Mineral composition of frozen taro for determination of geographic origin

The mineral composition of frozen food of taro [Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott] was analyzed to categorize the geographical production place of taro. The concentrations of Co and H₂PO₄ ⁻ were found to be useful to separate the producing place between Japan and China. The analysis was performed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and ion chromatography (IC). In the case of INAA, the samples were dried and sealed in a vinyl bag and irradiated with thermal neutrons from JRR3M, installed at Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA). The activated samples were cooled down for a few weeks and the elements (Co, Cr, Fe, Rb, Zn) were determined. Cobalt concentration of frozen taro from China was higher than that from Japan. The tendency was the same in the fresh sample of taro. When concentration of H₂PO₄ ⁻ of frozen sample was measured, taro from Japanese product was higher than that of Chinese one, contrary to fresh sample. This result might be caused by the leakage of H₂PO₄ ⁻ during freezing process, indicating that we should be careful to apply the discrimination indicators. In addition to Co, there was a significant difference of Rb and Fe concentrations between frozen taro from Japan and China.     

Glucose and lactate biosensors prepared by a layer-by-layer deposition of concanavalin A and mannose-labeled enzymes: electrochemical response in the presence of electron mediators.

An electrochemical response of glucose and lactate biosensors which were prepared by coating a platinum electrode with a thin film composed of concanavalin A and mannose-labeled glucose oxidase (GOx) or lactate oxidase (LOx) was evaluated in the presence of ferrocene derivatives as electron mediator. Both glucose and lactate biosensors showed catalytic current to glucose and lactate, respectively, in cyclic voltammetry, suggesting that the ferrocene derivatives can mediate electron transport smoothly from the reduced forms of GOx and LOx in the thin films to the electrode. Among the three kinds of ferrocene derivatives used, ferrocenylmethanol was found to be the most suitable electron mediator because of its low oxidation potential. The glucose and lactate sensors gave useful calibration graphs, in which higher detection limits were reached as compared with those observed when the sensors were operated in the absence of electron mediator.     

Internal radiocesium contamination of adults and children in Fukushima 7 to 20 months after the Fukushima NPP accident as measured by extensive whole-body-counter surveys

The Fukushima Dai-ichi NPP accident contaminated the soil of densely-populated regions in Fukushima Prefecture with radioactive cesium, which poses significant risks of internal and external exposure to the residents. If we apply the knowledge of post-Chernobyl accident studies, internal exposures in excess of a few mSv/y would be expected to be frequent in Fukushima.Extensive whole-body-counter surveys (n = 32,811) carried out at the Hirata Central Hospital between October, 2011 and November, 2012, however show that the internal exposure levels of residents are much lower than estimated. In particular, the first sampling-bias-free assessment of the internal exposure of children in the town of Miharu, Fukushima, shows that the ¹³⁷Cs body burdens of all children (n = 1,383, ages 6–15, covering 95% of children enrolled in town-operated schools) were below the detection limit of 300 Bq/body in the fall of 2012. These results are not conclusive for the prefecture as a whole, but are consistent with results obtained from other municipalities in the prefecture, and with prefectural data.     

Upgrade of the nuclear resonant scattering beamline, BL09XU in SPring-8

An Upgrade of the nuclear resonant scattering beamline, BL09XU in SPring-8 has been conducted. A liquid nitrogen cooled high-heat load monochromator was installed and a 2nd experimental hutch was constructed. The instruments installed in the hutch allow for a variety of sample conditions. Newly developed high-resolution monochromators with better stability including the back scattering geometry monochromator have opened up the easy access to more isotopes and more precise measurements.     

Rapid determination of indium,nickel and copper in NBS standard reference material by substoichiometric radioactivation analysis

A method of rapid determination for indium, nickel and copper in Spinach (NBS; SRM-1570) by substoichiometric radioactivation analysis is described. The method is based on the principle that an equal amount of non-irradiated test sample is added to the irradiated standard sample and subsequent substoichiometric extraction for the irradiated test and standard samples is carried out. Indium is extracted as diethyldithiocarbamate into carbon tetrachloride, nickel as dimethylglyoximate into chloroform and copper as dithizonate into carbon tetrachloride. The radioactivities of these extracts are measured by NaI(Tl) or Ge(Li) detector coupled with pulse-height analyser. The analytical results obtained by the method were in good agreement with our published values and certified values by NBS.     

ENERGY RELAXATION MECHANISM IN Ni(II), Pd(II), Pt(II) and Zn(II) PORPHYRINS

Abstract—Picosecond absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the intramolecular energy relaxation processes occurring in Ni(II). Pd(II), Pt(II), and Zn(II) protoporphyrin IX dimethyl ester. Picosecond data on the rate of ground state repopulation and the kinetics of a transient intermediate made it possible to determine the lifetimes of the excited singlet state of Ni, Pd, and Zn porphyrins as 10±2ps, 19±3ps, and 2.6±0.5 ps, respectively, and<8 ps for Pt porphyrin. On the basis of these data. the nonfluorescent and nonphosphorescent property of Ni porphyrin can be interpreted in terms of internal conversion to a lower lying singlet d-d level which is not the case for the strongly phosphorescent Pd and Pt porphyrins.     

Chemistry of organosilicon compounds 118. Novel ring contraction reaction of (η4-1,2-disilacyclohexadiene)iron tricarbonyls

1,1,2,2-Dimethyl-3,6-diphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexadiene reacts with iron pentacarbonyl or diiron nonacarbonyl to give the corresponding (diene)iron tricarbonyl complex which undergoes novel ring contraction reaction to (η⁴-1,1-dimethyl-2,5-diphenyl-1-silacyclopentadiene)iron tricarbonyl on thermolysis at 160°C. Similar results were observed with 1,1,2,2-tetramethyl-3,4,5,6-tetraphenyl-1,2-disilacyclohexadiene.     

Regioselective synthesis of virazole using benzyl cyanoformate as a synthon

An antiviral nucleoside or virazole was synthesized efficiently and regioselectively starting with benzyl cyanoformate.