Improvement of spatial homogeneity in GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductor

Recent process optimization allows improving homogeneity and a significant increase of J_c in GdBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ deposited on ion-beam assisted deposited MgO template (GdBCO/IBAD-MgO). We applied low-temperature laser scanning microscopy and laser scanning thermo-electric microscopy (LSTEM) to investigate local dissipation and defects simultaneously in recent GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductor. By using high-resolution LSTEM, we could detect current blocking obstacles which are responsible for the large scale local dissipation. Data on the present GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductors point out a significant reduction of current blocking obstacles compared to the previous process. We have shown the improvement of spatial homogeneity in the recent GdBCO/IBAD-MgO coated conductors. Current blocking obstacles are much less densely distributed as compared to previous YBCO/IBAD-GZO coated conductor. Obstacles larger than several micrometer significantly increase local dissipation whereas smaller defects do not influence it noticeably. 2D map of the phase delay component of the thermoelectric voltage lock-in signal is effective to analyze current blocking obstacles having action upon local dissipation.     

Stereoscopic story visualization in literary works demonstrated by Shakespeare’s plays

Abstract  

A stereoscopic method of identifying story patterns in literary works is newly developed. The pattern is extracted from textual information by the detection of thematically assigned keywords, and depicted as visual imageries. The applicability of the method is demonstrated in several of Shakespeare’s plays. The complex scenario patterns in Shakespeare’s tragedies are successfully captured with applying the method for two different themes in each play. As the result, the organization of story accompanying multiple themes in a single play has been obtained as a pair of visual imageries, i.e. stereoscopic story visualization. This approach, in combination with a quadrant analysis of the plots, allows us in interpretation further complexity of human psychology in the characters and scene-by-scene transitions in each play.     

Story visualization of literary works

With the rapid advance in information technology, the applicability of computers has moved from the scientific field towards simulating human intelligence. We are already familiar with using computers to produce music and art and for language translation. A further use is in understanding traditional man-made products; best exemplified by literary works. In this study, we focus on enabling a computer to visualize the meaning of stories. Four world-famous plays by William Shakespeare have been chosen to demonstrate how the visualization scheme works in grasping the meaning of the stories. The scheme employs primitive keyword detection and ellipsoidal differential equations to create a visual imagery of the story. This methodology ensures uniqueness in the visualization of an individual work. In addition, color palettes obtained from pictures relevant to each story are used to enrich the consistency between the visual sense and the meaning of the story.     

Synthesis and Properties of Polymers Containing Phosphatidylcholine Analogues in the Main Chains and Long Alkyl Groups in the Side Chains

Abstract

Several new polymers containing hydrophilic phosphatidylcholine analogues in the main chains and hydrophobic docosyl or stearyl groups in the side chains have been synthesized. The polymers exhibit thermotropic liquid crystalline behaviors from 65°C up to ca. 280°C as determined by polarizing microscopy. One of the polymers shows slight crystallinity as evidenced by wide-angle x-ray diffraction. The viscosity measurements show that some of the polymers have properties similar to usual polyelectrolytes. However, one polymer shows a linear increase of reduced viscosity.     

Kinetic approach to partially overlapped thermal decomposition processes

Practical usefulness of the kinetic deconvolution for partially overlapped thermal decomposition processes of solids was examined by applying to the co-precipitated basic zinc carbonate and zinc carbonate. Comparing with the experimental deconvolutions by thermoanalytical techniques and mathematical deconvolutions using different statistical fitting functions, performance of the kinetic deconvolution based on an accumulative kinetic equation for the independent processes overlapped partially was evaluated in views of the peak deconvolution and kinetic evaluation. Two-independent kinetic processes of thermal decompositions of basic zinc carbonate and zinc carbonate were successfully deconvoluted by means of the thermoanalytical measurements in flowing CO₂ and by applying sample controlled thermal analysis (SCTA). The deconvolutions by the mathematical curve fittings using different fitting functions and subsequent formal kinetic analysis provide acceptable values of the mass-loss fractions and apparent activation energies of the respective reaction processes, but the estimated kinetic model function changes depending on the fitting functions employed for the peak deconvolution. The mass-loss fractions and apparent kinetic parameters of the respective reaction processes can be optimized simultaneously by the kinetic deconvolution based on the kinetic equation through nonlinear least square analysis, where all the parameters indicated acceptable correspondences to those estimated through the experimental and mathematical deconvolutions. As long as the reaction processes overlapped are independent kinetically, the simple and rapid procedure of kinetic deconvolution is useful as a tool for characterizing the partially overlapped kinetic processes of the thermal decomposition of solids.     

