High-resolution GaP Terahertz Spectrometer and Its Application to Detect Defects in Gamma-irradiated Glucose Crystal

We developed high-resolution GaP THz signal generator using Cr:Forsterite lasers with gratings as both a pump and a signal beam for difference-frequency generation. A line width of less than 500 MHz and a wide tunable frequency range (0.6–6.2 THz) provide sufficient resolution for measuring materials with sharp absorption bands using the generator as the light source for a THz spectrometer. This is suitable for materials such as gases or solid samples at low temperatures. We demonstrated the detection of defects in organic materials, as they appear as slight deviations in the absorption frequency in the THz region.     

Gain-of-function mutational activation of human tRNA synthetase procytokine

Disease-causing mutations occur in genes for aminoacyl tRNA synthetases. That some mutations are dominant suggests a gain of function. Native tRNA synthetases, such as tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS) and tryptophanyl-tRNA synthetase, catalyze aminoacylation and are also procytokines that are activated by natural fragmentation. In principle, however, gain-of-function phenotypes could arise from mutational activation of synthetase procytokines. From crystal structure analysis, we hypothesized that a steric block of a critical Glu-Leu-Arg (ELR) motif in full-length TyrRS suppresses the cytokine activity of a natural fragment. To test this hypothesis, we attempted to uncover ELR in the procytokine by mutating a conserved tyrosine (Y341) that tethers ELR. Site-specific proteolytic cleavage and small-angle X-ray scattering established subtle opening of the structure by the mutation. Strikingly, four different assays demonstrated mutational activation of cytokine functions. The results prove the possibilities for constitutive gain-of-function mutations in tRNA synthetases.     

Infrared photodissociation spectroscopy of Al(+)(CH(3)OH)(n) (n = 1-4)

Infrared photodissociation spectra of Al(+)(CH(3)OH)(n) (n = 1-4) and Al(+)(CH(3)OH)(n)-Ar (n = 1-3) were measured in the OH stretching region, 3000-3800 cm(-1). For n = 1 and 2, sharp absorption bands were observed in the free OH stretching region, all of which were well reproduced by the spectra calculated for the solvated-type geometry with no hydrogen bond. For n = 3 and 4, there were broad vibrational bands in the energy region of hydrogen-bonded OH stretching vibrations, 3000-3500 cm(-1). Energies of possible isomers for the Al(+)(CH(3)OH)(3),4 ions with hydrogen bonds were calculated in order to assign these bands. It was found that the third and fourth methanol molecules form hydrogen bonds with methanol molecules in the first solvation shell, rather than a direct bonding with the Al(+) ion. For the Al(+)(CH(3)OH)(n) clusters with n = 1-4, we obtained no evidence of the insertion reaction, which occurs in Al(+)(H(2)O)(n). One possible explanation of the difference between these two systems is that the potential energy barriers between the solvated and inserted isomers in the Al(+)(CH(3)OH)(n) system is too high to form the inserted-type isomers.     

Development of silicon nitride fiber from Si-containing polymer by radiation curing and its application

A silicon nitride fiber (Si₃N₄) was synthesized from polycarbosilane (PCS) fiber by radiation application. PCS fibers were cured by electron beam (EB) irradiation in a helium gas atmosphere prior to the pyrolysis. The cured PCS fiber was converted to Si₃N₄ ceramic fiber with flexibility by nitridation in ammonia gas at a high temperature of 500–1000°C. The obtained Si₃N₄ fibre showed a high heat resistance up to 1300°C, a high tensile strength of 2 GPa and excellent electrical resistivity of 10¹³ Ω cm. The ceramic fiber was fabricated to cloth and applied for electric wire insulator. The wire cable is flexible and can be applied at a high temperature atmosphere of around 1000°C.     

