[NiFe]Hydrogenase from Citrobacter sp. S‐77 Surpasses Platinum as an Electrode for H2 Oxidation Reaction

Reported herein is an electrode for dihydrogen (H₂) oxidation, and it is based on [NiFe]Hydrogenase from Citrobacter sp. S‐77 ([NiFe]_S77). It has a 637 times higher mass activity than Pt (calculated based on 1 mg of [NiFe]_S77 or Pt) at 50 mV in a hydrogen half‐cell. The [NiFe]_S77 electrode is also stable in air and, unlike Pt, can be recovered 100 % after poisoning by carbon monoxide. Following characterization of the [NiFe]_S77 electrode, a fuel cell comprising a [NiFe]_S77 anode and Pt cathode was constructed and shown to have a a higher power density than that achievable by Pt.     

N-(Chlorosulfinyl)-Imidazole as a New Imidazole Transfer Reagent1

The usefulness of diimidazoles² such as N, N′-carbonyldi-imidazole (1), and N, N′-thionyldiimidazole (2) in organic synthesis has been accumulated recently. In connection with the continuing our studies on the reaction using 1 or 2 ³ (carbonyl, thionyl, and imidazole transfer reactions), our particular interest was focused on the synthesis of N-(chlorosulfinyl)-imidazole (3) in which one imidazole group in 2 was replaced by the other leaving group (Cl). Also, 3 was interesting for preparative purposes as a chlorine atom could be introduced via the addition reaction of 3 to carbonyl compounds as known in the reaction of 1 or 2 with ketones.     

Effect of Time Lag in Response to Switching Signal in Interrupted Electric Circuit

In this study, we analyze the characteristics of an interrupted electric circuit. In particular, we focus on a special situation where the switching action of the circuit is delayed because of a time lag in the response to the switching signal. This situation is observed in switching circuits driven by a high-frequency switching signal. However, the fundamental characteristics of this type of circuit have not yet been clarified. To address this shortfall, we assume that a time lag of the response to the switching signal occurs in simple interrupted electric circuits, and investigate how this time lag affects circuit characteristics. First, we show the model of a circuit whose switching action is the same as that of a current-mode-controlled dc/dc converter. Here by using logic circuits, we impose an artificial time lag on the response to the switching signal. Next, we define a sampled data model (i.e., a return map) that we analyze in detail. Based on the return map, we derive one- and two-parameter bifurcation diagrams. Finally, we compare the bifurcation diagrams constructed with time lag to those constructed without time lag. The results clearly show that time lag is responsible for a new structure in the return map that does not occur in circuits with ideal switching. This new return map structure is a key to understanding the essential characteristics of circuits with time lag. Furthermore, the mathematical results are verified experimentally.     

Photostable Iodinated Silica/Porphyrin Hybrid Nanoparticles with Heavy‐Atom Effect for Wide‐Field Photodynamic/Photothermal Therapy Using Single Light Source

Physical therapies including photodynamic therapy (PDT) and photothermal therapy (PTT) can be effective against diseases that are resistant to chemotherapy and remain as incurable malignancies (for example, multiple myeloma). In this study, to enhance the treatment efficacy for multiple myeloma using the synergetic effect brought about by combining PDT and PTT, iodinated silica/porphyrin hybrid nanoparticles (ISP HNPs) with high photostability are developed. They can generate both ¹O₂ and heat with irradiation from a light‐emitting diode (LED), acting as photosensitizers for PDT/PTT combination treatment. ISP HNPs exhibit the external heavy atom effect, which significantly improves both the quantum yield for ¹O₂ generation and the light‐to‐heat conversion efficiency. The in vivo fluorescence imaging demonstrates that ISP HNPs, modified with folic acid and polyethylene glycol (FA‐PEG‐ISP HNPs), locally accumulate in the tumor after 18 h of their intravenous injection into tumor‐bearing mice. The LED irradiation on the tumor area of the mice injected with FA‐PEG‐ISP HNPs causes necrosis of the tumor tissues, resulting in the inhibition of tumor growth and an improvement in the survival rate.     

A Realization of a Low-Voltage Differential-Output OTA Using a Simple CM Amplifier

A technique for realization of low-voltage OTAs is presented in this letter. A very low-voltage differential-output OTA is realized by employing a new common-mode amplifier in the common-mode feedback circuit. The results of PSpice simulations are shown. The proposed OTA can operate at a 0.9 V supply voltage.     

