A novel action of terpendole E on the motor activity of mitotic Kinesin Eg5

To reveal the mechanism of mitosis, the development of M phase-specific inhibitors is an important strategy. We have been screening microbial products to find specific M phase inhibitors that do not directly target tubulins, and rediscovered terpendole E (TerE) as a novel Eg5 inhibitor. TerE did not affect microtubule integrity in interphase, but induced formation of a monoastral spindle in M phase. TerE inhibited both motor and microtubule-stimulated ATPase activities of human Eg5, but did not affect conventional kinesin from either Drosophila or bovine brain. Although terpendoles have been reported as inhibitors of acyl-CoA:cholesterol O-acyltransferase (ACAT), the Eg5 inhibitory activity of TerE was independent of ACAT inhibition. Taken together, we demonstrate that TerE is a novel Eg5 inhibitor isolated from a fungal strain.     

Effects of fine fuel droplets on a laminar flame stabilized in a partially prevaporized spray stream

A partially prevaporized spray burner was developed to investigate the interaction between fuel droplets and a flame. Monodispersed partially prevaporized ethanol sprays with narrow diameter distribution were generated by the condensation method using rapid pressure reduction of a saturated ethanol vapor–air mixture. A tilted flat flame was stabilized at the nozzle exit using a hot wire. Particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) was applied to measurements of the droplet velocity; the laminar burning velocity was obtained from gas velocity derived from the droplet velocity. Observations were made of flames in partially prevaporized spray streams with mean droplet diameters of 7 μm and the liquid equivalence ratios of 0.2; the total equivalence ratio was varied. In all cases, a sharp vaporization plane was observed in front of the blue flame. Flame oscillation was observed on the fuel-rich side. At strain rates under 50 s⁻¹, the change in the burning velocity with the strain rate is small in fuel-lean spray streams. In spray streams of 0.7 and 0.8 in the total equivalence ratio, burning velocity increases with strain rates of greater than 50 s⁻¹. However, in spray streams with 0.9 and 1.0 in the total equivalence ratio, burning velocity decreases as the strain rate increases. At strain rates greater than 80 s⁻¹, burning velocity decreases with an increased gas equivalence ratio. The effect of mean droplet diameter, and the entry length of droplets into a flame on the laminar burning velocity, were also investigated to interpret the effect of the strain rate on the laminar burning velocity of partially prevaporized sprays.     

Measurement of the solubility of metal complexes in supercritical carbon dioxide using a UV–vis spectrometer

A new apparatus based on the circulation method was developed to measure the solubility of metal complexes in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) at a wide range of temperatures and pressures. A UV–vis spectrometer, which was connected to a small saturation cell through optical fibers, was used to determine solubility. The solubilities of cobalt(III) acetylacetonate (Co(acac)₃) and chromium(III) acetylacetonate (Cr(acac)₃) in scCO₂ were measured to check the validity of both the apparatus and the method and to accumulate new solubility data. The solubility data for Cr(acac)₃ obtained in this study were in good agreement with the data reported in the literature.The measured solubilities of Co(acac)₃ and Cr(acac)₃ were also correlated with the empirical equation including the three adjustable parameters, based on the equation proposed by Chrastil. The parameters were determined by fitting the equation to the experimental data for each metal complex and the calculated results closely replicated the experimental data.     

High resolution imaging of contact potential difference using a novel ultrahigh vacuum non-contact atomic force microscope technique

An ultrahigh vacuum scanning Kelvin probe force microscope (UHV SKPM) based on the gradient of electrostatic force was developed using the technique of a UHV non-contact atomic force microscope (NC-AFM) capable of atomic level imaging, and used for simultaneous observation of contact potential difference (CPD) and NC-AFM images. The CPD images with a potential resolution of less than 10 meV were observed in the UHV SKPM, demonstrating an atomic level resolution. The change of potential corresponding to the charges on the insulated surface of polypropylene have been observed in UHV SKPM. We also demonstrated a reliable method to obtain the CPD from the bias voltage dependence curves of the frequency shift in all of the scanning area. The results are consistent with comparing the barrier height images in that the work functions of adatoms are greater than the work function of corner holes.     

Completely Entangled State and Simultaneous Eigenstate in a Finite Dimensional Space

It is shown that a completely entangled state belonging to a finite dimensional Hilbert space is equivalent to a simultaneous eigenstate of two unitary operators. These operators are exponentials of sum and difference of two Hermitian operators of a two-mode system that are complementary with each other.     

Uniqueness of maximum planar five-distance sets

A subset X in the Euclidean plane is called a k-distance set if there are exactly k distances between two distinct points in X. We denote the largest possible cardinality of k-distance sets by g(k). Erdős and Fishburn proved that g(5)=12 and also conjectured that 12-point five-distance sets are unique up to similar transformations. We classify 8-point four-distance sets and prove the uniqueness of the 12-point five-distance sets given in their paper. We also introduce diameter graphs of planar sets and characterize these graphs.     

Coadsorption of water and CO molecules on Ru(0 0 1) at high CO coverages: comparisons with a Ru(0 0 1) electrode surface

The coadsorption of carbon monoxide (CO) and water molecules on a Ru(0 0 1) surface has been studied by infrared spectroscopy, LEED and STM. At high CO coverage phases, a 2×2-(2CO+D₂O) structure was observed on both UHV and electrode surfaces. Electrode potential dependent structures from CO and water adlayers on an electrode surface were reproduced on a UHV surface by controlling molecular orientations of the first layer and second over-layer water molecules. At lower CO coverages, a CO band center showed coverage dependent shift down to 1444 cm⁻¹ due to an electron transfer from a lone pair of a water molecule to CO 2π^*.