Microchip electrophoresis for specific gene detection of the pathogenic bacteria V. cholerae by circle-to-circle amplification.

We have developed a new method for a fast and precise analysis of circle-to-circle amplification (C2CA) product for specific gene detection by microchip electrophoresis. In this method, we have added a new enzymatic step to the C2CA reaction, which could be carried out isothermally at 37 degrees C. Compared to the original single-stranded DNA, the double-stranded DNA that is produced by this enzymatic reaction is more reliable for analysis by microchip electrophoresis. C2CA product was detected within 55 s with high reproducibility by this method which was successfully applied to the detection of 10-ng genomic DNA of the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio. cholerae within 110 s. Purification was found to be an indispensable step for the analysis of the C2CA product of genomic DNA samples.     

A shape preserving area true approximation of histogram by rational splines

For a given histogram, we consider an application of a simple rational spline to a shape preserving area true approximation of the histogram. An algorithm for determination of the spline is as easy as one with a quadratic polynomial spline, while the latter does not always preserve the shape of the histogram. Some numerical examples are given at the end of the paper.     

Hydroquinone oxidation catalyzed by pyridine–Cu(II) complexes attached to polyorganosiloxane. II. Elucidation of factors related to catalytic activity

The oxidation of hydroquinone catalyzed by pyridine-Cu(II) complexes attached to polyorganosiloxane was investigated in the mixed solvent of methanol/water (vol. ratio 2/1). The catalytic oxidation followed Michaelis-Menten-like kinetics. The large k₂ term related to a turnover number indicated that the present polymeric catalysts have a remarkable effect on the activation process. The methylene number between the side-chain acid amido and pyridyl groups of the polymeric ligand was shown to be closely related to the appearance of hydrophobic effects in both the substrate-binding and the activation processes as deduced from the Michaelis constant and the thermodynamic and activation parameters. The binding parameters for 4-methoxyphenol with pyridyl-functionalized polyorganosiloxanes supported that the flexible backbone is also effective in the oxidation of hydroquinone. The Cu(II) complexes with pyridyl-functionalized polyorganosiloxane would have the structures distorted from square planar formation, which would promote the reduction of Cu(II) to Cu(I), as concluded from ESR spectroscopy and electrochemical measurement. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Treatment of ion exchange membranes to decrease divalent ion permeability

In the electrodialysis process for concentrating sea water, the addition of a small amount of the polycationic reagent Nonisold into the sea water feed results in a reduction of divalent cation permeability relative to that of monovalent cations. This is due to the formation of a reagent layer on the surface of the cation-exchange membrane. Divalent cations require greater energy to pass over the potential barrier at the reagent layer than do monovalent cations. The relationship between the height of the potential barrier and the ratio of ionic fluxes or the permselectivity coefficient is deduced on the basis of a kinetic-controlled mechanism of uptake of ions from the solution, and the height of the potential barrier is estimated from the experimental results. The difference between the potential barrier for divalent cations and that for monovalent cations may reach up to about 10 kJ/mol.     

High-speed gel-permeation chromatography

To establish optimum operating conditions for high-speed gel-permeation chromatography (GPC), the effects of column packing particle size, solvent flow rate, and column length on the separation efficiency have been investigated by using monodisperse polystyrene samples and polystyrene gel columns (TSK-GEL column, Type-H). Decreasing the particle size of the column packing reduces the time required to obtain a given resolution. Monodisperse polystyrene standards were measured under the optimum operating conditions established (gel particle size 5 μ, column length 2 ft, flow rate 2.5 ml/min). The molecular weight distribution of a polymer mixture was determined in less than 10 min with the same accuracy as by the conventional GPC. Such short analysis time enables one to use GPC for in-plant quality control.