Novel Neodymium-Based Ternary Catalyst, Nd(Oi-Pr)3/[HNMe2Ph]+[B(C6F5)4]-/i-Bu3Al, for Isoprene Polymerization

Summary Polymerization of isoprene was investigated by using a novel ternary catalyst system composed of neodymium(III) isopropoxide (Nd(OiPr)₃), dimethylphenylammonium tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate ([HNMe₂Ph]⁺[B(C₆F₅)₄]^-; borate), and triisobutylaluminum (i-Bu₃Al). The mole ratios of borate and aluminum compounds to Nd catalyst significantly affected the polymerization behavior. Both yield and cis-1,4 content of polyisoprene decreased in the case of [borate]/[Nd] < 1.0, while at [borate]/[Nd] > 1.0 the formation of multiple active species resulted in the polymer showing bimodal peaks in GPC. When the [Al]/[Nd] ratio was lower than 30, the polymer yield sharply decreased, whereas the cis-1,4 content became relatively low with use of a large excess of Al ([Al]/[Nd] > 50). Thus, the optimal catalyst composition was [Nd]/[borate]/[Al] = 1/1/30, which gave in > 97% yield polyisoprene with high molecular weight (M_n2×10⁵) and relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n2.0) and mainly cis-1,4 structure (90%).     

Coal liquefaction by colloidal iron sulphide catalyst

Taiheiyo coal, which was treated with an aqueous solution of dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride, adsorbed colloidal iron sulphide prepared from FeS0₄ · 7H₂O and Na₂S · 9H₂O in aqueous media. The adsorbed colloidal iron sulphide was much more effective as a catalyst for the liquefaction of the coal itself than the usual powder-type iron sulphide. Thus in differential thermal analysis under hydrogen, the coal with 0.35wt% adsorbed colloidal iron sulphide gave an exothermic peak at 401 °C, which was ≈20 °C lower than when using the powder-type iron sulphide. The coal was smoothly hydrogenated at 450 °C to give a yield of ≈60% liquid products.     

Curling and clumping fur represented by texture layers

Fur is present in most mammals which are common characters in both movies and video-games, and it is important to model and render fur both realistically and quickly. When the objective is real-time performance, fur is usually represented by texture layers (or 3D textures), which limits the dynamic characteristics of fur when compared with methods that use an explicit representation for each fur strand. This paper proposes a method for animating and shaping fur in real-time, adding curling and clumping effects to the existing real-time fur rendering methods on the GPU. Besides fur bending using a mass-spring strand model embedded in the fur texture, we add small scale displacements to layers to represent curls which are suitable for vertex shader implementation, and we also use a fragment shader to compute intra-layer offsets to create fur clumps. With our method, it becomes easy to dynamically add and remove fur curls and clumps, as can be seen in real fur as a result of fur getting wet and drying up.     

Photovoltaic cell characteristics for high-intensity laser light

The series resistance value of a photovoltaic (PV) cell required for high-intensity light and the effects of both the α parameter (the ratio of the open-circuit voltage to the bandgap) and temperature on conversion efficiency are investigated by a calculation method derived from the fundamental characteristics of PV cell. The PV cell characteristics for high-intensity laser light, including Si, GaAs, InGaAs PV cells and InGaAs uni-traveling-carrier photodiode (UTC-PD), are experimentally investigated. The small series resistance as large as 20–30 μΩ cm² and the suppression of recombination are important for obtaining higher conversion efficiency, especially for high-intensity laser light.     

The use of positron emission tomography and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose for functional imaging of muscular activity during exercise with a stride assistance system.

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose and positron emission tomography (FDG PET) for quantitative evaluation of glucose metabolism in skeletal muscle during walking. Ten young males underwent FDG PET twice during walks, which were done with or without an automated stride assistance system (SAS). Walk ratios were significantly increased by the SAS in seven subjects. Regional glucose metabolism in muscles between the crista iliaca and the planta was clearly visualized in all ten subjects. Glucose utilization increased significantly in the tibialis posterior and medial gastrocnemius muscles of the seven subjects in whom walk ratios were increased by the SAS. FDG PET is useful for analysis of muscle activity during exercise and rehabilitation.     

