Influences of electroosmotic flows in nanopillar chips on DNA separation: Experimental results and numerical simulations

The various potential factors affecting the performance of nanopillar chips on DNA separation were investigated from the viewpoints of both numerical calculations and actual experiments. To yield higher performance and replace the conventional DNA separation techniques such as microchip electrophoresis, the phenomenon specific to the nanopillar chips should be deeply understood. In this paper, although various factors affecting the performance of the nanopillar chips are considered, we focused on the effect of electroosmotic flow, which is particularly noticeable in quartz-made nanopillar chips. High-resolution separation of DNA was realized when an electroosmotic flow was suppressed by simply using a higher concentration of buffer, but DNA separation failed in the presence of an electroosmotic flow. It was confirmed from the numerical simulations and the direct observations that the deformation of DNA band during the injection process was induced by electroosmotic flow and consequently led to a poor resolution.     

Information flows among academic disciplines in Japan

An attempt is made to clarify the relationships among disciplines by examining the flow of citation and the migration of scholars in the humanities and social sciences in Japan. The results of both methods are consistent with each other. In humanities and social sciences in Japan, distinct hierarchical relationships are recognized between disciplines offering much information to other disciplines and disciplines obtaining much information from other disciplines.     

Linear programming software tools on UNIX System

Linear programming(LP) is one of the most widely used Operations Research/Management Science/Industrial Engineering techniques. Recently, multiple criteria decision making or multiple objective linear programming has been well established as a practical approach to seeking satisfactory solutions to real-world decision problems.

In this paper we develop software tools for solving various linear programming problems such as a traditional LP problem, bicriteria LP problem, and multi-criteria LP problem on UNIX system. In a phase for reading data of various LP problems, we define a BNF(Backus-Nauel form) of various LP problems and implement BNF rules by using the C programming language.

In a phase for computing various LP problems, we use efficient methods for solving LP problems, develop various software tools on UNIX system, and combine each LP tool corresponding to an user request in which the Shell programming is used.

We also demonstrate some real-world LP problems by using LP software tools developed here on an UNIX System. Sanyo MPS 020.     

Colloidal Processing and Mechanical Properties of Whisker-Reinforced Mullite Matrix Composites

Aqueous colloidal suspensions in the two systems of CVD-processed ultrafine mullite powder (<0.1 μm), -Si₃N₄ whisker and -mullite whisker, were prepared near the isoelectric point of mullite (pH 7.0) to prevent cracking during drying of wet green compacts consolidated by filtration. The freeze-dried porous green compacts were hot-pressed with a carbon die at 1500°C for 1 h at a pressure of 39 MPa in N₂ atmosphere. The relative densities of the mullite matrix composites with whiskers of 0 to 10 vol% were in the range of 95.2% to 99.8%. Increasing the fraction of Si₃N₄ whisker increased the density, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of the hot-pressed composites. On the other hand, addition of the mullite whisker increased the fracture toughness but decreased the density and strength of the composites.     

Novel Route to Propylene Carbonate: Selective Synthesis from Propylene Glycol and Carbon Dioxide

High surface area zirconium phosphate in an amorphous phase exhibits high activities for water-related reactions such as hydrolysis of ethyl acetate and esterification of acetic acid with ethanol. The zirconium phosphate is insoluble during the reaction, is recoverable by simple filtration, and can be reused at least five times without any treatment.     

Mechanochemical Effects on the Formation and Properties of Various Nickel Phosphates

Mixtures of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate and basic nickel carbonate with P/Ni molar ratios of 2/3, 1/1, and 2/1 were ground in a planetary mill. The thermal behavior of the milled samples was investigated by differential thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In addition, the samples were characterized by ultraviolet-visible reflectance spectroscopy, particle size distribution, scanning electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption measurements. As a result of mechanochemical effects, the targeted nickel phosphates were formed at lower temperatures, had a more vivid color, and consisted of more regularly shaped particles.     

Thermophiles as Potential Source of Novel Endotoxin Antagonists: the Full Structure and Bioactivity of theLipo‐oligosaccharide from Thermomonas hydrothermalis

Thermomonas hydrothermalis is a Gram‐negative thermophilic bacterium that is able to live at 50 °C. This ability is attributed to chemical modifications, involving those to bacterial cell‐wall components, such as proteins and (glyco)lipids. As the main component of the outer membrane of Gram‐negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) are exposed to the environment, thus they can undergo structural chemical changes to allow thermophilic bacteria to live at their optimal growth temperature. Furthermore, as one of the major target of the eukaryotic innate immune system, LPS elicits host immune response in a structure‐dependent mode; thus the uncommon chemical features of thermophilic bacterial LPSs might exert a different biological action on the innate immune system—an antagonistic effect, as shown in studies of LPS structure–activity relationship in the ongoing research into antagonist LPS candidates. Here, we report the complete structural and biological activity analysis of the lipo‐oligosaccharide isolated from Thermomonas hydrothermalis, achieved by a multidisciplinary approach (chemical analysis, NMR, MALDI MS and cellular immunology). We demonstrate a tricky and interesting structure combined with a very interesting effect on human innate immunity.