Bioelectronic detector with monoamine oxidase for halitosis monitoring

Methyl mercaptan (MM) is known as one of the major chemicals of halitosis (bad breath). In this study, a bioelectronic gas sensor (bio-detector) for gaseous MM was developed and was applied to measure halitosis in breath. The bio-detector consisted of a Clark-type dissolved oxygen electrode, a monoamine oxidase type-A (MAO-A) immobilized membrane and a reaction unit that had liquid and gaseous compartments separated by a hydrophobic porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) diaphragm membrane. The tip of the electrode covered with MAO-A membrane was placed into the liquid compartment as touching to the PTFE diaphragm membrane. In order to amplify the bio-detector output, a substrate regeneration cycle caused by coupling the monooxygenase with l-ascorbic acid as reducing reaction with reagent system, was applied. The results of MM vapor measurements showed the calibration range of the bio-detector for MM vapor was from 0.087 to 11.5 ppm (correlation coefficient: 0.993) and included the human sense of smell level 5 (0.2 ppm). The bio-detector had good selectivity being attributed to enzyme specificity was obtained for several substances (trimethyl amine, ammonia, dimethyl sulfide, etc.). The bio-detector was applied for halitosis measurement. Expired gases in five subjects were sampled every hour and the concentrations of MM in the expired gases were monitored. The output of bio-detector showed behaviour of halitosis level changes in a day such as increasing with passage of time and decreasing after eating.     

Importance of single electron-transfer in singlet oxygen reaction in aqueous solution : Oxidation of electron-rich thioanisoles

Oxidation of substituted thioanisoles by chemically generated singlet oxygen was investigated in polar aqueous media. The formation of the superoxide ion was observed during sulphoxidation of 4-hydroxythioanisole (4) in phosphate buffer at pH 7.5. Control experiments indicated that the superoxide ion was formed by a direct reaction between singlet oxygen and 4. The kinetics of the trapping reaction by diphenylsulphoxide indicated the involvement of a single intermediate. The overall rate constants of the reaction of thioanisoles with singlet oxygen in methanol-water (1:1) are one order of magnitude larger than those in benzene. On the basis of these results, a mechanism involving a charge-transfer complex has been proposed for the reaction of electron-rich thioanisoles with singlet oxygen, whereby the charge-transfer complex would produce persulphoxide directly or dissociate to the cation radical and superoxide ion in polar aqueous media.     

Determination of elemental composition of airborne dust and dust suspended in rain

To clarify the magnitude of wash-out effect of rain on the elemental composition of airborne dust and the possible origin of the dust, the dust samples were collected with a high-volume air sampler at the JAERI-Tokai. The dust suspended in rain was also collected from rain by filtration. Up to 20 elements in both types of the dust were determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. It was found that the elements determined could be classified into 3 groups from the elemental composition and the elemental correlation in both types of the dust samples.     

Spectroscopic study on the crystal growth in gas evaporation: emission and absorption spectra from Cu smoke

Optical emission and absorption spectra from a growth zone in Cu smoke were measured by using a quartz prism spectrograph and a single-grating spectrophotometer. Atomic lines of Cu, band systems of Cu₂ were observed. Two new band systems with 0–0 band heads at 252.88 and 238.79 nm were found. The continuous spectra due to Rayleigh scattering by fine particles were also observed. Variations of density of various species as a function of vertical position were revealed.     

Synthesis of pyridinium ylide complexes of methylcobaloxime and crystal structure determination of [benzoyl(1-pyridinio)methanide]bis(dimethylglyoximato)methylcobalt benzene solvate

Summary Pyridinium ylide complexes of methylcobaloxime were synthesized by the treatment of an ylide with Co(Hdmg)₂ Me(SMe₂). The crystal structure of one of the complexes, [Co(Hdmg)₂Me C₅H₅NCHCOPh]C₆H₆ has been determined by x-ray diffraction techniques. The crystals are monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, witha = 10.456(5),b = 11.079(4),c = 24.58(1) Å, = 99.58(6), V = 2808 ų, Z = 4. The Co-C (ylide) bond distance is 2.18 Å and Co-C(methyl) 2.04 Å. C(ylide)-Co-C(methyl) bond angle is 174.9°. The crystal, i.r. and¹H n.m.r. data suggest that thetrans-influence of the ylide ligands is larger than that of py, Melm, OH₂ or PPh₃.     

Matrix IR spectra and normal coordinate analysis for methanesulfenyl chloride and isotopic analogs

The IR spectra (4000-250 cm⁻¹) of CH₃SCl and CD₃SCl in solid argon have been obtained. Fundamental vibrations, except the torsional vibrations, have been assigned. Normal coordinate analysis has been carried out omitting the torsional modes.