Development of biobased microwave absorbing composites with various magnetic metals and carbons

The preparation and characterization of a biobased electromagnetic absorbing composites derived from natural lacquer as a renewable resource with microwave‐absorption fillers, including Ni–Zn ferrite and carbonyl iron (CI) as magnetic metals and soot and carbon nanotube (CNT) as carbon materials, were investigated in terms of the gel content, hardness, drying properties, and electromagnetic absorption properties. Interestingly, composites with ferrite and CI contained up to 320 and 550 wt %, respectively, of these compounds. This quite high loading capacity of the metal fillers in a natural‐lacquer base could have been due to the high compatibility between the filler and the natural lacquer; this indicated that the natural lacquer worked as a binder for these metals. The morphology of the biobased composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy. The electromagnetic absorption properties of composites were characterized in the frequency range from 0.05 and 20 GHz by the reflection loss (RL) measurement method in terms of the kind of fillers and filler loading. The natural lacquer did not affect the absorption properties of the fillers. Biobased composites showed over 99% electromagnetic absorption in the frequency range 3.0–4.0 GHz for 280 wt % ferrite and 8.9–9.7 GHz for 200 wt % CI. Conversely, 10 and 20 wt % soot exhibited good performance (RL < ?20 dB) between 16.5 and 17.3 and between 8.8 and 9.2 GHz, respectively. The areas with RL values of less than ?20 dB of the CNT composites were 10.4–11.0 GHz for 5 wt % and 14.6–15.2 GHz for 10 wt %. Hence, natural lacquer can be used as a binder material for electromagnetic absorption composites. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44131.     

Study on prevention of angular distortion in fillet-welded T-joint by welding with a trailing reverse-side gas heating

Reduction or control of angular distortion without additional processes is demanded because it takes a lot of time and effort to correct the angular distortion of fillet-welded T-joints. In this study, the reduction or control of angular distortion of both sides of a fillet-welded T-joint by welding with trailing reverse-side gas heating was investigated through a welding experiment and its numerical simulation. First, the effect of gas heating position and intensity on the reduction in angular distortion was experimentally investigated using a gas burner. The results showed that angular distortion became smallest when reverse-side heating using the gas burner was located 50 mm backward of the welding torch. Also, the concentrated gas flame with increased propane and oxygen gas flow was effective for reducing angular distortion. It was clarified that the angular distortion could be controlled completely with an appropriate reverse-side gas heating condition. Next, the numerical simulation model of welding and gas heating was constructed based on comparison with the measured temperature histories and angular distortion. Through the numerical simulation of welding with a trailing reverse-side gas, more detailed understanding of the effect of gas heating condition on reduction in angular distortion was developed. In addition, it was confirmed that the gas heating position for the smallest angular distortion is dependent on the temperature distribution along the thickness of the flange plate.     

Advantage of Sodium Polyoxyethylene Lauryl Ether Carboxylate as a Mild Cleansing Agent

Five anionic surfactants widely used in commercial skin cleansers were studied: sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether carboxylate (EC), sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate (ES), sodium dodecyl sulfate, potassium laurate, and N-cocoyl-l-glutamic acid monosodium salt. The amount of surfactant from aqueous solution adsorbed into the stratum corneum (SC), the degree of SC swelling, the change of the secondary structure of SC proteins (denaturation). The surface tension of surfactant–zein mixed solutions, and the solubilization behavior of zein were measured. Results showed that EC had the lowest adsorption into SC, the lowest SC swelling, and lowest denaturation of SC proteins. Low interactions between surfactants and SC proteins were also observed for EC/ES mixture solutions as well as. Mixing EC with ES good foaming performance. The EC/ES mixture, at about 1:1 ratio, is an excellent surfactant system for skin cleanser applications having cleansing characteristics and mildness to the skin.     

