Effects of gamma irradiation on the yields of volatile extracts of Angelica gigas Nakai

The study was carried out to determine the effects of gamma irradiation on the volatile flavor components including essential oils, of Angelica gigas Nakai. The volatile organic compounds from non- and irradiated A. gigas Nakai at doses of 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20 kGy were extracted by a simultaneous steam distillation and extraction (SDE) method and identified by GC/MS analysis. A total of 116 compounds were identified and quantified from non- and irradiated A. gigas Nakai. The major volatile compounds were identified 2,4,6-trimethyl heptane, α-pinene, camphene, α-limonene, β-eudesmol, α-murrolene and sphatulenol. Among these compounds, the amount of essential oils in non-irradiated sample were 77.13%, and the irradiated samples at doses of 1, 3, 5, 10 and 20 kGy were 84.98%, 83.70%, 83.94%, 82.84% and 82.58%, respectively. Oxygenated terpenes such as β-eudesmol, α-eudesmol, and verbenone were increased after irradiation but did not correlate with the irradiation dose. The yields of active substances such as essential oil were increased after irradiation; however, the yields of essential oils and the irradiation dose were not correlated. Thus, the profile of composition volatiles of A. gigas Nakai did not change with irradiation.     

In situ photopolymerization of a polymerizable poly(ethylene glycol)-covered phospholipid monolayer on a methacryloyl-terminated substrate

We have prepared a chemically anchored monolayer of PEG (poly(ethylene glycol)) and phospholipid mixture (PEG/phospholipid) on a methacryloyl-terminated substrate by in situ photopolymerization. Both monoacryloyl phospholipid (acryloyl-PC, 1-palmitoyl-2-[12-(acryloyloxy)dodecanoyl]-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) and monoacryloyl PEG (acryloyl-PEG, 12-(acryloyloxy)dodecanoyl-PEG) were synthesized by modifyingphospholipid and PEGwith 12-(acryloyloxy)-1-dodecanoic acid and 12-(acryloyloxy)-1-dodecanol, respectively. The surface pressure-area (pi-A) isotherm showed that acryloyl-PEG molecules were stable in the phospholipid monolayer and that they could be evenly inserted into a phospholipid monolayer at the air/water interface. By adding 10 mol % acryloyl-PEG into phosholipid vesicles, we could produce a PEG/phosholipid monolayer on methacryloyl-terminated substrates using vesicle fusion for 3 h. Then, this polymerizable PEG/phospholipid monolayer was in situ photopolymerized onto a methacryloyl-terminated substrate with eosin Y/triethanolamine as co-initiators. Optimal vesicle fusion and irradiation condition were determined with respect to the vesicle fusion time and duration of irradiation. As confirmed by atomic force microscopy and X-ray reflectivity studies, the polymerized PEG/phosholipid surface formed a PEG-covered phospholipid monolayer with thicknesses of 3 and 6 nm for the base phospholipid monolayer and the covering PEG layer, respectively. The chemical anchoring efficiency ofpolymerized PEG and phospholipid molecules, which was calculated by the relative carbon ratio of each surface before and after methanol washing using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, was 98%. This polymerized PEG/phosholipid monolayer showed good stability in organic solution due to firm chemical anchoring to a solid surface.     

Design Features of a Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis System at HANARO

The design features are described of a prompt gamma neutron activation analysis system at HANARO, a 30 MW research reactor in the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. The beam consists of polychromatic thermal neutrons diffracted by a set of pyrolytic graphite crystals at orders n in the range 1n6 at a Bragg angle of 45° on a horizontal beam line. A neutron flux of 1.0·10⁸ n·cm^–2·s^–1 is calculated at the sample position from the reflectivity of the crystal which has been confirmed in a measurement of a diffracted neutron spectrum using a time-of-flight spectrometer and gold-wire activation. The fast neutron and gamma backgrounds will be low due to the use of a diffracted beam and a tapered collimator. The detection system comprises a 30% n-type HPGe detector, signal electronics and a fast ADC. The first application of this system will be the analysis of boron concentration in biological samples for neutron capture therapy. Construction of the beam line and the arrangement of the detection system is proceeding.     

