Eastern Staining: A Simple Recombinant Protein Detection Technology Using a Small Peptide Tag and Its Counter Partner Which is a Fluorescent Compound

Small peptide tags such as c-myc, HA, or FLAG tag have facilitated efficient Westernblotting of proteins of interest especially when specific antibodies for the proteins are not available. However, the conventional Western-blotting requires the multi-steps process taking at least several hours up to two days. With examples of various applications, here we show a convenient and time-saving method for protein detection which employs a fluorescent chemical BDED and its binding peptide RC-tag. And we propose “Estern staining”, as a standard term for protein detection method using fluorescent chemicals and their binding small peptide tags. Eastern staining may substitutes for the time-consuming “immuno-staining” in many versatile applications.22Yothe

Zero-frequency Bragg gap by spin-harnessed metamaterial

The Bragg gap that stops wave propagation may not be formed from zero or a very low frequency unless the periodicity of a periodic system is unrealistically large. Accordingly, the Bragg gap has been considered to be inappropriate for low frequency applications despite its broad bandwidth. Here, we report a new mechanism that allows formation of the Bragg gap starting from a nearly zero frequency. The mechanism is based on the finding that if additional spin motion is coupled with the longitudinal motion of a mass of a diatomic mechanical periodic system, the Bragg gap starting from a nearly zero frequency can be formed. The theoretical analysis shows that the effective mass and stiffness at the band gap frequencies are all positive, confirming that the formed stop band is a Bragg gap. The periodic system is realized by a spin-harnessed metamaterial which incorporates unique linkage mechanisms. The numerical and experimental validation confirmed the formation of the low-frequency Bragg gap. The zero-frequency Bragg gap is expected to open a new way to control hard-to-shield low-frequency vibration and noise

Fabrication and characterization of silicon wire solar cells having ZnO nanorod antireflection coating on Al-doped ZnO seed layer

In this study, we have fabricated and characterized the silicon [Si] wire solar cells with conformal ZnO nanorod antireflection coating [ARC] grown on a Al-doped ZnO [AZO] seed layer. Vertically aligned Si wire arrays were fabricated by electrochemical etching and, the pn junction was prepared by spin-on dopant diffusion method. Hydrothermal growth of the ZnO nanorods was followed by AZO film deposition on high aspect ratio Si microwire arrays by atomic layer deposition [ALD]. The introduction of an ALD-deposited AZO film on Si wire arrays not only helps to create the ZnO nanorod arrays, but also has a strong impact on the reduction of surface recombination. The reflectance spectra show that ZnO nanorods were used as an efficient ARC to enhance light absorption by multiple scattering. Also, from the current-voltage results, we found that the combination of the AZO film and ZnO nanorods on Si wire solar cells leads to an increased power conversion efficiency by more than 27% compared to the cells without it. © 2012 Baek et al.1

Performance Analysis On A Variable Capacity Swash Plate Compressor

A numerical study on the performance of a variable capacity swash plate compressor for an automotive air-conditioning system was carried out. The compressor under investigation had six cylinders and capacity regulation was made by changing the swash plate inclination angle. A numerical simulation program was made based on mathematical modelings on the swash plate dynamics, refrigerant states in various control volumes such as cylinders and crank room, and flows in the opening passages of electric control valve for crank room pressure control. The simulation results such as mass flow rate, compressor power consumption, cooling capacity and COP were compared with measurements within ±5% deviation over various operating conditions except at low operating speed such as idling condition. By using the simulation program, the effect of the crank room pressure on the swash plate inclination angle and the determination of the crank room pressure level by the electric control valve openings could be investigated

Heat Shock Protein: Hard Worker or Bad Offender for Gastric Diseases

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) have core housekeeping functions in the cells where they are built-in components of folding, signal transduction pathways, and quality control functions for which they proofread the structure of proteins and repair misfolded conformers. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection leads to significant inflammations in the gastric mucosa, which is closely associated with development of either precancerous lesion including chronic atrophic gastritis or gastric cancer in addition to, peptic ulcer disease, and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Therefore, the association between H. pylori infection and role of HSP has been focused as an important issue because there had been rather conflicting publications showing that HSPs as a good worker for defense against H. pylori infection, whereas HSPs as a bad offender contributing to the progression of H. pylori-associated gastric carcinogenesis in addition to aggravation of gastric inflammation. In this paper regarding proteomic discovery of HSPs related to H. pylori-associated gastric diseases, we introduce several evidences obtained from proteomic analysis dealing with friend or foe role of HSP in H. pylori infection from a cellular level to human diseases. The implication of HSPs in alcoholic or NSAIDs-induced gastritis and the intervening of HSPs in biological changes exemplified with TGF-β signaling, key tumor suppressor growth factors regulating inflammation, immune function, and carcinogenesis were further introduced

Visible emission from Ce-doped ZnO nanorods grown by hydrothermal method without a post thermal annealing process

Visible light-emitting Ce-doped ZnO nanorods [NRs] without a post thermal annealing process were grown by hydrothermal method on a Si (100) substrate at a low temperature of 90°C. The structural investigations of Ce-doped ZnO NRs showed that the Ce3+ ions were successfully incorporated into the ZnO lattice sites without forming unwanted Ce-related compounds or precipitates. The optical investigation by photoluminescence spectra shows that the doped Ce3+ ions in the ZnO NRs act as an efficient luminescence center at 540 nm which corresponds to the optical transition of 5d → 4f orbitals in the Ce3+ ions. The photoluminescence intensity of the Ce-doped ZnO NRs increased with the increasing content of the Ce-doping agent because the energy transfer of the excited electrons in ZnO to the Ce3+ ions would be enhanced by increased Ce3+ ions