Alternation of conducting zone from propagation-control to diffusion-control at polythiophene films by solvent substitution

Abstract The conducting zone of polythiophene ®lms grew under the propagation-control in acetonitrile solution at application of the positive potential to the reduced ®lm whereas it grew under the diusion-control when it was transferred into the propylene carbonate solution. The electrochemically polymerized ®lm was peeled o from the electrode, and a current feeder was connected to an end of the ®lm. The distribution of the conducting species was detected with a diode array detector through the 850 nm beam irradiated to the ®lm. When the fully reduced ®lm was oxidized potentiostatically in the 0.1 M LiClO 4 + acetonitrile solution, the conducting zone developed linearly with the electrolysis time at almost a constant speed. This is in accord with the theory of the propagation of the conducting zone. When the reduced ®lm was transferred into the 0.1 M LiClO 4 + propylene carbonate solution, the conducting zone grew exhibiting a vague boundary. Quantitative analysis said that the growth obeyed at ®rst the propagation theory and then obeyed the square root of the time, represented by diusion of dopant ions. The diusion coecient was 3Â10 À 10 cm 2 s À 1 . A new growth model was proposed, in which the ®lmvsolution interface was oxidized at ®rst by the propagation mechanism and then the conducting zone was dispersed into the ®lm center by diusion.

Regional gray matter volume in the posterior precuneus is associated with general self-efficacy

Motivation in doing a task is influenced not only by the expected outcome of the task, but also by the belief that one has in successfully executing the task. Over time, individuals accumulate experiences that contribute to a general belief in one’s overall ability to successfully perform tasks, which is called general self-efficacy (GSE). We investigated the relationship between regional gray matter volume and individual differences in GSE. Brain anatomy was analyzed using magnetic resonance images obtained from 64 healthy right-handed participants who had completed Sherer’s GSE scale. After controlling for other factors related to motivation, age, sex, and total gray matter volume of each subject, results showed that regional gray matter volume in the posterior part of the precuneus significantly and positively correlated with GSE score. These results suggest that one’s accumulated experiences of success and failure, which contribute to GSE, also influence the anatomical characteristics of the precuneus

Dusty ERO Search behind Two Massive Clusters

We performed deep K'-band imaging observations of 2 massive clusters, MS 0451.6-0305 at z = 0.55 and MS 0440.5+0204 at z = 0.19, for searching counterparts of the faint sub-mm sources behind these clusters, which would provide one of the deepest extremely red object(ERO) samples. Comparing our near-infrared images with optical images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope and by the Subaru Telescope, we identified 13 EROs in these fields. The sky distributions of EROs are consistent with the previous results, that there is a sign of strong clustering among detected EROs. Also, the surface density with corrected lensing amplification factors in both clusters are in good agreement with that derived from previous surveys. We found 7 EROs and 3 additional very red objects in a small area (\sim 0.6 arcmin^2) of the MS 0451.6-0305 field around an extended SCUBA source. Many of their optical and near-infrared colors are consistent with dusty star-forming galaxies at high redshifts(z \sim 1.0-4.0), and they may be constituting a cluster of dusty starburst galaxies and/or lensed star-forming galaxies at high redshift. Their red J-K' colors and faint optical magnitudes suggest they are relatively old massive stellar systems with ages(>300 Mega years) suffering from dust obscuration. We also found a surface-density enhancement of EROs around the SCUBA source in the MS 0440.5+0204 field.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, Latex(using pasj00.cls). To be published in PASJ vol 55, No. 4(Aug 2003

グリーンランド氷床北西部Thule地域沿岸における高濁度海水域の変動

第6回極域科学シンポジウム分野横断セッション：[IA] 急変する北極気候システム及びその全球的な影響の総合的解明―GRENE北極気候変動研究事業研究成果報告2015―11月19日（木）　国立極地研究所１階交流アトリウ

Ect2, an ortholog of Drosophila Pebble, regulates formation of growth cones in primary cortical neurons

