Reduction mechanism of tioglycolic acid on keratin fibers using microspectrophotometry and FT-Raman spectroscopy

In order to investigate the reduction mechanism of thioglycolic acid (TG) on the keratin fibers, cross-sectional samples of white human hair treated with TG were prepared. The heterogeneous reaction between TG and keratin fibers involving the diffusion of TG into human hair was analyzed at the molecular level using microspectrophotometry and FT-Raman spectroscopy. The diffusion of TG into human hair clearly increased by increasing the treatment time and by raising pH. The TG relative concentration and the disconnected relative concentration of disulfide (–SS–) groups at various depths of the hair samples with pH 9.0 were in good agreement, indicating that the reaction rate (the disconnection of –SS– groups) was faster than the diffusion rate of TG into human hair. From these experiments, we demonstrated that TG diffuses gradually beyond the cuticle region, and toward the inside of the cortex region along with the disconnection of –SS– groups.     

Breakup of non-newtonian emulsion jets

The breakup of non-Newtonian emulsion jets into drops was experimentally studied by ejecting both O/W and W/O emulsions vertically downward into stagnant air through nozzles. Breakup lengths of non-Newtonian emulsion jets were found to be almost equivalent to those of Newtonian jets. Experimental breakup data establish that the static surface tension of the oil phase can be used as the surface tension of W/O emulsion jets, whereas the dynamic surface tension of aqueous surfactant solutions is used as that of O/W emulsion jets. Diameters of drops formed from non-Newtonian emulsion jets are in good agreement with the prediction from the stability theory previously developed by the authors. When the rheological index in a power law model is appreciably smaller than unity and the Ohnesorge number is significantly large, however, drop sizes are larger than the prediction because of the profile relaxation in jets. The critical velocity of emulsion jets, either O/W or W/O emulsion, is significantly lower than that of homogeneous Newtonian jets.     

Production of Carbon Nanotube by Ethylene Decomposition over Silica-Coated Metal Catalysts

Formation of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) through the decomposition of ethylene at 973 K was achieved using various metal catalysts covered with silica layers. CNFs of various diameters were formed by ethylene decomposition over a Co metal catalyst supported on the outer surface of the silica. In contrast, silica-coated Co catalysts formed CNTs with uniform diameters by ethylene decomposition. Silica-coated Ni/SiO₂ and Pt/carbon black also formed CNTs with uniform diameters, while CNFs and CNTs with various diameters were formed over Ni/SiO₂ and Pt/carbon black without a silica coating. These results indicate that silica layers that envelop metal particles prevent sintering of the metal particles during ethylene decomposition. This results in the preferential formation of CNTs with a uniform diameter.     

Separation and determination of glycolipids from edible plant sources by high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light-scattering detection

Glycolipids from edible plant sources were accurately quantified by silica-based, normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using an evaporative light-scattering detector. Five major glycolipid classes (acylated steryl glucoside, steryl glucoside, ceramide monohexoside, monogalactosyldiacylglycerol, and digalactosyldiacylglycerol) were separated and determined with a binary gradient system consisting of chloroform and methanol/water (95∶5, vol/vol) without any interference from other lipid classes and pigments. The described method was applied to 48 edible plants available in Japan including cereals, legumes, vegetables, and fruits. Examined plant species contained glycolipids in wide concentration ranges, such as 5–645 mg/100 g tissue.     

Hydrocracking Marlim vacuum residue with natural limonite. Part 2: experimental cracking in a slurry-type continuous reactor

Disposable Australian iron-slurry (AL) and NiO-MoO₃-Al₂O₃ (NiMo) catalysts were used in hydrocracking experiments to convert Marlim vacuum residue (ML-VR) in a slurry-bed continuous flow reactor at temperatures of 440-460 °C, under a hydrogen pressure of 14.7 MPa and an LHSV of 0.5. The degree of conversion ranged from 54 to 83%, depending on the reaction temperature and catalyst used, with AL giving more complete conversion than NiMo. AL also proved more active in the removal of nickel. Hydrogen consumption was linearly correlated with conversion regardless of the catalyst used.     

