Tissue surface tension measurement by rigorous axisymmetric drop shape analysis

Certain behaviours of embryonic cell aggregates can be modelled by ascribing to them a tissue surface tension, with each cell analogous to a liquid molecule. Under normal gravity, aggregates are nearly spherical, but they can be partially flattened in a centrifuge. This allows measurement of their tissue surface tensions by a drop shape method such as axisymmetric drop shape analysis (ADSA). We study ectodermal embryonic cells from the frog Xenopus laevis subjected to centrifugation at 100 × g and 200 × g. We show that ADSA can be applied to irregular aggregate profiles and compare results with those from a previous, simpler version called ADSA-IP. With a modification in the experimental method, the two algorithms give similar results and the aggregate profiles more closely follow Laplacian curves. The ADSA fitting error allows an estimate of the relative uncertainty in the results.     

Proton donor–acceptor property of matrix during the sol–gel reaction

The UV–VIS absorption spectrum of thymol blue (TB), which was used for an in situ probe for the proton donor–acceptor property of the surrounding matrix, has been observed as a function of time during the sol–gel–xerogel reactions of tetraethyl orthosilicate under HCl catalyzed and uncatalyzed conditions. The value of relative abundance, RA _Z , of zwitter ion species was calculated. In the ethanol-containing system, RA _Z increased for 7 h, then decreased until 114 h had passed, and finally increased gradually. These dynamic changes of the RA _Z were commonly observed for all the systems. The final RA _Z values were expected larger than 0.7 irrespective of the initial chemical composition. The characteristic increase and decrease in RA _Z are ascribed to the increase and decrease in proton-donating ability from the surrounding matrix to encapsulated TB molecules. A general acidity function, H ₋, of the matrix was estimated.     

A new family of spin crossover complexes with a tripod ligand containing three imidazoles: synthesis, characterization, and magnetic properties of [FeIIH3LMe](NO3)2.1.5H2O, [FeIIILMe].3.5H2O, [FeIIH3LMe][FeIILMe]NO3, and [FeIIH3LMe][FeIIILMe](NO3)2 (H3LMe) = Tris[2-(((2-methylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine)

A new family of spin crossover complexes, [Fe(II)H(3)L(Me)](NO(3))(2).1.5H(2)O (1), [Fe(III)L(Me)].3.5H(2)O (2), [Fe(II)H(3)L(Me)][Fe(II)L(Me)]NO(3) (3), and [Fe(II)H(3)L(Me)][Fe(III)L(Me)](NO(3))(2) (4), has been synthesized and characterized, where H(3)L(Me) denotes a hexadentate N(6) tripod ligand containing three imidazole groups, tris[2-(((2-methylimidazol-4-yl)methylidene)amino)ethyl]amine. It was found that the spin and oxidation states of the iron complexes with this tripod ligand are tuned by the degree of deprotonation of the imidazole groups and by the 2-methyl imidazole substituent. Magnetic susceptibility and M?ssbauer studies revealed that 1 is an HS-Fe(II) complex, 2 exhibits a spin equilibrium between HS and LS-Fe(III), 3 exhibits a two-step spin transition, where the component [Fe(II)L(Me)](-) with the deprotonated ligand participates in the spin transition process in the higher temperature range and the component [Fe(II)H(3)L(Me)](2+) with the neutral ligand participates in the spin transition process in the lower temperature range, and 4 exhibits spin transition of both the Fe(II) and Fe(III) sites. The crystal structure of 3 consists of homochiral extended 2D puckered sheets, in which the capped tripodlike components [Fe(II)H(3)L(Me)](2+) and [Fe(II)L(Me)](-) are alternately arrayed in an up-and-down mode and are linked by the imidazole-imidazolate hydrogen bonds. Furthermore, the adjacent 2D homochiral sheets are stacked in the crystal lattice yielding a conglomerate as confirmed by the enantiomeric circular dichorism spectra. Compounds 3 and 4 showed the LIESST (light induced excited spin state trapping) and reverse-LIESST effects upon irradiation with green and red light, respectively.     

Nature of copper(II)-lanthanide(III) magnetic interactions and generation of a large magnetic moment with magnetic anisotropy of 3d-4f cyclic cylindrical tetranuclear complexes [CuIILLnIII(hfac)2]2, (H3L = 1-(2-hydroxybenzamido)-2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylideneamino)ethane and Hhfac = hexafluoroacetylacetone,LnIII = Eu,Gd, Tb,Dy)

