Nanosecond Time-Gated Spectroscopy of Laser-Ablation Plume of Human Hair to Detect Calcium for Potential Diagnoses

We demonstrate the nanosecond time-gated spectroscopy of plume luminescence in UV laser ablation of human hair. Clear and sharp peaks of calcium ion (Ca⁺) appear in the spectrum although the Ca content is only 0.1% in human hair. Highly sensitive detection of Ca is thus possible. In the experiment, the peak intensity of Ca⁺ was measured for human hair samples of female subjects over a wide range of age, and compared to the bone mineral density of the lumbar vertebrae of the subjects themselves. Our experimental results suggest that this specific spectroscopy has the potential for novel diagnoses including monitoring of daily Ca intake and a screening diagnosis of osteoporosis. The spectroscopic system and time transition of plume-luminescence spectra are also described.     

InGaN growth with various InN mole fractions on m-plane ZnO substrate by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy

We have demonstrated In_xGa_1−xN epitaxial growth with InN mole fractions of x=0.07 to 0.17 on an m-plane ZnO substrate by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy for the first time. The crystalline quality of the epilayers was found to be much higher than that of epilayers grown on a GaN template on an m-plane SiC substrate.     

Absolutely continuous invariant measures for expanding piecewise linear maps

We prove the existence of absolutely continuous invariant measures for arbitrary expanding piecewise linear maps on bounded polyhedral domains in Euclidean spaces ℝ ^d . Oblatum 6-V-1999 & 8-VI-2000?Published online: 11 October 2000     

Affine geometric crystals and limit of perfect crystals

For every non-exceptional affine Lie algebra, we explicitly construct a positive geometric crystal associated with a fundamental representation. We also show that its ultra-discretization is isomorphic to the limit of certain perfect crystals of the Langlands dual affine Lie algebra.

     

Conformational and Intermolecular Interaction Dynamics of Photolyase/Cryptochrome Proteins Monitored by the Time‐Resolved Diffusion Technique

Cryptochrome (CRY), a blue light sensor protein, possesses a similar domain structure to photolyase (PHR) that, upon absorption of light, repairs DNA damage. In this review, we compare the reaction dynamics of these systems by monitoring the reaction kinetics of conformational change and intermolecular interaction change based on time‐dependent diffusion coefficient measurements obtained by using the pulsed laser‐induced transient grating technique. Using this method, time‐dependent biomolecular interactions, such as transient dissociation reactions in solution, have been successfully detected in real time. Conformational change in (6‐4) PHR has not been detected after the photoexcitation by monitoring the diffusion coefficient. However, the repaired DNA dissociates from PHR with a time constant of 50 μs, which must relate to a minor conformational change. However, CRY exhibits a considerable diffusion change with a time constant of 400 ms, which indicates that the protein–solvent interaction is changed by the conformational change. The C‐terminal domain of CRY is shown to be responsible for this change.     

Influence of the glucosylated β-cyclodextrin inclusion on sulfur trioxide spin-adduct stabilizations and spin-trapping rate processes for DMPO-type spin traps

The effect of CD-inclusion on spin-trapping rates and spin-adduct decay rates for sulfur trioxide radical anion (SO₃ ^??) was investigated. SO₃ ^?? radical was produced with UV photolysis of sodium sulfite in basic aqueous solution, and spin-trapped with various spin traps, i.e., PBN (α-phenyl-N-t-butylnitrone), DMPO (5,5-dimethyl pyrroline-1-oxide), and three other phosphoryl DMPO-type spin traps. A modified β-CD, 6-O-α-d-glucosyl-β-cyclodextrin (G-β-CD) having better inclusion properties than β-CD, was employed. Upon adding excess G-β-CD, decay rates of SO₃ ^?? radical adducts significantly decreased in most spin traps. Half-lives of SO₃ ^?? radical adducts of phosphoryl spin traps were one to two orders of magnitude longer than that of PBN or DMPO, and the G-β-CD addition further extended the half-life time. The spin traps containing phosphoryl-group all showed higher SO₃ ^?? trapping rates than those of PBN and DMPO, but two phosphoryl spin traps achieved slower trapping rates by G-β-CD addition. In addition, the structures of CD-inclusion complexes of spin traps were established by means of 1D and 2D NMR measurements. Based on the results, the influences of inclusion on the spin-trapping rate processes and spin-adduct stabilizations were discussed. We conclude that substituents in DMPO-type spin traps may be modified to provide best spin-trapping capabilities in the presence or absence of CD.     

The Zeeman effect and hyperfine interactions in J = 1-0 transitions of CH+ and its isotopologues

The J = 1-0 transitions of (12)CH(+), (13)CH(+), and (12)CD(+) in the ground X(1)Σ(+) state have been unambiguously identified by using an extended negative glow discharge as an ion source. Unexpectedly large Zeeman splittings have been observed, and the (13)CH(+) line exhibits nuclear spin-rotation hyperfine splitting in addition to the Zeeman effect. The nuclear spin-rotation coupling constant was determined to be 1.087(50) MHz for the (13)C species. The rotational g-factor is found to be -7.65(29), in terms of the nuclear magneton for the J = 1 and v = 0 state, more than an order of magnitude larger than values for typical diamagnetic closed shell molecules. These larger than usual magnetic interactions for a (1)Σ molecule are caused by the large rotational energy and relatively small excitation energy of the excited A(1)Π state. The effective g-factor and the spin-rotation coupling constant obtained by ab initio calculations agree very well with the experimentally determined values.