Effect of Mo on corrosion behavior of Ni20Cr–xMo alloys in air with NaCl–KCl–CaCl2 vapor at 570°C

The effect of Mo on the corrosion behavior of Ni20Cr–xMo alloys in an oxidizing chlorine-containing atmosphere using air mixed with the salt-vapor mixture of NaCl–KCl–CaCl₂ at 570°C was investigated. The results revealed that the corrosion performance of the Ni20Cr alloys in the oxidizing chlorine atmosphere was improved by Mo addition of up to 3 wt%. The Mo-free alloy formed a potassium chromate during corrosion as a result of the reaction between the Cr₂O₃ scale and KCl vapor. The chromate formation increased the chlorine potential at the scale surface and induced the breakdown of the protective Cr₂O₃ scale, resulting in internal chromium chloride precipitates and a Cr-depleted zone. In contrast, the presence of Mo resulted in the formation of a NiO scale, which did not react with the salt vapors and, therefore, prevented the formation of chromates. The beneficial effect of Mo on the high-temperature chlorination of Ni–Cr alloys in salt-vapor-containing atmospheres was ascribed to the suppression of chlorine generation due to NiO scale formation.     

A Strategy for Discovering Heterochiral Bioactive Peptides by Using the OB2nP Library and SPOTs Method

d -Amino acid containing peptides are promising as drug lead compounds because of their expected higher stability in vivo. A heterochiral random peptide library called the one-bead–2ⁿ-peptide (OB2ⁿP) library, which can display 2ⁿ peptide diastereomers per bead, has been developed. Through screening of the OB2ⁿP library and subsequent binding assay among the peptide diastereomers synthesized in parallel by means of the SPOTs method, new heterochiral mimotopes for the anti-β-endorphin monoclonal antibody have been obtained. One mimotope was a new ligand for the μ-opioid receptor. The screening strategy enabled d -amino acid containing drug leads to be obtained efficiently by expanding searchable chemical space without increasing the experimental scale.     

Water Quality Improvement by Combined UF,RO, and Ozone/Hydrogen Peroxide System (HiPOx) in the Water Reclamation Process

Conventional water reclamation processes, such as membrane bioreactors, are not always effective in removal of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and/or N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), even with the reverse osmosis (RO) membrane process. A study was conducted, at a NEWater factory in Singapore, to compare a conventional ultrafiltration (UF) membrane /RO treatment process with a treatment train having the HiPOx unit, an advanced oxidation process (AOP), which was installed between the UF and the RO unit operations. By incorporating the HiPOx into the UF/RO treatment process, following results were observed; 1) increased removal of PPCPs, EDCs and NDMA, 2) improvement in ultraviolet transmission (UVT) of the RO permeate, 3) enhanced removal of TOC and color, and increased UVT of the RO brine, 4) suppression of the increase in the RO transmembrane pressure by organic fouling.     

Development of a multifingered robotic hand with the thenar grasp function

ABSTRACT

Manipulation of objects after grasping is an important research topic for robotic hands. In this research, we propose a grip method based on the thenar opposition, which is rarely handled in the framework of conventional precision and power grasps and useful in withdrawing a large torque after the grip, and develop a robotic hand that can realize the grasp as well as normal grasps. To this end, we propose methods to evaluate the thenar opposition and the variety of grasps based on the joint alignment of the thumb. Based on these methods, we determine the kinematic structure of the robotic hand and develop it with gear train transmissions and a soft skin. Experiments are implemented to demonstrate that the robotic hand realizes various grasps and a gripping force sufficient to withstand the torque that opens tightly clamped hand valves.     

Effects of the Hydroxylation Patterns and Degrees of Polymerization of Condensed Tannins on their Metal-Chelating Capacity

Abstract

We studied the effects of the hydroxylation patterns and the degrees of polymerization of condensed tannins on their metal-chelating capacity. These effects were evaluated by the relative stability of aluminium complexes with proanthocyanidin. The relative stability of aluminium complexes was determined qualitatively in methanol solution by the competition with the metallochromic reagent (chrome azurol S). A comparison of these capacities indicates the following results: 1) phenolic hydroxy groups in tannins are essential sites for the chelation with metal. 2) the sites of tannins interacting with metal ions are mainly o-dihydroxyphenyl groups in B-ring. 3) increasing degrees of polymerization of tannins tends to increase the relative stability of condensed tannin-aluminium chelate.     

Mucous blanket of rat bronchus: an ultrastructural study

The tracheobronchial tree of rats was fixed by fixative vapor "from the front", thus preserving the mucous blanket for morphologic study. Electron microscopic examination of bronchi revealed the existence of osmiophilic myelin-figured lamellae in the lower zone of the mucous blanket. The meaning of this finding is discussed in terms of a 2-layer model of the mucous blanket.     

Dielectric breakdown of new type polymerized polyethylene using asingle-site catalyst

We investigated the dielectric properties of a new type of polyethylene (PE) polymerized with a single-site catalyst. The new PE has much higher dielectric strength and volume resistivity than both conventional low-density PE and linear low-density PE. The increase in the density is considered to be responsible for the increase in dielectric strength. The type of the comonomer and melt flow rate (MFR) scarcely affect the dielectric properties