Structurally Diverse Polyamines: Solid‐Phase Synthesis and Interaction with DNA

A versatile solid‐phase approach based on peptide chemistry was used to construct four classes of structurally diverse polyamines with modified backbones: linear, partially constrained, branched, and cyclic. Their effects on DNA duplex stability and structure were examined. The polyamines showed distinct activities, thus highlighting the importance of polyamine backbone structure. Interestingly, the rank order of polyamine ability for DNA compaction was different to that for their effects on circular dichroism and melting temperature, thus indicating that these polyamines have distinct effects on secondary and higher‐order structures of DNA.     

Novel transdermal drug delivery system with polyhydroxyalkanoate and starburst polyamidoamine dendrimer

In search of an efficient transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS), a polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-based system with a polyamidoamine dendrimer was examined. Tamsulosin was used as the model drug. The dendrimer was found to act as the weak enhancer. By adding the dendrimer, the dendrimer-containing PHA matrix achieved the clinically required amount of tamsulosin permeating through the skin model. This is also the first report of the application of PHA and dendrimer to the TDDS.     

Reversible computing and cellular automata—A survey

Reversible computing is a paradigm where computing models are defined so that they reflect physical reversibility, one of the fundamental microscopic physical property of Nature. In this survey/tutorial paper, we discuss how computation can be carried out in a reversible system, how a universal reversible computer can be constructed by reversible logic elements, and how such logic elements are related to reversible physical phenomena. We shall see that, in reversible systems, computation can often be carried out in a very different manner from conventional (i.e., irreversible) computing systems, and even very simple reversible systems or logic elements have computation- or logical-universality. We discuss these problems based on reversible logic elements/circuits, reversible Turing machines, reversible cellular automata, and some other related models of reversible computing.     

Mid-infrared spectroscopic measurement of ionic dissociative materials in the metabolic pathway

We determine the pH dependency of the mid-infrared spectra in aqueous solution of the organic dissociative materials in the metabolic pathway: saccharide phosphates (G6P, F6P), adenosine, and its phosphates (ATP, ADP, AMP). The series of molar absorbance spectra for these reagents were obtained in a pH range of about 2 to 11 with a Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometer equipped with a horizontal diamond attenuated total reflection (ATR) sampling accessory. We also provide a method of infrared spectral extraction of ionic dissociative materials by performing a linear least-square fitting utilizing the formulas of ionic dissociation equilibrium shift, and we obtain the infrared spectrum of each ionic species of the dissociative materials: G6P-, G6P2-; F6P-, F6P2-; ATP2-, ATP3-, ATP4-; ADP-, ADP2-, ADP3-; AMP, AMP-, AMP2-; and adenosine+, adenosine0. The infrared spectral structure of each ionic species of the dissociative materials in the metabolic pathway are discussed. Additionally, the possibility for a quantification system of the concentrations of the organic dissociative materials in varying pH is suggested.     

Evaluation of the historical records of lead pollution in the annual growth rings and bark pockets of a 250-year-old Quercus crispula in Nikko,Japan

The annual growth rings and bark pockets of a 250-year-old Japanese oak (Quercus crispula), collected from the Nikko National Park, Japan in 2000 AD, were analysed by ICP mass spectrometry. The annual rings, sampled in 5-year increments, recorded Pb concentrations from 0.01 to 0.1 mg kg(-1) and there was no significant change in concentration with time. In contrast, bark pocket samples dating from 1875 to the present showed a progressive increase in Pb concentration with time, from approximately 0.1 to 10 mg kg(-1). Shoots of epiphytic moss growing on the tree trunk contained 17 mg kg(-1) Pb. The bark pockets recorded historical increases in airborne Pb pollution accompanying the industrialisation of Japan, which was initiated by the opening of Japan's borders from 1854. This increase was not reflected by the annual rings. The 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratio of the bark pockets decreased from approximately 1.18 to 1.16 from 1964 to the present, indicating changes in the sources of Pb pollution. The 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratio of the moss shoots was similar to the current bark (1.16). The data showed bark pockets to be more effective than annual rings for recording historical change in airborne lead pollution.     

