Syntheses of sodium 2-(N-alkyl-N-methylamino)ethanephosphates and their physicochemical properties

A series of new amphoteric surfactants, sodium salts of 2-(N-alkyl-N-methylamino)ethanephosphates (alkyl: n-dodecyl, n-tetradecyl and n-hexadecyl) were prepared by reacting alkylbromides with N-methylaminoethanol, followed by addition of phosphoric acid groups and neutralization with sodium hydroxide. The structures of these compounds were confirmed by spectroscopy and elemental analysis. Physical properties such as Krafft point, isoelectric point, critical micelle concentration, occupation area of molecule at surface, foaming power and the effect of pH on surface activity were evaluated. These surfactants were found to exhibit zwitterionic characteristics in the pH range from approximately 5 to 9 and demonstrated good surface-active properties over a wide pH range (pH 4~10). Large occupation areas of the molecule at a surface in comparison with sodium dodecyl sulfate was noted as a characteristic feature of these surfactants.     

Internal stress in epoxide resin networks containing biphenyl structure

Bisphenol-A type and biphenyl type epoxide resins were cured with two types of aromatic diamines which have or do not have the carbon bridge between aromatic rings. Internal stress of these cured resins decreased with the introduction of a biphenyl structure into the networks. This reduction of the internal stress is attributed to the decrease of the elastic modulus in the glassy region caused by the low mobility of the biphenyl segment. On the other hand, the glass transition temperature increased with increasing the concentration of the biphenyl unit in the networks. These results revealed that the consistency of the decrease of the internal stress with the improvement of the heat resistance of the cured systems is possible by introducing the biphenyl structure to the epoxide resin networks.     

Study of first orbit losses of 1 MeV tritons using the Lorentz orbit code in the LHD

Shot-integrated measurement of the triton burnup ratio has been performed in the Large Helical Device. It was reported that the triton burnup ratio, defined as total DT neutron yield divided by total DD neutron yield, increases significantly in inward shifted configurations. To understand the magnetic configuration dependence of the triton burnup ratio, the first orbit loss fraction of 1 MeV tritons is evaluated by means of the Lorentz orbit code for various magnetic configurations. The first orbit loss of 1 MeV tritons is seen at t of less than 10-5 s and loss points of the triton are concentrated on the side of the helical coil case where the magnetic field is relatively weak. The significant decrease of the first orbit loss fraction by 15% is obtained with the inward shift of the magnetic axis position from 3.90 to 3.55 m. It is found that the decrease of first orbit loss is due to the reduction of the first orbit loss of transition and helically trapped tritons.     

Improvement in the durability of carbon black-supported Pt cathode catalysts by silica-coating for use in PEFCs

Commercially available Pt metal catalysts supported on carbon black (Pt/CB) for polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) cathodes were covered with silica layers to improve their durability under the severe cathode operating conditions. The Pt metal particles in the Pt/CB catalyst grew in size during the accelerated durability tests (potential cycling between 0.6 and 1.0 V vs. RHE in an aqueous HClO₄ electrolyte). Thus, the Pt/CB catalyst was seriously deactivated for the oxygen reduction reaction over the course of the durability tests. In contrast, the silica layers, which wrapped around the Pt metal particles in the silica-coated Pt/CB catalyst, prevented the migration of the Pt metal particles on the carbon supports and the diffusion of Pt cations out of the silica layers. Thus, the silica-coated Pt/CB catalysts maintained a high activity for the oxygen reduction reaction over the course of the durability tests. In addition, the silica-coated Pt/CB prepared from methyltriethoxysilane showed a higher activity than that prepared from tetraethoxysilane. The porous structures and hydrophobicity of silica prepared from methyltriethoxysilane promoted the diffusion of oxygen and water molecules in the silica layers of the silica-coated Pt catalysts.     

Enhancing the elevated temperature performance of Li/LiMn2O4 cells by reducing LiMn2O4 surface area

Lithium-rich spinels were obtained with the same structure but different surface area by two different synthesis routes, namely the “once-annealed” and the “twice-annealed” methods. The elevated temperature performance of Li/Li_1+xMn₂O₄ cell is significantly improved using a spinel cathode with a small surface area: the cell at 50°C lost 5% of the initial capacity over the first 100 cycles based on a spinel cathode with the small surface area of 1.2 m²/g compared to 8% based on a large one of 6.2 m²/g. Also the mechanism responsible for the reaction of LiMn₂O₄ with LiOH to form lithium-rich spinel has been investigated.     

