Production of Over-Dense Plasmas by Launching 2.45 GHz Electron Cyclotron Wave in the Compact Helical System

ryosuke Ikeda,C. Suzuki,G. Matsunaga,K. Toi,M. Takeuchi,S. Okamura 한국물리학회 2006 THE JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY Vol.49 No.III

For the purpose of transport simulation, low temperature plasmas having similar dimensionless parameters to those of high temperature plasmas are produced by 2.45 GHz microwaves up to and 30 kW at low toroidal field (Bt < 0.1 T) in the Compact Helical System (CHS). In the configuration where the fundamental electron cyclotron resonance layer is placed near the last closed flux surface, electron density exceeds the ordinary (O)-mode cutoff density by a factor of 2 . 3 in hydrogen plasmas. The deposition of microwave power occurs in the interior region beyond the (O)-mode and extraordinary (X)-mode cutoff layers through which electron cyclotron waves (ECW) cannot penetrate. This suggests that a mode conversion of ECW to electron Bernstein wave (B-mode) would occur. Moreover, superimposition of ECW power was performed on target over-dense plasmas which have a steep density gradient at the upper hybrid resonance layer. In this condition, the mode conversion efficiency of superimposed ECW power was theoretically estimated to be about 50 . 60 %. The absorption rate of superimposed ECW power reached up to about 30 %.

Scalable Production of Highly Sensitive Nanosensors Based on Graphene Functionalized with a Designed G Protein-Coupled Receptor

Lerner, Mitchell B.,Matsunaga, Felipe,Han, Gang Hee,Hong, Sung Ju,Xi, Jin,Crook, Alexander,Perez-Aguilar, Jose Manuel,Park, Yung Woo,Saven, Jeffery G.,Liu, Renyu,Johnson, A. T. Charlie American Chemical Society 2014 NANO LETTERS Vol.14 No.5

<P/><P>We have developed a novel, all-electronic biosensor for opioids that consists of an engineered μ-opioid receptor protein, with high binding affinity for opioids, chemically bonded to a graphene field-effect transistor to read out ligand binding. A variant of the receptor protein that provided chemical recognition was computationally redesigned to enhance its solubility and stability in an aqueous environment. A shadow mask process was developed to fabricate arrays of hundreds of graphene transistors with average mobility of ∼1500 cm<SUP>2</SUP> V<SUP>–1</SUP> s<SUP>–1</SUP> and yield exceeding 98%. The biosensor exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity for the target naltrexone, an opioid receptor antagonist, with a detection limit of 10 pg/mL.</P>

Age-related Changes in Plasma Leptin from Early Growing to Late Finishing Stages of Castrated Holstein Steers: Utilizing Multi-species Leptin RIA

Vega, R.A.,Lee, H.G.,Kuwayama, H.,Matsunaga, N.,Hidari, H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2002 Animal Bioscience Vol.15 No.5

This experiment was performed to understand the changes in plasma leptin in association with plasma IGF-1, body weight and ADG from early growing to late finishing stages of Holstein steers. Blood collection was performed by arterial vein puncture at selected monthly ages of 1 (54 kg), 2.6 (103 kg), 7.2 (205 kg), 13.5 (314 kg), 16.9 (414 kg), 22.2 (550 kg), 24.9 (626 kg) and 27.4 months (695 kg). The blood was analyzed for leptin using the multi-species leptin RIA with recombinant bovine leptin (rbleptin) as standard, plasma IGF-1 was also measured using RIA. Against the standard rbleptin, the multi-species Leptin RIA system's sensitivity, cross reactivity, slope and recovery of 41.0 ng/ml rbleptin in plasma were 4.9 ng/ml, 11.22%, -1.396 and 97.8%, respectively. Plasma leptin measured were more than 5.0 ng/ml, which enable multi-species RIA system to investigate plasma leptin in normal growing steers. Body weight resulted to a highly significant second-degree polynomial relationship with plasma leptin (q=0.54, p<0.0001) and plasma IGF-1 (q=0.44, p<0.0001) from 1 to 27.4 monthly ages. However, the second-degree polynomial curve of plasma leptin and IGF-1 differs showing a concave and convex curvilinear relationship, respectively. ADG was not significantly associated to plasma leptin (r=0.06, p>0.05) and plasma IGF=1 (r=0.06, p>0.05) from 1 to 27.4 monthly ages. Low coefficient, but significant associated increase of plasma leptin and IGF-1 (r=0.12, p<0.008) from 1 to 27.4 months was observed. The uncoordinated increases of plasma IGF-1 at growing and plasma leptin at fattening period, may indicate (1) indirect involvement of endogenous IGF-1 on leptin secretion, and (2) IGF-1 level may signify lean and bone accretion while plasma leptin may mirror body fatness across the monthly ages of Holstein steers.

