Carbonization of coals into anisotropic cokes: 7. Copreheat-treatment under short contact-time conditions at high temperature

The copreheat-treatment of non-fusible and slightly fusible coals with A240 and hydrogenated A240 under high temperature-short contact-time conditions around 500 °C has been examined in an attempt to produce a formed coke with better anisotropic development. These conditions shortened the copreheat-treatment time and provided better anisotropic development in the resultant coke after carbonization. Effectiveness of short contact-time has been discussed in terms of the extent of depolymerization of coal molecules suitable for anisotropic development, this being related to coal liquefaction under similar conditions.     

Microbial sensor for preliminary screening of mutagens utilizing a phage induction test

For the preliminary screening of mutagens, a novel microbial sensor system was developed utilizing a phage induction test. Escherichia coli lysogenic strain GY5027 and nonlysogenic strain GY5026 were used in this study. The number of living cells was determined by measuring the respiration of cells immobilized onto an oxygen electrode. The injection of a mutagen, such as AF-2 and MNNG, caused the phage induction in the lysogenic strain, resulting in the decreased respiration of only the lysogenic strain immobilized onto the oxygen electrode but not of nonlysogenic strain. The rate of current increase correlated well with the concentration of mutagens. The sensor responses to the antibiotics and bactericides were definitely different from those of mutagens. Therefore, utilization of this microbial sensor system makes possible the estimation of a substrate's mutagenicity.     

Diffusional behavior of multi-arm star polymers by H pulsed field gradient spin-echo NMR method

The diffusional behavior of multi-arm star-shaped p(tBMA) was investigated in a concentration range from dilute to semidilute region with ¹H pulsed field gradient spin-echo NMR (PFGSE-NMR). An 142-arm star-shaped p(tBMA) showed two diffusional mode, which reflected the coexistence of liquid ordering phase and liquid phase near the ordering transition. On the other hand, for star-shaped p(tBMA) with 55 arms showed a single diffusional relaxation in all concentration ranges during observation time. In the semidilute region, the relationship between the diffusion coefficient against the polymer concentration was affected strongly not only the arm number but also liquid ordering structure.     

Biotransformation of three aromadendrane‐type sesquiterpenoids by Aspergillus wentii

BACKGROUND: The biotransformation of sesquiterpenoids, which are a large class of naturally occurring compounds, using microorganisms as a biocatalyst to produce useful novel organic compounds was investigated. The biotransformation of sesquiterpenoids, (+)‐aromadendrene ( 1 ), (−)‐alloaromadendrene ( 2 ) and (+)‐ledene ( 3 ) has been investigated using Aspergillus wentii as a biocatalyst. Results: Compound 1 was converted to (−)‐(10S,11S)‐10,13,14‐trihydroxyaromadendrane ( 4 ). Compound 2 was converted to (+)‐(1S,11S)‐1,13‐dihydroxyaromadendrene ( 5 ) and (−)‐5,11‐epoxycadin‐1(10)‐en‐14‐ol ( 6 ). Compound 3 was converted to compound 6 , (+)‐(10R,11S)‐10,13‐dihydroxyaromadendr‐1‐ene ( 7 ) and (+)‐(10S,11S)‐10,13‐dihydroxyaromadendr‐1‐ene ( 8 ). The structure of the metabolic products has been elucidated on the basis of their spectral data. CONCLUSION: Compound 1 gave only one product that was hydroxylated at C‐10, C‐13 and C‐14. By contrast, compounds 2 and 3 gave a number of products, one of which was common. The differences in oxidation of 1–3 are due to the configuration of the C‐1 position. Compounds 4–8 were new compounds. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Superconductivity in SrTa2S5

A strontium tantalum sulfide, SrTa₂S₅, has a hexagonal structure with lattice constants of a =3.32 and c=24.1 Å. With decreasing temperature the electrical resistivity decreases monotonically and exhibits an abrupt superconducting transition at 3.16 K (midpoint). The diamagnetic susceptibility is observed below T_c. The magnetic susceptibility is nearly independent of temperature above T_c and shows Pauli paramagnetism.     

