Thermodynamic Regularities in Perovskite and K2NiF4 Compounds

It has been found that the enthalpy of formation of perovskite compounds, Δ_fH° (ABO₃, B = transition metais), from binary oxides can be well characterized in terms the tolerance factor, t≡(r_A+ r_o)√2 (r_B+ r_o), where r_A and r_B are the radii of A-site ions with 12-coordination and B-site ions with 6-coordination, respectively, and Δ_fH°=−168 + 270(1 − t) kJ·mol⁻¹ for A^IB^VO₃, Δ_fH°=−125 + 1000(1 − t) kJ·mol⁻¹ for A^IIB^IVO₃, and Δ_fH°=− 90 + 720(1 − t) kJ·mol⁻¹ for A^IIIB^IIIO₃. Although the thermodynamic data of K₂NiF₄ compounds are not extensive, a similar regularity can be found when use is made of the radii of A-site ions with 9-coordination for the K₂NiF₄ compounds. These correlations will be quite useful in predicting.     

Protective effect of phytic acid hydrolysis products on iron-induced lipid peroxidation of liposomal membranes

Beneficial effects of dietary phytic acid (myo-inositol hexaphosphate; IP₆) have often been explained by its strong iron ion-chelating ability, which possibly suppresses iron ion-induced oxidative damage in the gastrointestinal tract. Because phytic acid is hydrolyzed during digestion, this work aimed to know whether its hydrolysis products (IP_2′ IP_3′, IP_4′ and IP₅) could still prevent iron ion-induced lipid peroxidation. Studies using liposomal membranes demonstrated that hydrolysis products containing three or more phosphate groups are able to inhibit iron ion-induced lipid peroxidation although their effectiveness decreased with dephosphorylation. Similarly, they also prevented iron ion-induced decomposition of phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide. These results demonstrate that intermediate products of phytic acid hydrolysis still possess iron ion-chelating ability, and thus they can probably prevent iron ion-induced lipid peroxidation in biological systems.     

Polymorphic behavior of gondoic acid and phase behavior of its binary mixtures with asclepic acid and oleic acid

Molecular properties of polymorphic forms of gondoic acid [cis-C_20:1Δ11ω9 (GOA)] have been studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), optical microscopy, and Raman scattering, in comparison to those of six principal unsaturated fatty acids: oleic acid [cis-C_18:1Δ9ω9 (OA)], erucic acid [cis-C_22:1Δ13ω9 (ERA)], petroselinic acid [cis-C_18:1Δ6ω12 (PSA)], asclepic acid [cis-C_18:1Δ11ω7 (APA)], palmitoleic acid [cis-C_16:1Δ9ω7 (POA)], and elaidic acid [trans-C_18:1Δ9ω9 (ELA)]. In addition, phase behavior of binary mixtures of GOA and APA and OA was examined by XRD and DSC. The polymorphic structures of GOA are quite similar to those of APA, ERA, POA, and partly to OA. In particular, DSC and Raman scattering studies have shown that gondoic acid exhibits conformational disordering on heating at the ω-chain, a chain segment between the double bond and CH₃ group, as a transition from all-trans (γ form) to gauche-rich (α form) conformations. A miscible mixing phase was observed in the mixture of GOA and APA, yet eutectic phases were observed in the GOA and OA mixtures. This is a remarkable contrast because the binary mixture systems of varying combinations of cis-unsaturated fatty acids examined so far exhibited either eutectic nature or molecular compound formation. It is expected that specific molecular interactions between GOA and APA that originate from the equivalence of the length of the Δ-chain, the chain segment between the cis-double bond and COOH group, and also from the presence of the γ-α order-disorder transformation would be operating to form the miscible mixing phase.     

