Calculation of transport parameters in KT-1 tokamak edge plasma

The radial profiles of KT-1 tokamak (major radius of 27 cm, minor radius of 4.25 cm, two poloidal stainless-steel limiters) edge plasma parameters are measured using single and triple electric probes. The particle transport parameters are calculated from the measured edge plasma parameters, and the results are analyzed by the simple fluid approximations. The cross-field particle diffusion coefficient (D) in the boundary plasma of the KT-1 is calculated from the density scrape-off length (λ_n) measured by using a triple probe. The particle density and electron temperature fall exponentially in the radial direction with the e-folding length of λ_n=0.13 cm and λ_e=0.41 cm, respectively. From the scrape-off layer (SOL) model, the experimental values of scrape-off length (λ_n) is used to calculate the cross-field diffusion coefficient (D=1.2×10³cm²/s), roughly corresponding to one third of the typical Bohm value. A simple SOL model with the contribution of recombination is introduced to evaluate the Bohm diffusion in the KT-1 tokamak edge plasma. Cross-field heat conductivity calculated from these deduced values is 5.2D in the SOL of KT-1 edge plasma. These results provide the finally certain information for edge particle transport in the KT-1 boundary plasmas.     

Photoluminescence of ZnO nanowires grown on sapphire (1 1 2¯ 0) substrates

ZnO nanowires were fabricated on c-plane (0 0 0 1), a-plane (1 1 2¯ 0) sapphire, and boron doped p-type (1 0 0) Si substrates in vacuum furnace by simple physical vapor deposition. Room temperature photoluminescence spectra of the nanowires show the near band-edge emission and the deep-level green light emission. The ZnO nanowires formed on sapphire (1 1 2¯ 0) substrates exhibited enhancement on optical properties and better crystalline structures than those of nanowires grown on other substrates. The formation mechanism and the effect of substrate direction on structural and optical properties of the nanowires are discussed.     

Selective hydroisomerization of n-dodecane over platinum supported on zeolites

In this study, in order to develop catalysts for the selective isomerization of higher paraffin, the hydroisomerization reaction of n-dodecane was performed as a model reaction. Pt/ZSM-48, Pt/HZSM-5, Pt/HY, and Pt/SAPO-11 were examined for the selective hydroisomerization of n-dodecane. The catalysts were characterized via X-ray powder diffraction, N₂ adsorption, and the temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia. Among the catalysts studied, the Pt/HZSM-48 catalyst exhibited the best isomerization selectivity in the hydroisomerization reaction of n-dodecane, which is attributed to the moderate acid sites and medium-sized pores present in the HZSM-48. The highest iso-dodecane yield was obtained at a reaction temperature of 280 °C in the Pt/HZSM-48 catalyst. The optimal selectivity of the n-dodecane hydroisomerization over the Pt/SAPO-11 catalyst was obtained at approximately 300 °C, which was slightly higher than that of the Pt/HZSM-48 catalyst.     

Mechanical,Thermal, and Surface Properties of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight Polyethylene/Polypropylene Blends

Various compositions of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene/polypropylene (UHMWPE/PP) blends were prepared in decalin, with the rheological, mechanical, thermal, and surface properties of the blends being determined using the solution cast film. Viscosity and mechanical properties of the blends decreased below the additivity value with increasing PP content implying that PP molecules disturb the entanglement of UHMWPE. Contact angle of the blend films with a water drop increased with increasing content of PP. The atomic force microscope (AFM) images showed that the surface of cast UHMWPE was very smooth whereas that of cast PP was very uneven. For blends, the surface became rough and uneven with increasing content of PP. The melting temperature of PP (T _mP) decreased in the blends with increasing UHMWPE content while that of UHMWPE (T _mU) remained almost constant in blends.     

