Preparation of Air-Stable Iron-Oxide-Coated Metallic Iron Nanoparticles

The α-Fe nanoparticles with oxide shell were prepared by the complete reduction of iron oxide ones with hydrogen, followed by the selective surface oxidation as a thin layer. As-treated α-Fe nanoparticles preserved their saturation magnetization and metal α-Fe phase for at least 80 days in the air. In comparison, the unstabilized α-Fe nanoparticles protected only by their silica shell were oxidized instantly in the air and the saturation magnetization of the unstabilized α-Fe nanoparticles was decreased drastically. Since the stabilization procedure was carried out under dry conditions using silica-coated iron oxide nanoparticles as precursors, it could be applied to nanoparticles of various sizes and shapes to obtain a stable α-Fe phase.     

Properties of GaAs/InGaAs quantum well solar cells under low concentration operation

Multi-quantum well GaAs/In_0.19Ga_0.81As solar cells have been measured under low concentration levels (1–10 suns) of AM1.5 illumination. An efficiency of 22% has been obtained at a ratio of 4 suns as opposed to 18% under 1 sun AM1.5 conditions. We explain the improvements in conversion efficiency in terms of an enhancement in minority-carrier lifetime under concentration. Even when the concentration ratio is low, the high-injection regime can be achieved since the carrier concentration in the intrinsic layer is very low. The existence of a high concentration of defects at 0.36 eV below the conduction band in the base layer has been observed by the DLTS analysis. Enhancement of the minority-carrier lifetime under concentration is thought to be due to filling of recombination centers by the injection minority carriers.     

A Dietary Oxysterol, 7-Ketocholesterol,Exacerbates Imiquimod-Induced Psoriasis-like Dermatitis in Steatohepatitic Mice

Patients with psoriasis are at a higher risk of developing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. We previously identified an oxidized derivative of cholesterol, 7-ketocholesterol (7KC), in diet-induced steatohepatitic mice. Here, we investigated whether 7KC exacerbates psoriasis-like dermatitis by accelerating steatohepatitis in mice. A high-fat/high-cholesterol/high-sucrose/bile salt diet (nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) diet) with or without 0.0125% 7KC was fed to C57BL/6 mice (7KC or control group) for three weeks to induce steatohepatitis. A 5% imiquimod cream was then applied to the ears and dorsal skin for four days to induce psoriasis-like dermatitis. Hepatic lipid accumulation and inflammatory cell infiltration were exacerbated in the 7KC group compared with the control group after three weeks. Serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were also elevated in the 7KC group (108.5 ± 9.8 vs. 83.1 ± 13.1 pg/mL, p < 0.005). Imiquimod cream increased the psoriasis area severity index (PASI) score in mice in the 7KC group (9.14 ± 0.75 vs. 5.17 ± 1.17, p < 0.0001). Additionally, Tnfa, Il23a, Il17a, and Il22 mRNA levels in the dorsal lesion were significantly upregulated. Finally, Th17 cell differentiation and the TNF signaling pathway were enhanced in the dorsal lesions and liver of mice in the 7KC group. These data suggest that steatohepatitis and psoriasis are linked by a potent, diet-related factor.     

Design of energy‐efficient train speed profiles considering fixed‐block signaling system

In dense traffic railway networks, trains may often slow down or stop between stations owing to previous train delays. If preceding train trajectory can be predicted, energy‐efficient driving can be achieved by suppressing unnecessary speed changes. In this paper, we propose an algorithm to find energy‐efficient driving considering fixed‐block signaling (FBS) system by using dynamic programming (DP). DP is suitable for use because it can optimize the control inputs with discrete and state constraints. In this paper, we discuss energy‐efficient driving by considering a FBS system using some case studies of simulation. In the simulation, we examine a technique to drive an express train in an energy‐efficient way when the preceding local train is running toward the station with passing loops. The results show that the proposed method can derive complex speed profiles for energy‐efficient driving and the train can be operated with a maximum reduced energy consumption of 8.3%.     

