Mutation detection in the drug-resistant hepatitis B virus polymerase gene using nanostructured reverse micelles.

The emergence of drug-resistant hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been reported in patients with prolonged administration of lamivudine, which is a potent drug for the prevention of HBV infection. Lamivudine-resistant HBV has several types of mutations at the YMDD motif of its DNA polymerase. We successfully demonstrated that monitoring the hybridization behavior in nanostructured reverse micelles enables us to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). With the aid of reverse micelles, a model 40-mer oligonucleotide containing a single-base substitution was clearly distinguished from the normal, complementary oligonucleotide. In addition, we extended this technique to a high-throughput analysis. The results obtained with a 96-well micro-plate reader indicated the possibility of SNPs detection toward multiple samples of patients.     

Development of a “Built-in” Scanning Near Field Microscope Head for an Atomic Force Microscope System and Stress Mapping of an Al2O3/ZrO2 Eutectic Composite

We constructed a scanning near-field optical microscope (SNOM) on a commercially available atomic force microscopy (AFM) apparatus (SPM-9500J2; Shimadzu Corp.) to measure the stress distribution in ceramic composite materials. Features of our SNOM system are: (1) a compact SNOM head substituted for the original AFM head; (2) a wide scanning range (125 × 125 μm²) inherited from the original scanner; (3) use of conventional shear-force regulation; (4) an optical system for the illumination-collection (I-C) mode; (5) excitation by a 488 nm line of an Ar-ion laser, and (6) light detection by photon counting or a polychromator equipped with an electronically cooled charge coupled device (CCD). This SNOM system was used to measure the surface structure and stress distribution of an Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ eutectic composite. We simultaneously measured topographic images and fluorescence spectra of an Al₂O₃/ZrO₂ eutectic composite. We estimated its peak intensity, peak position, and peak width from the fluorescence spectrum during scanning, which respectively correspond to the abundance of Al₂O₃, stress in the grain, and the anisotropy of that stress. Mapping images showed that the stress and its anisotropy were weaker in the center of the Al₂O₃ grain than its boundary between Al₂O₃ and ZrO₂. That observation suggests that Al₂O₃ underwent intense anisotropic stress induced by volume expansion in the phase transition of ZrO₂ from the cubic phase to the monoclinic phase during preparation.     

FMS scheduling based on timed Petri Net model and reactive graph search

This paper presents a new scheduling method for manufacturing system based on the Timed Petri Net model and a reactive fast graph search algorithm. The following two typical problems are addressed in this paper. (1) Minimization of the maximum completion time. (2) Minimization of the total tardiness. As for the problem (1), a new search algorithm which combines the RTA^∗ and a rule-based supervisor is proposed. As for problem (2), the original Petri Net model is converted to its reverse model and the algorithm developed for the problem (1) is applied, regarding the due date as the starting time in the reverse model. Some numerical experiments are carried out to demonstrate usefulness of our algorithm.     

Circularly polarized light-induced electrogyration in the Au nanoparticles on the ITO

We have found that the gold nanoparticles on the ITO substrates might be considered promising materials for circularly polarized light-induced linear electrogyration (EG). The maximal achieved value of the EG susceptibility described by third-order axial tensor caused by probe circularly polarized light at a wavelength of 1060 nm was equal to about 13 deg/mm at pulsed electric field strength 30.0 V/cm with a duration of about 1 ms. We have revealed that the maximal EG coefficient is achieved for the samples possessing maximal resistivity. The investigated composites possess long-lived EG grating which decreases by not more than 12% after 120 min of laser treatment. Applying a non-circular pump light leads to the diminishing of the observed EG.     

Lithographic design of photosensitive polyarylates based on reaction development patterning

The factors affecting pattern‐forming properties in reaction development patterning were examined with polyarylates with various bisphenol moieties. The developability of the photosensitive polyarylates was dependent on the properties of the subtituent (R) in the bisphenol moieties. The development time decreased in the following order: R?C(CH₃)₂ > fluorenyl unit ? phenolphthalein unit > C(CF₃)₂ > SO₂. This order agreed with that of the reactivity between the polyarylates and ethanolamine, and these orders can be explained by pK_a of the bisphenol used to prepare the polyarylates. The development with NH₂? R′? OH resulted in successful positive‐tone pattern formation. However, pattern formation with the developers containing NH₂? R′? OCH₃ was unsuccessful. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2694–2706, 2006     

Electrode kinetics of the metal complexes with aminopolycarboxylic acids: Part II. Cadmium-ethylenediamine-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetate (EDTA) complexes

The d.c. polarographic current-potential curves of Cd(II)-EDTA complexes were examined in the pH range 0.5–10.0, to elucidate the mechanism of their electrode processes and to determine the relevant electrochemical kinetic parameters. It was shown that the first wave observed below pH 3 at ?0.58 to ?0.65 V vs. SCE is the reversible reduction wave of Cd(II) aquo-ion with kinetically-controlled limiting current, and the second wave observed above pH 1.5 at ?0.75 to ?1.21 V vs. SCE corresponds to the simultaneous irreversible reduction of four complex species, CdH₃L⁺, CdH₂L, CdHL^? and CdL^2?, where CdH_pL^(p?2)+ and L^4? denote the protonated complex species with p protons and the unprotonated EDTA ion, respectively. Analysis of the dependence of limiting current on the hydrogen ion concentration led to the conclusion that the preceding reaction determining the behaviour of limiting current is CdH₃L⁺?Cd²⁺+H₃L^? with k₃^d=6.3×10² s^?1 and k₃^f=3.3×10⁶ s^?1M^?1, where k₃^d and k₃^f are the dissociation and formation rate constants, respectively. On the other hand, from analysis of the dependence of half-wave potentials of the second wave on the hydrogen ion concentration, the kinetic parameters of the four complex species were evaluated, and are given in Table 1. Further, it was shown that the cathodic rate constants of these four charge transfer processes at some reference potential together with those of Cd(II)-HEDTA complexes fulfil the linear free energy relationship.