Locating a protein-protein interaction in living cells via split Renilla luciferase complementation

For spatial and quantitative kinetic analysis of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) in living mammalian cells, a method was developed in which PPI-induced complementation of split Renilla luciferase triggers spontaneous emission of luminescence using a cell membrane permeable substrate, coelenterazine. This split Renilla luciferase complementation readout was shown to work for locating a PPI between the tyrosine-phosphorylated peptide (Y941) of IRS-1 and the SH2 domain of PI3K among insulin signaling pathways in living Chinese hamster ovary cells overexpressing human insulin receptors (CHO-HIR). It was thereby found that the insulin-stimulated interaction occurred near the plasma membrane in the cytosol.     

Potentiometric Detection of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism by Using a Genetic Field-effect transistor

Potentiometric measurement of allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization based on the principle of detection of charge-density change at the surface of a gate insulator by using of a genetic field-effect transistor has been demonstrated. Since DNA molecules are negatively charged in aqueous solution, a hybridization event at the gate surface leads to a charge-density change in the channel of the FET and can be directly transduced into an electrical signal without any labeling of target DNA molecules. One of the unique features of our method is to utilize DNA binders such as intercalators as charged species for double-stranded DNA after hybridization, since these are ionized and carry positive charges in aqueous solution. Single-base mismatch of the target DNA could be successfully detected both with the wild-type and with the mutant genetic FETs by controlling the hybridization temperatures and introducing Hoechst 33258 as DNA binder. The genetic FET platform is suitable as a simple, accurate, and inexpensive system for SNP typing in clinical diagnostics.     

Photoluminescence mapping of "as-grown" single-walled carbon nanotubes: a comparison with micelle-encapsulated nanotube solutions

Band gap photoluminescence (PL) is observed from "as-grown" single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) in solid form. The relative PL intensities for six specific semiconducting SWNTs are compared directly to those of the micelle-encapsulated SWNTs' solutions to investigate the influence of the micelle dispersion process on PL measurements. The results indicate that sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium cholate (SC) selectively solubilize smaller-diameter nanotubes, whereas sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) solution does not exhibit significant diameter selectivity within the diameter range studied here (d(t) = 0.829-0.966 nm).     

Convenient synthesis of perhydroindene derivatives from 2,7-dimethyl-1,3,7-octatriene

Several perhydroindene derivatives were prepared from 2,7-dimethyl-1,3,7-octatriene ( I ) via Diels Alder reaction followed by cyclisation. For example, the Diels Alder reaction between I and methyl vinyl ketone ( II ) in the presence of Lewis acid afforded 4-acetyl-3-(3-methylbut-3-enyl)-1-methylcyclohexene ( IIIa ), which, upon treatment with phosphoric acid, was converted to a mixture of 2-acetyl-5,7,7-trimethyl-bicyclo [4,3,0]-non-1-(6)-ene ( IV ), 2-acetyl-5,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[4,3,0]-non-1-ene ( VI ) and 2-isopropyl-3,6-dimethylindene ( V ).     

Managing heat rejected from air conditioning systems to save energy and improve the microclimates of residential buildings

Simulations are conducted to investigate the influence and improvement potential of air conditioning heat rejection management of residential buildings on microclimate and energy use. The microclimate and building energy use are simulated on a typical high-rise building in Taipei, Taiwan, on a summer night. Heat rejection from the air conditioners is estimated with a building energy program, EnergyPlus, and a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program, Windperfect, is used to analyze how heat rejection affects the outside thermal environment. Results show that heat rejection from air conditioners worsens the thermal environment below the urban canopy, thus increasing building energy use. Three countermeasure cases of heat rejection management, which consider the type of cooling system and its installation position, are proposed in this study. The average air temperature increase around the buildings caused by heat rejection was analyzed by transferring the simulation results of the building energy program to the CFD model on an hourly basis. Results show that the air temperature next to the building envelope and the air temperature around air conditioners decrease and that there is a reduction in electricity consumption by the air conditioners when a split-type air conditioner is installed on each floor or on every third floor. A reduction in the ambient air temperature below the urban canopy can be obtained by placing a cooling tower on the roof of the building.     

Layer-current waveform of coaxial multi-layer HTS cable considering the flux flow state

It is important to control the layer current distributions of coaxial multi-layer HTS cables because homogeneous layer current distribution decreases AC loss and increases the largest operational current. In a previous paper, we proposed a theory that can control current distribution based on the concept of flux conservation between two adjacent layers, and demonstrated the theory is in good agreement with experiment results. The theory was effective for an operational current less than the critical current of the cable. It is important to investigate current distribution under the condition of operational current more than the critical current of the cable because the cable experiences fault currents. We have extended the theory to treat the operational current more than the critical current by considering V-I nonlinear characteristics of HTS tapes including flux flow resistance and contact resistance between the cable and terminals. In order to verify the extended theory, we have fabricated a two-layer cable with the same twisting layer pitch, and hence caused inhomogeneous current distribution. It was observed that almost all of operational current less than the critical current flowed on the outer layer because of its lower inductance. When the operational current increased above the critical current of the second layer, the flux flow resistance appeared and distorted the current waveform with phase deviations. Finally, in the case of operational current more than the critical currents of both layers, flux flow resistance strongly affected current waveforms, and thereby the currents of both layers were determined by flux flow resistance. The extended theory simulated the layer current distribution waveforms and demonstrated good agreement with the experimental results under all operational current regions.     

Noninvasive monitoring of transporter-substrate interaction at cell membrane

We report noninvasive monitoring of the transporter-substrate interaction at the cell membrane using an oocyte-based field effect transistor (FET), which is based on detection of extracellular potential change induced as a result of the interaction between transporting peptide and substrate at the cell membrane. The interface potential change at the cell membrane/gate insulator interface can be monitored during the uptake of substrate mediated by transporter without any labeling materials and fracturing oocyte. Moreover, we can discriminate the transporting kinetics of the substrate mediated by the wild-type and the mutant-type transporters by use of the oocyte-based FETs. Our findings on the time course of the interface potential would provide important information to understand the molecular mechanism of the uptake kinetics for the OATP-C transporter.     

Direct fabrication of metavanadate phosphor films on organic substrates for white-light-emitting devices

White-light-emitting materials have attracted considerable attention because of their applications, such as large-surface emitting devices. Inorganic phosphor films are expected to be applied to these devices because of good chemical stability; however, a substantial reduction of fabrication temperature is required for future industrial uses such as lighting materials fabricated onto flexible organic substrates. Here we show the optical properties of white-light-emitting metavanadate phosphors, AVO3 (A: K, Rb and Cs), and we report a new direct fabrication process for RbVO3 films onto flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates by means of a vacuum ultraviolet irradiation using an excimer lamp. In addition, the (Ca,Sr,Pr)TiO3/a-Al2O3/RbVO3/PET heterostructure prepared by an excimer-laser-assisted metal-organic deposition process has demonstrated the possibility of colour modification for RbVO3 films on PET. Our findings suggest new possibilities for further development of large-surface emitting lighting devices.     

Visualisation of carbon black networks in rubbery matrix by skeletonisation of 3D-TEM image

The first visualization of nanofiller networking due to association of carbon black in natural rubber is achieved by a transmission electron microscopy combined with computerised tomography (3D-TEM), and the resulted skeleton displays the characteristics of the filler network, which has long been assumed on the percolation behaviour in electron conductivity and on the mechanical behaviours of filled rubbers.