NiFe alloy particles doping effect of Gd–Ba–Cu–O bulks processed by a new cold-seeding technology

The process of cold seeding melt growth of GdBa₂Cu₃O_y (Gd123) bulk superconductors using NdBa₂Cu₃O_y (Nd123) thin films was reported. In addition, a novel cold seeding concept of combining MgO crystal and buffer pellet was also introduced. The misorientation caused by the lattice mismatch between MgO and Gd123 melt was overcome by choosing suitable heat treatment program and Gd₂BaCuO₅ (Gd211) content of the buffer pellet. The doping effect of soft ferromagnetic NiFe alloy particles was also reported. The bulk sample with 0.4% (mole fraction) doping amount shows the best performance on the flux trapping. The critical current density is largely enhanced under the external field of 1–2 T, which is promising for large-scale applications. This effect is originated from the substitution of Fe and Ni ions for the Cu sites contributing to magnetic flux pinning.     

Formation mechanism for hexagonal-structured self-assemblies of nanocrystalline titania templated by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide

Hexagonal-structured self-assemblies of nanocrystalline (anatase) titania templated by cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (C(16)H(33)N(CH(3))(3)Br; CTAB) (Hex-ncTiO(2)/CTAB Nanoskeleton) were formed after mixing of aqueous solutions containing CTAB spherical micelles and titanium oxysulfate acid hydrate (TiOSO(4).xH(2)SO(4).xH(2)O) as a titania precursor in the absence of any other additives. Formation mechanism of the Hex-ncTiO(2)/CTAB Nanoskeleton was examined in terms of the reaction temperature, titania precursor/CTAB mixing ratio, surfactant type, electrostatic interaction, micelle formation and molecular component. We found that crystal growth of crystalline (anatase) titania (polymorphic crystallization) was promoted with higher temperature and lower titania precursor content in aqueous solutions. In addition, we revealed that the crystalline (anatase) titania was formed in polycation, poly(allylamine hydrochloride ([CH(2)CH(CH(2)NH(2))HCl](n); PAH), and formamide (HCONH(2)) solutions. On the other hand, no titania formation was observed in anionic systems such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (CH(3)(CH(2))(11)OSO(3)Na; SDS) and poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate ([C(8)H(7)SO(3)Na](n); PSSS). This indicates that hydrolysis reaction of the titania precursor is initiated by not only cations but also nitrogen atoms in molecules and polymers. Hexagonally structure was formed in only cationic surfactant micellar solutions but not in polycation solutions and formamide.     

Effect of the polarization and incident angle of excitation light on the fluorescence enhancement observed with a multilayered substrate fabricated by Ag and Al2O3

The fluorescence from a fluorophore on a multilayered substrate fabricated by a metal and a dielectric is known to be enhanced by more than 100-fold. In the course of this study, we prepared a multilayered substrate with Ag as the metal and Al(2)O(3) as the dielectric and then investigated the effects of the polarization of the excitation light on the enhancement of the multilayered substrate. It was found that the enhancement was attributed to an electric field oscillating parallel to the substrate. Maximum 200-fold enhancement could be achieved with 80 nm thick Al(2)O(3) when an unpolarized excitation light was used with an incident angle of 20 degrees.     

Non-catalytic vanadium removal from vanadyl etioporphyrin (VO-EP) using a mixed solvent of supercritical water and toluene: A kinetic study

Reaction kinetics and mechanisms of the decomposition of vanadyl etioporphyrin (VO-EP), the most common metal compounds present in heavy crude, were studied in a mixed solvent of supercritical water (SCW) and toluene without the addition of any catalyst, H₂ or H₂S to remove vanadium. The aim of this study was to remove vanadium an environmentally benign way from VO-EP at a high extent and in a short reaction time. The experiments were conducted in an 8.8 mL batch reactor fabricated from Hastelloy C-276. The capability of SCW to remove vanadium from VO-EP was discovered at temperatures of 410–490 °C and a water partial pressure (WPP) of 25 MPa. Experimental results revealed that the overall VO-EP conversion was 90.51% at a temperature of 490 °C, WPP of 25 MPa and reaction time of 180 min. Under the same reaction conditions, approximately 80.26% vanadium was removed by reaction with SCW. The global reaction followed first order kinetics, with Arrhenius parameters of activation energy 8.93 kcal/mol and a pre-exponential factor 5.66 s^?1. A kinetic model of demetallation that well-fit the experimental results, was proposed. The reaction kinetics may be critically explained in terms of free radical mechanism. The obtained results suggest that SCW is capable of removing vanadium from VO-EP.     