Individual Variabilities in Adipose Stem Cell Proliferation,Gene Expression and Responses to Lipopolysaccharide Stimulation

Adipose stem cells (ASCs) are reported to play a role in normal physiology as well as in inflammation and disease. The objective of this work was to elucidate inter-individual differences in growth, gene expression and response to inflammatory stimuli in ASCs from different donors. Human ASC1 (male donor) and ASC2 (female donor) were purchased from Lonza (Walkersville, MD). Cell proliferation was determined by the sulforhodamine B assay. After time-dependent treatment of ASCs with or without bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), marker gene mRNAs for proliferation, steroid hormones, and xenobiotic and immune pathways were determined using RT-PCR, and secreted cytokine levels in media were measured using the Bio-Plex cytokine assay kit. ASCs from both donors expressed androgen receptors but not estrogen receptors. ASC2 had a 2-fold higher proliferation rate and a 6-fold higher level of proliferation marker Ki67 mRNA than ASC1. ASC2 exhibited significantly greater fold induction of TNF-α and CCL2 by LPS compared to ASC1. TNF-α and GM-CSF protein levels were also significantly higher in the LPS-induced ASC2 media, but IL-6 secretion was higher in the LPS-induced ASC1 media. Our findings suggest that inter-individual variability and/or possible sex differences exist in ASCs, which may serve as a key determinant to inflammatory responses of ASCs.     

Fabrication of 5.8‐in. OTFT‐driven flexible color AMOLED display using dual protection scheme for organic semiconductor patterning

Abstract— A 5.8‐in. wide‐QQVGA flexible color active‐matrix organic light‐emitting‐diode (AMOLED) display consisting of organic thin‐film transistors (OTFTs) and phosphorescent OLEDs was fabricated on a plastic film. To reduce the operating voltage of the OTFTs, Ta₂O₅ with a high dielectric constant was employed as a gate insulator. Pentacene was used for the semiconductor layer of the OTFTs. This layer was patterned by photolithography and dry‐etched using a dual protection layer of poly p‐xylylene and SiO₂ film. Uniform transistor performance was achieved in the OTFT backplane with QQVGA pixels. The RGB emission layers of the pixels were formed by vacuum deposition of phosphorescent small molecules. The resulting display could clearly show color moving images even when it was bent and operated at a low driving voltage (below 15 V).     

日本の寒地，北海道におけるうるち米粒外観品質の育種（日文）（网络首发、推荐阅读）

北海道では旧来，米粒外観品質を東北以南に遜色ない程度まで向上させるため，乳白，腹白などの未熟粒が少なく整粒歩合や玄米と精米の白度が高くなるように，主に達観により選抜を行ってきた。その結果，1903年以降に育成された新旧品種では，整粒は育成年次が新しいほど概して多く，未熟粒，被害粒および着色粒は減少した。とくに，1961年育成の「ユーカラ」は，整粒歩合が同時代や以前の品種に比べ顕著に高く，系譜からみてその良質性はその後に育成された良質良食味米品種に受け継がれた。1984年以降に育成された主要品種は東北以南の銘柄米品種に比べ，整粒歩合がやや低く未熟粒歩合はやや高かった。玄米と精米の白度は，1971年より前の育成品種では腹白粒等の混入が多く，それが白度を上げるため育成年次と一定の関係が無かった。それ以降，両白度は新しい品種ほど高くなり，精米蛋白質含有率が低いほど高い傾向があった。現在の主要品種は東北以南の銘柄米品種に比べ，玄米白度はやや劣るが，精米白度，玄米透明度および精米透明度には明確な差異が無かった。さらに，整粒のみの玄米白度では，差異はなかった。以上から，現在の北海道主要品種の米粒外観品質は，東北以南銘柄米品種に比べ未熟粒がやや多く整粒がやや少ないことを除き，明確な違いはなくなった。     

The grindability and wear of Ti-Cu alloys for dental applications

To optimize the properties of titanium for use in dentistry, alloying is necessary. This study reports on the characterization of some titanium alloys for grindability, wear, and corrosion resistance. Improvements in grindability and wear seemed to occur with the presence of the eutectoid in the alloy. For more information, contact Toru Okabe, Baylor College of Dentistry, Dept. of Biomaterials Science, 3302 Gaston Ave., Dallas, TX 75246; (214) 828-8190; fax (214) 828-8458; e-mail tokabe@tambcd.edu.     

Network management in a local computer network

The functions and structure of the network management subsystem of the GAMMA-NET, a local computer network at the University of Tsukuba, are presented. The network management subsystem is an integrated subsystem that offers a convenient man-machine interface for the network users during the execution of required jobs, and levels the workload throughout the system, as well as managing the network operations.