A cyclic cylindrical 3d-4f tetranuclear structure, in which the 3d and 4f magnetic ions are arrayed alternately, has been found to be a suitable molecular design to produce a large magnetic moment and large magnetic anisotropy. Complexes 3-10 with the chemical formula [MLLn(hfac)2]2 ((MII, LnIII) = (Cu, Eu) (3), (Cu, Gd) (4), (Cu, Tb) (5), (Cu, Dy) (6), (Ni, Eu) (7), (Ni, Gd) (8), (Ni, Tb) (9), (Ni, Dy) (10)) have been synthesized, where H3L = 1-(2-hydroxybenzamido)-2-(2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylideneamino)ethane and Hhfac = hexafluoroacetylacetone. The powder X-ray diffractions and FAB-mass spectra demonstrated that these complexes assume a similar tetranuclear structure. The crystal structures of 4 and 5 showed that each complex has a cyclic cylindrical tetranuclear CuII2LnIII2 structure, in which the CuII complex functions as a "bridging ligand-complex" to two adjacent LnIII ions. The temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibilities from 2 to 300 K and the field-dependent magnetizations at 2 K from 0 to 5 T have been measured for four pairs of CuII2LnIII2 and NiII2LnIII2, in which compound NiII2LnIII2 containing diamagnetic NiII ion was used as the reference complex to evaluate the CuII-LnIII magnetic interaction. Comparison of the magnetic properties of the CuII2LnIII2 complex with those of the corresponding NiII2LnIII2 complex showed that the magnetic interaction between CuII and EuIII ions is weakly ferromagnetic and that between CuII and either of GdIII, TbIII, and DyIII ions is ferromagnetic. Complex CuII2GdIII2, 4, has an S = 8 spin ground state, due to the ferromagnetic spin coupling between SGd = 7/2 and SCu = 1/2 with coupling constants of J1 = +3.1 cm-1 and J2 = +1.2 cm-1. The magnetic measurements showed that compounds 5 and 6, CuII2LnIII2 (LnIII = Tb, Dy), exhibit large magnetic moments and large magnetic anisotropy due to the LnIII ion.     

Degradation and isomerization of 1,2-dichloroethenes by photocatalytic reactions

The photocatalytic degradation and isomerization of trans- and cis-1,2-dichloroethenes (1,2-DCEs) by TiO₂ photocatalyst have been investigated using gas chromatography. The reaction half-life of 1,2-DCEs in nitrogen was longer than in dry air and oxygen, and the initial concentration of them affects the extent of the isomerization. The results indicate that the oxygen molecule and chlorine atoms play an important role in the degradation and isomerization of 1,2-DCE. It is also apparent that the photocatalytic degradation of 1,2-DCEs occurs on the TiO₂ surface.     

β−-Decay effect on the proton movement in the pyridine–pyrrole hydrogen-bonded system

The potential-energy curves for the movement of proton along the hydrogen-bond direction were calculated for the parent and cations produced from the β^? decay of pyridine-pyrrole labeled by tritium (³H) or carbon-14(¹⁴C). For all cations the double minimum potential is predicted to be formed, and the activation energy for the proton transfer from one well to the other is about 10.0 kcal/mol, which is much lower than that in the (NH₂? H? NH₂)⁺ ion. A positional effect of nuclear transformation is scarcely expected in ³H β^? decay, whereas a slight positional effect may be expected in ¹⁴C β^? decay.     

Synthesis and polymerization of a novel perfluorinated monomer

Perfluoro(5-methylene-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane) (1) was synthesized by utilizing a direct fluorination reaction. Compound 1 was an entirely novel monomer with difluoromethylene at position 5 on the dioxolane ring as an unprecedented polymerization site. It successfully polymerized with tetrafluoroethylene to afford copolymers, which had T_g values in the range of 60-90 °C. The content of monomer 1 in the obtained polymers was less than 20 mol%, which seemed insufficient for giving various unique properties to polymers. However, each polymer was expected to be a superior material because of their advanced thermal stability. Comparison with copolymers of 2,2-bis(trifluoromethyl)-4,5-difluoro-1,3-dioxole and tetrafluoroethylene is also discussed.     

Visible‐Light Sensitization and Photoenergy Storage in Quantum Dot/Polyoxometalate Systems

Recently, the process by which energy is transferred from photoexcited semiconductor nanocrystals, called quantum dots (QDs), to other semiconductors has attracted much attention and has potential application in solar energy conversion (i.e., QD‐sensitized solar cells). Sensitization of wide band gap polyoxometalates (POMs) to visible light by using CuInS₂ QDs dispersed in an organic solution is demonstrated herein. Photoluminescence quenching and lifetime studies revealed efficient electron transfer from the CuInS₂ QDs to POMs, such as SiW₁₂O₄₀ and W₁₀O₃₂, that were hybridized with a cationic surfactant. CuInS₂ QDs function as an antenna that absorbs visible light and supplies electrons to the POMs to enable certain photocatalytic reactions, including noble‐metal‐ion reduction. The photoenergy storage capabilities of the QD‐POM system, in which electrons photogenerated in QDs by visible‐light excitation are trapped and accommodated by POMs to form reduced POM, are also demonstrated. Electrons stored in the POM can be later discharged through reductive reactions, such as oxygen reduction, in the dark.     

Echinopines A and B: sesquiterpenoids possessing an unprecedented skeleton from Echinops spinosus

Echinopines A (1) and B (2), novel sesquiterpenoids with an unprecedented rearranged skeleton named echinopane, were isolated from the roots of Echinops spinosus. The structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis. The relative configuration of 1 was assigned by a combination of NOESY correlations and a simulation analysis. A plausible biosynthetic pathway for echinopane was discussed.