Evolution of fluoride shuttle battery reactions and three-dimensional morphology changes of BiF3 microparticles in an ethylene carbonate-based liquid electrolyte

Fluoride shuttle batteries (FSBs) use defluorination of metal fluorides and fluorination of metals, and they are considered as candidates of next-generation batteries with high energy densities. During FSB reactions of orthorhombic and cubic BiF₃ (o-BiF₃ and c-BiF₃, respectively) in an ethylene carbonate-based liquid electrolyte, in situ Raman mapping and in situ laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) for three-dimensional analysis were conducted almost simultaneously. As the potential of o-BiF₃vs. Pb (E[WE]) was decreased to 0.4 V, desorption of F− started at the protrusions of o-BiF₃ particles. After defluorination, E[WE] was increased to 0.6 V, and c-BiF₃ appeared at protrusions of the surfaces of Bi. However, at the surfaces where o-BiF₃ partially remained, o-BiF₃ grew rather than c-BiF₃. The apparent volumes of particles increased during defluorination and fluorination. The results are important for determining reaction mechanisms, and the results indicate the possibility of the use of ethylene carbonate-based liquid electrolytes

Thermal Properties of Hemp Fiber Reinforced Plant-Derived Polyamide Biomass Composites and their Dynamic Viscoelastic Properties in Molten State

To further enhance the mechanical, thermal, and tribological properties of short natural fiber-reinforced biopolymer composites, it is very critical to understand thermal properties of these biomass composites and their dynamic viscoelastic properties in the molten state. The aim of this study is to experimentally investigate the thermal properties of hemp fiber filled plant-derived polyamide 1010 composites and their dynamic viscoelastic properties in the molten state. It was found that the addition of HF with PA1010 has a strong influence on the thermal properties such as DMA, TGA, and DSC. HF is very effective for improving the thermal and mechanical properties. The effect of alkali treatment on the dynamic viscoelastic properties of the HF/PA1010 composites in the molten state differs according to whether alkali treatment uses silane coupling agent or not. The viscoelastic properties of NaClO2 are higher than those of NaOH. Silane coupling agents have a remarkable influence on rheological properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus, and complex viscosity in the low angular frequency region in the molten state, temperature dependences of rheological properties, and relationship between the phase angle and complex modulus. These rheological behaviors are also strongly influenced by the type of silane coupling agents

Ultrasonographic Screening of Carotid Artery in Patients with Vascular Retinopathies

Background and Purpose: Retinal vasculopathy is commonly found with complaintof burred vision by ophthalmologist and closely related to asymptomaticcerebrovascular disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patients withmicrovascular retinopathy by ultrasound sonography of neck carotid artery and to findhigh risk group for stroke at outpatient of ophthalmology with associated retinopathy.Methods: Between 1999 and 2001, a total of 480 consecutive patients visited atoutpatient of ophthalmology with a complaint of burred vision were evaluated byultrasound sonography of neck carotid artery. The patients were divided to withretinopathy (n=253) and without retinopathy (n=227). The former was subgrouped asfollows; central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO; n=11), branch of retinal vein occlusion(BRVO; n=71), retinal artery occlusion (RAO; n=8), hypertensive retinopathy group-I(according to Keith, Wagener and Barker's criteria) (HTN-R I; n=43) and group-II(HTN-R II; n=42), and diabetic retinopathy (DM-R; n=78). The latter group was withvarious ophthalmological diseases, mainly inflammation of cornea, with healthy retinalvessels and constituted as the control group.Results: There was no statistically significant difference between patients withretinopathy and the control group with respect to sex distribution, nor among theretinopathy groups. Patients with retinopathy had a mean age of 68 years, while thosewith HTN-R I and II were older with a mean age of 71 years. By ultrasonography,RAO showed pathology in intima-media thickness (IMT; 1.13 ± 0.55 vs. 0.81 ± 0.26 mmin control), average number of plaques (1.88 ± 0.99), degree of stenosis of internalcarotid artery (42.4 ± 28.5 %) and common carotid artery (27.4 ± 21.3 %). Those withDM-R had the second thickest IMT (0.96 ± 0.42 mm) and the second highest quantity ofplaque (1.23 ±1.23), and the second most stenotic common carotid artery (13.1 ±17.28%).Conclusion: Moderate sclerotic changes are found in ophthalmology patients withRAO and DM-R, although the degree pathology do not indicate medical nor surgicalprophylactic treatment. Retinal vein occlusion, that has been discussed with diminishedretinal blood circulation, does not show any differences in comparison with controlgroup and ultra sonography has less value for screening of asymptomatic carotidatherosclerosis

Thermal properties of hemp fiber filled polyamide 1010 biomass composites and the blend of these composites and polyamide 11 elastomer

The aim of this study is to improve the performance of all inedible plants-derived materials for new engineering materials such as structural materials and tribomaterials. Thermal properties of hemp fiber tilled polyamide 1010 biomass composites and the blend of these composites and plants-derived TPE, were investigated experimentally. These biomass composites were extruded by a twin screw extruder and compression or injection molded. Thermal properties such as dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of these biomass composites were evaluated. It was found that the addition of HF and the blend of bio-TPE With PA1010 have strong influence on the thermal properties such as DMA, TGA and DSC. In particular, IT has a good effect for the improvement of the thermal and mechanical properties. These properties of HF/PA1010/PA11E biomass composites are better than those of HF/PA1010/ITU ones

Influence of types of alkali treatment on the mechanical properties of hemp fiber reinforced polyamide 1010 composites

