Screening of cosmological constant for de Sitter Universe in non-local gravity,phantom-divide crossing and finite-time future singularities

We investigate de Sitter solutions in non-local gravity as well as in non-local gravity with Lagrange constraint multiplier. We examine a condition to avoid a ghost and discuss a screening scenario for a cosmological constant in de Sitter solutions. Furthermore, we explicitly demonstrate that three types of the finite-time future singularities can occur in non-local gravity and explore their properties. In addition, we evaluate the effective equation of state for the universe and show that the late-time accelerating universe may be effectively the quintessence, cosmological constant or phantom-like phases. In particular, it is found that there is a case in which a crossing of the phantom divide from the non-phantom (quintessence) phase to the phantom one can be realized when a finite-time future singularity occurs. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the addition of an R ² term can cure the finite-time future singularities in non-local gravity. It is also suggested that in the framework of non-local gravity, adding an R ² term leads to possible unification of the early-time inflation with the late-time cosmic acceleration.     

Enzyme display technology for lignocellulosic biomass valorization by yeast cell factories

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Analysis of long-chain polyprenols using supercritical fluid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The separation of long-chain polyprenols was successfully achieved using supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC). Each 100-mer greater component was separated using tetrahydrofuran as a mobile phase modifier. The molecular mass distributions derived from SFC analyses agreed with the results of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analyses. The number-average molecular mass calculated by MALDI-TOF-MS data were also in accord with the results of quantitative 1H-NMR analysis of terminal groups. A combination of SFC and MALDI-TOF-MS analyses is a powerful tool for the elucidation of the complicated structures of natural polyprenols.     

Voltammetric sensing of sugar by an electrode covered with wheat germ agglutinin/chitin film

The binding between wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) and N-acetylglucosamine at the electrode covered with chitin film was investigated with voltammetry. Chitin, β-1,4-poly-N-acetylglucosamine, is one of the biolpolymers which have a high biocompatibility. WGA is immobilized to the surface of chitin film by the affinity of WGA to N-acetylglucosamine residue of chitin. To investigate the binding event of WGA on the chitin modified electrode, N-acetylglucosamine labeled with an electroactive compound was prepared. The binding causes the changes in the electrode response of labeled sugar. The peak current of labeled sugar decreased due to the specific binding with WGA on the chitin film modified at the electrode. N-Acetylglucosamine was successfully determined by using the competitive reaction with labeled sugar to WGA on the chitin film electrode.     

Micro-flow injection system for the urinary protein assay

A urinary protein assay has been investigated, employing a micro-flow injection analysis (μFIA) combined with an adsorptive separation of protein from analyte. The adsorptive separation part of protein in the artificial urine with ceramic hydroxyapatite is integrated on the μFIA chip, since the interference of other components coexisting in urine occurs in the conventional FIA system. The typical FI peak can be obtained following the adsorption–elution process of the protein prior to the detection, and the protein concentration in artificial urine can be quantitatively determined.     

Multiplexed assay for proteins based on sequestration electrochemistry using the protein binding electroactive magnetic microbeads

The paramagnetic microbead-based electrochemical binding assay was demonstrated for detecting two kinds of protein simultaneously. The principle of this assay is based on the sequestration electrochemistry. The protein binding electroactive magnetic microbeads which are conjugated with an electroactive compound and a ligand to bind specifically with a target protein were prepared. The avidin-biotin and soybean agglutinin (SBA)-galactosamine were chosen as model protein-ligand systems. The avidin binding electroactive magnetic microbead (ABEMMb) and SBA binding electroactive magnetic microbead (SBEMMb) are constructed by biotin/thionine and galactosamine/ferrocene modified on paramagnetic microbeads. The voltammetric response for these functionalized microbeads was measured by the Nd-Fe-B magnet-incorporating carbon paste rotating disk electrode. The measurements were performed in a microliter droplet using a rotating disk electrode system. Avidin and SBA were simultaneously detected by the decrease in the current responses from the reduction of ABEMMb and SBEMMb that was caused by the binding with target proteins. The limits of detection for avidin and SBA were 4 × 10(-10) and 2 × 10(-10) M, respectively.     

