Soft, wearable, microfluidic system for fluorometric analysis of loss of amino acids through eccrine sweat

Cho, S. H.*; Cho, S. W.*; Lv, Z.*; 関根 由莉奈; Liu, S.*; Zhou, M.*; Nuxoll, R. F.*; Kanatzidis, E. E.*; Ghaffari, R.*; Kim, D.*; et al.

Lab on a Chip, 9 Pages, 2025/00

https://doi.org/10.1039/D4LC00734D

アミノ酸は体内のタンパク質合成と代謝プロセスに不可欠な物質である。本研究では、運動中の汗からのアミノ酸損失について定量的に調べることを目的とした。汗中のアミノ酸含有量をリアルタイムで分析するため、測定のための技術基盤としてウェアラブルなマイクロ流体システムを構築した。定量分析を実現するため、ウェアラブルデバイスに蛍光アッセイを組み込み、さらにスマートフォンベースの画像化技術を統合させたシステムを開発した。

Gradient residual stress and fatigue life prediction of induction hardened carbon steel S38C axles; Experiment and simulation

Qin, T. Y.*; Hu, F. F.*; 徐 平光; Zhang, H.*; Zhou, L.*; Ao, N.*; Su, Y. H.; 菖蒲 敬久; Wu, S. C.*

International Journal of Fatigue, 185, p.108336_1 - 108336_13, 2024/08

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2024.108336

Gradient distribution of triaxial residual stresses to a depth of several millimeters is retained in middle carbon steel S38C axles after high-frequency induction hardening, which has become a critical concern for fatigue structural integrity. To address this, the axial, hoop, and radial gradient residual strains inside the axles were measured for the first time by advanced neutron diffraction. The SIGINI Fortran subroutine was then adopted to reconstruct the global initial residual stress field from the measured data. Experimental and simulation results show that residual stresses of about -520 MPa (axial), -710 MPa (hoop), and -40 MPa (radial) residual stress were retained below the axle surface. Subsequently, the fatigue crack propagation behavior of S38C axles was numerically investigated in the framework of fracture mechanics. The calculated results clearly show that the compressive residual stresses at a depth of 0?3 mm from the axle surface lead to a low crack growth driving force, and that fatigue cracks do not propagate as long as the crack depth is less than 3.7 mm for hollow S38C axles. These results further indicate that the maximum defect size allowed in routine inspections is acceptable from a safety and economic point of view. Accurate measurement and characterization of the global gradient residual stress field through experiments and simulations can provide an important reference for optimizing the mileage intervals of nondestructive testing (NDT) of surface defects in these surface-strengthened railway axles.

Spectral evidence for Dirac spinons in a kagome lattice antiferromagnet

Zeng, Z.*; Zhou, C.*; Zhou, H.*; Han, L.*; Chi, R.*; Li, K.*; 古府 麻衣子; 中島 健次; Wei, Y.*; Zhang, W.*; et al.

Nature Physics, 20(7), p.1097 - 1102, 2024/07

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-024-02495-z

Emergent quasiparticles with a Dirac dispersion in condensed matter systems can be described by the Dirac equation for relativistic electrons, in analogy with Dirac particles in high-energy physics. For example, electrons with a Dirac dispersion have been intensively studied in electronic systems such as graphene and topological insulators. However, charge is not a prerequisite for Dirac fermions, and the emergence of Dirac fermions without a charge degree of freedom has been theoretically predicted to be realized in Dirac quantum spin liquids. These quasiparticles carry a spin of 1/2 but are charge-neutral and so are called spinons. Here we show that the spin excitations of a kagome antiferromagnet, YCu(OD)Br[Br(OD)], are conical with a spin continuum inside, which is consistent with the convolution of two Dirac spinons. The predictions of a Dirac spin liquid model with a spinon velocity obtained from spectral measurements are in agreement with the low-temperature specific heat of the sample. Our results, thus, provide spectral evidence for a Dirac quantum spin liquid state emerging in this kagome lattice antiferromagnet. However, the locations of the conical spin excitations differ from those calculated by the nearest-neighbor Heisenberg model, suggesting the Dirac spinons have an unexpected origin.