Factors associated with serum magnesium and vascular stiffness in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Introduction : We evaluated the associated factors of serum magnesium in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between low serum magnesium and arteriosclerosis in these patients. Methods : In 129 patients on MHD, we evaluated the blood levels of magnesium, brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (ba‐PWV), ankle‐brachial index (ABI), and intima‐media thickness of the common carotid artery (IMT). Findings : In MHD patients, the serum level of magnesium was significantly correlated with age, calcium, TNF‐α, albumin, and ba‐PWV but not with ABI or IMT. In the multiple regression analysis, albumin (P = 0.0001, β = 0.31) and calcium (P = 0.029, β = 0.18) were selected as significant predictors of the magnesium level in MHD patients. Furthermore, the serum level of magnesium, as well as systolic blood pressure (P = 0.0001, β = 0.32) and age (P = 0.005, β = 0.25), were selected as significant (P = 0.012, β = ?0.22) predictors of ba‐PWV in MHD patients. Discussion : In MHD patients, the serum magnesium level was associated with the serum levels of calcium and albumin. Furthermore, a low serum magnesium level in MHD patients was associated with the index of vascular stiffness.     

High Temperature Schottky Barrier on n-Type SrTiO3 and Its Sensitivity to Ambient Gases

Metal or oxide electrodes (Pt, Au, Ag, (La, Sr)CoO₃) were deposited on single crystals of 0.02 mol% Nb doped SrTiO₃ by pulsed laser deposition. Current-voltage and capacitance-voltage responses were measured using three-terminal electrode configuration. Under high oxygen partial pressures, clear rectification behaviors were observed. Diffusion model well explained the current vs. voltage relationship with ideality factors close to unity. The barrier height varied reversibly with oxygen partial pressure, and was almost independent of the electrode materials, which suggested that the Fermi level at the interface was pinned by the surface states. The origin of the surface states was discussed in terms of oxygen adsorption or oxidative formation of metal vacancies around the surface. Chemical interaction between the surface and oxygen and resulting cation rearrangement was concluded to play an important role from the long stabilization time on oxygen partial pressure change. The water vapor pressure dependence of the barrier height was also explained by competitive adsorption of oxygen and water.     

Supramolecular Architectures of Nucleic Acid/Peptide Hybrids

Supramolecular architectures that are built artificially from biomolecules, such as nucleic acids or peptides, with structural hierarchical orders ranging from the molecular to nano-scales have attracted increased attention in molecular science research fields. The engineering of nanostructures with such biomolecule-based supramolecular architectures could offer an opportunity for the development of biocompatible supramolecular (nano)materials. In this review, we highlighted a variety of supramolecular architectures that were assembled from both nucleic acids and peptides through the non-covalent interactions between them or the covalently conjugated molecular hybrids between them.     

A chemo-thermo-mechanically coupled analysis of ground deformation induced by gas hydrate dissociation

We present a numerical analysis of gas hydrate dissociation in hydrate-bearing sediments in the seabed ground. Behavior of multiphase materials has been described within the framework of a macroscopic continuum approach through the use of the theory of porous media. The proposed simulation method has been developed based on chemo-thermo-mechanically coupled analysis, taking into account phase changes from solids to fluids, that is, water and gas, flow of water and gas, heat transfer, and ground deformation. From the numerical results, it has been found that ground deformation is induced by generation and dissipation of water and gas, and by reduction of soil strength due to the loss of hydrates.     

Lifetime prediction of woven GFRP laminates under constant tensile loading in hydrothermal environment

This study aims to investigate the effects of a hydrothermal environment on the creep behavior of woven glass fiber reinforced plastics (GFRPs) and to propose a method for predicting their lifetime. Toward this end, experiments were carried out in air and deionized water at 40, 60, 80 and 95 ^°C. Static tensile tests of woven GFRP were conducted in air and in deionized water to evaluate its mechanical properties and to determine suitable experimental conditions for subsequent constant tensile load tests. The mechanical properties of the woven GFRP decreased with an increase in temperature and with water immersion. Constant tensile load tests were also conducted in air and in deionized water to investigate the creep behavior and fracture time. The fracture time decreased with an increase in stress and water temperature and demonstrated the possibility of a threshold stress for fracturing. In addition, the fracture time during each constant tensile load test was predicted using a modified Reiner–Weissenberg (R-W) criterion, which is a failure criterion for linear viscoelastic materials based on the accumulation of dissolved energy within the GFRP. In this study, the R-W criterion was modified to consider the effects of degradation and its acceleration, which are due to the applied stress and immersion in a solution. The predicted results were in good agreement with the experimental data when considering the effects of hydrothermal aging.