Synthesis of poly (ether-sulfone-amide)s by palladium-catalyzed polycondensation of aromatic dibromides containing ether sulfone structure,aromatic diamines,and carbon monoxide

A general method for the preparation of aromatic poly (ether-sulfone-amide)s has been developed. Polymerization is based on the palladium-catalyzed polycondensation of aromatic dibromides containing ether sulfone structural units, aromatic diamines, and carbon monoxide. Reactions were carried out in N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc) in the presence of palladium catalyst, triphenylphosphine, and 1,8-diazabicyclo [5,4,0]–7–undecene (DBU), and gave a series of poly (ether-sulfone-amide)s with inherent viscosities up to 0.86 dL/g under mild conditions. The polymers were quite soluble in strong acids, dipolar aprotic solvents, and pyridine. Thermogravimetry of the polymers showed excellent thermal stability, indicating that 10% weight losses of the polymers were observed in the range above 470°C in air. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers were around 230°C, which are higher than those of poly (ether-sulfone) analogues. These polymers also showed the good tensile strengths and tensile modulus. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Surgical effects on soft tissue produced by a 405-nm violet diode laser in vivo

This study evaluated the surgical performance of a 405-nm diode laser in vivo, using living rat liver tissue. Tissue was incised by irradiation with the laser at low output power ranging from 1 W (722 W/cm²) to 3 W (2165 W/cm²) on a manual control at a rate of 1 mm/s. As a control, incisions using a stainless scalpel were compared. Immediately after operation, the surface of the incisions was macroscopically observed and histopathologically evaluated by microscopy. Laser-ablated liver tissue was smooth with observable signs of remnant carbonization and easily acquired hemostasis. The thickness of the denatured layer increased in proportion to the output power; the coagulation layer did not thicken accordingly. Bleeding could not be stopped for tissues incised with the stainless scalpel. The 405-nm diode laser thus proved to be effective for ablating soft tissue with high hemostatic ability at low power.     

Anomalous temperature dependence of the magnetic field induced antiferromagnetic moment in the antiferroquadrupolar ordered state of CeB6

The magnetic field induced antiferromagnetic moment M(AF) at low magnetic fields in the antiferroquadrupolar (AFQ) ordered phase of CeB6 was investigated by elastic neutron diffraction experiments for H parallel [110]. The peak intensity at the AF magnetic reciprocal point (1 / 2,1 / 2,1 / 2) corresponding to M(2)(AF) increases with decreasing temperature below the AFQ ordering temperature T(Q), and exhibits a broad maximum at T approximately 3 K and decreases with a further decrease of temperature. This unusual behavior of M(AF) at low fields is explained as a result of the competition between the AF-octupolar and AF-exchange interactions in the O(xy) type AFQ ordered state.     

Atmospheric pressure waves in the field of volcanology

Atmospheric pressure waves are a notable phenomenon associated with explosive volcanic eruptions. They can provide us with information about eruption processes that are useful both scientifically and practically. In this paper, we give a brief review of studies that have been carried out on this phenomenon in the field of volcanology. Then, we introduce a prototype tool called ‘MOVE’ (Mobile Observatory for Volcanic Explosions). It is a remote-controlled vehicle carrying various instruments to observe pressure waves and the eruption processes. PACS 91.40.Dr · 91.40.Ft · 93.65.+e · 93.85.+qThis paper was based on work presented at the 2nd International Symposium on Interdisciplinary Shock Wave Research, Sendai, Japan on March 1–3, 2005.     

Relaxation effects in the quantification of fat using gradient echo imaging

Quantification of fat has been investigated using images acquired from multiple gradient echoes. The evolution of the signal with echo time and flip angle was measured in phantoms of known fat and water composition and in 21 research subjects with fatty liver. Data were compared to different models of the signal equation, in which each model makes different assumptions about the T1 and/or T2* relaxation effects. A range of T1, T2*, fat fraction and number of echoes was investigated to cover situations of relevance to clinical imaging. Results indicate that quantification is most accurate at low flip angles (to minimize T1 effects) with a small number of echoes (to minimize spectral broadening effects). At short echo times, the spectral broadening effects manifest as a short apparent T2 for the fat component.     

