Optimization of mark edge recording waveform for a phase change rewritable optical disk using a 680 nm laser diode

A high density mark edge recording method on a phase change rewritable disk is reported. A carrier-to-noise ratio of 55 dB for a mark length of 0.55,μm is obtained by using a 680 nm, NA 0.6 head and a phase change rewritable disk. In mark edge recording, it is necessary to record each mark in correct length. A new laser power modulation pattern is proposed. This pattern consists of a first-pulse, a multi-pulse chain and a last-pulse. Both positions of the first-ptilse and the last-pulse are movable. By adjusting these positions, a jitter, σ/T_w (T_w is window margin), is improved to 6.5% in high density EFM (Eight to Fourteen Modulation) recording of 0.4 μm/bit.     

Development of novel active acceptors possessing a positively charged structure for the transglycosylation reaction with Endo-M and their application to oligosaccharide analysis

With Boc-Asn-GlcNAc as a basic structure, four permanently positively charged kinds of new acceptors (GP-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc, GT-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc, HMP-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc, MPDPZ-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc) and five kinds of similar structure acceptors (2-PA-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc, 3-PA-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc, 4-PA-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc, HP-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc, PDPZ-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc) were synthesized as acceptors for the resolution of oligosaccharides in glycopeptides. The synthesized acceptors enzymatically reacted with Disialo-Asn (donor) in the presence of Endo-M. The reaction yields of each transglycosylation product were not obvious, because we do not have all the authentic Disialo-Asn-Boc-acceptors. Therefore, we used the peak area of the transglycosylation product detected by mass spectrometry and evaluated the utility of each acceptor. Among the Boc-Asn-GlcNAc acceptors, the positively charged MPDPZ derivative peak area was the highest, MPDPZ-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc with a positively charged structure showed about a 2.2 times greater sensitivity of the transglycosylation product compared to the conventional fluorescence acceptor DBD-PZ-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc. As a result, the MPDPZ-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc acceptor was suitable for the transglycosylation reaction with Endo-M. The development of a qualitative determination method for the N-linked oligosaccharides in glycoproteins was attempted by combination of the transglycosylation reaction and semi-micro high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). The asparaginyl-oligosaccharides in glycoproteins, liberated by treatment with Pronase E, were separated, purified and labeled with positively charged MPDPZ. The resulting derivatives were separated by a semi-micro HPLC system. The eluted N-linked oligosaccharide derivatives were then introduced into a QTOF-MS instrument and sensitively detected in the ESI(+) mode. Various fragment ions based on the carbohydrate units appeared in the MS/MS spectra. Among the peaks, m/z 782.37 corresponding to MPDPZ-Boc-Asn-GlcNAc is the most important one for identifying the asparaginyl-oligosaccharides. Disialo-Asn-Boc-MPDPZ was easily identified by the selected-ion chromatogram at m/z 782.37 by MS/MS detection. Therefore, the identification of N-linked oligosaccharides in glycoproteins seems to be possible by the proposed semi-micro HPLC separations followed by the QTOF-MS/MS detection. Furthermore, several oligosaccharides in ovalbumin and ribonuclease B were successfully identified by the proposed procedure.     

The electronic structure of naphthalene

Electronic energy levels of naphthalene were calculated by semi-empirical ASMO-CI method including a part of doubly excited configurations as well as all singly excited configurations. The result obtained seems to indicate that with respect to the amount of the mixing of CI to be invoked it is sufficient to take into account all singly excited configurations only.The interpretation of spectra was also discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Die Energieniveaus der Elektronen im Naphthalin-Molekül wurden mittels einer halbempirischen ASMO-CI-Methode unter Einschluß einer Reihe von einfach und doppelt angeregten Zuständen berechnet. Dabei zeigt sich, daß es wahrscheinlich genügt, nur einfach angeregte Zustände in die Rechnung einzubeziehen.

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Résumé Les états énergétiques du naphthaléne ont été calculés par une méthode ASMO-CI semiempirique où une partie des configurations diexcitées et toutes les configurations monoexcitées ont été inclues. Le résultat indique qu'il suffit de ne tenir compte que des configurations monoexcitées. Les spectres sont discutés.

