Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and thermoluminescence (TL) measurements on red TL (RTL) quartz samples using a new automated OSL/TL measuring system

A new automated OSL/TL measuring system, equipped with a small X-ray irradiator applicable to a single-aliquot method, has been developed. To ensure cross check between OSL and RTL, the naturally accumulated doses evaluated with OSL and RTL measurements were compared. The results nearly agreed with each other, although the ages estimated from the experimental data were different from the real ages of Shin-Yakushiji temple because of the uncertainty of the annual dose. Nevertheless, it was concluded that the application of this system to the dating could be performed owing to uses of the luminescence measurements.     

Determination of elemental composition of airborne dust and dust suspended in rain

To clarify the magnitude of wash-out effect of rain on the elemental composition of airborne dust and the possible origin of the dust, the dust samples were collected with a high-volume air sampler at the JAERI-Tokai. The dust suspended in rain was also collected from rain by filtration. Up to 20 elements in both types of the dust were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. It was found that the elements determined could be classified into 3 groups from the elemental composition and the elemental correlation in both types of the dust samples.     

Stereoselective adduct formation of α-acylcamphorato-copper(II) chelates with some chiral Lewis bases

The formation constants of the mono-adducts of α-acylcamphorato-copper(II) chelates such as (+)-Cu(facam)₂, (?)-Cu(facam)₂, (+)-Cu(hfbc)₂ and (?)-Cu(hfbc)₂ with some chiral Lewis bases were determined spectrophotometrically in benzene. In order to compare the adduct formation constants obtained with the (+)- and (?)-forms, some pairs of chiral Lewis bases such as 1-amino-2-propanol [(R)(?), (S)(+)], 1-(α-naphthyl)ethylamine [(R)(+), (S)(?)], α-phenyl ethylamine [(R)(+), (S)(?)] and also quinine and quinidine were examined as neutral ligands. Although not very pronounced, the effects of combinations obtained for (+)- or (?)-Cu(II) chelates and (+)- or (?)-ligands indicate that formation constants obtained by the formation of adducts with the ligands having different directions of the optical rotation seems to be superior to those with the same direction.     

Association between the photodynamic loss of Bcl-2 and the sensitivity to apoptosis caused by phthalocyanine photodynamic therapy

We have reported that photodynamic therapy (PDT) using the photosensitizer phthalocyanine (Pc) 4 and red light damages the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Recently, using transient transfection of Bcl-2 deletion mutants, we identified the membrane anchorage domains of Bcl-2 as necessary to form the photosensitive target. However, it is not clear how Bcl-2 photodamage sensitizes cells to Pc 4-PDT-induced apoptosis, whether overall cell killing is also sensitized or how up-regulation of Bcl-2 in tumors might make them more or less responsive to Pc 4-PDT. In this study we report on MCF-7c3 cells (human breast cancer cells expressing stably transfected procaspase-3) overexpressing wild-type Bcl-2 or certain deletion mutants in either a transient or a stable mode. By flow cytometric analysis of transiently transfected cells, we found that wild-type Bcl-2, Bcl-2delta33-54 and Bcl-2delta37-63 (each of which can be photodamaged) protected cells from apoptosis caused by Pc 4-PDT. In contrast, Bcl-2delta210-239, which lacks the C-terminal transmembrane domain and cannot be photodamaged, afforded no protection. We then evaluated the PDT sensitivity of transfected cell lines stably overexpressing high levels of wild-type Bcl-2 or one of the Bcl-2 mutants. Overexpression of wild-type Bcl-2, Bcl-2delta33-54 or Bcl-2delta37-63 resulted in relative resistance of cells to Pc 4-PDT, as assessed by morphological apoptosis or loss of clonogenicity. Furthermore, overexpression of Bcl-2 also inhibited the activation-associated conformational change of the proapoptotic protein Bax, and higher doses of Pc 4 and light were required to activate Bax in cells expressing high levels of Bcl-2. Many advanced cancer cells have elevated amounts of Bcl-2. Our results show that increasing the dose of Pc 4-PDT can overcome the resistance afforded by either Bcl-2 or the two mutants. PDT regimens that photodamage Bcl-2 lead to activation of Bax, induction of apoptosis and elimination of the otherwise resistant tumor cells.     

