Development of neutron-monitor detector using liquid organic scintillator coupled with 6Li + ZnS(Ag) Sheet

A phoswitch-type detector has been developed for monitoring neutron doses in high-energy accelerator facilities. The detector is composed of a liquid organic scintillator (BC501A) coupled with ZnS(Ag) sheets doped with 6Li. The dose from neutrons with energies above 1 MeV is evaluated from the light output spectrum of the BC501A by applying the G-function, which relates the spectrum to the neutron dose directly. The dose from lower energy neutrons, on the other hand, is estimated from the number of scintillations emitted from the ZnS(Ag) sheets. Characteristics of the phoswitch-type detector were studied experimentally in some neutron fields. It was found from the experiments that the detector has an excellent property of pulse-shape discrimination between the scintillations of BC501A and the ZnS(Ag) sheets. The experimental results also indicate that the detector is capable of reproducing doses from thermal neutrons as well as neutrons with energies from one to several tens of megaelectronvolts (MeV).     

Separation of long DNA molecules by quartz nanopillar chips under a direct current electric field

We have established the nanofabrication technique for constructing nanopillars with high aspect ratio (100-500 nm diameter and 500-5000 nm tall) inside a microchannel on a quartz chip. The size of pillars and the spacing between pillars are designed as a DNA sieving matrix for optimal analysis of large DNA fragments over a few kilobase pairs (kbp). A chip with nanopillar channel and simple cross injector was developed based on the optimal design and applied to the separation of DNA fragments (1-38 kbp) and large DNA fragments (lambda DNA, 48.5 kbp; T4 DNA, 165.6 kbp) that are difficult to separate on conventional gel electrophoresis and capillary electrophoresis without a pulsed-field technique. DNA fragments ranging from 1 to 38 kbp were separated as clear bands, and furthermore, the mixture of lambda DNA and T4 DNA was successfully separated by a 380-microm-long nanopillar channel within only 10 s even under a direct current (dc) electric field. Theoretical plate number N of the channel (380-1450 microm long) was 1000-3000 (0.7 x 10(6)-2.1 x 10(6) plates/m). A single DNA molecule observation during electrophoresis in a nanopillar channel revealed that the optimal nanopillars induced T4 DNA to form a narrow U-shaped conformation during electrophoresis whereas lambda DNA kept a rather spherical conformation. We demonstrated that, even under a dc electric field, the optimal nanopillar dimensions depend on a gyration radius of DNA molecule that made it possible to separate large DNA fragments in a short time.     

Real-time observation for the enzymatic reaction of phospholipid membrane: application of the time-resolved quasi-elastic laser scattering method

An analytical technique to measure reactions in biological membranes was developed and applied to monitoring the hydrolysis reaction of phospholipids (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, DPPC) by phospholipase A(2). The technique uses the time-resolved quasi-elastic laser scattering (TR-QELS) method to measure an oil/phospholipid monolayer/water membrane system by monitoring the change of interfacial tension under a noncontact condition and in real time. When the TR-QELS method is used with the newly developed oil/phospholipid monolayer/water membrane system, measurement of the hydrolysis reaction of phospholipids with long alkyl chains (C >or=16), which are the major components in biological membranes, becomes possible. The reaction progress is monitored by the increase of interfacial tension at the oil/water interface caused by the decrease of surface-active DPPC molecules due to the reaction. The characteristic phases, namely, lag, burst, and equilibrium, are observed. The relationship between the duration of the lag phase (the rate-limiting step of the reaction) and the concentration of calcium ion (an essential cofactor of the reaction) is also investigated. Increase of calcium ion concentration in the subphase is found to shorten the duration of the lag phase. In addition, the real-time measurement simplifies the estimation process for the reaction activation energy.     

Microstructural Control of BaTiO3 Thick Film Fabricated by Utilizing Slide-Off Transfer Printing

Effects of fabrication conditions on the microstructure of thick BaTiO₃ films have been investigated by employing slide-off transfer printing technique. Formation of dense films with good adhesive properties was difficult when screen-printing was employed in preparing the slide-off transfer sheets (BaTiO₃ green films), irrespective of the kind of solvents used for the slurries. On the other hand, relatively dense films could be fabricated from the slide-off transfer sheet prepared by spin-coating of the slurries consisting of fine BaTiO₃ powder (particle size: ca. 0.1 m), printing oil, and 2-propanol, though cracks formed obviously. Co-addition of large BaTiO₃ particles (particle size: ca. 0.5 m) was very effective for reducing the formation of cracks, and homogenous and dense films could be fabricated by controlling the additive amount of the large particles.     

Preparation of nanocomposite for optical application using ZnTe nanoparticles and a zero-birefringence polymer

Surface-modified ZnTe nanoparticles were mixed in a zero-birefringence polymer matrix. Transmission electron microscopy images revealed that aggregates of ZnTe nanoparticles with a diameter of ∼20 nm were uniformly dispersed in the polymer. The transmittance of ZnTe nanocomposites rapidly decreased at wavelengths shorter than the critical wavelength corresponding to the band gap of ZnTe nanoparticles, an effect which became significant as the volume fraction of particles increased. In this way, the optical characteristic of ZnTe nanoparticles was added to the polymer. The intrinsic zero-birefringence was confirmed in the heat-drawn ZnTe nanocomposites. As the ZnTe nanocomposites were left in air, a lowering of transmittance was observed. This was due to the oxidation of Zn and the resultant deposition of Te in the ZnTe nanocomposite, as the light absorption of Te is significant. The formation of oxygen non-permeable SiO₂ films onto the ZnTe nanocomposite by the sol-gel method was useful in preventing oxidation so that the decrement of transmittance decreased from 47.2% to 14.9% at 530 nm near the ZnTe band gap.     

