Synthesis of amphiphilic triblock copolymer of polystyrene and poly(4-vinylbenzyl glucoside) via TEMPO-mediated living radical polymerization

4-Vinylbenzyl glucoside peracetate 1 was polymerized with α,α′-bis(2′,2′,6′,6′-tetramethyl-1′-piperidinyloxy)-1,4-diethylbenzene 2 in chlorobenzene using (1S)-(+)-10-camphorsulfonic acid anhydrous (CSA) as an accelerator ([1]=0.4 M,[1]/[2]/[CSA]=75/1/1.3) at 125 °C for 5 h. The polymerization afforded poly(4-vinylbenzyl glucoside peracetate) having TEMPO moieties on both sides of the chain ends, 3, with a molecular weight (M_w,SLS) of 8500, a polydispersity index (M_w/M_n) of 1.09, and an average degree of polymerization of the 1 unit (x) of 17. Styrene (St) was polymerized with 3 in chlorobenzene at 125 °C (St/chlorobenzene=1/2, w/w). The polymerization successfully afforded polystyrene-poly(4-vinyl glucoside peracetate)-polystyrene, 4, when the polymerization time was below about 2 h. Polymer 4 with the M_w,SLS of 12,500, 17,900, and 29,400, the compositions (y-x-y) of 20-17-20, 45-17-45, and 100-17-100, and the M_w/M_n of 1.12, 1.14 and 1.17 were modified by deacetylation using sodium methoxide in dry-THF into polystyrene-poly(4-vinyl glucoside peracetate)-polystyrene, 5. The solubility of polymer 5 was examined using a good solvent for polystyrene such as toluene and for the saccharide such as H₂O.     

Properties of Nitrogen-Containing Yttria—Alumina—Silica Melts and Glasses

The viscosity and solubility of nitrogen in Y₂O₃–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ melts have been systematically examined. The effects of nitrogen content on viscosity for Y-Al-Si-O-N melts and on Vickers hardness of oxynitride glasses also have been examined. Although the viscosity of Y₂O₃–Al₂O₃–SiO₂ melts was decreased, the solubility of nitrogen into the melts was increased with increased Y₂O₃ content. These results indicated that the yttrium ion behaved as a network modifier. Therefore, the structural units for viscous flow became small, and the amount of nonbridging oxygen increased in the melts when the Y₂O₃ content increased. The viscosity of Y-Al-Si-O-N melts and Vickers hardness of oxynitride glasses remarkably increased with increased nitrogen content. These results suggested that the substitution of nitrogen for oxygen in the melts may have led to a high average coordination of nonmetal atoms and that the increased cross-linking produced a more rigid glass network.     

A case report of selective IgA deficiency in rheumatoid arthritis and anti-IgA antibody induced anaphylactic transfusion]

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP), usually confined to the nasopharynx, trachea, and larynx, occasionally can progress to extensive bronchopulmonary disease. Most cases of bronchopulmonary and laryngeal papillomatosis are cytologically benign and do not undergo malignant transformation; however, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) can arise in RRP in the absence of known risk factors such as radiation and smoking. In this study, the authors investigated molecular genetic alterations occurring in a case of metastasizing SCC that arose in long-standing bronchopulmonary papillomatosis. Genomic DNA from tracheal papillomata, tracheobronchial papillomata, SCC of the lung, and a lymph node metastasis was extracted. The physical state of the human papillomavirus type 11 (HPV-11) DNA was investigated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Molecular genetic alterations of the host genome were studied by direct sequencing of polymerase chain reaction-amplified gene fragments and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. Episomal and integrated forms of HPV-11 sequences were detected in histologically benign tumors, but only the integrated form of the viral DNA could be found in malignant tissue samples. Molecular genetic studies revealed that an allelic loss of the interferon-beta gene (IFNbeta-1) and an endogenous type of mutation of the p53 antioncogene were found only in the malignant lesions. Mutations were not observed in the ras, neu, or multiple tumor suppressor (MTS1/p16) genes in any specimens. The authors' data indicated that the p53 genetic mutation was associated with integration of HPV-11 in histologically malignant lesions. This association may promote a progressive genetic instability that can lead to the development and clonal expansion of malignant lesions in RRP.     

Verifying a signature architecture: a comparative case study

We report on a case study in applying different formal methods to model and verify an architecture for administrating digital signatures. The architecture comprises several concurrently executing systems that authenticate users and generate and store digital signatures by passing security relevant data through a tightly controlled interface. The architecture is interesting from a formal-methods perspective as it involves complex operations on data as well as process coordination and hence is a candidate for both data-oriented and process-oriented formal methods. We have built and verified two models of the signature architecture using two representative formal methods. In the first, we specify a data model of the architecture in Z that we extend to a trace model and interactively verify by theorem proving. In the second, we model the architecture as a system of communicating processes that we verify by finite-state model checking. We provide a detailed comparison of these two different approaches to formalization (infinite state with rich data types versus finite state) and verification (theorem proving versus model checking). Contrary to common belief, our case study suggests that Z is well suited for temporal reasoning about process models with complex operations on data. Moreover, our comparison highlights the advantages of proving theorems about such models and provides evidence that, in the hands of an experienced user, theorem proving may be neither substantially more time-consuming nor more complex than model checking.     

