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ARID1A mutation is frequently found in clear cell ovarian cancer (CCC) and endometrioid ovarian cancer (EC). Anti-PD-1 monotherapy has been found to have limited efficacy in epithelial ovarian cancer; however, anti-PD-1 therapy showed significant clinical benefit in some CCC. We sought to define the relationship of ARID1A mutation/ARID1A expression to the immunogenic profile of different histologic subtypes of ovarian cancer.We performed next-generation sequencing of 160 cancer-related genes. Also, we analyzed the immunohistochemical status of ARID1A, PD-L1, and CD8 with survival in different histologic subtypes of ovarian cancer in a total of 103 cases.ARID1A mutation was found in 0% of the high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) (n = 36), 41.5% of the CCC (n = 41), 45.0% of the EC (n = 20), and 33.3% of the mucinous ovarian cancer (MC) (n = 6) cases. ARID1A loss was found in 19.4% of the HGSC, 75.6% of the CCC, 60.0% of the EC and 0% of the MC cases. ARID1A mutation was found to be associated with high PD-L1 (p0.001) or CD8 levels (p0.001) in CCC but not in other histologic subtypes. Meanwhile, ARID1A loss was associated with high PD-L1 or CD8 levels in CCC (p0.001) and HGSC (p0.001) but not in EC and MC. In addition, ARID1A mutation was associated with high tumor mutation burden in CCC (p = 0.006).ARID1A mutation/ARID1A expression is associated with immune microenvironmental factors in CCC but not in EC. ARID1A status can be a biomarker for selecting candidates for immune checkpoint blockade in CCC.

The animal body contains various types of stem and progenitor cells. These undifferentiated cells coordinate the balance between quiescence and proliferation with dynamics of various physiological conditions such as the developmental stage, food availability, and injury. Although regulation of such coordination plays a critical role in maintaining tissue homeostasis, controlling the growth rate and regeneration, much of its mechanism remains elusive. Newly hatched Caenorhabditis elegans larvae possess quiescent stem and progenitor cells in several tissues, and these cells are reactivated by the insulin/insulin-like growth factor (IGF) signaling (IIS) pathway only when sufficient food is supplied. Maintenance of the quiescence of neuronal and mesodermal progenitor cells requires microRNA (miRNA), miR-235, which is upregulated under the starvation. On the other hand, feeding ample food downregulates the miRNA via the activity of the IIS pathway. As miR-235 in the hypodermis can non-autonomously regulate quiescence of neuronal and mesodermal progenitor cells, a cell-cell signaling pathway has been hypothesized to act downstream of the miRNA. Here, we provide evidence that two hedgehog-related (hh-r) genes, grl-5 and grl-7, are targets of miR-235 that promote reactivation of quiescent neuroblasts. These grl genes possess an miR-235 binding site on 3'UTRs of their transcripts, and are upregulated in starved mir-235 mutant larvae. grl-5 and grl-7 promoters can continuously drive the expression of GFP-pest reporter protein in the hypodermis under the fed condition. However, expression of these reporters is strikingly downregulated under the starvation condition after hatching. We found that miR-235 can repress expression of reporter genes via the predicted miR-235 binding sites on the grl-5 and grl-7 3'UTRs. Furthermore, activity of grl-5 and grl-7 genes are required for reactivation of neural progenitor cells in starved mir-235 mutant larvae. These findings suggest that the IIS pathway-miR-235 signaling in the hypodermis non-autonomously regulates quiescence of neural progenitor cells, partly via grl-5 and grl-7.

Bergamot model mixture and crude bergamot essential oil (CBEO) were fractionated in a perforated rotating disc contactor (PRDC) using as solvents ethanol with 30% (Et30) and 40% (Et40) water, in mass. The apparatus performance was evaluated by experimental extraction indices, essential oil (EO) folding and estimative of mass transfer coefficients. The effects of the solvent to feed mass flow ratio (S/F), disc rotation speed (DRS), feed composition, and water content in the solvent over the process performance were thus appraised. Furthermore, the fractionation of model mixtures was simulated by Aspen Plus software. It was experimentally verified that higher S/F improved the extraction indices and mass transfer, whereas solvent Et40 and higher DRS also contributed for that results. Solvent Et40 extracted lower amount of components from the EO, but the Folds were similar to the ones achieved using solvent Et30. The simulation followed the same tendency. For the model mixture, a 1.54-fold EO was obtained, while for the CBEO a 1.4-fold EO was reached. Overall, solvent Et40, S/F close to 2, and low DRS exhibited the best results for the fractionation of CBEO in PRDC.

