Elution and decomposition of cyanide in soil contaminated with various cyanocompounds

Standard soil samples contaminated with various standard cyanocompounds were prepared. Column elution experiments and analyses were conducted. Compounds with an easy capacity for dissociation to ions, such as KCN and potassium hexacyanoferrate(III), were found to be eluted by forming free cyanide even in fresh water. Hexacyanoferrate(II) salts, such as potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) and iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II), were found not to be dissociated in water, but were dissociated and diffused under alkaline conditions (pH >13). Hexacyanoferrate(II) ion was found to be more easily dissociated in water with a higher pH.Column tests as above were also conducted for soil samples taken from a former paint ink factory using iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II), cyanogen chloride, potassium cyanate, copper cyanide, as well as potassium cyanide, as raw materials. It was demonstrate that iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) was dissociated and eluted under alkaline conditions. The elution rate was reduced when the contaminated soil was sandwiched with standard soil layers.Further, it was found that the Fe(CN)(6)(4-) ion eluted with NaOH from hexacyanoferrate acid in soil, were easily decomposed into cyanic acid or other byproducts by UV with the addition of ozone and H(2)O(2).     

Preparation of plastic spherical microlenses by use of a fluoropolymer stencil and oil-bath heating

A new method for fabricating plastic spherical microlenses was developed, which allowed self-alignment of lenses and self-organized formation of a spherical shape. First a low-surface-energy fluoropolymer thin film was deposited and patterned as a stencil. Then photosensitive phenol resin was patterned on it as the lens material. Finally the resin was annealed in an oil bath to form a sphere. The molten phenol resin spontaneously formed a sphere and positioned itself in the center of the fluoropolymer ring pattern as a result of the difference of surface free energy and the equivalently zero-gravity condition in the oil bath. When a light-emitting-diode printer head was loaded with spherical microlenses, its optical output increased by 1 order of magnitude.     

Observation of New Longitudinal and Transverse Josephson Plasma Modes in the Parallel Magnetic Fields: Underdoped YBCO

Josephson plasma reflectivity edge in YBa₂Cu₃O_6.6 (T _c=59 K) was measured in parallel magnetic fields HCuO₂ up to 7 T. Upon application of the field, the Josephson plasma edge splits to two reflectivity edges, forming a new peak at finite frequency. Optical conductivity obtained by Kramers–Kronig analysis indicates that a new transverse Josephson plasma mode appears under parallel fields. We propose that the new mode originates from the modulation of the insulating layers with and without Josephson vortices, as has been suggested by free-energy calculations of Josephson vortices with moderate densities.     

Electrochemical protein chip with arrayed immunosensors with antibodies immobilized in a plasma-polymerized film

An electrochemical protein chip was microfabricated. A thin-film three-electrode system, including an array of 36 platinum working electrodes, a set of thin-film Ag/AgCl electrodes, and platinum auxiliary electrodes, was integrated on a glass substrate. Capture antibodies were immobilized in a 4.5-nm-thick double layer of a hexamethyldisiloxane plasma-polymerized film. Because of their highly cross-linked network structure, the capture antibodies could be firmly immobilized. No nonspecific adsorption was observed during a series of procedures to detect target proteins, and electrochemical cross talk between neighboring sites was negligible. The sandwich immunoassay was conducted on a single chip using model proteins, alpha-1-fetoprotein and beta2-microglobulin. A distinct current increase following the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide produced by the enzymatic reaction of glucose oxidase was observed, which indicates that the capture proteins could actually bind the target proteins. Two kinds of protein were detected independently on multiple sites with respective capture antibodies.     

The influence of moving auditory stimuli on standing balance in healthy young adults and the elderly

The maintenance of postural balance depends on effective and efficient feedback from various sensory inputs. The importance of auditory inputs in this respect is not, as yet, fully understood. The purpose of this study was to analyse how the moving auditory stimuli could affect the standing balance in healthy adults of different ages. The participants of the study were 12 healthy volunteers, who were divided into two age categories: the young group (mean = 21.9 years) and the elderly group (mean = 68.9 years). The instrument used for evaluation of standing balance was a force plate for measuring body sway parameters. The toe pressure was measured using the F-scan Tactile Sensor System. The moving auditory stimulus produced a white-noise sound and binaural cue using the Beachtron Affordable 3D Audio system. The moving auditory stimulus conditions were employed by having the sound come from the right to left or vice versa at the height of the participant's ears. Participants were asked to stand on the force plate in the Romberg position for 20 s with either eyes opened or eyes closed for analysing the effect of visual input. Simultaneously, all participants tried to remain in the standing position with and without auditory stimulation that the participants heard from the headphone. In addition, the variables of body sway were measured under four conditions for analysing the effect of decreased tactile sensation of toes and feet soles: standing on the normal surface (NS) or soft surface (SS) with and without auditory stimulation. The participants were asked to stand in a total of eight conditions. The results showed that the lateral body sway of the elderly group was more influenced than that of the young group by the lateral moving auditory stimulation. The analysis of toe pressure indicated that all participants used their left feet more than their right feet to maintain balance. Moreover, the elderly had the tendency to be stabilized mainly by use of their heels. The young group were mainly stabilized by the toes of their feet. The results suggest that the elderly may need a more appropriate stimulus of tactile and auditory sense as a feedback system than the young for maintaining and control of their standing postures.     

