2B were higher than those with UGT1A. Stereoselectivity was observed upon covalent binding to UGT. A significant negative correlation between the half-lives of NSAIDs-AG in phosphate buffers and the amount of covalent adduct with UGT2B7 was observed, suggesting the more labile NSAID-AG forms higher irreversible bindings to UGT. This report provides comprehensive information on the covalent adduct formation of NSAIDs-AGs with UGT.     

Large distance flow-slide at Jono-Oge due to the 2018 Sulawesi Earthquake,Indonesia

There was a shallow earthquake in the Central Sulawesi province of Sulawesi island of Indonesia with a moment magnitude (Mw) 7.5 on 28th September 2018 at 18:02:44 local time. The event was preceded by major foreshocks and followed by aftershocks of significant magnitude. The epicenter of the main shock was in the Donggala regency of Minahasa peninsula of Central Sulawesi, approximately 70 km from the provincial capital of Palu. The earthquake was caused by the tectonic movement of the left lateral Palu- Koro fault within the Molucca Sea microplate, triggering major geotechnical failure and structural damage in Palu city and Sigi regency. Thousands of people died or are still unaccounted for, and countless others were injured. Balaroa, Petobo, Jono-Oge and Sibalaya were the worst hit mainly due to large-scale flow-slides and mud flows. It was the first time that such large-scale flow failures were triggered by an earthquake, and that the failure of very gentle sloping ground swept away whole localities. The objective of this research was to provide insight into the scale of ground failure and other infrastructural damage caused by the event, especially in Jono-Oge area, where the flow distance was longest. The authors performed preliminary and detailed surveys in the area twice by conducting Portable Dynamics Cone Penetration Test (PDCPT), collecting disturbed and undisturbed samples and using aerial drone (UAV) photography. The findings of the reconnaissance survey are described here along with subsequent data interpretation. Finally, the mechanism of the flow-slides is discussed.     

Calculation method of reflectance distributions for computer-generated holograms using the finite-difference time-domain method

The research on reflectance distributions in computer-generated holograms (CGHs) is particularly sparse, and the textures of materials are not expressed. Thus, we propose a method for calculating reflectance distributions in CGHs that uses the finite-difference time-domain method. In this method, reflected light from an uneven surface made on a computer is analyzed by finite-difference time-domain simulation, and the reflected light distribution is applied to the CGH as an object light. We report the relations between the surface roughness of the objects and the reflectance distributions, and show that the reflectance distributions are given to CGHs by imaging simulation.     

Characterization of Pseudomonas stutzeri NT-I capable of removing soluble selenium from the aqueous phase under aerobic conditions

Pseudomonas stutzeri strain NT-I was isolated from the drainage wastewater of a selenium refinery plant. This bacterium efficiently reduced selenate to elemental selenium without prolonged accumulation of selenite under aerobic conditions. Strain NT-I was able to reduce selenate completely at high concentrations (up to 10 mM) and selenite almost completely (up to 9 mM). In addition, higher concentrations of selenate and selenite were substantially reduced. Activity was observed under the following experimental conditions: 20–50°C, pH 7–9, and 0.05–20 g L^–1 NaCl for selenate reduction, and 20–50°C, pH 6–9, and 0.05–50 g L^–1 NaCl for selenite reduction. Under anaerobic conditions, selenate was reduced more rapidly, whereas selenite was not reduced at all. The high selenate- and selenite-reducing capability at high concentrations suggested that strain NT-I is suitable for the removal of selenium from high-strength industrial wastewater.     

