Immobilization of microbial cells by radiation-induced polymerization of glass-forming monomers and immobilization ofStreptomyces phaeochromogenes cells by polymerization of various hydrophobic monomers

The immobilization ofStreptomyces phaeochromogenes cells was studied by the radiation-induced polymerization of various hydrophobic glass-forming monomers at low temperatures. The glucose isomerase activity of cells immobilized in hydrophobic polymers showed no decrease in activity with repeated use (batch enzyme reaction). Activity increased with increasing monomer concentration in contrast to results with the immobilized enzyme. The hydrophobic polymer composite was microspheric in form. The particle diameter of the composite increased with the increasing monomer concentration.K _m values of the immobilized cells were close to that of intact cells. It was deduced that the cells were trapped on the surface part of the hydrophobic polymer ready to react with the substrate, and not within the matrix where diffusion would play an important role in reaction rates.     

Molecular vibrations and force fields of alkyl sulfides: Part XV. C-S stretching vibrations of aliphatic alkyl sulfides

The C-S stretching vibrations of 28 aliphatic sulfides including one thiol are summarized, and all of the C-S stretching bands are classified into several groups. An extraordinarily low frequency associated with the ethyl group is discussed briefly.     

Heats of pyridine intercalation with α- and γ-zirconium phosphates

Calorimetric measurements at 25°C were made to determine the thermodynamic quantities for the intercalation of pyridine with α- and γ-zirconium phosphates. These phosphates showed exothermic reactions with ΔH⁰ = ?59.3 and ?21.9 kJ mole^?1, respectively. The large difference between the depyridination temperatures for both intercalates is rediscussed with the aid of the ΔG⁰ data obtained.     

Phase diagram of the square-lattice three-state Potts antiferromagnet with a staggered polarization field

We study a square-lattice three-state Potts antiferromagnet with a staggered polarization field at finite temperature. Numerically treating the transfer matrices, we determine two phase boundaries separating the model-parameter space into three parts. We confirm that one of them belongs to the ferromagnetic three-state Potts criticality, which is in accord with a recent prediction, and another to the Ising-type; these are both corresponding to the massless renormalization-group flows stemming from the Gaussian fixed points. We also discuss a field theory to describe the latter Ising transition.     

Equilateral-triangular shape in 14C

An equilateral-triangular shape of three alpha clusters surrounded by excess neutrons is suggested for 14C, based on the molecular-orbit model. It is found that the attractive interaction between an excess neutron and an alpha particle stabilizes the K(pi)=0(+) and 3(-) rotational bands, which demonstrates an equilateral-triangular symmetry. This K(pi)=3(-) band at 3 MeV below the 10Be+alpha threshold energy corresponds to the experimentally observed band built on top of the second 3(-) state. A positive-parity rotational band (0(+), 2(+), 4(+)) arises similarly. These two bands suggest a molecular 3-alpha structure stabilized by the excess neutrons and can be viewed as a realization of the alpha crystallization in the dilute nuclear medium.     

Synthesis and antiviral activities of some 4,4'-dihydroxytriphenylmethanes

4,4'-Dihydroxytriphenylmethanes were synthesized using Br?nsted acid or Lewis acid in yields of 24-86% as target compounds for developing antiviral agents. Most of the 4,4'-dihydroxytriphenylmethanes showed significant activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (anti-HSV-1 activity) in a plaque reduction assay. Higher cytotoxicity was observed generally in halogenated 4,4'-dihydroxytriphenylmethanes (2a-d) than in non-halogenated derivatives. The non-halogenated derivative, 4,4',4"-trihydroxy-3"-methoxytriphenylmethane (3), showed remarkable antiviral activity with an EC(50) value of 1.8 microg/ml.     

Insights into sticking of radicals on surfaces for smart plasma nano-processing

In reactive plasma processing, species produced in the plasma reach the surface of a substrate and cause etching, deposition and surface modification through surface reactions. These reactions are characterized by the densities and energies of species incident on the surfaces. In order to realize nano-scale plasma processing, important species for plasma processing have been identified and characterized, and their behavior, not only in the gas phase, but also on the surface, have been clarified and controlled. One of the most critical parameters for insights into surface reaction kinetics of radicals is sticking and surface loss probability. On the basis of radical densities measured by various methods, the sticking and surface reaction loss probabilities have been compiled, and they enable the quantitative understanding of the kinetics of radicals on the surface in the plasma. In this article, the sticking and surface reaction loss probabilities measured thus far are reviewed focusing on fluorocarbon gas, silane gas and methane gas based plasma processes. The establishment of a smart plasma process and the development of an autonomous production device with control of radicals on the basis of insights into the surface reactions for nano-scale plasma processing are presented.     

X‐ray fluorescence analysis of sludge ash from sewage disposal plant

Glass bead/x‐ray fluorescence spectrometry of the sludge incineration ashes generated in sewage processing was developed for the determination of ten major components (Na₂O, MgO, Al₂O₃, SiO₂, P₂O₅, K₂O, CaO, TiO₂, MnO, Fe₂O₃) and five minor elements (Zn, Cu, Cr, As, Pb). Sewage sludge ashes consisted of rock‐forming minerals and phosphate crystals that had been used for phosphorus removal. Ash samples were melted and molded with lithium tetraborate to 35 mm diameter glass disks in a Pt–Au crucible. Analytical results of ten major components and five minor elements agreed well with the recommended values of a phosphate rock standard reference material (NIST SRM 694). Elemental compositions of sewage sludge ash from seven sewage‐processing plants in Japan were determined using this method. Concentrations of Fe₂O₃, SiO₂, and CaO, along with loss of ignition in sewage sludge ash mutually differed among the sewage‐processing plant products. Seasonal variations in concentrations of ten major components and five minor components of ash samples produced from October 2001 to September 2002 were determined using the proposed method. Concentrations of SiO₂increased with the inflow of gravel by rainfall, thereby decreasing concentrations of P₂O₅ originating from excreta and microorganisms. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Towards Realization of a Micro- and Mesoporous Composite Silicate Catalyst

A composite silicate material, which possesses the characteristics of both microporous zeolite and mesoporous silica materials, is developed by top–down and bottom–up synthesis techniques. In order to realize a micro- and mesoporous composite material, several essential points must be clarified, since each porous material is synthesized under very different metastable conditions: zeolite is a silicate crystal, while the wall of mesoporous material is composed of amorphous silicate. Here, some aspects of the realization of a micro- and mesocomposite porous material are described, as are our experimental results regarding the successful production of composite catalyst.