Highly water resistant surface coating by fluoride on long persistent Sr4Al14O25:Eu/Dy phosphor

A novel and efficient method of providing moisture resistance of inorganic particles such as divalent europium activated strontium aluminate phosphors (Sr₄Al₁₄O₂₅:Eu²⁺/Dy³⁺) was developed by firing the phosphor in the presence of appropriate amount of ammonium fluoride at a temperature of 600-700 °C. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, EDAX and Photoluminescence measurements were carried out to characterize the uncoated and coated samples. The pH measurements were carried out for the water resistivity measurements. The phosphor particles became coated with a moisture-impervious thin coating that did not suppress the luminescence of the phosphor and can withstand complete immersion in water for long periods of time, showing very high water resistivity.     

Norm conditions for real-algebra isomorphisms between uniform algebras

Let A and B be uniform algebras. Suppose that α ≠ 0 and A ₁ ⊂ A. Let ρ, τ: A ₁ → A and S, T: A ₁ → B be mappings. Suppose that ρ(A ₁), τ(A ₁) and S(A ₁), T(A ₁) are closed under multiplications and contain expA and expB, respectively. If ‖S(f)T(g) − α‖_∞ = ‖ρ(f)τ(g) − α‖_∞ for all f, g ∈ A ₁, S(e ₁)⁻¹ ∈ S(A ₁) and S(e ₁) ∈ T(A ₁) for some e ₁ ∈ A ₁ with ρ(e ₁) = 1, then there exists a real-algebra isomorphism $ \tilde S $ \tilde S : A → B such that $ \tilde S $ \tilde S (ρ(f)) = S(e ₁)⁻¹ S(f) for every f ∈ A ₁. We also give some applications of this result.     

Novel 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists. II. Synthesis and antihypertensive activity of 3-[4-(substituted amino)phenylalkyl]ester derivatives

Novel 1,4-dihydropyridine derivatives bearing 3-[4-(substituted amino)phenylalkyl]ester side chains were prepared and tested for their antihypertensive activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Most compounds showed a more potent antihypertensive effect and a longer duration of action than nicardipine. The derivatives with a benzhydrylpiperazinyl and a benzhydrylpiperidinyl group were distinctive. 2-[4-(4-Benzhydryl-1-piperazinyl)phenyl]ethyl methyl 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-4-(3-nitrophenyl)-3,5-pyridinedicarboxylate (4e), its 4-(4-cyano-2-pyridyl) analogue (4f), its 3-[4-(4-benzhydryl-1-piperazinyl)phenyl]propyl ester analogue (4h), its 2-[4-(4-benzhydryl-1-piperidinyl)phenyl]ethyl ester analogue (4j), and its 2-[4-(1-benzhydryl-4-piperidinyl)phenyl]ethyl ester analogue (4k) were selected as candidates for further pharmacological investigations.     

A powerful,novel, multiplex typing system for six short tandem repeat loci and the allele frequency distributions in two Japanese regional populations

A new multiplex system for six tetranucleotide short tandem repeat (STR) loci was devised based on multicolor dye technology. Six loci (D20S480, D6S2439, D6S1056, D9S1118, D4S2639, and D17S1290), each with high discriminating power (each unbiased estimates of expected heterozygosity, Exp. Hz, > 0.80 in a preliminary test), were selected from more than 100 tetranucleotide STRs included in a commercially available primer set. These loci were also selected so as not to link with general STRs in commercially released kits including the combined DNA index system (CODIS) 13 core STRs. The primers were newly designed in the present study, in which each amplicon size had a range of less than 200 base pairs (bp), in order to genotype from highly degraded template DNA. Using this system, we genotyped 270 Honshu (mainland)-Japanese and 187 Okinawa-Japanese. From these allele frequencies, we performed three tests, a homozygosity test, a likelihood ratio test and an exact test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), and no significant deviations (p < 0.05) from HWE were observed. We also compared the allele distributions at six STRs between both populations, and they were significantly different (p < 0.05) at three loci (D6S2439, D9S1118 and D4S2639). Furthermore, the Exp. Hz and the power of discrimination (PD) at all loci in the Honshu-Japanese population were higher than 0.80 and 0.93, respectively. These statistical values for discriminating power in the Honshu-Japanese were almost the same as in the Okinawa-Japanese. This novel, multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and typing system for six STR loci thus promises to be a convenient and informative new DNA profiling system in the forensic field.     

