Design of one-dimensional ferromagnet based on polyacetylene chain

As a model for organic ferromagnetism in a one-dimensional system, substituted polyacetylenes are re-considered on the basis of the molecular orbital (MO) and the crystal orbital (CO) methods. The semiempirical MO calculations with configuration interaction for the dimer model show that the exchange interaction on poly[(4-oxyphenyl)acetylene] (1) is negative in spite of Ovchinnikov's prediction, due to the direct interaction between the adjacent pendant spins. On the other hand, it is shown that a polyacetylene chain with phenoxy radicals as pendants on every other active site can become a one-dimensional feromagnet. Moreover, the CO calculations by means of the unrestricted Hartree-Fock method give a theoretical background for the realization of a ground state with macroscopic spin alignment on the improved model chain.     

Hydrolysis of human horny cells by alkaline protease: Morphological observation of the process

The interaction of highly purified alkaline protease fromBacillus sp. KSM-K16 with the horny cells of human skin contained in skin grime was directly visualized by electron microscopy. It became clear that the protease first penetrates the horny cells and then adsorbs, mainly onto the internal structure of the cells at the initial stage of hydrolysis, and directly hydrolyzes the keratin filaments, though the marginal band surrounding them retains its original shape. Then, hydrolysate produced from the keratin filaments flows out of the cell, and early in the hydrolysis process keratin filaments decrease and then disappear, leaving a marginal band, i.e., the cell turns to a hollow state. As a result, the remaining marginal band loses support from inside the cell, thus promoting cleavage and dispersion. Until this stage in the protease reaction, the remarkable liberation of hydrolysis products as water-soluble protein does not occur.     

Hydrogen adsorption on graphene foam synthesized by combustion of sodium ethoxide

Hydrogen storage is a crucial technology for the realization of a carbon-neutral society. However, few materials have been able to approach useful hydrogen storage capacity at reasonable temperatures and pressures. Graphene has an extremely high surface-area-to-weight ratio, is strong, cheap, chemically inert, and environmentally benign. As such it may be an ideal substrate for hydrogen storage. Here we present synthesis of graphene foam by combustion of sodium ethoxide. This technique is low-cost, scalable, and results in a three-dimensional graphene network with a surface area of more than 1200 m²/g. It is applied as a hydrogen storage material at liquid nitrogen temperature, with a capacity of 2.1 wt%.     

Correlations of Hepatic Hemodynamics,Liver Function,and Fibrosis Markers in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Comparison with Chronic Hepatitis Related to Hepatitis C Virus

The progression of chronic liver disease differs by etiology. The aim of this study was to elucidate the difference in disease progression between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) by means of fibrosis markers, liver function, and hepatic tissue blood flow (TBF). Xenon computed tomography (Xe-CT) was performed in 139 patients with NAFLD and 152 patients with CHC (including liver cirrhosis (LC)). The cutoff values for fibrosis markers were compared between NAFLD and CHC, and correlations between hepatic TBF and liver function tests were examined at each fibrosis stage. The cutoff values for detection of the advanced fibrosis stage were lower in NAFLD than in CHC. Although portal venous TBF (PVTBF) correlated with liver function tests, PVTBF in initial LC caused by nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH-LC) was significantly lower than that in hepatitis C virus (C-LC) (p = 0.014). Conversely, the liver function tests in NASH-LC were higher than those in C-LC (p < 0.05). It is important to recognize the difference between NAFLD and CHC. We concluded that changes in hepatic blood flow occurred during the earliest stage of hepatic fibrosis in patients with NAFLD; therefore, patients with NAFLD need to be followed carefully.     

Gene expression within cell-sized lipid vesicles

Functional protein synthesis was observed in cell-sized lipid vesicles following encapsulation of a gene-expression system. Expression of rsGFP (red-shifted green fluorescent protein) within individual vesicles was observed by fluorescence microscopy. Interestingly, at the early stage of the reaction, the expression efficiency inside the vesicle was remarkably higher than that in the solution outside. The synthesized rsGFP in individual vesicles is safe from attack by proteinase K added to the external aqueous solution. Studies on cell-sized vesicles expressing protein should contribute to a fundamental understanding of certain aspects of living systems and will be useful for practical applications, such as the construction of microreactors.     

Structural phase transitions of methane+ethane mixed-gas hydrate induced by 1,1-dimethylcyclohexane

Methane+ethane+1,1-dimethylcyclohexane+water system was investigated by using Raman spectroscopy and isothermal phase equilibrium measurements under four-phase (gas+aqueous+large guest species+hydrate phases) equilibrium conditions at 288.15 K. The results suggest that three kinds of hydrate structures emerge at 288.15 K in the methane+ethane+1,1-dimethylcyclohexane+water system. The hydrate structure for this system changed from structure-H to structure-I via structure-II with increase in the mole ratio of ethane to methane.     

Anisotropic corrosion of iron in pH 1 sulphuric acid

Anisotropic corrosion behaviour of a single grain of pure iron in 0.05 mol dm⁻³ sulphuric acid (pH 1) was investigated by a simple polarization technique. Both corrosion potential and corrosion current were found to be dependent on crystallographic orientation of the iron grain. A high corrosion current flowed on a grain showing a relatively noble corrosion potential, although both cathodic and anodic Tafel slopes were independent of the orientation. It was shown that cathodic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) governed the corrosion reaction on the iron grain. Covalent bonding of Fe and H and coverage of H on Fe seem to play important roles in the HER and anisotropic corrosion behaviour of pure iron.