Chemical synthesis and application of C-terminally 5-carboxyfluorescein-labelled thymopentin as a fluorescent probe for thymopoietin receptor.

Thymopentin (TP5) is a synthetic pentapeptide fragment, which corresponds to position 32 - 36 of thymic polypeptide thymopoietin. Thymopoietin and TP5 display a variety of biological functions, including phenotypic differentiation of T cells and the regulation of immune systems. Previous chemical modification experiments suggested that there was an absolute requirement for N-terminal amino acids to maintain the biological activity of TP5. On the basis of this structure-activity relationship, we designed and synthesized the C-terminally 5-carboxyfluorescein-coupled TP5 (TP5-FAM) as a fluorescent probe for thymopoietin receptor. TP5-FAM could bind to the membrane of human lymphoid cell lines, MOLT-4 cells, in which the thymopoietin receptor is expressed. The binding is specific and saturable (K(d) = 33 microM). TP5 and human splenopentin are nearly equipotent inhibitors of TP5-FAM binding to the thymopoietin receptor, but porcine secretin did not show any significant inhibition of TP5-FAM binding to MOLT-4 cells. Thus, TP5-FAM is suggested to be a potent and biologically active ligand that would be useful for studying the binding and functional characteristics of the human thymopoietin receptor.     

Determination of peptide φ angles in solids by relayed anisotropy correlation NMR

A solid state NMR method is presented for determination of a backbone dihedral angle φ in peptides, being based on the previously reported method, relayed anisotropy correlation (RACO) NMR [Y. Ishii et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 256 (1996) 133]. In the present method, the and the dipolar tensors in the system are two-dimensionally (2D) correlated via polarization transfer from to under magic angle spinning (MAS). This method was applied to N-acetyl , -valine, and the H–C–N–H dihedral angle was determined to be 154.0±1.4° or 206.0±1.4°, the former agreeing with the X-ray value of 154±5°.     

Mössbauer spectroscopic study of frozen solutions of57Co using a specially designed cryostat for time differential coincidence emission Mössbauer spectroscopy of237Np

Experiments on the⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer effect in frozen solutions were carried out in order to demonstrate the capabilities of a cryostat which was developed for the emission Mössbauer spectroscopy of²³⁷Np. We confirmed the existence of an aliovalent state of⁵⁷Fe in the temperature range from 5.5 to 35 K. However, the relative amounts of Fe(II) and Fe(III) in the frozen matrix were almost constant for the temperature range from 5.5 to 150 K. The design, operation and capabilities of the cryostat are also described.     

Germanium lasers in the range from far-infra red to millimetre waves

Recent experimental and theoretical achievements are reviewed on three types of laser oscillation inp-type germanium; the intervalence band (IVB) laser oscillation due to transitions between the light-hole band and the heavy-hole band, the light-hole cyclotron resonance (LHCR) laser oscillation, and the heavy hole cyclotron resonance (HHCR) maser oscillation. Described for the IVB oscillation are fundamental characteristics (such as the wavelength range of oscillation and the cooperation with higherharmonic cyclotron resonances), the polarization characteristics of radiation and influence of uniaxial stress on the oscillation. The present status of the attempt at single line oscillation is also described. As for the LHCR oscillation, the formation of population inversion and the amplification are explained on the basis of quantum mechanical calculations of the valence bands in crossed electric and magnetic fields.     

Preparation and Characterization of Niobium Oxide Coated Cellulose Fiber

The Nb₂O₅/cellulose composite was prepared by reacting α-cellulose with NbCl_5-n(OC₂H₅)_n, in nonaqueous solvent, under nitrogen atmosphere and submitting the obtained material to hydrolysis. An increase in the crystallinity degree is observed in the composite material because the precursor reagent reacts with the amorphous phase of the cellulose fibers. Loadings between 4.5 and 16.0% of the oxide were achieved and in every case the oxide particles uniformly cover the fiber surface. Lewis and Brønsted acid sites were determined by using pyridine as the basic molecular probe.     

Inhalation MR lymphography: A new method for selective enhancement of the lung hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes

On MR lymphography, a new approach to the lung hilar and mediastinal nodes was developed in an animal model. Five rabbits were made to inhale iron colloid (cideferron) that was nebulized to aerosol. Two days after inhalation of the agent, the mediastinal lymph nodes decreased in signal on SE 2000/30 and SE 2000/60 images and proved to have iron on histological evaluation, whereas the popliteal nodes did not have any iron. Experimental results indicate that inhalational administration can deliver the agent to the pulmonary lymphatic system and has the potential of lung hilar and mediastinal MR lymphography.     

Low-temperature heat capacity of room-temperature ionic liquid, 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide

Heat capacities of liquid, stable crystal, and liquid-quenched glass of a room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL), 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluromethylsulfonyl)imide were measured between 5 and 310 K by adiabatic calorimetry. Heat capacity of the liquid at 298.15 K was determined for an IUPAC project as (631.6 +/- 0.5) J K(-1) mol(-1). Fusion was observed at T(fus) = 272.10 K for the stable crystalline phase, with enthalpy and entropy of fusion of 28.34 kJ mol(-1) and 104.2 J K(-1) mol(-1), respectively. The purity of the sample was estimated as 99.83 mol % by the fractional melting method. The liquid could be supercooled easily and the glass transition was observed around T(g) approximately 183 K, which was in agreement with the empirical relation, T(g) approximately ((2)/(3)) T(fus). The heat capacity of the liquid-quenched glass was larger than that of the crystal as a whole. In the lowest temperature region, however, the difference between the two showed a maximum around 6 K and a minimum around 15 K, at which the heat capacity of the glass was a little smaller than that of crystal.