Synthesis of polyethylene oxide end‐capped with perfluoroalkyl groups/polystyrene prototype brushes

Polystyrene (PS)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) prototype brushes were prepared by alternating free‐radical copolymerization of methacryloyl‐terminated PS and α‐vinylbenzyl‐ω‐hydroxy or α‐vinylbenzyl‐ω‐perfluoroalkyl (R_f) PEO macromonomers with the addition of Lewis acid (SnCl₄). It was found from their dilute‐solution properties that PS/PEO end‐capped with R_f (PBR_f), and PS/PEO having OH groups at terminal ends (PBOH) prototype brushes formed a single molecule in benzene and aggregates in chloroform, respectively. However, the brush PBOH formed a single molecule in N,N‐dimethylformamide. Such aggregation behaviors seemed to be caused by the interaction between hydroxy groups of PEO chain ends. The brush PBOH was also converted into PBR_f‐type brush by chemical modification, using corresponding acid chloride. The substitution of R_f groups was ～70% due to slipping of terminal hydroxy groups into PEO internal domains. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 772–778, 2006     

Capacitance behavior of activated carbon fibers with oxygen-plasma treatment

Modified activated carbon fibers (ACFs) were used as the electrodes of an electric double-layer capacitor and showed an enhanced capacitance effect after a RF-plasma treatment. The capacitance and the surface functional groups of the ACFs were studied. For the plasma-treated ACFs having a specific surface area of 1500 m² g⁻¹, the capacitance increased by 28% compared to the untreated sample and the highest electric capacitance value of 142 F g⁻¹ was achieved with an oxygen feed concentration of 10 vol.%. The Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area was 2103 m² g⁻¹, which was 34% higher than that of the untreated sample. The pore volume was similarly increased to 483.1 cm³ g⁻¹ STP, and from the pore distribution plot, quantities of mesopores of 10 nm or less and micropores also increased. However, in order to enhance the capacitance, the quinone functional group had a significant influence in addition to the BET surface area. The correlation between the capacitance and the number of quinone functional groups was confirmed because quinone is an electron acceptor.     

Lysozyme requires fluctuation of the active site for the manifestation of activity

Mutations around His15 which lie far away from the active site,stimulated glycol chitin activity of lysozyme at physiologicaltemperature. Del-Argl4Hisl5 lysozyme, a mutant lysozyme whoseArgl4 and Hisl5 were deleted together, and has the highest activityamong these mutant lysozymes, had a similar binding abilityto a trimer of N-acetyl-glucosamine, a substrate analogue, relativeto native lysozyme. This suggests that the increased activitywas due to an increased k_cat in the catalysis reaction. TheH-D exchange rate of the N-1 proton in the Trp63 which is locatedin the active site cleft, was enhanced in the Del-Argl4Hisl5lysozyme, while 2-D proton NMR analysis revealed no conformationalchange around Trp63. We conclude that some sort of fluctuationat the active site might be required for the manifestation ofactivity. This theory is supported by the finding that the Del-Argl4Hisl5lysozyme showed a shift in temperature dependency of activityto lower temperatures compared with that of native lysozyme.     

Larval osmeterial secretions of the swallowtails (Papilio)

The larval osmeterial secretions of sixPapilio species examined displayed a remarkable qualitative change at the fourth larval ecdysis. The secretions of 4th (penultimate) instar larvae ofP. machaon, P. memnon, P. helenus, P. bianor, andP. maackii principally comprised mono- and/or sesquiterpenoids. The compounds identified from these species included -pinene, sabinene, -myrcene, limonene, -phellandrene, (Z)--ocimene, (E)--ocimene, -elemene, -caryophyllene, (E)--farnesene, -selinene, (E,E)--farnesene, germacrene-A, germacrene-B, caryophyllene oxide, methyl 3-hydroxy-n-butyrate, and acetic acid. In contrast, the secretion of 4th larval instar ofP. xuthus, although containing similar terpenic compounds, was accompanied by large amounts of aliphatic acids and their esters: isobutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid, methyl isobutyrate and methyl 2-methylbutyrate. On the other hand, the osmeterial secretions of 5th (last) instar larvae varied little in quality among the six species, and the identified compounds consisted of isobutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid, methyl isobutyrate, ethyl isobutyrate, methyl 2-methylbutyrate, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, and isovaleric acid, the last of which was specific toP. bianor andP. maackii. The chemical alteration of osmeterial exudate synchronized at the final larval ecdysis with the larval morphological change (particularly in body coloration) that appears to be of defensive significance against predators.     

Chemical nature of larval osmeterial secretions of papilionid butterflies in the generaParnassius,Sericinus andPachliopta

Volatile components of the larval osmeterial secretion ofParnassius glacialis (Parnassiinae, Parnassiini) consisted of isobutyric acid, 2-methylbutyric acid, and their methyl esters. In contrast, the osmeterial exudate ofSericinus montela (Parnassiinae, Zerynthiini) was characterized as monoterpene hydrocarbons comprising-myrcene (Major),-pinene, sabinene, limonene, and-phellandrene, whereas that ofPachliopta aristolochiae (Papilioninae, Troidini) was composed of numerous sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, including-himachalene,-amorphene, and germacrene-A, and a few oxygenated sesquiterpenoids. In these three species, the chemical nature of the secretions of the last and the penultimate instars was essentially of similar quality, suggesting that the three genera,Parnassius, Sericinus, andPachliopta, are assigned to homogeneous types.     