ESR study on chemical crosslinking reaction mechanisms of polyethylene using a chemical agent

The reaction mechanisms of thermal crosslinking of polyethylene with dicumyl peroxide (DCP) at high temperatures were investigated by electron spin resonance (ESR). The crosslinking reactions were induced by the alkyl radicals formed by the thermal decomposition of DCP above 120°C. The kinetics of the free radical reaction were followed during crosslinking reactions at temperatures between 145 and 180°C. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Space potential particles to enhance the stability of projection-based particle methods

Particle methods have been seldom verified by a Karman vortex simulation, which is commonly performed as a typical benchmark in computational fluid dynamics. This is mainly due to a difficulty in suppression of occurrence of unphysical voids manifested usually in a strong vortex on account of definition of free surface by the Lagrangian tracking framework with inconsistency in volume conservation. This paper presents a simple and effective scheme as a free-surface boundary condition of projection-based particle methods, namely the MPS (moving particle semi-implicit) and Incompressible SPH (ISPH) methods to handle the free surface with consistency in volume conservation. The new scheme is introduced into the Poisson pressure equation (PPE) with consideration of a potential in void space as space potential particle (SPP), to reproduce physical motions of particles around free surface through a particle–void interaction. The enhancing effect of the newly proposed SPP scheme is shown by simulating a few numerical tests, including a whirling water flow, a two-phase surfacing flow, and a set of Karman vortex simulations.     

Time Invariance as an Additional Constraint on Nonlocal Realism

We assume that time invariance of physical laws is true. We assume that one source of 2N uncorrelated spin-carrying particles emits them in a state, which can be described as a multipartite pure uncorrelated state (+∞>N≥1). We assume that each of them is a spin-1/2 pure state lying in the \(\frac{z+x}{\sqrt{2}}\) direction. We assume that the measurement setup is two-orthogonal-settings for each of the observers. We show that 2N-particle pure uncorrelated quantum state violates a time invariant nonlocal realistic theory. 2N implies that we consider Bose-Einstein statistics.     

Terahertz dichroism of MBBA liquid crystal on rubbed substrate

Terahertz (THz) dichroism of a nematic liquid N-(p-methoxybenzylidene)-p-butylaniline (MBBA) was measured using a GaP Raman THz spectrometer. MBBA on a rubbed plastic substrate generates a band at around 4.0 THz: its liquid crystal phase shows strong dichroism, which well corresponds to that of the IR absorption caused by π(CH) of MBBA molecule reported in the literature. Based on inferences drawn from the present THz and the published IR dichroic results, the 4.0 THz band probably stems from lateral intermolecular or intramolecular interactions of MBBA molecules aligned to the rubbing direction. The results clearly demonstrate that THz spectroscopy is powerful for discussing of phase transition and dichroism of liquid crystals.     

Creating Very True Quantum Algorithms for Quantum Energy Based Computing

An interpretation of quantum mechanics is discussed. It is assumed that quantum is energy. An algorithm by means of the energy interpretation is discussed. An algorithm, based on the energy interpretation, for fast determining a homogeneous linear function f(x) := s.x = s ₁ x ₁ + s ₂ x ₂ + ? + s _N x _N is proposed. Here x = (x ₁, … , x _N ), x _j ∈ R and the coefficients s = (s ₁, … , s _N ), s _j ∈ N. Given the interpolation values \((f(1), f(2),...,f(N))=\vec {y}\), the unknown coefficients \(s = (s_{1}(\vec {y}),\dots , s_{N}(\vec {y}))\) of the linear function shall be determined, simultaneously. The speed of determining the values is shown to outperform the classical case by a factor of N. Our method is based on the generalized Bernstein-Vazirani algorithm to qudit systems. Next, by using M parallel quantum systems, M homogeneous linear functions are determined, simultaneously. The speed of obtaining the set of M homogeneous linear functions is shown to outperform the classical case by a factor of N × M.     

New Method of Calculating a Multiplication by using the Generalized Bernstein-Vazirani Algorithm

We present a new method of more speedily calculating a multiplication by using the generalized Bernstein-Vazirani algorithm and many parallel quantum systems. Given the set of real values \(\{a_{1},a_{2},a_{3},\ldots ,a_{N}\}\) and a function \(g:\textbf {R}\rightarrow \{0,1\}\), we shall determine the following values \(\{g(a_{1}),g(a_{2}),g(a_{3}),\ldots , g(a_{N})\}\) simultaneously. The speed of determining the values is shown to outperform the classical case by a factor of \(N\). Next, we consider it as a number in binary representation; M₁ = (g(a₁),g(a₂),g(a₃),…,g(a _N )). By using \(M\) parallel quantum systems, we have \(M\) numbers in binary representation, simultaneously. The speed of obtaining the \(M\) numbers is shown to outperform the classical case by a factor of \(M\). Finally, we calculate the product; \( M_{1}\times M_{2}\times \cdots \times M_{M}. \) The speed of obtaining the product is shown to outperform the classical case by a factor of N × M.