Detection of norovirus RNA in bivalve molluscs by using bacteria-culture-employed method (A3T method)

Norovirus (NV) RNA has rarely been detected in foods despite the use of highly sensitive methods such as RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. In the modified method (A3T method) reported previously, a bacterial culture process was introduced into the standard protocol for NV detection to remove some inhibitor(s) present in food ingredients. To confirm the efficiency of the A3T method and to examine NV contamination in bivalve molluscs, we tried to detect NV RNA in bivalve molluscs on the market and in oyster samples associated with foodborne outbreaks by using the standard method and the A3T method. NV RNAs were detected in 20 samples (18.0%) of 111 bivalve molluscs, including oysters, on the market by use of the A3T method, while only one sample (0.9%) was positive according to the standard method. NV RNA was also detected in 10 of 35 oyster samples related to foodborne outbreaks by the A3T method. Those results show that the A3T method is suitable for the detection of NV in bivalve molluscs in general laboratories.     

Application results of a prototype ultrasonic liquid film sensor to a 7 MPa steam–water two-phase flow experiment

A prototype ultrasonic liquid film sensor was applied to a high-temperature steam–water two-phase flow experiment. The liquid film sensor was vertically installed in a loop which was connected to HUSTLE, a multi-purpose steam source test facility. The hydraulic diameter of the measurement section was 9.4 mm. The output waveforms of the sensor were acquired with a digital oscilloscope. The fluid temperature and system pressure were kept at 288 °C and 7.2 MPa, respectively, during the experiment. The pulse-echo method was used to calculate the liquid film thickness. The cross-correlation calculation was utilized to determine the time difference between the pulse reflected at the sensor surface and the pulse reflected at the liquid film surface. The time-averaged liquid film thicknesses were less than 0.055 mm in the annular flow condition. The increase of the time-averaged thickness was small with the change of the gas momentum flux. The film thicknesses measured with the sensor were compared with the past experimental results; the former were smaller than one-fourth of the thickness estimated as the mean film thickness. The comparison results suggested that the continuous liquid sublayer thickness was measured with the liquid film sensor.     

Characteristics of particle mixtures in a liquid‐fluidized bed

Behavior of particle mixtures was investigated in a liquid‐fluidized bed experimentally. In the experiment, two kinds of particles of different diameters, and of the same or different materials, were charged in a fluidization column and fluidized by water. Based on the observation of fluidization, a flow pattern map was proposed using the Archimedes number ratio and the terminal velocity ratio, which classifies the two patterns, that is, separation and homogeneous mix. Measured mean void fractions of particle mixtures agreed well with the values calculated from those for each particle independently. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Heat Trans Asian Res, 30(3): 175–184, 2001     

The heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of finned tube banks in forced convection (effects of fin height on pressure drop characteristics)

In recent years the requirement for the reduction of energy consumption has been increasing to solve the problems of global warming and the shortage of petroleum resources. For example, in the power generation field, as thermal power generation occupied 60% of the power generation demand, considerable improvement of the thermal efficiency is required. This paper describes the pressure drop characteristics of finned tube banks used for heat exchangers in thermal power generation that were clarified by testing serrated finned tube banks with different fin heights for improved heat transfer and conventional spiral finned tube banks with different fin heights, and an equation to predict pressure drop which is necessary for the heat exchanger design is proposed. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 35(3): 179–193, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20112     

Adsorption of cationic monomeric and gemini surfactants on montmorillonite and adsolubilization of vitamin E

Adsorption of a cationic gemini surfactant (1,2-bis(dodecyldimethylammonio) ethane dibromide, 12-2-12) and the corresponding monomeric surfactant (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, DTAB) on montmorillonite has been characterized with a combination of adsorption isotherm, interlayer spacing and FT-IR spectroscopic data. Adsolubilization of vitamin E into the adsorbed surfactant layers has also been studied. The adsorption isotherm data reveal that the adsorption of the two surfactants is driven by the two factors: one is the cation exchange that occurs on the interlayer basal planes and the other is the hydrophobic interaction between hydrocarbon chains of the surfactants. Although the adsorbed amount measured in the saturation region (in mol g(-1)) is almost identical for the two surfactants, the conformation of the intercalated surfactant molecules differs significantly from each other. The adsorption of DTAB results in a lateral bilayer arrangement in the limited interlayer space, whereas 12-2-12 gives a normal bilayer arrangement in the expanded interlayer space. Adsolubilization of vitamin E takes place into the adsorbed surfactant layers, and interestingly, all the vitamin E molecules added in the montmorillonite suspensions are hybridized at lower surfactant concentrations due to the great specific surface area of the clay material. Since the maximum adsolubilization amount is usually obtained just below the critical micelle concentration, the gemini surfactant is deemed to be more efficient than the corresponding monomeric one to achieve the great adsolubilization amount.