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。

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.

Probing deformation behavior of a refractory high-entropy alloy using neutron diffraction

Zhou, Y.*; Song, W.*; Zhang, F.*; Wu, Y.*; Lei, Z.*; Jiao, M.*; Zhang, X.*; Dong, J.*; Zhang, Y.*; Yang, M.*; et al.

Journal of Alloys and Compounds, 971, p.172635_1 - 172635_7, 2024/01

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2023.172635

The grain orientation-dependent lattice strain evolution of a (TiZrHfNb) refractory high-entropy alloy (HEA) during tensile loading has been investigated using neutron diffraction. The equivalent strain-hardening rate of each of the primary -oriented grain families was found to be relatively low, manifesting the macroscopically weak work-hardening ability of such a body-centered cubic (BCC)-structured HEA. This finding is indicative of a dislocation planar slip mode that is confined in a few single-slip planes and leads to in-plane softening by high pile-up stresses.

Pressure-modulated magnetism and negative thermal expansion in the HoFe intermetallic compound

Cao, Y.*; Zhou, H.*; Khmelevskyi, S.*; Lin, K.*; Avdeev, M.*; Wang, C.-W.*; Wang, B.*; Hu, F.*; 加藤 健一*; 服部 高典; et al.

Chemistry of Materials, 35(8), p.3249 - 3255, 2023/04

https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.3c00158

静水圧や化学圧力は、結晶構造を変化させる効率的な刺激であり、材料科学において電気的、磁気的特性のチューニングによく利用されている。しかし、化学圧力は定量化が困難であり、これら両者の定量的な対応関係はまだよくわかっていない。本研究では、負の熱膨張(NTE)を持つ永久磁石の候補である金属間化合物を調べた。放射光X線その場観察により、AlをドープしたHoFeに負の化学圧力があることを明らかにし、単位セル体積の温度・圧力依存性を用いそれを定量的に評価した。また、磁化測定と中性子回折測定を組み合わせることで、磁気秩序に対する化学圧力と静水圧の違いを比較した。興味深いことに、圧力はNTEの抑制と増強を制御するために使用することができた。電子状態計算から、圧力がFermiレベル(EF)に対する主要バンドの上部に影響を与えたことを示しており、これは磁気安定性に影響を与え、それが磁気とNTEを調節する上で重要な役割を果たしていることがわかった。本研究は、圧力の影響を理解し、それを利用して機能性材料の特性を制御する良い例を示している。

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.

Quasifree neutron knockout reaction reveals a small -Orbital component in the Borromean nucleus B

Yang, Z. H.*; 久保田 悠樹*; Corsi, A.*; 吉田 数貴; Sun, X.-X.*; Li, J. G.*; 木村 真明*; Michel, N.*; 緒方 一介*; Yuan, C. X.*; et al.

Physical Review Letters, 126(8), p.082501_1 - 082501_8, 2021/02

AA2020-0819.pdf:1.29MB

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.082501

ボロミアン核であり中性子ハロー構造が期待されるBに対する(,)反応実験を行った。断面積の運動量分布を分析することで、と軌道の分光学的因子を決定した。驚くべきことに、の分光学的因子は9(2)%と小さいことが明らかになった。この結果は、連続状態を含むdeformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov理論によってよく説明された。本研究の結果によると、現在知られているハロー構造を持つとされる原子核の中でBはおよび軌道の成分が最も小さく、または軌道成分が支配的であることが必ずしもハロー構造の前提条件ではない可能性を示唆している。

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.

Spinmotive force in the out-of-plane direction generated by spin wave excitations in an exchange-coupled bilayer element

Zhou, W.*; 関 剛斎*; 今村 裕志*; 家田 淳一; 高梨 弘毅*

Physical Review B, 100(9), p.094424_1 - 094424_5, 2019/09

AA2019-0172.pdf:1.08MB

https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.100.094424

The generation of the spinmotive force (SMF) requires the temporal and spatial variations of the magnetic moments. We explore an approach to satisfy this requirement by creating asymmetry in a thin film structure along the out-of-plane direction, through the use of an exchange-coupled 1-FePt / NiFe bilayer element. As the spin wave is excited by rf magnetic field, a continuous dc voltage signal along the out-of-plane direction of the bilayer element appears. The sign of the voltage signal and its microwave power dependency agree with the theoretical framework of the SMF. The corresponding spin wave modes are revealed by carrying out the micromagnetic simulation. Our results demonstrate the generation of the SMF using a vertically structured element in addition to previously reported in-plane structured devices.

Overview of plasma-material interaction experiments on EAST employing MAPES

Ding, F.*; Luo, G.-N.*; Pitts, R.*; Litnovsky, A.*; Gong, X.*; Ding, R.*; Mao, H.*; Zhou, H.*; Wampler, W. R.*; Stangeby, P. C.*; et al.

Journal of Nuclear Materials, 455(1-3), p.710 - 716, 2014/12

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.09.017

A movable material probe system (Material and Plasma Evaluation System: MAPES) with an independent pumping system and a sample exchange chamber has been developed and installed on a horizontal port of the EAST tokamak for studies of plasma material interaction (PMI). In the 2012 experimental campaign, deposition and erosion were studied for three samples: mock-up of the outer first wall panels (FWPs) in ITER, castellated tungsten, and molybdenum mirrors. The FWPs with carbon deposition layer were exposed to helium plasmas. The maximum erosion rate of the carbon was valuated to be 8 nm/s. The castellated tungsten with rectangular cells and roof-like shaped cells was exposed to deuterium plasmas to compare amount of deposits on the gap surface. The amount of carbon and boron impurities on the gap surface of the roof-like shaped cells were reduced to less than 30% compared with that of the rectangular cells. The molybdenum mirrors of which protective ducts are installed in front were exposed to deuterium plasmas in order to investigate effects of length of the ducts. It was found that the reflectivity of the mirrors with 60 mm-long protective ducts is kept the initial reflectivity.

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.