Effects of drying temperature and relative humidity on spaghetti characteristics

This study aimed at investigating the effect of drying conditions on spaghetti properties, i.e., its color, surface structure, rupture strength, rehydration characteristics, texture, and sauce retention capacity. The effects of temperature and humidity were independently examined under constant drying conditions, which were compared to those applied industrially, where the temperature and relative humidity are changed stepwise with time. The knowledge obtained in this study is considered useful for reasonably determining the drying conditions for producing spaghetti with desired properties.     

Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Based Biomarkers for Neurodegenerative Diseases

There has been an increasing prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases with the rapid increase in aging societies worldwide. Biomarkers that can be used to detect pathological changes before the development of severe neuronal loss and consequently facilitate early intervention with disease-modifying therapeutic modalities are therefore urgently needed. Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a promising tool that can be used to infer microstructural characteristics of the brain, such as microstructural integrity and complexity, as well as axonal density, order, and myelination, through the utilization of water molecules that are diffused within the tissue, with displacement at the micron scale. Diffusion tensor imaging is the most commonly used diffusion MRI technique to assess the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. However, diffusion tensor imaging has several limitations, and new technologies, including neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging, diffusion kurtosis imaging, and free-water imaging, have been recently developed as approaches to overcome these constraints. This review provides an overview of these technologies and their potential as biomarkers for the early diagnosis and disease progression of major neurodegenerative diseases.     

Influence of Cu metal on the domain structure and carrier mobility in single-layer graphene

We demonstrate that domain structure of single-layer graphene grown by ambient pressure chemical vapor deposition is strongly dependent on the crystallinity of the Cu catalyst. Low energy electron microscopy analysis reveals that graphene grown using a Cu foil gives small and mis-oriented graphene domains with a number of domain boundaries. On the other hand, no apparent domain boundaries are observed in graphene grown over a heteroepitaxial Cu(111) film deposited on sapphire due to unified orientation of graphene hexagons. The difference in the domain structures is correlated with the difference in the crystal plane and grain structure of the Cu metal. The graphene film grown on the heteroepitaxial Cu film exhibits much higher carrier mobility than that grown on the Cu foil.     

Diacetylene-containing polymers. XI. Synthesis and characterization of poly(hexa-2,4-diynylene-1,6-dioxydibenzoate) and poly(octa-3,5-diynylene-1,8-dicarboxylate) containing p-nitroaniline groups

Summary Two novel polymers containing p-nitroaniline group in the side chain and diacetylene groups in the main chain, were synthesized, and characterized. The polymers gave films of excellent optical quality by spin coating from DMF or chloroform. The one containing benzoate had a T_g of 103°C and its thermal cross-linking through the diacetylene group started at around 160°C. The one containing pentynoate had a T_g of 35°C and its cross-linking started at around 120°C. It was shown that thermosetting resins with functional groups could be obtained by using diacetylene-containing polymers. Although these two polymers have a same polar dye molecule, the second order nonlinear optical property was so different, showing that the main chains are very important for nonlinear optical property. Irradiation of UV light converted the polymer films to completely insoluble thermoset resins. Received: 13 February 2001/Revised version: 25 July 2001/Accepted: 30 July 2001     

Cationic polymerization behavior of β‐methylglycidyl ether derivatives and physical properties of their cationically cured materials

β‐Methylglycidyl ethers have been applied to Electrical and Electronic adhesives. However, there is no report about the detailed polymerization behavior and physical properties of their cured products. Hence, we investigated cationic polymerization behavior of bisphenol A di(β‐methylglycidyl) ether (Me‐BADGE) and physical properties of the cured products containing Me‐BADGE. DSC analysis suggested that Me‐BADGE could be cured completely at lower temperature than bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE). Physical properties were analyzed by dynamic viscoelastic analysis. Glass transition temperature (T_g) of BADGE homopolymer was 194°C. In contrast, the copolymer of BADGE (50 wt %) with Me‐BADGE (50 wt %) showed T_g at 124°C. According to the data of E’ and tan δ, crosslink density of the cured products decreased with increasing the Me‐BADGE content. The analysis of cationic polymerization of monofunctional β‐methylglycidyl ether suggested that the cationic polymerization proceeded not only through oxonium cation but also through carbocation formed by ring‐opening reaction of oxonium cation. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42377.     

Characterization of alternative plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) sheets for blood containers

This study aimed to optimize the ratio of dioctyl 4‐cyclohexene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DOTH) and di‐isononyl‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylate (DINCH^®) for use as plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) sheets. We also evaluated the biological safety of DOTH for its potential to be part of a safe PVC‐based blood container. The suppression of hemolysis in mannitol‐adenine‐phosphate / red cell concentrates (MAP/RCC) with DOTH/(DINCH^®‐PVC) sheets and the elution of plasticizers from the sheets increased with higher DOTH compositions. The properties of the PVC sheet containing DOTH and DINCH^® in the ratio of 25:33 parts against PVC 100 parts as a weight were almost identical to the PVC sheet made of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate. From a subchronic toxicity test, DOTH did not show any adverse effects on all organs, including the testes, epididymis, liver, and kidneys. The no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level was 300 mg/kg body weight/day in a rat. These results suggest that DOTH/DINCH^® (25:33) is a promising candidate for the replacement of di(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate in blood containers. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 22:520–528, 2016. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Equilibrium of one-pot polymerization of polyimide

One-pot polymerization of polyimide from 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) and 4,4′-oxydianiline (ODA) was examined. The equilibrium in the polyimide with water was examined in detail in p-chlorophenol solution during the polymerization. The equilibrium constant was expressed by log K = 1.50 + 1433 (1/T). The polymerization reaction is exothermic. The molecular weight increased with decrease of temperature. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Properties of copolyimides prepared from different tetracarboxylic dianhydrides and diamines

Various copolymides were prepared from two acid dianhydrides (BPDA, 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride; PMDA, pyromelitic dianhydride) and two diamines (PPD, p-phenylene diamine; ODA, 4,4′-oxydianiline). The thermal and mechanical properties of these polyimides were examined in detail. By appropriately selecting the ratios of the acid dianhydride component and the diamine component, polyimide films having desirable mechanical and thermal characteristics can be obtained. Further, it was proved that there is a correlation between the properties and the compositions of the copolyimides and that the properties could be estimated from the compositions by the use of multiple regression analysis. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.