Major-to-ultratrace elements in bone-marrow fluid as determined by ICP-AES and ICP-MS.

The major-to-ultratrace elements in human bone-marrow fluid were determined by ICP-AES (inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry), and ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry). The bone-marrow fluid sample was centrifuged prior to acid digestion to exclude the bone piece from bone marrow, and then digested with nitric acid. As a result, 20 elements could be determined over the concentration range from 1610 microg g(-1) for Na to 0.00043 microg g(-1) for W. It was found that Fe, Zn and Sb were enriched by ca. 264-, 7- and 15-fold, respectively, in bone-marrow fluid, compared to those in human blood serum. Alkali metals (K, Rb, Cs), except for Na, were also significantly enriched in bone-marrow fluid. Furthermore, the concentrations of various elements, such as Fe, P, Al, Zn, Cu, Se, Zr, Sn, Ag and W, were significantly higher than those in open seawater.     

Complex genetic evolution of artificial self‐replicators in cellular automata

It is widely believed that evolutionary dynamics of artificial self‐replicators realized in cellular automata (CA) are limited in diversity and adaptation. Contrary to this view, we show that complex genetic evolution may occur within simple CA. The evolving self‐replicating loops (“evoloops”) we investigate exhibit significant diversity in macro‐scale morphologies and mutational biases, undergoing nontrivial genetic adaptation by maximizing colony density and enhancing sustainability against other species. Nonmutable subsequences enable genetic operations that alter fitness differentials and promote long‐term evolutionary exploration. These results demonstrate a unique example of genetic evolution hierarchically emerging from local interactions between elements much smaller than individual replicators. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Complexity 10: 33–39, 2004     

In Situ Immobilization of Ultrafine Particles Synthesized in a Water/Oil Microemulsion

We investigated the in situ immobilization of ultrafine particles synthesized in a water/oil (w/o) microemulsion to silica for its possible application to supported metal catalysts. ZnS particles immobilized to silica by the ME method were consistent with those synthesized in a w/o microemulsion. Therefore, ZnS particles in a w/o microemulsion could be immobilized to silica without aggregation by this method. The relationship between the method of synthesizing Rh ultrafine particles in a w/o microemulsion and the diameter and diameter distribution of Rh particles immobilized to silica was studied. Rh-SiO(2) catalysts with a sharp diameter distribution could be prepared by immobilizing Rh-hydrazine complex particles because these complex particles would be very stable in a w/o microemulsion. The Rh particle diameters of Rh-SiO(2) catalysts prepared by changing the amount of silica produced were almost identical. Accordingly, the Rh particle diameter of Rh-SiO(2) catalysts could be controlled independently of Rh content by the ME method. Copyright 2001 Academic Press.     

Oxidation of alcohols with oxoperoxobis(N-phenylbenzohydroxamato)molybdenum(VI)

The title complex oxidizes primary and secondary alcohols to the corresponding carbonyl compounds. Stereoselective epoxidation of allylic alcohols is also described.     

Three-way-output response system by electric potential: UV-vis, CD, and fluorescence spectral changes upon electrolysis of the chiral ester of tetracyanoanthraquinodimethane

The newly prepared tetracyanoanthraquinodimethane (TCNAQ) derivatives 1a,b with a chiral auxiliary are good electron acceptors and exhibit weak circular dichroism (CD) based on the absorption of TCNAQ. The twin-type electron acceptor 1c with two TCNAQ units shows larger ellipticity by exciton coupling. UV-vis, CD, and fluorescence spectra were changed drastically upon electrochemical reduction of 1c, which demonstrates the unprecedented three-way-output response system.