The time-dependent tracking inversion method is studied to extract the potential energy surface of the electronic excited state in the photodissociation of triatomic molecules. Based on the relay of the regularized inversion procedure and time-dependent wave packet propagation, the algorithm extracts the underlying potential energy surface piece by piece by tracking the time-dependent data, which can be synthesized from Raman excitation profiles. We have demonstrated the algorithm to extract the potential energy surface of electronic excited state for NO2 molecule where the wave packet split on a saddle-shaped surface. Finally, we describe the merits of the time-dependent tracking inversion method compared with the time-independent inversion method and discussed several extensions of the algorithm.

The determination of Cd2+ and Cu2+ with ammonium pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate (APDC) in Tween 80 micellar media has been studied. The UV-visible spectrum of Cd(PDC)2 complex in Tween 80 media had more sensitivity tha n in chloroform. Although the UV-visible spectrum of the Cu(PDC)2 complex in Tween 80 media had somewhat less sensitivity than that in chloroform, absorbance data of Cu2+ were more reproducible in Tween 80 media. The Cd(PDC)2 and Cu(PDC)2 complexes were very stable at pH 7.0 for up to 100 minutes and could be quantitatively chelated if APDC were added to the sample solution more than 30 times the moles of Cd2+ and Cu2+ . The optimum concentration of Tween 80 was 0.1%. The calibration curves of Cd(PDC)2 and Cu(PDC)2 complexes with good linearity were obtained in 0.1% Tween 80 media. The detection limits of Cd2+ and Cu2+ were 0.0493 ㎍mL-1 and 0.0393 ㎍mL-1 , respectively. Recovery yields of Cd2+ and Cu2+ ions in the spiked real samples were almost 100%. Based on experimental results, this proposed method could be applied to the rapid and simple determination of Cd2+ and Cu2+ in real samples.

A triblock copolymer based on $poly(\varepsilon-caprolactone)$ (PCL) as the hydrophobic part and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) as the hydrophilic portion was synthesized by a ring-opening mechanism of ${\varepsilon}-caprolactone$ with PEG containing a hydroxyl group at bot h ends as an initiator. The synthesized block copolymers of PCL/PEG/PCL (CEC) were confirmed and characterized using various analysis equipment such as 1H NMR, DSC, FT-IR, and WAXD. Core-shell type nanoparticles of CEC triblock copolymers were prepared using a dialysis technique to estimate their potential as a colloidal drug carrier using a hydrophobic drug. From the results of particle size analysis and transmission electron microscopy, the particle size of CEC core-shell type nanoparticles was determined to be about 20-60 nm with a spherical shape. Since CEC block copolymer nanoparticles have a core-shell type micellar structure and small particle size similar to polymeric micelles, CEC block copolymer can self-associate at certain concentrations and the critical association concentration (CAC) was able to be determined by fluorescence probe techniques. The CAC values of the CEC block copolymers were dependent on the PCL block length. In addition, drug loading contents were dependent on the PCL block length: the larger the PCL block length, the higher the drug loading content. Drug release from CEC core-shell type nanoparticles showed an initial burst release for the first 12 hrs followed by pseudo-zero order release kinetics for 2 or 3 days. CEC-2 block copolymer core-shell type nanoparticles were degraded very slowly, suggesting that the drug release kinetics were governed by a diffusion mechanism rather than a degradation mechanism irrelevant to the CEC block copolymer composition.

4-Thiazolidinones which are hetarylsubstituted at the 2-position were prepared by the reaction of mercapto acids with aldimines which were prepared by the condensation of pyrrole-2-carbaldehyde with different aromatic amines. After their benzylide ne derivatives were obtained, we first applied the Wittig reagent on them in the presence of triethylamine, dihydrofurothiazolidines were synthesized. Second, we prepared new pyrazolinothiazolidines by using phenylhydrazine in the presence of sodium acetate. All mentioned compounds have been characterized by their spectral data, and screened for their antimicrobial activities. Some of them exhibit moderate to good antibacterial and tuberculostatic activities.

Surface films formed prior to bulk reduction of lithium have been studied at gold, platinum, and copper electrodes in rigorously dried propylene carbonate solutions using electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance (EQCM) and secondary ion mass spectrometry experiments. The results indicate that the passive film formation takes place at a potential as positive as about 2.0 V vs. Li/Li+ , and the passive film thus formed in this potential region is thicker than a monolayer. Quantitative analysis of the EQCM results indicates that electrogenerated lithium reacts with solvent molecules to produce a passive film consisting of lithium carbonate and other compounds of larger molecular weights. The presence of lithium carbonate is verified by SIMS, whereas the lithium compounds of low molecular weights, including lithium hydroxide and oxide, are not detected. Further lithium reduction takes place underneath the passive film at potentials lower than 1.2 V with a voltammetric current peak at about 0.6 V.