Reduction of the IgE-binding ability and maintenance of immunogenicity of gamma-irradiated Dermatophagoides farinae

House dust mites, Dermatophagoides farinae (DF) and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, are major allergens in the most common indoor allergen and are important risk factor for asthma. The modified antigen has been studied to treat allergic disorder. This study was carried out to measure possibility of modified allergen using gamma irradiation to treat allergy such as asthma. DF solutions (2 mg/ml) as target allergen were irradiated with Co-60 at 50 and 100 kGy. Conformational alternation of irradiated DF was observed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Levels of anti-irradiated DF mouse IgGs (sub-isotypes) against intact DF were measured similar to that of anti-intact DF IgGs. The binding abilities of house dust mite-allergic patients’ IgE were reduced depending on radiation dose, and irradiation could inhibit the binding ability of patients’ IgE more than 40%. This study has shown that the binding ability of IgE was reduced by conformational alteration by irradiation and the irradiated DF had epitopes capable to induce immunogeniciy.     

Surface-grafted polystyrene beads with comb-like poly(ethylene glycol) chains: preparation and biological application

We prepared surface-grafted polystyrene (PS) beads with comb-like poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains. To accomplish this, conventional gel-type PS beads (35-75 microm) were treated with ozone gas to introduce hydroperoxide groups onto the surface. Using these hydroperoxide groups, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA, Mn= 22,000-25,000) was grafted onto the surface of the PS beads. The ester groups of the grafted PMMA were reduced to hydroxyl groups with lithium aluminum hydride (LAH). After adding ethylene oxide (EO) to the hydroxyl groups, we obtained the PS-sg-PEG beads, which had a rugged surface and a diameter of 80-150 microm. We could obtain several kinds of the PS-sg-PEG beads by controlling the chain lengths of the grafted PMMA and the molecular weights of the PEG chains. The grafted PEG layer was about 30-50 microm thick, which was verified from the cross-sectioned views of the fluorescamine-labeled beads. These fluorescence images proved that the beads possessed a pellicular structure. Furthermore, we found that the surface-grafted PEG chains had the characteristic property of reducing non-specific protein adsorption on the beads.     

Prompt k 0-factors and relative gamma-emission intensities for the strong non-1/v absorbers 113Cd, 149Sm, 151Eu and 155,157Gd

Prompt k ₀-factors relative to chlorine and relative g-emission intensities were determined for the strong non-1/v absorbers ¹¹³Cd, ¹⁴⁹Sm, ¹⁵¹Eu,¹⁵⁵Gd and ¹⁵⁷Gd. Measurements were performed using the SNU-KAERI prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) facility at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). For proper experimental determination of the prompt k ₀-factors, the effective g-factor and cadmium ratio were taken into account, in consideration of the effects from the non-1/v capture cross section and neutron spectrum in the thermal and epithermal energy region. By using the actual spectrum of the neutron beam in this study, the effective g-factor was obtained by calculation, and the influence of epithermal neutrons on the capture rate was corrected by measuring the cadmium ratio for each non-1/v target isotope. The measured prompt k ₀-factors were used to check the consistency between the existing dataset of the absolute g-emission intensity and the 2200 m/s capture cross section for these isotopes.     

Mono- and Dinuclear d(10) Metal Complexes of Hexakis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)cyclotriphosphazene. Synthesis, Structures, and Unusual Solution Dynamic Behavior

