Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Country：Japan

Award type：Award from international society, conference, symposium, etc.  Country：Japan

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Applied Surface Science  

Titanium-based materials such as TiO2 and Li4Ti5O12 are promising candidates for next-generation lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), but the high operating potential and unsatisfactory specific capacity severely restrict the potential application prospects. Li2TiSiO5 as a novel anode has attracted great attention due to its low-potential and high-capacity properties, but the conversion transition of Li2TiSiO5 to Li4SiO4 and TiO during Li+ intercalation and de-intercalation unfavorably affects the structural stability and hinders Li+ transport. Herein, novel cocoon-like microspheres assembled by Na2TiSiO5 nanotubes (NTSO-T), as the substitute of Li2TiSiO5, are facilely synthesized through a hydrothermal reaction. The hierarchical structure could effectively facilitate the Li+ diffusion, reduces internal strain, and enhances structural stability without greatly reducing the tap density. With a low but safe operating potential of 0.75 V, NTSO-T anode exhibits a high reversible capacity of 400 mAh g−1 which exceeds most reported Ti-based anodes, and durable long-cycling performance (capacity retention after 3000 cycles reaches 77%). Most importantly, the rate capability of NTSO-T is significantly enhanced. Kinetic reaction analysis has demonstrated the pseudocapacitive contribution in NTSO-T anode dominates the lithium storage kinetics. In addition, ex situ XRD and Raman analysis reveal a partially reversible conversion mechanism occurring in the framework. The excellent electrochemical performance of NTSO-T provides a promising anode candidate for next-generation LIBs.

DOI： 10.1016/j.apsusc.2022.154409

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Materials Today Chemistry  

Carbon dots (CDs) have grown interested in replacing metal-based quantum dots due to their fluorescent properties with low toxicity. The green synthesis, therefore, represents a contribution to this research field. Here, we demonstrate the synthesis of CDs from simple saccharides, including fructose, glucose, and sucrose, using an eco-friendly method—solution plasma (SP)—by applying plasma in the aqueous solution of the precursor. Variations and characterizations are conducted to understand the role or influence of each synthesis parameter, i.e. saccharide precursor's molecular structure, solution pH (2, 5, and 8), and post-treatment method (freeze-drying and heat-drying), in the materials' structure and fluorescent properties. Blue light-emitting CDs are prepared from all precursors of pH 5 and 8 through SP, followed by heat-drying. Results show that SP is responsible for the carbon core formation, and thus the precursor type affects the carbon core's orderliness. Heat-drying causes oxidation on the CDs' surface, whereby OH functional groups change to C=O. Among all samples, the CDs synthesized from fructose at pH 5 (Fru-CDs-5) perform the best photoluminescence property, having the highest quantum yield (QY) of 9.16% and exhibiting an outstanding ability to detect Fe3+ ions. This is the first attempt to evince the potential use of SP to synthesize CDs from natural carbon sources and obtain CDs exhibiting superior fluorescence properties without any doping and complex synthesis steps. In addition to offering a new synthetic approach, this work specifies the role of the SP and the effect of the saccharide's molecular structure, which is the most relevant synthesis parameters mandatory to obtain tailored CDs with precise control.

DOI： 10.1016/j.mtchem.2022.101139

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Materials Today Advances  

Nanoscale advanced carbons, including carbon nanotube, graphene, carbon nanosphere, porous carbon, and their derivatives, are represented as distinct types of material generate in various forms, structure dimensions, and properties. They feature a large specific surface area, excellent conductivity, high mechanical properties, tunable chemical functionality, and a broad potential window, which essentially require for lithium-ion battery systems. The nanoscale advanced carbons have been intensively researched and developed as a negative electrode component to improve battery performance. This review deliberately discusses structures, main properties, and synthesis methods that are directly related to the physical properties and chemical behaviors of the nanoscale advanced carbons. Moreover, currently good candidates for anode material for lithium-ion batteries were summarized. The importance of the primary function and the synergistic effect of nanoscale advanced carbons with active electrode species is emphasized. The systematic information from this review provides a promising tool that represents an essential reference for selecting anode electrode materials and designing the next generation of advanced lithium-ion batteries.

DOI： 10.1016/j.mtadv.2022.100290

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Materials Today Advances  

Nanoscale advanced carbons, including carbon nanotube, graphene, carbon nanosphere, porous carbon, and their derivatives, are represented as distinct types of material generate in various forms, structure dimensions, and properties. They feature a large specific surface area, excellent conductivity, high mechanical properties, tunable chemical functionality, and a broad potential window, which essentially require for lithium-ion battery systems. The nanoscale advanced carbons have been intensively researched and developed as a negative electrode component to improve battery performance. This review deliberately discusses structures, main properties, and synthesis methods that are directly related to the physical properties and chemical behaviors of the nanoscale advanced carbons. Moreover, currently good candidates for anode material for lithium-ion batteries were summarized. The importance of the primary function and the synergistic effect of nanoscale advanced carbons with active electrode species is emphasized. The systematic information from this review provides a promising tool that represents an essential reference for selecting anode electrode materials and designing the next generation of advanced lithium-ion batteries.

DOI： 10.1016/j.mtadv.2022.100290

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Frontiers in Marine Science  

Although the number of vessels with exhaust gas cleaning systems (EGCSs or scrubbers) has sharply increased to comply with strengthened regulations for marine environment, secondary pollutions are caused by discharged polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from scrubber effluent. Here, liquid-phase plasma (LPP) is employed to remediate water contaminated with PAHs. The increased frequency and pulse width enhanced the degradation efficiency, and 93.3, 90.7, 86.0, and 85.4% for naphthalene (Nap), acenaphthene (Ace), fluorene (Flu), and phenanthrene (Phe), respectively, are degraded at a frequency of 30 kHz and pulse width of 3 μs in 10 min. Considering physical condition of the plasma, long pulse width accelerated electrons, leading to increased generation of active species from intensified collision between electrons and surrounding molecules. Conversely, high frequency decelerated electrons due to the excessive changes in the polarity. However, the increased number of plasma discharges results in the generation of numerous active species. Generations of •OH and O radicals are confirmed by optical emission spectrometry and electron paramagnetic resonance. In addition, changes in functional groups which are corresponding to hydroxyl and oxygen groups are identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Total PAHs in real scrubber are reduced from 1.1 to 0.4 μgL-1 with degradation efficiency of 63.6% after 10 min of LPP treatment. This study suggests LPP can be a promising method to protect diverse aqueous environments and provides optimal electrical discharge condition for degradation of organic pollutants.

DOI： 10.3389/fmars.2022.1033962

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment  

The generation of thermal muons by laser ionization of muonium (μ+e−) confined in multi-layer silica aerogel structures is simulated. Thermal muonium generated inside the silica aerogel is emitted into the sandwiched vacuum regions between the aerogel layers separated by a few millimeters. The model for muonium emission is validated against emission measurements from single aerogel samples. The efficiency of thermal muon generation in this configuration is predicted to increase by several times compared with a single-layer design.

DOI： 10.1016/j.nima.2022.167443

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Radiation Measurements  

Fluorescent nuclear track detectors (FNTDs) based on Al2O3:C,Mg crystals are luminescent detectors that can be used for dosimetry and detection of charged particles and neutrons. These detectors can be utilized for imaging applications where a reasonably high track density, approximately of the order of 1×104 tracks in an area of 100 × 100 μm2, is required. To investigate the reusability of FNTDs for imaging applications, we present an approach to perform optical bleaching under the required track density conditions. The reusability was assessed through seven irradiation-bleaching cycles. For the irradiation, the studied FNTD was exposed to alpha-particles from an 241Am radioactive source. The optical bleaching was performed by means of ultraviolet laser light with a wavelength of 355 nm. Three dedicated regions on a single FNTD with different accumulated track densities and bleaching conditions were investigated. After every irradiation-bleaching cycle, signal-to-noise ratio was calculated to evaluate FNTD performance. It is concluded that FNTDs can be reused at least seven times for applications where accumulation of a high track density is required.

DOI： 10.1016/j.radmeas.2022.106863

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Coatings  

The solution plasma process (SPP) can provide a low-temperature reaction field, leading to an effective synthesis of N-doped graphene with a high N content and well-structured planar structure. However, the interactions at the plasma–solution interface have not been well understood; therefore, it needs to be urgently explored to achieve the modulation of the SPP. Here, to address the knowledge gap, we experimentally determined the physical parameters of the spital distribution in the plasma phase, plasma–gas phase, and gas–liquid phase of the SPP by the Langmuir probe system with modification. Based on the assumption that plasma can act similarly to semiconductors with the Fermi level above the vacuum level, an energy band diagram of the plasma–solution junction could be proposed for the first time. It was observed that the Fermi level of the organic molecule could determine the magnitude of electron temperature in plasma, i.e., benzene produced the highest electron temperature, followed by phenol, toluene, and aniline. Finally, we found that the electron temperature at the interface could induce quenching, leading to the formation of multilayer large-size-domain carbon products. It provided significant evidence for achieving nonequilibrium plasma modulation of carbon nanomaterial synthesis.

DOI： 10.3390/coatings12111607

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Coatings  

Global warming caused by CO2 emissions is a major environmental problem. Thus, the development of materials with innovative architectures that approach the CO2 problem is a necessity. In this study, hierarchical porous carbon fibers (HCFs) were synthesized by a chemical deposition process that operates at 400 °C and uses solution-plasma-generated soot (PGS) as a carbon precursor. Subsequently, the CO2 adsorption capacity of the synthesized material was evaluated. The HCFs showed enhanced surface areas and networks of micropores and mesopores. Moreover, the HCFs were post treated by metal etching and KOH activation. The post treated HCFs achieved a CO2 uptake of 0.8 mmol g−1 at 273 K, which was superior to the simultaneously produced solution plasma carbon (SPC), which has a CO2 uptake of 0.2 mmol g−1.

DOI： 10.3390/coatings12111620

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Radiation Measurements  

Fluorescent nuclear track detectors (FNTDs) based on Al2O3:C,Mg crystals are luminescent detectors that can be used for dosimetry and detection of charged particles and neutrons. These detectors can be utilized for imaging applications where a reasonably high track density, approximately of the order of 1×104 tracks in an area of 100 × 100 μm2, is required. To investigate the reusability of FNTDs for imaging applications, we present an approach to perform optical bleaching under the required track density conditions. The reusability was assessed through seven irradiation-bleaching cycles. For the irradiation, the studied FNTD was exposed to alpha-particles from an 241Am radioactive source. The optical bleaching was performed by means of ultraviolet laser light with a wavelength of 355 nm. Three dedicated regions on a single FNTD with different accumulated track densities and bleaching conditions were investigated. After every irradiation-bleaching cycle, signal-to-noise ratio was calculated to evaluate FNTD performance. It is concluded that FNTDs can be reused at least seven times for applications where accumulation of a high track density is required.

DOI： 10.1016/j.radmeas.2022.106863

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Coatings  

The solution plasma process (SPP) can provide a low-temperature reaction field, leading to an effective synthesis of N-doped graphene with a high N content and well-structured planar structure. However, the interactions at the plasma–solution interface have not been well understood; therefore, it needs to be urgently explored to achieve the modulation of the SPP. Here, to address the knowledge gap, we experimentally determined the physical parameters of the spital distribution in the plasma phase, plasma–gas phase, and gas–liquid phase of the SPP by the Langmuir probe system with modification. Based on the assumption that plasma can act similarly to semiconductors with the Fermi level above the vacuum level, an energy band diagram of the plasma–solution junction could be proposed for the first time. It was observed that the Fermi level of the organic molecule could determine the magnitude of electron temperature in plasma, i.e., benzene produced the highest electron temperature, followed by phenol, toluene, and aniline. Finally, we found that the electron temperature at the interface could induce quenching, leading to the formation of multilayer large-size-domain carbon products. It provided significant evidence for achieving nonequilibrium plasma modulation of carbon nanomaterial synthesis.

DOI： 10.3390/coatings12111607

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Coatings  

Global warming caused by CO2 emissions is a major environmental problem. Thus, the development of materials with innovative architectures that approach the CO2 problem is a necessity. In this study, hierarchical porous carbon fibers (HCFs) were synthesized by a chemical deposition process that operates at 400 °C and uses solution-plasma-generated soot (PGS) as a carbon precursor. Subsequently, the CO2 adsorption capacity of the synthesized material was evaluated. The HCFs showed enhanced surface areas and networks of micropores and mesopores. Moreover, the HCFs were post treated by metal etching and KOH activation. The post treated HCFs achieved a CO2 uptake of 0.8 mmol g−1 at 273 K, which was superior to the simultaneously produced solution plasma carbon (SPC), which has a CO2 uptake of 0.2 mmol g−1.

DOI： 10.3390/coatings12111620

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Carbon  

Graphitic nitrogen-doped graphene (g-NG) with significantly high nitrogen content, i.e., 18.79 at.%, could be produced by the electrical discharge in liquid, so-called “solution plasma”, with a single dielectric barrier. The proposed system could reduce the excessive current, resulting in stabilizing the glow plasma and maintaining the overall temperature. It could promote the preservation of nitrogen atoms from evaporation during the synthesis process and the formation of a graphitic carbon framework. Moreover, the influence of the precursors, i.e., six-membered ring organic molecules with and without the substitution of nitrogen atoms and the nitrogen-based functional groups, was also investigated to provide the guideline for the synthesis of g-NG via this proposed method. The substitution of nitrogen atoms in the benzene ring could be used to synthesize g-NG with higher nitrogen dopants, compared to the benzene ring with only nitrogen-based functional groups.

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbon.2022.08.032

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing  

In recent years, many plans have arisen for building constellations in low Earth orbit, some of which have already provided commercial services. The number of satellites that form these constellations will exceed 10 4, and a number of these could become space debris due to accidental failure, leading to serious problems for human activities in space. Laser ablation-induced propulsion achieved by remote irradiation from the service spacecraft has been proposed as one effective method to remove such space debris and it involves effectively generating a propulsion impulse from a laser. Because most of the high-power lasers currently utilized in space applications are Nd:YAG lasers, in this study, we evaluate the characteristics of second harmonic generation (SHG), which can be generated using nonlinear crystals. The momentum coupling coefficient may be dependent on the irradiated laser wave length which has a significant difference in the ablation process such as plasma generation and heating. These effects have been investigated using an impulse measurement instrumental setup with a KD*P nonlinear crystal. As an efficient impulse generation method, the irradiation of the fundamental and SHG beams of the Nd:YAG laser at the same point was found to be more effective than the fundamental beam with the same total energy. SHG does not require additional power-consuming equipment such as additional exciters or amplifiers, but requite temperature-controlled nonlinear crystals, and impulses can be increased with minimal additional power. It turned out to be advantageous for space applications, which will require minimum power operation. Additionally, we found an additional nonlinear laser-induced impulses through the interaction of the beams.

DOI： 10.1007/s00339-022-05983-2

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing  

In recent years, many plans have arisen for building constellations in low Earth orbit, some of which have already provided commercial services. The number of satellites that form these constellations will exceed 10 4, and a number of these could become space debris due to accidental failure, leading to serious problems for human activities in space. Laser ablation-induced propulsion achieved by remote irradiation from the service spacecraft has been proposed as one effective method to remove such space debris and it involves effectively generating a propulsion impulse from a laser. Because most of the high-power lasers currently utilized in space applications are Nd:YAG lasers, in this study, we evaluate the characteristics of second harmonic generation (SHG), which can be generated using nonlinear crystals. The momentum coupling coefficient may be dependent on the irradiated laser wave length which has a significant difference in the ablation process such as plasma generation and heating. These effects have been investigated using an impulse measurement instrumental setup with a KD*P nonlinear crystal. As an efficient impulse generation method, the irradiation of the fundamental and SHG beams of the Nd:YAG laser at the same point was found to be more effective than the fundamental beam with the same total energy. SHG does not require additional power-consuming equipment such as additional exciters or amplifiers, but requite temperature-controlled nonlinear crystals, and impulses can be increased with minimal additional power. It turned out to be advantageous for space applications, which will require minimum power operation. Additionally, we found an additional nonlinear laser-induced impulses through the interaction of the beams.

DOI： 10.1007/s00339-022-05983-2

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Advanced Energy Materials  

Graphite, as the dominant anode for commercial lithium-ion batteries, features sluggish electrochemical kinetics and low potential close to lithium deposition, leading to poor rate capability and safety issues. Although titanium-based oxides have received considerable attention, each alternative demonstrates unsatisfactory trade-offs between capacity, operating potential, rate capability, and lifespan. Here, submicrometer-sized lithium yttrium titanate (LYTO) is synthesized through facile sol–gel and ion-exchange reactions. With an average operating potential of 0.3 V versus Li+/Li, the LYTO anode demonstrates a high specific capacity of 236 mAh g–1 and durable cycling performance of 98% capacity retention after 3000 cycles. Impressively, without additional modification, a high-rate capability is achieved under a current density range from 0.5 C to 100 C (1 C = 200 mA g–1), e.g., delivering 112 and 87 mAh g–1 at 60 C and 100 C, respectively. Comprehensive characterizations and computational simulations reveal reversible solid-solution reactions occurring in the LYTO framework with little lattice change and fast 2D Li+ mobility achieved due to a low diffusion energy barrier. After incorporation with a LiFePO4 cathode, the energy density of the as-fabricated full cell reaches 2.4 times that of Li4Ti5O12/LiFePO4 full cell. The double characteristics of LYTO provide a fresh identification for high-performance anodes.

DOI： 10.1002/aenm.202200922

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Advanced Energy Materials  

Graphite, as the dominant anode for commercial lithium-ion batteries, features sluggish electrochemical kinetics and low potential close to lithium deposition, leading to poor rate capability and safety issues. Although titanium-based oxides have received considerable attention, each alternative demonstrates unsatisfactory trade-offs between capacity, operating potential, rate capability, and lifespan. Here, submicrometer-sized lithium yttrium titanate (LYTO) is synthesized through facile sol–gel and ion-exchange reactions. With an average operating potential of 0.3 V versus Li+/Li, the LYTO anode demonstrates a high specific capacity of 236 mAh g–1 and durable cycling performance of 98% capacity retention after 3000 cycles. Impressively, without additional modification, a high-rate capability is achieved under a current density range from 0.5 C to 100 C (1 C = 200 mA g–1), e.g., delivering 112 and 87 mAh g–1 at 60 C and 100 C, respectively. Comprehensive characterizations and computational simulations reveal reversible solid-solution reactions occurring in the LYTO framework with little lattice change and fast 2D Li+ mobility achieved due to a low diffusion energy barrier. After incorporation with a LiFePO4 cathode, the energy density of the as-fabricated full cell reaches 2.4 times that of Li4Ti5O12/LiFePO4 full cell. The double characteristics of LYTO provide a fresh identification for high-performance anodes.

DOI： 10.1002/aenm.202200922

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Molecular Psychiatry  

Acetylcholine is a neuromodulator critical for learning and memory. The cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil increases brain acetylcholine levels and improves Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-associated learning disabilities. Acetylcholine activates striatal/nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor D2-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2R-MSNs), which regulate aversive learning through muscarinic receptor M1 (M1R). However, how acetylcholine stimulates learning beyond M1Rs remains unresolved. Here, we found that acetylcholine stimulated protein kinase C (PKC) in mouse striatal/nucleus accumbens. Our original kinase-oriented phosphoproteomic analysis revealed 116 PKC substrate candidates, including Rac1 activator β-PIX. Acetylcholine induced β-PIX phosphorylation and activation, thereby stimulating Rac1 effector p21-activated kinase (PAK). Aversive stimulus activated the M1R-PKC-PAK pathway in mouse D2R-MSNs. D2R-MSN-specific expression of PAK mutants by the Cre-Flex system regulated dendritic spine structural plasticity and aversive learning. Donepezil induced PAK activation in both accumbal D2R-MSNs and in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and enhanced D2R-MSN-mediated aversive learning. These findings demonstrate that acetylcholine stimulates M1R-PKC-β-PIX-Rac1-PAK signaling in D2R-MSNs for aversive learning and imply the cascade’s therapeutic potential for AD as aversive learning is used to preliminarily screen AD drugs.

DOI： 10.1038/s41380-022-01643-2

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Ionics  

A flexible, non-flammable gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) was synthesized by combining UV-cured polymerization of ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) within the framework of glass fiber (GF) membrane. Non-flammable hydrofluoroether (1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether, FEPE) and high flash point solvent (fluoroethylene carbonate, FEC) were employed as plasticizers for GPE-FEC/FEPE (60:40) to promote the safety of electrolyte and improve the compatibility with lithium metal anode. Non-flammable GPE-FEC/FEPE (60:40) possessed high safety level, high ionic conductivity (1.57 mS cm−1 at 30 °C), excellent oxidation stability (4.6 V vs. Li/Li+), high lithium-ion transference number (0.71) and good thermal stability (120 °C). After 1000 h test, Li/GPE-FEC/FEPE (60:40)/Li displayed better compatibility with lithium metal electrode compared with commercial liquid electrolyte. The test of Li/LFP cells showed that the safe GPE-FEC/FEPE (60:40) had excellent cycling performance at room temperature and elevated temperature. After 1000 cycles at 2 C and room temperature, the capacity retention was as high as 88.4%. XPS spectra proved that GPE-FEC/FEPE (60:40) was beneficial to promote the formation of LiF-rich SEI film on the surface of lithium metal anode, which could effectively inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites.

DOI： 10.1007/s11581-022-04621-4

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Molecular Psychiatry  

Acetylcholine is a neuromodulator critical for learning and memory. The cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil increases brain acetylcholine levels and improves Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-associated learning disabilities. Acetylcholine activates striatal/nucleus accumbens dopamine receptor D2-expressing medium spiny neurons (D2R-MSNs), which regulate aversive learning through muscarinic receptor M1 (M1R). However, how acetylcholine stimulates learning beyond M1Rs remains unresolved. Here, we found that acetylcholine stimulated protein kinase C (PKC) in mouse striatal/nucleus accumbens. Our original kinase-oriented phosphoproteomic analysis revealed 116 PKC substrate candidates, including Rac1 activator β-PIX. Acetylcholine induced β-PIX phosphorylation and activation, thereby stimulating Rac1 effector p21-activated kinase (PAK). Aversive stimulus activated the M1R-PKC-PAK pathway in mouse D2R-MSNs. D2R-MSN-specific expression of PAK mutants by the Cre-Flex system regulated dendritic spine structural plasticity and aversive learning. Donepezil induced PAK activation in both accumbal D2R-MSNs and in the CA1 region of the hippocampus and enhanced D2R-MSN-mediated aversive learning. These findings demonstrate that acetylcholine stimulates M1R-PKC-β-PIX-Rac1-PAK signaling in D2R-MSNs for aversive learning and imply the cascade’s therapeutic potential for AD as aversive learning is used to preliminarily screen AD drugs.

DOI： 10.1038/s41380-022-01643-2

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Ionics  

A flexible, non-flammable gel polymer electrolyte (GPE) was synthesized by combining UV-cured polymerization of ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) within the framework of glass fiber (GF) membrane. Non-flammable hydrofluoroether (1,1,2,2-tetrafluoroethyl 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl ether, FEPE) and high flash point solvent (fluoroethylene carbonate, FEC) were employed as plasticizers for GPE-FEC/FEPE (60:40) to promote the safety of electrolyte and improve the compatibility with lithium metal anode. Non-flammable GPE-FEC/FEPE (60:40) possessed high safety level, high ionic conductivity (1.57 mS cm−1 at 30 °C), excellent oxidation stability (4.6 V vs. Li/Li+), high lithium-ion transference number (0.71) and good thermal stability (120 °C). After 1000 h test, Li/GPE-FEC/FEPE (60:40)/Li displayed better compatibility with lithium metal electrode compared with commercial liquid electrolyte. The test of Li/LFP cells showed that the safe GPE-FEC/FEPE (60:40) had excellent cycling performance at room temperature and elevated temperature. After 1000 cycles at 2 C and room temperature, the capacity retention was as high as 88.4%. XPS spectra proved that GPE-FEC/FEPE (60:40) was beneficial to promote the formation of LiF-rich SEI film on the surface of lithium metal anode, which could effectively inhibit the growth of lithium dendrites.

DOI： 10.1007/s11581-022-04621-4

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Electrochimica Acta  

Highly efficient and low-cost multifunctional electrocatalysts play a crucial role in energy storage and conversion systems. Herein, a new strategy is developed based on a structured precursor to design and fabricate a hierarchical porous nitrogen doped graphene coupled with densely distributed CoO/Co3O4 heterostructure that exhibits outstanding multifunctional activities. With rational hybridization of graphene and bimetallic nanoparticles, the as-obtained NGPC@CoOx integrated densely distributed CoO/Co3O4 active nanoparticles to 3D interconnected hierarchical N-doped graphene mesh, which gives rise to a multifaceted capability for electron/ion transfer and redox catalyzing. The NGPC@CoOx possesses excellent durability with a superior E1/2 of 0.86 V for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and a relatively low potential for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of 1.61 V, and -0.162 V at 10 mA cm−2, respectively. Additionally, the superior cycling durability and high power density of NGPC@CoOx-based zinc-air batteries (184.4 mW cm−2) further confirm the potential application of prototype devices. This work introduces a new perspective on developing efficient multifunctional electrocatalysts with a well-designed 3D structure anchored with densely distributed nanoparticles towards energy storage and conversion technologies.

DOI： 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.140432

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Electrochimica Acta  

Highly efficient and low-cost multifunctional electrocatalysts play a crucial role in energy storage and conversion systems. Herein, a new strategy is developed based on a structured precursor to design and fabricate a hierarchical porous nitrogen doped graphene coupled with densely distributed CoO/Co3O4 heterostructure that exhibits outstanding multifunctional activities. With rational hybridization of graphene and bimetallic nanoparticles, the as-obtained NGPC@CoOx integrated densely distributed CoO/Co3O4 active nanoparticles to 3D interconnected hierarchical N-doped graphene mesh, which gives rise to a multifaceted capability for electron/ion transfer and redox catalyzing. The NGPC@CoOx possesses excellent durability with a superior E1/2 of 0.86 V for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and a relatively low potential for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of 1.61 V, and -0.162 V at 10 mA cm−2, respectively. Additionally, the superior cycling durability and high power density of NGPC@CoOx-based zinc-air batteries (184.4 mW cm−2) further confirm the potential application of prototype devices. This work introduces a new perspective on developing efficient multifunctional electrocatalysts with a well-designed 3D structure anchored with densely distributed nanoparticles towards energy storage and conversion technologies.

