Benchmark experiment of large-angle scattering reaction cross section of iron at 14 MeV using two shadow bars – Comparison of experimental results with ENDF/B-VIII –

ABSTRACT

It is important to perform neutron transport simulations with accurate nuclear data in the neutronics design of a fusion reactor. However, absolute values of large-angle scattering cross sections vary among nuclear data libraries even for well-examined nuclide of iron. Benchmark experiments focusing on large-angle scattering cross sections were thus performed to confirm the correctness of nuclear data libraries. The series benchmark experiments were performed at a DT neutron source facility, OKTAVIAN of Osaka University, Japan, by the unique experimental system established by the authors’ group, which can extract only the contribution of large-angle scattering reactions. This system consists of two shadow bars, target plate (iron), and neutron detector (niobium). Two types of shadow bars were used and four irradiations were conducted for one experiment, so that contribution of room-return neutrons was effectively removed and only large-angle scattering neutrons were extracted from the measured four Nb reaction rates. The obtained experimental results were compared with calculations for five nuclear data libraries including JENDL-4.0, JEFF.-3.3, FENDL-3.1, ENDF/B- VII, and recently released ENDF/B-VIII. It was found from the comparison that ENDF/B-VIII showed the best result, though ENDF/B-VII showed overestimation and others are in large underestimation at 14 MeV.     

Theoretical estimation of dielectric loss of oxide glasses using nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations

To theoretically explore amorphous materials with a sufficiently low dielectric loss, which are essential for next-generation communication devices, the applicability of a nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulation employing an external alternating electric field was examined using alkaline silicate glass models. In this method, the dielectric loss is directly evaluated as the phase shift of the dipole moment from the applied electric field. This method enabled us to evaluate the dielectric loss in a wide frequency range from 1 GHz to 10 THz. It was observed that the dielectric loss reaches its maximum at a few THz. The simulation method was found to qualitatively reproduce the effects of alkaline content and alkaline type on the dielectric loss. Furthermore, it reasonably reproduced the effect of mixed alkalines on the dielectric loss, which was observed in our experiments on sodium and/or potassium silicate glasses. Alkaline mixing was thus found to reduce the dielectric loss.     

Direct Injection of CRISPR/Cas9-Related mRNA into Cytoplasm of Parthenogenetically Activated Porcine Oocytes Causes Frequent Mosaicism for Indel Mutations

Some reports demonstrated successful genome editing in pigs by one-step zygote microinjection of mRNA of CRISPR/Cas9-related components. Given the relatively long gestation periods and the high cost of housing, the establishment of a single blastocyst-based assay for rapid optimization of the above system is required. As a proof-of-concept, we attempted to disrupt a gene (GGTA1) encoding the α-1,3-galactosyltransferase that synthesizes the α-Gal epitope using parthenogenetically activated porcine oocytes. The lack of α-Gal epitope expression can be monitored by staining with fluorescently labeled isolectin BS-I-B₄ (IB4), which binds specifically to the α-Gal epitope. When oocytes were injected with guide RNA specific to GGTA1 together with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and human Cas9 mRNAs, 65% (24/37) of the developing blastocysts exhibited green fluorescence, although almost all (96%, 23/24) showed a mosaic fluorescent pattern. Staining with IB4 revealed that the green fluorescent area often had a reduced binding activity to IB4. Of the 16 samples tested, six (five fluorescent and one non-fluorescent blastocysts) had indel mutations, suggesting a correlation between EGFP expression and mutation induction. Furthermore, it is suggested that zygote microinjection of mRNAs might lead to the production of piglets with cells harboring various mutation types.     

Biodegradation of poly(lactic acid)—cassava bagasse composites produced by injection molding

Neat poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and PLA/cassava bagasse (CB) composites were used to produce seedling tubes by extrusion and injection molding. The tubes were buried in simulated soil, and their biodegradation was investigated by weight loss, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). After 180 days, the composites' biodegradation was higher than neat PLA material, and the higher the CB content, the higher the biodegradation, which caused fissures and voids in the material. The biodegradation of PLA/CB composites increased the phosphorus content in the soil after 180 days. Composites of PLA with CB, an abundant agro-industrial residue in Brazil, are promising because they can reduce the environmental impact due to CB's proper destination, and the composites' costs and biodegradation are faster than pure PLA material. Both the faster biodegradation of the tube and the higher P content are advantageous for seedling tubes.     

