Sequence control on the ring-opening oligomerization of cyclic imino ethers

Sequence-controlled oligomers of cyclic imino ethers were synthesized by the one-pot multi-stage feeding method. Selective formation of the sequence was clearly demonstrated by equimolar reactions between the monomers and 1:1 adducts of an initiator with the monomers. Efficiency of the sequence control is determined by the difference of reactivities of the active ends. A new general prerequisite to synthesize a well-defined sequence by multi-stage oligomerization was proposed.     

Improvement of GaInNAsSb films fabricated by atomic hydrogen-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

The effect of incorporation of antimony in GaInNAs films grown by atomic hydrogen-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has been investigated. We show that the rate of incorporation of N and In forming GaInNAs do not depend on the Sb beam flux. However, the incorporation of Sb is strongly dependent on the Sb/As₂ flux ratio. Introducing a small amount of Sb (<∼1%) significantly improves the photoluminescence (PL) emission efficiency of GaInNAs, but Sb concentration of >1% rapidly degrades the PL intensity, though a large redshift can still be achieved. Therefore, there is an optimum amount of Sb for the growth of low-strained GaInNAs films to improve the overall optical quality.     

Depolymerization of hyaluronate by the phototoxic drugs phenothiazines and sulfacetamide

Phenothiazines (promazine, promethazine, chlorpromazine) and sulfacetamide, known as phototoxic drugs, depolymerize aqueous sodium hyaluronate (HA) on exposure to light. The reduction in the HA molecular weight was followed by size-exclusion chromatography with low-angle laser light scattering. In the low-concentration region of the drugs below 0.05 mM, the rate constants of depolymerization increased. The molecular weight of HA was practically unchanged without UV irradiation in the presence of drugs or with UV irradiation in the absence of drugs, indicating the phenothiazines and sulfacetamide require photoenergy to yield any kind of damaging chemical species for HA depolymerization. An involvement of active oxygen radicals in the effects of promazine and promethazine was evidenced by inhibition under anaerobic conditions. Further, addition of mannitol controlled the reaction in the presence of oxygen, pointing to hydroxyl radicals as the damaging agent. Chlorpromazine and sulfacetamide preferably depolymerized HA under anaerobic conditions, suggesting the participation of hydrated electrons. Received: 14 July 1999/Accepted in revised form: 7 September 1999     

Tau neutrinos favored over sterile neutrinos in atmospheric muon neutrino oscillations

The previously published atmospheric neutrino data did not distinguish whether muon neutrinos were oscillating into tau neutrinos or sterile neutrinos, as both hypotheses fit the data. Using data recorded in 1100 live days of the Super-Kamiokande detector, we use three complementary data samples to study the difference in zenith angle distribution due to neutral currents and matter effects. We find no evidence favoring sterile neutrinos, and reject the hypothesis at the 99% confidence level. On the other hand, we find that oscillation between muon and tau neutrinos suffices to explain all the results in hand.     

Über die Annäherung analytischer Funktionen. II.

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

SOL-detectability of liver SPECT--analysis of the structure of ROC-curve

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of liver SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography). The two examinations were performed in 76 cases with SOL (space occupying lesion) and 58 normal cases. The results of the image reading by the planar image only (PS) and that of the image reading by the combination of PS and SPECT (PS + SPECT) were analyzed by ROC (receiver operating characteristic) analysis. The ROC curves showed that SPECT appears to reduce the number of results which were equivocal by the image reading of PS only. The detectability of SPECT for SOL in the left lobe of liver was less than that of PS without statistical significance. However, the performance of SPECT for SOL in the right lobe of liver was significantly better than that of PS.     