Heat capacity measurements on a thin ribbon sample of Zr0.55Al0.10Ni0.05Cu0.30 glassy alloy and Apiezon N high vacuum grease using a Quantum Design Physical Property Measurement System

We measured the heat capacity of a thin ribbon sample of Zr_0.55Al_0.10Ni_0.05Cu_0.30 glassy alloy using a Heat Capacity option of Quantum Design’s Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) between 1.9 K and 310 K. The cut ribbon pieces were piled up to form a block, where each ribbon layer was adhered to one another with Apiezon N grease (ANG), and the heat capacity of the block was measured. In order to obtain the heat capacity of the sample, the heat capacity of ANG was subtracted from the block heat capacity. We report how we measured the heat capacity of a thin ribbon sample, and in this connection, we also reviewed the ANG heat capacity previously reported.     

Numerical simulation of vortex structures and heat transfer behind a hill in a laminar boundary layer

The present study examines a three‐dimensional numerical simulation of vortex structures and heat transfer behind a hill mounted in a laminar boundary layer. A vortex pair is formed symmetrically in the separation bubble behind the hill, and a hairpin vortex is periodically shed in the wake. The hairpin vortex moves downstream with time, and the gradient of the head of the hairpin vortex increases. Further downstream, the hairpin vortex is deformed to an Ω‐shaped structure. In the growth process of the hairpin vortex, horn‐shaped secondary vortices grow near the wall. The dissipation rate of the temperature fluctuation around the hairpin vortex increases because the heated fluid near the wall is removed to the free stream by Q2 ejection. Heat transfer increases due to the legs of the hairpin vortex and secondary vortices. These vortices generate high turbulence in the flow field and also contribute to an increase in Reynolds shear stress and turbulent heat flux. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 37(7): 398–411, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20217     

Practical and adequate approach to modeling light propagation in an adult head with low-scattering regions by use of diffusion theory

A practical and adequate approach to modeling light propagation in an adult head with a low-scattering cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) region by use of diffusion theory was investigated. The diffusion approximation does not hold in a nonscattering or low-scattering regions. The hybrid radiosity-diffusion method was adopted to model the light propagation in the head with a nonscattering region. In the hybrid method the geometry of the nonscattering region is acquired as a priori information. In reality, low-level scattering occurs in the CSF region and may reduce the error caused by the diffusion approximation. The partial optical path length and the spatial sensitivity profile calculated by the finite-element method agree well with those calculated by the Monte Carlo method in the case in which the transport scattering coefficient of the CSF layer is greater than 0.3 mm(-1). Because it is feasible to assume that the transport scattering coefficient of a CSF layer is 0.3 mm(-1), it is practical to adopt diffusion theory to the modeling of light propagation in an adult head as an alternative to the hybrid method.     

Influence of population density and temporal variations in emissions on the air duality benefits of NOx emission trading

Ozone formation is a complex function of local hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions. Therefore, trading of NOx emissions among geographically distributed facilities can lead to more or less ozone formation than across-the-board reductions. Monte Carlo simulations of trading scenarios involving 51 large NOx point sources in eastern Texas were used in a previous study by the authors to assess the effects of trading on air quality benefits, as measured by changes in ozone concentrations. The results indicated that 12% of trading scenarios would lead to greater than a 25% variation from conventional across-the-board reductions when air quality benefits are based only on changes in ozone concentration. The current study found that when benefits are based on a metric related to population exposure to ozone, two-thirds of the trading scenarios lead to changes in air quality benefits of approximately 25%. Variability in air quality benefits is not as strongly dependent on the temporal distribution of NOx emissions.