Direct observation of chemical oscillation at a water/nitrobenzene interface with a sodium-alkyl-sulfate system.

The oscillation of the interfacial tension and electrical potential at a water/nitrobenzene interface was observed with homologous anionic surfactant molecules, sodium-alkyl-sulfates. Concerning small molecules with a short hydrophobic carbon chain, the oscillation period and amplitude decreased with a decrease of the length of the alkyl chain. On the other hand, when surfactant molecules with a long hydrophobic carbon chain were used, no remarkable periodic oscillation occurred after the first oscillation. In all systems, an interfacial flow by Marangoni convection was observed when the oscillation took place. By monitoring the movement of carbon powder scattered on the liquid/liquid interface with a CCD camera, we could observe that the liquid/liquid interface expanded outward from the area on which the surfactant molecules adsorbed when the oscillation occurred. When the small molecule was used, the speed of expansion of the interface (flow speed) was small and shrinkage followed by expansion of the interface repeatedly occurred. However, when the large molecule was used, the flow speed was large and expansion occurred only one time. These results show that hydrodynamic factors and surface activities are important in chemical oscillation systems.     

Time-resolved EPR studies on magnetic interactions between excited triplet (tetraphenylporphinato) zinc and doublet nitroxide radical

By time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR), four (tetraphenylporphinato) zinc (ZnTPP) complexes coordinated by an axial ligand containing a nitroxide radical (NRX; X=4, 5, 8, and 10, denotes the bond number from zinc to nitroxide nitrogen) have been studied in terms of magnetic interactions between the photoexcited triplet state of ZnTPP and NRX. The TREPR spectrum of ZnTPP coordinated by NR10 is almost the same as the one of ZnTPP coordinated by pyridine, indicating that the electron exchange interaction,J, between ZnTPP and the doublet nitroxide is negligibly small. On the other hand, TREPR spectra of the NR4 and NR5 complexes are assigned to the Q₁ state constituted by the ZnTPP and the nitroxide radical. In the case of the ZnTPP-NR8 complex, both T₁ and Q₁ TREPR signals are seen, which may originate from two conformations or degenerate T₁ states of ZnTPP. This EPR study is useful for understanding the photophysical and photochemical properties of chromophores.     

High-performance liquid chromatographic assay of a new non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl)propionic acid, in human plasma and urine

A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the quantitation of a new anti-inflammatory agent, 2-(10,11-dihydro-10-oxodibenzo[b,f]thiepin-2-yl)propionic acid (CN-100; I), has been developed. The assay consists in extracting samples containing I and mefenamic acid, the internal standard, under acidic conditions and analysis by reversed-phase chromatography using ultraviolet detection at 330 nm. Preliminary plasma concentration-time and cumulative urinary excretion profiles from a healthy subject following oral administration of the tablet formulation are presented. This method is simple, sensitive and reproducible and is applicable to studies of the pharmacokinetic behaviour of I in humans.     

Synthesis and Odor Evaluation of Stereoisomers of Imine Derivatives in Roasted Spotted Shrimp

All possible stereoisomers of imine derivatives 1 – 4 , which have the characteristic roast odor of seafood, were synthesized. As a result of odor evaluation of all isomers, we found that each isomer has a different and characteristic odor of roasted seafood.     

Reaction dynamics of Na n + in collision with molecular oxygen

Reaction dynamics of sodium cluster ions, Na _n ⁺ (n = 2–9), in collision with molecular oxygen, O₂ was investigated by measuring the absolute dissociation cross sections and the branching fractions by using a tandem mass spectrometer equipped with several octapole ion guides. The mass spectrum of the product ions show that the dominant reaction channels are production of oxide ions, Na_kO_i (i =1, 2), and intact ions, Na _p ⁺ (p < n). With increase in the collision energy, the cross section for the production of the oxide ions decreased, while that for the production of the intact ions increased. The collision-energy dependences of the cross section for the oxide formation reveals that electron harpooning from the molecule to Na _n ⁺ preludes the oxideion formation. On the other hand, the collision-energy dependences of the cross sections for the intact ion formation is explained by a hard-sphere-collision model similar to the collisional dissociation of Na _n ⁺ by rare-gas impact.     