Influence of duct bias on deposition rate of DLC film in T-shape filtered arc deposition

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films were deposited by a T-shape filtered arc deposition (T-FAD) apparatus, applying bias voltage to the plasma transportation duct which filters the macrodroplet emitted from the cathode, in order to obtain a higher deposition rate. Ion current, deposition rate, discharge voltage, duct current, and anode current were measured as a function of duct bias. The anode current decreased and the duct current increased when a positive bias was applied to the duct. This fact indicates that the T-shape duct acted as another anode of the vacuum arc discharge. It was found that the maximum deposition rate as well as the ion current was obtained at about 15 V of duct bias. Improvement in plasma transportation to the process chamber through the duct was considered from the viewpoint of the characteristics of duct current against bias voltage. The value of the optimum duct bias was the same as the intersection point of the characteristics of duct current against bias voltage.     

Development of a 1-week cycle menu for an Advanced Life Support System (ALSS) utilizing practical biomass production data from the Closed Ecology Experiment Facilities (CEEF)

Productivities of 29 crops in the Closed Ecology Experiment Facilities (CEEF) were measured. Rice and soybean showed higher productivities than these given by the Advanced Life Support System Modeling and Analysis Project Baseline Values and Assumption Document (BVAD), but productivities of some other crops, such as potato and sweet potato, were lower. The cultivation data were utilized to develop a 1-week cycle menu for Closed Habitation Experiment. The menu met most of the nutritional requirements. Necessary cultivation area per crew was estimated to be 255 m2. Results from this study can be used to help design the future Advanced Life Support System (ALSS) including the CEEF.     

Dioxin-binding pentapeptide for use in a high-sensitivity on-bead detection assay

The purpose of this study is to develop a dioxin detection method using a short peptide alternative to an immunoantibody. A full peptide library consisting of 2.5 million possible amino acid combinations was constructed by a solid-phase split synthesis approach using 19 natural amino acids. The peptide beads were subjected to a competitive binding assay between 2,3,7-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and N-NBD-3-(3',4'-dichlorophenoxy)-1-propylamine (NBD-DCPPA) in a buffer containing 20% 1,4-dioxane. Two almost identical pentapeptides, FLDQI and FLDQV, that could bind dioxin were screened from the combinatorial library. NBD-DCPPA and the peptide synthesized on resin beads could be utilized to determine dioxin concentrations. The fluorescence intensity of the beads was measured using fluorescence microscopy to make a calibration curve for the dioxin concentrations. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TeCDD) could also detected in the presence of 30% 1,4-dioxane. To optimize the peptide sequence, a one-amino acid-substituted library was prepared using amino acids including nonnatural amino acids. The internal amino acids, LDQ, could not be substituted by any other amino acids. This result indicates that these three side chains are essential to recognize dioxins. The peptide C terminus substituted by phenylglycine showed a 10 times lower detection limit of 2,3,7,8-TeCDD of 150 pM (50 pg/mL) than the original sequence FLDQV. The cross reactivity of the dioxin binding peptides including the secondary derivatives was investigated. Some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons bound to the peptide beads, but nonchlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and PCB did not. From these results, we demonstrate the potential of short peptides as a practical sensor material targeting low molecular weight compounds such as dioxin.     

Retrieval of trace gases from aerosol-influenced infrared transmission spectra observed by low-spectral-resolution Fourier-transform spectrometers

A method for the simultaneous retrieval of gas concentrations and an extinction spectrum of aerosols and polar stratospheric clouds from infrared transmission spectra observed in the solar occultation geometry is described. It is particularly suited to measurements by Fourier-transform spectrometers with relatively low spectral resolution (0.1-1 cm(-1)). The method does not require a priori assumptions on aerosol properties; it utilizes only the fact that the wave-number dependence of aerosol extinction is much weaker than that of gas absorption. In this method, an aerosol extinction spectrum is approximated by a straight line within a relatively wide spectral range defined as mediumwindow.     

Microbial processes responsible for nitrous oxide production from acid soils in different land-use patterns in Pasirmayang,central Sumatra,Indonesia

The most probable number (MPN) method and dicyandiamide (DCD), an autotroph-specific inhibitor, were used to identify microbial processes that produced N₂O in acid soils. Nitrous oxide production was investigated in six sites in four different land-use patterns at Pasirmayang in Jambi province, in Sumatra, Indonesia, using soils collected in October 1999, March 2000 and June 2000. The six sites were primary forests (P1 and P2), loggedover forests (L2), a young rubber plantation established after forest had been logged and burned in March 1998 (L1), a plantation of Gmelina arborea established after logging and burning of forest in August 1996 (O), and a rubber plantation of a small landholder established in 1993 (R). Very small numbers of autotrophic ammonia oxidizers and autotrophic nitrite oxidizers were detected. Heterotrophic nitrifiers were detected at all sites, with the highest MPNs at L1 and L2. In incubation experiments, the emission of N₂O from soils increased at all six sites after adding citrate, a substrate for heterotrophic nitrifiers. No correlation appeared between denitrification activity and N₂O flux. We conclude that heterotrophic nitrifiers are the main microbial contributors to N₂O emission from acid soils in Pasirmayang, Jambi.