Hydrophobic Monomers Recognize Microenvironments in Hydrogel Microspheres during Free-Radical-Seeded Emulsion Polymerization

The three-dimensional structure of nanocomposite microgels was precisely determined by cryo-electron micrography. Several nanocomposite microgels that differ with respect to their nanocomposite structure, which were obtained from seeded emulsion polymerization in the presence of microgels, were used as model nanocomposite materials for cryo-electron micrography. The obtained three-dimensional segmentation images of these nanocomposite microgels provide important insights into the interactions between the hydrophobic monomers and the microgels, that is, hydrophobic styrene monomers recognize molecular-scale differences in polarity within the microgels during the emulsion polymerization. This result led to the formation of unprecedented multi-layered nanocomposite microgels, which promise substantial potential in colloidal applications.     

Novel and stereocontrolled asymmetric synthesis of a new naturally occurring styryllactone, (+)-cardiobutanolide

An efficient and stereodefined strategy is described for the asymmetric synthesis of a new styryllactone from the stem bark of Goniothalamus cardiopetalus, cardiobutanolide. The synthetic process is based on requisite manipulation of the functionalized bicyclic lactol-lactone intermediate incorporating the glucuronolactone-derived skeleton in a complete stereoselective manner.     

Numerical analysis of turbulent structure in compound meandering open channel by algebraic Reynolds stress model

The turbulent flow in a compound meandering channel with a rectangular cross section is one of the most complicated turbulent flows, because the flow behaviour is influenced by several kinds of forces, including centrifugal forces, pressure‐driven forces and shear stresses generated by momentum transfer between the main channel and the flood plain. Numerical analysis has been performed for the fully developed turbulent flow in a compound meandering open‐channel flow using an algebraic Reynolds stress model. The boundary‐fitted coordinate system is introduced as a method for coordinate transformation in order to set the boundary conditions along the complicated shape of the meandering open channel. The turbulence model consists of transport equations for turbulent energy and dissipation, in conjunction with an algebraic stress model based on the Reynolds stress transport equations. With reference to the pressure–strain term, we have made use of a modified pressure–strain term. The boundary condition of the fluctuating vertical velocity is set to zero not only for the free surface, but also for computational grid points next to the free surface, because experimental results have shown that the fluctuating vertical velocity approaches zero near the free surface. In order to examine the validity of the present numerical method and the turbulent model, the calculated results are compared with experimental data measured by laser Doppler anemometer. In addition, the compound meandering open channel is clarified somewhat based on the calculated results. As a result of the analysis, the present algebraic Reynolds stress model is shown to be able to reasonably predict the turbulent flow in a compound meandering open channel. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

DNA-conjugated polymers for self-assembled DNA chip fabrication.

We developed two DNA-conjugated polymers, one based on polyallylamine and the other on polyacrylic acid, for use in DNA chips. A 30-mer single-stranded DNA probe and thioctic acid were covalently attached to polyallylamine as sidechains. The same single-stranded DNA and 3-(pyridyldithio)propionyl hydrazide were covalently attached to polyacrylic acid as sidechains. Both DNA-conjugated polymers could be specifically immobilized onto a gold sensor substrate by a self-assembly technique. The interactions between fully matched DNA and each DNA-conjugated polymer were investigated by surface plasmon resonance. A gold surface modified with either DNA-conjugated polymer recognized fully matched DNA much better than unmatched DNA. The hybridization selectivity and efficiency of DNA-conjugated polyallylamine was optimized by adjusting the pH so as to reduce the effects of cationic polymer sidechains. The hybridization selectivity and efficiency of DNA-conjugated polymers were higher than those of a conventional immobilized thiol-based DNA. The coating of DNA-conjugated polymers reduced nonspecific adsorption of DNA by the gold substrate. DNA-conjugated polyacrylic acid was more selective toward fully matched DNA than was DNA-conjugated polyallylamine. Therefore, DNA-conjugated polymers show promise for application in novel DNA chips.     

High-quality InAlN/GaN heterostructures grown by metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy

We fabricated high-quality InAlN/GaN heterostructures by metal–organic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that InAlN/GaN heterostructures grown under optimal conditions have flat surfaces and abrupt heterointerfaces. Electron mobility from 1200 to 2000 cm²/V s was obtained at room temperature. To our knowledge, this mobility is the highest ever reported for InAlN/GaN heterostructures. We also investigated the relationship between the Al composition and sheet electron density (N_s) for the first time. N_s increased from 1.0×10¹² to 2.7×10¹³ cm⁻² when the Al composition increased from 0.78 to 0.89.     

L-S category of quaternionic Stiefel manifolds

By calculating certain generalized cohomology theory, lower bounds for the L-S category of quaternionic Stiefel manifolds are given.     

Fluorescence labeling of oligosaccharides useful in the determination of molecular interactions.

A simple method to label oligosaccharides with a multifunctional fluorescent group was developed. Oligosaccharides were quantitatively labeled at their reducing termini with pyrene butanoic acid hydrazide. The pyrene-labeled oligosaccharides were successfully applied to fluorescence polarization measurements and ELISA at picomole quantity, which was not previously reached by other procedures. This labeling method should prove to be useful in a variety of aspects in glycobiology.     

Evaluation of the molecular recognition of peptide-conjugated polymer.

We have recently reported on dodecamer peptides (HPPMDFHKAMTR, CHPQPLKSRNPL) which recognize 52-58th and 197-203rd amino acid sequences of glucose oxidase (GOx) by screening via a phage random peptide library. In this study, a side-chain protected peptide monomer (PPM) was synthesized using two peptides (HPPMDFHKAMTR, SHPQPLKSRNPL) and acryloyl chloride. The peptide-conjugated polymer (PCP) was copolymerized with PPMs and N,N-diethylacrylamide (DEAA). The affinity of PCPs to GOx was estimated using surface plasmon resonance detection. This study suggests that PCP is a valuable molecular recognition biomolecule.