Effect of Hf addition (0.24 w/o) on the oxidation behavior of TiAl at high temperatures

The isothermal oxidation behavior of TiAl coupons containing 0.24 wt.% Hf has been studied in the temperature range 1100 to 1400 K in a flow of purified oxygen at atmospheric pressure. The addition of Hf is very effective in decreasing the overall oxidation rate at temperatures up to 1300 K, although the oxidation rate was slightly increased during the initial period of about 10 ks, after which a very low oxidation rate was maintained. However, at 1350 K the effect becomes small, and at 1400 K it is inverted. The excellent oxidation resistance obtained is attributable to the formation of two alumina-rich layers in the scale; one is beneath the outer rutile layer and the other at the scale/substrate interface. In addition, no internal oxides were formed in the substrate up to 1300 K.     

Mechanism of resistance to NO-induced neurotoxicity in cultured rat dopaminergic neurons

We previously reported that mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons are resistant to cytotoxicity induced by nitric oxide (NO). This study investigated the intracellular mechanism that protects dopaminergic neurons against NO toxicity in rat mesencephalic cultures. Peroxynitrite anion, an active metabolite of NO, caused significant cytotoxic effects against dopaminergic and nondopaminergic neurons, but NO caused cytotoxic effects restricted to nondopaminergic neurons. In addition, we studied the effects of ascorbate, an anti-oxidant, on NO-induced neurotoxicity against dopaminergic neurons and found that coadministration of ascorbate failed to affect resistance against NO-induced neurotoxicity. These findings suggest that the protecting mechanism from NO neurotoxicity in dopaminergic neurons is based on inhibition of conversion of NO to peroxynitrite anion, is independent of the NO redox state, and is possibly due to suppression of superoxide anion production. Furthermore, we investigated NO-induced neurotoxicity with or without pretreatment with sublethal doses of methylphenylpyridium ion (MPP+). Following pretreatment with 1 microM MPP+, which did not show significant cytotoxic effects against dopaminergic neurons, NO demonstrated significant cytotoxicity. Therefore, MPP+ may inhibit the protecting systems from NO neurotoxicity in dopaminergic neurons.     

Selective transalkylation of naphthalene and ethylnaphthalene over solid acid catalysts

A high 2,6-diethylnaphthalene (2,6-DEN) isomer ratio (62%) and a good 2,6-DEN yield (46 mol%) were obtained by the transethylation of 2-ethylnaphthalene with tetraethylbenzenes over H-Y zeolite catalyst. Steric hindrance and electron density at the substitution sites of naphthalene are two influential factors for excellent selectivity. Silica-alumina catalyst, which cannot be expected to possess shape selectivity, also demonstrated a high 2,6-DEN selectivity.     

A vision for psychopharmacology

Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction (J-HR) is an acute febrile reaction which may complicate the initiation of an effective treatment against infections due to intracellular micro-organisms. We report a case of J-HR complicating treatment of chronic Q fever endocarditis with demonstration of elevated serum cytokine concentrations.     

Early gastric cancer mimicking advanced gastric cancer

The clinicopathological features of 37 early gastric cancers mimicking advanced gastric cancer were reviewed retrospectively, and were compared with 596 other early gastric cancers and 126 mp gastric cancers, defined as gastric cancer invading the muscularis propria of the stomach. A greater tumour size (P < 0.005), submucosal invasion (P < 0.005), lymph node and lymph vessel invasion (P < 0.005) and vascular invasion (P < 0.025) were found more frequently in early gastric cancers mimicking advanced gastric cancers than in other early gastric cancers. There were no significant differences in the clinicopathological findings between early gastric cancers mimicking advanced gastric cancers and mp gastric cancers. Patients with early gastric cancers mimicking advanced gastric cancers showed a lower survival rate than patients with other early gastric cancers, but a higher survival than those with mp gastric cancers. The macroscopic appearance of an advanced gastric cancer was an indicator of massive submucosal invasion and lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer. As early gastric cancers mimicking advanced gastric cancers showed similar clinicopathological findings to mp gastric cancers, these cancers should be treated as mp gastric cancers.     

Pressure and temperature stability region of cubic BN in the presence of ammonium borate

Reconversion of cubic BN to hexagonal BN is observed when the pressure is lower than 42 kbar and in the presence of ammonium borate. Reconverted hexagonal BN crystals are extremely large compared with the cubic BN of the starting material and have the morphology of a hexagonal platelet.     

Mechanical properties of ferrous alloys after fast neutron-irradiation at high temperature

The results are given of an international “round-robin” experiment to study the nature of the damage structure in neutron irradiated zirconium and zircaloy-2 using transmission electron microscopy. The damage structure consists entirely of $\text{1}\text{3}\text{α<11}\text{2}\text{?}\text{0>}$ dislocation loops and no evidence has been found for c-component loops. Both vacancy and interstitial loops were found in specimens irradiated at 400 °C, with an excess of vacancy loops. Quantitative measurements of loop size distributions and loop concentrations are reported. All specimens exhibited “corduroy” contrast to varying degrees. The importance of choice of imaging conditions to minimize the contrast from thin foil artefacts such as oxide films and surface hydrides is stressed. The significance of the results is briefly discussed with reference to current theories of irradiation growth.     

Development of a variable stiffness joint drive module and experimental results of joint angle control

Two prototypes of variable stiffness joint drive modules imitating a human joint structure are presented. A human joint is driven by a pair of flexor and extensor muscles that work antagonistically. The stiffness of the joint is adjusted by their co-contraction. Such a structure was given to the joint drive module so that it could achieve a variable stiffness property. The joint is driven by two wires with nonlinear springs. Thanks to the nonlinearity of the springs, the stiffness of the joint can be adjusted by quasi-co-contraction of the wires. With the first prototype, the stiffness adjustability of the joint was empirically confirmed. Regarding joint angle control, a three-layered proportional integral derivative (PID) control algorithm was implemented in the second prototype, and it was verified that the control algorithm worked properly.     

Electron escape from the image-potential-induced surface states on liquid helium

Electron escape from the two-dimensional surface state is studied for liquid ⁴He and ³He surfaces. Experimental conditions are established under which proper signals are obtained to give the intrinsic escape rates. The escape rates in the temperature range 1.1 > T > 0.9 K for the ⁴He surface and 0.6 > T > 0.44 K for the ³He surface show the theoretically expected thermalactivation-type temperature dependence. In the present experimental configuration, the measured escape rate at higher electron densities explicitly demonstrates the electron correlation effect. A simple model is presented to account for the correlation effect on the binding energy of the surface electrons.     

Liquid-Phase Oxidation of Benzene to Phenol by Molecular Oxygen over La Catalysts Supported on HZSM-5

The liquid-phase oxidation of benzene to phenol over lanthanum oxide catalysts (LaOx/HZSM-5) supported on HZSM-5 was studied in the presences of oxygen as an oxidant and ascorbic acid as a reducing regent. LaO_x/HZSM-5 effectively catalyzes the formation of phenol at 353 K under the pressurization of oxygen. The LaO_x/HZSM-5 catalysts take place no leaching of lanthanum species from the catalysts to acidic solvent. Therefore, it is demonstrated that the supported lanthanum catalysts are stable and reusable for the benzene oxidation even in the acidic reaction solution.