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Dark photocatalysis is the ability of a photocatalyst to accumulate photocarriers during light irradiation and consume them for redox reactions under dark conditions. This phenomenon of photocatalysts storing photocarriers is known as charge accumulation. Dark photocatalysts can mitigate fluctuations in photocatalytic reaction efficiency in response to fluctuating solar irradiation. Potassium poly(heptazine imide) (K-PHI) has attracted considerable attention due to its high photocatalytic efficiency and ability to undergo dark photocatalysis. However, the detailed mechanism of charge accumulation in K-PHI remains unclear because photochromism, potassium ion desorption, and charge accumulation occur simultaneously triggered by light irradiation, limiting the comprehensive understanding of this mechanism. To elucidate the charge accumulation mechanism in K-PHI, highly oriented K-PHI thin films were prepared. Then, their fundamental physical properties and optical response of their electrical properties were investigated. We succeeded in separately observing photochromism, potassium ion desorption, and charge accumulation induced by light irradiation on K-PHI and proposed a comprehensive model to explain these phenomena. This study not only provides insights into the unique physical phenomena exhibited by K-PHI but also contributes to the development of solar energy-storage materials in the future.

In-memory computing may make it possible to realize non-von Neumann computing because the logic circuits are unified in the memory units. We investigated two types of in-memory logic operations, namely, two-input logic circuits and multifunctional artificial synapses. These were realized in a dual-gate antiambipolar transistor (AAT) with a ReS 2 /WSe 2 heterojunction, in which polystyrene with a zinc phthalocyanine core (ZnPc-PS 4 ) was incorporated as a memory layer. Here, reconfigurability is a key concept for both types of device operations and was achieved by merging the Λ-shaped transfer curve of the AAT and the nonvolatile memory effect of ZnPc-PS 4 . First, we achieved electrically reconfigurable two-input logic circuits. Versatile logic circuits such as AND, OR, NAND, NOR, and XOR circuits were demonstrated by taking advantage of the Λ-shaped transfer curve of the dual-gate AAT. Importantly, the nonvolatile memory function provided the electrical switching of the individual circuits between AND/OR, NAND/NOR, and XOR/NAND circuits with constant input signals. Second, the memory effect was applied to multifunctional artificial synapses. The inhibitory/excitatory and long-term potentiation/depression synaptic operations were electrically reconfigured simply by controlling one parameter (readout voltage), making three distinct responses possible even with the same presynaptic signals. These findings provide hints that may lead to the realization of new in-memory computing architectures beyond the current von Neumann computers.

In this study, we successfully applied a transition-edge sensor (TES) spectrometer as a detector for microbeam X-ray measurements from a synchrotron X-ray light source in the hard X-ray region to determine uranium (U) distribution at the micro-scale and its chemical species in biotite obtained from a U mine. It is difficult to separate the fluorescent X-ray of the U Lα 1 line at 13.615 keV from that of the Rb Kα line at 13.395 keV in the X-ray fluorescence spectrum with an energy resolution of approximately 220 eV using a conventional silicon drift detector (SDD). Meanwhile, the fluorescent X-rays of U Lα 1 and Rb Kα were fully separated by a TES with 50 eV energy resolution at an energy of around 13 keV. The successful peak separation by the TES led to an accurate mapping analysis of trace U in micro-X-ray fluorescence measurements and a decrease in the signal-to-background ratio in micro-X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy. Thus, it could be a powerful tool for studying the U distribution and speciation in various environmental samples.

Purpose: Renal congestion is a therapeutic target in congestive heart failure. However, its detailed evaluation in a clinical setting is challenging. This study sought to assess renal congestion impairment using superb microvascular imaging (SMI), a simple and accessible method., Methods: Dahl salt-sensitive rats, used as a model for congestive heart failure, underwent central venous pressure (CVP) measurements. Renal congestion was evaluated through measurements of renal medullary pressure (RMP) and assessment of renal perfusion using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography at both the early (control group) and heart failure phases (HF group). All rats were assessed with SMI. The region of interest (ROI) was set in interlobular vessels, interlobar vessels, and a combination of these areas. The area ratio was calculated from the color pixel count in the ROI divided by the total pixel count in the ROI. Intrarenal perfusion index (IRPI) was defined as (maximum area ratio-minimum area ratio) / maximum area ratio., Results: There were no significant differences in renal function and left ventricular ejection fraction between the two groups. CVP, time-to-peak (TTP) in the medulla, and RMP were higher in the HF group than in the control group. In the HF group, IRPI, evaluated in the interlobular vessels, was significantly higher than in the control group. IRPI was positively correlated with TTP in the medulla (p = 0.028, R = 0.60) and RMP (p < 0.001, R = 0.84), indicating that IRPI reflected renal congestion., Conclusions: IRPI is a useful tool for assessing renal congestion in rats with congestive heart failure., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to The Japan Society of Ultrasonics in Medicine.)

