Self-assembled DNA-conjugated polymer for novel DNA chip.

We developed DNA-conjugated polymer for DNA chip fabrication. A 30 mer probe DNA and disulfide bridges were covalently attached to the polymer side chain. The DNA-conjugated polymer can be specifically adsorbed on a gold substrate surface by a self-assembly technique. The interaction between fully matched DNA and DNA-conjugated polymer was investigated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technique. The DNA-conjugated polymer-modified gold surface highly recognized fully matched DNA, rather than unmatched DNA. Therefore, DNA-conjugated polymer can be used for novel DNA chip fabrication.     

Construction of a liquid-membrane type periodate ion-selective electrode and its application to the potentiometric titration of alpha-diols and alpha-amino-alcohols

The construction of a liquid-membrane type periodate ion-selective electrode and its application to the potentiometric titration of alpha-diols and alpha-amino-alcohols are described. The ion-pair of periodate anion with Capriquat (tri-n-octylmethylammonium chloride), is easily extracted into nitrobenzene, and this extract is employed as a liquid ion-exchange membrane. The calibration curve shows Nernstian response towards periodate ion over the concentration range from 10(-1)M to 10(-7)M with a slope of 60 mV/pIO(-)(4). Selectivity coefficients with respect to various ions were evaluated. The electrode potential was independent of pH in the range 2.5-7.5. Some alpha-diols and monoethanolamine were successfully titrated potentiometrically with the aid of the present electrode.     

Novel ring transformation reactions of xanthine derivatives

The novel ring transformation reactions were found in the reactions of 1,3,7,9-tetra-alkyl-8,9-dihydroxanthines and acetylenic compounds. The reaction of the dihydroxanthine with DMAD gave a propellane type compound and with methyl propiolate afforded the similar type compound and a pyrimido[4,5-b]diazepine derivative. The mechanism of these reactions was also discussed.     

Formulation study for lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet. II. Effect of triethyl citrate on the quality of the products

The purpose of this study was to develop enteric-coated microgranules for the lansoprazole fast-disintegrating tablet (LFDT), which is a rapidly disintegrating tablet containing enteric-coated microgranules. In our previous study, it was clarified that sufficient flexibility of the enteric layer was achieved by the optimized combined ratio of methacrylic acid copolymer dispersion to ethyl acrylate-methyl methacrylate copolymer dispersion and adding the optimized concentration of triethyl citrate to reduce the damage during the compression process. However, since triethyl citrate has an unpleasant bitter taste and is especially incompatible with lansoprazole, it adversely affects the taste and stability of lansoprazole in the enteric-coated microgranules. The enteric layer containing macrogol 6000 was proven useful to improve the unpleasant bitter taste and stability of lansoprazole, because macrogol 6000 does not have an unpleasant bitter taste and is more compatible than triethyl citerate. By covering the inner (first enteric layer) and outer side (third enteric layer) of the enteric layer containing triethyl citrate (second enteric layer) with the enteric layer containing macrogol 6000, we resolved the stability problem of lansoprazole and the unpleasant bitter taste. Finally, we developed enteric-coated microgranules comprising seven layers: 1) core, 2) active compound layer, 3) intermediate layer, 4) first enteric layer, 5) second enteric layer, 6) third enteric layer, and 7) over coating layer. The enteric-coated microgranules have the multiple functions of reducing the damage to the enteric layer during the compression process, improving the stability of lansoprazole, and masking the unpleasant bitter taste.     

Action Spectra for Photoinhibition of Sexual Development in Phycomyces blakesleeanus

The sexual development of the fungus Phycomyces is inhibited by light. The action spectra for this photoinhibitory effect were determined for 48 h continuous exposure between 350 and 700 nm wavelengths during the mating process. Effective wavelengths were shorter than 490 nm, but the most effective wavelengths depended on the stage of sexual development. In early stages of progametangium formation, the major peaks appeared near 360 nm with small shoulders at 410 nm, but in later stages, after gametangium formation, only single peaks were detected in the UVA range (350–390 nm). Low-fluence irradiation in the later stage, however, revealed inhibitory effectiveness at 370–410 nm, implying the existence of a dual photoresponse and multiple regulatiory systems in the mating process of Phycomyces.     

