Application of atom probe tomography to fundamental issues of steel materials

Although steel research has a very long history, there are still various questions and uncertainties on the fundamental issues of steel materials. Our aim is to clarify the issues by atomic-scale characterization using atom probe tomography (APT). This paper introduced our developed techniques in application of APT into steel materials. The first one is the specimen tip preparation technique from the site-specific regions of interest in steel, which significantly expanded the application field of steel analysis. The second one is the observation technique of trapped hydrogen in steel using our developed “deuterium charge cell,” which accomplished direct observation of the hydrogen trapping site in alloy carbide precipitation strengthened steels. Such atomic-scale analyses bring many new findings in steel materials science.     

Influence of extraction process on Cs isotope ratios for Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident-contaminated soil

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry - The influence of extraction process on Cs isotope ratios was investigated by thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS) for nitric-acid (HNO3)...     

Liquid‐Crystalline Biomacromolecular Templates for the Formation of Oriented Thin‐Film Hybrids Composed of Ordered Chitin and Alkaline‐Earth Carbonate

Macroscopically ordered inorganic thin films have been formed on unidirectionally oriented, liquid‐crystalline chitin matrices. In the presence of poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), unidirectionally oriented chitin films act as templates for the formation of oriented thin‐film crystals of alkaline‐earth carbonates such as SrCO₃ and BaCO₃. The morphology and orientation of crystals are dependent on the metal ion concentration. For SrCO₃ crystallization, unidirectional thin films and hexagonal‐shaped thin films have been deposited from 200 and 25 mm concentration strontium solutions, respectively.     

Interactive Radical Dimers in Photoconductive Organic Thin Films

Fully interactive : Overlap between extended unoccupied molecular orbitals leads to the high photoconductivity of interactive radical dimers. Sandwich‐type cells (see picture; ITO=indium tin oxide) comprising highly oriented thin films of a disjoint diradical, 4,4′‐bis(1,2,3,5‐dithiadiazolyl) (BDTDA) exhibit a photocurrent with a high on/off ratio at reverse bias voltages and photovoltaic behavior at zero bias voltage.

     

Fluorometric determination of fluoride ion by reagent tablets containing 3-hydroxy-2'-sulfoflavone and zirconium(IV) ethylenediamine tetraacetate

A reagent tablet for determination of fluoride ion has been prepared using ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetate complex of zirconium (Zr-EDTA), 3-hydroxy-2′-flavone (FS) and an appropriate pH buffer. Dissolving of the tablet into water exhibits an intense blue fluorescence (λ_max = 460 nm) upon excitation at 377 nm and the fluorescence intensity decreases with the presence of fluoride ion. Hence, a simple fluorescent detection procedure for fluoride ion in aqueous media was successfully constructed with this tablet. The principle of this detection system is the ligand exchange reaction of FS bound to Zr-EDTA with fluoride ion. The present system provides an easy, rapid and selective determination method of fluoride ion ranging from 5 × 10⁻⁶ to 1 × 10⁻³ mol dm⁻³. The measurement of real samples with this tablet showed the similar results as those by the common method with the Alfusone reagent.     

Brownian dynamics simulations of the β2-adrenergic receptor extracellular loops: evidence for helix movement in ligand binding?

Brownian dynamics simulations of the gating mechanism of the extracellular loops of the β₂-adrenergic receptor suggest that loop gating alone will not permit the larger ligands to bind and hence suggests that lateral helix movement is also required in the binding process.     

The DNA polymerase activity of Pol ε holoenzyme is required for rapid and efficient chromosomal DNA replication in Xenopus egg extracts

Background  

DNA polymerase ε (Pol ε) is involved in DNA replication, repair, and cell-cycle checkpoint control in eukaryotic cells. Although the roles of replicative Pol α and Pol δ in chromosomal DNA replication are relatively well understood and well documented, the precise role of Pol ε in chromosomal DNA replication is not well understood.