Response of inertinites from some Australian coals to non-catalytic hydrogenation in tetralin

Inertinite concentrates from three Australian bituminous coals were hydrogenated at various temperatures ranging from 350 to 475 °C in the presence of tetralin without any added catalyst. Both conversion yields and microscopic observations of the benzene-extracted hydrogenation residues have revealed that the hydrogenation of the inertinite macerals becomes significant only > 400 °C, whereas the dissolution-hydrogenation of the accompanying vitrinite macerals occurs mainly between 350 and 400 °C. The major reaction pathway for the inertinite particles in the hydrogenation process appears to be one of initial mild carbonization followed by hydrogenation. A simplified reaction scheme is proposed which describes the reaction pathway involved in the hydrogenation of inertinite.     

Alzheimer’s Disease Animal Models: Elucidation of Biomarkers and Therapeutic Approaches for Cognitive Impairment

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is an age-related and progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It is widely accepted that AD is mainly caused by the accumulation of extracellular amyloid β (Aβ) and intracellular neurofibrillary tau tangles. Aβ begins to accumulate years before the onset of cognitive impairment, suggesting that the benefit of currently available interventions would be greater if they were initiated in the early phases of AD. To understand the mechanisms of AD pathogenesis, various transgenic mouse models with an accelerated accumulation of Aβ and tau tangles have been developed. However, none of these models exhibit all pathologies present in human AD. To overcome these undesirable phenotypes, APP knock-in mice, which were presented with touchscreen-based tasks, were developed to better evaluate the efficacy of candidate therapeutics in mouse models of early-stage AD. This review assesses several AD mouse models from the aspect of biomarkers and cognitive impairment and discusses their potential as tools to provide novel AD therapeutic approaches.     

Analytical tool development for coarse break-up of a molten jet in a deep water pool

A computer code JASMINE-pre was developed for the prediction of premixing conditions of fuel–coolant interactions and debris bed formation behavior relevant to severe accidents of light water reactors. In JASMINE-pre code, a melt model which consists of three components of sub-models for melt jet, melt particles and melt pool, is coupled with a two-phase flow model derived from ACE-3D code developed at JAERI. The melt jet and melt pool models are one-dimensional representations of a molten core stream falling into a water pool and a continuous melt body agglomerated on the bottom, respectively. The melt particles generated by the melt jet break-up are modeled based on a Lagrangian grouped particle concept. Additionally, a simplified model pmjet was developed which considers only steady state break-up of the melt jet, cooling and settlement of particles in a stationary water pool. The FARO corium quenching experiments with a saturation temperature water pool and a subcooled water pool were simulated with JASMINE-pre and pmjet. JASMINE-pre reproduced the pressurization and fragmentation behavior observed in the experiments with a reasonable accuracy. Also, the influences of model parameters on the pressurization and fragmentation were examined. The calculation results showed a quasi-steady state phase of melt jet break-up during which the amount of molten mass contained in the premixture was kept almost constant, and the steady state molten premixed masses evaluated by JASMINE-pre and pmjet agreed well.     

Design, fabrication, and evaluation of crystal-cored fibers for efficient second-harmonic generation based on Cerenkov-radiation-type phase matching

A formulation for calculating the optical second-harmonic power based on the Cerenkov-radiation-type phase matching is derived for a crystal-cored fiber. The prerequisite condition for high efficiency is expressed by a simple relation by use of the refractive indices of a core crystal, a core radius, and a fundamental wavelength. An organic crystal-cored fiber is designed and practically fabricated by the guiding principle derived here. A blue second-harmonic wave of 1.4 mW is obtained from a 1-mm-long fiber by use of a 60-mW semiconductor laser, and the second-harmonic intensity agrees well with the prediction. Degradation of the organic core crystal caused by the generated blue wave is observed, and the lifetime of the device is evaluated.     

Visualization of phase objects by use of a differentiation filter

For the visualization of phase objects by use of a differentiation filter, the phase variation is changed into the intensity variation by differentiation, and then the differentiated image is integrated. In the method used in practice, the differentiated image has been recorded on a film, and then integrated by use of a filter. In this paper, however, the image differentiated by means of a filter is entered into a computer using a CCD camera and then integrated. As a result, the method provides rapid on-line processing. We have performed computer simulations and a detailed analysis of the differentiation filter and also provide the experimental results of three-dimensional image visualization.     