3D-printed epidermal sweat microfluidic systems with integrated microcuvettes for precise spectroscopic and fluorometric biochemical assays

Yang, D. S.*; Wu, Y.*; Kanatzidis, E. E.*; Avila, R.*; Zhou, M.*; Bai, Y.*; Chen, S.*; 関根 由莉奈; Kim, J.*; Deng, Y.*; et al.

Materials Horizons, 10(11), p.4992 - 5003, 2023/09

https://doi.org/10.1039/D3MH00876B

本論文では、ハード及びソフトハイブリッド材料システムでの3Dプリントによって形成されたマイクロ流体ネットワーク、統合バルブ、およびマイクロスケール光学キュベットにより、汗成分に対してその場で分光および蛍光分析した成果を紹介する。一連の試験により、これらのマイクロキュベットシステムが汗中の銅、塩化物、グルコースの濃度と汗のpHを実験室レベルの精度と感度で評価できることが実証された。

Fatigue crack non-propagation behavior of a gradient steel structure from induction hardened railway axles

Zhang, H.*; Wu, S. C.*; Ao, N.*; Zhang, J. W.*; Li, H.*; Zhou, L.*; 徐 平光; Su, Y. H.

International Journal of Fatigue, 166, p.107296_1 - 107296_11, 2023/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijfatigue.2022.107296

Abnormal damages in railway axles can lead to a significant hazard to running safety and reliability. To this end, a surface treatment was selected to effectively inhibit fatigue crack initiation and growth. In this study, a single edge notch bending fatigue test campaign with artificial notches was conducted to elucidate the fatigue crack non-propagation behavior in railway S38C axles subjected to an induction hardening process. The fatigue cracking behavior in the gradient structure was revealed by optical microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction, and fractography. The microhardness distribution was measured using a Vickers tester. The obtained results show that the microhardness of the strengthening layer is nearly triple that of the matrix. Owing to the gradient microstructures and hardness, as well as compressive residual stress, the fatigue long crack propagates faster once it passes through the hardened zone (approximately 2.0 mm in the radial depth). Thereafter, local retarding (including deflection, branching, and blunting) of the long crack occurs because of the relatively coarse ferrite and pearlite in the transition region and matrix. Totally, this fatigue cracking resistance is reasonably believed to be due to the gradient microstructure and residual stress. These findings help to tailor a suitable detection strategy for maximum defects or cracks in railway axles.

Martensitic transformation in CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy at cryogenic temperature

Naeem, M.*; Zhou, H.*; He, H.*; Harjo, S.; 川崎 卓郎; Lan, S.*; Wu, Z.*; Zhu, Y.*; Wang, X.-L.*

Applied Physics Letters, 119(13), p.131901_1 - 131901_7, 2021/09

https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0067268

We investigated the in situ deformation behavior of the CrCoNi medium-entropy alloy at a cryogenic temperature of 140 K and compared it with deformation at room temperature. The sample exhibited higher strength and larger ductility at the cryogenic temperature. The CrCoNi alloy remained single-phase face-centered cubic at room temperature, while deformation at 140 K resulted in a martensitic transformation to the hexagonal close-packed structure. The phase transformation, an additional deformation mechanism to stacking faults, twinning, and dis- location slip, resulted in a higher work hardening at cryogenic temperature. The study addresses the structure metastability in the CrCoNi alloy, which led to the formation of epsilon-martensite from the intrinsic stacking faults.

Clades of huge phages from across Earth's ecosystems

Al-Shayeb, B.*; Sachdeva, R.*; Chen, L.-X.*; Ward, F.*; Munk, P.*; Devoto, A.*; Castelle, C. J.*; Olm, M. R.*; Bouma-Gregson, K.*; 天野 由記; et al.

