Matrix effect and correction by standard addition in quantitative liquid chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins

An evaluation of the feasibility of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) with atmospheric pressure ionization was made for quantitation of four diarrhetic shellfish poisoning toxins, okadaic acid, dinophysistoxin-1, pectenotoxin-6 and yessotoxin in scallops. When LC-MS was applied to the analysis of scallop extracts, large signal suppressions were observed due to coeluting substances from the column. To compensate for these matrix signal suppressions, the standard addition method was applied. First, the sample was analyzed and then the sample involving the addition of calibration standards is analyzed. Although this method requires two LC-MS runs per analysis, effective correction of quantitative errors was found.     

Unsteady fluid dynamic forces on a simply-supported circular cylinder of finite length conveying a flow,with applications to stability analysis

An exact analytic expression for the unsteady fluid pressure acting on the internal walls of a simply-supported circular cylindrical tube of finite length, carrying flow, is presented. The generalized force coefficients corresponding to specific modes of deformation are given explicitly. The results are applied to two problems: (1) the interaction of flow and buckling of thin-walled cylindrical shells subjected to lateral pressure and/or end thrust; (2) the aeroelastic stability of the shells. The second problem is aimed at resolving some controversy about post-divergence flutter oscillation of cylindrical shells or plates exposed to a subsonic flow. The shell equation, of the Morley type, is solved by Galerkin's method and an analytic approach is used to examine the stability of the system. It is important that damping be taken into account in the analysis. The undeformed configuration is always unstable when the flow speed exceeds the minimum divergence boundary.     

Stereoregularity of poly(α-methylvinyl alkyl ether)s determined by 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy

α-Methylvinyl methyl ether, ethyl ether, and isobutyl ether were polymerized under various polymerization conditions and the structure of the polymers was determined by ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy. α-Methyl and β-methylene carbon spectra of poly(α-methylvinyl isobutyl ether) showed splitting and were analyzed by triad and tetrad sequences. β-Methylene carbon spectra of poly(α-methylvinyl ethyl ether) also showed splitting. When Eu(fod)₃ was added, α-methyl and methoxy proton spectra in benzene of poly(α-methylvinyl methyl ether) showed splitting assigned to triad tacticities. All the polymers obtained in polar solvents exhibited an increase in syndiotacticity. The polymerization mechanism is discussed.     

syn-selective direct catalytic asymmetric Mannich-type reactions of hydroxyketones using Y{N(SiMe3)2}3/linked-BINOL complexes

[reaction, structure: see text] Chiral Y{N(SiMe3)2}3/linked-BINOL catalyst generated Y-enolate in situ from various hydroxyketones (R2 = aryl, heteroaryl). Beta-amino-alpha-hydroxy ketones (R1 = aryl, heteroaryl, alkenyl) were obtained syn-selectively (up to 96/4) in high ee (up to 98%) and good yield (up to 98% yield).     

Oscillating fluorescence in an unstable colloidal dispersion of CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots

Fluorescence oscillation is observed in an ensemble of colloidal CdSe/ZnS core/shell quantum dots (QDs) dispersed in nonpolar solvent under continuous irradiation. The QDs dispersed in toluene gradually aggregate and change their fluorescence intensity, even in the dark. During the aggregation, the QD/toluene suspension is unstable, that is, overdispersed. The fluorescence oscillation is found only in this unstable state before the system reaches steady state. In addition, the aggregation rate is promoted by irradiation and strongly correlates with the oscillation amplitude. Our experimental results indicate that the dispersion instability plays an important role in both linear and nonlinear dynamics of the fluorescence. It is inferred from the experimental results and previous studies that the complex time evolution of fluorescence in the QD/toluene dispersion is possibly due to adsorption and desorption of surface ligand molecules over the course of QD aggregation.     

Design and synthesis of an aminobenzo-15-crown-5-labeled estradiol tethered with disulfide linkage

A novel measuring method (electroimmunoassay) of 17β-estradiol (E₂) in urine or blood was proposed on the basis of a competition between E₂ and a labeled E₂ against an immobilizing antibody. To evaluate the principle, 3-{4-[17β-hydroxy-1,3,5(10)-estratrien-3-yloxy]butyldisulfanyl}-N-(6,7,9,10,12,13,15,16-octahydro-5,8,11,14,17-pentaoxabenzocyclopentadecen-2-yl) succinamic acid (1) was designed and synthesized as a novel aminobenzo-15-crown-5-containing E₂ tethered with disulfide linkage. Two thiol-intermediates 5b and 19c were efficiently synthesized from mercaptosuccinic acid 7 and 4,4′-dithiodibutyric acid 12, respectively. Formations of disulfide linkages from less reactive thiols were examined and 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) could be employed for the formation of an unsymmetrical disulfide 20c from 5b and 19c. Then, removal of TMS- and allyl-protecting groups in 20c successfully afforded the crown ether-containing E₂1.     

Discovery of temperature-dependent phenomena of muon-catalyzed fusion in solid deuterium and tritium mixtures

A systematic experimental study on muon-catalyzed fusion was conducted using a series of solid deuterium and tritium mixtures. A variety of conditions were investigated, i.e., tritium concentrations from 20% to 70%, and temperatures from 5 to 16 K. With decreasing temperature, we observed an unexpected decrease in the muon cycling rate (lambda(c)) and an increase in the muon loss probability (W). The origins of these observed changes were interpreted by the temperature-dependence in the dt mu formation process for lambda(c) and that in the muon reactivation process after muon-to-alpha sticking for W.