Correlators of matrix models on homogeneous spaces

We investigate the correlators of TrA_μA_ν in matrix models on homogeneous spaces: S² and S²×S². Their expectation value is a good order parameter to measure the geometry of the space on which non-commutative gauge theory is realized. They also serve as the Wilson lines which carry the minimum momentum. We develop an efficient procedure to calculate them through 1PI diagrams. We determine the large N scaling behavior of the correlators. The order parameter shows that fuzzy S²×S² acquires a 4-dimensional fractal structure in contrast to fuzzy S². We also find that the two point functions exhibit logarithmic scaling violations.     

Models and Inference for Corrosion Pit Depth Data

A new regression structure is introduced to several families of distributions, including the Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution, which are available to explain the distribution of the maximum pit depth of a small sample. This regression structure depends on sample sizes, but under a simple assumption it is also available in the case of unknown sample sizes. GEV with the proposed regression structure provides us with a new extrapolation model for time. Compared to ordinary GEV models, effectiveness of our GEV model is demonstrated for our real data set. Also, comparisons are made with GEV and other two families of distributions with respect to the proposed regression structure.     

Observation of structures of chain vortices inside anisotropic high- Tc superconductors

In order to elucidate the formation mechanism of unconventional arrangements of vortices in high- Tc superconducting thin films at an inclined magnetic field to the layer plane, we investigated the structures of vortex lines inside the films by Lorentz microscopy using our 1-MV field-emission electron microscope. Our observation results concluded that vortex lines are tilted to form linear chains in YBaCu3O(7,8). Vortex lines in the chain-lattice state in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+delta), on the other hand, are all perpendicular to the layer plane, and therefore only vortices lined up along Josephson vortices form chains.     

Optical emission spectroscopy by Ar ion sputtering of Ti surface under O2 environment

Visible light emission from atoms and ions sputtered on a polycrystalline Ti surface was observed under irradiation of 30 keV Ar³⁺ ions. A number of atomic lines of Ti I and II were observed in the wavelength of 250-850 nm. The intensity of Ti II emission increased 1.3-5.6 times by introducing oxygen molecules at a pressure of 5.8 × 10⁻⁵ Pa, whereas that of Ti I decreased 0.5-0.8 times. Factors enhancing or reducing photon intensities were plotted as a function of energy of the corresponding electrons in the excited states for Ti atoms and Ti⁺ ions.     

A Macrocyclic Peptide Library with a Structurally Constrained Cyclopropane‐containing Building Block Leads to Thiol‐independent Inhibitors of Phosphoglycerate Mutase

Here we report the construction of an mRNA‐encoded library of thioether‐closed macrocyclic peptides by using an N‐chloroacetyl‐cyclopropane‐containing exotic initiator whose structure is more constrained than the ordinary N‐chloroacetyl‐α‐amino acid initiators. The use of such an initiator has led to a macrocycle library with significantly suppressed population of lariat‐shaped species compared with the conventional libraries. We previously used a conventional library and identified a small lariat thioether‐macrocycle with a tail peptide with a C‐terminal free Cys whose sidechain plays an essential role in potent inhibitory activity against a parasitic model enzyme, phosphoglycerate mutase. On the other hand, the cyclopropane‐containing macrocycle library has yielded a larger thioether‐macrocycle lacking a free Cys residue, which exhibits potent inhibitory activity to the same enzyme with a different mode of action. This result indicates that such a cyclopropane‐containing macrocycle library would allow us to access mechanistically distinct macrocycles.     

