Perturbation theories behind thermal mode spectroscopy for high-accuracy measurement of thermal diffusivity of solids

Thermal mode spectroscopy (TMS) has been recently proposed for accurately measuring thermal diffusivity of solids from a temperature decay rate of a specific thermal mode selected by three-dimensional (anti)nodal information [Phys. Rev. Lett., 117, 195901 (2016)]. In this paper, we find out the following advantages of TMS by use of perturbation analyses. First, TMS is applicable to the measurement of high-thermal diffusivity with a small-size specimen. Second, it is less affected by thermally resistive films on a specimen in the sense that the resistance at the interface does not affect the first-order correction of thermal diffusivity. Third, it can perform doubly accurate measurement of the thermal diffusivity specified at a thermal equilibrium state even if the diffusivity depends on temperature in the sense that the measurement can be performed within tiny temperature difference from the given state and that the decay rate of the slowest decaying mode is not affected by the dependence.     

Equivalent cross-relaxation rate imaging positively correlates with pathological grade and cell density of adipocytic tumors

Objective

Equivalent cross-relaxation rate imaging (ECRI) is an MRI technique used to evaluate qualitative changes in protein-water interactions. We aimed to prospectively evaluate the utility of ECRI for classification of adipocytic tumors.

Materials and Methods

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained and all patients provided informed consent. Study participants included 40 patients with adipocytic tumors who were diagnosed with lipomas (n = 22), atypical lipomatous tissue/well-differentiated liposarcoma (ALT/WDL; n = 9), myxoid/round cell liposarcoma (MyL; n = 6), and dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDL; n = 3), and 20 control patients for whom subcutaneous fat in the buttock or thigh was analyzed.

Results

Mean ECR values of lipomas, ALT/WDL, and subcutaneous fat were low, and those of MyL and DDL were high. Mean ECR values of MyL and DDL were significantly higher than those of ALT/WDL. The cut-off value was 5.1%. There was a positive correlation between ECR value, pathological grade, and cell density in adipocytic tumors.

Conclusion

The ECR value positively correlates with pathological grade and cell density of adipocytic tumors. Our findings suggest that ECRI is a useful method for preoperative evaluation of adipocytic tumors.     

Altered posttranslational modification on U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein 68k in systemic autoimmune diseases detected by 2D Western blot

Anti-ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP) antibodies are one of the representative autoantibodies detectable in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Generally, posttranslational modifications (PTMs) on autoantigens are proposed to be involved in the production of autoantibodies. In this study, we tried to detect the alteration in PTMs on a U1 small nuclear RNP 68k subunit (U1-68k), a major antigen of anti-RNP antibodies. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from patients with MCTD, SLE, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and from healthy donors. U1-68ks in the PBMCs were detected by 2D Western blot (WB), where extracted nuclear proteins were separated by 2DE, followed by the detection of U1-68k using WB. More than 20 PTM isoforms were detected with different molecular weights of 65.0 , 66.5, and 68.0kDa, and different pIs between 6.0 and 8.5. Importantly, the relative intensity of the spot with 66.5 kDa and pI 7.5 was significantly increased in the MCTD and SLE groups compared to the RA and healthy groups. Further, this U1-68k isoform, in particular, in its RS domain, was found to have significantly decreased phosphorylation compared to the other isoforms. The PTM alternation may be one of the steps to generate the anti-RNP antibodies.     

Nonlinear wave equations and singular solutions

We construct solutions to nonlinear wave equations that are singular along a prescribed noncharacteristic hypersurface, which is the graph of a function satisfying not the Eikonal but another partial differential equation of the first order. The method of Fuchsian reduction is employed.

     

Purealin,a novel enzyme activator from the Okinawan marine sponge Psammaplysilla purea

Purealin , a novel secondary metabolite, which modurates enzymic reactions of ATPases, has been isolated from the okinawan marine sponge $\text{Psammaplysilla}$$\text{purea}$ and the structure has been determined by the ¹H-¹H homonuclear and ¹H-¹³C heteronuclear NMR chemical shift correlations and CD spectra.     

