Identification of possible technical problems in determination of the major inorganic constituents of brown-rice flour by evaluating proficiency test results

To support skill upgrading in analysis of inorganic constituents of environmental and food samples, the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) and the National Food Research Institute (NFRI) have organized a proficiency test (PT) of determination of Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, and Cd in brown-rice flour based on the international standard (ISO/IEC 17043:2010). One hundred and thirty-three sets of reports were assessed by use of the E _n -number and z-score approaches in accordance with ISO/IEC 17043 and the international harmonized protocol for PT. The PT results and analytical procedures, reported in detail, were reviewed, and possible technical reasons for questionable or unsatisfactory results are discussed.

Synthesis of 1-Thio-N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine Derivatives,and Their Biological Activities. XX

Abstract

In the course of an investigation² on the relationship between the immunoadjuvant activity and the structure of the carbohydrate moiety in N-acetylmuramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine (MDP), which is the minimal, immunoadjuvant-active component of bacterial cell-wall peptidoglycan, we demonstrated that not only is restricted configuration of the sugar moiety important for the activity² but also that chemical modifications^3–5 of the functional groups in the carbohydrate moiety produce various, important effects on the manifestation of activity. It has been shown that lipophilic derivatives^6–8 of MDP bearing the lipid moiety at C-6 of the sugar skeleton, or at the end of the peptide chain, have strong antitumor and anti-infection activities that are not for MDP itself. In addition, we have also observed that introduction^3b,9,10 of lipophilic character at C-2 in muramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, or at C-6 in N-acetyl-6-amino-6-deoxy-muramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine, causes potent antitumor activity based on the immune reaction, as well as strong, immunoadjuvant activities.     

Improved accuracy of determination of dissolved silicate in seawater using absorption spectrometry

We studied to develop a certified reference material of seawater for nutrient analysis whose relative combined standard uncertainty for dissolved silicate was <0.5 %. In order to precisely measure the content of dissolved silicate in seawater, widely used absorption spectrometry with the so-called molybdenum blue was investigated as one of the highly sensitive determination methods. For the absorption spectrometry, a batch mode and a continuous flow analysis (CFA) mode were used and the characteristics of the calibration curves in the both modes were examined in detail. The calibration curve in the batch mode could be explained by a first-order regression line, whereas that in the CFA mode fitted to a second-order regression line. Therefore, for measuring the silicate content of seawater whose matrix depends on its origin, a standard addition method in a batch mode is preferable, though strict control of the compositions of the solutions for the standard addition calibration curve are greatly important for getting good linearity of the curve. In addition, in the case of the standard addition method, it is important to measure the blank value including the background; in the present study, the origins related to the blank were discussed and evaluated. The relative combined standard uncertainty of 0.48 % could be achieved for the measurement of content of 28 μmol/kg silicate in seawater, providing that the volume ratio between each of the molybdenum blue colorimetric reagents and the seawater was kept constant among all the solutions for the standard addition calibration curve. The procedure was validated using artificial seawater with a known concentration of silicate. Such highly improved precision and trueness which reaches the recent target of the community related to analysis of nutrients in seawater is reported for the first time. The developed procedure will provide a good way of validation for the analysts who need measurement with high precision and trueness on the content of silicate in seawater and other samples.     

W ± boson pair production ine + e − process

I discuss the determination ofW ^± boson mass by the total cross-section ofe ⁺ e ^?→W⁺W^? process and its relation to tests of the electroweak higher order effects. In order to get rid of the confusion in recent theoretical arguments on this subjects, I arrange and clarify how to develop analysis once the corresponding experimental data become available.     

Single molecular observation of penta- and hexagonic assembly of bisporphyrin on a gold surface

Artificial light-harvesting antennae of coordination-organized macrocyclic porphyrin pentamer and hexamer are visualized by high resolution scanning tunneling microscopy (HRSTM) on a gold surface.     

Tetracyanoresorcin[4]arene ion channel shows pH dependent conductivity change

A pH sensitive artificial ion channel, tetracyanoresorcin[4]arene, whose pK(a1) to pK(a3) are around pH 7, was synthesized. Conductivities for potassium ion were increased by the progress of dissociation at the channel mouth.