Rhodium nanoparticles supported on carbon nanofibers as an arene hydrogenation catalyst highly tolerant to a coexisting epoxido group.

Rhodium nanoparticles supported on a carbon nanofiber (Rh/CNF-T) show high catalytic activity toward arene hydrogenation under mild conditions in high turnover numbers without leaching the Rh species; the reaction is highly tolerant to epoxido groups, which often undergo ring-opening hydrogenation with conventional catalysts.

Chemoselective hydrogenation of nitroarenes with carbon nanofiber-supported platinum and palladium nanoparticles.

Platinum and palladium nanoparticles supported on three types of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are synthesized and used as catalysts in the hydrogenation of nitroarenes. Nanosized platinum particles dispersed on platelet-type CNF efficiently catalyze the reduction of functionalized nitroarenes to the corresponding substituted anilines in high turnover numbers with other functional groups remaining intact.

Ruthenium nanoparticles on nano-level-controlled carbon supports as highly effective catalysts for arene hydrogenation.

The reaction of three types of carbon nanofibers (CNFs; platelet: CNF-P, tubular: CNF-T, herringbone: CNF-H) with [Ru3(CO)12] in toluene heated at reflux provided the corresponding CNF-supported ruthenium nanoparticles, Ru/CNFs (Ru content = 1.1-3.8 wt %). TEM studies of these Ru/CNFs revealed that size-controlled Ru nanoparticles (2-4 nm) exist on the CNFs, and that their location was dependent on the surface nanostructures of the CNFs: on the edge of the graphite layers (CNF-P), in the tubes and on the surface (CNF-T), and between the layers and on the edge (CNF-H). Among these Ru/CNFs, Ru/CNF-P showed excellent catalytic activity towards hydrogenation of toluene with high reproducibility; the reaction proceeded without leaching of the Ru species, and the catalyst was reusable. The total turnover number of the five recycling experiments for toluene hydrogenation reached over 180,000 (mol toluene) (mol Ru)(-1). Ru/CNF-P was also effective for the hydrogenation of functionalized benzene derivatives and pyridine. Hydrogenolysis of benzylic C-O and C-N bonds has not yet been observed. Use of poly(ethylene glycol)s (PEGs) as a solvent made possible the biphasic catalytic hydrogenation of toluene. After the reaction, the methylcyclohexane formed was separated by decantation without contamination of the ruthenium species and PEG. The insoluble PEG phase containing all of the Ru/CNF was recoverable and reusable as the catalyst without loss of activity.

Highly efficient synthesis of optically pure 5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-bi-2-naphthol and -naphthylamine derivatives by partial hydrogenation of 1,1'-binaphthyls with carbon nanofiber supported ruthenium nanoparticles.

Use of Ru/CNF-P, nanoruthenium particles dispersed on a nanocarbon fiber support, realizes highly efficient catalytic partial hydrogenation of 1,1'-bi-2-naphthol and -naphthyl-amine derivatives. The reactions proceed in high turnover numbers without racemization of the axial chirality, offering a practical procedure for the production of optically pure 5,5',6,6',7,7',8,8'-octahydro-1,1'-binaphthyls in good to high yields.

Microreactor utilizing a vertically-aligned carbon nanotube array grown inside the channels.

We have fabricated a microreactor incorporating vertically-aligned carbon nanotubes supporting Pt nanoparticles and found that the presence of aligned nanotubes significantly enhances the catalytic reaction and extends the catalyst lifetime as compared with conventional microreactors using a Pt metal film or Pt nanoparticles directly deposited on the channel walls.

The tau protein of oral epithelium increases in Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an important problem that should be solved in the 21st century. Prior to treatment, a simple and easy diagnostic method using biological markers should be available. As a method to attain this goal, we detected and determined tau protein in oral mucosal epithelium. METHODS: Oral epithelium was exfoliated from 34 patients with AD or 29 patients with vascular dementia, and 33 young and 34 age-matched controls. Western blot was performed for determining the molecular weight of oral tau protein. The tau protein level was determined with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). CSF tau was also measured and compared with oral tau. RESULTS: Western blot analysis using an anti-non-phosphorylated tau-protein antibody showed two bands, one at 65 Kd and the other at 110 Kd. The tau-protein level in oral epithelia showed a significant positive correlation with those in the CSF (p <.05). The patients with AD had significantly higher levels of tau protein than the patients with vascular dementia and the controls (p <.01). AD patients with a younger age at onset of the study showed a higher level of the tau protein than the patients with later age at onset (p <.05). CONCLUSIONS: Like other nonneural tissues, oral epithelium contains small tau and big tau. The tau protein in oral epithelium reflects the pathological changes, as does the CSF tau. Individuals who develop AD may have had high levels of the tau protein in oral mucosal epithelium since early childhood. The tau-protein level in oral epithelia could be helpful in diagnosing AD.