A structural study of saturated aqueous solutions of some alkali halides by X-ray diffraction

The structure of nearly saturated or supersaturated aqueous solutions of NaCI [6.18 mol (kg H₂O)^–1], KCI [4.56 mol (kg H₂O)^–1], KF [16.15 mol (kg H₂O)^–1] and CsF [31.96 mol (kg H₂O)^–1] has been investigated by means of solution X-ray diffraction at 25°C. In the NaCI and KCI solutions about 30% and 60%, respectively, of the ions form ion pairs and the Na⁺–Cl^– and K⁺–Cl^– distances have been determined to be 282 and 315 pm, respectively. The average hydration numbers of Na⁺ and Cl^– ions are 4.6 and 5.3, respectively, in the NaCI solution and those of K⁺ and Cl^– ions in the KCI solution are both 5.8. In the KF solution, clusters containing some cations and anions, besides 1:1 (K⁺–F^–) ion pairs, are formed. The K⁺–F^– interatomic distance has been determined to be 269 pm, and nonbonding K⁺...K⁺ and F^–...F^– distances in the clusters are 388 and 432 pm, respectively, and the average coordination numbers n _KF , n _KK and n _FF have been estimated to be 2.3, 1.9, and 1.6, respectively. In the highly supersaturated CsF solution an appreciable amount of clusters containing several caesium and fluoride ions are formed. The Cs⁺–F^– distance in the cluster has been determined to be 312 pm, while the nonbonding Cs⁺...Cs⁺ and F^–...F^– distances are estimated to be 442 and 548 pm, respectively, the distances being about and times the Cs⁺–F^– distance, respectively. The coordination numbers n _CsF , n _CsCs , and n _FF in the first coordination sphere of each ion are 3.3, 2.3 and 5.3, respectively, and the result shows the formation of clusters of higher order than 1:1 and 2:2 ion pairs. These ion pairs and clusters may be regarded as embryos for the formation of nuclei of crystals and the results obtained in the present diffraction study support observations for the nucleation of the alkali halide crystals studied by molecular dynamics simulations previously examined.     

Structure of solvated lithium and chloride ions in formamide

Structure of solvated lithium and chloride ions in formamide was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction at 25°C. Lithium ion has, on average, 5.4 formamide molecules as nearest neighbors with an Li⁺-O distance of 224 pm, while chloride ion is coordinated with 4.5 formamide molecules with the Cl^–···N distance of 327 pm. The amino group within a formamide molecule interacts with a chloride ion in the bifurcate manner through two hydrogen atoms.Session lecture, IX International Conference on Non-Aqueous Solutions, Pittsburgh, PA, August 1984.To whom correspondence should be addressed.     

Metal-ion sensing fluorophores with large two-photon absorption cross sections: aza-crown ether substituted donor-acceptor-donor distyrylbenzenes

Chromophores based on a donor-acceptor-donor structure possessing a large two-photon absorption cross section and one or two mono-aza-15-crown-5 ether moieties, which can bind metal cations, have been synthesized. The influence of Mg(2+) binding on their one- and two-photon spectroscopic properties has been investigated. Upon binding, the two-photon action cross sections at 810 nm decrease by a factor of up to 50 at high Mg(2+) concentrations and this results in a large contrast in the two-photon excited fluorescence signal between the bound and unbound forms, for excitation in the range of 730 to 860 nm. Experimental and computational results indicate that there is a significant reduction of the electron donating strength of the aza-crown nitrogen atom(s) upon metal ion binding and that this leads to a blue shift in the position as well as a reduction in the strength of the lowest-energy two-photon absorption band. The molecules reported here can serve as models for the design of improved two-photon excitable metal-ion sensing fluorophores.     

