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

Recent development in scanning probe microscope techniques has made it possible to investigate, not only microscopic surface topography, but also physical and chemical properties on the nanometer-scale. We observed the surface potential distribution and molecular ordering in monolayers. The SMM surface potential image clearly shows the existence of micron-sized domains in the polymer monolayers with a good correspondence to the topographical features. This is a first step towards understanding electrical phenomena in organic and inorganic materials with SMM.

Electrical Features of Surface Structure in Polymer Monolayers by Smm

Development of a simple and automatic apparatus for water quality monitoring of treated livestock wastewater

This datasheet on Microsporidium seriolae covers Identity, Distribution, Hosts/Species Affected.

Microsporidium seriolae

Super-structures produced in the smectic molecular organization are reviewed, and the origin for the structures discussed,
in which it is emphasized that the frustration plays an important role in the emergence of the super-structures. Properties
and structures of mysterious smectic phases possessing chirality-induced super-structures are introduced, including
smectic blue and smectic Q (SmQ) phases that possess three dimensional (3D) structures. The molecular design on
stabilizing the 3D structure is proposed. The molecular orientations in the 3D structures are not so sensitive to the
external electric field due to an intricate smectic ordering, thus it has been difficult to imagine practical applications of
these structures. The SmQ compound possessing an azobenzene core in the molecular structure is designed and the
liquid-crystalline properties and photoresponse investigated. By means of the photoisomerization of the azobenzene
moiety, we demonstrate that the 3D structure of the SmQ phase can be controlled by light as an external stimulus,
suggesting a possibility for new applications utilizing the liquid-crystalline 3D structure.

Super-structured smectics and their application

A bistability of nematic liquid crystals was devised on the pattern of checkerboard-like local rubbing; the alignment of the liquid crystal on neighboring domains was orthogonal each other. 4-fold symmetry of the pattern and liquid crystal frustration forced bulk director to orient along one of two average directions of the local rubbings. A liquid crystal orientation was switched to the other by in-plane electric field. To realize bi-directional switching it was needed to apply electric field along two different directions using two pairs of electrodes. In this experiment we used a liquid crystal, which changes the sign of dielectric anisotropy to frequency of electric field. It has a merit of reducing number of electrodes into two, meaning simple electrodes structure. We successfully switched between two orientations with changing frequency of applying field.

Hiroshi Yokoyama

Papers

Electrical Features of Surface Structure in Polymer Monolayers by Smm

Development of a simple and automatic apparatus for water quality monitoring of treated livestock wastewater

Microsporidium seriolae

Super-structured smectics and their application

A bistable device of a nematic LC showing the sign reversal of the dielectric anisotropy