A potentiometric microbial sensor based on immobilized escherichia coli for glutamic acid

The sensor consists of immobilized E. coli (which contains glutamate decarboxylase) and a carbon dioxide gas-sensor. Continuous introduction of sample solution into a flow system incorporating the sensor gives a potential which increases until a steady state is reached after 5 min. Measurements can also be made with only a 1- or 3-min introduction period with little loss of sensitivity. Calibration plots of mV measurements vs. logarithmic glutamic acid concentration are linear in the range 100–800 mg l^-1. The sensor is highly selective, stable and reproducible. It has been applied to the determination of glutamic acid in fermentation broths.     

Dissipative structure for symmetric hyperbolic systems with memory

We study symmetric hyperbolic systems with memory-type dissipation and investigate their dissipative structures. We treat two cases: memory-type diffusion and memory-type relaxation, and observe that the dissipative structures of these two cases are essentially different. Namely, we show that the dissipative structure of the system with memory-type diffusion is of the standard type, while that of the system with memory-type relaxation is of the regularity-loss type.     

Relation between Hall-magnetohydrodynamics and the kinetic Alfvén wave

Effects of a finite ion temperature on the Hall magnetohydrodynamics (MHD), which breaks down for a finite ion temperature, are clarified in terms of a rigorous three-field kinetic dispersion relation. The MHD mode equation becomes anisotropic with respect to the ion pressure because of the double adiabaticity in ion dynamics.     

Sonochemically synthesized core-shell structured Au–Pd nanoparticles supported on γ-Fe2O3 particles

A sample of Au–Pd bimetallic nanoparticles supported on γ-Fe₂O₃ was synthesized in a sonochemically one-pot process. The structural analyses of the synthesized sample were performed by the techniques of X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (XAFS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and UV–vis spectrometry. Results indicated that the synthesized sample formed a core-shell structure in which a gold core was surrounded by a thin palladium shell. The reaction rate constant for the hydrogenation of cyclohexene of the present sample showed higher value than that of Pd nanoparticles supported on γ-Fe₂O₃ and core-shell structured Au–Pd nanoparticles supported on SiO₂. The present sample is a promising catalyst material which has a high catalytic activity.     

Theory of ferromagnetism in Ca(1-x)La(x)B(6)

Novel ferromagnetism in Ca(1-x)La(x)B(6) is studied in terms of the Ginzburg-Landau theory for excitonic-order parameters, taking into account symmetry of the wave functions. We found that the minima of the free energy break both inversion and time-reversal symmetries, while the product of these two remains preserved. This explains various novelties of the ferromagnetism and predicts a number of magnetic properties, including the magnetoelectric effect, which can be tested experimentally.     

SQUID sensor application for small metallic particle detection

High-Tc superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) is an ultra-sensitive magnetic sensor. Since the performance of the SQUID is improved and stabilized, now it is ready for application. One strong candidate for application is a detection system of magnetic foreign matters in industrial products or beverages. There is a possibility that ultra-small metallic foreign matter has been accidentally mixed with industrial products such as lithium ion batteries. If this happens, the manufacturer of the product suffers a great loss recalling products. The outer dimension of metallic particles less than 100 μm cannot be detected by an X-ray imaging, which is commonly used for the inspection. Ionization of the material is also a big issue for beverages in the case of the X-ray imaging. Therefore a highly sensitive and safety detection system for small foreign matters is required. We developed detection systems based on high-Tc SQUID with a high-performance magnetic shield. We could successfully measure small iron particles of 100 μm on a belt conveyer and stainless steel balls of 300 μm in water. These detection levels were hard to be achieved by a conventional X-ray detection or other methods.     

Tensor interactions and polarization phenomena in heavy-ion scattering

Elastic and inelastic scattering of ⁷Li by ⁵⁸Ni at E_lab = 14.2 and 20.3 MeV is investigated theoretically, special emphasis being laid on polarization phenomena. A parameter-independent study shows second-rank tensor interactions to be the main origin of tensor analyzing powers for both elastic and inelastic scattering. Coupled-channel (CC) calculations using cluster-folding interactions which include the tensor terms are found to be successful in reproducing the data for cross sections and vector and tensor analyzing powers, when projectile excitation effects are sufficiently taken into account. Scattering of ⁶Li by ⁵⁸Ni at E_lab = 20.0 MeV is also investigated by the CC calculation, where successes similar to the ⁷Li case are obtained in understanding experimental data.     

Photocontrol of lactate dehydrogenase-spiropyran collagen membrane

Collagen fibrils were modified with β-l-[3,3-dimethyl-6′-nitrospiro-(indoline-2,2′-2H-benzopyran)] propionic anhydride. The spiropyran collagen membrane showed reverse photochromism. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH, E.C. 1.1.1.27) was entrapped in the spiropyran collagen membrane. The activity of the LDH-spiropyran collagen membrane decreased under visible-light irradiation, and then increased again after incubation in the dark. The optimum pH of the LDH-spiropyran collagen membrane was displaced toward lower pH values under visible-light irradiation. The activity change of the LDH-spiropyran collagen membrane under visible-light irradiation depended on the LDH content.     

Strongly red-fluorescent novel donor-pi-bridge-acceptor-pi-bridge-donor (D-pi-A-pi-D) type 2,1,3-benzothiadiazoles with enhanced two-photon absorption cross-sections

Novel donor-pi-bridge-acceptor-pi-bridge-donor (D-pi-A-pi-D) type 2,1,3-benzothiadiazole fluorescent dyes connected to the N,N-diarylamino terminus via various type pi-conjugate spacers exhibits large two-photon absorption cross-sections and high fluorescent quantum yields in orange-red color.