Reconstruction of bone fenestration on mandiblar by the guided bone regeneration methods with beta-TCP/PLGC membranes

Guided Bone Regeneration (GBR) is a method for bone tissue regeneration. In this method, membranes are used to cover bone defects and to block the invasion of the surrounding soft tissues. It would provide sufficient time for the osteogenic cells from bone marrow to proliferate and form new bony tissues. In spite of the potential usefulness of this method, no appropriate materials for the GBR membrane have been developed. Here we design the ideal mechanical properties of the GBR membranes and created novel materials, which is the composite of beta-tricalcium phosphate (beta-TCP) and block copolymer of L-lactide, glycolide, and epsilon-caplolactone (PLGC). In the animal experiments with the use of the GBR membranes for large bone defects, we observed significant enhancement in the bone regeneration after 12 weeks implantation and proved the effectiveness of the materials.     

Deformation-driven electrical transport of individual boron nitride nanotubes

In contrast to standard metallic or semiconducting graphitic carbon nanotubes, for years their structural analogs, boron nitride nanotubes, in which alternating boron and nitrogen atoms substitute for carbon atoms in a graphitic network, have been considered to be truly electrically insulating due to a wide band gap of layered BN. Alternatively, here, we show that under in situ elastic bending deformation at room temperature inside a 300 kV high-resolution transmission electron microscope, a normally electrically insulating multiwalled BN nanotube may surprisingly transform to a semiconductor. The semiconducting parameters of bent multiwalled BN nanotubes squeezed between two approaching gold contacts inside the pole piece of the microscope have been retrieved based on the experimentally recorded I-V curves. In addition, the first experimental signs suggestive of piezoelectric behavior in deformed BN nanotubes have been observed.     

Photocurrent generators derived from non-covalently assembled soft-matter molecular system

It is rather difficult to design a multilayer photocurrent generator system on the ITO electrode, however, the preparation of thin film with high surface concentration of donor units is indispensable in order to achieve high conversion efficiency. The polymer film of porphyrin bearing pyroles on the electrode was prepared by the potential sweep method. It was indicated that the self-aggregation can be suppressed by encapsulation of the porphyrin unit in the cavity of macro-cyclic host molecule, cyclodextrin. We established the non-equilibrium host-guest system with porphyrins and cyclodextrins for the first time. The photocurrent density and the quantum yield in the porphyrin-cyclodextrin system are remarkably improved. It was demonstrated that the high quantum yield, perhaps 25 times larger, arises from the isolation of the porphyrin unit by cyclodextrin through host-guest interactions.     

13C NMR longitudinal relaxation time studies of a molecular tweezers derived from a calixarene-porphyrin conjugate

Zn(II)porphyrin-substituted calix[4]arene 1 serves as molecular tweezers for 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2] octane (DABCO) selectively, which led to the formation of Ensemble I. The molecular segments composing the calixarene cavity change upon inclusion of DABCO as Ensemble I were evaluated through (13)C NMR longitudinal relaxation times (T(1)) for the first time. As for Ensemble I, the 1:1 complex should be formed. The T(1) values for Ensemble I are generally smaller than those for 1: in CDCl(2)CDCl(2), DT1 = 5.03 s for C-1, 5.31 s for C-2, 0.13 s for C-3, 0.7 s for C-4, and 0.16 s for C-5. This substantiates that the rings of Ensemble I are firmly freezed because of the two-point coordination by DABCO. In 1, the T1 values for C-3 are always greater than those for C-4, and the difference between C-3 and C-4 is slight. As for Ensemble I, on the other hand, the difference between C-3 and C-4 is large. We can suggest two different motions for phenol units in 1 and Ensemble I: a rotational motion around a C-1 to C-4 axis (A) and a seesaw motion around a C-2 to C-2' axis (B). The data indicate that in Ensemble I motion (A) is predominant over motion (B). This indicates that motion (B) is specifically suppressed because of the two-point coordination interactions in Ensemble I.     

