Extended string field theory for massless higher-spin fields

We propose a new gauge field theory which is an extension of ordinary string field theory by assembling multiple state spaces of the bosonic string. The theory includes higher-spin fields in its massless spectrum together with the infinite tower of massive fields. From the theory, we can easily extract the minimal gauge-invariant quadratic action for tensor fields with any symmetry. As examples, we explicitly derive the gauge-invariant actions for some simple mixed symmetric tensor fields. We also construct covariantly gauge-fixed action by extending the method developed for string field theory.     

Laser Light and X-Ray Diffraction Studies of Oriented Isotactic Polypropylene (iPP) Prepared by Temperature Slope Crystallization

Isotactic polypropylene (iPP) film was melt-crystallized in a temperature gradient. The iPP film showed well oriented α- and β-crystalline textures along the gradient. The crystalline structure, phase transition boundary and lamellar twisting were examined by X-ray diffraction and laser light diffraction (LLD). On the α-β boundary, LLD shows a sharp streak perpendicular to the boundary, where the a-axis of the β-crystal is oriented perpendicular to the temperature gradient. Apart from the boundary, the a-axis of the β-crystal becomes parallel to the gradient. The β-crystal shows lamellar twisting with a pitch of 200 μm at room temperature. When heated the β-crystal, the lamellar distance of 295Å at room temperature decreases to 285Å at 80–100°C and then increases to more than 300Å above 120°C. During the heating, the value of the twist period increases from 200 to 210 μm at 90–100°C, and then to above 224 μm at 140°C. The increase of the twist period is related to the increasing crystalline thickness of the β-lamellae.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of dinaphtho[2,3-b:2′,3′-i]dihydrophenazine derivatives

A dinaphtho[2,3-b:2′,3′-i]dihydrophenazine (DNP) derivative was synthesized by Buchwald-Hartwig cross-coupling, and its electronic spectrum was compared with that of dinaphtho[b,i]dihydrophenazine-5,18-dione (DNP-dione) as an anthraquinone analog. An absorption band of DNP is attributed to extension of π-conjugation over the entire molecule via the N atom. DNP-dione showed a broad absorption band in the range 450–490?nm due to intramolecular charge-transfer interactions. Additionally, the absolute fluorescence quantum yield of DNP was larger than that of DNP-dione. DNP-dione exhibited reversible oxidation peaks and a similar oxidation potential to DNP, since there are very weak electronic interactions between the anthracene and anthraquinone units across the N atoms with the 4-octyloxyphenyl substituent.     

Design of Photostable,Activatable Near‐Infrared Photoacoustic Probes Using Tautomeric Benziphthalocyanine as a Platform

Near‐infrared (NIR) imaging techniques have attracted significant attention for biological and medicinal applications due to the ability of NIR to penetrate deeply into tissues. However, there are very few stable, activatable molecular probes that can utilize NIR light in the wavelength range beyond 800 nm. Herein, we report a new activatable NIR system for photoacoustic imaging based on tautomeric benziphthalocyanines (BPcs). We found that the existence of a free hydroxyl group is crucial for NIR absorption of BPcs. Synthesized water‐soluble hydroxy BPcs exhibited high photostability and no fluorescence, which are desirable features for photoacoustic imaging. We synthesized BPcs in which the free hydroxyl group was masked by an esterase‐labile or an H₂O₂‐labile group. The photoacoustic signals of these hydroxy‐masked BPcs were increased upon NIR excitation at 880 nm in the presence of esterase or H₂O₂, respectively. These are rare examples of activatable probes utilizing NIR light at around 900 nm.     

Shimalactone Biosynthesis Involves Spontaneous Double Bicyclo-Ring Formation with 8π-6π Electrocyclization

Shimalactones A and B are neuritogenic polyketides possessing characteristic oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane and bicyclo[4.2.0]octadiene ring systems that are produced by the marine fungus Emericella variecolor GF10. We identified a candidate biosynthetic gene cluster and conducted heterologous expression analysis. Expression of ShmA polyketide synthase in Aspergillus oryzae resulted in the production of preshimalactone. Aspergillus oryzae and Saccharomyces cerevisiae transformants expressing ShmA and ShmB produced shimalactones A and B, thus suggesting that the double bicyclo-ring formation reactions proceed non-enzymatically from preshimalactone epoxide. DFT calculations strongly support the idea that oxabicyclo-ring formation and 8π-6π electrocyclization proceed spontaneously after opening of the preshimalactone epoxide ring through protonation. We confirmed the formation of preshimalactone epoxide in vitro, followed by its non-enzymatic conversion to shimalactones in the dark.     

