Analytical Hartree–Fock wave functions for the atoms Cs to Lr

 Analytical approximations to Hartree–Fock wave functions are constructed using Slater-type functions for the ground states of all 49 neutral atoms from Cs (Z=55) to Lr (Z=103). The current compilation is more extensive and more accurate than previous ones. The wave functions are available upon request from the authors or from the Web page http://www.unb.ca/chem/ajit/download.htm on the Internet. Received: 6 December 1999 / Accepted: 29 February 2000 / Published online: 12 May 2000     

Ultraviolet-Laser-Induced Crystallization of Sol-Gel Derived Inorganic Oxide Films

Structural changes stimulated by ultraviolet (UV) laser irradiations of sol-gel derived inorganic oxide films were investigated. Dried gel films of TiO₂, Nb₂O₅, Ta₂O₅, SrTiO₃ and Pb(Zr _x Ti_1–x )O₃ (PZT) were found to be crystallized by the laser irradiation. On the other hand, the photo-induced change in gel films of BaTiO₃, LiNbO₃ and LiTaO₃ was not observed although the laser beams were absorbed in the films. These sol-gel films were thermally crystallized at almost the same temperature around 600–700°C except TiO₂. Thus, the UV-laser-induced crystallization is not directly ascribed to a simple thermal effect with the irradiation. Photochemical properties of the cations are assumed to be important for the change in sol-gel films.     

Solvent effects on radical homo- and copolymerizations of methacryloyl fluroride

The effect of solvent in homo- and copolymerizations of methacryloyl fluoride (MAF) was investigated in various aromatic solvents. In these solvents, there is a significant effect on the rate of polymerization, on the tacticity of the resulting poly(methacryloyl fluoride), and on the copolymerization of MAF with methyl methacrylate (MMA). The equilibrium constants between MAF and aromatic solvents were determined from NMR spectroscopic measurements. These results indicated that the solvent effect on the MAF polymerization stems from changes in reactivity of MAF induced by the strong MAF–solvent interaction as well as stabilization of the MAF radical by solvents. Copolymerization of MAF with both p-methoxystyrene (MSt) and p-nitrostyrene (NSt) was also studied.     

CesA protein is included in the terminal complex of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acetobacter</Emphasis>

Cellulose is a major biopolymer on the earth that is produced by cellulose synthase in the cell membrane of living organisms. Cellulose synthase is a hetero-subunit complex composed of several different protein subunits, and is visualized as a supermolecular complex called a “terminal complex” by electron microscopy. Such supermolecular organization of an enzyme complex is believed to be important for the fiber formation or crystallization of cellulose microfibrils in cellulose biosynthesis. In the case of the cellulose-producing bacterium Acetobacter, it is hypothesized that the enzyme complex includes at least six subunits given its genetic constitution. However, to date, only three of these molecules have been experimentally confirmed as the subunits included in the terminal complex: CesB, CesD, and ccp2. In this study, we used fluorescence immuno-microscopy to show that CesA protein, the catalytic subunit, is included in the terminal complex of Acetobacter. Furthermore we discuss the obtained microscopic data for improving our understanding of the molecular organization of the bacterial cellulose synthase complex.     

Evaluation of low-molecular gelatin as a pharmaceutical additive for rapidly absorbed oral dosage formulation

The dissolution behavior of ibuprofen from a kneaded mixture with low-molecular gelatin (LM gelatin) has been studied in comparison to kneaded mixtures prepared with other additives. Their in vivo absorption behaviors were also examined. The LM gelatin markedly enhanced the dissolution rate of ibuprofen compared to that with polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000, dextran T10 or pullulan. Oral administrations of the kneaded mixture to beagle dogs showed the LM gelatin to be most effective in accelerating the absorption rate of ibuprofen among the additives used.     

A facile synthesis of aliphatic polybenzoxazoles from a bis(o-aminophenol) or its hydrochloride and aliphatic dinitriles

A facile one-step method for the synthesis of aliphatic polybenzoxazoles has been developed. Thus, a series of aliphatic polybenzoxazoles having inherent viscosities of 0.2–0.7 dL/g in concentrated sulfuric acid were successfully synthesized by the melt polycondensation of alipatic dinitriles with 4,4′-diamino-3,3′-dihydroxybiphenyl (AHB) or its hydrochloride (AHB–HCl) with the elimination of ammonia or ammonium chloride, respectively. Monomer AHB–HCl was more reactive than the parent AHB, thereby affording higher molecular weight polybenzoxazoles in a shorter reaction time. The aliphatic polybenzoxazoles having 6–10 methylene units were highly crystalline with melting temperatures in the range of 187–308°C, which were stable up to 400°C in a melt state in nitrogen. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Radical-initiated homo- and copolymerization of cyanomethyl methacrylate