Energy-dependent tunneling from few-electron dynamic quantum dots

We measure the electron escape rate from surface-acoustic-wave dynamic quantum dots (QDs) through a tunnel barrier. Rate equations are used to extract the tunneling rates, which change by an order of magnitude with tunnel-barrier-gate voltage. We find that the tunneling rates depend on the number of electrons in each dynamic QD because of Coulomb energy. By comparing this dependence to a saddle-point-potential model, the addition energies of the second and third electron in each dynamic QD are estimated. The scale ( approximately a few meV) is comparable to those in static QDs as expected.     

The rheology of suspensions of vinylon fibers in polymer liquids. II. Suspensions in polymer solutions

Summary The rheological properties of vinylon fiber suspensions in polymer solutions were studied in steady shear flow. Shear viscosity, first normal-stress difference, yield stress, relative viscosity, and other properties were discussed. Three kinds of flexible vinylon fibers of uniform length and three kinds of polymer solutions as mediums which exhibited remarkable non-Newtonian behaviors were employed. The shear viscosity and relative viscosity ( _r ) increased with the fiber content and the aspect ratio, and depended upon the shear rate. Shear rate dependence of _r was found only in the low shear rate region. This result was different from that of vinylon fiber suspensions in Newtonian fluids. The first normal-stress difference increased at first slightly with increasing fiber content but rather decreased and showed lower values for high content suspensions than that of the medium. A yield stress could be determined by using a modified equation of Casson type. The flow properties of the fiber suspensions depended on the viscosity of the medium in the suspensions under consideration.With 16 figures and 1 table     

Visualization of Magnetization Transfer Effect in Polyethylene Glycol Impregnated Waterlogged Wood

To visualize the condition of impregnation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in waterlogged wood, we demonstrated magnetic transfer (MT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through a series of process of PEG impregnation. Three different samples were examined; reference wood, 10 cm cut wood, and 5 cm cut wood. During this study, the upper section sample was kept immersed in water, for the middle and lower sections the concentration of PEG solution was changed at 20 wt% intervals from 20 to 100 wt%. The impregnated periods of each PEG solution concentration were 14 days. Then, MR imaging were performed with/without MT pulse. The MTR value for both 10 cm- and 5 cm-samples were shown to decrease at 20 wt% PEG at peak concentration. When the sample volume was large, e.g., 10 cm-sample, the MTR value decreased to 100 wt% PEG concentration. In contrast, when a sample volume was small, e.g., 5 cm-sample, MTR value decreased to 60 wt% PEG concentration. In conclusion, MTR analysis makes it possible to nondestructively visualize and evaluate the inner condition concerning the PEG impregnation method for waterlogged wood.     

Measurement of time-dependent CP-violating asymmetries in B0 --> K(s)0K(s)0K(s)0 decay

We present a measurement of CP-violation parameters in the B0 --> K(s)0K(s)0K(s)0 decay based on a sample of 275 x 10(6) BB pairs collected at the upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e+e- collider. One neutral B meson is fully reconstructed in the decay B0 --> K(s)0K(s)0K(s)0, and the flavor of the accompanying B meson is identified from its decay products. CP-violation parameters are obtained from the asymmetry in the distributions of the proper-time interval between the two B decays: S = +1.26 +/- 0.68(stat) +/- 0.20(syst) and [symbol: see text] = +0.54 +/- 0.34(stat) +/- 0.09(syst).     

Observation of the D1(2420)-->Dpi + pi- decays

We report on the first observation of D0/1(2420)-->D0pi- pi+ and D+/1(2420-->D+ pi- pi+ decays (where the contribution from the dominant known D1-->D*pi decay mode is excluded) in the B- -->D0/1pi-) and (-)B0-->D+/1pi- decays, respectively. The observation is based on 15.2 x 10(7) B(-)B events collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB collider. We also set 90% confidence level upper limits for the branching fractions of the four following decays: B- -->D0/1pi-, D01-->D(*0)pi- pi+, (-)B0-->D+/1pi-, D+/1-->D(*+) pi- pi+, B- -->D(*0)2(2460)pi-, D(*0)2 -->D(*0) pi- pi+, (-)B0-->D(*+)2(2460)pi-, D(*+)2-->D(*+)pi- pi+.