Competitive Assay for Theophylline Based on an Abasic Site‐Containing DNA Duplex Aptamer and a Fluorescent Ligand

A fluorescence assay for theophylline, one of the common drugs for acute and chronic asthmatic conditions, has been developed based on an abasic site‐containing DNA duplex aptamer (AP aptamer) in combination with an abasic site‐binding fluorescent ligand, riboflavin. The assay is based on the competitive binding of theophylline and riboflavin at the abasic (AP) site of the AP aptamer. In the absence of theophylline, riboflavin binds to the receptor nucleotide opposite the AP site, which leads to fluorescence quenching of the riboflavin. Upon addition of theophylline, competitive binding occurs between theophylline and riboflavin, which results in an effective fluorescence restoration due to release of riboflavin from the AP site. From an examination of the optimization of the AP aptamers, the complex of riboflavin with a 23‐mer AP aptamer (5′‐TCT GCG TCC AGX GCA ACG CAC AC‐3′/5′‐GTG TGC GTT GCC CTG GAC GCA GA‐3′; X : the AP site (Spacer C3, a propylene residue)) possessing cytosine as a receptor nucleotide was found to show a selective and effective fluorescence response to theophylline; the limit of detection for theophylline was 1.1 μM . Furthermore, fluorescence detection of theophylline was successfully demonstrated with high selectivity in serum samples by using the optimized AP aptamer and riboflavin.     

Phase Separation in Methylsiloxane Sol-Gel Systems in a Small Confined Space

The organo-siloxane gel with co-continuous structure derived from methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS) was synthesized in a confined space between parallel plates by inducing spinodal decomposition during sol-gel transition. The resultant gel morphology was 3-dimensionally observed by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM). The sliced LSCM photographs revealed that the confined gels have inhomogeneity perpendicular to the plate, exhibiting a layered structure. The layered structure can be divided into three regions according to their morphology; interface, near-surface layer, bulk phase. The organo-siloxane depletion layer had formed in the vicinity of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic plates, and the bulk phase had formed slight away from the plates exhibited co-continuous structure. In addition, the confined gels exhibited no shrinkage during drying process that resulted in the larger domain size compared to the monolithic gel. The attractive interaction between the plates and the resultant organo-siloxane phase accounts for the inhibition of shrinkage of confined gels.     

InBr3-catalyzed reduction of ketones with a hydrosilane: deoxygenation of aromatic ketones and selective synthesis of secondary alcohols and symmetrical ethers from aliphatic ketones

An InBr₃-Et₃SiH reducing system was developed to selectively convert aliphatic ketones to a variety of secondary alcohols in moderate to good yields. An initial mixing of InBr₃ and PhSiH₃ was followed by the addition of aliphatic ketones and a solvent to afford the symmetrical ether derivatives.     

Oscillations of nonlinear hyperbolic equations with functional arguments via Riccati method

This paper is devoted to the study of the oscillatory behavior of solutions of nonlinear hyperbolic equations with functional arguments by using integral averaging method and a generalized Riccati technique. First, we establish oscillation results for nonlinear hyperbolic equations by applying oscillation criteria for Riccati inequality. Secondly, we present interval oscillation results for nonlinear hyperbolic equations. These results improve and extend oscillation results of Cui and Xu [1].     

Low-frequency and high-frequency relaxations in dynamic electric birefringence of poly(γ-benzyl-L-glutamate) in m-cresol

The dc component Δn of the electric birefringence of poly(γ-benzyl-L -glutamate) in m-cresol is measured under an ac electric field at frequencies from 0.5 Hz to 200 kHz for solutions covering the dilute and semidilute regions. The dispersion curve indicates that at low frequencies Δn decreases with increasing frequency (low-frequency relaxation). For high-molecular-weight polymers at high concentration, Δn becomes negative at high frequency and its absolute value decreases with further increase in frequency (high-frequency relaxation). A unified theory for the two relaxations is developed on the basis of a model in which, in the semidilute regime, the rodlike polymer is confined in a cage formed by neighboring polymers and the lifetime of the cage lies between relaxation times of the two relaxations. The low-frequency relaxation is ascribed to end-over-end rotation of the polymer and the high-frequency relaxation to the rotation within a limited angle in the cage. The dependences of relaxation parameters on polymer concentration and molecular weight are reasonably explained by the theory.     

Sulfur-containing polymers. IV. Preparation and properties of poly(sulfenyl thiocarbonates)

Poly(sulfenyl thiocarbonates) have been prepared for the first time by the stepwise condensation of chlorocarbonylsulfenyl chloride with diols and dithiols. The polymers were obtained in high yield. Generally they were crystalline solids and were soluble in chlorinated hydrocarbons. On treatment with benzyl mercaptan in the presence of triethylamine, the polymers afforded a diol, carbonyl sulfide, and a disulfide compound. This reaction was extended to the preparation of alternating copolydisulfides.     

Bounds on mass transport of flow on an inclined plate

Zusammenfassung In der vorliegenden Arbeit wird das Variationsproblem, welches die Schranken für den Durchfluss in turbulenter Strömung auf einer geneigten Platte bestimmt, nach Busse [2] abgeleitet. Es wird die symmetrische Natur der Lösung des Variationsproblems für die ebene Poiseuille-Strömung geprüft. Dies zeigt einerseits Ähnlichkeit und andrerseits Unterschiede zwischen dem Problem der ebenen Poiseuille-Strömung und der Strömung auf einer geneigten Platte.