Methylcyclohexane dehydrogenation for hydrogen production via a bimodal catalytic membrane reactor

The dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane (MCH) to toluene (TOL) for hydrogen production was theoretically and experimentally investigated in a bimodal catalytic membrane reactor (CMR), that combined Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts with a hydrogen‐selective organosilica membrane prepared via sol‐gel processing using bis(triethoxysilyl) ethane (BTESE). Effects of operating conditions on the membrane reactor performance were systematically investigated, and the experimental results were in good agreement with those calculated by a simulation model with a fitted catalyst loading. With H₂ extraction from the reaction stream to the permeate stream, MCH conversion at 250°C was significantly increased beyond the equilibrium conversion of 0.44–0.86. Because of the high H₂ selectivity and permeance of BTESE‐derived membranes, a H₂ flow with purity higher than 99.8% was obtained in the permeate stream, and the H₂ recovery ratio reached 0.99 in a pressurized reactor. A system that combined the CMR with a fixed‐bed prereactor was proposed for MCH dehydrogenation. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 61: 1628–1638, 2015     

Structural Analysis of the Complex between Penta-EF-Hand ALG-2 Protein and Sec31A Peptide Reveals a Novel Target Recognition Mechanism of ALG-2

ALG-2, a 22-kDa penta-EF-hand protein, is involved in cell death, signal transduction, membrane trafficking, etc., by interacting with various proteins in mammalian cells in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner. Most known ALG-2-interacting proteins contain proline-rich regions in which either PPYPXnYP (type 1 motif) or PXPGF (type 2 motif) is commonly found. Previous X-ray crystal structural analysis of the complex between ALG-2 and an ALIX peptide revealed that the peptide binds to the two hydrophobic pockets. In the present study, we resolved the crystal structure of the complex between ALG-2 and a peptide of Sec31A (outer shell component of coat complex II, COPII; containing the type 2 motif) and found that the peptide binds to the third hydrophobic pocket (Pocket 3). While amino acid substitution of Phe⁸⁵, a Pocket 3 residue, with Ala abrogated the interaction with Sec31A, it did not affect the interaction with ALIX. On the other hand, amino acid substitution of Tyr¹⁸⁰, a Pocket 1 residue, with Ala caused loss of binding to ALIX, but maintained binding to Sec31A. We conclude that ALG-2 recognizes two types of motifs at different hydrophobic surfaces. Furthermore, based on the results of serial mutational analysis of the ALG-2-binding sites in Sec31A, the type 2 motif was newly defined.     

Effect of drawing condition on mechanical properties and molecular orientation of self-reinforced poly(lactic acid) screws

Effects of extrusion ratio (ER) during extruding on mechanical properties of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) screws were investigated in terms of shear and twist strength. Shear strength increased by drawing, while twist strength decreased. This might be due to orientation of molecular chains during drawing. In order to evaluate orientation of molecular chains, orientation function in extruded billets was measured as a function of ER. Since orientation function increased with ER, drawing is effective method to improve shear strength of screw, where fibrous structure which was formed during extruding resisted shear stress in cross-section perpendicular to screw axis. Although orientation functions for billet extruded at ER 1.3–4 were equivalent, both strengths changed for the screw extruded at the range of this ER. Infrared spectra suggested transforming from α to β crystal for the billet extruded at the range of this ER. This result suggested that mechanical properties of screw also depended on the crystal forms.     

Sensitivity of charged particle activation analysis for long-lived radioactive nuclide determination

ABSTRACT

Charged Particle Activation Analysis (CPAA) utilizing an 8-MeV proton beam has been studied for determination of 35 long-lived radioactive nuclides. We accumulated the reaction cross section and nuclear decay data by referring to nuclear database supplied by National Nuclear Data Center in Brookhaven National Laboratory. We also calculated the reaction cross sections by using statistical model code ALICE. By using the nuclear data, we have derived determination sensitivity of the radioactive nuclides relative to unit weight and specific radioactivity. The result indicates that several hardly measurable nuclides with long half-lives such as ¹³⁵Cs, ²⁴⁴Pu, ¹²⁹I, ¹²⁶Sn, ⁹³Mo, ¹⁰⁷Pd, ²³⁶U, ²⁴⁸Cm, and ²³⁷Np have high sensitivity. It may be concluded that CPAA can be applied to determination of several long-lived nuclei and will provide a quick and non-destructive analysis method.     

Effect of Platelet-Rich Plasma on M1/M2 Macrophage Polarization

Osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) is a chronic degenerative disease and progresses with an imbalance of cytokines and macrophages in the joint. Studies regarding the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) as a point-of-care treatment for OAK have reported on its effect on tissue repair and suppression of inflammation but few have reported on its effect on macrophages and macrophage polarization. Based on our clinical experience with two types of PRP kits Cellaid Serum Collection Set P type kit (leukocyte-poor-PRP) and an Autologous Protein Solution kit (APS leukocyte-rich-PRP), we investigated the concentrations of humoral factors in PRPs prepared from the two kits and the effect of humoral factors on macrophage phenotypes. We found that the concentrations of cell components and humoral factors differed between PRPs purified using the two kits; APS had a higher concentration of M1 and M2 macrophage related factors. The addition of PRP supernatants to the culture media of monocyte-derived macrophages and M1 polarized macrophages revealed that PRPs suppressed M1 macrophage polarization and promoted M2 macrophage polarization. This research is the first to report the effect of PRPs purified using commercial kits on macrophage polarization.     

Effect of the dilation caused by helium bubbles on edge dislocation motion in α-iron: molecular dynamics simulation

Various types of nanometric defects such as voids and helium (He) bubbles produced by high-energy neutron irradiations are known to degrade the mechanical properties of irradiated materials. In this study, we have evaluated the obstacle strength of He bubbles to the mobility of an edge dislocation in α-iron for 2 and 4 nm bubbles with He-to-vacancy (He/V) ratios ranging from 0 to 1 at 300 and 500 K, by molecular dynamics simulation. Results showed that as the He/V ratio increases, the obstacle strength needed for the release of a dislocation from the bubble becomes stronger up to a moderate He/V ratio (0.6 and 0.4 for 2 and 4 nm bubbles, respectively, at both temperatures), and a further increase in the He/V ratio leads to weakening of the obstacle strength. For He/V = 1, the obstacle strengths are 10–30% weaker than those at moderate He/V ratios depending on the bubble size and temperature. The extent of obstacle strength was found to be correlated with the dilation caused by He bubbles depending on the bubble size, He/V ratio, and temperature.