Purpose: Nordic hamstring exercise (NHE) and razor hamstring curl (RHC) are usually performed to train hamstring eccentric contraction strength. However, it is unclear whether there are differences in the intensity of the two methods and the amount of loading on each muscle. Therefore, this study was conducted using peak eccentric force and each muscle surface electromyogram (s-EMG) to provide useful information to decide whether NHE or RHC should be prescribed for training and rehabilitation., Methods: s-EMG electrodes were placed in the medial gastrocnemius, lateral gastrocnemius, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, gluteus maximus, and erector spinae of the dominant leg of the fifteen healthy male university students with exercise habits. Maximum voluntary isometric contractions of 3 seconds were performed on each muscle followed by NHE and RHC in random order. The outcome variables included peak eccentric force and s-EMG of each muscle calculated by means amplitude during the NHE and RHC., Results: Peak eccentric force was significantly higher in RHC than in NHE (p = 0.001, r = 0.73). However, NHE was significantly higher in s-EMG of semitendinosus (p = 0.04, r = -0.52) than RHC. However, there were no significant differences in EMG of the medial gastrocnemius (p = 0.202, r = -0.34), lateral gastrocnemius (p = 0.496, r = 0.18), biceps femoris (p = 0.061, r = -0.48), gluteus maximus (p = 0.112, r = -0.41), erector spinae (p = 0.45, r = 0.20) between NHE and RHC., Conclusions: For NHE and RHC, the peak eccentric force exerted during the exercise was significantly higher for RHC, and the s-EMG of semitendinosus was significantly higher for NHE., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Murakami et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

A previous, proof-of-concept clinical study suggested that dermal sheath cup cell injections into the affected areas of male/female pattern hair loss (PHL) may have some amelioratory effects, the clinical efficacy of which needs further examination. A phase III equivalent clinical study was conducted to further probe the therapeutic potential of this novel approach and verify its safety and efficacy in improving the appearance of PHL. Thirty-six participants with PHL were injected with dermal sheath cup cell harvested from non-affected occipital hair follicles twice in quarterly intervals. Global photographic assessment and phototrichogram were performed in a blinded manner. Patient-reported outcomes were assessed for 12 months. On global photographic assessment, 30% of the participants showed improvement. The analysis of phototricogram data detected the increases in the cumulative hair diameter, hair cross-sectional area, and mean hair diameter of 107.6 ± 152.6 μm/cm 2 , 13069.1 ± 10960.7 μm 2 /cm 2 , and 0.9 ± 0.9 μm (ratios vs. baseline: +1.4%, +3.4%, and +2.2%), respectively. The female and high terminal hair ratio groups achieved better improvement. Of the total participants, 62.9% noted some degree of improvement. No serious adverse events were detected. This novel approach exhibited visible effects while ensuring safety and patient satisfaction. Therefore, it holds promise as a possible therapeutic option for treating PHL, especially in women., (© 2023 Japanese Dermatological Association.)

Considerable effort has been dedicated to improving molecular devices since they were initially proposed by Aviram and Ratner in 1974. Organic molecules are small and have discrete molecular orbitals. These features can facilitate fascinating quantum transport phenomena, such as single-carrier tunneling, resonant tunneling, and quantum interference. The effective gate modulation of these quantum transport phenomena holds the promise of realizing a new computing architecture that differs from that of current Si electronics. In this article, we review the recent research progress on molecular transistors, specifically vertical molecular transistors (VMTs). First, we discuss the benefits of VMTs for future molecular-scale transistors compared with the currently dominant lateral molecular transistors. Subsequently, we describe representative examples of VMTs, where single molecules, self-assembled monolayers, and isolated molecules are used as transistor channels. Finally, we present our conclusions and perspectives about the use of VMTs for attractive quantum devices., (© 2023 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

We demonstrate an electrically reconfigurable two-input logic-in-memory (LIM) using a dual-gate-type organic antiambipolar transistor (DG-OAAT). The attractive feature of this device is that a phthalocyanine-cored star-shaped polystyrene is used as a nano-floating gate, which enables the electrical switching of individual logic circuits and stores the circuit information by the nonvolatile memory effect. First, the DG-OAAT exhibited Λ-shaped transfer curves with hysteresis by sweeping the bottom-gate voltage. Programming and erasing operations enabled the reversible shift of the Λ-shaped transfer curves. Furthermore, the top-gate voltage effectively tuned the peak voltages of the transfer curves. Consequently, the combination of dual-gate and memory effects achieved electrically reconfigurable two-input LIM operations. Individual logic circuits (e.g., OR/NAND, XOR/NOR, and AND/XOR) were reconfigured by the corresponding programming and erasing operations without any variations in the input signals. Our device concept has the potential to fulfill an epoch-making organic integration circuit with a simple device configuration.

Childhood glaucoma is one of the major causes of blindness in children, however, its diagnosis is of great challenge. The study aimed to demonstrate and evaluate the performance of a deep-learning (DL) model for detecting childhood glaucoma based on periocular photographs. Primary gaze photographs of children diagnosed with glaucoma with appearance features (corneal opacity, corneal enlargement, and/or globe enlargement) were retrospectively collected from the database of a single referral center. DL framework with the RepVGG architecture was used to automatically recognize childhood glaucoma from photographs. The average receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of fivefold cross-validation was 0.91. When the fivefold result was assembled, the DL model achieved an AUC of 0.95 with a sensitivity of 0.85 and specificity of 0.94. The DL model showed comparable accuracy to the pediatric ophthalmologists and glaucoma specialists in diagnosing childhood glaucoma (0.90 vs 0.81, p = 0.22, chi-square test), outperforming the average of human examiners in the detection rate of childhood glaucoma in cases without corneal opacity (72% vs. 34%, p = 0.038, chi-square test), with a bilateral corneal enlargement (100% vs. 67%, p = 0.03), and without skin lesions (87% vs. 64%, p = 0.02). Hence, this DL model is a promising tool for diagnosing missed childhood glaucoma cases., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

To test bound-state quantum electrodynamics (BSQED) in the strong-field regime, we have performed high precision x-ray spectroscopy of the 5g-4f and 5f- 4d transitions (BSQED contribution of 2.4 and 5.2 eV, respectively) of muonic neon atoms in the low-pressure gas phase without bound electrons. Muonic atoms have been recently proposed as an alternative to few-electron high-Z ions for BSQED tests by focusing on circular Rydberg states where nuclear contributions are negligibly small. We determined the 5g&#95;{9/2}- 4f&#95;{7/2} transition energy to be 6297.08±0.04(stat)±0.13(syst)  eV using superconducting transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters (5.2-5.5 eV FWHM resolution), which agrees well with the most advanced BSQED theoretical prediction of 6297.26 eV.