Infrared Spectroscopy and X-Ray Diffraction Studies on the Structure and Thermal Behavior of Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoates

The structure and thermal behavior of new types of bacterial copolyester, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate); P(HB-co-HHx) (HHx=2.5, 3.4, and 12 mol %) have been explored by means of wide-angle x-ray diffraction (WAXD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The WAXD pattern of P(HB-co-HHx) (HHx=12 mol %) copolymer measured at room temperature has revealed that it has an orthorhombic system (α=β=γ=90°) with a=5.76Å, b=13.20Å, c=5.96Å (fiber repeat), which is identical to that of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). It has been found from the temperature-dependent variations of the WAXD pattern that only the a lattice parameter shows the thermal expansion, while the b lattice parameter changes little with temperature in the crystalline P(HB-co-HHx) (HHx=12 mol %). This observation suggests that there are inter and intramolecular interactions between C=O groups and alkyl groups along the a axis and that interactions are broken little by little with temperature. IR spectra were measured for the four kinds of polymers over a temperature range from 30°C to high temperatures (200°C; PHB, 180°C; P(HB-co-HHx) (HHx=2.5 mol %), 180°C; P(HB-co-HHx) (HHx=3.4 mol %), 150°C; P(HB-co-HHx) (HHx=12 mol %)). Temperature-dependent IR spectral variations were analyzed for the CH, C=O, and C-O-C stretching band regions, and bands characteristic of crystalline and amorphous parts were identified in each region. It has been found from the IR study that the strength of interaction between the C=O group and the CH₃ (or CH₂) group is similar among the four polymers and that the population of C=O groups that are not involved in the interaction becomes higher with the increase in HHx. Both WAXD and IR studies have revealed that the crystallinity of P(HB-co-HHx) (HHx=12 mol %) decreases gradually starting from relatively low temperature (about 60°C) while that of PHB remains high up to 170°C.     

Structural Studies on Saturated Aqueous Solutions of Manganese(II), Cobalt(II), and Nickel(II) Chlorides by X-ray Diffraction

As a part of our studies on crystallization processes of electrolytes, the structure of aqueous solutions of MCl₂ (M = Mn, Co, Ni) equilibrated with hydrate crystals, MCl₂ · mH₂O (m = 6, 4, 2), was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction at 25, 40, 55, and 70°C. The complexes formed in MnCl₂ solutions, were found to be mixed–ligand chloroaqua octahedral complexes of M²⁺ ions with the Mn—O and Mn—Cl distances of about 220 and 251 pm, respectively. The average number of Mn—Cl and Mn—O interactions increased from 1.2 to 1.9 and decreased from 4.8 to 4.1, respectively, with changing MnCl₂ solutions from Mn25 (MnCl₂ solution at 25°C) to Mn70 (MnCl₂ solution at 70°C). In the octahedral species of Co²⁺, the Co—O and Co—Cl distances were found to be about 211 and 240 pm, respectively. With an increase in the saturated concentration by changing temperature from 25 to 70°C, the average coordination number of the Co—Cl contact per Co²⁺ increased from 0.5 to 1.2, and the average number of Co—O interactions decreased from 5.5 to 4.8. The structural analysis was carried out by taking into consideration the existence of the tetrahedral species in the solutions saturated at 40, 55, and 70°C, on the assumption of the existence of [CoCl₄]^2–. The Co—Cl distance was found to be 228 pm, while the number of Co—Cl interactions in the [CoCl₄] complex was calculated to be 3.7 by the least-squares calculations. The Ni—O and Ni—Cl distances were estimated to be about 206 and 237 pm, respectively. The frequency factor n of the Ni—O and Ni—Cl interactions decreased monotonously from 5.6 to 5.0 and increased from 0.4 to 1.0, respectively, with increasing NiCl₂ concentration. The n values of the Co—Cl and Ni—Cl interactions of the octahedral complexes increased sharply with concentration at higher concentrations. Comparing structures of the complexes in the saturated solutions and the hydrate crystals of these metal ions, we discussed a role of the complexing species on crystallization of the hydrates.