Thermal stability of FeF3 cathode for Li-ion batteries

The thermal stability of a FeF₃ cathode was quantitatively studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The cycled electrode without electrolyte was examined and found to become more thermally stable after Li-ion insertion. On the other hand, mixtures of cycled electrodes and electrolyte were investigated by changing the ratio of cycled electrode to electrolyte. The thermal decomposition of the electrolyte was mainly responsible for the exothermic heat for the discharged electrode and electrolyte combination. Although a reaction between the active materials of the electrode and electrolyte was observed for the mixture of the charged electrode and electrolyte, the exothermic heats were small. In contrast to lithium transition-metal oxide cathodes for lithium-ion batteries, the exothermic heat was suppressed by the FeF₃ electrode. Therefore, FeF₃ as a cathode for Li-ion batteries shows more thermal stability at elevated temperatures.     

焦炭过滤床电炉粉尘捕集特性的模拟研究

以超细二氧化硅微粒为模拟粉尘,研究了在冷态焦炭过滤床条件下的电炉粉尘捕集特性：即在固定床的实验条件下,当气流速度一定时,平衡状态下静态捕集量在过滤床纵轴方向上的分布状态变化较小;当焦炭颗粒以一定速度下移时,随粉尘供给速率的增大,整体的静态捕集量也随之增加,从上部到下部静态捕集量呈渐增趋势。本实验条件下,在综合考虑捕集量、捕集速率和捕集效率的基础上,气流速度应小于0.65 m/s。     

Structural state of Ni-Mn solid solutions in a wide range of concentrations based on the data of scattering and absorption of X-rays

It has been demonstrated that Ni-Mn alloys prepared from elemental powders by the method of mechanical alloying appear to be fcc solid solutions in a wide concentration range. Structural studies of samples with the amount of Ni from 50 to 95 at % were carried out by the methods of X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and EXAFS spectroscopy.     

The Complete Loss of p53 Expression Uniquely Predicts Worse Prognosis in Colorectal Cancer

p53 immunohistochemistry is considered an accurate surrogate marker reflecting the underlying TP53 mutation status and has utility in tumor diagnostics. In the present study, 269 primary CRCs were immunohistochemically evaluated for p53 expression to assess its utility in diagnostic pathology and prognostication. p53 expression was wild-type in 59 cases (23%), overexpressed in 143 cases (55%), completely lost in 50 cases (19%), and cytoplasmic in 10 cases (4%). p53 immunoreactivity was associated with tumor size (p = 0.0056), mucus production (p = 0.0015), and mismatch repair (MMR) system status (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, among CRCs with wild-type p53 expression, a significantly higher number of cases had decreased CDX2 than those with p53 overexpression (p = 0.012) or complete p53 loss (p = 0.043). In contrast, among CRCs with p53 overexpression, there were significantly fewer ALCAM-positive cases than p53 wild-type cases (p = 0.0045). However, no significant association was detected between p53 immunoreactivity and the “stem-like” immunophenotype defined by CDX2 downregulation and ALCAM-positivity. Multivariate Cox hazards regression analysis identified tubular-forming histology (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.17, p < 0.0001), younger age (HR = 0.52, p = 0.021), and female sex (HR = 0.55, p = 0.046) as potential favorable factors. The analysis also revealed complete p53 loss (HR = 2.16, p = 0.0087), incomplete resection (HR = 2.65, p = 0.0068), and peritoneal metastasis (HR = 5.32, p < 0.0001) as potential independent risk factors for patients with CRC. The sub-cohort survival analyses classified according to chemotherapy after surgery revealed that CRC patients with wild-type p53 expression tended to have better survival than those with overexpression or complete loss after chemotherapy. Thus, immunohistochemistry for p53 could be used for the prognostication and chemotherapy target selection of patients with CRC.     