As gas chromatography/infrared spectrometry (GC/IR) becomes routinely avaliable, methods must be developed to deal with the large amount of data produced. We demonstrate computer methods that quickly search through a large data file, locating thos e spectra that display a spectral feature of interest. Based on a modified library search routine, these selective data reduction methods retrieve all or nearly all of the compounds of interest, while rejecting the vast majority of unrelated compounds. To overcome the shifting problem of IR spectra, a search method of moving the average pattern was designed. In this moving pattern search, the average pattern of a particular functional group was not held stationary, but was allowed to be moved a little bit right and left.

An efficient and eco-friendly approach to N-unsubstituted ${\beta}-lactams$ has been developed using mostly water as the reaction medium. This methodology was applied to the synthesis of N-unsubstituted 3-hydroxy-4-phenyl-2-azetidinone derivatives (inclu ding 15N-labeled version) which are suitable precursors for the C-13 side chain of taxol and its analogs.

Unexpectedly, the brightest row was known to represents the lowest lying Te atoms in the STM image of NbTe2. Projected density of states and crystal orbital overlap population show that the 5pz orbital of the lowest lying Te(2) atom doe s not interact with the 4d orbital of Nb strongly so that the 5pz band remains in the vicinity of the Fermi energy. Consequently the lowest lying Te(2) atoms contribute higher electron density near the Fermi energy which in turn exhibits brightest image in the STM experiments.

Separation of lithium isotopes was investigated by chemical ion exchange with a hydrous manganese(IV) oxide ion exchanger using an elution chromatography. The capacity of manganese(IV) oxide ion exchanger was 0.5 meq/g. One molar CH3COO Na solution was used as an eluent. The heavier isotope of lithium was enriched in the solution phase, while the lighter isotope was enriched in the ion exchanger phase. The separation factor was calculated according to the method of Glueckauf from the elution curve and isotopic assays. The single stage separation factor of lithium isotope pair fractionation was 1.021.

Histones, nuclear proteins that interact with DNA to form nucleosomes, are essential for both the regulation of transcription and the packaging of DNA within chromosomes. The N-terminal domain of histone H4 which contains four acetylation sites at lysines, may play a separate role in chromatin structure from the remainder of the H4 chain. NMR data suggest that H4NTP peptide does have relating disordered structure at physiological pH, however, it has a defined structure at lower pH conditions. The solution structure calculated from NMR data shows a well structured region comprising residues of Val21-Asp24. In addition, our results suggest that the H4NTP prefers an extended backbone conformation at acetylation sites, however, it (especially Lys 12 ) became more defined structures after acetylation for its optimum function.

We have explored the importance of two ATP binding domains of Hsp104 protein in protection of yeast cells from cadmium exposure. In the previous study we have discovered that the presence of two ATP binding sites was essential in providing heat sh ock protection as well as rescuing cells from oxidative stress. In this paper we first report wild type cell with functional hsp104 gene is more resistant to cadmium stress than hsp104-deleted mutant cell, judging from decrease in survival rates as a result of cadmium exposure. In order to demonstrate functional role of two ATP binding sites in cadmium defense, we have transformed both wild type (SP1) and hyperactivated ras mutant (IR2.5) strains with several plasmids differing in the presence of ATP binding sites. When an extra copy of functional hsp104 gene with both ATP binding sites was overexpressed with GPD-promoter, cells showed increased survival rate against cadmium stress than mutants with ATP binding sites changed. The degree of protection in the presence of two ATP binding sites was similarly observed in ira2-deleted hyperactivated ras mutant, which was more sensitive to oxidative stress than wild type cell. We have concluded that the greater sensitivity to cadmium stress in the absence of two ATP binding sites is attributed to the higher concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by cadmium exposure based on the fluorescence tests. These findings, taken all together, imply that the mechanism by which cadmium put forth toxic effects may be closely associated with the oxidative stress, which is regulated independently of the Ras-cAMP pathway. Our study provides a better understanding of cadmium defense itself and cross-talks between oxidative stress and metal stress, which can be applied to control human diseases due to similar toxic environments.