Mitsubishi Rayon Research Articles

Assessment of the CO2 water bath therapy effectiveness on diabetic foot ulcers through VEGF and TNF-α levels

Vasculopathy is typically seen in diabetic patients, and can lead to foot ulcerations. Carbon dioxide (CO2) therapy was found to improve chronic wound healing in patients with vascular impairment. This type of therapy refers to the transcutaneous and subcutaneous application of CO2 as well as CO2 water baths for therapeutic purposes. In the method used herein, artificial CO2-containing water for foot bathing was generated by dissolving Carbothera® (MRE-SPA-MD; Mitsubishi Rayon Engineering, Tokyo, Japan) and generating CO2 (free CO2 concentration: 1,000–1,200 mg/L; pH 4.6). The foot of each patient was immersed in CO2-enriched water (depth of 20–30 cm, 37–38°C, 30-min duration) three times per week, for the next three months. Dramatic clinical improvement was observed in the CO2 water bath therapy group before and after the treatment, while both the blood levels of the vascular endothelial growth factor and of the tumour necrosis factor-alpha in these patients exhibited significant changes. The advantages of this method are the absence of pain and the protection against infection, while the improved angiogenesis and oxygena¬tion can result in healing of the chronic wound.

Волоконно-оптичний малоінвазивний дифузний розсіювач на оптичному волокні для внутрішньотканинного лазерного впливу

The technical parameters of minimally invasive diffuse diffusers are analyzed in the article
 on the distal part of the polymer optical fiber. Prototypes were made
 diffuse diffusers made of polymer optical fibers manufactured by Mitsubishi Rayon
 Corporation (Japan) of different lengths: SC-20 with a diameter of 500 μm and SC-10 with a diameter of 250 μm
 by machining their reflective shell to apply inhomogeneities and
 changes in the conditions of total internal reflection.
 The conducted research created a basis for the introduction of new methods of creation
 minimally invasive diffuse diffusers in the distal part of the optical polymer fiber.

Advanced composite projects under way

Two carbon fiber makers are advancing plans for composite materials. Mitsubishi Rayon is forming a joint venture with the Danish firm Fiberline Composites to make carbon fiber composite laminates for wind turbine blades. Mitsubishi will supply carbon fiber from its Otake, Japan, facility to make the laminates in Denmark. Separately, Solvay is expanding its composite materials capacities in Östringen, Germany, including a new resin facility. The expansion, Solvay says, will meet growing demand for lightweight fiber-reinforced parts such as aircraft engine fan blades.

Measurement of capillary pressure in fuel cell diffusion media, micro-porous layers, catalyst layers, and interfaces

In this work, semi-empirical Leverett J-Function relationships relating capillary pressure and water saturation are experimentally derived for commercial and experimental polymer electrolyte fuel cell materials developed for automotive applications. Relationships were derived for Mitsubishi Rayon Corp. (MRC) U105 and General Motors (GM) experimental high tortuosity diffusion media (DM), the micro-porous layer (MPL), and the catalyst layer (CL). The standard Leverett J-Function under-predicted drainage curves for the DM at high saturation levels and significantly under-predicted the capillary pressure requirements for the MPL and CL across the entire saturation range. Composite structures were tested to understand interfacial effects for DM|MPL and MPL|CL. Each additional layer was found to superimpose its effects on capillary pressure onto the previous layers. The MPL formulation tested increased in porosity from a 136 nm peak average to a 153 nm peak average with increased surface porosity of the substrate. Additionally, small voids and pockets that accumulate liquid water were found to exist in the MPL|CL interface. The results of this work are useful for computational modelers seeking to enhance the resolution of their macroscopic multi-phase flow models which underestimate capillary pressure using the standard Leverett J-Function.

