2′,4′-BNA/LNA with 9-(2-Aminoethoxy)-1,3-diaza-2-oxophenoxazine Efficiently Forms Duplexes and Has Enhanced Enzymatic Resistance**

Artificial nucleic acids are widely used in various technologies, such as nucleic acid therapeutics and DNA nanotechnologies requiring excellent duplex-forming abilities and enhanced nuclease resistance. 2′-O,4′-C-Methylene-bridged nucleic acid/locked nucleic acid (2′,4′-BNA/LNA) with 1,3-diaza-2-oxophenoxazine (BNAP ( B^H )) was previously reported. Herein, a novel B^H analogue, 2′,4′-BNA/LNA with 9-(2-aminoethoxy)-1,3-diaza-2-oxophenoxazine (G-clamp), named BNAP-AEO ( B^AEO ), was designed. The B^AEO nucleoside was successfully synthesized and incorporated into oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs). ODNs containing B^AEO possessed up to 10⁴-, 152-, and 11-fold higher binding affinities for complementary (c) RNA than those of ODNs containing 2′-deoxycytidine ( C ), 2′,4′-BNA/LNA with 5-methylcytosine ( L ), or 2′-deoxyribonucleoside with G-clamp ( P^AEO ), respectively. Moreover, duplexes formed by ODN bearing B^AEO with cDNA and cRNA were thermally stable, even under molecular crowding conditions induced by the addition of polyethylene glycol. Furthermore, ODN bearing B^AEO was more resistant to 3′-exonuclease than ODNs with phosphorothioate linkages.     

Molecular Insights into the Antistress Potentials of Brazilian Green Propolis Extract and Its Constituent Artepillin C

Propolis, also known as bee-glue, is a resinous substance produced by honeybees from materials collected from plants they visit. It contains mixtures of wax and bee enzymes and is used by bees as a building material in their hives and by humans for different purposes in traditional healthcare practices. Although the composition of propolis has been shown to depend on its geographic location, climatic zone, and local flora; two largely studied types of propolis: (i) New Zealand and (ii) Brazilian green propolis have been shown to possess Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester (CAPE) and Artepillin C (ARC) as the main bioactive constituents, respectively. We have earlier reported that CAPE and ARC possess anticancer activities, mediated by abrogation of mortalin-p53 complex and reactivation of p53 tumor suppressor function. Like CAPE, Artepillin C (ARC) and the supercritical extract of green propolis (GPSE) showed potent anticancer activity. In this study, we recruited low doses of GPSE and ARC (that did not affect either cancer cell proliferation or migration) to investigate their antistress potential using in vitro cell based assays. We report that both GPSE and ARC have the capability to disaggregate metal- and heat-induced aggregated proteins. Metal-induced aggregation of GFP was reduced by fourfold in GPSE- as well as ARC-treated cells. Similarly, whereas heat-induced misfolding of luciferase protein showed 80% loss of activity, the cells treated with either GPSE or ARC showed 60–80% recovery. Furthermore, we demonstrate their pro-hypoxia (marked by the upregulation of HIF-1α) and neuro-differentiation (marked by differentiation morphology and upregulation of expression of GFAP, β-tubulin III, and MAP2). Both GPSE and ARC also offered significant protection against oxidative stress and, hence, may be useful in the treatment of old age-related brain pathologies.     

Effects of gamma and electron beam irradiation on polymer electrolytes

Polymer electrolytes based on poly(ethylene oxide) and lithium salts have been widely studied in recent years. In order to enhance the room temperature ionic conductivity of PEO-LiX complexes, various techniques, such as addition of plasticizers and crown ether, and also irradiation by γ and electron beams have been investigated. The enhancement of the conductivity by irradiation has been accounted for the decreasing of the crystallinity of PEO-LiX. We reviewed these results and have investigated the degradation processes of PEO using Tb³⁺ fluorescence probes. We have also studied on the effects of irradiation of polymers such as poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), poly(methacrylic acid) (PMA) and PEO using Tb⁺³ fluorescence probe. Various monomers containing SO₃H and COOH have been grafted on poly(ethylene oxide) using irradiation technique. The structures and ionic conductivities of Li and Na salts of irradiated products were investigated in detail.     

