High-throughput characterization of local conductivity of Nd0.9Ca0.1Ba2Cu3O7−δ thin film by the low-temperature scanning microwave microscope

We developed a scanning microwave microscope (SμM) designed for high-throughput electric-property screening as well as for rapid construction of electronic phase diagrams at low temperatures. As a sensor probe, we used a high-Qλ/4 coaxial cavity resonator to which a thin needle with ball-tip end was attached. The sensor module was mounted on the low-temperature XYZ stage, which allowed us to map out the change of resonance frequency and quality factor due to the local tip-sample interaction at low temperatures. From the measurements of combinatorial thin films, such as Ti_1−xCo_xO_2−δ and Nd_0.9Ca_0.1Ba₂Cu₃O_7−δ (NCBCO), it was demonstrated that this SμM system has enough performance for the high-throughput characterization of sample conductance under variable temperature conditions.     

Photoemission study of the modification of the electronic structure of transition-metal overlayers on TiO2 surfaces II. Cr on TiO2(0 0 1)

The electronic states of the Cr overlayers on TiO₂(0 0 1) surfaces have been investigated using angle-resolved and resonant photoemission spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation. At lower coverages, Cr deposition on TiO₂(0 0 1) creates two well separated in-gap emissions due to the formation of surface Ti³⁺ (3d¹) ions and Cr³⁺ (3d³) ions. At higher coverages, the in-gap emission is developed into the 2-peak-structure emission of Cr 3d character. The corresponding state is considered to be of metallic nature from the viewpoint of the high ability of oxygen adsorption, but has no Fermi edge, indicating a possibility of forming small Cr clusters on TiO₂(0 0 1) at this stage.     

Radical copolymerization of 2‐trifluoromethylacrylic monomers. II. Kinetics,monomer reactivities,and penultimate effect in their copolymerization with norbornenes and vinyl ethers

Radical copolymerizations of electron‐deficient 2‐trifluoromethylacrylic (TFMA) monomers, such as 2‐trifluoromethylacrylic acid and t‐butyl 2‐trifluoromethylacrylate (TBTFMA), with electron‐rich norbornene derivatives and vinyl ethers with 2,2′‐azobisisobutyronitrile as the initiator were investigated in detail through the analysis of the kinetics in situ with ¹H NMR and through the determination of the monomer reactivity ratios. The norbornene derivatives used in this study included bicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐2‐ene (norbornene) and 5‐(2‐trifluoromethyl‐1,1,1‐trifluoro‐2‐hydroxylpropyl)‐2‐norbornene. The vinyl ether monomers were ethyl vinyl ether, t‐butyl vinyl ether, and 3,4‐dihydro‐2‐H‐pyran. Vinylene carbonate was found to copolymerize with TBTFMA. Although none of the monomers underwent radical homopolymerization under normal conditions, they copolymerized readily, producing a copolymer containing 60–70 mol % TFMA. The copolymerization of the TFMA monomer with norbornenes and vinyl ethers deviated from the terminal model and could be described by the penultimate model. The copolymers of TFMA reported in this article were evaluated as chemical amplification resist polymers for the emerging field of 157‐nm lithography. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1478–1505, 2004     

Structures of americanol A and isoamericanol A having a neurotrophic property from the seeds of Phytolacca americana.

The structures of new neo-lignans, isoamericanol A (1) and americanol A (2) isolated from the seeds of Phytolacca americana have been elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and then confirmed by chemical correlation with the previously known isoamericanin A (3) and americanin A (4). Isoamericanol A, americanol A, and americanin A have been found to enhance choline acetyltransferase activity at 10(-5) M in a cultured neuronal cell system derived from fetal rat hemisphere.     

Spectroscopic study on the crystal growth in gas evaporation: emission and absorption spectra from Cu smoke

Optical emission and absorption spectra from a growth zone in Cu smoke were measured by using a quartz prism spectrograph and a single-grating spectrophotometer. Atomic lines of Cu, band systems of Cu₂ were observed. Two new band systems with 0–0 band heads at 252.88 and 238.79 nm were found. The continuous spectra due to Rayleigh scattering by fine particles were also observed. Variations of density of various species as a function of vertical position were revealed.     

