The microstructure of di-alkyl chain cationic/nonionic surfactant mixtures: observation of coexisting lamellar and micellar phases and depletion induced phase separation

The evolution of the microstructure and composition occurring in the aqueous solutions of di-alkyl chain cationic/nonionic surfactant mixtures has been studied in detail using small angle neutron scattering, SANS. For all the systems studied we observe an evolution from a predominantly lamellar phase, for solutions rich in di-alkyl chain cationic surfactant, to mixed cationic/nonionic micelles, for solutions rich in the nonionic surfactant. At intermediate solution compositions there is a region of coexistence of lamellar and micellar phases, where the relative amounts change with solution composition. A number of different di-alkyl chain cationic surfactants, DHDAB, 2HT, DHTAC, DHTA methyl sulfate, and DISDA methyl sulfate, and nonionic surfactants, C12E12 and C12E23, are investigated. For these systems the differences in phase behavior is discussed, and for the mixture DHDAB/C12E12 a direct comparison with theoretical predictions of phase behavior is made. It is shown that the phase separation that can occur in these mixed systems is induced by a depletion force arising from the micellar component, and that the size and volume fraction of the micelles are critical factors.     

New thermal rearrangement of 2H-azirines: Formation of enamines and their cyclization into pyridines

Intermediary formation of enamines in the course of cyclization of vinyl nitrenes into 6-membered ring compounds showed that this reaction proceeded not by insertion but by consecutive hydrogen shift and electrocyclic reaction.     

Preparation of an Organized Film Composed of Polymers,Avidin, and Concanavalin A and Its Binding Properties

The multilayer thin films composed of polymers, avidin, and concanavalin A (Con A) were prepared on the surface of a quartz slide by alternate deposition of anionic and cationic polymers and the proteins. The loading of avidin and Con A in the film was evaluated spectroscopically by using Texas Red tagged avidin and Con A. Avidin molecules assembled in the film caused its binding activity toward biotin and analogue 2-(4′-hydroxyphenylazo)benzoic acid to be retained. The polymer layers contributed to improving stability of the protein film.

Polymer/Con A/avidin composite film on a solid surface.     

A Cell‐Targeted Non‐Cytotoxic Fluorescent Nanogel Thermometer Created with an Imidazolium‐Containing Cationic Radical Initiator

A cationic fluorescent nanogel thermometer based on thermo‐responsive N‐isopropylacrylamide and environment‐sensitive benzothiadiazole was developed with a new azo compound bearing imidazolium rings as the first cationic radical initiator. This cationic fluorescent nanogel thermometer showed an excellent ability to enter live mammalian cells in a short incubation period (10 min), a high sensitivity to temperature variations in live cells (temperature resolution of 0.02–0.84 °C in the range 20–40 °C), and remarkable non‐cytotoxicity, which permitted ordinary cell proliferation and even differentiation of primary cultured cells.     

Sit-to-walk Task in Hemiplegic Stroke Patients: Relationship between Movement Fluidity and the Motor Strategy in Initial Contact

Purpose: Generally, stroke patients can walk and stand up fluidly but fulfill the sit-to-walk (STW) task with difficulty. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between movement fluidity and motor strategy in the initial contact of the STW task. Method: Thirty stroke patients and ten healthy subjects performed the STW task from a sitting position, and their movement was measured by a motion analysis system. The differences in data between patients and healthy subjects were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test. The relationship between fluidity index (FI) and other indices (kinetic and kinematic data in STW, functional independence measure [FIM], and Fugl-Meyer Assessment [FMA]) were analyzed using Spearman''s rank correlation coefficient. Results: The stroke patients had lower FI values than the healthy subjects and exhibited shortened step length and prolonged duration from onset to the first stance leg off. FI values correlated with trunk flexure angle at initial contact, first step length, and maximum vertical floor reaction force. The independent level of the FIM of stair climbing and walking ability and the FMA of balance also correlated with FI. Conclusion: There is a possibility that poor balance is one of the reasons why stroke patients are unable to start walking fluently from the sitting position. To perform the STW fluidly, patients must start walking before the trunk extension is fully completed. The relationship between FI and indices of physical ability, namely stair climbing and balance, may have therapeutic benefits for coaching the STW task to stroke patients.     

Glycosides of 14,15-seco and 13,14:14,15-disecopregnanes from the roots of Cynanchum sublanceolatum

Thirty-two new 13,14-seco and 13,14:14,15-disecopregnane glycosides were obtained from the roots of Cynanchum sublanceolatum (Asclepiadaceae). These glycosides were confirmed to be possessing five known compounds, cynajapogenin A, glaucogenin-A, 13-hydroxycynajapogenin A, 2alpha-hydroxyanhydrohirundigenin, atratogenin A and one new pregnane, 13-epi-cynajapogenin A, as their aglycones, using both spectroscopic and chemical methods.     

Polarization in quasielastic (p,2p) scattering on a 4He nucleus at 1 GeV

The polarization of secondary protons from the (p, 2p) reaction induced by 1-GeV protons incident to a ⁴He nucleus was measured in a kinematically complete experiment. By using a two-arm magnetic spectrometer, two secondary protons from this reaction were recorded in coincidence at unequal scattering angles of Θ₁ = 18°?24.21° and Θ₂ = 53.22° over a broad range of the recoil-nucleus momentum K _B between 0 and 150 MeV/c. It was found that the measured polarization of either secondary proton is less than that observed in free elastic proton-proton scattering. The magnitude of this difference is determined by the mean binding energy of s-shell protons rather than by the effective nuclear density. The polarizations measured in inclusive quasielastic and elastic scattering of 1-GeV protons on ⁴He nuclei are presented for scattering angles in the range Θ₁ = 18° ? 24.21°.     

Theoretical study of Pt-Ng and Ng-Pt-Ng (Ng=Ar,Kr,Xe)

We have investigated the binding of noble-gas (Ng) atoms (Ng=Ar,Kr,Xe) with Pt atom by the ab initio coupled-cluster CCSD(T) method, taking into account the relativistic effects. It is shown that two Ng atoms can bind with Pt atom in linear geometry in the singlet lowest state where the second Ng atom attaches to Pt with the larger binding energy than the first Ng atom. The binding energy is evaluated as 8.2, 17.9, and 33.4 kcal/mol for Ar-Pt-Ar, Kr-Pt-Kr, and Xe-Pt-Xe, respectively, relative to the triplet ground state of the dissociation limit Pt ((3)D)+2Ng. The present results indicate that these Ng-Pt-Ng compounds are possible new gas-phase or matrix species.