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

Porous biodegradable microspheres can be prepared by using the direct melting dispersion method without any noxious organic solvents, in which the biodegradable polymer is directly melted and stirred to form the liquid–liquid dispersion followed by cooling in the continuous phase, such as ethylene glycol with the higher melting temperature than polymer.



In the experiment, polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) was adopted as the biodegradable polymer.



As particulate porogen, magnetite powder was pre-mixed into the melted polymer and removed by hydrochloric acid aqueous solution after preparation of the microspheres to make them porous.



It was found that the inner surface area was significantly increased by removing magnetite powder. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Preparation of porous biodegradable microspheres with direct melting dispersion method

Optical multi-stability of bimesogenic cholesteric liquid crystal

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a substrate which comprises a step wherein metal particles are deposited on a certain position of a substrate (1) by a fine inkjet method and then sintered, thereby forming a metal column (2).

Substrate and method for manufacturing same

Study on analysis of thick plate and multi-layer slab with various mixed boundary conditions

A method of tilting liquid crystal molecules is presented. The method entails providing a substrate including a photoalignment layer on top of a layer of liquid crystal molecules. The photoalignment layer is exposed to patterned light that is incident on the substrate at a substantially normal angle. The patterned light is polarized in a polarization direction that is non-parallel to an incident surface of the substrate.

Hiroshi Yokoyama

Papers

Preparation of porous biodegradable microspheres with direct melting dispersion method

Optical multi-stability of bimesogenic cholesteric liquid crystal

Substrate and method for manufacturing same

Study on analysis of thick plate and multi-layer slab with various mixed boundary conditions

Maskless process for pre-tilting liquid crystal molecules