Mutation detection in the drug-resistant hepatitis B virus polymerase gene using nanostructured reverse micelles.

The emergence of drug-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been reported in patients with prolonged administration of lamivudine, which is a potent drug for the prevention of HBV infection. Lamivudine-resistant HBV has several types of mutations at the YMDD motif of its DNA polymerase. We successfully demonstrated that monitoring the hybridization behavior in nanostructured reverse micelles enables us to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). With the aid of reverse micelles, a model 40-mer oligonucleotide containing a single-base substitution was clearly distinguished from the normal, complementary oligonucleotide. In addition, we extended this technique to a high-throughput analysis. The results obtained with a 96-well micro-plate reader indicated the possibility of SNPs detection toward multiple samples of patients.     

FMS scheduling based on timed Petri Net model and reactive graph search

This paper presents a new scheduling method for manufacturing system based on the Timed Petri Net model and a reactive fast graph search algorithm. The following two typical problems are addressed in this paper. (1) Minimization of the maximum completion time. (2) Minimization of the total tardiness. As for the problem (1), a new search algorithm which combines the RTA^∗ and a rule-based supervisor is proposed. As for problem (2), the original Petri Net model is converted to its reverse model and the algorithm developed for the problem (1) is applied, regarding the due date as the starting time in the reverse model. Some numerical experiments are carried out to demonstrate usefulness of our algorithm.     

Optical separation of racemic 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin by reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography using eluents containing beta-cyclodextrin.

Both S-(-)- and R-(+)-enantiomers of 5-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylhydantoin (p-HPPH), a main oxidative metabolite of the achiral antiepileptic drug phenytoin, could be determined simply, sensitively and accurately using reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography by using a methanol-monopotassium phosphate eluent containing beta-cyclodextrin. Using this assay procedure, it was determined that an S-(-)-enantiomer was formed predominantly by the oxidation of phenytoin in isolated rat hepatocytes.     

The analysis of thermal stresses in thermopiezoelastic semi-infinite body with an edge crack

Summary  Thermopiezoelastic materials have recently attracted considerable attention because of their potential use in intelligent or smart structural systems. The governing equations of a thermopiezoelastic medium are more complex due to the intrinsic coupling effects that take place among mechanical, electrical and thermal fields. In this analysis, we deal with the problem of a crack in a semi-infinite, transversely isotropic, thermopiezoelastic material by means of potential functions and Fourier transforms under steady heat-flux loading conditions. The problem is reduced to a singular integral equation that is solved. The thermal stress intensity factor for a crack situated in a cadmium selenide material is calculated. Received 20 March 2001; accepted for publication 18 October 2001     

Proposal of sampling process for collecting human sweat and determination of caffeine concentration in it by using GC/MS

Caffeine concentration in human sweat was estimated by measuring separately the amounts of water and caffeine. After washing a finger with tap water for 15 s and waiting 2 min for drying, 70 microL aqueous ethanol solution in a small vial (0.6 mL) was used to sample for several minutes. Then 3 microL of the aliquot was used for GC/MS analysis of caffeine. As a first-order relationship between the sweat amount secreted on the left and right hands was obtained (correlation factor 0.848), the amount of sweat secretion during sampling on one hand was estimated by the value obtained on the other hand. This new indirect evaluation was used for the estimation of the amount of sweat secreted during sampling. Typical variations of caffeine concentration in sweat were demonstrated. Thirty minutes after the intake of caffeine, it was secreted in sweat, and the secretion had continued for more than 4 h.     

Evaluation of Photocatalytic Activity of Transparent Anatase Nanocrystals-Dispersed Silica Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel Process with Hot Water Treatment

Anatase nanocrystals were precipitated mainly at the surface of the silica-titania gel films with hot water treatment, whereas the addition of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) in the films led to the dispersion of anatase nanocrystals in the whole of the films after the treatment. Both films with and without PEG showed high photocatalytic activities for acetaldehyde, NO _x and stearic acid in the gas-solid system, and for methylene blue and potassium iodide in the liquid-solid system. The addition of PEG improved the photocatalytic activities of the resultant films due to the smaller anatase crystallites and the porous film structure. The residual silica under-layer of the superficially anatase-precipitated films is expected to act as a protective one for an organic polymer substrate against the photocatalytic degradation.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (25R)-25,26-dihydroxy-23-oxovitamin D3 and its enzymatic conversion to (25R)-1α,25,26-trihydroxy-23-oxovitamin D3, a putative metabolite of vitamin D3

(25$\text{R}$)-25,26-Dihydroxy-23-oxovitamin D₃ was synthesized efficiently and stereoselectively, and it was converted enzymatically to (25$\text{R}$)-1α,25,26-trihydroxy-23-oxovitamin D₃, a putative metabolite of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃. The spectral and chemical properties of (25$\text{R}$)-25,26-dihydroxy-23-oxovitamin D₃ and its 1α,hydroxylated derivative disagree with those reported for the isolated metabolite.