NMR study on sulfonation of internal olefins

Terminal olefins can be converted into the corresponding sulfonates by sulfonation with SO₃ followed by hydrolysis, the products are used as detergent ingredients. Although internal olefins were also expected to be good feed stocks, it was difficult to convert them into the corresponding sulfonates with as good of a yield as that of terminal olefins under the same synthesis conditions. Our studies have been carried out in order to clarify the reason for poorer conversion of the internal olefins. It was found by a nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic study that the major components of the sulfonated intermediate of internal olefins wereβ-sultones, the amounts of which were usually very small in sulfonated terminal olefins. A portion of theseβ-sultones was desulfonated, depending on temperature, to the original olefins and the corresponding sulfate salts during alkaline hydrolysis. The prevention of desulfonation of theβ-sultones in the hydrolysis process was one of the most important aspects for the production of internal olefin sulfonates. Finally, by keeping the hydrolysis temperature below 35°C, the conversion of internal olefins into sulfonates was achieved with the same yield as that of conventional terminal olefins.     

Development of a packaging material using antistatic ionomer part 2: charge distributions of potassium ionomer

Generally, plastics and plastic films are low in moisture absorption and high in electric insulation. They are inherently easy to be charged with static and can cause a variety of static troubles. We developed a functional packaging material to solve these static problems, by using potassium ionomer. We reported good antistatic performance (e.g. short static decay time, and excellent ash test) of potassium ionomer films in a previous paper. However, a mechanism underlying the antistatic property of potassium ionomer has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we measured the space charge distributions of potassium ionomer using the pulsed electro‐acoustic method. As a result of the space charge measurements, we found characteristic charge distribution of potassium ionomer film. On the basis of the existence of this characteristic charge distribution, we speculate that the space electric charge distribution of a potassium ionomer film under a direct current electric field shows apparent electric charge movement. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A relational database machine with large semiconductor disk and hardware relational algebra processor

This paper describes the basic concepts, design and implementation decisions, standpoints and significance of the database machine Delta in the scope of Japan’s Fifth Generation Computer Project. Delta is planned to be operational in 1985 for researchers’ use as a backend database machine for logic programming software development. Delta is basically a relational database machine system. It combines hardware facilities for efficient relational database operations, which are typically represented by relational algebra, and software which deals with hardware control and actual database management requirements. Notable features include attribute-based internal schema in accordance with the characteristics found in the relation access from logic programming environment. This is also useful for the hardware relational algebra manipulation algorithm based on merge-sorting of attributes by hardware and a large capacity Semiconductor Disk for fast access to databases. Various implementation decisions of database management requirements are made in this novel system configuration, which will be meaningful to give an example for constructing a hardware and software combination of a relational database machine. Delta is in the stage between detailed design and implementation.     

Raman Spectroscopic Studies on the Formation Mechanism of Hydrous-Zirconia Fine Particles

The Raman spectra of hydrous-zirconia fine particles produced by the hydrolysis of various ZrOCl₂ solutions were investigated. The Raman spectra of hydrous zirconia synthesized at HCl concentrations below 1 mol/L were similar to those of monoclinic, crystalline ZrO₂; those of hydrous zirconia synthesized at HCl concentrations greater than 1 mol/L showed a crystal structure change. The line width of the Raman bands increased with increasing H⁺ ion concentration. Analyzing the relationship between Raman band width and particle size revealed that the primary particle size of hydrous zirconia was controlled by the H⁺ and Cl⁻ ions, because these ions interfered with the polymerization in a hydrolysis reaction. Based on the experimental results, the formation mechanism for primary particles of hydrous zirconia was determined.     

Microprocessor-Based Adjustable-Speed DC Motor Drives Using Model Reference Adaptive Control

Model reference adaptive control (MRAC) is applied to microprocessor-based adjustable-speed dc motor drives. The algorithm of the MRAC is based on the linear model following control (LMFC) and is the combination of the adaptive controller with the LMFC. The MRAC-based speed controller allows the indistinctness and/or inaccuracy in the motor and load parameters in the system design stage. It also maintains the prescribed control performance in the presence of the motor parameter perturbations and the load disturbances. The experimental setup is constructed using a microprocessor. The experimental results confirm the useful effects of the MRAC-based speed controller.     

Site-directed mutagenesis study of the antibody 2D7 which catalyzes a reaction for insertion of Cu2+ into mesoporphyrin

Monoclonal antibody 2D7 generated against a transition-state analog N-methyl mesoporphyrin catalyzes a reaction for insertion of a cupric ion into mesoporphyrin. To investigate amino acid residues responsible for the catalytic activity, site-directed mutagenesis of the amino acid residues in the third complementarity determining region of the heavy chain (CDRH3) was performed on the antigen-binding fragment (Fab) of the antibody. Recombinant Fab mutants, in which Arg95 is replaced with Ala (R95A), Asp96 with Asn (D96N) and Met97 with Gly (M97G), were examined in terms of the catalytic efficiency of the reaction (k/K(S)) and the dissociation constant for N-methyl mesoporphyrin binding (K(d)) and these values were compared with those of the wild type. The k/K(S) values of the R95A and D96N mutants were 0.96% and 1.0% of that of the wild type, respectively, whereas the M97G mutant had no detectable catalytic activity. The K(d) values of the R95A and D96N mutants were 165 and 69 times that of the wild type, respectively, while that of the M97G mutant was similar to that of the wild type. The relationship between the k/K(S) and 1/K(d) values in the wild type and the R95A and D96N mutants suggests that Arg95 and Asp96 are responsible for stabilizing the transition-state in the catalytic reaction. The results of the M97G mutant allow us to propose that Met97 plays an important role in the catalytic activity probably due to a subtle and specific conformation of the antibody.     

双泉高尔夫俱乐部的水体庭园

双泉高尔夫俱乐部坐落在小松市近郊杂木丛生的丘陵地带,北面是日本海,南向是白山,风光明媚。大多高尔夫球会馆通常会将建筑四周规划为硬地停车场,面对这样的＂潮流＂,如何设计出独具魅力的环境空间呢？联想自用地其间分布着的雪山融冰所形成的暗流,我们在设计时力图勾画火山之国日本特有的风景画面——碧水满盈的火山湖、山间现代气息浓郁的水体空间及建筑群,为山光水色、奇石碧树预留出表演的舞台,将风景园林、建筑和高尔夫场地融为一体。     

Stochastic security testing of chaos‐based communication systems against error function attack

This paper proposes two stochastic testing methods for the security analysis of a secure communication scheme based on continuous‐time chaotic systems. First, we define an instantaneous EFA (error function attack) function that does not include the average operation. Second, we propose a statistical testing for cryptanalysis, which calculates a standard deviation of the EFA function obtained by random trial keys. As another stochastic testing, moreover, we propose a stochastic evolutional attack to find a secret key. Finally, simulation results for the proposed security testing are presented. © 2011 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.