Structural significance of the alkyl substituent at the C-4 of (+)-trans-verbenyl acetate in sex pheromonal activity of the American cockroach

The significance of the alkyl group at the C-4 of (+)-trans-verbenyl acetate, which is the sex pheromone mimic of the American cockroach, was investigated. Seven alcohols possessing an ethyl, propyl, or dimethyl group at this position of the 6,6-dimethylbicyclo[3.1.1]heptane skeleton were synthesized and evaluated by behavioral assay. All of the alcohols were inactive, while three of four acetates of the 2-alcohols induced sexual behavior in male cockroaches at the 0.02 or 0.5 mg dosage level, either of which is many orders of magnitude higher than the threshold level of the natural sex pheromones (10^–8 mg). Among the acetates, the compounds with a methyl group or an -oriented ethyl group at C-4 showed the highest activity. The results are discussed in terms of spatial requirements of the molecules for interactions with the receptor.Studies on the sex pheromone mimic of the American cockroach, (+)-trans-verbenyl acetate. Part VIII. For Part VII, seeComp. Biochem. Physiol.,70A: 229–234 (1981).     

Studies on relationship between activity and electron density on carbonyl oxygen in sex pheromone mimics of the American cockroach,part XI

From the relationship between structures of the 2-substituents of verbanyl analogs and their sex pheromone activities to the American cockroach, electron density of the carbonyl oxygen atom in the substituent, as estimated by the [¹⁷O]NMR chemical shift, was estimated to be an important factor which influenced the activity, in addition to length of the substituent and the position of the carbonyl group. (+)-Verbanyl methylcarbonate (XX), possessing the highest electron density on the carbonyl oxygen atom, showed the strongest activity among the analogs.For Part X, see Manabe et al., 1983. J. Chem. Ecol. 9:533–549.     

Report on highly automated works in Japan — management of labour in line with technology development

In recent years drastic shifts in the paradigms of politics, economics and technologies have occurred throughout the world. The shifts in these three fields are all related. It is our responsibility to investigate these shifts from the aspects of society and mankind for the prosperity of future generations. For this, societies should share with each other their wisdom and knowledge in an effort to plan for the future.Presented at conference on Ecology of Science and Technology, Japan Science Foundation, Tokyo, 1992.     

应用发泡点分析仪分析胎面胶硫化过程中的温度不饱和度与热扩散系数

以载重子午线轮胎胎面胶为例,应用发泡点分析仪(BPA)测试和计算胶料温度不饱和度及扩散系数,探讨BPA的测试原理和方法。结果表明,热扩散系数与热源温度无关,而与加热时间和厚度相关。应用BPA对胶料进行硫化分析,有助于硫化工艺设计和生产控制。     

Adsorption of aromatic amines and o-substituted derivatives of phenol from organic solutions by activated carbons-effect of surface acidity

In order to study the effect of surface acidity of activated carbons on their adsorption characteristics, three kinds of aromatic amines and four kinds of o-substituted phenols were adsorbed from organic solutions by twelve kinds of activated carbons of different acidity and of known pore-structure. It was demonstrated that the surface acidity had a marked effect on the adsorption characteristics and that the effect was linked with the polarity of the solvents.     

Serum CA125 measurement is useful in 3 cases with pericardial effusion

Previously we reported that serum CA125 level is elevated in cases of pericardial effusion. We report three cases in which serum CA125 measurement is useful for assessing clinical status. In case 1, a 19-year-old came to our hospital for cardiac tamponade. Moderate degree of pericardial effusion and high CA125 level were observed. After the pericardectomy the serum CA125 level was normalized and pericardial effusion disappeared. Case 2, a 50-year-old man with mesothelioma and in whom serum CA125 level was elevated with pericardial effusion. After cardiac drainage his condition improved, with decreased CA125 level. However, later the CA125 level rose and recurrent localized pericardial effusion with worsening condition was observed. In case 3, in a 78-year-old woman with pericardial effusion no recurrence was observed after pericardial drainage. Her CA125 value was normal. These results indicated that measurement of CA125 value is a useful marker for assessing the clinical course of this disease.     

