Synergetic Enhancement of Light-Matter Interaction by Nonlocality and Band Degeneracy in ZnO Thin Films

This study aims to reveal the full potential of ZnO as an ultrafast photofunctional material. Based on nonlocal response theory to incorporate the spatially inhomogeneous quality of the samples coupled with experimental observations of linear and nonlinear optical responses, we establish the ultrafast radiative decay of excitons in ZnO thin films that reaches the speed of excitonic dephasing at room temperature in typical semiconductors at a couple tens of femtoseconds. The consistency between the observed delay-time dependence of the transient-grating signals and the theoretical prediction reveals that the ultrafast radiative decay is due to the synergetic effects of the giant light-exciton interaction volume and the radiative coupling between multicomponent excitons.

Synchronization Dynamics in a Designed Open System

We theoretically propose a unifying expression for synchronization dynamics between two-level constituents. Although synchronization phenomena require some substantial mediators, the distinct repercussions of their propagation delays remain obscure, especially in open systems. Our scheme directly incorporates the details of the constituents and mediators in an arbitrary environment. As one example, we demonstrate the synchronization dynamics of optical emitters on a dielectric microsphere. We reveal that the whispering gallery modes (WGMs) bridge the well-separated emitters and accelerate the synchronized fluorescence, known as superfluorescence. The emitters are found to overcome the significant and nonuniform retardation, and to build up their pronounced coherence by the WGMs, striking a balance between the roles of resonator and intermediary. Our work directly illustrates the dynamical aspects of many-body synchronizations and contributes to the exploration of research paradigms that consider designed open systems.

Resonance optical trapping of individual dye-doped polystyrene particles with blue- and red-detuned lasers

We demonstrate resonance optical trapping of individual dye-doped polystyrene particles with blue- and red-detuned lasers whose energy are higher and lower compared to electronic transition of the dye molecules, respectively. Through the measurement on how long individual particles are trapped at the focus, we here show that immobilization time of dye-doped particles becomes longer than that of bare ones. We directly confirm that the immobilization time of dye-doped particles trapped by the blue-detuned laser becomes longer than that by the red-detuned one. These findings are well interpreted by our previous theoretical proposal based on nonlinear optical response under intense laser field. It is discussed that the present result is an important step toward efficient and selective manipulation of molecules, quantum dots, nanoparticles, and various nanomaterials based on their quantum mechanical properties.

Sandwich ELISA Using a Mouse/Human Chimeric CSLEX-1 Antibody

BACKGROUND

An assay using a mouse antisialyl Lewis X (sLeX) antibody (CSLEX-1) is used clinically for screening and monitoring patients with breast cancer in Japan. However, the IgM isoform of CSLEX-1 is not preferred for the assay because the bulkiness of IgM generally causes poor accessibility to the antigen. To solve this problem, we developed an antisLeX mouse/human chimeric IgG antibody, CH-CSLEX-1, using transgenic silkworms. The performance of a homologous sandwich ELISA of CH-CSLEX1 was then evaluated.

METHODS

To generate CH-CSLEX-1, we used a GAL4/UAS binary gene expression system in transgenic silkworms. The reactivities of CSLEX-1 and CH-CSLEX-1 were determined in a Biacore analysis. To confirm antigen specificity, 3 antigens [sLeX, sLeA, and Lewis Y (LeY)] were used.

RESULTS

CH-CSLEX-1 formed correctly as an IgG class of immunoglobulin molecule with an isoelectric point close to the predicted value. The best combination for capturing and probing in a sandwich ELISA was determined as a homologous combination of CH-CSLEX-1. The CH-CSLEX-1 assay specifically detected sLeX, but not sLeA and LeY. A correlation analysis with 107 human samples showed good concordance between the conventional CSLEX-1 assay (homologous sandwich ELISA using CSLEX-1) and the CH-CSLEX-1 assay (r = 0.98). Moreover, the CH-CSLEX-1 assay was not affected by either human antimouse IgG antibodies (HAMA IgG) or HAMA IgM.

CONCLUSIONS

The mouse/human chimeric antibody CH-CSLEX-1 allowed the establishment of a highly specific sandwich ELISA for sLeX that was not affected by HAMA.

