Novel High‐Temperature Antiferroelectric‐Based Dielectric NaNbO3–NaTaO3 Solid Solutions Processed in Low Oxygen Partial Pressures

The (1?x)NaNbO₃–(x)NaTaO₃ solid solution was investigated for x ≤ 0.4 in terms of new high‐temperature and high‐permittivity dielectric system that is suitable for base metal inner electrode capacitor applications. The addition of Ta significantly enhanced the resistivity of the dielectric, resulting in superior resistivity than the dielectrics‐formulated BaTiO₃ systems that dominate the multilayer ceramic capacitor dielectric devices. The voltage dependence of the permittivity was also superior to BaTiO₃‐based materials, providing higher capacitance at higher temperatures. A transmission electron microscopy study illustrated that the grains had so‐called core‐shell structure. According to the electron diffraction analysis, the core region had an inhomogeneous structure between antiferroelectric and ferroelectric phases, and shell region had an incommensurate ferroelectric‐like structure. The core and shell region had Nb‐ and Ta‐rich composition, respectively, and their interface was compositionally sharp, implying that shell region was formed via a liquid phase during the sintering process with an incongruent Ta dissolution reprecipitation. We anticipate that these or similar materials based on the alkali‐niobate perovskites can be further enhanced to provide capacitor solutions from 150°C to 250°C, which is an important range for a number of new AC–DC invertor and engine control units.     

Studies on absorbed water in cellulose by broad-line NMR

Nuclear magnetic resonance absorption spectra of linter cellulose containing various amounts of water were studied to clarify the relation between the amount of absorbed water in cellulose fiber and the molecular motion in such a cellulose–water system. An amorphous cellulose sample was used for the sake of comparison. The changes in line width and second moment of the spectra were measured at various temperatures. From the variation with temperature of the first-derivative curves and the second moments, it has been inferred that the proton movement of absorbed water changes markedly over the approximate range 180°–200°K and that the absorbed water lowers the glass transition temperature of cellulose to room temperature.     

Antibacterial action on pathogenic bacterial spore by green tea catechins

Antibacterial effects of catechins, the major green tea polyphenols, were studied using Clostridium and Bacillus spores. Incubation with crude catechins decreased the number of C botulinum and C butyricum spores but not B cereus spores. Furthermore, the effects of six catechin derivatives on spores were investigated. (−)‐Epicatechin gallate (ECg), (−)‐epigallocatechin (EGC), (−)‐epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) and (+)‐gallocatechin gallate (GCg) were more effective in decreasing C botulinum and C butyricum spore numbers than (+)‐catechin (C) and (−)‐epicatechin (EC). The vegetative growth of C botulinum and B cereus was inhibited by crude extracts of the catechins. Specifically, purified GCg and EGCg inhibited the vegetative growth of C botulinum and B cereus. The inhibitory effect of ECg on B cereus was similar to that of GCg. However, toxin‐production by B cereus was not inhibited by catechin. Damage to the membrane of C butyricum spores by catechin derivatives was shown using fluorescent microscopy. This study shows that low concentrations of catechins, although requiring a long exposure time, inhibited the growth of bacterial spores. However, the effects of the purified derivatives of the catechins were not the same and GCg and EGCg were found to be the most potent. Spores that are generally resistant to many disinfectants were sensitive to catechins. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry     

Immobilization of mortierella vinacea cells by radiation polymerization

Immobilization of Mortierella vinacea cells, which contain active α-galactosidase, by radiation polymerization at low temperatures was studied. The durability of the enzymatic activity of the immobilized cells was examined by repeating the batch enzyme reaction. The enzymatic activities of the immobilized cells obtained with hydrophilic monomers was affected by the concentrations of the cells and monomer in which optimum conditions were observed. The enzymatic activity of the immobilized cells obtained with hydrophilic monomer was compared to that of hydrophobic monomers. Michaelis constants of the immobilized cells varied with monomer concentration. The effect of addition of porous solid substances on the immobilization of the cells was studied.     

Intercalation of n-alkylamines into α-tin(IV) bis(hydrogenphosphate)

The intercalation reaction of n-alkylamines from methyl- to hexadecylamine into -tin(IV) bis(hydrogenphosphate) has been investigated. The reaction was conducted by mixing the phosphate and solutions of the amines dissolved in water or benzene. The amine/ phosphate molar ratios in the reaction mixtures were 0.43, 0.85, 1.71 and 3.41. The nitrogen/phosphorus atomic ratio in the intercalation compound was not changed by the amine/phosphate molar ratio. The interlayer distances of the intercalates obtained in the reaction mixtures with molar ratios of 3.41 and 1.71 increased with an increase in the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain of the amine. The slope of the straight line obtained in plot of interlayer distance versus number of carbon atoms in the alkyl chain of the amine indicates that the amine molecules form a double layer in the interlayer space of the phosphate and are inclined at an approximate angle of 67.7° to the phosphate layer. The interlayer distances of the intercalates of butyl- to nonylamines obtained at the molar ratio of 0.85 are smaller than those of the corresponding compounds from the molar ratios of 3.41 and 1.71, while those of decyl- to hexadecylamine intercalates lie on the previously discussed line. This behaviour is interpreted by assuming kink formation in the short alkyl chains between the phosphate layers.     

