Scarab beetleAnomala albopilosa albopilosa utilizes a more complex sex pheromone system than a similar speciesA. cuprea

Four compounds have been identified as sex pheromone constituents of the scarab beetleAnomala albopilosa albopilosa, namely (R, Z)-5-(–)-(oct-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one (buibuilactone), 2-(E)-nonenol, 2-(E)-nonenal, and methyl benzoate (in the ratio 10:3:3:1). The diel rhythm of pheromone release inA. a. albopilosa showed a peak at the beginning of the scotophase, which is also a peak of mating activity. On the other hand, the similar speciesA. cuprea utilizes a two-constituent sex pheromone, having a common major component, but the pheromone is released both during scoto-and photophase. Temporal difference in mating activity and pheromone release along with chemical diversity seem to form the basis for maintaining species specificity in pheromonal communication betweenA. a. albopilosa andA. cuprea.     

Light‐scattering study on porous membrane formation by dry‐cast process

The phase‐separation mechanism during porous membrane formation by the dry‐cast process was investigated by the light‐scattering method in poly(methyl methacrylate)/ethyl acetate (EA)/2‐methyl‐2,4‐pentanediol system. The evaporation of EA from the cast solution induced the phase separation and thus the porous membrane was obtained. By the light‐scattering measurement on the phase‐separation kinetics, the phase separation was found to occur by a spinodal decomposition mechanism. As the amount of nonsolvent in the cast solution decreased, the structure growth rate decreased and the growth stopped soon. The obtained porous structure was isotropic rather than asymmetric. The average interpore distances obtained from the SEM observation roughly agreed with the final constant interphase periodic distances measured by the light‐scattering method. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 10: 3205–3209, 2002     

Physical properties and dyeability of silk fibers modified with ethoxyethylmethacrylate polymer

The structural characteristics, physical properties, and dyeing behavior of Bombyx mori silk fibers containing ethoxyethylmethacrylate (ETMA) polymer are reported in relation to the add-on. The add-on value increased with the reaction time and attained a maximum after 60 min at 80°C. The surface of silk fibers with an add-on value of 40% showed the presence of several irregular granules, consisting of ETMA oligomers. The infrared spectrum of the silk fibers containing the ETMA polymer showed overlapped absorption bands due to the molecular conformation of untreated silk and ETMA polymer, giving evidence that the ETMA polymerization occurred inside the fiber matrix. The DSC results suggested that the thermal decomposition behavior of the silk fiber remained almost unchanged, except that the decomposition temperature shifted slightly to higher temperature. The tensile properties of the silk fiber remained unchanged regardless of the ETMA polymerization. The rate and extent of acid dye uptake was greatly increased by the polymerization of ETMA into the silk fibers as well as the transfer printing properties.     

Enhancing Effect of H2 on the Selective Reduction of NO with CO over Ba-doped Ir/WO3/SiO2 Catalyst

In order to improve the catalytic performance of supported-Ir catalysts for the selective reduction of NO with CO, the effect of H₂ was investigated. While adding H₂ showed no or negative effect on NO conversion on Ir/SiO₂, Ba/Ir/SiO₂ and Ir/WO₃/SiO₂ catalysts, the activity of Ba-doped Ir/WO₃/SiO₂ catalyst for NO reduction was significantly increased by H₂ addition. The role of H₂ was found to stabilize the catalytically active Ir-WO _x sites during the reaction.     

Glow-discharge-induced graft polymerization of acrylic acid onto poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] film

Graft polymerization of acrylic acid onto poly[1-(trimethylsilyl)-1-propyne] [poly(TMSP)] film was examined. The water contact angle of poly(TMSP) film decreased remarkably from 90 to 15° by plasma treatment, which gradually increased up to 40° after several days. When the film exposed to a glow discharge was heated in an aqueous solution of acrylic acid at 80°C for 24 h, graft polymerization proceeded on the film surface, which was confirmed by ATR-IR and ESCA spectra. Graft polymerization effectively occurred above a threshold temperature (80°C). The water contact angle of the grafted film was about 30°, and did not change with time. In contrast, when a poly(TMSP) film exposed to UV irradiation was heated in an aqueous solution of acrylic acid, graft polymerization took place not only on the film surface but also inside the film.     

