Design and characterization of mesoscopic dielectric cuboid antenna for operation in WR-3.4 waveguide bandwidth (220-330 GHz).

We designed a mesoscopic dielectric cuboid antenna connected to a flangeless WR-3.4 open-ended waveguide, and the antenna characteristics at 300 GHz were examined through simulations and experiments. Simulations confirmed that the flangeless design eliminated the flange-induced ripples in the radiation pattern, whose shape varied with frequency, and that the antenna operated in the full bandwidth of the WR-3.

Analytical characterization and differentiation between threo- and erythro-4-fluoroethylphenidate.

Purpose: Methylphenidate analogs appeared on the drug market during the last years. Its analogs contain two chiral centers and, thus, have potential varying configurations (i.e.

[Attempt to Calculate the Efficiency of Methylation Using H-NMR for Analyzing Brominated Vegetable Oil].

We studied the efficiency of methylation for analyzing brominated vegetable oil (BVO). In this report, we investigated whether H-NMR is an applicable method for assessing the efficiency of methylation to analyze BVO. H-NMR sufficiently calculated the efficiency of methylation using each integral and the numbers of protons derived from the methyl group, which is characteristic in products, and the methine group, which is characteristic in unreacted substances.

Stagnant forearc mantle wedge inferred from mapping of shear-wave anisotropy using S-net seafloor seismometers.

Shear-wave anisotropy in Earth's mantle helps constrain the lattice-preferred orientation of anisotropic minerals due to viscous flow. Previous studies at the Japan Trench subduction zone using land-based seismic networks identified strong anisotropy in the mantle wedge, reflecting viscous flow induced by the subducting slab. Here we map anisotropy in the previously uninvestigated offshore region by analyzing shear waves from interplate earthquakes that are recorded by a new seafloor network (the S-net).

Identification of Descarbonsildenafil in an Adulterated Dietary Supplement and Evaluation of Its Inhibitory Activity for Phosphodiesterase Type 5 (PDE5).

Some illegal dietary supplements contain phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors, such as sildenafil, for exerting "therapeutic" effects in erectile dysfunction. This is apparently dangerous, and thus, should be appropriately regulated. Identification of descarbonsildenafil was first reported in Singapore in a coffee sample labeled to exert male sexual performance enhancement effects.

[LC/Tribrid Orbitrap Analysis of Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors and Their Analogs as Adulterants in Dietary Supplements].

LC/Tribrid Orbitrap was developed to determine phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors and their analogs as adulterants in dietary supplements. High-resolution MS/MS and MS spectra of PDE-5 inhibitors and their analogs were obtained by LC/Tribrid Orbitrap using both higher-energy collisional dissociation and collision-induced dissociation. We investigated dietary supplements that claim to enhance men's sexual performance, and detected PDE-5 inhibitors and their analogs.

[Inhalation Exposure Method for Illegal Drugs].

We developed a new inhalation exposure method to evaluate effects of synthetic cannabimimetics that are being distributed as new, unregulated drugs in the Tokyo area. We selected the commercial product "SOUTOU" containing AB-CHMINACA and 5F-AMB as the test drug and dried marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) leaves as the negative control. A half cigarette packed with dried marshmallow leaves or SOUTOU was ignited, then mainstream smoke from each was delivered to five mice in an exposure box.

Fatal intoxication by 5F-ADB and diphenidine: Detection, quantification, and investigation of their main metabolic pathways in humans by LC/MS/MS and LC/Q-TOFMS.

Despite the implementation of a new blanket scheduling system in 2013, new psychoactive substance (NPS) abuse remains a serious social concern in Japan. We present a fatal intoxication case involving 5F-ADB (methyl 2-[1-(5-fluoropentyl)-1H-indazole-3-carboxamido]-3,3-dimethylbutanoate) and diphenidine. Postmortem blood screening by liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC/Q-TOFMS) in the information-dependent acquisition mode only detected diphenidine.

Tremor activity inhibited by well-drained conditions above a megathrust.

Tremor occurs on megathrusts under conditions of near-lithostatic pore-fluid pressures and extremely weakened shear strengths. Although metamorphic reactions in the slab liberate large amounts of fluids, the mechanism for enhancing pore-fluid pressures along the megathrust to near-lithostatic values remains poorly understood. Here we show anti-correlation between low-frequency earthquake (LFE) activity and properties that are markers of the degree of metamorphism above the megathrust, whereby LFEs occur beneath the unmetamorphosed overlying plate but are rare or limited below portions that are metamorphosed.

Positional isomer differentiation of synthetic cannabinoid JWH-081 by GC-MS/MS.

Like many new designer drugs of abuse, synthetic cannabinoids (SC) have structural or positional isomers which may or may not all be regulated under law. Differences in acute toxicity may exist between isomers which impose further burden in the fields of forensic toxicology, medicine and legislation. Isomer differentiation therefore becomes crucial from these standpoints as new designer drugs continuously emerge with just minor positional modifications to their preexisting analogs.

