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The Seto Inland Sea (SIS) harbors abundant aquatic biological diversity, while its ecosystem has been affected by climate change in recent years. Previous studies have shown that the residual current in the SIS varies significantly under the influence of the Kuroshio. To isolate the open ocean influences, salinity transport and the associated salinity budget in the SIS were investigated, as a conservative variable characterizing the estuarine hydrodynamics, using a high-resolution, long-term 3D circulation model. Our findings indicate that the fluctuations of salinity fluxes were influenced by the position of the Kuroshio axis and were highly correlated with the associated volume fluxes. The clockwise eastward transport from Bungo to Kii varies seasonally with an increase in winter and a decrease or counterclockwise increase in summer. The total salinity in each of the eight sub-basins of the SIS was also correlated with the salinity fluxes at the straits connecting the sub-basins. The total salinity in the western sub-basins increased with the eastward clockwise transport and decreased with the westward counterclockwise transport, whereas the eastern sub-basins showed less correlations, resulting in a zonal difference of salinity response to the open ocean.

Este artigo consiste no estudo de reportagens do jornal Correio Braziliense sobre o Palácio Itamaraty entre os anos 1960 e 1970. A análise visa compreender a construção das ideias em torno deste edifício a partir de sua concepção arquitetônica até a sua inauguração. Além de apresentar parte do mapeamento dos fatos sobre o projeto do palácio, o propósito deste trabalho é analisar a elaboração de narrativas relacionadas com a ideia de beleza, a sua nomenclatura, a importância da transferência de sede do Ministério das Relações Exteriores para Brasília e a configuração espacial interna, fatores estes que colaboraram para a criação e consolidação de uma memória e um discurso coletivos que persistem atualmente.

It is important to maintain a comfortable indoor thermal environment because people spend most of their time in buildings. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) applications can not only simulate the indoor environment under various boundary conditions but also visualize analysis results as contour plots to help humans understand them easily. However, calculations are required for each boundary condition, and a significant amount of time is required to obtain the results. In recent years, artificial intelligence has been utilized in various fields, including image processing technology. Generating temperature distribution images using artificial intelligence instead of CFD analysis is expected to reduce the number of CFD cases and time required for preliminary studies. In this study, a transposed convolutional neural network was used to generate a model for the fast prediction of indoor temperature distribution, and case studies were conducted using a combination of training data. Consequently, it was confirmed that by appropriately selecting 108 out of 300 data points arranged in a grid, a model that predicts temperature distribution with generally good accuracy was generated for the untrained data.

Influenza vaccines have long been manufactured in embryonated chicken eggs. This method has some problems such as a long production period (about 6 months) and use of large amounts of infectious pathogens. Recently, the production of recombinant subunit vaccines using the baculovirus–insect cell system has been extensively investigated. In this system, viral immunodominant components can be produced more rapidly and in a larger scale than in the conventional egg-based process. However, continuous production is virtually impossible because infection of recombinant baculovirus results in the death of host insect cells. In the present study, we established stably transformed insect cells that secreted influenza virus-like particles (VLPs) consisting of hemagglutinin (HA), the major protective antigen of influenza A virus, and matrix protein 1 (M1), another structural protein of the virus. Hemagglutination assay and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) suggested that HA produced by recombinant insect cells kept the hemagglutination activity and the morphology of the VLPs was similar to that of wild type influenza virus particles.

In printed electronics, uniform and solute film formation by the inkjet method is very important. This study aims to clarify the relationship between Marangoni convection generated by adding surfactant and thinning of solute film. First, four types of surfactants were added one by one to the anisole-polystyrene solution with varying concentrations, and then a little amount of fluorescent polymer was added as tracer to each solution. Next, each solution was dropped on a hydrophilic substrate with a droplet diameter of 80 micrometers using an inkjet method, and the flow in the evaporation process and the shape of the solute film after drying were observed. As a result, Marangoni convection occurred when any surfactant was added at a certain concentration or more, and the solute film after drying of the droplets to which two kinds of surfactants were added became thin and approached a uniform shape. In addition, the measurement of surface tension showed that the visualized flow is the Marangoni convection.

By optimizing the raw material ratio for the preparation of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-type chitosan (EDTA-type chitosan), the extraction efficiency of rare earth elements was improved. The synthesis with a lower concentration ratio of chitosan to acetic acid than that in the previously reported preparation method was confirmed by IR spectra that the peak assigned as the carboxyl group of EDTA was drastically decreased and the amide bond reaction between chitosan and EDTA was more facilitated. In the preparation method of this work, the amide formation was preferable to the competitive acetylation of chitosan. By the optimizing preparation conditions, the adsorption capacities for Nd, Sm, Tb, and Dy were improved about twice. On the contrary, the separation factor of rare earths was not changed, and it is suggested that other compounds having adsorption ability were not produced. EDTA-type chitosan was applied to chromatographic separation of La, Nd, Sm, Tb, and Dy. In the column method, it was confirmed that lighter rare earth sequentially eluted from the column, therefore it has been proved that adsorption of lighter rare earth was substituted by heavier rare earth.

