Observation of subcellular nanostructure of single neurons with an illumination mode photon scanning tunneling microscope

We report about the observation of microtubules lying underneath the cell membrane of neural process in neurons with a resolution as high as that of an electron microscope by an illumination mode photon scanning tunneling microscope. Nanoapertures used in our observations were fabricated by means of selective chemical etching and metal coating of an optical fiber. The narrowest observed tube has got an average diameter of 26 nm. Comparing this with its nominal value of 25 nm, the difference which is considered as a measure of resolution (δ) is 1 nm implying a resolution comparable to that of an electron microscope in imaging dielectric specimens. This was possible due to the presence of a boundary between the glass and the metal coating and also due to the use of an aperture of almost the same size as that of the microtubule that enhances the detection.     

A simple method for counting the number of trapped ions in an ion trap

A technique is proposed for injection-seeding control of tunable lasers. It is based on a combination of successive external injection and intracavity self-injection of radiation when the active medium is pumped by dual-step pulses. The technique is tested both experimentally (in the case of Nd:YAG-laser-pumped pulsed dye lasers) and numerically, using a model developed by us. Full conversion of the broadband spectrum into the injected line is achieved for an output energy greater by a factor of about 50 than that managed by means of the traditional injection-seeding technique under identical conditions.     

Simultaneous Analysis of Phosphorylated Peptides by MALDI-TOF-MS

Six peptides with various phosphorylation sensitivities for protein kinase A (PKA) were used for the simultaneous analysis of phosphorylated peptides using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The mixture of six peptides was reacted with PKA and was analyzed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The intensity of all peaks except one phosphorylated peptide peak was very low (<20%). Moreover, we examined whether the addition of diammonium citrate to CHCA matrix at concentrations of 1–20 mg mL^?1 can increase the peak intensity of peptides and phosphorylated peptides. The addition of diammonium citrate increased the peak intensity of peptides and phosphorylated peptides, but an increase in the intensity was unsatisfactory. Our study strongly suggests that MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry is not suitable for the simultaneous analysis of phosphorylated peptides.     

Global existence for systems of wave equations with nonresonant nonlinearities and null forms

We consider the Cauchy problem for systems of nonlinear wave equations with different propagation speeds in three space dimensions. We prove global existence of small amplitude solutions for systems with some nonresonant nonlinearities which may depend on both of the unknowns and their derivatives. Our method here can be also adopted to treat the null forms.     

Structural studies of phase transitions in crystalline and liquid halides (ZnCl<Subscript>2</Subscript>, AlCl<Subscript>3</Subscript>) under pressure

The results of investigating the phase diagrams of ZnCl₂ and AlCl₃ halides, as well as the structure of the shortrange order of the corresponding melts under pressures up to 6.5 GPa, by the method of energy-dispersive x-ray diffraction are reported. When a ZnCl₂ crystal is compressed, a phase transition occurs from the γ phase (HgI₂ structure type) to the δ phase (distorted CdI₂ structure, WTe₂ type). The structural studies of the liquid state of ZnCl₂ and AlCl₃ indicate that the intermediate-range order decreases rapidly in the tetrahedral network of both melts as the pressure increases to 1.8 and 2.3 GPa for ZnCl₂ and AlCl₃, respectively. With further compression, the transitions in both melts occur with a change in the structure of the short-range order and with an increase in the coordination number. In this case, the transition in AlCl₃ occurs at ≈4 GPa and is a sharp first order transition, whereas the transition in ZnCl₂ occurs more smoothly in a pressure range of 2–4 GPa with a maximum intensity near 3 GPa. Thus, the AlCl₃ and ZnCl₂ compounds exemplify the existence of two phenomena—gradual decay of intermediate-range structural correlations and a sharper liquid-liquid coordination transition.     

Development of heterodyne detection of dynamic light scattering enhanced by the Talbot effect for the size measurement of nanoparticles.

A new type of dynamic light scattering method for the size measurement of nanoparticles was developed using a transmission grating. A sample cell was located behind the grating, and light was incident from the grating side. The scattered light by a solution with nanopariticles was mixed with diffracted light by the grating, and the mixed signal was detected; namely, the diffracted light was used as reference light for heterodyne detection. It was confirmed that the S/N ratio of the autocorrelation curve was 26-times improved by heterodyne detection. Furthermore, the S/N ratio was improved by setting the sample cell at the sample grating distance where the electromagnetic field is maximum due to the Talbot effect. Size measurements for several kinds of nanoparticles were demonstrated by this new method.     

Die Löslichkeit von aromatischen Verbindungen mit polaren Gruppen in Wasser

Zusammenfassung Die Löslichkeiten folgender Verbindungen wurden in Wasser bei 5°-Intervallen von 0° bis 40° bestimmt; Anilin, Mtrobenzol, Chlorbenzol,-Oxynaphthalin und-Nitronaphthalin. Aus diesen Ergebnissen wurden die thermodynamischen Parameter für den Lösungsprozeß der reinen flüssigen Verbindungen in Wasser berechnet. Das Resultat wurde mit Hilfe des Begriffs der Eisberge erklärt.Beim Benzol, Anilin und Chlorbenzol waren die Lösungswärmen negativ bei niedrigeren Temperaturen und wurden mit steigender Temperatur positiver. Dagegen traten beim Nitrobenzol,-Oxynaphthalin und-Nitronaphthalin stets die positiven Lösungswärmen auf. Dies sollte auf die großen intermolekularen Kräfte in der reinen Flüssigkeit zurückzuführen sein.