Shape Measurement from Endoscopic Images: Determination of Dimensional Scale Factor by a Photometric Method

We propose a new method to measure surface topography using a monocular endoscope. The surface structure is obtained up to a scale factor from an image sequence taken through a conventional CCD endoscope. The scale factor is determined by a photometric method, and the actual size of the object can be determined. The principle and experimental results are presented.     

Change of zonal flow spectra in the JIPP T-IIU tokamak plasmas

When Ohmically heated low-density plasmas are additionally heated by higher-harmonics ion-cyclotron-range-of frequency heating, heated by neutral beam injection, or strongly gas puffed, the intensity of zonal flows in the geodesic acoustic mode frequency range in the tokamak core plasma decreases sharply and that of low-frequency zonal flow grows drastically. This is accompanied by a damping of the drift wave propagating in the electron diamagnetic drift direction, turbulence by trapped electron mode (TEM), and the increase of the mode propagating to ion diamagnetic drift direction (ITG). In the half-radius region, TEM and high-frequency zonal flows remain intense in both OH and heated phases. ITG and low-frequency zonal flows grow in heated plasmas, suggesting a strong coupling between ITG and low-frequency zonal flow.     

Fluorescence detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms with two simple and low cost methods: a double-DNA-probe method and a bulge form method

Two 10-mer DNA probes, or one 20-mer DNA probe, respectively, hybridize with a 21-mer target DNA to form a vacancy or bulge opposite the target nucleotide. The former double-DNA-probe method and the latter bulge form method are applicable to the detection of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). A small fluorescent dye enters into the vacancy or bulge and binds with a target nucleotide via a hydrogen bonding interaction, which causes fluorescence quenching. The interaction between fluorescent dye and the target nucleotide is confirmed by measuring the melting temperature and fluorescence spectra. The fluorescent dye, ADMND (2-amino-5,7-dimethyl-1,8-naphthyridine), is found to selectively bind with C over A or G. The methods proposed here are economic, convenient, and effective for the fluorescence detection of SNPs. Finally, the double-DNA-probe method and bulge form method are successfully applied to the detection of C/G and C/A mutations in the estrogen receptor 2 gene and progesterone receptor gene using ADMND.     

An efficient synthesis of cyclopropyl silyl ketones

The reaction of silylcyclopropyl bromides with dichloromethyl methyl ether in the presence of n-butyllithium is investigated. Under basic reaction conditions, the corresponding cyclopropylidene derivatives are exclusively obtained. The resulting cyclopropylidene compounds are subjected to protonolysis or trapping with electrophiles in a one-pot to give the cyclopropyl silyl ketone derivatives in good yields. Acidic treatment of derived cyclopropyl silyl ketone allows isomerization to give the thermodynamically favorable trans form exclusively.     

Triosmium clusters on a support: determination of structure by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and high-resolution microscopy

The structures of small, robust metal clusters on a solid support were determined by a combination of spectroscopic and microscopic methods: extended X‐ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and aberration‐corrected STEM. The samples were synthesized from [Os₃(CO)₁₂] on MgO powder to provide supported clusters intended to be triosmium. The results demonstrate that the supported clusters are robust in the absence of oxidants. Conventional high‐angle annular dark‐field (HAADF) STEM images demonstrate a high degree of uniformity of the clusters, with root‐mean‐square (rms) radii of 2.03±0.06 Å. The EXAFS Os? Os coordination number of 2.1±0.4 confirms the presence of triosmium clusters on average and correspondingly determines an average rms cluster radius of 2.02±0.04 Å. The high‐resolution STEM images show the individual Os atoms in the clusters, confirming the triangular structures of their frames and determining Os? Os distances of 2.80±0.14 Å, matching the EXAFS value of 2.89±0.06 Å. IR and EXAFS spectra demonstrate the presence of CO ligands on the clusters. This set of techniques is recommended as optimal for detailed and reliable structural characterization of supported clusters.     

Fabrication and characterization of Zn3V2O8 phosphor by sol–gel process

By choosing zinc acetate dehydrate (Zn(CH₃COO)₂·2H₂O) and ammonium metavanadate (NH₄VO₃) as starting materials, we succeeded in fabricating Zn₃V₂O₈ phase suitable for broad light emission by sol–gel process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope, photoluminescence (PL) and PL quantum yield (PL-QY) measurements have been performed for analyzing the relation between crystallographic and light emission characteristics. The PL-QY is determined by both the crystalline phase purity of the Zn₃V₂O₈ phase defined by XRD patterns and the crystalline size. With optimizing the sintering condition at a slightly Zn-rich side, a pure Zn₃V₂O₈ phase with enough large crystalline size was obtained with the PL-QY value of 52 %, which was higher than our previously obtained value by solid state reaction.     

