Molecular and Genetic Interactions between CCN2 and CCN3 behind Their Yin–Yang Collaboration

Cellular communication network factor (CCN) 2 and 3 are the members of the CCN family that conduct the harmonized development of a variety of tissues and organs under interaction with multiple biomolecules in the microenvironment. Despite their striking structural similarities, these two members show contrastive molecular functions as well as temporospatial emergence in living tissues. Typically, CCN2 promotes cell growth, whereas CCN3 restrains it. Where CCN2 is produced, CCN3 disappears. Nevertheless, these two proteins collaborate together to execute their mission in a yin–yang fashion. The apparent functional counteractions of CCN2 and CCN3 can be ascribed to their direct molecular interaction and interference over the cofactors that are shared by the two. Recent studies have revealed the mutual negative regulation systems between CCN2 and CCN3. Moreover, the simultaneous and bidirectional regulatory system of CCN2 and CCN3 is also being clarified. It is of particular note that these regulations were found to be closely associated with glycolysis, a fundamental procedure of energy metabolism. Here, the molecular interplay and metabolic gene regulation that enable the yin–yang collaboration of CCN2 and CCN3 typically found in cartilage development/regeneration and fibrosis are described.     

Partial oxidation of ethane to synthesis gas over Co-loaded catalysts

Attention has been increasingly paid to the partial oxidation of lower alkanes to synthesis gas, due to its intrinsic energy saving process. We studied the partial oxidation of ethane (POE) on Co loaded on various supports. The POE performance varied as follows: Y₂O₃, CeO₂, ZrO₂, La₂O₃  SiO₂, Al₂O₃, TiO₂ > MgO. Comparing Y₂O₃ and CeO₂, the carbon deposition during the POE was negligible on CeO₂ and therefore CeO₂ was the most preferable support. By changing space velocity and O₂ partial pressure, reaction mechanism of POE was studied and it was revealed that two-step mechanism was prevailing; combustion of ethane to H₂O and CO₂ and subsequent reforming of ethane with H₂O and CO₂ to synthesis gas. Co/CeO₂ catalyst exhibited high and stable catalytic activity for 10 h; high ethane conversion of 18% (maximum ethane conversion 20% at O₂/C₂H₆ = 0.2) with H₂ and CO selectivities of 93 and 84%, respectively.     

Fabrication of dielectric nanocubes in ordered structure by capillary force assisted self-assembly method and their piezoresponse properties

Ordered structures of barium titanate (BT) nanocubes, strontium titanate (ST) nanocubes and BT/ST nanocubes mixture were directly fabricated on Si and Pt-coated Si substrates using a capillary force assisted assembly method. The morphology of self-assembled structures was observed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM). It was revealed that nanocubes were arranged with various degrees of ordering to develop multilayer and monolayer regions at the surface of substrates. The elemental mapping of the structure consisting of the nanocubes mixture was also investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with an energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). It was revealed that BT and ST nanocubes coexisted homogeneously in the structure and had possibility to be arranged in order to each other. The piezoresponse properties obtained by scanning probe microscopy (SPM) indicated that the hetero-interface between BT and ST nanocubes would introduce anomaly in piezoelectric properties.     

Waves in a rotating elastic solid

Wave propagation in a uniformly rotating elastic solid is discussed based on displacement equations in a moving frame. The time-harmonic Green’s dyadic for a point body force is obtained in closed form. It is reconfirmed that two quasi dilatational and shear waves are coupled to each other, and the deformation decomposition into the dilatation and rotation is not possible for the rotating solid. Further, it is also confirmed that the velocity of the Rayleigh surface wave depends not only on the rotational velocity but also on its direction and that the Rayleigh wave vanishes when the rotational velocity approaches the Rayleigh wave velocity of the immovable solid.     

THERMAL STRESS AT AN OFF-ANGLED INTERFACE

Thermal stress at an off-angled interface is considered as a model analysis for “weld line” in an injection-molded FRP. The off-angled interface is a line interface between two bonded anisotropic solids, at which the axis ofanisotropy in each solid is inclined to the interface. Applying the regular technique of integral transforms, we obtain the exact solution for temperature and stress induced by a spontaneous heat source. Especially for the temperature we get a closed-form solution in one term of the exponential function. Extensive numerical computations are carried out for a Nylon 66 compounded with 33 wt% glass fiber and show the stress field near the weld line (off-angled interface). The interfacial shear stress attains its maximum value more quickly than the normal stress. However, the highest normal stress on the interface increases with increasing off-angle, the highest shear stress has a maximum at 43-deg off-angle. The shear stress is 2.8 times greater than that in the isotropic solid and is also 1.34 times greater than that for 90-deg off-angle. This indicates that the lowest strength of the weld line would occur when the off-angle is about 43 deg for our case of Nylon 66.     

Elastodynamic Doppler effects

Summary The Doppler effect is discussed for flexure waves in beam and plate, three body waves (P, SV, SH) in an infinite solid, modal SH waves in a thick plate and a Rayleigh wave on the surface of a semi-infinite solid. The exact closed form solution for each elasto-dynamic problem is obtained and the simple equation for the Doppler frequency shift is derived for all waves. It is shown that the Doppler frequency shift takes place continuously in the 2D plane problems, and that the most sensible wave for the Doppler frequency shift is the non-dispersion wave, such as the body wave and Rayleigh wave. The flexural and modal waves, which have the dispersion nature, are less sensible. Dedicated to Professor Franz Ziegler on the occasion of his 70th birthday     

Low-temperature fabrication of bunch-shaped ZnO nanowires using a sodium hydroxide aqueous solution

Bunch-shaped ZnO nanowires film was successfully fabricated by the forced-hydrolysis-initiated-nucleation of anhydrous zinc acetate in an aqueous solution of zinc acetate and sodium hydroxide at low temperature. X-ray diffraction and a field emission scanning electron microscope clarified their formation mechanism and morphology development. The morphology was controllable by adjusting the solution temperature and deposition time. ZnO nanowires obtained at 65 degrees C for 6 h have a high aspect ratio of about 106. The smaller diameter with higher aspect ratio of ZnO nanowires, the easier the formation of bunch shapes by the capillary force during the drying process. This fabrication technique indicated that bunched ZnO film was prepared at low cost, and fittable to low heat-resistance substrates such as a polymer substarte.