Molecular characterization of a single mitochondria-associated double-stranded RNA in the green alga Bryopsis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a moderate dose of fish oil on glycemic control and in vivo insulin action in type 2 diabetic men with elevated plasma triacylglycerols and to determine the effect of the same treatment on gene expression of GLUT4, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) in the abdominal adipose tissue. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 12 type 2 diabetic men were randomly allocated to 2 months of 6 g daily of either fish oil or sunflower oil, separated by a 2-month washout interval, in a double-blind crossover design. RESULTS: For glucose metabolism, 2 months of fish oil supplementation compared with sunflower oil led to similar fasting plasma insulin, glucose, and HbA1c. Basal hepatic glucose production did not increase after fish oil. There was no difference in insulin suppression of hepatic glucose production nor in insulin stimulation of whole-body glucose disposal measured by the euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp. Fish oil did not ameliorate the low mRNA level of GLUT4 in adipose tissue of these patients. For lipid profile, fish oil lowered plasma triacylglycerol more than sunflower oil (P < 0.05) and tended to increase the amount of mRNA of both LPL and HSL in adipose tissue. CONCLUSIONS: A moderate dose of fish oil did not lead to deleterious effects on glycemic control or whole-body insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic men, with preserved triacylglycerol-lowering capacities.     

Optical Energy Gap and Below Gap Optical Absorption of Fullerene Films Measured by the Constant Photocurrent Method and Photothermal Deflection Spectroscopy

The CPM spectra of fullerene films was measured to obtain the below gap absorption. The optical energy gap E_o was obtained by using the Tauc's plots. E_o did not change greatly with intercalated impurities. The absorption due to intercalated impurities was found below 1.6eV.     

A new partitioning process for high-level liquid waste by extraction chromatography using silica-substrate chelating agent impregnated adsorbents

To separate the long-lived minor actinides (MA(III) = Am(III), Cm(III)) and some specific fission products (FP) such as Pd(II), Mo(VI), Cs(I) and Sr(II) from high-level liquid waste (HLLW), we have been studying a new partitioning process by extraction chromatography using several novel silica-based extraction resins. In this work, we examined the separation behavior of the elements contained in a simulated MA-effluent by the CMPO/SiO₂P packed column. In addition, as an attempt to further isolate Am(III) and Cm(III) from the heavy RE(III) such as Eu(III), Gd(III) and Dy(III) contained in the MA-effluent, we investigated the possibility of separation by using a silica-based cationic exchange resin. Furthermore, to isolate Sr(II) from the HLLW, adsorption and separation performances of Sr(II) and some other FP elements were studied by using a novel silica-based crown ether extraction resin, DtBuCH18C6/SiO₂P. The experimental results demonstrated that the elements in the simulated MA-effluent can be successfully separated to (1) Pd, (2) MA-hRE and (3) Zr–Mo, by CMPO/SiO₂P packed column using water and a dilute DTPA solution as eluents. Am(III) and Cm(III) are expected to be effectively separated from light RE(III) and Y(III) by the SiSCR cationic resin. However, more effective separation between Am(II), Cm(III) and heavy RE(III) such as Eu(III), Gd(III) and Dy(III) needs further approach. DtBuCH18C6/SiO₂P showed a highly selective adsorption for Sr(III) so that the Sr(II) could be completely separated from other FPs except a portion of Ba(II).     

Delay time compensation based on coefficient of restitution for collision hybrid motion simulator

A hybrid motion simulator embeds a hardware experiment in a numerical simulation loop. However, it is often subjected to the inherent problem of an energy increase in the collision of two pieces of hardware in a loop because of the delay time. This paper proposes a delay time compensation method based on contact dynamics model for a collision hybrid motion simulator under delay time and establishes a compensation method for coupled translational and rotational motion. The model developed in this paper describes linear uniform motion of a floating object during the period of the delay time until the force and torque are observed and non-linear motion according to environmental stiffness after the initial delay time period in contact. By using the above model, compensation parameters are designed based on desired coefficient of restitution with iterative calculation. The proposed method achieves accurate delay time compensation and simultaneously realizes a variable desired coefficient of restitution over a wide range of frequencies. Furthermore, the compensation method for multi-dimensional motion is established under the assumption that the friction effect is very small. The efficiency of the proposed method is verified through collision experiments for the coupled motion in two dimensions.     