Modeling gas flow in PEMFC channels: Part I – Flow pattern transitions and pressure drop in a simulated ex situ channel with uniform water injection through the GDL

The two-phase flow in the gas channels of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is studied with an ex situ setup using a gas diffusion layer (GDL) as the sidewall of the channels. Air is supplied at the channel inlet manifold and water is supplied continuously and uniformly through the GDL along the length of the channel. This is different from the simultaneous air and water introduction at the inlet of the channel as studied by previous two-phase flow researchers. The GDL is compressed between the gas channels and the water chambers to simulate PEMFC conditions. The superficial velocity for air and water ranged from 0.25 to 34.5 m/s and 1.54 × 10−5 to 1.54 × 10−4 m/s, respectively. The ex situ setup was run in both vertical and horizontal orientations with two GDLs, – Baseline (Mitsubishi Rayon Co. MRC 105 with 5 wt.% PTFE and coated with an in-house MPL by General Motors) and SGL 25 BC – and three channel treatments – hydrophobic, hydrophilic, and untreated Lexan, with contact angles of 116°, 11° and 86°, respectively. No appreciable effect was noted because of the orientation, GDL type or channel coatings. The flow regime is observed at different locations along the channel and is expressed as a function of the superficial air and water velocities. Flow regime criteria are developed and validated against the range of ex situ data observations. A new variable water flow rate pressure drop model is developed in order to account for the variation of water entering the channel at multiple locations along the flow length. Pressure drop models are developed for specific flow regimes and validated against experimental data. The models are able to predict the experimental pressure drop data with a mean error of less than 14%.

Dosimetric performance and array assessment of plastic scintillation detectors for stereotactic radiosurgery quality assurance

To compare the performance of plastic scintillation detectors (PSD) for quality assurance (QA) in stereotactic radiosurgery conditions to a microion-chamber (IC), Gafchromic EBT2 films, 60 008 shielded photon diode (SD) and unshielded diodes (UD), and assess a new 2D crosshair array prototype adapted to small field dosimetry. The PSD consists of a 1 mm diameter by 1 mm long scintillating fiber (BCF-60, Saint-Gobain, Inc.) coupled to a polymethyl-methacrylate optical fiber (Eska premier, Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). Output factors (S(c,p)) for apertures used in radiosurgery ranging from 4 to 40 mm in diameter have been measured. The PSD crosshair array (PSDCA) is a water equivalent device made up of 49 PSDs contained in a 1.63 cm radius area. Dose profiles measurements were taken for radiosurgery fields using the PSDCA and were compared to other dosimeters. Moreover, a typical stereotactic radiosurgery treatment using four noncoplanar arcs was delivered on a spherical phantom in which UD, IC, or PSD was placed. Using the Xknife planning system (Integra Radionics Burlington, MA), 15 Gy was prescribed at the isocenter, where each detector was positioned. Output Factors measured by the PSD have a mean difference of 1.3% with Gafchromic EBT2 when normalized to a 10 × 10 cm(2) field, and 1.0% when compared with UD measurements normalized to the 35 mm diameter cone. Dose profiles taken with the PSD crosshair array agreed with other single detectors dose profiles in spite of the presence of the 49 PSDs. Gamma values comparing 1D dose profiles obtained with PSD crosshair array with Gafchromic EBT2 and UD measured profiles shows 98.3% and 100.0%, respectively, of detector passing the gamma acceptance criteria of 0.3 mm and 2%. The dose measured by the PSD for a complete stereotactic radiosurgery treatment is comparable to the planned dose corrected for its SD-based S(c,p) within 1.4% and 0.7% for 5 and 35 mm diameter cone, respectively. Furthermore, volume averaging of the IC can be observed for the 5 mm aperture where it differs by as much as 9.1% compared to the PSD measurement. The angular dependency of the UD is also observed, unveiled by an under-response around 2.5% of both 5 and 35 mm apertures. Output Factors and dose profiles measurements performed, respectively, with the PSD and the PSDCA were in agreement with those obtained with the UD and EBT2 films. For stereotactic radiosurgery treatment verification, the PSD gives accurate results compared to the planning system and the IC once the latter is corrected to compensate for the averaging effect of the IC. The PSD provides precise results when used as a single detector or in a dense array, resulting in a great potential for stereotactic radiosurgery QA measurements.

