Abstract:
The action of high-frequency AC electric field on a single-stranded nucleic acid being present in an aqueous solution is verified, and the action is utilized for enhancement of the efficiency of hybridization for conversion of the single-stranded nucleic acid to a companion complementary strand. There are provided, for example, a method of nucleic acid extension and nucleic acid extending apparatus, wherein high-frequency AC electric field is applied to a single-stranded nucleic acid being present in liberated form in pure water or an aqueous solution of 5 to 11 pH (R), or to a single-stranded nucleic acid fixed onto the surface (f) of one or both (E) of counter electrodes (E,E) provided so as to face the aqueous solution (R), thereby extending the single-stranded nucleic acid.
Abstract:
Disclosed is a bioassay method in which, by controlling the electric field formation in the reaction region where an interaction between substances, such as a hybridization, is performed, the efficiency of the interaction can be improved. Also disclosed is a bioassay apparatus in which the method can be favorably carried out. In the method, an interaction between substances is detected by a detecting element 1 (10), the detecting element including at least a detection surface S (S') which is surface-treated for immobilizing a detecting substance D, a reaction region R (R') which provides a field for interaction between the detecting substance D immobilized on the detection surface S (S') and a target substance T, and an electric field-forming means E which forms an electric field in the reaction region R (R') by applying a potential difference in the reaction region R (R'), and the method includes at least a step of turning on/off the electric field formation by the electric field-forming means E at a predetermined timing.
Abstract:
A semiconductor laser comprises a substrate (31) in which there are formed, in turn, a first cladding layer (32), an active layer (33), a second cladding layer (34) and a light absorbing layer (35) for limiting a current path and for absorbing light emitted from the active layer (33). The light absorbing layer (35) is provided with a stripe-shaped removed portion (35a) for forming the current path. The width (W) of the removed portion (35a) is selected to be in a range of from 1 to 4 microns, the thickness (d1) of the active layer (33) is selected to be not less than approximately 500 Angstroms, and the distance (d2) between the active layer (33) and the light absorbing layer (35) is selected to be in a range of from 0.2 to 0.7 microns.
Abstract:
A semiconductor photovoltaic device is comprised of 2n layers of alternating p-type and n-type material having respective PN junctions between adjacent layers, wherein n is an integer greater than 1. Each layer has a thickness which is less than the diffusion length of a minority carrier therein. The PN junctions are excited by light which is incident on the device to thereby cause majority carriers to be accumulated in the respective layers so as to forward bias all of the PN junctions. As a result of this forward biasing, minority carriers are injected across a first PN junction fr0m one layer into an adjacent layer and then traverse the next PN junction into the next succeeding layer. The photovoltaic device thus is adapted to supply a voltage and a current to a load.
Abstract:
A semiconductor laser comprises a substrate (31) in which there are formed, in turn, a first cladding layer (32), an active layer (33), a second cladding layer (34) and a light absorbing layer (35) for limiting a current path and for absorbing light emitted from the active layer (33). The light absorbing layer (35) is provided with a stripe-shaped removed portion (35a) for forming the current path. The width (W) of the removed portion (35a) is selected to be in a range of from 1 to 4 microns, the thickness (d1) of the active layer (33) is selected to be not less than approximately 500 Angstroms, and the distance (d2) between the active layer (33) and the light absorbing layer (35) is selected to be in a range of from 0.2 to 0.7 microns.
Abstract:
A polycrystalline silicon layer provides an antireflective coating on a semiconductor surface of a photo-sensitive detector, the polycrystalline silicon layer containing from 25 to 45 atomic percent of oxygen and having a refractive index intermediate that of the semiconductor crystal and the exterior environment.
Abstract:
A bioassay method in which the efficiency of an interaction between substances such as hybridization is enhanced by controlling the production of an electric field in a reaction region where the interaction occurs, and a bioassay device for preferably implementing the method are disclosed. The method is conducted to detect an interaction between substances by using a detector (1(10)) at least having a detection surface (S(S')) subjected to a surface treatment for fixing a substance D for detection, a reaction region (R(R')) for providing a field where an interaction between the detection substance D fixed to the detection surface (S(S')) and an added target substance T occurs, and electric field producing means (E) for producing an electric field in the reaction region (R(R')) by causing a potential difference in the reaction region (R(R')). The method comprises a procedure of turning on/off the electric field producing means (E) at a predetermined timing so as to produce/extinguish an electric field.
Abstract:
It is intended to clarify the undisclosed part of the mechanism controlling the circadian rhythm. It is newly found out that RORa (retinoic acid binding-receptor alpha, the same applies hereinafter) promotes the induction of Bmal1 expression and that the induction of Bmal1 expression is promoted under hypoxic conditions. These facts strongly suggest the presence of the mechanism controlling the circadian rhythm wherein, when RORa expression is promoted under hypoxic conditions etc., the induction of Bmal1 expression is promoted and the promotion of the induction of Bmal1 expression promotes the binding of BMAL1 to CLOCK to thereby promote the induction of the expression of the Per gene or the Cry gene. Accordingly, the above findings are likely applicable to agents for regulating jet lag and anticancer drugs.
Abstract:
In a cell detecting part (2), an end face (13a) of a cantilever (13) is previously surface treated so that a detecting nucleotide chain D can be fixed thereto. In a reaction area (10), an electric field is generated by a cathode (11) and an anode (12). A target nucleotide chain T dripped from a nozzle (3) moves to the end face (13a) while the target nucleotide chain T is stretched. When the detecting nucleotide chain D and the target nucleotide chain T are hybridized, the mass of the cantilever (13) is increased to lower a natural frequency. Thus, ac voltage is applied to the cantilever (13) to measure the change of the natural frequency. Thus, whether or not there is the hybridization is detected and the number of the hybridized target nucleotide chains T is quantitatively detected.
Abstract:
In a cell detecting part (2), an end face (13a) of a cantilever (13) is previously surface treated so that a detecting nucleotide chain D can be fixed thereto. In a reaction area (10), an electric field is generated by a cathode (11) and an anode (12). A target nucleotide chain T dripped from a nozzle (3) moves to the end face (13a) while the target nucleotide chain T is stretched. When the detecting nucleotide chain D and the target nucleotide chain T are hybridized, the mass of the cantilever (13) is increased to lower a natural frequency. Thus, ac voltage is applied to the cantilever (13) to measure the change of the natural frequency. Thus, whether or not there is the hybridization is detected and the number of the hybridized target nucleotide chains T is quantitatively detected.