Optimum design and fabrication of InAlAs/InGaAs HEMT's on GaAs withboth high breakdown voltage and high maximum frequency of oscillation

A simple model to describe the dependence of the breakdown voltage between gate and drain on width of the gate recess in an InAlAs/InGaAs high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) is presented. In this model, the depletion region laterally spreads to the drain region. It enables us to express the dependence of device parameters on the width of the gate recess. The model suggests that the breakdown voltage increases with the width of the gate recess and then saturates, which is experimentally confirmed. Calculations based on the model show that the maximum frequency of oscillation (f_max) also increases with the width of the gate-recess due to the reduction in both the drain conductance and the gate-to-drain capacitance, and then slightly decreases with the width due to the increase in the source resistance. We fabricated InAlAs/InGaAs HEMT's lattice-mismatched on GaAs substrates with optimum recess-width, and these exhibited both a high breakdown voltage of 14 V and a high f_max of 127 GHz at a gate length of 0.66 μm     

A monolithically integrated three-axis accelerometer using CMOScompatible stress-sensitive differential amplifiers

In this paper, the development of a bulk-micromachined CMOS integrated three-axis accelerometer which includes analog signal conditioning circuits is presented. The accelerometer was designed to simplify the signal processing tasks by incorporating a set of circuits for three-axis signal conditioning. This approach resulted in a 25% reduction of the circuit area. Stress-sensitive differential amplifiers (SSDAs) have been used as signal transducers, because they can be conveniently formed in a small area. The sensitivity and resolution of the fabricated devices realized in 8×8 mm² die area were 192 mV/g and 0.024 g for Z-axis acceleration, and 23 mV/g and 0.23 g for X and Y axis acceleration, respectively. The electrical noise component in the analog CMOS circuits was reduced by using a chopper stabilization technique. It was observed that there is a proper chopping clock frequency range to maximize the noise reduction effect. The noise of the SSDA was found to be related with the characteristics of CMOS differential amplifiers used. Typical temperature coefficient of sensitivity was about -2000 ppm/°C, which could be reduced to -320 ppm/°C or less by selecting a proper bias condition     

Fluorescent lanthanide chelates for biological systems

Certain lanthanide chelate complexes are known to emit strong fluorescence with very distinct physical properties that are different from those of organic fluorescent compounds: the fluorescence of lanthanide complexes is long-lived with the half decay-time of several hundreds microseconds to 2 ms. The complexes are excited by UV light and emit fluorescence in the visible region. The emission profile is very sharp and the wavelength is specific to each metal, for instance, Eu³⁺ complexes emit at 615 nm and Tb³⁺ at 545 nm regardless of the ligand. These properties show that the complexes can be excellent fluorescence labels for proteins and DNAs and, when time-resolved fluorometry is employed, provide highly sensitive detection methods in biotechnology. Among many labels we have developed, BHHCT-Eu³⁺ and BPTA-Tb³⁺ are suitable for immunoassay, DNA hybridization assay, and DNA chip technology. Homogeneous DNA hybridization assay systems using fluorescence resonance energy transfer and fluorescence intercalators will be introduced.     

Hexakis(2,4,6-triisopropylphenylsilsesquioxane)

Hexasilsesquioxanes bearing bulky Tip (2,4,6-triisopropylphenyl) groups were synthesized and the structure was determined. The X-ray crystal analysis revealed that the enantiomer pair originating from the restricted rotation of the bulky Tip groups was included in the single lattice. In solution, evidence for the rapid interconversion of both enantiomers was encountered in ¹H NMR. Thus, variable temperature NMR indicated peak broadeningupon warming the sample, with a coalescence temperature of 38 ° C. Kinetic parameters of the rotation were also calculated.     

A reversible reaction forming (---Cu---O---) strings and (Cu)6-clusters on Ag(110) shown by STM

An artificial new surface of (---Cu---O---) chains grown on Ag(110) surface was prepared by reacting a surface with Cu atoms, where the (---Cu---O---) chains grow in the [1 0] direction and are self-assembled on the Ag(110) surface in a (2 x 2)-p2mg structure. When the Cu---O/Ag(110) surface was heated in vacuum, the (---Cu---O---) chain decomposed to uniform cluster dots arranged along the [1 0] direction, where the cluster dots were composed of six Cu atoms. When the Ag(110) surface with the Cu---cluster dots was exposed to O₂, the (---Cu---O---) lines were redrawn along the [1 0] direction by reacting a s in the [1 0] direction with O₂. This is a reversible chemical reaction in one dimensional regime proved in atomic resolution.