On pallets for Fox colorings of spatial graphs

We introduce the notion of pallets of quandles and define coloring invariants for spatial graphs which give a generalization of Fox colorings studied in Ishii and Yasuhara (1997) [4]. All pallets for dihedral quandles are obtained from the quotient sets of the universal pallets under a certain equivalence relation. We study the quotient sets and classify their elements.     

Possible Existence of {(c\bar{c})} –Nucleus Bound States

Charmonium ( \({c \bar{c}}\) ) bound states in few-nucleon systems, ²H, ⁴He and ⁸Be, are studied via Gaussian Expansion Method (GEM). We adopt a Gaussian potential as an effective \({(c \bar{c})}\) –nucleon (N) interaction. The relation between two-body \({(c \bar{c})}\) –N scattering length \({a_{c\bar{c}-N}}\) and the binding energies B of \({(c \bar{c})}\) –nucleus bound states are given. Recent lattice QCD data of \({a_{c\bar{c}-N}}\) corresponds to \({B \simeq 0.5}\) MeV for \({(c \bar{c})-^{4}}\) He and 2 MeV for \({(c \bar{c})-^{8}}\) Be in our results.     

Critical brush density for the transition between carpet-only and carpet/brush double-layered structures

The critical brush density, where transition from carpet-only structure to carpet/brush double-layered structure occurs, was estimated for a weakly ionic amphiphilic diblock copolymer, (diethylsilacyclobutane)34-b-(methacrylic acid)50, monolayer on water by an in situ X-ray reflectivity technique. The brush density in the monolayer was controlled from 0.11 to 0.60 brush chain/nm2 by changing surface pressure and mixing a poly(diethylsilacyclobutane) homopolymer separately synthesized. Only a carpet layer was formed at a low brush density condition, but a carpet and brush double layer was found for a higher brush density of more than 0.48/nm2. This brush density, which is fairly high, would be valuable for discussing the polyelectrolyte brush nanostructure.     

Kinetic analyses of colloidal crystallization in shear flow

Colloidal crystallization kinetics is studied in the shear flow of a suspension of colloidal silica spheres (110 nm in diameter), using a continuously-circulating type of stopped flow cell system. The crystallization rate from a suspension containing a small amount of nuclei and/or single crystals is high compared with that from a suspension containing no nuclei and/or single crystals. Crystal growth takes place at shear rates smaller than 3.4 s^–1 and at sphere concentrations higher than a volume fraction of 0.004.     

Feasibility of reduction in use of the mouse bioassay: presence/absence screening for saxitoxin in frozen acidified mussel and oyster extracts from the coast of California with in vitro methods

In the United States, the detection of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) for regulatory purposes relies on the mouse bioassay (MBA). Using a saxitoxin presence/absence test could reduce animal usage significantly. Three in vitro methods, the RIDASCREEN Saxitoxin kit, MIST Alert, and a 5 h neuroblastoma assay, were evaluated in parallel with the MBA using 106 twice-frozen, acidified extracts from California-grown mussel and oyster tissues. For each assay, a cutoff point was established whereby data below or equal to that point were scored as negative and were assigned a score of zero. Data above the cutoff were considered positive and assigned a score of one. Pearson correlation coefficients were generated. The RIDASCREEN, MIST Alert, and neuroblastoma bioassay correlated to the MBA at 0.849, 0.853, and 0.832 when used for presence/absence detection. These data suggest that a reduction in MBA usage could be achieved in the surveillance of California-grown mussels and oysters for PSP-associated toxins. Correlation data between the in vitro assays, cost comparisons, and the potential for false negatives and false positives were examined. Implications of these methodologies in protecting public health are discussed.     

Dual-action molecular superconductors with magnetic anions

Dual-action organic superconductors, whose conducting properties can be sharply controlled by an external magnetic field, have been discovered in systems consisting of organic conduction layers based on bis(ethylenedithio)tetraselenafulvalene (BETS) molecules and magnetic anions. Owing to the metamagnetic nature of the anion layers, the superconducting state of kappa-BETS2FeBr4 can be switched on or off by applying the external field. In lambda-BETS2Fe0.4Ga0.6Cl4, exhibiting a field-induced superconducting transition for the field parallel to the conduction plane, the insulating, metallic, and superconducting states can be realized in a stepwise manner by slightly tuning the external magnetic field.     

Visualizing Gene Expression in Living Mammals Using a Bioluminescent Reporter

Abstract— Control of gene expression often involves an interwoven set of regulatory processes. As information regarding regulatory pathways may be lost in ex vivo analyses, we used bioluminescence to monitor gene expression in living mammals. Viral promoters fused to firefly luciferase as transgenes in mice allowed external monitoring of gene expression both superficially and in deep tissues. In vivo bioluminescence was detectable using either intensified or cooled charge-coupled device cameras, and could be detected following both topical and systemic delivery of substrate. In vivo control of the promoter from the human immunodeficiency virus was demonstrated. As a model for DNA-based therapies and vaccines, in vivo transfection of a luciferase expression vector (SV-40 promoter and enhancer controlling expression) was detected. We conclude that gene regulation, DNA delivery and expression can now be noninvasively monitored in living mammals using a luciferase reporter. Thus, real-time, noninvasive study of gene expression in living animal models for human development and disease is possible.     

Conversion of esculeoside A into esculeogenin B

Conversion of the spirosolane-type glycoside, esculeoside A, a major component contained in the ripe tomato Lycopersicon esculentum fruits, into a solanocapsine-type sapogenol, esculeogenin B-2, (5alpha,22S,23R,25S)-22,26-epimino-16beta,23-epoxy-3beta,23,27-trihydroxycholestane, and esculeogenin B-1, (5alpha,22R,23S,25S)-22,26-epimino-16beta,23-epoxy-3beta,23,27-trihydroxycholestane, which are rare naturally occurring compounds was attained by acid hydrolysis with 2 N HCl in dioxane and water (1 : 1).     

Comparison of radioactive and stable cesium uptake in aquatic macrophytes affected by the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

Concentrations of ^134+137Cs and ¹³³Cs in aquatic macrophytes, water, and sediment were measured in samples collected from Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. The concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs in submerged and floating-leaved plants were higher than the values for emergent plants according to their main Cs uptake mode. The geometric mean water-to-plant concentration ratio for ¹³⁷Cs and ¹³³Cs was comparable observed in submerged and floating-leaved plants, while the geometric mean sediment-to-plant concentration ratio for ¹³⁷Cs in emergent plants was higher than that of ¹³³Cs, which suggest that the mobility of Fukushima accident-derived ¹³⁷Cs is not in steady state 4–5 years after the accident.