Quantitative evaluation of bone resorption activity of osteoclast‐like cells by measuring calcium phosphate resorbing area using incubator‐facilitated and video‐enhanced microscopy

Quantitative evaluation of the ability of bone resorption activity in live osteoclast‐like cells (OCLs) has not yet been reported on. In this study, we observed the sequential morphological change of OCLs and measured the resorbing calcium phosphate (CP) area made by OCLs alone and with the addition of elcatonin utilizing incubator facilitated video‐enhanced microscopy. OCLs, which were obtained from a coculture of ddy‐mouse osteoblastic cells and bone marrow cells, were cultured on CP‐coated quartz cover slips. The CP‐free area increased constantly in the OCLs alone, whereas it did not increase after the addition of elcatonin. This study showed that analysis of the resorbed areas under the OCL body using this method enables the sequential quantitative evaluation of the bone resorption activity and the effect of several therapeutic agents on bone resorption in vitro. Microsc. Res. Tech, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Synthesis of Various Water-Soluble C60 Derivatives and Their Superoxide-Quenching Activity

Abstract

In order to examine the utility of fullerene as a medicinal application, we evaluated the reaction between fullerene derivatives and active oxygen species in vitro. This paper describes the synthesis of various water-soluble C₆₀ derivatives (cationic and anionic) and evaluation of their superoxide (O₂ ^?) quenching activity. Cationic C₆₀ derivatives showed fairly high efficiency.     

Synthesis of Various Water-Soluble G60 Derivatives and Their Superoxide-Quenching Activity

Abstract

In order to examine the utility of fullerene as a medicinal application, we evaluated the reaction between fullerene derivatives and active oxygen species in vitro. This paper describes the synthesis of various water-soluble C₆₀ derivatives (cationic and anionic) and evaluation of their superoxide (O₂ ^?) quenching activity. Cationic C₆₀ derivatives showed fairly high efficiency.     

Centrifuge model test on dynamic behavior of group-pile foundation With inclined piles and its numerical simulation

In this paper, dynamic behavior of a grouppile foundation with inclined piles in loose sand has been investigated with centrifuge model tests. The test results are also simulated with elastoplastic dynamic finite element method, in which, not only sectional force of piles, stress of ground, but also deformation of piles are calculated using a three-dimensional elastoplastic dynamic finite element analysis (Code name: DGPILE-3D). The numerical analyses are conducted with a full system in which a superstructure, a pile foundation and surrounding ground are considered together so that interaction between pile foundation and soils can be properly simulated because the nonlinearities of both the pile and the ground are described with suitable constitutive models. Different types of piles, vertical pile or inclined pile, are considered in order to verify the different characteristics of a group pile foundation with inclined piles. The validity of the calculation is verified by the model tests.     

Simultaneous Position Estimation and Omnidirectional Camera Parameter Calibration for Multiple Mobile Robots

This paper proposed an algorithm on simultaneous position estimation and calibration of omnidirectional camera parameters for a group of multiple mobile robots. It is aimed at developing of exploration and information gathering robotic system in unknown environment. Here, each mobile robot is not possible to know its own position. It can only estimate its own position by using the measurement value including white noise acquired by two omnidirectional cameras mounted on it. Each mobile robot is able to obtain the distance to those robots observed from the images of two omnidirectional cameras while making calibration during moving but not in advance. Simulation of three robots moving straightly shows the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.     

Kinetic resolution of an indan derivative using Bacillus sp. SUI-12: synthesis of a key intermediate of the melatonin receptor agonist TAK-375

The chiral indan derivative (S)-2 (2-[(8S)-1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl]ethyl-amine) was synthesized by enzyme-catalyzed asymmetric hydrolysis of the racemic acetamide 1 (N-[2-(1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl)ethyl]acetamide). The reaction was carried out using Bacillus sp. SUI-12 screened for the ability to hydrolyze 1 to give (S)-2 with high enantioselectivity. In a scaled-up experiment, a low reaction rate was observed. However, by changing the culture medium and the reaction conditions, it became possible to run the reaction to 40% conversion on a 10-g or more scale, obtaining (S)-2 at >;99% enantiomeric excess (ee). The (S)-2 obtained was available for the synthesis of the melatonin receptor agonist TAK-375 (N-[2-[(8S)-1,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2H-indeno[5,4-b]furan-8-yl]ethyl]propanamide).     

Detection of genes involved in fatty acid elongation and desaturation in thraustochytrid marine eukaryotes

Heterotrophic marine protists known as thraustochytrids can synthesize polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The biosynthetic pathways of PUFAs in thraustochytrids are poorly understood, however. In this study, we attempted to reveal the enzymes involved in DHA synthesis in thraustochytrids. Nine thraustochytrid strains representing 3 genera (Aurantiochytrium, Schizochytrium, and Thraustochytrium) were used for PCR-based detection of the genes encoding Δ5-elongase and Δ4-desaturase and for fatty acid analysis. The degenerate primers were designed to amplify the Δ5-elongase and Δ4-desaturase genes, and the partial sequences of the enzymes were obtained from the genera Thraustochytrium and Schizochytrium. These fragments were identical to those of known Δ5-elongase and Δ4-desaturase. Neither Δ5-elongase nor Δ4-desaturase was detected in the strains belonging to the genus Aurantiochytrium, however, suggesting that this group likely synthesizes DHA not via the elongation/desaturation pathway but via an alternate pathway such as the polyketide synthase pathway. The fatty acid profiles of thraustochytrids were consistent with the presence of genes involved in PUFA biosynthesis in thraustochytrid genera. Thus, our findings suggest that two biosynthetic pathways for PUFAs exist in these organisms.     

Effect of surface properties of silica nanoparticles on their cytotoxicity and cellular distribution in murine macrophages

In this study, complexes composed of poly-l-tyrosine (pLT) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were produced and the dispersibility of the pLT/SWCNT complexes in water by measuring the ζ potential of the complexes and the turbidity of the solution were investigated. It is found that the absolute value of the ζ potential of the pLT/SWCNT complexes is as high as that of SWCNTs modified with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) and that the complexes remain stably dispersed in the water at least for two weeks. Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) and visualization of the surface structures of pLT/SWCNT complexes using an atomic force microscope (AFM) were also carried out.