Accurate determination of cerium (Ce) valence state is important for interpreting the Ce anomaly in geological archives for (paleo)redox reconstruction. However, the routine application of Ce L 3 -edge X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy for detecting trace Ce in geological samples can often be restricted by coexisting titanium (Ti) due to the proximity of their fluorescence emission lines. Therefore, the signal-to-noise ratio of Ce L 3 -edge XANES spectra may not be sufficiently high for high-quality spectroscopic analysis. This study introduces a semi-quantitative approach appropriate for Ti-rich, Ce-dilute geological materials by synchrotron-based X-ray measurement at the Ce L 2 -edge. First, the results confirm that Ce L 2 -edge XANES spectra are able to avoid overlapping Ti K β emissions and provide more reliable information on the Ce valence state in Ti-rich materials relative to L 3 -edge XANES. Moreover, the application of transition-edge sensor (TES) could reach the higher sensitivity with better energy resolution than conventional silicon drift detector (SDD) to detect fluorescence X-ray (Ce L β1 ). The investigation on bauxites developed from the Columbia River Basalts shows that combining Ce L 2 -edge XANES and TES allows for resolving weak Ce fluorescence lines at the L 2 -edge from Ti-rich, Ce-dilute samples (Ti/Ce mass ratio up to ∼6000, tens of ppm Ce). The outcome emphasizes the practical possibility of investigating Ce redox state in Ti-rich geological samples., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Logic-in-memory (LIM) has emerged as an energy-efficient computing technology, as it integrates logic and memory operations in a single device architecture. Herein, a concept of ternary LIM is established. First, a p-type 2,7-dioctyl[1]benzothieno[3,2- b ][1]benzothiophene (C8-BTBT) transistor is combined with an n-type PhC 2 H 4 -benzo[de]isoquinolino[1,8-gh]quinolone diimide (PhC2-BQQDI) transistor to obtain a binary memory inverter, in which a zinc phthalocyanine-cored polystyrene (ZnPc-PS 4 ) layer serves as a floating gate. The contrasting photoresponse of the transistors toward visible and ultraviolet light and the efficient hole-trapping ability of ZnPc-PS 4 enable us to achieve an optically controllable memory operation with a high memory window of 18 V. Then, a ternary memory inverter is developed using an anti-ambipolar transistor to achieve a three-level data processing and storage system for more advanced LIM applications. Finally, low-voltage operation of the devices is achieved by employing a high- k dielectric layer, which highlights the potential of the developed LIM units for next-generation low-power electronics.

Organic antiambipolar transistors (AATs) have partially overlapped p-n junctions. At room temperature, this p-n junction induces a negative differential transconductance in an AAT. However, the detailed carrier-transport mechanism remains unclear. Herein, an operando photoemission electron microscopy is used to tackle this issue owing to the technique's ability to visualize conductive electrons in real time during transistor operation. Notably, it is observed that when the AAT is on, a depletion layer forms at the lateral p-n junction. The visualized depletion layer shows that both p- and n-type channels have pinch-off states in the gate voltage range when the AAT is in on state. The steep potential gradient at the lateral p-n interface enhances the electron conduction from n-type to p-type semiconductor. Another significant finding is that most electrons are considered to recombine with the accumulated holes in the p-type semiconductor, affording the reduction of photoemission intensity by ≈80%. This technique provides a thorough understanding of carrier transport in AATs, further improving the device performance., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Electrically reconfigurable organic logic circuits are promising candidates for realizing new computation architectures, such as artificial intelligence and neuromorphic devices. In this study, multiple logic gate operations are attained based on a dual-gate organic antiambipolar transistor (DG-OAAT). The transistor exhibits a Λ-shaped transfer curve, namely, a negative differential transconductance at room temperature. It is important to note that the peak voltage of the drain current is precisely tuned by three input signals: bottom-gate, top-gate, and drain voltages. This distinctive feature enables multiple logic gate operations with "only a single DG-OAAT," which are not obtainable in conventional transistors. Five logic gate operations, which correspond to AND, OR, NAND, NOR, and XOR, are demonstrated by adjusting the bottom-gate and top-gate voltages. Moreover, varying the drain voltage makes it possible to reversibly switch two logic gates, e.g., NAND/NOR and OR/XOR. In addition, the DG-OAATs show a high degree of stability and reliability. The logic gate operations are observed even months later. The hysteresis in the transfer curves is also negligible. Thus, the device concept is promising for realizing multifunctional logic circuits with a simple transistor configuration. Hence, these findings are expected to surpass the current limitations in complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor devices., (© 2022 The Authors. Advanced Materials published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

We have measured the 3d→2p transition x rays of kaonic ^{3}He and ^{4}He atoms using superconducting transition-edge-sensor microcalorimeters with an energy resolution better than 6 eV (FWHM). We determined the energies to be 6224.5±0.4(stat)±0.2(syst)  eV and 6463.7±0.3(stat)±0.1(syst)  eV, and widths to be 2.5±1.0(stat)±0.4(syst)  eV and 1.0±0.6(stat)±0.3(stat)  eV, for kaonic ^{3}He and ^{4}He, respectively. These values are nearly 10 times more precise than in previous measurements. Our results exclude the large strong-interaction shifts and widths that are suggested by a coupled-channel approach and agree with calculations based on optical-potential models.