Eu(III) emission band changes caused by peripheral C-H/O hydrogen bonding

We synthesized Eu(III) and Sm(III) complexes with tridentate phosphine oxide ligands, Eu(hfa)(3)(TPPM) and Sm(hfa)(3)(TPPM) (hfa: hexafluoroacetylacetonato, TPPM: tris(diphenylphosphinyl)methane), and we then examined their luminescent properties. In the complexes the Eu(III) and Sm(III) centres were fully surrounded by low-vibrational frequency ligands, which led to relatively high emission quantum yields (Φ(Eu) = 30%, Φ(Sm) = 4.7%). The X-ray single crystal structures of the Eu(hfa)(3)(TPPM) revealed nona-coordinated Eu(III) complexes and C-H/O hydrogen bonding formations between the acidic hydrogen atom of the TPPM ligand and oxygen atoms of solvent molecules. The C-H/O hydrogen bonding slightly affected the coordination structure around the Eu(III) ion. Despite the seemingly small effect on the structural change, because the emission band profile of the (5)D(0)→(7)F(2) transition is sensitive to changes in the coordination environment of the Eu(III) complex, we observed a red shift in the emission spectral line.     

Experimental study of internal flow structures in cylindrical rotating detonation engines

The internal flow structures of detonation wave were experimentally analyzed in an optically accessible hollow rotating detonation combustor with multiple chamber lengths. The cylindrical RDC has a glass chamber wall, 20 mm in diameter, which allowed us to capture the combustion self-luminescence. A chamber 70 mm in length was first tested using C₂H₄O₂ and H₂–O₂ as propellants. Images with a strong self-luminescence region near the bottom were obtained, confirming the small extent of the region where most of the heat release occurs as found in our previous research. Based on the visualization experiments, we tested RDCs with shorter chamber walls of 40 and 20 mm. The detonation wave was also observed in the shorter chambers, and its velocity was not affected by the difference in chamber length. Thrust performance was also maintained compared to the longer chamber, and the short cylindrical RDC had the same specific impulse tendency as the cylindrical (hollow) or annular 70-mm chamber RDC. Finally, we calculated the pressure distributions of various chamber lengths, and found they were also consistent with the measured pressure at the bottom and exit. We concluded that the short-chamber cylindrical RDC with equal length and diameter maintained thrust performance similar to the longer annular RDC, further expanding the potential of compact RDCs.     

Molecular design of potent inhibitor specific for cathepsin B based on the tertiary structure prediction.

To design a potent inhibitor specific for cathepsin B (rat liver), the tertiary structure was predicted based on the crystal structure of the papain complexed with (+)-(2S,3S)-3-(1-[N-(3-methylbutyl)amino]leucylcarbonyl)oxirane-2- carbolylic acid (E-64-c), a thiol protease inhibitor. Taking advantage of the structural characteristics of the predicted active site, seventeen inhibitors were chemically synthesized by molecular modeling, and one of them, N-(L-3-trans-propylcarbamoyloxirane-2-carbonyl)-L-isoleucyl-L-p rol ine (CA-074) was shown to be the first potent inhibitor specific for cathepsin B. The relationship between the structure and inhibitory activity is discussed based on the model structure of the cathepsin B-inhibitor complex.     

Appearance of magnetic long range order in the spin ladder compound LaCuO2.5

We report here the two current topics in the ladder compounds. 1. The new ladder compound LaCuO_2.5 recently discovered by Hiroi and Takano shows a clear sign of magnetic long range order at around 125 K observed by μ⁺SR technique. This result demonstrates that the ground state of LaCuO_2.5 is not a spin liquid state, but a magnetically ordered state. 2. Superconductivity has been found in the ladder material (Sr,Ca)₁₄Cu₂₄O₄₁ under high pressure between 3 GPa and 4.5 GPa. The superconducting transition temperatures T_c (onset) are 12 K and 9 K at 3 GPa and 4.5 GPa, respectively. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

meta-Photoaddition reactions of 2-chloro-, 2,5-dichloro-, and 2-halo-5-isopropyl-tropones with 9,10-dicyanoanthracene

Photoreactions of 2-halotropones with the excited 9,10-dicyanoanthracene gave a meta-adduct and substitution products occurred at the C-2 position of troponoids. The mechanism of the meta-adduct was proved by the product analysis of the reaction of 3,7-dideuterio-2-bromo-5-isopropyltropone and 9,10-dicyanoanthracene. In the photoreaction of 2-chloro-5-isopropyltropone and 9,10-dicyanoanthracene in a mixed solvent of benzene and methanol, a benzaldehyde with a dibenzo-2-oxabicyclo[3.2.2]nonane system was obtained to support occurrence of an [8+4] cycloaddition reaction between them.