A high resolution and large solid angle x-ray Raman spectroscopy end-station at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource

We present a new x-ray Raman spectroscopy end-station recently developed, installed, and operated at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource. The end-station is located at wiggler beamline 6-2 equipped with two monochromators-Si(111) and Si(311) as well as collimating and focusing optics. It consists of two multi-crystal Johann type spectrometers arranged on intersecting Rowland circles of 1 m diameter. The first one, positioned at the forward scattering angles (low-q), consists of 40 spherically bent and diced Si(110) crystals with 100 mm diameters providing about 1.9% of 4π sr solid angle of detection. When operated in the (440) order in combination with the Si (311) monochromator, an overall energy resolution of 270 meV is obtained at 6462.20 eV. The second spectrometer, consisting of 14 spherically bent Si(110) crystal analyzers (not diced), is positioned at the backward scattering angles (high-q) enabling the study of non-dipole transitions. The solid angle of this spectrometer is about 0.9% of 4π sr, with a combined energy resolution of 600 meV using the Si (311) monochromator. These features exceed the specifications of currently existing relevant instrumentation, opening new opportunities for the routine application of this photon-in/photon-out hard x-ray technique to emerging research in multidisciplinary scientific fields, such as energy-related sciences, material sciences, physical chemistry, etc.     

Mechanism of atomic removal in elastic emission machining

Elastic emission machining (EEM) can be thought of as a machining method utilizing the chemical activity of a particle surface, rather than a liquid echant as in chemical etching. Selecting the combinations of silicon as workpiece material and SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂ as the powder particles, the material removal rate during machining was examined. Different combinations of workpiece materials and powders affected removal rates strongly, so that the machining process was considered from the standpoint of the atomic interactions at the interface between the workpiece and the powder particles. The surface voltage of the workpiece with adsorbed powder particles was measured as one of the parameters representing the interfacial interactions, and correlations with removal rates were obtained.     

Andrena wilkella male bees discriminate between enantiomers of cephalic secretion components

Diastereomers of the spiroacetal, 2,8-dimethyl-1,7-dioxaspiro [5.5]undecane, represent main components of the cephalic secretion from males of the solitary bee,Andrena wilkella. The major compound proved to be of high enantiomeric purity, showing (2S,6R,8S) configuration. Only the naturally occurring enantiomer attracted patrolling males in the field; its antipode was behaviorally inactive and in a racemic mixture did not inhibit response. The (E,Z) diastereomers were also found to be almost inactive. EAG studies gave the same result as the behavioral tests. The biological function of the spiroacetal is discussed in view of the evolution of the mating behavior inA. wilkella.     

Rate measurement by pulse technique for individual steps involved in CO hydrogenation and its application to catalyst design

By using pulse reaction technique, the rates were measured for the individual steps involved in CO hydrogenation over transition metal catalysts with and without promoters. On all the transition metals other than Rh, the rate constant for the dissociation of C-O bond (k ₁) was much smaller than that for the hydrogenation of surface carbon species (k ₂). The oxides of V, Nb, Mo, and W added to Ru/Al₂O₃ increasedk ₁ and decreasedk ₃. The Rh catalyst was unique in the sense that there was not much difference betweenk ₁ andk ₂. The characteristic feature observed was found to be useful in designing a catalyst for the production of liquid fuel or C₂-oxygenates from syngas.     

Field response of maritime pine scale,Matsucoccus feytaudi duc. (Homoptera: Margarodidae), to synthetic sex pheromone stereoisomers

The absolute configuration of the primary component of the maritime pine scale (Matsucoccus feytaudi) pheromone (i.e., (8E, 10E)-3,7,9-trimethyl-8,10-dodecadien-6-one) was determined as 3S,7R by field-trapping experiments using synthetic stereoisomers and according to previous NMR considerations. The 3R,7R isomer showed similar activity to 3S,7R, whereasM. feytaudi males responded very weakly to the two other candidates (3R,7S and 3S,7S). Further studies were conducted to optimize scale trapping for monitoring scale populations. Results of these studies showed that the trapping efficiency was related to pheromone dose, trap area, and wind speed but not to trap height.     