A 78-year-old man came to our department because of obstructive jaundice, and was diagnosed as pancreatic head cancer. He underwent chemoradiation therapy. A metal stent was inserted into the common bile duct and the patient was followed up on an outpatient basis. The patient visited our emergency department 46 days after stent insertion due to abdominal pain. The patient was diagnosed with ruptured pseudoaneurysm of the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery by angiography and treated with coil embolization. He died due to sudden deterioration the next day. Pathological autopsy revealed that the cause of the ruptured pseudoaneurysm appeared to be vasculopathy due to radiation therapy.

Using a single-device two-dimensional (2D) rhenium disulfide (ReS 2 ) field-effect transistor (FET) with enhanced gas species selectivity by light illumination, we reported a selective and sensitive detection of volatile organic compound (VOC) gases. 2D materials have the advantage of a high surface-area-to-volume ratio for high sensitivity to molecules attached to the surface and tunable carrier concentration through field-effect control from the back-gate of the channel, while keeping the top surface open to the air for chemical sensing. In addition to these advantages, ReS 2 has a direct band gap also in multilayer cases, which sets it apart from other transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs). We take advantage of the effective response of ReS 2 to light illumination to improve the selectivity and gas-sensing efficiency of a ReS 2 -FET device. We found that light illumination modulates the drain current response in a ReS 2 -FET to adsorbed molecules, and the sensing activity differs depending on the gas species used, such as acetone, ethanol, and methanol. Furthermore, wavelength and carrier density rely on certain variations in light-modulated sensing behaviors for each chemical. The device will distinguish the gas concentration in a mixture of VOCs using the differences induced by light illumination, enhancing the selectivity of the sensor device. Our results shed new light on the sensing technologies for realizing a large-scale sensor network in the Internet-of-Things era.

We observed electronic K x rays emitted from muonic iron atoms using superconducting transition-edge sensor microcalorimeters. The energy resolution of 5.2 eV in FWHM allowed us to observe the asymmetric broad profile of the electronic characteristic Kα and Kβ x rays together with the hypersatellite K^{h}α x rays around 6 keV. This signature reflects the time-dependent screening of the nuclear charge by the negative muon and the L-shell electrons, accompanied by electron side feeding. Assisted by a simulation, these data clearly reveal the electronic K- and L-shell hole production and their temporal evolution on the 10-20 fs scale during the muon cascade process.

We examined the modified electronic structure and single-carrier transport of individual hybrid core-shell metal-semiconductor Au-ZnS quantum dots (QDs) using a scanning tunnelling microscope. Nearly monodisperse ultra-small QDs are achieved by a facile wet chemical route. The exact energy structures are evaluated by scanning tunnelling spectroscopy (STS) measurements at 300 mK for the individual nanoobjects starting from the main building block Au nanocrystals (NCs) to the final Au-ZnS QDs. The study divulges the evolution of the energy structure and the charge transport from the single metallic building block core to the core-shell metal-semiconductor QDs. Furthermore, we successfully determined the contributions related to the quantum-confinement-induced excitonic band structure of the ZnS nano-shell and the charging energy of the system by applying a semi-empirical approach considering a double barrier tunnel junction (DBTJ) arrangement. We detect strong conductance peaks in Au-ZnS QDs due to the overlapping of the energy structure of the Au nano-core and the discrete energy states of the semiconductor ZnS nano-shell. Our findings will help in understanding the electronic properties of metal-semiconductor QDs. The outcomes therefore have the potential to fabricate tailored metal-semiconductor QDs for single-electron devices.

The aim of this study was to develop a transcription activator-like effector (TALE)-based technology to regulate protein synthesis in cell-free systems. We attempted to regulate the T7 promoter system, which has no natural mechanism of expression control, and sought to arbitrarily induce protein expression through the formation and dissociation of TALE and target DNA complexes. Protein synthesis was performed in a cell-free system in the presence of TALE, which recognized and bound to a sequence upstream of the T7 promoter, and protein expression was suppressed by approximately 80 % compared to in the absence of TALE. This suggests that masking part of the promoter region strongly suppresses protein synthesis. Additionally, competitive inhibition of TALE binding to the target DNA template led to protein synthesis levels that were equivalent to the levels in the absence of TALE. Our results demonstrate that DNA recognition by TALE can regulate the expression of the T7 promoter system., (© 2020 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

We have succeeded in operating a transition-edge sensor (TES) spectrometer and evaluating its performance at the SPring-8 synchrotron x-ray light source. The TES spectrometer consists of a 240 pixel National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) TES system, and 220 pixels are operated simultaneously with an energy resolution of 4 eV at 6 keV at a rate of ∼1 c/s pixel -1 . The tolerance for high count rates is evaluated in terms of energy resolution and live time fraction, leading to an empirical compromise of ∼2 × 10 3 c/s (all pixels) with an energy resolution of 5 eV at 6 keV. By utilizing the TES's wideband spectroscopic capability, simultaneous multi-element analysis is demonstrated for a standard sample. We conducted x-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis in fluorescence mode using the TES spectrometer. The excellent energy resolution of the TES enabled us to detect weak fluorescence lines from dilute samples and trace elements that have previously been difficult to resolve due to the nearly overlapping emission lines of other dominant elements. The neighboring lines of As Kα and Pb Lα2 of the standard sample were clearly resolved, and the XANES of Pb Lα2 was obtained. Moreover, the x-ray spectrum from the small amount of Fe in aerosols was distinguished from the spectrum of a blank target, which helps us to understand the targets and the environment. These results are the first important step for the application of high resolution TES-based spectroscopy at hard x-ray synchrotron facilities.