A rhodium(I)-catalyzed domino-type sequential 5-endo/5-exo cyclization reaction of [(2-acylphenyl) ethynyl]phenols produces indene/benzofuran-fused alcohols. A moderate asymmetric induction is observed when chiral diphosphine ligands are used for rhodium. Indene/indole-fused compounds are synthesized by a similar reaction of [(2-acetylphenyl)ethynyl]anilines. The domino-type 5-endo/5-exo cyclization reaction is extended to substrates having two phenolic hydroxy groups. A linearly-fused array of five- and six-membered rings is constructed. Fused and linked benzofurans possessing 2-cyanoethyl side chains are also synthesized through sequential formation of C–O and C–C bonds.

This study investigated the texture formation process of A6063 alloy hot extruded material using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements. The cube component that becomes the main orientation during hot extrusion was formed near the bearing inflow in the extrusion chamber and grew with continuous recrystallization. The Goss component with the same ED // relationship as the cube component was not formed in the chamber or the bearing but was formed by discontinuous recrystallization after passing through the bearing. The TD // orientation component of the surface layer was formed in the bearing and then grew with discontinuous recrystallization. However, because the internal cube and Goss components expanded preferentially, the surface layer TD // components were replaced by the cube and Goss components after passing through the bearing. The cubic texture formation of extruded aluminium alloys is noted to be analogous to the formation of rolling sheet materials, formed by recovery and recrystallization from a plane strain deformation structure. However, for the A6063 alloy extruded under conditions close to industrial production, the cube components were mainly formed by recovery and continuous recrystallization.

Las reivindicaciones epistémicas son actos a través de los cuales los actores sitúan socialmente el saber que movilizan. En el mundo académico, las reivindicaciones epistémicas se asocian a los contenidos específicos que un autor despliega al escribir un artículo de investigación. Si bien existen métodos diversos para analizar la construcción colectiva del conocimiento, no existen propuestas específicas que permitan describir el modo en que estas reivindicaciones se insertan socialmente en una comunidad científica. En este contexto, este artículo presenta un método interdisciplinario para estudiar la manera en que los autores de artículos científicos inscriben, a través del uso de las citaciones, sus reivindicaciones epistémicas en una comunidad científica. Proponemos una tipología de las reivindicaciones epistémicas en la que distinguimos, en función del tipo de contenido que éstas promueven, las reivindicaciones teóricas, metodológicas y performativas. Los resultados muestran que el tipo de reivindicación epistémica está asociado a la estrategia de citación. El método que proponemos contribuye al estudio de la construcción colectiva del conocimiento, pues permite diferenciar las estrategias académicas que los autores movilizan y el tipo de conocimiento reivindicado.

Inorganic-organic composite membranes were prepared by using partly cesium-substituted silicotungstic acid (CHS-WSiA) and polybenzimidazole (PBI, MRS0810H) for medium temperature polymer electrolyte fuel cells (MT-PEFCs). Cesium hydrogen sulfate (CsHSO4, CHS) and silicotungstic acid (H4SiW12O40, WSiA) were milled to obtain 0.5CHS-0.5WSiA composites by dry and wet mechanical millings. N,Ndimethylacetamide (DMAc) was used as a disperse medium in the preparation of the inorganic solid acids by wet mechanical milling and also a casting agent for fabrication of membrane. Finally, flexible and homogeneous composite membranes with several phosphoric acid doping levels (PADLs) were obtained. The wet mechanical milling using DMAc was found to effectively promote good substitution of H+ ion in WSiA by Cs+ ion of CHS and promoted the formation of smaller grain sizes of composites, compared with dry milling. A high maximum power density of 378 mWcm-2 and a good constant current stability test were obtained from a single cell test using the PBI composite membrane containing 20 wt% of 0.5CHS-0.5WSiA from wet milling and phosphoric acid doping level (PADL) of 8 mol, at 150 °C under an anhydrous condition. Wet milling CHS-WSiA crystallites were highly dispersed in PBI to give homogenized membranes and played a significant role in the enhancemance of acidity by increasing the number of proton sites in the electrolyte membrane. After the addition of CHS-WSiA into PBI membrane, the acid and water retention properties were improved and incorporated as new proton conduction path by adsorbing phosphoric acid in these composite electrolyte membranes. These observations suggest that composite membranes with 8 mol of PADL are good promising PA dopedmembranes with effective electrochemical properties for the medium temperature fuel cells.

