Modification of Spatial Coherence by Means of Low-Order Zernike-Mode Adaptive Optics

Spatial coherence of the field modified by low-order adaptive optics is analyzed to establish a theoretical basis for the recent idea of using adaptive optics as a spatial coherence modifier. In this context low-order adaptive optics has the ability to correct some of the low-order aberrations specified by Zernike polynomials. The initial field to be modified is assumed to be a spatially partially coherent one resulting from phase disturbance. It is demonstrated, as in the previous study, that low-order adaptive optics serves to enhance the spatial coherence of the resultant field and that the effect of the enhancement becomes stronger as the spatial coherence of the initially partially coherent field increases. Potential applications of low-order adaptive optics as a spatial coherence modifier are briefly discussed.     

Effect of solvent on the cation-sensitive fluorescence of polyanions bearing 4′-acryloylbenzo-18-crown-6 Units

Changes in the fluorescence intensity of polyanions bearing 4-acryloylbenzo-18-crown-6 units on the addition of cations were studied in a mixed solvent of methanol and water at 30°C. The sensitivity of the change in fluorescence intensities of the polymers toward cations was strongly enhanced compared to that of the corresponding model compound. When alkali metal cations were added, the fluorescence intensity of the polymers decreased in the orders Li⁺>Na⁺>Cs⁺>Rb⁺>K⁺ in a methanol-water (19) mixture and Li⁺>Na⁺>Rb⁺>K⁺Cs⁺ in a methanol-water (91) mixture. Alkaline earth metal cations and alkylamine hydrochlorides decreased the fluorescence intensity of the polymers in a methanol-water (19) mixture. The cation-dependent decrease in the fluorescence intensity of the polymers was affected by the water fraction in a mixed solvent of methanol and water.     

Asymmetric synthesis of highly substituted beta-nitro alcohols and enantiomerically enriched 4,4,5-trisubstituted oxazolidinones

It is demonstrated that alpha,alpha-disubstituted-alpha-nitroketones are reduced to the corresponding trisubstituted nitro alcohols in good to excellent yield and enantiomeric excess by borane-dimethyl sulfide in the presence of a chiral oxazaborolidine catalyst. Reduction of the nitro alcohols to the corresponding amino alcohols and their subsequent conversion to enantiomerically enriched 4,4,5-trisubstituted oxazoldinones is also reported.     

Synthesis and photo-induced dissolution of polymers bearing imino sulfonate groups

Novel photosensitive polymers were synthesized by the copolymerization of methyl methacrylate and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-naphthylideneimino p-styrenesulfonate (NISS) and by the ternary polymerization of methyl methacrylate, methacrylic acid, and 9-fluorenylideneiminop-styrene-sulfonate (FISS). NISS and FISS units showed good sensitivity to light of wavelengths below 300 nm and below 366 nm, respectively. Although the polymers were insoluble in aqueous alkaline solutions, on irradiation with UV light they became soluble in aqueous alkaline solutions. A remarkable decrease in molecular weight of the polymers was observed during the photolysis of imino sulfonate groups incorporated into the polymers, which assisted the dissolution of the irradiated polymers.     

Determination of pheophytinatonickel(II) by reversed-phase highperformance liquid chromatography

Summary HPLC determination of pheophytinatonicke(II) (Pheo-Ni) prepared by the replacement of magnesium(II) in chlorophyll with nicke(II) is described. The good separation of PheoNi was obtained by using chemically bonded C₁₈ as the stationary phase and acetone-methanol (50∶50, vol/vol) as the mobile phase. Conventional spectrophotometric method was also used for the determination of PheoNi. For the synthetic samples prepared by mixing (pheophytinato a) nicke(II) [(Pheo-a) Ni] and (pheophytinato b) nicke(II) [(Pheo-b) Ni], analytical values obtained by the spectrophotometric method were very high compared to those obtained by HPLC. In the proposed HPLC method, (Pheo-a) Ni and (Pheo-b). Ni could be determined in the concentration range of 0.028–30μg/ml and 0.038–30μg/ml with relative standard deviations (n=10) of 3.1% and 0.8%, respectively.     

The Role of Diacylglycerol Kinase in the Amelioration of Diabetic Nephropathy

The drastic increase in the number of patients with diabetes and its complications is a global issue. Diabetic nephropathy, the leading cause of chronic kidney disease, significantly affects patients’ quality of life and medical expenses. Furthermore, there are limited drugs for treating diabetic nephropathy patients. Impaired lipid signaling, especially abnormal protein kinase C (PKC) activation by de novo-synthesized diacylglycerol (DG) under high blood glucose, is one of the causes of diabetic nephropathy. DG kinase (DGK) is an enzyme that phosphorylates DG and generates phosphatidic acid, i.e., DGK can inhibit PKC activation under diabetic conditions. Indeed, it has been proven that DGK activation ameliorates diabetic nephropathy. In this review, we summarize the involvement of PKC and DGK in diabetic nephropathy as therapeutic targets, and its mechanisms, by referring to our recent study.     

Catalytic Activity of Molecular Rhenium Sulfide Clusters [Re6S8(OH)6−n (H2O) n ](4−n)− (n = 0, 2, 4, 6) with Retention of the Octahedral Metal Frameworks: Dehydrogenation and Dehydration of 1,4-Butanediol

A series of molecular rhenium sulfide clusters [Re₆S₈(OH)_6?n (H₂O) _n ]^(4?n)? (n = 0, 2, 4, 6) catalyze dehydrogenation of alcohols, and hydrogenation of ketones and olefins in a hydrogen stream at 350 °C. The catalytic activities of the dianionic and neutral clusters (n = 2, 4) are lower than those of tetraanionic and dicationic clusters (n = 0, 6) for all the reactions. When 1,4-butanediol is allowed to react over K₄[Re₆S₈(OH)₆], dehydrogenation proceeds to yield 2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran and successively γ-butyrolactone above 300 °C. Over [Re₆S₈(H₂O)₆]SO₄ dehydration proceeds to yield tetrahydrofuran above 250 °C. The thermal activation mechanisms of these clusters were studied by powder X-ray diffraction analyses, Raman spectrometry, extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectrometry, thermogravimetry, and differential thermal analyses. The catalytically active site of K₄[Re₆S₈(OH)₆] is an uncoordinated metal site (Lewis acid site) developed by the loss of a water molecule from two hydroxo ligands. The active site of [Re₆S₈(H₂O)₆]SO₄ is a Brønsted acid site; the anhydrous aqua cluster dication disproportionates to a hydroxo cluster monocation and a proton. Both of the octahedral cluster frameworks are retained up to 500 °C.     

Interaction between dyes and polyelectrolytes. XIII. Effect of dye aggregation on the excitation energy transfer between bound dyes

Effect of polyanions on the aggregation of methylene blue (MB) was investigated spectrophotometrically. The following polyanions were used: potassium poly(vinyl sulfate), potassium poly(styrenesulfonate), sodium poly(methacrylate), and sodium poly(acrylate). The state of aggregation was largely dependent on the kind of polyanion and polyanion-MB ratio. MB-photo-sensitized isomerization of cis-p-(phenylazo)phenyltrimethylammonium iodide(cis-PTA) to the transisomer was used advantageously to investigate the effect of dye aggregation on the triplet excitation energy transfer between cationic dyes bound to polyanions. Although the efficiency of the excitation energy transfer between MB and cis-PTA was enhanced by the addition of polyanions, the formation of highly aggregated MB reduced the efficiency of the excitation energy transfer. Correlation with the dye aggregation induced by polyanions and the efficiency of excitation energy transfer between dyes was discussed.