Open-access and multi-directional electroosmotic flow chip for positioning heterotypic cells

We propose a novel method of cell positioning using electroosmotic flow (EOF) to analyze cell-cell interactions. The EOF chip has an open-to-air configuration, is equipped with four electrodes to induce multi-directional EOF, and allows access of tools for liquid handling and of physical probes for cell measurements. Evaluation of the flow within this chip indicated that it controlled hydrodynamic transport of cells, in terms of both speed and direction. We also evaluated cell viability after EOF application and determined appropriate conditions for cell positioning. Two cells were successively positioned in pocket-like microstructures, one in each micropocket, by controlling the EOF direction. As an experimental demonstration, we observed contact interactions between two individual cells through gap junction channels. The EOF chip should provide ways to elucidate various cell-cell interactions between heterotypic cells.     

Influence of exchange coupling on current-driven domain wall motion in a nanowire

In this study, the effect of exchange stiffness constant on current-driven domain wall motion in nanowires with in-plane magnetic anisotropy (IMA) and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) has been investigated using micromagnetic simulation. The critical current density in a nanowire with IMA decreases as the exchange stiffness constant decreases because the domain wall width at the upper edge of the nanowire narrows according to the decrease of the exchange stiffness constant. On the other hand, the critical current density in a nanowire with PMA slightly decreases contrary to that of IMA although the domain wall width reasonably decreases as the exchange stiffness constant decreases. The slight reduction rate of the critical current density is due to the increase of the effective hard-axis anisotropy of PMA nanowire.     

Superlinear elliptic equations with singular coefficients on the boundary

In this paper, a superlinear elliptic equation whose coefficient diverges on the boundary is studied in any bounded domain Ω under the zero Dirichlet boundary condition. Although the equation has a singularity on the boundary, a solution is smooth on the closure of the domain. Indeed, it is proved that the problem has a positive solution and infinitely many solutions without positivity, which belong to or . Moreover, it is proved that a positive solution has a higher order regularity up to .     

New and efficient catalysts for enantioselective borohydride reduction of ketones and imines

Optically active aldiminato cobalt(II) complexes have been found to catalyze the enantioselective reduction of ketones with sodium borohydride affording the corresponding optically active secondary alcohols in high chemical yields with high enantioselectivities. The enantioselective borohydride reduction is also applicable to not only C=O bonds in aromatic ketones but also to C=N bonds in aromatic imines.     

Competing Roles of Two Kinds of Ligand during Nonclassical Crystallization of Pillared-Layer Metal-Organic Frameworks Elucidated Using Microfluidic Systems

To diversify metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), multi-component MOFs constructed from more than two kinds of bridging ligand have been actively investigated due to the high degree of design freedom afforded by the combination of multiple ligands. Predicting the synthesis conditions for such MOFs requires an understanding of the crystallization mechanism, which has so far remained elusive. In this context, microflow systems are efficient tools for capturing non-equilibrium states as they facilitate precise and efficient mixing with reaction times that correspond to the distance from the mixing point, thus enabling reliable control of non-equilibrium crystallization processes. Herein, we prepared coordination polymers with pillared-layer structures and observed the intermediates in the syntheses with an in-situ measurement system that combines microflow reaction with UV/Vis and X-ray absorption fine-structure spectroscopies, thereby enabling their rapid nucleation to be monitored. Based on the results, a three-step nonclassical nucleation mechanism involving two kinds of intermediate is proposed.     

Application of Multilayer Analytical Film to ELISA of Vanilmandelic Acid

The urinary level of vanilmandelic acid (VMA) is one marker for diagnosis of neurblastoma in neonates. A large number of samples are needed for mass screening. In order to make a convenient and sophisticated assay, we examined a method based on dry chemistry by using a monoclonal antibody to VMA. The antibody adsorbed on the surface of the well of a microplate was equilibrated with VMA labeled with glucose oxidase (GOD-VMA). Free VMA in a sample competes with GOD-VMA for the binding sites of the antibody. An aliquot containing the excess GOD-VMA was spotted onto a multilayer film consisting of a spreading layer containing glucose and a reaction layer containing peroxidase and a leucodye. Hydrogen peroxide produced with GOD-VMA in the spreading layer penetrated the reaction layer and produced a blue dye. The amount of dye formed was measured by a reflection photometer. From a standard curve, VMA was measurable from 0.1 to 50 μg/ml. The values obtained by the present method were correlated with those by high-performance liquid chromatography and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.     

Nonlinear acoustic response through minute surface cracks: FEM simulation and experimentation

The second harmonic of a Rayleigh wave passing through a minute surface crack has been numerically analyzed by semi-explicit FEM including special elements which account for a nonlinear stress-strain relation at crack surfaces. Minute cracks perpendicular to a free, flat surface close under compressive stress when width of the crack opening is less than the longitudinal amplitude of the Rayleigh wave. Thereafter, compressive and shear stresses are partially transmitted through the closed cracks, whereas tensile and shear stresses are not transmitted through cracks that remain open. This leads to marked nonlinear ultrasonic response. Calculation was performed for an aluminum block having a surface crack. The transverse component of the Rayleigh wave propagating through the cracks shows distorted waveforms, making the second harmonic amplitude clearly noticeable. In an experiment, the second harmonic component of the leaky Rayleigh wave was detected for a simple crack model consisting of two aluminum blocks, by use of a PVDF line-focused transducer. The results of the experiment show that the second harmonic amplitude is a second-order function of the fundamental wave amplitude, and is more pronounced for low compressive stress applied to close the crack surfaces.     

