New approach to environmentally benign epoxidation: the solid-phase-system using urea–H2O2 and recyclable dodecatungstate on apatite

On the basis of new concept using a solid disperse phase we have developed an efficient catalytic solid-phase-system for epoxidations of alkenes using urea–hydrogen peroxide (urea–H₂O₂) complex and cetylpyridinium dodecatungstate ((CetylPy)₁₀[H₂W₁₂O₄₂]) catalyst on fluorapatite (FAp). The recovered solid catalyst phase was reused to keep the catalytic activity after several times. In the conceptual idea it is a key point that in situ solid-phase-activation of the catalyst with urea–H₂O₂ proceeds to form microcrystals of the active species dispersed on the solid phase. The dispersion of the catalyst on FAp in the case of tungstic acid (H₂WO₄) was suggested by EPMA analysis. We proposed the peroxo type of species keeping the parent polyoxometalate framework as novel active species from FT-IR spectroscopic studies. FAp phase plays important roles of dispersing the active species on its surface to have high catalytic activity and of stabilizing the active species to lead to high reusability.     

A lateralized comparison of handedness and object proximity.

This study was motivated by the emerging hypothesis that right-handers are more strongly lateralized and perform better on various aspects of functional asymmetry than do left-handers. 84 Right- and 60 left-handers (undergraduates) were observed for hand selection responses to a unimanual task of reaching for a small cube in positions of right and left hemispace, prompting hemispheric decision-making related to hand dominance and attentional (visuospatial) stimuli. As predicted, left-handers did not respond with their preferred limb as consistently across positions as did right-handers. Additional inspection of the task suggests that being less lateralized may not be a disadvantage in this context, and that environmental influence may play a significant role in hand selection for a particular motor event. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vanadomolybdophosphoric acid/fluorapatite solid-phase system for aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation

We developed a solid-phase-oxidation-system using FAp disperse phase and vanadomolybdophosphoric acid (H_3+nPV_nMo_12−nO₄₀: PVn) catalysts with molecular oxygen as a new green reaction system. The PV4/FAp system was an efficient and recyclable solid–catalyst system for solvent-free oxidative dehydrogenation of -terpinene to p-cymene under 1 atm of molecular oxygen at 50 °C. The catalytic activity in the solid-phase system was comparable to that in the homogeneous liquid-phase system with acetonitrile. Even if under air conditions, PV4/FAp system was able to promote the catalytic dehydrogenation at room temperature sufficiently.     

碱溶性高聚物及其纤维应用

碱溶性聚酯通常用间歇聚合法制造,但成本很高,并且由于高聚物质量的不稳定性而造成可纺性不好.为了解决这些问题,Kanebo Gohsen有限公司开始试验采用"连续直接聚合过程",并于不久前创立了一套生产技术,所制得的高聚物性能稳定,可纺性提高,而且生产成本也比用间歇聚合法降低了60%.由碱溶性高聚物制得的纤维有许多产品.一种是能被碱溶液完全溶解的纤维,另一种是经过碱溶解后产生的分裂微纤.后者,有许多商业化产品,而且能够用性能稳定的高聚物有效地生产.本文将阐述用连续直接聚合的碱溶性高聚物生产各种纤维产品.     

Effect of nonaqueous anodic oxidation on the intensity of photoluminescence of porous silicon

Porous silicon (PS) was anodized for short periods in 0.02m KNO₃–ethylene glycol electrolyte to improve the maximum intensity of its photoluminescence (PL) by changing surface –Si–H bonds to –Si–OH or –Si–O-related compounds. A PS sample prepared in 1:1 (49% HF:99.5% EtOH) electrolyte gave 15-fold PL intensity as well as stabilized luminescence with 5min anodization. Prolonged anodization, however, peeled off the nano-ordered silicon particles and resulted in a decrease in PL intensity. The PL intensity of the PS sample prepared in 1:2 electrolyte decreased with 1min anodization but increased with 30s anodization. During anodization, the nano-ordered silicon particles reacted with water, an impurity in ethylene glycol, to give Si–OH and Si–O-related compounds. Ethylene glycol proved to be the best anodization solvent for nano-ordered silicon particles because of its high resistivity, high viscosity, and good electrochemical stability. However, ethylene glycol had to be removed completely from the PS surface by rinsing with pure water, because polyhydroxy alcohols such as ethylene glycol behaved as quenchers for excited electrons formed in Si–OH-related compounds on the nano-ordered silicon as a result of illumination.     

Reinvestigation of the Sex Pheromone of the Wild Silkmoth Bombyx mandarina: The Effects of Bombykal and Bombykyl Acetate

Sex pheromone investigations of the domesticated silkmoth, Bombyx mori (Lepidoptera: Bombycidae), helped elucidate the molecular and physiological fundamentals of chemical communication in moths, yet little is known about pheromone evolution in bombycid species. Therefore, we reexamined the sex pheromone communication in the wild silkmoth, Bombyx mandarina, which is considered ancestral to B. mori. Our investigations revealed that (a) B. mandarina females produce (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienol (bombykol), but not (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienal (bombykal) or (E,Z)-10,12-hexadecadienyl acetate (bombykyl acetate), which are pheromone components in other bombycid moths; (b) antennae of male B. mandarina respond strongly to bombykol as well as to bombykal and bombykyl acetate; and (c) bombykal and bombykyl acetate strongly inhibit attraction of B. mandarina males to bombykol in the field. The present study clarifies the evolution of pheromone communication in bombycid moths.     

Limb laterality and motor proficiency in children

This investigation examined the premise derived from recent reports, that children who are consistent right-handers are better coordinated than their left- and mixed-sided (inconsistent) peers. The observation of limb laterality was extended to include footedness. Two samples of children (N = 273) (foot laterality/hand laterality), matched for age and sex, were assessed for motor proficiency and compared according to limb preference (right, mixed, left). Overall, results indicated no significant group differences (ps > .05) in composite scores (upper-limb, lower-limb, combination) and total performance, within foot and hand laterality. In view of recent studies (noting differences between laterality groups) and these nonsupportive results, it appears that additional inquiry is warranted before any consensus regarding the association between limb laterality and motor coordination can be established. Suggestions for further inquiry are presented.     

Cover Image,Volume 138, Issue 16

The effect of raising and lowering the temperature on the tensile properties of cristobalite spherical particle-filled epoxy resin (C_PTCL/EP) was investigated, and the fabrication of cristobalite fiber and its fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) was attempted. For the C_PTCL/EP, the process of raising the temperature above the temperature at which the coefficient of thermal expansion of cristobalite suddenly changes (220°C) and then lowering the temperature to room temperature degraded the matrix and caused tensile residual stress in the matrix; however, interfacial adhesion between the matrix and filler improved. In other words, the tensile strength of C_PTCL/EP was not reduced by this process, but rather improved. In contrast, the tensile strength of cristobalite fiber-filled EP (C_FIBER/EP) was significantly lower than the theoretical value owing to cracks in the fiber caused by dunting during fabrication of the fiber. Thus, the fabrication method needs to be further improved.