Preparation of poly(2-pyridone-3,5-diyl)s with –(CH2)4–SO3M (M = H or Na) side chains

Poly(2-pyridone-3,5-diyl)s with –(CH₂)₄–SO₃M (M = H or Na) side chains have been prepared by nickel-complex promoted dehalogenative polycondensation. A composite film of the polymer with –(CH₂)₄–SO₃H side chains and poly(vinyl alcohol) showed a proton conductivity of 1.5 × 10^?1 S cm^?1 at 80 °C and 95% humidity. A copolymer with pyridine showed a high stability against oxidation by a Fenton reagent.     

A lane detection algorithm for personal vehicles

By the term “personal vehicle,” we mean a simple and lightweight vehicle expected to emerge as a personal ground transportation device. The motorcycle, electric wheelchair, and motor‐powered bicycle are examples of the personal vehicle and have been developed for personal transportation use. Recently, a new type of intelligent personal vehicle called the Segway has been developed, which is controlled and stabilized by using on‐board intelligent multiple sensors. The demand for such personal vehicles is increasing: (1) to enhance human mobility, (2) to support mobility for elderly persons, and (3) to reduce environmental load. With the rapid growth of the personal vehicle market, the number of accidents caused by human error is also increasing. These accidents are associated with driving capabilities; to enhance or support driving capabilities as well as to prevent accidents, intelligent assistance is necessary. One of the most important elementary functions for personal vehicles is robust lane detection. In this paper, we develop a robust lane detection method for personal vehicles in outdoor environments. The proposed lane detection method employs a 360° omnidirectional camera and unique robust image processing algorithm. In order to detect lanes, a combination of the template matching technique and the Hough transform is employed. The validity of the proposed lane detection algorithm was confirmed with a prototype vehicle under various types of sunshine conditions. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 177(4): 23–32, 2011; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21193     

Hybrid DNS/LES of high Schmidt number mass transfer across turbulent air–water interface

Numerical simulation of a coupled air–water turbulent flow and associated high Schmidt number mass transfer is carried out via a hybrid scheme of direct and large-eddy simulations (DNS/LES). Due to the large density ratio of water and air, the dynamical coupling between the air and water turbulent flows is found to be weak at the low wind velocity considered here. Instead, the self-sustaining mechanisms due to the mean shear, which are similar to those near a solid wall, are dominant even close to the air–water interface. The spatio-temporal correlations between the local mass transfer rate and velocity fluctuations around the interface reveal that impingement of fresh water on the interface governs the interfacial mass transfer. It is found that the local mass transfer rate can be predicted from the surface divergence by the Chan and Scriven’s stagnation flow model. This explains why the mass transfer rate is well correlated with the intensity of the surface divergence under a variety of flow conditions.     

Hot Spot Mutagenesis Improves the Functional Expression of Unique Mammalian Odorant Receptors

Vertebrate animals detect odors through olfactory receptors (ORs), members of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) family. Due to the difficulty in the heterologous expression of ORs, studies of their odor molecule recognition mechanisms have progressed poorly. Functional expression of most ORs in heterologous cells requires the co-expression of their chaperone proteins, receptor transporting proteins (RTPs). Yet, some ORs were found to be functionally expressed without the support of RTP (RTP-independent ORs). In this study, we investigated whether amino acid residues highly conserved among RTP-independent ORs improve the functional expression of ORs in heterologous cells. We found that a single amino acid substitution at one of two sites (N_BW3.39 and 3.43) in their conserved residues (E and L, respectively) significantly improved the functional expression of ORs in heterologous cells. E^3.39 and L^3.43 also enhanced the membrane expression of RTP-dependent ORs in the absence of RTP. These changes did not alter the odorant responsiveness of the tested ORs. Our results showed that specific sites within transmembrane domains regulate the membrane expression of some ORs.     

Effects of onion extract containing concentrated cysteine sulfoxides on sleep quality: a randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,crossover study

Food Science and Biotechnology - The objective of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was to examine the effects of onion extract containing concentrated cysteine...     

Liquefaction reaction of coal: 1. Depolymerization of coal by cleavages of ether and methylene bridges

The roles of ether and methylene bridges in the depolymerization of coal have been re-evaluated on the basis of the results of a mild liquefaction reaction (400 °C, 30 min) and the distributions of oxygen and carbon atoms obtained by cross-polarization, magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) ¹³C n.m.r. spectrometry. Coals ranging from 66.2 to 87.4 wt% C (dmmf) were used as sample coals. The content of etheric oxygen was < 3.7 per 100 carbon atoms and the cleavage of ether bridges contributed to the formation of preasphaltene. The conversion to hexane solubles in the mild liquefaction reaction correlated well with CH₂ carbon content of coal, though the conversion to pyridine solubles did not. These results suggest that the formation of oil from preasphaltene is caused by the scission of CH₂ bridges and some naphthenic CH₂ bonds. The phenolic OH oxygen-rich portions in coal tended to remain as a residue formed by the condensation reaction of phenolic OH groups.     

Synthesis and characterization of polytriphenylamine based graft polymers for photorefractive application

Novel graft copolymers, PTPA-g-PEAs containing poly(triphenylamine) (PTPA) backbone and poly(ethyl acrylate) (PEA) branches were synthesized by the oxidative coupling polymerization of triarylamine monomers followed by grafting of ethyl acrylate via an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). Photorefractive (PR) composites based on the graft copolymers showed good static PR properties and fast response time under moderate conditions. The highest diffraction efficiency (19.7% at 45 V/μm) was observed with the composite containing the graft polymer with 18 mol% of graft density and 27 wt% of PTPA. And the fastest response (8 ms at 50 V/μm) was achieved when PTPA content was 68 wt%.     

Diagnosis of Desmoplastic Reaction by Immunohistochemical Analysis,in Biopsy Specimens of Early Colorectal Carcinomas,Is Efficacious in Estimating the Depth of Invasion

The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnosis of desmoplastic reaction (DR) by immunostaining for α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and desmin, for predicting the depth of submucosal invasion in biopsy specimens of early colorectal carcinomas (CRCs). Thirty-eight cases of non-pedunculated early CRCs were included in this study. Positive for DR was defined as αSMA-positive and desmin-negative stroma in the CRC. The depth of submucosal invasion was measured in endoscopically or surgically resected specimens and the lesions were subsequently divided into two groups: Group A (carcinoma in situ/intramucosal carcinoma and submucosal invasive carcinoma with a depth <1000 μm) and Group B (submucosal invasion with a depth ≥1000 μm). Twenty-one cases were DR-positive and 17 were DR-negative. No statistical significance was found between the DR with regard to tumor size, location and histological type. All DR-positive cases belonged to Group B whereas 14 (82.4%) DR-negative lesions belonged to Group A (p < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of DR positivity for diagnosis of Group B were 87.5%, 100%, 100%, 82.4% and 92.1%, respectively. Conclusively, detection of DR in biopsy specimens with ancillary immunohistochemistry (αSMA/desmin) would help in preoperative diagnosis for the depth of submucosal invasion of early CRC.     

Stability estimation of SVCs in distribution systems

This paper discusses the stability and an interactive phenomenon of one SVC, two or more sets of SVC, an SVC and an SVR in distribution systems. In particular, we focus on the saddle‐node bifurcation and Hopf bifurcation points. The two local bifurcation points show a boundary of a stable domain. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 160(3): 1–11, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20333