Magnetic-field-induced Mott transition in a quasi-two-dimensional organic conductor

We investigated the effect of magnetic field on the highly correlated metal near the Mott transition in the quasi-two-dimensional layered organic conductor, kappa-(BEDT-TTF)(2)Cu[N(CN)(2)]Cl, by the resistance measurements under control of temperature, pressure, and magnetic field. It was demonstrated that the marginal metallic phase near the Mott transition is susceptible to the field-induced localization transition of the first order, as was predicted theoretically. The thermodynamic consideration of the present results gives a conceptual pressure-field phase diagram of the Mott transition at low temperatures.     

Proximity of pseudogapped superconductor and commensurate antiferromagnet in a quasi-two-dimensional organic system

We performed the single-crystal 13C NMR studies on a quasi-two-dimensional system, deuterated kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)(2)]Br, which is just on the border of the Mott transition. The NMR spectra are separated into two parts coming from the metallic (superconducting) and insulating phases due to the phase separation at low temperature. The examination of the separated spectra revealed that the Mott transition in this system is characterized by the first-order transition between the pseudogapped superconductor and the simplest commensurate antiferromagnet with a moment of 0.26 mu(B)/dimer.     

Mechanism of superfluid-insulator transition in two-dimensional Bose Hubbard model

To understand the mechanism of Mott transitions in case of no magnetic influence, superfluid-insulator (Mott) transitions are studied for the S = 0 Bose Hubbard model on the square lattice, using a variational Monte Carlo approach. In trial many-body wave functions, we introduce various types of attractive correlation factors between a doubly-occupied site (doublon, D) and an empty site (holon, H), which play a central role for the transition. We propose an improved picture of D–H binding; a Mott transition occurs when the D–H pair length becomes equivalent to the minimum D–D distance, which lengths are appropriately estimated. We confirm this picture is valid for all the wave functions with attractive D–H factors we consider, and point out it can be universal for nonmagnetic Mott transitions.     

Molecular dynamics simulations of bovine cathepsin B and its complex with CA074

To promote our better understanding of the dynamic stability of the bovine cathepsin B structure, which is characterized by an extra disulfide bond at Cys148-Cys252 from the other species, and of the binding stability of CA074 (a cathepsin B-specific inhibitor), molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for the enzyme and its CA074 complex, assuming a system in aqueous solution at 300 K. The MD simulation covering 400 ps indicated that the existence of a Cys148-Cys252 disulfide bond increases the conformational flexibility of the occluding loop, although the conformational stability of the overall structure is little affected. The structural characteristics of the complex elucidated by X-ray analysis were suggested to be also intrinsic and stable in the dynamic state; the hydrogen bonding/electrostatic interactions between the main and side chains of CA074 and the Sn and Sn' subsites of the enzyme were maintained throughout the MD simulation. Furthermore, the simulation made clear that the binding of CA074 significantly restricted the conformational flexibility of the substrate binding region, especially the occluding loop, of cathepsin B. Statistical analyses during the simulation suggest that the selectivity of CA074 for cathepsin B stems from the tight P1'-S1' and P2'-S2' interactions, assisted in particular by double hydrogen bonds between the carboxyl two oxygens of the CA074 C-terminus and the imidazole NH groups of His110 and His111 residues.     

Mono- and di-t-butyl substituted 2,2′-bis(1,3-dithia[3]ferrocenophane-2-ylidene) derivatives: TTF-like ferrocene analogs

Mono- and di-t-butyl substituted 2,2′-bis(1,3-dithia[3]ferrocenophane-2-ylidene) derivatives were prepared. These derivatives showed the E_1/2(1) in lower potential region than that of differrocenyl-ethene and -ethyne. Also, the ΔE_1/2 value declined according to the increase of a t-butyl group.     

Influence of melatonin on reproductive behavior in male rats.

The influence of melatonin on reproductive behavior was examined by administering it to pinealectomized male rats for 30 consecutive days. After the 30-d administration of melatonin or vehicle, each male rat was introduced into a female rat's cage on the day of proestrus and allowed to mate overnight. All rats administered the vehicle and the pinealectomized rats copulated; five of the twelve melatonin (8.0 mg/kg)-treated rats did not copulate. These findings suggest that melatonin inhibits the reproductive behavior of male rats.     

Radioactive nuclides in the marine environment--distribution and behaviour of 95Zr, 95Nb originated from fallout

To investigate behaviour of 95Zr, 95Nb in the marine environment, various samples have been collected and measured by means of Ge(Li) gamma-ray spectrometry and/or radiochemical analysis during a period from 1974 to 1982 at coastal area of Tokai-mura, Ibaraki prefecture. Concentration of the nuclides in seaweeds increased remarkably after atmospheric nuclear detonation by P.R. of China, and the activity ratio between the nuclides changed by time was not fit well by the transient decay equation. Concentration variation in sea water was smaller than that in sea weeds, and the minimum change in sea sediment. Increase of concentration in these environmental samples was observed in chronological order of sea water, sea weeds then sediment after detonations, suggesting that the uptake of the nuclides by these sea weeds from sea water is faster than that via root. Observed concentration factors on the nuclides by sea weeds were calculated from the observed concentrations in sea water and sea weeds. Maximum values on 95Zr and 95Nb were 2110, 2150, respectively for Ecklonia cava and Eisenia bicyclis.     

Enantioselective Friedel–Crafts Alkylation Reaction of Heteroarenes with N-Unprotected Trifluoromethyl Ketimines by Means of Chiral Phosphoric Acid

An enantioselective Friedel–Crafts alkylation reaction of pyrroles and indoles with N-unprotected trifluoromethyl ketimines by use of chiral phosphoric acid provided α-trifluoromethylated primary amines bearing chiral tetrasubstituted carbon centers in high yields and with high to excellent enantioselectivities. The present reaction is unique to N-unprotected trifluoromethyl ketimines. No reaction took place with N-p-methoxyphenyl (PMP)-substituted ketimine. Corresponding α-trifluoromethylated amines were transformed without loss of enantioselectivity.     

The synthesis and properties of ferroceno[1′,2′;1″,2″]bis(1,3-dithiol-2-thione and -2-one) derivatives

The t-butyl and bis(t-butyl) derivatives of hexathia[3.3]ferrocenophane were prepared from the corresponding trithia[3]ferrocenophanes. The former was a mixture of chair-chair and chair-boat isomers, and the latter existed only chair-boat isomer. The hexathia[3.3]ferrocenophanes were led to the tetrathiols with LiAlH₄, which allowed to react with 1,1′-thiocarbonyldiimidazol to give the corresponding ferroceno[1′,2′;1″,2″]bis(1,3-dithiol-2-thione) derivatives. Mono t-butyl and unsubstituted analogs were prepared in a similar manner. The X-ray structural determination showed that these derivatives adopted the conformation in which the 1,3-dithiol-2-thione rings were heaped on top of each other. In the crystal of ferroceno[1′,2′;1″,2″]bis(1,3-dithiol-2-thione), the molecules packed so as to put the axis of molecule in order and to overlap one another above and below. The desulfurizative coupling of the ferroceno[1′,2′;1″,2″]bis(1,3-dithiol-2-thione) derivatives was unsuccessful.