Quantum Interference, Quantum Theory of Measurement, and (In)completeness of Quantum Mechanics

The new techniques and ideas in quantum interferometry with neutrons, photons, atoms, electrons, and Bose condensates that fluorished in the last two decades have influenced in a decisive way the thinking and the research in the foundations and interpretation of quantum mechanics. The controversies existing among different schools on the reality of matter waves of quantum theory, the postulates of quantum measurement theory, and the (in)completeness of quantum mechanics have to be approached now in a new way. Our argumentation follows the spirit of the Paris school.     

Intake of different chemical species of dietary arsenic by the japanese,and their blood and urinary arsenic levels

We calculated the intake of each chemical species of dietary arsenic by typical Japanese, and determined urinary and blood levels of each chemical species of arsenic. The mean total arsenic intake by 35 volunteers was 195±235 (15.8-1039) μg As day^?1, composed of 76% trimethylated arsenic (TMA), 17.3% inorganic arsenic (As_i), 5.8% dimethylated arsenic (DMA), and 0.8% monomethylated arsenic (MA): the intake of TMA was the largest of all the measured species. Intake of As_i characteristically and invariably occurred in each meal. Of the intake of As_i, 45-75% was methylated in vivo to form MA and DMA, and excreted in these forms into urine. The mean measured urinary total arsenic level in 56 healthy volunteers was 129±92.0 μg As dm^?3, composed of 64.6% TMA, 26.7% DMA, 6.7% As_i and 2.2% MA. The mean blood total arsenic level in the 56 volunteers was 0.73±0.57 μg dl^?1, composed of 73% TMA, 14% DMA and 9.6% As_i. The urinary TMA levels proved to be significantly correlated with the whole-blood TMA levels (r = 0.376; P<0.01).     

Genetically Encoded Bioluminescent Indicator for ERK2 Dimer in Living Cells

In this study, a genetically encoded bioluminescent indicator for ERK2 dimer was developed with the split Renilla luciferase complementation method, in which the formation of ERK2 dimer induces a spontaneous emission of bioluminescence in living cells. In response to extracellular stimuli, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF) or 17β‐estradiol (E2), extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 2 (ERK2) is phosphorylated by its upstream kinase MEK, and also phosphorylates its substrates in various regions of the cell, including the nucleus. Phosphorylated ERK2 is led to form its dimer, thereby transporting itself into the nucleus. We demonstrated with the indicator that stimulation with EGF or E2 induces the formation of ERK2 dimer in living MCF‐7 cells. The dynamics of this dimer formation was examined and discussed.     

Z/E-photoisomerizations of olefins with 4npi- or (4n + 2)pi-electron substituents: zigzag variations in olefin properties along the T(1) state energy surfaces

[Figure: see text]. A quantum chemical study has been performed to assess changes in aromaticity along the T1 state Z/E-isomerization pathways of annulenyl-substituted olefins. It is argued that the point on the T1 energy surface with highest substituent aromaticity corresponds to the minimum. According to Baird (J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1972, 94, 4941), aromaticity and antiaromaticity are interchanged when going from S0 to T1. Thus, olefins with S0 aromatic substituents (set A olefins) will be partially antiaromatic in T1 and vice versa for olefins with S0 antiaromatic substituents (set B olefins). Twist of the C=C bond to a structure with a perpendicular orientation of the 2p(C) orbitals (3p*) in T1 should lead to regaining substituent aromaticity in set A and loss of aromaticity in set B olefins. This hypothesis is verified through quantum chemical calculations of T1 energies, geometries (bond lengths and harmonic oscillator measure of aromaticity), spin densities, and nucleus independent chemical shifts whose differences along the T1 PES display zigzag dependencies on the number of -electrons in the annulenyl substituent of the olefin. Aromaticity changes are reflected in the profiles of the T1 potential energy surfaces (T1 PESs) for Z/E-isomerizations because olefins in set A have minima at 3p* whereas those in set B have maxima at such structures. The proper combination (fusion) of the substituents of set A and B olefins could allow for design of novel optical switch compounds that isomerize adiabatically with high isomerization quantum yields.     