In the deterpenation process of essential oils, a fraction enriched in oxyterpenes is obtained. When compared to terpenic hydrocarbons, this fraction is more stable and soluble in water, maintaining the characteristic flavor and fragrance of the crude oil. Solvent extraction is an interestingly popular technique that is proposed for the fractionation of essential oils (once it can be performed under atmospheric pressure and ambient temperature) and contributes to the maintenance of the sensory quality of essential oils. The use of hydrous ethanol as a solvent for the (liquid + liquid) extraction process has shown advantages when the components of interest are completely soluble in ethanol, and their partition can be adjusted based on the level of hydration of the solvent. In addition, for some purposes, the fractions obtained from the separation process can be used without removing the solvent. Therefore, the primary goal of this study was to investigate the (liquid + liquid) equilibrium at T = (298.2 ± 0.1) K of model systems composed of (caryophyllene + eugenol + ethanol + water) (i.e., a clove essential oil model system) and (caryophyllene + methyl eugenol + eugenol + ethanol + water) (i.e., an allspice essential oil model system) to provide the information required for the proper design and optimization of the associated deterpenation processes. For both systems studied, it was noted that increased water content in the solvent decreases the extraction of the essential compounds and increases the selectivity of the solvent. Oxygenated compounds (e.g., methyl eugenol and eugenol) showed greater affinity for the solvent when compared to the sesquiterpenic hydrocarbon (e.g., caryophyllene). The experimental values were correlated using the NRTL thermodynamic model, which provided a satisfactory performance and low deviations in the phase composition descriptions with global deviations near 0.0050 (mass fraction).

Highlights • Cervical cancer occurring in patients with OHVIRA syndrome is very rare. • This case reports on HPV-negative adenocarcinoma located in the nonvisible cervix. • Colposcopy and imaging are essential for cervical cancer with uterine malformation. • In OHVIRA syndrome, cervical malignancies may be overlooked.

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The deterpenation process of essential oils consists of terpene removal and a consequent concentration of oxygenated compounds, which increases the sensorial quality, the aromatic potential and the oxidative stability of the oil. Deterpenation of oregano (Origanum vulgare L., Lamiaceae) essential oil, which has been used extensively as a popular medication and as an antimicrobial, antifungal, antimutagenic and a powerful antioxidant agent, can be performed by (liquid + liquid) extraction using hydroalcoholic solvents. This research presents (liquid + liquid) equilibrium data for model systems composed of p-cymene, thymol, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol, some of the main components of oregano essential oil, using hydrous ethanol as the solvent with the water mass fraction ranging from 0.28 to 0.41 at T = (298.2 ± 0.1) K. The results show that an increase in the hydration of the alcoholic solvent causes a negative influence on the values of the distribution coefficient for the three oxygenated compounds (thymol, terpinen-4-ol and α-terpineol), with an increase in solvent selectivity. An increase in the content of oxygenated compounds in the terpene-rich phase reduces their distribution coefficients and the selectivity values. In addition, binary interaction parameters were estimated correlating the experimental data using the NRTL and UNIQUAC thermodynamic models, and the global deviations were lower than 0.0060 for all systems, indicating that both molecular models show a good descriptive performance.

The evolution of land flora transformed the terrestrial environment. Land plants evolved from an ancestral charophycean alga from which they inherited developmental, biochemical, and cell biological attributes. Additional biochemical and physiological adaptations to land, and a life cycle with an alternation between multicellular haploid and diploid generations that facilitated efficient dispersal of desiccation tolerant spores, evolved in the ancestral land plant. We analyzed the genome of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha, a member of a basal land plant lineage. Relative to charophycean algae, land plant genomes are characterized by genes encoding novel biochemical pathways, new phytohormone signaling pathways (notably auxin), expanded repertoires of signaling pathways, and increased diversity in some transcription factor families. Compared with other sequenced land plants, M. polymorpha exhibits low genetic redundancy in most regulatory pathways, with this portion of its genome resembling that predicted for the ancestral land plant., 陸上植物の祖先の特徴をもつ苔類ゼニゴケの全ゲノム構造を解明. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2017-10-06.

