Pd(II)‐catalyzed polymerization of optically active norbornene carboxylic acid esters

(?)‐(1S,2R)‐Norbornene‐2‐carboxylic acid alkyl esters (alkyl = Me, Bz, L ‐menthyl, or D ‐menthyl) were successfully prepared by the Diels–Alder reaction of cyclopentadiene with (R)‐(?)‐pantolactone‐O‐yl acrylate followed by epimerization and column chromatography. The enantiomeric excess was 99.9%. These monomers were polymerized by Pd(II)‐based catalysts, and high yields of the polymers were obtained. The methyl ester gave an optically active polymer of high optical rotation (monomer [α]_D = ?24.7, polymer [α]_D = ?98.5). This high rotation value of the polymer was attributed to the isotactic chain regulation of the polymer. This high rotation was not observed with methyl esters prepared by the transesterification of menthyl esters. The stereoregular polymer exhibited notable resonance peaks at 39 ppm in ¹³C NMR spectra. No crystallinity was observed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1263–1270, 2006     

Parabolic equations with BMO coefficients in Lipschitz domains

In this paper, we are concerned with certain natural Sobolev-type estimates for weak solutions of inhomogeneous problems for second-order parabolic equations in divergence form. The geometric setting is that of time-independent cylinders having a space intersection assumed to be locally given by graphs with small Lipschitz coefficients, the constants of the operator being uniformly parabolic. We prove the relevant L^p estimates, assuming that the coefficients are in parabolic bounded mean oscillation (BMO) and that their parabolic BMO semi-norms are small enough.     

Quasilinear elliptic equations with BMO coefficients in Lipschitz domains

We obtain a global estimate for the weak solution to an elliptic partial differential equation of -Laplacian type with BMO coefficients in a Lipschitz domain with small Lipschitz constant.

     

Sharp gradient estimates for quasilinear elliptic equations with p(x) growth on nonsmooth domains

In this paper, we study quasilinear elliptic equations with the nonlinearity modelled after the $p(x)$-Laplacian on nonsmooth domains and obtain sharp Calderón–Zygmund type estimates in the variable exponent setting. In a recent work of [12], the estimates obtained were strictly above the natural exponent and hence there was a gap between the natural energy estimates and estimates above $p(x)$, see (1.3) and (1.4). Here, we bridge this gap to obtain the end point case of the estimates obtained in [12], see (1.5). In order to do this, we have to obtain significantly improved a priori estimates below $p(x)$, which is the main contribution of this paper. We also improve upon the previous results by obtaining the estimates for a larger class of domains than what was considered in the literature.     

Focal fat deposition at liver MRI with gadobenate dimeglumine and gadoxetic acid: Quantitative and qualitative analysis

Objective

To evaluate the image findings of focal fat deposition (FFD) in the liver on gadobenate dimeglumine (Gd-BOPTA)- and gadoxetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced MRI, particularly during the hepatobiliary phase (HBP), and the relationship between relative enhancement (RE) and fat signal fraction (FSF) of FFD.

Subjects and Methods

Twenty-one patients with 27 FFDs (mean diameter, 21.9 mm), which showed low signal intensity on opposed-phase compared with in-phase MRI, were retrospectively evaluated. RE of the liver (RE_liver) and FFD (RE_FFD) and liver-to-lesion contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of FFD were measured on dynamic phases and HBP images with fat-saturated in-phase gradient-echo sequence. The FSF of each FFD was measured on in- and opposed-phase dual gradient-echo images. We qualitatively analyzed imaging findings of FFDs, including signal intensity, shape, margin, and homogeneity on HBP images, and enhancement pattern during dynamic phases. The correlations between RE_FFD and FSF and between CNR and FSF on HBP images were evaluated using Pearson’s correlation tests and a simple linear regression model.

Results

There were no significant differences between RE_FFD and RE_liver in dynamic phases and HBP, regardless of contrast agents (p ≥ 0.075). On HBP images, CNR (p = 0.008) but not RE_FFD (p = 0.122) was significantly correlated with FSF of FFDs (mean FSF, 19%). On HBP images, 21 of the 27 (77.8%) FFDs were hypointense, and 17 (63%) were homogeneous. Of the 21 hypointense FFDs, 12 (57.1%) had an ovoid shape and 11 (52.4%) were well margined. Although the 27 FFDs showed various enhancement patterns, 17 (63%) showed no enhancement.

