Complex formation between cationic beta-1,3-glucan and hetero-sequence oligodeoxynucleotide and its delivery into macrophage-like cells to induce cytokine secretion

A cationic polysaccharide bearing a beta-1,3-glucan main-chain structure (CUR-N(+)) forms a complex with a hetero-sequence oligonucleotide, that is, a CpG ODN, and facilitates the transportation of the resultant complex into a murine macrophage-like cell J774.A1, which induces an efficient secretion of a cytokine (IL-12) as compared with that induced by conventional carriers such as poly(ethyleneimine) (PEI) and poly(L-lysine) (PLL).     

A verified method for bounding clusters of zeros of analytic functions

In this paper, we propose a verified method for bounding clusters of zeros of analytic functions. Our method gives a disk that contains a cluster of m   zeros of an analytic function f(z)$f(z)$. Complex circular arithmetic is used to perform a validated computation of n  -degree Taylor polynomial p(z)$p(z)$ of f(z)$f(z)$. Some well known formulae for bounding zeros of a polynomial are used to compute a disk containing a cluster of zeros of p(z)$p(z)$. A validated computation of an upper bound for Taylor remainder series of f(z)$f(z)$ and a lower bound of p(z)$p(z)$ on a circle are performed. Based on these results, Rouché's theorem is used to verify that the disk contains the cluster of zeros of f(z)$f(z)$. This method is efficient in computation of the initial disk of a method for finding validated polynomial factor of an analytic function. Numerical examples are presented to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method.     

Visualization of Crevice Flow in an Engine Using Laser-Induced Fluorescence

A simultaneous visualization technique of reacting and unburned zones using laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) was applied to a high-pressure combustion field in an engine cylinder. Crevice flow from a crevice between a piston and a cylinder wall of a spark ignition gas engine was visualized by LIF of OH and acetone. OH was excited simultaneously with acetone that was seeded into fuel as a tracer by an excitation light at 283.92 nm. Fluorescence signals from each species were detected individually by two intensified CCD cameras using optical band-pass filters which transmit fluorescence wavelength of OH and acetone, respectively. Pressure- and temperature-dependence of LIF signals from each species were evaluated. From the visualized images, it was clarified that oxidation of the crevice flow is stopped at the time of exhaust valve opening. Effects of exhaust port pressure on the oxidation process were investigated.     

Observation of nonequilibrium radiation behind strong shock waves in low-density air

Nonequilibrium radiation phenomena behind strong shock waves in low-density air are observed by using a couple of CCD camera systems in a shock tube experiment. The simultaneous observation for total radiation and its spectral radiation is carried out in order to elucidate spaced-ependent contribution of an individual radiation spectrum to the total radiation intensity. The results are shown for the shock velocity range from 9.0 km/s to 12.1 km/s at the initial pressure 13.3 Pa. Wavelength range is selected from 300 nm to 445 nm to investigate mainly the contributions from UV radiation. It is found that the band spectra due to the molecular species N₂⁺ and CN mainly contribute to the first-peak, while the spectra due to the atomic species O⁺ and N mainly contribute to the formation of the second-peak. It is also found that the Balmer series in H spectra strongly contributes to the second-peak. The radiation along the tube wall surfaces is composed of the same constituents as those around the tube axis as well as the spectra coming from the impurities.     

Synthesis of tert‐butylcalix[4]arenes modified with germanium‐containing side‐chains at the lower rim

Bis‐, tris‐, and tetrakis‐trimethylgermylpropanoyl esters of p‐tert‐butylcalix[4]arenes 5, 7 , and 8 were synthesized and their conformations in solution were determined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The characteristic pair of doublets from the Ar CH₂ Ar methylene protons was observed, indicating that all the prepared calixarenes were in the cone conformation. These germylated calixarenes failed to exhibit any appreciable cation‐capturing ability, indicating that further modification is required to make these compounds to be effective ditopic hosts. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heteroatom Chem 14:365–373, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/hc.10164     

Preferential orientation of crystallites spatially confined in lamellar microdomains of polyethylene‐block‐[atactic poly(propylene)]

Synchrotron small angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS), wide angle X‐ray scattering (WAXS), and transmission electron microscopy were carried out for an oriented polyethylene‐block‐[atactic poly(propylene)] with a molecular weight of 1.13×10⁵ and a volume fraction of polyethylene of 0.5. Isothermal crystallization at 93°C did not destroy the pre‐formed microdomain, however, with a higher crystallization temperature, the microdomain was more heavily deformed and more crystalline lamella grew. In WAXS profiles, preferential orientation of (020) reflection peak was observed, indicating that the crystalline lamella grew in parallel with the micro domain interface.     

Spontaneous ignition of ultra-fine magnesium powder without an original oxide coat at room temperature in O2/N2 mixture streams

To examine the pyrophoric characteristics of Mg powder, we generated ultra-fine Mg particles (average particle diameter: about 0.3 μm) without an original oxide coat in an Ar stream. The ignition of the powder was measured by using the impinging O₂/N₂ mixture streams over a wide range of the experimental parameters: pressure, oxygen concentration and velocity of the streams. The Mg powder was found to ignite even at room temperature. The spontaneous ignition temperatures in the range of 278  324 K were insensitive to all the experimental parameters. The ignition delay time had a tendency to decrease with increasing experimental parameters.The ignition process of the Mg powder was found to be controlled by the surface reaction rate without an oxide coat. We proposed a new ignition hypothesis considering a critical oxide thickness on the Mg powder particles at the transition temperature from protective to non-protective nature: that is, the ignition of the Mg powder occurs when the powder temperature rises above the transition temperature before surface reactions form a protective oxide coat with the critical thickness on the individual particle surfaces. According to this hypothesis, an ignition model of Mg powder cluster was developed, and the relation between the spontaneous critical ignition temperature and the ultra-fine powder size, depending on the critical thickness of the protective oxide coat, was clarified. The critical oxide thickness was estimated.     

One-pot concise syntheses of benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinolines by a microwave-accelerated tandem process

Direct, efficient syntheses of the benzimidazo[2,1-a]isoquinoline ring system have been achieved with 2-bromoarylaldehydes, terminal alkynes, and 1,2-phenylenediamines by a microwave-accelerated tandem process in which a Sonogashira coupling, 5-endo cyclization, oxidative aromatization, and 6-endo cyclization can be performed in a single synthetic operation.     

A Zinc(II)/poly(gamma-glutamic acid) complex as an oral therapeutic for the treatment of type-2 diabetic KKAy mice

In developing new insulin-mimetic zinc(II) complexes with various ligands including a biodegradable polymer, we prepared and characterized a Zn(gamma-pga) complex in solution as well as in solid, and investigated its in vitro insulin-mimetic activity and in vivo antidiabetic effect in type-2 diabetic KKA(y) mice. The in vitro insulin-mimetic activity of the Zn(gamma-pga) complex was considerable better than that of ZnSO(4). The Zn(gamma-pga) complex normalized the hyperglycemia in KKA(y) mice within 21 d when administrated orally at doses of 10-20 mg (0.15-0.31 mmol) Zn per kg body mass for 30 d. In addition, the impaired glucose tolerance, elevated HbA(1c) levels and metabolic syndromes were significantly improved in Zn(gamma-pga)-treated KKA(y) mice relative to those administrated with saline and ZnSO(4).