Comparison between Abel test stability and thermal decomposition behavior of nitrocellulose

Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry - Nitrocellulose (NC) is prone to spontaneous decomposition with exothermic heat release and thus is generally evaluated for stability during the storage...     

A Statistical Study of the Correlation between Geomagnetic Storms and M ≥ 7.0 Global Earthquakes during 1957–2020

In order to find out whether the geomagnetic storms and large-mega earthquakes are correlated or not, statistical studies based on Superposed Epoch Analysis (SEA), significance analysis, and Z test have been applied to the Dst index data and M ≥ 7.0 global earthquakes during 1957–2020. The results indicate that before M ≥ 7.0 global earthquakes, there are clearly higher probabilities of geomagnetic storms than after them. Geomagnetic storms are more likely to be related with shallow earthquakes rather than deep ones. Further statistical investigations of the results based on cumulative storm hours show consistency with those based on storm days, suggesting that the high probability of geomagnetic storms prior to large-mega earthquakes is significant and robust. Some possible mechanisms such as a reverse piezoelectric effect and/or electroosmotic flow are discussed to explain the statistical correlation. The result might open new perspectives in the complex process of earthquakes and the Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere (LAI) coupling.     

Internal radiocesium contamination of adults and children in Fukushima 7 to 20 months after the Fukushima NPP accident as measured by extensive whole-body-counter surveys

The Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP accident contaminated the soil of densely-populated regions in Fukushima Prefecture with radioactive cesium, which poses significant risks of internal and external exposure to the residents. If we apply the knowledge of post-Chernobyl accident studies, internal exposures in excess of a few mSv/y would be expected to be frequent in Fukushima.Extensive whole-body-counter surveys (n = 32,811) carried out at the Hirata Central Hospital between October, 2011 and November, 2012, however show that the internal exposure levels of residents are much lower than estimated. In particular, the first sampling-bias-free assessment of the internal exposure of children in the town of Miharu, Fukushima, shows that the ¹³⁷Cs body burdens of all children (n = 1,383, ages 6–15, covering 95% of children enrolled in town-operated schools) were below the detection limit of 300 Bq/body in the fall of 2012. These results are not conclusive for the prefecture as a whole, but are consistent with results obtained from other municipalities in the prefecture, and with prefectural data.     

Investigation of thermal hazard during the hydrosilylation of 1,6-divinyl(perfluorohexane) with trichlorosilane

In this study, we examined the reaction hazard during the hydrosilylation reaction between trichlorosilane (TCS) and 1,6-divinyl(perfluorohexane) (FDV) in the presence of a butanol solution of chloroplatinic acid (Pt-Cat) as the catalyst. Assuming the three industrial risks of excessive addition of Pt-Cat, contamination by iron rust and mixing with cooling water, we observed the temperature and pressure change of TCS/FDV with an excessive amount of Pt-Cat, TCS/FDV/Pt-Cat with Fe₂O₃ and TCS/FDV/Pt-Cat with distilled water, using an accelerating rate calorimeter (ARC). The temperature and pressure greatly increased, especially in the sample with Fe₂O₃. For instance, in TCS/FDV/Pt-Cat with 1.5 wt.% Fe₂O₃, the heat release rate exceeded 624 K · min^?1 and the pressure rose above 25 MPa during the exothermic reaction.     

The electronic band structure analysis of OLED device by means of in situ LEIPS and UPS combined with GCIB

Low-energy inverse photoelectron spectroscopy (LEIPS) and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) incorporated into the multitechnique XPS system were used to probe the ionization potential and the electron affinity of organic materials, respectively. By utilizing gas cluster ion beam (GCIB), in situ analyses and depth profiling of LEIPS and UPS were also demonstrated. The band structures of the 10-nm-thick buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀) thin film on Au (100 nm)/indium tin oxide (100 nm)/glass substrate were successfully evaluated in depth direction.     

High‐Quality Three‐Dimensional Nanoporous Graphene

We report three‐dimensional (3D) nanoporous graphene with preserved 2D electronic properties, tunable pore sizes, and high electron mobility for electronic applications. The complex 3D network comprised of interconnected graphene retains a 2D coherent electron system of massless Dirac fermions. The transport properties of the nanoporous graphene show a semiconducting behavior and strong pore‐size dependence, together with unique angular independence. The free‐standing, large‐scale nanoporous graphene with 2D electronic properties and high electron mobility holds great promise for practical applications in 3D electronic devices.     

Investigation of the biosynthesis of acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetic acid from pyruvic acid and the quantitative evaluation of incorporated 13C-labeled l-alanine in Arthrobacter hyalinus

Studies on the contribution to acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetic acid from the pyruvic acid transformation from l-alanine in Arthrobacter hyalinus were conducted by means of feeding experiments with l-[1-¹³C]alanine and l-[3-¹³C]alanine, followed by an analysis of the labeling patterns of coproporphyrinogen III using ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that l-alanine was transformed via pyruvic acid to both acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetic acid. Additionally, the quantitative analysis indicated that pyruvic acid was transformed to acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetic acid in the ratio of 1:0.8.