Nuclear Monobromination of Alkyl Phenyl Ethers with NaClO2, NaBr,Mn(acac)3, and Moist Silica Gel in Aprotic Solvent

Nuclear monobromination of aromatic ethers can be achieved with a NaClO₂/NaBr/Mn(acac)₃ catalyst/silica gel system in dichloromethane in regioselective and high-yielding manner under mild conditions.     

A mass spectrometric method to determine activities of enzymes involved in polyamine catabolism

An analytical method for the determination of three polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) and five acetylpolyamines [N¹-acetylspermidine (N¹AcSpd), N⁸-acetylspermidine (N⁸AcSpd), N¹-acetylspermine, N¹,N⁸-diacetylspermidine, and N¹,N¹²-diacetylspermine] involved in the polyamine catabolic pathway has been developed using a hybrid tandem mass spectrometer. Heptafluorobutyryl (HFB) derivatives of these compounds and respective internal standards labeled with stable isotopes were analyzed simultaneously by TOF MS, based on peak areas appearing at appropriate m/z values. The isomers, N¹AcSpd and N⁸AcSpd were determined from their fragment ions, the acetylamidopropyl and acetylamidobutyl groups, respectively, using MS/MS with ¹³C₂-N¹AcSpd and ¹³C₂-N⁸AcSpd which have the ¹³C₂-acetyl group as an internal standard. The TOF MS method was successfully applied to measure the activity of enzymes involved in polyamine catabolic pathways, namely N¹-acetylpolyamine oxidase (APAO), spermine oxidase (SMO), and spermidine/spermine N¹-acetyltransferase (SSAT). The following natural substrates and products labeled with stable isotopes considering the application to biological samples were identified; for APAO, [4,9,12-¹⁵N₃]-N¹-acetylspermine and [1,4,8-¹⁵N₃]spermidine (¹⁵N₃-Spd), respectively; for SMO, [1,4,8,12-¹⁵N₄]spermine and ¹⁵N₃-Spd, respectively; and for SSAT, ¹⁵N₃-Spd and [1,4,8-¹⁵N₃]-N¹-acetylspermidine, respectively.     

Node-wise robustness against fluctuations of power consumption in power grids

We propose a new concept of node-wise robustness of power grids under variation of effective power in one load node using a mathematical model that takes into account the change in voltage and reactive power of load nodes. We employ the topology of the power grid in eastern Japan. We define the robustness as the threshold value of the effective power, above which the steady state loses its stability. We show that the robustness is highly heterogeneous among the load nodes. We find that the shortest path length from generators is most highly correlated with the robustness of the load nodes. We numerically demonstrate that the supply of reactive power enhances the robustness.     

Statistical approach to the code acquisition problem in direct-sequence spread-spectrum communication systems

^** Email: eshima{at}med.oita-u.ac.jp In direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DS/SS) communication, users'original signals are modulated into higher frequencies withthe users' codes. DS/SS communication has the attractive propertythat multiple users' signals can be simultaneously transmitted;however, communication cannot be performed without synchronizationof users' spread-spectrum (SS) signal. Synchronization is typicallyperformed in two steps, i.e. code acquisition and tracking.This paper gives a statistical solution to the question as tohow code acquisition can be performed effectively and precisely.First, properties of matched-filter outputs of SS signal arediscussed. Second, a theoretical method of code acquisitionis proposed according to statistical decision theory. The methoduses all matched-filter outputs for code acquisition. Third,matched-filter outputs are dichotomized with a threshold valueand the dichotomous outputs are used for code acquisition. Asimple and effective method for code acquisition is proposed.Numerical simulations are also given to illustrate the effectivenessof the proposed method. Finally, a further discussion and conclusionto this study are provided.     

