Temperature stabilized optical waveguide modulator

A low drive-voltage optical modulator using a Ti-diffused UNbO₃ optical waveguide has been fabricated. Stabilization against ambient temperature change was realized by using a miniature halfwave plate. The halfwave voltage, 3 dB bandwidth, optical insertion loss and extinction ratio were 3·8 V (at 1·06m wavelength), 850 MHz, 10 dB and 13 dB, respectively. A reduction scheme for the optical absorption caused by metallic electrodes, and an analysis of the modulator high frequency response are also reported.     

Synthesis and characterization of molybdenum incorporated mesoporous aluminophosphate

A synthesis of molybdenum incorporated mesoporous aluminophosphate with long-chain n-alkylamine as template material had been prepared under non-aqueous condition. These materials were extensively characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen sorption isotherms, nuclear magnetic resonance of ²⁷Al and ³¹P (NMR), inductive coupled plasma (ICP), electron spin resonance (ESR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA). Morphology of the materials had been observed by using transmission electron microscope (TEM) that revealed the mesoporous materials possessed wormhole-like structures. Alkaline solvent extraction using n-butylamine/ethanol had been efficiently removed the n-alkylamine from the mesoporous samples which yielded BET surface areas around 550-730 m²/g. BJH analysis showed a narrow pore size distribution which increased with increasing of the carbon chain length of alkylamine (template). Valence state and coordination of the molybdenum in the obtained samples were investigated by using ESR and FTIR where it was found that Mo⁴⁺ and Mo⁶⁺ molybdenum species existed in the molybdenum incorporated mesoporous aluminophosphate in tetrahedral coordination.     

Simple and inexpensive method for cryopreservation of fish sperm combining straw and powdered dry ice

Here, we propose a simple and inexpensive method for fish sperm cryopreservation. Sperm samples of the loach Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Teleostei: Cobitidae) were diluted 7-fold by an extender containing 63.5 mM NaCl, 114 mM KCl, 20 mM Tris and 10% methanol. The cryogenic straws were placed in three kinds of self-made tubes which diameter was changed by commercially available materials and then immersed into powdered dry ice for 2 min and plunged into liquid nitrogen. This procedure resulted in a cooling rate at -421.4 +/- 119.84 (control), -55.8 +/- 4.32 (tube 1), -40.2 +/- 3.43 (tube 2) and -33.3 +/- 2.09 C/min (tube 3). In the slowest cooling rate by the tube 3, total motility (72 +/- 3 %), duration (146 +/- 12 s) and hatching rates (29 +/- 04 %) were higher than those by other rates. Progressive motility (83 +/- 5 %) did not differ significantly from fresh samples.     

Dynamic and subjective responses of seated subjects exposed to simultaneous vertical and fore-and-aft whole-body vibration: The effect of the phase between the two single-axis components

Subjective and dynamic responses of seated subjects exposed to simultaneous vertical and fore-and-aft sinusoidal whole-body vibration were investigated. The effect of the phase difference between the vertical and the fore-and-aft vibration on the responses was of a particular interest in this study. Fifteen subjects were exposed to dual-axis vibrations at six frequencies (2.5-8 Hz) and at eight phases between the two single-axis components (0-315°). The magnitude of vibration in each axis was constant at 0.7 m s⁻² rms. Discomfort caused by vibration was measured by the method of magnitude estimation. The motion of the body were measured at the head and three locations along the spine with accelerometers attached to the body surface. The most significant effect of the phase between the two single-axis components on the discomfort was observed at 5 Hz: about 40% difference in the median discomfort estimate caused by changing the phase. The transmissibilities from vertical seat vibration to vertical motions of the spine varied from 0.5 to 2.0 by changing the phase between the two single-axis components at frequencies from 2.5 to 5 Hz. The effect of the phase observed in the dynamic response was not predicted by the superposition of the responses to each single-axis vibration. The discomfort caused by the dual-axis vibration tended to be correlated better with the combinations of the dynamic responses measured in the two axes than with the dynamic responses in a single axis.     

