Concentration-adjustable micromixer using droplet injection into a microchannel

A novel micromixing technique that exploit a thrust of droplets into the mixing interface is developed. The technique enhances the mixing by injecting immiscible droplets in a mixing channel and the methodology enables a control of the mixing level simply by changing the droplet injection frequency. We experimentally characterize the mixing performance with various droplet injection frequencies, channel geometries, and diffusion coefficients. Consequently, it is revealed that the mixing level increases with the injection frequency, the droplet-diameter-to-channel-width ratio, and the diffusion coefficient. Moreover, the mixing level is found to be a linear function of the droplet volume fraction in the mixing section. The results suggest that the developed technique can produce a large amount of sample solution whose concentration is arbitrary and precisely controllable with a simple and stable operation.Comment: 12 + 3 pages, 6 + 4 figure

The Effects of Free Will Beliefs in Japan: Disbelief in Free Will Impairs Overriding Impulsive Decisions

The present research aims at testing the effects of disbelief in free will on overriding impulsive decisions in Japan. Past research conducted in Western countries has found that induced disbelief in free will can weaken motivation of self-control. In the present research, the authors tested the generalizability of the findings in a study involving Japanese students. Results show that participants whose belief in free will was challenged reported less likelihood and desirability of overriding the impulsive decision. These findings suggest that some basic assumptions of the effects of disbelief in free will could be generalized across cultures

Explicitly Multi-Modal Benchmarks for Multi-Objective Optimization

In multi-objective optimization, designing good benchmark problems is an important issue for improving solvers. Although many benchmark problems have been proposed and some of them became de facto standards, designing multimodal problems that have a controllable landscape is still an open problem especially for high-dimensional cases. We thus propose the Benchmark with Explicit Multimodality (BEM), which lets the benchmark designer specify the basins of attraction using a graph structure known as the reachability graph. In this article, we focus on the mathematical formulation of the BEM. We will see that the BEM has preferable characteristics such as (i) realizing user-specified local Pareto set, (ii) allowing high-dimensional design spaces and (iii) possessing nonseparability

A novel resting form of the trinuclear copper center in the double mutant of a multicopper oxidase, CueO, Cys500Ser/Glu506Ala

A multicopper oxidase, CueO was doubly mutated at its type I copper ligand, Cys500 and an acidic amino acid residue located in the proton transfer pathway, Glu506, to Ser and Ala, respectively. Cys500Ser/Glu506Ala was mainly in a novel resting form to afford the absorption band at ca. 400. nm and an EPR signal with a highly anisotropic character derived from type III copper. However, Cys500Ser/Glu506Ala gave the same reaction intermediate (peroxide intermediate) as that from Cys500Ser and Cys500Ser/Glu506Gln. © 2015 Elsevier Inc.Embargo Period 24 month

Social experiment for security camera which protects privacy embedded in vending machine

AbstractWith the cooperation of Gunma Prefecture Police Department and Mikuni Coca-Cola Group, e-JIKEI Network started Experiment of Security Camera Embedded in Vending Machine on 19th June 2007. In this experiment, the system of e-JIKEI Network is embedded in a vending machine to develop a new experiment environment. In this new development, our watch over system will not be restricted to residential area, but can also be used widely even in suburb area. Up until now, the camera has been working perfectly and the experiment progressed as expected. The authors are hoping that this system work perfectly without problems for 1-year cycle

An O-centered structure of the trinuclear copper center in the Cys500Ser/Glu506Gln mutant of CueO and structural changes in low to high X-ray dose conditions

Right on CueO: The O-centered structure of the trinuclear copper center in a multicopper oxidase (CueO) was shown to be an intermediate of the four-electron reduction of dioxygen (see picture). This structure was determined by in situ data collection of X-ray diffractions and copper K-edge spectra at low to high X-ray dose conditions. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

New insights into the catalytic active-site structure of multicopper oxidases

Structural models determined by X-ray crystallography play a central role in understanding the catalytic mechanism of enzymes. However, X-ray radiation generates hydrated electrons that can cause significant damage to the active sites of metalloenzymes. In the present study, crystal structures of the multicopper oxidases (MCOs) CueO from Escherichia coli and laccase from a metagenome were determined. Diffraction data were obtained from a single crystal under low to high X-ray dose conditions. At low levels of X-ray exposure, unambiguous electron density for an O atom was observed inside the trinuclear copper centre (TNC) in both MCOs. The gradual reduction of copper by hydrated electrons monitored by measurement of the Cu K-edge X-ray absorption spectra led to the disappearance of the electron density for the O atom. In addition, the size of the copper triangle was enlarged by a two-step shift in the location of the type III coppers owing to reduction. Further, binding of O2 to the TNC after its full reduction was observed in the case of the laccase. Based on these novel structural findings, the diverse resting structures of the MCOs and their four-electron O2-reduction process are discussed. © 2014 International Union of Crystallography

Magnetic resonance imaging and symptoms in patients with neurosarcoidosis and central diabetes insipidus

Introduction: In the clinical setting, the diagnosis of neurosarcoidosis in patients with central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is typically based both on symptoms (i.e. polydipsia or polyuria) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings (e.g. pituitary abnormality). However, inconsistent changes in the patient’s symptoms and brain MRI findings may occur during the clinical course of the disease. This review was performed to summarise the relationship between symptoms and brain MRI findings in previously reported cases of neurosarcoidosis with CDI. Material and methods: Case studies of patients diagnosed with neurosarcoidosis with CDI were collected via a PubMed search of studies published through 30 June 2018. Results: Thirteen eligible studies were reviewed (20 patients; 12 men, 8 women; mean age 33 years). Polydipsia or polyuria was the first symptom in 13 patients. The mean duration from disease onset to diagnosis was 3.4 months. Brain MRIs showed abnormal findings in the hypothalamus and pituitary for 17 patients. Immunosuppressive drugs were used in 17 patients. For 14 patients, MRI findings improved, while symptoms did not. Conclusion: Patients with both neurosarcoidosis and CDI symptoms often do not improve, despite the fact that brain MRI findings often improve following treatment. More studies involving detailed pathological analyses and longer follow-up periods are necessary