Kinetics of duplex oxide growth on 9Cr steels exposed in CO2: application of dimensional metrology

Investigations into potentially extending the lives of UK advanced gas-cooled reactors have highlighted the need for improved understanding of the long-term oxidation and carburisation of 9Cr ferritic steels. These steels were used in evaporators and primary superheaters and as these are to be used beyond their original design lives, it is necessary to ensure that these degradation routes remain within acceptable levels. A dimensional metrology technique has been applied to archived autoclave samples to measure such damage. These samples had previously been exposed to a range of temperatures, pressures and gas chemistries representative of those experienced by 9Cr steels in CO2-rich AGR gases. Earlier sample assessments had focused on weight change measurements, but the dimensional technique enables measurement of duplex oxide thicknesses around samples and the extraction of related data from longer exposure times. These data also support estimation of the extent of both carbon and oxygen uptake

Light masking of the circatidal activity rhythm in the mangrove cricket Apteronemobius asahinai

Apteronemobius asahinai shows two rhythms in its locomotor activity. One is the circatidal rhythm, which produces active and inactive phases, and the other is the circadian rhythm, which suppresses the intensity of the activity of the circatidal active phase during the subjective day. In the present study, to reveal whether light suppresses locomotor activity by masking the circatidal rhythm without interfering with the circadian rhythm, we observed the activity under 23-h light–dark cycles before and after RNA interference (RNAi) of the circadian clock gene period (per RNAi), which disrupts the circadian rhythm but not the circatidal rhythm. Hyperactivity just after lights-on and lights-off was observed both before and after per RNAi. However, the activity levels were suppressed in the photophase as compared to the scotophase before per RNAi, but not suppressed in the photophase after per RNAi. Thus, the activity of A. asahinai is not directly suppressed by light

Simple of syntheses of marine alkaloid, batzelline C, isobatzelline C, damirone A, and makaluvamine A

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科生理活性物質科学金沢大学薬学

Measuring the Broad-band X-Ray Spectrum from 400 eV to 40 keV in the Southwest Part of the Supernova Remnant RX J1713.7-3946

We report on results from Suzaku broadband X-ray observations of the southwest part of the Galactic supernova remnant (SNR) RX J1713.7-3946 with an energy coverage of 0.4-40 keV. The X-ray spectrum, presumably of synchrotron origin, is known to be completely lineless, making this SNR ideally suited for a detailed study of the X-ray spectral shape formed through efficient particle acceleration at high speed shocks. With a sensitive hard X-ray measurement from the HXD PIN on board Suzaku, we determine the hard X-ray spectrum in the 12--40 keV range to be described by a power law with photon index Gamma = 3.2+/- 0.2, significantly steeper than the soft X-ray index of Gamma = 2.4+/- 0.05 measured previously with ASCA and other missions. We find that a simple power law fails to describe the full spectral range of 0.4-40 keV and instead a power-law with an exponential cutoff with hard index Gamma = 1.50+/- 0.09 and high-energy cutoff epsilon_c = 1.2+/- 0.3 keV formally provides an excellent fit over the full bandpass. If we use the so-called SRCUT model, as an alternative model, it gives the best-fit rolloff energy of epsilon_{roll} = 0.95+/- 0.04 keV. Together with the TeV gamma-ray spectrum ranging from 0.3 to 100 TeV obtained recently by HESS observations, our Suzaku observations of RX J1713.7-3946 provide stringent constraints on the highest energy particles accelerated in a supernova shock.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan (PASJ

Risk Factors for Anterior Skull Base Injury in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Objectives This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationships between the Keros classification, the Gera classification, the vertical height of the posterior ethmoid roof (ER), and anterior ethmoidal artery (AEA) types in Japanese patients. Methods We investigated the computed tomography (CT) slices of paranasal sinuses (120 sides) of 60 patients; measured the cribriform plate (CP) depth, lateral lamella CP angle (LLCPA), and vertical height of the lateral ER from the hard palate (LERHP) at the coronal plane of the posterior ethmoidal artery (PEA); and reviewed the AEA types, whether floating or non-floating. Results CP depth was positively correlated with LLCPA (r=0.63; p Conclusion In females, low height of the posterior ethmoid sinus roof, where cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks occurred while penetrating the basal lamella, often existed; the heights positively correlated with the Keros classification in Japanese patients. The Keros and Gera classifications, AEA type, and posterior ER height do not individually constitute a complete risk assessment but may correlate, preventing major complications, such as CSF leak and orbital hemorrhage

Quantification of neuropathological findings by image data for the diagnosis of dementia in forensic autopsy cases

The aim of the present study was to quantify neuropathological findings using image analysis software for the diagnosis of dementia in deceased who underwent forensic autopsy. Of the autopsies performed within 48 hours of death and excluding those of patients with head injury, thermal injury, heat stroke, or intracranial lesions, 8 were of autopsy cases clinically diagnosed with dementia and thus included in the dementia group (D). The non-dementia group (non-D) consisted of 6 deceased without dementia. To compare the D and non-D groups, 6 regions and 7 types of pathological findings were observed semi-quantitatively using 4 conventional stainings. Quantitative analysis of collected image data was performed using image analysis software. Semiquantitative analysis of senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles was performed with Bielschowsky-Hirano’s silver staining image data. An easy, simple, and effective quantification method of the pathological findings was achieved. However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups, and diagnosis of dementia by the quantification of pathological findings was not successful. Diagnosis of dementia using image data may be possible in future studies with an increased number of autopsies, and by utilizing staining techniques with higher specificity and sensitivity, such as immunohistochemical staining

Organ distribution of p-cresol in HD patients

Background : p-Cresol concentrations are high in the blood of hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, its organ distribution has not yet been investigated in detail. We herein report the distribution of p-cresol in HD patients from forensic autopsy cases. Methods : p-Cresol was measured in the blood, urine, lungs, liver, and kidneys from 4 HD and 4 non-HD cases. Samples were extracted with p-cresol-d8 (internal standard), derivatized, and injected on the GC-MS. Results and Discussion : The total urinary p-cresol/Cr was 79.73 ng/ml in HD cases, which was 16-fold higher than that in non-HD cases. p-Cresol in the blood and kidneys were 30-fold higher or more at 11.92 and 13.08 µg/mL(g), respectively. p-Cresol in the liver and lungs were approximately 20-fold higher at 4.82 and 9.99 µg/g, respectively. p-Cresol was markedly increased in not only the blood, but also the urine and organs of HD cases. The distribution of p-cresol in the blood, urine, and organs differed between HD and non-HD cases. In HD cases, the percentages of conjugated (C) and protein-bound conjugated (PC) urinary p-cresol were 57 and 41%, respectively. C and PC p-cresol was 66% and 25% in the kidneys, respectively, and similar results were obtained in the lungs