Ketonization of Secondary Hydroxy Groups of Alcohols and Diols with Hydrogen Peroxide Under the Influence of Tricetylpyridinium-12-Tungstophosphate

Molydbenum and tungsten-catalyzed oxidations of alcohols with dilute hydrogen peroxide under phase-transfer conditions have been focused in recent years 1–3. In a previous paper, we have reported that tricetylpyridinium-12-molybdophosphate(CMP), [π - C₅H₅N+(CH_{2 15}CH₃]₃ (PMO₁₂O₄₀)³-, prepared from 12-molybdophosphoric acid (MPA) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC), catalyzed the oxidation of secondary alcohols to carbonyl compounds with tert-butylhydroperoxide(t-BuOOH)⁴. When hydrogen peroxide in place of t-BuOOH was employed as the oxidant for the above oxidation, however, alcohols were oxidized with difficulty to give carbonyl compounds in poor yields. In continuation of this study, we wish to report here the selective oxidation of secondary hydroxy group of alcohols and diols and diols with H₂O₂ under the influence to tricetylpyridinium-12 tungstophosphate (CWP), [π-C₅H₅N+ (CH₂) 15 CH₃]₃(PW₁₂O₄₀)³-, derived from 12-tungstophosporic acid (WPA) and CPC.     

Officinatrione: an unusual (17S)-17,18-seco-lupane skeleton,and four novel lupane-type triterpenoids from the roots of Taraxacum officinale

Novel 5 lupane-type of triterpenois, i.e., 3β-acetoxy-18α,19α-epoxylupan-21β-ol (1), 18α,19α-epoxy-21β-hydroxylupan-3-one (2), lup-18-ene-3,21-dione (3), lupa-18,21-dien-3β-yl acetate (4), and (17S)-17,18-seco-lup-19(21)-ene-3,18,22-trione (5), named officinatrione, as well as 16 known compounds from the roots of Taraxacum officinale collected in Takatsuki city, Osaka, Japan. Of the above compounds, 5 was the first lupane-type triterpene, of which the D-ring was open to form a nine-membered ring. Compounds 2 and 5 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against L1210 cell line (IC₅₀ 10.5 and 10.1 μM).     

Additional cytotoxic substances isolated from the sponge-derived Gymnascella dankaliensis

A continuous investigation of secondary metabolites produced by the sponge-derived fungus, Gymnascella dankaliensis, has yielded a new polyketide tyrosine derivative, dankastatin C (3) and the known steroid, demethylincisterol A₃ (4), which was originally found from a Homaxinella marine sponge. The stereostructure of the new compound has been determined based on the analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data. Dankastatin C (3) showed potent cell growth inhibitory activity against the murine P388 cell line.     

Conductive liquid crystalline compounds having a piperazine structure

New conductive thermotropic liquid crystalline materials having a piperazine ring in the central core: 1-[4-(9-decenyloxy)phenyl]-4-alkylpiperazines (6) were synthesized. The mesomorphic behaviours of these compounds and their conductivity in the liquid crystal phase were measured. The principal features of these compounds are to exhibit a smectic B phase around room temperature (for example 6: Cr 50 SmB 81 I, °C) and to exhibit a large dark current (6d: 430 μA cm^?2, applied voltage 20 V, at 70°C) in the smectic B phase.