Spontaneous hydrolytic degradability of copolyesters having tetrahydropyran rings in their backbones

Homo- and copolyesters, containing 2,5-linked tetrahydropyran rings in their backbones, were prepared by cationic ring-opening polymerization of bicyclic lactones, 2,6-dioxabicyclo [2.2.2] octan-3-one ( 1 ), and its 4-methoxy-carbonyl and 4-methoxy-carbonyl and 4-benzyloxycarbonyl derivatives ( 3 and 4 ). Copolyesters, having pendant carboxyl groups, were derived from the copolymers containing 4 as one of the comonomers by the catalytic hydrogenolysis of the pendant benzyloxy–carbonyl groups. Copolyesters, containing both 2,5-linked and 2,6-linked tetrahydropyran rings in the main chains, were obtained by the copolymerization of 1 with 6,8-dioxabicyclo [3.2.1] octan-7-one ( 13 ), which is a structural isomer of 1 . Spontaneous hydrolytic degradability of these polyesters was investigated in a phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.5) at 27°C. The degradability of the polyesters markedly depended on the molecular structure: hydrophobic pendant groups retarded the hydrolytic degradation, whereas hydrophilic pendant groups accelerated it. In particular, a small amount of pendant carboxyl groups significantly enhanced the hydrolytic degradability of the copolyesters from 1 . Polyesters, containing 2,6-linked tetrahydropyran rings in their backbones, underwent hydrolytic degradation more readily than those entirely consisting of 2,5-linked tetrahydropyran rings. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Zone drawn NEW-TPI thermoplastic polyimide and its blends with Xydar liquid crystalline polymer

In this work we report the effects of single stage zone drawing on the properties of NEW-TPI thermoplastic polyimide homopolymer, and its blends with Amoco's Xydar liquid crystalline polymer. Zone drawing was performed first on homopolymer NEW-TPI films to determine the effect of load weight, heater speed, and drawing temperature on the attainable draw ratio. Degree of crystallinity and chain orientation increase as the draw ratio increases for NEW-TPI. Blends of NEW-TPI/Xydar compositions 90/10 and 70/30 were studied next. In blends, the Xydar component is not molecularly dispersed, and is initially preferentially oriented along the machine direction during the film processing stage. Xydar acts as a nucleation site and lowers the temperature for crystallization of the NEW-TPI from the rubbery amorphous state. Zone drawing was performed either parallel or perpendicular to Xydar's initial preferred orientation direction. Blends with lower Xydar fraction could be zone-drawn to higher ratios. Zone drawing perpendicular to Xydar's initial orientation direction also resulted in increased draw ratio. Dynamic mechanical properties of the zone drawn materials were studied. In homopolymer NEW-TPI, dynamic modulus increased by a factor of two to 4.0 GPa in zone drawn films, largely as a result of the formation of oriented crystallites. In the blends, the modulus parallel to Xydar's initial orientation direction was greater than that in the transverse direction. Depending upon composition and test direction, zone drawing increased the dynamic moduli of the blends from 1.5 up to 2.7 times, in the temperature range from 150°C to 300°C.     

Omnifocus video camera

The omnifocus video camera takes videos, in which objects at different distances are all in focus in a single video display. The omnifocus video camera consists of an array of color video cameras combined with a unique distance mapping camera called the Divcam. The color video cameras are all aimed at the same scene, but each is focused at a different distance. The Divcam provides real-time distance information for every pixel in the scene. A pixel selection utility uses the distance information to select individual pixels from the multiple video outputs focused at different distances, in order to generate the final single video display that is everywhere in focus. This paper presents principle of operation, design consideration, detailed construction, and over all performance of the omnifocus video camera. The major emphasis of the paper is the proof of concept, but the prototype has been developed enough to demonstrate the superiority of this video camera over a conventional video camera. The resolution of the prototype is high, capturing even fine details such as fingerprints in the image. Just as the movie camera was a significant advance over the still camera, the omnifocus video camera represents a significant advance over all-focus cameras for still images.     

Controller design of desktop-size NC machine tool with multi-application function

In this paper, a desktop-size NC machine tool is first presented to have multi-application function, such as 3D-machining modes with and without handling a machining force, and profiling-control modes with and without using stick-slip motion. The NC machine tool consists of three single-axis devices with a high resolution of 1???m in position. A ball end mill called router bit or a thin wood-stick tool can be attached to the tip of the z-axis. The proposed machine tool realizes compliant motion required for the profiling control along a desired trajectory. The profiling-control mode can be applied to the lapping process of a metallic LED lens cavity. Next, a control strategy with fine stick-slip motion is further added to the profiling-control system to improve the lapping performance. The fine stick-slip motion is generated orthogonally to the direction of the tool movement. Generally, the stick-slip motion is an undesirable phenomenon to be eliminated in precision machineries. However, the proposed machine tool employs the fine stick-slip motion to partly regulate slight finishing energy. The effectiveness of the machine tool is demonstrated through an actual machining test of a wood material and a lapping test of a metallic LED lens cavity.     