Enzyme-Assisted Synthesis of Titania under Ambient Conditions

A low-temperature procedure for the synthesis of TiO₂ was developed using a water-soluble titanium complex and enzymes. Titanium–lactate and titanium–glycolate complexes were used as precursors of TiO₂. Digestive enzymes were chosen as biocatalysts for the synthesis of TiO₂ in aqueous solutions. TiO₂ powders were deposited from reaction solutions having optimal pH values for the enzymes to exhibit their catalytic activities for their original substrates. TiO₂ has been synthesized by an enzymatic reaction in an aqueous solution under ambient conditions. The XRD measurements indicated that TiO₂ powders thus obtained usually have an amorphous phase. However, after calcination at 550°C, the anatase phase was confirmed. Interestingly, the minor phase of TiO₂, brookite, was found in the sample obtained from the titanium–glycolate complex catalyzed by lipase at pH 10 after calcination at 550°C.     

Efficient microbial degradation of bisphenol A in the presence of activated carbon

The biodegradation of bisphenol A (BPA) was carried out with Sphingomonas sp. strain BP-7 and Sphingomonas yanoikuyae BP-11R in the presence of activated carbon (AC). When AC was present, both BPA-degrading bacteria efficiently degraded 300 mg/l BPA without releasing 4-hydroxyacetophenone, the major intermediate produced in BPA degradation, into the medium. The biological regeneration of AC was possible using the BPA-degrading bacteria, suggesting that an efficient system for BPA removal can be constructed by introducing BPA-degrading bacteria into an AC treatment system.     

Comparing the Osteogenic Potential and Bone Regeneration Capacities of Dedifferentiated Fat Cells and Adipose-Derived Stem Cells In Vitro and In Vivo: Application of DFAT Cells Isolated by a Mesh Method

Background: We investigated and compared the osteogenic potential and bone regeneration capacities of dedifferentiated fat cells (DFAT cells) and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). Method: We isolated DFAT cells and ASCs from GFP mice. DFAT cells were established by a new culture method using a mesh culture instead of a ceiling culture. The isolated DFAT cells and ASCs were incubated in osteogenic medium, then alizarin red staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays, and RT-PCR (for RUNX2, osteopontin, DLX5, osterix, and osteocalcin) were performed to evaluate the osteoblastic differentiation ability of both cell types in vitro. In vivo, the DFAT cells and ASCs were incubated in osteogenic medium for four weeks and seeded on collagen composite scaffolds, then implanted subcutaneously into the backs of mice. We then performed hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunostaining for GFP and osteocalcin. Results: The alizarin red-stained areas in DFAT cells showed weak calcification ability at two weeks, but high calcification ability at three weeks, similar to ASCs. The ALP levels of ASCs increased earlier than in DFAT cells and showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) at 6 and 9 days. The ALP levels of DFATs were higher than those of ASCs after 12 days. The expression levels of osteoblast marker genes (osterix and osteocalcin) of DFAT cells and ASCs were higher after osteogenic differentiation culture. Conclusion: DFAT cells are easily isolated from a small amount of adipose tissue and are readily expanded with high purity; thus, DFAT cells are applicable to many tissue-engineering strategies and cell-based therapies.     

A simple mass and heat balance model for estimating plant conditions during the Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP accident

A simple evaluation method for the analysis of thermal-hydraulic transients in reactor pressure vessel (RPV) and primary containment vessel (PCV) is proposed to support understanding the accident behaviors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant (NPP). Since most of the measurements of the plants were unavailable especially in the early stage of the accident, and the accessibility to the plants had been limited by radiation, analytical investigation for the plant was required to understand the plant conditions such as the magnitude of the damages. In order to provide easy-to-use technical tools to support the analytical investigation, we developed a simplified analysis code, named “HOTCB”, based on total mass and heat balances in a lamped parameter system. The HOTCB code has capabilities to treat two-phase fluid including water, steam, and non-condensable gas in a wide range of temperatures up to highly superheated conditions, and to consider heat structures, i.e. heat capacities and heat transfer to the fluid. The code was provided to Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and was practically used for the analysis on the accident. This paper provides the details of the code and simulations of Unit 1 and Unit 2 reactors of Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant (NPP) as examples to show the usefulness of the code.