N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) is known to cause apoptosis of photoreceptor cells and changes in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). However, the changes in choriocapillaris, which nourishes photoreceptor cells by diffusing tissue fluid through RPE, have not been reported in detail. Therefore, we studied the ultrastructural transformation in and around the choriocapillaris to characterize the interdependence between choriocapillaris and surrounding tissue components in a mouse model. Seven-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were given a single intraperitoneal injection of MNU (60 mg/kg of body weight). Perfusion-fixed eyeballs were examined chronologically using immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy until the photoreceptor cells were lost. Sequential ultrastructural changes were observed in photoreceptor cells, RPE, Bruch's membrane, choriocapillaris, and choroidal melanocytes after an MNU injection. The lumens of the choriocapillaris narrowed following dilation, and the vascular endothelium showed structural alterations. When the photoreceptor cells were completely lost, the choriocapillaris appeared to be in a recovery process. Our results suggest that transport abnormality through Bruch's membrane and structural changes in the choroid might have influenced the morphology of choriocapillaris. The thin wall of the choriocapillaris appears to be the cause of the vulnerability with its altered morphology.

Energy recovery from small and medium scale waste thermal treatment facilities in the municipalities of Japan is challenging, owing to low power generation efficiency and high economic demands. Gas Engine (GE) generation is considered an efficient resource utilization method in these facilities. In this study, new and consistent feedstock, Refuse Paper and Plastic Fuel (RPF), and wood pellets were tested in an air-blown Fluidized Bed Gasifier (FBG) for syngas utilization in a GE. With temperatures ranging from 700 to 940 °C and varying Equivalence Ratios (ER) of 0.3-0.5, some of the most important product gas characteristics were analyzed, including the Lower Heating Value (LHV) and tar concentration levels. Gas composition results revealed that the concentration tendencies varied for the product gases CO, H 2 , and hydrocarbons, depending on the feedstock type, whereas the same tendencies were observed for CH 4 and tar concentrations. Through the ER range, the LHV of product gas for RPF and wood pellets was 3.4-5.9 MJ/Nm 3 . Tar concentrations decreased to 2.5-14.0 g/Nm 3 -dry as the ER was raised. The optimal ER for LHV performance in GE generation was approximately 0.4 for RPF and wood pellets, and remaining tar concentrations were about 5.0 g/Nm 3 -dry at the gasifier exit., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The conjugation of biomolecules, such as protein, sugar, and DNA, with metal nanoparticles is an important technique for bioassay and biomaterial preparation. In this study, we aim to enzymatically immobilize a functional peptide on gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using a single-step reaction. We used tyrosinase, a catechol oxidase, to immobilize an enzymatic peptide. We performed immobilization experiments of a fluorescent compound-linked caspase-3 substrate peptide using tyrosinase on chitosan-coated AuNPs. Peptides were effectively immobilized onto the AuNPs depending on the presence of tyrosine within the sequence, which suggests the DOPA-quinone produced from tyrosine, via tyrosinase, is connected to the chitosan amino group. Although fluorescent emission from the immobilized capase-3 substrate was quenched by AuNPs, fluorescence intensity recovery occurred due to the addition of caspase-3. Thus, we were able to easily prepare functional AuNPs that can be used for a caspase-3 activity assay. Our results indicate that the tyrosinase-mediated peptide link to chitosan-coated particles is a useful technique for preparing functionalized nanoparticles.

Multivalued logic circuits, which can handle more information than conventional binary logic circuits, have attracted much attention as a promising way to improve the data-processing capabilities of integrated circuits. In this study, we developed a ternary inverter based on organic field-effect transistors (OFET) as a potential component of high-performance and flexible integrated circuits. Key elements are anti-ambipolar and n-type OFETs connected in series. First, we demonstrate an organic ternary inverter that exhibits three distinct logic states. Second, the operating voltage was greatly reduced by taking advantage of an Al 2 O 3 gate dielectric. Finally, the operating voltage was finely tuned by the designing of the device geometry. These results are achievable owing to the flexible controllability of the device configuration, suggesting that the organic ternary inverter plays an important role with regard to high-performance organic integrated circuits.

The main purpose of this study is to establish a guideline for controlling the device properties of organic antiambipolar transistors. Our key strategy is to use interface engineering to promote carrier injection at channel/electrode interfaces and carrier accumulation at a channel/dielectric interface. The effective use of carrier injection interlayers and an insulator layer with a high dielectric constant (high-k) enabled the fine tuning of device parameters and, in particular, the onset (V on ) and offset (V off ) voltages. A well-matched combination of the interlayers and a high-k dielectric layer achieved a low peak voltage (0.25 V) and a narrow on-state bias range (2.2 V), indicating that organic antiambipolar transistors have high potential as negative differential resistance devices for multivalued logic circuits.

Quantum molecular devices have a potential for the construction of new data processing architectures that cannot be achieved using current complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology. The relevant basic quantum transport properties have been examined by specific methods such as scanning probe and break-junction techniques. However, these methodologies are not compatible with current CMOS applications, and the development of practical molecular devices remains a persistent challenge. Here, we demonstrate a new vertical resonant tunneling transistor for large-scale integration. The transistor channel is comprised of a MOS structure with C 60 molecules as quantum dots, and the structure behaves like a double tunnel junction. Notably, the transistors enabled the observation of stepwise drain currents, which originated from resonant tunneling via the discrete molecular orbitals. Applying side-gate voltages produced depletion layers in Si substrates, to achieve effective modulation of the drain currents and obvious peak shifts in the differential conductance curves. Our device configuration thus provides a promising means of integrating molecular functions into future CMOS applications.