Counting and sizing of particles and particle agglomerates in a microfluidic device using laser light scattering: application to a particle-enhanced immunoassay

A microfluidic device for counting and sizing particles and particle agglomerates based on laser light scattering is demonstrated. The particles were confined hydrodynamically and passed through a focused laser beam. Scattering at two different angles, 15 degree and 45 degree, was detected. At an acquisition rate of 10 kHz, a throughput of 150 particles s(-1) was achieved. Scattering intensity was found to depend on particle volume for 2 to 9 microm diameter particles. Size discrimination of particles with a diameter ratio of 1: 2 was accomplished. In addition, the scattering signals of particle agglomerates formed in a particle-enhanced immunoassay for C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Scattering intensity was found to be dependent on the CRP concentration, 100 ng CRP per mL could be detected. The particle counting method presented is generic and can be employed in a wide variety of assays as well as for cell counting and particle counting.     

Zeolite Catalyzed Alkylation of Biphenyl. Where Does Shape-Selective Catalysis Occur?

Liquid-phase alkylation of biphenyl (BP) was studied over large-pore zeolites. Selective formation of the least bulky products, 4,4-diisopropylbiphenyl (4,4-DIPB) occurred only in the isopropylation of BP over one- or two-dimensional zeolites, H-mordenite (HM), ZSM-12, SSZ-24, SAPO-5, SSZ-31, and CIT-5. These shape-selective catalyses are ascribed to steric restriction of transition state and to easiness of the substrates to enter into the pores. HM gave the highest selectivity among them. The dealumination of HM enhanced catalytic activity and the selectivity for 4,4-DIPB because of the decrease of coke deposition. Non-regioselective catalysis occurs on external acid sites over HM with the low SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio because severe coke deposition deactivates the acid sites inside the pores by blocking pore openings. The selectivity of DIPB isomers was changed with propylene pressure and/or with reaction temperature. Selective formation of 4,4-DIPB was observed at moderate temperatures such as 250°C, whereas the decrease of the selectivity of 4,4-DIPB occurred at higher temperatures as 300°C. 4,4-DIPB yielded selectively under high propylene pressure (<0.3 MPa) at 250°C, while the selectivity of 4,4-DIPB decreased under low propylene pressure as 0.2 MPa. However, 4,4-DIPB was almost exclusive isomer in the encapsulated DIPB isomers inside the pores under every temperature and pressure. The decrease of the selectivity of 4,4-DIPB is due to the isomerization of 4,4-DIPB on the external acid sites. The deactivation of external acid sites of HM was examined by the modification with cerium and other rare earth metal oxide on HM. Selectivities of 4,4-DIPB were improved over modified HM even at high temperatures because of the suppression of non-regioselective alkylation and isomerization at the external acid sites. The ethylation of BP to ethylbiphenyls (EBPs) and diethylbiphenyls (DEBPs) was non-regioselective. The ethylation of BP to EBPs was controlled kinetically. However, there was difference in reactivities of EBPs and DEBPs for their further ethylation. 4-EBP was ethylated preferentially among the isomers, although the formation of 4,4-DEBP was less selective. 4-EBP and 4,4-DEBP have the highest reactivities among EBPs and DEBPs for the ethylation to polyethylbiphenyls (PEBPs). These results show that the environments of HM pores are too loose for shape-selective formation of the least bulky isomers, 4-EBP and 4,4-DEBP, in the ethylation of BP, and that HM pores have enough space for the further ethylation of 4,4-DEBP.     

Synthesis and properties of new macrocyclic compounds: Utilization of bond character of hypervalent sulfur in tetraazathiapentalene derivatives

2,3‐Bis[(p‐isothiocyanatomethylphenyl)methyl]‐6,7‐dihydro‐5H‐2a‐thia(2a‐S_IV)‐2,3,4a,7a‐tetraaza‐cyclopent[cd]indene‐1,4(2H,3H)‐dithione ( 3 ), prepared by the reaction of 2,3‐dimethyl‐6,7‐dihydro‐5H‐2a‐thia(2a‐S^IV)‐2,3,4a,7a‐tetraazacyclopent‐[cd]indene‐1,4(2H,3H)‐dithione ( 1 ) with p‐xylylene diisothio‐cyanate, reacted with N,N′‐dialkyl substituted diamines to give macrocyclic compounds bearing hypervalent sulfur by a ring closure reaction in good yields. These macrocyclic compounds were converted into ring‐expanded macrocyclic compounds with release of the hypervalent sulfur by treating with NaBH₄ and CF₃COOH.