Micellar size, shape and counterion binding of N-(1,1-Dihydroperfluoroalkyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride in aqueous solutions

Under the limiting conditions, light-scattering method was applied to determine the size and shape of fluorinated micellar structure in aqueous solution. The hydrodynamic radii (r _h) of molecular aggregates were investigated for four amphiphiles with different alkyl chain length: N-(1,1-dihydroperfluorooctyl)-, N-(1,1-dihydroperfluorodecyl)-, N-(1,1-dihydroperfluorododecyl)-, and N-(1,1-dihydroperfluorotetradecyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride by dynamic light scattering. Size of these molecular aggregates drastically increased with increasing carbon number of alkyl chain and the concentration. For example, the r _h values were 35, 63, 95, and 136 nm for C8, C10, C12, and C14 of the alkyl chain, respectively, at the concentration of 15× critical micelle concentration (cmc) and at 298.2 K. On the other hand, the mean radius of gyration (r _g) and the apparent molecular weight of these aggregates were measured using static light scattering. The r _g value was found to be 34, 73, and 125 nm for C8, C10, and C12 of the alkyl chain, respectively, at the same condition above. The shape of aggregate was analyzed by comparing the dependence of r _g/r _h with theoretical values. The plots of r _g against r _h almost corresponded with the theoretical line of oblate ellipsoid (disk-like), and which was also expected from calculation of packing parameter value. The measurement for chloride ion activity was made by a chloride ion selective electrode to know the degree of counterion binding to the aggregates, whose values increased with increasing total concentration and with the carbon number of alkyl chain. The chloride ion binding to aggregates neutralized cationic head groups under their electrostatic repulsion and partly promoted the growth of aggregates.     

Synthesis and properties of Zr-Co heterodinuclear complexes with a bridging bis(cyclopentadienyl) ligand

[(η⁵-C₅H₅)ZrCl₂(η⁵-C₅H₄)CMe₂(C₅H₅)] reacted with Co₂(CO)₈ to produce a heterodinuclear Zr(IV)-Co(I) complex [(η⁵-C₅H₅)ZrCl₂(η⁵-C₅H₄)CMe₂(η⁵-C₅H₄)Co(CO)₂] (3). Complex 3 underwent oxidative addition of I₂ to give [(η⁵-C₅H₅)ZrCl₂(η⁵-C₅H₄)CMe₂(η⁵-C₅H₄)CoI₂(CO)] (4) having Zr(IV) and Co(III) centers. The carbonyl ligand of 4 was easily replaced with P(OMe)₃ and PPh₃ to afford [(η⁵-C₅H₅)ZrCl₂(η⁵-C₅H₄)CMe₂(η⁵-C₅H₄)CoI₂(L)] (5: L = P(OMe)₃, 6: L = PPh₃). Structures of 5 and 6 were determined by X-ray crystallography. These Zr-Co heterodinuclear complexes catalyzed polymerization of ethylene and propylene.     

Studies on the constituents of Juglans species. I. Structural determination of (4S)- and (4R)-4-hydroxy-alpha-tetralone derivatives from the fruit of Juglans mandshurica MAXIM. var. sieboldiana MAKINO

Four enantiomerically pure new alpha-tetralones, (4S)- and (4R)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-alpha-tetralones and (4S)- and (4R)-5,8-dihydroxy-4-methoxy-alpha-tetralones were isolated, together with five known ones, (4S)- and (4R)-4,8-dihydroxy-alpha-tetralones, (4S)-4,8-dihydroxy-5-methoxy-alpha-tetralone and (4S)- and (4R)-4-hydroxy-alpha-tetralones, from the fruit of Juglans mandshurica MAXIM. var. sieboldiana MAKINO. Their structures were established on the basis of spectral analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first isolation of the (4R)-4-hydroxy-alpha-tetralone derivative from Juglans species.     

Determination of stable lead isotope ratios in environmental samples: Combination of microwave digestion and ICP-MS

Microwave digestion was applied as pretreatment of environmental samples for the determination of lead isotope ratios by ICP-MS. Microwave digestion decomposed the samples easily and rapidly without lead contamination. The lead isotope ratios could be measured directly by ICP-MS without tedious lead purification, because the influence of the matrix elements on measurements of lead isotope ratios is small enough to be ignored.     

Reaction mechanism of <Superscript>6</Superscript>Li scattering at 600 MeV

Elastic scattering and inclusive breakup of ⁶Li particles on ¹²C, ⁵⁸Ni, ⁹⁰Zr, and ²⁰⁸Pb targets are measured at 100A MeV. The elastic scattering data are compared with single channel and Coupled Discretized Continuum Channels calculations. The coupling-effect between the elastic and the breakup channels is important even at an incident energy of 100A MeV and cannot be neglected. The inclusive breakup data are investigated for orbital dispersion effects which are found to be less significant at 100A MeV. The longitudinal momentum distributions are broader than predicted by theoretical expectations. Received: 17 December 1999 / Revised version: 9 February 2000     

Simultaneous determination of trace metals by solid phase absorptiometry: application to flow analysis of some rare earths