Speciation of chromium in waste waters by coupled column ion chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

An application of coupled column ion chromatography (IC)-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is presented for speciation of chromium in waste waters. By coupling an anion column with a cation column, both the cationic Cr(III) and anionic Cr(VI) species can be analyzed with detection limits below 0.5 μg/1. The separation of the interfering ions (chloride, chlorate, perchlorate, sulphate, sulphite, sulphide, thiosulphate, carbonate, cyanide and some organic compounds) from the chromium peaks is discussed, and the use of different chromium isotopes for data acquisition is compared. Based on the results, m/z 52 was considered as an ideal isotope for speciation of chromium in waste waters by the coupled column IC-ICP-MS, because it did not suffer from polyatomic interferences and due to the high sensitivity for chromium. The analysis of the waste water samples should be performed as soon as possible after sampling according to the stability tests of the species.     

Synthesis of Urea‐Tethered Disaccharides in Water

A new method for the synthesis of urea‐linked disaccharides in aqueous media has been developed. The key feature of our approach is two strained Steyermark‐type gluco‐ and galactopyranosyl oxazolidinones. Each oxazolidinone is attached to a pyranose ring in a di‐equatorial trans‐annulation framework. Reaction of these oxazolidinones with 4‐aminohexopyranose in water proceeded smoothly to afford the urea‐tethered cellobiose and lactose analogues. The galactose‐type oxazolidinone proved to be more reactive than the glucose‐type, which is explained by the presence of an axial hydroxy group at C4 in the former.     

Novel trichothecanes, paecilomycine A, B, and C, isolated from entomopathogenic fungus, Paecilomyces tenuipes

Paecilomycine A (1), B (2), and C (3) were isolated from cultivated fruiting bodies of Paecilomyces tenuipes (Isaria japonica), which is a popular entomopathogenic fungus used in folk medicine and health foods in China, Korea, and Japan. The structures of 1-3 were deduced from their spectroscopic data and their absolute configurations were elucidated by preparing their MPA esters. Compound 1 showed activity in the neurotrophic factor biosynthesis in glial cells.     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate initiated by tri-n-butylborane–organic halide systems

The polymerization of methyl methacrylate (MMA) initiated by tri-n-butylborane (TBB) was studied in the presence of various organic halides (R′X). It was found that R′X accelerated the polymerization of MMA. Aliphatic halides were more effective than aromatic halides. Cocatalytic effects of butyl halides decreased in the order: n -BuI > n -BuBr > n -BuCl; n -BuBr ? sec-BuBr > i-BuBr > tert-BuBr. In the polymerization of MMA by TBB- n -BuI, the initial rate of polymerization was found to be proportional to the concentration of MMA and to the square root of the concentration of TBB-n-BuI. The apparent activation energy was 5.3 kcal/mole. From this and other results, it was assumed that the polymerization of MMA by this initiator system proceeds by a radical mechanism via a weak complex between TBB and R′X; alkyl radicals are formed by the interaction of R′X with TBB. The TBB–R′X system can initiate the polymerization of MMA and AN, but is ineffective in the polymerization of styrene.     

Theoretical approach and the practice to the evaluation of structural parameters characterizing concentration polarization alongside ion-exchange membranes by means of dielectric measurement

As the application of a dielectric theory proposed previously (J Membrane Sci 64:153–161 (1991)), theoretical formulation and the practical procedure of dielectric analysis are developed to calculate the structural parameters such as the conductivity gradient and the thickness of the concentration polarization layer, the capacitances and the conductances of the two adjoining aqueous phases from the observed dielectric parameters. The procedure of calculation consequent upon the theoretical formulation was applied to double relaxation data observed for cation-exchange membrane systems under application of d.c. bias voltage. As a consequence, the structural parameters of concentration polarization were readily obtained with accuracy.