Spectroscopic Analysis of Two Distinct Equilibrium States for the Exchange Reaction of Sodium Cholate and Oligo‐DNA on Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Understanding the quantitative analysis of the transition adsorption structures of molecules on single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is of importance from the point of view of both fundamental science and applications of nanotubes. Absorption spectroscopy reveals that two different equilibrium states are existent for the exchange reaction of sodium cholate (SC) and oligo‐DNA (single‐stranded 20‐mer cytosine) on SWNTs. This is derived from the transitions of the adsorption structures of different chirality‐types of SWNTs and SC/DNA at certain SC concentrations below the critical micelle concentration of SC.     

Ionization of pesticides using a far-ultraviolet femtosecond laser in gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The fourth harmonic emission (200 nm) of a femtosecond Ti:sapphire laser (35 fs) was generated and used in the multiphoton ionization of 49 pesticides in gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The limit of detection was improved when the ionization source from the third harmonic emission (267 nm) was replaced with the fourth harmonic emission for several pesticide molecules that contained no conjugated double bonds since their absorption bands are located in the far-ultraviolet region. This analytical instrument was used in the analysis of a series of real samples including potatoes, carrots, and cabbage, and a signal suspected to arise from di-allate was observed for the potato sample.

One-Step Dialkoxylation of Aromatic Diamines with Trialkyl Phosphate

Alkylesters of orthophosphoric acids have been used for alkylation of phenols¹, anilines², and nitrogen heterocyclic compounds.³ However, no example is reported on their use as an alkoxylating agent for aromatic amines. We have found that alkyl phosphates can act as alkoxylating agents for aromatic diamines in the presence of H₂O or aqueous H₃PO₄. We now report the one-step dialkoxylation of aromatic diamines such as diaminoanthracene and -naphthalene by trialkyl phosphates.     

Local distribution of radioactivity in tree leaves contaminated by fallout of the radionuclides emitted from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant

We analyzed fresh and dead leaves collected in forests in Fukushima after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident, using autoradiography. Both fresh and dead leaves of Cryptomeria japonica were contaminated by radionuclides (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs). Contamination of the fresh leaves was possibly attributed to interception of radionuclides by tree canopies, whereas the dead leaves indicated the direct deposition of radionuclides by fallout and/or washout of radionuclides intercepted by tree canopies. Translocation of radiocesium from a contaminated branch to new leaves growing after the FDNPP accident was not clearly observed, although transfer of radiocesium from leaf parts to male flowers occurred. Fallen leaves of Quercus serrata, which started growing after the FDNPP accident, did not show radioactivity, indicating that significant amounts of translocation from other parts to new leaves did not occur. Fallen leaves of Q. serrata collected from a litter showed hot spots originating from direct fallout. Needles of Pinus densiflora were also contaminated by fallout. Leaching with pure water removed soluble fractions of radiocesium and hot particles from the surface of the contaminated leaves, but significant amounts of radioactivity remained. This means that foliar absorption occurred in both fresh and dead leaves. Further leaching experiments using surfactant and acetone could not remove the remaining radiocesium from the leaves. The leaching experiments indicate that radiocesium in the contaminated leaves is strongly fixed in leaf tissues and is not readily released unless leaf tissues are decomposed.     

Synthesis of a (1→6)-β-Linked N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine Oligosaccharide1

Abstract

1,6-Anhydro-2-deoxy-3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-phthalimido-β-d- glucopyranose (5) was synthesized from 1,6-anhydro-β-d-mannopyranose (1) in five steps. Compound 5 was polymerized under cationic conditions and selectively yielded glucosamine oligomers (degree of polymerization 5-7). Copolymerization of 5 with 1,6-anhydro-2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranose indicated the low reactivity of 5 with the active cation derived from 5. Deprotection of 2-deoxy-3,4-di-O-benzyl-2-phthalimido-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranan (7) and N-acetylation gave 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranan (9).     