Dynamic Control of a Self-Controlled Synchronous Motor Drive System

Dynamic performance of a speed control system containing a self-controlled synchronous motor is analyzed in detail. It is shown that a field voltage control combined with a margin angle control secures safe commutation of the inverter during transients that cause a large variation in the dc link current and that a current limiter enables the motor speed to change almost linearly at a maximum torque. A simple and efficient control strategy for a fast speed response without an overshoot is then proposed, and the effectiveness of this proposed control as well as the field voltage and margin angle controls is confirmed by experimental investigation.     

Tachykinins and tachykinin receptors in bone

Adrenomedullin (AM) was originally characterized in extracts of an adrenal medullary tumor. Since this original finding the peptide and its mRNA have also been found in the adrenal cortex, specifically, in the cells of the aldosterone-secreting zona glomerulosa. It is clear that the synthesis of AM is actively regulated in both cortex and medulla. Much research effort has been focused on identifying a role for AM in the adrenal gland. To date, no consistent effect on medullary catecholamine biosynthesis has been demonstrated. In the cortex the actions of AM are controversial and appear to depend on both the tissue preparation used and on the specific receptor population expressed in the individual gland. The results of further studies on the long-term actions of AM on adrenal growth and differentiation are awaited with interest.     

Novel circular-beam equalizing techniques that use graded-index fiber optics for a high-power laser diode

We demonstrate a novel method of equalizing a laser diode (LD) beam into a circular beam. This method uses the twist effect of graded index (GI) fiber optics. An asymmetric LD beam with beam qualities of M2 = 500 in the slow axis and M2 = 4 in the fast axis is converted successfully into a symmetric circular beam with a beam quality of M2 = 175. The circular-output beam with 92% coupling efficiency from the fiber input to the fiber output is obtained with a 5-m-long GI1200 (1200 means a core diameter of 1200 microm) fiber for a 2-W LD array. We extend the experiments to a higher-power source with higher asymmetric beam qualities of M2 = 3000 and M2 = 4. By slightly bending the GI10000 (10000 means a core diameter of 10,000 microm) fiber, we have succeeded in generating a symmetric beam with a improved beam quality of M2 = 2000. The average beam quality is preserved when the asymmetric ratio is not high, and the beam quality degradation ratio is investigated up to asymmetric ratios of 750.     

Ammonia assimilation in Klebsiella pneumoniae F-5-2 that can utilize ammonium and nitrate ions simultaneously: purification and characterization of glutamate dehydrogenase and glutamine synthetase

The two ammonia-assimilating enzymes glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH; EC 1.4.1.4) and glutamine synthetase (GS; EC 6.3.1.2) were synthesized steadily during the cell growth of Klebsiella pneumoniae F-5-2 that can utilize NH4+ and NO3- simultaneously under aerobic conditions. The enzymes were purified to homogeneity from cell extracts and characterized. The molecular mass of the purified GDH was 300 kDa with six identical 52-kDa subunits. GDH showed its maximal activity (aminating) at pH 8.0 and was stable between pHs 5.5 and 11.5. The enzyme was NADP-specific and strongly inhibited by Ag+. It catalyzed the amination of 2-ketovalerate, 2-ketoadipate, and 2-ketobutyrate, in addition to 2-ketoglutarate. The purified GS has a molecular mass of 470 kDa with eight identical 60-kDa subunits. GS showed its maximal activity at pH 8.0 and was stable between pHs 6.0 and 7.0. The enzyme was strongly inhibited by Fe3+, Hg2+, and Cu2+.     

High-reliability, high-performance RF micromachined switch using liquid metal

Existing mechanical relays have reliability-related issues including unstable contact resistance and limited cycle life. These problems are caused by mechanical fatigue and wearing of the contact surfaces. In the liquid metal micro switch (LiMMS), we employ a liquid-liquid contact to address these issues. The switching operation is achieved by forming a gap in the liquid metal using gas expansion. Our prototype has a microchannel on a glass substrate to hold a tiny amount of mercury, 0.15 mm in width and 0.1 mm in height, and TaN thin-film heaters on a ceramic substrate to expand the operating gas by heating. The substrates are bonded together and the total size of the device is 5/spl times/5/spl times/1.4 mm. We successfully demonstrated 70-m/spl Omega/ on-resistance, 1 ms-switching speed, the ability to handle up to 1 A of dc current and over 1/spl times/10/sup 8/ cycle operation. LiMMS also has good RF performance, better than 1 dB insertion loss, and better than 20 dB isolation up to 18 GHz.