First-principles study on scanning tunneling microscopy images of hydrogen-terminated Si(110) surfaces

Scanning tunneling microscopy images of hydrogen-terminated Si(110) surfaces are studied using first-principles calculations. Our results show that the calculated filled-state images and local density of states are consistent with recent experimental results, and the empty-state images appear significantly different from the filled-state ones. To elucidate the origin of this difference, we examined in detail the local density of states, which affects the images, and found that the bonding and antibonding states of surface silicon atoms largely affect the difference between the filled- and empty-state images.Comment: 4 pages, and 4 figure

Design and Evaluation a Knowledge Management System by Using Mathematical Model of Knowledge Transfer

Abstract. Based on our experiences, we have proposed a mathematical model for knowledge transfer in order to make knowledge management mechanism or system take root in the organization and to obtain guidelines to make it work. We are developing a know-how sharing system designed based on the insight obtained from the proposed model. We derived and applied the two ideas as design guidelines based on the analysis using the proposed model: one is mutual reviewing to increase the sense of participation, and another is establishment of the criteria to evaluate the background information about the knowledge to be shared. In this paper, we explain the proposed mathematical model and the system design based on the model. And we describe the evaluation on the prototype system. It shows that the mathematical model could derive guidelines to make the KM system work well

Application of 3cr-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Column to the Determina­tion of Bile Acids Fractionated by High-Performance Liquid Chromatog-raphy: Advantage of Pretreating Human Bile Acids with Seppak C18 and Piperidinohydroxypropyi Sephadex LH-20

The analysis of bile acids in human bile was tried by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Bile acids in human bile were first prefractionated into free, glycine- and taurine-conjugated bile acids using a Seppak C18 cartridge and a piperidinohydroxypropyl Sephadex LH-20 (PHP-LH-20) column. Each fraction was then processed through a HPLC system consisting of a Zorbax ODS column and a 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 alpha-HSD) column. By these procedures the major 15 bile acids were clearly separated, and each bile acid of 10-125 ng was accurately analyzed. More than 400 times of analysis could be repeated on one 3 alpha-HSD column without loss of sensitivity. Thus the pretreatment through Seppak C18 and PHP-LH-20 made the HPLC analysis of human bile acids accurate and applicable to clinically obtained materials.</p

Age-dependent motor dysfunction due to neuron-specific disruption of stress-activated protein kinase MKK7.

c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) is a member of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family and controls various physiological processes including apoptosis. A specific upstream activator of JNKs is the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 7 (MKK7). It has been reported that MKK7-JNK signaling plays an important regulatory role in neural development, however, post-developmental functions in the nervous system have not been elucidated. In this study, we generated neuron-specific Mkk7 knockout mice (MKK7 cKO), which impaired constitutive activation of JNK in the nervous system. MKK7 cKO mice displayed impaired circadian behavioral rhythms and decreased locomotor activity. MKK7 cKO mice at 8 months showed motor dysfunctions such as weakness of hind-limb and gait abnormality in an age-dependent manner. Axonal degeneration in the spinal cord and muscle atrophy were also observed, along with accumulation of the axonal transport proteins JNK-interacting protein 1 and amyloid beta precursor protein in the brains and spinal cords of MKK7 cKO mice. Thus, the MKK7-JNK signaling pathway plays important roles in regulating circadian rhythms and neuronal maintenance in the adult nervous system

A Novel Co-polymer Based on Hydroxypropyl α-Cyclodextrin Conjugated to Low Molecular Weight Polyethylenimine as an in Vitro Gene Delivery Vector

A novel co-polymer based on 2-hydroxypropyl-α-cyclodextrin cross-linked by low molecular weight polyethylenimine was synthesized as a gene delivery vector. The copolymer could bind and condense DNA tightly. It showed lower cytotoxicity than PEI 25kDa in SK-BR-3 cells. Transfection efficiency was increased over 5.5-fold higher than PEI 25 kDa in SK-BR-3 cells in complete serum medium. It is a potential candidate vector for gene therapy

GJETC report 2020 : German-Japanese cooperation in energy research ; supporting the closure of implementation gaps ; key results and policy recommendations

The German-Japanese Energy Transition Council (GJETC) was established in 2016 by experts from research institutions, energy policy think tanks, and practitioners in Germany and Japan. The objectives and main activities of the Council and the supporting secretariats are to identify and analyze current and future issues regarding policy frameworks, markets, infrastructure, and technological developments in the energy transition, and to hold Council meetings to exchange ideas and propose better policies and strategies. In its second project phase (2018-2020), the GJETC had six members from academia on the Japanese side, and eight members on the German side, with one Co-Chair from each country. From October 2018 to March 2020, the GJETC worked on and debated six topics: 1) Digitalization and the energy transition. 2) Hydrogen society. 3) Review of German and Japanese long-term energy scenarios and their evaluation mechanism. 4) Buildings, energy efficiency, heating/cooling. 5) Integration costs of renewable energies. 6) Transport and sector coupling. The outputs and the recommendations of the second phase of the GJETC are summarized in this report