DOI： 10.1016/j.electacta.2022.140432

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

The PHENIX Collaboration presents a systematic study of inclusive π0 production from p+p, p+Al, p+Au, d+Au, and He3+Au collisions at sNN=200GeV. Measurements were performed with different centrality selections as well as the total inelastic, 0-100%, selection for all collision systems. For 0-100% collisions, the nuclear-modification factors, RxA, are consistent with unity for pT above 8GeV/c, but exhibit an enhancement in peripheral collisions and a suppression in central collisions. The enhancement and suppression characteristics are similar for all systems for the same centrality class. It is shown that for high-pT-π0 production, the nucleons in the d and He3 interact mostly independently with the Au nucleus and that the counterintuitive centrality dependence is likely due to a physical correlation between multiplicity and the presence of a hard scattering process. These observations disfavor models where parton energy loss has a significant contribution to nuclear modifications in small systems. Nuclear modifications at lower pT resemble the Cronin effect - an increase followed by a peak in central or inelastic collisions and a plateau in peripheral collisions. The peak height has a characteristic ordering by system size as p+Au>d+Au>He3+Au>p+Al. For collisions with Au ions, current calculations based on initial-state cold nuclear matter effects result in the opposite order, suggesting the presence of other contributions to nuclear modifications, in particular at lower pT.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.105.064902

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Materials Today Advances  

Solution plasma is an atmospheric nonequilibrium plasma generated by electrical discharge in liquid phase at room temperature. The plasma configurations, solutions, electrode materials, as well as the characteristics of the power supply can be easily tuned. Due to these features of the solution plasma, various sizes, shapes, compositions of products can be controlled, leading to the effective utilization in several applications, such as a novel catalyst for energy conversion. To accomplish the use of solution plasma as a promising tool for the synthesis and modification of advanced materials, fundamentals and applied knowledge related to the solution plasma should be reviewed and discussed. Therefore, in this review, fundamentals of plasma in liquid are explained relating to the solution plasma, and detailed advanced applications of solution plasma are organized. It is expected to give powerful knowledge to guide the researchers in designing plasma conditions and synthesizing catalysts for different applications in the future.

DOI： 10.1016/j.mtadv.2022.100244

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance  

Objectives: The dissemination of difficult-to-treat carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) is of great concern. We clarified the risk factors underlying CRE infection mortality in Japan. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicentre, observational cohort study of patients with CRE infections at 28 university hospitals from September 2014 to December 2016, using the Japanese National Surveillance criteria. Clinical information, including patient background, type of infection, antibiotic treatment, and treatment outcome, was collected. The carbapenemase genotype was determined using PCR sequencing. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for 28-day mortality. Results: Among the 179 patients enrolled, 65 patients (36.3%) had bloodstream infections, with 37 (20.7%) infections occurring due to carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE); all carbapenemases were of IMP-type (IMP-1: 32, IMP-6: 5). Two-thirds of CPE were identified as Enterobacter cloacae complex. Combination therapy was administered only in 46 patients (25.7%), and the 28-day mortality rate was 14.3%. Univariate analysis showed that solid metastatic cancer, Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3, bloodstream infection, pneumonia, or empyema, central venous catheters, mechanical ventilation, and prior use of quinolones were significant risk factors for mortality. Multivariate analysis revealed that mechanical ventilation (OR: 6.71 [1.42–31.6], P = 0.016), solid metastatic cancers (OR: 5.63 [1.38–23.0], P = 0.016), and bloodstream infections (OR: 3.49 [1.02–12.0], P = 0.046) were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality. Conclusion: The significant risk factors for 28-day mortality in patients with CRE infections in Japan are mechanical ventilation, solid metastatic cancers, and bloodstream infections.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jgar.2022.04.004

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

The PHENIX Collaboration presents a systematic study of inclusive π0 production from p+p, p+Al, p+Au, d+Au, and He3+Au collisions at sNN=200GeV. Measurements were performed with different centrality selections as well as the total inelastic, 0-100%, selection for all collision systems. For 0-100% collisions, the nuclear-modification factors, RxA, are consistent with unity for pT above 8GeV/c, but exhibit an enhancement in peripheral collisions and a suppression in central collisions. The enhancement and suppression characteristics are similar for all systems for the same centrality class. It is shown that for high-pT-π0 production, the nucleons in the d and He3 interact mostly independently with the Au nucleus and that the counterintuitive centrality dependence is likely due to a physical correlation between multiplicity and the presence of a hard scattering process. These observations disfavor models where parton energy loss has a significant contribution to nuclear modifications in small systems. Nuclear modifications at lower pT resemble the Cronin effect - an increase followed by a peak in central or inelastic collisions and a plateau in peripheral collisions. The peak height has a characteristic ordering by system size as p+Au>d+Au>He3+Au>p+Al. For collisions with Au ions, current calculations based on initial-state cold nuclear matter effects result in the opposite order, suggesting the presence of other contributions to nuclear modifications, in particular at lower pT.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.105.064902

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Materials Today Advances  

Solution plasma is an atmospheric nonequilibrium plasma generated by electrical discharge in liquid phase at room temperature. The plasma configurations, solutions, electrode materials, as well as the characteristics of the power supply can be easily tuned. Due to these features of the solution plasma, various sizes, shapes, compositions of products can be controlled, leading to the effective utilization in several applications, such as a novel catalyst for energy conversion. To accomplish the use of solution plasma as a promising tool for the synthesis and modification of advanced materials, fundamentals and applied knowledge related to the solution plasma should be reviewed and discussed. Therefore, in this review, fundamentals of plasma in liquid are explained relating to the solution plasma, and detailed advanced applications of solution plasma are organized. It is expected to give powerful knowledge to guide the researchers in designing plasma conditions and synthesizing catalysts for different applications in the future.

DOI： 10.1016/j.mtadv.2022.100244

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance  

Objectives: The dissemination of difficult-to-treat carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) is of great concern. We clarified the risk factors underlying CRE infection mortality in Japan. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, multicentre, observational cohort study of patients with CRE infections at 28 university hospitals from September 2014 to December 2016, using the Japanese National Surveillance criteria. Clinical information, including patient background, type of infection, antibiotic treatment, and treatment outcome, was collected. The carbapenemase genotype was determined using PCR sequencing. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for 28-day mortality. Results: Among the 179 patients enrolled, 65 patients (36.3%) had bloodstream infections, with 37 (20.7%) infections occurring due to carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE); all carbapenemases were of IMP-type (IMP-1: 32, IMP-6: 5). Two-thirds of CPE were identified as Enterobacter cloacae complex. Combination therapy was administered only in 46 patients (25.7%), and the 28-day mortality rate was 14.3%. Univariate analysis showed that solid metastatic cancer, Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3, bloodstream infection, pneumonia, or empyema, central venous catheters, mechanical ventilation, and prior use of quinolones were significant risk factors for mortality. Multivariate analysis revealed that mechanical ventilation (OR: 6.71 [1.42–31.6], P = 0.016), solid metastatic cancers (OR: 5.63 [1.38–23.0], P = 0.016), and bloodstream infections (OR: 3.49 [1.02–12.0], P = 0.046) were independent risk factors for 28-day mortality. Conclusion: The significant risk factors for 28-day mortality in patients with CRE infections in Japan are mechanical ventilation, solid metastatic cancers, and bloodstream infections.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jgar.2022.04.004

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACS Applied Energy Materials  

Biomembranes based on sulfonated cellulose (SC) blended with PLA/PBS composites were fabricated with different SC contents into polymer matrices. The obtained membranes were applied as separators in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The porosities of SC/biomembranes with 0.5, 1, and 2 wt % SC contents were estimated to be 66.6, 73.4, and 87.7%, respectively, which are significantly greater than that of the Celgard 2400 membrane, a commercial monolayer polypropylene (PP) separator membrane (42.1%). Due to its high porosity, hydrophilicity, and good interfacial compatibility with electrodes, the SC/biomembranes offer high electrolyte uptake and low interfacial resistance, leading to enhanced ionic conductivity. The cell with the 2 wt % SC/biomembrane also exhibited stable cycle performance and improved rate capacity, especially when discharged at the 0.2C rate. A 106 mAh/g capacity retention rate was achieved for a battery with the 2 wt % SC/biomembrane after 100 cycles at the 1C rate; meanwhile, the Celgard 2400 membrane exhibited a capacity of 81 mAh/g. These results show that SC has great innovative potential for use as a biofiller in biomembranes, which is suitable for LIB applications.

DOI： 10.1021/acsaem.2c00602

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACS Applied Energy Materials  

Biomembranes based on sulfonated cellulose (SC) blended with PLA/PBS composites were fabricated with different SC contents into polymer matrices. The obtained membranes were applied as separators in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The porosities of SC/biomembranes with 0.5, 1, and 2 wt % SC contents were estimated to be 66.6, 73.4, and 87.7%, respectively, which are significantly greater than that of the Celgard 2400 membrane, a commercial monolayer polypropylene (PP) separator membrane (42.1%). Due to its high porosity, hydrophilicity, and good interfacial compatibility with electrodes, the SC/biomembranes offer high electrolyte uptake and low interfacial resistance, leading to enhanced ionic conductivity. The cell with the 2 wt % SC/biomembrane also exhibited stable cycle performance and improved rate capacity, especially when discharged at the 0.2C rate. A 106 mAh/g capacity retention rate was achieved for a battery with the 2 wt % SC/biomembrane after 100 cycles at the 1C rate; meanwhile, the Celgard 2400 membrane exhibited a capacity of 81 mAh/g. These results show that SC has great innovative potential for use as a biofiller in biomembranes, which is suitable for LIB applications.

DOI： 10.1021/acsaem.2c00602

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing  

Negative-refractive-index metamaterials (NRIMs) can provide opportunities for many new applications, but they are difficult to manufacture, especially when forced to work at high frequencies and required to be three-dimensionally isotropic. By integrating an effective-medium approach into all-dielectric left-handed materials (LHMs) and utilizing self-assembly, we developed a method to design three-dimensional NRIMs that can work in high frequencies and are suitable for mass production. The NRIMs are composed of arrays of spheres that are made from artificial media, which are devised under the effective-medium method in advance. Two cases with different close-packed structures were studied for verification purposes. Finite element analysis showed that both cases can achieve negative refraction within 14.5–15.2 GHz (Ku band), which qualifies as wideband. Negative refraction was further confirmed by investigating the resonance mode of units in each model. Dispersion analysis demonstrated isotropism and consistent behaviors in all cases, indicating the robustness of these properties over disorder accompanied by self-assembly. The proposed NRIM model is intrinsically isotropic, three-dimensional, passive, mass-producible, machinable and thus readily applicable.

DOI： 10.1007/s00339-022-05573-2

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Applied Physics A: Materials Science and Processing  

Negative-refractive-index metamaterials (NRIMs) can provide opportunities for many new applications, but they are difficult to manufacture, especially when forced to work at high frequencies and required to be three-dimensionally isotropic. By integrating an effective-medium approach into all-dielectric left-handed materials (LHMs) and utilizing self-assembly, we developed a method to design three-dimensional NRIMs that can work in high frequencies and are suitable for mass production. The NRIMs are composed of arrays of spheres that are made from artificial media, which are devised under the effective-medium method in advance. Two cases with different close-packed structures were studied for verification purposes. Finite element analysis showed that both cases can achieve negative refraction within 14.5–15.2 GHz (Ku band), which qualifies as wideband. Negative refraction was further confirmed by investigating the resonance mode of units in each model. Dispersion analysis demonstrated isotropism and consistent behaviors in all cases, indicating the robustness of these properties over disorder accompanied by self-assembly. The proposed NRIM model is intrinsically isotropic, three-dimensional, passive, mass-producible, machinable and thus readily applicable.

DOI： 10.1007/s00339-022-05573-2

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters  

There has been an increasing demand for housework robots to handle various objects. It is, however, difficult to achieve object-shape-oriented tasks in conventional research owing to the requirement for dealing with multiple surfaces, invisible area, and occlusion; moreover, robots must perceive shapes and adjust movements even if they cannot be seen directly. Humans usually tackle questions by integrating several sensory information; inspired by this perception mechanism of humans, in this study, we considered the effective utilization of image/force/tactile data in constructing a multimodal deep neural networks (DNN) model for the shape of an object perception and motion generation. As an example, we constructed a robot to wipe around the outside of objects that are imitating light shades. The wiping motions include the moment when the hands of the robot must be away from the surface as well as the turning directions required to wipe the next surface, even though some parts of the surfaces, such as the backside or parts occluded by the arm of the robot, may not be seen directly. If DNN model uses continuous visual information, it is badly influenced by the occluded images. Hence, the best-performing DNN model is the one that uses an image of the initial time-step to approximately perceive the shape and size and then generate motions by integrating the perception and sense of tactile and force. We conclude that the effective approach to object-shape-oriented manipulation is to initially utilize image to outline the target shape and, thereafter, to use force and tactile to understand concrete features while performing tasks.

DOI： 10.1109/LRA.2021.3136657

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters  

There has been an increasing demand for housework robots to handle various objects. It is, however, difficult to achieve object-shape-oriented tasks in conventional research owing to the requirement for dealing with multiple surfaces, invisible area, and occlusion; moreover, robots must perceive shapes and adjust movements even if they cannot be seen directly. Humans usually tackle questions by integrating several sensory information; inspired by this perception mechanism of humans, in this study, we considered the effective utilization of image/force/tactile data in constructing a multimodal deep neural networks (DNN) model for the shape of an object perception and motion generation. As an example, we constructed a robot to wipe around the outside of objects that are imitating light shades. The wiping motions include the moment when the hands of the robot must be away from the surface as well as the turning directions required to wipe the next surface, even though some parts of the surfaces, such as the backside or parts occluded by the arm of the robot, may not be seen directly. If DNN model uses continuous visual information, it is badly influenced by the occluded images. Hence, the best-performing DNN model is the one that uses an image of the initial time-step to approximately perceive the shape and size and then generate motions by integrating the perception and sense of tactile and force. We conclude that the effective approach to object-shape-oriented manipulation is to initially utilize image to outline the target shape and, thereafter, to use force and tactile to understand concrete features while performing tasks.

DOI： 10.1109/LRA.2021.3136657

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nano Research  

Solid lithium-sulfur batteries (SLSBs) show potential for practical application due to their possibility for high energy density. However, SLSBs still face tough challenges such as the large interface impedance and lithium dendrite formation. Herein, a high-performance SLSB is demonstrated by using a fiber network reinforced Li6.75La3Zr1.75Ta0.25O12 (LLZTO) based composite solid electrolyte (CSE) in combination with sulfurized polyacrylonitrile (SPAN) cathode. The CSE consisting of an electrospun polyimide (PI) film, LLZTO ionically conducting filler and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) matrix, which is named as PI-PAN/LLZTO CSE, possesses high room-temperature ionic conductivity (2.75 × 10−4 S/cm), high Li+ migration number (tLi+) of 0.67 and good interfacial wettability. SPAN is utilized due to its unique electrochemical properties: reasonable electronic conductivity and no polysulfides shuttle effect. The CSE enables a highly stable Li plating/stripping cycle for over 600 h and good rate performance. Moreover, the assembled SLSB exhibits good cycle performance of accomplishing 120 cycles at 0.2 C with the capacity retention of 474 mAh/g, good rate properties and excellent long-term cycling stability with a high capacity retention of 86.49% from 15th to 1,000th cycles at 1.0 C. This work rationalizes our design concept and may guide the future development of SLSBs. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

DOI： 10.1007/s12274-021-3981-z

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Neurosurgery  

OBJECTIVE Although many studies have analyzed risk factors for contralateral progression in unilateral moyamoya disease, they have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to examine whether genetic factors as well as nongenetic factors are involved in the contralateral progression. METHODS The authors performed a multicenter cohort study in which 93 cases with unilateral moyamoya disease were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic features, RNF213 R4810K mutation, lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking, past medical history, and angiographic findings were analyzed. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to find risk factors for contralateral progression. RESULTS Contralateral progression was observed in 24.7% of cases during a mean follow-up period of 72.2 months. Clinical characteristics were not significantly different between 67 patients with the R4810K mutation and those without it. Cox regression analysis showed that the R4810K mutation (hazard ratio [HR] 4.64, p = 0.044), childhood onset (HR 7.21, p < 0.001), male sex (HR 2.85, p = 0.023), and daily alcohol drinking (HR 4.25, p = 0.034) were independent risk factors for contralateral progression. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that both genetic and nongenetic factors are associated with contralateral progression of unilateral moyamoya disease. The findings would serve to help us better understand the pathophysiology of moyamoya disease and to manage patients more appropriately.

DOI： 10.3171/2021.3.JNS203913

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Neurosurgery  

OBJECTIVE Although many studies have analyzed risk factors for contralateral progression in unilateral moyamoya disease, they have not been fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to examine whether genetic factors as well as nongenetic factors are involved in the contralateral progression. METHODS The authors performed a multicenter cohort study in which 93 cases with unilateral moyamoya disease were retrospectively reviewed. The demographic features, RNF213 R4810K mutation, lifestyle factors such as smoking and drinking, past medical history, and angiographic findings were analyzed. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to find risk factors for contralateral progression. RESULTS Contralateral progression was observed in 24.7% of cases during a mean follow-up period of 72.2 months. Clinical characteristics were not significantly different between 67 patients with the R4810K mutation and those without it. Cox regression analysis showed that the R4810K mutation (hazard ratio [HR] 4.64, p = 0.044), childhood onset (HR 7.21, p < 0.001), male sex (HR 2.85, p = 0.023), and daily alcohol drinking (HR 4.25, p = 0.034) were independent risk factors for contralateral progression. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that both genetic and nongenetic factors are associated with contralateral progression of unilateral moyamoya disease. The findings would serve to help us better understand the pathophysiology of moyamoya disease and to manage patients more appropriately.

DOI： 10.3171/2021.3.JNS203913

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry  

A new route for synthesizing polydiacetylene (PDA) is introduced. Plasma is generated in a liquid matrix through a pair of electrodes, producing the excited atomic or molecular species, radicals, and UV radiation. The products of solution plasma process (SPP) act as initiators to induce polymerization of diacetylene monomers. Our results demonstrate that irreversible thermochromic PDA and reversible thermochromic PDA/Zn2+/ZnO nanocomposite can be effectively synthesized. The addition of ethanol significantly increases the polymerization rate. These PDA materials can be fabricated into paper-based colorimetric sensors for detecting volatile organic solvents, acids, bases, and surfactants. This synthetic pathway could be applied for industrial-scale applications.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jiec.2021.10.035

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Materials Letters  

The morphology of ZnO nanostructures was controlled by the type of electrodes used, without chemical additives in the solution plasma process. Nanorod and nanosheet-type ZnO were synthesized using Zn and W electrodes, respectively. In the solution plasma process, the ZnO nanostructure can be fabricated because of the unique reaction between ions and radicals at the plasma/liquid interface. During this reaction, ions generated from the metal electrode influence the morphology of ZnO by adsorption on the (0 0 1) facet. Zn(OH)42− ions promoted crystal growth in the [0 0 1] direction, resulting in a rod structure. In contrast, the sheet structure was formed owing to the inhibition of growth in the [0 0 1] direction by WO42− ions.

DOI： 10.1016/j.matlet.2021.131349

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Fuel Cells  

A high-rate oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is necessary for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). In this work, by using a solution plasma technique, Pt catalytic particles coated with N-doped graphene (Pt-NG) were effectively produced at 25°C. According to transmission electron microscope images, the average diameter of Pt particles was 4 nm, while the graphene layer thickness was less than 1 nm. A catalytic layer of Pt-NG supported on single-walled carbon nanotubes (Pt-NG/SWCNT) was synthesized. Cyclic voltammetry was used to assess the ORR characteristics of Pt-NG/SWCNT catalytic layers. Only at a density of SWCNT to solvent ratio of 0.75 mg ml−1 were the ORR peaks clearly visible. Because of the high resistivity of SWCNT layers, the ORR peaks in other ranges, 0.4 mg ml−1 to 2.0 mg ml−1, were not clearly observed. The effect of SWCNT concentration on conductivity was proven to follow the basic concept of the percolation threshold.

DOI： 10.1002/fuce.202200020

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Fuel Cells  

A high-rate oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is necessary for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). In this work, by using a solution plasma technique, Pt catalytic particles coated with N-doped graphene (Pt-NG) were effectively produced at 25°C. According to transmission electron microscope images, the average diameter of Pt particles was 4 nm, while the graphene layer thickness was less than 1 nm. A catalytic layer of Pt-NG supported on single-walled carbon nanotubes (Pt-NG/SWCNT) was synthesized. Cyclic voltammetry was used to assess the ORR characteristics of Pt-NG/SWCNT catalytic layers. Only at a density of SWCNT to solvent ratio of 0.75 mg ml−1 were the ORR peaks clearly visible. Because of the high resistivity of SWCNT layers, the ORR peaks in other ranges, 0.4 mg ml−1 to 2.0 mg ml−1, were not clearly observed. The effect of SWCNT concentration on conductivity was proven to follow the basic concept of the percolation threshold.

DOI： 10.1002/fuce.202200020

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：RSC Advances  

TiO2 hollow fibers (THF) were prepared by a template method using kapok as a biotemplate and subsequently decorated by plasmonic Au nanoparticles using a solution plasma process. The THF exhibited an anatase phase and a hollow structure with a mesoporous wall. Au nanoparticles with a diameter of about 5-10 nm were uniformly distributed on the THF surface. Au nanoparticles-decorated TiO2 hollow fibers (Au/THF) have enhanced photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue degradation under visible light-emitting diode (Vis-LED) as compared to pristine THF and P25. This could be attributed to combined effects including effective light-harvesting by a hollow structure, large surface area due to a mesoporous wall of THF, and visible-light absorption and efficient charge separation induced by Au nanoparticles. The Au/THF also showed good recyclability and separation ability.

DOI： 10.1039/d1ra07323k

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Medical Physics  

Purpose: For the planning and navigation of neurosurgery, we have developed a fully convolutional network (FCN)-based method for brain structure segmentation on magnetic resonance (MR) images. The capability of an FCN depends on the quality of the training data (i.e., raw data and annotation data) and network architectures. The improvement of annotation quality is a significant concern because it requires much labor for labeling organ regions. To address this problem, we focus on skip connection architectures and reveal which skip connections are effective for training FCNs using sparsely annotated brain images. Methods: We tested 2D FCN architectures with four different types of skip connections. The first was a U-Net architecture with horizontal skip connections that transfer feature maps at the same scale from the encoder to the decoder. The second was a U-Net++ architecture with dense convolution layers and dense horizontal skip connections. The third was a full-resolution residual network (FRRN) architecture with vertical skip connections that pass feature maps between each downsampled scale path and the full-resolution scale path. The last one was a hybrid architecture with a combination of horizontal and vertical skip connections. We validated the effect of skip connections on medical image segmentation from sparse annotation based on these four FCN architectures, which were trained under the same conditions. Results: For multiclass segmentation of the cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, and blood vessels from sparsely annotated MR images, we performed a comparative evaluation of segmentation performance among the above four FCN approaches: U-Net, U-Net++, FRRN, and hybrid architectures. The experimental results show that the horizontal skip connections in the U-Net architectures were effective for the segmentation of larger sized objects, whereas the vertical skip connections in the FRRN architecture improved the segmentation of smaller sized objects. The hybrid architecture with both horizontal and vertical skip connections achieved the best results of the four FCN architectures. We then performed an ablation study to explore which skip connections in the FRRN architecture contributed to the improved segmentation of blood vessels. In the ablation study, we compared the segmentation performance between architectures with a horizontal path (HP), an HP and vertical up paths (HP+VUPs), an HP and vertical down paths (HP+VDPs), and an HP and vertical up and down paths (FRRN). We found that the vertical up paths were effective in improving the segmentation of smaller sized objects. Conclusions: This paper investigated which skip connection architectures were effective for multiclass brain segmentation from sparse annotation. Consequently, using vertical skip connections with horizontal skip connections allowed FCNs to improve segmentation performance.

DOI： 10.1002/mp.15192

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Medical Physics  

Purpose: For the planning and navigation of neurosurgery, we have developed a fully convolutional network (FCN)-based method for brain structure segmentation on magnetic resonance (MR) images. The capability of an FCN depends on the quality of the training data (i.e., raw data and annotation data) and network architectures. The improvement of annotation quality is a significant concern because it requires much labor for labeling organ regions. To address this problem, we focus on skip connection architectures and reveal which skip connections are effective for training FCNs using sparsely annotated brain images. Methods: We tested 2D FCN architectures with four different types of skip connections. The first was a U-Net architecture with horizontal skip connections that transfer feature maps at the same scale from the encoder to the decoder. The second was a U-Net++ architecture with dense convolution layers and dense horizontal skip connections. The third was a full-resolution residual network (FRRN) architecture with vertical skip connections that pass feature maps between each downsampled scale path and the full-resolution scale path. The last one was a hybrid architecture with a combination of horizontal and vertical skip connections. We validated the effect of skip connections on medical image segmentation from sparse annotation based on these four FCN architectures, which were trained under the same conditions. Results: For multiclass segmentation of the cerebrum, cerebellum, brainstem, and blood vessels from sparsely annotated MR images, we performed a comparative evaluation of segmentation performance among the above four FCN approaches: U-Net, U-Net++, FRRN, and hybrid architectures. The experimental results show that the horizontal skip connections in the U-Net architectures were effective for the segmentation of larger sized objects, whereas the vertical skip connections in the FRRN architecture improved the segmentation of smaller sized objects. The hybrid architecture with both horizontal and vertical skip connections achieved the best results of the four FCN architectures. We then performed an ablation study to explore which skip connections in the FRRN architecture contributed to the improved segmentation of blood vessels. In the ablation study, we compared the segmentation performance between architectures with a horizontal path (HP), an HP and vertical up paths (HP+VUPs), an HP and vertical down paths (HP+VDPs), and an HP and vertical up and down paths (FRRN). We found that the vertical up paths were effective in improving the segmentation of smaller sized objects. Conclusions: This paper investigated which skip connection architectures were effective for multiclass brain segmentation from sparse annotation. Consequently, using vertical skip connections with horizontal skip connections allowed FCNs to improve segmentation performance.

