Intuitive substitute interface

This paper proposes the “Substitute Interface” to utilize the flat surfaces of objects around us as part of an ad hoc mobile device. The substitute interface is established by the combination of wearable devices such as a head-mounted display with camera and a ring-type microphone. The camera recognizes which object the user intends to employ. When the user picks up and taps the object, such as a notebook, a virtual display is overlaid on the object, and the user can operate the ad hoc mobile device as if the object were part of the device. Display size can be changed easily by selecting a larger object. The user’s pointing/selection action is recognized by the combination of the camera and the ring-type microphone. We first investigate the usage scene of tablet devices and create a prototype that can operate as a tablet device. Experiments on the prototype confirm that the proposal functions as intended.     

Effect of rolling deformation on the structures and properties of multi‐walled carbon nanotube filled isotactic polypropylene

Isotactic polypropylene filled with various contents of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were fabricated by the injection molding technique and then rolled at room temperature. The unrolled samples (URS) and rolled samples (RS) were characterized by X‐ray diffraction studies, scanning electron microscopy, mechanical and micromechanical tests and differential thermal analyses. Although the URS exhibit the lamellar α‐crystal with a*‐axis orientation, the RS show the same crystals with both a*‐ and c‐axis orientation, which is explained by interlamellar and intralamellar slips and lamellar destruction. Scanning electron micrographs display distinct surface morphological features for both URS and RS. While the tensile strength of RS is higher than that of URS, the Young's modulus (Y) is found to be lower than that of URS. Anisotropy in microharness (H) parallel and perpendicular to the rolled direction has been detected, although H for both samples increases with increasing MWCNT contents. The average relationship H/Y ≈ 0.18 as estimated for URS is closer to the predicted value of 0.10 for polymers than the H/Y ≈ 0.22 obtained for RS. The lamellar thickness for URS increases with increase of MWCNT content and that for RS decreases, as evaluated from both differential thermal analyses and X‐ray diffraction data. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

A generation method of artificial fluctuation data of wind power output considering smoothing effect

To use realistic wind power fluctuation data is important in simulating frequency change of power systems. It is well known that the smoothing effect must be taken into account when generating the artificial wind power output. Therefore, this paper proposed a new method to generate fluctuation waveform considering smoothing effect based on random number to fulfill the correlation among multiple sites and autoregression model. The effectiveness of the proposed method was tested by using practical wind speed data measured in Tohoku district.     

Study on FBR core concepts to increase proliferation resistance of plutonium in LWR–FBR transition period

The possibility to enhance proliferation resistance of discharged plutonium in fast breeder reactor (FBR) has been investigated in terms of reactor core-design aspects. The provisional target for proliferation resistance measures based on Saito's attractiveness (ATTR) is defined. It is found that a few percent of plutonium loading and/or Am/Cm loading, which come from various types of spent fuel, might satisfy the provisional target with a minimum impact on the core neutronic performances. On Am/Cm loading core, decay heat constraints for fuel-handling aspects are found to be important and should be considered in design. There is not significant change on the current developing scenarios for light water reactor–FBR transition period by applying the measures based on Saito's ATTR. It is found that applying Kimura's proposal, 15% ²³⁸Pu content requires about 7% MA loading fraction both in the core and the blanket, and it only can be applied at limited case. The period to consume minor actinides is shorter than to consume plutonium.     

Euphorbia tirucalli β-Amyrin Synthase: Critical Roles of Steric Sizes at Val483 and Met729 and the CH–π Interaction between Val483 and Trp534 for Catalytic Action

The functions of Val483, Trp534, and Met729 in Euphorbia tirucalli β-amyrin synthase were revealed by comparing the enzyme activities of site-directed mutants against that of the wild type. The Gly and Ala variants with a smaller bulk size at position 483 predominantly afforded monocyclic camelliol C, which suggested that the orientation of the (3S)-2,3-oxidosqualene substrate was not appropriately arranged in the reaction cavity as a result of the decreased bulk size, leading to failure of its normal folding into the chair–chair–chair–boat–boat conformation. The Ile variant, with a somewhat larger bulk, afforded β-amyrin as the dominant product. Intriguingly, various variants of Trp534 exhibited significantly decreased enzymatic activities and provided no aberrantly cyclized products, although the aromatic Phe and Tyr residues were incorporated and the steric sizes of the aliphatic residues were altered. Therefore, the Trp534 residue does not stabilize the transient cation through a cation–π interaction. Furthermore, the Trp residue, with the largest steric bulk among all natural amino acids, is essential for high enzymatic activity. Robust CH–π complexation between the Val483 and Trp534 residues is proposed herein. Altering the steric bulk at the Met729 position afforded the pentacyclic skeletons. Thus, Met729 is positioned at the E-ring formation site. More detailed insights into the functions of the Val483, Trp534, and Met729 residues are provided by homology modeling.     

A novel sphingophosphonolipid head group 1-hydroxy-2-aminoethyl phosphonate in Bdellovibrio stolpii

Members of the bacterial genus Bdellovibrio include strains that are free-living whereas others are known to invade and parasitize larger Gram-negative bacteria. The bacterium can synthesize several sphingophospholipid compounds including those with phosphoryl bonds as well as phosphonyl bonds. In the present study, the dominant sphingophosphonolipid component was isolated by column chromatography, and the long-chain bases, fatty acids, and polar head groups were identified by thin-layer and gas-liquid chromatographic procedures. The definitive structural identity of the sphingolipid was established by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry of hydrolysis products and the intact compound. The compound was identified as N-2′-hydroxypentadecanoyl-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxyheptadecan-1-phosphono-(1-hydroxy-2-aminoethane).     

Maleated Natural Rubber as a Coupling Agent for Recycled High Density Polyethylene/Natural Rubber/Kenaf Powder Biocomposites

Kenaf powder (KP) was incorporated into recycled high density polyethylene (rHDPE)/natural rubber (NR) blend using an internal mixer at 165°C and rotor speed of 50 rpm. The tensile strength and elongation at break of the composites decreased, while the tensile modulus increased with increasing filler loading. The water absorption was found to increase as the filler content increased. The maleic anhydride grafted natural rubber was prepared and used to enhance the composites performance. The addition of MANR as a coupling agent improved the tensile properties of rHDPE/NR/KP biocomposites. The water absorption was also reduced with the addition of MANR.     

Synthesis and chiroptical properties of helical poly(phenylacetylene) bearing optically active chiral oxazoline Pendants

The novel optically active (S)-4-benzyl-2-(ethynylphenyl)-oxazoline (BnEPhOx) was successfully prepared and polymerized using rhodium catalyst ([Rh(nbd)Cl]₂) to obtain the moderate molecular weight poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing chiral oxazoline derivatives with high yields (≥90%). The ¹H NMR spectra demonstrated that the resulting polymers had high stereoregular structures. Moreover, the poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing chiral oxazoline exhibited better thermal stability than poly(phenylacetylene). The resulting polymers showed higher absolute values of optical specific rotation than the monomer. The polymers also exhibited intense CD signal in the region of the π-π1 band of the conjugated polyacetylene backbone in chloroform solution. The results of specific rotation and CD spectroscopy indicated that all the polymers adopted higher-order structure with predominantly one-handed screw sense.In addition, the resulting polymers emitted fluorescence under UV irradiation.