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The intra-layer no-insulation (LNI) method achieves self-protection characteristics against quenching in a layer-wound REBCO coil, owing to a current bypass function associated with the copper sheet inserted in each layer. The self-protection is strongly influenced by the electrical contact resistivity (ρct) of the interface between conductors and copper sheets. In particular, a coil requires a high ρct value, typically of the 100 mΩcm2-class. However, the ρct value of a coil substantially changes due to external disturbances such as thermal cycles and electromagnetic forces. Therefore, it is vital to develop a technology to form an interface that provides a desired ρct value and that is stable against external disturbances. In the present work, we developed a basic method to form a resistance-controlled (RC) interface with a layer thickness as thin as ∼30 μm, using epoxy resin mixed with conductive and insulating fillers, which respectively act as current bypassing paths and spacers. A certain value of the mixing ratio of the conductive fillers provides a target ρct value from a wide range from 1 mΩcm2 to 1,000 mΩcm2. An RC interface-implemented LNI-REBCO coil exhibits a stable ρct value under thermal cycles and self-protection against an overcurrent quench in liquid nitrogen.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is expected to increase esophageal motility. However, to the best of our knowledge, this has not been examined. Thus, we investigated the contractile effects of PAF on guinea pig (GP) esophageal muscularis mucosae (EMM) and the extracellular Ca2+influx pathways responsible. PAF (10−9–10−6 M) contracted EMM in a concentration-dependent manner. PAF (10−6 M)-induced contractions were almost completely suppressed by apafant (a PAF receptor antagonist, 3 × 10−5 M). In EMM strips, PAF receptor and PAF-synthesizing/degrading enzyme mRNAs were detected. PAF (10−6 M)-induced contractions were abolished by extracellular Ca2+removal but were not affected by diltiazem [a voltage-dependent Ca2+channel (VDCC) inhibitor, 10−5 M]. PAF (10−6 M)-induced contractions in the presence of diltiazem were significantly suppressed by LOE-908 [a receptor-operated Ca2+channel (ROCC) inhibitor, 3 × 10−5 M], SKF-96365 [an ROCC and store-operated Ca2+channel (SOCC) inhibitor, 3 × 10−5 M], and LOE-908 plus SKF-96365. Among the tested ROCC/SOCC-related mRNAs, Trpc3, Trpc6, and Trpv4/Orai1, Orai3, and Stim2were abundantly expressed in EMM strips. These results indicate that PAF potently induces GP EMM contractions that are dependent on extracellular Ca2+influx through ROCCs/SOCCs, and VDCCs are unlikely to be involved.

Trichloroethylene (TRI) and perchloroethylene (PER) are widely-produced in the chemical industry and used as solvents, varnishes, degreasers, and dry cleaning chemicals that involve complex process conditions. Data science and network analysis are used in order to unveil relationships between reactants, process conditions, and selectivities of select products with the aim to improve production efficiency. Data visualization and machine learning reveal the sets of conditions that have positive and inverse relations with TRI and PER selectivities, while transforming the data into networks reveals which sets of experimental conditions correlate with desired outcomes. Thus, it becomes possible to tailor experimental conditions in order to increase desired selectivities while avoiding production of undesirable selectivities.

Hybrid materials composed of different functional structural units offer the possibility of tuning both the thermal and electronic properties of a material independently. Using quantum mechanical calculations, we investigate the change in the electronic and thermoelectric transport properties of graphene and hydrogen-terminated carbon nanoribbons (CNRs) when these are placed on the SrTiO3(001) surface (STO). We predict that both p-type and n-type composite materials can be achieved by coupling graphene/CNR to different surface terminations of STO. We show that the electronic properties of graphene and CNR are significantly altered on SrO-terminated STO but are preserved upon interaction with TiO2-terminated STO and that CNRs possess distinct electronic states around the Fermi level because of their quasi-one-dimensional nature, leading to a calculated Seebeck coefficient much higher than that of a pristine graphene sheet. Moreover, our calculations reveal that in the TiO2-SrTiO3/CNR system there is a favorable electronic level alignment between the CNR and STO, where the highest occupied molecular orbital of the CNR is positioned in the middle of the STO band gap, resembling n-type doping of the substrate. Our results offer design principles for guiding the engineering of future hybrid thermoelectric materials and, more generally, nanoelectronic materials comprising oxide and graphitic components.