CODIRO: A New System for Obtaining Data Concerning Consumer Behavior Based on Data Factors of High Interest Determined by the Analyst

The aim of this paper is to propose a new system for the strategic use of customer data that includes and integrates such differing data sources as company databases, mobile telephone networks and Internet data and is a consumer research support system for the discovery of new marketing opportunities. This system, called CODIRO, will be discussed in this paper using a case study of the effects on sales of processed food product television commercials. A system for verifying the validity of consumer behavior models will also be described and discussed. Use of the CODIRO analysis system makes it easy to introduce, into the analytic model, consumer attitude changes and in-store data of many types that have not been used to measure advertising and promotional activity effectiveness in the past.     

Elution of copper from vermiculite with environmentally benign reagents

For the purpose of remediation of soils polluted by heavy metals, the use of some strong synthetic chelating agents such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has been proposed. However, EDTA would not be considered as the preferential choice for the remediation of soil polluted with heavy metals like copper because of its nonbiodegradability and permanent residence in the natural environment. In the present work, some novel environmentally benign chelating agents, glucosamine hydrochloride, chito-oligosaccharide and -asparaginic-N,N-diacetic acid (ASDA) were screened to find alternatives to EDTA by investigating the elution of copper from vermiculite with these reagents and comparing their effectiveness with EDTA. The effects of suspension contact time, reagent concentration and equilibrium pH of the solution on the removal of copper were examined. A stoichiometric amount of EDTA can quantitatively remove copper in both acidic and neutral conditions. Chito-oligosaccharide was a slightly less-effective reagent under acidic conditions compared to EDTA, and an amount well in excess of stoichiometry is required to achieve the maximum removal of copper from vermiculite. Glucosamine hydrochloride shows a relatively weak ability for the liberation of copper. The elution behavior of ASDA was equivalent to EDTA in acidic and neutral media. It was concluded that ASDA is the best substitute for EDTA because of its similar high complexing ability and superior biodegradability.     

Effect of the ACAT inhibitor, HL-004, on cholesterol metabolism in macrophages

The effects of a novel acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor, HL-004, on cholesterol metabolism were examined in mice peritoneal macrophages. Cholesteryl ester-rich foam cells were induced by incubating macrophages with acetylated LDL. HL-004 prevented the accumulation of cholesteryl ester in the presence of the cholesterol acceptor, HDL. In the absence of HDL, HL-004 generated large amounts of free cholesterol in the cell. Moreover, HL-004 stimulated the efflux of cholesterol from preestablished foam cells in the presence of HDL. These results suggest that the inhibition of foam cell formation and the stimulation of foam cell regression by HL-004 are attributed to intracellular ACAT inhibition, and that HL-004 would be expected to exhibit an antiatherosclerotic effect through direct action on arterial wall.     

X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Investigation on the Low-Temperature Degradation of 2 mol% Y2O3-ZrO2 Ceramics

2 mol% Y₂O₃-ZrO₂ polycrystals were annealed in water and under vacuum to highlight the effect of the presence of H₂O on the low-temperature degradation transformation. The specimen surfaces with monoclinic phases transformed during annealing in the different environments were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with special interest on the electron binding energy change of the constituent ions of the 2 mol% Y₂O₃-ZrO₂ ceramics after the degradation transformation. It was found that no change occurred for the electron-bonding energies of core levels of zirconium ions after the transformation, whereas Y-OH bonds were formed during annealing in water. This result suggested a possibility that the preferred hydration of yttrium took place at the surface of Y₂O₃-partially-stabilized ZrO₂, which is likely to be the reason for the low-temperature degradation accelerated by the presence of H₂O.     