Size distribution and characteristics of chemical components in ambient particulate matter.

Ambient particulate matter and gas in Kyoto were investigated by gravimetric analysis, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and ion chromatography in order to clarify their behavior and origin. The size distribution and characteristics of the chemical components in ambient particulates collected on PTFE membrane filters using an Andersen air sampler were examined from August 2001 to April 2004. A four-stage filter pack method was used to sample the atmosphere for the determination of gas (SO2, HNO3, HCl, NH3) and particulate matter (SO42, NO3, Cl-, Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+) concentrations from October 2002 to April 2004. The concentration of SPM mass was in the range of 6.7 - 80.2 microg/m3. The size distributions of SPM mass were bimodal, peaking at around 0.65 - 1.1 and 3.3 - 4.7 microm, and 40 - 85% of SPM mass was fine particles (< 2.1 microm). Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Cl, and Fe were mainly present in coarse particles (2.1 to 11.0 microm), while S was present in fine particles. The concentrations of Al, Si, Ca, Mg, and Fe in fine particles increased from March to April in 2002, and those in coarse particulates increased in November 2002 and from March to April in 2004. This may be the effect of the continental yellow sand "Kosa." The differences in the size distributions of Al, Si, Ca, Mg, and Fe in particles may depend on differences in their place of occurrence and course of transport from China to Japan. The concentration of HCl gas was higher than that of particulate chloride ion in summer. Nitric acid gas existed at higher concentrations in summer, but fine particulate nitrate ion was observed in winter. The gaseous-to-fine aerosol nitrate fraction became higher at warmer temperatures. Coarse sulfate was below 10%, and SO2 gas and fine particulate sulfate were above 90%.     

Ethylene and propylene polymerization behavior of a series of bis(phenoxy–imine)titanium complexes

This contribution reports ethylene and propylene polymerization behavior of a series of Ti complexes bearing a pair of phenoxy–imine chelate ligands. The bis(phenoxy–imine)Ti complexes in conjunction with methylalumoxane (MAO) can be active catalysts for the polymerization of ethylene. Unexpectedly, this C₂ symmetric catalyst produces syndiotactic polypropylene. ¹³C NMR spectroscopy has revealed that the syndiotacticity arises from a chain-end control mechanism. Substitutions on the phenoxy–imine ligands have substantial effects on both ethylene and propylene polymerization behavior of the complexes. In particular, the steric bulk of the substituent ortho to the phenoxy–oxygen is fundamental to obtaining high activity and high molecular weight for ethylene polymerization and high syndioselectivity for the chain-end controlled propylene polymerization. The highest ethylene polymerization activity, 3240 kg/mol-cat h, exhibited by a complex having a t-butyl group ortho to the phenoxy–oxygen, represents one of the highest reported to date for Ti-based non-metallocene catalysts. Additionally, the polypropylene produced exhibits a T_m, 140 °C, and syndioselectivity, rrrr 83.7% (achieved by a complex bearing a trimethylsilyl group ortho to the phenoxy–oxygen) that are among the highest for polypropylenes produced via a chain-end control mechanism. Hence, the bis(phenoxy–imine)Ti complexes are rare examples of non-metallocene catalysts that are useful for the polymerization of not only ethylene but also propylene.     

