Canonical discriminant analysis of cadmium content levels in unpolished rice using a portable near-infrared spectrometer.

Near-infrared analysis (NIRA) was applied to discriminate and determine the cadmium content levels of unpolished rice using canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). The overall correct classification rate was 85.2% for 318 NIR spectra, repeated three times for 106 samples. After a further improvement through decreased misclassification rates, NIRA could be useful as a rapid, nondestructive and convenient analytical method for primary screening and detecting of cadmium-polluted rice.     

Poly(silylenemethylene)‐based polymer blends. III. Synthesis and properties of polymer blends containing siloxane‐crosslinked poly(silylenemethylene)s

Soft–hard binary polymer blends consisting of amorphous poly(silylene methylene)s (PSMs) and crystalline poly(diphenylsilylenemethylene) were prepared by both melt processing at 360 °C and in situ polymerization at 300 °C. Linear and siloxane‐crosslinked PSMs were used as amorphous components for the purpose of determining how the crosslinks affected the interactions between the component polymers. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis indirectly suggested that discernable differences between the blends containing linear and crosslinked PSMs were attributable to the degree of interactions between the amorphous and crystalline components. The morphological differences between these blends were studied with transmission electron microscopy. The dispersion phase was smaller in the blends containing crosslinked PSM than that in the blends containing linear PSM. This directly indicated that a larger interaction between the amorphous and crystalline phases was obtained by the introduction of crosslinks because of the smaller viscosity difference between the phases and a larger degree of polymer chain entanglement. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 257–263, 2003     

Comment on the supersymmetry at finite temperatures

We comment on some of the general thermostatistical properties of the global supersymmetry characterized by Grassmann parameters, which are shared by the ordinary supersymmetry as well as by the BRS supersymmetry associated with any gauge symmetry including local supersymmetry.     

Studies on marine natural products. IV The stereochemistry of 13-membered carbocyclic cembranolide diterpenes from the soft coral lobophytum pauciflorum (Ehrenberg)

The relative and absolute stereochemistry of two 13-membered carbocyclic cembranolides was determined as shown in $\text{1}$ and $\text{2}$ on the basis of NMR spectral evidence.     

Ion-extraction by a crown ether with a photoresponsive carboxylate cap.

A new photoresponsive crown ether (I) with an azobenzene-4-oxyacetate function was synthesized. The photo-isomerized cis-(1) extracted K⁺ ion more selectively than trans-(I) and the thermal cis-trans isomerization was suppressed by added metal ions.