Cryogenic optical measurements of 12-segment-bonded carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide composite mirror with support mechanism

A 720 mm diameter 12-segment-bonded carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon carbide (C/SiC) composite mirror has been fabricated and tested at cryogenic temperatures. Interferometric measurements show significant cryogenic deformation of the C/SiC composite mirror, which is well reproduced by a model analysis with measured properties of the bonded segments. It is concluded that the deformation is due mostly to variation in coefficients of thermal expansion among segments. In parallel, a 4-degree-of-freedom ball-bearing support mechanism has been developed for cryogenic applications. The C/SiC composite mirror was mounted on an aluminum base plate with the support mechanism and tested again. Cryogenic deformation of the mirror attributed to thermal contraction of the aluminum base plate via the support mechanism is highly reduced by the support, confirming that the newly developed support mechanism is promising for its future application to large-aperture cooled space telescopes.     

Amorphous nanosilicas induce consumptive coagulopathy after systemic exposure

We previously reported that well-dispersed amorphous nanosilicas with particle size 70 nm (nSP70) penetrate skin and produce systemic exposure after topical application. These findings underscore the need to examine biological effects after systemic exposure to nanosilicas. The present study was designed to examine the biological effects. BALB/c mice were intravenously injected with amorphous nanosilicas of sizes 70, 100, 300, 1000 nm and then assessed for survival, blood biochemistry, and coagulation. As a result, injection of nSP70 caused fatal toxicity, liver damage, and platelet depletion, suggesting that nSP70 caused consumptive coagulopathy. Additionally, nSP70 exerts procoagulant activity in vitro associated with an increase in specific surface area, which increases as diameter reduces. In contrast, nSP70-mediated procoagulant activity was absent in factor XII-deficient plasma. Collectively, we revealed that interaction between nSP70 and intrinsic coagulation factors such as factor XII, were deeply related to nSP70-induced harmful effects. In other words, it is suggested that if interaction between nSP70 and coagulation factors can be suppressed, nSP70-induced harmful effects may be avoided. These results would provide useful information for ensuring the safety of nanomaterials (NMs) and open new frontiers in biological fields by the use of NMs.     

Piecewise affine systems modelling for optimizing hormone therapy of prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignant neoplasms in men with an overall incidence of approximately 15 per cent during the normal life span. Androgen-deprivation therapy (hormone therapy) is an effective treatment of this disease when progressed to an advanced stage. Despite impressive responses, such treatment when applied on a continuous basis is not curative and eventually culminates in androgen-independent disease. On the other hand, intermittent androgen suppression (IAS) was first conceived as a potential way of delaying progression to androgen-independence, in addition offering the possibility of reducing adverse effects and improving the quality of life. Although the validity of this approach has been confirmed in several clinical studies, the optimal scheduling of the cycles of on- and off-treatment remains to be explored. In the present article, we show that IAS lends itself to mathematical modelling with hybrid dynamical systems and that the model we have developed can be used to select the best strategy for keeping prostate cancer in an androgen-dependent state as long as possible. Our results also suggest that the current way of using IAS exceeds what is necessary for optimal control; in fact, we have found that to achieve optimal control, the amount of therapy (dose and duration of drugs) can be reduced by a factor of one half.     

Structure and compositional evolution in epitaxial Co/Pt core-shell nanoparticles on annealing

We report on the alloying of epitaxial Co/Pt core-shell nanoparticles using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction. In as-deposited nanoparticles followed by in situ annealing at 823 K for 10.8 ks, high-angle annular dark-field (HAADF) imaging by scanning TEM (STEM) clearly revealed formation of Co-shell/Pt-core structures due to the large atomic number (Z) difference between Co (Z = 27) and Pt (Z = 78). We identified a formation of locally ordered areas of the L1₀ ordered phase at the core of the nanoparticles. After ex situ annealing at 873 K for 0.6 ks, some of the ordered areas showed complicated contrasts in the HAADF-STEM images. Based on image simulations, we found that these atypical contrasts arise from the stacking of two orthogonal variants of the L1₀ phase in the electron beam direction. Furthermore, the simulation showed that image contrast strongly reflects the structure of the variant located closer to the beam entrance rather than to the bottom side. Solid solution phase was formed by further annealing at 873 K for 3.6 ks, while high-density {111} stacking faults were observed inside the Co-Pt alloy nanoparticles. Magnetic coercivity remained at values as low as ~ 15.9 kA/m at 300 K, irrespective of the formation of local L1₀ ordered areas and/or a high-density stacking faults.     

Gene transfer into muscle by electroporation in vivo

Among the nonviral techniques for gene transfer in vivo, the direct injection of plasmid DNA into muscle is simple, inexpensive, and safe. Applications of this method have been limited by the relatively low expression levels of the transferred gene. We investigated the applicability of in vivo electroporation for gene transfer into muscle, using plasmid DNA expressing interleukin-5 (IL-5) as the vector. The tibialis anterior muscles of mice were injected with the plasmid DNA, and then a pair of electrode needles were inserted into the DNA injection site to deliver electric pulses. Five days later, the serum IL-5 levels were assayed. Mice that did not receive electroporation had serum levels of 0.2 ng/ml. Electroporation enhanced the levels to over 20 ng/ml. Histochemical analysis of muscles injected with a lacZ expression plasmid showed that in vivo electroporation increased both the number of muscle fibers taking up plasmid DNA and the copy number of plasmids introduced into the cells. These results demonstrate that gene transfer into muscle by electroporation in vivo is more efficient than simple intramuscular DNA injection.