Coordination Behavior of Sterically Protected Phosphaalkenes on the AuCl Moiety Leading to Catalytic 1,6‐Enyne Cycloisomerization

Mes*‐substituted 2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐diphosphabuta‐1,3‐diene, 1,2‐diphenyl‐3,4‐diphosphinidenecyclobutene, 2,2‐bis(methylsulfanyl)‐1‐phosphaethene, and 3,3‐diphenyl‐1,3‐diphosphapropenes (Mes*=2,4,6‐tri‐tert‐butylphenyl) were employed as P ligands of gold(I) complexes. The (E,E)‐2,3‐dimethyl‐1,4‐diphosphabuta‐1,3‐diene functioned as a P2 ligand for digold(I) complex formation with or without intramolecular Au–Au contact, which depends on the conformation of the 1,3‐diphosphabuta‐1,3‐diene. The 1,2‐diphenyl‐3,4‐diphosphinidenecyclobutene, which has a rigid s‐cis P?C? C?P skeleton, afforded the corresponding digold(I) complexes with a slight distortion of the planar diphosphinidenecyclobutene framework and intramolecular Au–Au contact. In the case of the 2,2‐bis(methylsulfanyl)‐1‐phosphaethene, only the phosphorus atom coordinated to gold, and the sulfur atom showed almost no intra‐ or intermolecular coordination to gold. On the other hand, the 1,3‐diphosphapropenes behaved as nonequivalent P2 ligands to afford the corresponding mono‐ and digold(I) complexes. Some phosphaalkene–gold(I) complexes showed catalytic activity for 1,6‐enyne cycloisomerization without cocatalysts such as silver hexafluoroantimonate.     

Mechanism of charge–transfer polymerization. II. Propagation mechanism of the polymerization of N-vinylcarbazole with organic electron acceptors

Copolymerizations of N-vinylcarbazole with both isobutyl vinyl ether and N-vinyl-pyrrolidone initiated by some organic electron acceptors have been investigated for the purpose of elucidating the propagation mechanism in the charge-transfer polymerization. Copolymerizations of the same system catalyzed by authentic cationic catalysts have also been made for comparison. The results indicate that the propagation mechanism of the charge-transfer polymerization studied is catio ie.     

Synthesis, structure, and reactivity of novel 3,4-diphosphacyclobutenes bearing silyl groups

[reaction: see text] Copper-mediated homocoupling of sterically hindered 2-(2,4,6-tri-tert-butylphenyl)-1-trialkylsilyl-2-phosphaethenyllithiums afforded 1,2-bis(trialkylsilyl)-3,4-diphosphacyclobutenes (1,2-dihydrodiphosphetenes) through a formal electrocyclic [2+2] cyclization in the P=C-C=P skeleton as well as 2-trimethylsilyl-1,4-diphosphabuta-1,3-diene. Reduction of 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)-3,4-diphosphacyclobutenes followed by quenching with electrophiles afforded ring-opened products, (E)-1,2-bis(phosphino)-1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethene and (Z)-2,3-bis(trimethylsilyl)-1,4-diphosphabut-1-ene. The structures of the ring-opened products indicated E/Z isomerization around the C=C bond after P-P bond cleavage of 5, and the isomerization of the P-C=C skeleton. Ring opening of 1,2-bis(trimethylsilyl)-3,4-diphosphacyclobutenes affording (E,E)- and (Z,Z)-1,4-diphosphabuta-1,3-dienes was observed upon desilylation.     

Geographical distribution of plutonium derived from the atomic bomb in the eastern area of Nagasaki

In order to know the distribution of plutonium derived from the Nagasaki atomic bomb, soil samples were measured to determine the ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu isotope ratio of and concentrations of ^239+240Pu and ¹³⁷Cs. The ^239+240Pu concentrations in soils, except for Nishiyama area, were close to the average concentration of soil collected in Japan. In soils collected at the Nishiyama area and at the eastern area of Nagasaki Prefecture and at part of northern area in Kumamoto Prefecture, the ²⁴⁰Pu/²³⁹Pu ratios were lower than the global fallout values. This suggests that plutonium from the atomic bomb was deposited in the eastern area from the hypocenter reaching up to 100 km eastwards.