Effect of active oxygen species on the productivity of torularhodin by Rhodotorula glutinis No. 21

The effect of active oxygen species on the productivity of torularhodin, an effective antioxidant, by soil yeast, Rhodotorula glutinis no. 21, was examined. Methylene blue, methyviologen and AAPH [2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride] were used as generators of singlet oxygen, superoxide anion radicals and peroxy radicals, respectively. All of them indicated effectiveness at a dose of 1.0 x 10(-10) to 3.0 x 10(-6) M. Addition of these generators to the culture medium had almost no influence on the biosynthesis of beta-carotene, whereas it had marked enhancement on those of torulene and torularhodin. Production of uric acid by xanthineoxidase remained unchanged at a torularhodin concentration of up to 100 microM. This result suggests that torularhodin does not directly affect the productivity of superoxide anions. It has been proved that torularhodin has a more potent effect on the scavenging of peroxyl radicals and inhibits substrate degradation by singlet oxygen more effectively than beta-carotene does. Continuous addition of methylene blue enhanced the torularhodin accumulation more markedly than single addition.     

Detection method of the Kuroshio front using the satellite-derived chlorophyll-a images

Satellite-derived sea surface temperature (SST) has been providing high-resolution information of the oceanic front. However, in summer, increasing surface heating effects make SSTs uniform and the SST front disappears. The purpose of the present study is to examine applicability of satellite-derived surface chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) for detection of the Kuroshio front in the ocean south of Japan during the summer season.The Kuroshio surface front is formed between the Kuroshio water (KW) and the coastal water (CW) in the study area. Investigating accumulated in situ observations of SST and Chl-a, it is shown that the difference of Chl-a between KW and CW is increased in summer though that of SST becomes small. Using 76 pairs of cloud-free satellite-derived SST and Chl-a images with 0.01° spatial resolution, their seasonal variations are investigated through two-dimensional (2-D) histograms of Chl-a and SST. In summer, SST ranges from 25 to 30 °C and Chl-a ranges 0.03 to 0.4 mg/m³. Two peaks in the summer 2-D histogram correspond to wider KW and CW areas with rather uniform Chl-a and SST distributions. The peak values are extracted from the 2-D histograms and used to determine a threshold value dividing the KW and CW surface Chl-a during summer. It is found that the Chl-a concentration of 0.17 mg/m³ divides the extracted peaks into two groups, i.e., CW and KW except for a few peaks.The proposed Kuroshio-front detection method using the Chl-a images and the threshold value is examined using the satellite images and in situ data. The threshold contour superimposed in the summer Chl-a image distinctly separates the two representative waters in the ocean south of Japan. The front positions determined by the satellite-derived Chl-a, in situ SST, and in situ surface salinity transects along observation lines crossing the Kuroshio front agree with each other. Applying a traditional Kuroshio front index of temperature at 200 m depth, the capability of new Chl-a threshold in dividing two waters around the near-front area is quantitatively examined. Producing 74 match-ups of the satellite-derived Chl-a and 200-m temperature in the frontal zone, the dividing capability is evaluated quantitatively using the traditional Kuroshio-axis index. The detection capability of the proposed method is 82%, which can be considered high enough for practical applications.     

Anomaly of 155Gd and 157Gd isotope effects in ligand exchange reactions observed by ion exchange chromatography

The isotope effects of gadolinium in Gd-EDTA ligand exchange system were studied by means of ion exchange chromatography. The separation coefficients of gadolinium isotopes, epsilon, and the local enrichment factors, beta, were calculated from the observed isotopic ratios at the front and rear boundaries of the gadolinium adsorption band. Clear mass independent anomalies were observed in the isotope effects of 155Gd and 157Gd. The relation between the isotope effects of gadolinium isotopes, studied by the three-isotope plot and the separation coefficient methods, and the mass of gadolinium isotopes was found to be related to the change in the mean square radius of the nuclear charge distribution parameter, (r2), of these isotopes, which suggests that the nucleus shape and size highly affect the gadolinium isotope effects in chemical exchange reactions.     

