Stacking Control by Molecular Symmetry of Sterically Protected Phthalocyanines

The synthesis and characterization of two phthalocyanine (Pc) structural isomers, 1 and 2, in which four 2,6-di(hexyloxy)phenyl units were attached directly to the 1,8,15,22- or 1,4,15,18-positions of the Pc rings, are described. Both Pcs 1 and 2 exhibited low melting points, i.e., 120 and 130 °C respectively, due to the reduction in intermolecular π-π interaction among the Pc rings caused by the steric hindrance of 2,6-dihexyloxybenzene units. The thermal behaviors were investigated with temperature-controlled polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction, and absorption spectral analyses. Pc 1, having C_4h molecular symmetry, organized into a lamellar structure containing lateral assemblies of Pc rings. In contrast, the other Pc 2 revealed the formation of metastable crystalline phases, including disordered stacks of Pcs due to rapid cooling from a melted liquid.     

Surface viscous flattening kinetics of soda-lime silicate glass by sinusoidal profile decay method

The kinetics of the flattening of surface corrugations of float glasses were investigated in dry nitrogen at 610 to 670°C. The amplitude of the sinusoidal surface profile decayed exponentially with time while its wavelength remained constant. The dependence of decay rate on wavelength indicated that the process is controlled by the viscous flow. From the obtained rate constant the viscosity was calculated using the surface energy value determined independently by the zero-creep method. The viscosity thus obtained reflects the mass transport property in the vicinity of the glass surface. It was several times larger than that determined by the fibre elongation or intrusion method which should reflect the bulk properties. No difference in the decay rate was observed on both the surfaces of float glass of which only one side had been exposed to molten tin during the glass manufacturing process.     

Dopant-pair structures segregated on a hydrogen-terminated Si(100) surface

Novel atomic structures on a H-terminated Si(100)-(2x1)-H surface were found using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The structures are distinguishable only from Si dimers in empty-state STM images. They were observed on arsenic- and phosphorus-doped substrates, but not on boron-doped substrates. Surface density of these structures was found to be proportional to the dopant density in the substrate. First-principles calculations clarify that they are consisting of dopant pairs that are segregated from the bulk material. Hydrogen atoms attached to the dopant pair are found to flip between two positions on the surface due to a quantum effect.     

Inhibitory study of two cephalosporins on <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> by microcalorimetry

The microcalorimetric method has been used to study the effects of cefpiramide and ceftizoxime sodium on the E. coli growth. The results revealed that these two cephalosporins may alter the metabolic way of the E. coli. Moreover, the lethal doses of cefpiramide and ceftizoxime sodium are 2.000 and 0.2000 μg mL⁻¹, respectively. Combining with the relationships between growth rate constant (k), the maximum power output (P _m ), the time corresponding to the maximum power output (t _m ) and cephalosporins concentration (C), one can draw the conclusion that the ceftizoxime sodium has a stronger inhibition effects on the growth of E. coli than that of cefpiramide and they both have the possibility to induce the drug fever.     

Development of quality assessment method for optically active food flavor chemicals

A quality assessment method for commercially available, optically active flavor compounds, namely, menthol, menthyl acetate, borneol, perillaldehyde, and 1,8-cineol, was developed. A gas chromatograph equipped with a flame ionization detector and a DB-5ms capillary column was used for the chemical purity test. A GC/MS with a beta-DEX cyclodextrin column was used for the optical purity test, by which the enantiomeric separation of each flavor compound was achieved. Enantiomeric excess was calculated as an expression of optical purity. Of the 25 standard samples subjected to the chemical purity test, six were found to have lower purity than the data provided by the manufacturers. When the same samples were subjected to the optical purity test, 11 were found to have lower purity than that indicated on the reagent labels. These results suggest that there is a need to conduct an optical purity test, in addition to a chemical purity test, for the quality assessment of flavor standards.     

Temperature dependence of (μ−O) paramagnetic shift in highT c superconductor La2−x Sr x CuO4

In order to investigate the electronic structure around oxygen in superconducting La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ (x=0.10 and 0.14), precise measurements were carried out on the paramagnetic Knight shifts in the spin rotation frequency of the negative muon bound to the oxygen with reference to antiferromagnetic La_2–x Sr _x CuO₄ (x=0.05). Remarkable temperature as well as crystalline-axis dependence was observed for the highT _c case with a divergence character towardsT _c. Possible mechanisms to explain the observed results are given.