FOURIER-TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF THE STRUCTURE OF CHLOROPHYLL a and CHLOROPHYLL b IN HIGHLY DILUTE WATER-SATURATED CARBON TETRACHLORIDE SOLUTIONS

Abstract— Fourier-transform (FT) infrared (IR) absorption spectra have been measured for chlorophyll a (Chi a ), chlorophyll b (Chi b ), pheophytin a (Pheo a ), and pheophytin b (Pheo b ) in highly dilute (10^-5-10^-6 M ) water-saturated carbon tetrachloride solutions. Frequencies of IR bands due to C=O stretching modes of the 9-keto group indicate that Chi a assumes largely a dimeric structure in the concentrated (10^-2-10^-3 M ) water-saturated carbon tetrachloride solutions but it remains mostly a monomer with one or two coordinated water molecules in dilute (10^-5-10^-6 M ) solutions. Although it seems that Chi b also assumes predominantly dimeric form in concentrated solutions and monomelic form in dilute solutions, the relative intensity change of two C=O stretching bands ascribed to the free and coordinated 3-aldehyde groups with decreasing concentration suggests that the aldehyde group is also involved in formation of the dimer. The relative intensity of two C=O stretching bands due to the free and coordinated aldehyde groups changes significantly for Pheo b in water-saturated carbon tetrachloride solutions. This observation suggests that some of Pheo b also assume dimeric form via the aldehyde group in concentrated solutions.     

Short-time Fourier transform analysis of ab initio molecular dynamics simulation: collision reaction between NH+4 (NH3)2 and NH3

An analyzing technique of the ab initio molecular dynamics simulation is proposed with the use of short-time Fourier transform (ST-FT). The ST-FT analysis demonstrates the dynamical change of the vibrational states in the simulated system. Numerical assessments are preformed for the collision reaction of the ammonia cluster ion NH+(4) (NH3)(2) with the ammonia monomer NH3. Spectrogram obtained by the ST-FT method, which corresponds to the time evolution of vibrational power spectra, clarifies the relationship between the vibrational states and the reaction channels such as nonreactive collision, substitution, and incorporation.     

Capillary electrophoresis as a nanoreactor of separation capability: on-capillary reaction catalyzed by transition metal ions

The catalytic oxidation of 1,2-dihydroxy-benzene-3,6-disulfonate (tiron) by metal ions has been studied for detection of the metal ions in capillary electrophoresis (CE). Although Co(2+) shows the strongest catalytic capability, some other metal ions also catalyze this reaction. If metal ions encounter a H(2)O(2 )zone after electrophoretic separation in the running buffer containing tiron, tiron is catalytically oxidized while the metal ion passes through the H(2)O(2) zone. Anionic tiron radicals produced by the reaction are finally measured by the detector; in this scheme, the capillary acts as a nano- or microreactor as well as a microseparator. The effective capillary length can be controlled by changing the interval between metal ion and H(2)O(2) injections. This scheme has been successfully applied to the detection of Co(2+), Cu(2+), Mn(2+), and VO(2+). The detectability is discussed from several viewpoints, such as the intrinsic catalyst ability of metal ions, the kinetics of the catalytic reaction, and reaction times determined by the mobility of the zone of the metal ion. Some strange behaviors, which cannot be predicted by batch experiments, are also reported.     

The bystander effect is a novel mechanism of UVA-induced melanogenesis

We successfully identified the bystander effect in B16 murine melanoma cells exposed to UVA irradiation. The effect was identified based on melanogenesis following the medium transfer of the B16 cells, which had been cultured for 24 h after being exposed to UVA irradiation, to nonirradiated cells (bystander cells). Our confirmation study of the functional mechanism of bystander cells confirmed the reduced levels of mitochondrial membrane potential 1-4 h after the medium transfer. In addition, we observed increased levels of intracellular oxidation after 9-12 h, and the generation of melanin radicals, including long-lived radicals, 24 h after medium transfer. Further analysis of bystander factors revealed that the administration of EGTA treatment at the time of medium transfer led to an inhibition of melanogenesis and to neutralization of the mitochondrial membrane potential level, as well as to the restoration of intracellular oxidation levels to those of controls. The results demonstrated that the UVA irradiation bystander effect in B16 cells, as indicated by melanogenesis, was induced by the increase in intracellular oxidation due to the mitochondrial activity of calcium ions, which were among the bystander factors involved in the increase.