Hydrogel Microchambers Integrated with Organic Electrodes for Efficient Electrical Stimulation of Human iPSC‐Derived Cardiomyocytes

A hydrogel‐based microchamber with organic electrodes for efficient electrical stimulations of human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC‐CMs) is described. The microchamber is made from molecularly permeable, optically transparent, and electrically conductive polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) hydrogel and highly capacitive carbon electrode modified with poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT). Spheroids of hiPSC‐CMs are cultured in microchambers, and electrically stimulated by the electrode for maturation. The large interfacial capacitance of the electrodes enables several days of electrical stimulation without generation of cytotoxic bubbles even when the electrodes are placed near the spheroids. The spheroids can be cultivated in the closed microchambers because of the permeated nutrients through the hydrogel, thus the spheroids are stably addressable and the culture medium around the sealed microchambers can be simply exchanged. Synchronized beating of the spheroids can be optically analyzed in situ, which makes it possible to selectively collect electrically responsive cells for further use. As the hydrogel is electrically conductive, the amount of electrical charge needed for maturing the spheroids can be reduced by configuring electrodes on the top and the bottom of the microchamber. The bioreactor will be useful for efficient production of matured hiPSC‐CMs for regenerative medicine and drug screening.     

X-ray structure analysis of trans-1,4-polybutadiene

The crystal structure of trans-1,4-polybutadiene has been reported by Natta et al. to be pseudo-hexagonal below its solid-phase transition temperature. In the present X-ray structure analysis, it is revealed that the crystal belongs to the monoclinic system with the space group P2¹/a. The unit cell, with the lattice constants a = 8.63 Å, b = 9.11 Å, c = 4.83 Å, and β = 114°, includes four molecular segments.     

Absolute configuration of pterocidin,a potent inhibitor of tumor cell invasion from a marine-derived Streptomyces

During the course of screening natural products for the inhibitors of tumor cell invasion, pterocidin, a linear polyketide with a δ-lactone terminus, was rediscovered from a Streptomyces strain of a marine sediment-origin. A series of J-based configuration analyses and NOESY analysis, coupled with chemical derivatization and chiral anisotropy analysis, established the absolute stereochemistry of five asymmetric centers in this compound.     

Preparation of Ring and Chain Condensed Oligophosphates

Preparations of small-ring and short-chain condensed phosphates were made by dry and wet processes, respectively. The crystallization of tetra- hexa-, and octaphosphates from the phosphate solution was not easy, and metal salts of these oligophosphates were amorphous and unstable at normal temperature. Guanidine tetraphosphate and ammonium hexaphosphate were crystalline and stable at normal temperature.     

Anomalous temperature dependence of the dielectric and optical properties in ferroelectric liquid crystals

The anomalous temperature dependence of the sign of the spontaneous polarization in a biphenyl ester series of ferroelectric liquid crystals is reported. The reversal of the sign of the spontaneous polarization in the chiral smectic C phase of 2MBNCBC ((S)-2′-methylbutyl-4′-n- nonylcarbonyloxy-(l,l′-biphenyl)-l-carboxylate) is observed at T _m. This anomaly is studied in detail as functions of the length of the terminal alkyl chain, the applied electric field, the frequency and the applied hydrostatic pressure. T _m has been confirmed to depend on the length of the terminal chain and the applied pressure. However, it is independent of the applied field and the measuring frequency. In the mixture of these compounds, this anomaly is also observed.     

Electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric determination of cadmium in environmental samples with niobium wire preconcentration method

A preconcentration method by adsorption of cadmium on a niobium wire was developed for the environmental waters, followed by electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry with a tungsten tube atomizer. After the preconcentration, the niobium wire was directly inserted into the tungsten tube atomizer. In the preconcentration (adsorption) process of cadmium, the optimal immersing time was 60?s. The effects of large amounts of concomitants on the preconcentration of cadmium were evaluated. When 10³–10⁴ fold excess of matrix elements existed in aqueous solution at pH 4 and 9, the cadmium response was profoundly affected by the matrix elements. However, the cadmium absorption signal was not significantly influenced at pH 7. Therefore, pH 7 was selected for the application into the real environmental samples. Under the optimal conditions, the detection limit (3S/N) for cadmium by the niobium wire preconcentration method was 7.0?pg?mL^?1 and the relative standard deviation was 6.8%. The method with preconcentration on a niobium wire was applied to the determination of cadmium in water and proved to be sensitive, simple and convenient. Because this preconcentration method can be utilized in the in situ treatment of trace cadmium in environmental water samples, it was unnecessary to carry the water samples to the analytical work place. The technique was shown to be useful for the determination of cadmium in environmental water samples at 0.1–1?µg?L^?1 levels.     

Fluorinated and Trifluoromethylated Corannulenes

The syntheses and properties of corannulenes carrying electron‐withdrawing groups (F, CF₃, C₆F₅) are reported. Direct fluorination of corannulene (C₂₀H₁₀) was carried out with xenon difluoride, and the crystal structure of the product was confirmed by the X‐ray analysis. Novel trifluoromethylated corannulenes, including the versatile 4,9‐dibromo‐1,2‐bis(trifluoromethyl)corannulene, were obtained by various established ring‐closing reactions. Besides the use of hexafluorobutyne for the construction of fluoranthenes by Diels–Alder reaction as precursor molecules to form 1,2‐disubstituted corannulenes, bis(pentafluorophenyl)acetylene was employed as dienophile. The molecular structure and crystal packing of a trifluoromethylated corannulene was determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis and compared with those known brominated and trifluoromethylated corannulenes. The general electron‐acceptor properties of corannulenes bearing substituents introduced in particular positions by liquid‐phase synthesis are discussed together with published computational results.