Detection of cytochrome P450 substrates by using a small-molecule droplet array on an NADH-immobilized solid surface

Seeing below the surface: A small-molecule droplet array platform on an NADH-immobilized solid surface and a biotinylated acetophenone derivative were developed to identify the substrate candidates for soluble P450 enzymes of interest. This methodology is thought to be easily applicable to other class I P450 systems, including those that use NADPH as cofactor.     

Preparation of TiO2 thin films using octadecylamine Langmuir-Blodgett films and evaluation of their photocatalytic activity

A study was conducted to demonstrate that nanometer-thick titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) thin films could be prepared by the hydrolysis of titanium potassium oxalate using octadecylamine (ODA) Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films as templates. The amount of TiO(2) generated in the LB film was found to be proportional to the number of deposited ODA layers, which enables precise control of the TiO(2) film thickness. After heat treatment of the LB films at 300-600°C, the photocatalytic activities of the resulting TiO(2) films were determined from the decomposition of stearic acid cast films when irradiated with UV light for different time periods. Higher photocatalytic activity was observed in TiO(2) films heat treated at lower temperatures.     

Reduction of higher harmonic sequences in terminal voltage of an AC exciting synchronous generator using magnetically anisotropic slot wedges

This paper describes relationships between characteristics of a magnetically anisotropic slot wedge and voltage higher harmonics in an ac exciting synchronous generator terminal due to permeance ripple caused by an open-slot-type rotor. From the relationships obtained, practical guidelines were formulated for machine designs applying the magnetically anisotropic slot wedge. The results are as follows.

• 1 (1) Equivalent permeability of the magnetically anisotropic slot wedge became isotropic wedge permeability for air-gap flux ripple.
• 2 (2) Two ways were identified to reduce voltage-higher harmonics by using the slot wedges.
• 3 (3) The level of leakage flux passing through the anisotropic slot wedge was determined only by its permeability in the width direction.
• 4 (4) Effectiveness of the magnetic anisotropic slot wedges inserted into the stator slots was verified from experimental results using a model machine of the open- slot-type rotor.

     

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     

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.     

Intrinsic Elastic, Dielectric, and Piezoelectric Losses in Lead Zirconate Titanate Ceramics Determined by an Immittance-Fitting Method

The material coefficients of "soft" and "hard" lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramics were determined as complex values by the nonlinear least-squares-fitting of immittance data measured for length-extensional bar resonators. The piezoelectric d -constant should be a complex value to obtain a best fitting between observed and calculated results. Because the elastic, dielectric, and piezoelectric losses determined in this process were not "intrinsic" losses, a calculation process to evaluate the "intrinsic" losses was proposed. It was confirmed that the intrinsic losses were smaller than the corresponding extrinsic losses. The intrinsic piezoelectric loss existed in both soft and hard PZTs; ∼50% of the loss of piezoelectric d -constant was derived from the elastic and dielectric losses. The most notable difference between the soft and hard PZTs was observed in their elastic losses.     

Preparation, Structure, and Properties of Thermally and Mechanically Improved Aluminum Titanate Ceramics Doped with Alkali Feldspar

Aluminum titanate (AT) ceramic materials doped with alkali feldspar ((Na_0.6K_0.4)AlSi₃O₈) have been prepared. These ceramics exhibited high sinterability, large resistance to thermal decomposition, and large flexure strength. The existence of liquid-phase feldspar at sintering temperatures promoted the formation of AT ceramics as the sintering agent. It was considered that silicon ions substituting for aluminum ions at the surface of AT crystal grains lowered the surface energy and hindered the diffusion of Ti⁴⁺ and Al³⁺, giving rise to the large resistance to thermal decomposition. As a result, doping with alkali feldspar was found to effectively improve the mechanical and thermal properties of AT ceramics.     

Modeling of CO2‐Hydrate Formation at the Gas‐Water Interface in Sand Sediment

Sub‐seabed geological storage of CO₂ in the form of gas hydrate is attractive because clathrate hydrate stably exists at low temperature and high pressure, even if a fault occurs by diastrophism like a big earthquake. For the effective design of the storage system it is necessary to model the formation of CO₂‐hydrate. Here, it is assumed that the formation of gas hydrate on the interface between gas and water consists of two stages: gas diffusion through the CO₂‐hydrate film and consequent CO₂‐hydrate formation on the interface, between film and water. Also proposed is the presence of a fresh reaction interface, which is part of the interface between the gas and aqueous phases and not covered with CO₂‐hydrate. Parameters necessary to model the hydrate formation in sand sediment are derived by comparing the results of the present numerical simulations and the measurements in the literature.     

Effects of acid strength and micro pore size on -caprolactam selectivity and catalyst deactivation in vapor phase Beckmann rearrangement over acid solid catalysts

The vapor phase Beckmann rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime (CHO) over solid acid catalysts including zeolites was carried out to elucidate the effects of the acid strength and the micropore size of the catalysts on the selectivity of -caprolactam (CL) and the catalyst deactivation rate. It was found that the catalyst deactivation rate was strongly dependent on the acid strength of the acid catalysts. The improvement of catalyst life was achieved by using MFI-type metallosilicates having weak acid sites. The CL selectivity decreased over the acid catalysts with micropores larger than those of the MFI zeolites. Furthermore, using methanol and carbon dioxide as the diluent solvent and diluent gas improved CL selectivity and catalyst life, respectively.