Supramolecular Zn(II)-Dipicolylamine-Azobenzene-Aminocyclodextrin-ATP Complex: Design and ATP Recognition in Water

Cyclodextrins (CyDs) are water-soluble host molecules possessing a nanosized hydrophobic cavity. In the realm of molecular recognition, this cavity is used not only as a recognition site but also as a reaction medium, where a hydrophobic sensor recognizes a guest molecule. Based on the latter concept, we have designed a novel supramolecular sensing system composed of Zn(II)-dipicolylamine metal complex-based azobenzene (1-Zn) and 3A-amino-3A-deoxy-(2AS,3AS)-γ-cyclodextrin (3-NH₂-γ-CyD) for sensing adenosine-5′-triphosphate (ATP). 1-Zn showed redshifts in the UV-Vis spectra and induced circular dichroism (ICD) only when both ATP and 3-NH₂-γ-CyD were present. Calculations of equilibrium constants indicated that the amino group of 3-NH₂-γ-CyD was involved in the formation of supramolecular 1-Zn/3-NH₂-γ-CyD/ATP. The Job plot of the ICD spectral response revealed that the stoichiometry of 1-Zn/3-NH₂-γ-CyD/ATP was 2:1:1. The pH effect was examined and 1-Zn/3-NH₂-γ-CyD/ATP was most stable in the neutral condition. The NOESY spectrum suggested the localization of 1-Zn in the 3-NH₂-γ-CyD cavity. Based on the obtained results, the metal coordination interaction of 1-Zn and the electrostatic interaction of 3-NH₂-γ-CyD were found to take place for ATP recognition. The “reaction medium approach” enabled us to develop a supramolecular sensing system that undergoes multi-point interactions in water. This study is the first step in the design of a selective sensing system based on a good understanding of supramolecular structures.     

Very low threshold graded-indexseparate-confinement-heterostructure strained InGaAsPsingle-quantum-well lasers

A low threshold current density of ~100 A/cm² has been obtained at 1.55 μm using a graded-index separate-confinement-heterostructure strained InGaAsP single-quantum-well laser. The design of the laser structure is based on results calculated from the viewpoint of effective carrier injection into the well     

Preparation of Laminin-apatite-polymer Composites Using Metastable Calcium Phosphate Solutions

A synthetic polymer with a laminin-apatite composite layer on its surface would be useful as a percutaneous device. The preparation of such a composite was attempted in the present study using poly（ ethylene terephthalate ） （PET） and polyethylene （PE） as the synthetic polymer. PET and PE plates and those pretreated with an oxygen plasma were alternately dipped in calcium and phosphate ion solutions, and then immersed in a metastable calcium phosphate solution supplemented with laminin （ LCP solution ）. The PET and PE plates pretreated with an oxygen plasma formed a uniform and continuous layer of a laminin-apatite composite on their surfaces. In contrast, the PET and PE plates that had not been pretreated with an oxygen plasma did not form a continuous layer of a laminin-apatite composite on their surfaces. The hydrophilic functional groups on the PET and PE surfaces introduced by the plasma treatment were responsible for the successful laminin-apatite coruposite coating.     

Molecular cloning of human class IV alcohol dehydrogenase cDNA

A cDNA encoding a new type of alcohol dehydrogenase was cloned from a human stomach cDNA library. PCR amplification of 5'-stretch human stomach lambda gt11 library, using degenerate inosine-containing oligonucleotide probes compatible with peptide sequences of human sigma-ADH, resulted in a single product. Subsequently, internal non-degenerate primers were constructed according to the sequences occurring in the product. By PCR with combinations of these new primers and lambda gt11 forward and reverse primers, fragments of the cDNA containing its 5' and 3' ends were amplified. The full length cDNA sequence has 1125 nucleotides with a 72% similarity to those of human class I ADH. The polypeptide sequence, predicted from the cDNA, corresponds to 373 amino acids with a high degree of similarity (96%) to fragments of sigma-ADH previously reported. Northern hybridization analysis with the specific probe for the mRNA of this protein showed that it is expressed in the human stomach but not in the liver. These data indicate that the cDNA we cloned is that of human class IV ADH.     

Electrochemically induced asymmetrical etching in InAlAs/InGaAs heterostructures for MODFET gate-groove fabrication

We have achieved a self-controlled asymmetrical etching in metalorganic chemical vapor deposition-grown InAlAs/InGaAs heterostructures, which can be suitable for fabricating modulation-doped field-effect transistors (MODFETs) with gate-groove profiles for improved performance. The technology is based on electrochemical etching phenomena, which can be effectively controlled by using different surface metals for ohmic electrodes. When surface metals of Pt and Ni are deposited on the source and the drain, respectively, the higher electrode potential of Pt results in slower etching on the source side than on the drain side. Thus, asymmetry of gate grooves can be formed by wet-chemical etching with citric-acid-based etchant. This represents a new possibility to conduct “recess engineering” for InAlAs/InGaAs MODFETs.     