Investigation and consideration on landslide zoning of multiple slope failures and debris flows of 2014 disaster in Hiroshima,Japan

This study was intended to examine the mechanism of multiple slope failures and debris flows that occurred in the outskirts of Hiroshima on 20th August 2014. A field survey of the mountain stream where large-scale damage was incurred was carried out and the characteristics of debris flows which made serious damages were investigated. There were five findings of this study. (1) The initiation of debris flows was not limited to thin and planar shallow failures, but also showed V or U shapes, where the eroded sediments seemed to be pushed out by artesian water, and the eroded depth exceeded several meters at many locations. (2) There were areas with high permeability, such as faults, fracture zones, and joints in Mt. Abusan. It is inferred that the constantly present groundwater in these areas became artesian water because of a large amount of rainfall in upstream locations. This quickly destabilized the slopes on a large scale. (3) There were at least three estimated debris flows at the mountain stream above Midorigaoka prefectural apartments in Yagi 3-Chome, where the worst damage occurred. The mountain stream near Abu-no-Sato housing complex also had multiple debris flows. Here, the secondary debris flow changed its flow path because of the presence of sediments from an earlier debris flow. (4) The actual volumes of flowed mass were much larger than that predicted at 11 of the 18 mountain streams in Midori-i and Yagi districts. The volume of the mass of five of these mountain streams was more than twice the estimated volume. It is necessary to modify the method of calculating the volume of unstable sediments in the mountain stream. (5) It was found that the devastating damage of buildings and human lives took place in the areas well beyond the special restricted zones. The present method to designate the special restricted zone must be revised considering such problems as the underestimation of the volume of unstable sediments, the assumptions of a single debris flow and on the direction of debris flow, and the effect of the difference on rock and soil types.     

Surface Analysis of Cr2O3‐, CoO‐, and Al2O3‐Doped Iron–Phosphate Glasses at High Temperature

Surface structures of iron–phosphate glasses were examined using X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Cr₂O₃, CoO, and Al₂O₃ were introduced to the glass by the replacement of a part of Fe₂O₃, and the simulated fission products are also added. The obtained glasses showed high chemical durabilities by MCC‐1 test. In situ high‐temperature and room‐temperature XPS measurements were conducted on the polished sample surfaces and also those after 1‐week chemical durability test. Unique trends were observed in XPS spectra on heating and after the chemical durability test, respectively. Nature of the glass surface of iron–phosphate glasses was explained from the point of view of surface energy, and the origin of high chemical durability and the effect of chromium ions were discussed based on the changes on surface composition and valence states of transition‐metal ions.     

Thermal and optical properties of hyperbranched fluorinated polyimide/mesoporous SiO2 nanocomposites exhibiting high transparency and reduced thermo-optical coefficients

A series of hyper-branched polyimide (HBPI)/mesoporous SiO₂ nanocomposite films were prepared from a fluorinated anhydride (6FDA), a fluorinated triamine (TFAPOB), and mesoporous SiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs). The anhydride-terminated precursor of HBPI was functionalized using a coupling agent prior to mixing with SiO₂ NPs. The morphologies and thermal-optical properties of the nanocomposite films were investigated, with particular focus on their optical transparency, refractive indices (n), and thermo-optical (TO) coefficients. The absolute values of TO coefficients (|dn/dT|) of HBPI film (50.8 ppm/K) were significantly reduced to 13.4 ppm/K by homogeneous dispersion of 15 wt% of SiO₂ NPs. The HBPI/SiO₂ composite films exhibited high thermal stability without significant weight loss of up to 400 °C in air. The films also exhibited small coefficients of linear thermal expansion (CTEs) within the range 30–40 ppm/K. In addition, enhanced interfacial interactions between SiO₂ and HBPI significantly improve the optical transparency with cutoff wavelengths shorter than 450 nm. The refractive indices of HBPI/SiO₂ composite films were found to range from 1.477 to 1.502, which agrees well with the calculated values. This study shows that the incorporation of SiO₂ NPs in multi-functional HBPI matrix is a promising approach to prepare high performance thermally stable films for thermo-optic applications.     

