Inclusion of cut and as-grown single-walled carbon nanotubes in the helical superstructure of schizophyllan and curdlan (beta-1,3-glucans)

We have found that single-chain schizophyllan and curdlan (s-SPG and s-curdlan, respectively) can dissolve as-grown and cut single-walled carbon nanotubes (ag-SWNTs and c-SWNTs, respectively) in aqueous solution. The vis-NIR spectra of the composites suggest that c-SWNTs are dissolved as a bundle, whereas ag-SWNTs exist as one or only a few pieces in the tubular hollow constructed by the helical structure inherent to these beta-1,3-glucans. EDX and CLSM measurements and TEM observation established that the distribution map of these polysaccharides overlaps well with the image of SWNTs, indicating that these two components form a composite. Very interestingly, when c-SWNTs were dissolved with the aid of s-SPG or s-curdlan in water, a clear periodical structure with inclined stripes, as detected by AFM, appeared on the fibrous composite surface. Because this periodical structure has never been recognized for the composites with other water-soluble polymers, one can regard that s-SPG or s-curdlan wraps c-SWNTs constructing a helically twined structure. High-resolution TEM observation of an ag-SWNTs/s-SPG composite gave a clearer image in that two s-SPG chains twine one ag-SWNT and the helical motif is right-handed. When this sample was subjected to the AFM measurement, the composite showed the 2-3 nm height. This height implies that one piece of ag-SWNT is included in the s-SPGs helical structure. As a summary, it has been established that beta-1,3-glucans such as s-SPG and s-curdlan not only dissolve SWNTs but also create a novel superstructure on the surface.     

Novel ring transformation of quinolines to indole derivatives in two steps via 1,4-dihydroquinoline derivatives

Diphenyl 1-phenoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydroquinoline-4-phosphonates 5c-g, obtained from the reaction of corresponding quinoline derivatives 1 with phenyl chloroformate and triphenyl phosphite in one step, were ozonized in CHCl₃ and CH₃COOH. Treatment of the resulting mixture with NaHCO₃ produced the 3-formyl-1-phenoxycarbonylindole derivatives 8a-e in high yields. The ring transformation of quinolines 1 to indoles 8 proceeds under mild conditions.     

Double percolation effect on the electrical conductivity of conductive particles filled polymer blends

Electrical conductivity of carbon black (CB) filled polymer blends which are incompatible with each other was studied as a function of the polymer's blend ratio. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis shows that CB distributes unevenly in each component of a polymer blend. TEM photographs of phase structure of solvent extracted HDPE/PMMA blend and solvent extraction experiments of PMMA/PP blend detect the blend ratio at which the structural continuity of filler rich phase is formed. The electrical conductivity of polymer blends is found to be determined by two factors. One is the concentration of CB in the filler rich phase and the other is the structural continuity of this phase. This double percolation affects the conductivity of conductive particle filled polymer blends.     

Copolymerization of vinylsilanes with styrene

New vinylsilanes (M₂), i. e. phenylvinylsilane (I), allylmethylsilane (II), allylphenylsilane (III), and p-vinylphenylmethylsilane (IV), were prepared and copolymerized with styrene (M₁). The monomer reactivity ratios were r₁ = 5.7 and r₂ = 0, r₁ = 36 and r₂ = 0, r₁ = 29 and r₂ = 0₁, and r₁ = 0.91 and r₂ = 1.1, respectively. From the results of infrared and NMR spectra it was indicated that the vinylsilanes participated in copolymerization in the form of a vinyl type of polymerization and not in the form of a hydrogen-transfer type of polymerization. The reaction of copolymer with alcohols and methyl methacrylate and appropriate catalysts was investigated.     

A comparison of b and uds quark jets to gluon jets

Symmetric three-jet events are selected from hadronic Z⁰ decays such that the two lower energy jets are each produced at an angle of about 150° with respect to the highest energy jet. In some cases, a displaced secondary vertex is reconstructed in one of the two lower energy jets, which permits the other lower energy jet to be identified as a gluon jet through anti-tagging. In other cases, the highest energy jet is tagged as a b jet or as a light quark (uds) jet using secondary vertex or track impact parameter and momentum information. Comparing the two lower energy jets of the events with a tag in the highest energy jet to the anti-tagged gluon jets yields a direct comparison of b, uds and gluon jets, which are produced with the same energy of about 24 GeV and under the same conditions. We observe b jets and gluon jets to have similar properties as measured by the angular distribution of particle energy around the jet directions and by the fragmentation functions. In contrast, gluon jets are found to be significantly broader and to have a markedly softer fragmentation function than uds jets. For thek _⊥ jet finder withy _cut=0.02, we find as the ratios of the mean charged particle multiplicity in the gluon jets compared to the b and uds jets. Results are also reported using the cone jet finder.     

