A series of eight aliphatic polycarbonate (PC) glycols with various methylene numbers (HO−[(CH2) m OC(O)O] n −(CH2) m −OH, m = 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) were employed as a soft segment for a synthesis of polyurethane elastomers (PUEs). First of all, viscosity, glass transition temperature, melting point, and crystalline structure of these new PC-glycols were investigated. The PC-glycol-based PUEs were synthesized using the PC-glycols, 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, and 1,4-butanediol by a one-shot method. Differential scanning calorimetry and small-angle X-ray scattering measurements revealed that the degree of microphase separation of the PC-glycol-based PUEs became first weaker and then stronger with increasing number of methylene groups of PC-glycols. The threshold carbon number for the degree of microphase separation was six. In the tensile testing, Young’s modulus of the PUEs decreased and increased with an increase in the methylene number, which can be explained by the degree of microphase separation. Tensile strength and elongation at break of the PC-glycol-based PUEs increased and decreased with increasing the number of methylene groups. These results are associated with the ease of packing of the PC-glycol chains.

Aliphatic poly(carbonate) glycols (PC-glycols) with different methylene unit lengths were synthesized from

This article examines issues regarding the administrative enforcement system of the Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI) in Japan. The former APPI (established in 2003) provided two regulatory mechanisms for the administrative enforcement system: (1) self-regulation business operators or accredited personal information protection organizations and (2) indirect penalty based on violations of orders. Moreover, the Amendment Act in 2015 improved the system for securing obligations, such as the establishment of the Personal Information Protection Committee (PPC), the enhancement of regulatory authority, and the implementation of a co-regulation system. However, it is pointed out that these mechanisms might still not be sufficient as a system for securing obligations because of the limited authority of PPC, the validation of the co-regulation system, and the malfunction of an indirect penalty system. This article outlines the history of the APPI focused on the administrative enforcement system and examines improvement measures and further amendments such as the introduction of the administrative monetary penalty system.

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