Gas permeabilities of cellulose nitrate/poly(ethylene glycol) blend membranes

The permeability (P) of cellulose nitrate (CN)/poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) blend membranes for N₂, O₂, and CO₂ has been measured as a function of film composition. The system CN/PEG-300 showed excellent miscibility, and films of the composition from 100/0 to 50/50 could be used for permeability measurements. P for each gas has been found to be almost constant or rather slightly lowered up to ca. 20 wt % PEG-300 content and then increased appreciably with increasing fraction of PEG. The increment of permeability was most remarkable for CO₂, and hence the permselectivity for CO₂ was considerably enhanced. Such a behavior of P has been found to be attributable to the plasticizing effect of PEG molecule lowering the glass transition temperature of the blend polymers. The effect of the molecular weight of PEG and that of closed voids generated in glassy blend membranes fabricated from acetone cast on gas permeabilities have been also discussed.     

Monohexosylceramides of larval and adult forms of the tapeworm,spirometra erinacei

The occurrence of glycosphingolipids with unique carbohydrate structures in different species of cestode, Platyhelminth, which had been shown, previously, prompted us to study the molecular species of the monohexosylceramides (cerebrosides) in the pseudophyllidean cestode,Spirometra erinacei. The purpose of the study was to obtain a basis for future investigations of the physiological role of glycolipids in parasitism. Cerebrosides were isolated froms. erinacei at two growth stages, i.e., from the larval form (plerocercoid) and from the adult tapeworms (intestinal form). The cerebrosides were separated into four subfractions by silica gel column chromatography, and their constituents were analyzed by gasliquid chromatography, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The hexoses of the cerebrosides consisted primarily of galactose in both growth stages, while only a small amount of glucose was detected. The ceramides were composed of sphinganine (d18∶0) and phytosphingosine (t18∶0) as sphingoid bases, and of nonhydroxy fatty acids ranging from C₁₆ to C₃₀ and hydroxy stearic acid (18h∶0). The cerebrosides of adult tapeworms contained more 18h∶0 than those of plerocercoids. The combination of hexoses and ceramides in the cerebroside molecules was slightly different in the two growth stages: the glucocerebrosides of plerocercoids contained only d18∶0-nonhydroxy fatty acids in their ceramide moieties, whereas those of adult tapeworms contained varying ceramide moieties. Our data indicate that the molecular species of glycolipids present were essentially homeostatic throughout growth in spite of the entirely different environmental conditions, although there were slight differences in the hexose distribution in the two growth stages.     

TEM image simulation study of small carbon nanotubes and carbon nanowire

Recent findings of extremely small diameter carbon nanotube and nanowire in the core of a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) have attracted interests from broad range of researchers. Direct observation of carbon nanotube is usually done using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). When nanotubes become smaller, it becomes harder to correctly understand the TEM images, not only because of the weak scattering, but also due to the artifact that starts to appear because of the interference effect and the inappropriate defocus condition.In this study, we have shown that the artifact such as ghost fringes due to inappropriate defocus conditions of the TEM appear in the core of an MWCNT, and can be misinterpreted as either carbon nanowire or small carbon nanotube. It is also shown that, in the TEM image, it is hard to distinguish a single-walled nanotube bundle from a double-walled carbon nanotube bundle. Finally, we propose that the cross-sectional observation is necessary for the correct characterization of single- and double-walled carbon nanotube bundles.     

Gas diffusion and solubility in He-irradiated asymmetric polyimide membranes

In this study, the gas diffusion and solubility of the asymmetric polyimide membrane irradiated by He ions were investigated using a high vacuum apparatus equipped with a Baratron absolute pressure gauge at 76 cmHg and 35 °C. Specifically, we estimated their effects on the gas permeation properties of the asymmetric membranes. The asymmetric polyimide membranes were prepared by a dry-wet phase inversion process, and the surface skin layer on the membrane was irradiated by He ions at fluences of 1 × 10¹⁵ or 3 × 10¹⁵ ions/cm² at 150 keV. We demonstrated that the gas diffusion had a significant influence on the gas permeability and selectivity of the He⁺-irradiated asymmetric membrane.     

