Analysis of the unbinding force between telomestatin derivatives and human telomeric G-quadruplex by atomic force microscopy

The force analysis between a macrocyclic hexazole (6OTD) monomer/dimer and telomeric DNA using atomic force microscopy revealed the difference in their binding modes. The 6OTD dimer bound to the G-quadruplex more strongly than the monomer by sandwiching the G-quadruplex.     

Fabrication of mesoporous polymer monolith: a template-free approach

Mesoporous polyacrylonitrile (PAN) monolith has been fabricated by a template-free approach using the unique affinity of PAN towards a water/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) mixture. A newly developed Thermally Induced Phase Separation Technique (TIPS) has been used to obtain the polymer monoliths and their microstructures have been controlled by optimizing the concentration and cooling temperature.     

Carbon monoxide oxidation at room temperature on Pt/CeO2-ZrO2-Bi2O3 catalysts

A novel Pt/CeO(2)-ZrO(2)-Bi(2)O(3) catalyst was prepared to realize complete CO oxidation at room temperature or below even in the presence of moisture. Using this catalyst, a high CO oxidation activity and a high stability against moisture have been realized simultaneously.     

Nanostructure control in polymer solar cells by self‐organization

Recently, polymer solar cells (PSCs) based on “bulk heterojunctions” using a simple mixture of electron donor and acceptor materials in thin films have been extensively studied. Although relatively high power conversion efficiencies have been achieved by using this approach, further improvement is necessary to precisely construct stable, reproducible nanostructures that are suitable for both efficient charge separation and transport inside such films. For this purpose, it is highly desirable to utilize a bottom‐up approach, such as the self‐organized formation of inorganic and organic nanostructures. In this review, an overview of our recent studies on the control of nanostructures in PSCs is presented. DOI 10.1002/tcr.201000015     

Time course of expression of the retinoid X receptor gene and induction of imposex in the rock shell, Thais clavigera, exposed to triphenyltin chloride

To examine the role of the retinoid X receptor (RXR) in the development of imposex in gastropods, we investigated the time course of expression of the RXR gene in various tissues (ctenidium, ovary or testis, digestive gland, penis-forming area or penis, and head ganglia) of female and male rock shells (Thais clavigera) exposed to triphenyltin (TPT) in a flow-through exposure system for 3 months. Accumulations of TPT in tissues were clearly observed in exposed individuals, whereas no accumulation of TPT was observed in the control groups. In females, 3-month exposure to TPT resulted in the development of imposex, and penis lengths in imposex-exhibiting females were significantly longer in small females (shell height <20 mm) than in large females (shell height ≥20 mm). RXR gene expression in the ovary, penis-forming area or penis, and head ganglia of females exposed for 3 months was significantly higher than expression in control females, and the highest RXR gene expression was found in the penis-forming area or penis. Moreover, RXR gene expression in the penis-forming area or penis of each female exposed to TPT seemed to be associated with an increase in penis length. In males, the ratio of penis length to shell height was significantly larger in the exposed groups than in the controls. Although RXR gene expression in males exposed for 3 months was not significantly higher than expression in control males in any tissues, the highest gene expression was observed in the penis of exposed males. These results suggest that RXR plays an important role in the development of male genitalia (i.e., penis and vas deferens) in gastropods, although RXR might also have other physiological functions.      

The effect of the counter anion on the transport of thiourea in a PVC-based polymer inclusion membrane using Capriquat as carrier

This paper describes the effect of four counter anions (CH₃COO⁻, Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, ClO₄⁻) of the trioctylmethylammonium (TOMA) cation on the rate of solvent extraction of thiourea and its transport across poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)-based polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs). The membranes also contained 2-nitrophenyl octyl ether (NPOE) as the plasticizer while chloroform was used as diluent in the solvent extraction studies. It is demonstrated that the counter anion affects substantially the rate of membrane transport and the degree of extraction follows the order: CH₃COO⁻ > Cl⁻ > NO₃⁻ ? ClO₄⁻. The transport rate is negligible for the perchlorate anion. This order is consistent with thiourea interacting with the counter anion through hydrogen bonding to form a heteroconjugate anion.     

Development and flow evaluation of electro-rheological nano-suspensions

An attempt has been made to develop a candidate for electro-rheological (ER) nano-suspensions based on anatase titanium dioxide with a particle diameter around 300 nm. The micro-gap flow behavior and microstructure were evaluated for a suspension with a particle volume fraction of 8.8 vol.%. The ER effect was investigated for the nano-suspension. The effect of shearing time on the ER responses was also investigated. The ER effect was discussed in comparison to the effect previously reported for the nano-suspension based on rutile titanium dioxide with a particle diameter around 15 nm.     

Observation of scissors modes in solid state systems with a SQUID

The occurrence of scissors modes in crystals that have deformed ions in their unit cells was predicted some time ago. The theoretical value of their energy is rather uncertain, however, ranging between ten and a few tens of eV, with the corresponding widths of 10^?7 to 10^?6 eV. Their observation by resonance fluorescence experiments therefore requires a photon spectrometer covering a wide energy range with a very high resolving power. Here, a new experiment is proposed and discussed in which such difficulties are overcome by measuring with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) the variation of the magnetic field associated with the excitation of scissors modes.     

Hybridization of emitting polyfluorene with silicone

Polyfluorenes with pendant allyl groups were prepared by terpolymerization of 9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐bis(trimethyleneborate), 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐bis(2‐allyloxyethyl)fluorene, and 4,7‐dibromo‐2,1,3‐benzothiazole, or 4,7‐dibromo‐2,1,3‐naphthoselenadiazole using Suzuki coupling reaction. The subsequent hydrosilylation reaction of these precursor polymers with ethoxydimethylsilane quantitatively converted the allyl groups to ethoxysilyl groups. Hybridization of the emitting polyfluorenes with silicone was successfully achieved by the solvent‐free sol–gel reaction of tetraethoxysilane and silanol‐terminated polydimethylsiloxane in the presence of the ethoxysilyl‐functionalized polyfluorenes. Fluorescence spectra of these luminescent silicones revealed that emitting polyfluorenes were dispersed homogeneously in the matrix of silicone without aggregation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 622–628