DOI： 10.1002/mp.15192

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Carbon  

To resolve Pt-dependency problems in energy convention systems, we provide an idea for construct a highly active 3D interconnected hierarchical porous graphene mesh (3D-PGM) with effective exposure active sites. By a facile controllable process through self-assembly and chemical etching of reduced-graphene oxide, synergetic enhancement of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance from intrinsic activity to apparent activity was realized. The as-obtained materials exhibit 3D interconnected hierarchical porosity for efficient mass transport, a high surface defect content with increased numbers of active sites and a robust conductive network, leading to a comprehensive multiscale electron transfer capability that ultimately enhances the ORR catalytic activity. Incredibly, the alkaline ORR performance of as-obtained catalyst exhibits a 4-electron pathway reaction with an onset potential (Eonset) of 0.89 V, half-wave potential (E1/2) of 0.84 V, and a lower Tafel slope of 58 mV dec−1, showing activity comparable to that of Pt/C catalysts. Moreover, the as assembled primary Zn–air batteries (ZABs) demonstrate a higher power density (182.6 mW cm−2) and a higher specific capacity (809.1 mA h g−1) than the Pt/C-based counterpart. The outstanding electrochemical performance and facile fabrication techniques make this material a promising alternative to commercial Pt/C for renewable energy devices.

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbon.2021.08.066

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Japan Photovoltaic Society  

DOI： 10.57295/jpvsproc.1.0_119

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Japan Photovoltaic Society  

DOI： 10.57295/jpvsproc.1.0_119

CiNii Research

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Frontiers in Robotics and AI  

We propose a tool-use model that enables a robot to act toward a provided goal. It is important to consider features of the four factors; tools, objects actions, and effects at the same time because they are related to each other and one factor can influence the others. The tool-use model is constructed with deep neural networks (DNNs) using multimodal sensorimotor data; image, force, and joint angle information. To allow the robot to learn tool-use, we collect training data by controlling the robot to perform various object operations using several tools with multiple actions that leads different effects. Then the tool-use model is thereby trained and learns sensorimotor coordination and acquires relationships among tools, objects, actions and effects in its latent space. We can give the robot a task goal by providing an image showing the target placement and orientation of the object. Using the goal image with the tool-use model, the robot detects the features of tools and objects, and determines how to act to reproduce the target effects automatically. Then the robot generates actions adjusting to the real time situations even though the tools and objects are unknown and more complicated than trained ones.

DOI： 10.3389/frobt.2021.748716

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Frontiers in Robotics and AI  

We propose a tool-use model that enables a robot to act toward a provided goal. It is important to consider features of the four factors; tools, objects actions, and effects at the same time because they are related to each other and one factor can influence the others. The tool-use model is constructed with deep neural networks (DNNs) using multimodal sensorimotor data; image, force, and joint angle information. To allow the robot to learn tool-use, we collect training data by controlling the robot to perform various object operations using several tools with multiple actions that leads different effects. Then the tool-use model is thereby trained and learns sensorimotor coordination and acquires relationships among tools, objects, actions and effects in its latent space. We can give the robot a task goal by providing an image showing the target placement and orientation of the object. Using the goal image with the tool-use model, the robot detects the features of tools and objects, and determines how to act to reproduce the target effects automatically. Then the robot generates actions adjusting to the real time situations even though the tools and objects are unknown and more complicated than trained ones.

DOI： 10.3389/frobt.2021.748716

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：RSC Advances  

ZnO nano-bullets were synthesized using solution plasma from only Zn electrode in water without any chemical agents. In this sustainable synthesis system, the rapid quenching reaction at the interface between the plasma/liquid phases facilitates the fast formation of nano-sized materials. The coil-to-pin type electrode geometry, which overcomes the discharge interruption owing to the electrode gap broadening of the typical pin-to-pin type enables the synthesis of numerous nanomaterials through a stable discharge for 1 h. The as-prepared samples exhibited a high crystalline ZnO structure without post calcination, and the length and width were 71.8 and 29.1 nm, respectively. The main exposed facet of ZnO nano-bullets was the (100) crystal facet, but interestingly, the (101) facet was confirmed at the inclined surfaces in the edges. The (101) crystal facet has an asymmetric Zn and O atom arrangement, and it could result in a focused electron density area with relatively high reactivity. Therefore, ZnO nano-bullets are promising materials for applications in advanced technologies.

DOI： 10.1039/d1ra05008g

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces  

The emergent solar-driven water evaporation technology provides a reassuring scheme for red mud (RM) utilization in environment and materials science. With fewer restrictions on raw materials, wide availability of sheer quantity, and high complexity in chemical composition, the RM may be a promising candidate for solar absorbers. Here, we developed a novel solar absorber with reduced RM. It features favorable light absorption and photothermal conversion ability using biomass pyrolysis. When added to the polyvinyl alcohol and chitosan gel substrate, the light absorptance can reach 94.65%, while the corresponding evaporation rate is as high as 2.185 kg m-2 h-1 under an illumination density of 1 kW m-2. We further demonstrated its potential as an efficient solar absorber in the solar-driven water evaporation and the thermoelectric device to realize the stable and efficient coproduction of vapor and electricity.

DOI： 10.1021/acsami.1c05228

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Japanese Journal of Applied Physics  

This research paper reports the enhanced hole-transporting ability of widely utilized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) achieved by applying cationic nitrogen-doped graphene (CNG) as a p-type modifier for efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the CNG-coated PEDOT:PSS-applied OSC reaches 2.76%, which is an increase of 40% compared to that of the pristine PEDOT:PSS-applied OSC (1.96%). The significantly enhanced performance is contributed by the increased hole-transporting ability, and the improved interfacial morphology of PEDOT:PSS, which affords high-quality active layers.

DOI： 10.35848/1347-4065/ac00fc

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACS Applied Energy Materials  

Carbon materials are widely utilized to support platinum (Pt) catalysts for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). However, carbon surfaces generally promote hydrophobicity, which limits the transport of active species and lowers the efficiency of PEMFCs. Consequently, functional groups should be introduced on the carbon surface to create transport channels. One promising strategy is to modify the amphiphilic functional group on a carbon surface. In this study, the liquid-phase plasma process was applied to realizing a facile one-step synthesis of amphiphilic functional group-modified carbon-supported platinum (Am@C/Pt) to serve as a catalyst. This novel synthesis strategy provides several advantages over conventional processes, such as reducing the number of steps and minimizing the chemical and energy consumptions. Experimental results revealed that the PEMFCs' efficiency with Am@C/Pt is mainly controlled by the number of hydrophilic and hydrophobic characters on the carbon surface. A single PEMFC demonstrated a maximum current and power density of 2.41 A cm-2 and 1.68 W cm-2, respectively, at 0.7 V, which was significantly higher than those of commercially available carbon-supported Pt catalysts. Furthermore, Am@C/Pt demonstrated superior durability after 5000 test cycles.

DOI： 10.1021/acsaem.1c00406

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces  

Volume expansion hinders conversion-type transition-metal oxides (TMOs) as potential anode candidates for high-capacity lithium-ion batteries. While nanostructuring and nanosizing have been employed to improve the cycling stability of TMOs, we show here that both high initial Coulombic efficiency (ICE) and stable cycling reversibility are achieved in the layered compound Li0.9Nb0.9Mo1.1O6 (L0.9NMO) by inherent properties of the bulk crystal structure. In this model, MoO6 octahedra as active centers react with lithium ions and endow capacity, while a grid composed of NbO6 octahedra effectively suppresses the volume expansion, enhances the conductivity, and supports the structural skeleton from collapse. As a result, bulk L0.9NMO not only delivers a high discharge capacity of 1128 mA h g-1 at 100 mA g-1 with a considerable ICE of 87% but also exhibits long cycling stability and good rate performance (339 mA h g-1 after 500 cycles at 1 A g-1 with an average Coulombic efficiency approaching 100%). The self-confined structure provides a competitive strategy for stable conversion-type lithium storage.

DOI： 10.1021/acsami.1c02269

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan  

We report a new protocol to form pentafluorosulfanyl (hetero)arenes via chlorine-fluorine exchange of (hetero)aryl tetrafluorosulfanyl chlorides by AgBF4. The method enables access to electron-deficient pentafluorosulfanyl(hetero)arenes, which are targets that are difficult to synthesize. Two advantages of AgBF4 are its ease of handling and stability. This would be a general transformation protocol.

DOI： 10.1246/bcsj.20210109

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Bulletin of the Chemical Society of Japan  

We report a new protocol to form pentafluorosulfanyl (hetero)arenes via chlorine-fluorine exchange of (hetero)aryl tetrafluorosulfanyl chlorides by AgBF4. The method enables access to electron-deficient pentafluorosulfanyl(hetero)arenes, which are targets that are difficult to synthesize. Two advantages of AgBF4 are its ease of handling and stability. This would be a general transformation protocol.

DOI： 10.1246/bcsj.20210109

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：International Journal of Molecular Sciences  

Sustainability and environmental concerns have persuaded researchers to explore renewable materials, such as nature-derived polysaccharides, and add value by changing chemical structures with the aim to possess specific properties, like biological properties. Meanwhile, finding methods and strategies that can lower hazardous chemicals, simplify production steps, reduce time consumption, and acquire high-purified products is an important task that requires attention. To break through these issues, electrical discharging in aqueous solutions at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, referred to as the “solution plasma process”, has been introduced as a novel process for modification of nature-derived polysaccharides like chitin and chitosan. This review reveals insight into the electrical discharge in aqueous solutions and scientific progress on their application in a modification of chitin and chitosan, including degradation and deacetylation. The influencing parameters in the plasma process are intensively explained in order to provide a guideline for the modification of not only chitin and chitosan but also other nature-derived polysaccharides, aiming to address economic aspects and environmental concerns.

DOI： 10.3390/ijms22094308

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Cellulose  

To increase hydrophobicity of surfaces of coir pulp, carbon–tungsten carbide (WC) was synthesized and simultaneously deposited on coir pulp by applying in-liquid electrical discharge plasma, so-called solution plasma process (SPP). As a result, water contact angle of carbon-WC deposited coir pulp was 123.4°, whereas that of coir pulp was 82.8°. The carbon-WC deposited coir pulp was then used as a filler in polylactic acid (PLA) to attain composite films of PLA/carbon-WC deposited coir pulp. The deposition of carbon-WC on coir pulp not only increased hydrophobicity of coir pulp but also improved compatibility between the filler and PLA. Even at the low filler content of 0.75 wt%, tensile strength and Young’s modulus of composite films of PLA/carbon-WC deposited coir pulp increased up to 45.73% and 22.79%, respectively compared with those of neat PLA film. Furthermore, the presence of carbon-WC deposited coir pulp in the PLA composite films could enhance the formation of crystalline structure of PLA. Accordingly, SPP is an interesting tool for surface modification of coir pulp in order to achieve surface-functionalized coir pulp for using as a filler in green composites. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

DOI： 10.1007/s10570-021-03799-6

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Cellulose  

To increase hydrophobicity of surfaces of coir pulp, carbon–tungsten carbide (WC) was synthesized and simultaneously deposited on coir pulp by applying in-liquid electrical discharge plasma, so-called solution plasma process (SPP). As a result, water contact angle of carbon-WC deposited coir pulp was 123.4°, whereas that of coir pulp was 82.8°. The carbon-WC deposited coir pulp was then used as a filler in polylactic acid (PLA) to attain composite films of PLA/carbon-WC deposited coir pulp. The deposition of carbon-WC on coir pulp not only increased hydrophobicity of coir pulp but also improved compatibility between the filler and PLA. Even at the low filler content of 0.75 wt%, tensile strength and Young’s modulus of composite films of PLA/carbon-WC deposited coir pulp increased up to 45.73% and 22.79%, respectively compared with those of neat PLA film. Furthermore, the presence of carbon-WC deposited coir pulp in the PLA composite films could enhance the formation of crystalline structure of PLA. Accordingly, SPP is an interesting tool for surface modification of coir pulp in order to achieve surface-functionalized coir pulp for using as a filler in green composites. Graphic abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

DOI： 10.1007/s10570-021-03799-6

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Materials Advances  

Nanocarbons were successfully synthesized from benzene (BZ), nitro-benzene (BZ-NO2) and aniline (BZ-NH2) by solution plasma process (SPP). The SPP was generated by a bipolar pulsed power supply between two tungsten electrodes at room temperature. The synthesized nanocarbons were investigated. The highest synthesis rate, 40 mg min-1, was for the BZ nanocarbon. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) morphology showed that the nanocarbon sizes were 15-25 nm. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis shows a highest surface area of 220 m2 g-1, pore size of 0.45 cm3 g-1, and average pore diameter of 20.0 nm for the BZ nanocarbon. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) in an acidic medium exhibited the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of the nanocarbons. The nanocarbon from BZ-NH2 obtained a high special capacity of 15 500 mA h per g of carbon at the discharge rate of 0.1 mA cm-2 with 1.0 mg carbon loading for the lithium (Li)-air battery. The ORR is an important reaction in Li-air batteries and fuel cells for the application of next-generation batteries and energy conversion devices.

DOI： 10.1039/d0ma00926a

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Polymers  

Multicomponent nanoparticles containing carbon, tungsten carbide and silver (carbon-WC-Ag nanoparticles) were simply synthesized via in-liquid electrical discharge plasma, the so-called solution plasma process, by using tungsten electrodes immersed in palm oil containing droplets of AgNO3 solution as carbon and silver precursors, respectively. The atomic ratio of carbon:W:Ag in carbon-WC-Ag nanoparticles was 20:1:3. FE-SEM images revealed that the synthesized carbon-WC-Ag nanoparticles with particle sizes in the range of 20–400 nm had a spherical shape with a bumpy surface. TEM images of carbon-WC-Ag nanoparticles showed that tungsten carbide nanoparticles (WCNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with average particle sizes of 3.46 nm and 72.74 nm, respectively, were dispersed in amorphous carbon. The carbon-WC-Ag nanoparticles were used as multifunctional fillers for the preparation of polylactic acid (PLA) composite films, i.e., PLA/carbon-WC-Ag, by solution casting. Interestingly, the coexistence of WCNPs and AgNPs in carbon-WC-Ag nanoparticles provided a benefit for the co-nucleation ability of WCNPs and AgNPs, resulting in enhanced crystallization of PLA, as evidenced by the reduction in the cold crystallization temperature of PLA. At the low content of 1.23 wt% carbon-WC-Ag nanoparticles, the Young’s modulus and tensile strength of PLA/carbon-WC-Ag composite films were increased to 25.12% and 46.08%, respectively. Moreover, the PLA/carbon-WC-Ag composite films possessed antibacterial activities.

DOI： 10.3390/polym13070991

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters  

Selection of appropriate tools and use of them when performing daily tasks is a critical function for introducing robots for domestic applications. In previous studies, however, adaptability to target objects was limited, making it difficult to accordingly change tools and adjust actions. To manipulate various objects with tools, robots must both understand tool functions and recognize object characteristics to discern a tool-object-action relation. We focus on active perception using multimodal sensorimotor data while a robot interacts with objects, and allow the robot to recognize their extrinsic and intrinsic characteristics. We construct a deep neural networks (DNN) model that learns to recognize object characteristics, acquires tool-object-action relations, and generates motions for tool selection and handling. As an example tool-use situation, the robot performs an ingredients transfer task, using a turner or ladle to transfer an ingredient from a pot to a bowl. The results confirm that the robot recognizes object characteristics and servings even when the target ingredients are unknown. We also examine the contributions of images, force, and tactile data and show that learning a variety of multimodal information results in rich perception for tool use.

DOI： 10.1109/LRA.2021.3062004

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY  

N-Doped few-layer graphene encapsulated Pt-based bimetallic nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via the solution plasma (SP) method. This synthesis strategy can be achieved in one pot by using only pure dimethylformamide (DMF) as the reaction solution at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The structural analyses exhibited a fine core-shell structured nanoparticle (2-4 nm), which had Pt and Pt-based bimetallic nanoparticles as a core and N-doped few-layer graphene (NFG), having 2-4 layers, as a shell. Pt-based bimetallic cores (i.e., PtAu, PtAg, and PtPd) were varied depending on the metal electrodes used in the SP process. The electrocatalytic activity toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of the obtained samples in an acidic solution was found to be acceptable, while possessing excellent durability, compared to those of the commercial carbon-supported Pt catalyst. The effective ORR activity was possibly attributed to the synergistic effect of the Pt-based bimetallic core and N-doped graphene shell which contained high amounts of pyridinic-N and quaternary-N. The results in a single fuel cell test expressed the superiority of our SP-derived sample in the fuel cell performances to commercial Pt/C. This study not only proposed potential alternative ORR catalysts with acceptable electrocatalytic activity and high durability but also provided guidelines for the facile synthesis of carbon-based core-shell nanostructured materials with low chemical use via the SP process.

DOI： 10.1039/d0ma00718h

Web of Science

Scopus

researchmap

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica  

Each year, the Japan Neurosurgical Society (JNS) reports up-to-date statistics from the Japan Neurosurgical Database regarding case volume, patient demographics, and in-hospital outcomes of the overall cohort and neurosurgical subgroup according to the major classifications of main diagnosis. We hereby report patient demographics, in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, purpose of admission, number of medical management, direct surgery, endovascular treatment, and radiosurgery of the patients based on the major classifications and/or main diagnosis registered in 2018 and 2019 in the overall cohort (523283 and 571143 patients, respectively) and neurosurgical subgroup (177184 and 191595 patients, respectively). The patient demographics, disease severity, proportion of purpose of admission (e.g., operation, 33.9–33.5%) and emergent admission (68.4–67.8%), and in-hospital mortality (e.g., cerebrovascular diseases, 6.3–6.5%; brain tumor, 3.1–3%; and neurotrauma, 4.3%) in the overall cohort were comparable between 2018 and 2019. In total, 207783 and 225217 neurosurgical procedures were performed in the neurosurgical subgroup in 2018 and 2019, respectively, of which endovascular treatment comprised 19.1% and 20.3%, respectively. Neurosurgical management of chronic subdural hematoma (19.4–18.9%) and cerebral aneurysm (15.4–14.8%) was most common. Notably, the proportion of management of ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack, including recombinant tissue plasminogen activator infusion and endovascular acute reperfusion therapy, increased from 7.5% in 2018 to 8.8% in 2019. The JNS statistical update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policy makers, media professionals, neurosurgeons, healthcare administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on neurosurgical practice.

DOI： 10.2176/NMC.ST.2021-0254

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Educational Philosophy and Theory  

DOI： 10.1080/00131857.2021.2017884

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IEEE Access  

Nowadays, the use of electric vehicles is increasing leading to a growing demand for more efficient use of lithium-ion batteries. The state-of-charge (SOC) has been estimated in previous studies to optimize energy management of batteries. For more efficient battery utilization, detecting degradation is important. However, it is difficult for conventional methods to distinguish the effect of the model parameters including different time constants. Identifying model parameters of multiple RC parallel branches, which represent the impedance of wider frequency ranges, is a necessary requirement to detect the degradation of parts. In this study, we present a method for estimating the model parameters of multiple RC parallel branches. We designed the Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm by setting a search range limit and moving window, which enable estimation of the model parameters of parallel branches of different time constants. Through validation of the algorithm based on simulation, the model parameters of a third-order circuit were estimated to be within the error range of 15.2 %. In addition, impedance was calculated from the estimated model parameters in the test using a real battery dataset. The error of impedance was less than 10 % from 0.01 to 100 Hz which was sufficiently low to monitor the change of the parameters owing to degradation. As the impedance in the high-frequency band above 0.1 Hz is more likely to change because of degradation, the proposed method can be used to monitor the model parameters that change as a result of degradation.

DOI： 10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3131190

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Neurologia Medico-Chirurgica  

Each year, the Japan Neurosurgical Society (JNS) reports up-to-date statistics from the Japan Neurosurgical Database regarding case volume, patient demographics, and in-hospital outcomes of the overall cohort and neurosurgical subgroup according to the major classifications of main diagnosis. We hereby report patient demographics, in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay, purpose of admission, number of medical management, direct surgery, endovascular treatment, and radiosurgery of the patients based on the major classifications and/or main diagnosis registered in 2018 and 2019 in the overall cohort (523283 and 571143 patients, respectively) and neurosurgical subgroup (177184 and 191595 patients, respectively). The patient demographics, disease severity, proportion of purpose of admission (e.g., operation, 33.9–33.5%) and emergent admission (68.4–67.8%), and in-hospital mortality (e.g., cerebrovascular diseases, 6.3–6.5%; brain tumor, 3.1–3%; and neurotrauma, 4.3%) in the overall cohort were comparable between 2018 and 2019. In total, 207783 and 225217 neurosurgical procedures were performed in the neurosurgical subgroup in 2018 and 2019, respectively, of which endovascular treatment comprised 19.1% and 20.3%, respectively. Neurosurgical management of chronic subdural hematoma (19.4–18.9%) and cerebral aneurysm (15.4–14.8%) was most common. Notably, the proportion of management of ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack, including recombinant tissue plasminogen activator infusion and endovascular acute reperfusion therapy, increased from 7.5% in 2018 to 8.8% in 2019. The JNS statistical update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policy makers, media professionals, neurosurgeons, healthcare administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on neurosurgical practice.

DOI： 10.2176/NMC.ST.2021-0254

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Educational Philosophy and Theory  

DOI： 10.1080/00131857.2021.2017884

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IEEE Access  

Nowadays, the use of electric vehicles is increasing leading to a growing demand for more efficient use of lithium-ion batteries. The state-of-charge (SOC) has been estimated in previous studies to optimize energy management of batteries. For more efficient battery utilization, detecting degradation is important. However, it is difficult for conventional methods to distinguish the effect of the model parameters including different time constants. Identifying model parameters of multiple RC parallel branches, which represent the impedance of wider frequency ranges, is a necessary requirement to detect the degradation of parts. In this study, we present a method for estimating the model parameters of multiple RC parallel branches. We designed the Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm by setting a search range limit and moving window, which enable estimation of the model parameters of parallel branches of different time constants. Through validation of the algorithm based on simulation, the model parameters of a third-order circuit were estimated to be within the error range of 15.2 %. In addition, impedance was calculated from the estimated model parameters in the test using a real battery dataset. The error of impedance was less than 10 % from 0.01 to 100 Hz which was sufficiently low to monitor the change of the parameters owing to degradation. As the impedance in the high-frequency band above 0.1 Hz is more likely to change because of degradation, the proposed method can be used to monitor the model parameters that change as a result of degradation.

DOI： 10.1109/ACCESS.2021.3131190

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry  

A new protocol enabling the formation of trifluoromethyl compounds from acyl fluorides has been developed. The combination of FLUOLEAD® and Olah's reagent in solvent-free conditions at 70 °C initiated the significant deoxyfluorination of the acyl fluorides and resulted in the corresponding trifluoromethyl products with high yields (up to 99%). This strategy showed a great tolerance for various acyl fluorides containing aryloyl, (heteroaryl)oyl, or aliphatic acyl moieties, providing good to excellent yields of the trifluoromethyl products. Synthetic drug-like molecules were also transformed into the corresponding trifluoromethyl compounds under the same reaction conditions. A reaction mechanism is proposed.

DOI： 10.3762/BJOC.16.254

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry  

A new protocol enabling the formation of trifluoromethyl compounds from acyl fluorides has been developed. The combination of FLUOLEAD® and Olah's reagent in solvent-free conditions at 70 °C initiated the significant deoxyfluorination of the acyl fluorides and resulted in the corresponding trifluoromethyl products with high yields (up to 99%). This strategy showed a great tolerance for various acyl fluorides containing aryloyl, (heteroaryl)oyl, or aliphatic acyl moieties, providing good to excellent yields of the trifluoromethyl products. Synthetic drug-like molecules were also transformed into the corresponding trifluoromethyl compounds under the same reaction conditions. A reaction mechanism is proposed.

DOI： 10.3762/BJOC.16.254

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics  

The emission of muonium (μ+e-) atoms into vacuum from silica aerogel with laser ablation on its surface was studied with various ablation structures at room temperature using the subsurface muon beams at TRIUMF and Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC). Laser ablation was applied to produce holes or grooves with typical dimensions of a few hundred μm to a few mm, except for some extreme conditions. The measured emission rate tends to be higher for larger fractions of ablation opening and for shallower depths. More than a few ablation structures reach the emission rates similar to the highest achieved in past measurements. The emission rate is found to be stable at least for a couple of days. Measurements of spin precession amplitudes for the produced muonium atoms and remaining muons in a magnetic field determine a muonium formation fraction of (65.5 pm 1.8)%. The precession of the polarized muonium atoms is also observed clearly in vacuum. A projection of the emission rates measured at TRIUMF to the corresponding rates at J-PARC is demonstrated taking the different beam condition into account reasonably.

