Another factor besides hydrophobicity can affect signal peptide interaction with signal recognition particle

Translocation of alkaline extracellular protease (AEP) into the endoplasmic reticulum of Yarrowia lipolytica is cotranslational and signal recognition particle (SRP)-dependent, whereas translocation of P17M AEP (proline to methionine at position 17, second amino acid in the pro-region) is posttranslational and SRP-independent. P17M signal peptide mutations that resulted in more rapid SRP-dependent translocation of AEP precursor were isolated. Most of these mutations significantly increased hydrophobicity, but the A12P/P17M mutation did not. The switch from SRP-dependent to SRP-independent translocation without a decrease in hydrophobicity (wild type to P17M) and restoration of SRP-dependent translocation without an increase in hydrophobicity (P17M to A12P/P17M) indicate that some factor(s) in addition to hydrophobicity determines selection of targeting pathway. Models of extended forms of wild type and A12P/P17M signal peptides are kinked, whereas the P17M signal peptide is relatively straight. Possibly the conformation/orientation of signal peptides at the ribosomal surface affects SRP binding and consequently the targeting route to the endoplasmic reticulum. Kinked signal peptides might approach SRP more closely more often. Most likely, these effects were only detectable because of the short length and low average hydrophobicity of the AEP signal peptide.     

Composite torsional quartz transducer for shear ultrasonic measurements of aqueous liquids

A composite torsional quartz transducer has been developed for the shear ultrasonic measurements of aqueous solutions in the frequency range from 10 to 100 kHz. In order to prevent the electric interaction and low contact angle between the transducer and water, a torsional quartz crystal transducer is attached to a fused quartz rod whose surface is partly gilded by evaporation. The accuracy of +/-60 dyn/cm2 for the rigidity and +/-0.03 cP for the viscosity is attained by use of this transducer.     

Conductivity of crosslinked poly(epichlorohydrin‐co‐(ethylene oxide)‐co‐(allyl glycidyl ether)) compositions under ambient circumstances for its application to an electrophotographic system

Terpolymers were synthesized by copolymerization of epichlorohydrin with ethylene oxide (EO) and allyl glycidyl ether. The terpolymers were crosslinked by sulfur curing. Conductivity of the crosslinked terpolymer compositions was investigated for application to an electrophotographic system. The composition containing 71 mol % EO units in the terpolymer gave high and stable conductivity over a wide range from low temperature and low humidity to high temperature and high humidity conditions. The conductivity of crosslinked terpolymer composition satisfied Ohm's law against the applied voltage from 10 to 1000 V, which is necessary for the electrophotographic system. The conductivity increased by the addition of a small amount of electrolyte. The staining ascribable to the migration of electrolyte was not observed, when 3 parts per hundred rubber by weight of octadecyltrimethylammonium perchlorate was doped to the crosslinked terpolymer composition whose EO content in the terpolymer was 71 mol %. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 98: 825–830, 2005     

TEM image simulation study of small carbon nanotubes and carbon nanowire

Recent findings of extremely small diameter carbon nanotube and nanowire in the core of a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) have attracted interests from broad range of researchers. Direct observation of carbon nanotube is usually done using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). When nanotubes become smaller, it becomes harder to correctly understand the TEM images, not only because of the weak scattering, but also due to the artifact that starts to appear because of the interference effect and the inappropriate defocus condition.In this study, we have shown that the artifact such as ghost fringes due to inappropriate defocus conditions of the TEM appear in the core of an MWCNT, and can be misinterpreted as either carbon nanowire or small carbon nanotube. It is also shown that, in the TEM image, it is hard to distinguish a single-walled nanotube bundle from a double-walled carbon nanotube bundle. Finally, we propose that the cross-sectional observation is necessary for the correct characterization of single- and double-walled carbon nanotube bundles.     

Parallel phase-shifting digital holography with adaptive function using phase-mode spatial light modulator

Parallel phase-shifting digital holography using a phase-mode spatial light modulator (SLM) is proposed. The phase-mode SLM implements spatial distribution of phase retardation required in the parallel phase-shifting digital holography. This SLM can also compensate dynamically the phase distortion caused by optical elements such as beam splitters, lenses, and air fluctuation. Experimental demonstration using a static object is presented.     

Comb-shaped High Molecular Weight Polyether Consisting of Oxyethylene Units for Polymer Solid Electrolyte

Novel high molecular weight comb-shaped polyethers were synthesized and used as the matrix of a polymer solid electrolyte. Both the main chain and the side chain of these polyethers consist of oxyethylene units. The new polyethers possess film-forming properties, because the weight-average molecular weights were over 10⁶. The short side chains of oxyethylene units gave rise to less crystallization of poly(oxyethylene) segments and to an increase of ionic conductivity when doped with lithium perchlorate. © 1997 SCI.     

Spherical-Impact Damage and Strength Degradation in Silicon Carbide Whisker/Silicon Nitride Composites

The silicon carbide (SiC) whisker reinforcement of silicon nitride (Si₃N₄) improves fracture strength and toughness, hardness, and Young's modulus, resulting in higher resistance of the composites to sphere penetration and crack initiation at spherical impact. Sintered Si₃N₄ shows an elastic/plastic response and initiates median/radial cracks at 100 m/s impact velocity. SiC-whisker/Si₃N₄ composites, on the other hand, demonstrate an elastic response, with Hertzian cone crack initiation, only when impact velocity exceeds 280 m/s. The SiC-whisker/Si₃N₄ composites thus exhibit improved strength degradation versus critical impact velocity characteristics because of improved mechanical properties provided by the SiC whiskers.     

Optoelectronic information encryption with phase-shifting interferometry

A technique that combines the high speed and the high security of optical encryption with the advantages of electronic transmission, storage, and decryption is introduced. Digital phase-shifting interferometry is used for efficient recording of phase and amplitude information with an intensity recording device. The encryption is performed by use of two random phase codes, one in the object plane and another in the Fresnel domain, providing high security in the encrypted image and a key with many degrees of freedom. We describe how our technique can be adapted to encrypt either the Fraunhofer or the Fresnel diffraction pattern of the input. Electronic decryption can be performed with a one-step fast Fourier transform reconstruction procedure. Experimental results for both systems including a lensless setup are shown.     

Secure ultrafast communication with spatial-temporal converters

An encrypted database interfaced with an ultrafast secure data communication system using spatial-temporal converters is proposed. The original spatial signal is optically encrypted, and the encrypted signal is holographically stored in a storage medium such as photorefractive materials. The spatially encrypted signal is sampled to avoid the overlap of each datum at the receiver. The sampled data are converted into a temporal signal to transmit the information through an optical fiber. At the receiver the temporal signal is converted back into the spatially encrypted signal. Retrieval of the original data can be achieved when the correct phase key is used in the decryption system. We developed an expression for encrypted output and decrypted data. We numerically evaluate the effect of sampling the spatially encrypted signal on the quality of the decrypted data.