Memory effect in CuAsSe glasses containing small amounts of Au

The Cu, As and Se contents of Au-containing CuAsSe glasses significantly affected both the resistivity in the memory state and the time required to reach the memory state, whereas the Au content affects only the latter. The main crystalline species formed in these glasses was a CuAsSe compound, and its formation was enhanced by the addition of Au. The role of Au in the memory effect was discussed on the basis of crystallization behavior of glasses.     

Enhancement of sonochemical reaction of terephthalate ion by superposition of ultrasonic fields of various frequencies

The ultrasonic reactor with dual frequency was used and the effect of frequency on the fluorescence intensity of terephthalate ion was experimentally investigated in the frequency range from 176 to 635 kHz. The sonochemical reaction fields were visualized by using sonochemical luminescence of luminol solution. Compared with the fluorescence intensity of terephthalate ion for single frequency, the fluorescence intensity for dual frequency increased. The fluorescence intensity ratio of dual frequency to single frequency had maximum value when the frequency of transducer attached at the bottom wall was comparable in magnitude to that at the side wall. In the case of dual frequency, the sonochemical reaction fields became more extensive in the reactor and more intensive around the center of the reactor.     

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.     

Global existence of solutions to the compressible Navier-Stokes equation around parallel flows

The initial boundary value problem for the compressible Navier-Stokes equation is considered in an infinite layer of Rn. It is proved that if n?3, then strong solutions to the compressible Navier-Stokes equation around parallel flows exist globally in time for sufficiently small initial perturbations, provided that the Reynolds and Mach numbers are sufficiently small. The proof is given by a variant of the Matsumura-Nishida energy method based on a decomposition of solutions associated with a spectral property of the linearized operator.     

Asymptotically minimax testing ofr>2 simple hypotheses

In this paper, we consider the problem of asymptotically minimax testing ofr≥2 simple hypotheses when a general stochastic process is observed. We establish general conditions for the exponential decrease of maximal probability errors of minimax tests as the number of observations increases. At the present time, similar results for testing several multinomial schemes were obtained by Salihov [8]. Similar results for testing two simple hypotheses were obtained in [5]. In the proofs of the main results, we use the theory of large deviations ([3], [2]). In Sec. 1, the main result is proved. In Secs. 2–4, we analyze the i.i.d. case, nonhomogeneous Poisson processes, and renewal processes as examples. Published in Lietuvos Matematikos Rinkinys, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 313–320, July–September, 2000.     

Rotational spectrum of the Ar–dimethyl sulfide complex

The rotational spectra of three isotopomers of the Ar–dimethyl sulfide (DMS) complex – normal, ³⁴S, and ¹³C species – were measured in the frequency region from 3.7 up to 24.1 GHz by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. The normal species yielded 43 a-type and 79 c-type transitions. No Ar tunneling splitting was observed, while many transitions were split by the internal rotation of the two methyl tops of the DMS unit. In cases where the K-type splitting was close to that due to methyl internal-rotation, several forbidden transitions were observed that followed b-type selection rules. All of the observed transition frequencies were analyzed simultaneously using a phenomenological Hamiltonian also used in previously published work describing the Ar–dimethyl ether (DME) and Ne–DME complexes. The rotational and centrifugal distortion constants and the potential barrier height to methyl-top internal rotation, V₃, were determined. The rotational constants were consistent with an Ar–DMS center of mass (cm) distance of 3.796 (3) Å and a S–cm–Ar angle of 104.8 (2)°. The V₃ potential barrier obtained, 736.17 (32) cm⁻¹, was 97.8% of the DMS monomer barrier. By assuming a Lennard–Jones-type potential, the dissociation energy was estimated to be 2.4 kJ mol⁻¹, which was close to the value for Ar–DME, 2.5 kJ mol⁻¹.     

Separation and purification of 99mTc from 99Mo produced by electron linear accelerator

The medical radionuclide ⁹⁹Mo was produced by the ¹⁰⁰Mo(γ,n) reaction using bremsstrahlung photons generated by an electron linear accelerator. The amount of ⁹⁹Mo produced was compared to that predicted by calculation using the particles and heavy ion transport code system. From the ⁹⁹Mo produced, highly pure ^99mTc was separated using the so-called technetium master milker, and the chemical yield of ^99mTc was 83–99 %. The installation of a new complex using this method and the electron linear accelerator with the preferable specification was suggested, and a possibility to supply the demand of ^99mTc was discussed and shown.