High-precision analysis of a lateral shearing interferogram by use of the integration method and polynomials

Interferograms obtained with ordinary interferometers, such as the Fizeau interferometer or the Twyman-Green interferometer, show the contour maps of a wave front under test. On the other hand, lateral shearing interferograms show the difference between a wave front under test and a sheared wave front, that is, the inclination of the wave front. Therefore the shape of the wave front under test is reconstructed by means of analyzing the difference. To reconstruct the wave front, many methods have been proposed. An integration method is usually used to reconstruct the wave front under test rapidly. However, this method has two disadvantages: The analysis accuracy of the method is low, and part of the wave front cannot be measured. To overcome these two problems, a new, to our knowledge, integration method, improved by use of polynomials, is proposed. The validity of the proposed method is evaluated by computer simulations. In the simulations the analysis accuracy achieved by the proposed method is compared with the analysis accuracy of the ordinary integration method and that of the method proposed by Rimmer and Wyant. The results of the simulations show that the analysis accuracy of the newly proposed method is better than that of the integration method and that of the Rimmer-Wyant method.     

Techniques for measuring aberrations in lenses used in photolithography with printed patterns

In optical lithography, it is a serious problem that aberrations in projection lenses reduce the imaging quality. Therefore techniques to measure the aberrations are required that will predict the adverse effects of aberrations on lithographic imagery and reduce them. We present a measurement method that uses a fine grating and its imaging condition to quantify coma, astigmatism, and spherical aberration. With this method, these aberrations can be described with simple expressions from the measured results. Application of this method revealed the coma of Zernike polynomials for our krypton fluoride (KrF) excimer-laser scanner.     

Active centers, catalytic behavior, symbiosis and redox properties of MoV(Nb,Ta)TeO ammoxidation catalysts

Selective as well as waste forming active centers were defined for MoVNbTeO and MoVTaTeO catalysts in the ammoxidation of propane to acrylonitrile and all catalytic functionalities were assigned to specific elements at the respective active centers. Symbiosis between M1 and M2 phases of these catalysts was observed, with phase cooperation being more extensive in the Nb than Ta containing compositions. The difference in catalytic effectiveness arises most likely because contact and surface area exposure of the two respective, cooperating phase pairs are not equal. The M1 phase of the catalysts is reducible by propane and ammonia in the absence of dioxygen and is regenerable to its original, fully oxidized state by dioxygen (air). No structural collapse is observed even after 120 C₃H₈ + NH₃ reduction pulses. The so induced reduction of the catalyst extends up to 70 layers deep. The product distribution over the first few pulses is very similar to that under catalytic conditions, supporting the concept that lattice oxygen is involved in the catalytic ammoxidation process. Therefore, the ammoxidation of paraffins is a redox process, as is of course the well-known olefin ammoxidation process.     

Immediate-type heat urticaria: report of a case and study of plasma histamine release

We report a 68-year-old man who had immediate-type heat urticaria with systemic symptoms. Immersing his hand in water at 42 degrees C (heat challenge test) produced an urticarial response, with an increase in the plasma histamine level from 0.26 to 7.64 ng/mL. Administration of oral antihistamines alone did not suppress either the urticarial response or the increase in plasma histamine. However, a combination of antihistamines and desensitization improved the skin lesions and reduced the plasma histamine level. The heat challenge test subsequently provoked a negative response and there was no increase in plasma histamine level 3 months after starting the combination therapy. These results indicate that the histamine level reflected the result of the heat challenge test and the amelioration of the skin eruption.     

A case of cardiac sarcoidosis with remarkable atrophy of the left ventricular septum on two-dimensional echocardiography

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology which mainly affects the lungs, skin, the lymphoreticular system, and the heart. We report a case of cardiac sarcoidosis in which a remarkably thin ventricular septum was demonstrated on two-dimensional echocardiography.