Prevaporation of water/alcohol mixtures through the PVA membranes containing cyclodextrin oligomer

Prevaporation through the PVA membrame containing β-cyclodextrin oligomer (PVA/CD membrane) was performed for the mixtures of water/ethanol, water/1-propanol, and water/2-propanol. At higher alcohol concentrations, the water selectivities were greatly increased by CD for all the mixtures, in the order of 2-propanol/water>1-propanol/water>ethanol/water. The water permeation rate was decreased by CD, and the alcohol permeation rate was decreased much more for each mixture. At lower alcohol concentrations, the water selectivity for 1-propanol/water was slightly increased by CD, and that for 2-propanol/water was scarcely affeted, whereas that for ethanol/water was greatly increased. The water permeation rate was increased by CD for each mixture, and the relative increases in the water rates for propanols/water were smaller than that for ethanol/water. The permeation rate of 1-propanol as well as that of ethanol was decreased by CD, but the rate of 2-propanol was was increased. These effects of CD can be explained in terms of the inclusion strength. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Theoretical analysis of Cerenkov-type optical second-harmonicgeneration in slab waveguides

Optical second-harmonic generation in the Cerenkov-radiation scheme in slab waveguides has been theoretically investigated for all the possible type I configurations. By solving the nonlinear wave equations analytically, a simple general expression for the second-harmonic power has been obtained. Characteristics of the Cerenkov-type second-harmonic generation and optimum conditions for attaining high conversion efficiencies are discussed on the basis of the theoretical analysis. It is shown that, in order to attain high conversion efficiencies, off-diagonal elements of the nonlinear optical coefficient tensor should be utilized taking advantage of birefringence     

Combination chemotherapy using intravenous nedaplatin (254-S) and intraarterial cisplatin (CDDP) with transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for a patient with uterine cervical cancer: a case report

1. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are important in the control of body fluid homeostasis, blood pressure (BP) regulation and vascular remodelling. The genes for these peptides may, therefore, be involved in the pathogenesis of genetic hypertension. We have previously described a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for BP in the ANP gene region on rat chromosome 5. We have now assessed the possibility that this QTL lies at the closely linked BNP locus. 2. Intra-arterial BP and heart weight were measured in 12-week-old (n = 207) and 24-week-old (n = 88) F2 rats derived from crosses between Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats. We designed polymerase chain reaction primers to amplify a microsatellite in the BNP gene from genomic DNA. Analysis of variance was used for cosegregation analysis. Linkage mapping and localization of QTL was performed using the Mapmaker computer package. 3. A significant correlation was found between genotype for the BNP gene and systolic BP (P < 0.001) in 12-week-old rats. The ANP gene, but not the BNP gene, was associated with systolic BP in 24 week rats. There was no segregation of heart weight with BNP genotype at 12 or 24 weeks of age. The BNP gene mapped approximately 20 cM from the ANP gene in our rat hybrids, away from the previously described QTL. There was evidence for a second BP locus near to but distinct from the BNP gene. 4. These results suggest that BP QTL are present in the natriuretic peptide gene region but that the ANP and BNP genes themselves have no major effect on BP in this cross.     

A cross-validation of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) for Japanese with lung cancer

The EORTC QLQ-C30 was developed in English-speaking cultures. To determine if this instrument could cross a broad cultural divide and be used in Japan, the cross-cultural validity of its Japanese version was estimated. In evaluating psychometric testing, internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha, item-discrimination by multitrait scaling analysis, and validity analysis with ECOG performance score (PS) and Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPS) were performed. The QLQ-C30 (version 1.0) was given to 105 patients with lung cancer. Although the response rate was low in patients with PS 4, the questionnaire was well accepted by patients with PS 0-3. The Japanese QLQ-C30 has a weak scale of role functioning in terms of item discriminative validity. It also has a weak scale of cognitive functioning in items of discriminative validity and internal consistency. However, known-groups comparison showed the expected clinical validity with PS for all the scales except for financial impact, and longitudinally clinical validity with KPS was shown in scales of cognitive functioning, fatigue, and nausea and vomiting. Multitrait scaling analysis showed that the predicted scales constituting quality of life (QOL) in the English-speaking culture were extracted from the Japanese QLQ-C30, and found to be valid in Japan, indicating its possible usefulness as an instrument that is universally applicable across cultures.