Thermal characteristics of ammonia flow boiling in a microfin plate evaporator are experimentally investigated. Titanium microfin heat transfer surface is manufactured to enhance boiling heat transfer. Longitudinally- and laterally-microfined surfaces are used and those performances are compared. Heat transfer coefficient of microfin plate evaporator is also compared with that of plain-surface plate evaporator. The effects of mass flux, heat flux, channel height, and saturation pressure on heat transfer coefficient are presented and discussed. The experiments are conducted for the range of mass flux (5 and 7.5 kg m−2 s−1), heat flux (10, 15, and 20 kW m−2), channel height (1, 2, and 5 mm), and saturation pressure (0.7 and 0.9 MPa). Heat transfer coefficient is compared with that predicted by available empirical correlations proposed by other researchers. Modified correlations using Lockhart-Martinelli parameter to predict heat transfer coefficient are developed and they cover more than 87% of the experimental data.

Thermal characteristics of a plate evaporator using ammonia are experimentally investigated. The effects of mass flux, heat flux, channel height, and saturation pressure on heat transfer coefficient of the evaporator are discussed. The experiments are conducted for mass flux (5 and 7.5 kg m−2 s−1), heat flux (10, 15, and 20 kW m−2), channel height (1, 2, and 5 mm), and saturation pressure (0.7 and 0.9 MPa). Heat transfer coefficient is obtained as a function of quality for all experimental conditions. The characteristics of heat transfer coefficient are discussed and compared with those of earlier works. All experimental results are compiled by using Lockhart–Martinelli parameter. The developed empirical correlation predicts 85% of the experimental data within ±30% range.

This paper presents experimental liquid–liquid equilibrium data at 298.2 K for systems composed of limonene, carvone and hydrous ethanol with five different levels of water in the solvent. The experimental data were correlated using the NRTL and UNIQUAC models, and both thermodynamic equations provided good descriptive quality. In the parameter correlation procedure, mean deviations between the calculated and experimental data of less than 0.0037 were obtained for systems with major contents of water in the solvent. With respect to systems that contained lower concentrations of water in the solvent, we predicted the phase compositions by considering the previously obtained set of parameters. The experimental results showed that as the water content in the solvent phase was increased, the values of the limonene and carvone distribution coefficients decreased. However, the oxygenated compound always exhibited a greater distribution coefficient value. The addition of water to the system also influenced the phase splitting region, and the increased water content in the solvent is responsible for making deterpenation of the essential oil using ethanol a feasible process.

Differentiation of placental trophoblast stem (TS) cells to trophoblast giant (TG) cells is accompanied by transition from a mitotic cell cycle to an endocycle. Here, we report that Cdh1, a regulator of the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), negatively regulates mitotic entry upon the mitotic/endocycle transition. TS cells derived from homozygous Cdh1 gene-trapped (Cdh1(GT/GT)) murine embryos accumulated mitotic cyclins and precociously entered mitosis after induction of TS cell differentiation, indicating that Cdh1 is required for the switch from mitosis to the endocycle. Furthermore, the Cdh1(GT/GT) TS cells and placenta showed aberrant expression of placental differentiation markers. These data highlight an important role of Cdh1 in the G2/M transition during placental differentiation.

