Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopic and scanning near-field optical microscopic studies of rhodamine dye adsorbed in cationic Langmuir-Blodgett films

The fluorescence lifetimes decays and picosecond time-resolved fluorescence spectra were measured to investigate the dynamics of the excited state of sulforhodamine B (SRB) molecules adsorbed in the mono- and multilayered Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films of octadecylamine. Steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy reveals that the fluorescence lifetimes and contents of the monomer and dimers in the molecular organizates depend upon the concentration of the dye in the solution and the adsorption process. SRB dye molecules adsorbed in LB films have been imaged with scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). This information is exploited to map the distribution with molecular spatial resolution. SNOM provide the visual evidence of the monomers and dimers of SRB in cationic LB films.     

Prompt Gamma-Ray Analysis of Rats

Prompt -ray analysis with the internal monostandard method was used to organs taken from rats. After B or Cd was administered, the B/H and Cd/H contents ratios were determined in the brain, kidney, and liver to study their distribution and metabolism. Boron was distributed in all organs but metabolized quickly. Cd was slowly accumulated in the liver and kidneys during the 65 hours studied but no Cd was detected in the brain.     

The interface of the Ising model and the Brownian sheet

We study the limit theorem related to the interface of the three-dimensional Ising model. Dobrushin proved that the interface does not fluctuate and becomes rigid for sufficiently large. We define the random fieldX ^L (t, s), 0t, s1, on the interface, and prove that X^L(t, s) converges to the Brownian sheet as L for sufficiently large, whereL denotes the size of the system. This result does not mean that the interface itself converges to the Brownian sheet.     

Core-shell type polymer microspheres prepared by domain fixing of block copolymer films

Well-defined poly[styrene(S)-b-isoprene(I)] diblock copolymers were prepared by sequential anionic addition. The crosslinking reactions of polyisoprene (PI) spherical domains of these block copolymers were carried out in a n-hexane solution of sulfur monochloride (S₂Cl₂). Electron micrograph of crosslinked products indicates the structure of core-shell type polymer microspheres. It is found from NMR and turbi+imetric measurements that the solubility of core-shell type polymer microspheres depends strongly on that of block chains comprising the shell portion. The particle size of these microspheres shows a narrow distribution.     

Combinatorial synthesis of MUC1 glycopeptides: polymer blotting facilitates chemical and enzymatic synthesis of highly complicated mucin glycopeptides

The chemoselective polymer blotting method allows for rapid and efficient synthesis of glycopeptides based on a "catch and release" strategy between solid-phase and water-soluble polymer supports. We have developed a heterobifunctional linker sensitive to glutamic acid specific protease (BLase). The general procedure consists of five steps, namely (i) the solid-phase synthesis of glycopeptide containing BLase sensitive linker, (ii) subsequent deprotections and the release of the glycopeptide from the resin, (iii) chemoselective blotting of the glycopeptide intermediates in the presence of water-soluble polymers with oxylamino functional groups, (iv) sugar elongations using glycosyltransferases, and (v) the release of target glycopeptides from the polymer platform by selective BLase promoted hydrolysis. The combined use of the solid-phase chemical syntheses of peptides and the enzymatic syntheses of carbohydrates on water-soluble polymers would greatly contribute to the production of complicated glycopeptide libraries, thereby enhancing applicative research. We report here a high-throughput synthetic system for the various types of MUC1 glycopeptides exhibiting a variety of sugar moieties. It is our belief that this concept will become part of the entrenched repertoire for the synthesis of biologically important glycopeptides on the basis of glycosyltransferase reactions in automated and combinatorial syntheses.     

Fluorometric sensing of alkaline Earth metal cations by new lariat ethers having plural pyrenylmethyl groups on the electron-donating sidearms

[structure: see text] New fluorescent compounds (1), lariat ethers having plural pyrenylmethyl groups on the sidearms, were prepared, and their complexation behavior with alkaline earth metal cations was examined by fluorescence spectrometry. The pyrene excimer emission decreased accompanied with an increase in the monomer emission upon complexation with the metal ion. This finding is ascribed to the cooperative participation of one of the two sidearms in the complexation of the crown ring with the metal ion.     

