The anomalous behaviour of Gd atoms (Fe1−xMnx)2 compounds

The educed Gd atoms in the X-structure (Th₆Mn₂₃-type) of Gd(Fe_1−xMn_x)₂ were magnetically investigated by comparing with Gd₆(Fe_1−yMn_y)₂₃ whose structure is Th₆Mn₂₃-type. The magnetic properties of Gd(Fe_1−xMn_x)₂ (0.4≤x≤0.7) were observed to be quite similar to those of Gd₆(Fe_1−yMn_y)₂₃ (0.4≤y≤0.7).     

Influence of wall heat loss on the emission characteristics of premixed ammonia-air swirling flames interacting with the combustor wall

The influence of wall heat loss on the emission characteristics of ammonia-air swirling flames has been investigated employing Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence imaging of OH radicals and Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometry of the exhaust gases in combustors with insulated and uninsulated walls over a range of equivalence ratios, ?, and pressures up to 0.5 MPa. Strong influence of wall heat loss on the flames led to quenching of the flame front near the combustor wall at 0.1 MPa, resulting in large unburned NH₃ emissions, and inhibited the stabilization of flames in the outer recirculating zone (ORZ). A decrease in heat loss effects with an increase in pressure promoted extension of the fuel-rich stabilization limit owing to increased recirculation of H₂ from NH₃ decomposition in the ORZ. The influence of wall heat loss resulted in emission trends that contradict already reported trends in literature. NO emissions were found to be substantially low while unburned NH₃ and N₂O emissions were high at fuel-lean conditions during single-stage combustion, with values such as 55 ppmv of NO, 580 ppmv of N₂O and 4457 ppmv of NH₃ at ? = 0.8. In addition, the response of the flame to wall heat loss as pressure increased was more important than the effects of pressure on fuel-NO emission, thereby leading to an increase in NO emission with pressure. It was found that a reduction in wall heat loss or a sufficiently long fluid residence time in the primary combustion zone is necessary for efficient control of NH₃ and N₂O emissions in two-stage rich-lean ammonia combustors, the latter being more effective for N₂O in addition to NO control. This study demonstrates that the influence of wall heat loss should not be ignored in emissions measurements in NH₃-air combustion, and also advances the understanding of previous studies on ammonia micro gas turbines.     

Investigation of the influence of cell density of human fibroblasts cryopreserved inside collagen sponges at various cooling rates

The influence of cell density of cells cryopreserved inside a collagen matrix at various cooling rates was investigated. Human fibroblasts were three-dimensionally cultured for 2 days in a collagen sponge (20 mm in diameter and 1 mm in thickness) as an extracellular matrix to imitate biological tissue (artificial tissue). Different cell densities for the artificial tissue were used, from 10(5) to 10(7) cells/cm(3). Four artificial tissues were first stacked in a test chamber, frozen at a cooling rate of 0.3 to 50 degrees C/min in a solution of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium, 20% fetal bovine serum and 10% dimethylsulfoxide, kept frozen below -185 degrees C for 2 hours, and then finally thawed. Membrane integrity of fibroblasts using a trypan blue exclusion assay was evaluated as an index for post-thaw cellular viability. Results show that with increasing cell density, the post-thaw membrane integrity decreased. Therefore, in the cryopreservation of biological tissue, it seems high cell density is one factor which causes a decline in viability.     

Bisbenzylisoquinoline Alkaloids from Nelumbo nucifera

From the embryos of the seeds of Nelumbo nucifera, three bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, nelumboferine and nelumborines A and B, were isolated along with four known compounds, neferine, liensinine, isoliensinine and anisic acid. The structures of the new alkaloids were determined mainly by spectroscopic methods.     

Cost‐efficient monitoring of continuous‐time stochastic processes based on discrete observations

Planning a cost‐efficient monitoring policy of stochastic processes arises from many industrial problems. We formulate a simple discrete‐time monitoring problem of continuous‐time stochastic processes with its applications to several industrial problems. A key in our model is a doubling trick of the variables, with which we can construct an algorithm to solve the problem. The cost‐efficient monitoring policy balancing between the observation cost and information loss is governed by an optimality equation of a fixed point type, which is solvable with an iterative algorithm based on the Feynman‐Kac formula. This is a new linkage between monitoring problems and mathematical sciences. We show regularity results of the optimization problem and present a numerical algorithm for its approximation. A problem having model ambiguity is presented as well. The presented model is applied to problems of environment, ecology, and energy, having qualitatively different target stochastic processes with each other.     

Structures of novel antibiotics, furaquinocins A and B

Structures of novel citocydal antibiotics furaquinocins A and B, isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces sp. KO-3988, was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses.     

NMR and ESR studies on a-Si1−xGex:H prepared by magnetron sputtering

NMR, IR and ESR measurements have been performed for hydrogenated amorphous Si-Ge alloy films prepared by magnetron sputtering. NMR signals similar to those for a-Si:H are observed with no motional narrowing effect. The content of dispersed hydrogen atoms estimated from the narrow component of the NMR signal is independent of the Ge content, although the total hydrogen content decreases with increasing the Ge content. Such NMR results are discussed in conjunction with the results of ESR.     

In vivo study of the inflammatory modulating effects of low-level laser therapy on iNOS expression using bioluminescence imaging

This study was designed to demonstrate that bioluminescence imaging (BLI) can be used as a new tool to evaluate the effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) during in vivo inflammatory process. Here, the efficacy of LLLT in modulating inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression using different therapeutic wavelengths was determined using transgenic animals with the luciferase gene under control of the iNOS gene expression. Thirty transgenic mice, FVB/N-Tg(iNOS-luc)Xen, were allocated randomly to one of four experimental groups treated with different wavelengths (lambda = 635, 785, 808 and 905 nm) or a control group (nontreated). Inflammation was induced by intra-articular injection of zymosan A in both knee joints. Laser treatment (25 mW cm(-2), 200 s, 5 J cm(-2)) was applied to the knees 15 min after inflammation induction. Measurements of iNOS expression were performed at various times (0, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 24 h) by measuring the bioluminescence signal using a highly sensitive charge-coupled device (CCD) camera. The results showed a significant increase in BLI signal after irradiation with 635 nm laser when compared to the nonirradiated animals and the other LLLT-treated groups, indicating wavelength dependence of LLLT effects on iNOS expression during the inflammatory process, and thus demonstrating an action spectrum of iNOS gene expression following LLLT in vivo that can be detected by BLI. Histological analysis was also performed and demonstrated the presence of fewer inflammatory cells in the synovial joints of mice irradiated with 635 nm compared with nonirradiated knee joints.     

Continuous hydrogenation reactions in a tube reactor packed with Pd/C

Continuous flow of the substrate solution and hydrogen gas through a tube reactor packed with Pd/C catalyst brings about a highly reactive and efficient hydrogenation system, which converts 4-cyanobenzaldehyde to the benzyl alcohol derivatives at 25 degrees C, and at 90 degrees C, the cyano group becomes reduced to give the corresponding amine and toluene derivatives within 2 min.