Positive photosensitive polyimides with cyclobutane structure

A new family of positive photosensitive polyimide (PPI) systems composed of solvent soluble polyimides (Pls) with cyclobutane (CBDA) structures and diazonaphthoquinone compounds (DNQ) has been prepared. Heat and catalytic imidizations were carried out to obtain CBDA Pls; the former was better than the latter in controlling the molecular weight of the Pl. The ? OH groups in the Pls were easily acetylated during catalytic imidization, so ? COOH groups were selected as weak acidic groups in the Pls. The ? COOH groups were also effective in giving the Pls an alkaline solubility. Therefore, Pls having ? COOH groups were superior to those having ? OH groups for PPI systems. The photosensitive properties of various PPl systems containing ? COOH were found to vary with the fraction of ? COOH groups in the Pls, the content of DNQ in the systems, and the molecular weight of the Pls.     

Purification and some properties of squalene-2,3-epoxide: lanosterol cyclase from rat liver

Squalene-2,3-epoxide: lanosterol cyclase was purified from rat liver in five steps as a soluble and homogeneous protein. The purified enzyme showed a single band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a molecular weight of 75 kD. In its native state it behaved as a homo-dimer. The isoelectric point of 5.5 and the apparent Km value for (3S)-squalene-epoxide of 55 microM were estimated for the cyclase.     

Altered expression of polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene and its effect on poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] synthesis in recombinant Escherichia coli

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase (PhaC) from Wautersia eutropha was expressed in a wide range of production level in Escherichia coli XL1-Blue cells and its effects on PhaC activity, poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] [P(3HB)] production and its molecular weights were investigated. The production level of PhaC was controlled both by the amount of chemical inducer (isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactopyranoside, IPTG) added into the medium and the use of different copy number of plasmids. In a flask experiment, as PhaC production level in the cells increased, the PhaC activity also increased in the range of low PhaC concentration. However, PhaC activity did not further increase in the range of high PhaC concentration, probably due to the formation of inclusion body in the cells. The molecular weight of P(3HB) was found to decrease with increasing PhaC activity. This trend was also verified in high cell density cultivation using 10-l jar fermentor. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the use of low copy number plasmid and appropriate induction of PhaC expression were effective in achieving both high productivity and high molecular weight of P(3HB).     

An enrichment method of molybdenum on a cellulose nitrate resin for the determination by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry coupled with the resin suspension injection.

Cellulose derivative resin (CDR) suspensions containing resin particles of cellulose nitrate (CDR(CN)), cellulose acetate (CDR(CA)), or cellulose triacetate (CDR(CTA)) were prepared as the sorbent for resin suspension injection (RSI) electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS), in which fine resin particles holding a desired trace element were directly injected into the graphite tube as the suspension. To compare the sorption ability, the distribution ratios of the Mo(VI)-phenylfluorone complex were measured between the aqueous phase and the sorbents, including the CDRs mentioned above and the finely divided anion exchange resin (AR). The results showed that the sorption ability decreases in the following order: CDR(CN) > or = AR > CDR(CA) > or = CDR(CTA). It was concluded that CDR(CN) was able to extract more than 98% of Mo(VI), and was suitable for RSI-ETAAS as well as AR. CDR(CN) was used for the determination of Mo in NIES certified reference materials, No. 10 Rice flour-unpolished; the results showed fairly good agreements between the analytical values and the certified values.     

On a resolvent estimate of the Stokes equation with Neumann–Dirichlet‐type boundary condition on an infinite layer

This paper is concerned with the standard Lp estimate of solutions to the resolvent problem for the Stokes operator on an infinite layer with ‘Neumann–Dirichlet‐type’ boundary condition. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reaction dynamics of synthesis of superheavy elements

Based on the theory of the compound nucleus reaction, a brief review is given on the special aspects of the reaction dynamics in the synthesis of the superheavy elements (SHE), where the fusion probability is the most unknown factor. A new viewpoint of the fusion reaction is proposed that it consists of two processes; the first process up to the contact of two nuclei of the incident channel and the second one of a dynamical evolution to the spherical compound nucleus from the contact configuration. The fusion probability is, thus, given as a product of a contact probability and a formation probability. Analytic studies of the latter probability are discussed in the one-dimensional model, where a simple expression is given to the so-called extra-push energy in terms of the reduced friction, the curvature parameter of the conditional saddle point and the nuclear temperature. Preliminary results of numerical analyses of the contact probability are given, using the surface friction model (SFM). Remarks are given on the present status of our knowledge and for future developments. Received: 1 May 2001 / Accepted: 4 December 2001     

An ASE Reduction Filter Using Cascaded Optical Fiber Grating Couplers in EDFA Repeater

A new configuration for an ASE reduction filter in EDFA repeaters for WDM optical transmission systems using optical fiber grating couplers (FGCs) was proposed and first demonstrated. The filtering characteristics of the proposed filter for amplified single wavelength signal and 2-channel WDM signals using EDFA were identified. It was found that the filter was effective to improve SNR in optical domain by reducing ASE noise. The required FGC characteristics for the filter were theoretically predicted under the condition that the total filter loss did not exceed 3 dB. More than 70% of drop efficiency was required in each FGC for the application of the proposed filter to an 8-channel WDM system using EDFA repeaters.     

Optical and electric properties of Nb-doped anatase TiO2 single crystal

Nb-doped anatase TiO₂ single crystal has been grown by chemical vapour transport method. Raman spectra shows that the obtained crystal with Nb of 0.08 wt% has typical anatase structure. An absorption band was observed at around 2.2 eV, which seems to be due to the d-d transition in the conduction band. The electron paramagnetic resonance and electric resistivity measurements show that the doped niobium makes quite shallow donor level whose orbital is d_xy-like centered at the titanium position of anatase.     

Production and characterization of refractive index gratings in high-birefringence fibre optics

In this work, we report production and modelling of both Bragg gratings and rocking filters in high birefringence fibre optics. Bragg gratings are produced by UV (257.0 nm) external interferometric exposition of a frequency-doubled Ar⁺ ion laser, whereas for rocking filters formation the visible Ar⁺ ion laser lines in 488.0 and 514.5 nm are used in an internal method. The spectral characteristics due to the birefringence properties are studied through numerical methods and experimental techniques. The spectral responsivity of the structures under temperature changes and stress application is presented.