Measurement of the hadronic decay current in τ?→π??+vτ

The properties of hadronic Z⁰ decays with final state photons, measured with OPAL at LEP, have been compared with predictions from two different matrix element calculations ofO( _s ). Two calculations, GNJETS and EEPRAD, have been investigated which use different schemes to restrict the phase space around the poles of the cross section. Assuming the E0-JADE jet definition, both calculations describe the data well in large regions of phase space fory _cut values around 0.06. For very large and very small jet-photon masses some deviations from the predictions have been found, indicating the importance of higher order corrections. Significant differences between the calculations are only apparent in the predicted rate of 1-jet plus photon events. The rate is higher in GNJETS which reproduces the data better than EEPRAD.     

Cisplatin suppository: preparation, release characteristics and clinical evaluation

Cisplatin (CDDP) has attracted attention as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of uterine endometrial carcinoma but causes serious side effects, including renal toxicity. CDDP suppositories containing NaCl at different concentrations were prepared to enhance the efficacy and to reduce the side effects of CDDP. The release characteristics, melting point and viscosity of the suppositories were first studied. The rate of CDDP release increased as the NaCl concentration increased: it was 12% 12 h after administration of suppositories containing no NaCl, but 32% with 0.2% NaCl. The melting point was raised by addition of NaCl: 35.5 degrees C without NaCl and 36.5 degrees C with 0.2% NaCl. Addition of 0.2% NaCl doubled the viscosity. Clinically, the suppository containing 0.06% NaCl was given to 3 patients with endometrial carcinoma twice a week for 3 weeks to examine serum CDDP levels and endometrial absorption. Patients with endometrial carcinoma showed different peak plasma platinum (Pt) levels which were as low as 0.12, 0.06 and 0.22 micrograms Pt/ml with similar patterns of change in the level. Radiographic analysis revealed many Pt particles in sections of necrosed endometria after 21d of the treatment. No side effects of CDDP were found in biochemical testing or subjective symptoms.     

Pressure effects on the phase transition of urea adducts withn-paraffins and polyethylene

The decomposition of urea adducts with hydrocarbons is treated as a first-order phase transition and the pressure dependence is studied up to 0.7 GPa for several kinds of adducts. The thermodynamic quantities at the decomposition of the adduct can be analysed as a sum of those quantities of the component materials. The transition from the orthorhombic to the hexagonal form of the adduct with polyethylene is also investigated by X-ray diffraction and the pressure dependence of the lattice parameters is measured for the adducts. The results are compared with the phase transition in the pure paraffin.     

Photocatalytic Reduction of NO with C2H6 on a Hollandite-Type Catalyst

The photocatalytic reduction of nitrogen monoxide (NO) with ethane on the hollandite type catalyst (K₂Ga₂Sn₆O₁₆KGSO) was investigated. Using a closed-gas circulating system equipped with a Q-MASS detector and in-situ diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectroscopy. The reactant gases of NO and ¹³C₂H₆ decreased with the increasing irradiation time. In contrast, the N₂ yield increased proportionally to the conversion of ¹³C₂H₆. Nitrogen oxides such as N₂O did not reach their detectable levels. The NO adsorbed on KGSO was found to change to its activated species by UV irradiation. The oxidized products of C₂H₆ such as CH₃CHO increased in proportion to the reaction time. The present results strongly suggest that KGSO has remarkable photocatalytic activity for the reduction of NO with C₂H₆.     

Emission of 2-phenylethanol from its β-d-glucopyranoside and the biogenesis of these compounds from [H8] l-phenylalanine in rose flowers

The hydrolysis of 2-phenylethyl β-d-glucopyranoside (3) was found to be partially inhibited by feeding with 2-phenyl-N-glucosyl-acetamidiumbromide (8), a β-glucosidase inhibitor, resulting in a decrease in the diurnal emission of 2-phenylethanol (2) from Rosa damascena Mill. flowers. Detection of [1,1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-2 and [1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₇]-2 from R. ‘Hoh-Jun’ flowers fed with [1,1,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-3 suggested that β-glucosidase, alcohol dehydrogenase, and reductase might be involved in scent emission. Comprehensive GC-SIM analyses revealed that [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-2 and [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′,6′-²H₈]-3 must be biosynthesized from [1,2,2,2′,3′,4′,5′6′-²H₈] l-phenylalanine ([²H₈]-1) with a retention of the deuterium atom at α-position of [²H₈]-1.