In order to develop the new engineering materials such as structural materials and tribomaterials based on all plants-derived materials, the purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of types of alkali treatment on the mechanical and tribological properties of hemp fiber (HF) reinforced plants-derived polyamide 1010 (HF/PA1010) biomass composites. HF were surface-treated by four types of surface treatments: (a) alkali treatment by sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution, (b) alkali treatment by sodium chlorite (NaClO2) solution, (c) alkali treatment by NaOH solution and surface treatment by ureido silane coupling agent, and (d) alkali treatment by NaClO2 solution and surface treatment by ureido silane. The volume fraction of hemp fiber in the composites was fixed with 20vol.%. HF/PA1010 composites were extruded by a twin screw extruder and injection-molded. Mechanical properties such as tensile, bending and tribological properties by ring-on-plate type sliding wear testing were evaluated. It was found that the effect of the types of alkali treatment on the mechanical and tribological properties of the composites differed for each property. The mechanical and tribological properties are improved with both alkali treatments by NaOH and NaClO2 with or without the surface treatment by ureido silane coupling agent (A-1160). This may be attributed to the interfacial interaction and interphase adhesion between HF and PA1010 according to the type of these alkali treatments. The combination NaClO2 and A-1160 is the most effect improvement for the mechanical and tribological properties of HF/PA1010 biomass composites. It follows from these results that it may be possible to develop the new engineering materials with sufficient balance between mechanical and tribological properties. © 2016 Author(s)

Effect of processing sequence on the dynamic viscoelastic properties of ternary biomass composites (Hemp fiber/PA1010/PA11E) in the molten state

For developing the new engineering materials such as structural materials and tribomaterials based on all plants-derived materials, we investigated the effect of processing sequence on the dynamic viscoelastic properties of the ternary biomass composites: 5mm cut hemp fiber (HF) filled polymer blend of plants-derived polyamide 1010 (PA1010) and polyamide 11 elastomer (PA11E) composites in the molten state. PA1010 and PA11E, which contain the polyether groups as soft segment, were made from plant-derived castor oil. The composition of the polymer blend of PA1010 and PA11E was fixed with 60/40 weight fraction. HF was surface-treated by two types of treatment: alkali treatment by NaOH solution and surface treatment by ureido silane coupling agent. The volume fraction of HF in the composites was fixed with 20vol.%. Five different processing sequences: (1) HF, PA1010 and PA11E were mixed simultaneously (Process A), (2) Re-mixing (second compounding) of the materials prepared by Process A (Process AR), (3) PA11E was blended with PA1010 (PA1010/PA11E blends) and then these blends were mixed with HF (Process B), (4) HF was mixed with PA1010 (HF/PA1010 composites) and then these composites were blended with PA11E (Process C), and (5) HF were mixed with PA11E (HF/PA11E composites) and then these composites were blended with PA1010 (Process D) were attempted for preparing the ternary biomass composites (HF/PA1010/PA11E) composites. These ternary biomass composites were extruded by a twin screw extruder and compression-molded. Their dynamic viscoelastic properties in the molten state were evaluated by oscillatory flow testing using a parallel plate type rheometer. It was found that those properties of the ternary biomass composites in the molten state are influenced so much by processing sequence. This is attributed to the change of internal microstructure of these composites such as the distribution and dispersion of HF. © 2016 Author(s).JSPS, Japan Society for the Promotion of Scienc

Adenovirus-mediated transfection of caspase-8 sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to TRAIL- and chemotherapeutic agent-induced cell death

AbstractCaspase-8 belongs to the cysteine protease family and is known to be activated at the initial step in the cascade of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The activation of procaspase-8 can be blocked by a relatively large amount of c-FLIP, which renders resistance to death receptor-mediated apoptosis in many types of cancer cells. To ask if extrinsic over-expression of caspase-8 contributes to the induction of apoptosis, we introduced the caspase-8 gene into HCC cells using an adenoviral (Adv) vector (Adv-Casp8). We demonstrated that Adv-Casp8 increased expression of active forms of caspase-8 in MOI-dependent manner. A large amount of Adv-Casp8 (MOI of 50) induced apoptosis significantly in HCC cells and resulted in downregulation of c-FLIP (in SK-Hep1, HLE, and HepG2 cells), XIAP, survivin, and Bcl-xL (in HLE cells) and dynamic release of cytochrome c and Smac from the mitochondria into the cytosol. On the other hand, a small amount of Adv-Casp8 (MOI of 10) causes a slight but detectable increase in the level of apoptosis with only a small effect on anti-apoptotic proteins and mitochondrial activation. However, small amounts of Adv-Casp8 augmented TRAIL- or chemotherapeutic agent-induced cell death (with an MOI of 10 or 20, respectively). These results suggest both that exogenous over-expression of caspase-8 by Adv-Casp8 may be essential for induction of HCC cell death and that the combination of Adv-Casp8 and TRAIL or chemotherapeutic agents could provide a useful strategy for treatment of HCC

A crowdsourcing approach to collecting photo-based insect and plant observation records

Scientific field observation by members of the public is known as citizen science and has become popular all across the world. Citizen science is advantageous for collecting large amounts of scientific data and can be seen as a crowdsourcing approach to data collection. Information and communications technology is enhancing the availability of citizen science. Mobile devices, such as mobile phones, that have a digital camera with a global positioning system (GPS) are necessities for contemporary life and can be utilised as powerful observation tools in citizen science. A web-based system has been developed as a data collection tool for citizen science. Participants submit an e-mail with a photo taken by their mobile phones. The photos contain location information, which can be easily and automatically embedded if the mobile phone is equipped with GPS. Collaboration has been undertaken with regional event managers, such as museum curators and held citizen science events in each region and for various target taxonomic groups. All photos were stored in the data server and the organisms were taxonomically identified by citizen scientists, regional managers and the authors. In total, 154 species and 843 data records were collected in this project conducted from 2011 to 2016