Surface-potential reversibility of an amino-terminated self-assembled monolayer based on nanoprobe chemistry

Nanoprobe chemistry offers a promising approach for the construction of nanostructures consisting of organic molecules by employing the tip of a scanning probe microscope. In a previous report, we demonstrated that a nitroso-terminated surface on an organosilane self-assembled monolayer could be converted into an amino-terminated surface by applying such a nanoprobe electrochemical technique. This paper reports on surface-potential reversibility originating from a reversible chemical reaction between amino and nitroso groups. In addition, we demonstrate surface-potential memory based on this chemical reversibility. Amino-terminated SAMs were prepared from p-aminophenyl-trimethoxysilane through chemical vapor deposition. Surface potentials were acquired by Kelvin force microscopy. When scanning probe lithography was conducted with a gold tip at positive-bias voltages, the surface potential of the scanned area shifted dramatically in the negative direction. Scanning with negative-bias voltages led to positive shift in the surface potential of the scanned area. The surface potential could be recovered even after multiple scannings with positive and negative applied bias voltages. On the basis of this discovery, we also succeeded in demonstrating surface-potential memory via our nanoprobe electrochemical technique.     

Electrochemical Sensing of Ovalbumin Based on the Interaction between Lysozyme Origin/Tyrosine‐rich Peptides Modified on Magnetic Beads and Oligothreonine/Ovalbumin‐origin Peptide

We developed a highly sensitive electrochemical system for the sensing of ovalbumin (OVA). Lysozyme origin/tyrosine‐rich peptides (RNRCKGTDVQAWY₄C) were immobilized on magnetic beads, and the competitive reaction between OVA and oligothreonine/OVA origin peptide probe (T₈VLLPDEVSG) could then be measured. In a previous study, the detection of OVA at the 10^?13 M level was achieved using RNRCKGTDVQAWY₄C‐modified beads via a cross‐linker. To improve the sensitivity to OVA, this system uses T₈VLLPDEVSG peptide probe to measure the interaction to RNRCKGTDVQAWY₄C immobilized on magnetic beads. The peak of Y₄C actually was an electron‐transfer peptide, which represented the oxidation of a phenolic hydroxyl group. First, we confirmed that the oxidation response of Y₄C was increased based on an improvement in the electron transfer accessibility by oligothreonine. Next, T₈VLLPDEVSG peptide probe was used for the electrochemical sensing of OVA in solutions that contained consistent amounts of RNRCKGTDVQAWY₄C on magnetic beads. As a result, the peak current decreased as the concentration of OVA increased. The sensitivity to OVA was improved compared with the use of only RNRCKGTDVQAWY₄C on magnetic beads. The OVA detection level was 10^?14 M, which approximates the results from antibody‐antigen reactions. Consequently, the proposed system is a powerful new concept in protein sensing.     

Multiatomic step formation on GaAs(001) vicinal surfaces during thermal treatment

We observed the surface morphology of vicinal GaAs(001) after thermal treatment in AsH₃/H₂ atmosphere by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Clear multiatomic steps were formed under the high temperature thermal treatment. Next, we investigated the mechanism of step bunching during thermal treatment by two experiments from the view point of Ga atom evaporation. One is the selective thermal treatment using a partially masked GaAs wafer, and the evaporation amount of Ga atoms was estimated by AFM. The other is the investigation of photoluminescence (PL) peak energy shifts for AlGaAs/GaAs single quantum wells with a thermal treatment process at the top of the GaAs quantum well layer, compared to those without thermal treatment. These results indicate that the evaporation hardly occurs during the thermal treatment process. Therefore, step bunching phenomena on GaAs(001) vicinal surfaces during thermal treatment are probably caused by migration of the atoms detached from upside steps and their re-incorporation to downside steps.