Characterization of Ultrathin Films of Cellulose Esters

The adsorption of cellulose acetate (CA), cellulose acetate propionate (CAP) and cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) from solutions prepared in acetone onto silicon wafers led to ultrathin films, which were characterized by ellipsometry, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and contact angle measurements. The polysaccharides films were characterized in the air just after their formation and after annealing at temperatures higher than their glass transition temperature or melt temperature. The films thickness close to 2 nm and surface roughness did not vary significantly upon annealing. AFM images revealed the presence of small clumps dispersed on a homogeneous layer, which covered completely the Si wafers. Such topographic details were also observed after annealing. However, upon annealing the films surfaces changed from hydrophilic to hydrophobic, evidencing molecular re-orientation at the solid–air interface. The adhesion of bovine serum albumin (BSA) and lipase onto the cellulose esters films was quantified in order to evaluate the possibility of applying such films as selective support for biomolecules.     

Adsorption characteristics of radionuclides on nickel hexacyanoferrate(ii)

The composition of nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) complexes depends on the ratios of sodium hexacyanoferrate(II) and nickel nitrate solutions mixed. The adsorption behavior of nickel hexacyanoferrate(II) is described; acid treatment of Ni₂Fe(CN)₆ accelerates the adsorption rate of cesium, but does not increase the adsorption capacity. The Ni—Cs exchange ratios of Ni₂Fe(CN)₆ are discussed. In concentrated salt solutions, the distribution coefficients of ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁰Co, ⁶⁵Zn. ¹³⁷Cs, ⁹⁵Zr and ¹⁴⁴Ce are determined together with those of ⁸⁵Sr and ¹⁰⁶Ru. A simple determination of ¹³⁷Cs in sea water containing ⁵⁹Fe, ⁶⁰Co, ⁶⁵Zn, ⁹⁵Zr, ¹⁴⁴Ce, ⁸⁵Sr and ¹⁰⁶Ru is described.     

Medicinal flowers. VI. Absolute stereostructures of two new flavanone glycosides and a phenylbutanoid glycoside from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L.: their inhibitory activities for rat lens aldose reductase

Two new flavanone glycosides, (2S)- and (2R)-eriodictyol 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranosiduronic acids, and a new phenylbutanoid glycoside, (2S, 3S)-1-phenyl-2,3-butanediol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, were isolated from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L. cultivated in China together with eight flavonoids. The absolute stereostructures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Both of the new flavanone glycosides were found to show inhibitory activity for rat lens aldose reductase.     

Bioactive constituents from Chinese natural medicines. XIV. New glycosides of beta-carboline-type alkaloid, neolignan, and phenylpropanoid from Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata and their antiallergic activities

A new beta-carboline-type alkaloidal glycoside, glucodichotomine B, four new neolignan glycosides, dichotomosides A, B, C, and D, and a new phenylpropanoid glycoside, dichotomoside E, were isolated from a Chinese natural medicine, the roots of Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata. The structures of the new glycosides were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Among them, dichotomoside D inhibited the release of beta-hexosaminidase (IC(50)=64 microM) as well as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-4 (IC(50)=16, 34 microM) in RBL-2H3 cells. These findings suggest that dichotomoside D is more effective against the late-phase reactions in type I allergy than in the immediate phase.     

Electron spin resonance study on polymerization of alkyl acrylates with n-butyl titanate(IV)–triethylaluminum catalyst

n-Butyl titanate(IV)–triethylaluminum catalyst at Al/Ti molar ratios greater than 6 polymerizes methyl and n-butyl acrylates at ?78°C. The polymerization system which includes methyl acrylate at ?78°C, gives two ESR signals with g factors of 1.958 and 1.961 that overlap each other. The absorption intensity of the latter signal is approximately proportional to the polymer chain concentration calculated from polymer yield and the molecular weight. The polymerization system at Al/Ti ratios smaller than 3 has no catalytic activity on the polymerization and shows only the ESR signal with the g factor of 1.958. On the basis of these facts the ESR signal with the g factor of 1.961 is attributed to the active growing end of poly(methyl acrylate) with this catalyst. The character of this active growing end is discussed.     

Thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene in shock waves

The thermal decomposition of vinylacetylene (C₄H₄) was studied behind reflected shock waves using both a single-pulse method (reaction time between 0.8 and 3.3 ms) and a time-resolved UV-absorption method (230 nm). The studies were done over the temperature range of 1170–1690 K at the total pressure range of 1.3–2.3 atm. The mechanism was used to interpret both the early and late stages of vinylacetylene decomposition at the high temperatures. It was confirmed that C₄H₄ dissociation proceeded through the following three channels. The rate constant expression of reaction (1) was determined as k₁ = 6.3 × 10¹³ exp(?87.1 kcal/RT) s^?1. The rate constants of the succeeding reactions (chain reaction, C₄H₄ + H → i-C₄H₃ + H₂ and C₄H₄ + H → C₂H₂ + C₂H₃ and decomposition reactions of free radicals, i-C₄H₃ + M → C₄H₂ + H + M) were confirmed or estimated. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Investigation of transitions and relaxation processes in polystyrene by using positron annihilation

The glass transition and relaxation processes in polystyrene resins with the number average molecular weight ranging from 7.0·10² to 9.8·10⁴ were studied with the positron annihilation technique. The pick-off annihilation lifetime of ortho-positronium (₃) and its intensity (I ₃) were measured in the temperature range from 20 to 430 K. The glass transition temperature (T _g) was determined as an onset temperature coefficient of ₃.T _g shows the molecular weight dependence in these samples. BelowT _g, local motions were detected by measurements ofI ₃. The local motions could be observed above 100 K in this experiment.I ₃ show the minimum at around 250 K and it does not show molecular weight dependence.     

Signals for scalar top quark atep collider HERA

In the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) and theR-parity breaking model (RBM), we investigate production processes of the scalar top (stop) at HERA energies. These models are characterized by the possible existence of the light stop whose mass is lighter than those of the top quark and the other squarks. It is shown that in the MSSM the stop pair production via boson-gluon fusion gives a sizeable cross section and the most serious background $ep \to ec\bar cX$ could be suppressed by appropriate kinematical cuts. We also show that in the RBM the stop is singly produced in the neutral current processes and we have a clear signal as a sharp peak in the Bjorken parameterx distribution of the scattered electron.