Degradability testing of radiation-vulcanized natural rubber latex films

The degradability under various conditions of five kinds of radiation-vulcanized natural rubber latex (RVNRL) films was studied. The treatments were leaching in methanol, leaching in 1% ammonia solution, mixing with tris(nonylated phenyl)phosphite (TNP) antioxidant, blending with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and grafting with PMMA, Comparisons were made with sulfur-vulcanized natural rubber latex (SVNRL) film. RVNRL films SVNRL film can be kept for a long time when indirectly exposed to sunlight at room temperature. However, the former degraded much more rapidly than did the latter. TNP was found to be very suitable as an antioxidant to prolong the life of RVNRL films under dry conditions. PMMA, either blended or grafted with RVNRL, was ineffective in the prevention of deterioration of RVNRL films. The rapid degradation of RVNRL products could be an advantage over SVNRL products in environmental and wildlife conservation. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Synthesis and properties of optically active substituted polyacetylenes having carboxyl and/or amino groups

Polyacetylenes having carboxyl and/or amino groups in the side chain were synthesized by the polymerization of N-(2-propynyloxycarbonyl)-l-alanine (1) and l-alanine N-propargylamide (2) catalyzed with a rhodium cation complex. Poly(1_0.5-co-2_0.5) exhibited a larger CD signal than the homopolymers. The polymer mixtures obtained by the polymerization of 1 in the presence of poly(2), and those obtained by the polymerization of 2 in the presence of poly(1) showed specific rotations larger than calculated. The polymerization of propargylamine in the presence of poly(1) did not exhibit significant effect, while the polymer mixtures obtained by the polymerization of propiolic acid in the presence of poly(2) exhibited [α]_D of positive sign, although poly(2) alone exhibited [α]_D of negative sign.     

沉积软岩强度和变形特征的研究综述

The strength and deformation characteristics of sedimentary soft rock evaluated in relation to several large-scale researc and construction projects in Japan are reviewed.The elastic stiffiness at small non-linearity due to strain and pressure level,and viscous properties are described.The elastic stiffness from triaxial tests using high-quality core samples while measuring stresses and strains accurately is basically the same as the corresponding value from field shear wave velocity.It is necessary to take into account the dependency or stiffness on shear and pressure level,which could be evaluated by relevant laboratory stress-strain tests while referring to results trom relevant field loading tests.Loading rate effects due to the material viscous properties could be simulated by a non-linear three-component model.     

用仿生自组装法制备的新型生物复合材料及表征

通过仿生自组装法在室温下制备了纳米碳酸化羟基磷灰石/胶原（nCHAC）复合材料,并采用X射线衍射（XRD）、热分析（TGA）和透射电镜（TEM）进行了观察和分析.结果表明,该材料具有与天然骨相同的纳米尺度和胶原蛋白无机相,含有（2.8～14.7）w%的碳酸化HA成分;其显微结构是矿化的胶原纤维束,类似于天然骨的分级结构.揭示了碳酸化HA和胶原含量不同的复合材料中,具有微小差别的自组装单元.碳酸的百分含量影响矿物的晶体尺寸和胶原纤维的组装.因此,nCHAC复合材料是有前途的硬组织修复用材料,其所具有的特殊性能要归功于生物仿生制备出的nCHAC材料有与天然骨类似的成分和类似的微观结构.     

Extraction of lanthanide ions from aqueous solution by bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid with room-temperature ionic liquids

Extractions of five kinds of lanthanide metal ions by bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (DEHPA) with [1-Cn-3-methylimidazolium][PF₆](Cn = C₂, C₄) or [1-butyl-4-methylpyridinium][PF₆] were carried out under various DEHPA and HNO₃ concentrations from 0 to 1 M and under different temperature conditions from 298 to 333 K. These results were compared with those using the conventional organic solvent, hexane, in terms of their distribution coefficient values. Under all of the conditions in this study, the ionic liquid system shows more than three times greater extractability for lanthanide compared to when hexane was used. The distribution coefficient of lanthanide ions decreased as the length of the alkyl chain increased from the ethyl to the butyl. In addition, the imidazolium cation generally shows a higher distribution coefficient compared to the pyridinium cation in an ionic liquid. The concentration ratio of lanthanides and DEHPA resulted in an extraction affinity transition for lanthanides. Also evaluated in this study were issues related to the selectivity associated with the lanthanide mixture and the dependency of the ionic radius during lanthanide extraction.     

