Rapid assessment of thermal neutron activation in consideration of time after irradiation

The shapes of equiactivation lines (lines indicating the equal height of specific activity at a time after irradiation) in a broad sense are presented. The usefulness of the lines is shown in an example of assessment.     

LIF diagnostics of C2 radical behaviour in a laser CVD environment

A laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) system was developed to diagnose the reaction and transport of radicals in the ArF-laser-assisted CVD environment. The C₂(a ³ II _u) radicals were produced by the multi-photon dissociation of C₂H₂. The transport of the radical was directly measured by LIF. The disappearance rate of the radical in C₂H₂ was also determined. By using the values determined, the in-flux of the C₂ radicals onto a substrate was investigated, based on a diffusion model.     

Synthesis of n-type semiconducting diamond film using diphosphorus pentaoxide as the doping source

An n-type semiconducting diamond film has been synthesized by the hot filament CVD method using diphosphorus pentaoxide as the doping source. The obtained film was identified as polycrystalline diamond containing few sp² components by means of several methods including Raman spectroscopy. From measurements of the Hall effect and the Seebeck effect, the film was found to be an n-type semiconductor.Patent pending No. Heisei 1-302209     

Crystal data and phase transitions of KLiWO4 and KLiMoO4

Crystal data and phase transitions of KLiWO₄ and KLiMoO₄ were investigated using a high-temperature X-ray powder diffractometer. Phase transitions were observed at 350°C for KLiWO₄ and at 360°C for KLiMoO₄. It was found that the room temperature phases were isostructural with stuffed derivatives of tridymite and the high-temperature phases were isostructural with stuffed derivatives of cristobalite.     

Studies on neurosteroids XXIV. Determination of neuroactive androgens, androsterone and 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol, in rat brain and serum using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

The development and validation of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-ESI-MS/MS) methods that enable the quantification of neuroactive androgens, androsterone (5alpha-androstan-3alpha-ol-17-one, 3alpha,5alpha-A) and 5alpha-androstane-3alpha,17beta-diol (3alpha,5alpha-Adiol), in the rat brain and serum are presented. The androgens were extracted with methanol-acetic acid, purified using solid-phase extraction cartridges, derivatized with an ESI-active reagent, isonicotinoyl azide (INA), and then subjected to LC-ESI-MS/MS. The quantifications were based on selected reaction monitoring mode using the characteristic transitions of the INA derivatives. The methods allowed the reproducible and accurate quantification of the brain and serum neuroactive androgens using a 100 mg or 100 microL sample; the intra- and inter-assay relative standard deviations were below 3.6%, and the percentage accuracy values were 97.1-103.7% for both androgens. The animal study using the methods suggests that most of 3alpha,5alpha-Adiol found in the brain is derived from the periphery, while 3alpha,5alpha-A is not only transported from the periphery into the brain, but also synthesized in the brain by the oxidation of 3alpha,5alpha-Adiol. The androgens in the rats intraperitoneally administered finasteride, a 5alpha-reductatse inhibitor, were also measured; this treatment significantly reduced the brain 3alpha,5alpha-A and 3alpha,5alpha-Adiol levels and increased only the brain level of androstenedione, the precursor of 3alpha,5alpha-A.     

Nepheline from K2CO3/nanosized sodalite as a prospective candidate for diesel soot combustion

Nepheline group materials obtained by a thermal treatment of K2CO3-supported nanosized sodalite are identified as cost-effective materials which show promising activity and durability toward diesel soot combustion.