Voltammetric detection of ovalbumin using a peptide labeled with an electroactive compound

For this study, a new method was developed to electrochemically detect ovalbumin via its binding with the peptide-1(RNRCKGTDVQAW) in lysozymes. The peptide that exists at the C-terminal of a lysozyme was combined with ovalbumin. When an electroactive compound was introduced to the N-terminal side of the peptide through ethylene gycolbis(sulfosuccinimidyl succinate), the labeled peptide-1 served as a probe for the detection of ovalbumin. The electrode responses of labeled peptide-1 were measured after the labeled peptide-1 and ovalbumin were incubated in a 0.1 M phosphate buffer (pH 5.6). As a result, the electrode response decreased as the concentration of ovalbumin increased. The detection limit of ovalbumin was 2.3 × 10⁻¹¹ M as estimated at 3-fold the standard deviation (3σ) (n = 5). Because the steric structure of the peptide and some of the amino acid residues were related to the binding, we prepared a peptide-2, to which the N- and C-terminals of peptide-1 were alternated. The decrease in the response for the labeled peptide-2 was less than that for the labeled peptide-1. In addition, the peak current of a peptide-3, for which the D of peptide-1 was replaced with S, was hardly changed with or without ovalbumin. Therefore, it was clear that the binding was influenced by the steric factors and by the sequence of the peptide. However, a peptide-1 with bis(sulfosuccinimidyl) suberate was designed to investigate the hydrophobic influences on the probe. The change in the peak current was smaller than that of peptide-1 with ethylene gycolbis(sulfosuccinimidyl succinate), which was due to the hydrophobic properties of the alkyl chain between the peptide and the ovalbumin. The proposed method could be applied to the determination of ovalbumin in egg whites. Consequently, the concept becomes an electrochemical sensing method for proteins based on the protein–peptide interaction.     

Intramolecular Cyclization of 1-Benzyl-2-(nitromethylene)pyrrolidines in Triflic Acid

1-Benzyl-2-(nitromethylene)pyrrolidines in triflic acid undergo intramolecular cyclization to afford the corresponding 2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinolinium triflates and/or 10-amino-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinolinium triflates, depending on the nature of the aromatic substituent. Structures of products and reaction mechanisms are discussed.     

Metabolic profiling of urine and blood plasma in rat models of drug addiction on the basis of morphine,methamphetamine, and cocaine-induced conditioned place preference

The metabolic profiles of urine and blood plasma in drug-addicted rat models based on morphine (MOR), methamphetamine (MA), and cocaine (COC)-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) were investigated. Rewarding effects induced by each drug were assessed by use of the CPP model. A mass spectrometry (MS)-based metabolomics approach was applied to urine and plasma of MOR, MA, and COC-addicted rats. In total, 57 metabolites in plasma and 70 metabolites in urine were identified by gas chromatography–MS. The metabolomics approach revealed that amounts of some metabolites, including tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, significantly changed in the urine of MOR-addicted rats. This result indicated that disruption of energy metabolism is deeply relevant to MOR addiction. In addition, 3-hydroxybutyric acid, l-tryptophan, cystine, and n-propylamine levels were significantly changed in the plasma of MOR-addicted rats. Lactose, spermidine, and stearic acid levels were significantly changed in the urine of MA-addicted rats. Threonine, cystine, and spermidine levels were significantly increased in the plasma of COC-addicted rats. In conclusion, differences in the metabolic profiles were suggestive of different biological states of MOR, MA, and COC addiction; these may be attributed to the different actions of the drugs on the brain reward circuitry and the resulting adaptation. In addition, the results showed possibility of predict the extent of MOR addiction by metabolic profiling. This is the first study to apply metabolomics to CPP models of drug addiction, and we demonstrated that metabolomics can be a multilateral approach to investigating the mechanism of drug addiction.