DFT study on the electronic structure and chemical state of Americium in an (Am,U) mixed oxide

We investigated the electronic state of an (Am,U) mixed oxide with the fluorite structure using the all-electron full potential linear augmented plane wave method and compared it with those of Am₂O₃, AmO₂, UO₂, and La_0.5U_0.5O₂. The valence of Am in the mixed oxide was close to that of Am₂O₃ and the valence of U in the mixed oxide was pentavalent. The electronic structure of AmO₂ was different from that of Am₂O₃, particularly just above the Fermi level. In addition, the electronic states of Am and U in the mixed oxide were similar to those of trivalent Am and pentavalent U oxides. These electronic states reflected the high oxygen potential of AmO₂ and the heightened oxygen potential resulting from the addition of Am to UO₂ and also suggested the occurrence of charge transfer from Am to U in the solid solution process.     

Reverse genetic studies of mitochondrial DNA-based diseases using a mouse model

In the situation that it would not be able to produce model animals for mitochondrial diseases caused by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) with pathogenic mutations, we succeeded in generating mice with pathogenic deletion mutant mtDNA (DeltamtDNA), named "mito-mice", by direct introduction of mitochondria with DeltamtDNA into mouse zygotes. In the mito-mice, accumulation of DeltamtDNA induced mitochondrial respiration defects in various tissues, resulting in mitochondrial disease phenotypes, such as low body weight, lactic acidosis, ischemia, myopathy, heart block, deafness, male infertility, and renal failure. Thus, mito-mice are the first model animal for mtDNA-based diseases, and the mice could be valuable for understanding precise pathogeneses and testing therapies of mitochondrial diseases. In the present review, we summarized reverse genetic studies using the mito-mice.(Communicated by Takao SEKIYA, M.J.A.).     

Chemical reactions induced by 40 keV He+ ions in Fe3O4 and α-Fe2O3

The chemical reactions induced by 40 keV He⁺ ions in α-Fe₂O₃ and Fe₃O₄ were investigated by the conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy(CEMS). Magnetite(Fe₃O₄) was formed upon the bombardment of α-Fe₂O₃, whereas no change was observed in Fe₃O₄. The initial G value for Fe₃O₄ formation is estimated to be 3.5×10^?4 for 100 nm depth from the surface. The application of CEMS and sputtering technique to ion bombardment chemistry is discussed.     

Raman scattering studies on phase transition in barium sodium niobate at high pressure

Phase transition in barium sodium niobate at high pressure is investigated by Raman scattering experiments. Polarized Raman spectra from polished single domain crystal plates of definite orientation are obtained under pressure produced by a diamond anvil device. Anomalous hardening and intensity decrease of 32 cm^-1B₂ mode are found with increasing pressure. A remarkable pressure dependence of the frequencies of the bending modes of NbO₆ octahedrons is observed.     

Thermoelectric power of quasi-one-dimensional Nb3X4 with X=S, Se andTe

The thermoelectric power of linear chain synthetic metals Nb₃X₄ (with X=S, Se and Te) was measured from 5 to 300 K. The thermopower is negative indicating a dominant transport by electrons. Common to three compounds, in lower temperature regions the thermopower rises linearly with temperature but soon saturates. With respect to Nb₃S₄ and Nb₃Se₄ we have found no special anomaly of the thermopower except for a little higher magnitude.With respect to Nb₃Te₄ anomalies in the thermopower vs temperature appear at about 80 and 20 K which are explained in terms of the charge- density-wave phase transition from the simultaneous measurement of the resistivity and the observation of the electron diffraction patterns.     

Regeneration of NADH and ketone hydrogenation by hydrogen with the combination of hydrogenase and alcohol dehydrogenase

Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology - The regeneration of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (reduced form, NADH) by the reaction of NAD with hydrogen gas was carried out in the presence of the...     

Determination of the antiplatelet agent. KB-3022, and its metabolite by high-performance liquid chromatography

A rapid, accurate and reproducible high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of a new antiplatelet agent, ethyl 2-[4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)thiazol-2-yl]pyrrol-1-ylacetate (KB-3022), and its main metabolite, 2-[4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)thiazol-2-yl]pyrrol-1-ylacetic acid (desethyl KB-3022), in biological fluids has been developed. KB-3022 and desethyl KB-3022 in plasma or urine were extracted with a mixture of n-hexane and dichloromethane (1:1), separated on a reversed-phase C18 column with a mixture of 0.01 M (NH4)2HPO4 (pH 3.0), acetonitrile and isopropyl alcohol as a mobile phase, and quantitated by ultraviolet absorbance measurement at 340 nm. 4-[2-(4,5-bis(4-methoxyphenyl)thiazol-2-yl)pyrrol-1-yl]butyric acid was used as an internal standard. The detection limit of KB-3022 in plasma was 3 ng/ml, and that of KB-3022 in urine and desethyl KB-3022 in plasma or urine was 1 ng/ml. The coefficients of variation for the determination of KB-3022 or desethyl KB-3022 in plasma or urine were below 5.6%. This method was applied to the determination of the plasma concentration of KB-3022 and desethyl KB-3022 after intravenous administration to rats.