A study of embolizing materials for chemo-embolization therapy of hepatocellular carcinoma: embolic effect of cisplatin albumin microspheres using chitin and chitosan in dogs, and changes of cisplatin content in blood and tissue.

Hepatic artery of dogs was embolized with cisplatin (CDDP) albumin microspheres containing chitin and chitosan to investigate the in vivo CDDP release kinetics from CDDP albumin microspheres, the CDDP cumulative characteristics in the liver, and the influence of microsphere administration on hepatic tissue. Results showed that changes in blood CDDP content were dependent on CDDP albumin microsphere type and that release kinetics were better sustained when chitin was added to the microspheres or when the microspheres were treated with chitosan. In particular, the administration of CDDP in the chitin-containing CDDP chitosan albumin microspheres showed a blood CDDP content of approximately 0.26 micrograms Pt/ml 14 d after administration. The administration of chitin-containing or chitosan treated CDDP microspheres showed a CDDP content in the hepatic tissue of 0.14 to 0.23 micrograms Pt/g 28 d after administration. They also showed better control of CDDP release than those without chitin or chitosan treatment. No CDDP influence on hepatic tissue was observed. We conclude that, even in vivo, chitin and chitosan are effective embolic materials.     

High-performance liquid chromatography of apolipoproteins in serum high-density lipoproteins

A simple and rapid method for apolipoprotein analysis in serum high-density lipoproteins (HDL) has been developed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with sodium phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 0.1% sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as eluent. In contrast to the use of urea solution as an eluent, apolipoproteins can be analysed by applying an incubation mixture of HDL and the eluent buffer. A TSK-GEL column of G3000SW was found to be more profitable than G2000SW or G4000SW for analysis of HDL apolipoproteins. Elution patterns monitored by absorbance at 280 nm using a G3000SW column can give precise quantitative as well as qualitative information about apolipoproteins of molecular weight between 10(4) and 10(5). HPLC patterns of HDL apolipoproteins were compared between individual human subjects with various diseases. Elution profiles for lipid components in an incubation mixture were also examined.     

A theoretical (DFT, GIAO-NMR, NICS) study of the carbocations and oxidation dications from azulenes, homoazulene, benzazulenes, benzohomoazulenes, and the isomeric azulenoazulenes

Protonation of parent azulene (1), homoazulene (8), representative isomeric benzazulenes (9, 9A, and 9B), and benzohomoazulenes (10, 10A, and 10B) as well as the mono- and diprotonation of isomeric azulenoazulenes (11-16) were studied by DFT at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level. The most likely carbocations were identified based on relative protonation energies. For comparison, complete experimental 13C NMR data were obtained for parent azulenium ion 1H+ and guaiazulenium ion 2H+ in TFA. The oxidation dications derived from benzazulenes (9, 9A, and 9B), benzohomoazulenes (10, 10A, and 10B) and azulenoazulenes (11, 16) were also investigated. For azulenoazulene dications the singlet and triplet states are both minima, but except for 11(2+) and 13(2+), the triplet states are higher in energy. Structural/geometrical changes in the carbocations were examined. GIAO-NMR, NPA charges (and changes in charges), and NICS (and delta NICS) were employed to compute the NMR chemical shifts (delta delta 13C values) in order to derive charge delocalization maps and to gauge relative aromaticitylantiaromaticity in the energetically most favored carbocations and oxidation dications. The emerging trends are discussed and compared. Creation of tropylium or homotropylium entities in the carbocations (monoprotonated) and carbodications (diprotonated) is identified as an important driving force governing the protonation outcomes. Consideration of the AM1-derived delta delta Hf values (and the DFT-derived delta delta G values) suggests that the two-electron oxidation of azulenoazulenes should be experimentally feasible. Given their antiaromatic (paratropic) character, azulenoazulene dications represent interesting targets for NMR study. GIAO-derived charge delocalization mapping allows the most likely sites for nucleophilic attack on the dications to be identified.