Evaluation of frictional properties of tribomaterials under sparse lubrication

Frictional properties of typical tribomaterials are evaluated under sparse lubrication conditions where lubricating oil is supplied but its amount is far from sufficient even for boundary lubrication. These conditions are provided by employing a mist oiling system which can continuously supply oil at constant, extremely low and quantitatively controlled rates. First, basic data on the properties of the oil mist are given and a quantitative determination of oil supply onto a sliding surface is described. Then frictional properties evaluated under stepwise increasing loads are presented for iron/steel, surface modification, ceramics and self-lubricating materials, and their characteristic behaviour is discussed.     

Estimation of origin-destination matrices from link traffic counts considering the interaction of the traffic modes

This paper proposes a new optimization model in the form of a combined distribution, modal split, and traffic assignment method. This model extends Fisk's model by introducing an entropy constraint condition with respect to the traffic mode choice. The origin-destination (O-D) trip matrices by different traffic modes can be estimated by solving the proposed model for the given link traffic counts and traffic volumes generated from each zone. From the optimal conditions of the proposed model, a demand model is derived. The proposed model is applied to a Nagoya road network to determine feasibility and efficiency. The estimated results show that the proposed model is feasible and that accurate results can be obtained from it.An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 12th Pacific Regional Science Meetings, Cairns, Australia, July 1991.     

Anion conductive polymer nanofiber composite membrane: effects of nanofibers on polymer electrolyte characteristics

Polymer composite membranes composed of anion conductive polymer nanofiber mats and the corresponding polymer matrix were prepared and characterized for future alkaline fuel cells. In this paper, electrospinning was attempted to fabricate anion conductive nanofiber mats. The anion conductivity of the composite membrane was higher than the corresponding membrane without nanofibers under all conditions due to outstanding anion conductive characteristics of the nanofibers. In addition, because of the rigid and anisotropic structure of the nanofibers, membrane stabilities such as reductive degradation resistance and mechanical strength were very much improved. The gas permeability and excessive hydration swelling that will degrade fuel cells after long‐term operation were suppressed in the nanofiber composite membrane. These results indicated that excellent properties of the anion conductive nanofibers were demonstrated even in the composite membrane, leading to the potential application of anion conductive nanofibers in future fuel cells. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Inhibitory Effects of Pomegranate Extracts on Recombinant Human Maltase–Glucoamylase

α‐Glucosidase inhibitors are currently used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory activities of aril and pericarp extracts from pomegranates obtained various regions against recombinant human maltase–glucoamylase (MGAM). The inhibitory activities of the aril extracts tended to be stronger than those of the pericarp extracts. The Iranian aril extract was the most effective inhibitor. We investigated the polyphenol content of the pomegranate extracts using the Folin–Ciocalteu method. Among the aril extracts, the Iranian aril extract showed the highest polyphenol content. We further evaluated inhibitory activity against α‐glucosidase from the rat small intestine. Pomegranate extract used in this study showed slightly different inhibitory activities according to α‐glucosidase origin. Iranian aril extract was the most effective inhibitor of α‐glucosidases, especially recombinant human MGAM. Bioassay‐guided fractionation of the pomegranate arils led to identification of punicalagin and oenothein B as potent inhibitors of α‐glucosidase. Oenothein B showed inhibitory activity with a half‐maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 174 μM. Its potency was comparable to that of the α‐glucosidase inhibitor acarbose with an IC₅₀ value of 170 μM. Dixon plot kinetic analysis of oenothein B showed a noncompetitive inhibition with a K_i value of 102 μM. These results suggest that pomegranate arils would be useful for suppressing postprandial hyperglycemia.     

Chaos in simple hybrid system and its control

A simple hybrid system exhibiting chaos is developed and a chaos control method realised. It is shown that, since the dynamics can be expressed by a return map, the system has an observable chaos. The control method, which is based on the pole assignment technique, can stabilise any unstable periodic orbit in the chaos. The theoretical result is verified by laboratory experiments     

Dynamic range improvement by narrow-channel effect suppression andsmear reduction technologies in small pixel IT-CCD image sensors

Technologies for narrow-channel effect suppression in photodiodes (PDs) and vertical CCDs (V-CCDs) and for smear reduction in PDs have been developed in order to improve dynamic range in small pixel interline-transfer CCD (IT-CCD) image sensors. The new technologies have been applied to a progressive-scan IT-CCD image sensor with 5 μm square pixels and have (1) increased the charge handling capability of its V-CCDs to 4500 electrons/V; (2) improved its smear value to -95 dB; and (3) increased the saturation charge of its PDs to 2.3×10⁴ electrons