Highly shape-selective guest encapsulation in the precisely defined cavity of a calix[4]arene-capped metalloporphyrin

We developed a metalloporphyrin-based molecular container capped with a calix[4]arene, and its rigid cavity distinguished the slight structural differences in the aromatic guests.     

Altered posttranslational modification on U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein 68k in systemic autoimmune diseases detected by 2D Western blot

Anti-ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP) antibodies are one of the representative autoantibodies detectable in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD). Generally, posttranslational modifications (PTMs) on autoantigens are proposed to be involved in the production of autoantibodies. In this study, we tried to detect the alteration in PTMs on a U1 small nuclear RNP 68k subunit (U1-68k), a major antigen of anti-RNP antibodies. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from patients with MCTD, SLE, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and from healthy donors. U1-68ks in the PBMCs were detected by 2D Western blot (WB), where extracted nuclear proteins were separated by 2DE, followed by the detection of U1-68k using WB. More than 20 PTM isoforms were detected with different molecular weights of 65.0 , 66.5, and 68.0kDa, and different pIs between 6.0 and 8.5. Importantly, the relative intensity of the spot with 66.5 kDa and pI 7.5 was significantly increased in the MCTD and SLE groups compared to the RA and healthy groups. Further, this U1-68k isoform, in particular, in its RS domain, was found to have significantly decreased phosphorylation compared to the other isoforms. The PTM alternation may be one of the steps to generate the anti-RNP antibodies.     

Effect of solvent and carbon black species on the rubber–carbon black interactions studied by pulsed NMR

The spin–spin relaxation time T₂ and the fraction of short T₂ component for composites of natural rubber with carbon black prepared under various conditions have been measured by pulsed NMR. Effect of swelling with a solvent (CCl₄), carbon black species (SAF, HAF, SRF) with different surface areas, and different initial carbon black loadings (35, 50, 70 phr) have been determined. Molecular motion in the rubber phase not in the immediate vicinity of the carbon black surface increases rapidly with increasing solvent concentration, yet it is still slightly restricted compared to rubber with solvent alone. On the other hand, molecular motion in the immobilized layer around carbon black and the fraction rubber in that layer are not affected by the solvent. This indicates strong restriction of molecular motion of polymers at the surface. For estimation of the thickness of the immobilized layer, the necessity of using an appropriate measure of surface area accessible to polymer molecules is pointed out. The degree of immobilization in the layer and the thickness of the layer do not vary appreciably with the nature of carbon black or the initial loading of carbon black.     

Kinetics of the phosphorescent triplet states of tetracyanobenzene complexes as studied by microwave induced delayed phosphorescence

Using microwave induced delayed phosphorescence techniques we determined the populating and depopulating rate constants for the individual spin-sublevels of the phosphorescent states of tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) and its charge-transfer complexes with benzene and hexamethylbenzene (HMB) in n-hexane at 1.25 K. It was shown that the non-radiative decay process from the shortest lifetime sublevel is most responsible for the previously observed shortening in the phosphorescence lifetime of the TCNBHMB complex.     

Photodissociation of molecular beams of halogenated hydrocarbons at 193 nm

Molecular beams of halogenated hydrocarbons containing chlorine and bromine atoms were photodissociated using an excimer laser at 193 nm. Molecules photodissociated were HCCBr, HCCCH₂Br, HCCCH₂Cl, CH₃Cl, C₂H₅Cl and i-C₃H₇Cl. The time-of-flight distributions of the photofragments were measured in order to study the primary processes and the dissociation dynamics. Generalizations consistent with the data are that atomic products (RX → R + X) result from direct dissociation of the CX repulsive singlet state, molecular elimination (RX → R′ + HX) is a result of a crossover to the ground state and triplet states are involved in the photodissociation of alkyne compounds.     

On linear classification procedures between two categories with known mean vectors and covariance matrices

Summary This paper is concerned with probabilities (error probabilities), caused by misclassification, of linear classification procedures (linear procedures) between two categories, whose mean vectors and covariance matrices are assumed to be known, while the distribution of each category may well be continuous or discrete. The tightest upper bounds on the largest of two kinds of error probability of each linear procedure and on the expected error probability for any apriori probabilities are obtained. Moreover in some cases of interest, theoptimal linear procedure (in the sense of attaining the infimum out of all the upper bounds) is given.     

Emission spectra in orthorhombic PbCl2 at low temperature

The emission spectra and its time decay in PbCl₂ at low temperature are reported. Three emission bands lying at 3.81 (uv), 2.93 (blue) and 2.60 eV are found for the photo-excitation in the intrinsic absorption region, at 4.2 K. An exponential decay with decay time of 11.4 μs is observed for the uv emission. For the blue emission two kinds of time decay spectra are observed: a second order process below 10 K and an exponential decay above 14 K. The mechanisms of these emission are discussed by taking into account the above results.     

Consecutive elongation of alanine oligopeptides at the second time range under hydrothermal conditions using a microflow reactor system

During the course of the study of the hydrothermal stability of alanine oligopeptides, a small amount of oligopeptides longer than the starting oligopeptides was found in the reaction products. On the basis of this unexpected finding and the investigation of the reaction mechanism, the elongation of oligopeptides using (Ala)3, (Ala)4, and (Ala)5 was attempted in aqueous solution at 275-310 degrees C within the second time range using a microflow reactor system. The elongation of (Ala)4 and (Ala)5 succeeded in the presence of an excess amount of Ala monomer. This is probably due to the fact that the elongation rate is competitive or somewhat faster than the degradation of peptide bonding. On the contrary, the elongation of (Ala)3 was not possible since it was immediately converted to diketopiperazine.