99Ru and57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of a ruthenium alloy,RuFe2Si

⁹⁹Ru and⁵⁷Fe-Mössbauer spectroscopic and magnetization measurements were made in order to clarify the magnetic properties of a Huesler alloy, RuFe₂Si. The result obtained from⁹⁹Ru-Mössbauer spectrum leads to the conclusion that Ru atoms were substituted by both Fe[A, C] and Fe[B], but the latter preferentially.     

Synthesis and properties of aramids and polyarylates having perfluoro-substituents on the benzene ring

A new series of 16 aramids and 16 polyarylates having perfluoro-substituents on the benzene ring was prepared by a low temperature solution or an interfacial polycondensation. The effects of fluorine substituents on the structure and properties of polymers were examined. Fluorinated aramids exhibited higher crystallinity, while fluorinated polyarylates show lower crystallinity. The melting point (T_m) of aramids decreased with fluorine substitution, whereas T_m of polyarylates from fluorinated aromatic diols was higher than that of those from unfluorinated ones. The temperature of 10% weight loss and the residue at 900°C decreased with fluorine substitution except for the aramids from fluorinated diamines. Solubility and contact angle also increased with fluorine substitution. Some polyarylates were found to exhibit an optical anisotropy.     

Thermal and photo-induced phenomena in γ-irradiated poly(methyl methacrylate)

ESR spectra and optical absorption spectra of γ-irradiated poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) at 77°K and the photo- and thermal bleaching behavior have been studied. γ-Irradiation of PMMA yields a singles spectrum with a line width of 6 G which is bleachable with visible light. This species is assigned to the polymer cation. The unbleached species consists mainly of a four-line spectrum and is assigned to a polymer radical having a different CH₂ conformation from the usual nine-line spectrum. On subsequent warming to room temperature, the spectrum changes into the nine-line spectrum. γ-Irradiation of PMMA containing biphenyl as an additive at 77°K gives biphenyl cation. Yield of polymer radical is reduced by the addition of biphenyl and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran. A mechanism is proposed which is consistent with the experimental results.     

2-(O-Phenylalkyl)phenoxy]alkylamines III: Synthesis and selective serotonin-2 receptor binding (2)

A series of 12-(2-phenylethyl)phenoxy]ethylpyrrolidine derivatives were synthesized, and their affinity for serotonin-2 (5-HT2) and dopamine-2 (D2) receptors was examined. Among them, compound 17, (2R,4R)-4-hydroxy-2-[2-[2-[2-(3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]phenoxylethyl] -1-methylpyrrolidine hydrochloride, showed high 5-HT2 receptor affinity in vitro. This compound was a more potent inhibitor of ex vivo 5-HT-induced platelet aggregation than compound 3, which was previously shown to be more potent than ketanserin (1) and sarpogrelate (2a). However, compound 17 produced gastric irritation in rats. Therefore, we carried out a further derivatization of 17, and compound 45 (R-102444), a lauryl ester prodrug of compound 17, was found to be a promising candidate as an antithrombotic agent. Oral administration of R-102444 produced a marked inhibition of 5-HT-induced ex vivo platelet aggregation, and R-102444 did not cause any gastric irritation. The antiaggregatory effects of R-102444 were more potent than those of sarpogrelate (2a) and its active metabolite, M-1 (2b). In addition, R-102444 exhibited more potent antithrombotic effects than sarpogrelate in a rat photochemically-induced thrombosis model.     

The reaction γ +d → π+ + π− +p + n between 570 and 850 MeV andΔ ++ Δ − production

The reaction γ+d → π⁺+π^? +p + n has been measured in a kinematically complete way at incident photon energies from 570 to 850 MeV in steps of 40 MeV. From detailed comparison of measured data with results of event simulations, it is concluded that three different mechanisms, the quasi-free, double-delta and phase space productions, contribute to the reaction. Each of the cross sections corresponding to these mechanisms is determined separately.     

Structure and properties of polypropylene crystallized from the glassy state

Glassy isotactic propylene (PP) films of thickness up to 0.3 mm were obtained by an ultraquenching technique. The structure and properties of the as-quenched and subsequently crystallized samples were characterized by various techniques. Electron microscopy indicates the glass has no structure larger than 25 Å. X-ray diffraction shows PP crystallizes from the glass into a smectic structure at ca. ?20°C and then transforms to monoclinic microcrystals at ca. 40°C; a nodular structure (80 to 100 Å in diameter) was observed on the surface. The transformation temperature increases with the film thickness. Annealing above the α-relaxation temperature results in an increase in the nodule size. A correspondence was found between the diameter of the nodules observed on the surface and long spacings obtained by small-angle X-ray scattering from the bulk. Dynamic mechanical spectra show the presence of two relaxation-like peaks at ca. ?10°C and 10°C for the as-ultraquenched samples. X-ray scattering, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and torsion pendulum measurements show PP crystallizes from the glass at a temperature, depending on the rate of heating, that corresponds to the lower relaxation peak temperature.     

A novel method for hydrogen production from liquid ethanol/water at room temperature

We demonstrated that non-catalytic ethanol steam reforming proceeds efficiently and selectively without coking at the conditions of room temperature and atmospheric pressure using low-energy pulsed (LEP) discharge in combination with carbon fiber electrodes.     

EC and α decays of 235Am

EC and decays of ²³⁵Am have been studied using a gas-jet coupled on-line isotope separator. Excited states in ²³⁵Pu have been established for the first time by means of -ray spectroscopy following the EC decay of ²³⁵Am. The deduced log ft value suggests that the ground state of ²³⁵Am should have the 5/2^-[523] configuration. The - coincidence result has revealed that the 5/2^-[523] state in ²³¹Np populated by the favored transition of ²³⁵Am is located at < 15 keV, which allows us to precisely determine the Q value of ²³⁵Am.     

Identification of the new isotope 241Bk

A new neutron-deficient berkelium isotope ²⁴¹Bk produced in the ²³⁹Pu(⁶Li, 4n) reaction has been identified using a gas-jet coupled on-line isotope separator. Cm K and L X-rays associated with the EC decay of ²⁴¹Bk were observed in the mass-241 fraction, and three γ transitions were attributed to the EC decay of ²⁴¹Bk through X-γ coincidences. The half-life of ²⁴¹Bk was determined to be 4.6±0.4 min which is 1/2-1/4 of that of theoretical predictions. The half-life value and the observed γ transitions can be consistently explained as a consequence of the allowed EC transition of π7/2⁺[633] → ν7/2⁺[624]. Received: 14 October 2002 / Accepted: 6 November 2002 / Published online: 17 January 2003 RID="a" ID="a"e-mail: asai@tandem.tokai.jaeri.go.jp Communicated by J. ?yst?