Validation of the CALUX bioassay for the screening of PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in retail fish

The chemical-activated luciferase expression (CALUX) assay is a reporter gene assay that detects dioxin-like compounds based on their ability to activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and thus expression of the reporter gene. In this paper, the CALUX assay was examined for its application in the screening of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dioxin-like PCBs) in retail fish. The sample extracts were cleaned up on a sulfuric acid-silica gel column followed by an activated carbon column, and the AhR activity of the separated PCDD/F and dioxin-like PCB fractions was determined using the assay. The quantitative limit for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) was 0.98 pg ml(-1) (0.19 pg assay(-1) in the standard curve, corresponding to 0.16 pg g(-1) of CALUX-based toxic equivalency (2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalents) in the tested sample. Recovery tests in which dioxins were added to fish samples resulted in acceptable recoveries (77-117%). The CALUX assay performed well in the analysis of dioxins in fish samples and a comparative study revealed a strong correlation between the CALUX assay and high-resolution gas chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis for the determination of PCDD/Fs (r = 0.89) and dioxin-like PCBs (r = 0.91) in retail fish (n = 22). These data revealed that the CALUX assay would be a useful screening method for PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in retail fish.     

Error Performance of Amplitude Shift Keying-Type Asymmetric Quantum Communication Systems

We propose an amplitude shift keying-type asymmetric quantum communication (AQC) system that uses an entangled state. As a first step toward development of this system, we evaluated and considered the communication performance of the proposed receiver when applied to the AQC system using a two-mode squeezed vacuum state (TSVS), the maximum quasi-Bell state, and the non-maximum quasi-Bell state, along with an asymmetric classical communication (ACC) system using the coherent state. Specifically, we derived an analytical expression for the error probability of the AQC system using the quasi-Bell state. Comparison of the error probabilities of the ACC system and the AQC systems when using the TSVS and the quasi-Bell state shows that the AQC system using the quasi-Bell state offers a clear performance advantage under specific conditions. Additionally, it was clarified that there are cases where the universal lower bound on the error probability for the AQC system was almost achieved when using the quasi-Bell state, unlike the case in which the TSVS was used.     

Single-component nanodiscs via the thermal folding of amphiphilic graft copolymers with the adjusted flexibility of the main chain

Nanodiscs have attracted considerable attention as structural scaffolds for membrane-protein research and as biomaterials in e.g. drug-delivery systems. However, conventional disc-fabrication methods are usually laborious, and disc fabrication via the self-assembly of amphiphiles is difficult. Herein, we report the formation of polymer nanodiscs based on the self-assembly of amphiphilic graft copolymers by adjusting the persistence length of the main chain. Amphiphilic graft copolymers with a series of different main-chain persistence lengths were prepared and these formed, depending on the persistence length, either rods, discs, or vesicles. Notably, polymer nanodiscs were formed upon heating a chilled polymer solution without the need for any additives, and the thus obtained nanodiscs were used to solubilize a membrane protein during cell-free protein synthesis. Given the simplicity of this disc-fabrication method and the ability of these discs to solubilize membrane proteins, this study considerably expands the fundamental and practical scope of graft-copolymer nanodiscs and demonstrates their utility as tools for studying the structure and function of membrane proteins.

A strategy for the fabrication of nanodiscs via the self-assembly of thermoresponsive amphiphilic graft copolymers is demonstrated.     

Vertical and direct integration of heterojunction phototransistors and laser diodes

An optoelectronic integrated device based on the concept of vertical and direct integration is described. Four types of integrated devices composed of multiple heterojunction phototransistors and laser diodes are developed and the devices successfully achieve thirteen functions: optical switching, amplification, thresholding, bistability, light-controlled optical bistability, light-controlled optical thresholding, tristability, set and reset functions in tristable states, set and reset functions in tetrastable states, and bistable and tristable flip-flop functions.     

Photon number squeezing of ultrabroadband laser pulses generated by microstructure fibers

To the best of our knowledge, we demonstrate for the first time the generation of photon number squeezing by spectral filtering for ultrabroadband light generated by microstructure fibers at 800 nm. A maximum squeezing of 4.6 dB is observed, corresponding to 10.3 dB after correcting for detection losses. We numerically analyzed the quantum dynamics of ultrashort laser pulse propagation through optical fibers by solving a nonlinear quantum Schr?dinger equation that included Raman scattering, especially for the quantum correlation of photon number fluctuation among frequency modes in broadband pulses.     

Three-dimensional vector holograms in photoreactive polymer dissolved liquid crystal composite

A detailed analysis of three-dimensional vector holograms is presented which were recorded in a photoreactive polymer dissolved liquid crystal. The diffraction properties of resultant periodic anisotropic structures were investigated. Experimental observations confirmed that the diffraction efficiencies of the structures varied with slight changes of the grating pitch, and also that they strongly depended on the incident angle of the probe beam. These diffraction properties were explained by the finite-difference time-domain optical simulations.     

Genetic algorithm-based design method for multilevel anisotropic diffraction gratings

We developed a method for the design of multilevel anisotropic diffraction gratings based on a genetic algorithm. The method is used to design the multilevel anisotropic diffraction gratings based on input data that represent the output from the required grating. The validity of the proposed method was evaluated by designing a multilevel anisotropic diffraction grating using the outputs from an orthogonal circular polarization grating. The design results corresponded to the orthogonal circular polarization grating structures that were used to provide outputs to act as the input data for the process. Comparison with existing design methods shows that the proposed method can reduce the number of human processes that are required to design multilevel anisotropic diffraction gratings. Additionally, the method will be able to design complex structures without any requirement for subsequent examination by a human designer. The method can contribute to the development of optical elements by designing multilevel anisotropic diffraction gratings.     

Precise measurement of positronium hyperfine splitting using the Zeeman effect

Positronium is an ideal system for the research of the quantum electrodynamics (QED) in bound state. The hyperfine splitting (HFS) of positronium, Δ_HFS, gives a good test of the bound state calculations and probes new physics beyond the Standard Model. A new method of QED calculations has revealed the discrepancy by 15 ppm (3.9σ) of Δ_HFS between the QED prediction and the experimental average. There would be possibility of new physics or common systematic uncertainties in the previous all experiments. We describe a new experiment to reduce possible systematic uncertainties and will provide an independent check of the discrepancy. We are now taking data and the current result of Δ_HFS?=?203.395 1 ±0.002 4 (stat., 12 ppm) ±0.001 9 (sys., 9.5 ppm) GHz has been obtained so far. A measurement with a precision of O(ppm) is expected within a year.     

Visualization of tip vortex flow in an open axial fan by EFD

The behavior of tip vortex in an axial fan without casing wall (called open axial fan) was discussed and analyzed. The velocity measurement was performed by using two-components Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) system. The detailed velocity and vorticity distribution inside blade passage and downstream of rotor were obtained. Thus the structure of tip vortex and its behavior were graphically visualized by experimental fluid dynamics (EFD). The tip vortex flow trace was indicated with the calculation of vorticity. As a result, it was found that tip vortex was generated at blade tip region near leading edge and it extended to downstream of blade exit with its core tending inward to hub direction. In addition, leading edge vortex was also found at the forepart of the experimental open fan.