Spherical silicon solar cell with reflector cup fabricated by decompression dropping method

A spherical Si solar cell with a reflector cup was successfully fabricated by a dropping method at decompression state. In the dropping method, melted Si droplets were instilled at decompression state (0.5× 105Pa) to reduce crystal growth rate, dominating crystal quality such as dislocation density in crystal grains. Spherical Si solar cells were fabricated using the spherical Si crystals with a diameter of 1 mm and then mounted on a reflector cup. The current-voltage measurement of the solar cell shows an energy conversion efficiency of 11.1% (short-circuit current density ( Jsc ):24.7 mA·cm-2,open-circuit voltage: 601 mV, fill factor:74.6%). Minority carrier diffusion length determined by surface photovoltage method was 98 μm. This value can be enhanced by the improvement of crystal quality of spherical Si crystals. These results demonstrate that spherical Si crystals fabricated by the dropping method has a great potential for substrate material of high-efficiency and low-cost solar cells.     

Adsorption of benzoic acid and phenol from aqueous solution by activated carbons—effect of surface acidity

Effect of surface acidic groups of activated carbons on their adsorption characteristics for substrates from aqueous solutions were studied. Six kinds of carbons obtained commercially and their heat-treated products were used. Pore-size distribution, BET surface area and surface acidity were measured. Adsorption isotherms for benzoic acid and phenol from aqueous solutions (single or double components) were obtained. Substitution adsorption, i.e. substrate adsorbed preliminarily is substituted by another substrate, was also carried out. It was found that adsorption of benzoic acid is scarcely affected by surface acidity of carbons and the amount adsorbed is almost entirely controlled by the specific surface area of carbons. On the contrary, adsorption of phenol is retarded considerably by the acidity of carbons. In the case of solution of double components, benzoic acid is adsorbed predominatedly. The phenol adsorbed preliminarily is easily substituted by benzoic acid, but the substitution of benzoic acid by phenol scarcely proceeds.     

Structural significance of the geminal-dimethyl group of (+)-trans-verbenyl acetate,sex pheromone mimic of the American cockroach

The significance of the geminal dimethyl group at C-6 of (+)-trans-veibenyl acetate (Ib), a sex pheromone mimic of the American cockroach, was investigated. Our interest was first directed to eliminating either methyl group of the geminal dimethyl group. Consequently, alcohols (IIIa and IVa) possessing a monomethyl group at C-6 were successfully obtained. Acetate (IVb) and propionate (IVc) of alcohol (IVa) possessing only a C-9 methyl group induced sex pheromonal activity at the 0.5 (IVb) and 0.02 mg (IVc) dose levels, respectively, while acetate (IIIb) of a alcohol (IIIa) with only C-8 methyl group was inactive. Alcohol (Va), which has an ethyl group at the C-6 instead of C-9 methyl, was also synthesized and converted into its acetate (Vb), which showed no activity. From these results, the significance of the dimethyl group is discussed relative to spatial requirements of the molecule for the receptor space. The M/F ratio in EAG was also evaluated for the synthesized esters. The M/F ratio index represented well the potency of pheromonal activity.     

Model study on the formation of fuel NOx from cokes on combustion: Effect of metal oxides

To elucidate the process of ‘fuel NO_x’ formation from cokes and chars on combustion, carbons obtained from urea-resin and melamine-resin were subjected to combustion under a stream of pure oxygen at temperatures between 600 °C and 1000 °C. The carbons subjected to combustion without any additives produced a relatively small amount of NO_x, but, it was observed that the NO_x formation predominated at lower temperatures of combustion. When the combustion was carried out with the addition of metal oxides, such as iron oxides and cupric oxide, the amount of NO_x formed increased markedly but silicon dioxide had no such effect.