A theory of membrane fusion

Two interacting membranes are considered as two flat hydrophilic layers on their surfaces separated by an agueous solution at a certain distance. The van der Waals attractive inbteraction energy between the two bodies at a given separation distance depends on the nature (interaction coefficient) of the surface hydrophilic layers and its thickness. When the surface hydrophilic layer becomes sufficiently similar to the bulk hydrocarbon bodies in nature or the thickness of the surface hydrophilic layer becomes small enough, the attrative interaction energy becomes large and the two bodies could fuse and become one. A general theory for such mambrane fusion is given in terms of molecular interaction energy.     

Interaction and aggregation of lipid vesicles (DLVO theory versus modified DLVO theory)

Interaction and aggregation of acidic phospholipid (phosphatidylserine) vesicles were studied with variation of cation species and their concentrations in vesicle suspensions, and of vesicle sizes. Aggregation was determined by measuring turbidity of vesicle suspension. The experimental results of aggregation of vesicles induced by monovalent cations (Na⁺, K⁺, Cs⁺ and TMA⁺) were explained well in terms of the interaction energy of two interacting vesicles using the ordinary Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (DLVO) theory for both small and large lipid vesicles. However, the experimental results of aggregation of vesicles induced by divalent cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Ba²⁺) were not explained by the ordinary DLVO theory. In order to explain the experimental results of these vesicle aggregation phenomena, it was necessary to modify the theory by including hydration interaction energies which are due to hydrated water at membrane surfaces, and their magnitude and sign depend upon the nature (hydrophobicity) of the membrane surface.     

Synthesis from d-Altrose of (5R,6R,7R,8S)-5,7-Dihydroxy-8-hydroxymethylconidine and 2,4-Dideoxy-2,4-imino-d-glucitol, Azetidine Analogues of Swainsonine and 1,4-Dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-mannitol

Ring closure of a 3,5-di-O-triflate derived from d-altrose with benzylamine allowed the formation of both monocyclic and bicyclic azetidine analogues of swainsonine.     

Complex Projective Structures with Schottky Holonomy

Let S be a closed orientable surface of genus at least two. Let ?? be a Schottky group whose rank is equal to the genus of S, and ?? be the domain of discontinuity of ??. Pick an arbitrary epimorphism : ${{\rho : \pi_{1}(S) \rightarrow \Gamma}}$ . Then ??/?? is a surface homeomorphic to S carrying a (complex) projective structure with holonomy ??. We show that every projective structure with holonomy ?? is obtained by (2??)grafting ??/?? along a multiloop on S.     

Diffuse optical tomography: Present status and its future

Diffuse optical tomography (DOT) is one of the emerging modalities for the non-invasive imaging of thick biological tissues using near-infrared (NIR) light. This article reviews the fundamentals and development of DOT technology since its advent in the early 1990s, including the modeling of light propagation in biological tissues which strongly scatter and weakly absorb NIR light, the optical properties of biological tissues in the NIR wavelength range, three typical measurement methods, image reconstruction algorithms, and so forth. Then various studies are referred to for improvement of the DOT images, which are essentially low in quality due to the ill-conditioned and underdetermined problem. Studies and clinical applications presently attracting much attention are discussed in some detail. Finally, the expected future developments are summarized.     

Novel 2-aryl-3,4,5-trihydroxypiperidines： Synthesis and glycosidase inhibition

Three pairs of novel 2-aryl-3,4,5-trihydroxypiperidines （6-8 and their enantiomers）, the piperidine analogues of the pyrrolidine alkaloids radicamine A and radicamine B, were prepared from six- membered cyclic nitrones through a concise two-step procedure, i.e., Grignard reagent addition and deprotection. These novel polyhydroxylated piperidine iminosugars were assayed against 10 types of enzymes. Only compound 8 exhibited weak inhibition （IC50 1080 μmol/L） against β-galactosidase from rat intestinal lactases.     

Direct oxidative conversion of alkyl halides into nitriles with molecular iodine and 1,3-diiodo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin in aq ammonia

Various benzylic halides were smoothly and directly converted into the corresponding aromatic nitriles in high yields using molecular iodine and 1,3-diiodo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin, respectively, in aq ammonia. Similarly, primary alkyl halides were also converted into corresponding nitriles in moderate to good yields using molecular iodine and 1,3-diiodo-5,5-dimethylhydantoin in aq ammonia, although a long reaction time was required. The present reaction is a new method for the preparation of aromatic nitriles from benzylic halides and a new method for the conversion of alkyl halides into corresponding nitriles with retention of the number of carbon atoms.     

Oxygen reduction reaction on the low index planes of palladium electrodes modified with a monolayer of platinum film

Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) has been studied on the low index planes of Pd modified with a monolayer of Pt (Pt/Pd(hkl)) in 0.1 M HClO₄ with the use of hanging meniscus rotating disk electrode. The activity for ORR on bare Pd(hkl) electrode depends on the surface structure strongly, however, voltammograms of ORR on Pt/Pd(hkl) electrodes do not depend on the crystal orientation. The specific activities of Pt/Pd(hkl) electrodes at 0.90 V (RHE) are higher than that on Pt(1 1 0) which has the highest activity for ORR in the low index planes of Pt. The mass activity on Pt/Pd(hkl) electrode is 7 times as high as a commercial Pt/C catalyst.     

Microwave‐Assisted Hydrothermal Synthesis of [Al(OH)(1,4‐NDC)] Membranes with Superior Separation Performances

In this study, we report a facile ligand‐assisted in situ hydrothermal approach for preparation of compact [Al(OH)(1,4‐NDC)] (1,4‐NDC=1,4‐naphthalenedicarboxylate) MOF membranes on porous γ‐Al₂O₃ substrates, which also served as the Al³⁺ source of MOF membranes. Simultaneously, it was observed that the heating mode exerted significant influence on the final microstructure and separation performance of [Al(OH)(1,4‐NDC)] membranes. Compared with the conventional hydrothermal method, the employment of microwave heating led to the formation of [Al(OH)(1,4‐NDC)] membranes composed of closely packed nanorods with superior H₂/CH₄ selectivity.