In situ semi-quantitative analysis of zinc dissolution within nanoporous silicon by X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy employing an X-ray compatible cell

The in situ study of the discharge process in a zinc-based half-cell employing a porous electrode as a structural scaffold is reported. The in situ characterization has been performed by synchrotron X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopy and, for this purpose, an inexpensive, simple and versatile electrochemical cell compatible with X-ray experiments has been designed and described. The experimental results reported here have been employed to semi-quantify the dissolved and undissolved zinc species during the discharge, allowing the cell feasibility to be tested and to better understand the functioning of the zinc half-cell based on porous electrodes.

Spatial distribution of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur species in coastal marine sediments Hiroshima Bay, Japan

This study aims to reveal spatial distribution of hydrogen sulfide and sulfur species in marine sediments in Hiroshima Bay, Japan, by direct analyses using a combination of detection tubes and X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy. In summer and autumn, the hydrogen sulfide concentration ranged from <0.1 to 4 mg-S L^-1. In this study, only hydrogen sulfide was observed in autumn and at two stations in summer. In contrast, some earlier studies reported in all seasons in Hiroshima Bay the presence of acid volatile sulfide, which is used as a proxy of sulfide content. The sulfur species in sediments were mainly identified as sulfate, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, and pyrite. Thiosulfate was a minor component compared to the other sulfur species. The formation of pyrite and sulfur derived from hydrogen sulfide oxidation played an important role in the scavenging of hydrogen sulfide.

CT cholangiography in dogs with gallbladder mucocoele

OBJECTIVES

To summarise CT cholangiography findings in dogs with gallbladder mucocoele.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Each of 10 dogs with gallbladder mucocoele underwent CT cholangiography using meglumine iotroxate before cholecystectomy. The following structures of the biliary system were evaluated: the right and left hepatic ducts, common hepatic duct, cystic duct, common bile duct and gallbladder.

RESULTS

The hepatic duct, cystic duct, common bile duct and gallbladder were imaged by contrast-enhanced CT cholangiography. The passage of the contrast medium through the bile duct into the duodenum was visible in nine dogs. The curved planar reformation images of two dogs showed they had filling defects in the bile duct system. In one dog with hyperbilirubinaemia due to chronic hepatitis, the bile duct system was not completely contrast-enhanced. Surgical exploration revealed no evidence of common bile duct obstruction in any dog.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

CT cholangiography delineates the structural characteristics of the biliary system and partially estimates its patency in dogs with gallbladder mucocoele. Therefore this procedure may be useful as a preoperative screen of the bile duct system in dogs with gallbladder mucocoele.

First Determination of the Level Structure of an sd-Shell Hypernucleus, _{Λ}^{19}F

We report on the first observation of γ rays emitted from an sd-shell hypernucleus, _{Λ}^{19}F. The energy spacing between the ground state doublet, 1/2^{+} and 3/2^{+} states, of _{Λ}^{19}F is determined to be 315.5±0.4(stat)_{-0.5}^{+0.6}(syst)  keV by measuring the γ-ray energy of the M1(3/2^{+}→1/2^{+}) transition. In addition, three γ-ray peaks are observed and assigned as E2(5/2^{+}→1/2^{+}), E1(1/2^{-}→1/2^{+}), and E1(1/2^{-}→3/2^{+}) transitions. The excitation energies of the 5/2^{+} and 1/2^{-} states are determined to be 895.2±0.3(stat)±0.5(syst) and 1265.6±1.2(stat)_{-0.5}^{+0.7}(syst)  keV, respectively. It is found that the ground state doublet spacing is well described by theoretical models based on existing s- and p-shell hypernuclear data.

Etching Efficacy of Self-Etching Functional Monomers

Besides chemically interacting with hard tooth tissue, acidic functional monomers of self-etch adhesives should etch the prepared tooth surface to dissolve the smear layer and to provide surface micro-retention. Although the etching efficacy of functional monomers is commonly determined in terms of pH, the pH of adhesives cannot accurately be measured. Better is to measure the hydroxyapatite (HAp)-dissolving capacity, also considering that functional monomers may form monomer-Ca salts. Here, the etching efficacy of 6 functional monomers (GPDM, phenyl-P, MTEGP, 4-META, 6-MHP and 10-MDP) was investigated. Solutions containing 15 wt% monomer, 45 wt% ethanol, and 40 wt% water were prepared. Initially, we observed enamel surfaces exposed to monomer solution by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to detect monomer-Ca salt formation. Phenyl-P exhibited a strong etching effect, while 10-MDP-treated enamel showed substance deposition, which was identified by XRD as 10-MDP-Ca salt. To confirm these SEM/XRD findings, we determined the etching efficacy of functional monomers by measuring both the concentration of Ca released from HAp using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and the amount of monomer-Ca salt formation using ³¹P magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). ICP-AES revealed that the highest Ca concentration was produced by phenyl-P and the lowest Ca concentration, almost equally, by 4-META and 10-MDP. Only 10-MDP formed 10-MDP-Ca salts, indicating that 10-MDP released more Ca from HAp than was measured by ICP-AES. Part of the released Ca was consumed to form 10-MDP-Ca salts. It is concluded that the repeatedly reported higher bonding effectiveness of 10-MDP-based adhesives must not only be attributed to the more intense chemical bonding of 10-MDP but also to its higher etching potential, a combination the other functional monomers investigated lack.

