AlanineESR Dosimetry system for routine use in radiation processing

A new alanine-polystyrene (PS) dosimeter prepared with simplified molding procedure and an automatic desk-top dose-reader of alanine dosimeter were developed for the purpose of routine use. Combination of these two allows us to apply a reliable alanine/ESR dosimetry system to routine dosimetric process control in industrial gamma radiation processing.     

3,6,13,16‐Tetrabromo‐2,7,12,17‐tetrapropylporphycene

The title compound [systematic name: 3,10,13,20‐tetra­bromo‐4,9,14,19‐tetrapropyl‐21,22,23,24‐tetraazapentacyclo[16.2.1.1^2,5.1^8,11.1^12,15]tetracosa‐2(22),3,5,7,9,11,13,15(24),16,18,20‐undecaene], C₃₂H₃₄Br₄N₄, crystallizes in two distinct crystalline forms, viz. monoclinic prisms and triclinic plates, and the first of these is described here. The molecule of the prismatic form has a centre of symmetry and a more warped structure than that of the triclinic plate‐like form. The shape of the central N₄ cavity is rectanglar, enlarged in the direction of the methine‐bridge C atoms, and the N?N distances are 2.713 (3) and 2.818 (3) Å.     

A methane gas sensor based on oxidizing bacteria

A bacterial sensor system based on Methylomonas flagellata AJ 3670 is described for methane determinations. The system consists of a bacterial, reactor, a reference reactor and two oxygen sensors. The current decreases with time until a steady state is reached within 30 s at 30°C; the maximum current difference is obtained at 30°C and pH 7.2. The response time for the determination of methane is less than 1 min. A linear relationship is obtained between the current difference and the methane concentration below 6.6 mM; the lower limit of determination is 5 μM, and the current decrease is reproducible within 5%. The current output of the sensor is almost stable for more than 10 days and 250 assays.     

A novel synthetic method for γ-acetoxy-(E)-α,β-unsaturated esters by the palladium catalyzed regio- and stereoselective acetoxylation of β,γ-unsaturated esters

A new synthetic method for γ-acetoxy-α,β-unsaturated esters by the acetoxylation of β,γ-unsaturated esters catalyzed by PdCl₂ in the presence of KOAc and pentyl nitrite in acetic acid is presented. The reaction takes place at γ-position of the esters regioselectively with double bond migration to α,β-position. The E configuration of the double bond was confirmed by NMR analysis. Preliminary investigation to synthesize pyrenophorin and pyrenophorol using this reaction is described.     

One-step preparation of 3-alkoxypyrazine-2-carbonitriles from pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitriles and related reactions

A series of 5,6-disubstituted 3-alkoxypyrazine-2-carbonitriles ( 2a-i ) were prepared from 5,6-disubstituted pyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitriles ( 1a-d ) by direct substitution with alcohols. Treatment of 1 with amines gave either pyrrolopyrazines ( 3a,b ) or substitution products ( 4,5 ). In a low temperature range, 1 afforded imidates and related compounds ( 6–11 ). The preference among these reactions depended on the 5,6-substituents and on the reaction conditions.     

Studies of the polymerization of diallyl compounds. XXIV. Effect of temperature on the polymerization of diallyl phthalate

The effect of temperature on the polymerization of diallyl phthalate was investigated in the temperature range of 80–150°C. The degree of polymerization increased slightly with temperature up to 100°C and then decreased; together with the results of primary chain length and the dependence of R_p on initiator concentration, these findings were interpreted in terms of the enhancement of the reinitiation ability of the allylic radical produced by the intramolecular chain-transfer reaction and of the reactivity of the cyclized radical at elevated temperature. The tendency for cyclization became more marked with increasing temperature. The gel point was almost unaffected.     

Base-discriminating fluorescent (BDF) nucleoside: distinction of thymine by fluorescence quenching

A novel fluorescence BDF probe containing pyrene-labeled 7-deaza-2[prime or minute]-deoxyadenosine has been developed for the detection of thymine base on a target DNA.     

Asymmetric reduction of 7,8-difluoro-3-methyl-2H-1,4-benzoxazine. Synthesis of a key intermediate of (S)-(-)-ofloxacin (DR-3355)

An efficient, highly enantioselective synthesis of (S)-(-)-7,8-difluoro-2,3-dihydro-3-methyl-4H-1,4-benzoxazine, a key intermediate of (S)-(-)-ofloxacin, using various chiral sodium triacyloxyborohydrides as reducing agents is reported.     

Increase in aminobutyrate aminotransferase and cholineacetyltransferase in cerebrum of aged rats

We previously reported an increase in aminobutyrate aminotransferase (GABA-T) activity in the cerebrum of Alzheimer patients. In the present study, we investigated whether such findings are common in the usual aging process as well. We examined the activity of various enzymes, which were examined in the previous study, in the cerebrum of Wistar-Kyoto rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats. In the two strains, we compared the enzyme activities between the two groups of animals, 5 weeks and 13 weeks of age. In both strains, the older animals had significantly higher activities of GABA-T and choline acetyltransferase (ChAc-T). In spite of other enzymatic changes coexisting, the above two enzymes were suggested by discriminant function analysis to be playing a major role in the multiple enzymatic changes in the cerebrum of the animals.     

Determination of cyanide using a microbial sensor

A microbial cyanide sensor was prepared, consisting of immobilizedSaccharomyces cerevisiae and an oxygen electrode. When the electrode was inserted into a solution containing glucose, the respiration activity of the microorganisms increased. The change in the respiration activity is monitored with the oxygen electrode. When cyanide is added to the sample solution, the electron transport chain reaction of the respiration system in the mitochondria is inhibited, resulting in a decrease in respiration. The inhibition is caused by cyanide binding with respiration enzymes such as the cytochrome oxidase complex in the mitochondrial inner membrane. Therefore, the cyanide concentration can be measured from the change in the respiration rate. When the sensor was applied to a batch system at pH 8.0 and 30°C, the cyanide calibration curve showed linearity in the concentration range between 0.3 μM and 150 μM CN-.