Contribution of defect on early stage of LIPSS formation.

We investigated an early stage of laser-induced periodic surface structure (LIPSS) formation to elucidate the contribution of defects on the formation. 4H-SiC crystals were irradiated by multiple pulses of femtosecond laser with different laser spot sizes. We observed the decrease in formation thresholds of high-spatial-frequency LIPSS (HSFL) and low-spatial-frequency LIPSS (LSFL) with the increased irradiated laser spot size.

Effects of selective estrogen receptor modulators on plasma membrane estrogen receptors and catecholamine synthesis and secretion in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells.

We previously reported the occurrence and function of plasma membrane estrogen receptors in cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells. Here we report the effects of raloxifene and tamoxifen, selective estrogen receptor modulators, on plasma membrane estrogen receptors and catecholamine synthesis and secretion in these cells. Raloxifene caused dual effects on the specific binding of [(3)H]17β-estradiol to the plasma membranes isolated from bovine adrenal medulla; that is, it had a stimulatory effect at 1.

Growth of high spatial frequency periodic ripple structures on SiC crystal surfaces irradiated with successive femtosecond laser pulses.

We present experimentally and theoretically the evolution of high spatial frequency periodic ripples (HSFL) fabricated on SiC crystal surfaces by irradiation with femtosecond laser pulses in a vacuum chamber. At early stages the seed defects are mainly induced by laser pulse irradiation, leading to the reduction in the ablation threshold fluence. By observing the evolution of these surface structures under illumination with successive laser pulses, the nanocraters are made by nanoablation at defects in the SiC surface.

Pentazocine inhibits norepinephrine transporter function by reducing its surface expression in bovine adrenal medullary cells.

(±)-Pentazocine (PTZ), a non-narcotic analgesic, is used for the clinical management of moderate to severe pain. To study the effect of PTZ on the descending noradrenergic inhibitory system, in the present study we examined the effect of [(3)H]norepinephrine (NE) uptake by cultured bovine adrenal medullary cells and human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. (-)-PTZ and (+)-PTZ inhibited [(3)H]NE uptake by adrenal medullary cells in a concentration-dependent (3-100 μM) manner.

Plasmonic and Mie scattering control of far-field interference for regular ripple formation on various material substrates.

We present experimental and theoretical results on plasmonic control of far-field interference for regular ripple formation on semiconductor and metal. Experimental observation of interference ripple pattern on Si substrate originating from the gold nanosphere irradiated by femtosecond laser is presented. Gold nanosphere is found to be an origin for ripple formation.

Near-field interaction of two-dimensional high-permittivity spherical particle arrays on substrate in the Mie resonance scattering domain.

We describe theoretical and experimental results on near-field interaction of two-dimensionally (2D) arrayed, high-permittivity spherical particles on a substrate in the Mie resonance scattering domain for surface nano-patterning processing. When a touching particle pair of Mie resonance particles on the substrate is considered, an electromagnetic mode different from the single particle mode is excited inside the particles, resulting in an intensity enhancement in a gap between two hotspots at particle-substrate contact points. As for 2D hexagonal close-packed particle arrays on the substrate, the refractive index of particle exhibiting a maximal enhancement factor for the 2D particle arrays is found to be shifted from the Mie resonance conditions for the single particle system.