One step synthesis of 2-substituted 3-tri-(or di-)fluoromethyl-2-propenals in an ionic liquid

Investigation of one step synthesis of 2-substituted 3-tri-(or di-)fluoromethyl-2-propenals has been carried out using versatile aldehydes, tri- or di-fluoroacetaldehyde ethyl hemiacetal in the presence of diethylaminotrimethylsilane (DEATMS) in an ionic liquid, and it was demonstrated that this route enabled us to successfully construct 2-substituted 3-tri-(or di-)fluoromethyl-2-propenals with the high level selectivity of geometric isomers.     

Infraglottic aspect of canine vocal fold vibration: Effect of increase of mean airflow rate and lengthening of vocal fold

The mucosal upheaval (MU), where the mucosal wave starts and propagates upward, appears only when the vocal fold vibrates. The location of the MU histologically and the effect of changes in mean air flow rate (MFR) and vocal fold length on occurrence of the MU were studied in twelve excised canine larynges. The lower surface of the vocal fold was marked to serve as a landmark for subsequent study. Cricothyroid approximation was performed to lengthen the vocal fold. After taking high-speed pictures or recording stroboscopic images from the tracheal side, a small cut wound was made at the mark. This wound served to compare the position of the MU with the histologically identified location of the mark. The larynx was then sectioned in the frontal plane. Before lengthening the vocal fold, the MU occurred on the area where the lamina propria became thinner and where the muscular layer neared the epithelial layer. After lengthening the vocal fold, the MU actually shifted medially compared with its original position. The subglottic area surrounded by the bilateral MUs became longer and thinner. Whether or not complete glottal closure during a vibratory cycle was achieved did not alter these findings. In contrast, with a fixed vocal fold length the MU appeared more laterally as MFR increased, but, based on the relation with the mark, its location on the vocal fold did not change from its original position before increase of MFR.     

Analysis of the reactivity of materials having two different kinds of functional groups using the A″-McKay plot method

The hydrogen-isotope exchange reaction between HTO vapor (as a gaseous material) andp-aminophenol (or -alanine) (as a solid material) having two different kinds of functional groups, has been studied to reveal the reactivity of the compounds. The reaction has been analyzed by the A-McKay plot method and the rate constants (k) for each group have been obtained. Comparison ofk leads to the following: (1) the effect of the NH₂ group inp-aminophenol on the reactivity is greater than that in -alanine, and (2) the reactivity of compounds having two different kinds of functional groups can be analyzed by the A-McKay plot method only.     

Motor protein nano-biomachine powered by self-supplying ATP

A new nano-biomachine has been created from microtubules (MTs) and hetero-bifunctional polymer particles bearing pyruvate kinase, which is propelled on glass surfaces coated with kinesin by use of self-supplying ATP.     

Backward Terahertz Radiation from a Two-Color Femtosecond Laser Filament

A change in the quasistatic magnetic susceptibility in thin plates of iron borate (FeBO₃), which is a weak ferromagnet, has been revealed at adsorption of water molecules. The measurements have been performed at room temperature with the use of the magneto-optical Faraday effect. The change of the susceptibility in saturated water vapors is about 30%. The observed effect is reversible. The time of establishing the susceptibility after the introduction of water vapors is 1.5 min, which is twice as large as the time of establishing the susceptibility after the evacuation. The effect is explained by the appearance of uniaxial surface magnetic anisotropy in the basal plane because of the adsorption of water molecules.     

VLS Growth of ITO Whiskers Prepared by the Electron Shower Method

Indium tin oxide (ITO) whiskers were grown by VLS (vapour-liquid-solid) mechanism, using the electron shower method. The whiskers were grown above 200 °C, and the deposition rate was above 0.6 nm/s. The electron shower controlled the size of the whiskers, and the size was 30 nm in diameter and 600 nm in length. The whiskers grew along the substrate at t < 300 s, but grew in a direction perpendicular to the substrate at t > 300 s. When the ITO whiskers grown along the substrate were used as NO₂ gas sensor, the sensitivity was 340, and about 300 times higher than those of the whiskers grown in a direction perpendicular to the substrate and plate-like ITO crystallites.     

Novel family of low molecular weight hydrogelators based on L-lysine derivatives

New L-lysine derivatives with a positively charged terminal can gel water below 1 wt%; particularly, 1a and 2a form a hydrogel at 0.3 wt% corresponding to approximately 12,300 and 12,500 waters/gelator molecule, respectively.     

Chilling resistances of isolates of Pythium ultimum var. ultimum from the Arctic and Temperate Zones

Chilling resistances in moss pathogenic fungi, Pythium ultimum var. ultimum, from Longyearbyen, Svalbard (78 degree N, 15 degree E), located in the Arctic Zone and in the same isolates from Temperate Zone, were determined. Both strains had similar optimum growth temperatures. However, the strains from Svalbard could grow and survive at 0 - 5 degrees C. In addition, chilling treatment induced irregular mycelial morphology in the Arctic isolates. On the other hand, the isolates from Japan did not grow at temperatures below 5C and were destroyed after chilling stress (0 degree C for 3 days or at 4 degrees C for 1 week). The results suggested that isolates from Svalbard highly adapted to the severe spring condition in Polar environments.     

In situ organogelation at room temperature: direct synthesis of gelators in organic solvents

Organogels are formed through a conventional organogelation involving a heating process and an in situ organogelation at room temperature. The conventional organogelation is carried out by dissolution of gelators by heating, while the in situ organogelation is performed by mixing of highly reactive methyl 2,6-diisocyanatohexanoate (LDI) or 2-isocyanatoethyl 2,6-diisocyanatohexanoate (LTI) and alkylamines. The in situ organogelation produced the organogels within several seconds after mixing. The organogels prepared by the in situ organogelation showed quite similar FT-IR spectra and SEM photographs to those formed by conventional organogelation. Moreover, the in situ organogelation using LTI and octylamine as well as dodecylamine produced organogels of acetone, ethyl acetate, and acetonitrile that gelators 5 and 6 cannot gel through conventional organogelation.