Evidence of Electron–Phonon Interaction in Al-Substituted Mg1?xAlxB2

Phonon density of states in Al substituted Mg_1–x Al _x B₂ has been studied by means of inelastic neutron scattering experiments with pulsed neutron time-of-flight technique. Phonon dynamics have a significant role for realizing superconductivity in the recent discovered superconductor MgB₂. We present a systematic investigation on generalized phonon density of states (PDOS) up to E = 120 meV on Al content of x = 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5. We have clearly observed a large effect on the PDOS by Al substitution; a large energy shift occurs around at 70 meV and 89 meV. We have also observed a visible increase of PDOS at a particular energy range below T _c. Those phonon states are related with E _2g mode to be expected to have a strong coupling with the electron states at the –A region.     

Higher order finite difference solutions to non-shallow hyperbolic paraboloidal shells

This paper presents the numerical results on the mechanical characteristics of a non-shallow hyperbolic paraboloidal shell obtained by means of the finite difference method. In order to obtain accurate solutions with a small number of meshes, higher order finite difference operators with error terms of o(h⁴) are applied not only to the equilibrium equations but also to the boundary conditions. The applicability range of the shallow shell theory to a non-shallow hyperbolic paraboloidal shell is clarified through the numerical examples.     

Effects of geometric imperfections on stress distributions in cooling towers

The effect of geometric imperfections on the static stress distributions in cooling towers is investigated. The antisymmetric imperfections as well as the axisymmetric ones are assumed to be localized band imperfections at some height in a tower. Analyses are carried out for the self weight, seismic lateral load and wind load. Hoop stress and meridional bending moment are strongly influenced and the quantitative effects are summarized in simple figures.     

Measurement of gene expression from single adherent cells and spheroids collected using fast electrical lysis

The cytosol of a single adherent cell was collected by the electrical cell lysis method with a Pt-ring capillary probe, and the cellular messenger RNA (mRNA) was analyzed at a single-cell level. The ring electrode probe was positioned 20 microm above the cultured cells that formed a monolayer on an indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrode, and an electric pulse with a magnitude of 40 V was applied for 10 micros between the probe and the ITO electrodes in an isotonic sucrose solution. Immediately after the electric pulse, less than 1 microL of the lysed solution was collected using a micro-injector followed by RNA purification and first strand cDNA synthesis. Real-time PCR was performed to quantify the copy numbers of mRNA encoding glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) expression inside the single cell. The average copy numbers of GAPDH mRNA collected by the electrical cell lysis method were found to be comparable to those obtained by a simple capillary suction method. Although single-cell analysis has already been demonstrated, we have shown for the first time that the fast electrical cell lysis can be used for quantitative mRNA analysis at the single-cell level. This electrical cell lysis method was further applied for the analysis of mRNA obtained from single spheroids-the aggregated cellular masses formed during the three-dimensional culture -- as a model system to isolate small cellular clusters from tissues and organs.     

Immunohistochemical localization and expression of the hyaluronan receptor CD44 in the epithelium of the pig oviduct during oestrus

Hyaluronan is related to essential reproductive processes in pigs. Hyaluronan produced by cumulus cells builds, via specific cell surface receptors, an extracellular matrix responsible for cumulus cell cloud expansion during final oocyte maturation, a preparatory event for ovulation and fertilization. In addition, hyaluronan that has been localized in the pig oviduct both in the intraluminal fluid and on the surface of the lining epithelium of the preovulatory sperm reservoir, has proven beneficial during in vitro fertilization and embryo culture, thus indicating that it has a role in vivo. This study monitored the immunolocalization, protein determination and gene expression of the major cell surface hyaluronan receptor CD44 in the epithelial lining of the pig oviduct during selected stages of standing oestrus, in relation to spontaneous ovulation. The CD44 immunostaining in the lining epithelium was localized to the surface membrane and the supranuclear domain of mainly the secretory cells, particularly in the sperm reservoir of both treatment (inseminated) and control (non-inseminated) specimens. Up to four hyaluronan-binding protein (HABP) bands (60, 90, 100 and 200 kDa) were detected in the tubal epithelium, and the 200 kDa band was determined as CD44 by immunoblotting. The expression of CD44 mRNA was higher before than after ovulation (P < 0.05), most conspicuously in the uterotubal junction (UTJ). In addition, CD44 expression in the preovulatory UTJ and the ampullary-isthmic junction (AIJ) of control animals was higher than in those that were inseminated (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 for UTJ and AIJ, respectively). The results demonstrate for the first time that the specific hyaluronan receptor CD44 is expressed by the oviduct epithelial cells during spontaneous oestrus, and is particularly abundant in the sperm reservoir before ovulation. Presence of spermatozoa in this segment seemed to downregulate the receptor. The variation in the expression of CD44 in relation to spontaneous ovulation and the presence of spermatozoa indicate that the hyaluronan CD44-signalling pathway may play a role in oviduct function during sperm storage and fertilization in pigs.     

Estimation of habit-related information from male voice data using machine learning-based methods

Artificial Life and Robotics - According to a survey on the cause of death among Japanese people, lifestyle-related diseases (such as malignant neoplasms, cardiovascular diseases, and pneumonia)...