Three-dimensional elastic wave scattering by a layer containing vertical periodic fractures

Elastic wave scattering off a layer containing a single set of vertical periodic fractures is examined using a numerical technique based on the work of Hennion et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 87, 1861-1870 (1990)]. This technique combines the finite element method and plane wave method to simulate three-dimensional scattering off a two-dimensional fractured layer structure. Each fracture is modeled explicitly, so that the model can simulate both discrete arrivals of scattered waves from individual fractures and multiply scattered waves between the fractures. Using this technique, we examine changes in scattering characteristics of plane elastic waves as a function of wave frequency, angle of incidence, and fracture properties such as fracture stiffness, height, and regular and irregular spacing.     

Self-ordering of nanofacets on vicinal SiC surfaces

Vicinal 4H and 6H-SiC(0001) surfaces have been investigated using atomic force microscopy and cross-sectional high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. We observed the characteristic self-ordering of nanofacets on any surface, regardless of polytypes and vicinal angles, after gas etching at high temperature. Two facet planes are typically revealed: (0001) and high index (112;n) that are induced by equilibrium surface phase separation. A (112;n) plane may have a free energy minimum due to attractive step-step interactions. The differing ordering distances in 4H and 6H polytypes imply the existence of SiC polytypic dependence on nanofaceting. Thus, it should be possible to control SiC surface nanostructures by selecting a polytype, a vicinal angle, and an etching temperature.     

Laser-driven vehicles – from inner-space to outer-space

Laser-supported propulsion of a micro-airplane with a water-covered ablator is demonstrated. The repetitive use of an overlay structure is experimentally demonstrated with a specially designed water supply. Various transparent overlays are investigated by the CIP-based hydrodynamic code and by experiments using a pendulum and using a semi-conductor load cell. A momentum-coupling efficiency of ∼10⁴ N s/MJ is achieved by water–exotic-target experiments, in agreement with the simulation code, which predicts a maximum efficiency of ∼10⁵ N s/MJ. The concept of laser-supported propulsion can also be used for driving a Mach 5 airplane in the stratosphere, a micro-ship inside the human body, and a robot in a nuclear power reactor accident, during which large numbers of neutrons make electronic devices useless. Received: 7 October 2002 / Accepted: 20 January 2003 / Published online: 28 May 2003 RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author. Fax: +81-3/5734-2165, E-mail: yabe@mech.titech.ac.jp     

Unusual reactions of N-allylic difluoroenamines under thermal conditions

N-Allylic difluoroenamines exhibited unusual behaviors under thermal conditions; N-allyl difluoroenamines in refluxing xylene afforded not only aza-Claisen rearrangement products, but also 2-azabicyclo[2.1.1]hexanes, whose formation could be explained via intramolecular [2+2]-cycloaddition, whilst N-prenyl difluoroenamine underwent an ene reaction to give the pyrrolidine as a sole product.     

Mg-promoted double silylation of trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides. A new entry to the fluorinated dianion equivalents

[reaction: see text] A Mg(0)/Me(3)SiCl system was found to be effective for the preparation of a novel fluorinated dianion equivalent. A one-pot reaction sequence involving reductive C-F and C-Cl bond cleavage reactions of trifluoroacetimidoyl chlorides afforded bis-silylated difluoroenamines. Subsequent carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions of the bis(silyl)enamines with two kinds of electrophiles gave a variety of difluorinated imines.     

Chiral recognition of thiaheterohelicenes by alkyl beta-D-pyranoside micelles. Influence of extension of helix

Chiral recognition of alkyl beta-D-pyranoside micelles toward [7] and [5] heterohelicenes possessing helical structures was investigated by 1H-NMR and CD (circular dichroism) spectroscopy. In dodecyl maltopyranoside micellar solution, P and M enantiomers of tetrathia[7]heterohelicene (7TH), which have rigid and stable helixes, manifested different chemical shifts in their 1H-NMR spectra due to differences in the diastereomeric interactions, implying that the micelles undergo stronger recognition toward the M enantiomer than the P enantiomer. On the other hand, in octyl glucopyranoside micellar solution, trithia[5]heterohelicene (5TH) and two kinds of its derivatives which are rapidly equilibrated between the enantiomers in solution, gave no distinctly resolved 1H-NMR peaks for either enantiomer even at a lowered temperature. However, these racemic [5]heterohelicenes in the micelles did develop induced CD absorptions owing to a displacement of the equilibrium, suggesting from the signs of their Cotton effects that the micelles prefer the M enantiomer to its antipode in conformity with the 1H-NMR results of 7TH.     

Amino acids and peptides. XXXVIII. Facile synthesis of laminin-related peptide-poly(ethylene glycol) hybrids by the solid phase method

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has been studied as a drug-carrier for proteins, but not for small peptides. Laminin, a cell adhesive protein, has Tyr-Ile-Gly-Ser-Arg (YIGSR) sequence and peptides containing this sequence inhibit experimental metastasis. We have studied PEG hybrids of YIGSR and other small laminin-related peptides. In a previous paper, we reported preparation of YIGSR-PEG hybrids by combination of the solid phase method and the solution method, but the synthetic procedure was problematic. Here we report a facile synthesis of PEG hybrids of YIGSR (PEG-YIGSR, YIGSR-PEG, PEG-YIGSR-PEG) by the solid phase method.     

Limonoids from Citrus sudachi

Four new limonoid derivatives, 1-O-methylichangensin (1), sudachinoid A (2), B (3), and C (4) were isolated from the seeds of Citrus sudachi, together with the known compounds ichangensin, obacunone, obacunoic acid and limonin, and the structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic and chemical evidence.     

Fluorescent modification for peptide sequencing by postsource decay-matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry

The sequential analysis of a peptide of CDYEGRLI, relating to the nucleic proteins in influenza virus, was performed by the postsource decay (PSD) fragmentation method using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS). The sequence of the peptide was difficult to analyze by MALDI-MS since the PSD fragment ions of the peptide were almost never observed and were not amenable to complete sequence interpretation. The peptide was modified by 4(5)-(iodoacetamide) fluorescent reagent to improve the sensitivity of the MALDI-PSD fragment spectrum. In the spectrum of the fluorescent modified peptide, almost all sequential b-series fragment ions were observed clearly, which was sufficient for complete sequence interpretation. The results indicate the advantage of fluorescent modification for the total sequencing of the peptides by MALDI-MS.