The p53‐Dependent Expression of Frataxin Controls 5‐Aminolevulinic Acid‐Induced Accumulation of Protoporphyrin IX and Photo‐Damage in Cancerous Cells

Mitochondrial frataxin is involved in various functions such as iron homeostasis, iron–sulfur cluster biogenesis, the protection from oxidative stress and apoptosis and acts as a tumor suppressor protein. We now show that the expression of frataxin is stimulated in a p53‐dependent manner and prove that frataxin is a direct p53 target gene by showing that the p53‐responsive element in the promoter of the mouse frataxin gene is bound by p53. The bacterial expression of human frataxin stimulated maturation of human ferrochelatase, which catalyzes the insertion of iron into protoporphyrin at the last step of heme biosynthesis. Overexpression of frataxin in human cancer A431 and HeLa cells lowered 5‐aminolevulinic acid(ALA)‐induced accumulation of protoporphyrin and induced resistance to ALA‐induced photo‐damage, whereas p53 silencing with siRNA in non tumor HEK293T cells down‐regulated the expression of frataxin and increased the accumulation of protoporphyrin. Thus, the decrease of the expression of frataxin unregulated by p53 in tumor cells enhances ALA‐induced photo‐damage, by down‐regulation of mitochondrial functions.     

Michrochip chromatography using an open‐tubular microchannel and a ternary water–ACN–ethyl acetate mixture carrier solution

A capillary chromatography system has been developed using a ternary mixed‐solvents solution, i.e. water–hydrophilic/hydrophobic organic solvent mixture as a carrier solution. Here, we tried to carry out the chromatographic system on a microchip incorporating the open‐tubular microchannels. A model analyte solution of isoluminol isothiocyanate (ILITC) and ILITC‐labeled biomolecule was injected to the double T‐junction part on the microchip. The analyte solution was delivered in the separation microchannel (40 μm deep, 100 μm wide, and 22 cm long) with the ternary water–ACN–ethyl acetate mixture carrier solution (3:8:4 volume ratio, the organic solvent rich or 15:3:2 volume ratio, the water‐rich). The analyte, free‐ILITC and labeled BSA mixture, was separated through the microchannel, where the carrier solvents were radially distributed in the separation channel generating inner and outer phases. The outer phase acts as a pseudo‐stationary phase under laminar flow conditions in the system. The ILITC and the labeled BSA were eluted and detected with chemiluminescence reaction.     

Complexation behaviour of a CT complex composed of 9,10-bis(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)anthracene and viologen derivatives

A chiral charge-transfer (CT) complex was formed using achiral 9,10-bis(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)anthracene (BDHA) as an electron donor and achiral 1,1′-dimethyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride (MVCl₂) as an electron acceptor. This chiral CT complex can include n-alkyl alcohol molecules as guests. On the other hand, when 1,1′-diphenyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride and 1,1′-dibenzyl-4,4′-bipyridinium dichloride were used as electron acceptors, achiral CT complexes without guests were formed. It was found that the chiral crystallisation of the BDHA/MVCl₂–CT host system was caused by steric and electric intermolecular interactions between host component molecules BDHA and MVCl₂ during crystallisation.     

Photohaptenic Properties of Fluoroquinolones

Abstract— Although quinolone antibacterial agents have both phototoxicity and photoallergenicity, the latter's potency has been poorly investigated compared with the former's. Some of the photoallergic chemicals serve as photohap-tens, which lead to T-cell-mediated immune reactions after photobinding to protein by UVA radiation. We examined the photohaptenic potential of fluoroquinolones, including lomefloxacin (LFLX), ciplofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, fleroxacin, enoxacin and spar-floxacin (SPFX). The absorption spectra of the quinolo-nes were altered by UVA irradiation, with an exception of SPFX that seems to be photostable toward UVA. Bovine serum albumin and murine epidermal cells were coupled with these fluoroquinolones other than SPFX by exposure to UVA. Subcutaneous inoculation of fluoro-quinolone-photomodified epidermal cells induced and elicited a delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction in mice. However, epidermal cells incubated with LFLX without UVA exposure also induced and elicited a significant hypersensitivity reaction to a lesser degree than LFLX-pho-tomodified epidermal cells. Furthermore, there was cross-reactivity between LFLX-photomodified epidermal cells and simply LFLX-incubated cells. This suggests that cells can be weakly modified with LFLX even in the dark and that UVA irradiation promotes this modification. Our study demonstrated that fluoroquinolones have photohaptenic properties to which their photoallergenicity is probably ascribed.