An ESR spin-label study on molecular mobility in the interface between microphases of a diblock copolymer: effects of admixture of homopolymers that are miscible with one of the blocks

Molecular mobility in the interfacial region of a microphase-separated structure was studied in binary mixtures of AB-type diblock copolymers and homopolymers (miscible with only A) by the spin-label technique. In this study, we prepared (a) binary blends of polystyrene-block-poly(methyl acrylate) (PS-block-PMA) and homopolymer poly(cyclohexyl acrylate)'s having the number-averaged molecular weight (Mn) of 1000 (PCHA-S) and (b) having the Mn of 17300 (PCHA-L), and (c) binary mixtures of the PS-block-PMA and homopolymer PS with the Mn of 900 (PS-1). Emphasis was placed on effects of the molecular weight and the miscibility of added homopolymers on the mobility in the interfacial region of the microphase separation. Selective incorporation of the added PCHA-S, PCHA-L, and PS-1 into the PS phase of the PS-block-PMA was confirmed by modulated-temperature differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) measurement as a decrease in the glass transition temperature of the PS phase. Moreover, the MDSC and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) measurements suggested that the spatial distributions of the PCHA-S and PS-1 in the PS phase were relatively uniform because of their small Mn. On the other hand, the distribution of the PCHA-L in the PS phase was somewhat heterogeneous because of the large Mn of the PCHA-L. The spin-label at the junction point of the PS-block-PMA allowed us to estimate the mobility in the interfacial region of the microphase separation. Influence of the PCHA-S and PCHA-L on the mobility in the interfacial region was negligible even though the relatively uniform distribution of the PCHA-S in the PS phase was suggested by the SAXS and MDSC. More uniform distribution of the PS-1 than that of the PCHA-S in the PS phase was suggested by the SAXS, and the mobility in the interfacial region was slightly enhanced by the addition of the PS-1. However, the mobility was almost constant against an increase in the PS-1. The PS-1 was considered to be penetrated into the interfacial region and activated the mobility, but the fraction of the PS-1 in the interfacial region was constant irrespective of the blended amount of the PS-1. These results suggest that effects of homopolymers on the mobility in the interface are significantly related to their spatial distribution in the host phase.     

MMPP (Magnesium Monoperoxyphthalate) in Acetonitrile; A New Approach to the Synthesis of Lactones via Baeyer-Villiger Oxidation of Cyclic Ketones

A variety of unsubstituted and mono- or di-substituted cycloalkanones can be oxidised with modest excess of magnesium monoperoxyphthalate hexahydrate in acetonitrile to produce the corresponding lactones in a facile, selective, and high yielding manner.     

Acoustically induced spin-orbit interactions revealed by two-dimensional imaging of spin transport in GaAs

Magneto-optic Kerr microscopy was employed to investigate the spin-orbit interactions of electrons traveling in semiconductor quantum wells using surface acoustic waves (SAWs). Two-dimensional images of the spin flow induced by SAWs exhibit anisotropic spin precession behaviors caused by the coexistence of different types of spin-orbit interactions. The dependence of spin-orbit effective magnetic fields on SAW intensity indicates the existence of acoustically controllable spin-orbit interactions resulting from the strain and Rashba contributions induced by the SAWs.     

Lepton number violation at the LHC with leptoquark and diquark

We investigate a model in which tiny neutrino masses are generated at the two-loop level by using scalar leptoquark and diquark multiplets. The diquark can be singly produced at the LHC, and it can decay into a pair of leptoquarks through the lepton number violating interaction. Subsequent decays of the two leptoquarks can provide a clear signature of the lepton number violation, namely two QCD jets and a pair of same-signed charged leptons without missing energy. We show that the signal process is not suppressed while neutrino masses are appropriately suppressed.     

Synthesis of 4H-furo[3,2-b]indole derivatives. III. Preparation of 4H-furo[3,2-b]indole-2-carboxylic acid derivatives

Methyl or ethyl 4H-furo[3,2-b]indole-2-carboxylates (Va,b) were prepared from deoxygenation of methyl or ethyl 5-(2-nitrophenyl)-2-furoates (IIIa,b) and thermolysis of methyl or ethyl 5-(2-azidophenyl)-2-furoates (VIIIa,b). 4H-Furo[3,2-b]indole-2-carboxylic acid amides (XIa-h) were obtained by the reaction of 4H-furo[3,2-b]indole-2-carboxyl chloride (X) with the appropriate amines.