In collaboration with Marshall Nirenberg, we performed in vivo RNA interference (RNAi) genome-wide screening in Drosophila embryos. Pebble has been shown to be involved in Drosophila neuronal development. We have also reported that depletion of Ect2, a mammalian ortholog of Pebble, induces differentiation in NG108-15 neuronal cells. However, the precise role of Ect2 in neuronal development has yet to be studied. Here, we confirmed in PC12 pheochromocytoma cells that inhibition of Ect2 expression by RNAi stimulated neurite outgrowth, and in the mouse embryonic cortex that Ect2 was accumulated throughout the ventricular and subventricular zones with neuronal progenitor cells. Next, the effects of Ect2 depletion were studied in primary cultures of mouse embryonic cortical neurons: Loss of Ect2 did not affect the differentiation stages of neuritogenesis, the number of neurites, or axon length, while the numbers of growth cones and growth cone-like structures were increased. Taken together, our results suggest that Ect2 contributes to neuronal morphological differentiation through regulation of growth cone dynamics. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The Subaru Deep Field Project: Lymanα\alpha Emitters at Redshift of 6.6

We present new results of a deep optical imaging survey using a narrowband filter ($NB921$) centered at $\lambda =$ 9196 \AA ~ together with $B$, $V$, $R$, $i^\prime$, and $z^\prime$ broadband filters in the sky area of the Subaru Deep Field which has been promoted as one of legacy programs of the 8.2m Subaru Telescope. We obtained a photometric sample of 58 Ly$\alpha$ emitter candidates at $z \approx$ 6.5 -- 6.6 among $\sim 180$ strong $NB921$-excess ($z^\prime - NB921 > 1.0$) objects together with a color criterion of $i^\prime - z^\prime > 1.3$. We then obtained optical spectra of 20 objects in our $NB921$-excess sample and identified at least nine Ly$\alpha$ emitters at $z \sim 6.5$ -- 6.6 including the two emitters reported by Kodaira et al. (2003). Since our Ly$\alpha$ emitter candidates are free from strong amplification of gravitational lensing, we are able to discuss their observational properties from a statistical point of view. Based on these new results, we obtain a lower limit of the star formation rate density of $\rho_{\rm SFR} \simeq 5.5 \times 10^{-4}$ $h_{0.7}$ $M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$ Mpc$^{-3}$ at $z \approx 6.6$, being consistent with our previous estimate. We discuss the nature of star-formation activity in galaxies beyond $z=6$.Comment: 49 pages, 16 figures, PASJ, Vol. 57, No. 1, in pres

A three-component monooxygenase from Rhodococcus wratislaviensis may expand industrial applications of bacterial enzymes

地球外有機化合物に対する微生物代謝の解明から全く新規な酵素系を発見 --生命分子進化の理解や産業応用に期待--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-01-20.The high-valent iron-oxo species formed in the non-heme diiron enzymes have high oxidative reactivity and catalyze difficult chemical reactions. Although the hydroxylation of inert methyl groups is an industrially promising reaction, utilizing non-heme diiron enzymes as such a biocatalyst has been difficult. Here we show a three-component monooxygenase system for the selective terminal hydroxylation of α-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) into α-methyl-D-serine. It consists of the hydroxylase component, AibH1H2, and the electron transfer component. Aib hydroxylation is the initial step of Aib catabolism in Rhodococcus wratislaviensis C31-06, which has been fully elucidated through a proteome analysis. The crystal structure analysis revealed that AibH1H2 forms a heterotetramer of two amidohydrolase superfamily proteins, of which AibHm2 is a non-heme diiron protein and functions as a catalytic subunit. The Aib monooxygenase was demonstrated to be a promising biocatalyst that is suitable for bioprocesses in which the inert C–H bond in methyl groups need to be activated

Association between the rs1465040 single-nucleotide polymorphism close to the transient receptor potential subfamily C member 3 (TRPC3) gene and postoperative analgesic requirements

AbstractAn association between postoperative analgesic requirements in subjects who underwent orthognathic surgery and the rs1465040 single-nucleotide polymorphism close to the transient receptor potential subfamily C member 3 (TRPC3) gene was suggested by our previous genome-wide association study. To verify this association, we analyzed the association between the rs1465040 SNP and analgesic requirements, including opioid requirements, after open abdominal surgery. The association between the rs1465040 SNP and postoperative analgesic requirements was confirmed in the open abdominal surgery group (P = 0.036), suggesting that the TRPC3 SNP may contribute to predicting postoperative analgesic requirements