Development of health monitoring method for pecan nut trees using side video data and computer vision

Optical Review - Increasing efficiency and productivity in the field of agriculture is important to provide sufficient food to the world’s increasing population. It is important to monitor...     

Synthesis of C12-Keto Saxitoxin Derivatives with Unusual Inhibitory Activity Against Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

A novel series of C12-keto-type saxitoxin (STX) derivatives bearing an unusual nonhydrated form of the ketone at C12 has been synthesized, and their Na_V-inhibitory activity has been evaluated in a cell-based assay as well as whole-cell patch-clamp recording. Among these compounds, 11-benzylidene STX ( 3 a ) showed potent inhibitory activity against neuroblastoma Neuro 2A in both cell-based and electrophysiological analyses, with EC₅₀ and IC₅₀ values of 8.5 and 30.7 nm , respectively. Interestingly, the compound showed potent inhibitory activity against tetrodotoxin-resistant subtype of Na_V1.5, with an IC₅₀ value of 94.1 nm . Derivatives 3 a – d and 3 f showed low recovery rates from Na_V1.2 subtype (ca 45–79 %) compared to natural dcSTX ( 2 ), strongly suggesting an irreversible mode of interaction. We propose an interaction model for the C12-keto derivatives with Na_V in which the enone moiety in the STX derivatives 3 works as Michael acceptor for the carboxylate of Asp¹⁷¹⁷.     

Switching the Switch: Ligand Induced Disulfide Formation in HDAC8

Human histone deacetylase 8 is a well-recognized target for T-cell lymphoma and particularly childhood neuroblastoma. PD-404,182 was shown to be a selective covalent inhibitor of HDAC8 that forms mixed disulfides with several cysteine residues and is also able to transform thiol groups to thiocyanates. Moreover, HDAC8 was shown to be regulated by a redox switch based on the reversible formation of a disulfide bond between cysteines Cys₁₀₂ and Cys₁₅₃. This study on the distinct effects of PD-404,182 on HDAC8 reveals that this compound induces the dose-dependent formation of intramolecular disulfide bridges. Therefore, the inhibition mechanism of HDAC8 by PD-404,182 involves both, covalent modification of thiols as well as ligand mediated disulfide formation. Moreover, this study provides a deep molecular insight into the regulation mechanism of HDAC8 involving several cysteines with graduated capability to form reversible disulfide bridges.     

Defect-Free Synthesis of a Fully π-Conjugated Helical Ladder Polymer and Resolution into a Pair of Enantiomeric Helical Ladders**

Fully π-conjugated ladder polymers with a spiral geometry represent a new class of helical polymers with great potential for organic nanodevices, but there is no precedent for an optically active helical ladder polymer totally composed of achiral units. We now report the defect-free synthesis and resolution of a fully π-conjugated helical ladder polymer with a rigid helical cavity, which has been achieved by quantitative and chemoselective acid-promoted alkyne benzannulations of a rationally designed, random-coil achiral polymer followed by chromatographic enantioseparation. Because of a sufficiently high helix-inversion barrier, the isolated excess one-handed helical ladder polymer with a degree of polymerization of more than 15 showed a strong circular dichroism with a dissymmetry factor of up to 1.7×10⁻² and is thermally stable, maintaining its optical activity in solution even at 100 °C, as well-supported by molecular dynamics simulation.     

Estimation of 47Sc and 177Lu production rates from their natural targets in Kyoto University Research Reactor

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - To assess the capability of Kyoto University Research Reactor to supply the domestic needs of medical isotopes, its neutron flux has been fully...     

Thermal stability of functionalized carbon nanotubes studied by in-situ transmission electron microscopy

The thermal stability of funtionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been studied experimentally by direct in-situ observations using a heating stage in a transmission electron microscope, from room temperature (RT) to about 1000 °C. It was found that the thermal stability of the functionalized CNTs was significantly reduced during the in-situ heating process. Their average diameter dramatically expanded from RT to about 500 °C, and then tended to be stable until about 1000 °C. The X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis suggested that the diameter expansion was associated with coalescence of the carbon structure instead of deposition with additional foreign elements during the heating process.     

Modular synthesis of the ClickFerrophos ligand family and their use in rhodium- and ruthenium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenation

A series of diphosphine ClickFerrophos ligands (CF), based on a triazoleferrocene backbone, was synthesized in a four-step sequence via click chemistry methodology. In addition to the four previously synthesized ligands CF1, CF4, CF7 and CF10, six novel CF ligands CF2–3 and CF5–8 were prepared. Hydrogenation reactions of alkenes and ketones were significantly improved upon by using CF ligands as rhodium- or ruthenium-complexes in which the % ee values can be optimized by choosing the appropriate CF ligand depending on the substrate.     

Mapping Platinum Species in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells by Spatially Resolved XAFS Techniques

There is limited information on the mechanism for platinum oxidation and dissolution in Pt/C cathode catalyst layers of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) under the operating conditions though these issues should be uncovered for the development of next‐generation PEFCs. Pt species in Pt/C cathode catalyst layers are mapped by a XAFS (X‐ray absorption fine structure) method and by a quick‐XAFS(QXAFS) method. Information on the site‐preferential oxidation and leaching of Pt cathode nanoparticles around the cathode boundary and the micro‐crack in degraded PEFCs is provided, which is relevant to the origin and mechanism of PEFC degradation.     

Research on Liebeskind-Srogl coupling/intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction cascade

The Liebeskind-Srogl coupling/intramolecular Diels-Alder (IMDA) reaction cascade that stereoselectively affords a tricarbocyclic compound with a trans–trans-cis fused ring system including an all-carbon quaternary stereogenic center at the ring junction is described. The cascade reactions proceed quickly and stereoselectively afford the products within 2?h at room temperature in the presence of a suitable thioester. The developed protocol as well as the prepared chiral compounds are useful for the enantioselective total synthesis of terpenoids with the trans–trans-cis fused ring system.