Enantio- and Stereoselective Construction of Atisane Scaffold via Organocatalytic Intramolecular Michael Reaction and Diels-Alder Reaction.

An enantio- and stereoselective construction of the atisane scaffold via organocatalytic intramolecular Michael reaction and Diels-Alder reaction is described. The organocatalytic intramolecular Michael reaction has been found to stereoselectively generate a trans-stereodiad comprising an all-carbon quaternary and a tertiary stereogenic centers. Use of the chiral secondary amine bearing thiourea with benzoic acid as additive is the key to obtaining the desired product with excellent ee in synthetically acceptable yield.

Association of the GCKR rs780094 polymorphism with metabolic traits including carotid intima-media thickness in Japanese community-dwelling men, but not in women.

Background: The glucokinase regulator gene (GCKR) rs780094 has been shown to be strongly associated with some metabolic traits and atherosclerotic parameters, while the association between GCKR rs780094 and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) has not been fully investigated in the general population. The associations between the GCKR rs780094 genotype and metabolic traits including CIMT were examined in a Japanese community-dwelling population.

Methods: A total of 2491 Japanese adults (907 men and 1584 women) who participated in a medical screening program for the general population from 29 to 94 years of age during 2008 to 2010 were enrolled.

Temperature dependence and optimization of 970-nm diode-pumped Yb:YAG and Yb:LuAG lasers.

We have investigated the temperature dependence of output performances for 970-nm diode-pumped Yb:YAG (Yb(3+):Y(3)Al(5)O(12)) and Yb:LuAG (Yb(3+):Lu(3)Al(5)O(12)) lasers over the wide temperature range from 80 to 310 K. Temperature-optimized operation was experimentally demonstrated at around 160 K and was theoretically confirmed by taking into account the absorption spectra change of Yb crystals at low temperatures. Cooling the crystal to below 160 K caused a narrowing of the absorption bandwidth and led to a decrease in output power and efficiency.

Dual-wavelength continuous-wave cascade oscillation at 3 and 2 mum with a holmium-doped fluoride-glass fiber laser.

We have demonstrated dual-wavelength continuous-wave oscillation at 3 and 2 mum with a Ho-doped ZrF(4)- BaF(2)- LaF(3)- AlF(3)- NaF fluoride-glass fiber laser by use of a cascade oscillation scheme. We have shown that the fiber laser operates with a high slope efficiency of 52% (at 3 and 2microm) with respect to the absorbed pump power. With a 6.

1.50-mum-band gain-shifted thulium-doped fiber amplifier with 1.05- and 1.56-mum dual-wavelength pumping.

We propose and demonstrate a 1.50-mum- band gain-shifted thulium-doped fiber amplifier (TDFA) by using a novel dual-wavelength (1.05and1.