Neutron activation analysis of ivory of African elephants

Instrumental neutron activation analysis was applied to 61 ivory samples of which origin countries are known. 12 elements such as Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cs, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Sc, Sr and Zn, were determined in all samples. The factor score of each sample was calculated for each factor by making use of principal component analysis in order to determine their origins. The results were compared with those by stable isotope analysis (¹³C and¹⁵N).     

Adjacent- versus remote-site electron injection in TiO2 surfaces modified with binuclear ruthenium complexes

Nanocrystalline thin films of TiO2 cast on an optically transparent indium tin oxide glass were sensitized with ruthenium homo- and heterobinuclear complexes, [LL'Ru(BL)RuLL']n+ (n = 2, 3), where L and L' are 4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine (dcb) and/or 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and BL is a rigid and linear heteroaromatic entity (tetrapyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c:3",2"-h:2'",3'"-j]phenazine (tpphz) or 1,4-bis([1,10]phenanthroline[5,6-d]imidazol-2-yl)benzene (bfimbz)). The photophysical behavior of the RuII-RuII diads in solution indicated the occurrence of intercomponent energy transfer from the upper-lying Ru --> bpy charge-transfer (CT) excited state of the Ru(bpy)(2) moiety to the lower-lying Ru --> dcb CT excited state of the Ru(bpy)(dcb) (or Ru(dcb)(2)) subunit in the heterobinuclear complexes. These sensitizer diads adsorbed on nanostructured TiO2 surfaces in a perpendicular or parallel attachment mode. Adsorption was through the dcb ligands on one or both chromophoric subunits. The behavior of the adsorbed species was studied by nanosecond time-resolved transient absorption and emission spectroscopy, as well as by photocurrent measurements. In the TiO2-adsorbed samples where BL was bfimbz, the electron injection kinetics was very fast and could not be resolved because an electron is promoted from the metal center to the dcb ligand directly linked to the semiconductor. In the TiO2-adsorbed samples where BL was tpphz, for which, in the excited state, a BL localization of the lowest-lying metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) is observed, slower injection rates (9.5 x 10(7) s(-1) in [(bpy)(2)Ru(tpphz)Ru(bpy)(dcb(-))](3+)/TiO2 and 5.5 x 10(7) s(-1) in [(bpy)(dcb)Ru(tpphz)Ru(bpy)(dcb(-))](3+)/TiO2) were obtained. Among the systems, the heterotriad assembly [(bpy)(2)Ru(bfimbz)Ru(bpy)(dcb(2-))](2+)/TiO2 gave the best photovoltaic performance. In the first case, this was attributed to a fast electron injection initiated from a dcb-localized MLCT; in the second case, this is attributed to improved molecular orientation on the surface, which was due to rigidity and, at the same time, linearity of the heterotriad system, resulting in a slower charge recombination between the injected electron and the hole.     

Atmospheric concentration of 210Pb and 7Be at Sarufutsu, Hokkaido, Japan

The atmospheric concentration of ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be was observed at Sarufutsu on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsuk in Hokkaido, Japan. Measurements were carried out during the period from February to August, 2001. The atmospheric concentrations of ²¹⁰Pb and ⁷Be ranged from 0.2 to 2.5 mBq/m³ and from 0.0 to 4.2 mBq/m³, respectively. The seasonal variation pattern of the atmospheric concentration of ²¹⁰Pb indicated that the air mass from Chinese Continent reached the coast of the Sea of Okhotsuk.     

New picrotoxane terpenoids from Picrodendron baccatum

Two new picrotoxane norditerpenoid lactones, picrodendrins X (1) and Y (2), and four new picrotoxane sesquiterpenoid lactones, picrodendrins Z (3), α (4), β (5) and picrodendrioside A (6) were isolated from the bark and leaves of Picrodendron baccatum. Their structures were determined by spectral analysis and X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

VACUUM-ULTRAVIOLET PHOTOACOUSTIC SPECTROSCOPY OF BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS USING SYNCHROTRON RADIATION AS A LIGHT SOURCE

Abstract— Photoacoustic measurements of biological materials such as DNA, lysozyme, squalene and yeast cells were performed for the first time in the vacuum-UV region above 150 nm using the gas-microphone technique and synchrotron radiation as a light source. The samples studied were in a form of thin film supported on a self-supporting collodion film. The results obtained for the phase of the photoacoustic signal were found consistent with the predictions from the simple one-dimensional theory. The signal amplitudes obtained as a function of the incident wavelength were interpreted as giving the absorptance (the fraction of the incident photon energy dissipated in the sample) spectrum.     

