Miscibility and Physical Properties of Poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate)/Poly(ethylene oxide) Binary Blends

In order to improve some inferior physical properties of bacterial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate‐co‐3‐hydroxyhexanoate) [P(3HB‐co‐3HHx)] by blending with PEO, the miscibility, spherulite morphology, crystallization behavior and mechanical properties of P(3HB‐co‐3HHx)/PEO binary biodegradable polymer blends were investigated. A good miscibility between P(3HB‐co‐3HHx) with a 3HHx unit content of 11 mol‐% and PEO in the amorphous state was found when the PEO weight fraction was 10 wt.‐%, while the miscibility decreased dramatically when the PEO weight fraction exceeded 20 wt.‐%. Strongly depending on the blend composition, the mechanical properties of P(3HB‐co‐3HHx) was found to be significantly improved by blending with PEO with a weight fraction of ≈5–17.5 wt.‐%.

     

Development of Molecular Sieves‐Supported Palladium Catalyst and Chemoselective Hydrogenation of Unsaturated Bonds in the Presence of Nitro Groups

The chemoselective hydrogenation of unsaturated bonds and azide functionalities is achieved in the presence of nitro groups by a heterogeneous palladium catalyst supported on molecular sieves (MS3A). The present method shows a wide‐range of applicability with regard to substrates and the catalyst can be easily prepared and reused at least three times without any loss of activity.     

Energy transmission transformer for a wireless capsule endoscope: analysis of specific absorption rate and current density in biological tissue

This paper reports on the electromagnetic influences on the analysis of biological tissue surrounding a prototype energy transmission system for a wireless capsule endoscope. Specific absorption rate (SAR) and current density were analyzed by electromagnetic simulator in a model consisting of primary coil and a human trunk including the skin, fat, muscle, small intestine, backbone, and blood. First, electric and magnetic strength in the same conditions as the analytical model were measured and compared to the analytical values to confirm the validity of the analysis. Then, SAR and current density as a function of frequency and output power were analyzed. The validity of the analysis was confirmed by comparing the analytical values with the measured ones. The SAR was below the basic restrictions of the International Commission on Nonionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). At the same time, the results for current density show that the influence on biological tissue was lowest in the 300-400 kHz range, indicating that it was possible to transmit energy safely up to 160 mW. In addition, we confirmed that the current density has decreased by reducing the primary coil's current.     

Structure-Based Design,Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Imidazo[4,5-b]Pyridin-2-one-Based p38 MAP Kinase Inhibitors: Part 2

We identified novel potent inhibitors of p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase using a structure-based design strategy, beginning with lead compound, 3-(butan-2-yl)-6-(2,4-difluoroanilino)-1,3-dihydro-2H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one ( 1 ). To enhance the inhibitory activity of 1 against production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in human whole blood (hWB) cell assays, we designed and synthesized hybrid compounds in which the imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one core was successfully linked with the p-methylbenzamide fragment. Among the compounds evaluated, 3-(3-tert-butyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-6-yl)-4-methyl-N-(1-methyl-1H-pyrazol-3-yl)benzamide ( 25 ) exhibited potent p38 inhibition, superior suppression of TNF-α production in hWB cells, and also significant in vivo efficacy in a rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). In this paper, we report the discovery of potent, selective, and orally bioavailable imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-one-based p38 MAP kinase inhibitors.     

Improved environmental stability,electrical and EMI shielding properties of vapor‐grown carbon fiber‐filled polyaniline‐based nanocomposite

An all polymeric electrically conductive thermoset adhesive resin system is prepared for future lightning strike protection applications. Polyaniline (PANI)‐based hybrid nano‐composite is prepared by incorporating high apparent‐density type vapor grown carbon fiber (VGCF‐H) as additional conductive filler. Electrical, mechanical and electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding properties of PANI‐dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA), and divinylbenzene (DVB) system are improved with addition of VGCF‐H. Different weight percentages of VGCF‐H in the PANI‐DBSA/DVB matrix, are studied, and their effect on composite's properties are investigated. Electrical conductivity up to 1.89 S/cm with the addition of 5 wt% VGCF‐H is achieved, which is almost 300% improvement compared with previous system. However, the maximum flexural modulus is obtained at 3 wt% of VGCF‐H. The change in the electronic structure of PANI with the addition of VGCF‐H is investigated using Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) analysis. Rheological study and Differential scanning calorimetry analysis were employed to show the effect of VGCF‐H concentration on curing profile of the nanocomposites. EMI shielding properties of the composite with and without VGCF‐H are measured in X‐band frequencies and compared. Composite with 5 wt% VGCF‐H has shown EMI shielding effectiveness about 51 dB in X‐band, which is higher than the composite without VGCF‐H (around 22 dB). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:956–963, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Evaluation of drug toxicity with hepatocytes cultured in a micro-space cell culture system