Nature, 578(7795), p.425 - 431, 2020/02

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-020-2007-4

Phage typically have small genomes and depend on their bacterial hosts for replication. We generated metagenomic datasets from many diverse ecosystems and reconstructed hundreds of huge phage genomes, between 200 kbp and 716 kbp in length. Thirty four genomes were manually curated to completion, including the largest phage genomes yet reported. Expanded genetic repertoires include diverse and new CRISPR-Cas systems, tRNAs, tRNA synthetases, tRNA modification enzymes, initiation and elongation factors and ribosomal proteins. Phage CRISPR have the capacity to silence host transcription factors and translational genes, potentially as part of a larger interaction network that intercepts translation to redirect biosynthesis to phage-encoded functions. Some phage repurpose bacterial systems for phage-defense to eliminate competing phage. We phylogenetically define seven major clades of huge phage from human and other animal microbiomes, oceans, lakes, sediments, soils and the built environment. We conclude that large gene inventories reflect a conserved biological strategy, observed across a broad bacterial host range and resulting in the distribution of huge phage across Earth's ecosystems.

Scaling of memories and crossover in glassy magnets

Samarakoon, A. M.*; 高橋 満*; Zhang, D.*; Yang, J.*; 片山 尚幸*; Sinclair, R.*; Zhou, H. D.*; Diallo, S. O.*; Ehlers, G.*; Tennant, D. A.*; et al.

Scientific Reports (Internet), 7(1), p.12053_1 - 12053_8, 2017/09

AA2017-0448.pdf:3.45MB

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-12187-9

Glassiness is ubiquitous and diverse in characteristics in nature. Understanding their differences and classification remains a major scientific challenge. Here, we show that scaling of magnetic memories with time can be used to classify magnetic glassy materials into two distinct classes. The systems studied are high temperature superconductor-related materials, spin-orbit Mott insulators, frustrated magnets, and dilute magnetic alloys. Our bulk magnetization measurements reveal that most densely populated magnets exhibit similar memory behavior characterized by a relaxation exponent of (1). This exponent is different from of dilute magnetic alloys that was ascribed to their hierarchical and fractal energy landscape, and is also different from of the conventional Debye relaxation expected for a spin solid, a state with long range order.

In-beam spectroscopy of the even-even nucleus Pt

Li, G. S.*; Liu, M. L.*; Zhou, X. H.*; Zhang, Y. H.*; Liu, Y. X.*; Zhang, N. T.*; Hua, W.*; Zheng, Y. D.*; Fang, Y. D.*; Guo, S.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 89(5), p.054303_1 - 054303_9, 2014/05

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.89.054303

タンデム加速器で88MeVにまで加速されたOビームを用いてYb(O, 4)反応を起こし、Ptの高スピン準位を調べた。その結果、 1(ここではもしくは)配位による正パリティバンドを大幅に拡張するとともに新しく負パリティバンドを同定し、 配位を持つことを明らかにした。また、イラスト準位においてスピンの増加に伴い振動から回転へと構造変化を起こしている可能性について議論した。さらにバンド特性を明らかにするためにTotal Routhian surface計算を行った。

Rotational band properties of W

Wang, H. X.*; Zhang, Y. H.*; Zhou, X. H.*; Liu, M. L.*; Ding, B.*; Li, G. S.*; Hua, W.*; Zhou, H. B.*; Guo, S.*; Qiang, Y. H.*; et al.

Physical Review C, 86(4), p.044305_1 - 044305_11, 2012/10

AA2012-0752.pdf:0.78MB

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevC.86.044305

High-spin states in W have been studied using the Nd(Si,5)W reaction at beam energies of 135 and 140 MeV. The previously known bands associated with the 7/2[633], 5/2[512], and 1/2[521] configurations are extended significantly, and the unfavored signature branch of the 1/2[521] band is established for the first time. The band properties, such as level spacings, band-crossing frequencies, alignment gains, and signature splittings, are discussed with an emphasis on the low-spin signature inversion observed in the 5/2[512] band. By comparing the experimental (1)/(2) ratios with the theoretical values, we conclude that the configuration of the 5/2[512] band is quite pure at low spins without appreciable admixture of the 5/2[523] orbit, in conflict with the particle rotor model calculated results.