Macroscopic Polarization Change of Mononuclear Valence Tautomeric Cobalt Complexes Through the Use of Enantiopure Ligand

The crystallization of a complex having electron transfer properties in a polar space group can induce the polarization switching of a crystal in a specific direction, which is attractive for the development of sensors, memory devices, and capacitors. Unfortunately, the probability of crystallization in a polar space group is usually low. Noticing that enantiopure compounds crystallize in Sohncke space groups, this paper reports a strategy for the molecular design of non-ferroelectric polarization switching crystals based on the use of intramolecular electron transfer and chirality. In addition, this paper describes the synthesis of a mononuclear valence tautomeric (VT) cobalt complex bearing an enantiopure ligand. The introduction of enantiomer enables the crystallization of the complex in the polar space group (P2₁). The polarization of the crystals along the b-axis direction is not canceled out and the VT transition is accompanied by a change in the macroscopic polarization of the polar crystal. Polarization switching via electron transfer is realized at around room temperature.     

Melt rheology of hyperbranched‐polystyrene synthesized with multisite macromonomer

Melt rheological behaviors of hyperbranched‐polystyrene (PS) copolymerized by dendric macromonomer technique are presented. The time–temperature superposition principle was applicable to the hyperbranched‐PS. The branched‐PS showed slightly lower zero‐shear viscosity in comparison with linear PS regardless of a presence of a number of branches expected from the dendric macromonomer technique. Although the influence of use of multimethacryloyl macromonomer in the polymerization process was marginal for linear viscoelastic regime, nonlinear shear and uniaxial elongational flows showed distinct differences between linear and branched‐PS. The strain dependence of the damping function became weak as increase of macromonomer content. The branched‐PS exhibited the growing elongational viscosity function comparing with linear PS. This prominent effect on the elongational flow behavior can be explained by the molecular architecture of the branched‐PS. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 2226–2237, 2009     

Cepaic acid, a novel yellow xanthylium pigment from the dried outer scales of the yellow onion Allium cepa

Cepaic acid was isolated as a novel xanthylium yellow pigment from the dried outer scales of the yellow onion Allium cepa Linne. Its structure was elucidated on the basis of ESI-MS and 2D NMR spectroscopy as a 9-carboxy-1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxyxanthylium, which suggests that cepaic acid and other yellow pigments in the dried outer skin of onion were formed by the nucleophilic reaction of phloroglucinol derived from quercetin, a flavonol in onion scales, by autoxidation to glyoxylic acid. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a pigment in yellow onion.     

日本大学教育的重整计划

日本的教育体制大体上类似于其他国家，即小学6年，初中3年，高中3年，大学本科4年。大学本科毕业后另有2年硕士学位，再加3年博士学位的教育。当前在校学习的人数逐年增加，人均在校学习的时间也逐渐延长。到2000年已有将近一半的18岁同龄人进入大学学习。为适应上述教育情况的变化，日本政府目前开始了一个重整大学教育体制的计划。该计划将所有原来模式相同的649所大学划分为两大类，一类是研究和教学型的，另一类是教学型的。目前已有9所大学已被认定为第一类型的大学。本文介绍日本教育体制的变化以及上述重整计划的长远目标。     

Numerical-Asymptotic Expansion Matching for Computing a Viscous Flow Around a Sharp Expansion Corner

A computational technique which is based on a numerical-asymptotic expansion matching for computing the local singular behavior of a viscous flow around a sharp right-angle expansion corner is presented. Moffatt's (1964) asymptotic solution is extended and a matching with a time-marching finite-difference scheme of the Navier--Stokes equations is formulated. Local mesh refinement around the corner is required to meet the validity of the asymptotic solution. Flows in an expanding channel with expansion ratio D/d=3 at various Reynolds numbers 1≤Re≤700 are simulated. The results are compared with those from a standard finite-difference scheme that uses second-order forward/backward differences near the corner. It is found that the results of the standard scheme converge toward those of the present technique as the level of local refinement near the corner is increased. The time-dependent parameters of the first two terms of the asymptotic solution at the steady-state solution are also described for various cases of Re and D/d. It is demonstrated that the present method enhances the accuracy of the simulations and requires less refinements near the corners to achieve converged numerical results. Received 14 August 2000 and accepted 25 October 2001     

Cinnamomum verum J. Presl Bark Contains High Contents of Nicotinamide Mononucleotide

The global population is aging, and intervention strategies for anti-aging and the prevention of aging-related diseases have become a topic actively explored today. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) is an important molecule in the metabolic process, and its content in tissues and cells decreases with age. The supplementation of nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), an important intermediate and precursor of NAD⁺, has increased NAD⁺ levels, and its safety has been demonstrated in rodents and human studies. However, the high content of NMN in natural plants has not been fully explored as herbal medicines for drug development. Here, we identified that the leaf of Cinnamomum verum J. Presl (C. verum) was the highest NMN content among the Plant Extract Library (PEL) with food experience, using ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). To validate this result, the extraction and quantitative analysis of bark, leaf, root, and stem of fresh C. verum was conducted. The results revealed that the bark had the highest NMN content in C. verum (0.471 mg/100 g). Our study shed light on the prospects of developing natural plants in the context of NMN as drugs for anti-aging and prevention of aging-related diseases. The future should focus on the development and application of C. verum pharmaceutical formulations.     

Time-Resolved Reflectance of an Optical Pulse in Adult Heads Based on the Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) Analysis

Time-resolved reflectance of an optical pulse in adult head models including non-scattering cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been analyzed by the finite difference time domain (FDTD) analysis formulated by the authors. Averaged light intensity and mean time of flight dependences on the source-detector separations calculated by the FDTD analysis are in good agreement with previous experiments, hybrid finite element method (FEM) and Monte Carlo calculations, which justify the FDTD analysis. Based on the analysis, time-resolved reflectance sensitivities to detect optical property changes in brain have been analyzed. As a result, it has been become clear that the sensitivities to detect absorption changes of brain are enhanced in time-resolved reflectance compared to the sensitivities in averaged light intensity, whereas the sensitivities to detect scattering property changes of brain are almost the same in time-resolved reflectance and in averaged light intensity. © 2005 The Optical Society of Japan     

Growth mechanism of copper whiskers by the hydrogen reduction of cuprous iodide

A small quantity of cuprous iodide (less than 30 mg) was reduced by hydrogen at 650 or 700°C for various periods of time (15 sec to 4 min) and quenched to interrupt whisker growth. This was done in order to examine the nature of the growth of copper whiskers. Scanning electron microscopic observation and X-ray microanalysis revealed that almost all the whiskers quenched after the growth for 30 sec or less had cuprous iodide droplets at their tips and also the lateral surfaces were covered by thin cuprous iodide layers. The manner in which the copper crystals grow is similar to growth by the droplet mechanism or by the VLS mechanism in that the nutrient is supplied by a liquid drop on the tip of the whisker. Whiskers thicken during and after the growth in length. The whiskers quenched after the growth for 1 min or more had well-developed lateral surfaces and did not have the droplets at the tips. Preferential condensation and reduction were found to occur at the whisker edges. Based on the observed facts, a growth mechanism is presented. Secondary whisker growth on the whisker tips was also investigated.