Development of silicon nitride fiber from Si-containing polymer by radiation curing and its application

A silicon nitride fiber (Si₃N₄) was synthesized from polycarbosilane (PCS) fiber by radiation application. PCS fibers were cured by electron beam (EB) irradiation in a helium gas atmosphere prior to the pyrolysis. The cured PCS fiber was converted to Si₃N₄ ceramic fiber with flexibility by nitridation in ammonia gas at a high temperature of 500–1000°C. The obtained Si₃N₄ fibre showed a high heat resistance up to 1300°C, a high tensile strength of 2 GPa and excellent electrical resistivity of 10¹³ Ω cm. The ceramic fiber was fabricated to cloth and applied for electric wire insulator. The wire cable is flexible and can be applied at a high temperature atmosphere of around 1000°C.     

Vinyl Polymerization. 269. Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate Initiated by p,p'-Dimethoxydiphenyldiazomethane

Using p,p'-dimethoxydiphenyldiazomethane (DMDM) as initiator, the polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) in benzene or in bulk was carried out. The initial rate of polymerization, R_p, was found to be expressed by the following equation:

R_p = k[DMDM]^0.53 [MMA]^0.84

The polymerization was confirmed to proceed by a radical mechanism. The over-all activation energy for the polymerization in benzene was calculated as 19.3 kcal/mole. The rate of thermal decomposition of DMDM was also measured in benzene and the rate equation was obtained as follows:

k_d (sec^?1) = 1.0 × 10¹⁵ exp (^?29.1 kcal/RT) (for 50-80°C)

Explanations of these observations are discussed in connection with those of the preceding papers.     

Lifetime regulation of the charge-separated state in DNA by modulating the oxidation potential of guanine in DNA through hydrogen bonding

A series of naphthalimide (NI)- and 5-bromocytosine ((br)C)-modified oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) were prepared, and their lifetimes of the charge-separated states during the photosensitized one-electron oxidation of DNA were measured. Various lifetimes of the charge-separated states were observed depending on the sequence and the incorporation sites of (br)C, and the oxidation potential of G in the (br)C:G base-pair relative to that of G in the C:G base-pair and in the GGG sequence was determined by comparing the lifetimes of the charge-separated states. The change in the cytosine C5 hydrogen to bromine resulted in a 24 mV increase in the oxidation potential of G in the (br)C:G base-pair as compared to that of G in the C:G base-pair, the value of which is comparable to a 58 mV decrease in the oxidation potential of G in the GGG sequence. These results clearly demonstrate that hole transfer in DNA can be controlled through hydrogen bonding by introducing a substituent on the cytosine.     

Vinyl polymerization. 275. Polymerization of vinyl monomers photosensitized by tetramethyltetrazene

A study of the photopolymerization of vinyl monomers in the presence of tetramethyltetrazene (TMT) was made. TMT was found to act as an effective sensitizer. In the photopolymerization of vinyl monomers such as methyl methacrylate or styrene the rate of polymerization was expressed by the equation: R_p = k[TMT]^1/2[monomer]. The chain-transfer constant of TMT under ultraviolet irradiation was estimated to be 3.8 × 10^?2 for the above monomers. A linear correlation was found to exist between the reactivity of dimethylamino radical toward the vinyl monomers and e values for the corresponding monomers.     

Triflumizole as a Novel Lead Compound for Strigolactone Biosynthesis Inhibitor

Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived plant hormones involved in the development of various plants. SLs also stimulate seed germination of the root parasitic plants, Striga spp. and Orobanche spp., which reduce crop yield. Therefore, regulating SL biosynthesis may lessen the damage of root parasitic plants. Biosynthetic inhibitors effectively control biological processes by targeted regulation of biologically active compounds. In addition, biosynthetic inhibitors regulate endogenous levels in developmental stage- and tissue-specific manners. To date, although some chemicals have been found as SL biosynthesis inhibitor, these are derived from only three lead chemicals. In this study, to find a novel lead chemical for SL biosynthesis inhibitor, 27 nitrogen-containing heterocyclic derivatives were screened for inhibition of SL biosynthesis. Triflumizole most effectively reduced the levels of rice SL, 4-deoxyorobanchol (4DO), in root exudates. In addition, triflumizole inhibited endogenous 4DO biosynthesis in rice roots by inhibiting the enzymatic activity of Os900, a rice enzyme that converts the SL intermediate carlactone to 4DO. A Striga germination assay revealed that triflumizole-treated rice displayed a reduced level of germination stimulation for Striga. These results identify triflumizole as a novel lead compound for inhibition of SL biosynthesis.     

Structure of monardaein,a bis-malonylated anthocyanin isolated from golden balm, monarda didyma

Structure of monardaein was determined to be 3-0-(6-0-$\text{trans}$-p-coumaryl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-5-O- (4,6-di-O-malonyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl) pelargonidin (1).     

Quasi-Debye response of ion-hopping conduction at lowest frequencies

On the basis of the relaxation mode theory, quasi-Debye response in the dynamic conductivity by hopping ions is theoretically investigated in three-dimensional random lattices with a uniform distribution of activation energies. It is shown at lowest frequencies that the dynamic conductivity is approximately given by σ(ω)∼σ(0)+A″ω^s″, s″=2−n, where n is a non-integer exponent originated from the mode diffusion length and density of states. The numerical analyses give rise to some values of s″<2, for example s″∼1.5, which behaves as s″→2 with increasing temperature.     

A chart for estimating the distance attenuation of flanking sound passing through open windows in the exterior wall of adjoining rooms and its experimental verification

Sound transmission between adjoining rooms is often influenced by a flanking sound passing through open windows placed in the exterior wall of the two rooms. It is important to predict such flanking sound propagation when considering the sound insulation between the adjoining rooms. In this paper, a chart for estimating the distance attenuation of the flanking sound, which is obtained from analysis using the boundary integral equation method, is first provided. Next, 1:10 scale model experiments are carried out. The experimental results are in good agreement with the chart, the effectiveness of the chart thus being verified.     

Synthesis of poly(dipeptide)s on the surface of functional micelle and reversed micelle

Amphiphilic active 4-dodecanoyl-2-nitrophenyl esters of dipeptide containing β-alanine ( 1 – 5 ) were prepared and their polycondensation was studied in detail. The critical micelle concentrations of the active esters 1 – 5 were determined in water by the dye method and the apparent mean aggregation number of reversed micelles formed by model compound 6 was determined by the osmotic method. The results of polycondensation can be explained by assuming that aggregations such as micelle and reversed micelle play an important role in polycondensation. The obtained new poly(dipeptide)s were examined by IR, ¹H NMR, x-ray diffraction, and circular dichroism spectra.