Recovery of fluorocarbons in Japan as a measure for abating global warming

The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential for recovering fluorocarbons as measures for the abatement of global warming. In this study, we focused on the three different kinds of fluorocarbons: CFCs, HCFCs and HFCs, and targeted refrigerant use because of the availability of relevant data. We first estimated future fluorocarbon emissions from the targeted appliances; we next compared those emissions in the units of CO₂ equivalent to the level of CO₂ emissions in 1990 from a quantitative point of view. As the result of this study, it was found that fluorocarbon emissions in 1999 and 2010 would be equal to approximately 7 and 3% of the level of CO₂ emissions in 1990 respectively. Moreover, if we implement a 100% recovery rate in every recovery route, we can reduce a large amount of emissions which correspond to approximately 2–5% of the level of CO₂ emissions in 1990, even if we take into account the energy-related CO₂ emissions by the transportation and decomposition of fluorocarbons.     

Use of a YAP1 overexpression cassette conferring specific resistance to cerulenin and cycloheximide as an efficient selectable marker in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Drug-resistance markers for yeast transformation are useful because they can be applied to strains without auxotrophic mutations. However, they are susceptible to technical difficulties, namely lower transformation efficiency and the appearance of drug-resistant mutants without the marker. To avoid these problems, we have constructed a phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) promoter-driven YAP1 expression cassette, called PGKp-YAP1. Yeast cells containing PGKp-YAP1 were resistant to cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, and also to cerulenin, a fatty acid synthesis inhibitor, but not to other drugs tested. The transformation efficiency of PGKp-YAP1 using cerulenin selection was comparable to that using a URA3 auxotrophic marker when low concentrations of cerulenin were used. Non-transformed drug-resistant colonies did appear on the low-concentration cerulenin plates. However, these non-transformed colonies could easily be identified, based on their cycloheximide sensitivity and/or their resistance to aureobasidin A to which the transformants were sensitive. Therefore, the dual drug resistance of PGKp-YAP1 could be used as an effective selection for PGKp-YAP1 recipient cells. The PGKp-YAP1 marker was used to disrupt the LYS2 gene and to transform an industrial yeast strain, indicating that this marker can be used for efficient and reliable gene manipulations in any Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain.     

Immunochemical characterization of anti-H monoclonal antibodies obtained from a mouse immunized with human saliva

Three IgM class anti-H monoclonal antibodies (1E3, 1E5 and 3H1) were obtained from a BALB/c mouse immunized with human O type saliva. These antibodies were found to agglutinate red cells from O group and A and B subgroups but not from Bombay and para-Bombay individuals whose H antigen was barely detected by anti-H reagents. The agglutination reactions of these antibodies were inhibited by H antigens from human tissues. It was also demonstrated that both 1E3 and 3H1 reacted with H disaccharide (Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta), H type 1 (Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->3GlcNAc beta), H type 2 (Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->4GlcNAc beta), H type 3 (Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->3GalNAc alpha) and H type 4 (Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->3GalNAc beta) but not with Lea (Gal beta 1-->3[Fuc alpha 1-->4]GlcNAc beta), Leb (Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->3[Fuc alpha 1-->4]GlcNAc beta), X (Gal beta 1-->4[Fuc alpha-->3]GlcNAc beta) or Y (Fuc alpha 1-->2Gal beta 1-->4[Fuc alpha 1-->3]GlcNAc beta). On the other hand, 1E5 was found to react with H type 1, H type 2, Leb and Y. Because of the unique reactivities against various fucosyl linkages these monoclonal antibodies could be useful not only as anti-H reagents but also as reagents for the structural analysis of fucosylated glycoconjugates.     

An ESR study of the film formation steps of vapor deposition polymerization of polyamic acid

A film of polyamic acid is formed by vapor deposition polymerization of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA). We have taken ESR spectrum during the polymerization process and compared it with the ESR spectrum of films obtained from solution polymerization. In the intermediate polymers during vapor deposition polymerization, the amide bond (? CONH? ) is coplanar with the benzene ring and two protons in the PMDA molecule. This intermediate polymer has one unpaired electron that interacts with the two nitrogen nuclei equally. On the other hand, in the polymer obtained by solution polymerization, the amide bond and the benzene ring of PMDA are not coplanar. In this polymer, too, some of the molecules have an unpaired electron that seems to have almost no coupling with NH groups. These results imply that the polymer formation via vapor deposition proceeds through different intermediates and different molecular configurations from that via the solution process.     

