Search for T-violation in neutrino oscillation with the use of muon polarization at a neutrino factory

A possibility to search for T violation in neutrino oscillation with the use of muon polarization is studied. The sensitivity to T violation is examined with various magnitudes of muon polarization as a function of muon energy and long-baseline distances.     

A Possible Nuclear Spin Dewar. Hyperfine Interactions of Short-Lived β Emitter 8Li and 12B in TiO2

It was confirmed by detecting the β-NMR of ¹²B (I ^π=1⁺, T _1/2=20.2 ms) in a TiO₂ (rutile) crystal that the nuclear spin polarization of ¹²B was totally maintained in the crystal as produced through a nuclear reaction before implantation. Two locations, site 1 and site 2, were found with the relative populations 9 and 1, respectively, and the electric field gradients (EFGs) at those sites were obtained to be q(site 1)=+(37.1±0.5)10¹⁵ V/cm², η(site 1)<0.03, q(site 2)=+(185±5)10¹⁵ V/cm² and η(site 2)=0.62±0.02. We also found that about 30% of the initial polarization of ⁸Li (I ^π=2⁺, T _1/2=838 ms) was maintained in the crystal. Since the polarizations of other β emitting nuclei, ^12,16N, ^13,19O, and ⁴¹Sc were also totally maintained in the crystal, the crystal can be a “Spin Dewar” in which many short-lived nuclides can be implanted with their polarizations totally maintained during their lifetimes for the studies not only on the electronic structure of impurities in it but also on the nuclear properties. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Search of Optimum Conditions for Sublimation Growth of Thiophene/Phenylene Co-Oligomer Crystals

Optimum crystal growth conditions of thiophene/phenylene co-oligomers (TPCOs) have been studied by means of sublimation recrystallization method with changing both gas flow rate and gas pressure. The largest flaky crystal, more than 10 mm², was produced at the gas flow rate ∼50 ml/min and reduced pressure ∼0.05 Mpa, while no crystals were obtained at pressure less than 0.01 MPa. Excess supply of N₂ gas or reduced pressure for accelerating sublimation might obstruct the crystal growth of TPCOs.     

Radical Polymerizations of Vinyl Monomers in the Presence of α-Ethylsulfenyl Acrylonitrile

Radical polymerizations of styrene, methyl methacrylate, and acrylonitrile were carried out at 60°C in the presence of α-ethylsulfenyl acrylonitrile (α-ESAN). The rate of polymerization was found to be reduced by the addition of α-ESAN, and induction periods were observed when a large amount of α-ESAN was added to the systems. The chain transfer constant of α-ESAN was determined to be 2.0 and 17 for the polymerizations of styrene and methyl methacrylate, respectively. The Q, and e, values of α-ESAN were evaluated as 4.9 and -1.9, respectively. The presence of chromium(II) acetate and a-ESAN results in enhancement of α-ESAN activity as a retarder. From these results and ESR measurements, a mechanism of chain transfer is discussed.     

Exhaustive syntheses of naphthofluoresceins and their functions

Naphthofluorescein and/or seminaphthofluorescein derivatives possessing the additional benzene units to one or both sides of fluorescein were exhaustively constructed through Friedel-Crafts type reactions between corresponding aroylbenzoic acids and dihydroxynaphthalenes. Compound 4 works as a one-dye pH indicator, which shows red in strong acid condition and blue in basic solution. Compound 23 (diacetate of compound 4) shows good transitivity to the HEK 293 cells and acts as a fluorescent pigment for the living cell imaging. Compounds 5, 6, and 9 show fluorescent emission in the NIR region (>700 nm) and imply the potentialities of NIR fluorescent probes.     

Total Synthesis of Marine Eicosanoid (−)‐Hybridalactone

(?)‐Hybridalactone ( 1 ) is a marine eicosanoid isolated from the red alga Laurencia hybrida. This natural product contains cyclopropane, cyclopentane, 13‐membered macrolactone and epoxide ring systems incorporating seven stereogenic centers. Moreover, this compound has an acid‐labile skipped Z,Z‐diene motif. In this paper, we report on the total synthesis of (?)‐hybridalactone ( 1 ). The unique eicosanoid (?)‐hybridalactone ( 1 ) was synthesized starting from optically active γ‐butyrolactone 2 in a linear sequence comprising 21 steps with an overall yield of 21.9 %. A key step in the synthesis of (?)‐hybridalactone ( 1 ) is the methyl phenylsulfonylacetate‐mediated one‐pot synthesis of the cis‐cyclopropane‐γ‐lactone derivative. This reaction provided an efficient and stereoselective access to cis‐cyclopropane‐γ‐lactone 12 . Further elaboration of the latter compounds through desulfonylation, epoxidation, oxidation, Wittig olefination and Shiina macrolactonization afforded (?)‐hybridalactone.     

RAZOR EX anthrax air detection system

The RAZOR EX Anthrax Air Detection System, developed by Idaho Technology, Inc. (ITI), is a qualitative method for the detection of Bacillus anthracis spores collected by air collection devices. This system comprises a DNA extraction kit, a freeze-dried PCR reagent pouch, and the RAZOR EX real-time PCR instrument. Each pouch contains three assays, which distinguish potentially virulent B. anthracis from avirulent B. anthracis and other Bacillus species. These assays target the pXO1 and pXO2 plasmids and chromosomal DNA. When all targets are detected, the instrument makes an "anthrax detected" call, meaning that virulence genes of the anthrax bacillus are present. This report describes results from AOAC Method Developer (MD) and Independent Laboratory Validation (ILV) studies, which include matrix, inclusivity/exclusivity, environmental interference, upper and lower LOD of DNA, robustness, product consistency and stability, and instrument variation testing. In the MD studies, the system met the acceptance criteria for sensitivity and specificity, and the performance was consistent, stable, and robust for all components of the system. For the matrix study, the acceptance criteria of 95/96 expected calls was met for three of four matrixes, clean dry filters being the exception. Ninety-four of the 96 clean dry filter samples tested gave the expected calls. The nucleic acid limit of detection was 5-fold lower than AOAC's acceptable minimum detection limit. The system demonstrated no tendency for false positives when tested with Bacillus cereus. Environmental substances did not inhibit accurate detection of B. anthracis. The ILV studies yielded similar results for the matrix and inclusivity/exclusivity studies. The ILV environmental interference study included environmental substances and environmental organisms. Subsoil at a high concentration was found to negatively interfere with the pXO1 reaction. No interference was observed from the environmental organisms. The nucleic acid LOD, however, was 10 times higher (1 pg/reaction, equivalent to about 200 spores) than that found in the MD study. These results indicate that the RAZOR System is a sensitive and specific system that accurately identifies B. anthracis in aerosol matrixes and in the presence of interfering substances, and that the method can be performed by an independent laboratory and achieve similar results.