Photoreversible supramolecular polymer formation

Particle sizes of a supramolecular polymer composed of diarylethene having two quadruple hydrogen bonding moieties were changed photoreversibly.     

On a unified double zeta function of Mordell–Tornheim type*

Lithuanian Mathematical Journal - We introduce a double zeta function of Mordell–Tornheim type and compute its values at nonpositive integer points. We then discuss a possible generalization...     

Synthesis of Hydrotalcite from Seawater and Its Application to Phosphorus Removal

10.0 wt% milk of lime was added to seawater containing AlCl 3 at Mg/Al molar ratio of 3.0 until pH 10.5 with stirring, and kept at 25;C for 1 h. Hydrotalcite (HT) was precipitated as a single phase, and Mg 2+ and Al 3+ were quantitatively precipitated. The chemical composition was [Mg 0.75 Al 0.25 (OH) 2 ][(SO 4 ) 0.06 (Cl) 0.02 (OH) 0.11 *];0.27H 2 O* (*Balance). A 100 mg-P/L Na 2 HPO 4 solution and the HT were shaken at 25;C. Phosphate removal increased with increasing time and the HT quantity, and was the highest at pH 7-9. Phosphate ion could be quantitatively removed, adding 8 times the stoichiometric quantity of the HT at pH 8.7 for 6 h.     

Preparation of Mg–Al layered double hydroxides intercalated with 1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonate and 3-amino-2,7-naphthalenedisulfonate and assessment of their selective uptake of aromatic compounds from aqueous solutions

Mg–Al layered double hydroxides (Mg–Al LDHs) intercalated with 1,3,6-naphthalenetrisulfonate (NTS^3?) and 3-amino-2,7-naphthalenedisulfonate (ANDS^2?) ions were prepared by coprecipitation and were characterized by X-ray diffraction and chemical analyses. Based on X-ray diffraction patterns, the naphthalene rings of NTS^3? and ANDS^2? were most likely oriented parallel to the brucite-like host layers of the Mg–Al LDH, midway between layers. The prepared Mg–Al LDHs were able to selectively take up aromatics from aqueous solutions, and the order of percentage uptake was as follows: 1,3-dinitrobenzene > nitrobenzene > benzaldehyde > N,N-dimethylaniline > anisole > 1,2-dimethoxybenzene. The differences in the extent of π–π stacking interactions occurring between the benzene rings of the aromatics and the naphthalene ring of the intercalated NTS^3? and ANDS^2? probably resulted in these differences among the absorbed quantities of the various aromatics.     

Rapid detection of nivalenol and deoxynivalenol in wheat using surface plasmon resonance immunoassay

A surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunoassay using a monoclonal antibody was developed to measure nivalenol (NIV) and deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination in wheat. A highly sensitive and stable DON-immobilized sensor chip was prepared, and an SPR detection procedure was developed. The competitive inhibition assay used a monoclonal antibody that cross-reacts with NIV and DON. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of the SPR assay were 28.8 and 14.9 ng mL⁻¹ for NIV and DON, respectively. The combined responses of NIV and DON in wheat were obtained using a simultaneous detection assay in a one-step cleanup procedure. NIV and DON were separated using a commercial DON-specific immunoaffinity column (IAC) and their responses were obtained using an independent detection assay. Spiked tests using these toxins revealed that recoveries were in the range 91.5-107% with good relative standard deviations (RSDs) (0.40-4.1%) and that detection limits were 0.1 and 0.05 mg kg⁻¹ for NIV and DON, respectively. The independent detection using IAC showed detection limits of 0.2 and 0.1 mg kg⁻¹ for NIV and DON, respectively. SPR analysis results were correlated with those obtained using a conventional LC/MS/MS method for wheat co-contaminated with NIV and DON. These results suggested that the developed SPR assay is a practical method to rapidly screen the NIV and DON co-contamination of wheat and one of a very few immunoassays to detect NIV directly.     

Constituents of Caesalpinia crista from Indonesia

Ten new furanocassane-type diterpenes named, caesalpinins H-P (1-9) and norcaesalpinin F (10), were isolated from the CH(2)Cl(2) extract of the seed kernels of Caesalpinia crista, together with 13 known diterpenes. Their structures were determined based on the spectroscopic analysis. Among the isolated compounds, caesalpinin N (7) represents the first example of furanocassane-type diterpene possessing an aldehyde group at C-14.     

Intravenous administration of mesenchymal stem cells exerts therapeutic effects on parkinsonian model of rats: Focusing on neuroprotective effects of stromal cell-derived factor-1α

Background

Junctional adhesion molecule-A (JAM-A) is an adhesive protein expressed in various cell types. JAM-A localizes to the tight junctions between contacting endothelial and epithelial cells, where it contributes to cell-cell adhesion and to the control of paracellular permeability.

Results

So far, the expression pattern of JAM-A has not been described in detail for the different cell types of the adult brain. Here we show that a subset of proliferating cells in the adult mouse brain express JAM-A. We further clarify that these cells belong to the lineage of NG2-glia cells. Although these mitotic NG2-glia cells express JAM-A, the protein never shows a polarized subcellular distribution. Also non-mitotic NG2-glia cells express JAM-A in a non-polarized pattern on their surface.

Conclusions

Our data show that JAM-A is a novel surface marker for NG2-glia cells of the adult brain.     

Material design for magnesium alloys with high deformability

Magnesium alloys are very promising structural material, especially because of their low density, but their poor deformability at room temperature is making their commercial application impractical. Some alloying elements have been shown to improve the ductility dramatically, and a search for the yet better alloying elements is now a pressing task. In this study, we investigated the effects of several alloying elements on the mechanical and deformation behaviour of magnesium alloys using both first-principles calculations as well as experiments. The first-principles calculations indicate that the influential key factor for the activation of non-basal slips is the electronegativity and atomic radius. The experimental result proves that the alloys with a similar electronegativity as magnesium and a little larger atomic radius than that of magnesium, such as Ca, Sr and some rare earth elements, show superior ductility due to activation of non-basal dislocation slips. These results propose a promising design principle for the alloys with the improved deformability at room temperature ranges.     

Effects of fullerene encapsulation on structure and photophysical properties of porphyrin-linked single-walled carbon nanotubes

Fullerene-encapsulating single-walled carbon nanotubes (C(60)@SWNT) linked with porphyrins by a short bridge have been prepared for the first time. Steady state and time-resolved spectroscopies demonstrated the initial formation of an exciplex state, followed by a charge-separated state.