Structure and performance of cationic assembly dispersed in amphoteric surfactants solution as a shampoo for hair damaged by coloring

In recent years, hair coloring gains popularity as a trend of consumer's hair care. This coloring frequently damages hair. In response to this, a new shampoo-base was developed for repairing hair damaged by coloring. The new shampoo-base was prepared by dispersing cationic assembly in a solution of amphoteric surfactants. The mixture of behenyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (C22TAC) and behenyl alcohol (C22OH) was applied as the cationic assembly, which are dispersed in amido propyl betaine laurate (LPB) solution. LPB, which behaves as an amphoteric surfactant, was used as the wash-base. It was verified from the results on the measurements of DSC, calorimeter polarization, cryo-SEM and X-ray diffraction that the cationic assembly has a crystalline structure in the LPB solution. The new shampoo-base was highly efficient to change the color-damaged hair from hydrophilic to hydrophobic. The friction level of the hair washed with the new shampoo-base recovered to the same state as that of healthy hair. The exfoliation of cuticle was reduced after washing with the new shampoo-base.     

Hydrothermal synthesis and properties of solid solutions and composite nanoparticles in the TiO2-SnO2 system

Solid solutions and composite nanoparticles in the TiO₂-SnO₂ system were directly formed via the hydrothermal treatment of precursor solutions of TiCl₄ and SnCl₄ under weakly basic conditions in the presence of urea. The rutile-type (Ti, Sn)O₂ solid solutions were formed in the composition range of Ti 0-70 mol%. The composite nanoparticles consisting of anatase- and rutile-type phases were formed at the composition of Ti 80 and Ti 90 mol%. The change in the lattice parameters a₀ and c₀ of the rutile-type solid solutions followed the Vegard Law. The crystallite size of the rutile-type solid solutions was in the range of 5-10 nm. The diffuse reflectance spectra varied with changing Ti content in the precipitates. The photocatalytic activity of composite nanoparticles synthesized at 240 °C was higher than that synthesized at 180 °C. The composite nanoparticles consisting of anatase- and rutile-type phases with compositions Ti_0.90Sn_0.10O₂ and Ti_0.80Sn_0.20O₂ showed improved photocatalytic activity.     

Correlation between temperature coefficient of elasticity and fourier transform infrared spectra of silicon dioxide films for surface acoustic wave devices

We investigated the correlation between the temperature coefficient of elasticity (TCE) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) absorption spectra of SiO(2) for SAW devices. The measurement indicated that the TCE is strongly correlated with peak frequencies; that is, with the fractional change of the Si-O-Si bond angle with temperature.     

The distribution of T lymphocytes,B lymphocytes,and dendritic‐like cells of the anal tonsil in the laboratory shrew,Suncus murinus

We investigated the distribution of T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and S‐100 protein‐immunoreactive dendritic‐like in the anal tonsil of the laboratory shrew, Suncus murinus. In adult animals, T lymphocytes were located mainly at the periphery of the anal tonsil, especially around small blood vessels. B lymphocytes were located in the central and subepithelial region of the anal tonsil, which includes primary lymphoid follicles, and in which there are small numbers of scattered T lymphocytes. B and T lymphocytes were distributed over 72.7 and 27.3% of the tonsillar area, respectively. However, their areas of distribution were not clearly distinguished. The areas containing B lymphocytes were enriched in S‐100 protein antibody‐immunoreactive cells, which exhibited a dendritic shape. These S‐100‐positive cells appeared to be identical to the follicular dendritic cells (FDC) seen in the follicles of lymphoid organs. These results suggest that the anal tonsils constitute one of the gut‐associated lymphoid tissues (GALT), and that a function of the anal tonsil includes the capture of intruding antigens that would generate protective antibody responses. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2011. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Study on analytical method for thiabendazole in toasted and seasoned laver by LC-MS/MS

Thiabendazole (TBZ), a pesticide with antifungal activity, was detected in toasted and seasoned laver which had been reported as tasting unpleasant by consumers in March 2008. From a survey of the manufacturing process, it was concluded that the TBZ contamination had originated from a sponge-roller which was used to paste seasoned liquid onto the toasted laver. At that time it was found that TBZ is widely used to prevent fungal contamination of sponge-rollers. For further survey of TBZ contamination in the laver, we developed a more sensitive detection method using LC-MS/MS. With our new method, six commercial products harvested in March 2008 and July 2009, respectively, were tested. Five out of six samples harvested in 2008 were positive for TBZ, with values in the range from 0.014 to 1.736 μg/g. Only one sample harvested in 2009 contained a detectable level of TBZ. The data obtained here contributed to the improvement of the manufacturing process.