Iridium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of monosubstituted allylic acetates with azlactone, and separation of diastereoisomers by sequential aza-Cope rearrangement

The iridium-catalyzed allylic alkylation with azlactone and sequential aza-Cope rearrangement was demonstrated. The sequential reaction was effective in separating of diastereoisomers and afforded a diastereomerically pure azlactone derivative and oxazolinone derivative.     

Surgical effects on soft tissue produced by a 405-nm violet diode laser in vivo

This study evaluated the surgical performance of a 405-nm diode laser in vivo, using living rat liver tissue. Tissue was incised by irradiation with the laser at low output power ranging from 1 W (722 W/cm²) to 3 W (2165 W/cm²) on a manual control at a rate of 1 mm/s. As a control, incisions using a stainless scalpel were compared. Immediately after operation, the surface of the incisions was macroscopically observed and histopathologically evaluated by microscopy. Laser-ablated liver tissue was smooth with observable signs of remnant carbonization and easily acquired hemostasis. The thickness of the denatured layer increased in proportion to the output power; the coagulation layer did not thicken accordingly. Bleeding could not be stopped for tissues incised with the stainless scalpel. The 405-nm diode laser thus proved to be effective for ablating soft tissue with high hemostatic ability at low power.     

Time-resolved fluorometric analysis of carbohydrates labeled with amino-aromatic compounds by reductive amination

We examined the formation of complexes between terbium ion (Tb3+) and carbohydrates labeled with aminobenzene compounds. Of the examined compounds, carbohydrates labeled with 4-aminosalicylic acid showed intense fluorescence with Tb3+ in the presence of cetylpyridinium chloride at pH 6.0. Calibration curves for maltose derivative showed good linearity between 5 pmol and at least 600 pmol, with good reproducibility. We applied the proposed technique to binding studies between manno-oligosaccharides and Concanavalin A.     

In situ STM imaging of surface dissolution and rearrangement of a Pt-Fe alloy electrocatalyst in electrolyte solution

The formation of a Pt skin layer with predominantly (111)-oriented facets induced by dissolution of Fe atoms in a Pt-Fe alloy for fuel cell applications is investigated for the first time by using in situ electrochemical STM in 0.1 M HClO4 solution.     

Nuclear propelled vessels and neutrino oscillation experiments

We study the effect of naval nuclear reactors on the study of neutrino oscillations. We find that the presence of naval reactors at unknown locations and times may limit the accuracy of future very long baseline reactor-based neutrino oscillation experiments. At the same time, we argue that a nuclear powered surface ship such as a large Russian icebreaker may provide an ideal source for precision experiments.     

The Change of Grip Strength in a Patient with Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy Over a 4-year Period

Myotonic dystrophy (MyD) is a neuromuscular disease that is autosomal dominant and the most common form of muscular dystrophy affecting adults. The clinical features of MyD include a multisystemic disorder characterized by myotonia, progressive muscle weakness and wasting, cataracts, premature balding and mental retardation. The most severe type of MyD is classified as congenital MyD (CMyD). The muscle weakness in CMyD is very severe, but muscle development can be observed in the period of growth. However, no clinical case of this type has been reported yet. Therefore, we report on a girl with CMyD who had an increase in muscle strength over a four-year period. The girl with CMyD participated in this study from the age of 9 to the age of 12. The measurement of muscle strength was recorded as the maximum score of grip strength with the use of dynamometers. Grip strength was assessed once a year by the same two physical therapists. Grip strength of CMyD for each year was markedly weak when compared with the normal controls, but muscle strength changed within some specific growth areas. The muscle weakness in CMyD was remarkable, but the result showed that specific muscle strength of CMyD in childhood was actually increased.     

An anomalous emission excited near the absorption edge of pyrene crystals

Emission spectra and decay times of the fluorescence excited at the absorption edge region in pyrene crystals were measured. At liquid nitrogen temperature, the fluorescence under the excitation at 390 nm is considered as the excimer emission and its band peak shifts a little to the short wavelength in comparison with that of the excimer emission under the excitation at 360 nm. The emission decay times under the excitation at the 390 nm and 360 nm are about 155 ns and 180 ns, respectively, at liquid nitrogen temperature. The former decay time changes its value abruptly near 127 K. This abrupt change of the decay time may be due to the phase transition in pyrene crystals.     

Supersymmetric quantum-Hall effect on a fuzzy supersphere

Supersymmetric quantum-Hall liquids are constructed on a supersphere in a supermonopole background. We derive a supersymmetric generalization of the Laughlin wave function, which is a ground state of a hard-core OSp(1/2) invariant Hamiltonian. We also present excited topological objects, which are fractionally charged deficits made by super Hall currents. Several relations between quantum-Hall systems and their supersymmetric extensions are discussed.     

Field-enhanced diamagnetism in the pseudogap state of the cuprate Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+delta) superconductor in an intense magnetic field

In hole-doped cuprates, Nernst experiments imply that the superconducting state is destroyed by spontaneous creation of vortices which destroy phase coherence. Using torque magnetometry on Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+delta), we uncover a field-enhanced diamagnetic signal M above the transition temperature Tc that increases with applied field to 32 Tesla and scales just like the Nernst signal. The magnetization results above Tc distinguish M from conventional amplitude fluctuations and strongly support the vortex scenario for the loss of phase coherence at Tc.