Solid phase absorptiometry was applied to the simultaneous flow analysis of trace metals in combination with a micro black flow-through cell packed with ion exchanger beads and a multi-channel photodetector connected with optical fibers. A 4.0 cm³ sample solution containing five rare earth metal ions (Dy, Ho, Tm, Er and Nd) was introduced into a flow system and these metal ions were concentrated on a cation exchanger (Muromac 50W-X4) in a flow-through cell. The absorbance increases originating from the f-f or d-f transition bands of these metal ions were directly and continuously measured at 910 nm for Dy, at 530 nm for Ho, at 683 nm for Tm, 522 nm for Er and at 790 nm for Nd, respectively. A multi-variable analysis method was combined with the flow analysis because the absorption spectra of the five rare earth metal ions partly overlapped one another. Although no coloring reagents were used, the proposed method was about ¶200 times more sensitive than the corresponding solution method. The reproducibility of this method was less than ± 5%. The detection limits were 0.03, 0.40, 0.30, 0.35 and 0.23 mg dm^–3 for Dy, Ho, Tm, Er and Nd, respectively. Five rare earth metal ions could be precisely determined in practical samples such as yttrium concentrate.     

Concept of Photorefractive Connection Module by Photorefractive Four-Wave Mixing with Extraordinary Writing Beams and an Ordinary Reading Beam

We propose a new optical network device photorefractive connection module (PRCM) which operates as optical switch, amplifier and signal distributor controlled by parallel optical signals. Simple optical control bus systems can be realized by cascade connection of PRCMs. PRCM branches off a desired channel from the spatial multiplexed optical bus line by appropriate setting of the control beam pattern. PRCM uses cross polarized four wave mixing (CPFWM) with extraordinary polarized writing beams and an ordinary polarized reading beam to achieve a high connection gain to the next PRCM stage. We analyze the phase matching angle of CPFWM in which the optical paths of two pump beams are slightly different. The phase conjugate reflectivity indicating a branching ratio of optical signal is derived and calculated in consideration of the phase mismatching Δk. The optimum pump ratio and the grating vector orientation for the largest phase conjugate reflectivity and signal amplification factor are discussed for optical design of PRCM. Since the measured signal beam power after passing through the BaTiO₃ crystal is three or four times higher than its incident power, PRCM has a sufficient connection gain for optical bus and interconnection systems.     

Transcutaneous application of carbon dioxide improves contractures after immobilization of rat knee joint

Objective: Joint contractures are a major complication following joint immobilization. However, no fully effective treatment has yet been found. Recently, carbon dioxide (CO₂) therapy was developed and verified this therapeutic application in various disorders. We aimed to verify the efficacy of transcutaneous CO₂ therapy for immobilization-induced joint contracture. Method: Twenty-two Wistar rats were randomly assigned to three groups: caged control, those untreated after joint immobilization, and those treated after joint immobilization. The rats were treated with CO₂ for 20 min once a daily either during immobilization, (prevention) or during remobilization after immobilization (treatment). Knee extension motion was measured with a goniometer, and the muscular and articular factors responsible for contractures were calculated. We evaluated muscle fibrosis, fibrosis-related genes (collagen Type 1α1 and TGF-β1) in muscles, synovial intima''s length, and fibrosis-related proteins (Type I collagen and TGF-β1) in the joint capsules. Results: CO₂ therapy for prevention and treatment improved the knee extension motion. Muscular and articular factors decreased in rats of the treatment group. The muscular fibrosis of treated rats decreased in the treatment group. Although CO₂ therapy did not repress the increased expression of collagen Type 1α1, the therapy decreased the expression of TGF-β1 in the treatment group. CO₂ therapy for treatment improved the shortening of the synovial membrane after immobilization and decreased the immunolabeling of TGF-β1 in the joint capsules. Conclusions: CO₂ therapy may prevent and treat contractures after joint immobilization, and appears to be more effective as a treatment strategy for the deterioration of contractures during remobilization.     

Validation of real-time PCR analyses for line-specific quantitation of genetically modified maize and soybean using new reference molecules

Novel analytical methods based on real-time quantitative polymerase chain reactions by use of new reference molecules were validated in interlaboratory studies for the quantitation of genetically modified (GM) maize and soy. More than 13 laboratories from Japan, Korea, and the United States participated in the studies. The interlaboratory studies included 2 separate stages: (1) measurement tests of coefficient values, the ratio of recombinant DNA (r-DNA) sequence, and endogenous DNA sequence in the seeds of GM maize and GM soy; and (2) blind tests with 6 pairs of maize and soy samples, including different levels of GM maize or GM soy. Test results showed that the methods are applicable to the specific quantitation of the 5 lines of GM maize and one line of GM soy. After statistical treatment to remove outliers, the repeatability and reproducibility of these methods at a level of 5.0% were <13.7 and 15.9%, respectively. The quantitation limits of the methods were 0.50% for Bt11, T25, and MON810, and 0.10% for GA21, Event176, and Roundup Ready soy. The results of blind tests showed that the numerical information obtained from these methods will contribute to practical analyses for labeling systems of GM crops.