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A novel mixed-valence coordination polymer [CuI4CuIIBr4(dmpip-dtc)2(CH3CN)]n (dmpip-dtc = dimethylpiperidine–dithiocarbamate) with an infinite one-dimensional structure was synthesized and structurally characterized using X-ray diffraction. The electronic properties of the coordination polymer were investigated by UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy. Impedance measurement results demonstrated that this complex has a narrow bandgap, inducing semiconducting behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the silicon content in non-grain-oriented (NO) electrical steel sheets is known to decrease iron loss by changing electrical resistivity and magnetostriction behavior. However, few studies on the effect of high silicon contents in grain-oriented (GO) electrical steel have been reported. One of the major differences in the iron loss of GO and NO is that excess eddy current loss, which has a strong relationship with the magnetic domain structure, is more dominant in total iron loss in GO. In this paper, high silicon GO was prepared by the CVD siliconizing method, which has the advantage that the silicon content can be changed without changing the crystal grain size and crystallographic texture of the specimen. It was found that iron loss was reduced as the silicon content was increased, and 6.5 mass% silicon steel showed about half the hysteresis loss of conventional 3 mass% silicon steel, but the eddy current loss in 6.5 mass% silicon steel was equivalent to or slightly larger than that in 3 mass% silicon steel. Magnetic domain observation and calculations suggested that this difference was a result of coarsening of the magnetic domains in the high silicon steel. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The structure of a glass obtained by the melt quenching of a two-dimensional (2D) coordination network was examined. X-ray analyses disclosed a 2D-to-0D structural transformation before and after glass formation. The mechanism is unique to coordination compounds, as it is characterized by labile and flexible coordination bonds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: In this study, the inductive effect of salinity on nitrite accumulation in a down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor, developed as a novel and cost-effective wastewater treatment process, was evaluated by conducting a long-term continuous experiment lasting more than 1400 days. RESULTS: The influent salinity was controlled by adding NaCl at concentrations ranging from 0 to 25 g Cl− L−1. The effluent nitrite increased with increases in salinity, i.e. the fraction of nitrite to total nitrogen in the effluent increased from 1.6% at 0 g Cl− L−1 to 87.6% at 25 g Cl− L−1. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed that as salinity increased, the nitrifying bacterial community in the DHS changed markedly at the species level. In particular, the dominant nitrite-oxidizing bacteria changed from Nitrospira-sublineage I at 0 g Cl− L−1 to Nitrobacter spp. at 15 g Cl− L−1. At 25 g Cl− L−1, no nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were detected. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the DHS reactor is suitable for cost-effective nitrite production processes and that salinity control using NaCl is an effective method for inducing nitrite accumulation. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that explores the health locus of control (HLC) among physicians and the general public. Differential item functioning (DIF) in terms of internal and professional control of the groups is then examined using structural equation modeling analysis. It reveals that physicians do have higher chance of control while the general public attributes HLC to family control.

