Important role of molecular permanent dipoles of the Alq3/Al interface studied from first-principles

We have studied the atomic geometries and electronic properties of the tris-(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (Alq₃)/Al interface using density functional calculations. The calculated interface dipoles agree reasonably well with the experiments and the origin of the interface dipole formation mainly comes from the alignment of the permanent dipoles of Alq₃ molecules. The HOMO levels of the Alq₃ molecules significantly depend on the orientation of the molecular permanent dipoles and the interfacial gap state observed by experiments is ascribed to the co-existence of the two orientations of the molecular dipoles.     

Cyclopolymerization of diallylamine derivatives in dimethyl sulfoxide

Diallyl quaternary ammonium chlorides, bromides and N-alkyldiallylamine hydrochlorides were polymerized with ammonium persulfate (APS) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). The dependences of yield and molecular weight of polymers on polymerization conditions were examined and quaternary ammonium chlorides were found to have better polymerizability than bromides. The poly(diallyl quaternary ammonium chlorides) obtained with APS—DMSO system are expected to have quite high molecular weights, as determined from the measurement of limiting viscosity numbers of the polymers in NaCl aqueous solution.     

Studies on the syntheses of hydrogenated quinolines and isoquinolines as analgesics—XVII The steric structure of N-methyl-8-aza-des-N-morphinan

The configuration of positions 13 and 14 in N-methyl-8-aza-des-N-morphinan has been investigated. Potassium t-but-oxide in t-butanol converts N-acetyl-10-oxo-8-aza-des-N-morphinan (XVI) into 10-hydroxy-8,10-(-oxo-ethano)-8-aza-des-N-morphinan (XVII). Formation of these new lactams is possible only when rings B and C are cis. It follows, therefore, that 8-aza-des-N-morphinan synthesized in this investigation has B/C in cis and C/D in trans positions the same as the steric structure of morphinan (M).     

Dual-basis orthonormality-constrained variation method

The method of orthonormality-constrained variation is extended using a dual-basis set instead of a single orthonormal basis. The complete and the partial variation methods are discussed and applied to electronic systems. It is found that the present formulation leads to the most general equation in the coupling operator method.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of new guaiane type sesquiterpene from Wikstroemia indica

In our investigation of in vitro anti-allergic screening of medicinal herbal extracts, the ethyl acetate extract of the root of Wikstroemia indica was observed to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) production in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and recombinant mouse interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) activated murine macrophage-like cell line, RAW 264.7. Fractionation of the active extract led to the isolation of one new guaiane type sesquiterpene, indicanone (1), and two known biflavonoids, sikokianin B (2) and sikokianin C (3). 1 inhibited NO production with IC50 values at 9.3 microM and also inhibit the inducible nitric oxide synhase (iNOS) gene expression. This is the first report of NO production inhibitory activity of Wikstroemia indica and supports the pharmacological use of it, which has been employed as an herbal medicine for the treatment of inflammation.     

Application and limitation of a mathematical distortion model of an absorbance signal in electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry

A distortion model of instrumental function is described, based on the response signal. Its limitations are investigated by using quasi-signals generated by an oscillator and a moving carbon rod.     

Periodate oxidation analysis of carbohydrates: Part IV. Simultaneous determination of aldehydes in di-aldehyde fragments as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones by thin-layer or liquid chromatography

A method for the simultaneous determination of aldehydes in dialdehyde fragments, obtained from carbohydrate samples by periodate oxidation, is proposed. Reaction mixtures obtained from the periodate oxidation of carbohydrate samples are deionized by resins, and evaporated to dryness. The syrupy residues are treated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine hydrochloride in 1.2-dimethoxyethane at 25°C for 3 h. The resultant mixtures of hydrazones are separated by t.l.c. or l.c., and individual hydrazones are determined by spectrophotometric measurement. Reliable analyses of carbohydrate linkages are possible with 50–250-μg samples.     

Vertical and direct integration of heterojunction phototransistors and laser diodes

An optoelectronic integrated device based on the concept of vertical and direct integration is described. Four types of integrated devices composed of multiple heterojunction phototransistors and laser diodes are developed and the devices successfully achieve thirteen functions: optical switching, amplification, thresholding, bistability, light-controlled optical bistability, light-controlled optical thresholding, tristability, set and reset functions in tristable states, set and reset functions in tetrastable states, and bistable and tristable flip-flop functions.     

The Weight-Bearing Rate on the Paretic Limb of Cerebrovascular Hemiplegic Patients Necessary for an Independent Obstacle Negotiation Gait

Purpose: The obstacle negotiation gait (ONG) is a fundamental activity of daily living. In cerebrovascular hemiplegic patients (stroke patients), the weight-bearing rate (WBR) on the paretic limb necessary for an independent ONG was studied. Methods: One hundred and seventeen stroke patients were involved. The patients'' average age at the time of the study was 67 years, and the average time from stroke onset was 102 days. There were 68 men and 49 women. Seventy patients were right hemiplegics, and 47 were left hemiplegics. The correlations between ONG and age, sex, body mass index (BMI), time from stroke onset, muscle strength of both the paretic and non-paretic limbs, Brunnstrom stage of the lower limbs, deep sensation, and the WBR on both the paretic and non-paretic limbs were studied. Patients who could perform ONG independently and safely were categorized as the independent group (IG), and those who needed observation or any assistance were categorized as the dependent group (DG). Results: The BMI, muscle strength of both the paretic and non-paretic limbs, Brunnstrom stage of the lower limbs, deep sensation and the WBR for both the paretic and non-paretic limbs were significantly different between the IG and DG groups. In particular, the WBR on the paretic limb was found to correlate significantly with the ONG, and a WBR value of 80.5% on the paretic limb gave a clear cut-off value. Conclusion: Although multiple factors influenced the ONG of stroke patients, the WBR on the paretic limb was the most influential.