Hydroxyapatite crystal growth on calcium hydroxyapatite ceramics

Calcium hydroxyapatite (Ca-HAP) ceramics containing tricalcium phosphate (TCP) were soaked in three solutions: phosphate buffer, tris buffer, and simulated body fluid (SBF). Petal-like crystals of Ca-HAP were deposited on the Ca-HAP ceramics when (i) Ca-HAP ceramics contained -TCP, (ii) the soaking solution contained phosphate ion and (iii) the pH of soaking solution was higher than 7.3. These conditions facilitate the presence of HPO ₄ ^2– and Ca²⁺ ions, the latter from dissolution of -TCP. A well-defined X-ray diffraction pattern for the deposited Ca-HAP crystals indicates preferred growth of {002} planes. Slower crystal growth of Ca-HAP was found for SBF (pH=7.5) than in the phosphate buffer, due possibly to the lower phosphate ion content in SBF.     

An XPS study of passive films on Nickel and alloy 600 in acids

Compositions of surface films formed on nickel and Alloy 600 in I M HCI, 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and I/3 M H₃PO₁ solutions were investigated as a function of polarization potential. The main constituent of surface films formed on Ni in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ or 1/3 M H₃PO₄ solution was hydrated nickel oxyhydroxide, in which the ratio of O₂ to OH⁻ increased when passivation occurred. The surface films formed on Ni and Alloy 600 at lower potentials in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ solution contain S² ions other than SOP_4²⁻ ions, whereas S²⁻ ions were not incorporated in the passive film. Passivation of Alloy 600 took place by the formation of hydrated chromium oxyhydroxide. Pitting led to no substantial change in the average composition of the film.     

Importance of initial surface film in the degradation of stainless steels by atmospheric exposure

The surface compositions of stainless steels types 304, 316, 430, and 444 combined with four types of surface finishes, 2B finish, hairline polishing, mirror polishing, and bright annealing, were measured by ICP-AES, EPMA, and XPS before exposure. The surface finish that most enriched the chromic species in the surface film was mirror polishing, followed by bright annealing, 2B finish, and hairline polishing. The order of corrosion-resistance was type 444, type 316, type 304, and type 430. The surface compositions were correlated with the rating number and pitting depth after exposure to atmospheric environments. The rating number had a high positive correlation with the concentration of Cr in the surface film, and had a slight correlation with the near-surface composition measured by EPMA at 12 kV, but did not show any correlation with bulk composition within the composition range covered in the present work. This same trend was observed for pitting depth. It was concluded that the cationic concentration of Cr in the surface film before atmospheric exposure is the prime factor in controlling the resistance of stainless steels to atmospheric corrosion.     

The surface film formed on amorphous Pd-Ti-P alloy by anodic polarization in 2 m NaCl solution

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was used to investigate the effect of the composition and thickness of surface film on the electrocatalytic properties for chlorine gas evolution on amorphous Pd-Ti-P alloy in NaCl solution. The amount of charge for gas evolution exhibited a wavy change with an increase in polarization potential. The gas evolution became active with an increase in palladium content of the surface film and slowed down with increases of titanium and phosphorus contents of the film. However, despite the fact that the formation of surface film consisting mainly of titanium as a cation in the potential region higher than 1.6 V (sce), the catalytic activity for gas evolution increased, suggesting the change in the gas evolution mechanism in the higher potential region.     

Anodic characteristics of amorphorous palladium-base alloys in sodium chloride solutions

The anodic characteristics of a variety of amorphous palladium-base alloys were examined with a view to their use for the production of sodium hypochlorite by electrolysis of dilute sodium chloride solutions at ambient temperature. The corrosion resistance of palladium-metalloid alloys was obtained by alloying with platinum group metals and/or valve metals. Among these alloys, rhodium-containing alloys showed high electrocatalytic activities for chlorine evolution. Surface activation treatment was, however, necessary to obtain sufficiently high activities for chlorine evolution at low overpotentials. Surface-activated amorphous alloys possessed considerably higher current efficiency for chlorine evolution in comparison with currently used anodes.     

A highly stable and efficient catalyst for direct synthesis of LPG from syngas

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) fuel was directly synthesized from syngas over a hybrid catalyst which contained a methanol synthesis catalyst and zeolite. The new hybrid catalyst composed of (Pd–Ca/SiO₂) and β-zeolite, showed a high activity and selectivity for LPG production. X-ray diffraction (XRD) characterization of the catalyst was used to analyze the deactivation of (Pd–Ca/SiO₂)/β-zeolite.