Conclusion

Most FFDs appeared as hypointense lesions on Gd-BOPTA- and Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI during HBP, with various enhancement patterns during dynamic contrast-enhanced phases. RE_FFD on HBP images was not significantly correlated with FSF of low grade FFDs.     

Impact of substrate temperature and film thickness on the interfacial evolution during atomic layer deposition of HfO2 on InP

The effects of both the deposition temperature and the HfO₂ film thickness on the interfacial layer (IL) evolution were studied when tetrakis(ethylmethylamino)hafnium and H₂O based atomic layer deposition (ALD) was performed on InP substrates. While the self‐cleaning effect resulted in an IL‐free structure after formation of ～2 nm thick HfO₂ at 200 °C and 250 °C, substantial IL growth occurred at 300 °C, probably due to simultaneous InP oxidation. Following further growth to ～8 nm at 300 °C, the IL was almost removed and, in particular, a significant In incorporation into the HfO₂ film was observed, which was attributed to IL decomposition and subsequent out‐diffusion of the constituent elements. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

First asymmetric synthesis of 6-hydroxy-4-sphingenine-containing ceramides. Use of chiral propargylic alcohols to prepare a lipid found in human skin

6-Hydroxy-(4E)-sphingenine-containing ceramides were found recently in human skin. We present here the first synthesis of the 6S and 6R diastereoisomers 2 and 3, which represent analogues of (2S,3R)-ceramide (1) having two allylic hydroxyl groups. Chiral propargylic alcohols 8 and 11, which were prepared by asymmetric dihydroxylation of alpha,beta-unsaturated ester 13 and allylic chloride 22, respectively, were employed as precursors of 2 and 3. Nucleophilic addition of lithiated TBS-protected propargylic ethers 25 and 32 to l-serine-derived aldehyde 26, respectively, afforded oxazolidine intermediates 27 and 33. Acid-mediated deprotection of the oxazolidine, followed by N-acylation and Birch reduction, completed the syntheses of 2 and 3.     

Comparative effects of gamma irradiation and ozone treatment on hygienic quality of Korean red ginseng powder

For the purpose of improving hygienic quality of Korean red ginseng powder, the comparative effects of gamma irradiation and ozone treatment on the microbial and physicochemical properties were investigated. Gamma irradiation at 7.5 kGy resulted in sterilization of total aerobic bacteria, molds and coliforms below detective levels, while ozone treatment for 8 hours up to 18 ppm did not sufficiently eliminate the microorganisms of the red ginseng powder. Physicochemical properties including compositions of the red ginseng saponin (ginsenosides) and fatty acids, pH and hydrogen doanting activity were not significantly changed by gamma irradiation, whereas, ozone treatment caused significant changes in fatty acid compositions, TBA value, pH, acidity and hydrogen donating activity. The results from this study led us to conclude that gamma irradiation was more effective than ozone treatment both for the improvement of hygienic quality and for the maintenance of physicochemical quality of red ginseng powder.     

Improvement ofin vivoneutron activation analysis of Mn using a 4p NaI(Tl) detector array

Summary Manganese contents in hand phantoms were analyzed by in vivo neutron activation analysis using a 4p NaI(Tl) detector array. Solution-type phantoms with varying amount of Mn and fixed amounts of physiological normal elements (Na, Cl, Ca) were prepared in a cylindrical shape to simulate fisted hands and were irradiated with the ⁷Li(p,n) neutron beam. The proton energy and polyethlyene cavity were set at optimized conditions established before. The g-ray spectra were accumulated under the anticoincidence mode. The calibration was done both for the 847 keV full-energy peak area and for the total area of ⁵⁶Mn, which is defined as the total number of counts anywhere in the g-ray spectrum from ⁵⁶Mn. From the analysis of the 847 keV peak, the Mn detection limit has been improved by a factor of 1.6 compared to the previous feasibility test thanks to a significant gain in the g-ray detection efficiency. Further improvement by a factor of 1.2 was identified when the total area of ⁵⁶Mn was used for the calibration. The final sensitivity and detection limit for a 20 mSv hand dose reached 12,050 counts/mg Mn, and 86 mg, respectively. The overall improvement achieved in this study will be a considerable contribution toward realization of the clinical application.