A conceptual model for acceptance of social CRM systems based on a scoping study

Recent developments in information technology and Web services have increased the potential for creating more rapid and extensive social networks and business relationships. Web 2.0 technologies, commonly referred to as online social media, have become important tools within the growth of information and communication technology (ICT) in the last few years. Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, Wiki and other services, which are widely used by individuals, also have an effect on customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Consequently, social CRM (SCRM) is emerging as a new paradigm for integrating social networking in more traditional CRM systems. However, social CRM is yet to be fully utilised as a value-adding tool in improving customer relationships. This paper reports on a scoping study that explored the current situation of CRM adoption in banking industry in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this paper is to identify the factors that may influence businesses and customers’ adoption of social CRM. Various models have been proposed to study ICT and information systems acceptance and usage. This paper proposes an enhancement to one of these models, specifically the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), by incorporating a range of factors identified in the social networking and business relationships literature believed to influence social CRM adoption. In particular, the model proposes that familiarity, caring behaviour, sharing information and perceived trustworthiness can generate cognitive view about the relationships between employees and customers. This view besides Web 2.0 features may offer a way of analysing the potential adoption of social CRM.     

Chemical and Chromatic Bases for Preferential Visiting By the Cabbage Butterfly, Pieris rapae, to Rape Flowers

Scent and coloration of corolla were examined as floral attributes responsible for preferential visiting by the cabbage butterfly, Pieris rapae, to rape flower, Brassica rapa. Floral volatile components that release the flower-visiting behavior of the butterfly were identified by chemical analyses, electroantennography (EAG), and two behavioral bioassays: proboscis extension reflex (PER) in response to odor and attraction to artificial flowers. GC and GC-MS analyses of the headspace volatiles from the flowers revealed the presence of six aromatic compounds, benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, phenylacetonitrile, and indole in decreasing order of quantity. Of these, phenylacetaldehyde elicited the highest response in the PER assay. While benzyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, benzaldehyde, and phenylacetonitrile evoked moderate responses, the PER-eliciting activity of indole was very weak. In two-choice behavioral bioassays, artificial flowers scented with any one of these PER-active compounds attracted significantly more butterflies than control (unscented) flowers, whereas those treated with indole were almost inactive. The EAG activities of the six chemicals were not high and were about the same at a low dose (1 g), but phenylacetaldehyde elicited a much stronger response from both sexes at higher doses (10 and 100 g). An overall profile of EAG responses at a dose of 100 g was analogous to that of PER performance, suggesting that floral volatiles may be involved in close-range location or recognition of flowers rather than long-range attraction. By spectroscopic and UV-photographic examinations of rape flower, the central part of the corolla was found to absorb UV rays in marked contrast to the other parts, which reflected near-UV rays (_max = 350 nm). This indicates that the flower is endowed with a conspicuous nectar guide that is probably an important visual stimulus for attracting foraging adults of P. rapae. Consequently, the present findings strongly suggest that this elaborate pollination strategy of rape flower, characterized by its good combination of olfactory and visual attractiveness, accounts for preferential visiting by the cabbage butterfly to the flower.     

Application of an ultrahigh-resolution scanning electron microscope (UHS-T1) to biological specimens

In 1985 we developed an ultrahigh-resolution scanning electron microscope with a resolution of 0.5 nm. It is equipped with a field emission gun and an objective lens with a very short focal length. In this study we report a survey of some different preparation techniques and biological specimens using the new scanning electron microscope. Intracellular structures such as cell organelles were observed surprisingly sharper than those observed by ordinary scanning electron microscopes. However, at magnifications over 250,000 X, platinum particles could be discerned as scattered pebbles on the surface of all structures in coated materials. Using an uncoated but conductively stained specimen, we successfully observed ribosomes on a rough endoplasmic reticulum at a direct magnification of 1 million. In these images some protrusions were recognized on the ribosomes. Ferritin and immunoglobulin G were used as samples of biological macromolecules. These samples were observed without metal coating and conductive staining. The ferritin particles appeared as rounded bodies without any substructure on the surface and immunoglobulin G as complexes of three-unit bodies. In the latter the central body might correspond to the Fc fragment and two side ones to Fab fragments. We assume that ultrahigh-resolution scanning electron microscopy is an effective means for observation of the cell fine structures and biological macromolecules. It will open a new research field in biomedicine.     

A preparation method for observing intracellular structures by scanning electron microscopy

In order to observe intracellular structures by scanning electron microscopy, excess cytoplasmic matrix must be removed from the fractured surface of cells. Previously we reported an Osmium-DMSO-Osmium method devised for this purpose. This method is very effective in revealing intracellular structures, but requires osmium tetroxide for initial fixation with some consequent disadvantages. In the present study, a revised Osmium-DMSO-Osmium method is reported, in which an aldehyde mixture is used as the initial fixative instead of osmium tetroxide. As fixation is carried out by perfusion in this revised method, better preservation of fine structures is achieved than by the original method, especially in the central nervous tissue which tends to suffer from post-mortem degeneration. Moreover this method can be applied to cytochemical studies of intracellular structures with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). In this study, acid phosphatase of lysosomes is demonstrated in a coloured SEM micrograph.