Visualization of Magnetization Transfer Effect in Polyethylene Glycol Impregnated Waterlogged Wood

To visualize the condition of impregnation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) in waterlogged wood, we demonstrated magnetic transfer (MT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) through a series of process of PEG impregnation. Three different samples were examined; reference wood, 10 cm cut wood, and 5 cm cut wood. During this study, the upper section sample was kept immersed in water, for the middle and lower sections the concentration of PEG solution was changed at 20 wt% intervals from 20 to 100 wt%. The impregnated periods of each PEG solution concentration were 14 days. Then, MR imaging were performed with/without MT pulse. The MTR value for both 10 cm- and 5 cm-samples were shown to decrease at 20 wt% PEG at peak concentration. When the sample volume was large, e.g., 10 cm-sample, the MTR value decreased to 100 wt% PEG concentration. In contrast, when a sample volume was small, e.g., 5 cm-sample, MTR value decreased to 60 wt% PEG concentration. In conclusion, MTR analysis makes it possible to nondestructively visualize and evaluate the inner condition concerning the PEG impregnation method for waterlogged wood.     

Two-dimensional structure control by molecular width variation with metal coordination

The self-assembled monolayer of bipyridine derivative 1, which has two alkyl chains on each end, at the HOPG/1-phenyloctane interface was studied by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The detailed mechanism of a spontaneous change in the monolayer packing pattern by Pd coordination was studied. Uncomplexed 1 existed in a bent form in the monolayer, and the alkyl chains were interdigitated, whereas Pd-complexed 1 was in a straight form and the alkyl chains were not interdigitated. An intermediate state of 1 was successfully observed during metal coordination. The structure was the bent form with noninterdigitated alkyl chains. Equilibrium intermolecular distances reported from ab initio calculations indicate that the molecular width of the central aromatic part of uncomplexed 1 (7.5 A) is substantially smaller than that of the peripheral alkyl chain part (9.2 A). The bent form was suitable for covering up the surface to maximize the packing density. However, the molecular width of the aromatic unit of Pd-complexed 1 (9.1 A) was almost identical to that of the alkyl chain unit (9.2 A). Therefore, Pd-complexed 1 took the straight form in the monolayer. The observation of surface coverage by STM suggests that the bent form increases the packing density by as much as 16% compared with that of the straight form. These results indicate that the control of molecular width can be used to design molecular templates for nanostructure formation.     

Alternating-current electrolysis for the production of phenol from benzene

Works both ways: phenol was produced by both anodic and cathodic benzene oxidations over the V(x)O(y)-Sn(0.9)In(0.1)P(2)O(7) electrode in an electrochemical cell, thus allowing the use of AC electrolysis for phenol production. AC electrolysis was found to be more efficient and selective toward phenol production than DC electrolysis.     

Mean-field gauge interactions in five dimensions II. The orbifold

We study Gauge–Higgs Unification in five dimensions on the lattice by means of the mean-field expansion. We formulate it for the case of an SU(2)$\mathit{SU}(2)$ pure gauge theory and orbifold boundary conditions along the extra dimension, which explicitly break the gauge symmetry to U(1)$U(1)$ on the boundaries. Our main result is that the gauge boson mass computed from the static potential along four-dimensional hyperplanes is non-zero implying spontaneous symmetry breaking. This observation supports earlier data from Monte Carlo simulations in Irges and Knechtli (2007) [12].     

Sesquiterpene lactone glycosides from the roots of Ferula varia

Seven new sesquiterpene lactone glycosides (1-7) were isolated from the H2O-soluble fraction from the MeOH extract of the roots of Ferula varia. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configurations of compounds 1 and 2 were determined by modified Mosher's method.     

Preparation,Isolation and Characterization of all of the Regioisomeric 61, 6N-Bis-O-(Monomethoxytrityl) and-(Dimethoxytrityl) Derivatives of Cyclomalto-Olgosaccharides

Abstract

Regioisomeric 6¹, 6ⁿ-bis-O-(monomethoxytrityl) or 6¹, 6ⁿ-bis-O-(dimethoxytrityl) cyclomaltohexaose, -cyclomaltoheptaose (n = 2-4), and -cyclomaltooctaose derivatives (n = 2-5) were prepared by the reaction of cyclomaltohexaose (1, cG₆, αCD), cyclomaltoheptaose (11, cG₇, βCD) or cyclomaltooctaose (21, cG₈, γCD) and 4-monomethoxytrityl chloride or 4,4′-dimethoxytrityl chloride in pyridine. Products were isolated by HPLC. The regiochemical determination of these positional isomers was done by converting these compounds to the respective 6¹, 6ⁿ-bis-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl) derivatives¹ whose structures have been already established.     

Biosynthesis of phytoecdysteroids in Ajuga hairy roots: clerosterol as a precursor of cyasterone, isocyasterone and 29-norcyasterone

Feeding studies of six ¹³C-labeled sterols, including clerosterol, to hairy roots of Ajugareptans var. atropurpurea have established that clerosterol is a precursor of three phytoecdysteroids, cyasterone, isocyasterone and 29-norcyasterone.     

Distribution-analyzing latex immunoassay (DALIA): methods for determination of antigen and for elimination of non-specific reaction induced by rheumatoid factor

A highly sensitive distribution-analyzing latex immunoassay method (DALIA), which is based on analysis of the volume distribution of latex particles including both the agglutinates and the residual non-agglutinating particles, has been established. Numbers of latex particles, which are sensitized with specific antibodies, are counted by using an electric particle counter with a personal computer and simultaneously the extent of agglutination was quantified by analyzing the volume distribution of the reacted latex particles. It was found that ultramicrospheres coated with normal goat immunoglobulin G can completely eliminate non-specific reactions induced by human serum containing rheumatoid factor (RF) in this DALIA method. The degree of absorption of RF activity by these ultramicrospheres was associated with the diameters of the ultramicrospheres. Moreover, by use of the combination of ultramicrospheres and latex particles coated with monoclonal antibodies against alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) or with polyclonal antibody specific to C-reactive protein, specific DALIA systems were able to be developed. Both DALIA systems exhibited the high sensitivity (1 to 7 ng/ml). The correlation coefficient (gamma) of the results of DALIA with those of enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay in measuring AFP was 0.994.     

寻找超高能宇宙线源——西藏广延空气簇射实验

总结了１９９０年６月到１９９３年１０月期间西藏空气簇射阵列的观测结果。寻找了来自于蟹状星云、Ｘ射线双星、脉冲星、活动星系核和其它活动天体的能量为１０ＴｅＶγ射线连续发射，没有发现连续稳定发射的迹象，但给出了每个源的流强上限。在阵列所观测的天区寻找了１０ＴｅＶ的γ暴，结果没有发现能量１０ＴｅＶ的γ暴，最后也给出了发现此种γ暴的上限。应用该阵列，明显地观测到了能量为１０ＴｅＶ的宇宙线流强的太阳和月亮阴影。观测了朝向和远离太阳的行星际空间磁场对宇宙线阴影的影响，这是行星际磁场对阴影位移影响的第一次直接观测。研究并发现在实验期间，太阳阴影的位置每年都在变化。同时观测在此期间，朝向和远离方向的宇宙线阴影的不同变化。另外，应用该实验的数据，给出了所谓的“膝”区的原初宇宙线能谱。