Gestational choriocarcinoma is a malignant trophoblastic tumor. The development of novel molecular-targeted therapies is needed to reduce the toxicity of current multiagent chemotherapy and to treat successfully the chemoresistant cases. The molecular mechanisms underlying choriocarcinoma tumorigenesis remain uncharacterized, however, and appropriate choriocarcinoma animal models have not yet been developed. In this study, we established a choriocarcinoma model by inoculating mice with induced-choriocarcinoma cell–1 (iC 3 -1) cells, generated from HTR8/SVneo human trophoblastic cells retrovirally transduced with activated H-RAS (HRASV12). The iC 3 -1 cells exhibited constitutive activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways and developed into lethal tumors in all inoculated mice. Histopathological analysis revealed that the tumors consisted of two distinct types of cells, reminiscent of syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts, as seen in the human choriocarcinoma. The tumors expressed HLA-G and cytokeratin (trophoblast markers) and hCG (a choriocarcinoma marker). Comparative analysis of gene expression profiles between iC 3 -1 cells and parental HTR8/SVneo cells revealed that iC 3 -1 cells expressed matrix metalloproteinases, epithelial–mesenchymal transition-related genes, and SOX3 at higher levels than parental trophoblastic cells. Administration of SOX3-specific short-hairpin RNA decreased SOX3 expression and attenuated the tumorigenic activity of iC 3 -1 cells, suggesting that SOX3 overexpression might be critically involved in the pathogenesis of choriocarcinoma. Our murine model represents a potent new tool for studying the pathogenesis and treatment of choriocarcinoma.

We previously showed that oseltamivir, a prodrug of the influenza virus neuraminidase inhibitor Ro 64-0802, is a substrate of proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter (PEPT1), and its intestinal absorption in rats is markedly inhibited by administration with milk. To investigate the importance of PEPT1 for oseltamivir absorption in humans, and the characteristics of the drug–milk interaction, a crossover clinical study was conducted in healthy volunteers, who received 75 mg of oseltamivir with 400 mL of water or milk. Milk significantly reduced the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the area under the plasma concentration–time curve from 0 to 2 h (AUC0–2) of both oseltamivir and Ro 64-0802 (oseltamivir, 68.9% and 34.5%; Ro 64-0802, 69.5% and 14.2%, respectively, vs. water), but had no significant effect on the apparent terminal half-life (t1/2) or AUC0–∞. Urinary recovery of oseltamivir and Ro 64-0802 was significantly reduced to 77.5% of the control by milk. The early reduction of oseltamivir absorption might be through the PEPT1 inhibition by milk peptides. However, the extent of interaction in humans was limited as compared with that in rats, possibly because of species difference in the PEPT1 expression and its contribution. This might be the first report suggesting the clinical drug–food interaction via PEPT1. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 100:3854–3861, 2011

The aim of this study was to examine the relation between cofilin 1 expression and progression-free survival in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. We performed quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical analysis in 78 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (excluding those with mucinous and clear-cell types). All patients received the standard therapy, including staging laparotomy and adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of carboplatin and paclitaxel. Of 78 samples, RNA from 62 samples was available for reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. We defined cofilin 1 high expression as relative gene expression equal to or higher than the median and low expression as gene expression lower than median. The progression-free survival was longer in cofilin 1 low-expression cases than in high-expression cases (P = .039). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that stage and cofilin 1 expression were significant predictors of progression-free survival. Of the 78 samples, 54 were appropriate for immunohistochemical study. In 35 of those 54 cases, cofilin 1 protein expression was detected. The progression-free survival was longer in cofilin 1 protein-negative cases than in protein-positive cases (P = .042). Expression of cofilin 1 may predict the progression-free survival of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer receiving standard therapy.

Soybean oil can be deacidified by liquid–liquid extraction with ethanol. In the present paper, the liquid–liquid equilibria of systems composed of refined soybean oil, commercial linoleic acid, ethanol and water were investigated at 298.2 K. The experimental data set obtained from the present study (at 298.2 K) and the results of Mohsen-Nia et al. [1] (at 303.2 K) and Rodrigues et al. [2] (at 323.2 K) were correlated by applying the non-random two liquid (NRTL) model. The results of the present study indicated that the mutual solubility of the compounds decreased with an increase in the water content of the solvent and a decrease in the temperature of the solution. Among variables, the water content of the solvent had the strongest effect on the solubility of the components. The maximum deviation and average variance between the experimental and calculated compositions were 1.60% and 0.89%, indicating that the model could accurately predict the behavior of the compounds at different temperatures and degrees of hydration.

