STRUCTURAL ELUCIDATION OF THE 8-METHOXYPSORALEN OXIDIZED PRODUCT THAT INHIBITS THE CHEMOTACTIC ACTIVITY OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR NEUTROPHILS TOWARD ANAPHYLATOXIN C5a

The chemical structure of the 8-methoxypsoralen oxidized product that inhibits the chemotactic activity of anaphylatoxin C5a was determined to be 2,3-dihydro-2,9-dimethoxy-3-hydroxy-7-oxo-7H-furo[3,2-g] [1]benzopyran. Its minimal concentration required to obtain the maximum inhibition of C5a des Arg (1 x 10(-8) M) chemotactic activity is 2.5 x 10(-8) M. Bioactivity of this substance was maintained for 2 weeks, stored in a dark room at room temperature under aerobic conditions. There is a possibility that this substance may be useful in the treatment of immune complex diseases.     

Spin-tensor decomposition of effective interactions for 0p shell nuclei

The spin-tensor decomposition of effective interactions is carried out in the 0p shell region. As effective interactions, we adopt two different types: one is the Cohen-Kurath interaction and the other is the Hauge-Maripuu interaction. Non-central components of these interactions have natures different to each other. Moreover, it is shown that different kinds of mechanism for determining the energy levels occur in the Cohen-Kurath and Hauge-Maripuu calculations.     

Far infrared reflection spectra of layered semiconductors

Far infrared reflection and Raman spectra of InSe were measured at 5, 77 and 300 K. Phonon frequencies obtained by reflection spectra were well explained by two-point phonon combination. The crystal structure of-type was confirmed at low temperature. Ion blocking analysis supported also no change of phase by temperature in this semiconductor.     

Response functions for cosmic-ray muons at various depths underground

Summary Response functions for underground muons are obtained by solving numerically the equations of hadronic cascades in the atmosphere, by assuming Feynman scaling for hadronic interactions over the whole energy region. For practical use of the response functions in cosmic-ray modulation study, calculations are made for various combinations of parameters such as zenith angle, atmospheric depth and muon threshold energy. The present response functions are consistent with cosmic-ray measurements and can be well utilized for the study on the cosmic-ray modulation.

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Riassunto Si ottengono funzioni di risposta per muoni sotterranei risolvendo numericamente le equazioni per le cascate adroniche nell'atmosfera, assumendo lo scaling di Feynman per interazioni adroniche nell'intera regione di energia. Per l'uso pratico di funzioni di risposta nello studio di modulazione dei raggi cosmici, si fanno calcoli per varie combicazioni di parametri come l'angolo di zenit, la profondità atmosferica e l'energia muonica di soglia. Le attuali funzioni di risposta sono coerenti con le misurazioni dei raggi cosmici e possono essere bene utilizzate per lo studio della modulazione dei raggi cosmici.

     

Determination and correlation of binary vapor-liquid equilibrium data

The Chao modification of the Redlich-Kister equation for correlating liquid activity coefficients is further modified to facilitate the evaluation of the constants. The determination of liquid activity coefficients at infinite dilutions by means of an ebulliometer with the consideration of vapor hold-up in the condenser is proposed. Both of these proposals are equally applicable to isothermal data and to isobaric data.For the purpose of illustration, vapor-liquid equilibrium data for the binary system acetone-methanol together with the azeotropic point and the liquid activity coefficients at infinite dilutions were determined at 760 Torr. The validity of the correlated data was confirmed with the enthalpies of mixing data at saturation, available in the literature.     

A convenient synthesis and structure of stabilized ylide complexes of palladium(II)

New types of some carbonyl- and cyano-phosphonium ylide complexes of palladium(II) were readily prepared in good yield by treatment of the corresponding bis(phosphonium)hexachlorodipalladate, [R₃P⁺-CH₂-Z]₂[Pd₂Cl₆]^2? (R₃P = Ph₃P, Z = COMe, COOEt, CONH₂ or CN; R₃P = PhMe₂P, Z = COPh), with sodium acetate.     

Glycoinsulins: dendritic sialyloligosaccharide-displaying insulins showing a prolonged blood-sugar-lowering activity

Mono-, di-, and trisialyloligosaccharides were introduced to mutant insulins through enzymatic reactions. Sugar chains were sialylated by alpha2,6-sialyltransferase (alpha2,6-SiaT) via an accessible glutamine residue at the N-terminus of the B-chain attached by transglutaminase (TGase). Sia2,6-di-LacNAc-Ins(B-F1Q) and Sia2,6-tri-LacNAc-Ins(B-F1Q), displaying two and three sialyl-N-acetyllactosamines, respectively, were administered to hyperglycemic mice. Both branched glycoinsulins showed prolonged glucose-lowering effects compared to native or lactose-carrying insulins, showing that sialic acid is important in obtaining a prolonged effect. Sia2,6-tri-LacNAc-Ins(B-F1Q), in particular, induced a significant delay in the recovery of glucose levels.