Selectable one-dimensional or two-dimensional gas chromatography-olfactometry/mass spectrometry with preparative fraction collection for analysis of ultra-trace amounts of odor compounds

A novel selectable one-dimensional ((1)D) or two-dimensional ((2)D) gas chromatography-olfactometry/mass spectrometry with preparative fraction collection (selectable (1)D/(2)D GC-O/MS with PFC) system was developed. The main advantages of this system are the simple and fast selection of (1)D GC-O/MS or (2)D GC-O/MS or (1)D GC-PFC or (2)D GC-PFC operation with a mouse click (without any instrumental set-up change), and total transfer of enriched compounds with thermal desorption (TD) on the same system for identification with (2)D GC-O/MS analysis. Recovery of PFC enrichment with 20 injection cycles of 15 model compounds at 500pg each (e.g. alcohol, aldehyde, ester, lactone, and phenol) was very good with recoveries in the range of 98-116%. The feasibility and benefit of the proposed system was demonstrated with an identification of off-flavor compounds (e.g. 2,4,6-trichloroanisole (TCA), 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IBMP), and geosmin) in spiked wine at odor perception threshold level (5-50ngL(-1)). After parallel stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) for 20 aliquots of a sample and subsequent PFC enrichment for the odor-active fractions from the 20 stir bars, three off-flavor compounds were clearly resolved and detected with TD-(2)D GC-O/MS in scan mode. The good efficiency of SBSE-PFC enrichment in the range of 71-78% shows that all analytical steps, e.g. SBSE, TD, (1)D/(2)D GC-O/MS, and PFC, are quantitative and identification of off-flavor compounds at ngL(-1) level in wine is possible.     

Tolerance to Solar Ultraviolet‐B Radiation in the Citrus Red Mite,An Upper Surface User of Host Plant Leaves

Plant‐dwelling mites are potentially exposed to solar ultraviolet‐B (UVB) radiation that causes deleterious and often lethal effects, leading most mites to inhabit the lower (underside) leaf surfaces. However, in species of spider mite belonging to the Genus Panonychus, a substantial portion of individuals occur on upper leaf surfaces. We investigated whether the upper leaf surfaces of citrus trees are favorable for P. citri, and to what extent they are tolerant to UVB radiation. If eggs are not adequately protected from UVB damage, females may avoid ovipositing on the upper surfaces of sunny leaves. To test this, we conducted laboratory experiments using a UVB lamp, and semioutdoor manipulative experiments. As a result, P. citri eggs are tolerant to UVB. Field studies revealed that the ratio of eggs and adult females on upper leaf surfaces were larger for shaded than for sunny leaves. However, 64–89% of eggs hatched successfully even on sunny upper leaf surfaces. Nutritional evaluation revealed that whether on sunny or shaded leaves, in fecundity and juvenile development P. citri reaped the fitness benefits of upper leaf surfaces. Consequently, P. citri is tolerant to UVB damage, and inhabiting the upper surfaces of shaded leaves is advantageous to this mite.     

Surface Plasmon Resonance of Au Nanoparticles Fabricated by Negative Ion Implantation and Grid Structure toward Plasmonic Applications

Optical properties of Au nanoparticle composites and a grid structure of Cu nanoparticle composite were studied. Negative ion implantation was applied to synthesize Au and Cu nanoparticles in amorphous SiO₂ and Al₂O₃. Au nanoparticles were embedded within a depth of 30 nm by 60keV Au⁻ implantation. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Au:SiO₂ and Au: Al₂O₃ composites shifted to red and to blue, respectively, compared to calculated ones by the Mie theory. Optical nonlinearity was measured with pump-probe femtosecond spectroscopy and the transient spectrum of Au: Al₂O₃ composite presented a large red shift from the SPR peak. Image mapping of far-field transmitted intensity of Cu-implanted SiO₂ with a fine grid structure drawn by laser-lithography was observed by a scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) system.     

B NMR relaxation in superconductors: YRuB2 and LuRuB2

To investigate the electronic states in YRuB₂ and LuRuB₂, we have carried out ¹¹B NMR measurements. In the normal state, the spin-lattice relaxation rates 1/T₁'s in these compounds are proportional to the temperature T. 1/T₁'s show a small coherence peak just below the superconducting transition temperature T_c and decrease exponentially well below T_c. YRuB₂ and LuRuB₂ are found to be BCS superconductors with the energy gap 2Δ(0)=3.52 k_BT_c.     

Synthesis and biological activity of (S)-2-amino-3-(2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-4-isoxazolyl)propanoic acid (TAN-950 A) derivatives.

(S)-2-Amino-3-(2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-4-isoxazolyl)propanoic acid (TAN-950 A (1)) is a novel amino acid antibiotic which shows a high affinity for glutamate receptors of the central nervous system. To improve the affinity for glutamate receptors, the structure-activity relationships of TAN-950 A derivatives 6a--o, 15a--o were investigated. Optically active TAN-950 A analogs 15a--h were synthesized starting with methyl (S)- and (R)-N-Boc-pyroglutamate (8) via acylation at the C-4 position followed by isoxazolone formation with hydroxylamine and subsequent deprotection reactions. The lactam 16, prepared from (RS)-aminoadipic acid, and dimethyl esters 19 of (R)- and (S)-aspartic acid were converted to (RS)-3-methyl-homo-TAN-950 A (15i) and optically active nor-TAN-950 A derivatives 15j--o, respectively, utilizing a similar sequence of reactions. Most of TAN-950 A derivatives 6a--o, 15a--o showed an affinity for glutamate receptors. The 3-alkyl derivatives 15b, d--g, especially, showed a high affinity for the quisqualate subtype-receptor and had a strong activating effect on the hippocampal neurons (glutamate agonistic activity). The (R)-enantiomer 15a of TAN-950 A had increased selectivity for the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype-receptor. This selectivity was further enhanced by removal of the methylene group in the amino acid moiety of 15a. The most potent and selective NMDA agonistic activity was observed with (R)-3-methyl-nor-TAN-950 A (15m).     

Cu NMR study of the superconducting thiospinel Cu1.5Rh1.5S4

The ⁶³Cu NMR Knight shift K and spin-lattice relaxation rate 1/T₁ have been measured to study the thiospinel superconductor Cu_1.5Rh_1.5S₄ from a microscopic viewpoint. K is negative and has a weak dependence on temperature, and the hyperfine coupling constant H_hf^d is estimated to be −52.4 kOe/μ_B. 1/T₁ is proportional to the temperature in the normal state. In the superconducting state, 1/T₁ takes a coherence peak just below T_c, and decreases exponentially well below T_c, from whose temperature dependence the superconducting energy gap has been proved to be close to 2Δ = 3.52k_BT_c given by the BCS theory.     

Three-directional structural characterization of hexagonal packed nanoparticles by hexagonal digital moiré method

We present the hexagonal digital moiré method for three-directional structural characterization of hexagonal packed nanostructures. A mismatch between a three-way grating and a nanoparticle assembly is shown to produce hexagonal moiré fringes due to the interference between three groups of parallel moiré patterns. The measuring principles of the pitches and the orientations of the three 1D arrays of the nanoparticles are presented. The structural information on a silica nanoparticle assembly is analyzed.