Abstract P5-02-06: Predicting the response of molecular targeting agents in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines by kinase activities

Introduction

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathways are two major hyper-activated cascades in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) that critically regulate cancer progression by enhancing cell survival, proliferation, metastasis, EMT, cancer stem cell regulate, and transformation. While many therapeutic agents targeting kinases in these pathways are being developed, the development of predictor of response for such agents are critical to successfully translate them into the clinic. Genomic analysis (amplification, deletion of mutation) is one of the prediction methods. However, these technologies do not always reflect the intrinsic functionalities/activities of the kinase molecules. Therefore, we hypothesized that kinase activity predicts the response to the targeted therapy in TNBC.

Materials and methods

Seventeen TNBC cell lines were used in this study. To analyze cell growth inhibition, cells were incubated for 72 h with various concentrations of trametinib or wortmannin, then processed for sulforhodamine B (SRB) staining assay. To measure MEK or PI3K enzymatic activity, TNBC cell lines were lysed and immunoprecipitated with magnetic beads conjugated with MEK antibody or with PI3K p110α antibody. Kinase reaction buffer including respective substrate and ATP was added to the immunoprecipitates and incubated for 120 minutes at 37 °C. Resultant ADP was quantified by HPLC and determined MEK and PI3K activities. Protein mass of MEK, PI3K, phospho-MEK and phospho-PI3K were determined by Western Blot analysis. Total protein amount was measured by A280. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was measured by N-assay L LDH Nittobo. Total protein and LDH were used to normalize MEK and PI3K activities for the further analysis.

Results

Seventeen TNBC cell lines were classified into 4 groups depending on pattern of inhibition to two inhibitors as follows; Wortmannin (PI3K inhibitor) sensitive group (W, 2/17), Trametinib (MEK inhibitor) sensitive group (T, 2/17), Both sensitive group (S, 5/17) and Resistant group (R, 8/17). We found that ratio of PI3K activity and MEK activity showed good agreement to the cell classification (PPV [Wortmannin]: 67 %, PPV [Trametinib]: 33 %, NPV: = 100 %). The other parameters; enzymatic activity of MEK or PI3K, protein mass of MEK, PI3K, phospho-MEK, or phospho-PI3K, ratios of the protein mass, and the phospho-protein did not show statistically significant agreement to the classification. Mutational status and enzymatic activities or cell classification had no correlation. Additionally, MEK activity correlated to downstream phospho-ERK expression level (R = 0.7309).

Conclusion

Our results show that relative activity of two relevant kinases in the signaling cascade could predict the cell lines that will not respond to molecular targeting agents against corresponding cascades. Our concept should be warranted in the clinical study with statistically sufficient number of patients.

Citation Format: Sato N, Wakabayashi M, Lee J, Lim B, Ueno NT, Ishihara H. Predicting the response of molecular targeting agents in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines by kinase activities. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-02-06.

Abstract P2-08-27: Prediction of bone metastases of breast cancer using combined markers of bone metabolism and inflammation

Introduction

Luminal breast cancer patients show a relatively favorable prognosis when treated with adjuvant hormonal therapy alone. However, some of these patients develop recurrence and they might derive benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. Although several genomic profilings successfully developed to decide whether to administer adjuvant chemotherapy, clinically practical prediction methods of recurrence sites do not exist. Our previous study showed a possible prediction of bone metastases by using two serum markers; TRACP-5b as a marker of bone metabolism; likelihood of bone metastases, and CRP as a marker of inflammation; likelihood of distant recurrence. The incidence of bone metastases was significantly higher in high risk patients(+/+) than in the others(odds ratio: 10.9, P=0.040). In this study, we examined the potential of the two-marker prediction in the newly enrolled luminal patients.

Patients and methods

One hundred sixty luminal patients who underwent surgery were enrolled in this study. Their serum levels of TRACP-5b and CRP were measured in a blinded manner at the R & D laboratory of Nittobo Medical Co., Ltd. In the preliminary study, we identified that the median value of TRACP-5b in the premenopausal patients was lower than in the postmenopausal patients. We adjusted the value of TRACP-5b in the premenopausal patients and the cutoff value of TRACP-5b from 334 to 396mU/dL. The cutoff value of CRP was same as previous study(0.016 mg/dL). The odds ratio between +/+ and the others were calculated using MedCalc statistical software.