The Christiansen effect of brightly colored colloidal dispersion with an amphiphilic polymer

A novel coloration phenomenon in a colloidal dispersion with an amphiphilic polymer was found. The dispersion consists of tetrahydrofuran (THF), an aqueous solution of sodium thiosulfate (Na(2)S(2)O(3).5H(2)O), and hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC). The dispersion was emulsified by HPC as an amphiphilic polymer, so that the aqueous phase was confined in droplets in the THF matrix. It typically appeared bluish violet at room temperature and turned into blue with increasing temperature. In this system, the refractive indices of the inside and outside of the droplet coincided at a certain wavelength at which the light passes through without scattering, which is called the Christiansen effect. The color observed was successfully simulated by Mie's scattering theory in combination with the Christiansen effect.     

The first ring inversion of pyranoses induced by bulky silyl protections at the 2- and 3-positions

The pyranose rings of the 2,3-bis-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-α- and β-d-glucopyranoses, and of the 2,3-bis-O-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-β-d-glucopyranose were in the ¹C₄ form. These findings indicate that the introduction of bulky silyl protecting groups at the 2- and 3-positions can flip a pyranose ring into the axial-rich chair form. Previous such ring inversions have been carried out by the silyl protections at the 3- and 4-positions.     

Novel immobilized zinc(II) affinity chromatography for phosphopeptides and phosphorylated proteins

Immobilized metal ion affinity chromatography (IMAC) is now a widely accepted technique for the separation of natural or artificial products that is beginning to find industrial applications. Here, we introduce a novel procedure for the separation of phosphopeptides and phosphorylated proteins by immobilized zinc(II) affinity chromatography. The phosphate-binding site of the affinity gel is an alkoxide-bridged dinuclear zinc(II) complex, the 1,3-bis[bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)amino]propan-2-olato dizinc(II) complex (Phos-tag), which is linked to a highly cross-linked 4% (w/v) agarose. The affinity gel (Phos-tag agarose) was prepared by the quantitative reaction of N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated Sepharose and a Phos-tag derivative having a 2-aminoethylcarbamoyl group in dry CH3CN. Phosphopeptides were retrieved in a quantitative and highly selective manner by a spin column method using Phos-tag agarose at room temperature. Furthermore, in this study, we demonstrate a simple, rapid, and reusable affinity column chromatography for the separation of phosphorylated proteins such as ovalbumin, alpha(s1)-casein, and beta-casein at physiological pH.     

Electrochemical synthesis of layered manganese oxides intercalated with tetraalkylammonium ions

Thin films of birnessite-type layered manganese oxides with various interlayer spacings have been prepared on a platinum electrode by a one-step electrochemical procedure. The process involves a potentiostatic oxidation of aqueous Mn(2+) ions at around +1.0 V (Ag/AgCl) in the presence of tetraalkylammonium cations with different alkyl chain lengths. X-ray diffraction indicates that the films deposited with tetrabutylammonium (TBA), tetrapropylammonium (TPA), and tetraethylammonium (TEA) ions are composed of a single phase where unhydrated tetraalkylammonium ions are accommodated as a monolayer between manganese oxide layers. The interlayer spacing of the products increases in an order of TEA < TPA < TBA. The film deposited with tetramethylammonium (TMA) is a mixture of two phases relating to hydrated and unhydrated guest cations, the former being predominant probably as a result of less hydrophobic property of TMA compared to that of other tetraalkylammonium ions. The TBA(+)-intercalated Mn oxide film-coated electrode exhibits a good charge/discharge property in a KCl solution between 0 and +0.8 V. In this case, TBA(+) ions between the Mn oxide layers are rapidly replaced with K(+) in solution by ion exchange, accompanying a shrinkage of the interlayer. The incorporated K(+) ions as well as protons play an important role in the electrochemical conversion between Mn(4+) and Mn(3+) in the oxide layer. In the TBACl solution, the interlayer TBA(+) ions can be excluded electrochemically during the positive-going scan, concomitant with the oxidation of Mn(3+) sites. This causes an anodic current and the accompanying shrinkage of the interlayer. On the reverse scan, however, the compressed interlayer does not allow the incorporation of bulky TBA(+) ions from the electrolyte, with virtually no cathodic current observed. Such an obvious difference in electrochemical behavior between the two electrolytes can be recognized by considering that most of the Mn oxide surface is present inside the layered structure, not on the external surface. This indicates that the layered structure is formed over the entire film.