DOI： 10.1093/ptep/ptaa145

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Energy Storage Materials  

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) garner tremendous attention for both enabling higher energy density battery chemistry and alleviating the safety concerns of liquid electrolytes, but the practical utilizations of SPEs are severely hindered by the limited room temperature ionic conductivity, low transference number and huge interface impedance. Unlike the polymer chain movement in traditional SPEs, in the present work, we develop novel “polymer-in-plastic salts” electrolytes (PIPSEs) via a high weight ratio of plastic salts to polymer in which polymer just function as framework so that non-flammable, superionic conductive and flexible SPEs can be obtained. Also, the high content of plastic salts in PIPSEs can wet electrodes and form compatible solid electrolyte interface (SEI) with lithium metal. As a consequence, solid-state dendrite-free symmetric Li cells with PIPSEs show ultralong cycle life over 1000 h under up to 2.0 mA cm−2 and Li/LiFePO4 and high-voltage Li/LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cells utilizing above PIPSEs exhibit excellent cycle performance and appealing rate performance. It is anticipated that our work provides a new strategy for the next-generation solid-state batteries.

DOI： 10.1016/j.ensm.2020.09.003

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems  

We propose a deep learning model for a robot to wipe 3D-objects. Wiping of 3D-objects requires recognizing the shapes of objects and planning the motor angle adjustments for tracing the objects. Unlike previous research, our learning model does not require pre-designed computational models of target objects. The robot is able to wipe the objects to be placed by using image, force, and arm joint information. We evaluate the generalization ability of the model by confirming that the robot handles untrained cube and bowl shaped-objects. We also find that it is necessary to use both image and force information to recognize the shape of and wipe 3D objects consistently by comparing changes in the input sensor data to the model. To our knowledge, this is the first work enabling a robot to use learning sensorimotor information alone to trace various unknown 3D-shape.

DOI： 10.1109/IROS45743.2020.9341275

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACS Applied Nano Materials  

The exploration of novel carbon material systems has emerged as a promising strategy for yielding unique and unconventional functional properties. In this study, a cationic nitrogen-doped carbonwrapped single-walled carbon nanotube (CN-C@SWCNT) was synthesized for the first time via solution plasma (SP) by using an aniline aqueous solution with the SWCNT dispersion under ambient conditions. The reactive species produced from SP led to the formation of cationic nitrogendoped carbon (CN-C) completely wrapped around SWCNT. Raman spectroscopy, electron diffraction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the presence of cationic nitrogen. CN-C@SWCNT exhibited an excellent electrical conductivity of 120.30 S cm-1. Room-temperature halleffect measurements revealed p-type semiconducting behavior for CN-C@ SWCNT, with a carrier concentration of 4.6 × 1020 cm-3. The electrical conductivity and carrier concentration of p-type CN-C@SWCNT were greater than those reported previously for carbon-based materials. The high electrical properties of CN-C@SWCNT were synergistically related to a conducting bridge between CN-C and SWCNT conducting domains and the presence of doped cationic nitrogen. The SP-synthesized CN-C@SWCNT demonstrates immense potential as an emerging class of p-type carbon materials in advanced electrocatalytic applications.

DOI： 10.1021/acsanm.0c02164

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Conference Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics  

In this paper, we present a lightweight Deformable Surface Mechanism (DSM) by applying shape-memory alloy (SMA) and sponge for moving objects as a soft actuator. The SMA is driven by heating and cooling processing with the cur-rent flowing. For the SMA, cooling is a process for recovering to original length which consumes time. In order to decrease the recovering time and making the surface deformable, a sponge sheet is applied in the mechanism. We used the cotton thread to sew the SMA into the sponge to manufacture the mechanism. The DSM contains a multi-triangle structure, and each triangle works as an individual actuation unit. By applying this structure and special sewing technique, the sponge sheet can be deformed in a vertical direction when the SMA contracted. While, when the current is turned off, the SMA can be stretched to the original length by the pushing force generated by the sponge. Therefore, a deformable surface mechanism with a rapid response can be achieved. We simulated the changing of uni-Deformable Surface Mechanism (uniDSM), and the experiments were followed to compare with the analyzed results. Additionally, different objects were examined on the DSM to test the conveyance ability.

DOI： 10.1109/SMC42975.2020.9283459

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Conference Proceedings - IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics  

In this paper, we present a lightweight Deformable Surface Mechanism (DSM) by applying shape-memory alloy (SMA) and sponge for moving objects as a soft actuator. The SMA is driven by heating and cooling processing with the cur-rent flowing. For the SMA, cooling is a process for recovering to original length which consumes time. In order to decrease the recovering time and making the surface deformable, a sponge sheet is applied in the mechanism. We used the cotton thread to sew the SMA into the sponge to manufacture the mechanism. The DSM contains a multi-triangle structure, and each triangle works as an individual actuation unit. By applying this structure and special sewing technique, the sponge sheet can be deformed in a vertical direction when the SMA contracted. While, when the current is turned off, the SMA can be stretched to the original length by the pushing force generated by the sponge. Therefore, a deformable surface mechanism with a rapid response can be achieved. We simulated the changing of uni-Deformable Surface Mechanism (uniDSM), and the experiments were followed to compare with the analyzed results. Additionally, different objects were examined on the DSM to test the conveyance ability.

DOI： 10.1109/SMC42975.2020.9283459

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：RSC Advances  

Metal-carbon core-shell nanostructures have gained research interest due to their better performances in not only stability but also other properties, such as catalytic, optical, and electrical properties. However, they are limited by complicated synthesis approaches. Therefore, the development of a simple method for the synthesis of metal-carbon core-shell nanostructures is of great significance. In this work, a novel Cu-core encapsulated by a N-doped few-layer graphene shell was successfully synthesized in a one-pot in-liquid plasma discharge, so-called solution plasma (SP), to our knowledge for the first time. The synthesis was conducted at room temperature and atmospheric pressure by using a pair of copper electrodes submerged in a DMF solution as the precursor. The core-shell structure of the obtained products was confirmed by HR-TEM, while further insight information was explained from the results of XRD, Raman, and XPS measurements. The obtained Cu-core encapsulated by the N-doped few-layer graphene shell demonstrated relatively high stability in acid media, compared to the commercial bare Cu particles. Moreover, the stability was found to depend on the thickness of the N-doped few-layer graphene shell which can be tuned by adjusting the SP operating conditions. This journal is

DOI： 10.1039/d0ra07162e

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nano Express  

Herein, we report the synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) through solution plasma (SP) for the first time. The SP method occurs a rapid dissociation of molecules, such as organic compounds, caused by an electrical discharge between electrodes immersed in a solution. The dissociation can result in the creation of various radicals such as ·C2, ·CN, and ·H which enable the rapid synthesis of carbon dots (CDs). The unique reaction of radicals allowed the formation of CDs with high N concentration and functionalization of the surface in a short time. In this study, by using the SP method, a very fine NCDs with size of 6 nm were synthesized from a pyridine/water mixture in just 10 min. Bright blue fluorescence (410 nm) with a high quantum yield (61%) was observed due to the high N concentration and the surface passivation. From the potential application point of view, the synthesized NCDs showed an excellent detection property for 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) by fluorescence quenching effect. It was due to rich amino-functional groups which act as a reaction pathway to TNP. This phenomenon was caused by the synergetic effect of a photo-induced electron transfer with the assistance of proton transfer-assisted electron transfer.

DOI： 10.1088/2632-959X/abb9fa

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nano Express  

Herein, we report the synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots (NCDs) through solution plasma (SP) for the first time. The SP method occurs a rapid dissociation of molecules, such as organic compounds, caused by an electrical discharge between electrodes immersed in a solution. The dissociation can result in the creation of various radicals such as ·C2, ·CN, and ·H which enable the rapid synthesis of carbon dots (CDs). The unique reaction of radicals allowed the formation of CDs with high N concentration and functionalization of the surface in a short time. In this study, by using the SP method, a very fine NCDs with size of 6 nm were synthesized from a pyridine/water mixture in just 10 min. Bright blue fluorescence (410 nm) with a high quantum yield (61%) was observed due to the high N concentration and the surface passivation. From the potential application point of view, the synthesized NCDs showed an excellent detection property for 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) by fluorescence quenching effect. It was due to rich amino-functional groups which act as a reaction pathway to TNP. This phenomenon was caused by the synergetic effect of a photo-induced electron transfer with the assistance of proton transfer-assisted electron transfer.

DOI： 10.1088/2632-959X/abb9fa

Web of Science

Scopus

Authorship：Last author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Carbohydrate Polymers  

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116162

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Organic Chemistry Frontiers  

An addition reaction of pyridine-tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfanylchlorides (Py-SF4Cl) to alkynes and alkenes providing pyridine-tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfanyl-alkenes and pyridine-tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfanyl-alkanes is represented. The addition of Py-SF4Cl occurs spontaneously in the presence of reactants, even in total darkness, but is affected in the presence of light. A series of SF4-bridged pyridines were efficiently synthesized under a couple of environmentally benign conditions in good to high yields. The spontaneous reaction of Py-SF4Cl is discussed based on the time-dependent analyses of the reaction in the presence or absence of photo-irradiation, and could proceed via a radical process.

DOI： 10.1039/d0qo00339e

Scopus

Authorship：Last author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Cellulose  

DOI： 10.1007/s10570-019-02866-3

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review Accelerators and Beams  

A destructive monitor to measure the longitudinal bunch width of a low-energy and low-intensity muon beam was developed. This bunch-width monitor (BWM) employed microchannel plates to detect a single muon with high time resolution. In addition, constant-fraction discriminators were adopted to suppress the time-walk effect. The time resolution was measured to be 65 ps in rms using a picosecond-pulsed laser. This resolution satisfied the requirements of the muon linac of the J-PARC E34 experiment. We measured the bunch width of negative-muonium ions (μ+e-e-) accelerated with a radio-frequency quadrupole using the BWM. The bunch width was successfully measured to be σ=0.54±0.11 ns, which is consistent with the simulation.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.23.022804

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review Accelerators and Beams  

A destructive monitor to measure the longitudinal bunch width of a low-energy and low-intensity muon beam was developed. This bunch-width monitor (BWM) employed microchannel plates to detect a single muon with high time resolution. In addition, constant-fraction discriminators were adopted to suppress the time-walk effect. The time resolution was measured to be 65 ps in rms using a picosecond-pulsed laser. This resolution satisfied the requirements of the muon linac of the J-PARC E34 experiment. We measured the bunch width of negative-muonium ions (μ+e-e-) accelerated with a radio-frequency quadrupole using the BWM. The bunch width was successfully measured to be σ=0.54±0.11 ns, which is consistent with the simulation.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.23.022804

Scopus

Authorship：Last author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Carbohydrate Polymers  

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115377

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACS Applied Nano Materials  

Amino-modified nanocarbon (NH2-C) has been widely used as an adsorbent for transition metal ion adsorption due to its high specific surface area, high electrical charge, and the ability to form a coordinate linkage to a transition metal ion. In this work, NH2-C was successfully synthesized from a mixture of phenol and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) through solution plasma processing, which performs both carbonization and amination simultaneously. This synthesis method eliminates the need to functionalize carbon with amino groups, as is required in the conventional process. Our NH2-C shows a better dispersion and a higher number of amino groups on both the external surface and inner pores, which enhances the adsorption capacity. The maximum capacities for Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ adsorption were 144.9, 115.4, and 102.0 mg g-1, respectively. These values were higher than those of five typical NH2-Cs synthesized by a conventional process. Based on the adsorption mechanism derived from adsorption kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies, the transition metal ions were chemisorbed to the surface in a monolayer endothermically and spontaneously. Moreover, it was found that NH2-C was suitable for use in ten consecutive adsorption-desorption cycles without significant loss of adsorption capacity.

DOI： 10.1021/acsanm.9b01915

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.75.1.0_99

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.75.1.0_96

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.75.1.0_97

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.75.1.0_95

CiNii Research

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Proceedings of the 29th Linear Accelerator Conference, LINAC 2018  

The muon linac is planned at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex (J-PARC) for the precision measurement of the muon dipole moments. However, the muon acceleration with an radio-frequency (RF) accelerator was not carried out yet. Then, the first muon RF acceleration experiment using an radio-frequency quadrupole (RFQ) linac was carried out in the J-PARC. The incident positive muon was cooled using the production of the negative muonium ion (Mu-) before the accelaration. Subsequently, the Mu- was accelerated to 89 keV with the RFQ. Thanks to the pulsed muon beam in the J-PARC, the accelerated Mu- was clearly identified with the Time-Of-Flight measurement after the momentum selection with the bending magnet. The measured event rate of the accelerated Mu- was consistent with the expectation using the simulation and the result of the Mu- production experiment as the preparatory experiment of the acceleration experiment. The first muon RF acceleration was successful.

DOI： 10.18429/JACoW-LINAC2018-TUPO010

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Proceedings of the 29th Linear Accelerator Conference, LINAC 2018  

An inter-digital H-mode (IH) drift-tube linac (DTL) is developed for a low velocity part in a muon linac at the J-PARC E34 experiment. It will accelerate muons from ß = 0.08 to 0.28 at an operational frequency of 324 MHz. In order to achieve higher acceleration efficiency and make cost lower, an alternative phase focusing (APF) scheme is adopted. A prototype with 6 cells of 0.45 m length was manufactured. The prototype accelerates muons from ß = 0.08 to 0.15 stage. We conducted frequency measurement and bead-pull measurement as a low-power measurement, in order to evaluate the prototype product. In this paper, the results of the low-power measurement for prototype cavity will be presented.

DOI： 10.18429/JACoW-LINAC2018-MOPO085

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.75.1.0_94

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.75.1.0_99

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.75.1.0_96

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.75.1.0_97

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.75.1.0_95

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.75.1.0_94

CiNii Research

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Physics: Conference Series  

Negative muonium atom (μ + e - e -, Mu-) has unique features stimulating potential interesting for several scientific fields. Since its discovery in late 1980's in vacuum, it has been discussed that the production efficiency would be improved using a low-work function material. C12A7 was a well-known insulator as a constituent of alumina cement, but was recently confirmed to exhibit electric conductivity by electron doping. The C12A7 electride has relatively low-work function (2.9 eV). In this paper, the negative muonium production measurement with several materials including a C12A7 electride film will be presented.

DOI： 10.1088/1742-6596/1350/1/012067

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Physics: Conference Series  

An inter-digital H-mode drift-tube linac (IH-DTL) is developed in a muon linac at the J-PARC E34 experiment. IH-DTL will accelerate muons from 0.34 MeV to 4.5 MeV at a drive frequency of 324 MHz. Since IH-DTL adopts an APF method, with which the beam is focused in the transverse direction using the RF field only, the proper beam matching of the phase-space distribution is required before the injection into the IH-DTL. Thus, an IH-DTL prototype was fabricated to evaluate the performance of the cavity and beam transmission. As a preparation of the high-power test, a test coupler is designed and fabricated. In this paper, the development of the coupler and the result of the low-power measurement will be presented.

DOI： 10.1088/1742-6596/1350/1/012054

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Physics: Conference Series  

An inter-digital H-mode drift-tube linac (IH-DTL) is developed in a muon linac at the J-PARC E34 experiment. IH-DTL will accelerate muons from 0.34 MeV to 4.5 MeV at a drive frequency of 324 MHz. Since IH-DTL adopts an APF method, with which the beam is focused in the transverse direction using the RF field only, the proper beam matching of the phase-space distribution is required before the injection into the IH-DTL. Thus, an IH-DTL prototype was fabricated to evaluate the performance of the cavity and beam transmission. As a preparation of the high-power test, a test coupler is designed and fabricated. In this paper, the development of the coupler and the result of the low-power measurement will be presented.

DOI： 10.1088/1742-6596/1350/1/012054

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment  

A buncher cavity has been developed for the muons accelerated by a radio-frequency quadrupole linac (RFQ). The buncher cavity is designed for β=v∕c=0.04 at an operational frequency of 324 MHz. It employs a double-gap structure operated in the TEM mode for the required effective voltage with compact dimensions, in order to account for the limited space of the experiment. The measured resonant frequency and unloaded quality factor are 323.95 MHz and 3.06×103, respectively. The buncher cavity was successfully operated for longitudinal bunch size measurement of the muons accelerated by the RFQ.

DOI： 10.1016/j.nima.2019.162693

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment  

A buncher cavity has been developed for the muons accelerated by a radio-frequency quadrupole linac (RFQ). The buncher cavity is designed for β=v∕c=0.04 at an operational frequency of 324 MHz. It employs a double-gap structure operated in the TEM mode for the required effective voltage with compact dimensions, in order to account for the limited space of the experiment. The measured resonant frequency and unloaded quality factor are 323.95 MHz and 3.06×103, respectively. The buncher cavity was successfully operated for longitudinal bunch size measurement of the muons accelerated by the RFQ.

DOI： 10.1016/j.nima.2019.162693

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nanomaterials  

The synthesis of carbon nanoparticles (Cn) and oxygen-doped nanocarbon (OCn) was successfully done through a one-step synthesis by the solution plasma process (SPP). The Cn and OCn were nitrogen-doped by nitridation under an ammonia atmosphere at 800◦C for 2 h to yield NCn and NOCn, respectively, for carbon dioxide (CO2) adsorption. The NOCn exhibited the highest specific surface area (~570 m2 g−1) and highest CO2 adsorption capacity (1.63 mmol g−1 at 25◦C) among the synthesized samples. The primary nitrogen species on the surface of NOCn were pyridinic-N and pyrrolic-N. The synergistic effect of microporosity and nitrogen functionality on the NOCn surface played an essential role in CO2 adsorption enhancement. From the thermodynamic viewpoint, the CO2 adsorption on NOCn was physisorption, exothermic, and spontaneous. The NOCn showed a more negative enthalpy of adsorption, indicating its stronger interaction for CO2 on the surface, and hence, the higher adsorption capacity. The CO2 adsorption on NOCn over the whole pressure range at 25–55◦C best fitted the Toth model, suggesting monolayer adsorption on the heterogeneous surface. In addition, NOCn expressed a higher selective CO2 adsorption than Cn and so was a good candidate for multicycle adsorption.

DOI： 10.3390/nano9121776

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACS Applied Nano Materials  

Wrapping of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with a biocompatible matrix, to gain AuNP colloids, is a general strategy to synthesize the AuNPs for biomedical purposes. This work reports the synthesis of AuNP colloids in the aqueous solution of several natural matrices using a liquid-phase plasma process. Two classes of natural substances used are sugars (including: glucose, fructose, and sucrose) and biopolymers (including: carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium alginate, and gelatin). All are negatively charged water-soluble substances that are claimed to be sources of energy for cells to grow and have a high potential to be compatible with them. The study has emerged since one question arises: "Do these matrices also promote the growth of cancer cells?" The synthesis is performed by generating plasma across a pair of electrodes immersed in an aqueous solution of a natural matrix containing a gold precursor (HAuCl4·3H2O). Two concentrations of the matrices (0.5 and 1.0% w/v) are used, and the plasma treatment times are varied (0, 10, and 30 min). The effect of the type and concentration of natural matrices as well as the plasma treatment time on the formation of AuNPs, along with their physical and chemical properties, including morphology, size, hydrodynamic diameter (dh), colloidal stability, and charge on the AuNP surface, is evaluated. We find that the charge of the AuNP surfaces could be altered by the plasma treatment. Eventually, cytotoxicity test results against normal (MRC-5) and cancer (H460 and HeLa) cell lines could not only answer our opening question but also suggest a rather complex response. Our findings indicate the great potential of the obtained AuNP colloids as a part of cancer therapy.

DOI： 10.1021/acsanm.9b02106

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Biomimetics, ROBIO 2019  

We propose a sensorimotor dynamical system model for pouring unknown liquids. With our system, a robot holds and shakes a bottle to estimate the characteristics of the contained liquid, such as viscosity and fill level, without calculating to determine their parameters. Next, the robot pours a specified amount of the liquid into another container. The system needs to integrate information on the robot's actions, the liquids, the container, and the surrounding environment to perform the estimation and execute a continuous pouring motion using the same model. We use deep neural networks (DNN) to construct the system. The DNN model repeats prediction and execution of the actions to be taken in the next time step based on the input sensorimotor data, including camera images, force sensor data, and joint angles. At the same time, the DNN model acquires liquid characteristics in the internal state. We confirmed that the DNN model can control the robot to pour a desired amount of liquid with unknown viscosity and fill level.

DOI： 10.1109/ROBIO49542.2019.8961718

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment  

A muon linac is under development for the precise measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment (g−2) and electric dipole moment (EDM) with a reaccelerated thermal muon beam. An H− source driven by an ultraviolet light has been developed for the muon acceleration experiment. Prior to the acceleration experiment, a beamline commissioning was performed using this H− beam, since the accelerated muon intensity is very low. We successfully measured the magnetic rigidity, which is essential for identifying the accelerated muons. This H− source is capable of utilizing as a general-purpose beam source for other beamline.

DOI： 10.1016/j.nima.2019.05.043

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section A: Accelerators, Spectrometers, Detectors and Associated Equipment  

A muon linac is under development for the precise measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment (g−2) and electric dipole moment (EDM) with a reaccelerated thermal muon beam. An H− source driven by an ultraviolet light has been developed for the muon acceleration experiment. Prior to the acceleration experiment, a beamline commissioning was performed using this H− beam, since the accelerated muon intensity is very low. We successfully measured the magnetic rigidity, which is essential for identifying the accelerated muons. This H− source is capable of utilizing as a general-purpose beam source for other beamline.

DOI： 10.1016/j.nima.2019.05.043

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review Letters  

The PHENIX collaboration presents first measurements of low-momentum (0.4<pT<3 GeV/c) direct-photon yields from Au+Au collisions at sNN=39 and 62.4 GeV. For both beam energies the direct-photon yields are substantially enhanced with respect to expectations from prompt processes, similar to the yields observed in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200. Analyzing the photon yield as a function of the experimental observable dNch/dη reveals that the low-momentum (>1 GeV/c) direct-photon yield dNγdir/dη is a smooth function of dNch/dη and can be well described as proportional to (dNch/dη)α with α≈1.25. This scaling behavior holds for a wide range of beam energies at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider, for centrality selected samples, as well as for different A+A collision systems. At a given beam energy, the scaling also holds for high pT (>5 GeV/c), but when results from different collision energies are compared, an additional sNN-dependent multiplicative factor is needed to describe the integrated-direct-photon yield.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.022301

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review Letters  

The PHENIX collaboration presents first measurements of low-momentum (0.4<pT<3 GeV/c) direct-photon yields from Au+Au collisions at sNN=39 and 62.4 GeV. For both beam energies the direct-photon yields are substantially enhanced with respect to expectations from prompt processes, similar to the yields observed in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200. Analyzing the photon yield as a function of the experimental observable dNch/dη reveals that the low-momentum (>1 GeV/c) direct-photon yield dNγdir/dη is a smooth function of dNch/dη and can be well described as proportional to (dNch/dη)α with α≈1.25. This scaling behavior holds for a wide range of beam energies at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider, for centrality selected samples, as well as for different A+A collision systems. At a given beam energy, the scaling also holds for high pT (>5 GeV/c), but when results from different collision energies are compared, an additional sNN-dependent multiplicative factor is needed to describe the integrated-direct-photon yield.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevLett.123.022301

Scopus

Authorship：Last author,　Corresponding author   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Plasma Processes and Polymers  

DOI： 10.1002/ppap.201900012

Web of Science

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics  

This paper introduces a new approach to measure the muon magnetic moment anomaly aμ = (g - 2)/2 and the muon electric dipole moment (EDM) dμ at the J-PARC muon facility. The goal of our experiment is to measure aμ and dμ using an independent method with a factor of 10 lower muon momentum, and a factor of 20 smaller diameter storage-ring solenoid compared with previous and ongoing muon g - 2 experiments with unprecedented quality of the storage magnetic field. Additional significant differences from the present experimental method include a factor of 1000 smaller transverse emittance of the muon beam (reaccelerated thermal muon beam), its efficient vertical injection into the solenoid, and tracking each decay positron from muon decay to obtain its momentum vector. The precision goal for aμ is a statistical uncertainty of 450 parts per billion (ppb), similar to the present experimental uncertainty, and a systematic uncertainty less than 70 ppb. The goal for EDM is a sensitivity of 1.5 × 10-21 ecm.

DOI： 10.1093/ptep/ptz030

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics  

This paper introduces a new approach to measure the muon magnetic moment anomaly aμ = (g - 2)/2 and the muon electric dipole moment (EDM) dμ at the J-PARC muon facility. The goal of our experiment is to measure aμ and dμ using an independent method with a factor of 10 lower muon momentum, and a factor of 20 smaller diameter storage-ring solenoid compared with previous and ongoing muon g - 2 experiments with unprecedented quality of the storage magnetic field. Additional significant differences from the present experimental method include a factor of 1000 smaller transverse emittance of the muon beam (reaccelerated thermal muon beam), its efficient vertical injection into the solenoid, and tracking each decay positron from muon decay to obtain its momentum vector. The precision goal for aμ is a statistical uncertainty of 450 parts per billion (ppb), similar to the present experimental uncertainty, and a systematic uncertainty less than 70 ppb. The goal for EDM is a sensitivity of 1.5 × 10-21 ecm.

DOI： 10.1093/ptep/ptz030

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Organic Chemistry Frontiers  

We present a catalyst-free method for the synthesis of aryl and heteroaryl tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfanyl chlorides (Ar-SF4Cl) by using trichloroisocyanuric acid and potassium fluoride in acetonitrile. The method has wide substrate generality and proceeded well with high yields even in the absence of acid catalysts. The preparation of meta- and para-SF4Cl-substituted pyridines using TCCA was achieved for the first time.