Polymesoda spp., which represent bivalves in the mangrove ecosystem, inhabit the mangrove forests of the Indo-Pacific region. They tend not to be broadly distributed across zones within the mangrove forest, but are instead typically encountered in the mesozone. We conducted field rearing experiments on four plots which were set across a mangrove forest along the Urauchi River of Iriomote Island, from the seaward to landward sides, over a period of 10 months. We compared the survival rates of clams at these plots with different environment for four months. Salinity was also measured during the study period, and we established a correlation between survival rate and change in salinity of each plot. The survival rate of the plot in the mesozone was 90%, that of two plots which were positioned in the seaward zone of the mesozone was 40%, and that of the plot on the landward side was 0%. In plot 4, the ambient water of the bivalves was fresh water. The salinity of the seaward zone changed rapidly in one day, or the salinity of the ambient water surrounding the bivalves was high for a long period of time. In Plot 3, salinity change was gradual, and the average salinity was lower than in Plots 1 and 2. This study indicates that salinity level affects bivalve survival rate and that area similar the mesozone, where gradual salinity change and average salinity were neither too high nor too low, are suitable for these species.

Optical switching organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) provide a new direction for optoelectronics based on photochromic molecules. However, the patterning of OFETs is difficult because conventional fabrication processes, including lithography and ion etching, inevitably cause severe damage to organic molecules. Here, we demonstrate laser patterning of one-dimensional (1D) channels on an OFET with a photochromic diarylethene (DAE) layer. The main findings are (i) a number of 1D channels can be repeatedly written and erased in the DAE layer by scanning focused ultraviolet and visible light laser beams alternately between the source and drain electrodes, (ii) the conductivity (or resistivity) of the 1D channel can be controlled by the illumination conditions, such as the laser power density and the scan speed, and (iii) it is possible to draw an analogue adder circuit by optically writing 1D channels so that a portion of the channels overlaps and to perform optical summing operations by local laser illumination of the respective channels. These findings will open new possibilities for realizing various optically reconfigurable, low-dimensional organic transistor circuits, which are not possible with conventional thin film OFETs.

Organic radicals are promising building blocks for molecular spintronics. Little is known about the role of unpaired electrons for electron transport at the single-molecule level. Here, we examine the impact of magnetic fields on electron transport in single oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene) (OPE)-based radical molecular junctions, which are formed with a mechanically controllable break-junction technique at a low temperature of 4.2 K. Surprisingly huge positive magnetoresistances (MRs) of 16 to 287% are visible for a magnetic field of 4 T, and the values are at least 1 order of magnitude larger than those of the analogous pristine OPE (2-4%). Rigorous analysis of the MR and of current-voltage and inelastic electron-tunneling spectroscopy measurements reveal an effective reduction of the electronic coupling between the current-carrying molecular orbital and the electrodes with increasing magnetic field. We suggest that the large MR for the single-radical molecular junctions might be ascribed to a loss of phase coherence of the charge carriers induced by the magnetic field. Although further investigations are required to reveal the mechanism underlying the strong MR, our findings provide a potential approach for tuning charge transport in metal-molecule junctions with organic radicals.

We report measurements of the shot noise on single-molecule Au-1,4-benzenedithiol-Au junctions, fabricated with the mechanically controllable break junction (MCBJ) technique at 4.2 K in a wide range of conductance values from 10(-2) to 0.24 conductance quanta. We introduce a simple measurement scheme using a current amplifier and a spectrum analyzer and that does not imply special requirements regarding the electrical leads. The experimental findings provide evidence that the current is carried by a single conduction channel throughout the whole conductance range. This observation suggests that the number of channels is limited by the Au-thiol bonds and that contributions due to direct tunneling from the Au to the π-system of the aromatic ring are negligible also for high conductance. The results are supported by quantum transport calculations using density functional theory.

We produced an optically controllable dual-gate organic field-effect transistor by a simple one-step spin-coating of a mixed solution of photochromic spiropyran (SP) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). Postannealing enhanced polymer chain ordering of P3HT to induce phase separation into an SP-rich lower layer and an SP-free upper layer. These layers worked independently as transistor channels with distinct optical responsivity. The top channel was optically inactive, but the bottom channel was optically active, because of the photoisomerization of SP. These results demonstrate the potential of our technique to produce a multifunctional photoactive organic transistor by a simple process.

Recent progress in photoactive organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) is reviewed. Photoactive OFETs are divided into light-emitting (LE) and light-receiving (LR) OFETs. In the first part, LE-OFETs are reviewed from the viewpoint of the evolution of device structures. Device performances have improved in the last decade with the evolution of device structures from single-layer unipolar to multi-layer ambipolar transistors. In the second part, various kinds of LR-OFETs are featured. These are categorized according to their functionalities: phototransistors, non-volatile optical memories, and photochromism-based transistors. For both, various device configurations are introduced: thin-film based transistors for practical applications, single-crystalline transistors to investigate fundamental physics, nanowires, multi-layers, and vertical transistors based on new concepts.

We demonstrated optical manipulation of single-electron tunneling (SET) by photoisomerization of diarylethene molecules in a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structure. Stress is placed on the fact that device operation is realized in the practical device configuration of MIS structure and that it is not achieved in structures based on nanogap electrodes and scanning probe techniques. Namely, this is a basic memory device configuration that has the potential for large-scale integration. In our device, the threshold voltage of SET was clearly modulated as a reversible change in the molecular orbital induced by photoisomerization, indicating that diarylethene molecules worked as optically controllable quantum dots. These findings will allow the integration of photonic functionality into current Si-based memory devices, which is a unique feature of organic molecules that is unobtainable with inorganic materials. Our proposed device therefore has enormous potential for providing a breakthrough in Si technology.

