Synchrotron-radiated X-ray and neutron diffraction study of native cellulose

Precise determination of d-spacings and compositional ratio of cellulose I_α and I_β in various native cellulose samples was successfully carried out by synchrotron-radiated X-ray diffraction and time-of-flight (TOF) neutron diffraction from quasi-powder specimens. X-ray diffraction peaks were separated by the deconvolution method using six types of profile function: Gaussian, Lorentzian, intermediate Lorentzian, modified Lorentzian, pseudo-Voigt, and Pearson VII. In terms of R-factors, the pseudo-Voigt function gave the best fit with the observation, and was used for determination of d-spacings. The numerical results for Valonia cellulose were: dI_α (1 0 0) = 0.613 nm; dI_β (1 1 0) = 0.603 nm; dI_β (1 1 0) = 0.535 nm; dI_α (0 1 0) = 0.529 nm; I_α content = 0.65. The differences determined between dI_α (1 0 0) and dI_β (1 1 0) and between dI_β (1 1 0) and dI_α (0 1 0) were similar to those previously reported. Comparison between unresolved peaks for the two types of cellulose samples revealed a small but definite difference between dI_α (1 1 0) and dI_β (2 0 0). The TOF neutron diffractometry using deuterated samples confirmed this difference. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

x-RAY PHOTOELECTRON VALENCE BAND STUDIES ON FIREFLY D-(-)-LUCIFERIN

Abstract— The valence band spectrum of firefly D-(-)-luciferin (Ln) was measured for the first time by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Since the conversion of Ln to decarboxydehydroluciferin (dcrL) by x-ray irradiation occurred even within ∼30 min, the effect of the irradiation on the valence band spectrum of Ln was investigated quantitatively. We found that the XPS valence band spectrum of Ln during irradiation for 3 h corresponds to the state density of Ln calculated by the LCAO-ASMO-SCF-CI method for π-electrons. Moreover, the weak coupling model for π-electron transfer between Ln and oxygen was proposed for the primary electronic process in Ln chemiluminescence, assuming that the calculated π-electron state densities of Ln in acidic and basic solutions reflect the characteristics of their XPS valence band spectra.     

具有纳米尺寸的四聚四硫富瓦烯大环冠醚的合成

以二(碘乙基)醚和2,3-二氰乙硫基四硫富瓦烯衍生物作为起始原料, 采用腈乙基保护与脱保护技术, 通过多步反应以较好的收率合成了两个纳米结构的大环四硫富瓦烯冠醚5a～5b. 通过循环伏安法(CV)研究了化合物4b和5b的电化学性质, 并用¹H NMR谱研究了5b与[60]富勒烯之间的相互作用. 结果表明: 5b存在环结构效应, 与[60]富勒烯有一定程度的电荷转移相互作用.     

Effects of back extensor strengthening exercises on postural alignment,physical function and performance,self-efficacy,and quality of life in Japanese community-dwelling older adults: A controlled clinical trial

Objective: To examine the changes in postural alignment and kyphosis-correlated factors after 6 months of back extensor strengthening exercise in a group of community-dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years. Methods: We quasi-randomized 29 subjects into an intervention group treated with a back extensor strengthening program and a control group treated with a full-body exercise program. These groups completed 20-30 minutes of exercise directed by a physical therapist one or more times per week and were instructed to exercise at home as well. The participants were assessed prior to and after the intervention using the following criteria: postural alignment of “usual” and “best” posture, physical function, physical performance, self-efficacy, and quality of life. The differences between two factors (group and period) were compared for each of the measurement variables. Results: Subjects who adequately completed the exercises were analyzed. A reduced knee flexion angle was noted in the “best” posture of both groups, as were improved physical function and performance with the exception of one-leg standing time. Verifying the effect size in the post-hoc analysis, the body parts that showed changes to postural alignment after the intervention differed between groups. Conclusions: Back extensor strengthening exercises improved physical function and performance, but did not improve spinal alignment. The changes due to these interventions were not significantly different from changes observed in the full-body exercise group. However, post-hoc analysis revealed that the effect size of posture change was different, possible indicating that the two groups experienced different changes in the postural alignment.     