Synthesis, structures, and unusual solution dynamic processes of d(10) metal complexes of hexakis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)cyclotriphosphazene (L) are reported. Reaction systems with three MX(n):L mole ratios (MX(n) = d(10) metal halide) in CH(2)Cl(2) have resulted in the formation of [ICu(&mgr;,eta(3),eta(3)-L)CuI] (1), [Cl(2)Zn(&mgr;,eta(2),eta(3)-L)ZnCl(2)] (2), [Cl(2)Cd(&mgr;,eta(3),eta(3)-L)CdCl(2)] (3), and [(eta(3)-L)HgCl(2)] (4). These compounds were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies, and crystallographic data are given in the order of compound: crystal system; space group; unit cell parameters; Z; unique data (I > 2sigma(I)); R(1). 1.0.5CH(2)Cl(2): monoclinic; P2(1)/c; a = 8.268(4) ?; b = 22.365(5) ?; c = 23.325(8) ?, beta = 93.06(1) degrees; 4; 5736; 4.82. 2.CH(3)CN: monoclinic; P2(1)/c; a = 17.021(3) ?; b = 12.161(2) ?; c = 23.608(5) ?; beta = 107.72(1) degrees; 4; 5469; 3.16. 3.CH(2)Cl(2): monoclinic; P2(1)/n; a = 18.585(5) ?; b = 17.585(4) ?; c = 14.404(3) ?; beta = 102.71(2) degrees; 4; 3814; 3.65. The structure of 4 was attempted but resulted in data of low precision. Reaction of L with CuI and ZnCl(2) in an equimolar ratio afforded [ICu(&mgr;,eta(3),eta(3)-L)ZnCl(2)] (5) which crystallizes in monoclinic space group P2(1)/n with a = 22.876(5) ?, b = 21.594(4) ?, c = 9.177(2) ?, beta = 93.54(2) degrees, Z = 4, and R(1) = 7.00 for 3806 (I > 2sigma(I)) data. In all cases, metal halide centers except the Td zinc site in 2 are coordinated by L via a kappa(3)N binding core consisting of two nongeminal pyrazolyl nitrogen atoms and one phosphazene ring nitrogen atom. The eta(2)-N(2) coordination in 2 involves two geminal pyrazolyl nitrogen atoms. Factors which govern the nuclearity of the complex were partially demonstrated. The intermetallic distances in dinuclear metallophosphazenes range from 6.790 to 7.195 ?. The solution behavior of five compounds was studied by variable temperature (31)P{(1)H}, (1)H, and (113)Cd FT NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1 and 4 are associated with fluxional motions involving A(2)B low-temperature limit spectrum while compounds 2 and 5 show solvent-dependent dynamic processes with ABX and A(2)B low-temperature limit spectral patterns. Compounds 3 constitutes a fluxional system involving three A(2)B species. Accounts of solution NMR spectra were attempted by using PANIC, by assuming the formation of new solution metallophosphazene species and by considering several types of dynamic processes such as a ring-around type hopping motion for the kappa(3)N metal site, a Td conformational change for the geminal pyrazolyl kappa(2)N metal site, and a wigwag motion for the nongeminal pyrazolyl kappa(2)N metal unit.     

Synthesis of ceramide analogues having the C(4)-C(5) bond of the long-chain base as part of an aromatic or heteroaromatic system

Two efficient and stereoselective methods are described for the preparation of aryl and heteroaryl ceramide analogues 2 and 3. The first route involves the addition of an aryllithium or a heteroaryllithium reagent (7a or 25a, respectively) to the L-serine-derived aldehyde 4, followed by hydrolysis of the oxazolidine, liberation of the amino group, and N-acylation. The second route, which was used to prepare arylceramide analogue 2 in eight steps and 28% overall yield starting with 3-bromobenzaldehyde, utilizes a Heck reaction to afford (E)-alpha,beta-unsaturated ester 16, then osmium-catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation for the introduction of the desired chirality at C-2 and C-3. Regioselective alpha-azidation of alpha-O-nosyl-beta-hydroxyester 18 with sodium azide, followed by LiAlH(4) reduction of the azido and ester groups and N-acylation, complete the synthesis of arylceramide analogue 2.     

Nonlinear obstacle problems with double phase in the borderline case

In this paper we study a double phase problem with an irregular obstacle. The energy functional under consideration is characterized by the fact that both ellipticity and growth switch between a type of polynomial and a type of logarithm, which can be regarded as a borderline case of the double phase functional with $(p,q)$-growth. We obtain an optimal global Calderón–Zygmund type estimate for the obstacle problem with double phase in the borderline case.