Daphnane diterpene hirsein B downregulates melanogenesis in B16 murine melanoma cells by cAMP pathway inhibition

BackgroundSkin pigmentation serves as protection against ultravio-let-induced skin damage through melanin’s optical andchemical filtering properties [1]. Although melanin playsand important role in skin protection, excessive melaninproduction or hyperpigmentation may lead to skin can-cer. Recently, the inhibition of melanogenesis has beenconsidered as a valid therapeutic target for the manage-ment of advanced melanotic melanomas [2] whichincreases the need for melanogenesis inhibitors that areof plant origin and are not cytotoxic to mammaliancells. The biosynthesis of the pigment melanin is cata-lyzed by the melanogenic enzymes tyrosinase, tyrosinaserelated protein 1 and the dopachrome tautomerase, thetranscriptional regulation of which is being regulated bythe microphthalmia associated transcription factor(Mitf) [3]. Previously, we have reported that hirsein B(HB) or 5b-hydroxyresiniferonol-6a,7a-epoxy-12b-cou-maroyloxy-9,13,14-ortho-decanoate from Thymelaea hir-suta [4] has antimelanogenesis effect (withoutcytotoxicity) on B16 murine melanoma cells by downre-gulating the expressions of the Mitf gene and the mela-nogenic enzymes’ genes [5]. The exact mechanism bywhich hirsein B inhibited the Mitf gene expression, how-ever, has not yet been determined. In melanogenesis, theMitf gene expression can be regulated through thecAMP pathway or the Wnt signaling pathway. Thisstudy aimed to determine the mechanism underlyingthe inhibitory effect of HB onMitf gene in B16 murinemelanoma cells.Materials and methodsTotal RNA was isolated from B16 murine melanomacells (Riken Cell Bank, Tsukuba, Japan) and used forDNA microarray analysis, using chips of 528 spotsloaded with 265 genes prepared by Genopal™ (Mitsu-bishi Rayon Co., Ltd, Tokyo, Japan), to determine theexpressions of genes for melanogenesis, membrane-bound receptors, tyrosine kinase regulation, melanosometransport, and other cell signal regulation-related genes(including the housekeeping and negative controlgenes). To validate the results, real-time PCR, usingTaqMan FAST 7500 (Applied Biosystems, Foster City,CA, USA) and specific TaqMan primers (Applied Bio-systems, Foster City, CA, USA) for the differentially-expressed genes, was performed.ResultsResults showed that the expressions of theMitf geneand the melanogenic enzymes’ genes were downregu-lated, verifying our previous report [5]. In addition, theexpression of the gene for melanocortin 1 receptor(Mc1r) of the cAMP pathway was downregulated whilemost of the genes that were upregulated are thoseinvolved in the Wnt signaling pathway (Table 1).In mouse, peptide hormones from the pituitary glandbind to the MC1R and stimulate melanin productionthrough the cAMP/PKA signalling pathway [6], by indu-cing changes in the protein phosphorylation and geneexpression, through the MITF gene product.ConclusionsThe results obtained suggest that the significant antime-lanogenesis effect of hirsein B is through the inhibitionof the expression of theMc1r gene of the cAMP path-way. HB may therefore be used as a treatment for

Effect of Temperature on In-Plane Permeability of the Gas Diffusion Layer of PEM Fuel Cell

The in-plane permeability is an important property of the gas diffusion layer (GDL) in a Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell. It governs the transport of reactants and water vapor from the channel to the GDL regions under the land of the bipolar plate, and the bulk mass transport in the case of interdigitated flow fields. The current focus in literature has been on studying the effect of porosity on this property. These studies have traditionally been conducted at room temperature. However, typical PEMFCs operate most efficiently between 65 and 90°C. In this study, an ex-situ test setup has been developed to investigate the effect of temperature on the in-plane permeability of the GDL. The in-plane permeability of moist air is measured for system temperatures of 25, 40, 60 and 80°C for samples from Toray Inc., SGL Corp. and Mitsubishi Rayon Corp.

Nitto Denko and Mitsubishi Rayon bring to an end their joint-venture company

Japan's diversified materials manufacturer Nitto Denko Corp and Mitsubishi Rayon Co Ltd (MRC), which manufactures speciality chemicals, have brought to an end their joint-venture company dedicated to the development of water treatment membrane technology.

