Rapid fermentation of beer using an immobilized yeast multistage bioreactor

The characteristics of yeast sulfite metabolism in a multistage bioreactor system for beer fermentation were investigated. No sulfite was produced in the continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR). However, large amounts were produced in the packed-bed reactor (PBR). Production of sulfite in the PBR seems to be inevitable when it is operated continuously. In order to control the sulfite level in the young beer, the yeast needs to be reactivated into the growth phase. One possible strategy to achieve this is to aerate and periodically remove yeast clogged in the reactor once every 6–7 months before the sulfite level exceeds a given concentration (e.g., 20 mg/L). It was confirmed that sulfite production is closely related to the growth condition of the yeast and is therefore important to consider in the control strategy for sulfite when using the immobilized yeast reactor for beer production.     

Two synthetic approaches to rebeccamycin

Two synthetic approaches to a new indolocarbazole antitumor antibiotic, rebeccamycin, were developed. The absolute configuration of rebeccamycin was determined by a total synthesis.     

Determination of traces of natural brassinosteroids as dansylaminophenylboronates by liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection

A microanalytical method for the determination of traces of natural brassinosteroids as their dansylaminophenylboronates by liquid chromatography with fluorimetric detection is described. The boronates are easily prepared by the reaction of brassinosteroids with dansylaminophenylboronic acid (DABA), which was newly synthesized as a precolumn fluorogenic reagent for brassinosteroids. The potential of the method is demonstrated by the separation of a standard brassinosteroid mixture and the analysis of a biologically active fraction sample obtained from an extract of Zea mays L. pollen. The detection limit of the DABA derivative was found to be 25 pg for brassinolide, which is superior to that of the phenanthreneboronate derivative.     

The study in the relationship between serum calcium and serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) by employing the various kits of PTH assay

In order to evaluate the influences of serum PTH assay in the various concentrations of serum calcium, we divided into three groups which serum calcium had below 8.0 mg/dl, 8.2 mg/dl to 9.8 mg/dl and above 10.0 mg/dl at random samples and assayed PTH in serum sample, using various kits of PTH assay obtained from commercial sources. Our results suggested that the measurement of serum PTH influenced by the concentration of serum calcium and therefore, should be taken an attention of serum calcium in each sample.     

Biological activity of chitosan–sugar hybrids: specific interaction with lectin

The specific interactions between lectins and chitosan–sugar hybrids, the synthesized chitosan derivatives linking carbohydrate residue to the amino group of chitosan, were investigated. The specific bindings of chitosan‐L ‐fucose (Fuc) hybrid with Ulex europaeus agglutinin I (UEA I, a lectin specific to L ‐Fuc), and chitosan‐N‐acetyl‐D ‐glucosamine (D ‐GlcNAc) hybrid with Concanavalin A (Con A, a lectin specific to D ‐glucose, D ‐mannose and D ‐GlcNAc), were confirmed by a surface plasmon resonance technique. The microscopic observation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was preincubated with the fluorescein isothiocyanate‐labeled chitosan‐L ‐Fuc hybrid, showed bacteria aggregation. The aggregation was thought to be resulted from the specific interaction of the L ‐Fuc residue of the hybrid with PA‐II lectin on the surface of P. aeruginosa. The chitosan‐L ‐Fuc hybrid inhibited P. aeruginosa growth more effectively in comparison with the other hybrids or unmodified chitosan. The enhancement of antimicrobial activity of chitosan‐L ‐Fuc hybrid could be attributed to the specific binding between PA‐II lectin of P. aeruginosa and L ‐Fuc residue of the L ‐Fuc hybrid. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sugar-water interaction from diffusion measurements

The diffusion coefficients of deoxyribose and ribose in water were measured at 25°C. The Stokes-Einstein relation for mono-, di-, and tri-saccharides are discussed. The diffusion coefficient at infinite dilution D_o for deoxyribose was the largest among these sugars. It appears that the deoxyribose breaks local water structure but the ribose hardly affects the structure. D_o correlates well with the mean number of e-OH groups in the sugar molecule. It is suggested that the mean number of e-OH groups is a good parameter to describe the properties of sugar hydration.     

Ligand Substitution Reaction of Bis(ethylenediamine)glycinatocobalt(III) Complex with Ethylenediamine Catalyzed by the Photo-excited Tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) Complex

Substitution reaction with ethylenediamine of coordinated glycinate ligand in bis(ethylenediamine)-glycinatocobalt(III) complex has been studied in the presence of photo-excited tris(2,2′-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) complex in alkaline aqueous solution (buffered around pH 12) containing 1.0M chloride ion at 25°C. VIS absorption and CD spectra were used for the racemate and the optically active isomers of the Co(III) complexes, respectively. The reaction was catalyzed by the excited Ru(II) complex to give tris(ethylenediamine)cobalt(III) complex. Mechanism of the ligand-substitution reaction and role of the excited Ru(II) complex were discussed.     

A new method for the synthesis of novel 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]triazines

Novel compounds 8-(quinoxalin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-f][1,2,4]triazines 3a,b were obtained by a new annulation method in the 1,2,4-triazine synthesis.