Tuning Optoelectrical Properties of ZnO Nanorods with Excitonic Defects via Submerged Illumination.

When applied in optoelectronic devices, a ZnO semiconductor dominantly absorbs or emits ultraviolet light because of its direct electron transition through a wide energy bandgap. On the contrary, crystal defects and nanostructure morphology are the chief key factors for indirect, interband transitions of ZnO optoelectronic devices in the visible light range. By ultraviolet illumination in ultrapure water, we demonstrate here a conceptually unique approach to tune the shape of ZnO nanorods from tapered to capped-end via apical surface morphology control.

Maternal Exposure to Pyrethroid Insecticides during Pregnancy and Infant Development at 18 Months of Age.

The possible association between maternal exposure to pyrethroid insecticides (PYRs) during pregnancy and infant development was explored. Levels of exposure to PYRs was assessed by metabolite (3-phenoybenzoic acid, 3-PBA) concentration in maternal spot urine sampled in the first trimester of index pregnancy, and infant development was assessed at 18 months of age using the Kinder Infants Development Scale (KIDS), which is based on a questionnaire to the caretaker. The relationship between KIDS score and maternal urinary 3-PBA levels was examined by a stepwise multiple regression analysis using biological attributes of the mother and infant, breast feeding, and nursing environment as covariates.

A pathway of nanocrystallite fabrication by photo-assisted growth in pure water.

We report a new production pathway for a variety of metal oxide nanocrystallites via submerged illumination in water: submerged photosynthesis of crystallites (SPSC). Similar to the growth of green plants by photosynthesis, nanocrystallites shaped as nanoflowers and nanorods are hereby shown to grow at the protruded surfaces via illumination in pure, neutral water. The process is photocatalytic, accompanied with hydroxyl radical generation via water splitting; hydrogen gas is generated in some cases, which indicates potential for application in green technologies.

The irradiation effect of a simultaneous laser and electron dual-beam on void formation.

Randomly distributed lattice point defects such as supersaturated vacancies (SVs) and Frenkel-pairs (FPs, an interstitial and a vacancy) can be simultaneously introduced into the crystal by energetic beam irradiation in outer space and/or nuclear reactors, but their behavior has not been fully understood. Using a high-voltage electron microscope equipped with a laser (laser-HVEM), we show the striking effects of simultaneous laser-electron (photon-electron) dual-beam irradiation on void formation. Our results reveal that during laser-electron sequential irradiation, pre-laser irradiation enhanced void nucleation and subsequent electron irradiation enhanced void growth.

Fabrication of a Au/Si nanocomposite structure by nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation.

A gold/silicon nanocomposite structure (NCS) was formed on a Si(100) surface by nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation. The Au/Si NCS contained both Au nanoparticles (NPs) and Au-Si alloy layers. We report that the use of laser irradiation to form Au NPs comprises two competing processes: a top-down effect involving decomposition into smaller NPs and a bottom-up effect involving self-assembly or self-organization into larger NPs.

Synthesis and properties of oligonucleotides containing silylated pyrene derivatives.

Preparation and properties of the novel fluorescently labelled oligonucleotides, containing the silylated pyrene derivatives are reported. The silylated pyrene derivatives were introduced into both 5'-terminus and C-5 position of the deoxyuridine derivatives. The fluorescent spectra indicated the possibility of the discrimination of the duplex formation by the simple denaturation.

Genetic linkages between circadian clock-associated components and phytochrome-dependent red light signal transduction in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The current best candidates for Arabidopsis thaliana clock components are CCA1 (CIRCADIAN CLOCK-ASSOCIATED 1) and its homolog LHY (LATE ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL). In addition, five members of a small family, PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATORS (including PRR1, PRR3, PRR5, PRR7 and PRR9), are believed to be another type of clock component. The originally described member of PRRs is TOC1 (or PRR1) (TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION 1).

Characterization of a set of phytochrome-interacting factor-like bHLH proteins in Oryza sativa.

The model dicotyledon Arabidopsis thaliana has a characteristic small sub-family of phytochrome-interacting bHLH (basic Helix-Loop-Helix) factors, which are collectively designated the PIL (or PIF) (PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR-LIKE) family proteins. In this study, we identified and characterized a set of highly homologous members (designated OsPIL11 to OsPIL16) in the model monocotyledon rice (Oryza sativa). Some of them (OsPIL11, OsPIL12, and OsPIL13) showed the ability to interact with the putative OsPRR1 (PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATOR 1) clock component, as far as the results of yeast two-hybrid assays were concerned.

Mutants of circadian-associated PRR genes display a novel and visible phenotype as to light responses during de-etiolation of Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings.

In Arabidopsis thaliana, it is currently accepted that certain mutants with lesions in clock-associated genes commonly display hallmarked phenotypes with regard to three characteristic biological events: (i) altered rhythmic expression of circadian-controlled genes, (ii) changes in flowering time, and (iii) altered sensitivity to red light in elongation of hypocotyls. During the course of examination of the clock-associated mutants of PSEUDO-RESPONSE REGULATORS, PRRs, including TOC1 (PRR1), we found that they commonly show another visible phenotype of anomalous greening responses upon the onset to light exposure of etiolated seedlings. These findings are indicative of a novel link between circadian rhythms and chloroplast development.

Characterization of circadian-associated pseudo-response regulators: II. The function of PRR5 and its molecular dissection in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Together with PRR1/TOC1, PRR5 belongs to the small family of Pseudo-Response Regulators (PRRs), which function as clock components of Arabidopsis thaliana. We employed a set of transgenic lines, each of which was designed to misexpress a truncated form of the PRR5 molecule, together with the original transgenic line (named PRR5-ox) that misexpresses the entire PRR5 polypeptide. The results of genetic analysis suggested that PRR5-ox seedlings showed a phenotype of hypersensitivity to red light during early photomorphogenesis in a manner dependent on red light photoreceptors (PhyA and PhyB), but independent of PRR1/TOC1.

[Mental health status and effects on daily life of patients of a large outbreak of Legionnaires Disease].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to survey mental health status among patients of a large outbreak of Legionnaires Disease (LD) occurring at a public bath in Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture, from June through July, 2002. It also aimed to provide a basis for establishing a mental health care support system for persons suffering from ill health.

Methods: Some 295 patients were reported by medical institutions to public health centers as being infected with LD or having suspected infection after using a hot springs bath, where hygiene was assumed to be maintained by regular water circulation, from 6/20 through 7/23, 2002 in Hyuga City, Miyazaki Prefecture.

Circadian-controlled basic/helix-loop-helix factor, PIL6, implicated in light-signal transduction in Arabidopsis thaliana.

PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR-LIKE 6 (PIL6) is a member of the large family of basic/helix-loop-helix (bHLH) factors in Arabidopsis thaliana. This circadian-controlled transcription factor was previously suggested to interact with the clock component, TIMING OF CAB EXPRESSION 1 (TOC1). In this study, we isolated a loss-of-function mutant of PIL6, together with a transgenic line aberrantly expressing PIL6 in a manner independent of circadian rhythm.