Effect of Twice Daily Administration of GH-releasing Peptide-2 for 10 Days on Growth Performance, Plasma GH Responses and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Concentrations in Swine

Nou, V.,Inoue, H.,Lee, H.G.,Matsunaga, N.,Kuwayama, H.,Hidari, H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2003 Animal Bioscience Vol.16 No.8

An increase in frequency of administration of exogenous growth hormone (GH) or GH-releasing hormone was reported to be a model to increase blood circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and to improve growth performance in animals. We have investigated the effect of twice daily administration of GH-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) on growth performance, GH responsiveness and plasma insulin-like growth factor IGF-1 in swine. We administered to eight swine, 3 control and 5 treatment, a twice daily s.c. injections of GHRP-2 ($30{\mu}g/kg\;BW$) for a period of 10 days. Every day blood samples immediately taken before injections of GHRP-2 or saline, at 08:00 h and 16:00 h, were measured for IGF-1 concentrations. Blood samples for GH assay were collected every 20 min on days 1, 6 and 10, from 1 hour before and 3 h after GHRP-2 or saline injections at 08:00 h. GH peak concentrations and GH area under curve (GH AUC) on day 1, 6 and 10 in treatment group of swine were higher than those in control swine (p<0.05). Twice daily administration of GHRP-2 caused a significantly attenuation (p<0.05) of GH peak concentrations ($80.25{\pm}13.87$, $39.73{\pm}5.72$ and $27.57{\pm}6.06ng/ml$ for day 1, 6 and 10, respectively) and GH AUCs ($3,536.15{\pm}738.35$, $1,310.31{\pm}203.55$ and $934.37{\pm}208.99ng/ml$ for day 1, 6 and 10, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in GH peak concentration and GH AUC between day 6 and 10. Plasma IGF-1 concentration levels were higher in treatment than control group of swine (p<0.05) after 3 days of the treatment, and the levels reached a plateau from day 3 to 10 of experiment. Growth performance did not alter by GHRP-2 administration, even though a numerical increase of body weight gain and feed efficiency was observed. These results indicate that twice daily administration of GHRP-2 for 10 days in swine did not significantly influence on growth performance, caused an overall attenuation of GH response, and that elevation of plasma GH concentrations caused by GHRP-2 administration increased plasma IGF-1 concentrations, even though an attenuation of GH response was observed.

Plasma Leptin and Performance of Purebred and Backcrossed Hereford throughout Grazing and Feedlot Fattening

Vega, R.A.,Hidari, H.,Matsunaga, N.,Kuwayama, H.,Manalo, D.D.,Lee, H.G.,Hata, H. Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2004 Animal Bioscience Vol.17 No.7

In a herd of 24 spring-born steers, plasma leptin and performance of selected purebred (n=5) and backcrossed Hereford (n=5) were compared in a year-round summer grazing and winter feedlot fattening. Bimonthly blood collection and body weight measurement were accomplished. The plasma samples were analyzed for leptin, insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, NEFA and glucose. The experimental design utilized one-way ANOVA with breed as the treatment. The purebred obtained higher plasma NEFA (p<0.001) compared to backcross, regardless of seasonal feeding systems (SFS). The backcross showed gradual increase and nonresponsiveness of plasma leptin to SFS. During summer grazing, attenuation of plasma leptin and sudden elevation when shifted to winter feedlot fattening were observed in purebred. Plasma leptin obtained linear relationship with body weight of purebred (r=0.53;p<0.001) and backcrossed Hereford (r=0.49; p<0.01). The purebred and backcrossed Hereford, when shifted to summer grazing, resulted to sustained and restricted daily gain, respectively. Therefore, cattle breeds of higher growth potential exhibit significant elevation of plasma leptin after 400 kg BW, when animal starts to deposit significant body fat.

A brown dwarf orbiting an M-dwarf: MOA 2009–BLG–411L

Bachelet, E.,Fouqué,, P.,Han, C.,Gould, A.,Albrow, M. D.,Beaulieu, J.-P.,Bertin, E.,Bond, I. A.,Christie, G. W.,Heyrovský,, D.,Horne, K.,Jørgensen, U. G.,Maoz, D.,Mathiasen, M.,Matsunaga, EDP Sciences 2012 Astronomy and astrophysics Vol.547 No.-