Trypanocidal terpenoids from Laurus nobilis L

Trypanocidal constituents of dried leaves of Laurus nobilis L. (Lauraceae) were examined. Activity-guided fractionation of the methanol extract resulted in the isolation of two guaianolides, dehydrocostus lactone (1) and zaluzanin D (2), and a new p-menthane hydroperoxide, (1R,4S)-1-hydroperoxy-p-menth-2-en-8-ol acetate (3). The minimum lethal concentrations of these compounds against epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi were 6.3, 2.5, and 1.4 microM, respectively.     

Ruthenium-catalyzed hydrosilylation of 1-alkynes with novel regioselectivity

[reaction: see text] A ruthenium catalyst precursor bearing a bulky and electron-donating pentamethylcyclopentadienyl (Cp) ligand, typically CpRuH3(PPh3), mediates hydrosilylation of several 1-alkynes with novel regioselectivity to give preferentially 2-silyl-1-alkenes.     

Collapse of valence transition in Yb0.8Y0.2InCu4: pressure-induced weak ferromagnetism

We investigated the magnetization of Yb0.8Y0.2InCu4 as a function of temperature down to 0.6 K, pressure up to 1.2 GPa, and magnetic field up to 9 T. The valence transition temperature of Yb0.8Y0.2InCu4 is lowered with applying pressure. At 0.8 GPa, collapse of the valence transition and ferromagnetic ordering occur almost simultaneously. The ferromagnetic phase at 1.2 GPa is characterized by a low Curie temperature of 1.7 K and an extremely small ordered moment of 0.05 micro(B) per Yb. Some effect of screening the ordered moment may play a key role in the ferromagnetism and the valence transition.     

Syntheses and structural analysis of 10-monoxy- and -dioxy-5-N-substituted iminothianthrene derivatives and the stereochemical change on their sulfur atom under acidic and thermal conditions

5-(N-p)-Toluenesulfonyl)iminothianthrenes, whose sulfur atoms are oxidized to a sulfoxide or sulfone at the 10-position, were hydrolysed readily in high yield to N-unsubstituted-sulfilimines by using concentrated H2SO4. During hydrolysis, 10-monoxy-5-N-unsubstituted-sulfilimines were obtained as a separable mixture of the cis and trans isomers. The stereochemical interconversion of these compounds was studied under both hydrolytic and thermal conditions and their structures were elucidated by using X-ray crystallography.     

The Effects of Comprehensive Exercise Program on the Adjustments of Standing Balance in Community-Dwelling Elderly Persons

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of comprehensive exercise program widely accepted as a community-based physical intervention for the prevention of falling in the elderly persons on their controlling standing balance. Twenty-six community-dwelling elderly persons (13 males and females; 69.8 ± 2.8 years old) participated in this study. Daily exercise was comprised of walking for more than 30 min, stretching, muscle strengthening and balance exercise without exercise equipments. The intervention was continued for three months. Indicators of standing balance related to static balance, dynamic balance and postural response were measured before and after the intervention. As an effect of the intervention on static balance, the sway of center of pressure (COP) in the static stance significantly increased. In the dynamic balance, significant improvements were observed in one leg standing time, the 10-m gait time, functional reach. Additionally, the maximal movable length of COP which subjects can move voluntarily to right and left significantly increased. In the postural response, the integrated electromyography (IEMG) induced by postural response for sudden postural perturbation significantly decreased in the lower leg muscles. Since less muscular activities were sufficient to maintain posture, it was suggested that postural response was elicited more efficiently following the intervention. This study suggested that the comprehensive exercise program, which has been widely introduced as community-based interventions for the prevention of falling, have extensive effects on the control of standing balance covering static balance, dynamic balance and postural response in the elderly persons.     

Noncritically phase-matched frequency conversion in Gd(x)Y(1-x)Ca(4)O(BO(3))(3) crystal

A nonlinear optical crystal YCa(4)O(BO(3))(3) (YCOB) is phase matchable for third-harmonic generation (THG) of a Nd:YAG laser by type I mixing between 1.064 and 0.532mum . By partial substitution of Gd for Y in YCOB, a solid solution Gd(x)Y(1-x)Ca(4)O(BO(3))(3) gradually changes the phase-matching angles of THG to (theta, ?)=(90( degrees ), 90 ( degrees )) . We present the properties of noncritically phase-matched THG in Gd(x) Y(1-x)Ca(4)O(BO(3))(3) (x=0.28) .     

Phase transition of Ta2NiO6 with the trirutile-type structure under high pressure and high temperature

High-pressure phase transition of Ta₂NiO₆ with the trirutile-type structure was investigated from the viewpoint of crystal chemistry. A new quenchable high-pressure phase was found in the pressure range higher than 7 GPa and 900°C. The high-pressure phase has an orthorhombic cell (a=4.797(1) Å, b=5.153(2) Å and c=14.85(1) Å and space group; Abm2), and it is more dense by 9.6% than the trirutile-structured phase. Infrared spectra of the trirutile-type phase and the high-pressure phase show that Ni²⁺ ions in the high-pressure phase are still in octahedral sites. The crystal structure of the high-pressure phase is considered as a cation-ordering trifluorite-type structure, which can be stabilized by a crystal field effect of Ni²⁺ ions.     

A finite element method prediction of the vibration of a bridge subjected to a moving vehicle load

This paper is concerned with the analysis of dynamic deflection and acceleration of a concrete bridge which is subjected to a moving vehicle load. The bridge, to be constructed across the River Brahmaputra in India, consists of 20 main spans, and each main span is assumed to be double cantilever type with a small suspended span. The moving vehicle is modeled as one degree of freedom. The deflections and accelerations at specific locations on the bridge when the vehicle moves at constant speed are analyzed by using the finite element method.