Sterilization of Bacillus spores by converted X rays

Relative sensitivities of endospores of Bacillus pumilus E601, B. subtilis IAM1069, B. megaterium S31 and B. brevis S5 to gamma rays, converted X rays (bremsstrahlung) and electron beams were examined in order to estimate the conditions in which converted X rays kill Bacillus spores. The radiation sensitivities to gamma rays and electron beams of each strain dried on glass fiber filter without additives were found to be almost equivalent, and D values were obtained as follows: 1.5–1.6 kGy for B. pumilus, 1.4–1.5 kGy for B. subtilis, 1.9–2.0 kGy for B. megaterium and 1.6–2.0 kGy for B. brevis. The radiation sensitivities of endospores of each strain to electron beams were slightly lower than those to gamma rays in the dry condition with additives of 2% peptone + 1 % glycerin on glass fiber filters. The increase of radiation resistance in the presence of additives was also observed with X rays, and it was on an intermediate level between those with gamma rays and electron beams. In the dry condition using cellulose filter paper, only the radiation resistances of B. megaterium and B. brevis in the presence of additives B. megaterium and B. brevis in the presence of additives were increased.     

Hybrid approach for ab initio molecular dynamics simulation combining energy density analysis and short-time Fourier transform: energy transfer spectrogram

We propose a new analysis technique for specifying molecular vibrational modes related with intramolecular and/or intermolecular energy transfer in ab initio molecular dynamics simulation of chemical reaction. The technique combines the short-time Fourier transform method with energy density analysis, which partitions the quantum chemical potential energy in the system into atomic contributions. The image obtained by the combined scheme, termed an energy transfer spectrogram (ETS), enables us to understand the dynamics of energy transfer by time-frequency representation. The time change of the local energy is quite important in chemical reactions. In order to assess the performance of the ETS, its application to the collision reaction between two carbon dioxide molecules is shown.     

Trapping of carbamic acid species with (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane

Methoxycarbonylation of a variety of amines into the corresponding methyl carbamates was accomplished by allowing them to react with (trimethylsilyl)diazomethane TMSCHN₂ under bubbling of CO₂. The reaction was performed at room temperature for a period of ca. 2 h in benzene-MeOH (4/1 v/v), which was the solvent of choice. In this mixed solvent, undesirable bicarbonate is formed in equilibrium along with carbamate anion. Owing to the irreversibility in the esterification step by TMSCHN₂, however, the yield of methyl carbamate can reach very high.     

Base-dependent competitive adsorption of single-stranded DNA on gold

We characterize the room-temperature adsorption of single-stranded DNA homo-oligonucleotides from solution onto polycrystalline Au films, including competitive adsorption between all possible pairs of unmodified oligomers. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopy analysis of the resulting films shows that oligonucleotides adsorb with a strongly base-dependent affinity, adenine (A) > cytosine (C) >/= guanine (G) > thymine (T). In competitive adsorption experiments on Au, oligo(dA) strongly dominates over the other oligonucleotides. The relative adsorption affinity of oligo(dA) is so great that it competes effectively against adsorption of thiolated oligomers and even causes hybridized oligo(dA).oligo(dT) duplexes to denature in the presence of Au.     

A novel and useful oxidative intramolecular coupling reaction of phenol ether derivatives on treatment with a combination of hypervalent iodine(III) reagent and heteropoly acid

The oxidative intramolecular coupling reaction of phenol ether derivatives (nonphenolic derivatives) on treatment with a novel combination of a hypervalent iodine(III) reagent, phenyliodine bis(trifluoroacetate) (PIFA), and heteropoly acid (HPA) was studied. Biaryl compounds were obtained in excellent yields on treatment of highly substituted phenol ethers. On the other hand, spirodienones were specifically formed when one of the preferred arylic coupling sites was substituted with a methoxy group in the para position.     

Defect Engineering of MoS2 and Its Impacts on Electrocatalytic and Photocatalytic Behavior in Hydrogen Evolution Reactions

Molybdenum disulfide (MoS₂) has been regarded as a favorable photocatalytic co‐catalyst and efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalyst alternative to expensive noble‐metals catalysts, owing to earth‐abundance, proper band gap, high surface area, and fast electron transfer ability. In order to achieve a higher catalytic efficiency, defects strategies such as phase engineering and vacancy introduction are considered as promising methods for natural 2H‐MoS₂ to increase its active sites and promote electron transfer rate. In this study, we report a new two‐step defect engineering process to generate vacancies‐rich hybrid‐phase MoS₂ and to introduce Ru particles at the same time, which includes hydrothermal reaction and a subsequent hydrogen reduction. Compositional and structural properties of the synthesized defects‐rich MoS₂ are investigated by XRD, XPS, XAFS and Raman measurements, and the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction performance, as well as photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance in the ammonia borane dehydrogenation are evaluated. Both catalytic activities are boosted with the increase of defects concentrations in MoS₂, which ascertains that the defects engineering is a promising route to promote catalytic performance of MoS₂.     

Formation of AlN layer on (1 1 1)Al substrate by ammonia nitridation

AlN layers were formed on (1 1 1)Al substrates at a temperature below the melting point of Al using preheated ammonia in vacuum. The effect of the removal of the surface oxides on the substrate in the process was investigated. It was found that treatment using a buffered HF solution and subsequent annealing in vacuum was effective for obtaining a clean Al substrate surface. It was clarified that the removal of the surface oxides is required for the nitridation of Al substrates at a low temperature below the melting point of Al.     

Generation and reactions of α-trifluoromethyl stabilized aziridinyl anion, a general synthetic precursor for stereospecific construction of α-amino-α-trifluoromethylated quaternary carbon

Optically pure α-trifluoromethylated aziridinyl anions react with various electrophiles to give the corresponding optically pure 2-trifluoromethyl-2-substituted aziridines, which are general synthetic precursors for optically pure α-amino-α-trifluoromethylated compounds, such as trifluoromethylated α/β-amino acids, in good yields.     

Chromatographic determinations of a beta-lactam antibiotic, cefaclor by means of fluorescence, chemiluminescence and mass spectrometry

We report analytical informations on the quantification of cefaclor (CCL), a beta-lactam antibiotic by three detection methods. The methods were based on the chemical derivatization of the drug with 4-(2'-cyanoisoindolyl)phenylisothiocyanate (CIPIC) under the reaction conditions with heating at 80 degrees C for 7 min in the presence of pyridine. The CIPIC reagent could react with the primary amino group of the drug to form CIPIC-conjugated CCL. The derivative emitted not only fluorescence (FL) at maximum emission wavelength of 410 nm with the irradiation at 310 nm excitation, but also chemiluminescence (CL) in the presence of H(2)O(2), borate buffer (pH 9.5) and acetonitrile. After reversed-phase liquid chromatographic separation of the CIPIC-conjugated CCL in blood, the derivative could be monitored with a FL detector, indicating the detection limit (S/N=3) of 10 pmol/injection. The CIPIC-conjugated CCL was further monitored most sensitively by a CL detector after simply mixing H(2)O(2) and borate buffer with the column eluate. The CL detection limit was 1.0 pmol/injection. In addition, we attempted to detect the CIPIC-conjugated CCL by liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The MS method permitted the specific detection of the CIPIC derivative of the drug, though the sensitivity was 10(4)-times lower than that of the CL detection.