Silicon quantum dot superlattice solar cell structure including silicon nanocrystals in a photogeneration layer

The solar cell structure of n-type poly-silicon/5-nm-diameter silicon nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous silicon oxycarbide matrix (30 layers)/p-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon/Al electrode was fabricated on a quartz substrate. An open-circuit voltage and a fill factor of 518 mV and 0.51 in the solar cell were obtained, respectively. The absorption edge of the solar cell was 1.49 eV, which corresponds to the optical bandgap of the silicon nanocrystal materials, suggesting that it is possible to fabricate the solar cells with silicon nanocrystal materials, whose bandgaps are wider than that of crystalline silicon.

PACS

85.35.Be; 84.60.Jt; 78.67.Bf     

Enhanced antiviral activity of soybean β-conglycinin-derived peptides by acylation with saturated fatty acids

Abstract: Peptide mixtures prepared from soybean β‐conglycinin (7S‐peptides) were acylated with saturated fatty acids of different chain length (6C‐18C) in order to improve their antiviral activity against Feline calicivirus (FCV) strain F9 which is a typical norovirus surrogate. Among the fatty acids varieties, it was revealed that 7S‐peptides acylated with myristic and palmitic acids potently inhibited FCV replication. Myristorylation and palmitoylation of 7S‐peptides kept host cells viability at 91.51% and 98.90%, respectively. The infectivity of FCV on Crandell–Reese feline kidney cells was further determined after exposure of initial titer of 10^6.47 TCID₅₀/mL. Myristoylated and palmitoylated 7S‐peptides significantly (P < 0.006) reduced FCV infectivity as compared to native 7S‐peptides. Native 7S‐peptides showed 25% FCV inhibitory activity while myristoylated and palmitoylated 7S‐peptides exhibited 98.59% and 99.98% reduction in FCV infectivity, respectively. Myristoylated and palmitoylated 7S‐peptides demonstrated higher anti‐FCV activity in a wide range of concentration with complete reduction at 25 μg/mL. Surface hydrophobicity was significantly (P < 0.05) increased after attachment of long hydrocarbon fatty acids to 7S‐peptides as supported by changes in fluorescence intensity. Enzymatic hydrolysis together with acylation will give an insight into surface and physiological functional lipopeptides derived from soy β‐conglycinin.     

Electrochemical DNA methylation detection for enzymatically digested CpG oligonucleotides

We describe the electrochemical detection of DNA methylation through the direct oxidation of both 5-methylcytosine (mC) and cytosine (C) in 5'-CG-3' sequence (CpG) oligonucleotides using a sputtered nanocarbon film electrode after digesting a longer CpG oligonucleotide with endonuclease P1. Direct electrochemistry of the longer CpG oligonucleotides was insufficient for obtaining the oxidation currents of these bases because the CG rich sequence inhibited the direct oxidation of each base in the longer CpG oligonucleotides, owing to the conformational structure and its very low diffusion coefficient. To detect C methylation with better quantitativity and sensitivity in the relatively long CpG oligonucleotides, we successfully used an endonuclease P1 to digest the target CpG oligonucleotide and yield an identical mononucleotide 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-monophosphate (5'-dNMP). Compared with results obtained without P1 treatment, we achieved 4.4 times higher sensitivity and a wider concentration range for mC detection with a resolution capable of detecting a subtle methylated cytosine difference in the CpG oligonucleotides (60mer).     

Study on the compressible viscous flows through a straight pipe

When sonic nozzles of significantly smaller diameter are used as standard flow meters, the critical backpressure ratio is affected by the boundary layer at the nozzle throat. It is known that, as the flow pathway is complicated in actual valves, the critical pressure ratio differs from the ideal value. However, the effect of the boundary layer thickness on choking criteria is still controversial. Choking phenomenon in a sonic nozzle fitted with a straight circular pipe of variable length is investigated numerically and the results are compared with experimental and theoretical ones. The results show that the actual critical pressure ratio is less than the ideal value and it decreases with increase in pipe length. The effect of boundary layer thickness on main flow Mach number is also made clear in this work. In addition, sonic conductance and pressure loss in actual viscous flows computed are compared with the ISO 6358 standard.     

A computational investigation on the control of cavity-induced pressure oscillations using sub-cavity

A computational investigation has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of a passive control technique ofattenuating cavity-induced pressure oscillations in a confined two-dimensional supersonic flow.The passivecontrol technique is achieved by fitting two flat plates near the front wall of a square cavity at Mach number 1.83at the cavity entrance.The results showed that the flat plates attached near the front wall of the cavity,discouraged the formation of feedback loop which is widely believed to be the reason of cavity resonance.Theresultant amount of attenuation of pressure oscillations was also dependent on the length of the fiat plate used asan oscillation suppressor.     

MC180295 Inhibited Epstein–Barr Virus-Associated Gastric Carcinoma Cell Growth by Suppressing DNA Repair and the Cell Cycle

DNA methylation of both viral and host DNA is one of the major mechanisms involved in the development of Epstein–Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC); thus, epigenetic treatment using demethylating agents would seem to be promising. We have verified the effect of {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295, which was discovered by screening for demethylating agents. {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 inhibited cell growth of the EBVaGC cell lines YCCEL1 and SNU719 in a dose-dependent manner. In a cell cycle analysis, growth arrest and apoptosis were observed in both YCCEL1 and SNU719 cells treated with {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295. MKN28 cells infected with EBV were sensitive to {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 and showed more significant inhibition of cell growth compared to controls without EBV infection. Serial analysis of gene expression analysis showed the expression of genes belonging to the role of BRCA1 in DNA damage response and cell cycle control chromosomal replication to be significantly reduced after {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 treatment. We confirmed with quantitative PCR that the expression levels of BRCA2, FANCM, RAD51, TOP2A, and CDC45 were significantly decreased by {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295. LMP1 and BZLF1 are EBV genes with expression that is epigenetically regulated, and {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 could up-regulate their expression. In conclusion, {"type":"entrez-nucleotide","attrs":{"text":"MC180295","term_id":"1885105835","term_text":"MC180295"}}MC180295 inhibited the growth of EBVaGC cells by suppressing DNA repair and the cell cycle.     

Approximate calculation method for integral of mean square value of nonstationary response

The response of the structure subjected to nonstationary random vibration such as earthquake excitation is nonstationary random vibration. Calculating method for statistical characteristics of such a response is complicated. Mean square value of the response is usually used to evaluate random response. Integral of mean square value of the response corresponds to total energy of the response. In this paper, a simplified calculation method to obtain integral of mean square value of the response is proposed. As input excitation, nonstationary white noise and nonstationary filtered white noise are used. Integrals of mean square value of the response are calculated for various values of parameters. It is found that the proposed method gives exact value of integral of mean square value of the response.     

Present Status of the Nd:YAG Thomson Scattering System Development for Time Evolution Measurement of Plasma Profile on Heliotron J

A new high repetition rate Nd:YAG Thomson scattering system is developed for the Heliotron J helical device.A main purpose of installing the new system is the temporal evolution measurement of a plasma profile for improved confinement physics such as the edge transport barrier (H-mode) or the internal transport barrier of the helical plasma.The system has 25 spatial points with ～10mm resolution.Two high repetition Nd:YAG lasers (>550mJ@ 50Hz) realize the measurement of the time evolution of the plasma profile with ～10ms time intervals.Scattered light is collected by a large concave mirror (D=800 mm,f/2.25) with a solid angle of ～100 mstr and transferred to interference filter polychromators by optical fiber bundles in a staircase form.The signal is amplified by newly designed fast preamplifiers with DC and AC output,which reduces the low frequency background noise.The signals are digitized with a multi-event QDC,fast gated integrators.The data acquisition is performed by a VME-based system operated by the CINOS.     

Suppressing the effect of lightning-induced overvoltages by the combined use of surge arresters and overhead ground wires

Lightning voltage induced by nearby strokes is one of the causes of major overvoltages which threaten the insulation of power distribution lines. Surge arresters as well as an overhead ground wire usually are employed for the protection of equipment and line insulation on overhead power distribution lines. The fundamental mechanism of suppressing effects of overvoltages induced by nearby strokes has been demonstrated independently by one of the present authors for surge arresters and for an overhead ground wire. In this paper, the protective effect of the combination of surge arresters and overhead ground wire is analyzed. As a result, it is found that the effect of surge arresters used together with an overhead ground wire is almost the same as that of surge arresters alone.