To evaluate hysteroscopic transcervical resection (TCR) for atypical polypoid adenomyoma of the uterus (APA).Retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).Single tertiary hospital.Women who underwent TCR for APA at Kawasaki Municipal Hospital between 2003 and 2015.Clinical records were obtained.Thirty-five patients with APA were evaluated. The median patient age was 35 years (range, 23-43 years), and the median tumor diameter was 22 mm (range, 9-51 mm). The median duration of observation after the first TCR was 34.0 months (range, 4.2-133.7 months). In 19 patients, the tumor recurred after the first TCR. A second TCR was performed in 13 patients, 11 of whom experienced recurrence. A third TCR was performed in 7 patients, all 7 of whom experienced recurrence. A fourth TCR was performed in 4 patients, 3 of whom experienced recurrence. The recurrence rate after the second TCR was higher than that after the first TCR (71.4%-84.6% vs 54.3%; p .01, t test). The median disease-free interval was 12.4 months after the first TCR, 15.3 months after the second TCR, 10.5 months after the third TCR, and 10.9 months after the fourth TCR. Seven patients progressed to endometrial cancer; however, there was no mortality. Six of the 35 patients conceived, and 4 had a normal spontaneous delivery.Owing to disease-free intervals that follow treatment, TCR is a promising treatment modality as a fertility-preserving option for patients with APA under careful observation. Twenty percent of patients with APA develop cancer; however, the present study showed no mortality.

The synthesis of the hydrophobic mesoporous silica (denoted as HMS(F)) was performed using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), tetraethylammonium fluoride (TEAF) as the source of the fluoride and dodecylamine (DDA) as templates. The TiO2 loaded on the hydrophobic HMS(F) (TiO2/HMS(F)) exhibited the efficient photocatalytic performance for the degradation of alcohols (2-propanol and 2-hexanol) diluted in water. The amount of adsorption of alcohols and the photocatalytic reactivity for the degradation increased with increasing the content of fluoride ions in these photocatalysts. The hydrophobic mesoporous surface is suitable as photocatalytic reaction field for the degradation of organic compounds diluted water. To cite this article: K. Maekawa et al., C. R. Chimie 9 (2006).

An efficient absorbent of hydrogen sulfide for hot gas cleaning was developed. In order to increase the efficiency of the absorbent, activated carbon-supported ferrite was prepared and the absorption behavior of the absorbent was examined using a fixed-bed reactor and a thermogravimetric balance. Activated carbon-supported ferrites could be prepared at a much lower calcination temperature (400 °C) than the typical preparation temperature of ca. 1000 °C for a dry process. These ferrites have high surface areas up to 663 m2/g. Breakthrough behavior was obtained with a fixed-bed flow reactor, with almost complete absorption of hydrogen sulfide from 5000 ppm to nearly zero level being achieved at an absorption temperature of 400 °C. The results obtained with a thermogravimetric balance indicated that the initial hydrogen sulfide absorption rate of the activated carbon-supported ferrite was about ten times higher than that of the ferrite prepared by the dry process.

The formation of colloidal crystals from polymer-modified silica in organic solvent was studied. The colloidal crystallization of poly(maleic anhydride-styrene)-, polystyrene- and poly(methyl methacrylate)-modified silica took place in organic solvents, which were good solvents for the grafted polymer. It is, however, observed that there is a matching or a mismatching between the grafted polymer and solvent for the crystallization. The critical volume fraction (φo) of the silica particles for the colloidal crystallization depended on the modified polymer, the extent of grafting, and molecular weight of the polymer. From the fact that φo in the crystallization of poly(malic anhydride-styrene)-modified silica in acetonitrile decreased with the addition of a salt, NH4PF6, the crystallization occurred in the organic solvents due to the electrostatic repulsion between the particles, as well as those in aqueous solution. The neighboring inter-sphere spaces agreed well with the calculated values, which were obtained by the assumption of the close packing under electrostatic repulsion between the particles. It is suggested that the grafted polymer contributes to the enhancement of the elecrostatic interaction through electric double layer between the particles in the colloidal crystallization in organic solvent.

