Serotonin 5-HT4 receptor agonistic activity of the optical isomers of (+/-)-4-amino-N-[2-(1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-5-yl)ethyl]-5-chloro-2,3- dihydro-2-methylbenzo[b]furan-7-carboxamide

OBJECTIVE: To compare the influence of incongruent (asymmetric) follicular development on treatment outcome in IVF-ET and GIFT cycles. DESIGN: A retrospective comparative study. SETTING: Tertiary referral center for infertility. PATIENT(S): Five hundred forty-three consecutive assisted reproduction cycles (428 IVF-ET and 115 GIFT) in 422 infertile patients. INTERVENTION(S): Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) and IVF-ET or GIFT. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The incongruity ratio as a parameter of the asymmetry in follicular development and pregnancy rate (PR). RESULT(S): For GIFT cycles, the PRs were 37.8% and 15.7% in cycles with congruent and incongruent follicular development, respectively. However, for IVF-ET cycles, the PR was not affected by incongruent follicular development: 28.2% and 29.0%, respectively. An inverse relationship was observed between the degree of incongruity and the estimated probability of pregnancy in GIFT cycles but not in IVF-ET cycles. Neither the side of the dominant ovary nor the degree of incongruity were consistent in consecutive cycles. CONCLUSION(S): Incongruent follicular development during COH has a significantly negative influence on the outcome of GIFT cycles but not on the outcome of IVF-ET cycles. The reason for this difference is not clear. We recommend considering IVF-ET instead of GIFT if incongruent follicular development occurs.     

A complex baseband platform for spatial-temporal mobile radio channel simulations

Joint spatial-temporal signal processing has been recognized as the key to reducing the effects of the intersymbol and cochannel interference seen in very high bit-rate mobile radio communications systems. Developing hardware simulators that can simulate mobile radio propagation scenarios in time and space domains is essential for evaluating the real-time performance of spatial-temporal signal processing schemes. This paper outlines a complex baseband platform developed for spatial-temporal mobile radio channel simulations. The platform consists of a complex baseband fading/array response simulator, a digital signal processor (DSP) board, and a general-purpose parameter estimator that uses systolic array implementation of the recursive least square (RLS) algorithm. Results of experiments conducted using the developed platform are presented to confirm the proper operation of the system.     

The in vitro effects of semiconductor laser irradiation on inflammation: laser irradiation did not affect monocyte infiltration

The effects of supernatants following irradiation of lymphocytes and monocytes with a semiconductor laser, on monocyte chemotaxis were investigated in vitro. Human peripheral lymphocytes and monocytes were obtained from healthy adult donors, and were suspended in medium, following laser irradiation. The laser irradiation (wavelength 900 nm, output power 1.5 mW) was carried out in the pulse wave mode at doses of 0.1 J cm^-2 in total. After irradiation, the lymphocytes and monocytes were incubated with or without several kinds of stimulants for varying time periods. The supernatants of these cultures were then assayed for human monocyte chemotaxis. Through these experiments, we were unable to detect any significant levels of stimulative or depressive effects due to laser irradiation of the lymphocytes and monocytes, on the production of monocyte chemotactic activity.     

Biocompatibility of polyglycidol with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Polyglycidol (PGly), a hyperbranched water‐soluble polyether with numerous terminal hydroxyl groups, has structural similarities with polyethylene glycol. Our laboratory is exploring drug delivery using hyperbranched PGly‐cytokines conjugates. Using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells and a tumor derived human B cell line, HBL‐1; various PGly concentrations were tested for cytotoxicity. Our data indicated that hyperbranched PGly was similar in toxicity to PEG 8000, a commercial polymer. It was concluded that hyperbranched PGly did not exhibit significant cytotoxicity and showed promise for use as a biocompatible polymer. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

One‐shot radical polymerization of vinyl monomers with different reactivity accompanying spontaneous delay of polymerization for the synthesis of double‐network hydrogels

Double‐network hydrogels were conveniently synthesized by the one‐shot radical polymerization of an ionic monomer for the first network and a non‐ionic monomer for the second network in the presence of crosslinkers by simultaneous addition of the monomers, that is, one‐shot and spontaneous two‐step polymerization accompanying the delay of polymerization of a second network monomer. We analyzed the polymerization process based on the conversion of each monomer during the reaction in the absence of crosslinkers. Then we fabricated the double‐network hydrogels using several polymerization systems consisting of a conjugated monomer and a non‐conjugated monomer in the presence of the dual crosslinkers. We analyzed the swelling, mechanical and viscoelastic properties of hydrogels synthesized by one‐shot radical polymerization to confirm the production mechanism and the network structure of the hydrogels. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry     

Development of Millimeter Wave Fabry-Pérot Resonator for Simultaneous Electron-Spin and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Measurement

We report a Fabry-Pérot resonator with spherical and flat mirrors to allow simultaneous electron-spin resonance (ESR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) measurements that could be used for double magnetic resonance (DoMR). In order to perform simultaneous ESR and NMR measurements, the flat mirror must reflect millimeter wavelength electromagnetic waves and the resonator must have a high Q value (Q?>?3000) for ESR frequencies, while the mirror must simultaneously let NMR frequencies pass through. This requirement can be achieved by exploiting the difference of skin depth for the two frequencies, since skin depth is inversely proportional to the square root of the frequency. In consideration of the skin depth, the optimum conditions for conducting ESR and NMR using a gold thin film are explored by examining the relation between the Q value and the film thickness. A flat mirror with a gold thin film was fabricated by sputtering gold on an epoxy plate. We also installed a Helmholtz radio frequency coil for NMR and tested the system both at room and low temperatures with an optimally thick gold film. As a result, signals were obtained at 0.18 K for ESR and at 1.3 K for NMR. A flat-mirrored resonator with a thin gold film surface is an effective way to locate NMR coils closer to the sample being examined with DoMR.