Micro machining for control of wettability with surface topography

A micro fabrication is presented to manufacture hydrophobic surfaces with micro-scale structures. Hydrophobicity is controlled with the shape and the alignment of micro pillars in the structure. The structures are manufactured in large areas at high production rates in the following processes: (1) the structure is fabricated on a tool by focused ion beam sputtering; (2) the reverse structure is formed on a metal plate by incremental stamping using the structured tool; and (3) the structure is transferred onto plastic plates by molding. A consecutive stamping is also proposed to fabricate several structures on a surface accurately with a structured tool, in which the moving pitch of the structured tool is numerically controlled. The effect of the surface topography on hydrophobicity is discussed with measuring contact angles on the structured surfaces in the water droplet tests. Hydrophobicity on the plastic plate is associated with the solid fraction on the structured surface based on the Cassie–Baxter model. A larger contact angle is observed for a smaller solid fraction of the surface.     

Delamination growth mechanisms in woven glass fiber reinforced polymer composites under Mode II fatigue loading at cryogenic temperatures

The purpose of this research is to characterize the cryogenic delamination growth behavior in woven glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite laminates subjected to Mode II fatigue loading. Mode II fatigue delamination tests were performed at room temperature, liquid nitrogen temperature (77 K) and liquid helium temperature (4 K) using the four-point bend end-notched flexure (4ENF) test method, and the delamination growth rate data for the woven GFRP laminates were obtained. The energy release rate range was determined by the finite element method. Microscopic examinations of the specimen sections and fracture surfaces were also carried out. The present results are discussed to obtain an understanding of the fatigue delamination growth mechanisms in the woven GFRP laminates under Mode II loading at cryogenic temperatures.     

Studies on toxicity of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on Arabidopsis T87 suspension cells

The possible toxicities of agglomerates of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) toward plant cells were evaluated. Arabidopsis T87 suspension cells were used as the model cells and decreases in values of cell dry weights, cell viabilities, cell chlorophyll contents, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were seen for the cells cultured in media containing the agglomerates of MWCNTs, indicating the agglomerates of MWCNTs are toxic to the Arabidopsis T87 suspension cells. Moreover, the toxicities increased sharply as the diameters of the agglomerates of the MWCNTs became smaller. A concept based on the hypersensitive response is suggested to explain the possible toxic mechanism induced by the MWCNTs.     

Optical shifter for a three-dimensional image by use of a gradient-index lens array

We propose a new function of the two-dimensional lens array that is composed of many gradient-index lenses. The array forms three-dimensional (3D) images. The characteristics of the 3D images depend on the length of the gradient-index lens. Especially, if the length of the lens is an odd-integer multiple of the half period of the optical path, 3D images are pseudoscopic with a reversed depth. The two lens arrays are positioned at a suitable distance, so that orthoscopic 3D images with the correct depth are formed in front of the lens array.     

Histidine 210 mutant of a trypsin-type Achromobacter protease I shows broad optimum pH range

Achromobacter protease I (API), a lysine-specific serine protease, shows one order of magnitude higher activity than bovine trypsin, while its optimum pH is in the alkaline region at about pH 9. To improve the optimum pH range, mutant enzyme His 210 replaced by Ser(H210S), Ala (H210A), and Lys (H210K) were constructed. The optimum pH of H210S shifted from about pH 9 (wild-type enzyme) to about pH 7, retaining its high activity. The putative electrostatic interaction between His 210 and catalytic Asp 113 was elucidated by the optimum-pH shift of H210K and H210A. These results indicate that this unconserved His 210 in API, which plays a key role in generating the useful peptidase, broadened the optimum-pH range without decreasing lysylendo-peptidase activity.