Gallbladder Agenesis in 17 Dogs: 2006-2016

Background

Gallbladder agenesis (GBA) is extremely rare in dogs.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To describe the history, clinical signs, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of dogs with GBA.

Animals

Seventeen client‐owned dogs with GBA.

Methods

Medical records from 2006 through 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Dogs were included when GBA was suspected on abdominal ultrasonography and confirmed by gross evaluation. Signalment, clinical signs, clinicopathological data, diagnostic imaging, histopathology, treatment, and outcome were recorded.

Results

Dogs were of 6 different breeds, and Chihuahuas (10 of 17) were most common. Median age at presentation was 1.9 (range, 0.7–7.4) years. Clinical signs included vomiting (5 of 17), anorexia (2 of 17), ascites (2 of 17), diarrhea (1 of 17), lethargy (1 of 17), and seizures (1 of 17). All dogs had increased serum activity of at least 1 liver enzyme, most commonly alanine aminotransferase (15 of 17). Fifteen dogs underwent computed tomography (CT) cholangiography; common bile duct (CBD) dilatation was confirmed in 12, without evidence of bile duct obstruction. Gross evaluation confirmed malformation of the liver lobes in 14 of 17 dogs and acquired portosystemic collaterals in 5 of 17. Ductal plate malformation was confirmed histologically in 16 of 17 dogs. During follow‐up (range, 4–3,379 days), 16 of 17 dogs remained alive.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Dogs with GBA exhibit clinicopathological signs of hepatobiliary injury and hepatic histopathological changes consistent with a ductal plate abnormality. Computed tomography cholangiography was superior to ultrasound examination in identifying accompanying nonobstructive CBD distention. Computed tomography cholangiography combined with laparoscopic liver biopsy is the preferable approach to characterize the full disease spectrum accompanying GBA in dogs.

Isomeric 26Al beam production with CRIB

We performed an experiment to measure proton resonant elastic scattering of a mixed 26m,gAl beam with a thick target in inverse kinematics by using CNS RI beam sep-arator, located at RIKEN Nishina Center. It aimed to search for strong proton resonances and determine level properties of low spin-parity states in 27Si. Diagnosis of the 26mAl purity of the beam by annihilation radiation are discussed.

Direct measurements and detection techniques with low-energy RIBs

Astrophysical reactions involving radioactive isotopes (RI) are of importance for the stellar energy generation and nucleosynthesis especially in high-temperature astrophysical sites, such as X-ray bursts, core-collapse supernovae, and supermassive metalpoor stars. In spite of the essential diffculties in the experimental evaluation of those reaction rates, there are several successful approaches to study them, owing to the recent technical developments in the beam production, measurement method, and detectors. Among them, the measurements of α resonant scattering and (α, p) reactions using the thick-target method in inverse kinematics are discussed. The experiments at the low-energy RI beam separator CRIB, operated by Center for Nuclear Study (CNS), the University of Tokyo, are introduced as examples for such studies.

Significant augmentation of regulatory T cell numbers occurs during the early neonatal period

