Changes in the near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure spectra of long-chain diacetylene derivatives through photopolymerization in Langmuir–Blodgett films

Photopolymerization of cadmium 10,12-pentacosadiynoate (CdDA) in Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films, with the molecular packing well arranged by moderate preannealing, was investigated with near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy. Greenish films of polydiacetylene with an absorption wavelength of 705 nm were obtained through the photopolymerization of preannealed monomer LB films, and this resulted in an extended π-conjugate system based on the well-ordered monomer in a two-dimensional arrangement. The electronic structures of the polydiacetylenes were found to be correlated to the variation of the molecular arrangements in the films from the changes in the NEXAFS spectra through photopolymerization in the LB films. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 42: 2329–2336, 2004     

Oscillatory reaction using immobilized catalase.

Oscillation is found in many biological systems, and among them the enzymatic oscillatory reaction has been well studied using an enzyme solution. We show in this study for the first time that oscillation occurs when catalase is immobilized to controlled pore glass (CPG). The oscillatory wave mode changes with the distance among the CPG, electrode, or dialysis membrane. The lower substrate concentration results in oscillation with a longer period. This tendency agrees with a previous study using an enzyme solution. Furthermore, we show that the oscillation occurs when no dialysis membrane is used. These results show the wider applicability of the system to analysis or novel device fabrication.     

The Nonexistence of Procedures with Bounded Performance Characteristics in Certain Parametric Inference Problems

This paper gives a condition which implies the nonexistence of parametric statistical procedures with bounded risk or error performance characteristics. Many examples for which such a condition is satisfied are considered.     

Laser spectroscopy of trapped 7Be and 10Be at a prototype slow RI-beam facility of RIKEN

A next-generation slow radioactive nuclear ion beam facility (SLOWRI) which provides slow, high-purity and small emittance ion beams of all elements is being build as one of the principal facilities at the RIKEN RI-beam factory (RIBF). High energy radioactive ion beams from the projectile fragment separator BigRIPS are thermalized in a large gas catcher cell. The thermalized ions in the gas cell are guided and extracted to a vacuum environment by a combination of dc electric fields and inhomogeneous rf fields (rf carpet ion guide). From there the slow ion beam is delivered via a mass separator and a switchyard to various devices: such as an ion trap, a collinear fast beam apparatus, and a multi-reflection time of flight mass spectrometer. In the R&D works at the present RIKEN facility, an overall efficiency of 5% for a 100A MeV ⁸Li ion beam from the present projectile fragment separator RIPS was achieved and the dependence of the efficiency on the ion beam intensity was investigated. Recently our first spectroscopy experiment at the prototype SLOWI was performed on Be isotopes. Energetic ions of ¹⁰Be and ⁷Be from the RIPS were trapped and laser cooled in a linear rf trap and the specific mass shifts of these isotopes were measured for the first time.     

Epitaxy: the motion picture

The engineering of many modern electronic devices demands control over a crystal down to the thickness of a single layer of atoms—and future demands will be even more challenging. Such control is achieved by the method of crystal growth known as epitaxy, and that makes this method the subject of intense study. More than that, recent advances are revolutionizing our knowledge of how surfaces grow. In fact, growing surfaces show a beautifully rich variety of phenomena, many of which are only now beginning to be uncovered. In the past few years many surface imaging techniques have been used to give us a close look at how crystals grow—while they are growing. The purpose of this article will be to illustrate some of the ways real surfaces grow and change as revealed by some of the latest in situ microscopic imaging technologies.

It is often said that crystal growth is more of an art than a science. Here we will show that it is emphatically both.     

Characterization of U series nuclides in geological materials by selective leaching method

Geological and geochemical events were elucidated in by using U series nuclides in combination with chemical leaching technique. Two examples were examined: (1) in the apatite-bearing sediment column samples U(VI) is moving, while U(IV) in the samples is almost retained, and (2) the redistribution of U occurred along the column under the monsoon climate. On the other hand, U in the conglomerate sample is divided into 5 categories by the leaching technique, which are related with exchangeable, carbonate, iron oxide, organic/sulfide and silicate components, respectively. Uranium is shown to be abundant in the carbonate and iron rich fractions of conglomerate sediment. Appropriate models are proposed in each case study.     

Spectrophotometric determination of anthracycline anticancer agents with aluminum(III) and chromazurol S in a nonionic surfactant micellar medium.

A simple and highly sensitive spectrophotometric method for the determination of anthracycline anticancer agents, such as Daunorubicin hydrochloride (DAU), was established by using aluminum(III) and Chromazurol S (CAS) in a nonionic surfactant micellar medium. In the case of determination of DAU, the apparent molar absorptivity was 1.3 x 10(5) dm3 mol(-1) cm(-1) at 615 nm. Beer's law was obeyed in the concentration range of 0.028 - 2.82 microg ml(-1) for DAU. Owing to no need for solvent extraction, this method could be applied to assays of DAU and related drugs in pharmaceutical preparations.     

A study on LH- and FSH-RIA kits by immunoradiometric assay

An evaluation of LH- and FSH-RIA BEAD kits based on IRMA was carried out. The results obtained with the methods characterized by the use of monoclonal antibodies, i.e., one is linked to solid phase, and another is isotopically labeled, were compared with those determined by the Daiichi LH- and FSH-kits. Intra- and inter-assay precision, recovery, linearity, and specificity of both methods were favorable without exceptions. The cross reactivity of the LH kit to 5,000 mIU/ml hCG revealed within the range of less than 3 mIU/ml. Significant correlations were observed between the results derived from conventional Daiichi LH- and FSH-kits. The results from the conventional kits exhibited 30 to 40% of those from the Daiichi kits, considered to be mainly due to the difference in standard calibrations used. Among the individuals within the normal menstrual cycle, the serum LH- and FSH-levels determined by the present kits gave a typical pattern with a peak in the preovulatory phase. On the other hand, the LH- and FSH-values of individuals in normal pregnancy revealed strikingly decreased in comparison with those of non-pregnant women.