We demonstrate a new device that combines a light-field effect and an electrical-gate effect to control the drain current in a dual-gate transistor. We used two organic layers, photochromic spiropyran (SP)-doped poly(triarylamine) (PTAA) and pristine PTAA, as top and bottom channels, respectively, connected to common source and drain electrodes. The application of voltage to the top and bottom gates modulated the drain current through each layer independently. UV irradiation suppressed the drain current through the top channel. The suppressed current was then maintained even after the UV light was turned off because of an optical memory effect induced by photoisomerization of SP. In contrast, UV irradiation did not change the drain current in the bottom channel. Our dual-gate transistor thus has two organic channels with distinct photosensitivities: an optically active SP-PTAA film and an optically inactive PTAA film. This device configuration allows multi-level switching via top- and bottom-gate electrical fields with an optical-memory effect.

We demonstrate the high-speed electrical delay tuning of slow light pulses using Si photonic crystal waveguides. The device has an i-region-chirped pin diode, within which thermo-optic and carrier plasma effects are generated by forward bias. The former changes the delay up to 62 ps for the DC bias. The latter changes the delay for 1 Gbps pseudo random bit sequence tuning signals, which will be applicable to advanced time-domain optical signal processing.

We report on improved electrical conductivity in poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (F4-TCNQ) composite nanowires grown using an anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) template. The electrical conductivity of individual nanowire measured by four-probe scanning tunneling microscopy shows that F4-TCNQ molecules are effectively doped into P3HT by capillary force. The resistivity is tuned in the 0.1-10 Ω cm range by changing the F4-TCNQ concentration from 10 to 0.1 wt % and is 2-4 orders of magnitude smaller than that of the corresponding P3HT/F4-TNCQ thin film composites. The AAO template-assisted synthesis approach thus appears to be effective for high chemical doping and for improving the electrical conductivity of the molecular wires.

We achieved drain-current switching of diarylethene-channel field-effect transistors with light- and electric-field effects. The drain current was reversibly changed by alternating ultraviolet and visible light irradiation. Stress is placed on the fact that the on/off ratio realized by light irradiation was 1 × 10(2) (1 × 10(4)%) and this value is much larger than those in other photochromism-based transistors. These results indicate that the drain current was effectively controlled by light irradiation. Furthermore, the on and off states modulated by light were maintained without light irradiation even after 1 week, exhibiting that our transistor works as an optical memory. We clarified that the light-driven modulation can be attributed to the transformation in the π-conjugation system accompanied by photoisomerization. These findings have the potential to attain high-performance optoelectrical organic devices including optical sensors, optical memory, and photoswitching transistors.

To investigate histamine formation in Japanese marine fish, model samples were made from fish meat mixed with intestines of commercial 73 fish species. After the samples were stored at 25℃ for 12 hr, histamine was detected in 35 fish species at 50 mg/kg or more. These fish species might potentially be related to histamine poisoning. In addition, the effect of frozen storage at -45℃ on histamine formation was examined. Although histamine was formed in some fish species, and Photobacterium damselae and Photobacterium iliopiscarium were isolated from the frozen samples, the amount of histamine formed in the model samples was reduced in all tested fish species after frozen storage. Therefore frozen storage of fish may be effective to control histamine formation, even though histamine forming bacteria survived under these conditions.

Immunodetection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) by conventional methods employing mammalian immunoglobulins has unknown detection limits, and often yields false-positive results because of the presence of S. aureus protein A, which binds the Fc region of mammalian IgG. In this study, a new PBP2a-specific chicken IgY antibody was developed in inbred and conventional chickens, and used for the detection of MRSA using whole cell lysate samples. Our results showed that this chicken IgY antibody minimized the side effects of protein A. Moreover, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunochromatography systems were used with a monoclonal and polyclonal anti-PBP2a IgY antibody, clearly differentiating MRSA from methicillin-sensitive S. aureus and other methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus spp. The detection limit of the immunochromatography was 10(8) colony-forming units; therefore, 1 colony on an agar plate was adequate to distinguish MRSA from non-MRSA. The specificity and sensitivity of this assay were almost similar to that of a commercially available latex agglutination test; however, the procedure used in this study was less complicated. The entire detection procedure, including sample preparation, takes only 20 min and does not require special equipment. Therefore, the use of this IgY antibody as a new tool for the detection of MRSA is highly recommended.

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family that activates downstream MAP kinases (MAPKs), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) and p38 MAPKs, in response to various stresses, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, lipopolysaccharide, and calcium overload. Activation of the JNK and p38 pathways induces stress responses such as cell death, differentiation, and the production of inflammatory cytokines. A series of studies using ASK1-deficient mice have indicated that ASK1 plays important roles in many stress-related diseases, including cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that small compounds that inhibit ASK1 activity could possibly be used for the amelioration of the development and/or progression of these diseases. In this review, we provide an overview of the pathophysiological roles of ASK1-dependent signaling pathways and discuss the mechanistic basis for how these could serve as potential therapeutic targets.

Heteromolecular layers consisting of quaterrylene (QT) and terrylene-3,4,11,12-tetracarboximide (TTCDI-C12) were prepared on SiO2 surfaces and the electronic energy level alignment at TTCDI-C12/QT interface was examined. TTCDI-C12 layers were grown in nearly perpendicular orientation on QT layers by an ultraslow deposition technique, thereby achieving formation of a well-defined TTCDI-C12/QT interface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements ensured excellent surface flatness of each layer, surface roughnesses of which were comparable to that of pristine SiO2. Energy level alignment at the heteromolecular interface was evaluated by using ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) and optical absorption measurements. No shift in energy level was served at the heteromolecular interface, indicating that charge transfer does not occur and a dipole moment is not formed at the well-defined TTCDI-C12/QT interface.

