Adaptive internal model of intrinsic kinematics involved in learning an aiming task.

The elbowjoint angle and the shoulder joint angle of participants aiming at targets were multiplied in an experiment that used a position-recording system and a cathode-ray tube screen. The linear transformation in joint angles (intrinsic coordinates) corresponded to a nonlinear transformation between the hand coordinates and the screen coordinates (extrinsic coordinates). We examined whether participants could learn this transformation in the intrinsic coordinates or in the extrinsic coordinates by investigating intermanual (between-hands) transfer under an intrinsically consistent condition and an extrinsically consistent condition. Positive intermanual transfer was observed in the former condition but not in the latter condition. Results suggest that participants can learn the linear transformation in joint angles under the intrinsic coordinates and that the central nervous system adaptively represents the intrinsic kinematics. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

High cycle fatigue strength of butt welded joints of small diameter pipes

Fillet welds are usually used for joints of small pipelines with 2-inch nominal outer diameter or smaller. The fillet welded joints might not be strong enough to withstand the high cycle fatigue produced by steady-state vibrations, because they have inherent crack-like discontinuities in the root portion. The fatigue strength of butt welded joints is believed to be higher than that of fillet welded joints, so that it is desirable to use butt welded joints for small pipelines under steady-state vibrations. However, there are no available data on high cycle fatigue strength of small diameter piping butt welded joints. This paper presents new data on high cycle fatigue strength of butt welded joints in small diameter pipes and development of their fatigue strength reduction factors for design use.     

Fermentation of meat with koji and commercial enzymes,and properties of its extract

This study was carried out in order to make the Japanese fermented meat sauce shishibishio. The fermentation mixtures (moromi) were prepared by mixing ground pork with salt at one of three levels (15, 20 or 25%), koji (rice fermented with Aspergillus oryzae) and pepper. Commercial enzymes, ie Alcalase or Pectinase 3S, were added in order to accelerate the proteolysis of the moromi. After 3 months of fermentation, counts of viable bacteria were below 300 cfu g^?1, and no coliforms was detected in any moromi. Shishibishio obtained after 3 months had an acceptable seasoning with high peptide and free amino acid content, and good hygienic quality; in particular, no unpleasant smell and taste was found. The addition of Alcalase or Pectinase 3S appreciably increased yield of shishibishio and protein recovery from moromi by accelerating the liquefaction and the proteolysis, resulting in the improvement of the sensory quality of the products. The highest yields were, respectively, 49.8 to 50.6%, collected from moromi in which we used 15% salt. Shishibishio with Alcalase had a higher peptide content but a lower total free amino acid content than that with Pectinase 3S. However, there was not much difference in the sensory evaluations for two enzyme treatments. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Living cationic polymerization of p-methoxystyrene by hydrogen iodide/zinc iodide at room temperature

Summary Cationic polymerization of p-methoxystyrene initiated by HI/ZnI₂ in toluene afforded living polymers not only at low temperature (–15°C) but at room temperature (+25°C) as well. The number-average molecular weight of the polymers was directly proportional to monomer conversion and in excellent agreement with the calculated value assuming that one polymer chain forms per unit hydrogen iodide. On addition of a fresh feed of monomer at the end of the first-stage polymerization, the added feed was smoothly polymerized at nearly the same rate as in the first stage; the polymer molecular weight further increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion and was close to the calculated value for living polymer. Throughout these reactions, the molecular weight distribution of the polymers stayed very narrow (¯M_w/¯M_n<1.1). This is the first example of living cationic polymerizations of styrene derivatives that proceed even at room temperature.     