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One of us (H. I.) wishes to express his thanks to Professor K. Suzuki for encouragement throughout this work.     

Enantio- and diastereoselective hydrogenation via dynamic kinetic resolution by a cationic iridium complex in the synthesis of beta-hydroxy-alpha-amino acid esters

Anti-selective asymmetric hydrogenation of alpha-amino-beta-keto esters via dynamic kinetic resolution under low hydrogen pressure has been achieved by an easily-handled cationic iridium complex with tetrakis[3,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]borate (BARF) as a counterion.     

Colorimetric detection of spermine and spermidine by zincon in aqueous solution

The anionic organic dye, zincon, was found to be a colorimetric probe for spermine and spermidine at pH 4.0 in pure aqueous solution through its aggregation by electrostatic interactions with them. The addition of spermine and spermidine led to bathochromic shifts with color changes from yellow to purple and dark brown, respectively, while other amines and basic amino acids induced no or minimal spectral and color changes. From Job’s plot and titration experiments, zincon interacted with spermine (+4 charges) and spermidine (+3 charges) in 4:1 and 3:1 stoichiometric ratios, respectively, indicating that each positive charge was bound to one zincon molecule. The detection limits were determined to be 25.1 for spermine and 30.7 nM for spermidine, which were sufficient below the critical concentration for cancer diagnosis. The results indicated that zincon can be a good candidate for simple, convenient colorimetric detection of spermine and spermidine in aqueous solution.     

Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions using P-chirogenic diaminophosphine oxides: DIAPHOXs

This paper describes the development of a new class of chiral phosphorus ligand: aspartic acid-derived P-chirogenic diaminophosphine oxides, DIAPHOXs, and their application to several Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic substitution reactions. Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation was initially examined in detail using diaminophosphine oxides 1a, resulting in the highly enantioselective construction of quaternary stereocenters. Mechanistic investigations revealed that 1a is activated by N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide-induced tautomerization to afford a trivalent diamidophosphite species 12, which functions as the actual ligand. Furthermore, asymmetric allylic amination was examined using Pd-DIAPHOX catalyst systems, providing a variety of chiral allylic amines.     

Hydrogen embrittlement in a magnesium grain boundary: a first-principles study

First-principles fully relaxed tensile and shear test simulations were performed on Σ10(1124)/[1100] tilt Mg grain boundary (GB) models, with and without H segregation, to investigate mechanisms of H embrittlement of Mg. Strengthening as a result of covalent-like characteristics of Mg-H bonds prevailed over weakening of Mg-Mg bonds resulting from charge transfer; as a result, an H atom strengthened the GB. In addition, because the strong Mg-H bonds suppressed macroscopic GB fracture, elongation to failure was not reduced by H segregation. However, the resistance to GB shearing was increased by H segregation. It is therefore suggested that H segregation enhances crack growth at the GB, because dislocation emission from the crack tip is suppressed, resulting in H embrittlement of Mg.     

Asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized γ-lactams through an organocatalytic aza-Michael–Michael reaction cascade using fumaric acid amide esters as multi-reactive substrates

We developed a novel method for the asymmetric synthesis of highly functionalized γ-lactams through an organocatalytic aza-Michael–Michael reaction cascade using fumaric acid amide esters as multi-reactive substrates. Using chiral primary or secondary amine organocatalysts, we obtained two types of γ-lactams with three contiguous chiral centers in moderate to good yield with excellent enantioselectivity and diastereoselectivity.     

Extraction of complexes of iron(III) and other metals with bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid into molten biphenyl/naphthalene

The extraction behaviour of twelve metals as function of the concentration of nitric or hydrochloric acid is described; bis(2-ethylhexyl)phosphoric acid (BEHPA) and 2-ethylhexylphosphonic acid mono-2-ethylhexyl ester are used as the extractants with 3:1 (w/w) biphenyl/ naphthalene (m.p. 52°C) as the molten solvent which is easily separated by cooling to room temperature. Scandium (III) and zirconium (IV) can be separated from uranium (VI), rare earth metals and some transition metals with BEHPA. The extraction behaviour of iron with both extractants is described in detail.