A remark on localized weak precompactness in Banach spaces

summary:We give a characterization of $K$-weakly precompact sets in terms of uniform Gateaux differentiability of certain continuous convex functions

Radical Polymerization of Styrene in Liquid Sulfur Dioxide

Polymerization reaction of styrene in liquid sulfur dioxide was carried out with α, α\u27 azo-bis (isobutyronitrile) as the initiator. Polymerization temperatures selected were 40°, 50°, and 60℃. The polymer thereby obtained were analyzed as styrene polysulfone but it was found that, irrespective of the polymerization temperature or polymerization rate, the polymers had a unit composition consisting of 2 moles of styrene and 1 mole of sulfur dioxide. From such an experimental fact, it was considered better to assume that a complex consisting of 2 moles of styrene and 1 mole of sulfur dioxide had formed prior to the initiation of polymerization, rather than treating this as the copolymerization of styrene and sulfur dioxide, and a kinetic treatment was made of the radical polymerization reation of this complex. As a result, the velocity of total polymerization reaction, Rp, was given as constant×[initiator]^_0[styrene+1/2SO_2]_0. Activation energy of the total reaction calculated on the basis of such hypothesis was 14.7 kcal/mole

Effect of Added Solvents on the Radical Polymerization of Acrylonitrile in Liquid Sulfur Dioxide

Acrylonitrile was polymerized by aa\u27-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as an initiator at 50℃ in liquid sulfur dioxide mixed with an added solvent. The added solvents were cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, p-xylene, ethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene, p-cymene, chlorobenzene, benzonitrile and ethyl benozate, respectivelv. In each case, only poly-acrylonitrile was obtained and the formation of the polymer was independent on the solvent added. No acrylonitrile polysulfone was found in the reaction mixture. The added solvents showed no appreciable influence on the overall rate of polymerization (Rp) in the range of the experimental condition

Framework for virtual collaboration emphasized by awareness information and asynchronous interaction

ICME2008 : IEEE International Conference on Multimedia and Expo , Jun 23-26, 2008 , Hannover, GermanyIn this paper, we propose a framework which allows remote users to form conversation groups based on spatial relationship in a shared virtual space. Our proposed framework can transport awareness information of real world by capturing and transferring user’s audio visual information. Our framework also provides functions useful to CSCW, which allow each user to simultaneously join different conversation groups, and communicate with others asynchronously exchanging awareness information. We show a reference implementation architecture to realize the framework in an ordinary computing and networking environment

Prediction of fetal acidemia in placental abruption

BACKGROUND: To determine the major predictive factors for fetal acidemia in placental abruption. METHODS: A retrospective review of pregnancies with placental abruption was performed using a logistic regression model. Fetal acidemia was defined as a pH of less than 7.0 in umbilical artery. The severe abruption score, which was derived from a linear discriminant function, was calculated to determine the probability of fetal acidemia. RESULTS: Fetal acidemia was seen in 43 survivors (43/222, 19%). A logistic regression model showed bradycardia (OR (odds ratio) 50.34, 95% CI 11.07 – 228.93), and late decelerations (OR 15.13, 3.05 – 74.97), but not abnormal ultrasonographic findings were to be associated with the occurrence of fetal acidemia. The severe abruption score was calculated for the occurrence of fetal acidemia, using 6 items including vaginal bleeding, gestational age, abdominal pain, abnormal ultrasonographic finding, late decelerations, and bradycardia. CONCLUSIONS: An abnormal FHR pattern, especially bradycardia is the most significant risk factor in placental abruption predicting fetal acidemia, regardless of the presence of abnormal ultrasonographic findings or gestational age

Ghrelin-like peptide with fatty acid modification and O-glycosylation in the red stingray, Dasyatis akajei

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ghrelin (GRLN) is now known to be an appetite-stimulating and growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide that is predominantly synthesized and secreted from the stomachs of various vertebrate species from fish to mammals. Here, we report a GRLN-like peptide (GRLN-LP) in a cartilaginous fish, the red stingray, <it>Dasyatis akajei</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The purified peptide contains 16 amino acids (GVSFHPQPRS¹⁰TSKPSA), and the serine residue at position 3 is modified by <it>n</it>-octanoic acid. The modification is the characteristic of GRLN. The six N-terminal amino acid residues (GVSFHP) were identical to another elasmobranch shark GRLN-LP that was recently identified although it had low identity with other GRLN peptides. Therefore, we designated this peptide stingray GRLN-LP. Uniquely, stingray GRLN-LP was <it>O</it>-glycosylated with mucin-type glycan chains [<it>N</it>-acetyl hexosamine (HexNAc)₃hexose(Hex)₂] at threonine at position 11 (Thr-11) or both serine at position 10 (Ser-10) and Thr-11. Removal of the glycan structure by <it>O</it>-glycanase made the <it>in vitro </it>activity of stingray GRLN-LP decreased when it was evaluated by the increase in intracellular Ca²⁺concentrations using a rat GHS-R1a-expressing cell line, suggesting that the glycan structure plays an important role for maintaining the activity of stingray GRLN-LP.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study reveals the structural diversity of GRLN and GRLN-LP in vertebrates.</p