Mean molal activity coefficients of aqueous scandium chloride, nitrate, bromide and perchlorate solutions at 25.0°

The mean molal activity coefficients of aqueous scandium chloride, nitrate, bromide and perchlorate solutions were determined at 25.0° for dilute to saturated concentrations, together with the activities of water. In the dilute solutions of scandium halides, the activity coefficients were obtained from electromotive force measurements on galvanic cells, and the osmotic coefficients of all four solutions above 0.1 mol kg⁻¹ were determined from the isopiestic measurements. Least-squares equations were fitted to these coefficients, which were then used to calculate the mean molal activity coefficients and water activities. The relationships between these results and the corresponding activity data for other rare earth salts, and to the cation hydration and ionic interactions, are discussed. The results on scandium perchlorate solutions suggested that the inner-sphere hydration number of tervalent scandium ion may be seven.     

Links between Immune Cells from the Periphery and the Brain in the Pathogenesis of Epilepsy: A Narrative Review

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the pathogenesis of epilepsy is linked to neuroinflammation and cerebrovascular dysfunction. Peripheral immune cell invasion into the brain, along with these responses, is implicitly involved in epilepsy. This review explored the current literature on the association between the peripheral and central nervous systems in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, and highlights novel research directions for therapeutic interventions targeting these reactions. Previous experimental and human studies have demonstrated the activation of the innate and adaptive immune responses in the brain. The time required for monocytes (responsible for innate immunity) and T cells (involved in acquired immunity) to invade the central nervous system after a seizure varies. Moreover, the time between the leakage associated with blood–brain barrier (BBB) failure and the infiltration of these cells varies. This suggests that cell infiltration is not merely a secondary disruptive event associated with BBB failure, but also a non-disruptive event facilitated by various mediators produced by the neurovascular unit consisting of neurons, perivascular astrocytes, microglia, pericytes, and endothelial cells. Moreover, genetic manipulation has enabled the differentiation between peripheral monocytes and resident microglia, which was previously considered difficult. Thus, the evidence suggests that peripheral monocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of seizures.     

Effects of support and additive on oxidation state and activity of Pt catalyst in propane combustion

The effects of support and additive on the oxidation state and catalytic activity of Pt catalyst in the low temperature propane combustion were systematically investigated on Pt/MgO, Pt/Al₂O₃ and Pt/SiO₂–Al₂O₃. The catalytic activity varied much with both support materials and additives. The catalyst on the more acidic support showed higher activity, and the catalytic activity on every support materials increased as the electronegativity of additives increased, while some additives decreased the activity. The oxidation state of platinum, estimated by white line intensity of Pt L_III-edge XANES spectrum, also varied with the support and additives, and additives with higher electronegativity greatly prevented the platinum from its oxidation under oxidising atmosphere. Among almost all the catalysts with various supports and various additives, a clear relationship was observed between the oxidation state of platinum and the catalytic activity; the more metallic platinum showed higher activity. Thus, it was concluded that the total electrophilic/electrophobic property derived from those of the support and additive controls the oxidation state of platinum, which intensively affects the catalytic activity; i.e. higher electrophilic property provides less oxidised platinum, resulting in high catalytic activity. The mechanism of this effect was also discussed on the basis of thermochemical data, and it was proposed that the electrophobic materials promote the noble metal oxidation since the noble metal oxo-anion such as PtO^δ− is more stabilised with electrophobic cation.     

Novel method of preparing Ag–Hg alloy on polyacrylamide films and their structure

A novel method is proposed of preparing thin Ag–Hg alloy on PAAm film surface at room temperature: The film of interest is formed by holding PAAm aqueous solution with AgNO₃ in Hg-saturated atmosphere. Two kinds of films, one of which is a conductor and the other an insulator, can be selectively formed with pH-controlled PAAm solution by ammonia. The conducting surface is assigned to the α phase of Ag–Hg alloy by means of X-ray analysis. Potentiometric titration and IR spectral studies suggest the existence of PAAm–Ag⁺ complexes. On the basis of their structure and the oxidation and reduction potential of Ag⁺ and Hg²⁺, the mechanism of film formation is also discussed.     

Development of AAS resin by the emulsion–suspension polymerization method

In order to improve the weatherability of acryonitrile—styrene—butadiene rubber graft polymer (ABS resin), an attempt was made to develop a resin (AAS resin) in which acrylic rubber of good weatherability was used instead of butadiene rubber. First, by copolymerizing dicyclopentenyl-methacrylate (DCP-MA,3%) with butyl acrylate, crosslinked acrylic rubber was obtained. This also introduced grafting sites into the rubber. Next, methods of graft copolymerizing styrene and acrylonitrile with this rubber were examined. An emulsion–suspension polymerization method was developed in which the initial stage of the polymerization, emulsion polymerization, changed into suspension polymerization during the process. By this method of polymerization, rubber particles were combined and enlarged, bringing about a graft-type resin with high impact resistance. This polymerization method is industrially useful because particle-shaped resins are obtained without the need of a salting-out process. The AAS resin, obtained in this way, has much improved weatherability over ABS resin and shows strength equal to that of ABS resin. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.