Structural,mechanical and thermal studies of double‐molded isotactic polypropylene nanocomposites with multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Nanocomposites of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with various contents of MWCNTs were fabricated by double molding techniques. X‐ray diffraction measurements reveal a development of α‐crystal with lamellar stacks having a long period of 150 Å in the neat iPP that increases to 165 Å in 2 wt % MWCNTs‐loaded composites, indicating that MWCNTs enhance crystallization of iPP as a nucleating factor. Mechanical properties, such as tensile strength, flexural strength, Young's modulus, tangent modulus, and microhardness are found to increase with increasing MWCNTs content. Thermal analyses represent an increase of crystallization and melting temperatures and a decrease of thermal stability of the composites with increasing MWCNTs. Changes in structural, mechanical, and thermal properties of the composites due to the addition of MWCNTs are elaborately discussed. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

The effects of di-D-fructofuranose-1,2':2,3'-dianhydride (DFA III) administration on human intestinal microbiota

Di-D-fructofuranose-1,2':2,3'-dianhydride (DFA III) was shown to enhance Ca absorption in rat and human intestine. The effects of DFA III administration (9 g per day for 4 weeks that corresponded to 3-fold the optimal dosage of DFA III) on human intestinal microbiota were studied using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The major groups of human intestinal microbiota reported previously: the Bacteroides, the Clostridium coccoides group (Clostridium cluster XIVa), the Clostridium leptum group (Clostridium cluster IV), and the Bifidobacterium group were detected. The similarity of 30 DGGE profiles based on the V3 region (before and after administration to the 15 subjects) of the 16S rDNA were calculated using Pearson's correlation based on numbers, positions and intensity of bands, and then a dendrogram of DGGE profiles was constructed by the unweighted pair group method using arithmetic average (UPGMA) clustering method. By these analyses, no difference in DGGE profiles after DFA III administration was observed in healthy subjects, while two subjects with chronic constipation showed different profiles, namely on numbers, positions and the intensity of some bands. Their stools were softer and stool frequencies increased and they obtained relief from constipation.     

Basic study about cooperative movement between a human and an agent with entrainment

The use of an agent in the environment, as in medical treatment, welfare, the construction field, and the home, is examined. It is necessary for the agent to be able to work cooperatively with a human, and that may be a problem. Therefore, this study pays attention to the phenomenon that is called entrainment. This is the phenomenon where the rhythm of a certain person and the partner in the communication is synchronized. The purpose of this study is to perform a basic examination into applying an entrainment in order to realize cooperation in operations between a human and an agent. Since many human rhythms are expressed by a nonlinear oscillator, we simulated limited cycle oscillators, which are one of two nonlinear oscillators that cause interactions between agents, as the basic examination for this achievement. Consequently, entrainment of limited cycle oscillators with rhythms which differ has been checked in certain conditions. As a result, the possibility that cooperative movement could be gained was suggested.     

Crystal Phase and Phonon Densities of States of β'-SiAION Ceramics, Si6-zAlzOzN8-z (0 ≤z≤ 4)

The crystal structure and phonon densities of states (DOS) of β-SiAlON ceramics, Si₆_ _z Al _z O _z N_8-z (0 < z < 4), prepared by a novel slipcast method, are studied by neutron-scattering techniques. The samples with z < 4 form a single-phase solid solution of Si-Al-O-N isostructural to β-Si₃N₄ (space group P 6 ₃/m). A consistent preferential occupation of the 2c sites by oxygen atoms and the 6 h sites by nitrogen atoms exists within this structure. The phonon DOS of β'-SiAlON displays phonon bands at ∼50 and 115 meV. These features are considerably broader than the corresponding ones in β-Si₃N₄ powder.     

The design of a precompensator for multivariable adaptive control-anetwork-theoretic approach

A network-theoretic approach to the design of a dynamic precompensator C(s) for a multiinput, multioutput plant T(s) is considered. The design is based on the relative degree of each element of T(s). Specifically, an efficient algorithm is presented for determining whether a given plant T(s) has a diagonal precompensator C( s) such that, for almost all cases, T(s)C (s) has a diagonal interactor. The algorithm also finds any optimal precompensator, in the sense that the total relative degree is minimal. The algorithm can be easily modified to work even when a T(s) represented by a nonsquare matrix is given     

Evaluation of mixing profiles for a new micromixer design strategy

The relationship between mixing history and reaction performance in microreactors using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations is identified. In the idealized, simplified mixing model, mixing proceeds linearly and only the mixing time determined the reaction performance. However, in the case of realistic models where mixing proceeds unequally, the partial rapid progression of mixing, more than the mixing time, significantly impacts the reaction. The use of the fluid segment size distribution to capture this effect is proposed. The effective Damköhler number derived from the fluid segment size distribution predicted the reaction yield well. To demonstrate the utility of the mixing profile design strategy, we fabricated a novel micromixer with multiple partial rapid mixing zones. This micromixer achieved excellent results both in a CFD simulation and an experiment. © 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 62: 1154–1161, 2016     

Structure-function study on gastric proton pump

H+, K(+)-ATPase is a proton pump responsible for gastric acid secretion. It actively transport proton and K+ coupled with the hydrolysis of ATP, resulting in the formulation of a 10(6) fold proton gradient across the plasma membrane of parietal cells. The pump belongs to a family of P-type ATPases which include the Na+ pump (Na+, K(+)-ATPase) and the Ca2+ pump (Ca(2+)-ATPase). This review focuses on the structure-function relationship of this proton pump by using functional antibodies, specific inhibitor(s), a fluorescent reagent and site-directed mutants. First we prepared monoclonal antibodies which modified the functions of the H+, K(+)-ATPase . One of the antibodies, HK2032 inhibited the H+, K(+)-ATPase activity and the chloride conductance in gastric vesicles opened by S-S cross-linking, suggesting that the chloride pathway is in the H+, K(+)-ATPase molecule, and that the H+, K(+)-ATPase is a multi-functional molecule. Other antibody, HK4001 inhibited the H+, K(+)-ATPase activity by inhibiting its phosphorylation step. By using this antibody we found an H+, K(+)-ATPase isoform in the rabbit distal colon. Second we found that scopadulcic acid B, a main ingredient of Paraguayan traditional herb, is an inhibitor specific for the H+, K(+)-ATPase. This compound inhibited the H+, K(+)-ATPase activity by stabilizing the K(+)-form of the enzyme. Third we studied the conformational changes of the H+, K(+)-ATPase by observing the fluorescence of FITC-labeled enzyme. H+, K(+)-ATPase did not utilize acetylphosphate instead the ATP as an energy source of active transport, suggesting that the energy transduction system is not common among P-type ATPases. Finally we constructed a functional expression system of the H+, K(+)-ATPase in human kidney cells. By using this functional expression system in combination with site-directed mutagenesis, we studied the significance of amino acid residues in the catalytic centers (a phosphorylation site and an ATP binding site) and the putative cation binding sites. We newly found the sites determining the affinity for cations.     

In Situ Observation of Phase Separation of a Barium Borate Melt in a Stable Immiscibility Region under Microgravity

The precipitation of droplets was directly observed on a BaO–B₂O₃ melt in a drop shaft experiment. This is the first time that precipitation of droplets has been observed in a 4.5 s drop test. The melt film of 4BaOz96B₂O₃ (mol%) held on a platinum wire loop was heated above the critical tem-perature to produce uniformity and was cooled down to the phase separation temperature range. Phase separation of the melt was observed directly with a video camera. The IR image of the melt was simultaneously detected with a CCD array and was converted into a two-dimensional thermograph.