Decoupling by State Feedback in Infinite-Dimensional Systems

This paper studies the decoupling problem in infinite-dimensionalsystem using the so-called geometric approach of Wonham, andpresents necessary and/or sufficient conditions for the problemto be solvable for various cases, including (a) the case forwhich the input operator B satisfies dim (Im B) = k, where kis the number of output blocks, and (b) the case for which thepre-input operator G satisfies rank G = m, where m is the dimensionof the input space.     

Parameter-insensitive disturbance rejection for infinite-dimensional systems

In the framework of the so-called geometric approach, this paperstudies two parameter-insensitive disturbance-rejection problemswith state feedback and with incomplete state feedback for linearsystems defined in Hilbert spaces, and presents necessary and/orsufficient conditions for these problems to be solvable undercertain assumptions.     

Importance of knee flexion range of motion during the acute phase after total knee arthroplasty

Background: We investigate the association with knee flexion range of motion (ROM) during the acute phases and that at 12 months after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). We also clarified the cut-off ROM during the acute phases in predicting the goal of knee flexion ROM at 12 months. Methods: In this retrospective study, 193 patients with knee osteoarthritis (female:144 patients, age:73.2 ± 7.7 years) who underwent unilateral TKA at an orthopedic clinic were recruited. They underwent assessments of knee flexion ROM at 5 days, 1 month, and 12 months after TKA. The goal of knee flexion ROM at 12 months after TKA was set at 120°. Single and logistic-regression analyses were performed with the dependent variables including the outcome of the goal of knee flexion ROM at 12 months, and the independent variables included knee flexion ROM at 5 days and 1 month, separately. We calculated the cut-off ROM at 5 days and 1 month for predicting the goal of knee flexion ROM at 12 months with receiver operating curve analysis. Results: Knee flexion ROM at 5 days and 1 month were significantly associated with the goal of that at 12 months (p < 0.01). The cut-off ROM were 85° at 5 days and 105° at 1 month separately. Conclusions: Our results suggest the importance of early improvement in knee flexion ROM after TKA, and that at 1 month postoperatively indicates the likelihood of achievement of the goal of knee flexion ROM at 12 months after TKA.     

Association of objectively measured physical activity with combined bilateral knee and low-back pain in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: A cross-sectional study

Objective: Knee pain (KP) and low-back pain (LBP) are common sites of pain and major public health issues among older adults. We investigated the combined association of bilateral KP and LBP with objectively measured physical activity (PA) among adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: We recruited 150 knee OA adults and measured steps and PA intensity, including sedentary behavior (SB), low PA (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous PA, using an accelerometer. KP and LBP were measured using a numerical rating scale. They were classified into 4 groups based on the presence of KP and LBP: with the only unilateral KP (UKP), with the combined UKP and LBP (UKP and LBP), with the bilateral KP (BKP), and with the combined bilateral KP and LBP (BKP and LBP). One-way analysis of covariance was performed to compare physical activity variables (intensity or steps) between the four groups. Results: Overall, 126 patients were enrolled. The prevalence of UKP, BKP, UKP and LBP, and BKP and LBP were 29.4%, 23.8%, 18.3%, and 28.6%. The proportion of SB was higher in the BKP and LBP group than in the other groups (F = 6.51, p < 0.01). The proportion of LPA was lower in the BKP and LBP group than in the other groups (F = 6.21, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The proportions of SB and LPA were significantly worse in knee OA adults with BKP and LBP than in those with UKP. Our findings may be a basis for considering knee OA adults for improving PA.     

Polymer-Coated Fibrous Packing Materials in Metal Capillary Gas Chromatography

Gas chromatography (GC) is one of the most versatile separation methods for volatile compounds, and a variety of polymeric materials as the stationary phases have been developed for various applications. In contrast to the successful applications and commercialization of the polymer-coated columns, the reports for the fibrous     

Triangular Decoupling and Stabilization for Linear Control Systems in Hilbert Spaces

In the so-called geometric approach, a Hilbert-space versionof the problem of triangular decoupling by state feedback isstudied. First, under certain assumptions, necessary and sufficientconditions for the problem to be solvable are presented. Then,its stabilization problem is investigated. Finally, a triangulardecoupling by incomplete state feedback is studied briefly,and some sufficient conditions for its solvability are obtained.