IN WITH THE NEW

FOR 17 YEARS, chemists and chemical engineers at Lucite International worked to reinvent the process for making methyl methacrylate (MMA) that Lucite’s predecessor company, ICI, pioneered in 1933. They succeeded, and only a year after Lucite opened the world’s first facility to use the new process, the firm is already planning an even larger plant. For Lucite, which this year was acquired by Mitsubishi Rayon, the new technology frees the production of MMA from some of the fetters of the old process. The new route, dubbed Alpha, uses feedstocks that are more readily available, and it doesn’t yield unwieldy by-products. Most of the world’s production of MMA, used to make polymethyl methacrylate polymers, is based on the old ICI route. Known as the ACH process, it begins with hydrogen cyanide and acetone, which are combined to make acetone cyanohydrin (ACH). This intermediate is reacted with sulfuric acid and then methanol to make methyl methacrylate and ...

DEAL FEVER STRIKES JAPAN

MITSUBISHI RAYON and Mitsubishi Chemical have formed separate joint ventures, the former with Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) and the latter with two other Japanese firms. But overshadowing both deals are reports emerging from Japan that Mitsubishi Chemical is in talks to acquire Mitsubishi Rayon. Mitsubishi Rayon and SABIC have agreed in principle to a joint venture that will build a $1 billion methyl methacrylate (MMA) complex in Saudi Arabia. The 50-50 venture will use an ethylene-based MMA process developed by Lucite International, a British company that Mitsubishi Rayon finished acquiring in June for $1.6 billion. MMA has traditionally been manufactured by reacting hydrocyanic acid with isobutylene. Lucite’s process, in contrast, uses the cheaper raw materials ethylene, methanol, and carbon monoxide. Last fall, the company started up a 120,000-metric-ton-per-year MMA plant in Singapore that represents the first commercial application of the new technology. Soon after, Mitsubishi Rayon, itself a ...

Visualization of unstable water flow in a fuel cell gas diffusion layer

Modeling two-phase flow in proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells is hampered by a lack of conceptual understanding of flow patterns in the gas diffusion layer (GDL). In this paper, pore-scale visualizations of water in different types of GDLs were used to improve current understanding of flow and transport phenomena in PEM fuel cells. Confocal microscopy was used to capture the real-time transport of water, and pressure micro-transducers were installed to measure water breakthrough pressures. Three types of fuel cell GDLs were examined: TO series (Toray Corp., Tokyo, Japan), SGL series (SGL Carbon Group, Wiesbaden, Germany), and MRC series (Mitsubishi Rayon Corp., Otake City, Japan). The visualizations and pressure measurements revealed that despite difference in “pore” structures in the three types of GDLs, water followed distinct flow paths spanning several pores with characteristics similar to the “column flow” phenomena observed previously in hydrophobic or coarse-grained hydrophilic soils. The results obtained from this study can aid in the construction of theories and models for optimizing water management in fuel cells.

Capillary Pressure Saturation Relations for PEM Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Layers

Capillary pressure saturation relations (CPSRs) are presented for Toray TGP-H-060 and Mitsubishi rayon carbon fiber paper which can both be used as gas diffusion layers (GDLs) in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The saturation is measured using water over a range of capillary pressures. Boundary and scanning curves for imbibition and drainage are measured to further understand the hysteresis observed during PEMFC operation. The primary source of hysteresis in CPSRs is attributed to the difference in advancing and receding contact angles. The measured hysteresis is predicted to have a significant effect on mass transport in the GDL and thus performance in PEMFCs.

Hydranautics, Mitsubishi Rayon and PUB join forces to develop wastewater reclamation technologies

Hydranautics, Mitsubishi Rayon and PUB join forces to develop wastewater reclamation technologies

Experimental investigation of interlaminar mechanical properties on carbon fiber stitched CFRP laminates

Experimental investigations of interlaminar mechanical properties for carbon fiber rein-forced plastic (CFRP) laminates were carried out using aramid fiber (Kevlar®-29 1000d) and carbon fiber (TR40-1K 612d, Mitsubishi Rayon) stitching. Various carbon fiber (CF) stitch densities were used to prepare a number of CF stitched CFRP laminates for double cantilever beam (DCB) tests. An insert tongue-type loading fixture, developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (formerly the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan), was also employed in the DCB test. Interlaminar tension tests were carried out under an out-of-plane directional loading using a single CF stitch thread in the CFRP laminates. The DCB test results clarified that the relationship between the volume fractions of the CF stitch thread (V ft) and mode I critical energy release rate (G Ic) showed a mostly linear function with a higher gradient than that of the Kevlar® stitched CFRP laminates. The CF stitched CFRP tension test results indicated that the consumption energy per unit area (Ei ) was larger than that of Kevlar® stitched CFRP laminates.

