A new method for atmospheric nitrogen dioxide measurements using the combination of a stripping coil and fluorescence detection.

A new stripping coil for the collection of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has been developed to increase its versatility and efficiency. Nitrogen dioxide measurements based on quantitative collection through a reaction coil into an alkaline solution has been examined. Nitrogen dioxide is collected in a 0.1 N NaOH solution. This collection system has an efficiency of nearly 100%. The absorbed nitrogen dioxide has been measured by fluorescence detection with sub-ppbv detection limits. The excitation wavelength at 360 nm and the produced emission wavelength at 405 nm were suitable for nitrite ion measurements.     

Measuring Light Field of Light Source with High Directional Resolution Using Mirrored Ball and Pinhole Camera

This paper presents a method of measuring a light field of a light source with high directional resolution using a mirrored ball and a pinhole camera. The light field describes a spatial and directional distribution of radiances from the light source. The directional distribution is expanded by a reflection on the mirrored ball, and the radiances are measured by a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera with a pinhole lens. The light source is laterally moved by a robot arm to measure the directionally expanded light field, and each pixel on a CCD can obtain the radiances from the light source through the pinhole lens with high directional resolution. The light field is estimated from the pixel value and the position of each pixel using a ray tracing technique. The light field of a krypton lamp was experimentally measured by the proposed method, and the accuracy of the measurement was evaluated against the irradiances measured by a spectro-radiometer at sample points.     

Evaluation formulas for Tornheim's type of alternating double series

In this paper, we give some evaluation formulas for Tornheim's type of alternating series by an elementary and combinatorial calculation of the uniformly convergent series. Indeed, we list several formulas for them by means of Riemann's zeta values at positive integers.

     

Determination of clethodim and its oxidation metabolites in crops by liquid chromatography with confirmation by LC/MS

A method was developed for determination of the herbicide clethodim (C0) and its oxidation metabolites clethodim sulfoxide (C1) and clethodim sulfone (C2) in agricultural products. Upon extraction, both C0 and C1 were oxidized to C2 by m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, and C2 was determined by liquid chromatography (LC). The C2 peak was confirmed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) with electrospray ionization (ESI). Recoveries of C0 from radish, tomato, onion, sweet potato, kidney bean, carrot, cabbage, and lettuce ranged from 91 to 118% following fortification at 0.05-1.0 ppm. The detection limit of C2 in crops was 0.01 ppm (S/N > 3). The fortified samples of onion, sweet potato, kidney bean, and carrot were confirmed by LC/MS (ESI), and the peak of C2 was detected.     

Development of a new file search system for nuclear magnetic resonance spectra: Production of an Enlarged Data Base and Search Test

A practical search system for proton n.m.r. spectra is reported. The coding rules and search algorithms are described in detail. Data for 8000 spectra have been converted into a computer-readable file from printed charts. Several search tests are used to evaluate the usefulness of the search system, and various effects of experimental conditions such as different instruments, frequencies and solvents on recall efficiency are described. The results presented indicate that the system should be applicable to routine analytical work.     

Lannotinidines A-G, new alkaloids from two species of Lycopodium

Seven new Lycopodium alkaloids, lannotinidines A-G (1-7), have been isolated from the club moss Lycopodium annotinum and L. annotinum var. acrifolium. Stereochemistry of 1-7 was elucidated by combination of NOESY correlations and chemical transformation. Lannotinidines B-E (2-5) elevated NGF mRNA expression.     

Molecular interactions between lipid bilayers and a water-soluble polymer

Molecular interactions between lipid bilayers (liposomes) and chondroitin sulfate C (CS), a water soluble polymer, have been investigated in terms of zeta-potential, particle size, microscopic-viscosity, microscopic-polarity of liposomes and permeability of calcein. Microscopic morphology is dramatically changed by the addition of CS to the positively charged liposomes (Pos.L), while it is not changed by the addition to uncharged liposomes (Unc.L) or negatively charged liposomes (Neg.L). The absolute value of the particle size of Pos.L increases with the addition of CS, while the zeta- potential of Pos.L decreases. Permeability of Pos.L decreases with an increase in the concentration of CS. Phase transition temperature of Pos.L is changed after the addition of CS. These values, however, are not changed for the other liposomes by the addition of CS. The results of gel filtration chromatography show that CS is absorbed on the Pos.L surface. Microscopic viscosity is also increased by the addition of CS to Pos.L due to the adsorption of CS.     

Photodynamic Therapy for Cancer Cells Using a Flash Wave Light Xenon Lamp

We determined photodynamic therapy (PDT) efficacy using a flash wave (FW) and a continuous wave (CW) light, of which the fluence rate was 70 W/cm², for murine thymic lymphoma cells (EL-4) cultivated in vitro. The irradiation frequency and the pulse width of the FW light were in the range of 1–32 Hz and less than one millisecond, respectively. 5-Aminolevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX (ALA-PpIX) was used as a photosensitizer. When EL-4 with ALA administration was irradiated by the light for 4 h (irradiation fluence: 1.0J/cm²), the survival rate of EL-4 by the FW light was lower than that by the CW light, except for the FW light with irradiation frequency of 32 Hz, and decreased gradually with decreasing irradiation frequency. Moreover, the FW light, especially at lower irradiation frequency, was superior to the CW light for the generation of singlet oxygen in an aqueous PpIX solution. Therefore, thehigher PDT efficacy for EL-4 of the FW light would be caused by the greater generation of singlet oxygen in the cells.