Plasma treatment of heat-treated meso-carbon microbeads

The surface treatment of heat-treated meso-carbon microbeads was conducted by using oxygen and nitrogen plasmas and was characterized by measuring the zeta potential, concentrations of functional groups, heat of immersion, turbidity and FTIR-PAS,-ATR spectra. By using the oxygen plasma treatment, the surface of the heat-treated microbeads became oxidized, resulting in a negative zeta potential in aqueous solution. In contrast, the nitrogen plasma treatment rendered the zeta potential of the heat-treated microbeads much more positive. The surfaces of heat-treated microbeads by both plasma treatments became wettable in aqueous solution. Furthermore, the plasma treatment was most effective for microbeads heat treated at lower temperatures.     

Dye-fibre bond stabilities of dyeings of bifunctional reactive dyes containing a monochlorotriazine and a ß-hydroxyethylsulphone sulphuric acid ester group

The dye-fibre bond stabilities of various bifunctional dyes (commercially known as Sumifix Supra dyes) have been investigated by measuring the kinetics of dye-cotton bond hydrolysis in aqueous buffer solution at 98d?C. The stabilities are generally found to be somewhat higher than those of comparable monofunctional reactive dyes. Significantly better, however, is the fixation yield of the bifunctional dyes. Reasons for a very low uptake of a non-commercial bromamine acid-based bifunctional dye are discussed.     

Seismic design method of clamped-free thin cylindrical shells immersed in fluid

We carried out excitation experiments on clamped-free thin cylindrical shells immersed in fluid that represented thermal baffles of a fast breeder reactor. At a certain excitation level, occurred external pressure buckling. We also observed that parametric vibration, which involved high-order circumferential vibration modes, occurred at a certain combination of excitation frequency and excitation level. Concerning seismic design of the thermal baffles, we, therefore, take not only the buckling but also the effect of the parametric vibration into consideration. We adopt buckling eigenvalue analyses to estimate buckling pressure and propose a formula to prevent the buckling. Further, we discuss important factors such as buckling strength reduction caused by initial shape imperfections and interaction between horizontal and vertical seismic response. Concerning the parametric vibration, a significant deformation of cylinders should be prevented. A practical method applying the dynamic stability theory is proposed to obtain the condition, under which the parametric vibration takes place.     

Identification and functional analysis of genes required for desulfurization of alkyl dibenzothiophenes of Mycobacterium sp. G3

Mycobacterium sp. G3 was reported as a dibenzothiophene (DBT)-degrading microorganism and the first strain to have the ability to degrade high-molecular-weight alkyl DBTs, such as 4,6-dibutyl DBT and 4,6-dipentyl DBT, by the C-S bond cleavage pathway. Three genes (mdsA, mdsB, and mdsC) for desulfurization, which form a cluster, were cloned from Mycobacterium sp. G3. The expression of each gene in Escherichia coli JM109 showed that MdsC oxidized DBT to DBT sulfone, MdsA transformed DBT sulfone into 2-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)benzene sulfinate (HPBS), and MdsB desulfinated HPBS into 2-hydroxybiphenyl (HBP), indicating that the gene products of mdsABC are functional in the recombinant. MdsC oxidized 4,6-dimethyl DBT, 4,6-diethyl DBT, 4,6-dipropyl DBT and 4,6-dibutyl DBT to each sulfone form, suggesting that MdsC covers a broad specificity for alkyl DBTs.     

Effects of UV-B irradiation on the levels of anthocyanin,rutin and radical scavenging activity of buckwheat sprouts

The effects of various light compositions on the levels of anthocyanin, rutin and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) sprouts were evaluated. Dark-grown 6-day-old buckwheat sprouts were irradiated with different sources of visible and ultraviolet (UV) light. Particularly, we examined the effect of UV-B at wavelengths of 260–320 nm, 280–320 nm, and 300–320 nm on the production of flavonoid compounds, using multiple fluorescent lights and cylinders that filter out certain portions of the UV-B. The results showed that irradiation with UV-B > 300 nm increased the levels of anthocyanin and rutin, as well as the DPPH radical scavenging activity. When sprouts were irradiated with UV-B light at wavelengths of 260–300 nm, yellowing or withering occurred within 24 h of irradiation, indicating that wavelengths in this range are detrimental to the growth of buckwheat sprouts.