Synthesis of thermoresponsive block and graft copolymers via the combination of living cationic polymerization and RAFT polymerization using a vinyl ether-type RAFT agent

A novel vinyl ether-type RAFT agent, benzyl 2-(vinyloxy)ethyl carbonotrithioate (BVCT) was synthesized for various block copolymers via the combination of living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers and reversible addition−fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The novel BVCT–trifluoroacetic acid adduct play an important role to produce well-defined block copolymers, which is both as a cationogen under EtAlCl₂ initiation system in the presence of ethyl acetate for living cationic polymerization and a RAFT agent for blocks by RAFT polymerization. The resulting polymer, poly(vinyl ether)s, by living cationic polymerization had a high number average α-end functionality (≥0.9) as determined by both ¹H NMR and MALDI-TOF-MS spectrometry. In addition, this poly(vinyl ether)s worked well as a macromolecular chain transfer agent for RAFT polymerization. The RAFT polymerization of radically polymerizable monomers was conducted in toluene using 2,2′-azobis(isobutyronitrile) at 70 °C. For example, a double thermoresponsive block copolymer (MOVE₆₁-b-NIPAM₁₅₀) consisting of 2-methoxyethyl vinyl ether (MOVE) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) was prepared via the combination of living cationic polymerization and RAFT polymerization. The block copolymer reversibly formed and deformed micellar assemblies above the phase separation temperature (T_ps) of poly(NIPAM) block in water. This BVCT is not only functioned as an initiator, but also acted as a monomer. When BVCT was copolymerized with MOVE by living cationic polymerization, followed by graft copolymerization with NIPAM via RAFT polymerization, well-defined graft copolymers (MOVE_n-co-BVCT_m)-g-NIPAM_x (n = 62–73, m = 1–9, x = 19–214) were successfully obtained. However, no micelle formed in water above T_ps of poly(NIPAM) graft chain unlike the case of block copolymers.     

Activation of Mast-Cell-Derived Chymase in the Lacrimal Glands of Patients with IgG4-Related Ophthalmic Disease

The purpose of this present study was to investigate the distribution and expression of chymase in the lacrimal glands (LGs) of patients afflicted with IgG4-related ophthalmic disease (IgG4-ROD). LGs from patients with severe canalicular obstruction were considered the control group. Toluidine blue staining confirmed a significant increase in the number of mast cells in the LGs obtained from the IgG4-ROD patients. In addition, immunostaining of serial sections from the LGs showed a significant increase in the number of chymase-positive cells and tryptase-positive cells in the IgG4-ROD LGs compared to the normal control LGs. The mRNA expression of chymase, tryptase, TGF-β1, and collagen-I tended to increase in the IgG4-ROD LGs. Immunostaining of vimentin and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) showed that myofibroblasts were the main cellular components in severely fibrotic regions of LGs in patients with IgG4-ROD. Linear regression analyses on the number of mast cells, chymase-positive cells, and tryptase-positive cells revealed significant positive correlations between those respective cells. Our findings suggest that chymase may play a role in the fibrotic disorder of IgG4-ROD LGs through the regulation of TGF-β1 activation and collagen-I deposition, and that it may be a therapeutic target for patients afflicted with IgG4-ROD.     

Structure and Properties of Endosperm Starch and Water Soluble Polysaccharides from Sugary Mutant of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Structure and properties of starch and water soluble polysaccharides (WSP) from sugary (su) endosperm of rice were examined. The su starch contained more amylose and had a somewhat higher ratio of the short chains to the long chains of amylopectin than normal starch. The WSP consisted of short α-1, 4-chains and their average degree of polymerization was 8.6 glucose units. Susceptibility of the su starch to crude Rh. glucoamylase was higher than that of the normal. The initial and final temperatures and heat of gelatinization of the su starch granules were much lower than those of the normal ones.     

Pathophysiological Roles of Actin-Binding Scaffold Protein,Ezrin

Ezrin is one of the members of the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family of proteins. It was originally discovered as an actin-binding protein in the microvilli structure about forty years ago. Since then, it has been revealed as a key protein with functions in a variety of fields including cell migration, survival, and signal transduction, as well as functioning as a structural component. Ezrin acts as a cross-linker of membrane proteins or phospholipids in the plasma membrane and the actin cytoskeleton. It also functions as a platform for signaling molecules at the cell surface. Moreover, ezrin is regarded as an important target protein in cancer diagnosis and therapy because it is a key protein involved in cancer progression and metastasis, and its high expression is linked to poor survival in many cancers. Small molecule inhibitors of ezrin have been developed and investigated as candidate molecules that suppress cancer metastasis. Here, we wish to comprehensively review the roles of ezrin from the pathophysiological points of view.