A 100 Gram‐Scale Production of a Key Building Block of Antibacterial Vancomycin: The Use of an Air‐Stable Chiral Zirconium Catalyst and Complete Recovery of a Silicon Source in Catalytic Asymmetric Mukaiyama Aldol Reaction

We have achieved a 100 gram‐scale production of anti‐(2S,3S)‐β‐(p‐benzyloxy‐m‐chloro)phenyl‐N‐trifluoroacetyl‐L ‐serine methyl ester ( 1 ) in high yield with high diastereo‐ and enantioselectivities based on a catalytic asymmetric Mukaiyama aldol reaction. The use of an air‐stable zirconium‐molecular sieves combined catalyst [(R)‐I₄‐ZrMS] facilitates easy manufacturing operation and reproducibility. Moreover, this is the first example of the complete recovery of the silicon source in a Mukaiyama aldol reaction.     

Chiral Scandium‐Catalysed Enantioselective Ring‐Opening of meso‐Epoxides with N‐Heterocycle,Alcohol and Thiol Derivatives in Water

In the presence of catalytic amounts of Sc(OSO₃C₁₂H₂₅)₃ and a chiral bipyridine ligand, asymmetric ring‐opening of meso‐epoxides with aromatic N‐heterocycles, an alcohol and thiols proceeded smoothly to afford the corresponding products in moderate to good yields (34–85 %) with high to excellent enantioselectivities (74–96 % ee). Water was used as the sole and essential solvent in these important enantioselective transformations.     

All solid-state sheet battery using lithium inorganic solid electrolyte, thio-LISICON

All solid-state sheet lithium battery was developed using inorganic solid electrolyte, thio-LISICON (Li_3.25Ge_0.25P_0.75S₄), Li–Al anode, and Mo₆S₈ cathode materials, and the sheet manufacturing process was established. The new sheet-configuration was consisted of the cathode with the grid of current collector, electrolyte sheet with or without mechanical support, and aluminum/lithium composite sheet anode. A sheet battery with a dimension of 30 mm × 30 mm showed good charge–discharge characteristics without any capacity fading at a current of 0.1 mA.     

Staphylococcus aureus Infection-Related Glomerulonephritis with Dominant IgA Deposition

Since 1995, when we reported the case of a patient with glomerulonephritis with IgA deposition that occurred after a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection, many reports of MRSA infection-associated glomerulonephritis have accumulated. This disease is being systematized as Staphylococcus infection-associated glomerulonephritis (SAGN) in light of the apparent cause of infection, and as immunoglobulin A-dominant deposition infection-related glomerulonephritis (IgA-IRGN) in light of its histopathology. This glomerulonephritis usually presents as rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis or acute kidney injury with various degrees of proteinuria and microscopic hematuria along with an ongoing infection. Its renal pathology has shown several types of mesangial and/or endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis with various degrees of crescent formation and tubulointerstitial nephritis. IgA, IgG, and C₃ staining in the mesangium and along the glomerular capillary walls have been observed on immunofluorescence examinations. A marked activation of T cells, an increase in specific variable regions of the T-cell receptor β-chain-positive cells, hypercytokinemia, and increased polyclonal immune complexes have also been observed in this glomerulonephritis. In the development of this disease, staphylococcal enterotoxin may be involved as a superantigen, but further investigations are needed to clarify the mechanisms underlying this disease. Here, we review 336 cases of IgA-IRGN and 218 cases of SAGN.     

Detection of carriers of group B streptococci in pregnant women with absorbed charcoal culture. Streptococcal Diseases Study Group

For prevention of group B streptococcal (GBS) infection in neonates, GBS carriers of pregnant women should be detected. Procedures for detection of carriers were needed to get higher positive rate and to be handled with easy. Urine samples were shown to detect higher rates than vaginal smear samples in pregnant women. GBS in the urine were adsorbed to charcoal granula for easier transporting. These adsorbed charcoal were tested as to whether they could be preserved with different temperatures and days. Urine with 10(1) CFU/ml of GBS added could be detected after 7 days at temperatures of 4, 25, 37, 42 degrees C. The cultures of this procedure with the cultures of urine sediment of pregnant women were compared. Detecting rates of this procedure and urine sediment were 177 (26.2%) and 136 (20.1%) of 676 pregnant women, respectively. These data suggested that adsorbed charcoal culture was useful with higher positive rates for detection of the GBS carriers in pregnant women.     

Compact optical circulator for near-infrared region

A compact Faraday-rotation 4-port circulator was developed for the near-infrared region. This circulator consists of an yttrium-iron-garnet Faraday rotator, biased by two permanent magnets, and two Glan-Taylor prisms. Insertion losses of 2.7?3.2 dB and isolation ratios of 13?28 dB among non-reciprocal ports were obtained at 1.15?m wavelength.     

Evaluation and optimization by colorimetry of polarizers for liquid crystal display

This paper describes the development of useful polarizers for LCD application, their optimization and evaluation based on colorimetry. Figures of merit are suggested for the characterization of LCDs and polarizers using this technique. More than 50 polarizers were used in the experiment, which also evaluated their use for both twisted nematic black-and-white LCDs and guest-host colour LCDs. Their optical properties and the associated display legibility were shown to be best exprssed colorimetrically.     

A New Consensus Algorithm for Multi-Agent Systems via Decentralized Dynamic Output Feedback

In this paper, we study a consensus problem for multi-agent systems via dynamic output feedback control. The entire system is decentralized in the sense that each agent can only obtain output information from its neighbor agents. For practical purpose, we assume that actuator limitation exists, and require that the consensus be achieved among the agents at a specified convergence rate. By using an appropriate coordinate transformation, we reduce the consensus problem on hand to solving a strict matrix inequality, and then propose to use the homotopy based method for solving the matrix inequality. It turns out that our algorithm includes the existing graph Laplacian based algorithm as a special case.     

Treatment of low strength domestic wastewater using the anaerobic filter

A laboratory scale anaerobic filter packed with synthetic high surface area trickling filter media was used to treat a low strength domestic wastewater averaging 288 mg 1⁻¹ COD. The filter was operated for 60 days after reaching steady-state at 20, 25, 35°C at a loading rate of 0.02 lb COD ft⁻³ day⁻¹ and 24 h hydraulic retention time. Filter effluent BOD₅ averaged 38 mg 1⁻¹ providing an average removal rate of 79%, and effluent COD averaged 78 mg 1⁻¹, corresponding to a 73% removal rate. Removal efficiencies showed very little sensitivity to daily fluctuations in influent wastewater quality. The filter performance at 25 and 35°C was not significantly different, but BOD and TSS removal efficiency declined a: 20°C. Gas production averaged 0.027 ft⁻³ of gas per ft³ of influent wastewater, or 1.875 ft³ of gas per pound of influent COD. Gas composition averaged 30% nitrogen, 65% methane, and 5% carbon dioxide. Ammonia nitrogen and sulfides both increased during treatment. It is concluded that the anaerobic filter is a promising candidate for treatment of low strength wastewaters and that post treatment for sulfides and ammonia may be necessary.