Objective:We examined whether green tea-extract powder supplementation improves glucose abnormality.Methods:The study was conducted for volunteers who resided in eastern communities of Shizuoka Prefecture and who had fasting blood glucose levels of 6.1 mmol/l or nonfasting blood glucose levels of 7.8 mmol/l in a recent health check-up. Sixty subjects aged 32–73 years (49 males and 11 females) participated in the trial. The Early intervention group consumed a packet of green tea-extract powder containing 544 mg polyphenols (456 mg catechins) daily for the first 2 months and then entered the 2-month nonintervention period. The Later intervention group was observed for the first 2 months and then consumed green tea-extract powder as described above for the subsequent 2 months. Using the two-period crossover design, we analyzed the changes in fasting hemoglobin A1c level and other biomarkers in blood samples collected at baseline, 2 months and 4 months.Results:A significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c level and a borderline significant reduction in diastolic blood pressure were associated with the intervention. The intervention caused no significant changes in weight, body mass index, body fat, systolic blood pressure, fasting serum glucose level, homeostasis model assessment index, serum lipid level or hypersensitive C-reactive protein.Conclusion:Daily supplementary intake of green tea-extract powder lowered the hemoglobin A1c level in individuals with borderline diabetes.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2008) 62, 953–960; doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602806; published online 6 June 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have succeeded in direct synthesis of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) on a conductive substrate coated with a 3D mesoporous silica film, and observed the field emission. Co catalysts for the growth of SWNTs are deposited on the substrate by electroplating. The particle size of the catalyst is well-controlled inside defined space of the mesoporous silica film. Furthermore, the location of Co particles can be controlled in the mesopores by the electroplating method. Mono-dispersed SWNTs are grown along with the mesopores that are normal to the substrate, because Co particles are deposited at the bottom of the mesopores. It is also found that the mesoporous silica film prevents the aggregation of Co catalysts and the distortion of Au layer as the conductive substrate. The field emission measurement shows that the turn-on field is 4.2 V/μm at 10 μA/cm2. The field enhancement factor is about 1500. This approach provides an efficient methodology for fabricating an SWNTs-based field emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the case of a 56‐year‐old man suffering from acquired immune deficiency syndrome associated with lymphomatoid granulomatosis. Magnetic resonance imaging performed because of convulsions revealed an ill‐defined frontal mass showing hypointense on T1WI and slightly hypointense on T2WI with surrounding edema. An elevated uptake was found on Tl‐201 single photo emission computed tomography consistent with a central nervous system lymphoma. However, the apparent diffusion coefficient ratio calculated from diffusion–tensor acquisitions was 1.53 and was higher than that of lymphomas in previous reports. Stereotactic brain biopsy was performed and lymphomatoid granulomatosis was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination levels and changes in the concentrations in four lagoons around Lake Biwa of paddy-use herbicide were studied. Four lagoons, Sone-numa (52 days of HRT (hydraulic residence time) estimated from the lagoon volume and the average discharge at the outlet, 21 ha area), Yanagihira-ko (40 days, 5.0 ha), Noda-numa (11 days, 6.0 ha), and Iba-naiko (2 days, 55.5 ha), were selected as monitoring sites. Intensive water sampling was carried out once a week from May to June at the outlet of each lagoon. Although twelve of the monitored herbicides were detected, the maximum concentrations did not exceed the guidelines for water-supply law in Japan. The relation between half-lives in herbicide concentrations and characteristics of a lagoon such as HRT and chlorophyll-a concentrations were examined. The shorter half-lives of herbicide concentrations in lagoons with shorter HRT means that replacement by influent water effectively decreased the pesticide concentrations. Shorter half-lives in lagoons with high chlorophyll-a concentrations between the lagoons with similar HRT suggest that biological degradation during the residence time worked more efficiently in the lagoon with high chlorophyll-a concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exhaust gas from compost processing plants contains a large amount of ammonia. To treat ammonia gas at high loads, bench-scale experiments were carried out. First, nitrifying bacteria were enriched from soil and immobilized on porous ceramics. The ceramics were packed in an acrylic cylinder (diameter, 100 mm; packed height, 190 mm) and ammonia gas was introduced to the top of the cylinder. The concentration and flow rate of ammonia gas were gradually increased and finally 85 ppm was introduced at a space velocity of 800 h-1 (empty bed residence time (EBRT), 4.5 sec). The ammonia load was 1.0 kg N/m³ day-1. The exhaust contained 1.5-2 ppm of ammonia. Then the packed ceramics were transferred to another acrylic cylinder (diameter, 50 mm; packed height, 800 mm). A high concentration of ammonia gas (1,000 ppm) was introduced at a space velocity of 96 h-1 (ammonia loading, 1.44 kg N/m³ day-1; EBRT, 37.5 sec). The exhaust contained 2 ppm of ammonia (removal rate, 99.8%). The packed bed was washed with water intermittently or continuously, and the wastewater from the cylinder contained a large amount of ammonium and nitrate ions of at a 1:1 ratio. Stoichiometric analysis showed that half of the introduced ammonia was oxidized to nitrate, and the rest was converted to ammonium ion. Thus, ammonia gas was effectively treated at a high load by biofiltration with nitrifying bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]