Direct synthesis and melt‐drawing property of aramids by bulk polycondensation of isophthalic acid with m‐phenylenediamine and 3,4′‐oxydianiline

The direct polycondensation of isophthalic acid with a mixture of 1,3‐phenylenediamine (m‐PDA) and 3,4′‐diaminodiphenyl ether (3,4′‐ODA) could be successfully performed in the bulk to afford the expected co‐aramids for the first time. The co‐aramids with low molecular weights and 3,4′‐ODA contents higher than 50 mol% display excellent thermoplasticity and melt‐drawing property. Indeed, several meters long filaments with 12 μm diameter could be produced. In addition, the environmentally friendly method for the preparation of aramid materials as well as the demonstration of their filament formation will open up the new possibility to prepare aramid fibers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012     

Monitoring of acrylamide concentrations in potato chips in Japan between 2006 and 2010

Acrylamide levels in commercially available potato chips in Japan were monitored between August 2006 and June 2010 using the xanthydrol derivative gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Seasonal and annual changes in acrylamide concentrations were determined. Nationwide bimonthly sampling of potato chips was carried out using a four-level design, and seasonal variations were detected in which the minimum acrylamide concentration was observed in August, and the maximum between February and June. Seasonal variations became less apparent after August 2008 as a result of annual effects and/or mitigation measures taken by the potato chip producers. Sampling uncertainties were separated into time-to-time, city-to-city, and lot-to-lot variation, and the largest variation was shown to be lot-to-lot including bag-to-bag.     

Kinetic resolution of an indan derivative using Bacillus sp. SUI-12: synthesis of a key intermediate of the melatonin receptor agonist TAK-375

The chiral indan derivative (S)-2 (2-[(8S)-1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl]ethyl-amine) was synthesized by enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric hydrolysis of the racemic acetamide 1 (N-[2-(1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl)ethyl]acetamide). The reaction was carried out using Bacillus sp. SUI-12 screened for the ability to hydrolyze 1 to give (S)-2 with high enantioselectivity. In a scaled-up experiment, a low reaction rate was observed. However, by changing the culture medium and the reaction conditions, it became possible to run the reaction to 40% conversion on a 10-g or more scale, obtaining (S)-2 at >;99% enantiomeric excess (ee). The (S)-2 obtained was available for the synthesis of the melatonin receptor agonist TAK-375 (N-[2-[(8S)-1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl]ethyl]propanamide).     

Temperature influence on performance degradation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells irradiated with protons

This paper reports temperature influence on radiation degradation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a‐Si : H) solar cells. Degradation behaviors of a‐Si : H solar cells irradiated with protons at 331 K are compared with that at 298 K (room temperature). Variations with time in the post‐irradiation electrical properties are also investigated. It is found that the radiation degradation of the electrical properties at 331 K is significantly smaller than that at room temperature. Also, all the electrical properties (short‐circuit current, open‐circuit voltage, output maximum, and fill factor) recover with time after irradiation even at room temperature. The characteristic time of thermal annealing of short‐circuit current is larger as the temperature is higher. These results indicate that temperature during irradiation and elapsed time from irradiation to measurement is an important parameter for radiation degradation of a‐Si : H solar cells. Therefore, these parameters should be controlled in conducting the ground radiation tests. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Heat labile ribonuclease HI from a psychrotrophic bacterium: gene cloning, characterization and site-directed mutagenesis

The rnhA gene encoding RNase HI from a psychrotrophic bacterium,Shewanella sp. SIB1, was cloned, sequenced and overexpressedin an rnh mutant strain of Escherichia coli. SIB1 RNase HI iscomposed of 157 amino acid residues and shows 63% amino acidsequence identity to E.coli RNase HI. Upon induction, the recombinantprotein accumulated in the cells in an insoluble form. Thisprotein was solubilized and purified in the presence of 7 Murea and refolded by removing urea. Determination of the enzymaticactivity using M13 DNA–RNA hybrid as a substrate revealedthat the enzymatic properties of SIB1 RNase HI, such as divalentcation requirement, pH optimum and cleavage mode of a substrate,are similar to those of E.coli RNase HI. However, SIB1 RNaseHI was much less stable than E.coli RNase HI and the temperature(T_1/2) at which the enzyme loses half of its activity upon incubationfor 10 min was ~25°C for SIB1 RNase HI and ~60°C forE.coli RNase HI. The optimum temperature for the SIB1 RNaseHI activity was also shifted downward by 20°C compared withthat of E.coli RNase HI. Nevertheless, SIB1 RNase HI was lessactive than E.coli RNase HI even at low temperatures. The specificactivity determined at 10°C was 0.29 units/mg for SIB1 RNaseHI and 1.3 units/mg for E.coli RNase HI. Site-directed mutagenesisstudies suggest that the amino acid substitution in the middleof the