Efficient High-Pulse-Energy Green-Beam Generation by Intracavity Frequency Doubling of a Quasi-Continuous-Wave Laser-Diode-Pumped Nd:YAG Laser

A 50-mJ green beam was generated at a 1-kHz repetition rate by intracavity frequency doubling of a quasi-cw laser-diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser. The green laser was used for 12-mJ fourth-harmonic beam generation with a CsLiB(6)O(10) crystal.     

Origin of sennosides in health teas including Malva leaves

The aim of this study is to clarify whether sennosides are contained in the leaf of Malva verticillata L., and then to clarify the source of sennosides in health teas including malva leaves. The identification and determination of sennosides were performed with thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The leaf of Malva verticillata L. did not contain sennosides A or B and could be easily distinguished from senna leaf. Our previous report showed that sennosides are contained in weight-reducing herbal teas including malva leaves, and that senna leaf is a herbal component in some teas. Furthermore, in 10 samples of health tea including malva leaves that were bought last year, the smallest amount of sennosides was 6.1 mg/bag, and all health teas including malva leaves contained the leaf and midrib of senna. We suggest that sennosides A and B are not contained in the leaf of Malva verticillata L., and that the sennosides in health teas including malva leaves are not derived from malva leaf but from senna leaf.     

Evaluation of 4-nonylphenols and 4-tert-octylphenol contamination of fish in rivers by laboratory accumulation and excretion experiments

Laboratory accumulation and excretion experiments of 4-nonylphenols (NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) were performed for killifish (Oryzias latipes). The bioconcentration factors (BCF, wet weight) in the whole fish were mean +/- SD of 167 +/- 23 (n = 4) for NP and 261 +/- 62 (n = 4) for OP. The biological half-lives in the whole fish were 9.9 h for NP and 7.7 h for OP. Parallel to the laboratory experiments, field survey on the chemicals contamination for water and ayu fish (Plecoglossus altivelis) from rivers flowing into Lake Biwa was performed. The contamination was not so high in agreement with the laboratory experimental data and the field BCF values (wet weight) in the ayu fish were 21 +/- 15 (n = 8) for NP and 297 +/- 194 (n = 3) for OP.     

Superplasticity of Mg-Zn-Y alloy containing quasicrystal phase processed by equal channel angular pressing

Equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) has been conducted on as-cast Mg-4.3 wt.%Zn-0.7 wt.%Y Mg alloy containing quasicrystal phase at a temperature of 623 K. After 8 ECAP passes, the grain size of the as-cast alloy is decreased from ∼ 120 to ∼ 3.5 μm, and the coarse eutectic quasicrystal phases are broken and dispersed in the alloy. Tensile testing has been performed on the ECAPed Mg-Zn-Y alloy at temperatures of 523 K and 623 K with initial strain rates from 1.5 × 10^− 3 to 1.5 × 10^− 4 s^− 1. The ECAPed alloy exhibits a maximum elongation of about 600% when testing at 623 K using an initial strain rate of 1.5 × 10^− 4 s^− 1. Grain boundary sliding is considered to be the dominant deformation mechanism of the Mg-Zn-Y alloy in the temperature and strain-rate range investigated.     

Disintegration process of yttria-stabilized zirconia ceramics using hydrothermal conditions

Capability of the recycling of high strength and high fracture toughness yttria-stabilized tetragonal zirconia polycrystalline (Y-TZP) sintered body utilizing “low-temperature annealing degradation” phenomenon was investigated. Hydrothermal treatment was employed to induce the phase transformation from tetragonal to monoclinic zirconia and to disintegrate the Y-TZP sintered body. 3 mol% Y₂O₃–ZrO₂ specimens sintered at 1,550 °C and more were disintegrated without leaving the original appearances when the treatment temperature was between 200 °C and 400 °C. The size of the disintegrated fragments of Y-TZP sintered body was much affected by hydrothermal treatment conditions. Only with hydrothermal treatment and simple ball milling, the sintered body was pulverized into the primary particle level. This technique is expected to apply to a sustainable recycling system for the zirconia ceramics, which restrains an energy consumption compared to crushing zirconia using mechanical procedures.