Mass spectra of π-cyclopentadienyl-diene cobalt complexes

Many reports on the mass spectra of organotransition-metal complexes have appeared in recent years,¹ whilst there have only been a few reports on the mass spectra of transition metal olefin complexes, some metal carbonyl olefin complexes²³⁴ and π-cyclooctenyl-π-cyclooctadienyl cobalt.⁵ Recently fragmentation paths of π-cyclopentadienyl-cyclooctadiene rhodium were elucidated by King.⁶ The present authors found metastable ions in the mass spectra of π-cyclopentadienyl-diene cobalt complexes as well as in the mass spectra of π-cyclopentadienyl-diene rhodium complexes.⁷. In the present paper the authors wish to report the mass spectra of several π-cyclopentadienyl diene cobalt complexes.     

A CO Adsorption Site Change Induced by Copper Substitution in a Ruthenium Catalyst for Enhanced CO Oxidation Activity

Ru is an important catalyst in many types of reactions. Specifically, Ru is well known as the best monometallic catalyst for oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) and has been practically used in residential fuel cell systems. However, Ru is a minor metal, and the supply risk often causes violent fluctuations in the price of Ru. Performance‐improved and cost‐reduced solid‐solution alloy nanoparticles of the Cu‐Ru system for CO oxidation are now presented. Over the whole composition range, all of the Cu_xRu_1?x nanoparticles exhibit significantly enhanced CO oxidation activities, even at 70 at % of inexpensive Cu, compared to Ru nanoparticles. Only 5 at % replacement of Ru with Cu provided much better CO oxidation activity, and the maximum activity was achieved by 20 at % replacement of Ru by Cu. The origin of the high catalytic performance was found as CO site change by Cu substitution, which was investigated using in situ Fourier transform infrared spectra and theoretical calculations.     

Identification of α-type subunits of the Xenopus 20S proteasome and analysis of their changes during the meiotic cell cycle

Background  

The 26S proteasome is the proteolytic machinery of the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system responsible for most of the regulated intracellular protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. Previously, we demonstrated meiotic cell cycle dependent phosphorylation of α4 subunit of the 26S proteasome. In this study, we analyzed the changes in the spotting pattern separated by 2-D gel electrophoresis of α subunits during Xenopus oocyte maturation.     

Organic electroluminescent device with aromatic amine-containing polymer as a hole transport layer (II): Poly(arylene ether sulfone)-containing tetraphenylbenzidine

Organic electroluminescent devices were fabricated using a poly(arylene ether sulfone)-containing tetraphenylbenzidine (PTPDES) and tris(8-quinolinolato)-aluminum(III) complex, Alq, as the hole transport layer and the electron-transporting emitter layer, respectively. A device structure of glass substrate/indium—tin oxide (ITO)/PTPDES/Alq/Mg : Ag was employed. Hole injection from ITO through the PTPDES layer to the Alq layer and concomitant electroluminescence from the Alq layer were observed. Bright green light with a luminance of 14,000 cd/m² was observed at a drive voltage of 14 V, indicating that the polymer possesses a high hole mobility and a high electron-blocking capability.     

Solvatochromic studies of interactions between surfactants and poly(N-substituted acrylamide)s

Interactions between poly(N-substituted acrylamide)s and surfactants, such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDoS) and sodium decyl sulfate (SDeS), in aqueous solutions were investigated using a solvatochromic probe. The polymers used were poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PIPA), poly(N-acryloylpyrrolidine) (PAPR), and poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVPy) for comparison. They were labeled with pyridinium dicyanomethylide chromophore as a solvatochromic probe, and the changes in the microenvironment polarity of the polymer upon association with surfactant micelles were investigated by monitoring the λ_max in the absorption spectra of the probe molecule. It was found that the Gibbs free energy of micelle stabilization by polymer complexation for SDoS is 7.6, 4.1, and 2.2 kJ mol⁻¹, and for SDeS 5.1, 2.9, and 0.8 kJ mol⁻¹ with PIPA, PAPR, and PDMA, respectively. These results indicate that the complexation between polymer and surfactant is influenced not only by the alkyl-chain length of the surfactant, but also by the polymer side groups.