Superoxide dismutase-based third-generation biosensor for superoxide anion

A third-generation biosensor for superoxide anion (O2-) was developed by immobilizing superoxide dismutase (SOD) on a self-assembled monolayer of cysteine on gold electrode; i.e., a SOD/cysteine-modified gold electrode (SOD/Cys/Au) was fabricated. A rapid and direct electron transfer of SOD was realized at the gold electrode by using the cysteine molecule as an electron-transfer promoter. The promoted direct electron transfer of SOD and biomolecular recognition by the exploitation of specific and significant enzyme-substrate reactivity of SOD toward O2- combined with the low operating potential enabled a sensitive measurement of O2-. At SOD/Cys/Au, O2- could be specifically oxidized and reduced to O2 and hydrogen peroxide, respectively, through the inherent catalytic reaction of SOD. This allowed us to measure O2- by polarizing the electrode both anodically and cathodically. We could successfully measure O2- by suitably polarizing the electrode, typically at 300 and -200 mV versus Ag/AgCl without the virtual interference from physiological levels of H2O2, ascorbic acid, uric acid, and metabolites of neurotransmitters. The response mechanism of SOD/Cys/Au to O2- and its sensor characteristics are also presented and discussed.     

P3a of event-related potential in chronic methamphetamine dependence

To investigate the psychophysiological features of methamphetamine (MAP) dependence, we recorded auditory event-related potentials (ERPs) in 15 patients with MAP dependence and in 15 age-matched normal controls. ERPs were recorded during a standard oddball task and a read task similar to those employed by Squires et al. (Squires NK, Squires KC, Hillyard SA [1975] Two varieties of long-latency positive waves evoked by unpredictable auditory stimuli in man. Electroenceph Clin Neurophysiol 38:387-401). The patients with MAP dependence showed reduced P3a amplitude and area in the read task and delayed P3b latency with normal P3b amplitude and area in the oddball task. These results suggest that central noradrenergic dysregulation may persist after the remission of acute psychotic symptoms in MAP psychosis and that chronic MAP dependence would produce impairment of the frontal cortex.     

Production and performance of the inFOCmicroS 20-40-keV graded multilayer mirror

The International Focusing Optics Collaboration for microCrab Sensitivity (InFOCmicroS) balloonborne hard x-ray telescope incorporates graded Pt/C multilayers replicated onto segmented Al foils to obtain the significant effective area at energies previously inaccessible to x-ray optics. Reflectivity measurements of individual foils demonstrate our capability to produce a mass quantity of multilayered foils with a rms roughness of 0.5 nm. The effective area of the completed mirror is 78 and 22 cm2 at 20 and 40 keV, respectively. The measured half-power diameter is 2.0 +/- 0.6 are min (90% confidence). The successful completion of this mirror demonstrates its applicability to future x-ray telescopes such as Constellation-X.     

An Analytical Compact Circuit Model for Nanowire FET

In this paper, we propose a quasi-analytical device model of nanowire FET (NWFET) for both ballistic and drift-diffusion current transport, which can be used in any conventional circuit simulator like SPICE. The closed form expressions for current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage characteristics are obtained by analytically solving device equations with appropriate approximations. The developed model was further verified with the measured I-V characteristics of an NWFET device. Results show a close match of the model with measured data.     

Effect of Powder Injection on the Interfacial Fracture Toughness of Plasma-Sprayed Zirconia

Adhesive strength of the plasma-sprayed thermal barrier coating is one of the most important parameters which influence their durability and reliability during service. While many methods exist to measure the adhesive strength, in general, they require cumbersome and time-consuming specimen preparation. Furthermore, considerations of the adhesion strength from the point-of-view of fracture toughness or for that matter, their systematic correlation to both processing variances are limited. Consequently, there is an opportunity to both simplify the measurement procedure and establish correlations among methods and linkages between processing parameters and interfacial fracture toughness. In this paper, we report results on adhesion strength of plasma-sprayed yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) coating on aluminum substrates based on both interfacial indentation test (to measure interfacial fracture toughness) and the modified tensile adhesive test. Carrier gas flow for powder injection into the plasma torch was systematically varied to introduce variances in particle melting with concomitant impact on the measured adhesive strength. The results indicate the correlation between the particle melting index and the measured interfacial fracture toughness.     

An experience of the modified Norwood's operation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome with aberrant origin of right subclavian artery and persistent left superior vena cava--the procedure without total circulatory arrest and cardiac arrest

We reported a successful case of the modified Norwood operation for a 21-day-old neonate with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (MS and AS) associated with an aberrant right subclavian artery and a persistent left superior vena cava. The modified Norwood operation was performed without total circulatory arrest and Cardiac arrest. A 4 mm Gore-Tex graft, which was anastomosed between the right carotid artery and the right pulmonary artery for systemic-pulmonary shunt, was used for cerebral perfusion during aortic arch reconstruction. Coronary perfusion was performed with a small cannula placed on the relatively large ascending aorta during anastomosis between the main pulmonary artery and the ascending aorta. Equine pericardial patch was used for aortic arch reconstruction and the ascending aorta was directly anastomosed to a part of the main PA. Postoperative course was uneventful and postoperative MRI revealed no stenosis of the aortic arch and the pulmonary artery.     

Effect of culture conditions of acetic acid bacteria on cellulose biosynthesis

An attempt was made to clarify the effect of culture conditions of an acetic acid bacteria (Acetobacter xylinum) on cellulose biosynthesis using glucose as carbon source in complex medium. Synchronous culture conditions were first realised on cellulose biosynthesis by cooling the system to 4°C for 24 h. Under the synchronous conditions stepwise division of the cell and the stepwise production of cellulose were found. Furthermore, cellulose was proved to be produced when the cell number in the medium was constant.