A Determination of the Equilibrium Constant of HTO-H_2S Reaction

The equilibrium constants of the chemical exchange reaction between HTO and H_2S are determined at 1 atm to enrich tritiated water. The separation factor of one stage is defined, and it is increasing with the increase of temperature in the batch method. For the first step to make a practical application of the chemical exchange reaction to enrich tritium, the H_2S gas circulation method is investigated

Lithium Depletion in the Solid Electrolyte Adjacent to Cathode Materials

Nanocomposites of lithium ion conductors (Li2SiO3 and Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3) and electrode materials (TiO2, Li0.01TiO2 and FePO4) were prepared to investigate interfacial structure and ionic conductivity at the interface between solid electrolytes and electrode materials. It was revealed that lithium ions in the solid electrolytes were attracted to the cathode materials with increasing electrode potential, which increases lithium vacancies in solid electrolytes. For the FePO4 containing composites, due to the high electrode potential, lithium transfer across the interface and ionic conduction through the cathode materials was remarkable. The results suggest that severe lithium depletion occurs and interfacial resistance is large at the interface of high ionic conductors and cathode materials.Interfaces and Interphases in Battery Systems - PRiME 2012; Honolulu, HI; United States; 7 October 2012 ～ 12 October 201

In utero exposure to a low concentration of diesel exhaust affects spontaneous locomotor activity and monoaminergic system in male mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Epidemiological studies have suggested that suspended particulate matter (SPM) causes detrimental health effects such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and that diesel exhaust particles from automobiles is a major contributor to SPM. It has been reported that neonatal and adult exposure to diesel exhaust damages the central nervous system (CNS) and induces behavioral alteration. Recently, we have focused on the effects of prenatal exposure to diesel exhaust on the CNS. In this study, we examined the effects of prenatal exposure to low concentration of diesel exhaust on behaviour and the monoaminergic neuron system. Spontaneous locomotor activity (SLA) and monoamine levels in the CNS were assessed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mice were exposed prenatally to a low concentration of diesel exhaust (171 μg DEP/m³) for 8 hours/day on gestational days 2-16. SLA was assessed for 3 days in 4-week-old mice by analysis of the release of temperature-associated infrared rays. At 5 weeks of age, the mice were sacrificed and the brains were used for analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).</p> <p>Results and Discussion</p> <p>Mice exposed to a low concentration of diesel exhaust showed decreased SLA in the first 60 minutes of exposure. Over the entire test period, the mice exposed prenatally to diesel exhaust showed decreased daily SLA compared to that in control mice, and the SLA in each 3 hour period was decreased when the lights were turned on. Neurotransmitter levels, including dopamine and noradrenaline, were increased in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) in the exposure group compared to the control group. The metabolites of dopamine and noradrenaline also increased in the PFC. Neurotransmitter turnover, an index of neuronal activity, of dopamine and noradrenaline was decreased in various regions of the CNS, including the striatum, in the exposure group. The serum corticosterone level was not different between groups. The data suggest that decreased SLA in mice exposed prenatally to diesel exhaust is due to facilitated release of dopamine in the PFC.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results indicate that exposure of mice <it>in utero </it>to a low concentration of diesel exhaust decreases SLA and alters the neurochemical monoamine metabolism of several regions of the brain.</p

Interfacial phenomena between lithium ion conductors and cathodes

Nanocomposites of a lithium ion conductor Li1.3Al 0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 and electrode materials (TiO2 and FePO4) were prepared to investigate interfacial structure and ionic conductivity at the interface between the solid electrolyte and electrode materials. It was revealed that lithium ions in the solid electrolyte were attracted to the cathode materials with increasing electrode potential, which increases lithium vacancies in the solid electrolyte. For the FePO4 containing composites, due to the high electrode potential, lithium transfer across the interface and ionic conduction through the cathode materials was remarkable. The results suggest that severe lithium depletion occurs and interfacial resistance is large at the interface of high ionic conductors and cathode materials. The space charge layer thickness is also discussed

Production of Curium by the Neutron Irradiation of Americium-241

^Am was irradiated by the Japan Material Testing Reactor. The group separation of transuranium elements from fission products and cladding materials were carried out, and then Np, Pu, Am and Cm were isolated by using the ion exchange method. The isotopic ratios of Cm and Am were determined by the α- and γ-ray spectrometry

Irradiation of Natural Uranium by the Neutrons of the Japan Material Testing Reactor

A 2.76 g of natural uranium dioxide was irradiated by the neturons of JMTR for about 60 days from the 7th cycle to the 9th cycle. U and Pu were isolated and the isotopic ratios were measured. The nature of the neturon capture reactions was discussed

Direct contact between dust and HBCD-treated fabrics is an important pathway of source-to-dust transfer

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs) are a class of brominated flame retardant that have found extensive application in consumer products used widely in indoor environments. Although uncertainty remains about the human health impacts of HBCDs, ingestion of HBCD-contaminated indoor dust has been shown to be a particularly significant exposure pathway for young children. Despite this, understanding of the mechanisms via which HBCD transfer from products to indoor dust remains incomplete. In this study, an in-house test chamber was used to investigate transfer of HBCDs from a treated textile sample to indoor dust via direct textile: dust contact. Results were compared with previous data using the same test chamber to examine other pathways via which HBCDs transfer from products to dust, and highlighted HBCD transfer via direct source: dust contact as being particularly important. This novel finding was corroborated by complementary experiments that examined HBCD transfer via direct contact, from other treated textiles to three major components of indoor dust: artificial indoor dust, soil particles, and cotton linters. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

An Optically Dark GRB Observed by HETE-2: GRB 051022

GRB 051022 was detected at 13:07:58 on 22 October 2005 by HETE-2. The location of GRB 051022 was determined immediately by the flight localization system. This burst contains multiple pulses and has a rather long duration of about 190 seconds. The detections of candidate X-ray and radio afterglows were reported, whereas no optical afterglow was found. The optical spectroscopic observations of the host galaxy revealed the redshift z = 0.8. Using the data derived by HETE-2 observation of the prompt emission, we found the absorption N_H = 8.8 -2.9/+3.1 x 10^22 cm^-2 and the visual extinction A_V = 49 -16/+17 mag in the host galaxy. If this is the case, no detection of any optical transient would be quite reasonable. The absorption derived by the Swift XRT observations of the afterglow is fully consistent with those obtained from the early HETE-2 observation of the prompt emission. Our analysis implies an interpretation that the absorbing medium could be outside external shock at R ~ 10^16 cm, which may be a dusty molecular cloud.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ lette