Evaluation of Slow Crack Growth Resistance in Ceramics for High-Temperature Applications

The slow (subcritical) crack growth (SCG) resistance of Si₃N₄ and SiC ceramics has been evaluated by a stepwise loading test on bending bars precracked by Vickers indentation. Three highly refractory materials were selected for the evaluation: i.e., (1) high-purity Si₃N₄ sintered by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) without additives and (2,3) α - and β - SiC pressureless sintered with B and C addition. Under the hypothesis of linear elastic behavior at high temperature, which was found satisfied in the present materials, the SCG resistance was expressed in terms of initial stress intensity factor critical for SCG failure within a predetermined lifetime. The present method was found useful in shortening the testing time and consistent with other traditional fatigue tests (e.g., static-fatigue test): It is recommended as a screening test for materials under research and development. Among the materials tested in the present study, the highest SCG resistance up to 1440°C was found in the high-purity Si₃N₄ without additives.     

Sensors for the food industry

This article presents an overview of the results of a five-year research project on sensors for the food industry in Japan. This project was a government-sponsered research programme involving the food industry and the instrumentation industry, coordinated by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The programme focussed on 17 food processing operations and quality control tasks, where the need for an on-line (or rapid at-line) measurement had been established. The instrument development work employed biosensors pH and gas sensors, optical-imaging devices, as well as near-infrared, microwave, ultrasound and mechanical resonance techniques, together with robotics and advanced data-processing techniques.     

Analysis of characteristic odors from human male axillae

A number of studies concerning the analysis of axillary odors have assumed that the characteristic odor produced in the axillae is due to volatile steroids and isovaleric acid. Organoleptic evaluation of Chromatographic eluants from axillary extracts was employed to isolate the region in the chromatogram where the characteristic odor eluted. The odor of the dissolved eluant was eliminated when it was treated with base, suggesting that acids make up the characteristic axillary odor. Subsequent extraction of the pH-adjusted axillary extract in conjunction with organoleptic evaluation of the Chromatographic eluant, preparative gas chromatography, and analysis by GC-MS as well as GC-FTIR showed the presence of a number of C₆ to C₁₁ straight-chain, branched, and unsaturated acids as important contributors to the axillary odor. The major odor component is (E)-3-methyl-2-hexenoic acid. Three homologous series of minor components are also important odor contributors; these consist of the terminally unsaturated acids, the 2-methyl-C₆ to -C₁₀ acids and the 4-ethyl-C₅ to -C₁₁ acids. These types of acids have not been reported previously as components of the human axillary secretions and have not been proposed previously as part of the principal odor components in this area.     

Neutral poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-2,5-diyl)s: preparation by organometallic polycondensation and their unique p-doping behavior

Neutral and non-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), PEDOTh(Ni), and its hexyl derivative, PEDOTh-C₆(Ni), have been prepared by organometallic dehalogenation polycondensation of 2,5-dichloro-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene and its hexyl derivative with a zerovalent nickel complex. PEDOTh-C₆(Ni) was soluble in organic solvents and ¹H NMR data indicated that it had an M_n of 11,000. MALDI-TOF mass analysis of PEDOTh(Ni) gave M_n and M_w of about 1700 and 2400, respectively. PEDOTh-C₆(Ni) showed a UV-Vis absorption peak at 546 nm in CHCl₃. Electrochemical oxidation of PEDOTh-C₆(Ni) started at about −0.40 V vs Ag⁺/Ag and gave a peak at 0.20 V vs Ag⁺/Ag. Chemical and electrochemical oxidation (or p-doping) of PEDOTh-C₆(Ni), both in solutions and in a solid state, led to weakening of the original π-π^∗ peaks and rise of new peak(s) in a region of 800-1500 nm. The p-doping of PEDOTh-C₆(Ni) caused not only a decrease in the intensity of ¹H NMR signals of the bridging ethylene hydrogens but also a decrease in that of the hexyl side chain, suggesting a strong interaction of the p-dopant with the side chain. NMR data of poly(3-methoxythiophene-2,5-diyl) also supported an assumption that p-doping brings about a severe change in electronic state of the substituent attached to the polythiophene main chain. PEDOTh(Ni) had a density of 1.71 g cm⁻³; the molecular packing mode of PEDOTh(Ni) is discussed based on the density of the polymer and its XRD data.     

XIII. Yeast sequencing reports. Cloning and sequencing of the NES24 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have cloned NES24 using a temperature-sensitive nes24-1 mutant as a host and sequenced a 3162 bp XhoI-EcoRI DNA fragment containing the NES24 gene. Computer analysis revealed that this segment contains a 1806 bp open reading frame which is needed for complementation of the nes24-1 mutation. We found SUP8 in the region upstream of the NES24 gene, placing the NES24 gene on chromosome XIII. A protein homology search indicated that NES24 encodes a new protein. The disruption of the NES24 gene resulted in temperature-sensitive growth. The sequence has been deposited in DDBJ/EmBL/GenBank data bases under Accession Number D15052.