Effect of applying voltage on photocatalytic destruction of 1,4-dioxane in aqueous system

In the current work, we prepared a TiO₂ coating on stainless mesh using electrophoretic deposition (EPD), and applied voltage to a stainless mesh to examine the synergy effect on photocatalysis of both 1,4-dioxane and ethylene glycol diformate (EGDF), a main intermediate of the photocatalysis of 1,4-dioxane. The photocatalytic decomposition rate of 1,4-dioxane depends on applying voltage under diffusion-limited reaction conditions. Ethylene glycol diformate and 1,4-dioxane exhibited inverse voltage dependence. Voltage swing provides high-efficiency photocatalysis of 1,4-dioxane while suppressing EGDF formation. This method will be effective for a photocatalysis system containing several chemicals, each with different voltage dependence.     

Observation of single-walled carbon nanotubes by photoemission microscopy

Single-walled carbon nanotube networks grown on SiO₂ pillars were studied by means of scanning photoemission microscopy. The individual nanotubes or nanotube bundles growing from the pillar tops were observed in C 1s images. Band bending near catalytic Fe/nanotube contacts in an end-bonded configuration was studied by measuring C 1s spectra along the tube axes. Within our experimental resolution, no band bending was observed. This implies that the depletion width is less than the spatial resolution of the scanning photoemission microscope (90 nm) or that the amount of the band bending is less than 0.1 eV.     

Solving multicolumn equilibrium stage operations by total linearization

An efficient, reliable and easily programmed method for solving systems of equilibrium stage separation devices is described. The method is an extension of an algorithm developed by Ishii and Otto⁽⁹⁾ for single columns. It solves all equations simultaneously, takes advantage of the basic tridiagonal matrix form form of the linearized steady state equations and can handle configurations which include distillation columns, absorbers and reboiled absorbers. The solution for a thermally coupled distillation system is presented.     

Production of finely ground natural graphite particles with high electrical conductivity by controlling the grinding atmosphere

Natural graphite particles with high crystallinity sieved to obtain a particle size range of under 63 μm were ground with a ball mill, under various well-controlled grinding atmospheres such as N₂, O₂, He, H₂, and vacuum. The ratio, X_dif50/X_st50, i.e. between the 50 wt.% Stokes diameter and the 50 wt.% laser diffraction diameter, of the ground particles, was used as an index of the flakiness of the particles. The specific resistance of films composed of the ground graphite particles was systematically measured. The rate of reduction in the size of the particles by grinding was slow under an O₂-rich atmosphere such as 100% O₂ and dry air. On the other hand, it was relatively fast in vacuum, or under an N₂ or He atmosphere, and a gas mixture of 99% N₂ and 1% O₂. The rate of size reduction by grinding under a H₂ atmosphere was intermediate. In our experimental conditions, the flakiness of the ground particles increased with the decrease in the particles’ sizes. The electrical conductivity of the ground particles, however, tended to decrease with the decrease in their sizes. Under the condition that the Stokes diameter of the ground particles remains constant, the electrical conductivity of films made from the ground particles increases with the increase in the flakiness of the particles. It was finally determined from our systematic grinding experiments that small flaky particles, which had a size, X_st of ∼1 μm, with a high electrical conductivity can be produced by grinding in a gas mixture of 99% N₂ and 1% O₂. In this case, the flaky shape of the ground particles was visually confirmed by scanning electron microscopy.     

Uniformly Porous Composites with 3-D Network Structure (UPC-3D) for High-Temperature Filter Applications

Uniformly porous composites with 3-D network structure (UPC-3D) have been recently developed via a pyrolytic reactive sintering process, which takes advantage of the evolved CO₂ gas from a decomposing carbonate source (e.g., dolomite, CaMg(CO₃)₂) and does not require any additional pore-forming agent nor long-time burning-out process. Through liquid formation via LiF doping, strong necks are formed between constituent particles before completion of the pyrolysis of carbonate, resulting in the formation of a strong 3-D network structure. The pore size distribution is very narrow (with typical pore size: ∼1 μm), and the porosity was controllable (∼30–60%) by changing the sintering temperature. This article presents the development details of UPC-3D, and reports the recent findings in CaZrO₃/MgAl₂O₄ system, which will be one of the more promising systems for practical applications.     

Novel CO2 Absorbents Using Lithium-Containing Oxide

We have discovered a series of lithium-containing oxides that immediately react with ambient carbon dioxide (CO₂) up to 700°C. The products react and return reversibly to the oxides at a temperatures higher than about 700°C. The absorption capacity surpasses that of other CO₂ absorbents by a factor of 10. Utilizing these absorbents, the possibility of a CO₂ separation system that operates at around 500°C is proposed. It is generally believed that a CO₂ separation process operable at temperatures higher than 500°C has the special benefit of a small energy penalty. Moreover, the absorption also proceeds at ambient temperature in the atmospheric environment. This property offers the possibility of many other applications, such as air cleaners or cartridges. Therefore, we think these materials have the potential to make a valuable contribution to the realization of CO₂ emission control.