A cost-scaling algorithm for minimum-cost node-capacitated multiflow problem

Mathematical Programming - Many practical integer programming problems involve variables with one or two-sided bounds. Dunkel and Schulz (A refined Gomory–Chvátal closure for polytopes...     

Ruthenocene‐Type Complexes of N‐Fused Porphyrins

Ruthenocene‐type hybrid complexes with N‐fused porphyrinato ligands, [Ru(NFp)Cp] (NFp=N‐fused porphyrin, Cp=cyclopentadienyl), have been prepared and characterized by NMR and UV/Vis/NIR spectroscopy, cyclovoltammetry, and X‐ray crystallography. [Ru(NFp)Cp] is a common low‐spin ruthenium(II) complex and shows strong aromaticity. The Ru–Cp distance (1.833 Å) in [Ru(NFp)Cp] is comparable to that in [RuCp₂] (1.840 Å). DFT calculations on [Ru(NFp)Cp] showed the unequivocal contribution of the RuCp moiety as well as the NFp moiety to both the HOMO and LUMO, constructing a three‐dimensional d–π conjugated system. The HOMO–LUMO gaps of [Ru(NFp)Cp] are insensitive to the substituents on the NFp ligand, which is illustrated spectroscopically as well as theoretically. This is in sharp contrast to the ligand precursor, the N‐fused porphyrin, in which the HOMO–LUMO gap is affected by substituents in a similar manner to standard porphyrins and related macrocycles.     

Total Synthesis and Structure Elucidation of JBIR‐39: A Linear Hexapeptide Possessing Piperazic Acid and γ‐Hydroxypiperazic Acid Residues

The total synthesis and stereochemical structural elucidation of JBIR‐39, containing four nonproteinogenic piperazic acid (Piz) residues, is reported. The synthesis includes Sc(OTf)₃‐catalyzed acylation of a Piz(γ‐OTBS) derivative with piperazic acid chloride, providing the desired Piz‐Piz(γ‐OTBS) dipeptide in high yield without epimerization. After assembling two additional Piz moieties and (S)‐isoleucic acid at the N‐terminus, amidation with the (R)‐α‐methylserine ester at the C‐terminus, and deprotection afforded the desired (2R,8S)‐hexapeptide, which is the assumed structure of JBIR‐39. Although the spectral data of the (2R,8S)‐hexapeptide was not identical to JBIR‐39, further synthesis of three stereoisomers confirmed the stereochemical structure of JBIR‐39 to be (2S,6S,8S,11R,16S,21R,26S,27S).     

A practical approach to non-natural or N-unsubstituted α-arylglycine derivatives: Hf(OTf)4-doped Me3SiCl system-catalyzed aminomethylation of electron-rich arenes with a new type of N,O-acetal

The authors have demonstrated the Hf(OTf)₄-doped Me₃SiCl system-catalyzed aminomethylation of electron-rich aromatic compounds, such as indoles and anilines, with new types of N,O-acetals having a variety of functional groups, such as cyano, ester, bis(trimethylsilyl)amino, diallylamino, and cyclic amino moieties, for the preparation of non-natural aromatic amino acid derivatives. Aminomethylation using an N,O-acetal with a bis(trimethylsilyl)amino group was particularly successful in the direct preparation of an N-unsubstituted α-indolylglycine derivative, which required only a standard aqueous workup.     

Synthesis of N-confused tetraphenylporphyrin rhodium complexes having versatile metal oxidation states

A variety of N-confused tetraphenylporphyrin rhodium complexes were synthesized, and their structures and physical properties were investigated. Depending on the reaction conditions, the rhodium(I), -(III), and -(IV) complexes were produced, which exemplified the versatile coordination mode of N-confused porphyrin ligands.