Magnetic behavior of the bond random mixed compound FE(BR x I1−x )2(x = 0.9) with Mössbauer spectroscopy

The bond random mixed compound Fe(Br_0.9I_0.1)₂ has been studied by magnetization and Mössbauer measurements. Although the zero-field cooled and field-cooled magnetization variations are not like a typical spin glass one, the Mössbauer spectrum below Néel temperature shows a hyperfine field distribution. It implies that the 10% FeI₂ mixed in FeBr₂ can be induced by the bond random effect which causes the sample to exhibit a spin glass-like behavior.     

Comparative studies of the colony-promoting activity of porcine kidney extract with several interleukins and colony-stimulating factors.

Porcine kidney extracts (PKE) possess colony-promoting activity (CPA) which stimulates primitive hematopoietic cells in the presence of granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), but PKE itself does not stimulate colony formation on murine bone marrow cells. We have compared the CPA of PKE with that of recombinant cytokines or CSFs such as interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), IL-3, IL-6, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), GM-CSF and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (CSF-1). All of these factors were less potent than PKE. Furthermore, the combinations of IL-1 alpha or PKE with G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-3 or IL-6 were examined in the presence of one of these factors such as CSF. It is found that PKE acts synergistically with G-CSF, GM-CSF, IL-3 and IL-6, showing enhancement ratios of 10, 2.5, 4.2 and 30, respectively. The combination of IL-1 alpha resulted in poor colony formation in contrast with those of PKE, except for CSF-1. These results suggest that the CPA of the factor(s) in PKE differ from the cytokines and CSFs tested in this study, and is significantly affected by various types of CSF.     

Microchannel-assisted thermal-lens spectrometry for microchip analysis

We present a new method for homocysteine quantitation in human plasma based on in-capillary reaction of homocysteine with 2,2′-dipyridyl disulfide. Homocysteine is in this so-called thiol-exchange reaction quantitatively transformed in mixed disulfide concomitantly with formation of an equimolar amount of 2-thiopyridone that is further separated by micellar electrokinetic chromatography and determined specifically at 343 nm. The concentration of homocysteine is thus estimated indirectly from the result of 2-thiopyridone determination. The linear detection range for concentration versus peak area for the assay was from 0.03–3 mM (correlation coefficient 0.994) with a detection limit of 6 μM and a limit of quantitation 20 μM. The inter-day reproducibility of the peak area and the migration time were 1.37% and 0.05%, respectively. The method is simple, relatively rapid and can be easily automated. Moreover the common capillary electrophoresis apparatus with a UV detector can be used to distinguish between normal and pathological hyperhomocysteinemia plasma samples.     

Partial purification and characterization of a factor for the enhancement of colony formation in vitro by myeloid progenitor cells.

We have purified a factor, hematopoietic promoting factor (HPF), from porcine kidney extract (PKE), which exhibits a promoting activity on granulocyte/macrophage (GM) colony and burst-forming-unit-erythroid (BFU-E)-derived colony formation by progenitors from murine bone marrow cells in vitro. The addition of HPF resulted in an enhancement of the GM colonies as well as BFU-E-derived colonies, but did not enhance the colony-forming-unit-erythroid (CFU-E)-derived colony formation. HPF was added to the BFU-E cultures together with cytokines, such as recombinant murine interleukin-3 (IL-3), recombinant murine GM colony-stimulating-factor (GM-CSF) and recombinant human G-CSF, which have all been shown to enhance BFU-E growth. The combination of HPF plus these cytokines resulted in an enhancement of benzidine negative colony formation in comparison to the case of each cytokine alone; however, no increase was found on BFU-E colony formation. HPF is able to enhance the granulopoiesis and erythropoiesis in vitro. And the synergistic activity of HPF is significantly affected by the presence of cytokines in the cultures.     

Syntheses and antiulcer activities of 2-aminonorbornene derivatives.

2,2,-Disubstituted norbornenes (1, 2), 2,2-Disubstituted norbornane (3), 2,2,3-trisubstituted norbornenes (4, 5), oxanorbornenes (6) and azanorbornenes (7) were synthesized by the Diels-Alder reaction using alpha, beta-dehydroamino acids as a key step, and their antiulcer activities were examined. The oxazolidine derivative (1h) exhibited the most potent activities against several ulcer-models in rat.     

Platanionosides D-J: megastigmane glycosides from the leaves of Alangium platanifolium (Sieb. et Zucc.) Harms var. platanifolium Sieb. et Zucc

From the leaves of Alangium paltanifolium var. platanifolium, collected in Fukuoka Prefecture, twelve further megastigmane glycosides were isolated. Seven of them, named platanionosides D-J (1-7), were found to be new compounds. Their structures were elucidated from spectroscopic evidence and their absolute structures were determined from beta-D-glucosylation-induced shift trends of 13C-NMR and by application of a modified Mosher's method.     

Effect of hydrophobic amino acids on the conformational change of decapeptides in micellar environments

A series of peptides containing various hydrophobic amino acids [methionine (Met), leucine (Leu), norleucine (Nle), phenylalanine (Phe), 2-aminooctanoic acid (Aoc), and 2-aminodecanoic acid (Ade)] were synthesized and their conformations were studied using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in different solvents such as water, methanol, and aqueous solution of ammonium tetradecanesulfonate. Peptides containing hydrophobic amino acids with linear side chains formed -sheets in water and methanol. Electrostatic interaction between the charged side chain (lysine) and a micelle consisting of an anionic surfactant, ammonium tetradecanesulfonate, is necessary for the formation of -helices in micellar environments. The conformational transition from -helix to -sheet structure required moderate hydrophobicity and linear side chains. This conformational transition depended on the surfactant concentration.     

Photopolymerization of cyclohexene oxide by use of o-nitrobenzyl triphenylsilyl ether/aluminum compound catalyst. Dependence of catalyst activity on the structure of the silyl ether

o-Nitrobenzyl triphenylsilyl ehther/aluminum compound has been previously shown by the authors to act as catalyst in the photopolymerization of epoxides. The dependence of the structure of the silyl ether on the catalyst activity was examined. There were two steps in the photopolymerization. The first step (“Step 1”) is photodecomposition of the silyl ether to silanol. The second step (“Step 2”) is the initiation of polymerization by silanol and the aluminum compound. The introduction of an electron withdrawing group, Cl, CF₃, on the benzene ring bonded to Si made the quantum yield of Step 1 low, however, the rate of Step 2 was increased. The low quantum yield of Step 1 was explained in terms of the rate of electron transfer that is controlled by the relative electron density between the CH₂ and NO₂ in the o-nitrobenzyl group. The acceleration of Step 2 was explained in terms of an increase in silanol acidity that was promoted by the introduction of an electron withdrawing group. The overall rate of the photopolymerizatiol depends to a greater degree on the rate of Step 2 than on that of Step 1.