Stabilization of inter-area and/or oscillatory modes in large-scale power system by voltage impedance power system (VIPS) apparatus based on decentralized control scheme

New technologies such as power electronics have made it possible to change continuously the impedance of a power system not only to control power flow but also to enhance stability. A power system incorporating a variable impedance apparatus such as a variable series capacitor (VSrC) and high-speed phase shifter (HSPS) is called VIPS (Variable Impedance Power System) by the authors. This paper proposes a novel control method of VIPS apparatus such as VSrC and HSPS installed at an interconnecting point for stabilizing inter-area unstable and/or oscillatory modes. The proposed design method of the control system is a kind of hierarchical decentralized control method of a large-scale power system based on a Lyapunov function. Under the proposed control scheme, each subsystem can be stabilized independently by local controllers such as AVR, speed governor and PSS, and then the whole interconnected system can be stabilized by VIPS apparatus taking into account interactions between subsystems. The effectiveness and robustness of the VIPS apparatus control are shown by numerical examples with model systems including a large-scale power system.     

The relation between luminous properties and oxygen content inZnS:TbOF thin-film electroluminescent devices fabricated byradio-frequency magnetron sputtering method

The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between the oxygen concentration and brightness degradation in ZnS:TbOF green thin-film electroluminescent (EL) devices. The characteristics including crystallinity, optical, and electrical properties were discussed. The brightness-voltage (B-V) measurement results shelved that with higher oxygen-content in ZnS:TbOF phosphor layer, lower brightness was measured. It was consistent with the poor crystallinity, worse photoluminescent intensity, and easier to get moisture in the oxygen-rich (O/Tb>1) phosphor film. Furthermore, deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) measurements identified that when the O/Tb ratio was greater than 1, the oxygen-related deep hole traps E_H1 and/or E_H2 could be detected in the ZnS:TbOF phosphor layer. These E _H1 and/or E_H2 traps were believed to be the main killers for the brightness of the device since they capture most of the holes from the generated electron-hole pairs. This evidence strongly supports that the modified energy transfer model is more dominant than direct impact excitation during the luminescent process     

Practical method for generation expansion planning based on dynamic programming

This paper presents an efficient method which provides the optimal generation mix and the optimal generation construction process. The approximation method in which the dynamic programming technique and gradient method are combined is applied to determine the optimal generation mix with hydropower generation technologies. The successive approximations dynamic programming (SADP) technique, which is very suitable for high-dimensional multistage decision process problems, is used for obtaining the optimal generation construction process. The effectiveness and feasibility of the developed technique are demonstrated on a practical power system model which has five types of generation technologies including a hydropower generation technology.     

Determination of three dimensional in situ stress from core discing based on analysis of principal tensile stress

To determine all of the components of in situ stress from core discing, both the directions and magnitudes of the principal in situ stresses must be determined for a disc of a given thickness. In this study, we analyzed the direction and magnitude of tensile stress below an HQ core stub for 11 core lengths using stress conditions under which core discing is likely to occur. First, based on an analysis of the direction of tensile stress below the core stub, we propose a method for determining directions of in situ stress from the height distribution at the periphery of the end surface of a disc. This method can be used with a disc of any thickness. Next, based on an analysis of the magnitude of tensile stress in the central part of a core, we propose a linear criterion for core discing, which can be applied to a core of any length. This criterion was in good agreement with an empirical formula obtained previously in laboratory experiments. By combining information on the direction of in situ stress and the linear criterion for core discing, we propose a method for determining all of the components of in situ stress from core discing under the assumption that vertical stress is given by the overburden stress. Finally, these methods were applied to discs obtained from a field where hydraulic fracturing was performed to measure horizontal stresses. The results showed that the azimuths of the principal stresses estimated from core discing were consistent with those of the principal horizontal stresses determined by hydraulic fracturing and that while the magnitudes of the principal horizontal stresses estimated from core discing showed a large scatter, they were similar to those determined by hydraulic fracturing.     

Comments on “The electromagnetic field of a vertical electricdipole over the Earth or sea” [and reply]

Yokoyama makes some comments on the “numerical distance” contained in the surface wave term in the paper by King and Sandler (see ibid., vol.42, p.383, 1994) comparing it with the one obtained by former authors. He comments on the parameter P in the Fresnel-integral term in the paper. Yokoyama concludes that for the calculation of such a problem in a semi-sphere, the spherical polar coordinate system is preferable to the cylindrical coordinate system including the case of lateral waves. King and Sandler reply to the Comment