Computational Analysis Reveals a Critical Point Mutation in the N-Terminal Region of the Signaling Lymphocytic Activation Molecule Responsible for the Cross-Species Infection with Canine Distemper Virus

Infection of hosts by morbilliviruses is facilitated by the interaction between viral hemagglutinin (H-protein) and the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM). Recently, the functional importance of the n-terminal region of human SLAM as a measles virus receptor was demonstrated. However, the functional roles of this region in the infection process by other morbilliviruses and host range determination remain unknown, partly because this region is highly flexible, which has hampered accurate structure determination of this region by X-ray crystallography. In this study, we analyzed the interaction between the H-protein from canine distemper virus (CDV-H) and SLAMs by a computational chemistry approach. Molecular dynamics simulations and fragment molecular orbital analysis demonstrated that the unique His28 in the N-terminal region of SLAM from Macaca is a key determinant that enables the formation of a stable interaction with CDV-H, providing a basis for CDV infection in Macaca. The computational chemistry approach presented should enable the determination of molecular interactions involving regions of proteins that are difficult to predict from crystal structures because of their high flexibility.     

Probing the Catalytic Activity of Reduced Graphene Oxide Decorated with Au Nanoparticles Triggered by Visible Light

Hybrid materials in which reduced graphene oxide (rGO) is decorated with Au nanoparticles (rGO–Au NPs) were obtained by the in situ reduction of GO and AuCl₄^?_(aq) by ascorbic acid. On laser excitation, rGO could be oxidized as a result of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) excitation in the Au NPs, which generates activated O₂ through the transfer of SPR‐excited hot electrons to O₂ molecules adsorbed from air. The SPR‐mediated catalytic oxidation of p‐aminothiophenol (PATP) to p,p′‐dimercaptoazobenzene (DMAB) was then employed as a model reaction to probe the effect of rGO as a support for Au NPs on their SPR‐mediated catalytic activities. The increased conversion of PATP to DMAB relative to individual Au NPs indicated that charge‐transfer processes from rGO to Au took place and contributed to improved SPR‐mediated activity. Since the transfer of electrons from Au to adsorbed O₂ molecules is the crucial step for PATP oxidation, in addition to the SPR‐excited hot electrons of Au NPs, the transfer of electrons from rGO to Au contributed to increasing the electron density of Au above the Fermi level and thus the Au‐to‐O₂ charge‐transfer process.     

Light Diffraction of Aligned Polymer Fibers Periodically Dispersed by Phase Separation of Liquid Crystal and Polymer

We have confirmed light diffraction of aligned polymer fibers obtained by a phase separation of an anisotropic-phase solution of liquid crystal and polymer. He—Ne laser light passing through the polymer fibers was scattered in the axis vertical to the fibers, and had two peaks of light intensity symmetrical to the center of the transmitting laser spot. The two peaks were found to be caused by light diffraction due to the periodic polymer-fiber dispersion because the peaks corresponded to values calculated by intervals between the fibers. The periodical fiber networks are considered to be formed by anisotropic spinodal decomposition. This effect can be used to measure the dispersion order of the polymer fibers. © 2004 The Optical Society of Japan     

Extending the possibility of an N-Troc-protected sialic acid donor toward variant sialo-glycoside synthesis

The potential of an N-Troc-protected sialic acid donor, equipped with phenylsulfenyl functionality as a leaving group, has been explored. As a result, the entitled donor was proven to be highly reactive and to have broad applicability toward the synthesis of variant sialo-glycans, which have N-glycolyl, de-N-acetyl, 1,5-lactam and 8-O-sulfo sialic acid analogs.     

Structural characterization of polypyrrole in the solid state by high resolution 15N NMR spectroscopy [II]

The solid-state ¹⁵N CP/MAS NMR spectra and ¹⁵N spin-lattice relaxation times (T₁) of doped and dedoped ¹⁵N-labeled polypyrroles prepared by electrochemical polymerization, have been measured by means of high-resolution solid-state ¹⁵N NMR. The ¹⁵N signal of polypyrrole consists of four peaks decomposed by line shape analysis. The four peaks obtained have been assigned to the various structures of polypyrrole. Further, the half-width of the ¹⁵N NMR spectra of polypyrroles is discussed as related to the electrical conductivity. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On singularities arising from the contraction op the minimal section of a ruled surface

We will discuss the Gorenstein property of the singularity which is blown down from the minimal section of a ruled surface in terms of the extension class. In the case that the base field has positive characteristic, we find a new example (3.4) of Gorenstein singularity in connection with Theorem B.     

Curved Ferroelectric Liquid Crystal Matrix Displays Driven by Field-Sequential-Color and Active-Matrix Techniques

This paper describes a curved field-sequential-color matrix display using fast-response ferroelectric liquid crystal. Black matrix and transparent electrode patterns were formed on a thin plastic substrate by a transfer method from a glass substrate. While a composite film of liquid crystal and micro-polymers of walls and fibers was formed between the flexible substrates by printing, laminating and curing processes of a solution of monomers and liquid crystal, the mechanical stability was enhanced by use of multi-functional monomers to form large display panels. The image pixels of the matrix panel were driven by an active matrix scheme using an external switch transistor array at a frequency of 180 Hz for intermittent three-primary-color backlight illumination. The flexible A4-paper-sized color display with 24 × 16 pixels and 60 Hz field frequency was demonstrated by illuminating it with sequential three-primary-color lights from light-emitting diodes of the backlight. Our display system is useful in various information displays because of its freedom of setting and location.     

Measurement on Spot Size Dependence of Dense WDM Dielectric Multilayer Filters

We present the spot size dependence of dielectric multilayer filters for use in dense WDM systems. We found large dependences of filter performances on the spot size and the incident angle of input light, which should be important for miniaturizing multi-channel add/drop filters.     

Effects of oblique-incidence evaporation on magnetic properties of Fe20Ni80/Fe70Co30 bilayer film

Evaporative deposition at oblique incidence is shown to enhance the magnetic anisotropy of an Fe₂₀Ni₈₀ magnetic film and induce magnetic anisotropy in an overlying, strongly isotropic Fe₇₀Co₃₀ film. This deposition method for the formation of an underlayer of several lattice parameters in thickness and semi-hard overlayer of a few thousands Angstroms in thickness achieves a significant change in the magnetization process and strong suppression of the coercive forces of Fe₇₀Co₃₀ in the hard magnetization direction. Soft magnetization of the Fe₇₀Co₃₀ overlayer is not achieved when one of the layers is deposited at oblique incidence. It is anticipated that shape magnetic anisotropy is responsible in part for the magnetic anisotropy induced in both in Fe₂₀Ni₈₀ under- and Fe₇₀Co₃₀ overlayer by oblique incidence evaporation.