Chemiluminescence sequential injection immunoassay for vitellogenin using magnetic microbeads

A rapid and sensitive immunoassay for the determination of carp vitellogenin (Vg) is described. The method involves a sequential injection analysis (SIA) system equipped with a chemiluminescence detector and a samarium-cobalt magnet. An anti-Vg monoclonal antibody, immobilized on magnetic beads, was used as a solid support for the immunoassay. The introduction, trapping and release of the magnetic beads in the flow cell were controlled by a samarium-cobalt magnet and the flow of the carrier solution. The immunoassay was based on a sandwich immunoreaction of anti-Vg monoclonal antibody (primary antibody) on the magnetic beads, Vg, and the anti-Vg antibody labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) (secondary antibody), and was based on a subsequent chemiluminescence reaction of HRP with hydrogen peroxide and p-iodophenol, in a luminol solution. The magnetic beads to which the primary antibody was immobilized were prepared by coupling the primary antibody with the magnetic beads after an agarose-layer on the surface of the magnetic beads was epoxidized. The primary antibody-immobilized magnetic beads were introduced, and trapped in the flow cell equipped with the samarium-cobalt magnet, a Vg sample solution, an HRP-labeled secondary antibody solution and the luminol solution were sequentially introduced into the flow cell based on an SIA programmed sequence. Chemiluminescence emission was monitored by means of a photomultiplier located at the upper side of the flow cell. The optimal incubation times both for the first and second immunoreactions were determined to be 20 min. A concave calibration curve was obtained between Vg concentration and chemiluminescence intensity when various concentrations of standard Vg samples (2–100 ng mL⁻¹) were applied to the SIA system under optimal conditions. In spite of a narrow working range, the lower detection limit of the immunoassay was about 2 ng mL⁻¹.     

Extensive oxygen exchange between carbon dioxide and magnesium oxide surface

Temperature-programmed desorption study of C¹⁸O₂ adsorbed on MgO has revealed that the desorbed carbon dioxide is composed exclusively of C¹⁶O₂, indicating that the adsorbed CO₂ species roll over the MgO surface.     

Zooxanthellamide A, a novel polyhydroxy metabolite from a marine dinoflagellate of Symbiodinium sp.

A novel polyhydroxy metabolite named Zooxanthellamide A, C₁₂₈H₂₂₂N₂O₅₄S₂, was isolated from a cultured marine dinoflagellate, Symbiodinium sp., and the chemical structure was determined by spectroscopic methods.     

9Be and 31P NMR analyses on the influence of imino groups on Be2+ complex stabilities of a series of cyclo‐μ‐imido triphosphate anions

The complexation behaviors of Be²⁺ with cyclo‐μ‐imido triphosphate anions, cP₃O_9?n(NH)_n^3? (n = 1, 2), have been investigated by both ⁹Be and ³¹P NMR techniques at ?2.3 °C in order to clarify the coordination structures of the complexes. The spectra showed that cP₃O_9?n(NH)_n (n = 1, 2) ligands form ML, ML₂, and M₂L complexes with Be²⁺ ions, and the formation of complexes coordinating with nitrogen atoms of the cyclic framework in the ligand molecule has been excluded. These complexation trends are very similar to those of Be²⁺‐cP₃O₆(NH)₃^3? system, which has been reported by us. The peak deconvolution of ⁹Be NMR spectra made these beryllium complexes amenable to stability constant determinations. The stability constants of the complexes increase with an increase in the protonation constants of the ligands as the number of imino groups, which constitute the ligand molecules, is ascended. This increase is primarily attributable to the lower electronegativity of nitrogen atoms than oxygen atoms, which are directly bonded to central phosphorus atoms; moreover, tautomerism equilibrium in the entire of the imidopolyphosphate molecule is also responsible to the higher basicity. ³¹P NMR spectra measured concurrently have verified the formation of the complexes estimated by the ⁹Be NMR measurement. Intrinsic ³¹P NMR chemical shift values of the phosphorus atoms belonging to ligand molecules complexed with Be²⁺ cations have been determined. Not only the protonation constants but also the stability constants of all Be²⁺ complexes increase approximately linearly with an increase in the number of imino groups. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.