OS17-3-2 Monitoring of CFRP matrix crack density using electrical potential change method with multiple probes

CFRP laminates are adopted for fuel tank structures of next generation space rockets or automobiles using fuel cells. The matrix cracks may cause fuel leak or triggers of fatigue damages. This requires monitoring system of the matrix crack density. Authors have developed an electrical resistance change method for monitoring of a delamination crack of CFRP laminates. The reinforcement fibers are used as self-sensing system. In the present study, the electric potential method is adopted for the matrix crack density monitoring. FEM analyses are performed to investigate the possibility of matrix crack density using multiple electrodes mounted on the specimen single surface. The FEM analyses reveals that the matrix crack density increases electrical resistance at the target segment between electrodes. Experimental confirmations are also performed here. Material used here is carbon/epoxy prepreg produced from Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd. The prepreg is stacked to make three types of laminates. Specimens of 245 mm x 15 mm were cut from each laminate. Eight electrodes were mounted on the specimen single surface by using silver paste after polishing the specimen surface with sand paper. The outermost couple of the electrodes were used to apply electrical current, and the inner other electrodes were used to measure electric voltage changes. The slope of electrical resistance during reloading was the appropriate tool for the detection of the matrix crack density. As a result, the proposed method is shown to be effective for the matrix crack density monitoring.

Treatment of Dilute Wastewaters Using a Novel Submerged Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactor

Three 3L laboratory scale submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (SAMBRs) with in situ membrane cleaning due to the bubbling of recycled biogas underneath them were studied for their ability to treat dilute wastewaters. Both Mitsubishi Rayon hollow-fiber and Kubota flat sheet membranes made of polyethylene with a pore size of 0.4μm were used in this study, and the effect of different substrates (460mg∕L of glucose or synthetic) on chemical oxygen demand (COD) performance in the SAMBR was investigated. It was found that both membranes resulted in similar COD removals (>90% soluble COD at a hydraulic retention time of 3h), but that the transmembrane pressure across the hollow fiber membranes was higher under similar conditions. Molecular weight analysis of the feed, reactor contents, effluent, and extracellular polymers using high pressure liquid chromatography showed that the membrane filtered out most of the high MW soluble organics, resulting in high COD removals. The experimental results from the SAMBR show the potential benefits of using this novel reactor design in a biological wastewater treatment process to minimize energy use and sludge production.

EVALUATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF MEMBRANE BIOREACTORS FOR WATER RECLAMATION

EVALUATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF MEMBRANE BIOREACTORS FOR WATER RECLAMATIONFour leading commercially available MBR (membrane bioreactor) systems were operated at the pilot scale over a 16-month period at the Point Loma Wastewater Treatment Plant (PLWTP) located in San Diego, CA. The four MBR systems tested included Kubota, US Filter / Jet Tech, Zenon and Mitsubishi Rayon. A primary objective of the pilot testing was to obtain operational and water quality data on the...Author(s)Samer AdhamJames DeCarolisJude GroundsLarry WassermanBill PearceSourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationSubjectSession 20: Membrane BioreactorsDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Jan, 2004ISSN1938-6478SICI1938-6478(20040101)2004:15L.731;1-DOI10.2175/193864704784148259Volume / Issue2004 / 15Content sourceWEFTECFirst / last page(s)731 - 748Copyright2004Word count289

Mitsubishi Rayon to supply membranes to ionics

Japan’s Mitsubishi Rayon Co has signed an exclusive agreement to supply US-based water treatment company Ionics Inc with percolation membranes used to purify sewage into drinking water. This is a short news story only. Visit www.filtsep.com for the latest filtration industry news

Mitsubishi Rayon enters Chinese market

Mitsubishi Rayon enters Chinese market