Preparation and surface active properties of alcohol ethoxylates with an amide oxime terminal group

Amide oxime compounds have become of major interest because they can complex with uranium, gallium and various transition metal ions. In this work surface active amide oximes were prepared to make some functions of the amide oxime group exhibit as molecular aggregates in aqueous media. Amide oximes were obtained from nitriles which were prepared by the cyanoethylation of alcohol ethoxylates with a monodispersed oligo(oxyethylene) group. Surface active properties of these compounds were measured under various conditions and were compared with nonionics of the alcohol ethoxylate type. The pKa₁ values of these amide oximes were about five, and they acted as cationic surfactants under acidic conditions and nonionic ones under neutral and basic conditions. When they served as nonionics, the cloud point, CMC, γ_CMC and foaming properties of surface active amide oximes were similar to other alcohol ethoxylate nonionics.     

Living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether by the diphenyl phosphate/zinc iodide initiating system

Summary The first example of the living cationic polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether via the phosphate counteranion has been achieved in toluene below 0°C with a new initiating system that consists of diphenyl phosphate and zinc iodide, (C₆H₅0)₂P(0)0H/ZnI₂. The number-average molecular weight of the polymers increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion, and was in excellent agreement with the calculated value assuming that one polymer chain forms per unit diphenyl phosphate. On addition of a fresh feed of monomer at the end of the polymerization, the added feed was smoothly polymerized at nearly the same rate as in the first stage, and the polymer molecular weight further increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion. Throughout the reaction, the molecular weight distribution of the polymers stayed very narrow (¯M/¯M_n 1.1). At room temperature (+25 °C), however, the molecular weight distribution of the polymers slightly broadened (¯M_w/¯M_n 1.2) at high conversions where the polymer molecular weight became smaller than the calculated value. Evidently, the (C₆H₅0)₂-P(0)0H/ZnI₂ system indeed generates a propagating species of a long life-time at room temperature, but the perfectly living polymerization by this system operates below 0°C.Living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers by electrophile     

Preparation of ion exchange membranes by plasma polymerization. I

Plasma polymerizations of three kinds of amines, γ-aminopropylethoxydimethylsilane (APEMS), allylamine (AA), and pyrole (PY), were investigated by IR and XPS analysis. Plasma-polymerized films were deposited on porous substrates, and ion exchange abilities of the composite membranes were measured. When APEMS were used as the monomer, the polymer retained the chemical structure of the monomer, amino groups. However, when AA and PY were used as the monomers, the plasma polymers contained a larger amount of amido structures than did the polymer of APEMS. Each membrane had ion exchange ability. In particular, the membrane prepared from APEMS showed superior ion exchange ability, anion permselectivity and conductivity, in acidic solutions. This property was attributed to the chemical structure of the polymer from APEMS retenting amino groups. The ion exchange properties of the membranes depended on the pH of the solution. In particular, the membrane of APEMS showed high membrane potential and low electric resistance only in a narrow pH region due to the weak basicity of amines and the hydrophobic property of the polymer.     

Synthesis and surface properties of N-long chain alkyl dihydroxy monoazacrown ethers

A series of N-alkyl dihydroxy monoazacrown ethers (1) was synthesized, and their surface properties were investigated compared to those of N-alkyl monoazacrown ethers (2) and open chain oxyethylenated long chain alkylamines (3). The complexation ability of1 toward alkali metal cations, a distinguished characteristic of crown compounds, was deduced to work even in the aqeuous solution from the values of T_CP, although it is weaker than typical monoazacrown ethers (2). The presence of two hydroxyl groups contributes to the large increase in hydrophilicity of monoazacrown ring and to the large surface excess of the surfactant molecule (1). A small occupation area to the solution surface is noted as a characteristic feature of the title coumpound (1).     

End-functionalized polymers by living cationic polymerization

Summary End-functionalized poly(isobutyl vinyl ether) (2) with a terminal amine, carboxylic acid, or ester group was prepared by quenching the HI/I₂-initiated living polymer ends with ring-substituted anilines (H₂N-C₆H₄-X, p or m; X = NH₂, COOH, COOC₂H₅). The living polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether and the subsequent end-capping reaction were carried out at –15°C in methylene chloride. The resulting polymers exhibited a narrow molecular weight distribution and carried one terminal function (aniline residue) per chain, according to ¹H NMR structural analysis.