Magnetic phases in UNi<Subscript>2</Subscript>Si<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The tetragonal compound UNi₂Si₂ exhibits in zero magnetic field three different antiferromagnetic phases belowT _N =124 K. They are formed by ferromagnetic basal planes, which are antiferromagnetically coupled along thec-axis with the propagation vectorq=(0, 0, q _z ). Two additional order-order magnetic phase transitions are observed below T _N , namely atT ₁=108 K and T ₂=40 K in zero magnetic field. All three phases exhibit strong uniaxial anisotropy confining the U moments to a direction parallel to the c-axis. UNi₂Si₂ single crystals were studied in detail by measuring bulk thermodynamic properties, such as thermal expansion, resistivity, susceptibility, and specific heat. A microscopic study using neutron diffraction was performed in magnetic fields up to 14.5 T parallel to the c-axis, and a complex magnetic phase diagram has been determined. Here, we present the analysis of specific-heat data measured in magnetic fields up to 14 T compared with the results of the neutron-diffraction study and with other thermodynamic properties of UNi₂Si₂.     

Elimination of translational and rotational motions in nuclear orbital plus molecular orbital theory

The nuclear orbital plus molecular orbital (NOMO) theory was developed in order to determine the nonadiabatic nuclear and electronic wave functions. This study presents a formulation to remove the contamination of rotational motion as well as translational motion in the NOMO theory. We have formulated the translation- and rotation-free (TRF)-NOMO theory by introducing the TRF Hamiltonian. The principal moment of inertia, which is the denominator in the rotational Hamiltonian, is expanded in a Taylor series. The zeroth-order of the Taylor expansion corresponds to a rigid-body rotator. The first-order terms contribute the coupling between the vibration and the rotation. Hartree-Fock equations have been derived in the framework of the TRF-NOMO theory. Numerical assessments, which were preformed for H2, D2, T2, mu2 (muon dimmer), and H2O, confirmed the importance of the TRF treatment.     

Ethyl(methyl)dioxirane as an efficient reagent for the oxidation of nucleoside phosphites into phosphates under nonbasic anhydrous conditions

A convenient method for the oxidation of nucleoside phosphites into phosphates under nonbasic and nonaqueous conditions using commercially available ethyl(methyl)dioxirane has been developed. This oxidation is effective with both N-protected and N-unprotected strategies.     

Cationic vesicles consisting of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP) and phosphatidylcholines and their interaction with erythrocyte membrane

We studied the formation and stability of vesicles consisting of 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propane (DOTAP) and phosphatidylcholines by electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis and observation of their hemolytic activities. In contrast with previous findings on dimethyldialkylammoniums, DOTAP formed vesicles at 37 degrees C with phosphatidylcholines containing either saturated acyl chains such as dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or unsaturated acyl chains such as dilinoleoylphosphatidylcholine (DLPC). Phosphatidylcholines made the bilayer more rigid and significantly reduced the hemolytic activity of DOTAP. In the presence of equimolar concentration of DOTAP and phosphatidylcholines, formation of tightly aggregated structures of several erythrocytes was observed, as previously reported for the vesicles containing dimethyldipalmitylammonium. These findings indicate that DOTAP vesicles were stabilized by phosphatidylcholines with either saturated acyl chains or unsaturated acyl chains, and the interaction with the lipid bilayer of biological membranes as cationic vesicles became prominent with minimal membrane damage by DOTAP monomers.     

Visualization of age‐dependent myocardial metabolic impairment in cardiomyopathic model hamster obtained by fluorescent X‐ray computed tomography using I‐127 BMIPP

Fluorescent X‐ray computed tomography (FXCT) enables visualization of myocardial fatty acid metabolism by using non‐radio‐iodinated I‐5‐(p‐iodophenyl)‐3‐(R,S)‐methylpentadecanoice acid (BMIPP). In this experiment, age‐dependent myocardial metabolic impairment was successfully imaged and analyzed quantitatively in J2N‐k cardiomyopathic hamster using FXCT.     

In vivo isotropic 3D diffusion tensor mapping of the rat brain using diffusion-weighted 3D MP-RAGE MRI

The purpose of this study was to examine the potential of diffusion-weighted (DW) three-dimensional (3D) MP-RAGE MRI for diffusion-tensor mapping of the rat brain in vivo. A DW-3D-MP-RAGE (3D-DWI) sequence was implemented at 2.0 T using six gradient orientations and a b value of 1000 s/mm2. In this sequence, the preparation sequence with a "90 degrees RF-motion proving gradient (MPG): MPG-180 degrees RF-MPG-90 degrees RF" pulse train (DW driven equilibrium Fourier transform) was used to sensitize the magnetization to diffusion. A centric k-space acquisition order was necessary to minimize saturation effects (T1 contamination) from tissues with short relaxation time. The image matrix was 128x128x128 (interpolated from 64x64x64 acquisitions), which resulted in small isotropic DW image data (voxel size: 0.273x0.273x0.273 mm3). Moreover, 3D-DWI-derived maps of the fractional anisotropy (FA), relative anisotropy (RA) and main-diffusion direction were completely free of susceptibility-induced signal losses and geometric distortions. Two well-known commissural fibers, the corpus callosum and anterior commissure, were indicated and shown to be in agreement with the locations of these known stereotaxic atlases. The experiment took 45 min, and shorter times should be possible in clinical application. The 3D-DWI sequence allows for in vivo 3D diffusion-tensor mapping of the rat brain without motion artifacts and susceptibility to distortion.     

Stereoselective synthesis of chiral β-amino trifluoromethyl alcohol: development of a manufacturing process for a key intermediate in the production of a novel elastase inhibitor,AE-3763

We have successfully synthesized chiral β-amino trifluoromethyl alcohol (2S,3S)-7a, which is a key intermediate in the production of AE-3763, by stereoselective reduction of N-Cbz-protected 5-hydroxy-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,3-oxazolidine 4 prepared from L-valine in 3 steps followed by alkaline hydrolysis. This new method can be applied to the industrial-scale synthesis of AE-3763.     

Self-sustained oscillation phenomena of fluidic flowmeters

In order to clarify the metering characteristics of the fluidic flowmeters employing selfsustained oscillation, the oscillating jets in a feedback oscillator and a target oscillator were visualized and the differential pressures across the jets were measured.