Fluorescence imaging of potassium ions in living cells using a fluorescent probe based on a thrombin binding aptamer-peptide conjugate

When a biotinylated FRET probe based on a peptide-thrombin binding aptamer conjugate was introduced together with streptavidin and biotinylated nuclear export signal peptide into HeLa cells, the resulting ternary complex enabled visualization of K(+) concentration changes in the cell.     

Design and Analysis of Compact Directionally Coupled Bistable Laser Diodes

A compact optical flip-flop with a directional coupler has been designed and analyzed. Using a narrow gap directional coupler, we have predicted the device length could be reduced down to 500 μm from 1300 μm.     

La2-xSrxCu1-yZnyO4: Tc and ns/m* correlations seen with muon spin rotation

We report the muon spin rotation experiments on Zn substituted La_1-x Sr_x CuO₄, for four zinc concentrations y=0.0,0.0025,0.005,0.01, at strontium concentrations x=0.15,0.20. We find that T_ c in the optimally doped (x=0.15) and overdoped (x=0.20) 2:1:4 decreases linearly with increasing zinc concentration. Plotted against the planar zinc concentration, the T_c’s of both series seem to fall on the same line. The superconducting carrier density/effective mass ratio, n_ s/m^*, at first decreases linearly, rising above this line for higher zinc concentrations. This behavior may result from the localization of carriers in an area \xi_ab around each zinc atom. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High-power CO(2) laser with a Gauss-core resonator for high-speed cutting of thin metal sheets

A novel resonator, the Gauss-core resonator, based on a stable resonator configuration designed to yield a highly focusing beam operating in a large-volume TEM(00) mode, is presented. A 6.2 kW linearly polarized output beam with an M(2) factor of 1.7 is obtained experimentally for a high-power cw CO(2) laser. The capability of the Gauss-core resonator to process laser materials is also studied. We can cut 1-mm-thick mild (soft) steel with a maximum cutting speed of 58 m/min at 5.6 kW and 0.2-mm-thick steel 145 m/min at 2.8 kW.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of 3-butyn-2-ol

Optically active 3-butyn-2-ol, an important building block, was synthesized successfully using lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution. Starting from the thus obtained 3-butyn-2-ol, several 4-aryl-substituted compounds were synthesized enantioselectively.     

Immobilization of individual cells by local photo-polymerization on a chip

A novel separation method for random screening of target cells from a large heterogeneous population by using a local photo-polymerization is developed. A photo-crosslinkable resin solution is mixed with the sample liquid and we controlled the state from sol to gel by irradiating the near ultraviolet (UV) light with the mercury lamp and He-Cd laser near the target cell. We applied three types of immobilization methods such as direct immobilization method, caging method, and direct immobilization with position control method. The selected cell is immobilized in the cured resin directly or inside the cage of the cured resin. In the position control method, laser tweezers are employed to manipulate the target cell indirectly by using the droplet of the resin as a microtool. The cell is positioned properly by the laser manipulation system and is immobilized in the polymerized resin. After the selected cells are immobilized we can easily remove the other objects by the cleaning flow in the microchannel since the polymerized resin strongly binds with the cover glass and resists more than 466 mm s(-1) flow speed in the microchannel (microchannel size: width is 500 micron and depth is 100 micron). We tested the mercury lamp as well as the He-Cd laser for UV-light irradiation at the local area and confirmed improvement of resolution of the cured area by using the He-Cd laser (from 7 micron to 5 micron). Based on this method, we succeeded in single cell immobilization and basic experiments such as culture and fluorescent dyeing of immobilized yeast cells.     

Formation of pure hydrogen from methane

The methods for production of pure hydrogen from methane are summarized. One method is methane decomposition to hydrogen and carbon nanofibers. Ni-based catalysts with high activity and long life for the methane decomposition were developed. The other method is based on the redox of iron oxides, i.e., Fe₃O₄ is reduced with methane to iron metals and, subsequently, iron metals are oxidized with water vapor to form hydrogen. Iron oxide mediators that could be reduced with methane and subsequently be oxidized with water vapor at low temperatures were designed.     

Multilayer characterization by energy dispersive X-ray reflectivity technique

An experimental setup was developed to verify the feasibility of silicon drift detector to be used for the multilayer characterization by means of multilayer energy dispersive X-ray reflectivity. Such a detector allows high count rates up to 3 × 10⁵ cps and can be used in principle for the direct beam intensity measurement, which is to be done for the X-ray multilayer reflectivity patterns obtaining. A series of measurements were performed for Mo/B₄C multilayer sample. A quality of the experimentally obtained data turns out to be enough to perform a sample structure exploration using a numerical procedure of experimental data fitting. Due to low cost and short time, required for the measurements, an experimental technique proposed has a good perspective to be used for some practical applications in industry.