Regulatory T cells (T_regs ) control immune responses by suppressing various inflammatory cells. T_regs in newborn babies may play an important role in preventing excessive immune responses during their environmental change. We examined the number and phenotype of T_regs during the neonatal period in 49 newborn babies. T_regs were characterized by flow cytometry using cord blood (CB) and peripheral blood (PB) from the early (7-8 days after birth) and late (2-4 weeks after birth) neonatal periods. CD4⁺ forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3⁺ ) T cells were classified into resting T_regs (CD45RA⁺ FoxP3^low ), activated T_regs (CD45RA^- FoxP3^high ) and newly activated T cells (CD45RA^- FoxP3^low ). Compared with CB and PB during the late neonatal period, the percentage of T_regs and all T_reg subpopulations in the CD4⁺ lymphocyte population were increased significantly during the early neonatal period. Furthermore, the proportion and absolute number of activated T_regs were increased markedly compared with other T_reg subpopulations, such as resting T_regs and newly activated T cells (non-T_regs ), in the early neonatal period. Increased T_regs concomitantly expressed the suppressive molecule cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). The up-regulated expression of chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) and down-regulated expression of CCR7 were also observed in expanded T_regs . When cord blood cells were cultured in vitro with CD3 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) for 5 days, CD4⁺ CD45RA^- FoxP3^high cells were increased significantly during the culture. Thus, the presence of increased activated T_regs in early neonates may play an important role in immunological regulation by suppressing excessive T cell activation caused by the immediate exposure to ubiquitous antigens after birth.

Electrosynthesis of Layered Organo-Manganese Dioxide Framework-Doped with Cobalt for Iodide Sensing

Aqueous Mn²⁺ ions were anodized at 70 °C with Co²⁺ in the presence of cationic surfactant, cetyltrimethylammonium (CTA). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that the deposited film possesses a layered structure of MnO₂, the interlayer of which is occupied with the assembled CTA molecules. Inclusion of Co ions in the MnO₂ film was evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). They were located in the MnO₂ framework, not in the interlayer. The thus-obtained film, CTA-intercalated Co-framework-doped layered MnO₂ (CTA/Co-MnO₂), was applied as an electrochemical sensor toward iodide (I^-), a hydrophobic anion. The organic phase between MnO₂ layers could extract I^- ions from solution, providing a better sensitivity than a film consisting of layered MnO₂ with hydrated alkali metals. On the other hand, the Co-doped layers of MnO₂ achieved faster electron transfer kinetics for the oxidation of I^-, which resulted in a drastic reduction in response time compared to the nondoped CTA/MnO₂.

Optimum reaction ratio of coal fly ash to blast furnace cement for effective removal of hydrogen sulfide

Reducing hydrogen sulfide concentration in eutrophic marine sediments is crucial to maintaining healthy aquatic ecosystems. Managing fly ash, 750 million tons of which is generated annually throughout the world, is another serious environmental problem. In this study, we develop an approach that addresses both these issues by mixing coal fly ash from coal-fired power plants with blast furnace cement to remediate eutrophic sediments. The purpose of this study is to optimize the mixing ratio of coal fly ash and blast furnace cement to improve the rate of hydrogen sulfide removal based on scientific evidence obtained by removal experiments and XAFS, XRD, BET, and SEM images. In the case of 10 mg-S L^-1 of hydrogen sulfide, the highest removal rate of hydrogen sulfide was observed for 87 wt% of coal fly ash due to decreased competition of adsorption between sulfide and hydroxyl ions. Whereas regarding 100 mg-S L^-1, the hydrogen sulfide removal rate was the highest for 95 wt% of coal fly ash. However, for both concentrations, the removal rate obtained by 87 wt% and 95 wt% were statistically insignificant. The crushing strength of the mixture was over 1.2 N mm^-2 when the coal fly ash mixing ratio was less than 95 wt%. Consequently, the mixing ratio of coal fly ash was optimized at 87 wt% in terms of achieving both high hydrogen sulfide removal rate and sufficient crushing strength.

Effect of d-allulose on rheological properties of chicken breast sausage

d-Allulose (Alu), a rare sugar, was applied to chicken breast sausage as a sucrose (Suc) substitute. The ratio (w/w) of Alu to Suc in sugar that was added to the sausage batter was 0/1 (A0S1), 3/7 (A3S7), 7/3 (A7S3), and 1/0 (A1S0). The total amount of Suc used was 2.5% of the weight of minced chicken breast meat. Substituting Suc with Alu did not affect water content, cooking loss, breaking stress, breaking strain, and modulus of elasticity of chicken breast sausage, but a 100% substitution with Alu caused a 10% decrease in viscosity and a 31% decrease in expressible water. A significant difference appeared in the rheological properties of elasticity, viscosity, and water-holding capacity of chicken breast sausage frozen-stored (-20°C) for 90 d. Particularly, the modulus of elasticity for A1S0 chicken breast sausage was 19% higher than that of the control A0S1 chicken breast sausage, suggesting that Alu appreciably reduced the deterioration in elasticity that is caused by long-term frozen storage of sausage. The quality improvement of frozen-stored chicken breast sausage demonstrates the feasibility and benefits of the application of Alu to frozen foods.