DOI： 10.1039/c9qo00191c

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences  

Pain in athletes is ideally treated without systemic medicine. Therefore, complementary and alternative medicine, including patch treatments, is often used. The physiologic mechanisms of pain relief produced by patch treatment, however, are not well elucidated. In the present study, we introduce a pyramidal thorn (PT) patch that we developed, demonstrate the effects of this PT patch for the treatment of various types of pain in 300 subjects, and suggest a physiologic mechanism for the pain relief effects. One treatment with the PT patch effectively relieved pain in almost half the subjects evaluated. Except for pain generated deeply under the skin, such as low-back pain, pain was eliminated within four treatments with the PT patch in almost all of the subjects. Interestingly, the pain-sensing region moved along the nerve fibers after each trial. Further, patches without PT also provided some pain relief. We considered that this effect was due to hair deflection on the skin; that is, adhesion of the PT patch activates Merkel cells directly as well as Merkel cell-neurite complexes around the hair follicles by deflecting the hair follicles, whereas adhesion of a patch without PT only activates the Merkel cell-neurite complexes. In any case, patch adhesion stimulates Aβ fibers to alleviate pain. Finally, we found that the pain threshold is increased by electric stimulation, suggesting that the gentle adhesion of a PT patch would be more effective. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate physiologically the validity of an adherent patch for pain relief.

DOI： 10.1002/kjm2.12044

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences  

Pain in athletes is ideally treated without systemic medicine. Therefore, complementary and alternative medicine, including patch treatments, is often used. The physiologic mechanisms of pain relief produced by patch treatment, however, are not well elucidated. In the present study, we introduce a pyramidal thorn (PT) patch that we developed, demonstrate the effects of this PT patch for the treatment of various types of pain in 300 subjects, and suggest a physiologic mechanism for the pain relief effects. One treatment with the PT patch effectively relieved pain in almost half the subjects evaluated. Except for pain generated deeply under the skin, such as low-back pain, pain was eliminated within four treatments with the PT patch in almost all of the subjects. Interestingly, the pain-sensing region moved along the nerve fibers after each trial. Further, patches without PT also provided some pain relief. We considered that this effect was due to hair deflection on the skin; that is, adhesion of the PT patch activates Merkel cells directly as well as Merkel cell-neurite complexes around the hair follicles by deflecting the hair follicles, whereas adhesion of a patch without PT only activates the Merkel cell-neurite complexes. In any case, patch adhesion stimulates Aβ fibers to alleviate pain. Finally, we found that the pain threshold is increased by electric stimulation, suggesting that the gentle adhesion of a PT patch would be more effective. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate physiologically the validity of an adherent patch for pain relief.

DOI： 10.1002/kjm2.12044

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Proceedings - 2019 IEEE 14th International Symposium on Autonomous Decentralized Systems, ISADS 2019  

Although conventional service providers are independent from each other when attending most of the population, demanded services are changing along with the social structure. Especially in the case of Taiwan, the number of co-working families has been increasing, and self-employed households occupy a large proportion of all working forms. Due to their diverse lifestyles and work styles, services that are suitable for personal objectives and that optimize the use of time are required. To meet this demand, it is important to connect people and city facilities to make it easier to provide suitable services. Based on those backgrounds, an innovated personal service platform in Taiwan is proposed, focusing on three factors, including time, place and personal information to connect people and city service facilities. Among various kinds of services, we targets services purchased in cities such as sales, mobility services, health services, government services and so on. It aims to link these services flexibly and dynamically to achieve personal objectives according to each situation. And, it can provide suitable services for a variety of every-day living situations. With this system, people can increase satisfaction and free time, improving life quality while making the economy more dynamic.

DOI： 10.1109/ISADS45777.2019.9155840

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Proceedings - 2019 IEEE 14th International Symposium on Autonomous Decentralized Systems, ISADS 2019  

Although conventional service providers are independent from each other when attending most of the population, demanded services are changing along with the social structure. Especially in the case of Taiwan, the number of co-working families has been increasing, and self-employed households occupy a large proportion of all working forms. Due to their diverse lifestyles and work styles, services that are suitable for personal objectives and that optimize the use of time are required. To meet this demand, it is important to connect people and city facilities to make it easier to provide suitable services. Based on those backgrounds, an innovated personal service platform in Taiwan is proposed, focusing on three factors, including time, place and personal information to connect people and city service facilities. Among various kinds of services, we targets services purchased in cities such as sales, mobility services, health services, government services and so on. It aims to link these services flexibly and dynamically to achieve personal objectives according to each situation. And, it can provide suitable services for a variety of every-day living situations. With this system, people can increase satisfaction and free time, improving life quality while making the economy more dynamic.

DOI： 10.1109/ISADS45777.2019.9155840

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ACS Applied Nano Materials  

Tailoring electrical properties of graphene by nitrogen doping is currently of great significance in a broad area of advanced applications. Bonding configuration of nitrogen atoms in graphene plays a vital role in controlling its electrical, chemical, and optical properties. Here, we report for the first time a simple bottom-up synthesis of a novel cationic nitrogen-doped graphene (CNG) by a solution plasma (SP). A mixture of ionic liquid and organic solvent was used as starting precursor. CNG exhibited an orthorhombic structure possibly due to the presence cationic nitrogen in hexagonal graphene lattice. Nitrogen doping content was found to be as high as 13.4 atom %. Electrical characterization demonstrated that the CNG exhibited a p-type semiconducting behavior with superior electrical conductivity and carrier concentration. Such unique electrical characteristics of CNG are mainly attributed to the presence of cationic nitrogen with preserved planar structure.

DOI： 10.1021/acsanm.8b02237

Web of Science

Scopus

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Molecular Technology: Materials Innovation  

DOI： 10.1002/9783527823987.vol3_c7

Scopus

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Carbohydrate Polymers  

The cassava starch processing plays an important role in food industries. During starch processing stage, a large amount of cassava starch waste (CSW) which mainly contains lost starch product and solid residue such as cassava bagasse are produced. Starch and cassava bagasse can be hydrolyzed into fermentable sugar such as glucose. In the present study, the solution plasma process (SPP) is used to treat CSW to prepare reducing sugar. The investigated parameters are treatment time, solvent concentration, applied pulsed frequency, and CSW concentration. The %yield of total reducing sugar (TRS) and glucose were calculated by DNS method and glucose assay kit, respectively. The chemical structure, morphology, and crystal structure of plasma-treated CSW were investigated. The results showed that the %yield of TRS was greatly enhanced by SPP treatment compared to that of acid hydrolysis. The CSW powder completely broke down into pieces after SPP treatment was applied. The amorphous and crystalline regions of CSW were destroyed during SPP treatment. SPP treatment of CSW with light sulfuric acid concentration of 0.08 M, applied pulsed frequency of 30 kHz, and CSW concentration of 0.5%w/v provided 99.0% TRS and 47.9% glucose.

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.10.090

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nuclear Physics A  

DOI： 10.1016/S0375-9474(19)30012-0

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nuclear Physics A  

DOI： 10.1016/S0375-9474(19)30012-0

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IEEE-RAS International Conference on Humanoid Robots  

We propose a tool-use model that can select tools that require neither labeling nor modeling of the environment and actions. With this model, a robot can choose a tool by itself and perform the operation that matches a human command and the environmental situation. To realize this, we use deep learning to train sensory motor data recorded during tool selection and tool use as experienced by a robot. The experience includes two types of selection, namely according to function and according to size, thereby allowing the robot to handle both situations. For evaluation, the robot is required to generate motion either in an untrained situation or using an untrained tool. We confirm that the robot can choose and use a tool that is suitable for achieving the target task.

DOI： 10.1109/HUMANOIDS.2018.8625048

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Occupational Health  

Objectives: Human support can boost weight reduction in Internet-based weight-loss intervention. However, the most effective way to combine human support and the Internet for weight loss is unclear. This study aimed to examine the effects of two weight-loss programs for male workers aged 18-39 that combined different intensities of human support with website support compared to a delayed-intervention group (control group; CG), in a randomized controlled trial. Methods: Seventy-one participants with overweight or obesity were allocated to one of three 12-week treatment programs. The Standard Support Group (SSG) was provided support via website and two face-to-face group guidance sessions, at the beginning and at the end of the program along with monthly general emails throughout the program. The Enhanced Support Group (ESG) received four remote support sessions based on Supportive Accountability (SA) in addition to the SSG. The CG was provided the same program as SSG after the other two groups had completed the program. The primary outcome was body weight reduction. Results: ESG participants reduced their weight significantly more than SSG and CG participants (P = 0.038, P < 0.001, respectively), and SSG participants reduced their weight significantly more than CG participants (P = 0.033). Conclusions: The additional remote human support provided to the participants in the ESG was beneficial for weight loss in male workers. The low-intensity program provided to the SSG was also effective. Further studies with more participants in diverse settings and with participants who are less interested in their health and weight management are needed.

DOI： 10.1002/1348-9585.12037

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Water Science and Technology  

DOI： 10.2166/wst.2019.035

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Materials Chemistry A  

DOI： 10.1039/c9ta01751h

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Chemistry  

DOI： 10.1155/2019/7494292

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Water Science and Technology  

DOI： 10.2166/wst.2019.035

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Materials Chemistry A  

DOI： 10.1039/c9ta01751h

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.74.2.0_120

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.74.2.0_536

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.74.2.0_2215

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.74.2.0_143

CiNii Research

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nippon Kinzoku Gakkaishi/Journal of the Japan Institute of Metals  

In this study, the effects of bending and tension deformation on the texture formation and room temperature formability of Mg-3.0 mass％Al-1.0 mass％Zn-0.3 mass％Mn（AZ31B）alloy sheets were investigated. Bending and tension deformation was conducted in one to nine passes through the die with a 45°angled channel with and without rotating the sheets. The sheets that were subjected to bending and tension deformation through more than three passes exhibited a rolling direction（RD）-split texture, where the basal pole inclined toward the RD, and its inclination angle tended to increase with an increase in the number of passes. When the bending and tension deformation was conducted in six passes through the die by rotating the sheet 180°relative to the RD axis, the sheet exhibited superior room temperature formability（7.0 of the Erichsen value）. The yield stress and Lankford value of the sheet subjected to bending tension deformation were closely related to the distribution of the basal pole. The results suggest that recrystallization nucleated at secondary twins as well as lattice rotation likely caused the formation of the RD-split texture.

DOI： 10.2320/jinstmet.J2019002

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing  

Competence in culturally sensitive care in healthcare has been included into the Japanese medical school curriculum since 2001 and will be integrated into the Japanese nursing school curriculum in 2018. Since the concept of competence in culturally sensitive care is new to the Japanese healthcare education, we need to gain knowledge about the concept from other forward-thinking countries. However, when introducing the concept of competence in culturally sensitive care from foreign countries to Japan, the knowledge and experiences of those countries should be considered.

DOI： 10.1007/978-3-319-94373-2_29

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.74.2.0_120

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.74.2.0_536

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.74.2.0_2215

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.74.2.0_143

CiNii Research

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nippon Kinzoku Gakkaishi/Journal of the Japan Institute of Metals  

In this study, the effects of bending and tension deformation on the texture formation and room temperature formability of Mg-3.0 mass％Al-1.0 mass％Zn-0.3 mass％Mn（AZ31B）alloy sheets were investigated. Bending and tension deformation was conducted in one to nine passes through the die with a 45°angled channel with and without rotating the sheets. The sheets that were subjected to bending and tension deformation through more than three passes exhibited a rolling direction（RD）-split texture, where the basal pole inclined toward the RD, and its inclination angle tended to increase with an increase in the number of passes. When the bending and tension deformation was conducted in six passes through the die by rotating the sheet 180°relative to the RD axis, the sheet exhibited superior room temperature formability（7.0 of the Erichsen value）. The yield stress and Lankford value of the sheet subjected to bending tension deformation were closely related to the distribution of the basal pole. The results suggest that recrystallization nucleated at secondary twins as well as lattice rotation likely caused the formation of the RD-split texture.

DOI： 10.2320/jinstmet.J2019002

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing  

Competence in culturally sensitive care in healthcare has been included into the Japanese medical school curriculum since 2001 and will be integrated into the Japanese nursing school curriculum in 2018. Since the concept of competence in culturally sensitive care is new to the Japanese healthcare education, we need to gain knowledge about the concept from other forward-thinking countries. However, when introducing the concept of competence in culturally sensitive care from foreign countries to Japan, the knowledge and experiences of those countries should be considered.

DOI： 10.1007/978-3-319-94373-2_29

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Carbohydrate Polymers  

Chitosan oligosaccharides, which obtain from degradation of chitosan, possess some interesting molecular weight-dependent biological properties, especially anticancer activity. Therefore, the conversion of chitosan to chitosan oligosaccharides with specific molecular weight has been continuously investigated in order to find effective strategies that can achieve both economic feasibility and environmental concerns. In this study, a novel process was developed to heterogeneously degrade chitosan powder by highly active species generated by electrical discharge plasma in a dilute salt solution (0.02 M) without the addition of other chemicals. The degradation rate obtained from the proposed process was comparable to that obtained from some other methods with the addition of acids and oxidizing agents. Separation of the water-soluble degraded products containing chitosan oligosaccharides from the reaction solution was simply done by filtration. The obtained chitosan oligosaccharides were further evaluated for an influence of their molecular weights on cytotoxicity against cancer cells and the selectivity toward cancer and normal cells.

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.08.037

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry  

DOI： 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2018.08.030

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry  

DOI： 10.1016/j.jphotochem.2018.08.030

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：MHS 2018 - 2018 29th International Symposium on Micro-NanoMechatronics and Human Science  

We developed 'Bionic Brain' which was equipped with cranial base module to train for transsphenoidal surgery. In the transsphenoidal surgery training by using this Bionic Brain, the user can insert an endoscope and a curette into the nose and sphenoid sinus, and remove tumors from the pituitary gland. From pseud surgery by brain surgeon, we confirmed that the fabricated cranial base module was similar to the anatomical structure.

DOI： 10.1109/MHS.2018.8886922

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

We measured direct photons for pT<5GeV/c in minimum bias and 0%-40% most-central events at midrapidity for Cu+Cu collisions at sNN=200GeV. The e+e- contribution from quasireal direct virtual photons has been determined as an excess over the known hadronic contributions in the e+e- mass distribution. A clear enhancement of photons over the binary scaled p+p fit is observed for pT<4GeV/c in Cu+Cu data. The pT spectra are consistent with the Au+Au data covering a similar number of participants. The inverse slopes of the exponential fits to the excess after subtraction of the p+p baseline are 285±53(stat)±57(syst)MeV/c and 333±72(stat)±45(syst)MeV/c for minimum bias and 0%-40% most-central events, respectively. The rapidity density, dN/dy, of photons demonstrates the same power law as a function of dNch/dη observed in Au+Au at the same collision energy.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.98.054902

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

We measured direct photons for pT<5GeV/c in minimum bias and 0%-40% most-central events at midrapidity for Cu+Cu collisions at sNN=200GeV. The e+e- contribution from quasireal direct virtual photons has been determined as an excess over the known hadronic contributions in the e+e- mass distribution. A clear enhancement of photons over the binary scaled p+p fit is observed for pT<4GeV/c in Cu+Cu data. The pT spectra are consistent with the Au+Au data covering a similar number of participants. The inverse slopes of the exponential fits to the excess after subtraction of the p+p baseline are 285±53(stat)±57(syst)MeV/c and 333±72(stat)±45(syst)MeV/c for minimum bias and 0%-40% most-central events, respectively. The rapidity density, dN/dy, of photons demonstrates the same power law as a function of dNch/dη observed in Au+Au at the same collision energy.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.98.054902

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Physics: Conference Series  

We have measured the muon beam profile after acceleration using a radio frequency quadrupole linac (RFQ). Positive muons are injected to an aluminum degrader and negative muoniums (Mu-) are generated. The generated Mu-'s are extracted by an electrostatic lens and accelerated to 89 keV by the RFQ. The accelerated Mu-'s are transported to a beam profile monitor (BPM) through a quadrupole magnet pair and a bending magnet. The BPM consists of a micro-channel plate, a phosphor screen, and a CCD camera. The measured profile in the vertical direction is consistent with the simulation. This profile measurement is one of the milestones for realizing a muon linac for measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex.

DOI： 10.1088/1742-6596/1067/5/052012

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Physics: Conference Series  

We have measured the muon beam profile after acceleration using a radio frequency quadrupole linac (RFQ). Positive muons are injected to an aluminum degrader and negative muoniums (Mu-) are generated. The generated Mu-'s are extracted by an electrostatic lens and accelerated to 89 keV by the RFQ. The accelerated Mu-'s are transported to a beam profile monitor (BPM) through a quadrupole magnet pair and a bending magnet. The BPM consists of a micro-channel plate, a phosphor screen, and a CCD camera. The measured profile in the vertical direction is consistent with the simulation. This profile measurement is one of the milestones for realizing a muon linac for measurement of the muon anomalous magnetic moment at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex.

DOI： 10.1088/1742-6596/1067/5/052012

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：2018 Joint IEEE 8th International Conference on Development and Learning and Epigenetic Robotics, ICDL-EpiRob 2018  

We propose a tool-use model that can detect the features of tools, target objects, and actions from the provided effects of object manipulation. We construct a model that enables robots to manipulate objects with tools, using infant learning as a concept. To realize this, we train sensory-motor data recorded during a tool-use task performed by a robot with deep learning. Experiments include four factors: (1) tools, (2) objects, (3) actions, and (4) effects, which the model considers simultaneously. For evaluation, the robot generates predicted images and motions given information of the effects of using unknown tools and objects. We confirm that the robot is capable of detecting features of tools, objects, and actions by learning the effects and executing the task.

DOI： 10.1109/DEVLRN.2018.8761029

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：2018 Joint IEEE 8th International Conference on Development and Learning and Epigenetic Robotics, ICDL-EpiRob 2018  

We propose a tool-use model that can detect the features of tools, target objects, and actions from the provided effects of object manipulation. We construct a model that enables robots to manipulate objects with tools, using infant learning as a concept. To realize this, we train sensory-motor data recorded during a tool-use task performed by a robot with deep learning. Experiments include four factors: (1) tools, (2) objects, (3) actions, and (4) effects, which the model considers simultaneously. For evaluation, the robot generates predicted images and motions given information of the effects of using unknown tools and objects. We confirm that the robot is capable of detecting features of tools, objects, and actions by learning the effects and executing the task.

DOI： 10.1109/DEVLRN.2018.8761029

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Elsevier Ltd  

Defective black titania (TiO2) was synthesized by the solution plasma technique at ambient temperature and pressure. The effects of the electrolyte solution medium type (KCl and HNO3) and concentration (0.3 and 3.0 mM) as well as the plasma discharge time (1–4 h) with a Ti electrode were investigated. The 3.0 mM HNO3 solution provided the highest energy per second discharging into the plasma, resulting in both a high synthesis rate of black TiO2 and a high degree of defective structures, as monitored in terms of the Ti3+/Ti4+ ratio, which can shorten the band gap energy (Eg) of the obtained black TiO2. A long plasma discharge time (4 h) induced the formation of large particles of black TiO2, which appeared as a highly defective structure. Overall, the black TiO2 prepared by discharged plasma for 4 h in 3.0 mM HNO3 solution (BTN-304) provided the highest photocatalytic activity for glycerol conversion (58.49% at 24 h) and 4.85, 3.32, 2.11, 2.15, 39.15 and 26.61% yield of glyceraldehyde, dihydroxyacetone, hydroxypyruvic acid, glycolic acid, glycolaldehyde and formaldehyde, respectively. Pathway of glycerol conversion and product distribution over black TiO2 was attempted to propose. Finally, the reusability of the best black TiO2 was explored.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.05.046

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1002/crat.201700211

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

We present measurements of two-particle angular correlations between high-transverse-momentum (2<pT<11 GeV/c) π0 observed at midrapidity (|η|<0.35) and particles produced either at forward (3.1<η<3.9) or backward (-3.7<η<-3.1) rapidity in d+Au and p+p collisions at sNN=200 GeV. The azimuthal angle correlations for particle pairs with this large rapidity gap in the Au-going direction exhibit a characteristic structure that persists up to pT≈6 GeV/c and which strongly depends on collision centrality, which is a similar characteristic to the hydrodynamical particle flow in A+A collisions. The structure is absent in the d-going direction as well as in p+p collisions, in the transverse-momentum range studied. The results indicate that the structure is shifted in the Au-going direction toward more central collisions, similar to the charged-particle pseudorapidity distributions.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.98.014912

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Wiley-Blackwell  

While manganese dioxide (MnO2) is a promising bifunctional electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction and evolution reaction (ORR/OER) in alkaline media, electrochemical performance of bulk MnO2 limited by their poor electrical conductivity. Herein, we fabricate a MnO2-carbon nanoparticle hybrid composite (MO-CNP) by applying the plasma discharge in the single precursor of purple benzene. This synthesis route facilitates a simultaneous formation of MnO2 and carbon, which induced a homogeneously mixed and firmly anchored hybrid composite. As a result, as-obtained MO-CNP-1 shows more than 12 times higher electrical conductivity than that of prepared conventionally. Thus, formation of MO-CNP could be accompanied by a synergy between MnO2 and CNP as electrocatalyst, and consequently, electrochemical properties were significantly improved. In comparison with CNP, the ORR potential of MO-CNP-1 was positively shifted from –0.28 to –0.23 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), and current density has increased more than 2 times. Although the ORR activity of MO-CNP-1 was still far a little short of the commercial Pt/C, the MO-CNP-1 indicated significant higher OER activity, which demonstrated excellent overall catalytic capability of MO-CNP-1 as bifunctional catalyst.

DOI： 10.1002/slct.201800851

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review Accelerators and Beams  

Muons have been accelerated by using a radio-frequency accelerator for the first time. Negative muonium atoms (Mu-), which are bound states of positive muons (μ+) and two electrons, are generated from μ+'s through the electron capture process in an aluminum degrader. The generated Mu-'s are initially electrostatically accelerated and injected into a radio-frequency quadrupole linac (RFQ). In the RFQ, the Mu-'s are accelerated to 89 keV. The accelerated Mu-'s are identified by momentum measurement and time of flight. This compact muon linac opens the door to various muon accelerator applications including particle physics measurements and the construction of a transmission muon microscope.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.21.050101

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review Accelerators and Beams  

Muons have been accelerated by using a radio-frequency accelerator for the first time. Negative muonium atoms (Mu-), which are bound states of positive muons (μ+) and two electrons, are generated from μ+'s through the electron capture process in an aluminum degrader. The generated Mu-'s are initially electrostatically accelerated and injected into a radio-frequency quadrupole linac (RFQ). In the RFQ, the Mu-'s are accelerated to 89 keV. The accelerated Mu-'s are identified by momentum measurement and time of flight. This compact muon linac opens the door to various muon accelerator applications including particle physics measurements and the construction of a transmission muon microscope.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevAccelBeams.21.050101

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1166/nnl.2018.2719

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1166/nnl.2018.2655

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DOI： 10.1166/nnl.2018.2716

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：MDPI AG  

In this study, sol-immobilization was used to prepare gold nanoparticle (Au NP)-decorated titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalysts at different Au weight % (wt. %) loading (Aux/TiO2, where x is the Au wt. %) and Au–M NP-decorated TiO2 photocatalysts (Au3M3/TiO2), where M is bismuth (Bi), platinum (Pt) or palladium (Pd) at 3 wt. %. The Aux/TiO2 photocatalysts exhibited a stronger visible light absorption than the parent TiO2 due to the localized surface plasmon resonance effect. Increasing the Au content from 1 wt. % to 7 wt. % led to increased visible light absorption due to the increasing presence of defective structures that were capable of enhancing the photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared catalyst. The addition of Pt and Pd coupled with the Au3/TiO2 to form Au3M3/TiO2 improved the photocatalytic activity of the Au3/TiO2 photocatalyst by maximizing their light-absorption property. The Au3/TiO2, Au3Pt3/TiO2 and Au3Pd3/TiO2 photocatalysts promoted the formation of glyceraldehyde from glycerol as the principle product, while Au3Bi3/TiO2 facilitated glycolaldehyde formation as the major product. Among all the prepared photocatalysts, Au3Pd3/TiO2 exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity with a 98.75% glycerol conversion at 24 h of reaction time.

DOI： 10.3390/nano8040269

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：International Journal of Cancer  

Glioblastoma is one of the most malignant forms of cancer, for which no effective targeted therapy has been found. Although The Cancer Genome Atlas has provided a list of fusion genes in glioblastoma, their role in progression of glioblastoma remains largely unknown. To search for novel fusion genes, we obtained RNA-seq data from TGS-01 human glioma-initiating cells, and identified a novel fusion gene (HMGA2-EGFR), encoding a protein comprising the N-terminal region of the high-mobility group AT-hook protein 2 (HMGA2) fused to the C-terminal region of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which retained the transmembrane and kinase domains of the EGFR. This fusion gene product showed transforming potential and a high tumor-forming capacity in cell culture and in vivo. Mechanistically, HMGA2-EGFR constitutively induced a higher level of phosphorylated STAT5B than EGFRvIII, an in-frame exon deletion product of the EGFR gene that is commonly found in primary glioblastoma. Forced expression of HMGA2-EGFR enhanced orthotopic tumor formation of the U87MG human glioma cell line. Furthermore, the EGFR kinase inhibitor erlotinib blocked sphere formation of TGS-01 cells in culture and inhibited tumor formation in vivo. These findings suggest that, in addition to gene amplification and in-frame exon deletion, EGFR signaling can also be activated by gene fusion, suggesting a possible avenue for treatment of glioblastoma.

DOI： 10.1002/ijc.31179

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：International Journal of Cancer  

Glioblastoma is one of the most malignant forms of cancer, for which no effective targeted therapy has been found. Although The Cancer Genome Atlas has provided a list of fusion genes in glioblastoma, their role in progression of glioblastoma remains largely unknown. To search for novel fusion genes, we obtained RNA-seq data from TGS-01 human glioma-initiating cells, and identified a novel fusion gene (HMGA2-EGFR), encoding a protein comprising the N-terminal region of the high-mobility group AT-hook protein 2 (HMGA2) fused to the C-terminal region of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which retained the transmembrane and kinase domains of the EGFR. This fusion gene product showed transforming potential and a high tumor-forming capacity in cell culture and in vivo. Mechanistically, HMGA2-EGFR constitutively induced a higher level of phosphorylated STAT5B than EGFRvIII, an in-frame exon deletion product of the EGFR gene that is commonly found in primary glioblastoma. Forced expression of HMGA2-EGFR enhanced orthotopic tumor formation of the U87MG human glioma cell line. Furthermore, the EGFR kinase inhibitor erlotinib blocked sphere formation of TGS-01 cells in culture and inhibited tumor formation in vivo. These findings suggest that, in addition to gene amplification and in-frame exon deletion, EGFR signaling can also be activated by gene fusion, suggesting a possible avenue for treatment of glioblastoma.

