Characterization of mechanisms of interleukin-6 gene repression by estrogen receptor

Some prior reports have suggested that guided tissue regeneration (GTR) procedures achieve only partial regeneration and induces the ankylosis rather than true attachment. Accordingly, others have developed an alternative procedure employing gelatine membrane compounded with bovine cementum particles (CGM) which has proven effective in stimulating a more physiologic form of attachment. This study was undertaken to perform a direct comparison of histological results when CGM and GTR membrane were used at comparable sites in the same monkey. Three monkeys with no periodontal disease were used. Following flap surgery, recession type defects were created on the buccal side of the maxillary lateral incisors and second premolars, and the cementum was removed from the root surface at an area corresponding to the bone crest. The right and left lateral incisors and second premolars were covered with CGM and GTR membrane, respectively. The GTR membranes were removed after 4 weeks. At 6 wks, the animals were sacrificed, and specimens were prepared for histological examination. More coronally placed true new attachment was observed following application of CGM to the planed root surfaces. Application of the GTR membrane resulted in formation of bone-like cementum and ankylosis, whereas CGM established true periodontal regeneration.     

Microbiological safety of bottled mineral water in patients susceptible to infections

We evaluated the microbiological safety of bottled mineral water products commercially available in Japan. Of 10 bottled mineral water products manufactured in Japan, no bacteria or fungi were detected in 9 (90%), but 1 (10%) contained 1.8x10(3) colony-forming units (cfu)/mL. Of 12 bottled mineral water products manufactured in the EU, 11 (91.7%) contained 23-3.5x10(4) cfu/mL. On the other hand, of 5 bottled mineral water products manufactured in North America, 2 (40%) contained 2.3x10(2)-2.5x10(3) cfu/mL. The detected microorganisms were glucose-nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli such as Brevundimonas vesicularis, Moraxella spp., and Burkholderia cepacia, but Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not detected in any product. For immunocompromised host patients being managed in ultra-clean rooms, the examined bottled mineral water products manufactured in Japan, except 1, were microbiologically safe.     

An efficient BEM to calculate weight functions and its application to bridging analysis in an orthotropic medium

An efficient boundary element method to calculate crack weight functions is developed. The weight function method is applied to bridging effect analysis in a single-edge notched composite specimen by using a bridging law which includes both interfacial debonding and sliding properties between fiber and matrix in ceramic matrix composites. A numerical method to solve the distributed spring model treating bridging fibers as stress distribution to close the crack surface is provided to determine the bridging stress, debond length, crack opening displacement and stress intensity factor.     

Crack-morphological aspects in fracture mechanics

Fracture mechanics can be regarded as a methodology to characterize the actual crack by using the parameters given by the analysis of a simple mathematical crack model. Therefore, the selection of these crack models has very significant meanings. In recent years, several precise crack models have been proposed.In this paper, we paid attention to the influences of the two-dimensional crack geometry and presented the numerical value of the elastic analytical solutions for the non-linear shaped cracks, those are, the bent, the curved and the branched crack. On the basis of these results, the characteristics of these cracks were discussed and the methods of approximate replacement to a simple straight crack were proposed.We examined a zig-zag growth of crack and the crack branching observed in actual fracture processes.     

Biomimetic phospholipid polymers for suppressing adsorption of saliva proteins on dental hydroxyapatite substrate

To prevent infectious diseases induced by the adhesion of microorganisms and their metabolic products to dental implants, saliva protein adsorption, which induces the plaque deposition to the intraoral substrates should be inhibited. We used a water-soluble 2-methacryloyloxyethyl phosphorylcholine (MPC) polymer to modify the surface of hydroxyapatite (HAp) substrate, the main component of dental implant surface. The MPC polymer containing a catechol group at the terminal of polymer chain and amino groups in the side chain was synthesized by mimicking the mussel adhesive protein. The MPC polymer containing 2% of the primary amino groups showed effective adhesion to the HAp substrate. Mucin, the dental plaque protein, adsorbs on the HAp surface; however, the MPC polymer modification could reduce this adsorption amount by more than 98% compared to the original HAp substrate surface. Thus, the treatment of the MPC polymer has potential to reduce oral infection due to plaque deposition.     

Influence of 3‐D cross‐talk on qualified viewing spaces in two‐ and multi‐view autostereoscopic displays

Abstract— To estimate the qualified viewing spaces for two‐ and multi‐view autostereoscopic displays, the relationship between image quality (image comfort, annoying ghost image, depth perception) and various pairings between 3‐D cross‐talk in the left and right views are studied subjectively using a two‐view autostereoscopic display and test charts for the left and right views with ghost images due to artificial 3‐D cross‐talk. The artificial 3‐D cross‐talk was tuned to simulate the view in the intermediate zone of the viewing spaces. It was shown that the stereoscopic images on a two‐view autostereoscopic display cause discomfort when they are observed by the eye in the intermediate zone between the viewing spaces. This is because the ghost image due to large 3‐D cross‐talk in the intermediate zone elicits different depth perception from the depth induced by the original images for the left and right views, so the observer's depth perception is confused. Image comfort is also shown to be better for multi‐views, especially the width of the viewing space, which is narrower than the interpupillary distance, where the parallax of the cross‐talking image is small.     

Short-marks recording characteristics of laser-pumped magnetic-field-modulation recording in a narrow track pitch and on magnetically induced superresolution disks

We evaluate laser-pumped magnetic-field-modulation (LP-MFM), continuous laser-irradiated magnetic-field-modulation, andlight-intensity-modulation recording in magneto-optical disks, usingtemperature calculations and experiments. LP-MFM is useful forrecording short marks: One can record magnetic domains as small as 0.15-mum marks with LP-MFM by using a spin-polarized scanningelectron microscope. LP-MFM is also useful for reducing the trackpitch. Experiments showed that no cross write occurred at a 0.6-mum track pitch, and calculation showed that the heatdistribution is narrow. We confirmed the advantages of LP-MFM forrecording magnetically induced superresolution disks by investigatingthe difference in the shapes of the recorded domains.     

The design of evanescent-field-coupled waveguide-mode sensors

An evanescent-field-coupled waveguide-mode sensor with a multilayer structure consisting of a dielectric waveguide, a thin reflecting layer, and a glass substrate illuminated under the Kretschmann configuration operates as a sensor that is capable of detecting modifications in the dielectric environment near the waveguide surface with superior sensitivity by measuring the change in reflectivity. The sensitivity of the sensor is strongly dependent on the optical constants of the reflecting layer. Numerical simulations show that a sensor having a reflecting layer with a small value of the real part of the complex refractive index shows a good sensitivity for both S-?and P-polarized light. Materials with values of the real and imaginary parts of the complex refractive index of >4 and ～0.5, respectively, are suitable for use as reflecting layers when S-polarized light excites only the lowest order waveguide mode. The simulations were experimentally confirmed using sensors with Au, Cu, Cr, W, a-Si, or Ge reflecting layers deposited by radiofrequency magnetron sputtering by observation of specific adsorption of streptavidin on biotinyl groups using an S-polarized laser beam with a wavelength of 632.8?nm. From the results, guidelines are given for the fabrication of preferred sensor configurations.     

Thermal Properties of Carbon-Containing Iron Ore Composite Prepared by Vapor Deposition of Tar for Limonite

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - The optimal conditions for preparing composites, in which tar-derived carbonaceous materials completely fill the pores in Indonesian limonite(IL), were...