Rapid identification of a narcotic plant Papaver bracteatum using flow cytometry.

In May 2011, numerous poppy plants closely resembling Papaver bracteatum Lindl., a type of narcotic plant that is illegal in Japan, were distributed directly from several large flower shops or through online shopping throughout Japan, including the Tokyo Metropolitan area. In order to better identify the narcotic plants, the relative nuclear DNA content at the vegetative stage was measured by flow cytometric (FCM) analysis in 3 closely-related species of the genus Papaver section Oxytona, namely P.

Structure-dependent inhibitory effects of synthetic cannabinoids against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced inflammation and skin tumour promotion in mice.

Objectives: Whether and how synthetic cannabinoids affect inflammation and carcinogenesis has not been well studied. The present study was thus conducted to assess effects of synthetic cannabinoids on inflammation and carcinogenesis in vivo in mice.

Methods: Twenty-three analogues of synthetic cannabinoids were isolated from, and identified as adulterants in, illegal drugs distributed in the Tokyo metropolitan area, and were examined for their inhibitory effects on the induction of oedema in mouse ears by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA).

Direct imaging of hyperpolarized 129Xe alveolar gas uptake in a mouse model of emphysema.

MRI of hyperpolarized (129)Xe dissolved in pulmonary tissues, and blood has the potential to offer a new tool for regional evaluation of pulmonary gas exchange and perfusion; however, the extremely short T2* and low magnetization density make it difficult to acquire the image. In this study, an ultrashort echo-time sequence was introduced, and its feasibility to quantitatively assess emphysema-like pulmonary tissue destruction by a combination of dissolved- and gas-phase (129)Xe lung MRI was investigated. The ultrashort echo-time has made it possible to acquire dissolved (129)Xe images with reasonably high spatial resolution of 0.

[Structural analyses of unknown red dyes detected in dried strawberry].

We examined two unknown red dyes (designated as red dyes "A" and "B") from a dried strawberry package with a label that indicated the presence of food red No. 40 (R40). Red dye "A" was identified as trisodium 3-hydroxy-4-[(2'-methoxy-5'-methyl-4'-sulfonatophenyl)azo]-2,7-naphthalenedisulfonate (CSA-R) by HPLC, UV-VIS spectra and MS spectra.

Peyote identification on the basis of differences in morphology, mescaline content, and trnL/trnF sequence between Lophophora williamsii and L. diffusa.

Genus Lophophora (Cactaceae) has two species: Lophophora williamsii Coulter, which is called peyote, and L. diffusa Bravo. Although it was reported that L.

Determination of traces of palladium in stream sediment and auto catalyst by FI-ICP-OES using on-line separation and preconcentration with QuadraSil TA.

A flow injection analysis (FIA) method using on-line separation and preconcentration with a novel metal scavenger beads, QuadraSil TA, has been developed for the ICP-OES determination of traces of palladium. QuadraSil TA contains diethylenetriamine as a functional group on spherical silica beads and shows the highest selectivity for Pd(II) at pH 1 (0.1 mol l(-1) hydrochloric acid) solution.

A novel separation and preconcentration method for traces of manganese, cobalt, zinc and cadmium using coagulation of colloidal silica.

A separation and preconcentration method has been developed for traces of heavy metals using coagulation of colloidal silica. An appropriate amount of colloidal silica was added to a sample solution, the pH was adjusted to 11 with tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution and calcium chloride solution was then added to coagulate the silica. The coagulated silica and solution were separated by centrifugation, and the silica was then treated with hydrofluoric and perchloric acids.

Reaction of tetramethylpiperidine N-oxides with persistent triplet diphenylcarbenes.

Persistent triplet diphenylcarbenes with considerable stability have been shown to be trapped by tetramethylpiperidine N-oxides (TEMPOs) to give the corresponding benzophenones as major products along with tetramethylpiperidine, which indicates that the reaction pattern is essentially identical with that observed for parent triplet diphenylcarbene. The absolute rate constants for the quenching reaction were measured by a laser flash photolysis technique and compared with those for quenching by other typical triplet carbene quenchers. The results showed that the reactivity of TEMPOs toward triplet carbenes was lower than that of oxygen but higher than that of 1,4-cyclohexadiene.

Determination of lead in seawater by flow-injection on-line preconcentration-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry after coprecipitation with iron(III) hydroxide.

A flow-injection on-line preconcentration-electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometric (ETAAS) method coupled with a coprecipitation method has been developed for the determination of lead in seawater. The combination of two preconcentration procedures, coprecipitation with iron(II) hydroxide and solid-phase extraction with a lead-selective resin, Pb-Spec, allowed the determination of lead at the ng kg(-1) level. Lead in 250 g of a sample solution was collected by coprecipitation with 10 mg of iron.