Suitable fixation condition for rat liver using microwave irradiation and its application to the immunohistochemistry of glutamate dehydrogenase

In 50 patients auditory threshold and brain stem evoked potential studies were carried out before and after myelography. Due to the analysis of amplitudes and latencies of auditory brain stem measurements, significant functional disorders of the hearing organ and the auditory pathway could be demonstrated. In most of the patients these functional disorders were found to be subclinical, whereas 12 patients showed alterations extending from a subjectively slight hearing loss to an audiometrically objectified acute hearing loss depending on its intensity in each case. The reasons of these functional disorders could not be clarified. An open cochlear aqueduct through which perilymph enters the subarachnoidal space leading to a secondary endolymphatic hydrops can be considered as the cause in cases where manifest symptoms develop. The changes in brain stem audiometry can be additionally explained by changes in osmolality of the inner ear fluids which may lead to the development of an endolymphatic hydrops.     

Erythroid potentiating activity of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases on the differentiation of erythropoietin-responsive mouse erythroleukemia cell line, ELM-I-1-3, is closely related to its cell growth potentiating activity

The erythroid-potentiating activity (EPA) of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) was re-examined using ELM-I-1-3, a mouse erythroleukemia cell line, which responded well to erythropoietin. Depletion of pre-existing TIMP-1 from fetal calf serum in culture medium using monoclonal antibody suppressed erythropoietin-induced differentiation as measured by the induction of hemoglobin, commitment assay and globin mRNAs. The removal of TIMP-1 also suppressed the proliferation of ELM-I-1-3 as measured by cell number and de novo DNA synthesis. These changes were reversed by the addition of purified TIMP-1 to the culture medium. Anti-TIMP-1 antibody also blocked both hexamethylene bisacetamide (HMBA)-induced erythroid differentiation and the proliferation of both ELM-I-1-3 and Friend erythroleukemia cells. Considering previous reports analyzing the chemical induction of Friend mouse erythroleukemia cell differentiation, our results suggest that erythropoietin- or HMBA-induced erythroid differentiation might also be coupled with cell proliferation. Our 3H thymidine-uptake experiment shows that TIMP-1 removal was also effective in the inhibition of cell growth of various other cell lines in addition to erythroleukemia cell lines. These results suggest that EPA action of TIMP-1 on erythroid leukemia cell lines is closely related to its activity to promote the cell growth of various cell lines and cells including erythroleukemia cell lines.     

Photocatalytic Property and Electronic Structure of Lanthanide-based Oxysulfides

Lanthanide-based oxysulfides and sulfide, LnTaO_3.5S_0.5, Ln₁₀OS₁₄ (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Sm) and La₄In₅S₁₃, were successively synthesized by sulfurization in a flowing H₂S. The sulfurization decreased the band-gap energies from >4 eV to <3eV, because of the formation of occupied S3p orbitals on the top of valence band. In accordance with the small band gap, the H₂ evolution from a 0.01 M Na₂S and 0.01 M Na₂SO₃ solution system was observed under irradiation of light up to >500 nm. The rate of H₂ evolution under light irradiation of >500 nm increased in the order of Ni/LaTaO_3.5S_0.5 < Ru/La₁₀OS₁₄ < Pt/La₄In₅S₁₃.     

Lectin-like characteristics of recombinant human interleukin-1beta recognizing glycans of the glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor

We found that 35S-labeled recombinant human interleukin-1beta (rhIL-1beta) binds phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-treated human placental alkaline phosphatase, phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C-treated trypanosome surface variant glycoproteins, and urinary uromodulin immobilized on plates or immobilized on CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. The interaction between rhIL-1beta and these glycoproteins was lectin-like, since it was inhibited in the presence of specific saccharides, i.e. mannose 6-phosphate or synthetic Ac-NH.CH2.CH2. PO4--->6Manalpha1-->(+/-2Manalpha1-->+/-6Manalpha1-->) propyl at about 1 microM. On the other hand, a wide variety of compounds including biantennary sugar chains derived from these glycoproteins as well as ethanolamine phosphate, inositol phosphate, mannose 6-sulfate, mannose 1-phosphate, glucose 6-phosphate, and mannitol 6-phosphate did not show any inhibitory effect at concentrations up to 1 mM. These results indicate that rhIL-1beta interacts with these glycoproteins via the mannose 6-phosphate diester of glycans on the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor. Furthermore, when monolayers of polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells on polycarbonate filter membranes were incubated with 35S-rhIL-1beta in either the apical or basolateral chamber, 35S-interleukin-1beta was found to bind specifically to the apical membranes with a Ka value of 4.6 x 10(7) M-1, and the specific interaction was inhibited by 1 microM mannose 6-phosphate. Since the mannose 6-phosphate diester moiety exists only in the GPI glycans on plasma membranes, it was evident that interleukin-1beta can directly interact with the mannose 6-phosphate diester component of the intact glycan of GPI anchors on plasma membranes.