Electron and hole transport to trap groups at the ends of conjugated polyfluorenes

Polyfluorenes (pF) were synthesized having anthraquinone (AQ) or naphtylimide (NI) end caps that trap electrons or di- p-tolylaminophenyl (APT2) caps that trap holes. The average lengths of the pF chains in these molecules varied from 7 to 30 nm. End capping was found not to be complete in these molecules so that some were without caps. Electrons or holes were injected into these polymers in solution by pulse radiolysis. Following attachment, the charges migrated to the end cap traps in times near 2 ns in pF12AQ or 5 ns in pF35NI. From these observations, electron mobilities for transport along single chains to the end caps in THF solution were determined to be smaller by a factor of 100 than those observed by microwave conductivity. Despite this, the mobilities were sufficiently large to provide encouragement to the use of such single chains in solar photovoltaics. Most charges were observed to transport over substantial distances in these polymers, but 23, 18, and 37% of the charges attached to pFNI, pFAQ, and pFAPT2, respectively, were trapped in the pF chains and decayed by slower bimolecular reactions. For pFAQ and pFAPT2, all of the trapped charges were accounted for by estimates of the fraction of molecules having no end cap traps. For pF35NI, 23% of the attached electrons were found to be trapped in the chains, but only 4% of chains were expected to have no end caps. This could indicate some trapping by kinks or other defects but may just reflect uncertainties in the capping of this long polymer. When the charges reach the trap groups, their spectra have no features of pF(*-) or pF(*+), nor do the principal bands of the trapped ions resemble spectra of the radical ions of isolated trap molecules. The optical absorption spectra are rather dominated by new bands identified as charge-transfer transitions, which probably reinject electrons or holes into the pF chains. The energies of those bands correlate well with measured redox potentials.     

Hg(OTf)2-catalyzed arylene cyclization

Novel Hg(OTf) 2-catalyzed arylene cyclization was achieved with highly efficient catalytic turnover (up to 200 times). The reaction takes place via protonation of allylic hydroxyl group by in situ formed TfOH of an organomercuric intermediate to generate a cationic species. Subsequent smooth demercuration regenerates the catalyst.     

Effects of Holdfast of Laminaria japonica on Listeria Invasion on Enterocyte-Like Caco-2 Cells and NO Production of Macrophage RAW 264.7 Cells

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) causes food poisoning in humans mainly through consumption of ready-to-eat foods. Immunocompromised persons are at the highest risk for infection. We investigated effects of crude soluble polysaccharides (SPS) and ethanolic extract (EE) fractions of frond (kombu) and holdfast (ganiashi) parts of Laminaria japonica on Lm invasion into human enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells and immune and/or inflammatory reactions of murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Recovery and viscosity were high in kombu SPS. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity and Fe-reducing power) were higher in ganiashi EE. EE of ganiashi, rather than kombu, suppressed the Lm invasion into the differentiated Caco-2 cells, though the inhibitory effect of SPS was not significant. Ganiashi SPS increased the nitric oxide (NO) production of intact RAW 264.7 cells. On the other hand, the NO production from Escherichia coli O111 lipopolysaccharide-activated cells was suppressed by kombu SPS and ganiashi EE. These results suggest that L. japonica, particularly ganiashi, might suppress the invasion and infection of Lm and also the inflammation.     

Chemical constituents of malagasy liverworts, part V: prenyl bibenzyls and clerodane diterpenoids with nitric oxide inhibitory activity from Radula appressa and Thysananthus spathulistipus

3Beta,4beta:15,16-diepoxy-13(16),14-clerodadiene (1) and a new clerodane diterpenoid designated thysaspathone (2) were isolated from the liverwort Thysananthus spathulistipus, while Radula appressa produced radulannin A (3), radulannin L (4), 2-geranyl-3,5-dihydroxybibenzyl (5), 2(S)-2-methyl-2-(4-methyl-3-pentenyl)-7-hydroxy-5-(2-phenylethyl) chromene (o-cannabichromene) (6), 6-hydroxy-4-(2-phenylethyl) benzofuran (7), and o-cannabicyclol (8). All of the isolated compounds inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and the greatest inhibition was attributed to compound 5, with an IC50 value of 4.5 microM.