The kinetics of cyanomethyl methacrylate (CyMA) homopolymerization was investigated in acetonitrile with azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The rate of polymerization R_p was expressed by R_p = k[AIBN]^0.49[CyMA]^1.2 and the overall activation energy was calculated as 72.3 kJ/mol. Kinetic constants for CyMA polymerization were obtained as follows: k_p/k = 0.10 L^1/2s^?1/2; 2fk_d = 1.57 × 10^?5s^?. The relative reactivity ratios of CyMA(M₂) copolymerization with styrene (r₁ = 0.15, r₂ = 0.29) and methyl methacrylate (r₁ = 0.43, r₂ = 0.75) in acetonitrile were obtained. Applying the Q-e scheme (in styrene copolymerization) led to Q = 1.64 and e = 0.98. The glass transition temperature T_g of poly(CyMA) was observed to be 91°C by thermomechanical analysis. Thermogravimetry of poly(CyMA) showed a 10% weight loss at 265°C in air.     

Thermodynamic study on the interaction of imidazolium salts and POE-type nonionic surfactant in the adsorbed film

The composition of the adsorbed film and the excess Gibbs energy of adsorption $ {\widehat{g}}^{\mathrm{H},\mathrm{E}} $ were evaluated from thermodynamic analysis of surface tensions for the 1-decyl-3-methylimidazoulium bromide (C₁₀mimBr)–tetraethylene glycol monooctyl ether (C₈E₄) and 1-decyl-3-methyl-imidazolium tetrafluorobrorate (C₁₀mimBF₄)–C₈E₄ systems, where the counter anion of imidazolium salts is different from each other. The higher miscibility of two components compared to an ideal mixing and thus negative $ {\widehat{g}}^{\mathrm{H},\mathrm{E}} $ were observed in the former, which comes from the ion–dipole interaction between imidazolium cation and the oxyethylene group of C₈E₄. On the other hand, the lower miscibility and thus positive $ {\widehat{g}}^{\mathrm{H},\mathrm{E}} $ were observed for the latter. Such differences were attributed to that BF₄ ^? forms two hydrogen bonds and has stronger affinity with the cationic head group of C₁₀mim⁺ than Br^?. This results in that the ion–dipole interaction between C₈E₄ and C₁₀mim⁺ cation is diminished in the C₁₀mimBF₄–C₈E₄ system.     

Improved Synthesis,Structure, and Solution Characterization of the Cyclic 48-Tungsto-8-Arsenate(V), [H4As8W48O184]36−

We report on an improved synthesis and structural characterization of the cyclic 48-tungsto–8-arsenate(V) [H₄As₈W₄₈O₁₈₄]^36? (1). The mixed lithium–potassium salt of this polyanion, K_26.5Li_9.5[H₄As₈W₄₈O₁₈₄]·90H₂O (KLi-1), has been studied in the solid state by IR, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and elemental analysis, and in solution by ¹⁸³W NMR spectroscopy.     

Changes of plasma L-arginine levels in spontaneously hypertensive rats under induced hypotension

Nicardipine, a dihydropyridine type calcium channel blocker, was infused at two flow-rates into spontaneously hypertensive (SH) and control normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (young, 6-week-old and adult, 23-week-old, n = 5) under pentobarbital anesthesia, to cause hypotension. Mean arterial blood pressure and the concentrations of plasma amino acids and norepinephrine (NE) were measured before infusion and at each step of the infusion. The reduction in blood pressure caused by nicardipine induced a decrease in plasma L-arginine concentration in both young and adult SH rats, this effect being larger in adult rats. There was no significant change in plasma levels of L-arginine in age-matched WKY rats. The concentration of other amino acids did not change in both rat strains. On the contrary, there was an increase in plasma NE concentration in both SH and WKY rats after infusion with nicardipine. Plasma L-arginine concentration showed a good inverse correlation with the logarithm of plasma NE concentration in SH and WKY rats and the correlation was expressed as Y = -alpha log(X) + m (Y, plasma L-arginine concentration (nmol/mL); X, plasma NE concentration (pmol/mL); alpha, a slope; and m, an intercept). alpha, 43.0 and 4.35 for 23-week-old SH and WKY rats, respectively, and 17.0 and 4.0 for 6-week-old SH and WKY rats, respectively. The present data together with previous data suggest a direct noradrenergic stimulation of the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) from L-arginine. The findings also indicate an impairment of the L-arginine metabolism or pools in SH rats compared with WKY rats. The deficiency of L-arginine increases with the age of SH rats and could be related to the development and maintenance of hypertension due to inefficient production of NO.