Sintering and Properties of Monazite-Type CePO4

Monazite-type CePO₄ powder (average grain size 0.3 μm) was dry-pressed to disks or bars. The green compacts began to sinter above 950°C. Relative density ≧ 99% and apparent porosity <1% were achieved when the specimens were sintered at 1500°C for 1 h in air. The linear thermal expansion coefficient and thermal conductivity of the CePO₄ ceramics were 9 × 10⁻⁶/°C to 11 × 10⁻⁶/°C (200° to 1300°C) and 1.81 W/(m · K) (500°C), respectively. Bending strength of the ceramics (average grain size 4 μm) was 174 ± 28 MPa (room temperature). The CePO₄ ceramics were cracked or decomposed by acidic or alkaline aqueous solutions at high temperatures.     

Characterization of electrode/electrolyte interface using in situ X-ray reflectometry and LiNi0.8Co0.2O2 epitaxial film electrode synthesized by pulsed laser deposition method

An in situ experimental technique was developed for detecting structure changes at the electrode/electrolyte interface of lithium cell using synchrotron X-ray reflectometry and two-dimensional model electrodes with a restricted lattice plane. The electrode was constructed with an epitaxial film of LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ synthesized by the pulsed laser deposition method. The orientation of the epitaxial film depends on the substrate plane; the 2D layer of LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ is parallel to the SrTiO₃ (1 1 1) substrate ((0 0 3)_{LiCo0.2Ni0.8O2}//(1 1 1)SrTiO₃), while the 2D layer is perpendicular to the SrTiO₃ (1 1 0) substrate ((1 1 0)_{LiCo0.2Ni0.8O2}//(1 1 0)SrTiO₃). These films provided an ideal reaction field suitable for detecting structure changes at the electrode/electrolyte interface during the electrochemical reaction. The X-ray reflectometry indicated a formation of a thin-film layer at the LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ (1 1 0)/electrolyte interface during the first charge-discharge cycle, while the LiNi_0.8Co_0.2O₂ (0 0 3) surface showed an increase in the surface roughness without forming the surface thin-film layer. The reaction mechanism at the electrode/electrolyte interface is discussed based on our new experimental technique for lithium batteries.     

Modification of preparation method for polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) to produce hollow fiber PIM

A new preparation method for polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) was developed. The preparation method—called post‐treatment method—is very convenient to prepare a hollow fiber PIM. Using this method, a commercial cellulose triacetate (CTA) hollow fiber membrane can be easily converted into a hollow fiber PIM. Thus, a CTA hollow fiber membrane was allowed to swell in 2‐nitrophenyl‐n‐octyl ether (NPOE) in the presence of chloroform as a solvent for CTA and N,N,N′,N′‐tetraoctyl‐3‐oxapentane diamide (TODGA) as a carrier. After evaporating chloroform, a hollow fiber PIM containing NPOE and TODGA was obtained. The result of the transport experiment of cerium(III) ions using the hollow fiber PIM showed that cerium ions were effectively transported from the feed solution to the strip solution through the hollow fiber PIM, indicating that the hollow fiber PIM was successfully prepared using the post‐treatment method. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 4372–4377, 2006     

Microfiltration and stabilization of egg yolk phospholipid emulsions by a microporous glass membrane

A microporous glass membrane with a narrow-range pore size was applied for the microfiltration of egg yolk phospholipid emulsions. The oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions were successfully filtered using the membrane without any coalescence of oil droplets or the breakdown of the emulsions. The filtrated oil-in-water emulsion was stable for at least 6 wk when stored at 5°C. The results obtained suggest that the technique would be valuable for the precise filtration of emulsions for food uses as well as intravenous fat and/or drug carrier emulsions, and offer the stabilization of the emulsions.