Trinucleon cluster structure at high-excitation energies in A=6 nuclei

Trinucleon molecular structures in ⁶He and ⁶Be were investigated by using the ⁶Li(⁷Li, ⁷Be)⁶He reaction at 455 MeV and ⁶Li(³He, t)⁶Be reaction at 450 MeV, respectively. Binary decays into t + t from a broad state at E _x =18.0±1.0 MeV in ⁶He and into ³He + ³He from one at E _x =18.0±1.2 MeV in ⁶Be, respectively, were observed by measuring trinucleon cluster decays in coincidence with reaction particles. The branching ratios for binary decay were estimated to be about 0.7 for ⁶He and ⁶Be. These large branching ratios show that a trinucleon cluster state exists as an isobaric partner around E _x =18 MeV in ⁶He and ⁶Be.     

Preparation and certification of the new reference materials; plastics (disk form, JSAC 0621-0625) for determination of mercury using x-ray fluorescent analysis.

The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry has developed some new plastic certified reference materials (CRMs) for the analysis of mercury in polyester disks using XRF analysis. These CRMs (named as JSAC 0621-0625) were prepared by casting polyesters including a toluene solution of organometallic compounds as a standard. Concentrations of the five levels of mercury ranged from 0 to 250 mg/kg. Homogeneity tests of prepared disks had shown excellent results. Interlaboratory comparison study for the certification was performed by 15 laboratory participants. The z-scores in robust statistical method was applied for the evaluation of outliers. The certified values were assigned after discarding outliers. The uncertainties of certified values were determined as the confidence levels of 95%.     

Simple and sensitive determination of methylglyoxal in biological samples by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection

Methylglyoxal was allowed to react with 4,5-dichloro-1,2-phenylenediamine, and the 6,7-dichloro-2-methylquinoxaline formed was determined by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. The standard curve of the quinoxaline was linear up to 160 pmol/ml. The recoveries of methylglyoxal from coffee and rat liver homogenate were 84.1 and 77.6%, respectively. This procedure was very selective and so sensitive that as little as 9 fmol of the quinoxaline could be measured in biological and food samples.     

Hexakis(2-pyridyl)- and hexakis(3-pyridyl)[3]radialene: novel,water-soluble [3]radialenes with potential utility for supramolecular chemistry

The titled [3]radialenes are the first, water-soluble hexaaryl[3]radialenes with considerably high electron affinity, their alkali metal reduction giving rise to anion-radicals and dianions stepwise as fairly stable species in degassed tetrahydrofuran.     

Evaluation of thyroid scintigraphy in small animals

Thyroid scintigraphy in rats and mice with 99mTc and 123I was attempted to examine whether this modality might be used in small animals and to describe the possibilities of its application in examining experimentally produced thyroid diseases. A human gamma camera with a pinhole collimator improved for small animals was used for imaging. Thyroid images with 99mTc were obtained 20 minutes after injection and those with 123I were 24 hours after administration. All the scintigrams, although those obtained from mice with 99mTc displayed overlapped salivary gland images, demonstrated sufficiently clear images in size and shape, which showed that thyroid scintigraphy in small animals should be applicable in examining experimentally produced thyroid diseases.     

Selective formation of AAB- and ABC-type heterotrimeric alpha-helical coiled coils

The alpha-helical coiled coils have a representative amino acid sequence of (abcdefg)(n) heptad repeats. We previously reported that two peptides named IZ-2A and IZ-2W formed an (IZ-2A)(2)/IZ-2W heterotrimer with an Ala-Ala-Trp interaction in the hydrophobic core. In this paper, we describe the selective formation of AAB- and ABC-type heterotrimers. To increase the selectivity of the AAB-type heterotrimeric formation, Lys residues at the f position were mutated to either an Ala or a Gln residue to form IZ-2A(fA) or IZ-2W(fQ). Separately, both IZ-2A(fA) and IZ-2W(fQ) have a random structure at pH 7 and 20 degrees C. However, together IZ-2A(fA) and IZ-2W(fQ) form a 2:1 complex with a thermal transition midpoint (Tm) of 48 degrees C. This procedure was applied to prepare the ABC-type heterotrimer, in which two sets of Ala-Ala-Trp interactions were designed in the hydrophobic core. Interhelical interaction between the e and g positions and the alpha-helical propensity of the amino acid at the f position were also considered in the design. The resultant three peptides selectively formed the ABC-type heterotrimer with a Tm of 51 degrees C. Other peptide combinations had random coil properties.     

The flameless atomic absorption spectrometric determination of aluminum with a carbon atomization system

The atomic absorption spectrometry of aluminum with a carbon tube atomizer is described, with particular reference to the heating cycle, argon flow rate and amplifier time constant. Interferences are eliminated by pre-atomization heating or with a hydrogen-argon-entrained air flame. Under optimal conditions, the sensitivity (1 % absorbance) is 5·10^?11g, and the relative standard deviation is 2.3 for 2.5 ng Al.     

A simple technique to measure regional cerebral blood flow during intravascular balloon clamping

A case of giant internal carotid ophthalmic aneurysm was presented. In order to clarify whether the patient could tolerate carotid occlusion, a balloon clamping test was performed. before surgery. The cerebral blood flow was measured using early imaging by single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with N-isopropyl-(iodine-123)-p-iodoamphetamine (123I-IMP). When the balloon clamping test was performed the tracer was injected, and scanning was performed 35 minutes after removing the catheter. This tracer enabled a "memory of blood flow" during temporary ischemia to determine the character of quick diffusion and slow wash out, that could not be performed by other methods of cerebral blood flow measurement. SPECT with 123I-IMP can simplify the measurement of cerebral blood flow during the balloon clamping test.