Advantage of composite material is to take the outstanding mechanical and functional properties of fibers and powders. However, it is not easy to disperse fine particles homogeneously in metallic matrix. 3-dimentional penetration casting (3DPC) method enables to disperse particles in the matrix homogeneously without segregation. The present study puts its focus on WO3 particle. Several reports are available about photocatalytic property of WO3 in the visible ray region. Photocatalytic is one of the most promising matter that can be used for resolving environment pollution because photocatalytic cause the oxidation reaction that change carbon contained in organic compound (for example acetaldehyde, toluene) into CO2 by light. The aim of this work is to establish the fabrication method using 3DPC, to evaluate the mechanical, photocatalytic properties, and to observe the microstructure using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

A stress-luminescent powder can be applied as sensors because of luminous characteristic under stress. Key point in fabrication is how uniformly to disperse powders in metallic matrix. Three-dimensional penetration casting (3DPC) process is a good application to fabricate the composite materials using stress-luminescent powders and molten Al. A commercial stress-luminescent powder was prepared (a)stress- luminescent powders (Taikourozai Co.) and (b)EZ bright (EZ bright Cooperation). 3DPC process was conducted using a special mould has dimensions of 42mm height and 30mm diameter. Mould was heated up to 750°C before 3DPC. After 3DPC, particles were well dispersed in Al matrix without crack generations with optical microscopy observation. Also, samples were emitted when they were pressed and scratched.

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This study intends to investigate the origin of Sol-COD by analyzing the water quality data and the amount of detergent consumption in the Lake Sanaru region,located at Hamamatsu City in Japan. It was found that there is a correlation between the total COD in the lake and the sewer coverage in the upstream region of Lake Sanaru. This fact implies that the water quality of upstream rivers receiving untreated wastewater from homes would greatly affect the water quality of the lake. Since the value of Sol-COD in the rivers is close to that of Lake Sanaru, the main origin of the Sol-COD was supposed to be the organic components in the river water especially those of detergents, because the Sol-CODof detergent didn’t decompose completely.Thus, the amount of detergent emitted in the upstreamlakeregion was determined using the public data of the pollution from the sewer system and the national average of detergent consumption. The calculated value of the detergent concentration agreed very well with the one measured in the upstream rivers, meaning that detergents strongly affected water quality in upstream rivers and also the majority of Sol-COD in Lake Sanaru.

Anti-thrombogenic films with high durability were fabricated in a wet process. Anti-thrombogenicity was achieved with polyelectrolyte multilayer thin film prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol)-poly(acrylic acid)(PVA-PAA) blends, deposited in alternate layers with poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH). Film durability, assessed by abrasion resistance and water resistance, was enhanced by forming crosslinks via amide bonds induced by heat treatment of the film. The film was found to be resistant to protein adsorption, as measured by the amount of fibrinogen adsorbed from an aqueous solution. Anti-thrombogenic efficacy was assessed in ex vivo experiments by the ability of stainless steel mesh, coated with the polyelectrolyte and inserted into a pig blood vessel, to inhibit thrombus formation. Mesh coated with the polyelectrolyte did not reduce blood flow over a period of 15 minutes, whereas with uncoated mesh blood flow stopped within 6 minutes because of blood vessel blockage by thrombus formation.

Copyright of Andrologie (11662654) is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Up to now, the identification of gene mutations causing infertility in humans remains poorly investigated. Temporal progression through meiosis and meiosis specific genes had been extensively characterized in yeast. Recently some mammalian homologous were found. The molecular mechanisms regulating entry into and progression through meiosis in mammals are still unknown. However, disruption of some meiotic genes in mouse showed an essential role of them in meiotic chromosome synapsis and gametogenesis. Moreover, the phenotype of gonads in null mutant mice for some meiotic genes (failure to initiate or blockage in meiosis, lack of gametes or small size of gonads…) could be strikingly similar to clinical observations found in human infertility. The aim of this study was to identify putative mutations in 5 meiotic genes of several clinically well-characterized patients who present unexplained infertility (normal karyotype, women with premature ovarian failure, men with azospermia and without Y micro-deletion). For this purpose, the exons of these 5 genes (DMC1, SPO11, MSH4, MSH5, CCNA1) were all amplified by PCR with specific primers and each amplified-exon was sequenced. Sequences were aligned in comparison to the human corresponding gene available in Genbank. Many heterozygous mutations were found in different genes. Two homozygous mutations were found in MSH4 and DMC1 genes in a young man presenting a testis vanishing syndrome and a woman presenting a premature ovarian failure, respectively. Consequences of such mutations will be examined and verified in model organisms (yeast, mouse) to check the relevance of the mutations in clinical setting. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]