Photocatalytic hydrogenation of acetophenone derivatives and diaryl ketones on polycrystalline titanium dioxide

In the absence of molecular oxygen, various aromatic ketones such as acetophenone derivatives and diaryl ketones were photocatalytically hydrogenated on polycrystalline titanium dioxide (Degussa P25) under UV light irradiation (> 340 nm). The desired secondary alcohols were obtained with excellent chemical efficiency (almost 100% yields for 10 examples) by choosing ethanol as a sacrificial hole scavenger, which was oxidized into acetaldehyde.     

Study of all-optical clock recovery performance by the primary and the secondary temporal Talbot effects in a second-order dispersive medium

We theoretically and experimentally study the all-optical clock recovery performance using the primary or the secondary temporal Talbot effects (PTTE or STTE, respectively) in a dispersive medium having the first-order dispersion together with the second-order dispersion (e.g., conventional single-mode fibers: SMFs). Our preliminary numerical simulations have indicated that the STTE-based all-optical clock recovery technique can improve double its performance as compared with the conventional PTTE-based technique when the second-order dispersion (dispersion slope) can be neglected. The following simulation results have revealed that the second-order dispersion, that the normal SMFs possess, limits the performance improvements in the STTE-based clock recovery, whereas the limited performance can be improved by appropriately compensating for the second-order dispersion. On the basis of our simulation results, experiments of the STTE-based clock recovery were conducted by compensating for the second-order dispersion of SMFs used as dispersive media. To be specific, SMFs’ second-order dispersion has been reduced to the one-sixteenth of its original value by combining with the reverse-dispersion fibers (RDFs) which can provide the second-order dispersion of the opposite sign to the SMFs. As a result, the performance improvements in the STTE-based clock recovery was demonstrated so that the 10-GHz clear optical clock pulses were successfully recovered from 10-Gbit/s return-to-zero (RZ) pseudo-random bit sequence (PRBS) optical signals.     

Application of nonlinear fitting and selection of the most fitted equation by AIC in stability test of pharmaceutical ingredients

We proposed a method for objectively selecting the most fitted rate equation among candidate rate equations based on chemical kinetics by both nonlinear regression analysis and Akaike's information criterion (AIC), to express the decrease of pharmaceutical ingredient as an appropriate equation. Pseudo-zero, first, and second-order rate equations were prepared as candidates beforehand, and AIC was introduced for selecting the most fitted rate equation among the candidates. We compared the proposed method to the Weibull method that expressed any decrease patterns as a single equation.

We quantified the contents of thiamine nitrate (VB1) and taurine after storage for one, three, and six months under 40°C-75% relative humidity by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Decrease patterns of each sample were most fitted to one of the candidate rate equations, that is, pseudo-zero, first, and second-order rate equations, respectively, and the degree of fit in the most fitted equation was superior to that of the Weibull method, except for the pseudo-first-order rate equation.

Moreover, we confirmed that the proposed method was considerably precise for estimating the stability of pharmaceuticals by comparing estimated residual rates and confidence intervals to experimental data.     

Human placental amino acid transporter genes: expression and function

Recent findings on amino acid transporter genes are reviewed with particular focus on matching previously described transport systems to individual genes. Functional studies using cloned and expressed transporters are considered as the critical tool allowing identification of the functional properties of individual genes. Specifically, these experiments allow identification of the transported substrate amino acids and of the transport mechanism. We focus on the very recent discovery and properties of the heterodimeric family of amino acid transport proteins where two subunits encoded in different genes are required. For these transporters, co-expression of both subunits is mandatory for functional studies. The field of placental amino acid transport is further complicated by complexities arising from both gestational age-specific and species-specific gene expression. The function of the transporter also depends on its cellular localization in the trophoblast. In addition, for transporters that are coupled to ion gradients, both membrane potential and ion pumping will contribute to the rate of amino acid delivery to the fetus. Regulation of function is important not only for fetal nutrition but also for specific additional aspects of placental biology.     

Pen-to-mime: Pen-based interactive control of a human figure

In this paper a pen-based intuitive interface is presented, that controls a virtual human figure interactively. Recent commercial pen devices can detect not only the pen positions but also the pressure and tilt of the pen. We utilize such information to make a human figure perform various types of motions in response to the pen movements manipulated by the user. The figure walks, runs, turns and steps along the trajectory and speed of the pen. The figure also bends, stretches and tilts in response to the tilt of the pen. Moreover, it ducks and jumps in response to the pen pressure. Using our interface, the user controls a virtual human figure intuitively as if he or she were holding a virtual puppet and playing with it.

In addition to the interface design and implementation, this paper describes a motion generation engine to produce various motion based on varying parameters that are given by the pen interface. We take a motion blending approach and construct motion blending modules with a set of small number of motion capture data for each type of motions. Finally, we present the results from user experiments and comparison with a transitional gamepad-based interface.     

The design of cyclic AMP--recognizing oligopeptides and evaluation of its capability for cyclic AMP recognition using an electrochemical system

A novel 17-mer peptide ligand for cyclic AMP was designed using the amino acid sequences of essential subsites in various cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase A) families. The Au disk electrode, which was modified with the designed 17-mer oligopeptide, responded to cyclic AMP but virtually did not respond to any other cyclic nucleotides using the ion channel sensor mechanism. On the other hand, a scrambled peptide, which had the same amino acid composition as and had an amino acid sequence different from the 17-mer oligopeptide, did not respond to any nucleotides. This indicates that the designed 17-mer peptide actually acted as a selective ligand for cyclic AMP. This ligand-designing strategy using peptide sequences in target-binding proteins may possibly be extended to the design of peptide ligands for other second messengers.     

Self-assembly of nano-sized arrays on highly oriented thin films of poly(tetrafluoroethylene)

Self-assembly of nano-sized arrays by casting a dilute solution of a guest material on the friction-transferred poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (FT-PTFE) substrate was newly discovered. Long axis of the rod-like structures forming the arrays is aligned perpendicular to the chain direction of FT-PTFE, and accordingly, the arrays are highly anisotropic. This phenomenon was observed for aqueous or organic solutions of polymers or organic materials. Each rod-like structure forming the arrays is composed of small grains. The arrays in question are formed regardless to the crystallinity of the guest materials. The formation mechanism of the nano-sized arrays is still unclear. However, we guess that they are formed as a result of microscopic flow pattern at the edge of the solution film. The arrays in question may be a new type of dissipative structure.     

Cloning and characterization of the azurin iso-1 gene, concerned with the electron transport chain involved in methylamine/methanol oxidation in the obligate methylotroph Methylomonas sp. strain J

Two azurin-type blue copper proteins, which is concerned with the electron transport chain involved in methylamine/methanol oxidation, have been found in the obligate methylotroph Methylomonas sp. strain J. The azurin iso-1 gene was cloned and sequenced to analyze the role in the electron transport chain. PCR products synthesized with primers based on the N- and C-terminal amino acid sequences of azurin iso-1 were used as probes for cloning. One complete open reading frame (the azurin iso-1 gene) and one partial orf (orf1) were found in a cloned Eco105I-HindIII fragment, pMAZ3, with a total of 1066 bp. The gene encoded 148 amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence after Ala-21, deduced from the nucleotide sequence, was identical to that of the azurin iso-1 protein. The gene was in a region separate from the mau gene cluster in the chromosome. Escherichia coli expressed azurin iso-1. The results of northern blotting analysis suggested that expression of the azurin iso-1 gene is regulated by a complex regulatory network controlling oxidation of methylamine or methanol in this strain; for example, copper ions affected the expression of the azurin iso-1 gene.