Encapsulation-release property of amphiphilic hyperbranched d-glucan as a unimolecular reverse micelle

The synthesis of a novel unimolecular reverse micelle, the hyperbranched d-glucan carbamate (3), was accomplished through the carbamation reaction of the hyperbranched d-glucan (1) with the N-carbonyl l-leucine ethyl ester (2) in pyridine at 100 °C. Polymer 3 was soluble in a large variety of organic solvents, such as methanol, acetone, chloroform, and ethyl acetate, and insoluble in water, which remarkably differed from the solubility of 1. The degree of carbamate substitution (DS) for 3 was controlled by the feed rate of 2, and the DS values were in the range of 46.0-93.7%. Polymer 3 possessed the encapsulation ability for water-soluble molecules, such as rose bengal, thymol blue, and alizarin yellow in chloroform, and the encapsulation ability depended on the hydrophilicity of 3 and the molecular size of the dye. The rose bengal (RB) encapsulated polymer (RB/3) showed a slow release from the RB/3 system into water at neutral pH, while the release rate was significantly accelerated by the hydrolysis of the hydrophobic polymer shell under basic conditions.     

Combinatorial Measurement of CDKN1A/p21 and KIF20A Expression for Discrimination of DNA Damage-Induced Clastogenicity

In vitro mammalian cytogenetic tests detect chromosomal aberrations and are used for testing the genotoxicity of compounds. This study aimed to identify a supportive genomic biomarker could minimize the risk of misjudgments and aid appropriate decision making in genotoxicity testing. Human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells were treated with each of six DNA damage-inducing genotoxins (clastogens) or two genotoxins that do not cause DNA damage. Cells were exposed to each compound for 4 h, and gene expression was comprehensively examined using Affymetrix U133A microarrays. Toxicogenomic analysis revealed characteristic alterations in the expression of genes included in cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A/p21)-centered network. The majority of genes included in this network were upregulated on treatment with DNA damage-inducing clastogens. The network, however, also included kinesin family member 20A (KIF20A) downregulated by treatment with all the DNA damage-inducing clastogens. Downregulation of KIF20A expression was successfully confirmed using additional DNA damage-inducing clastogens. Our analysis also demonstrated that nucleic acid constituents falsely downregulated the expression of KIF20A, possibly via p16 activation, independently of the CDKN1A signaling pathway. Our results indicate the potential of KIF20A as a supportive biomarker for clastogenicity judgment and possible mechanisms involved in KIF20A downregulation in DNA damage and non-DNA damage signaling networks.     

Synthesis and chiroptical properties of helical poly(phenylacetylene) bearing optically active chiral oxazoline Pendants

The novel optically active (S)-4-benzyl-2-(ethynylphenyl)-oxazoline (BnEPhOx) was successfully prepared and polymerized using rhodium catalyst ([Rh(nbd)Cl]₂) to obtain the moderate molecular weight poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing chiral oxazoline derivatives with high yields (≥90%). The ¹H NMR spectra demonstrated that the resulting polymers had high stereoregular structures. Moreover, the poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing chiral oxazoline exhibited better thermal stability than poly(phenylacetylene). The resulting polymers showed higher absolute values of optical specific rotation than the monomer. The polymers also exhibited intense CD signal in the region of the π-π1 band of the conjugated polyacetylene backbone in chloroform solution. The results of specific rotation and CD spectroscopy indicated that all the polymers adopted higher-order structure with predominantly one-handed screw sense.In addition, the resulting polymers emitted fluorescence under UV irradiation.     

Perception of brightness when the eyes are closed

To describe the lighting environment during sleep accurately, it is necessary to know the extent to which light is still perceived when the eyelids are closed. In this study, we measured the perception of equivalent brightness under closed-eye and open-eye conditions in binocular photopic vision. The light sources used were monochromatic red (peak wavelength 630 nm), yellow (593 nm), green (515 nm), and blue (460 nm) LEDs, as well as a white LED (T_cp = 4188 K, R_a = 93). A total of 33 subjects (Asian adults aged 22 years on average) with eyelids of approximately the same color were recruited. The average effective transmittances of their closed eyes were 52.4% ± 31.5% for red, 26.2% ± 18.2% for yellow, 21.6% ± 16.7% for green, 4.5% ± 3.9% for blue, and 42.7% ± 24.8% for white light. These values were up to 10 times higher than eyelid transmittances reported previously, so eyelid transmittance cannot by itself explain perceived closed-eye brightness. There were also significant individual differences. As it is unlikely that the physical transmittances of the eyelids differed from subject to subject, psychological factors may be responsible. This phenomenon should be further investigated in the future.     