Synthetic gmelinite zeolites are prepared via (i) hydrothermal conversion of strontium-containing zeolite Y and (ii) the use of a DABCO (1,4-diazabicyclo [2,2,2] octane) polymer structure-directing agent. The synthetic materials are compared to a sample of natural gmelinite. The adsorption capacities of the three gmelinites after ion exchange with Na^+, Sr^(2+) and La^(3+) for adsorbates such as water, methanol, ethanol, propanol, nitrogen, n-hexane and cyclohexane are presented. It is shown on each type of gmelinite and independent of the degree of faulting, the adsorption capacities of nitrogen, propanol, n-hexane and cyclohexane increase when monovalent cations are replaced by multivalent cations. However, adsorbates such as water, methanol and ethanol do not show significant variations in adsorption capacity with exchangeable ion valency.

Hydrothermal synthesis of the natural, alkaline earth zeolites via the alteration of Y-zeolite is presented. Synthetic versions of the zeolites harmotome, heulandite, brewsterite and gmelinite are synthesized from Y-zeolite using alkaline earth cations containing solutions. The effect of the composition of the starting zeolite, the composition of the solution phase, the presence or absence of seeds and the experimental conditions are discussed.

For numerous carbon based materials used as coatings of cathode ray tube, the gas desorption properties were examined by using a technique of thermal desorption spectroscopy. The major outgassing species were CO 2 and H 2 O. The peak temperature of the desorption was 373–473 K. The desorption amount was very small for the material with TiO 2 powder and water glass, and large for the material with graphite powder. The baking temperature required for reduction of the gas desorption amount is 673–773 K. Gas adsorption experiments were also conducted. The adsorption amounts of H 2 O or CO 2 increased with the composition ratio of graphite powder. In particular, the gas adsorption capability was largely increased by addition of TiO 2 powder. This enhancement was caused by the fact that the porosity of surface structure and the effective surface area were increased by the addition of TiO 2 powder.

Cosmo Oil and Petroleum Energy Center (PEC) have developed a new hydrodesulfurization (HDS) catalyst of high activity, C-603A, to produce clean diesel fuel, whose sulfur content is less than 0.05 mass%. The preparation of this catalyst combines the use of zeolite technology and impregnation technology to provide excellent HDS activity. C-603A possesses significantly higher activity than conventional Co–Mo/alumina catalyst. Industrial operation with this catalyst has successfully proven its high performance.

The effects of the volume and pH of the impregnation solution and of the calcination conditions were examined on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of a 13 wt% MoO3/Al2O3 extrudate catalyst. The Al2O3 support and drying procedures (static conditions without flowing air) were fixed in the preparations. In the present series of catalysts, the amount of crystalline MoO3 was marginally small. It was found that the dispersion of Mo oxide species increased as the volume of the impregnation solution increased, gradually approaching a maximum value. The increase in pH (2–8) of the impregnation solution was found to reduce the dispersion of Mo oxide species. The Mo dispersion increased slightly for the impregnation catalysts as the calcination temperature increased (673–873 K), whereas it decreased for the equilibrium adsorption catalysts. The effects of the calcination atmosphere (with or without flowing air, or with flowing humid air) were very small on the dispersion of Mo oxide species under the present preparation conditions. On the other hand, the methanol oxidation activity of MoO3/Al2O3 was sensitive to the preparation parameters examined here. It was demonstrated by means of EPMA and XPS that a considerable migration of Mo took place during the calcination. In the present study on the preparation of a 13 wt% MoO3/Al2O3 catalyst, an impact index is proposed to measure the magnitude of the effects of the respective parameter(s) on the physicochemical and catalytic properties. With the Mo dispersion, the effects of the preparation parameter decreased in the order, surface area of the support >> drying process > volume of the impregnation solution > pH, calcination temperature and atmosphere. The size of the impact index for the dispersion of Mo sulfide species is 70–75% of that for the Mo oxide species. The HDS activity of the catalyst was less affected by the preparation parameters than the Mo sulfide dispersion. The preparation parameters affected the segregation of Mo on the outer surface of extrudates in a decreasing order: drying process > volume of the impregnation solution > pH, calcination conditions. It was found that the oxidation of methanol was affected most intensely by the drying procedures. The volume of the impregnation solution, calcination conditions and pH of the impregnation solution also strongly affected the oxidation activity. The impact index suggests that the sensitivity to the preparation variables of the physicochemical and catalytic properties of MoO3/Al2O3 decreases in the order, methanol oxidation activity > surface Mo segregation > Mo oxide dispersion > Mo sulfide dispersion > HDS activity.

