Continuously Frequency Tunable High Power Sub-THz Radiation Source—Gyrotron FU CW VI for 600 MHz DNP-NMR Spectroscopy

A high frequency gyrotron with a 15 T superconducting magnet named Gyrotron FU CW VI has achieved continuous frequency tuning through the relatively wide range of 1.5 GHz near 400 GHz. The operation is at the fundamental cyclotron resonance of the TE₀₆ cavity mode with many higher order axial modes. The output power measured at the end of the circular waveguide system ranges from 10 to 50 watts at the low acceleration voltage of 12 kV for beam electrons. The beam current is also low. It is around 250 mA. This gyrotron is designed as a demountable radiation source for the 600 MHz DNP-NMR spectroscopy. The design and operation results of the gyrotron FU CW VI are presented.     

High energy-resolution electron energy-loss spectroscopy study of the electric structure of double-walled carbon nanotubes

Electron energy-loss spectra were obtained from two double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) with an energy resolution of 85 meV. The spectra showed multiple peak structures between 2 and 3 eV. However, peak positions are different for these two DWCNTs. The chiral indices of CNT layers of the two DWCNTs were determined to be (29,4)(in) (17,8)(out) and (46,6)(out) (26,21)(in), respectively, by comparing experimental electron diffraction patterns with simulated ones. The spectra were also compared with simulated joint density of states, which were derived from the determined chiral indices. It was confirmed that the peak structures in the spectra are due to interband transitions intrinsic for tubular structures of graphitic sheets.     

Perfluorooctanesulfonate and periluorooctanoate in red panda and giant panda from China

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) are important perfluorochemicals (PFCs) in various applications. Recently, it has been shown that these compounds are widespread in the environment, wildlife, and humans. The giant panda and the red panda belong to the order Carnivora, but are highly specialized as bamboo feeders. Both species are considered rare and endangered. In this study, we report for the first time on levels of PFOS and PFOA in serum of the giant panda and the red panda captured in zoos and animal parks from six provinces in China. PFOS was the predominant compound in all panda samples measured (ranging from 0.80 to 73.80 microg/L for red panda and from 0.76 to 19.00 microg/L for giant panda). The PFOA level ranged from 0.33 to 8.20 microg/L for red panda, and from 0.32 to 1.56 microg/L for giant panda. There was a positive significant correlation between concentrations of PFOS and PFOA in the serum obtained from pandas. No age- or sex- related differences were observed in concentrations of the fluorochemicals in panda sera. Greater concentrations of the fluorochemicals were found for those individuals collected from zoos near urbanized or industrialized areas than for other areas. These data combined with other reported data suggest that there are large differences in distribution of perfluorinated compounds in terrestrial animals.     

Rapid separation and counting of viable microbial cells in food by nonculture method with bioplorer, a focusing-free microscopic apparatus with a novel cell separation unit

A nonculture method utilizing a novel apparatus, the bioplorer, was developed. The bioplorer is composed of an efficient cell separation unit, a focusing-free microscopic device, and an image analysis program. A meat or vegetable suspension is poured into the cell separation funnel, and insoluble matter in the sample suspension is trapped by prefilters. Microbial cells passing through the two prefilters are then trapped by the membrane filter (pore size, 0.4 microm). Trapped cells are double-stained with 4',6'-diamidino-2-phenylindole and propidium iodide, and the membrane filter is removed and set on the focusing-free microscope. A fluorescent image is then recorded. Total numbers of viable and dead cells on the membrane filter can thus be determined automatically. One assay can be performed within 10 min, which is much faster than the culture method. The results obtained with both the nonculture method and the culture method for meat and vegetable samples were highly correlated (r = 0.953 to 0.998). This method is feasible for the practical purpose of food safety control.     

