http://experimentationlab.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/AFMImages/butt_AFM.pdf

Force measurements with the atomic force microscope: Technique, interpretation and applications

The widespread use of controlled molecular-level motion in key natural processes suggests that great rewards could come from bridging the gap between the present generation of synthetic molecular systems, which by and large rely upon electronic and chemical effects to carry out their functions, and the machines of the macroscopic world, which utilize the synchronized movements of smaller parts to perform specific tasks. This is a scientific area of great contemporary interest and extraordinary recent growth, yet the notion of molecular-level machines dates back to a time when the ideas surrounding the statistical nature of matter and the laws of thermodynamics were first being formulated. Here we outline the exciting successes in taming molecular-level movement thus far, the underlying principles that all experimental designs must follow, and the early progress made towards utilizing synthetic molecular structures to perform tasks using mechanical motion. We also highlight some of the issues and challenges that still need to be overcome.

Synthetic molecular motors and mechanical machines.

Rapid improvements in sequencing and array-based platforms are resulting in a flood of diverse genome-wide data, including data from exome and whole-genome sequencing, epigenetic surveys, expression profiling of coding and noncoding RNAs, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and copy number profiling, and functional assays. Analysis of these large, diverse data sets holds the promise of a more comprehensive understanding of the genome and its relation to human disease. Experienced and knowledgeable human review is an essential component of this process, complementing computational approaches. This calls for efficient and intuitive visualization tools able to scale to very large data sets and to flexibly integrate multiple data types, including clinical data. However, the sheer volume and scope of data pose a significant challenge to the development of such tools.

Integrative Genomics Viewer

Over the 100 years since its discovery, liquid crystals have been the intriguing subject for both academia and industries. The textbook of de Gennes The Physics of Liquid Crystals published in 1974 is still the bible for many LC researchers, but new subjects unmentioned in the book have also risen for these years. This chapter describes the story of the recent developments and the future perspectives in physics of liquid crystals, especially focusing on the contributions by Japanese research groups for the last decade.

Physics of Liquid Crystals

Dynamic atomic force microscopy methods

Microsporidian encephalomyelitis of the greater amberjack Seriola dumerili is characterized by a spiral swimming movement in diseased fish, and has been reported in fish imported into Japan from China. In 2010, a similar disease was found in cultured yelowtail Seriola quinqueradiata, which were raised in Japan using wild-captured fingerlings. In the present study, a microsporidian was consistently observed in the nervous tissue of al diseased yelowtail specimens, supporting the hypothesis that the microsporidian is the etiologic agent of the disease. Morphological and molecular similarities between the yelowtail and amberjack microsporidia indicate that they belong to the same species. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the present microsporidian was closely related to the genus Spraguea. Histopathological examination of afected yelowtail revealed encephalomyelitis with severe gliosis, degenerate axons and necrotic nerve cels with cytoplasmic vacuoles, together with aggregates of microsporidian spores in the lesions. Field investigations of cultured yelowtail at the same farm where the disease occurred in 2010 showed that disease incidence and infection prevalence decreased in 2011 and 2012. The present microsporidian was probably transferred to Japan from China through importation of juvenile greater amberjack, folowed by transmission to cultured yelowtail.

Microsporidian Encephalomyelitis in Cultured Yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata

We investigated effects of particle modification on physical properties of particle/liquid-crystal composites by polarizing optical microscopy and rheology. The surface modification of particles (ZrO2) was performed with an azobenzene carboxylic acid (8AB5COOH) in acetone. Surface coverage was evaluated as 56%. Under a polarizing microscope, the composites containing the surface-modified particle (8AB5COOH-ZrO2/8CB) exhibited characteristic textures in both smectic A (SmA) and nematic (N) phases. These textures could be observed repeatedly by changing the phase structures (SmA ↔ N) indicating the presence of strong coupling between the particle surface and 8CB molecules. In the rheological measurements, we observed cooperative changes of steady shear viscosity associated with isotropic → N phase transition in 8AB5COOH-ZrO2/8CB composites. With increasing the particle concentration, although the inherent discontinuous change of the viscosity around 42°C became small, a new characteristic change in the visc...

Effects of particle modification on properties of particle/liquid-crystal composites

Plasma cell granuloma of urethra in a young woman

With an aim of the precise control of the anodic oxidation process by atomic force microscopy, the technical improvement has been carried out based on the mechanism studies. The accuracy and reliability of the nanofabrication have been improved by the combination of ambient humidity control, improvement of instrumental performance and meniscus lifetime control. In parallel, the mechanism study has been proceeded through the detection of Faradaic current. The in situ Faradaic current detection of the nano-oxidation process can actually work as a sensitive monitor for the nano-oxidation process with a high reliability. From an engineering viewpoint with an eye to practical applications, controllable physical parameters which affect on the product size are enumerated to consider what we should do to raise the precision of nano-oxidation. Then the fast fabrication in a large area by a patchwork method, Faradaic current detection during oxidation-reduction reaction, and nanofabrication by current-control are shown as examples.

Precise control of nanofabrication by atomic force microscopy.

Kazuhiro Murata'*, Junichi Matsumoto2, Akira Tezuka', Kenshu Oyama', Yorishige Matsuba3 and Hiroshi Yokoyama' 1 Nanotechnology Research Institute, Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, AIST Central 5, 1-1-1, Higashi, Tsukuba, rbaraki, 305-8565, Japan 2 Advanced Manufacturing Research Institute, Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, AIST East, 1-2-1, Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8564, Japan 3 Tsukuba Research Laboratory, Harima Chemicals, Inc., 5-9-3, Tokodai, Tsukuba, Ibraki, 300-2635, Japan

Hiroshi Yokoyama

Papers

Microsporidian Encephalomyelitis in Cultured Yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata

Effects of particle modification on properties of particle/liquid-crystal composites

Plasma cell granuloma of urethra in a young woman

Precise control of nanofabrication by atomic force microscopy.

Super fine wiring by inkjet printing