In the present part of the group study on the preparation of 13 wt% MoO3/Al2O3, the effects of drying processes were investigated on the physicochemical and catalytic properties. Two series of catalysts were prepared by a conventional impregnation technique and by an equilibrium adsorption method using a common extrudate support. XPS and EPMA results demonstrated that the distribution of Mo oxide species in extrudates was strongly affected by drying processes. A rapid drying, in particular at a reduced pressure, was found to induce a strong segregation of Mo oxides on the outer surface of the extrudates, forming a sharp egg shell type distribution of Mo. On the other hand, drying under static conditions produced a moderate egg shell type distribution, suggesting that a slow drying rate is favorable for a homogeneous distribution of Mo. The equilibrium adsorption technique was found to provide considerably flat Mo profiles inside the extrudates except for the utmost surfaces where Mo concentrations increased steeply.

The gas desorption properties of mixed graphite and water glass (K 2 SiO 3 + H 2 O) were investigated by thermal desorption spectroscopy. It was observed that mainly H 2 O and CO 2 were desorbed from the materials after a baking treatment in the atmosphere. The surface morphology became rough or smooth as the graphite content or the water glass increased, respectively. The amounts of the desorbed gases decreased with the graphite content or increased with the content of the water glass. Namely, the gas desorption amount became small as the enhancement of the surface roughness. The gas adsorption property for H 2 O or CO 2 was also examined for the materials baked in a vacuum. The adsorption amount of H 2 O or CO 2 was proportional to the graphite content, and this result corresponded with the effective surface area of the mixed graphite and water glass.

In this study, we ground exfoliated graphite and investigated the flakiness of the ground products using the previously reported particle size measurement techniques

Potassium-ammonia-graphite intercalation compounds (K-NH3-GIC) synthesized from small natural graphite particles from China were rapidly heated by a cw-Nd:YAG laser beam (1.056 μm) in an Ar purge environment to yield exfoliated small graphite particles as sources for electrical conductive films. The laser heating method was demonstrated to be effective for exfoliation of K-NH3-GIC prepared from natural graphites in sizes of under 37 μm, 37 ~ 63 μm and 63 ~ 88 μm, whereas no exfoliation of these graphites occurred by either gas burner heating or electric furnace heating. The results also show that K-NH3-GIC prepared from natural graphite 350 ~ 500 μm in size was exfoliated to 32-fold of the volume of feed natural graphite. This exfoliation ratio is 2.6 times larger than the ratio obtained by the gas burner heating method.

A new grinding method for obtaining fine flaky graphite particles was investigated by using an intercalation reaction. The grinding characteristics of potassium graphite intercalation compounds and exfoliated graphite in a vacuum were studied and compared with those of natural graphite. The grinding of potassium graphite intercalation compounds in a vacuum for 12 h provided fine flaky particles with a mean size of 0.4–0.5 μm. The particle shape of the ground product of the potassium intercalation compound in a vacuum was flaky compared with those of natural graphite. The ground product of exfoliated potassium graphite was also found to be flaky.

The grinding characteristics of natural graphite are discussed and a new graphite grinding method is proposed for obtaining fine particles. Natural graphite was well ground in dry air after vacuum drying at 10−3 Torr and 80°C and its 50% diameter of cumulative underside of products ground for 12 h was approximately 1.4 μm. The new grinding method was performed in dry air after treatments designed to increase the distance between layers and weaken the bonding strength by use of an intercalation reaction. Bromine gas was used as an intercalate and bromine graphite intercalation compounds were exfoliated by vacuum heating. The product size distribution for the exfoliated bromine graphite ground in dry air after vacuum drying was slightly different from that of ground natural graphite.