CRYSTAL GROWTH OF A HECTORITE-LIKE LAYERED SILICATE ON MONODISPERSE SPHERICAL SILICA PARTICLES WITH DIFFERENT DIAMETERS

Fine crystals of hectorite-like layered silicate formed using hydrothermal reactions on monodisperse spherical silica particles with diameters of 0.2, 0.6 and 1.0 μm. The reactions were performed in a colloidal spherical silica suspension with lithium and magnesium ions under alkaline conditions at 373 K in a rotating Teflon-lined autoclave at the LiF:MgCl_2:SiO_2 molar ratio of 0.21:0.8:8.0. The grain size distributions were quite uniform irrespective of the silica size in the initial mixtures, as a result of the high rate of heterogeneous nucleation reaction than that of the homogeneous nucleation. The amount of a cationic surfactant that was intercalated tended to be large when the grain size of the silica spheres was small, while the negative layer charge of the hectorite-like silicate was same extent.ArticleClay Science. 19(2): 45-51 (2015)journal articl

Crystal architectures of a layered silicate on monodisperse spherical silica particles cause the topochemical expansion of the core-shell particles

Anisotropic structural changes in an expandable layered silicate (directed towards the c-axis) occurring on isotropic and monodisperse microspheres were detected by measurable increases in the grain size. The hierarchical changes were observed through pursing the sophisticated growth of expandable layered silicate crystals on monodisperse spherical silica particles with diameters of 1.0 mu m; the core-shell hybrids with a quite uniform grain size were successfully produced using a rotating Teflon-lined autoclave by reacting spherical silica particles in a colloidal suspension with lithium and magnesium ions under alkaline conditions at 373 K. The size distribution of the core-shell particles tended to be uniform when the amount of lithium ions in the initial mixture decreased. The intercalation of dioctadecyldimethylammonium ions into the small crystals through cation-exchange reactions expanded the interlayer space, topochemically increasing the grain size without any change occurring in the shapes of the core-shell particles. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.ArticleMICROPOROUS AND MESOPOROUS MATERIALS. 215:168-174 (2015)journal articl

Deposition of boehmite on carbon nanofibers using aluminum alkoxide and its thermal transformation

We attempted to prepare carbon nanofibers (CNFs) bonded chemically with alumina particles using acid-treated CNFs and aluminum secbutoxide. The structure and morphology of the boehmite deposited on the CNFs, the boundary between the CNFs and the deposited boehmite, and the thermal transformation of the deposited boehmite were investigated using Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The boehmite deposited not only particulately on the CNFs but also in a film-like manner on parts of the CNFs. In addition, the boehmite could deposit not only on the disordered inner walls of the CNFs but also on the ordered inner walls. By heating at 1200 degrees C, the boehmite on the CNFs was transformed into alpha-alumina and theta-alumina. At this time, some alumina particles, particularly those formed on the ordered inner walls of CNFs, fell out of the CNFs, and only those alumina particles which might chemically bond with CNFs remained on the CNFs. Finally, CNFs dotted with alumina particles with a size of <50 nm were obtained. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.ArticleCERAMICS INTERNATIONAL. 41(10):13171-13178 (2015)journal articl

Quasi-logarithmic spacing law in dewetting patterns from the drying meniscus of a polymer solution

We report on a periodic precipitation pattern emerged from a drying meniscus via evaporation of a polystyrene solution in a Petri dish. It appeared a quasi-logarithmic spacing relation in the pattern as a result of stick-slip motion of the contact line towards the wall. A model based on the dynamics of the evaporating meniscus is proposed

Development of an e-Learning environment across all departments and a model class

金沢大学総合メディア基盤センターIn 2006, Kanazawa University (KU) adopted a policy that made it mandatory for all freshmen to have a laptop PC, and started a new class called Introduction to Information Technology as a compulsory first-year subject. We designed this class as a model for developing an e-Learning environment across all departments. We realized that educational systems and support environments are important for the success of e-Learning, so we added portal functions with the cooperation of the company which developed the LMS for us. In addition, we set up a wireless LAN infrastructure, and upgraded some lecture rooms for the Introduction to Information Processing courses. We started up a support room to assist teachers in developing their teaching materials, and opened a PC support room for students in the university hall, near the hub of student activity. In this paper, we will show the outline of the educational system, and report the largely positive student evaluations of the Introduction to Information Technology course and the educational system during its first two years. The number of classes that use the educational system tripled in 2007

T-cell Responses to Dengue Virus in Humans

Dengue virus (DENV) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in most tropical and subtropical areas of the world. Dengue virus infection induces specific CD4+CD8– and CD8+CD4– T cells in humans. In primary infection, T-cell responses to DENV are serotype cross-reactive, but the highest response is to the serotype that caused the infection. The epitopes recognized by DENV-specific T cells are located in most of the structural and non-structural proteins, but NS3 is the protein that is most dominantly recognized. In patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) caused by secondary DENV infection, T cells are highly activated in vivo. These highly activated T cells are DENV-specific and oligoclonal. Multiple kinds of lymphokines are produced by the activated T cells, and it has been hypothesized that these lymphokines are responsible for induction of plasma leakage, one of the most characteristic features of DHF. Thus, T-cells play important roles in the pathogenesis of DHF and in the recovery from DENV infection

Photo-excitation band-structure engineering of 2H-NbSe2_2 probed by time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

We investigated the nonequilibrium electronic structure of 2H-NbSe$_2$ by time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. We find that the band structure is distinctively modulated by strong photo-excitation, as indicated by the unusual increase in the photoelectron intensities around E$_F$. In order to gain insight into the observed photo-induced electronic state, we performed DFT calculations with modulated lattice structures, and found that the variation of the Se height from the Nb layer results in a significant change in the effective mass and band gap energy. We further study the momentum-dependent carrier dynamics. The results suggest that the relaxation is faster at the K-centered Fermi surface than at the $\Gamma$-centered Fermi surface, which can be attributed to the stronger electron-lattice coupling at the K-centered Fermi surface. Our demonstration of band structure engineering suggests a new role for light as a tool for controlling the functionalities of solid-state materials.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figure

Development and External Validation of a Nomogram Predicting the Probability of Significant Gleason Sum Upgrading among Japanese Patients with Localized Prostate Cancer

Objective. The aim of this study is to develop a prognostic model capable of predicting the probability of significant upgrading among Japanese patients. Methods. The study cohort comprised 508 men treated with RP, with available prostate-specific antigen levels, biopsy, and RP Gleason sum values. Clinical and pathological data from 258 patients were obtained from another Japanese institution for validation. Results. Significant Gleason sum upgrading was recorded in 92 patients (18.1%) at RP. The accuracy of the nomogram predicting the probability of significant Gleason sum upgrading between biopsy and RP specimens was 88.9%. Overall AUC was 0.872 when applied to the validation data set. Nomogram predictions of significant upgrading were within 7.5% of an ideal nomogram. Conclusions. Nearly one-fifth of Japanese patients with prostate cancer will be significantly upgraded. Our nomogram seems to provide considerably accurate predictions regardless of minor variations in pathological assessment when applied to Japanese patient populations