Luteococcus japonicus gen. nov., sp. nov., a new gram-positive coccus with LL-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall

A new gram-positive, nonmotile coccus is described. Strains IFO 12422T (T = type strain) and IFO 15385 in the Institute for Fermentation, Osaka, culture collection, which were isolated from soil and water, respectively, have the following chemotaxonomic characteristics: menaquinone MK-9(H4); G + C content of DNA of 67 mol%; and LL-diaminopimelic acid, alanine, glycine, and glutamic acid in a molar ratio of ca. 1:2:1:1 (type A3 gamma). Mycolic acids are not present. The taxonomic characteristics of these organisms are different from those of previously described gram-positive, high-G + C-content cocci. The partial 16S rRNA sequence indicated that IFO 12422T represents a distinct line of descent among gram-positive bacteria with a high G + C content. The name Luteococcus japonicus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain IFO 12422.     

An entropy model for shear deformation of granular materials

A statistical mechanical analogy for characterization of granular materials is discussed by using such notions as the state of the material, the density of states, entropy, canonical distribution and the partition function. The transition law of states during shear deformations of the material is microscopically investigated in the case of two-dimensional model granular materials. The assumption of entropy growth is shown to characterize the dilatancy of the material. A rough proof is given by assuming the measure preserving property of the transition and showing its ergodicity.     

Inhibition of natural killer cell cytotoxicity by cell growth-related molecules

Certain MHC class I molecules on target cells are known to inhibit the cytotoxic action of NK cells. By using monoclonal antibody (mAb) Cho-1, we have found inhibitory non-MHC class I cell surface molecules that are noncovalently-associated with 200 kDa and 40 kDa antigens. Poly I-C-induced rat NK cells were not cytotoxic to rat fetus-derived fibroblast WFB cell line. In contrast, NK cells were cytotoxic to H-ras oncogene-induced transformants of WFB, W14 and W31. FACS analysis indicated that mAb Cho-1 reacts with WFB, but not with W14 and W31 cells. Thus, this antigen may disappear concomitantly with cell growth and transformation. Cho-1 antigens were also expressed on other NK-resistant lines, such as mouse BALB3T3 fibroblast, EL-4 lymphoma and human fibroblast HEPM. However, they were not expressed on NK-sensitive mouse YAC-1 and H-ras transformant (Brash) of BALB3T3 cells. Furthermore, treatment of target cells with IFN-gamma clearly induced the cell surface expression of Cho-1 antigens, and conferred a resistance to NK cytolysis on target cells. These data strongly suggest that Cho-1 antigen expression may correlate with target cell susceptibility to NK cells. Indeed, treatment of NK-resistant WFB as well as HEPM cells with F(ab')2 fragments of mAb Cho-1 resulted in the acquisition of susceptibility to NK cytolysis. Cho-1 antigens may be novel molecules that regulate the NK resistance of cells.     

Co-crosslinking blend of incompatible polymers VI: Poly(vinyl chloride) toughened with polyethylene via a co-crosslinking technique

A binary blend which consists of two incompatible polymers such as poly(vinyl chloride) and polyethylene has been performed through a partial co-crosslinking reaction with peroxide to give a co-crosslinked blend with a uniform dispersion of small polyethylene particles and with an improved mechanical property. The results are obtained through the formation of a co-crosslinked product which acts as a potential solid phase dispersant as well as a well-bonded reinforcing interlayer on polyethylene particles uniformly dispersed in poly(vinyl chloride) matrix. The resulting blends (PVC/PE=10/90 wt) give carbon spherules of 0.5 to 1m diameter through pressure-carbonization at 650° C for 1 h.     

The electrocatalytic activities of the Pd-doped MnO2 for the chlorine evolution reaction

The anodic evolution of chlorine on the massive β-MnO₂ doped with various amounts of Pd was investigated in acidic chloride solution. A second-order relation was found between the rate of the chlorine evolution reaction and the number of active Pd sites at the electrode surface. And it was confirmed that, in the relatively low doped electrodes, the active sites are more effectively dispersed on the surface with microscopic homogeneity. From the activation energies, it was also suggested that the reaction mechanism on the MnO₂ doped with relatively small amounts of Pd is somewhat different from that on the pure PdO electrode.     

Anodic polarization of aluminium in organic electrolytes

The polarization characteristics of aluminium anodes have been studied in various organic electrolytes containing aluminium chloride. The small amount of oxide present on the metal was dissolved by an anodic pre-treatment. The charge transfer number of the overall reaction was three. The current density supported by the electrolytes decreased in the order nitromethane>acetonitrile >propylene carbonate, formamide>tetrahydrofuran. The rest potential increased in the order formamide     

Pyrolysis–molecular weight chromatography–vapor-phase infrared spectrophotometry: An on-line system for analysis of polymers. IV. Influence of cis/trans ratio on the thermal degradation of 1,4-polybutadienes

The influence of the cis/trans ratio of 1,4-polybutadienes on the volatile products formed during temperature-programmed thermal degradation to 15% weight loss has been investigated using a mass chromatograph (a gas chromatograph which directly provides mass numbers of resolved components of a mixture) and an “on the fly” vapor-phase infrared spectrophotometer. In order of amounts, major volatile products were 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene (dimer), 1,3-butadiene (monomer), cyclopentene, and 1,3-cyclohexadiene. With increasing trans content, the relative quantities of 4-vinyl-1-cyclohexene decreased strongly, cyclopentene increased strongly, 1,3-butadiene decreased moderately, and 1,3-cyclohexadiene increased moderately. For a high-trans polybutadiene, increasing the heating rate produced relatively more monomer and dimer but less cyclopentene. Mass chromatograms from 1,4-polybutadienes which had been heated to 15% weight loss in their prehistory were similar to those obtained from 1,2-polybutadiene, indicating that 1,4-polybutadiene undergoes isomerization prior to degradation. Mechanisms for the formation of the main volatile products of decomposition are discussed.