Results

One hundred sixty patients stratified into four classes according to the value of TRACP-5b and CRP: +/+ (n=43), +/- (n=38), -/+ (n=42) and -/- (n=37). Six of the 160 patients developed bone metastases as the initial site of replase within five years from surgery. The Incidence of bone metastases was 9.3%(4/43) in the +/+ patients and 1.7%(2/117) in the others. The incidence was significantly higher in the +/+ patients than in the others(odds ratio: 5.9, 95% CI 1.31 to 33.46, p= 0.045). When the other relapses than bone metastases were included in the analysis, no significant difference was observed between the two groups (odds ratio: 0.4, 95% CI 0.02 to 7.43, P=0.521). TRACP-5b concentration alone could not classify the patients into two groups according to significantly different incidences of bone metastases(odds ratio: 13.7, 95% CI 0.76 to 247.22, P=0.076).

Conclusion

The results in here show that the prediction of bone metastases by the combination of TRACP-5b and CRP concentrations is clinically relevant in the luminal patients. Reliable prediction of bone metastases would be realized by combination of our prediction method and one of genomic profilings. We plan to increase the number of patients to provide sufficient statistical power to confirm this diagnostic potential.

Citation Format: Shimoda M, Nishimukai A, Shibata N, Kikuchi W, Hutawatari H, Ishihara H, Miyoshi Y, Noguchi S. Prediction of bone metastases of breast cancer using combined markers of bone metabolism and inflammation. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-27.

Fabrication of single-crystalline microspheres with high sphericity from anisotropic materials

Microspheres with high sphericity exhibit unique functionalities. In particular, their high symmetry makes them excellent omnidirectional optical resonators. As such perfect micrometre-sized spheres are known to be formed by surface tension, melt cooling is a popular method for fabricating microspheres. However, it is extremely difficult to produce crystalline microspheres using this method because their surfaces are normally faceted. Only microspheres of polymers, glass, or ceramics have been available, while single-crystalline microspheres, which should be useful in optical applications, have been awaiting successful production. Here we report the fabrication of single-crystalline semiconductor microspheres that have surfaces with atomic-level smoothness. These microspheres were formed by performing laser ablation in superfluid helium to create and moderately cool a melt of the anisotropic semiconductor material. This novel method provides cooling conditions that are exceptionally suited for the fabrication of single-crystalline microspheres. This finding opens a pathway for studying the hidden mechanism of anisotropy-free crystal growth and its applications.

Enhanced up-conversion of entangled photons and quantum interference under a localized field in nanostructures

We theoretically investigate the up-conversion process of two entangled photons on a molecule, which is coupled by a cavity or nanoscale metallic structure. Within one-dimensional input-output theory, the propagators of the photons are derived analytically and the up-conversion probability is calculated numerically. It is shown that the coupling with the nanostructure clearly enhances the process. We also find that the enhancement becomes further pronounced for some balanced system parameters, such as the quantum correlation between photons, radiation decay, and coupling between the nanostructure and molecule. The nonmonotonic dependencies are reasonably explained in view of quantum interference between the coupled modes of the whole system. This result indicates that controlling quantum interference and correlation is crucial for few-photon nonlinearity, and provides a new guidance to wide variety of fields, e.g., quantum electronics and photochemistry.

Model of finite-momentum excitons driven by surface plasmons in photoexcited carbon nanotubes covered by gold metal films

Optical spectra of finite-momentum excitons in carbon nanotubes with gold nanostructures are theoretically studied. A Green function method is developed for self-consistently solving Maxwell equations including the quantum-mechanical nonlocal response of the nanotubes and the local response of the nanostructures. Excitons with finite momenta in the axis direction in the nanotubes are effectively excited by localized electric fields due to surface plasmons in the gold nanostructures and counteract the surface plasmons through depolarization fields, showing the crucial self-consistency of these effects.

