Search

J-PARC, Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex provides short pulse proton beam at a repetition rate 25 Hz and the maximum power is expected to be 1 MW. Materials and Life Science Experimental Facility (MLF) has 23 neutron beam ports and 21 instruments have already been operated or under construction/commissioning. There are 6 inelastic/quasi-elastic neutron scattering spectrometers and the complementary use of these spectrometers will open new insight for life science. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled “Science for Life” Guest Editor: Dr. Austen Angell, Dr. Salvatore Magazù and Dr. Federica Migliardo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigated the microstructural characteristics of nanovoids that form during the electroless Cu plating process for micro-vias using a spherical aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscope. The nanovoids, which form during the early stages of the plating process, have a spherical shape with an outermost layer covered with Pd. They are not only empty spaces but partly filled with complexing agent elements, reaction production gas, and other materials. • Nano-structural characterization of nanovoids in micro-via by scanning transmission electron microscope • Nanovoids has a spherical shape and their outermost layer was partly covered with Pd. • Nanovoids are not only an empty space but partly filled with incorporated elements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Tracer diffusion coefficients of 67Cu and 64Cu in CVD β-Silicon carbide (β-SiC) have been measured in the temperature range between 623 and 1373K by use of a serial ion-beam sputter-microsectioning technique. The temperature dependence of the diffusion coefficient D is expressed by The diffusion coefficient of Cu in β-SiC is larger than those of Si and C by more than six orders of magnitude and those of Fe and Cr by one–three orders of magnitude. The activation energy for the diffusion of Cu is about one twentieth of that for the self-diffusion. The results suggest that an interstitial mechanism operates on the diffusion of Cu in β-SiC. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Increasing research suggested that Cimicifugae rhizoma might be protective against osteoporosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of three cycloartane-type triterpenoids isolated from Cimicifugae rhizoma, cimicidol-3-O-β-d-xyloside (1), cimicidanol-3-O-β-d-xyloside (2) and acetylacteol-3-O-β-d-xyloside (3) on bone resorption in vitro and bone loss in ovariectomized (OVX) mice. Methods: The activities of the tested compounds on bone resorption were evaluated using three assays, neonatal mouse parietal bone organ culture, osteoclast-like cells (OCLs) formation and pit formation. The effects on bone mineral density (BMD) and uterine weight were examined using OVX mice. Using LC–MS/MS method, the serum concentrations of the triterpenoids were measured in mice serum collected at 0.5, 1, 3, 6 and 12h following its oral administration. Results: All of the tested compounds exerted the inhibitory effects on bone resorption in bone organ culture, suppressed both of the formation and the resorbing activity of OCLs. Furthermore, a synergistic effect was observed among those compounds. In vivo studies revealed that compounds 1–3 and the mixture of compounds 1–3 prevented the bone loss in OVX mice without affecting uterine weight, and each compound was detected in the mice serum after single oral administration. Conclusions: The triterpenoids exerted the inhibitory effects on osteoclastic bone resorption through the suppression of both OCLs formation and the resorbing activity of OCLs, and also showed a significant protective effect on BMD in OVX mice. The present results might provide a new pharmacological potential for the treatment of osteoporosis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a radiotherapy for the treatment of intractable cancer. In BNCT precise determination of 10B concentration in whole blood sample before neutron irradiation of the patient, as well as accurate neutron dosimetry, is crucial for control of the neutron irradiation time. For this purpose ICP-AES and neutron induced prompt γ-ray analysis are generally used. In Ibaraki Neutron Medical Research Center (iNMRC), an intense proton beam will be accelerated up to 8 MeV, which can also be used for Charged Particle Activation Analysis (CPAA). Thus, in this study, we apply the CPAA utilizing the proton beam to non-destructive and accurate determination of 10B concentration in whole blood sample. A CPAA experiment is performed by utilizing an 8 MeV proton beam from the tandem accelerator of Nuclear Science Research Institute in Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The 478 keV γ-ray of 7Be produced by the 10B(p, α)7Be reaction is used to quantify the 10B in human blood. The 478 keV γ-ray intensity is normalized by the intensities of the 847 keV and 1238 keV γ-rays of 56Co originating from Fe in blood. The normalization methods were found to be linear in the range of 3.27 μg 10B/g to 322 μg 10B/g with correlation coefficients of better than 0.9999. • A charged particle activation utilizing an 8 MeV proton beam is applied for the determination of 10B in human blood. • The 478 keV γ-ray of 7Be produced by the 10B(p, α)7Be reaction is used to quantify the 10B. • 56Fe can be used as a reference to determine the concentration of 10B in whole blood samples. • The 511 keV γ-ray background can be reduced effectively by cooling of more than 5 h. • Optimization of irradiation and measurement conditions will be performed to reduce analysis time and uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]