Highly sensitive MALDI analyses of glycans by a new aminoquinoline-labeling method using 3-aminoquinoline/α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid liquid matrix

In glycomics, mass spectrometry is an indispensable tool for high throughput analyses. Generally speaking, glycans contain many hydroxyl groups and are more difficult to ionize than peptides. Derivatization of glycans has been useful for increasing sensitivity. However, it takes time to purify and causes loss of sample. Here, we show a highly sensitive aminoquinoline (AQ)-labeling method of glycans on a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) target using a liquid matrix 3-aminoquinoline (3-AQ)/α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA). It is a rapid procedure and reduces loss of sample material during the reaction process, especially in negative ion mode where 10 amol of monosialylated N-glycan were detected as AQ-labeled molecular ions. In addition, MS/MS of 10 amol of monosialylated N-glycan was achieved.     

Large area thin film Si module

An initial efficiency of 14.1% (J_sc=13.6 mA/cm², V_oc=1.392 V, FF=74.3%) has been achieved for a-Si/transparent interlayer/poly Si solar cell (total area of 1 cm²). Both a-Si and crystalline Si films were fabricated by plasma chemical deposition at low temperature. The short circuit current was enhanced by the introduction of a transparent intermediate layer. An initial aperture efficiency of 11.7% has been achieved for 910×455 mm² a-Si/poly Si integrated solar cell submodule, where the laser-scribing techniques were applied for series interconnections. The results of our first run of 266 submodules in our pilot plant showed the average efficiency of 11.2%, which is applicable for mass production.     

Comparison between silicon thin films with and without incorporating crystalline silicon nanoparticles into the film

We have deposited Si thin films using a multi-hollow discharge plasma CVD method to compare properties of the films with and without incorporating crystalline Si nanoparticles into the films. After the deposition of the films, we have evaluated crystallization of the films by irradiating laser. We have found that a laser power at which crystalline Si nanoparticles embedded a-Si:H films start to be crystallized is lower than that for a-Si:H films without the nanoparticles. The incorporation of the nanoparticles has no effect on the defect density of the films. These results suggest incorporation of crystalline Si nanoparticles into the films play a role of crystallization of Si films during the deposition.     

X-ray effects on the oxidation of Cu nanoparticles

X rays have been widely used for nondestructive analysis of nano-scaled materials for a long time; however, the effects of x-ray radiation have been less extensively discussed. In this work, by means of the in-situ x-ray diffraction and the ex-situ high-resolution electron microscopy, we have quantitatively investigated the x-ray effect on the oxidation behavior of Cu nanoparticles prepared by the vapor condensation method. Clear evidence shows that the x-ray irradiation increases the oxidation thickness as well as the oxidation rate. The results are of critical importance not only for the oxidation studies but also for the nanomaterial researches with x-ray related equipment.     

Copper(I)‐Catalyzed Allylic Substitution of Silyl Nucleophiles through Si?Si Bond Activation

We report the first copper(I)‐catalyzed reaction between a disilane and allylic carbonates to produce allylsilanes. The silyl nucleophilic substitution proceeded primarily in a S_N2 fashion whereas S_N2′ products were also obtained through σ‐π‐σ isomerization of the copper(III) intermediate depending on the substrate’s steric bulk.     

Surveillance of cadmium level in octopus, squid, clam, short-necked clam and chocolate

In order to investigate cadmium contents in foods sold in Japan, cadmium levels in 40 seafood samples and 30 chocolate samples were measured by means of atomic absorption spectrometry and ICP-OES. We first confirmed the validity of the method according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. Among 40 seafood samples investigated, cadmium was detected in 31 samples, in which the concentration exceeded half the LOQ (0.025 mg/kg), and the level was ranged from 0.03 to 0.38 mg/kg. We could not find any sample containing cadmium in excess of 2 mg/kg, which the Codex Alimentarius sets as the maximum standard value. Among 30 chocolate samples, cadmium was detected in 21 samples, and the level ranged from 0.025 to 0.54 mg/kg.     

Inhibitory effect of anthraquinones isolated from the Noni (Morinda citrifolia) root on animal A-, B- and Y-families of DNA polymerases and human cancer cell proliferation

During the course of our studies to develop new uses for the Noni (Morinda citrifolia) root, 10 anthraquinones, rubiadin (1), rubiadin 1-methyl ether (2), lucidin (3), damnacanthol (4), 1,3-dihydroxy-2-methoxymethylanthraquinone (5), 3-hydroxy-1-methoxy-2-methoxymethylanthraquinone (6), nordamnacanthal (7), damnacanthal (8), sorandidiol (9) and morindone (10), were isolated. Compounds 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 exhibited remarkable inhibition against the activities of animal pols, and compound 10 was the strongest inhibitor in the anthraquinones investigated. Among mammalian pols, compound 10 inhibited the pol activities of A- (pol γ), B- (pols α, δ and ε) and Y- (pols η, ι and κ) families, but did not influence the activities of X-family pols (pols β, λ and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase). The tendency of pol inhibition showed a positive correlation with the suppression of human colon cancer cell HCT116 growth. These results suggested that the Noni root containing anthraquinones may be used as an anticancer functional food.     

Discrimination of phonemic vowel length by Japanese infants.

Japanese has a vowel duration contrast as one component of its language-specific phonemic repertory to distinguish word meanings. It is not clear, however, how a sensitivity to vowel duration can develop in a linguistic context. In the present study, using the visual habituation–dishabituation method, the authors evaluated infants’ abilities to discriminate Japanese long and short vowels embedded in two-syllable words (/mana/ vs. /ma:na/). The results revealed that 4-month-old Japanese infants (n = 32) failed to discriminate the contrast (p = .676), whereas 9.5-month-olds (n = 33) showed the discrimination ability (p = .014). The 7.5-month-olds did not show positive evidence to discriminate the contrast either when the edited stimuli were used (n = 33; p = .275) or when naturally uttered stimuli were used (n = 33; p = .189). By contrast, the 4-month-olds (n = 24) showed sensitivity to a vowel quality change (/mana/ vs. /mina/; p = .034). These results indicate that Japanese infants acquire sensitivity to long–short vowel contrasts between 7.5 and 9.5 months of age and that the developmental course of the phonemic category by the durational changes is different from that by the quality change. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Synthesis of the Optically Active Polymer Consisting of Chiral Phosphorus Atoms and <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-Phenylene-ethynylene Units

Summary We successfully synthesized optically active polymer 4 by using chiral bisphosphine, (S,S)-1,2-bis(boranato(t-butyl)methylphosphino)ethane (S,S)-1, as a key building block. The structure of the polymer was characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR spectra. According to the CD spectra, the p-phenylene-ethynylene unit in the polymer main chain exhibited Cotton signals around the area of π-π^* transition band.     

7Li 2D CSI of human brain on a clinical scanner

Lithium salts have been widely used in the treatment of mood disorders, but the mechanism of action is still not clear. In this work, a methodology for two-dimensional Lithium-7 imaging on clinical systems is presented. The data were acquired using a phosphorus volume head coil that was re-tuned for the Lithium-7 frequency. A spectroscopic sequence was used to acquire the free induction decay (FID) after volume excitation using a hard pulse. The results obtained on the head of patients undergoing lithium treatment (n = 7, 0.6 mEq/1 average serum level) demonstrate that images of adequate signal to noise ratio (100:1) can be obtained in acceptable imaging times (55 min) using the proposed methodology. The distribution of ’’Li appears uniform in the brains of the patients studied.