Application of Novel Glycosides Prepared with Odorless Benzenethiols in Glycosylation Reaction

p‐Dodecylbenzenethiol (1) and p‐octyloxybenzenethiol (2) were synthesized as new odorless benzenethiols. Moreover, preparation of novel 1‐thioglycosides using 1 and 2 as well as their application for glycosylation reactions was performed. As a result, it was found that these 1‐thio‐glycosides were excellent glycosyl donors, and especially 2‐thio‐sialoside prepared from 1 and 2 afforded the best result to date in terms of α‐ and β‐selectivity in the sialylation where only the single C‐3 hydroxyl group of acceptor D‐galactopyranoside was free. All procedures from the preparation of thioglycosides to glycosylation reaction were attainable under completely odorless conditions.     

Stereoselective synthesis of the right-hand segment of tubiferal A

Tubiferal A, a triterpenoid isolated from myxomycete Tubifera dimorphotheca, exhibits a reversal effect of vincristine (VCR) resistance against VCR-resistant KB cell lines. The compound possesses a complex structure involving the 6-7-6-5 polycyclic carbon framework with various functional groups. The stereoselective synthesis of the right-hand segment of tubiferal A was achieved on the basis of the cyclopentene annulation method and the semi-pinacol rearrangement reaction of an epoxy alcohol for constructing the trans-fused 6-5 bicyclic skeleton possessing two quaternary carbon atoms at the angular positions.     

Selective adsorption and stable solidification of radioactive cesium ions by porous silica gels loaded with insoluble ferrocyanides

Development of highly functional cesium selective adsorbents for the decontamination of high-activity-level water(HALW) from the Fukushima NPP-1 accident is very urgent. In order to selectively adsorb the radioactive cesium, three kinds of novel porous silica gels loaded with insoluble ferrocyanides(SLFC) were prepared using a successive impregnation/precipitation method. Based on the results of previous research, the SLFC composites have relatively large uptake ratio above 95%, distribution coefficients(Kd) above 103 cm3/g, and excellent adsorption kinetics even in seawater. The solidification results also indicate that zeolites have an excellent Cs immobilization characteristic, gas-trapping and self-sintering abilities, and low leachability. We chose three kinds of SLFC composites to achieve the optimization of solidification by mixing with nine kinds of additives at high temperatures(up to 1200 °C). The Cs contents in the three composites were estimated to be below 30% of the initial contents and decreased with the three stages at calcination temperatures ranging from 25 to 1200 °C. By contrast, the Cs immobilization ratio was markedly lowered by mixing with additives: of those, allophane had the best immobilization result. By increasing the additive ratio to 50 wt%, the Cs immobilization ratio became almost 100% and no volatilization of Cs was detected even after calcination at 1200 °C. This result indicates that calcination of the mixture of SLFC composites after adsorbing Cs+ ions and specific additives under appropriate ratio is effective for stable solidification.     

Defect Engineering and Anisotropic Modulation of Ionic Transport in Perovskite Solid Electrolyte LixLa(1−x)/3NbO3

Solid electrolytes, such as perovskite Li_3xLa_2/1−xTiO₃, Li_xLa_(1−x)/3NbO₃ and garnet Li₇La₃Zr₂O₁₂ ceramic oxides, have attracted extensive attention in lithium-ion battery research due to their good chemical stability and the improvability of their ionic conductivity with great potential in solid electrolyte battery applications. These solid oxides eliminate safety issues and cycling instability, which are common challenges in the current commercial lithium-ion batteries based on organic liquid electrolytes. However, in practical applications, structural disorders such as point defects and grain boundaries play a dominating role in the ionic transport of these solid electrolytes, where defect engineering to tailor or improve the ionic conductive property is still seldom reported. Here, we demonstrate a defect engineering approach to alter the ionic conductive channels in Li_xLa_(1−x)/3NbO₃ (x = 0.1~0.13) electrolytes based on the rearrangements of La sites through a quenching process. The changes in the occupancy and interstitial defects of La ions lead to anisotropic modulation of ionic conductivity with the increase in quenching temperatures. Our trial in this work on the defect engineering of quenched electrolytes will offer opportunities to optimize ionic conductivity and benefit the solid electrolyte battery applications.     

Molecular synchronization waves in arrays of allosterically regulated enzymes

Spatiotemporal pattern formation in a product-activated enzymic reaction at high enzyme concentrations is investigated. Stochastic simulations show that catalytic turnover cycles of individual enzymes can become coherent and that complex wave patterns of molecular synchronization can develop. The analysis based on the mean-field approximation indicates that the observed patterns result from the presence of Hopf and wave bifurcations in the considered system.