Effects of various thiol molecules added on morphology of dendrimer-gold nanocomposites

Interactions between poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM)-gold nanocomposites and alkanethiols and between the former nanocomposites and thiol-modified poly(amidoamine) dendrons in ethyl acetate were investigated by adding alkanethiols, such as 1-propanethiol and 1,3-propanedithiol, and thiol-modified poly(amidoamine) dendrons, generations 0.5 and 2.5 (G0.5-SH and G2.5-SH). The PAMAM dendrimers with surface methyl ester groups used were generations 1.5 and 5.5 (G1.5 and G5.5). The mean particle sizes of PAMAM-gold nanocomposites were about 2.1 for G1.5 and 2.4 nm for G5.5. In both nanocomposite systems where 1-propanethiol and 1,3-propanedithiol were added, the mean particle size was about 4 nm, twice that of the systems where these thiols were not added. Increasing the addition of 1,3-propanedithiol made the average particle size smaller for both nanocomposites systems. To compare with alkanethiol, thiol-modified poly(amidoamine) dendron with a highly branched structure on one side was synthesized. Using G2.5-SH as a protective agent, dendron-gold nanocomposites with mean diameters of 3 to 4 nm were obtained. The difference in particle size was seen only when the combination of PAMAM-gold nanocomposites and thiol-modified dendron was less sterically dense, modified dendron (G0.5-SH). The mechanisms for morphology changes in the dendrimer-gold nanocomposites by the addition of these thiols are discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(ethylene oxide) star polymers possessing a tertiary amino group at each arm end by organized polymerization using macromonomers

Functional poly(ethylene oxide) star polymers possessing a tertiary amino group at each arm end were prepared by free-radical copolymerization of poly(ethylene oxide) macromonomers with divinylbenzene (DVB) in water or ethanol. The poly(ethylene oxide) arm was prepared by anionic polymerization using 2-[2-(N,N-dimethylamino)ethoxy]ethanol potassium alkoxide as the initiator. The star polymers had narrow molecular weight distribution. The arm number was controlled by varying the feed ratio [DVB]/[M], the initial concentration of macromonomer [M], and solvent media. The branching factor g' in methanol ([eta]S/[eta]L are the intrinsic viscosities of the star and linear molecules, respectively) exhibited a power-law dependence on the arm number, f, with a negative exponent. This means that the dimensions of a star were in agreement with the Daoud-Cotton scaling model.     

Significance of anti-HBc IgM in acute hepatitis and hepatitis B associated chronic liver disease

To determine the diagnostic value of anti-HBc IgM in acute viral hepatitis or chronic liver disease B, Anti-HBc IgM was measured by a RIA and an ELISA in 32 patients with acute hepatitis (4 with type A, 15 with type B and 13 with type non A non B), 18 patients with chronic hepatitis and 19 patients with liver cirrhosis. In acute hepatitis B, anti-HBc IgM (both RIA and ELISA) was positive in 14(93%) of 15 patients and its cut-off index value was very high. However, anti-HBc IgM was always negative in one patient with typical course of type B. In 1 of 4 patients with acute hepatitis A and 2 of 13 with non A non B, anti-HBc IgM (RIA and/or ELISA) was positive. These 3 patients were positive for anti-HBs at the onset of disease, so we could not made the diagnosis of acute hepatitis B. Anti-HBc IgM was positive in 21(51%) of 37 patients with HBsAg-positive chronic liver disease by RIA and in 11 (30%) by ELISA, and its cut-off index value was relatively low. These results suggest that when adequate cut-off index value is established, anti-HBc analysis is useful for differentiating recent and current infections from remote infections.