Self-diffusion Measurements of Liquid Sn Using the Shear Cell Technique and Stable Density Layering

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - By utilizing the shear cell technique and achieving stable density layering with the addition of an alloying element Bi, the self-diffusion coefficients...     

Improvement of Strength and Energy Absorption Properties of Porous Aluminum Alloy with Aligned Unidirectional Pores Using Equal-Channel Angular Extrusion

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Porous aluminum alloy with aligned unidirectional pores was fabricated by dipping A1050 tubes into A6061 semi-solid slurry. The porous aluminum alloy...     

Phase Stability of Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia with Dissolved Cerium and Neptunium Oxides Under Oxidizing and Reducing Atmospheres

Phase stability and effects of sintering atmosphere on the crystalline structure of Np-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) were evaluated in comparison with those same properties and conditions for Ce-doped YSZ. Different sintering atmospheres for Ce-doped YSZ led to differences in phase formation through reduction of the dopant from Ce⁴⁺ to Ce³⁺. On the other hand, YSZ specimens containing up to 40 mol% Np formed only a fluorite-structure phase regardless of sintering atmosphere. Yttria-stabilized zirconia thus seems to accommodate Np within a wide range of concentrations and to have excellent phase stability under both oxidizing and reducing atmospheres.     

Retinal Degeneration and Microglial Dynamics in Mature Progranulin-Deficient Mice

Progranulin (PGRN) is a secreted glycoprotein that regulates numerous cellular processes. The role of PGRN as a regulator of lysosomes has recently received attention. The purpose of this study was to characterize the retinal phenotype in mature PGRN knockout (Grn^−/−) mice. The a-wave amplitude of scotopic electroretinogram and outer nuclear thickness were significantly reduced at 6 months of age in Grn^−/− mice compared to wild-type (Grn^+/+) mice. In Grn^−/− mice, retinal microglial cells accumulated on the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) apical layer, and the number of infiltrated microglia and white fundus lesions between 2 and 6 months of age showed a close affinity. In Grn^+/+ mice, PGRN was located in the retina, while the strongest PGRN signals were detected in the RPE-choroid. The different effects of PGRN deficiency on the expression of lysosomal proteins between the retina and RPE-choroid were demonstrated. Our data suggest that the subretinal translocation of microglia is a characteristic phenotype in the retina of mature PGRN knockout mice. The different effects of PGRN deficiency on the expression of lysosomal proteins between the retina and RPE-choroid might modulate microglial dynamics in PGRN knockout mice.     

Synthesis of Short Peptides with Perfluoroalkyl Side Chains and Evaluation of Their Cellular Uptake Efficiency

With an increasing demand for macromolecular biotherapeutics, the issue of their poor cell-penetrating abilities requires viable and relevant solutions. Herein, we report tripeptides bearing an amino acid with a perfluoroalkyl (R_F) group adjacent to the α-carbon. R_F-containing tripeptides were synthesized and evaluated for their ability to transport a conjugated hydrophilic dye (Alexa Fluor 647) into the cells. R_F-containing tripeptides with the fluorophore showed high cellular uptake efficiency and none of them were cytotoxic. Interestingly, we demonstrated that the absolute configuration of perfluoroalkylated amino acids (R_F-AAs) affects not only nanoparticle formation but also the cell permeability of the tripeptides. These novel R_F-containing tripeptides are potentially useful as short and noncationic cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs).