Anomer-selective glucosylation of l-menthol by yeast alpha-glucosidase

l-Menthol was glucosylated by the alpha-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae using maltose as the glucosyl donor. When 50 mg of l-menthol and 1.6 M maltose in 10 mM citrate-phosphate buffer (pH 5.5) were incubated at 45 degrees C, l-menthyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside (alpha-MenG) was alpha-anomer-selectively formed as a product. The specificity of the alpha-linkage was confirmed by 13C-NMR analysis. In the reaction mixture after 2 h, alpha-MenG was mainly accumulated in a crystalline form and the concentration of dissolved alpha-MenG was constant at 1.4 mM. The molar conversion yield of alpha-MenG produced based on the supplied l-menthol was maximally 30.7% at 48 h of reaction.     

Very-high-speed optical signal processing

Challenges of next-generation transmission technologies are summarized in the context of creating future terabit-per-second networks. The technologies will be realized through both the separate and combined evolution of inherent lightwave capabilities along with time-, wavelength-, and space-domain optical processing techniques. Optical signal processing techniques in the tens of gigabit per second range for future high-speed transmission systems and broadband networks are reviewed     

Short‐span seeking control of hard disk drive with vibration suppression PTC

In a short‐span seeking‐mode of hard disk drives, the resonance modes are getting crucial obstruction to meet the demand on high‐speed data access. In this paper, a novel vibration suppression perfect tracking control (PTC) method is proposed based on controllable canonical realization. In the proposed method, it is assumed that the plant is modeled as the rigid and primary resonance mode. By using this model, the feed forward controller is designed with PTC by multirate sampling control in order to suppress the primary vibration. Additionally, the higher‐order resonance vibration is attenuated by using the trajectory MHVT. The proposed method achieved 16% faster seeking than MPVT, a conventional method. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 162(1): 66–72, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20546     

High fibre coupled output power 37 nm tunable laser module using matrix DFB laser

The thermally-controlled laser module, integrating 12 distributed feedback (DFB) lasers in the form of a 2/spl times/6 matrix to realise both high output power and wide wavelength tunability, has been fabricated. The module has shown excellent characteristics, such as high fibre coupled power over 30 mW and tunability over 37 nm.     

Three‐dimensional numerical analysis on discharge properties of microwave excited ring dielectric line surface wave processing plasma device

A three‐dimensional simulation code with the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method combined with the electron fluid model has been developed for the microwave excited surface wave plasma in the RDL‐SWP device. This code permits the three‐dimensional numerical analysis of the spatial distributions of electric field, power absorption, electron density, and electron temperature. At a low gas pressure (about 10 mTorr), the numerical results were compared with the experimental measurements that show the validity of this 3D simulation code. A simplified analysis assuming that the electron density is spatially uniform has also been studied and its applicability is evaluated by the comparison of the 3D simulation and the analytical solutions. The surface wave eigenmodes are determined by the electron density, and it is found that the structure of the device strongly influences the spatial distribution of the electric fields of surface waves in a low‐density area (n_e < 3.0 × 10¹¹ cm^?3). A method to irradiate by microwave the whole surface area of the plasma is proposed. The method is found to be effective in obtaining a high uniformity distribution of electron density. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 150(4): 1–12, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10333     

Cystic lymphangioma of the tunica vaginalis testis. A case report

A 42-year-old man who complained progressive enlargement of an intrascrotal mass visited to our hospital. Preoperative sonography revealed multiple cystic masses adjacent to the left testis. Total surgical excision was performed. The cystic masses were arising from tunica vaginalis testis. Histopathologically, a cystic lymphangioma was diagnosed because of the morphological features and the immunohistochemical stainings of CD34 and Factor VIII related antigen which were observed positive reactions in endothelial cells of the cysts.     

High power and high sensitivity planar lightwave circuit moduleincorporating a novel passive alignment method

A high-power, high-sensitivity planar lightwave circuit (PLC) module, comprising a laser diode (LD) and a photodiode (PD) surface mounted on a PLC platform, has been realized by a novel passive alignment technique. We used a spot-size transformed LD and a corner-illuminated PD to form a highly efficient optical coupling between the devices and a PLC waveguide. We used the unique marker alignment method to ensure accurate positioning of them. The positioning precision achieved in the lateral direction was within 1 μm for the LD's and within 10 μm for the PD's. The rotational precision was within 0.4° for both chips. We realized high power operation (>8 mW) with a high receiver sensitivity (0.3 A/W). In this paper, we describe a high power, high sensitivity PLC incorporating a novel passive optical alignment technique for LD's and PD's     

Principal neuronal organization in the frog optic tectum revealed by a current source density analysis

Evidence exists that the 4-10 or 4-9 fragments of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) produce some behavioral effects in animals and in humans. The present study was designed to investigate whether ACTH 4-9 interferes with the effects of antidepressants: fluoxetine (FLU), fluvoxamine (FOX), selegiline (SEL) or dopamine agonists: piribedil (PRB) or quinpirol (QPR) in forced swimming test and in open field in rats. ACTH 4-9 was given in a single dose (25, 50 or 100 micrograms/kg) or for 7 days (50 micrograms/kg/day), alone or together with antidepressants or dopamine agonists. It was shown that ACTH 4-9 alone did not influence the behavior of rats. However, when given in a single dose, ACTH 4-9 potentiated the antiimmobility effect of all antidepressants and dopamine agonists. ACTH 4-9 given for 7 days, facilitated only the effect of selegiline. The results suggest a functional interaction of ACTH 4-9 with serotonergic and dopaminergic brain mechanisms of drugs action.     

Comparison of retinal breaks between patients with atopic dermatitis and mentally retarded patients with self-inflicted ocular injury]

We compared the distribution of retinal breaks in retinal detachment between patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) and mentally retarded patients who had self-inflicted ocular injury (MR). The cases of AD were 16 eyes in 14 patients (six males and eight females, ranging in age from 15 to 52 years, mean 24.5) and the cases of MR were 6 eyes in 5 patients (5 males, ranging in age from 14 to 25 years, mean 20.2). There was no corneoscleral laceration in either group. In the patients with AD, 14 (87.5%) of 16 eyes had retinal breaks at the vitreous base, and 21 (87.5%) of 24 retinal breaks in 16 eyes were at the vitreous base. In the patients with MR, five (83.3%) of 6 eyes had retinal breaks at the vitreous base and 6(66.7%) of 9 retinal breaks in 6 eyes were at the vitreous base. In both groups, ciliary epithelial breaks and peripheral retinal tears were frequently observed, suggesting that retinal detachment in AD has a pathophysiology similar to traumatic retinal detachment with repeated ocular contusion (self-inflicted injury).