Bioconversion of cellulose into ethanol by nonisothermal simultaneous saccharification and fermentation

The kinetic characteristics of cellulase and beta-glucosidase during hydrolysis were determined. The kinetic parameters were found to reproduce experimental data satisfactorily and could be used in a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) system by coupling with a fermentation model. The effects of temperature on yeast growth and ethanol production were investigated in batch cultures. In the range of 35-45 degrees C, using a mathematical model and a computer simulation package, the kinetic parameters at each temperature were estimated. The appropriate forms of the model equation for the SSF considering the effects of temperature were developed, and the temperature profile for maximizing the ethanol production was also obtained. Briefly, the optimum temperature profile began at a low temperature of 35 degrees C, which allows the propagation of cells. Up to 10 h, the operating temperature increased rapidly to 39 degrees C, and then decreased slowly to 36 degrees C. In this nonisothermal SSF system with the above temperature profile, a maximum ethanol production of 14.87 g/L was obtained.     

Modeling of the pseudo-colloids migration for multi-member decay chains with a arbitrary flux boundary condition in a fractured porous medium

A deep geologic disposal is the prime option for the long-term isolation of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in many countries. For deeply located repositories, a radionuclide released from a failed waste container moves through the engineered and natural barriers before it reaches a biosphere. The pseudo-colloid which a radionuclide is adsorbed on a moving natural humic or fulvic colloid can be generated in a fractured porous medium. The size of a colloid is in general in the order of a hundred nanometer so that its migration velocity in a fracture is higher than that of a radionuclide due to the hydrochromatic effect. A large colloid cannot diffuse easily into a surrounding rock. Also, there are many kinds of actinides and these actinides have decay chains. In this analysis, the canonical form solution is derived for a pseudo-colloid and a solute in a fracture and a surrounding rock with a realistic inlet boundary condition with multi-member decay chains. It is used the Fortran based a computational code which uses a special subroutine for the inversion of Laplace transform. Consequently, the role of the pseudo-colloid in the fractured porous medium is important and also their decay chains aren’t neglected in the performance assessment of the HLW.     

Cover Picture: Solid‐State Scrolls from Hierarchical Self‐Assembly of T‐Shaped Rod–Coil Molecules (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 9/2009)

Solid scrolls are reversibly formed by self‐assembly of rod‐shaped molecules with laterally attached coil units, in contrast to the layered structures formed from self‐assembly of planar molecules. As described by M. Lee and co‐workers in their Communication on page 1664 ff., the core structure of the scrolls, which are either filled cylinders or hollow tubes, can be controlled by variation of the length of the coil unit. The cover picture shows aligned tubular scrolls displaying well‐defined in‐plane ordering of the rod segments.

     

Association between the microbiomes of tonsil and saliva samples isolated from pediatric patients subjected to tonsillectomy for the treatment of tonsillar hyperplasia

Oral microbes have the capacity to spread throughout the gastrointestinal system and are strongly associated with multiple diseases. Given that tonsils are located between the oral cavity and the laryngopharynx at the gateway of the alimentary and respiratory tracts, tonsillar tissue may also be affected by microbiota from both the oral cavity (saliva) and the alimentary tract. Here, we analyzed the distribution and association of the microbial communities in the saliva and tonsils of Korean children subjected to tonsillectomy because of tonsil hyperplasia (n = 29). The microbiome profiles of saliva and tonsils were established via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Based on the alpha diversity indices, the microbial communities of the two groups showed high similarities. According to Spearman’s ranking correlation analysis, the distribution of Treponema, the causative bacterium of periodontitis, in saliva and tonsils was found to have a significant positive correlation. Two representative microbes, Prevotella in saliva and Alloprevotella in tonsils, were negatively correlated, while Treponema 2 showed a strong positive correlation between saliva and tonsils. Taken together, strong similarities in the microbial communities of the tonsils and saliva are evident in terms of diversity and composition. The saliva microbiome is expected to significantly affect the tonsil microbiome. Furthermore, we suggest that our study creates an opportunity for tonsillar microbiome research to facilitate the development of novel microbiome-based therapeutic strategies.Subject terms: Comparative genomics, Metagenomics     

Radical Addition Reactions of α-Substituted β,β-Difluorovinyl Sulfones

The radical addition reactions of α-substituted β,β-difluorovinyl sulfones 1 with α-oxy and acyl radical species, such as 1,3-dioxolane, tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, butanal and hexanal, afforded radical addition products 2--16 in good yields.