Nucleation process of stacking fault tetrahedra in gold studied by positron lifetime spectroscopy

By component analyses of positron lifetime spectra in quenched gold, it was found that positrons are strongly trapped by stacking fault tetrahedra (SFT) at which the lifetime is about 160 ps remarkably smaller than that for monovacancies (200 ps) or divacancies (220 ps). Positron lifetimes at small vacancy clusters were also estimated in relation to the nucleation process of SFT, with the aid of computer simulation of kinetics of vacancy clustering during quenching and on subsequent isochronal annealing. The results show that large atomic relaxation occurs in small vacancy clusters among which pentavacancies have the largest open-space, thereby having the lifetime of about 230 ps larger than that of trior tetra-vacancies (160ps). It is also suggested that tetra- and penta-vacancies act as prenuclei for stable nuclei of SFT consisting of six or more vacancies.Present situation: Professor Emeritus     

Consecutive determination of rutin and quercetin by spectrophotometric measurements

The consecutive determination of rutin and quercetin without any pretreatment for separation was examined in methanol solutions by a conventional and a two-wavelength spectrophotometry. Based the tendency of quercetin to form more stable metal complexes compared to rutin, quercetin can be determined through the tin(II) complex formation without interference from rutin. The method was applied to the determination of quercetin in the concentration range of 3.0 × 10^?6 to 2.0 × 10^?5M.Quercetin is apt to be oxidized by oxygen rather than rutin, especially in the presence of copper(II), whereas rutin is not decomposed under such a condition. After removal of quercetin through copper(II)-catalyzed oxidation, rutin ranging in concentration from 2.0 × 10^?6 to 2.0 × 10^?M was determined by the absorbance measurement of rutin-copper(II) complex in slightly alkaline methanol media.Both rutin and quercetin were determined directly by two-wavelength spectrophotometry, without adding any complex forming metals; the lower limit of detection was about 1.0 × 10^?5M. The method was extended to the determination of a smaller amounts of rutin and quercetin using the absorption peaks of their zirconium(IV) complexes, and the determination of both components in the range of 5.0 × 10^?6 to 3.0 × 10^?5M was made with a relative error of within ±4%.     

Compact disk (CD)-shaped device for single cell isolation and PCR of a specific gene in the isolated cell

For immediate discrimination among isolated cells we propose a novel device and technique for isolation of cells and sequential detection of specific gene(s) within them by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In this study, we isolated Salmonella enterica cells and detected the Salmonella-specific invA gene from isolated cells by PCR on a compact disk (CD)-shaped device. This device enabled liquid flow by centrifugal force without a micro pump, and was fabricated from silicon wafer and glass to avoid evaporation of a small amount of reagent. One device has 24 microchannels, and 313 microchambers integrated on each microchannel. One microliter of PCR mixture containing cells was separated into microchambers on the device at 5000 rpm for 30 s. Each microchamber contained approximately 1.5 nL PCR mixture. A Poisson distribution of S. enterica cells was observed for different densities of cell suspension. At 200 cells μL^?1 of S. enterica or less, isolated single cells could be determined on the device by amplification of DNA of the invA gene; at 400 cells μL^?1, chambers containing no, one, two, or three cells could be determined on the device. Selective detection of S. enterica was achieved by PCR from a mixture of S. enterica and Esherichia coli on the CD-shaped device.     

A sandwich-type aluminium complex composed of tri-lacunary Keggin-type polyoxotungstate: synthesis and X-ray crystal structure of [(A-PW9O34)2{W(OH)(OH2)}{Al(OH)(OH2)}{Al(μ-OH)(OH2)2}2]7-

The synthesis and molecular structure of a dimeric aluminium complex composed of tri-lacunary α-Keggin polyoxometalate is described. The polyoxometalate, K(6)Na[(A-PW(9)O(34))(2){W(OH)(OH(2))}{Al(OH)(OH(2))}{Al(μ-OH)(OH(2))(2)}(2)]·19H(2)O (KNa-1), afforded by the reaction in water of a tri-lacunary Keggin polyoxotungstate with excess aluminium nitrate, followed by crystallization from water, was obtained as analytically pure, homogeneous, colorless crystals. The compound KNa-1 was characterized by elemental analysis, TG/DTA, FT-IR, solution NMR ((31)P, (27)Al, and (183)W), and X-ray crystallography. The single-crystal X-ray structure analysis revealed that two 6-coordinate aluminium ions linked with two bridging hydroxyl groups and four water molecules, i.e., [Al(III)(2)(μ-OH)(2)(OH(2))(4)](4+); a unit of a 6-coordinate tungsten ion linked with a hydroxyl group and a water molecule, i.e., [W(OH)(OH(2))](5+); a unit of a 6-coordinate aluminium ion linked with a hydroxyl group and a water molecule, i.e., [Al(OH)(OH(2))](2+), were sandwiched between two tri-lacunary α-Keggin polyoxotungstates, resulting in an overall C(s) symmetry.     

