Radiation-induced emission from golden hamster embryo cells

Emission from high-energy-electron-irradiated golden hamster embryo (GHE) cells has been studied over the temperature range 12–300 K both by a one-shot-single-photon-counting method and by photocurrent measurements with an oscilloscope. Emission from the irradiated phosphate buffered saline (PBS) also has been studied. The emission spectra from PBS at 12 and 77 K show a maximum around 330 and 380 nm, respectively, which are the same spectra as those from irradiated pure H₂O. The emission from irradiated GHE consists of the new band at 480 nm in addition to the emission from H₂O. The 480 nm emission is observed at the temperature range of 12–300 K, though the emission at 300 K is much lower than that at low temperature. The 480 nm emission is ascribed to the transition from excited organic substances in GHE cells. The intensity of 480 nm emission at 300 K increases linearly with increasing irradiation-dose in the range of 11–600 Gy.     

Synthesis, crystal structure and thermoelectric properties of a new carbide Zr2[Al3.56Si0.44]C5

A new quaternary layered carbide, Zr₂[Al_3.56Si_0.44]C₅, has been synthesized and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and thermopower and electrical conductivity measurements. The crystal structure was successfully determined using direct methods, and further refined by the Rietveld method. The crystal is trigonal (space group R3m, Z=3) with lattice dimensions of a=0.331059(5), c=4.09450(5) nm and V=0.38864(1) nm³. The final reliability indices calculated from the Rietveld refinement were R_wp=6.24%, R_p=4.21% and R_B=0.82%. The crystal structure is composed of electroconductive NaCl-type ZrC slabs separated by Al₄C₃-type [Al_3.56Si_0.44]C₃ layers. This material had thermoelectric properties superior to those of the ternary layered carbides Zr₂Al₃C₄ and Zr₃Al₃C₅, with the power factor reaching 7.6×10⁻⁵W m⁻¹ K⁻².     

Direct observation of the multistep helix formation of poly-L-glutamic acids

The helix formation dynamics of poly-L-glutamic acids (PGAs) were observed by the microsecond-resolved Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopies. The helix formation of 34-residue PGA from random coil at pH (or pD for FTIR) 8.0 was initiated by a pH jump to 4.9 using the rapid solution mixer whose mixing dead time is 50 micros. The amide I' line in the time-resolved FTIR spectra exhibited the fast (<100 micros) increase of the total helical content. The time-resolved CD spectra of the same process also showed the fast (<150 micros) formation of short helical segments (5 +/- 1 residues), which was followed by the slower (<1 ms) elongation of the short helices to longer helices (>10 residues). Similar dynamics were observed for the same pH jump of approximately 190-residue PGA, although there were additional steps that made the helix formation of approximately 190-residue PGA more complex. The observed multistep helix formation is likely caused by the strong hydrogen-bonding interactions between the protonated side chains of PGAs.     

Trans-hydrometalation of alkynes by a combination of InCl3 and DIBAL-H: one-pot access to functionalized (Z)-alkenes

[reaction: see text] Triethylborane-induced hydrometalation of alkynes proceeds in an anti manner to afford the corresponding (Z)-alkenylmetal compounds stereoselectively, where dichloroindium hydride would play a key role. A variety of functional groups including hydroxy, carbonyl, and carboxy groups were tolerant under the reaction conditions. Following iodolysis and cross-coupling reaction of the (Z)-alkenylmetal species show the usefulness of this strategy.     

Crystal structure of hexagonal SrAl2O4 at 1073 K

The crystal structure of SrAl₂O₄ at 1073 K was determined from conventional X-ray powder diffraction data using direct methods, and it was further refined by the Rietveld method. The structure was hexagonal (space group P6₃, Z=6) with a=0.89260(3) nm, c=0.84985(2) nm and V=0.58639(3) nm³. Final reliability indices were R_wp=7.87%, R_p=5.87% and R_B=4.19%. The [AlO₄] tetrahedra are linked to form trigonally distorted rings and they are joined in layers. These layers are stacked with a two-layer repeat and connected by the tetrahedral apices. All of the Sr atoms occupy the centers of the rings when viewed along the c-axis. The structure is described as a stuffed derivative of tridymite.     

Morphological variation in a toroid generated from a single polymer chain

A single semiflexible polymer chain folds into a toroidal object under poor solvent conditions. In this study, we examined the morphological change in such a toroidal state as a function of the cross-sectional area and stiffness of the chain together with the surface energy, which characterizes the segmental interaction parameter. Changes in the thickness and outer/inner radius on a toroid are interpreted in terms of these parameters. Our theoretical expectation corresponds to the actual morphological changes in a single giant DNA molecule as observed by electron microscopy.     

Water enables direct use of allyl alcohol for Tsuji-Trost reaction without activators

[reaction: see text] An aqueous biphasic reaction system enables the direct use of allyl alcohol in the Tsuji-Trost reaction without the help of any activating reagents for allyl alcohol. The reaction conditions are neutral to basic, allowing the use of amines as the nucleophile. Theoretical calculations have elucidated the importance of hydration of the hydroxy group for the smooth generation of pi-allylpalladium species.     

Hydration structure around a non-electrolyte molecule as revealed by monte carlo calculation: have you seen the “iceberg”?

Monte Carlo calculations have been carried out for pure water and an infinitely dilute aqueous solution of methanol at 298.15 K at ordinary density by the Metropolis method in NTV ensemble. The hydration structure around methanol revealed by a graphic display technique indicates a structure-forming effect near the hydrophobic group.     

Staggered polarization of vertex models withU_q (\widehat{sl(}n))-Symmetry

In this paper we give an explicit formula for level 1 vertex operators related to as operators on the Fock spaces. We derive also their commutation relations. As an application we calculate with the vector representation of , thereby extending the recent work on the staggered polarization of the XXZ-model.