Absolute quantitation of quercetin and the glycosides in natural food additives by quantitative NMR

We are developing a simple absolute quantitation method for organic compounds, by means of quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR), with traceability to the International System of Units (SI units). The qNMR method was applied to the absolute quantitation of rutin, isoquercitrin and quercetin in natural food additives, rutin (extract), enzymatically decomposed rutin extract and quercetin, and those compounds as commercial reagents. In this study, 1,4-bis-(trimethylsilyl)benzene-d(4) (1,4-BTMSB-d(4)) whose purity was precisely evaluated on the basis of metrology, was newly used as a qNMR reference material, to be added to the sample solution as an internal standard. The contents of quercetin and quercetin glycosides were calculated from the ratio of the signal intensities of each aromatic proton at the 2' position of the three compounds (these are observed at different chemical shifts) to the eighteen protons of the six methyl groups on 1,4-BTMSB-d(4) used as a qNMR reference material. Rapid and simple qNMR method with only one step process was carried by using 1,4-BTMSB-d(4). It was demonstrated that the purities of rutin, isoquercitrin and quercetin can be separately determined by qNMR without the need for a separation process or reference materials for all the target compounds.     

Combination Treatment of OSI-906 with Aurora B Inhibitor Reduces Cell Viability via Cyclin B1 Degradation-Induced Mitotic Slippage

Insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R), a receptor-type tyrosine kinase, transduces signals related to cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation. We recently reported that OSI-906, an IGF1R inhibitor, in combination with the Aurora B inhibitor ZM447439 suppresses cell proliferation. However, the mechanism underlying this suppressive effect is yet to be elucidated. In this study, we examined the effects of combination treatment with OSI-906 and ZM447439 on cell division, so as to understand how cell proliferation was suppressed. Morphological analysis showed that the combination treatment generated enlarged cells with aberrant nuclei, whereas neither OSI-906 nor ZM447439 treatment alone caused this morphological change. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that over-replicated cells were generated by the combination treatment, but not by the lone treatment with either inhibitors. Time-lapse imaging showed mitotic slippage following a severe delay in chromosome alignment and cytokinesis failure with furrow regression. Furthermore, in S-trityl-l-cysteine–treated cells, cyclin B1 was precociously degraded. These results suggest that the combination treatment caused severe defect in the chromosome alignment and spindle assembly checkpoint, which resulted in the generation of over-replicated cells. The generation of over-replicated cells with massive aneuploidy may be the cause of reduction of cell viability and cell death. This study provides new possibilities of cancer chemotherapy.     

Effect of crystal orientation on freeze concentration of solutions

Freeze concentration is one of the methods to concentrate solution by making pure ice in the solution. In general, the ratio of condensation is focused on, and so the research on the concentration captured in ice is very limited. However, quality improvement of eliminating impurities from wastewater is a very important task. In this study, the difference of initial morphology of ice was focused on and the influence on the freeze concentration was studied. It was found that the concentration of solute captured in ice was in the following order, from bigger value, multi-crystal ice, a single crystal ice with growth direction in a-axis and a single crystal ice with growth direction in c-axis. It was clarified that the ratio of concentration between the solute captured in ice and the solute in the mother solution varied from 1/10 to 1/250, depending on the crystal orientation of the ice.     

EFFECT OF CATALYST ON THE REACTION BETWEEN ACTIVE ESTER AND EPOXY RESIN

L this study the third amine and phosphine were select-ed as the catalysts of epoxy resin, the in in fluence of these catalysts oncuring reaction was observed in comparison with the former selectedquadrupole onium salt and the influence of them on physical propertiesof solidified matter was also studied.     

Influence of surface defect charge at AlGaN-GaN-HEMT upon Schottky gate leakage current and breakdown voltage

The relation between Schottky gate leakage current and the breakdown voltage of AlGaN-GaN high-electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) is discussed based on the newly introduced simple, yet useful, surface defect charge model. This model represents the leakage current caused by the positive charge in the surface portion of AlGaN layer induced by process damage such as nitrogen vacancies. The new model has been implemented into a two-dimensional device simulator, and the relationship between the gate leakage current and the breakdown voltage was simulated. The simulation results reproduced the relationship obtained experimentally between the leakage current and the breakdown voltage. Further simulation and experiment results show that the breakdown voltage is maintained even if the defect charge exists up to the defect charge density of 2.5/spl times/10/sup 12/ cm/sup -2/, provided the field plate structure is adopted, while the breakdown voltage shows a sudden drop for the defect density over 5/spl times/10/sup 11/ cm/sup -2/ without the field plate. This result shows that the field plate structure is effective for suppressing the surface charge influence on breakdown voltage due to the relaxation of the electric field concentration in the surface portion of the AlGaN layer.