Aerosol generation and measurement of multi-wall carbon nanotubes

Mass production of some kinds of carbon nanotubes (CNT) is now imminent, but little is known about the risk associated with their exposure. It is important to assess the propensity of the CNT to release particles into air for its risk assessment. In this study, we conducted aerosolization of a multi-walled CNT (MWCNT) to assess several aerosol measuring instruments. A Palas RBG-1000 aerosol generator applied mechanical stress to the MWCNT by a rotating brush at feed rates ranging from 2 to 20 mm/h, which the MWCNT was fed to a two-component fluidized bed. The fluidized bed aerosol generator was used to disperse the MWCNT aerosol once more. We monitored the generated MWCNT aerosol concentrations based on number, area, and mass using a condensation particle counter and nanoparticle surface area monitor. Also we quantified carbon mass in MWCNT aerosol samples by a carbon monitor. The shape of aerosolized MWCNT fibers was observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The MWCNT was well dispersed by our system. We found isolated MWCNT fibers in the aerosols by SEM and the count median lengths of MWCNT fibers were 4–6 μm. The MWCNT was quantified by the carbon monitor with a modified condition based on the NIOSH analytical manual. The MWCNT aerosol concentration (EC mass base) was 4 mg/m³ at 2 mm/h in this study.     

Chromatography in silico, quantitative analysis of retention of aromatic acid derivatives

A quantitative analysis of the retention of aromatic acid derivatives in reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) is conducted using a molecular mechanics calculation in the CAChe program. The molecular interaction energy value is calculated by subtracting the energy value of the complex from the sum of energy values of a model phase and an analyte. Several model phases are constructed, and the feasibility of applying the method to a variety of compounds is examined based on improving the contact surface area and the capability of computer software and hardware. Interaction energy values are calculated for both molecular and ionic forms. The predicted retention factors of partially ionized acids obtained using a combination of dissociation constants correlated well with the values measured by RPLC with pH-controlled eluents.     

Planar catechin analogues with alkyl side chains: a potent antioxidant and an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor

Planar catechin analogues having various alkyl side chain lengths were synthesized, and their remarkable antioxidative abilities and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities are shown.     

Determination of erythromycin A in rat plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with chemiluminescence detection using Tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II)

A simple and sensitive method was developed for the determination of erythromycin A (EA), decladinosyl erythromycin A (dClEA) and erythromycin B (EB) in rat plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrogenerated chemiluminescence detection using Tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II). The recovery rates of EA, dClEA and EB were 97, 94 and 85% from rat plasma and 89, 83 and 93% from rat urine, respectively. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration ranges 0.05-5 microg/mL for plasma and 0.5-50 microg/mL for urine. The precision and accuracy for all analytes in rat plasma were < or =9.0 and -6.3-7.2%, and those in urine were < or =9.4% and -6.1-7.6%, respectively. This method proved to be a powerful tool for determination of EA, dClEA and EB concentrations in samples from rats.     

Modified Vonk's Method to Determine Crystallinity and Crystal Distortion in Polymers

Using a modified method developed from Vonk's method, detailed values of crystallinity and crystal disorder were obtained by wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD). In Vonk's method, the crystallinity (w) is determined by extrapolation of the WAXD experimental curve back to zero scattering angle, while the distortion factor (k) is determined by the inclination of the experimental curve at zero scattering angle. In our new method, both w and k are determined at the same time by using the least squares method. In order to show the efficiency of our method, the new fitting procedure was applied to the experimental values of polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate as measured by Vonk, and the values of w and k determined by our new method were compared with those found by Vonk's method. The new fitting method has the advantage that it uses the whole experimental curve. Moreover, our modified Vonk's method enables us to discuss crystal distortions as arising from first-kind (thermal) disorder and second-kind (paracrystalline) disorder.     

Laser induced threshold photoemission magnetic circular dichroism and its application to photoelectron microscope

This work enlightens the threshold photoemission magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and its adaption on photoemission electron microscopy (PEEM) using lasers. MCD is a simple and efficient way to investigate magnetic properties since it does not need any spin analyzers with low efficiency, and thus the MCD related techniques have developed to observe magnetic domains. Usually, MCD in a total yield measurement in the valence band with weak spin–orbit coupling (SOC) excited by low photon energy (hν≤ 6 eV) does not compete with the X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) with strong SOC. XMCD PEEM observation of magnetic domains has been successfully established while MCD PEEM derived from valence bands has not been. However, using angle and energy resolved photoelectron, valence band MCD provides large asymmetry similar to that by XMCD. Threshold measurement of photoelectron in a total electron yield procedure can take advantage of the measurement of photoelectrons with a limited angle and energy mode. This restriction of the photoelectron makes the threshold MCD technique an efficient way to get magnetic information and gives more than 10% asymmetry for Ni/Cu(0 0 1), which is comparable to that obtained by angle resolved photoemission. Thus the threshold MCD technique is a suitable method to observe magnetic domains by PEEM. For threshold MCD, incident angle dependence and high sensitivity to out-of-plane magnetized films compared with in-plane ones are discussed. Ultrashort pulse lasers make it feasible to measure two photon photoemission MCD combined with PEEM, where resonant excitation has a possibility to enhance dichroic asymmetry. Recent results for valence band magnetic dichroism PEEM are presented.     

Photophysical properties and photostability of novel unsymmetric polycyclicphenazine-type D-π-A fluorescent dyes and the dye-doped films

Structural isomers of unsymmetric polycyclicphenazine-type D-π-A fluorescent dyes have been newly synthesized and characterized in both solution and polymer films. The dyes exhibited two strong absorption bands at around 328-401 nm and 516-532 nm, and an intense fluorescence band at around 595-629 nm (Φ = 0.32-0.84) in 1,4-dioxane. The dye-doped polymer films showed good ability of wavelength conversion; the films can efficiently convert ultraviolet and green-yellow lights into red light (Φ = 0.43-0.86). Moreover, the photostability of the dyes-doped PS, PMMA, and PLA films has been investigated.     

Tension–compression asymmetry of phosphor bronze for electronic parts and its effect on bending behavior

In-plane tension and compression experiments on copper alloy sheets (phosphor bronze) and 6000 series aluminum alloy sheets (AA6016-T4) were conducted using a specially designed testing apparatus. The apparatus is equipped with comb-type dies so that stress–strain curves of a sheet specimen subjected to tension followed by compression, and vice versa, can be measured without buckling of the specimen, as well as those for monotonic tension and compression. A difference was observed in the flow stresses between tension and compression for the as-received copper alloy, but not for the aluminum alloy. Moreover, stress reversal tests, such as tension followed by compression and compression followed by tension, were carried out in order to measure the Bauschinger effect. In the second part of the experiment, bending moment–curvature diagrams were measured for the as-received and pre-stretched specimens. The bending moment–curvature diagrams were compared with those calculated using the stress–strain curves obtained from the tension–compression tests, and were in good agreement with those calculated with the tension–compression asymmetry and the Bauschinger effect correctly reproduced.     

Periodic-orbit bifurcation and shell structure at exotic deformation

We have investigated the semiclassical origin of superdeformed shell structure and also of reflection-asymmetric deformed shapes by means of the periodic orbit theory and the deformed cavity model. Systematic analysis of the quantum-classical correspondence reveals that bifurcation of equatorial orbits into three-dimensional ones play predominant role in the formation of these shell structures. Presented by K. Matsuyanagi at the International Conference on “Atomic Nuclei and Metallic Clusters”, Prague, September 1–5, 1997.