An optimal design method for preventing air bubbles in high-temperature microfluidic devices

DNA analysis with the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become a routine part of medical diagnostics, environmental inspections, food evaluations, and biological studies. Furthermore, the development of a microscale PCR chip is an essential component of studies aimed at integrating PCR into a micro total analysis system (μ-TAS). However, the occurrence of air bubbles in microchannels complicates this process. In this study, we investigated a new technique based on the fluid dynamics of laminar flow that utilizes a small amount of mineral oil at the beginning of sample injection to prevent air bubbles from occurring in microchannels. We also further optimized the pressure, the length of the pressurizing channel and the volume of oil, thus making our microfluidic device more useful for high-temperature PCR. Additionally, quantitative continuous-flow PCR was performed using the optimized PCR chip in order to detect genetically modified (GM) maize. DNA was extracted from GM maize, MON 810, and non-GM maize at several concentrations from 0% (w/v) to 100% (w/v). The DNA amplification signals were then analyzed on the PCR chip using a laser-based system. The signal from our microfluidic PCR chip was found to increase in direct proportion to the initial GM maize concentration.     

Stereoselective construction of the octalin unit of symbioimine using an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction

The octalin unit of symbioimine (1) has been synthesized stereoselectively via an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction.     

A novel enhancement assay for immunochromatographic test strips using gold nanoparticles

The immunochromatographic assay is a well-known and convenient diagnostic system. In this report, the development of a novel enhancement assay for the test strips is described. Additionally, this highly sensitive immunochromatographic assay was applied to detect human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (HCG) as the model case. The primary antibody-conjugated gold nanoparticles were used as the enhancer of the standard method. The primary antibodies were immobilized within a defined detection zone (test line) on the diagnostic nitrocellulose membrane. The secondary antibodies were conjugated with colloidal gold nanoparticles. In combination with an effective sample pretreatment, the gold-conjugated antibodies and the primary antibodies formed a sandwich complex with the target protein. Within the test line, the sandwich complex was immobilized, and furthermore, concentrated by the enhancer resulting in a localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon and a distinct red color on the test line. The intensity of color of the red test line (signal intensity), which correlated directly with the concentration of the target protein in the standard or spiked samples, was assessed visually and by computer image analysis using a three-determination analysis. Under optimum conditions, the limit of detection (LOD) for HCG assay was 1 pg/mL. When using human serum, 10 pg/mL of HCG could be detected. We have also spiked total prostate-specific antigen (TPSA) in female serum. The LOD for TPSA was determined as 0.2 ng/mL. With this method, the quantitative determination of the target protein could be completed in less than 15 min. Our novel immunochromatographic strips using the enhancing method based on LSPR of gold nanoparticles are useful as a rapid and simple screening method for the detection of important analytes for medical applications, environmental monitoring, food control, and biosecurity.      

A New Method of Analyzing Edge Effect in Phase Contrast Imaging with Incoherent X-rays

A method has been devised to calculate the half-width of the phase contrast enhanced edge of an X-ray- image with incoherent X-rays. This method is based on changes in the wave fronts of X-rays after penetrating an object, and it takes into account the blur due to penumbra observed in practical radiographic imaging. The method closely predicted edge enhancement when images of a plastic fiber were produced with practical X-ray tubes (Cu, Mo, and W anodes with focus-diameters of 10,100, and 40 μ, respectively). Thus, the method shows promise in facilitating phase contrast X-ray imaging in both medical radiography and non-destructive inspection using incoherent X-rays from X-ray tubes with substantial focus-sizes.     

Intermittent Structures in the High Field Side Boundary of the HYBTOK-II Tokamak

The spatial and temporal characteristics of the turbulence in the inboard and outboard scrape-off layer (SOL) of tokamak HYBTOK-II have been studied using poloidal probe array. Bursty behaviour with intermittent bursts was observed for both outboard and inboard SOL. In the inboard (high field side), high level of density fluctuations has been observed. The fluctuations in the high field side and low field side are identical in statistics that is non-Gaussian one.