A micro-space cell culture system was recently developed in which cells such as hepatocytes can be cultured and formed into a multicellular three-dimensional (3D) architecture. In this study, we assessed the performance of HepG2 cells cultured in this micro-space cell culture system in a drug toxicity test, and evaluated the effects of micro-space culture on their hepatocyte-specific functions. The micro-space cell culture facilitated the formation of 3D HepG2 cell architecture. HepG2 cells cultured in a micro-space culture plate exhibited increased albumin secretion and enhanced mRNA expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme compared to those cultured in a monolayer culture. When the cells were exposed to acetaminophen, a hepatotoxic drug, the damage to the HepG2 cells grown in micro-space culture was greater than the damage to the HepG2 cells grown in monolayer culture. In addition, human primary hepatocytes grown in micro-space culture also exhibited increased albumin secretion, enhanced CYP mRNA expression levels and increased sensitivity to acetaminophen compared to those grown in monolayer culture. These results suggest that this micro-space culture method enhances the hepatocyte-specific functions of hepatocytes, including drug-metabolizing enzyme activities, making hepatocytes grown in the micro-space culture system a useful tool for evaluating drug toxicity in vitro.     

Engineering of Lipid Nanoparticles by the Multifunctionalization of the Surface with Amino Acid Derivatives for the Neutralization of a Target Toxic Peptide

Protein affinity reagents (e.g., antibodies) are often used for basic research, diagnostics, separations, and disease therapy. Although a lot of “synthetic” protein affinity reagents have been developed as a cost-effective alternative to antibodies, their low biocompatibility is a considerable problem for clinical application. Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) represent a highly biocompatible drug delivery agent. However, little has been reported that LNP itself works as a protein affinity reagent in living animals. Here, LNP is engineered for binding to and neutralizing a target toxic peptide in living animals by multifunctionalization with amino acid derivatives. Multifunctionalized LNP (MF-LNP) is prepared using amino acid derivative-conjugated lipids. Optimized MF-LNP exhibits nanomolar affinity to the target toxic peptide and inhibits toxic peptide-dependent hemolysis and cytotoxicity. In addition, MF-LNP captures and neutralizes the toxic peptide after intravenous injection in the bloodstream; in addition, MF-LNP does not release the toxic peptide in the accumulated organ. These results reveal the potential of using LNP as a highly biocompatible protein affinity reagent such as an antidote.     

Rule Construction and Execution for Root Cause Analysis

We developed a root cause analysis (RCA) system for an enterprise IT system environment. In this paper, we propose a rule‐construction method that builds analysis rule data objects from general analysis rules and the topology information of the actual target IT environment. Using this method, the IT administrator can use the RCA system without any manual rule modifications. For the execution of the analysis, we introduce the certainty factor to realize robust analysis when the order and reachability of a fault event cannot be guaranteed.     

Variable stage-independent double sampling plan with screening for acceptance quality loss limit inspection scheme

The quality loss suggested by Taguchi has been recognised as a new quality evaluation based on variable property instead of the quality evaluation based on traditional attribute property such as the proportion of nonconforming items. Some variable sampling inspection plans in order to assure the quality have been considered. As one of those sampling inspection plans, the single sampling plan with screening (SSPS) has been constructed for acceptance quality loss limit inspection scheme. Further, the repetitive group sampling plan with screening (RGSPS) has been developed for reducing the average total inspection (ATI). Although ATI by RGSPS has successfully been reduced in comparison with ATI by SSPS, RGSPS may sometimes increase the average sampling frequency (ASF) in return for reducing ATI. In this study, the stage-independent double sampling plan with screening (SIDSPS) based on the concept of the acceptance quality loss limit inspection scheme is proposed under the consideration of the trade-off between ATI and ASF. Through some numerical comparisons about ATI and ASF in SSPS, RGSPS, and SIDSPS, the usefulness of SIDSPS proposed in this study is confirmed.     

Motion control of underactuated linkage robot based on gymnastic skill

In this paper, a reproduction of a swing‐up and a giant swing motion of underactuated robots based on technique of the horizontal bar gymnast is discussed with focusing on an equivalent center of mass (ECM) of underactuated robots and the gymnast. At first, the behaviors of the ECM of the gymnast (ECMG) are analyzed by using a motion capturing technique and an efficient motion of the ECMG for the swing‐up and for the giant swing motion are identified from analysis results, respectively. Next, a partial linearization method, which can realize that the ECM of the Acrobot (ECMA) replicates this efficient motion, is designed and reproduces the underactuated robots the swing‐up and giant swing motion like the gymnast. Finally, an effectiveness of the proposed controller is shown by numerical simulations.