Proteome analysis of Oncorhynchus species during embryogenesis

To understand the molecular mechanisms underlying normal and abnormal development of two salmonids, masu salmon (Oncorhynchus masou) and rainbow trout (O. mykiss), we used two-dimensional (2-D) electrophoresis to construct a series of 2-D maps during the embryonic period. We identified all visible protein spots on the 2-D map by assigning numbers for masu salmon and rainbow trout, and we determined N-terminal sequences of proteins for one hundred of the spots, that appear at very high concentrations in the whole embryos of masu salmon and rainbow trout. We also characterized embryonic stages according to the periods of appearance of spots. Most of the N-terminal sequences were identical or at least highly similar to partial sequences reported for vitellogenin (Vtg) of O. mykiss. A potential proteolytic processing of Vtg for rainbow trout is discussed in relation to the time of appearance and relative position of Vtg fragments within the complete protein sequence.     

Rare-earth doped III-nitride semiconductors for semiconductor spintronics

InGaGdN layers and InGaGdN/GaN superlattice (SL) structures were grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. InGaGdN layers exhibited photoluminescence emission at room temperature and its peak wavelength was red-shifted with the increase of In composition. Clear hysteresis and saturation were observed in the magnetization versus magnetic field curves at room temperature for the InGaGdN layers. Si co-doping into InGaGdN layers increased the electron carrier concentration and enhanced the magnetization. In the InGaGdN/GaN SL samples, enhanced magnetization was also observed. Si doping into wide bandgap GaN layers in these SL structures further increased the magnetization, where InGaGdN layers were not doped with Si. All these results can be understood with the carrier-mediated ferromagnetism.     

New phases of sp2-bonded boron nitride: the 12R and 24R polytypes

sp2-Bonded polytypes of graphite-like boron nitride are evidenced in the approximately twin-related bicrystal-like BN nanofibres synthesized by a high-temperature substitution reaction between carbon nanofibres and boron oxides in N2 atmosphere; the material shows a main 12R phase of A'ABC/C'CAB/B'BCA packing and a minor 24R phase with an A'ABC/BB'C'A'/C'CAB/ ... packing sequence.     

An efficient method for synthesis of succinate-based MMP inhibitors

A differentially protected fumarate undergoes radical addition followed by allylstannane trapping to provide disubstituted succinates in good yields and high anti diastereoselectivity. The conversion of the succinate to a known MMP inhibitor has been accomplished. [reaction: see text]     

Extremely low vertical-emittance beam in the accelerator test facility at KEK

Electron beams with the lowest, normalized transverse emittance recorded so far were produced and confirmed in single-bunch-mode operation of the Accelerator Test Facility at KEK. We established a tuning method of the damping ring which achieves a small vertical dispersion and small x-y orbit coupling. The vertical emittance was less than 1% of the horizontal emittance. At the zero-intensity limit, the vertical normalized emittance was less than 2.8 x 10(-8) rad m at beam energy 1.3 GeV. At high intensity, strong effects of intrabeam scattering were observed, which had been expected in view of the extremely high particle density due to the small transverse emittance.     

Ultrasonic butt welding of aluminum,aluminum alloy and stainless steel plate specimens

Welding characteristics of aluminum, aluminum alloy and stainless steel plate specimens of 6.0 mm thickness by a 15 kHz ultrasonic butt welding system were studied. There are no detailed welding condition data of these specimens although the joining of these materials are required due to anticorrosive and high strength characteristics for not only large specimens but small electronic parts especially. These specimens of 6.0 mm thickness were welded end to end using a 15 kHz ultrasonic butt welding equipment with a vibration source using eight bolt-clamped Langevin type PZT transducers and a 50 kW static induction thyristor power amplifier. The stainless steel plate specimens electrolytically polished were joined with welding strength almost equal to the material strength under rather large vibration amplitude of 25 microm (peak-to-zero value), static pressure 70 MPa and welding time of 1.0-3.0 s. The hardness of stainless steel specimen adjacent to a welding surface increased about 20% by ultrasonic vibration.     

Achievement of a 920-MHz high resolution NMR

We have developed a 920-MHz NMR system and performed the proton NMR measurement of H(2)O and ethylbenzene using the superconducting magnet operating at 21.6 T (920 MHz for proton), which is the highest field produced by a superconducting NMR magnet in the persistent mode. From the NMR measurements, it is verified that both homogeneity and stability of the magnet have a specification sufficient for a high resolution NMR.