Synthesis of 6-hydroxylated bile acids and identification of 3 alpha,6 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid in human meconium and neonatal urine

Three 6-hydroxylated bile acids, 3 alpha,6 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-, 3 alpha,6 beta,7 alpha,12 alpha- and 3 alpha,6 beta,7 beta,12 alpha-tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acids, were synthesized from methyl cholate, and a sensitive method was developed for analyzing them by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for the stoichiometric study of fetal bile acids. 3 alpha,6 alpha,7 alpha,12 alpha-Tetrahydroxy-5 beta-cholan-24-oic acid (6 alpha-hydroxylated cholic acid) was identified from human meconium and healthy neonatal urine by comparison with the mass spectrum of the reference compound. In human meconium, 6 alpha-hydroxylated cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids were determined in 1.2% and 29.0% of the total bile acids, respectively. We discuss the significance of hydroxylation at the C-1 beta and C-6 alpha positions of bile acids and their elimination in fetal and neonatal periods.     

Review of the Sampling and Pretreatment Methods for Dioxins Determination in Solids,Liquids and Gases

The analytical requirements for the determination of dioxins (e.g. PCDD, PCDF) are unique in comparison with those for other routinely monitored chemicals: dioxins are measured in parts per trillion (ppt) and lower levels in technical and environmental samples, whereas other organics are measured in parts per million (ppm) or parts per billion (ppb). The ultra‐trace analysis of dioxins requires a high sample enrichment obtainable by the use of efficient extraction methods and highly selective purification/fractionation techniques. Furthermore, highly sensitive equipment (e.g. high resolution gas chromatography ‐ HRGC) with detection levels in the ppt range must be used to isolate and separate a huge number of dioxin congeners. The quantification of the dioxins by a high resolution mass detector (HRMS) requires the use of internal and labeled standards. This paper reviews and compares the classic and modern pretreatment methods, namely extraction and clean‐up, that are currently used in dioxin analysis in industrial samples and that were improved or developed in the last 25 years. In addition, the standard methods for dioxin sampling from an emission source (flue or stack gas) are examined and compared with new, automated techniques.     

Microbioassay system for an anti-cancer agent test using animal cells on a microfluidic gradient mixer.

We developed a novel microbioassay system equipped with a gradient mixer of two solutions, and we applied the microfluidic system to an anti-cancer agent test using living animal cells on a microchip. A microchannel for the gradient mixing of two solutions and eight other microchannels for cell assay were fabricated on a poly(dimethylsiloxane) substrate using a soft-lithography method. The functions necessary for this bioassay, i.e., cell culturing, chemical stimulation, cell staining, and fluorescence determination, were integrated into the microfluidic chip. Eight gradient concentrations of the fluorescein solution, ranging from 1 to 98 microg/ml, were archived at 0.1 microl/min on a microchip. A stomach cancer cell line was cultured, and a cell viability assay was conducted using 5-Fluorouracil as an anti-cancer agent on the microchip. Cell viability changed according to the estimated concentration of the agent solution. With the microbioassay system, an anti-cancer agent test was conducted using living cells simultaneously in eight individual channels with the gradient concentration of the agent on a microchip.     

A microscopic time scale approximation to the behavior of the local slope on the faceted surface under a nonuniformity in supersaturation

The morphological stability of a growing faceted crystal is discussed. We argue that the interplay between nonuniformity in supersaturation on a growing facet and anisotropy of surface kinetics derived from the lateral motion of steps leads to a faceted instability. Qualitatively speaking, as long as the nonuniformity in supersaturation on the facet is not too large, it can be compensated for by a variation of step density along the facet, and the faceted crystal can grow in a stable manner. The problem can be modeled as a Hamilton-Jacobi equation for height of the crystal surface. The notion of a maximal stable region of a growing facet is introduced for microscopic time scale approximation of the original Hamilton-Jacobi equation. It is shown that the maximal stable region keeps its shape, determined by profile of the surface supersaturation, with constant growth rate by studying large time behavior of solution of macroscopic time scale approximation. A quantitative criterion for the facet stability is given.     

Perylene-tetrapalladium sandwich complexes

Bis-perylene-tetrapalladium sandwich complexes are synthesized and structurally characterized. These are the first examples of bis-arene sandwich complexes having metal-metal bond chains. X-ray crystallographic analyses showed that the tetrapalladium chain is bound to perylene ligands at the C8 edge position.     

Lasing action of active-particles dispersed in microdroplets and its enhanced characteristics by highly scattering intralipid-10% mixture

The first laser action of active-particles of 1–2 m in diameter, red fluorescent-powder (FP), dispersed in nonactive (nonlasing) 100 m-sized liquid microdroplets is reported. Lasing characteristics of FP-containing microdroplets by mixing Intralipid-10% as highly scattering turbid media are also described. Well-defined lasing thresholds can be confirmed from the FP-dispersed pure microdroplets, and lowered lasing threshold along with enhanced lasing emission is achieved by appropriately mixing the Intralipid-10% solution. Lasing threshold in these microdroplets can be determined not through the spectral narrowing features but through the input–output data. We believe that these new microdroplet configurations offer one of the new categories of lasing media and they seem also to simulate to some biological pigments or organelles contained in cells and small tissues.     

Combinatorial Classification of Optimal Authentication Codes with Arbitration

Unconditionallysecure authentication codes with arbitration ( A ²-codes)protect against deceptions from the transmitter and the receiveras well as that from the opponent. We first show that an optimalA ²-code implies an orthogonal array and an affine-resolvable design. Next we define a new design,an affine -resolvable + BIBD,and prove that optimal A ²-codes are equivalentto this new design. From this equivalence, we derive a conditionon the parameters for the existence of optimal A ²-codes.Further, we show tighter lower bounds on the size of keys thanbefore for large sizes of source states which can be consideredas an extension of the bounds on the related designs.     

The absolute configuration of cycloeudesmol from the red alga Laurencia nipponica Yamada

The absolute configuration of cycloeudesmol, isolated from the red alga Laurencia nipponica Yamada and Chondria oppositiclada Dawson, is determined by the crystallographic study.