Computer Simulation of Multi filament Air Jet Melt Spinning

Air jet melt spinning for multifilament system was studied both theoretically and experimentally. Basic equations describing the multifilament system of air jet melt spinning were derived by considering air temperature and velocity of cooling flow surrounding the individual spinlines. Numerical computations of the fundamental equations for air jet melt spinning were carried out for various spinning conditions. Steady-state solutions obtained give the spinline cross sectional area, spinline temperature, spinning tension and spinline velocity. These are described as a function of the distance measured downward from the spinneret. Air jet melt spinning experiments were conducted for poly-(ethyleneterephthalate) (PET) having an intrinsic viscosity of 0.61. The spinning variables were changed mainly in terms of throughput, distance from spinneret point to ejector and air pressure in the ejector. Good correlations between theory and experiment were obtained for the final spinline speed or as-spun fiber denier. Further, the molecular orientation of asspun fiber can be estimated using the computed stretching speed at the ejector point. It was found that the simulation program of multifilament air jet spinning is very useful in finding the appropriate spinning conditions for the industrial spinning process and in estimating fiber properties.

Effect of Mold Temperature on Structure and Property Variations of PBT Injection Moldings in the Thickness Direction

During injection molding process, the surface of flowing resin in contact with the mold surface is cooled first followed by the cooling of inner part. This results in the variation of microstructure in moldings through the thickness direction. It has been reported that these phenomena result in the layered structure of injection moldings. Particularly, because of the rapid rate of crystallization, PBT injection moldings have well-defined skin and core layers. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of mold temperature on the development of structure and property variations of PBT injection moldings in the thickness direction. Tensile tests were performed using dumbbell specimens that were stamped out from the sliced specimens of moldings. Neck phenomenon occurred irrespective of mold temperature and distance from the surface of moldings. The start point of neck propagation shifted to higher strain with increasing distance from the surface. Tensile modulus increased with increasing distance from the surface. In order to discuss these results from a structural viewpoint, the microstructure of each layer was evaluated by density, wide-angle X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared absorption measurements. The delay in necking start points with increasing distance from the surface is due to the higher crystallinity of the inner layer compared to that of the layer near the surface. Two crystal forms of PBT (α- and β-forms) were developed in injection moldings. The region near the surface, where content of α-form is larger than that of β-form, becomes thinner with increasing mold temperature. It is known that the crystal modulus of α-form is lower than that of β-form. Therefore the portion of moldings with lower tensile modulus and yield strength becomes smaller. It is suggested that the border between the skin and core layers, where tensile property changes, shifts to the surface of PBT injection moldings as mold temperature increases.

Permanent fixing or reversible trapping and release of DNA micropatterns on a gold nanostructure using continuous-wave or femtosecond-pulsed near-infrared laser light

The use of localized surface plasmons (LSPs) for highly sensitive biosensors has already been investigated, and they are currently being applied for the optical manipulation of small nanoparticles. The objective of this work was the optical trapping of λ-DNA on a metallic nanostructure with femtosecond-pulsed (fs) laser irradiation. Continuous-wave laser irradiation, which is generally used for plasmon excitation, not only increased the electromagnetic field intensity but also generated heat around the nanostructure, causing the DNA to become permanently fixed on the plasmonic substrate. Using fs laser irradiation, on the other hand, the reversible trapping and release of the DNA was achieved by switching the fs laser irradiation on and off. This trap-and-release behavior was clearly observed using a fluorescence microscope. This technique can also be used to manipulate other biomolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins, and polysaccharides and will prove to be a useful tool in the fabrication of biosensors.

Proposed nonlinear resonance laser technique for manipulating nanoparticles

We propose nonlinear resonant laser manipulation, a technique that drastically enhances the number of degrees of freedom when manipulating nano-objects. Considering the high laser intensity required to trap single molecules, we calculate the radiation force exerted on a molecule in a focused laser beam by solving the density matrix equations using the nonperturbative method. The results coherently elucidate certain recently reported puzzling phenomena that contradict the conventional understanding of laser trapping. Further, we demonstrate unconventional forms of laser manipulations using "stimulated recoil force" and "subwavelength laser manipulation."