DOI： 10.1002/ijc.31179

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nature Publishing Group  

MnO2-carbon hybrid (MnO2-C-PBz) was simultaneously synthesized by a one-step solution plasma process (SPP) using a single precursor referred to as "purple benzene", which was derived from the K+(dicyclohexano-18-crown-6 ether) complex. To clarify the synergistic effects on the cationic dye removal, MnO2-free carbon and carbon-free MnO2 samples were concurrently investigated. The results of adsorption for cationic dyes (methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (Rh B)) and anionic dye (methyl orange (MO)) revealed remarkably high affinity for cationic dyes. In particular, MnO2-C-PBz exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for MB, i.e., ∼3 times greater than that of the others. In addition, MnO2-C-PBz exhibited a rapid, high decolorization ability at C0 = 10 mg L-1 (within a few seconds, ∼99%) and at C0 = 100 mg L-1 (within 30 min, ∼81%), and the theoretical maximum monolayer adsorption capacity was 357.14 mg g-1 as calculated from the Langmuir adsorption isotherm equation. Furthermore, compared with carbon-free MnO2, MnO2-C-PBz exhibited quite a good cyclic stability. We expect that our findings give rise to the understanding of the synergistic effects of MnO2-carbon hybrid, as well as role of each components for the cationic dye adsorption, and may open an innovative synthesis approach to inorganic-organic hybrid materials.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-018-22203-1

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry  

Conscious of the potential bioactivity of fluorine, an investigation was conducted using various fluorine-containing diaryliodonium salts in order to study and compare their biological activity against human lymphoma U937 cells. Most of the compounds tested are well-known reagents for fluoro-functionalized arylation reactions in synthetic organic chemistry, but their biological properties are not fully understood. Herein, after initially investigating 18 fluoro-functionalized reagents, we discovered that the ortho-fluorofunctionalized diaryliodonium salt reagents showed remarkable cytotoxicity in vitro. These results led us to synthesize more compounds, previously unknown sterically demanding diaryliodonium salts having a pentafluorosulfanyl (SF5) functional group at the ortho-position, that is, unsymmetrical ortho-SF5 phenylaryl-λ3-iodonium salts. Newly synthesized mesityl(2-(pentafluoro-λ6-sulfanyl)phenyl)iodonium exhibited the greatest potency in vitro against U937 cells. Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of selected phenylaryl-λ3-iodonium salts against AGLCL (a normal human B cell line) was also examined.

DOI： 10.3762/bjoc.14.24

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Intensive Care  

Background and purpose: The Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2016 (J-SSCG 2016), a Japanese-specific set of clinical practice guidelines for sepsis and septic shock created jointly by the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, was first released in February 2017 and published in the Journal of JSICM, [2017; Volume 24 (supplement 2)] https://doi.org/10.3918/jsicm.24S0001 and Journal of Japanese Association for Acute Medicine [2017; Volume 28, (supplement 1)] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jja2.2017.28.issue-S1/issuetoc. This abridged English edition of the J-SSCG 2016 was produced with permission from the Japanese Association of Acute Medicine and the Japanese Society for Intensive Care Medicine. Methods: Members of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine were selected and organized into 19 committee members and 52 working group members. The guidelines were prepared in accordance with the Medical Information Network Distribution Service (Minds) creation procedures. The Academic Guidelines Promotion Team was organized to oversee and provide academic support to the respective activities allocated to each Guideline Creation Team. To improve quality assurance and workflow transparency, a mutual peer review system was established, and discussions within each team were open to the public. Public comments were collected once after the initial formulation of a clinical question (CQ) and twice during the review of the final draft. Recommendations were determined to have been adopted after obtaining support from a two-thirds (>66.6%) majority vote of each of the 19 committee members. Results: A total of 87 CQs were selected among 19 clinical areas, including pediatric topics and several other important areas not covered in the first edition of the Japanese guidelines (J-SSCG 2012). The approval rate obtained through committee voting, in addition to ratings of the strengths of the recommendation, and its supporting evidence were also added to each recommendation statement. We conducted meta-analyses for 29 CQs. Thirty-seven CQs contained recommendations in the form of an expert consensus due to insufficient evidence. No recommendations were provided for five CQs. Conclusions: Based on the evidence gathered, we were able to formulate Japanese-specific clinical practice guidelines that are tailored to the Japanese context in a highly transparent manner. These guidelines can easily be used not only by specialists, but also by non-specialists, general clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical engineers, and other healthcare professionals.

DOI： 10.1186/s40560-017-0270-8

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Intensive Care  

Background and purpose: The Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2016 (J-SSCG 2016), a Japanese-specific set of clinical practice guidelines for sepsis and septic shock created jointly by the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, was first released in February 2017 and published in the Journal of JSICM, [2017; Volume 24 (supplement 2)] https://doi.org/10.3918/jsicm.24S0001 and Journal of Japanese Association for Acute Medicine [2017; Volume 28, (supplement 1)] http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/jja2.2017.28.issue-S1/issuetoc. This abridged English edition of the J-SSCG 2016 was produced with permission from the Japanese Association of Acute Medicine and the Japanese Society for Intensive Care Medicine. Methods: Members of the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine were selected and organized into 19 committee members and 52 working group members. The guidelines were prepared in accordance with the Medical Information Network Distribution Service (Minds) creation procedures. The Academic Guidelines Promotion Team was organized to oversee and provide academic support to the respective activities allocated to each Guideline Creation Team. To improve quality assurance and workflow transparency, a mutual peer review system was established, and discussions within each team were open to the public. Public comments were collected once after the initial formulation of a clinical question (CQ) and twice during the review of the final draft. Recommendations were determined to have been adopted after obtaining support from a two-thirds (>66.6%) majority vote of each of the 19 committee members. Results: A total of 87 CQs were selected among 19 clinical areas, including pediatric topics and several other important areas not covered in the first edition of the Japanese guidelines (J-SSCG 2012). The approval rate obtained through committee voting, in addition to ratings of the strengths of the recommendation, and its supporting evidence were also added to each recommendation statement. We conducted meta-analyses for 29 CQs. Thirty-seven CQs contained recommendations in the form of an expert consensus due to insufficient evidence. No recommendations were provided for five CQs. Conclusions: Based on the evidence gathered, we were able to formulate Japanese-specific clinical practice guidelines that are tailored to the Japanese context in a highly transparent manner. These guidelines can easily be used not only by specialists, but also by non-specialists, general clinicians, nurses, pharmacists, clinical engineers, and other healthcare professionals.

DOI： 10.1186/s40560-017-0270-8

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP PUBLISHING LTD  

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.57.010201

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP PUBLISHING LTD  

Carbon black nanoparticles (CB-NPs) have been synthesized from liquid benzene by a solution plasma method at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. The morphological observation by scanning electron microscopy revealed the agglomeration of aggregated fine particles. The synthesized CB-NPs were predominantly amorphous as confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The in vitro cytotoxicity of CB-NPs on the human lung fibroblast (MRC-5) cell line was assessed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and systematically compared with those of two types of commercial carbon blacks (i.e., Vulcan XC-72 and Ketjenblack EC-600JD). Cell viabilities were studied at different concentrations of 32.5, 65, 125, and 250 mu g/mL. It was found that the CB-NPs derived from solution plasma exhibited a lower cytotoxicity on the MRC-5 cells than the other two comparative carbon blacks. The viability of MRC-5 cells exposed to CB-NPs remained higher than 90% even at a high concentration of 250 mu g/mL. This result preliminarily confirmed the biosafety and potential use of CB-NPs in the field of biological applications. (c) 2018 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.57.0102BG

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP PUBLISHING LTD  

Chitosan is a polysaccharide that has been extensively studied in the field of biomedicine, especially its water-soluble degraded products called chitooligosaccharides (COS). In this study, COS were produced by the degradation of chitosan hydrogel dispersed in a dilute solution (i.e., 1.55mM) of various kinds of carboxylic acids using a non-thermal plasma technology called solution plasma (SP). The degradation rates of chitosan were influenced by the type of carboxylic acids, depending on the interaction between chitosan and each carboxylic acid. After SP treatment, the water-soluble degraded products containing COS could be easily separated from the water-insoluble residue of chitosan hydrogel by centrifugation. The production yields of the COS were mostly higher than 55%. Furthermore, the obtained COS products were evaluated for their inhibitory effect as well as their selectivity against human lung cancer cells (H460) and human lung normal cells (MRC-5). (C) 2018 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.57.0102B5

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP PUBLISHING LTD  

Reducing the use of toxic chemicals, production steps, and time consumption are important concerns for researchers and process engineers to contribute in the quest for an efficient process in any production. If an equipment setup is simple, the process additionally becomes more profitable. Combination of the mentioned requirements has opened up various applications of the solution plasma process (SPP)-a physical means of generating plasma through an electrical discharge in a liquid medium at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. This review shows the progress of scientific research on the applications of the SPP for the synthesis/modification of inorganic nanostructured materials and the treatment of natural polymers. Development achieved in each application is demonstrated. (C) 2018 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.57.0102A3

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP PUBLISHING LTD  

Silicon has been attracting attention as an anode material that can be used for the design of high-capacity lithium ion batteries (LIB). However, the long-term cycling performance of silicon is limited owing to exfoliation from the current collector, resulting from volumetric expansion upon alloying with lithium in the charging process. However, carbon black is an agglomerate of primary particles that form a network and can incorporate a sufficient void space between network structures to accommodate the volumetric expansion of silicon. In this study, we propose the possibility of preventing the volume expansion and exfoliation of silicon by capturing silicon nanoparticles in the void space of the carbon black network. A silicon-carbon black composite material with this structure was successfully synthesized by solution plasma processing. (C) 2018 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.57.0102B2

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP PUBLISHING LTD  

Solution plasma is a new electrical discharge process where an atmospheric non-equilibrium plasma is generated, usually at room temperature, in a liquid environment, such as an aqueous solution or an organic compound. There are a large variety of combinations used in experiments among solutions, electrode materials, plasma configurations, volumes, and reactor geometries, as well as the characteristics of the power supply. The solution plasma process (SPP) combines gas discharge physics, fluid thermodynamic properties, and fluid interfaces reactions. In SPP, nanoparticles with various sizes, shapes, crystallinities, and compositions could be obtained. The synthesis of carbon and hetero-carbon nanomaterials proves that SPP is an efficient and rapid method for their production. The polymerization of benzene in SPP can form graphene. By simply changing the organic precursor, carbon-doped nanostructures can be synthesized with a controlled composition. This review demonstrates that SPP is a new reaction field for nanomaterial production. (C) 2018 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.57.0102A4

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：RSC Advances  

DOI： 10.1039/c8ra06614k

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Physical Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.11316/jpsgaiyo.73.1.0_1800

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：RSC Advances  

DOI： 10.1039/c8ra06614k

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Chemical Science  

The trans-tetrafluoro-λ6-sulfane (SF4) group has been utilized as a unique three-dimensional building block for the linear connection of two independent N-heterocycles, pyridines and triazoles. The linearly connected heterocyclic compounds were synthesized by thermal Huisgen 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition between previously unknown pyridine SF4-alkynes and readily available azides, providing a series of rod-like SF4-connected N-heterocycles in good to excellent yields. X-ray crystallographic analysis of the target products revealed the trans-geometry of the SF4 group, which linearly connects two independent N-heterocycles. This research will open the field of chemistry of SF4-connected heterocyclic compounds.

DOI： 10.1039/c8sc01216d

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Neural Plasticity  

Although pain is indispensable for survival, chronic pain places a heavy burden on humans. As the efficacy of opioid treatment is limited, the development of alternative methods of pain relief without medication is desirable. Recently, we have developed a novel method of physical analgesia using an adhesive "pyramidal thorn patch." When we apply about 3 trials of these patches on the skin of a pain region, the pain region moves toward the spinal cord like a "cutaneous rabbit," and finally, the pain vanishes. In the present review, we propose a molecular mechanism for this analgesic method or pain relief following application of the pyramidal thorn patch where firstly the mechanoreceptors and their related nerves under the skin are activated in response to touch. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels serve as mechanosensitive channels within these mechanoreceptors. We further propose that activation of the nerves connected with the mechanoreceptors releases oxytocin, which has an antinociceptive function and activates TRP channels to hyperpolarize the pain signal nerves. We believe that our system will pave the way for alternative pain treatment.

DOI： 10.1155/2018/1260285

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Neural Plasticity  

Although pain is indispensable for survival, chronic pain places a heavy burden on humans. As the efficacy of opioid treatment is limited, the development of alternative methods of pain relief without medication is desirable. Recently, we have developed a novel method of physical analgesia using an adhesive "pyramidal thorn patch." When we apply about 3 trials of these patches on the skin of a pain region, the pain region moves toward the spinal cord like a "cutaneous rabbit," and finally, the pain vanishes. In the present review, we propose a molecular mechanism for this analgesic method or pain relief following application of the pyramidal thorn patch where firstly the mechanoreceptors and their related nerves under the skin are activated in response to touch. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels serve as mechanosensitive channels within these mechanoreceptors. We further propose that activation of the nerves connected with the mechanoreceptors releases oxytocin, which has an antinociceptive function and activates TRP channels to hyperpolarize the pain signal nerves. We believe that our system will pave the way for alternative pain treatment.

DOI： 10.1155/2018/1260285

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA  

Defective TiO2 or black TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) are remarkably attractive for photocatalytic applications, since the defect-disordered structure crucially affects the optical properties. In this work, high visible light-active black TiO2 NPs were synthesized by an innovative solution plasma process (SPP) with a titanium (Ti) electrode in HNO3 solution. The effects of the plasma operating parameters, in terms of the pulse frequency (20-80 kHz) and pulse width (0.5-2.0 mu s) under two different HNO3 concentrations (0.3 mM and 3.0 mM) on the morphology, structural and optical properties of the obtained black TiO2 NPs were explored. Increasing the pulse frequency, pulse width and concentration of HNO3 all increased the input energy per pulse and energy per second, which induced an increased volume-based particle size, synthesis rate and Ti3+/Ti4+ ratio, but decreased the rutile mass fraction, the Ti-OH/TiO ratio and the band gap energy of the obtained black TiO2 NPs. Among all the prepared black TiO2 NP samples, those prepared at a pulse frequency of 20 kHz, pulse width of 2 mu s (energy input per second of 17.3 J) in 3.0 mM HNO3 exhibited the highest visible-light absorption capability (the lowest band gap energy of -2.44 eV). The variation in the band gap energy was more strongly dependent on the Ti3+/Ti4+ ratio than the Ti-OH/ TiO ratio in the structure of black TiO2 NPs. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.08.028

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：American Chemical Society  

We report a simple room-temperature synthesis route for increasing the reactivity of a TiO2 photocatalyst using a solution plasma process (SPP). Hydrogen radicals generated from the SPP chamber interact with the TiO2 photocatalyst feedstock, transforming its crystalline phase and introducing oxygen vacancy defects. In this work, we examined a pure anatase TiO2 as a model feedstock because of its photocatalytic attributes and well-characterized properties. After the SPP treatment, the pure anatase crystalline phase was transformed to an anatase/brookite heterocrystalline phase with oxygen vacancies. Furthermore, the SPP treatment promoted the absorption of both UV and visible light by TiO2. As a result, TiO2 treated by the SPP for 3 h showed a high gaseous photocatalytic performance (91.1%) for acetaldehyde degradation to CO2 compared with the activity of untreated TiO2 (51%). The SPP-treated TiO2 was also more active than nitrogen-doped TiO2 driven by visible light (66%). The overall photocatalytic performance was related to the SPP treatment time. The SPP technique could be used to enhance the activity of readily available feedstocks with a short processing time. These results demonstrate the potential of this method for modifying narrow-band gap metal oxides, metal sulfides, and polymer composite-based catalyst materials. The modifications of these materials are not limited to photocatalysts and could be used in a wide range of energy and environment-based applications.

DOI： 10.1021/acsomega.7b01698

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nuclear Physics A  

DOI： 10.1016/S0375-9474(17)30382-2

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER CHEMICAL SOC  

Compared with conventional graphene, few-layer graphene is an easy-to-use material because of its interesting mechanical and chemical properties. Meanwhile, solution plasma (SP) represents a nonequilibrium discharge, which induces electron exchange similar to a catalyst. Thus, SP serves as an electron donor and acceptor between organic molecules and graphite flakes in a solution. Finally, electron exchange leads to the formation of few-layer graphene by peeling graphite flakes. Furthermore, CN-functionalized few-layer graphene (f-FLG) exhibits excellent stability and dispersibility because of the balance of attractive and repulsive forces, i.e., the van der Waals force between the planes and the electrostatic force of the nitrile functional groups on the edges. In this study, f-FLG was successfully synthesized by peeling graphite flakes via electron exchange induced by SP in an aqueous solution containing an ionic liquid (IL) (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium dicyanamide (EMIM-DCA)). X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that the intensity of the 002 diffraction of graphite and the crystallite size along the [001] direction decreased to about S nm after SP treatment, indicating the progress of graphite flake peeling. Furthermore, the purified product comprised three layers with a crystallite size along the basal plane of about 80 nm evaluated by the deconvolution of the Raman 2D band. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed that the synthesized f-FLG contains 7.7 atom % nitrogen, and the IR spectrum revealed the presence of the CN functional group. To understand the peeling mechanism, the ionization potential (I-P) and electron affinity (EA) of the IL in water, and the averaged electron excitation temperature (T-e) in plasma were estimated by ab initio molecular orbital calculations, cyclic voltammetry, and optical emission spectroscopy. An energy diagram of I-p, E-A, and T-e shows that SP served to pump electrons for their circulation via EMIM-DCA and to remove electrons from graphite flakes and inject into f-FLG.

DOI： 10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b08516

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCI LTD  

In the present study, cellulose colloids are treated with the solution plasma process in order to prepare reducing sugar. The investigated parameters are treatment time, type of electrodes, and applied pulse frequency of the bipolar supply. The reducing sugar was characterized by DNS method and the%yield of total reducing sugar (TRS) was then calculated. The crystal structure and chemical structure of plasma treated cellulose was measured by XRD and FT-IR, respectively. The%yield of TRS was greatly enhanced by solution plasma treatment using Fe electrode. SEM and TEM micrograph indicated that Fe electrode yield the incidental Fe nanoparticles, hypothesized to catalyze the cellulose degradation during SPP treatment. The crystal structure of cellulose was destroyed. Solution plasma treatment of cellulose using Fe electrode at the high applied frequency pulse provided the highest%TRS. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.05.025

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Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8757-3933

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：British Poultry Science  

1. The E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (WWP1) gene, the mutation of which causes muscular dystrophy in chickens, is expressed not only in the pectoral muscle, but also in a number of tissues such as the kidney. Therefore, this study examined some parameters related to kidney function in muscular dystrophic (MD) chickens. 2. Plasma osmolality, Na+ and K+ concentrations, aldosterone levels, and the expression of aquaporin (AQP) 2, AQP3, and α subunits of the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (αENaC) were analysed in the kidneys of 5-week-old MD chickens and White Leghorn (WL) chickens under physiological conditions or after one day of water deprivation. 3. Plasma osmolality, Na+ concentrations, and plasma aldosterone levels were significantly higher in MD chickens than in WL chickens. αENaC mRNA expression levels were lower in MD chickens than in WL chickens. AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA expression levels were similar in the two strains of chickens. 4. Plasma osmolality correlated with aldosterone levels and AQP2 and αENaC mRNA levels in WL chickens. In MD chickens, plasma osmolality correlated with AQP2 mRNA levels, but not with plasma aldosterone or αENaC mRNA levels. 5. These results suggest that neither water reabsorption nor the expression of AQP2 and AQP3 is impaired in MD chickens and that a WWP1 gene mutation may or may not directly induce an abnormality in Na+-reabsorption in the kidneys of MD chickens, potentially through αENaC.

DOI： 10.1080/00071668.2017.1354356

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：British Poultry Science  

1. The E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 1 (WWP1) gene, the mutation of which causes muscular dystrophy in chickens, is expressed not only in the pectoral muscle, but also in a number of tissues such as the kidney. Therefore, this study examined some parameters related to kidney function in muscular dystrophic (MD) chickens. 2. Plasma osmolality, Na+ and K+ concentrations, aldosterone levels, and the expression of aquaporin (AQP) 2, AQP3, and α subunits of the amiloride-sensitive epithelial sodium channel (αENaC) were analysed in the kidneys of 5-week-old MD chickens and White Leghorn (WL) chickens under physiological conditions or after one day of water deprivation. 3. Plasma osmolality, Na+ concentrations, and plasma aldosterone levels were significantly higher in MD chickens than in WL chickens. αENaC mRNA expression levels were lower in MD chickens than in WL chickens. AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA expression levels were similar in the two strains of chickens. 4. Plasma osmolality correlated with aldosterone levels and AQP2 and αENaC mRNA levels in WL chickens. In MD chickens, plasma osmolality correlated with AQP2 mRNA levels, but not with plasma aldosterone or αENaC mRNA levels. 5. These results suggest that neither water reabsorption nor the expression of AQP2 and AQP3 is impaired in MD chickens and that a WWP1 gene mutation may or may not directly induce an abnormality in Na+-reabsorption in the kidneys of MD chickens, potentially through αENaC.

DOI： 10.1080/00071668.2017.1354356

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Japan Society of Applied Physics  

A simple method of fabricating carboxyl-terminated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with alkyl spacers was developed to improve the dispersion quality of MWCNTs in aqueous solutions using solution plasma (SP) in a 6-aminocaproic acid solution. The formation of SP in the solution led to better dispersion of MWCNTs in aqueous solutions. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) results indicate that a carboxyl group with an alkyl spacer can be introduced by SP treatment in the 6-aminocaproic acid solution. Sedimentation tests show that the SP-treated MWCNTs in the 6-aminocaproic acid solution retained their good dispersion quality in aqueous solutions of pHs 5 6 and 9. The alkyl spacer plays an important role in the preservation of dispersion states particularly at pH 6.

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.56.096202

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

We report a measurement of e+e- pairs from semileptonic heavy-flavor decays in p+p collisions at sNN=200 GeV. The e+e- pair yield from bb and cc is separated by exploiting a double differential fit done simultaneously in dielectron invariant mass and pT. We used three different event generators, pythia, mc@nlo, and powheg, to simulate the e+e- spectra from cc and bb production. The data can be well described by all three generators within the detector acceptance. However, when using the generators to extrapolate to 4π, significant differences are observed for the total cross section. These difference are less pronounced for bb than for cc. The same model dependence was observed in already published d+A data. The p+p data are also directly compared with d+A data in mass and pT, and within the statistical accuracy no nuclear modification is seen.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.96.024907

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH  

Solution plasma process has been researched as one of the synthetic methods of nano- and functional materials using plasma discharge in liquids. In this study, a low-pass filter circuit was introduced to increase the density and temperature of electrons involved in a non-equilibrium condition. The discharge properties of the solution plasma generated by conventional and low-pass filter circuits were characterized and comparatively analyzed. Filtration of the MHz range current oscillations, an increase in the maximum discharge current, and a higher stability of solution plasma were obtained by simply inserting a resistor-capacitor (RC) component in the circuit, which leads to the increases in the density and temperature of electrons.

DOI： 10.1002/ppap.201600163

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCI LTD  

Solution plasma (SP) treatment in combination with oxidizing agents, i.e., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) were adopted to chitosan degradation in order to achieve fast degradation rate, low chemicals used and high yield of low-molecular-weight chitosan and chitooligosaccharide (COS). Among the studied oxidizing agents, H2O2 was found to be the best choice in terms of appreciable molecular weight reduction without major change in chemical structure of the degraded products of chitosan. By the combination with SP treatment, dilute solution of H2O2 (4-60 mM) was required for effective degradation of chitosan. The combination of SP treatment and dilute solution of H2O2 (60 mM) resulted in the great reduction of molecular weight of chitosan and water-soluble chitosan was obtained as a major product. The resulting water-soluble chitosan was precipitated to obtain COS. An inhibitory effect against cervical cancer cell line (HeLa cells) of COS was also examined. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.03.006

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Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8757-3933

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCI LTD  

Solution plasma (SP) treatment in combination with oxidizing agents, i.e., hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), potassium persulfate (K2S2O8) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) were adopted to chitosan degradation in order to achieve fast degradation rate, low chemicals used and high yield of low-molecular-weight chitosan and chitooligosaccharide (COS). Among the studied oxidizing agents, H2O2 was found to be the best choice in terms of appreciable molecular weight reduction without major change in chemical structure of the degraded products of chitosan. By the combination with SP treatment, dilute solution of H2O2 (4-60 mM) was required for effective degradation of chitosan. The combination of SP treatment and dilute solution of H2O2 (60 mM) resulted in the great reduction of molecular weight of chitosan and water-soluble chitosan was obtained as a major product. The resulting water-soluble chitosan was precipitated to obtain COS. An inhibitory effect against cervical cancer cell line (HeLa cells) of COS was also examined. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbpol.2017.03.006

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Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8757-3933

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER CHEMICAL SOC  

We have demonstrated a simple and green approach to synthesize hierarchical nanoporous MnO2 by applying plasma in a liquid precursor; the approach is named the "solution plasma process (SPP)." Three types of sugar, i.e., glucose, fructose, and sucrose, were used as inducers for the nanoporous MnO2 formation (hereafter called G-MnO2, F-MnO2, and S-MnO2). These were successfully synthesized within a few minutes (7-19 min) under ambient conditions. It was confirmed that the generated numerous reactive species (e.g., electrons, radicals, and ions) accelerated the reduction of MnO4-. The reaction rate as well as the physical and chemical features of resulting products were found to be related to the type of sugars. Their high surface areas (F-MnO2 (169.1 m(2).g(-1)) &gt; G-MnO2 (141.0 m(2)-g(-1)) &gt; S-MnO2 (85.5 m(2).g(-1))) provided efficient capability for the adsorption of cationic dye molecules, i.e., methylene blue. The dye removal efficiencies of all samples were &gt;99% for an initial dye concentration (CO of 10 mg.L-1 within 2 min and &gt;82% for C-0 = 50 mg.L-1 within 30 min. We expect that the synthesis route presented in this study can be extended to the large-scale production of effective adsorbents and to find practical applications for the industrial and green infrastructure.

