Observation of the nonlinear effect in relativistic Thomson scattering of electron and laser beams

Thomson scattering of high-power laser and electron beams is a good test of electrodynamics in the high-field region. We demonstrated production of high-intensity X-rays in the head-on collision of a CO₂ laser and 60-MeV electron beams at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Accelerator Test Facility. The energy of an X-ray photon was limited at 6.5 keV in the linear (lowest order) Thomson scattering, but the nonlinear (higher order) process produces higher energy X-rays. We measured the angular distribution of the high-energy X-rays and confirmed that it agrees with theoretical predictions.     

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.     

Optical and electric properties of Nb-doped anatase TiO2 single crystal

Nb-doped anatase TiO₂ single crystal has been grown by chemical vapour transport method. Raman spectra shows that the obtained crystal with Nb of 0.08 wt% has typical anatase structure. An absorption band was observed at around 2.2 eV, which seems to be due to the d-d transition in the conduction band. The electron paramagnetic resonance and electric resistivity measurements show that the doped niobium makes quite shallow donor level whose orbital is d_xy-like centered at the titanium position of anatase.     

Argon sorption and partial molar volume in poly(ethyl methacrylate) above and below the glass transition temperature

Sorption and dilation isotherms for argon in poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) are reported for pressures up to 50 atm over the temperature range 5–85°C. At temperatures below the glass transition (T_g=61°C), sorption isotherms are well described by the dual-mode sorption model; and isotherms above T_g follow Henry's law. However, isotherms for dilation due to sorption are linear in pressure at all temperatures over the range investigated. Partial molar volumes of Ar in PEMA are obtained from these isotherms. The volumes are approximately constant above T_g (about 40 cm³/mol), whereas the volumes below T_g are smaller and dependent on both temperature and concentration (19–26 cm³/mol). By analyzing the experimental data according to the dual-mode sorption and dilation model, the volume occupied by a dissolved Ar molecule and the mean size of microvoid in the glass are estimated to be 67 129 ų, respectively. The cohesive energy density of the polymer is also estimated as 61 cal/cm³ from the temperature dependence of the dual-mode parameters.     

Control of the bioluminescence starting time by inoculated cell density.

In this study, we attempted to control the timing of light-emission from bioluminescent bacteria, by changed cell numbers inoculated into medium. Luminous bacteria express bioluminescence when the number of cells reached a threshold. Inoculated cell density had an effect on the time of bioluminescence starting. Samples were prepared by varying cell density of inoculation. In the results, all the vials showed different luminescence profiles in the order of inoculated cell population.     

Evaluation of the evaporation behavior of Pd, Mo, Te, and Sb in simulated low level radioactive liquid waste

To sophisticate the nuclear fuel recycling processes, the transfer percentages for Pd, Mo, Te, and Sb should be determined. Each element solution containing NaNO₃ or HNO₃ was fed consistently into the thin film evaporator regulated in vac and at 50 °C. The analyte percentages in the inside of the lid, in the condenser, and in the distillate were 10^-1%/m², 10^-3%/m², and 10^-3% (DF = 10⁵), respectively. The Mo percentage in the condenser was lower by a factor of 10 than those of other elements investigated. The NO₃ ^- percentages were nearly constant despite increasing HNO₃ concentrations, however, the ratios decreased with increasing NaNO₃ concentrations.     

Structure of Sol-Gel-Derived Sodium Dititanate Glass

The sodium dititanate, Na₂O·2TiO₂ glass was prepared by the sol-gel method. The structure of the glass, especially local environment of Ti⁴⁺ ions was examined using X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) analyses, and was compared with that of the melt-derived glass with the same composition. It was found that Ti⁴⁺ ions are rather in five-fold coordination state, forming TiO₅ pyramids with one doubly bonded Ti=O in the gel-glass, while they were in lower coordination state or four-fold coordination in the melt-derived glass.     

Electron-transfer reactions and functionalization of cytochrome P450cam monooxygenase system in reverse micelles

Enzyme-based electron-transfer reactions involved in the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system were investigated in nanostructural reverse micelles. A bacterial flavoprotein, putidaredoxin reductase (PdR), was activated and shown to be capable of catalyzing the electron transport from NADH to electron-carrier proteins such as cytochrome b5 (tCyt-b5) and putidaredoxin (Pdx) in reverse micelles. Ferric tCyt-b5 in reverse micelles was effectively converted to its ferrous form by the exogenous addition of separately prepared reverse micellar solution harboring PdR and NADH. The fact that direct interactions of macromolecular proteins should be possible in the reverse micellar system encouraged us to functionalize a multicomponent monooxygenase system composed of the bacterial cytochrome P450cam (P450cam), putidaredoxin (Pdx), and PdR in reverse micelles. The successful camphor hydroxylation reaction catalyzed by P450cam was significantly dependent on the coexistence of Pdx, PdR, and NADH but not H2O2, suggesting that the oxygen-transfer reactions proceeded via a "monooxygenation" mechanism. This is the first report of a multicomponent cytochrome P450 system exhibiting enzymatic activity in organic media.