Salicylaldehyde Suppresses IgE-Mediated Activation of Mast Cells and Ameliorates Anaphylaxis in Mice

Mast cells (MCs) play key roles in IgE-mediated immunoresponses, including in the protection against parasitic infections and the onset and/or symptoms of allergic diseases. IgE-mediated activation induces MCs to release mediators, including histamine and leukotriene, as an early response, and to produce cytokines as a late phase response. Attempts have been made to identify novel antiallergic compounds from natural materials such as Chinese medicines and food ingredients. We herein screened approximately 60 compounds and identified salicylaldehyde, an aromatic aldehyde isolated from plant essential oils, as an inhibitor of the IgE-mediated activation of MCs. A degranulation assay, flow cytometric analyses, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays revealed that salicylaldehyde inhibited the IgE-mediated degranulation and cytokine expression of bone-marrow-derived MCs (BMMCs). The salicylaldehyde treatment reduced the surface expression level of FcεRI, the high affinity receptor for IgE, on BMMCs, and suppressed the IgE-induced phosphorylation of tyrosine residues in intercellular proteins, possibly Lyn, Syk, and Fyn, in BMMCs. We also examined the effects of salicylaldehyde in vivo using passive anaphylaxis mouse models and found that salicylaldehyde administration significantly enhanced the recovery of a reduced body temperature due to systemic anaphylaxis and markedly suppressed ear swelling, footpad swelling, and vascular permeability in cutaneous anaphylaxis.     

Energy level of compensator states in (001) phosphorus-doped diamond

The energy level of acceptor-type compensator states in (001) phosphorus-doped diamond is examined by combining the techniques of cathodoluminescence analysis, Hall-effect measurements, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and capacitance-voltage measurements. The capacitance-voltage properties of metal/n-type semiconductor contact are known to be a sensitive tool for evaluating deep levels. The slope of the inverse of the square of capacitance provides the distribution of space charge density in the n-type layer, and this density strongly depends on the relationship between the deep level and the surface Fermi level. In this study, we use this relationship to characterize the energy level of compensator states. The donor and acceptor densities in (001) n-type diamond are determined by low-temperature cathodoluminescence analysis and Hall-effect measurements. The electrical activity of doped phosphorus atoms is also discussed.     

Conductive polypyrrole composite films prepared using wet cast technique with a pyrrole–cellulose acetate solution

Conductive polypyrrole‐cellulose acetate films were prepared from cellulose acetate (CA) solution of pyrrole (Py) using wet cast method. In the composite films, Py was used as a solvent for CA which was dissolved with different concentration. Then, to prepare PPy–CA composite film, the Py viscous solution of CA was cast on glass plate and immersed in FeCl₃ aqueous solution. When the CA film was formed in the aqueous solution, the polymerized PPy particles having about 1 μm diameter were formed in composite film. The resultant composite films were characterized, showing good film fabrication and electrical conductivity of around 6.9 × 10^?4 to 3.6 × 10¹ S/cm. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:78–84, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Study on the Effect of Melt Convection on Phase Separation Structures in Undercooled CuCo Alloys Using an Electromagnetic Levitator Superimposed with a Static Magnetic Field

We studied the effect of melt convection on phase separation structures in undercooled Cu₈₀Co₂₀ alloys by using an electromagnetic levitator, where a static magnetic field was applied to control convection in the molten alloys. It was found that, when the static magnetic field was relatively small, dispersed structures with relatively fine Co-rich spheres distributed in the matrix of the Cu-rich phase were observed. However, a few large, coalesced Co-rich phases appeared in the Cu-rich matrix when the magnetic field exceeded a certain value, i.e., approximately 1.5 T in this study. The mean diameter of the droplet-shaped Co-rich phases distributed in the matrix of the Cu-rich phase increased gradually with the magnetic field and increased rapidly at approximately 1.5 T. Moreover, it was speculated from the result of periodic laser heating that the marked change in the phase separation structures at approximately 1.5 T might be due to a convective transition from turbulent flow to laminar flow in the molten sample, where the time variation of temperature in the lower part of the electromagnetically levitated molten sample was measured when the upper part of the sample was periodically heated.     

Phase-shifting laser diode interferometer using pulse modulation

A phase-shifting laser diode interferometer that uses direct pulse modulation is proposed and demonstrated. We found that a laser beam with a wide range of wavelength variation at constant optical power could be generated when a pulsed current was injected into the laser diode. We constructed a highly accurate interferometer by using a pair of interferometers. Several experiments, such as observations of temporal interference signals and spatial interferograms, measurement of a concave mirror, and duplicate measurements, confirmed the characteristics of pulse modulation and demonstrated the effectiveness of our technique.