DOI： 10.1021/acssuschemeng.7b00560

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA  

PtPd nanoparticles in the size range of 2-5 nm have been directly synthesized from their metal wire electrodes via a one-step plasma sputtering technique in a solution of water and methanol under atmospheric pressure. PtPd nanoparticles produced in the water/methanol solution have good dispersibility compared with those produced in water because methanol successfully reduces the aggregation of the nanoparticles during the plasma sputtering process. Further, the solution plasma technique provides a novel reaction field with a highly energetic state for the PtPd nanoparticle synthesis. KB-supported PtPd nanoparticles (PtPd/KB, 12 wt% Pt) exhibit excellent electrocatalytic activity (over 4 times mass activity compared with commercial Pt/C) and stability (maintaining 43% mass activity after 300 cycles) towards methanol electrooxidation because of their large electrochemical surface area (ECSA, that is 2.5 times greater than that of commercial Pt/C) and synergistic effect of the binary alloy. Thus, as-synthesized PtPd/KB catalysts may have potential applications in direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs) to lower their cost and improve their cycle efficiency. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jallcom.2017.03.202

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Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8757-3933

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP  

The solution plasma process (SPP), known as non-equilibrium cold plasma at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, was used to investigate the synthesis of nitrogen-carbon nasnosheets (NCNs). To verify the effect of elementary composition and structure of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), various precursors were used in the SPP to synthesize NCNs via the bottom-up synthesis method for the first time. The NCNs were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Among the various precursors, SPP of 2-pyrrolidone was demonstrated to facilitate the formation of highly ordered NCNs. On the other hand, the SPP with cyclopentanone, cyclohexanone and pyrrole did not lead to the formation of carbon nanosheets. The results of this study would uncover new parameter fields for the growth of heteroatom-carbon nanosheets using this synthesis system. In addition, the study is expected to contribute toward research in improving the large-area growth and quality of two-dimensional nanostructures, such as heteroatom-carbon nanosheets or graphene, for various applications in other synthesis methods.

DOI： 10.1038/s41598-017-04190-x

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：WILEY  

We report the effect of wet ball-milling process under mild neutral salt conditions on the alteration of crystallinity and surface state of microcrystalline cellulose (MC). The ball-milling experiments were performed when the MC was immersed in H2O, NaCl aqueous solution, and KCl aqueous solution. Two collation groups, i.e., MC immersed in H2O2 and nonimmersed MC were additionally investigated for comparison. Except when H2O2 was present, the highest decrease in the cellulose crystallinity index (CI) was observed in dilute KCl. On the other hand, the CI of wet-milled MC/NaCl was greater than that of the wet-milled MC/H2O, however, still lower than that of the non-immersed MC. XPS results showed that the carbonization progressed in dry-milled MC and wet-milled MC/NaCl surfaces. Though, the surface oxidization progressed in wet-milled MC/H2O and wet-milled MC/KCl. Lastly, the ball-milling processes in different solutions led to various decreases of the crystallinity and the surface degradation due to carbonization and/or oxidization. (C) 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym.

DOI： 10.1002/APP.44903

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Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8757-3933

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：OPTICAL SOC AMER  

An Nd:YAG laser-based sodium temperature/wind lidar was developed for the measurement of the northern polar mesosphere and lower thermosphere at Tromso (69.6N, 19.2E), Norway. Coherent light at 589 nm is produced by sum frequency generation of 1064 nm and 1319 nm from two diode laser end-pumped pulsed Nd:YAG lasers. The output power is as high as 4W, with 4 mJ/pulse at 1000 Hz repetition rate. Five tilting Cassegrain telescopes enable us to make five-direction (zenith, north, south, east, west) observation for temperature and wind simultaneously. This highly stable laser system is first of its kind to operate virtually maintenance-free during the observation season (from late September to March) since 2010. (C) 2017 Optical Society of America

DOI： 10.1364/OE.25.00A491

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY  

Synthesis of boron-carbon-nitrogen (BCN) nanocarbon with a controllable bond structure for enhanced oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and durability was performed using a new method of discharge in organic solution mixtures named the 'Solution Plasma Process'. Using selected precursors a new strategy for the simultaneous synthesis of nanocarbon co-doped with heteroatoms was found. The synergistic effect of N and B in an uncoupling bond state improved the formation of new active sites for the ORR performance by changing the electronic structure of the base carbon. Meanwhile, when B and N are bonded together, the BCN catalyst contributes to a reduced ORR activity by forming a balanced electronic structure in carbon. The BCN nanocarbon with an uncoupling bond state exhibits an enhanced ORR activity under alkaline conditions, with an onset potential of -0.25 V versus -0.31 V for B/N coupling and 3.43 transferred electrons during the ORR. Although the ORR activity of the B/N uncoupling nanocarbon was not as good as the typical Pt/C, the durability of this synthesized material (15.1% current decrease after 20000 s of operation) was significantly better than that of the Pt/C catalyst (61.5% current drop under the same conditions). After the durability test, the increase of the chemical states containing oxygen was higher for Pt/C than B/N uncoupling.

DOI： 10.1039/c6cp06063c

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV  

In this work, TiO2 was decorated with one of four different metals (Bi, Pd, Pt and Au) by sol immobilization at ambient condition. The individual addition of each metals on the TiO2 did not affect the crystallite size or band gap energy of TiO2, but increased its visible light absorption ability due to the localized surface plasmon resonance effect of the doped metals, except for Bi, as well as the mechanism of the charge transfer. Among all the prepared metal-decorated TiO2 photocatalysts, Au/TiO2 exhibited the highest visible light absorption ability and an appropriate mechanism of charge transfer, which consequently alleviated the e(-)-h(+) recombination. It also provided the highest photocatalytic activity for glycerol conversion (92.8% at 14 h) and yield of dihydroxyacetone, glyceraldehyde, glycolic acid, hydroxypyruvic acid and formaldehyde of 12.0, 23.1, 10.7, 13.6 and 15.3%, respectively. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.mcat.2017.02.022

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

In this study, Ag@Co3O4 core-shell hybrid nanocrystals are synthesized using a plasma discharge in water for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline solutions. A detailed analysis via electron microscopy in combination with EDS elemental mapping conclusively verifies that the reactive oxygen species generated from the plasma-assisted decomposition of water molecules govern the phase structure of the nanocrystals. Under oxidizing conditions, the Co oxide, which is more stable than the Ag oxide, provides the driving force for the segregation and preferential oxidation of Co at the surface. This leads to the formation of the core-shell architecture. The electrochemical measurements for the oxygen reduction reaction reveal that the specific activities of the Ag@Co3O4 core-shell nanocrystals are ca. 5.2 and 2.6 times higher than those of the pure Ag and Ag-Co alloy nanocrystals. The enhanced catalytic performance is attributed to the combination of electronic and geometric effects, which facilitates the O-O bond breaking and desorption for the oxygen reduction. The insights gain through this study may serve as a foundation to design better electrochemical oxygen reduction electrocatalysts. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.03.049

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Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8757-3933

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports  

We previously reported that ubiquitin-specific protease (USP) 2 in macrophages down-regulates genes associated with metabolic diseases, suggesting a putative anti-diabetic role for USP2 in macrophages. In this study, we evaluate this role at both cellular and individual levels. Isolated macrophages forcibly expressing Usp2a, a longer splicing variant of USP2, failed to modulate the insulin sensitivity of 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Similarly, macrophage-selective overexpression of Usp2a in mice (Usp2a transgenic mice) had a negligible effect on insulin sensitivity relative to wild type littermates following a three-month high-fat diet. However, Usp2a transgenic mice exhibited fewer M1 macrophages in their mesenteric adipose tissue. Following a six-month high-fat diet, Usp2a transgenic mice exhibited a retarded progression of insulin resistance in their skeletal muscle and liver, and an improvement in insulin sensitivity at an individual level. Although conditioned media from Usp2a-overexpressing macrophages did not directly affect the insulin sensitivity of C2C12 myotubes compared to media from control macrophages, they did increase the insulin sensitivity of C2C12 cells after subsequent conditioning with 3T3-L1 cells. These results indicate that macrophage USP2A hampers obesity-elicited insulin resistance via an adipocyte-dependent mechanism.

DOI： 10.1016/j.bbrep.2017.01.009

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Genes to Cells  

In the mammalian global genome nucleotide excision repair pathway, two damage recognition factors, XPC and UV-DDB, play pivotal roles in the initiation of the repair reaction. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of the lesion recognition process in the context of chromatin structures remain to be understood. Here, we show evidence that damage recognition factors tend to associate with chromatin regions devoid of certain types of acetylated histones. Treatment of cells with histone deacetylase inhibitors retarded recruitment of XPC to sites of UV-induced DNA damage and the subsequent repair process. Biochemical studies showed novel multifaceted interactions of XPC with histone H3, which were profoundly impaired by deletion of the N-terminal tail of histone H3. In addition, histone H1 also interacted with XPC. Importantly, acetylation of histone H3 markedly attenuated the interaction with XPC in vitro, and local UV irradiation of cells decreased the level of H3K27ac in the damaged areas. Our results suggest that histone deacetylation plays a significant role in the process of DNA damage recognition for nucleotide excision repair and that the localization and functions of XPC can be regulated by acetylated states of histones.

DOI： 10.1111/gtc.12479

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA  

We report on the preparation of graphite-like carbon-coated ZnO nanoparticles by ball milling a powder mixture of ZnO and C. Magnetic measurements indicated that carbon coating can strongly enhance the room-temperature ferromagnetism of ZnO nanoparticles, depending on preparation conditions. This enhancement may stem from robust ferromagnetism at the ZnO/C interface. The origin of interfacial ferromagnetism is attributed to crystallographic defects at the surface of ZnO crystals which are stabilized by the carbon shell layer. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.10.200

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Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8757-3933

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA  

A high electrocatalytic performance Pt/ZnO/KB is well fabricated by a solution plasma technique in water at atmospheric pressure. Their electrocatalytic performance toward methanol oxidation is evaluated in alkaline with light irradiation or in dark. The electrocatalytic activity of Pt is improved in dark because the distribution and reactive sites of Pt nanoparticles are improved by coupling ZnO. And higher electrocatalytic activity is detected under light irradiation because of synergistic effect of photo- (ZnO) and electro-catalyst (Pt). Compared with several morphologies ZnO, ZnO nanowires give better catalytic activity for methanol oxidation than porous ZnO nanosheets because ZnO nanowires possess better electron transport property and smaller resistance. Under light irradiation, Pt/ZnO/KB coupled with ZnO nanowires shows over 3 times higher catalytic activity (ca. 964 mA mg(Pt-1)) than Pt/KB (ca. 306 mA mg(Pt-1)). And the tolerance to CO-poisoning and stability of Pt/ZnO/KB are also improved. Therefore, Pt/ZnO/KB nanocomposite will be a highly efficient potential anode catalyst in DMFCs with light irradiation. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jallcom.2016.09.032

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Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8757-3933

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (international conference proceedings)   Publisher：Elsevier Ltd  

Green liquid fuels are alternatively produced by pyrolysis of vegetable oil. Still, this process requires high processing temperature and high energy consumption per unit cost. Recently, solution/liquid-phase plasma (cold plasma) is the novel method to provide the direct energy at highly excited energy state. In this study, the investigation of the green fuel synthesis from vegetables oils using cold plasma was examined. The cold plasma reactor was connected to a bipolar pulsed power supply under 200 ml of palm oil, the pulse frequency adjusted from 15-45 kHz and the voltage adjusted in ranges of 1.2-1.5 kV with 40 minutes of discharge times, pulse width 2 μs, electrode distance 0.5 mm. Properties of generated plasma were investigated by optical emission spectroscopy (OES) methods. The liquid products were analysed by GC-MS. In order to identify components of the liquid product, a GC-MS chromatogram was carried out
the main peaks were oleic acid and palmitic acid. Therefore, the other peak showed which products were cracked to short-chain hydrocarbon and hexadecane was one of the compounds which were cracked in palm oil. In conclusion, the results showed that plasma has potential and enough energy to convert vegetable oils in liquid fuels at room temperature which can also provide the direct energy better than pyrolysis.

DOI： 10.1016/j.egypro.2017.10.224

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Key Engineering Materials  

DOI： 10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.751.773

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Surface Finishing Society of Japan  

<p>The optical and electronic performance of zinc oxide nanoparticles, which are widely used as optical and electronic materials, depends on the nanoparticle properties. The particle size is a particularly important factor affecting material properties. This study was conducted to elucidate the relation between the size of nanoparticles synthesized by solution plasma and each of several plasma formation parameters such as applied voltage, pulse width, and repetition frequency. The zinc electrodes were used to generate solution plasma. The zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized in solution plasma using a sputtering process. The synthesized nanoparticle shape was non-spherical. The nanoparticles were smaller than 100 nm along the long axis. Electrode sputtering occurred mainly on the cathode electrode. Therefore, positive ions in the solution plasma, e.g. H₂O⁺ and H₃O⁺, affect the zinc oxide nanoparticle formation. However, the particle size was correlated with the applied voltage between electrodes, not with the pulse width or pulse repetition frequency.</p>

DOI： 10.4139/sfj.68.147

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Surface Science Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.14886/sssj2008.37.0_27

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Surface Finishing Society of Japan  

<p>Nanocarbons were synthesized from benzene - water - sodium dodecyl sulfate（SDS）and benzene-（water-ethanol）-SDS systems using solution plasma. The stabilized emulsion formed in the benzene-water-SDS and benzene-（water-ethanol）-SDS. The specific surface areas of nanocarbons synthesized from benzene-water-SDS increased with the increase of the SDS concentration, although their variation was not great. By contrast, the surface areas of nanocarbons synthesized from benzene-（water-ethanol）-SDS were altered considerably compared to the variation in benzene-（water-ethanol）-SDS system. The maximum specific surface area was 387 m²/g. The minimum averaged pore size was 13.5 nm when the ratio of ethanol to water was 0.5. That fact suggests that the emulsion size of 50-100 nm influences the meso-structures of the obtained carbon in solution plasma processes.</p>

DOI： 10.4139/sfj.68.153

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Key Engineering Materials  

DOI： 10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.751.773

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Surface Science Society of Japan  

DOI： 10.14886/sssj2008.37.0_27

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Surface Finishing Society of Japan  

<p>Nanocarbons were synthesized from benzene - water - sodium dodecyl sulfate（SDS）and benzene-（water-ethanol）-SDS systems using solution plasma. The stabilized emulsion formed in the benzene-water-SDS and benzene-（water-ethanol）-SDS. The specific surface areas of nanocarbons synthesized from benzene-water-SDS increased with the increase of the SDS concentration, although their variation was not great. By contrast, the surface areas of nanocarbons synthesized from benzene-（water-ethanol）-SDS were altered considerably compared to the variation in benzene-（water-ethanol）-SDS system. The maximum specific surface area was 387 m²/g. The minimum averaged pore size was 13.5 nm when the ratio of ethanol to water was 0.5. That fact suggests that the emulsion size of 50-100 nm influences the meso-structures of the obtained carbon in solution plasma processes.</p>

DOI： 10.4139/sfj.68.153

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Surface Finishing Society of Japan  

<p>The optical and electronic performance of zinc oxide nanoparticles, which are widely used as optical and electronic materials, depends on the nanoparticle properties. The particle size is a particularly important factor affecting material properties. This study was conducted to elucidate the relation between the size of nanoparticles synthesized by solution plasma and each of several plasma formation parameters such as applied voltage, pulse width, and repetition frequency. The zinc electrodes were used to generate solution plasma. The zinc oxide nanoparticles were synthesized in solution plasma using a sputtering process. The synthesized nanoparticle shape was non-spherical. The nanoparticles were smaller than 100 nm along the long axis. Electrode sputtering occurred mainly on the cathode electrode. Therefore, positive ions in the solution plasma, e.g. H₂O⁺ and H₃O⁺, affect the zinc oxide nanoparticle formation. However, the particle size was correlated with the applied voltage between electrodes, not with the pulse width or pulse repetition frequency.</p>

DOI： 10.4139/sfj.68.147

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Scientific Reports  

DOI： 10.1038/srep38652

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Scientific Reports  

DOI： 10.1038/srep38652

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

The PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured second- and third-order Fourier coefficients of the azimuthal distributions of direct photons emitted at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV for various collision centralities. Combining two different analysis techniques, results were obtained in the transverse momentum range of 0.4<pT<4.0 GeV/c. At low pT the second-order coefficients, v2, are similar to the ones observed in hadrons. Third-order coefficients, v3, are nonzero and almost independent of centrality. These new results on v2 and v3, combined with previously published results on yields, are compared to model calculations that provide yields and asymmetries in the same framework. Those models are challenged to explain simultaneously the observed large yield and large azimuthal anisotropies.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.94.064901

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

The PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider has measured second- and third-order Fourier coefficients of the azimuthal distributions of direct photons emitted at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV for various collision centralities. Combining two different analysis techniques, results were obtained in the transverse momentum range of 0.4<pT<4.0 GeV/c. At low pT the second-order coefficients, v2, are similar to the ones observed in hadrons. Third-order coefficients, v3, are nonzero and almost independent of centrality. These new results on v2 and v3, combined with previously published results on yields, are compared to model calculations that provide yields and asymmetries in the same framework. Those models are challenged to explain simultaneously the observed large yield and large azimuthal anisotropies.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.94.064901

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Nuclear Physics A  

DOI： 10.1016/S0375-9474(16)30234-2

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Scientific Reports  

Although solution-plasma processing enables room-temperature synthesis of nanocarbons, the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. We investigated the routes of solution-plasma-induced nanocarbon formation from hexane, hexadecane, cyclohexane, and benzene. The synthesis rate from benzene was the highest. However, the nanocarbons from linear molecules were more crystalline than those from ring molecules. Linear molecules decomposed into shorter olefins, whereas ring molecules were reconstructed in the plasma. In the saturated ring molecules, C-H dissociation proceeded, followed by conversion into unsaturated ring molecules. However, unsaturated ring molecules were directly polymerized through cation radicals, such as benzene radical cation, and were converted into two- and three-ring molecules at the plasma-solution interface. The nanocarbons from linear molecules were synthesized in plasma from small molecules such as C2 under heat; the obtained products were the same as those obtained via pyrolysis synthesis. Conversely, the nanocarbons obtained from ring molecules were directly synthesized through an intermediate, such as benzene radical cation, at the interface between plasma and solution, resulting in the same products as those obtained via polymerization. These two different reaction fields provide a reasonable explanation for the fastest synthesis rate observed in the case of benzene.

DOI： 10.1038/srep36880

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Cuihua Xuebao/Chinese Journal of Catalysis  

The effect of the electron acceptors H2O2 and O2 on the type of generated reactive oxygen species (ROS), and glycerol conversion and product distribution in the TiO2-catalyzed photocatalytic oxidation of glycerol was studied at ambient conditions. In the absence of an electron acceptor, only HO· radicals were generated by irradiated UV light and TiO2. However, in the presence of the two electron acceptors, both HO· radical and 1O2 were produced by irradiated UV light and TiO2 in different concentrations that depended on the concentration of the electron acceptor. The use of H2O2 as an electron acceptor enhanced glycerol conversion more than O2. The type of generated value-added compounds depended on the concentration of the generated ROS.

DOI： 10.1016/S1872-2067(16)62519-6

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy  

The bed nucleus of the stria terminalis pars medialis (BSTM), medial preoptic nucleus (POM), and lateral septal region (LS) exhibit more vasotocin-immunoreactive (VT-ir) neural structures in male than in female adult quail. VT-ir cells and fibers in these regions are sensitive to gonadal steroids only in males. The insensitivity of adult female VT-ir neural structures to sex steroids is attributed to estradiol exposure during a critical period in embryonic life.Although the VT-ir system has been intensively examined in adult quail, information is limited in embryos and juveniles. Therefore, we herein investigated the development of VT-immunoreactive neural structures from embryonic day (E) 9 to adulthood with a particular focus on the BSTM, POM and LS of both sexes.VT-ir neural structures were more evident in female than in male embryos from E9 (BSTM and POM) and E11 (LS). This sex difference disappeared between E15 and post-hatch day 1 in the BSTM and POM, and during the first week of life in the LS. Male-biased sex differences in VT-ir structures appeared at puberty. Female-biased sexual dimorphism in the density of the VT-ir structures of BSTM was reflected by the stronger expression of VT mRNA in females than in males. However, the density of VT mRNA somata was comparable in the two sexes.The exposure of male embryos to estradiol resulted in the feminization of VT-ir neural structures in the BSTM, but not in the POM or LS at E11.Collectively, these results suggest that sex differences in VT-ir neural structures changes drastically throughout quail life. In embryos, endogenous estradiol may stimulate the expression of VT in females, resulting in a robust sex difference in VT-ir cells and fibers in favor of this sex.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2016.05.002

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics  

We used ab initio molecular orbital (MO) calculations to study the differences in the intermediate structures and the electronic states involved in the adsorption of O2 onto 13-atom metal clusters of Pt, Cu, and Au. Additionally, the conditions required for the electrocatalytic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on the Pt, Cu, and Au clusters were investigated and discussed. The intermediates involved in O2 adsorption onto Pt, Cu, and Au were found to be (Pt-O)-(Pt-O), Cu-O, and Au-O2, respectively. The differences in the O2 adsorption intermediates is explained on the basis of our analysis of the projected density of state (PDOS) area of the new MOs produced from a mixture of the 2pπ ∗ orbitals of O2 and the d orbitals of the metal clusters. The formation of the (Pt-O)-(Pt-O) intermediate after the adsorption of O2 onto the Pt cluster is attributed to the emergence of an antibonding orbital above the Fermi level. Thus, this electronic state can lead to the decomposition and desorption of O2 molecules, thereby promoting the high-activity level of ORR. For the Cu cluster, a new antibonding orbital was observed below the Fermi level. Moreover, the Cu cluster surface can only promote O2 decomposition and not O2 desorption due to the formation of copper oxides. For the Au cluster, no new MOs related to 2pπ ∗ orbitals of O2 appeared because O2 was molecularly adsorbed, implying that the Au cluster is an inefficient ORR catalyst.

DOI： 10.1088/0022-3727/49/41/415305

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Scientific Reports  

Although empathy is important for social interactions, individuals with alexithymia have low empathic ability, particularly where advanced empathy is concerned (empathic concern, perspective taking). It has been argued that awareness of the self-other distinction enhances advanced empathy, and alexithymics are thought to inadequately distinguish the self from others. We therefore tested whether the self-other distinction increases advanced empathy in alexithymics. To this end, we presented painful hand images over participants' own hands, and required participants to estimate felt pain intensity and their affective states. Half of the participants got specific instructions to distinct themselves from the other in the images. Felt pain intensity (perspective taking) and other-oriented affective responses (empathic concern) were increased by the instructions only when participants had high alexithymia scores as measured by questionnaire, although self-oriented affective responses (personal distress) were not affected by the instructions. These findings indicate that enhancing the self-other distinction enhances alexithymics' ability to use advanced empathy, but not the primitive empathy.

DOI： 10.1038/srep35059

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Structural Health Monitoring Technologies and Next-Generation Smart Composite Structures  

DOI： 10.4324/9781315373492

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ELSEVIER SCI LTD  

Zinc oxide (ZnO) was successfully synthesized by applying a solution plasma, a plasma discharge in a liquid phase, without the addition of a reducing agent and simultaneously deposited into a bacterial cellulose pellicle that functioned as a template. By the reasons of its nano-sized structure as well as favorable porous configuration, the BC pellicle has been proved to be a splendid upholding template for the coordination of ZnO. In addition, the ZnO-deposited BC composites demonstrated strong antibacterial activity without a photocatalytic reaction against both Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Hence, the ZnO-deposited BC composites can be used as an antibacterial material in wound dressing and water disinfection applications. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.04.066

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Science Advances  

Atypical neurodevelopment in autism spectrum disorder is a mystery, defying explanation despite increasing attention. We report on a Japanese macaque that spontaneously exhibited autistic traits, namely, impaired social ability as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors, along with our single-neuron and genomic analyses. Its social ability was measured in a turn-taking task, where two monkeys monitor each other’s actions for adaptive behavioral planning. In its brain, the medial frontal neurons responding to others’ actions, abundant in the controls, were almost nonexistent. In its genes, whole-exome sequencing and copy number variation analyses identified rare coding variants linked to human neuropsychiatric disorders in 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 2C (HTR2C) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)–binding cassette subfamily A13 (ABCA13). This combination of systems neuroscience and cognitive genomics in macaques suggests a new, phenotype-to-genotype approach to studying mental disorders.