Chemical stability of γ-butyrolactone-based electrolytes for aluminum electrolytic capacitors

γ-Butyrolactone-based electrolytes have been used as the operating electrolytes for aluminum electrolytic capacitors. The chemical stability of these electrolytes at elevated temperatures has been examined by monitoring the decrease in their electrolytic conductivities. The deteriorated electrolytes were analyzed by gas and liquid chromatography and the conductivity decrease was directly correlated with the loss of acid components. In quaternary ammonium hydrogen maleate/γ-butyrolactone electrolytes, the maleate anion decomposed by decarboxylation resulting in a complex polymer containing polyester and polyacrylate structures. Quaternary ammonium benzoate/γ-butyrolactoneelectrolytes decomposed by SN2 reactions giving alkyi benzoates and trialkylamines. The deterioration of the carboxylate salt/γ-butyrolactone electrolytes was accelerated by electrolysis.     

Preparation of pure vaterite by simple mechanical mixing of two aqueous salt solutions

Vaterite-type calcium carbonate particles have some unique properties such as high hydrophilicity, large surface areas, and hierarchical structures consisting of primary vaterite particles in comparison with calcite- or aragonite-type polymorphs. In this paper, preparation conditions of vaterite by mixing treatment of two salt solutions, CaCl₂ and K₂CO₃, were studied in terms of the presence of surfactant, agitation method of the solutions and other conditions. A double-cylinder-type homogenizer or ultrasonic homogenizer was used for agitation of the solutions. When suitable mixing conditions were adopted, pure vaterite was obtained as fine powders quantitatively by mixing the two salt solutions at room temperature without any surfactant using any types of homogenizers. When a polyoxyethylene sorbitan monofatty acid ester was present as a surfactant in the mixing solutions, pure vaterite but different morphologies or particle sizes were obtained, depending on the chemical structure of the surfactant used. The obtained results revealed that homogeneous, high-shear and constant agitation of the mixing solutions around 1 M salt concentration was necessary to prepare pure vaterite under the conditions used in this study.     

Outcome of schizophrenia--extended observation (more than 30 years) of 129 typical schizophrenic cases [III]

We had already made a report on outcome of schizophrenia (1986). The patients, 129 typical schizophrenia, were continuously observed over 30 years in the Kawagoe Dojinkai Hospital. Recently, we again evaluated their prognoses according to the same criteria as adopted in the first report, and divided them into the following five groups. [symbol: see text]: completely remitted group (21 persons, 16.3%), [symbol: see text]: almost remitted cases now holding jobs (23 persons, 17.8%), [symbol: see text]: Slightly remitted group showing good adjustment at home or hospital (41 persons, 31.8%), [symbol: see text]: maladjusted cases always showing an unfavorable condition (25 persons, 19.4%), x : incurable cases (19 persons, 14.7%). 1) In the last 8 years, there were 30 persons (23.3% of the whole patients) who showed prognostic changes (10 persons improved, 20 persons worsen). While the second group ([symbol: see text]) has seen fewer persons (12 persons down) than previous study, the third group ([symbol: see text]) has seen more persons (9 persons up). Each three groups, that is, the first two groups ([symbol: see text] + [symbol: see text], 44 persons, 34.1%), the third group ([symbol: see text], 41 persons, 31.8%), and the forth and fifth groups ([symbol: see text] + x, 44 persons, 34.1%) accounted for a third of the whole patients. It is after 32 years on the average (extending from 21 to 50 years) from the onset of illness that they showed prognostic changes. 2) Generally speaking, catatonic patients had favorable prognoses, hebephrenic patients unfavorable ones, and paranoid patients medium ones. But 4 improved persons in the forth and fifth groups were all hebephrenic type. 3) 17 among the 30 persons who showed prognostic changes were unstable type. They took a wave-like course. 4) 27 of all the 129 patients were dead. 25 were dead from disease mentioned below. Malignancy (8 persons), Cerebral vascular disease, Pneumonia and Diabetes (3 persons), Heart-failure (2 persons), Ileus, Myocardial infarction, Hepato-cirrhosis, Gastric ulcer, Tuberculosis and Natural death (1 person). 2 persons committed suicide. 5) Outcome of 45 patients who discontinued our medical therapy became clear as follows. [symbol: see text] + [symbol: see text]: 18 persons (40.0%), [symbol: see text]: 9 persons (20.0%), [symbol: see text] + x : 18 persons (40.0%). A smaller percentage of the patients belongs to the third group ([symbol: see text]) than that of our patients who were continuously followed by us.