Study of a Helium Film in 10 μm Porous Glass by Torsional Oscillator in Free Decay Mode

Dissipation and superfluid density of a thin helium film (superfluid transition at temperature T_c=0.88 K), placed in 10 m porous glass are studied as a function of oscillation amplitude or AC amplitude at fixed temperatures near superfluid transition. The measurements are performed using a high-Q torsional oscillator in the free decay mode as well as constant drive mode. Results show decreasing superfluid density with increasing velocity and non-monotonic behavior of the dissipation in the film.     

Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of Nitrobenzanthrones

To identify nitrobenzanthrones (NBAs) such as 3-nitro-7 H -benz[ de ]anthracene-7-one (3-NBA) on the basis of their electronic spectral data, we have synthesized 1-, 2-, 3-, 9-, and 10-NBAs and measured their absorption and emission spectra. The first strong absorption band of the NBAs appeared in the region 350-440 nm; the band of 10-NBA was red-shifted by about 20 nm. The molar absorptivities of 3- and 9-NBA were about two times as large as those of the others. The fluorescence spectra of the NBAs varied more largely with the position of the nitro group compared to the absorption spectra. The quantum yields of fluorescence were very small, ranging from ～10 m 2 for 2- and 10-NBA to ～10 m 4 for 1- and 3-NBA. 3-NBA exhibited a characteristic spectrum with two broad bands at 450 and 530 nm. On excitation causing an n ~ * transition in the NBAs, their fluorescence intensities increased by a factor of 10. Phosphorescence was observed at 77 K for all compounds though that of 1-NBA was very weak. These results give the promise of characterizing individual isomers of NBAs on the basis of their spectroscopic data.     

Development of Novel Inhibitors for Histone Methyltransferase SET7/9 based on Cyproheptadine

The histone methyltransferase SET7/9 methylates not only histone but also non‐histone proteins as substrates, and therefore, SET7/9 inhibitors are considered candidates for the treatment of diseases. Previously, our group identified cyproheptadine, used clinically as a serotonin receptor antagonist and histamine receptor (H1) antagonist, as a novel scaffold of the SET7/9 inhibitor. In this work, we focused on dibenzosuberene as a substructure of cyproheptadine and synthesized derivatives with various functional groups. Among them, the compound bearing a 2‐hydroxy group showed the most potent activity. On the other hand, a 3‐hydroxy group or another hydrophilic functional group such as acetamide decreased the activity. Structural analysis clarified a rationale for the improved potency only by tightly restricted location and type of the hydrophilic group. In addition, a SET7/9 loop, which was only partially visible in the complex with cyproheptadine, became more clearly visible in the complex with 2‐hydroxycyproheptadine. These results are expected to be helpful for further structure‐based development of SET7/9 inhibitors.     

The effect of the addition of silica particles on linear spherulite growth rate of isotactic polypropylene and its explanation by lamellar cluster model

The effect of the addition of silica particles on spherulite growth rates of isotactic polypropylene has been investigated using an optical microscope. The spherulite growth rate remained constant with time and the growth rates decreased with increasing the silica content. The addition of silica particles generally causes a reduction of the average distance between adjacent silica particles and the linear growth rates become zero when the inter-particle distance reached to the end-to-end distance of the matrix chains. The reduction in the linear growth rate can be explained by assuming the lamellar clustering process that the precursor or solidified units with the single chain space, which spontaneously are built up from the melt, act as the crystallizing units and the diffusive mobility of the units was restricted by spatial confinement between adjacent silica particles.     

Protective effects of galacturonic acid-rich vinegar brewed from Japanese pear in a dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis model

The effects of pear vinegar (PV), which was specially brewed for enhanced galacturonic acid content, on the DSS-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) mouse model were evaluated. PV improved clinical symptoms, colon inflammation, and histological tissue injury in the DSS-induced acute UC mouse model. Moreover, PV suppressed inflammation due to acute UC by suppressing the myeloperoxidase (MPO)-mediated activation of inflammatory cells such as leukocytes and decreasing the serum concentration of IL-6. Our results demonstrated the protective action of PV in the DSS-induced acute UC mouse model. On the other hand, commercial apple vinegar did not show a protective effect in the DSS-induced acute UC mouse model. Our findings indicate that PV may act as a new functional food for inflammatory bowel disease patients.