DOI： 10.1126/sciadv.1600558

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

Measurements of the anisotropic flow coefficients v2{Ψ2},v3{Ψ3},v4{Ψ4}, and v4{Ψ2} for identified particles (π±,K±, and p+p) at midrapidity, obtained relative to the event planes Ψm at forward rapidities in Au + Au collisions at sNN=200GeV, are presented as a function of collision centrality and particle transverse momenta pT. The vn coefficients show characteristic patterns consistent with hydrodynamical expansion of the matter produced in the collisions. For each harmonic n, a modified valence quark-number Nq scaling [plotting vn{Ψm}/(Nq)n/2 versus transverse kinetic energies (KET)/Nq] is observed to yield a single curve for all the measured particle species for a broad range of KET. A simultaneous blast-wave model fit to the observed vn{Ψm}(pT) coefficients and published particle spectra identifies radial flow anisotropies ρn{Ψm} and spatial eccentricities sn{Ψm} at freeze-out. These are generally smaller than the initial-state participant-plane geometric eccentricities n{ΨmPP} as also observed in the final eccentricity from quantum interferometry measurements with respect to the event plane.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.93.051902

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY  

Heterocarbon nanosheets incorporating iron phthalocyanine (FP-NCNs-SP) have been successfully synthesized by a facile one-pot solution plasma process at high repetition frequency. It was found that the Fe-N-4 catalytic active sites could be preserved on the FP-NCNs-SP without degradation. The FP-NCNs-SP also possessed large surface area, good conductivity and high degree of graphitization. Electrochemical evaluations demonstrated that NCNs-SP had excellent electrocatalytic activity and selectivity toward oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in alkaline medium through a direct four-electron pathway. Although the significant improvement in ORR activity was clearly observed in acidic medium, it was much poorer than in alkaline medium. We believe that the results presented in this work will shed light on the advanced synthesis and design of ORR electrocatalysts at room temperature with an abundance of catalytically active sites and high ORR performance.

DOI： 10.1039/c5cp07739g

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：SPRINGER  

DNA extraction is the key step at various research areas like biotechnology, diagnostic development, paternity determination, and forensic science . Solid support extraction is the most common method for DNA purification. In this method, Na+ ions have often been applied as binding buffers in order to obtain high extraction efficiency and high quality of DNA; however, the presence of Na+ ions might be interfering with the downstream DNA applications. In this study, we proposed graphite oxide (GO)/magnetite composite/cellulose as an innovative material for Na+-free DNA extraction. The total wt.% of GO was fixed at 4.15% in the GO/cellulose/magnetite composite . The concentration of magnetite within the composites were controlled at 0-3.98 wt.%. The extraction yield of DNA increased with increasing weight percentage of magnetite. The highest yield was achieved at 3.98 wt.% magnetite, where the extraction efficiency was reported to be 338.5 ng/A mu l. The absorbance ratios between 260 nm and 280 nm (A260/A280) of the DNA elution volume was demonstrated as 1.81, indicating the extracted DNA consisted of high purity. The mechanism of adsorption of DNA was provided by (1) pi-pi interaction between the aromatic ring in GO and nucleobases of DNA molecule, and (2) surface charge interaction between the positive charge magnetite and anions such as phosphates within the DNA molecules. The results proved that the GO/cellulose/magnetite composite provides a Na+-free method for selective DNA extraction with high extraction efficiency of pure DNA.

DOI： 10.1007/s11837-016-1826-0

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review Letters  

Jet production rates are measured in p+p and d+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV recorded in 2008 with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Jets are reconstructed using the R=0.3 anti-kt algorithm from energy deposits in the electromagnetic calorimeter and charged tracks in multiwire proportional chambers, and the jet transverse momentum (pT) spectra are corrected for the detector response. Spectra are reported for jets with 12<pT<50 GeV/c, within a pseudorapidity acceptance of |η|<0.3. The nuclear-modification factor (RdAu) values for 0%-100% d+Au events are found to be consistent with unity, constraining the role of initial state effects on jet production. However, the centrality-selected RdAu values and central-to-peripheral ratios (RCP) show large, pT-dependent deviations from unity, challenging the conventional models that relate hard-process rates and soft-particle production in collisions involving nuclei.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.122301

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review Letters  

Jet production rates are measured in p+p and d+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV recorded in 2008 with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Jets are reconstructed using the R=0.3 anti-kt algorithm from energy deposits in the electromagnetic calorimeter and charged tracks in multiwire proportional chambers, and the jet transverse momentum (pT) spectra are corrected for the detector response. Spectra are reported for jets with 12<pT<50 GeV/c, within a pseudorapidity acceptance of |η|<0.3. The nuclear-modification factor (RdAu) values for 0%-100% d+Au events are found to be consistent with unity, constraining the role of initial state effects on jet production. However, the centrality-selected RdAu values and central-to-peripheral ratios (RCP) show large, pT-dependent deviations from unity, challenging the conventional models that relate hard-process rates and soft-particle production in collisions involving nuclei.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevLett.116.122301

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER CHEMICAL SOC  

Metal-free nitrogen-doped carbon material's are currently considered at the forefront of potential alternative cathode catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in fuel cell technology. Despite numerous efforts in this area over the past decade, rational design and development of a new catalyst system based on nitrogen-doped carbon materials via an innovative approach still present intriguing challenges in ORR catalysis research. Herein, a new kind of nitrogen-doped carbon nanoparticle-carbon nanofiber (NCNP-CNF) composite with highly efficient and stable ORR catalytic activity has been developed via a new approach assisted by a solution plasma process. The integration of NCNPs and CNFs by the solution plasma process can lead to a unique morphological feature and modify physicochemical properties. The NCNP-CNF composite exhibits a significantly enhanced ORR activity through a dominant four-electron pathway in an alkaline solution. The enhancement in ORR activity of NCNP-CNF composite can be attributed to the synergistic effects of good electron transport from highly graphitized CNFs as well as abundance of exposed catalytic sites and meso/macroporosity from NCNPs. More importantly, NCNP-CNF composite reveals excellent long-term durability and high tolerance to methanol crossover compared with those of a commercial 20 wt % supported on Vulcan XC-72. We expect that NCNP-CNF composite prepared by this synthetic approach can be a promising metal-free cathode catalyst candidate for ORR in fuel cells and metal-air batteries.

DOI： 10.1021/acsami.5b10493

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：International Journal of Plasma Environmental Science and Technology  

This research reported an innovative method to synthesize inexpensive and bi-functional catalyst electrode material for the application in Li-air battery. Non-novel metal, Cu and Fe were served, respectively, as alternative Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) and Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER). Solution Plasma Process was applied to synthesized Cu-Fe metal nanoparticles and carbon nanoparticles simultaneously. SPP was generated in benzene 100 mL using a bipolar pulse power supply. Iron and copper of diameter 1.0 mm were used for the discharge electrode and precursor of the bimetallic nanoparticles. Solution was reacted and stirred continuously for 20 minutes. Based on the amount of electrode consumption and ICP-AES analysis, the percentage of Cu and Fe supported on carbon were respectively, 2.8 and 1.0 wt%. The diameter of metal nanoparticles was approximately 10 nm, where the carbon nanoparticles ranged between 20-30 nm. From XRD analyses, the presences of Cu, Fe and CuFe2O4 were confirmed. In the performance of cyclic voltammetry, Fe and Cu nanoparticles showed the catalytic activity, respectively, for ORR and OER, at -0.38 and above 0.5 V. In the case of Fe-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles, it showed the combined catalytic activities of the single particles.

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD  

Metal-free nitrogen-doped carbon nanoparticles (NCNPs) have been synthesized via a solution plasma process with the potential to achieve uniformly distributed nitrogen atoms. A set of cyano-aromatic molecules, including benzonitrile, 2-cyanopyridine, and cyanopyrazine, were used as a single-source precursor in the synthesis without the addition of a metal catalyst source. The resultant NCNPs reveal uniformly nanosized particles (20-40 nm) and an interconnected hierarchical pore structure with a high specific surface area (210-250 m(2) g(-1)). The difference in carbon/nitrogen mole ratios of organic precursors gives rise to the variation of nitrogen-doping level in NCNPs from 0.63 to 1.94 atom %. Detailed electrochemical evaluation toward the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) demonstrates that NCNPs exhibit a significant improvement in terms of both onset potential and current density under alkaline and acidic conditions. The predominant distribution of graphitic-N and pyridinic-N sites on NCNPs plays an essential role in enhancing the ORR activity and the selectivity toward a four-electron reduction pathway. More importantly, NCNPs possess excellent robust long-term durability and strong methanol tolerance compared with those of a commercial Pt/carbon catalyst. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

DOI： 10.1016/j.carbon.2015.11.013

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

Measurements of the fractional momentum loss (Sloss≡δpT/pT) of high-transverse-momentum-identified hadrons in heavy-ion collisions are presented. Using π0 in Au+Au and Cu+Cu collisions at sNN=62.4 and 200 GeV measured by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and and charged hadrons in Pb+Pb collisions measured by the ALICE experiment at the Large Hadron Collider, we studied the scaling properties of Sloss as a function of a number of variables: the number of participants, Npart, the number of quark participants, Nqp, the charged-particle density, dNch/dη, and the Bjorken energy density times the equilibration time, Bjτ0. We find that the pT, where Sloss has its maximum, varies both with centrality and collision energy. Above the maximum, Sloss tends to follow a power-law function with all four scaling variables. The data at sNN=200 GeV and 2.76 TeV, for sufficiently high particle densities, have a common scaling of Sloss with dNch/dη and Bjτ0, lending insight into the physics of parton energy loss.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.93.024911

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

Measurements of midrapidity charged-particle multiplicity distributions, dNch/dη, and midrapidity transverse-energy distributions, dET/dη, are presented for a variety of collision systems and energies. Included are distributions for Au+Au collisions at sNN=200, 130, 62.4, 39, 27, 19.6, 14.5, and 7.7 GeV, Cu+Cu collisions at sNN=200 and 62.4 GeV, Cu+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV, U+U collisions at sNN=193 GeV, d+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV, He3+Au collisions at sNN=200 GeV, and p+p collisions at sNN=200 GeV. Centrality-dependent distributions at midrapidity are presented in terms of the number of nucleon participants, Npart, and the number of constituent quark participants, Nqp. For all A+A collisions down to sNN=7.7 GeV, it is observed that the midrapidity data are better described by scaling with Nqp than scaling with Npart. Also presented are estimates of the Bjorken energy density, BJ, and the ratio of dET/dη to dNch/dη, the latter of which is seen to be constant as a function of centrality for all systems.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.93.024901

Scopus

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1016/j.surfcoat.2015.11.051

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：Physical Review C  

We report the measurement of cumulants (Cn,n=1,⋯,4) of the net-charge distributions measured within pseudorapidity (|η|<0.35) in Au+Au collisions at sNN=7.7-200GeV with the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The ratios of cumulants (e.g., C1/C2, C3/C1) of the net-charge distributions, which can be related to volume independent susceptibility ratios, are studied as a function of centrality and energy. These quantities are important to understand the quantum-chromodynamics phase diagram and possible existence of a critical end point. The measured values are very well described by expectation from negative binomial distributions. We do not observe any nonmonotonic behavior in the ratios of the cumulants as a function of collision energy. The measured values of C1/C2 and C3/C1 can be directly compared to lattice quantum-chromodynamics calculations and thus allow extraction of both the chemical freeze-out temperature and the baryon chemical potential at each center-of-mass energy. The extracted baryon chemical potentials are in excellent agreement with a thermal-statistical analysis model.

DOI： 10.1103/PhysRevC.93.011901

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP PUBLISHING LTD  

The decomposition of p-benzoquinone (p-BQ) in Solution Plasma Processing (SPP) was analyzed by Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS) by monitoring the change of the anti-Stokes signal intensity of the vibrational transitions of the molecule, during and after SPP. Just in the beginning of the SPP treatment, the CARS signal intensities of the ring vibrational molecular transitions increased under the influence of the electric field of plasma. The results show that plasma influences the p-BQ molecules in two ways: (i) plasma produces a polarization and an orientation of the molecules in the local electric field of plasma and (ii) the gas phase plasma supplies, in the liquid phase, hydrogen and hydroxyl radicals, which reduce or oxidize the molecules, respectively, generating different carboxylic acids. The decomposition of p-BQ after SPP was confirmed by UV-visible absorption spectroscopy and liquid chromatography.

DOI： 10.1088/1748-0221/11/01/C01009

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Other Link： http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8757-3933

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.55.01AE10

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DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.55.01AE10

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP PUBLISHING LTD  

A simple solution plasma method was applied to the synthesis of SnO2 nanoparticles directly from tin(II) chloride solution, without adding any precipitant, stabilizer, or other agents at atmospheric pressure, because solution plasma provides a reaction field with a highly excited energy state. The results of X-ray power diffraction (XRD) analysis and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) verified that well-crystallized SnO2 nanoparticles in the size range of 2-5 nm were synthesized. SnO2 nanoparticles show satisfactory sensitivities to acetaldehyde and ethanol. (C) 2016 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.55.01AE17

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP PUBLISHING LTD  

Nitrogen-containing carbon nanoparticles were synthesized in aniline by solution plasma with high-repetition frequency discharges. We developed a bipolar pulsed power supply that can apply high-repetition frequencies ranging from 25 to 200 kHz. By utilizing high-repetition frequencies, conductive carbons were directly synthesized. The crystallinity was increased and H/C ratio of carbon was decreased. Furthermore, nitrogen atoms were simultaneously embedded in the carbon matrix. Due to the presence of nitrogen atoms, the conductivity and electrocatalytic activity of the samples were remarkably improved compared to that of a pure carbon matrix synthesized from a benzene precursor. (C) 2016 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.55.01AE18

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：IOP PUBLISHING LTD  

Platinum nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes (Pt/CNTs) have been used as an electrocatalyst in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). These catalysts show higher activity in oxygen reduction reaction in PEMFCs than conventional carbon-black-supported Pt nanoparticles. However, their durability is lower than that of other metal-alloy-based or nonmetal-based catalysts. In this study, Pt/CNTs were synthesized by solution plasma followed by coating with silica layer by the sol-gel method using a cationic surfactant [ cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)]. This material can be used as a cathode in PEMFCs. The silica layer was coated on the surface of Pt/CNTs to prevent agglomeration and detachment of Pt nanoparticles from carbon nanotubes during operation. The formation of silica layers significantly improved the durability of the Pt/CNT catalysts under acidic conditions. After 300 cycles of the cyclic voltammetry test in 0.5#M sulfuric acid (H2SO4), silica-coated Pt/CNTs increased the durability by 43.0 and 24.0% compared with those of noncoated commercial Pt/C and Pt/CNTs, respectively. (C) 2016 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

DOI： 10.7567/JJAP.55.01AE23

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Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Mining and Materials Processing Institute of Japan  

DOI： 10.2473/journalofmmij.132.47

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY  

The conductivity of carbon nanoballs (CNBs) was enhanced by two orders of magnitude with the addition of carbon tetrachloride through a room temperature solution plasma process without post-heat treatment. The synthesized CNBs demonstrated the lowest resistivity of 8 U cm when the ratio of benzene to carbon tetrachloride was adjusted to 3 : 2. The morphologies from Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) showed the benzene-synthesized CNBs appeared as amorphous carbon while CNBs generated from the mixture of carbon tetrachloride and benzene were presented as short range graphite with turbostratic structure. From Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction patterns, the results indicated the transition from amorphous carbon to nanocrystalline-graphite (NCG). From chemical elemental analysis, the hydrogen mole percentage decreased 20-50% when 20-60 vol% of carbon tetrachloride was added into benzene. We expect that this approach can be extended to enhance the conductivity of all kinds of amorphous carbonaceous materials in other synthesis technologies under room temperature.

DOI： 10.1039/c6ra02453j

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)  

DOI： 10.1080/14686996.2016.1140305

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY  

Nitrogen-carbon nanosheets (NCNS), composed of multi-layer graphene with turbostratic stacking, were successfully synthesized through a solution plasma processing (SPP) at room temperature and an atmospheric pressure. The plasma was generated in 200 mL of N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), which was applied as the carbon and nitrogen precursors. The NCNS presented an electrical resistivity of 0.065 Omega cm, which is comparable with that of N-doped carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and N-doped carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The synthesis rate of NCNS was 20 mg min(-1). From the characteristics analyses, NCNS showed the surface area of 277 m(2) g(-1), a pore volume of 0.95 cm(3) g(-1) and a moderate nitrogen content of 1.3 at%. The synthesized NCNS also exhibited catalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). This unique synthesis method can be applicable to synthesize multiple types of heteroatom-carbon nanosheets.

DOI： 10.1039/c5ra23659b

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Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY  

Stable colloidal MnO2-consisting of MnO2 with a sheet-like structure-was synthesized by solution plasma process (SPP). The synthesis was completed in one-step by discharging the plasma in potassium permanganate (KMnO4) aqueous solution without using any dispersants or stabilizers. An alteration of the manganese oxide oxidation state, from MnO4- to MnO2 as a function of the discharge time, was investigated by UV-vis spectroscopy. Morphology and elemental constituents were observed by TEM and EDS mapping. Results indicated that the discharge time was an important feature for the formation of MnO2 in the SPP system. Specifically at neutral pH (pH = 7), MnO4- was completely reduced to MnO2 within a discharge time of 18 min. After that the obtained MnO2 was converted rapidly to Mn2+. To better understand the possible pathways of MnO2 formation by the SPP, we compared aspects of the reaction under different pH conditions. Formation of MnO2 under additional, controlled pH conditions, i.e. 2 and 12, was studied. Results suggested that hydrogen species played a key role for the reduction of MnO4- in the water-based SPP system. In comparison to the existing routes for the synthesis of MnO2 nanosheets with a single or low number of layers, the SPP holds excellent promise as an effective alternative means regarding its simplicity, time-energy preserving, and scalability.

DOI： 10.1039/c5ra20416j

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：RSC Advances  

DOI： 10.1039/c6ra19311k

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：RSC Advances  

DOI： 10.1039/C6RA24214F

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Surface Finishing Society of Japan  

For this study, we applied a specific type of plasma in liquid phase named "solution plasma process（SPP）" for high-speed synthesis of gold nanoparticles（AuNPs）using an ethanol-water mixture as a liquid medium. Sputtering was conducted for the AuNP production. By applying high voltage across a pair of gold electrodes（∅＝1.0 mm）immersed in the liquid medium, ions formed in the plasma collided with the gold electrode surface and caused sputtering of the gold atoms. Subsequently, these atoms formed AuNPs immediately before dispersal into the medium. We inferred that the medium properties greatly influenced the SPP system sputtering mechanism. Accordingly, the influence of the ethanol-water mixture composition on the formation mechanism was studied in addition to the yield of the synthesized AuNPs. Results indicate that composition of the ethanol-water mixtures strongly influenced the breakdown conditions for the plasma formation and that the largest current observed at the ethanol mole fraction was 0.089-0.14. It is particularly interesting that this composition of the ethanol-water mixture led to the highest AuNPs formation yield. Our findings suggest that high-speed synthesis of metal nanoparticles in the SPP system is achievable by altering the type and/or composition of the liquid medium.

DOI： 10.4139/sfj.67.46

Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：RSC Advances  

DOI： 10.1039/c6ra19311k

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：RSC Advances  

DOI： 10.1039/C6RA24214F

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Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Surface Finishing Society of Japan  

For this study, we applied a specific type of plasma in liquid phase named "solution plasma process（SPP）" for high-speed synthesis of gold nanoparticles（AuNPs）using an ethanol-water mixture as a liquid medium. Sputtering was conducted for the AuNP production. By applying high voltage across a pair of gold electrodes（∅＝1.0 mm）immersed in the liquid medium, ions formed in the plasma collided with the gold electrode surface and caused sputtering of the gold atoms. Subsequently, these atoms formed AuNPs immediately before dispersal into the medium. We inferred that the medium properties greatly influenced the SPP system sputtering mechanism. Accordingly, the influence of the ethanol-water mixture composition on the formation mechanism was studied in addition to the yield of the synthesized AuNPs. Results indicate that composition of the ethanol-water mixtures strongly influenced the breakdown conditions for the plasma formation and that the largest current observed at the ethanol mole fraction was 0.089-0.14. It is particularly interesting that this composition of the ethanol-water mixture led to the highest AuNPs formation yield. Our findings suggest that high-speed synthesis of metal nanoparticles in the SPP system is achievable by altering the type and/or composition of the liquid medium.

DOI： 10.4139/sfj.67.46

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Institute of Electrostatics Japan  

A special type of liquid plasma, named solution plasma (SP), has been applied to produce nanosized carbon black for the electrode material in Li-air battery. However, heat-treatment around 800 degree is essential to reduce the hydrogen atom remained within the carbon and to increase carbon's conductivity. In order to eliminate the energy-intensive heating process, in this study, we proposed to remove hydrogen atom by introducing chemical with halogen atom under room temperature plasma operation. Carbon nanoparticles were prepared by solution plasma with pure benzene (C6H6), chlorobenzene (C6H5Cl), various types of dichlorobenzene (C6H5Cl2) including 1,2-chlorobenzene, 1,3-chlorobenzene and 1,4 chlorobenzene served as the carbon precursors. The applied pulse frequency, applied voltage and pulse width were strictly controlled to be 25 kHz, 1 kV and 2 μs. The energy per pulse E and average energy per second Eavg by this specific plasma condition were calculated to be approximately 200 μJ and 5 J. The morphology of the synthesized carbon nanoball from benzene and 1,4-chlorobenzene were indicated in Fig. 1. The layer structure has been developed clearly on the outer layer of the carbon synthesized by chlorobenzene, as shown in Fig. 1(b). The resistivity of synthesized carbon by benzene was found to be 820 Ωcm, and decreased to 1.8 Ωcm when chlorobenzene was applied as precursor. From elemental analysis, the mole percentage of hydrogen remained in the synthesized carbon matrix decreased from 20% to 8.8% when the precursor changed from benzene to 1,4-chlorobenzene. We proposed that the chlorine atom in chlorobenzene reacted with hydrogen atoms and formed HCl (g), and successfully subtracted the hydrogen atom from the carbon matrix. Thus, sp2 bonding within carbon atoms was preferred and the conductivity of the synthesized carbon was easily enhanced.

DOI： 10.34343/ijpest.2016.10.02.146

CiNii Research

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Institute of Electrostatics Japan  

This research reported an innovative method to synthesize inexpensive and bi-functional catalyst electrode material for the application in Li-air battery. Non-novel metal, Cu and Fe were served, respectively, as alternative Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) and Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER). Solution Plasma Process was applied to synthesized Cu-Fe metal nanoparticles and carbon nanoparticles simultaneously. SPP was generated in benzene 100 mL using a bipolar pulse power supply. Iron and copper of diameter 1.0 mm were used for the discharge electrode and precursor of the bimetallic nanoparticles. Solution was reacted and stirred continuously for 20 minutes. Based on the amount of electrode consumption and ICP-AES analysis, the percentage of Cu and Fe supported on carbon were respectively, 2.8 and 1.0 wt%. The diameter of metal nanoparticles was approximately 10 nm, where the carbon nanoparticles ranged between 20-30 nm. From XRD analyses, the presences of Cu, Fe and CuFe2O4 were confirmed. In the performance of cyclic voltammetry, Fe and Cu nanoparticles showed the catalytic activity, respectively, for ORR and OER, at -0.38 and above 0.5 V. In the case of Fe-Cu bimetallic nanoparticles, it showed the combined catalytic activities of the single particles.

DOI： 10.34343/ijpest.2016.10.01.051

CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Japan Institute of Light Metals  

Effect of microstructure on corrosion resistance and heat resistance of flame-resistant Ca-added magnesium alloy AZ61 (AZX612) were investigated. An extruded and twin-rolled casting magnesium alloys AZX612 were used with a view to better understanding the relationship between microstructure and these properties. The microstructures of the magnesium alloys were characterized by optical microscope (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The shapes of compounds in the alloys observed by EDS were significantly different; spherical distribution in grain for the extruded magnesium alloy and preferential formation on grain boundaries for the twin-rolled casting magnesium alloy. The different microstructure of the two alloys resulted in showing the different properties. Immersion test in 5 mass% NaCl aqueous solution revealed that the corrosion rates for the extruded and twin-rolled casting magnesium alloys AZX612 were estimated to be 6.5 and 15.0 mm/year, respectively, indicating that the corrosion resistance of the extruded magnesium alloys AZX612 were more superior than that of the twin-rolled casting one. On the contrary, the heat resistance of the alloy did not change depending on the microstructure.

DOI： 10.2464/jilm.66.9

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CiNii Research

Language：Japanese   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：The Japan Institute of Light Metals  

Effect of microstructure on corrosion resistance and heat resistance of flame-resistant Ca-added magnesium alloy AZ61 (AZX612) were investigated. An extruded and twin-rolled casting magnesium alloys AZX612 were used with a view to better understanding the relationship between microstructure and these properties. The microstructures of the magnesium alloys were characterized by optical microscope (OM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The shapes of compounds in the alloys observed by EDS were significantly different; spherical distribution in grain for the extruded magnesium alloy and preferential formation on grain boundaries for the twin-rolled casting magnesium alloy. The different microstructure of the two alloys resulted in showing the different properties. Immersion test in 5 mass% NaCl aqueous solution revealed that the corrosion rates for the extruded and twin-rolled casting magnesium alloys AZX612 were estimated to be 6.5 and 15.0 mm/year, respectively, indicating that the corrosion resistance of the extruded magnesium alloys AZX612 were more superior than that of the twin-rolled casting one. On the contrary, the heat resistance of the alloy did not change depending on the microstructure.

DOI： 10.2464/jilm.66.9

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CiNii Research

Language：English   Publishing type：Research paper (scientific journal)   Publisher：AMER CHEMICAL SOC  

Our previous research demonstrated that using ethanol water mixture as a liquid medium for the synthesis of gold nanoparticles by the solution plasma process (SPP) could lead to an increment of the reaction rate of similar to 35.2 times faster than that in pure water. This drastic change was observed when a small amount of ethanol, that is, at an ethanol mole fraction (chi(ethanol)) of 0.089, was added in the system. After this composition, the reaction rate decreased continuously. To better understand what happens in the ethanol-water mixture-based SPP, in this study, effect of the ethanol content on the radical formation in the system was verified. We focused on detecting the magnetic resonance of electronic spins using electron spin resonance spectroscopy to determine the type and quantity of the generated radicals at each chi(ethanol). Results indicated that ethanol radicals were generated in the ethanol water mixtures and exhibited maximum quantity at the chi(ethanol) of 0.089. Relationship between the ethanol radical yield and the rate of reaction, along with possible mechanism responsible for the observed phenomenon, is discussed in this paper.

DOI： 10.1021/acs.jpca.5b07224

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