Photo-induced carrier processes at the heteromolecular interface of N,N'-dioctyl-3,4,9,10-perylenedicarboximide (PTCDI-C(8)) and quaterrylene (QT) on a molecular scale were examined by optical and photoelectron spectroscopy. The energy level alignments of the molecules were determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the optical absorption spectra for detailed investigation of the photo-induced carrier process were analysed. A reduction in photoluminescence from PTCDI-C(8) on QT was observed, clearly demonstrating that the excitons generated in the PTCDI-C(8) layer are effectively dissociated at the heteromolecular interface. One important factor inducing this effective charge dissociation is the highly ordered molecular packing, which acts to increase the exciton diffusion length. Moreover, a specific increase in the photoluminescence excitation spectrum was observed around 3 eV, indicating that simultaneous exciton generation in both the QT and PTCDI-C(8) layers effectively suppresses such charge dissociation of the excitons. In other words, the existence of excitons in each molecule at the heteromolecular interface and HOMO-LUMO level alignment at the interface play an essential role in charge dissociation. Our results provide a striking insight into intermolecular interactions in the carrier process at the heteromolecular interface such as exciton generation, the recombination and dissociation processes, and the photovoltaic effect in organic semiconductors.

Cells and organisms face anoxia in a wide variety of contexts, including ischemia and hibernation. Cells respond to anoxic conditions through multiple signaling pathways. We report that NSY-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of mammalian apoptosis signal-regulating kinase (ASK) family of MAP kinase (MAPK) kinase kinases (MAP3Ks), regulates viability of animals in anoxia. Loss-of-function mutations of nsy-1 increased survival under anoxic conditions, and increased survival was also observed in animals with mutations in tir-1 and the MAPK kinase (MAP2K) sek-1, which are upstream and downstream factors of NSY-1, respectively. Consistent with these findings, anoxia was found to activate the p38 MAPK ortholog PMK-1, and this was suppressed in nsy-1 and tir-1 mutant animals. Furthermore, double-mutant analysis showed that the insulin-signaling pathway, which also regulates viability in anoxia, functioned in parallel to NSY-1. These results suggest that the TIR-1-NSY-1-SEK-1-PMK-1 pathway plays important roles in the reponse to anoxia in C. elegans., (© 2011 by the Genetics Society of America)

We investigated the evolution of quaterrylene thin films on SiO(2) and on an octadecyltrichlorosilane self-assembled monolayer (OTS-SAM) to examine the impact of film strains on the growth processes and evolving structure. Surface modification by SAMs allowed tailoring of the growth process from a Stranski-Krastanov (SK) mode (layer-plus-island) on the SiO(2) surface to a Frank-van der Merwe mode (layer-by-layer) on the OTS surface. Detailed structural analysis by x-ray diffraction techniques confirmed that the SK mode was driven by lattice strain in the initial wetting layers on the SiO(2) surface. On the other hand, strain-free wetting layers were already formed at the beginning of growth on the OTS surface, thereby suppressing three-dimensional island formation. Moreover, the films on the SiO(2) surface were found to incorporate high microstrain induced by crystal defects such as dislocations and a mosaic structure. In contrast, few crystal defects were present in the films on OTS surface, demonstrating that OTS treatment enables marked improvement of the molecular alignment. These results clearly indicate that the lattice strain induced by the molecular-substrate interaction is essential for controlling the overall growth process.

Nickel oxide nanoplates were continuously synthesized by hydrothermal reaction using a flow-type reactor. The products had a thickness of approximately 10 nm and a lateral size of 100-500 nm. The nanoplates were purified and drop-cast on a bottom-gate substrate and used as the channel material in a field-effect transistor after annealing at 300 degrees C. The I(d)-V(d) profile showed that the NiO nanoplates worked as the p-type semiconductor. This result suggests that various electronic devices can be prepared using metal oxide nanomaterials, which exhibit various properties including magnetism, ferroelectronics and catalysis as well as stability and safety in air and water.

Background: To investigate frequencies and clinical features of intraocular inflammation (uveitis) in Tokyo, Japan., Methods: Records of 834 consecutive new referral patients (352 men, 482 women) examined at the Kyorin University Hospital from April 2000 to December 2007 were retrospectively reviewed., Results: Mean age at onset was 44.8 years for men and 47.0 years for women. By anatomical classification, 229 patients (27.4%) had anterior uveitis, 10 (1.2%) had intermediate uveitis, 183 (21.9%) had posterior uveitis and 412 (49.4%) had panuveitis. The most common diagnoses were Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease (11.0%), sarcoidosis (6.9%), acute anterior uveitis (6.5%), Behçet's disease (5.8%) and tuberculosis (4.3%). In the third and fourth decades, the most common diseases were Behçet's disease for men and VKH for women, whereas over 60 years of age, the most common diseases were VKH for men and sarcoidosis for women. Systemic corticosteroids were used in 25.5% of patients, and other immunomodulatory agents were required in 8.7% of patients., Conclusions: The most frequent diagnoses were sarcoidosis, VKH disease, acute anterior uveitis, Behçet's disease and tuberculosis, with Behçet's disease being common in young men and sarcoidosis being common in elderly women. One-fourth of patients received systemic corticosteroids and 8.7% of patients required other immunomodulatory agents.

We demonstrate a comprehensive study of self-assembled molecular nanowire, including molecular design, one-dimensional crystal growth, resistivity measurement of individual wire, and application to a field-effect transistor. Appropriate molecular design and control of interfacial interactions lead to single crystalline wire growth with an extensive pi-stacking motif. Resistivity measurements of an individual molecular wire indicate that these structural features are advantageous for electrical transport. Finally, field-effect transistors with single- and double-wire channels were fabricated to give some indication of the potential application of the molecular wires.