Micro machining for control of wettability with surface topography

A micro fabrication is presented to manufacture hydrophobic surfaces with micro-scale structures. Hydrophobicity is controlled with the shape and the alignment of micro pillars in the structure. The structures are manufactured in large areas at high production rates in the following processes: (1) the structure is fabricated on a tool by focused ion beam sputtering; (2) the reverse structure is formed on a metal plate by incremental stamping using the structured tool; and (3) the structure is transferred onto plastic plates by molding. A consecutive stamping is also proposed to fabricate several structures on a surface accurately with a structured tool, in which the moving pitch of the structured tool is numerically controlled. The effect of the surface topography on hydrophobicity is discussed with measuring contact angles on the structured surfaces in the water droplet tests. Hydrophobicity on the plastic plate is associated with the solid fraction on the structured surface based on the Cassie–Baxter model. A larger contact angle is observed for a smaller solid fraction of the surface.     

Antihypertensive Effect of Salt-Free Soy Sauce,a New Fermented Seasoning,in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

ABSTRACT: In this study, we focused on the antihypertensive effect of newly fermented salt-free soy sauce (SFS) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). A 13-wk oral administration of SFS was performed daily in 8- to 21-wk-old SHRs with a dose of 200 mg/kg of body weight/d. The systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures were measured for each week during the experimental period. As a result, a significant (P < 0.01) BP lowering effect was observed from the 5th d to the end of the experiment in the SFS group compared with the control group (ΔSBP_21-wk: 27 mmHg, ΔDBP_21-wk: 20 mmHg). In contrast to such substantial effect by SFS intake, angiotensin I-converting enzyme activities in blood and local organs as well as pharmaceutical parameters such as serum Na⁺ or K⁺ level did not show any significant difference between in both SFS and control groups. Vasoconstriction experiment using thoracic aorta rings from 21-wk SHRs provided an interesting result that the rings from the SFS group evoked a >2-fold higher increase in the angiotensin II-stimulated constrictive response compared with the rings from the control group (P = 0.012), which suggested that the SFS-intake would be effective in possessing a higher vessel tone. Practical Application: In this study, we investigated the antihypertensive effect of newly fermented SFS in SHRs. As a result of 13-wk SFS-administration, we found a significant antihypertensive effect of the SFS. This finding strongly demonstrates that the developed SFS would be greatly beneficial for health and useful for health-related industries.     

A novel ferromagnetic thermo-stent for plaque stabilization that self-regulates the temperature

The purpose of this study is to investigate the vascular wall with a thermally self-regulating, cylindrical stent made of a low Curie temperature ferromagnetic alloy. Physiologic saline was circulated in the silicone model vessel implanted with the stent. The stent-temperature remained nearly constant for variable saline flows, saline temperatures, and magnetic flux densities. Stent implants of this type in human blood vessels could potentially enable thermotherapy and temperature determination without catheterization.     

Discovering Emerging Topics from WWW

Discovering emerging topics from WWW has been attracting attention of business professionals, especially marketing researchers. For this purpose, WWW can be a valuable source of information because it reflects the dynamics of human society. In this paper we aim at revealing the structure of WWW by using KeyGraph, a visualization method of hidden structure behind data, for understanding emerging topics.     

Remnants of chylomicron and very low density lipoprotein impair endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation

Given the multiple impairments in host defense that occur during HIV infection, patients with AIDS are at risk for a variety of pleural infections and neoplasms. Of infectious causes, bacterial parapneumonic effusions and empyemas and tuberculous pleurisy occur more frequently than effusions caused by P. carinii. In each case, therapy is directed at eradication of the causative organisms. In the setting of systemic Kaposi's sarcoma, pleural involvement is common, although diagnosis is difficult and therapeutic options are limited. Pleural effusions caused by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma often occur in the setting of pulmonary parenchymal disease and can be diagnosed cytologically. The recently described entity of primary effusion lymphoma occurs in the absence of solid-organ involvement. The development of a spontaneous pneumothorax in a HIV-infected individual should prompt a search for P. carinii infection. Although these pneumothoraces often recur and are difficult to manage, recent series suggest that surgical approaches to bronchopleural fistulas are reasonable in selected patients.     

μ-synthesis of an electromagnetic suspension system

This paper deals with μ-synthesis of an electromagnetic suspension system. First, an issue of modeling a real physical electromagnetic suspension system is discussed. We derive a nominal model as well as a set of models in which the real system is assumed to reside. Different model structures and possible model parameter values are fully employed to determine unstructured additive plant perturbations, which directly yield uncertainty frequency weighting function. Second, based on the set of plant models, we setup robust performance control objectives. Third, we make use of the D-K iteration approach for the controller design. Finally, implementing the controller with a digital signal processor, experiments are carried out. With these experimental results, we show robust performance of the designed control system     

Endothelin-1 secretion from cultured vascular endothelial cells of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats

The profile of endothelin-1 (ET-1) release from cultured vascular endothelial cells (ECs) obtained from deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats, was examined and compared with that from normotensive sham rats. ET-1 release from ECs was increased in a time-dependent manner, and the level of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats was higher than that of sham rats. Incubation of ECs with transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta 1 or thrombin resulted in a significant increase in the ET-1 release, while FK409, a novel nitric oxide donor, produced a dose-dependent decrease in the release. In the case of ECs from DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, the potencies of TGF-beta 1- or thrombin-induced action was much less than that seen with sham rats, while the difference of reactivity to FK409 was not observed between ECs of DOCA-salt rats and sham rats. Thus, ET-1 production in ECs appears to be up-regulated in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. In addition, there seems to be an abnormalities in the signaling pathway via TGF-beta 1- or thrombin-induced enhancement of ET-1 production in ECs of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.     

A case of cardiac sarcoidosis with remarkable atrophy of the left ventricular septum on two-dimensional echocardiography

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder of unknown etiology which mainly affects the lungs, skin, the lymphoreticular system, and the heart. We report a case of cardiac sarcoidosis in which a remarkably thin ventricular septum was demonstrated on two-dimensional echocardiography.