Competitive sorption of water vapor and CO2 in photocrosslinked PVCA film for a capacitive‐type humidity sensor

The sorption behavior of water vapor and CO₂ gas in photocrosslinked poly(vinyl cinnamate) (PVCA) film was examined at 30°C under atmospheric pressure. Both the water sorption isotherm and the CO₂ sorption isotherm obtained with quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) method obeyed the simple Langmuir's equation. Water vapor/CO₂ mixed‐gas sorption isotherms were also obtained. Total amount of sorbed mixed gases was clearly influenced by the partial pressure of water vapor (p_w) and CO₂ gas (p_c) in the atmosphere. A modified Langmuir's equation based on a dual‐site model was employed for predicting the competitive adsorption isotherm, and the isotherm was clearly described by the equation. The theoretically estimated amount of adsorbed water at the constant p_w decreased slightly with increasing p_c. The effect of this phenomenon on the sensitivity of the capacitive‐type relative humidity sensor was examined. As expected, the electrical capacitance of the sensor at the constant relative humidity decreased because of the coexistence of CO₂ gas. However, the influence was quite small in the CO₂ concentration range in the ordinary environment. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 83: 401–407, 2002     

Effects of Spraying Ozonated Water on the Severity of Powdery Mildew Infection on Cucumber Leaves

Effects of spraying ozonated water on the severity of powdery mildew infection, visible disorder/injury occurrence, and net photosynthesis in cucumbers were investigated. The severity in the ozonated water treatment was contained to almost the same level throughout the 14-day period of the experiment, while the severity steadily increased in the non-treated control and distilled water treatment. Neither visible disorder/injury on the leaves nor a large difference in net photosynthesis between before and after spraying the ozonated water was observed. The results indicate that ozonated water can be at least a partial alternative to agricultural chemical fungicides for powdery mildew on cucumber leaves.     

Adsorption characteristics of superplasticizers on cement component minerals

Adsorption characteristics of various superplasticizers on portland cement component minerals were investigated. Adsorption isotherms of various types of superplasticizers and ζ-potentials of cement component minerals at the maximum adsorption of the superplasticizers were measured. The value of the adsorption isotherm was calculated from the amount of the superplasticizer adsorbed on a cement component mineral in an equilibrated solution. The maximum amounts of adsorption and the adsorption isotherms varied with types of component mineral and superplasticizer. For all types of superplasticizers, a larger amount of superplasticizer was adsorbed on C₃A and C₄AF than C₃S and C₂S. However, the equilibrated concentration of each superplasticizer at the maximum adsorption was not influenced by types of superplasticizer. Without superplasticizer, C₃S and C₂S had negative ζ-potential. On the contrary, C₃A and C₄AF had positive ζ-potential. Therefore, accelerated coagulation of cement particles might occur due to their electrostatic potentials that are opposite each other. However, all component minerals of cement had negative ζ-potential when they were mixed with any superplasticizer. Fluidity of fresh cement paste is improved due to electrostatic repulsion acting between particles.     

The effect of the N-linked glycans on structural features and physicochemical functions of soybean β-conglycinin homotrimers

β-Conglycinin is a trimeric protein consisting of three subunits, α,α′,and β, which are N-glycosylated. The α and α′ subunits contain extension regions in addition to core regions common to all subunits. We purified homogeneous trimers consisting of only α, α′, or β from mutant soybean cultivars containing β-conglycinin lacking one or two subunits: α homotrimers from an α′-lacking mutant, α′ homotrimers from an α-lacking mutant, and β homotrimers from an α-and α′-lacking mutant. Structural features and physicochemical functions of the three homotrimers were examined and compared with those of recombinant homotrimers having no N-linked glycans. The native homotrimers have secondary structures very similar to those of the recombinant ones. In analogy with the recombinant homotrimers, the native ones exhibit different thermal stabilities from one another (β>α′>α), and the native α and α′ homotrimers exhibit better solubility, emulsifying ability, and heat-induced association than the native β homotrimer. Further, the N-linked glycans contribute to solubilities of the three subunits at low ionic strength (μ=0.08) and to the emulsifying ability of the native β homotrimer. N-Linked glycans also prevent heat-induced associations of the native α and α′ homotrimers but do not contribute to the secondary structure and the thermal stability of β-conglycinin.     

Gibbs Energy Change of Carbothermal Nitridation Reaction of Al2O3 to Form AlN and Reassessment of Thermochemical Properties of AlN

The experimental method for the high-temperature reaction equilibria in the AlN-Al₂O₃ system has been established. The equilibrium N₂-CO gas compositions coexisting with AlN- Al₂O₃-graphite have been successfully measured by quadrupole mass spectrometry and gas chromatography. From the obtained results, the standard Gibbs energy change of the forming reaction of AlN by carbothermal nitridation is determined at temperatures ranging from 1723 to 1899 K:
From the obtained result, the standard Gibbs energy of formation of AlN and the third-law enthalpy of formation of AlN at 298.15 K are derived as
The disagreement between the present results and values in the NIST–JANAF thermodynamic table is discussed.     

Immobilization of glucose oxidase on nonwoven fabrics with bombyx mori silk fibroin gel

The enzyme glucose oxidase (GOD) was immobilized on the nonwoven fabrics, which have excellent properties in diffusivity of substrates, mechanical strength, and handling, with Bombyx mori silk fibroin gel. The nonwoven fabrics of silk fibroin, viscose rayon, poly-ethyleneterephthalate, 6-nylon, and polypropylene with activated surface by fluoline treatment were used. The stabilities of GOD to heat or pH changes were much improved by the immobilization as well as the case of the GOD immobilized in the silk fibroin membrane. Among nonwoven fabrics, silk fibroin was the most excellent support material for the immobilization of GOD although all nonwoven fabrics used here are able to be used as the support materials. The increase of the sensitivity was observed when the glucose sensor was made with the GOD immobilized on nonwoven silk fabrics as four times compared with the case of the GOD immobilized in the silk fibroin membrane.