Selective activation of distant nerve by surface electrode array

Neural prostheses for restoring lost functions can benefit from selective activation of nerves with limited number and density of electrodes. Here, we show by simulations and animal experiments that multipoint simultaneous stimulation with a surface electrode array can selectively activate nerves in a bundle at a desired location in between the array or at a desired depth, which are referred to as lateral or depth-wise gating stimulation, respectively. The stimulation broadly generates action potentials with cathodic source electrodes, and simultaneously blocks unnecessary propagation with downstream anodic gate electrodes. In general, stimulation with a small diameter electrode can affect a nearly hemispherical region, while a large electrode is effective at a more vertically compressed region, i.e., a surface of nerve bundle. The gating stimulation takes advantage of the size effects by utilizing an asymmetrical electrode array. The array of the lateral gating stimulation is designed to have four electrodes; a pair of large source electrodes and a pair of small gate electrodes. The depth-wise gating stimulation array consists of two electrodes; a large gate and small source electrodes. The simulation first demonstrated that appropriate combination of currents at the source and gate electrodes can change recruitment patterns of nerves with lateral or depth-wise selectivity as desired. We then applied the lateral gating stimulation on the rat spinal cords and obtained a preliminary support for the feasibility.     

冬夏鲤鱼鱼皮和鱼骨胶原蛋白稳定性比较

从冬季(2008 年2 月)和夏季(2008 年7 月)的鲤鱼鱼皮和鱼骨中分别提取酸溶性胶原蛋白,在一定温度下加热,通过蛋白酶的酶解和圆二色谱(CD)法研究其热稳定性。结果显示：冬季鱼皮和鱼骨酸溶性胶原蛋白的变性温度分别为31.0℃和 32.8℃,比夏季鱼皮和鱼骨酸溶性胶原蛋白的变性温度分别低1.0℃和0.6℃。通过圆二色谱(CD)法得到了与此一致的结果。测定结果显示,来源于夏季鱼皮和鱼骨胶原蛋白的热稳定性要优于冬季鱼皮和鱼骨胶原蛋白。     

Dynamic rheological measurements on heat-induced myosin gels: Effect of ionic strength,protein concentration and addition of adenosine triphosphate or pyrophosphate

Myosin solutions and suspensions have been monitored during heating at pH 6.0 by using dynamic rheological measurements. The storage modulus (G′), the loss modulus (G) and the phase angle (δ) all showed a marked dependence on ionic strength in the temperature range 25–75°C. The filamentous gels (ionic strength <0.34) displayed a temporary reduction in G′ at temperatures between 50 and 60°C, presumably due to denaturation in parts of the rod portion of the myosin molecule. In the same temperature region the concentration dependence of G′ changed by a power of 2. The loss modulus also showed a marked concentration dependence, while the phase angle varied with concentration primarily at low (<50°C) temperatures. For the final gels, heated to 75°C, only G′ indicated marked differences due to different protein concentrations and ionic strengths; all gels were almost completely elastic (δ?1°). Adenosine triphosphate was shown to have a pronounced temporary effect on the filamentous gel formed at low temperatures, i.e. on the gel with the highest concentration dependence, while pyrophosphate had no such effect. However, both adenosine triphosphate (or rather its hydrolysis product: adenosine diphosphate) and pyrophosphate appeared to have a small, lasting effect on the heat-gelling ability of myosin: the former a detrimental effect, the latter an improvement.     

Formation of one-way-structured cultured neuronal networks in microfluidic devices combining with micropatterning techniques

We present a simple method to regulate the direction of axon development in cultured neurons using microfabrication and microfluidics techniques. We fabricate a PDMS-based device and place it onto a chemically micropatterned glass substrate. We confirm that cultured neurons extend neurites along the medium flow direction and the micropatterned regions.     

Formulation of monodisperse oil‐in‐water emulsions loaded with ergocalciferol and cholecalciferol by microchannel emulsification: insights of production characteristics and stability

Nutritional deficiencies of ergocalciferol (VD₂) and cholecalciferol (VD₃) cause skeletal deformations. The primary aim of this study was to encapsulate VD₂ and VD₃ in food‐grade oil‐in‐water (O/W) emulsions by using microchannel emulsification (MCE). Silicon asymmetric straight‐through microchannel (MC) array consisting of 10 313 channels, each having an 11 × 104 μm microslot connected to a 10 μm circular microholes. 1% (w/w) sodium cholate or Tween 20 in water was used as the continuous phase, while 0.5% (w/w) of each VD₂ and VD₃ in different oils served as the dispersed phase. Monodisperse O/W emulsions with Sauter mean diameters of 28 to 32 μm and relative span factor widths below 0.3 were formulated via an asymmetric straight‐through MC array under appropriate operating conditions. The monodisperse O/W emulsions stabilised with Tween 20 remained stable for >30 days with encapsulation efficiencies (EEs) of VD₂ and VD₃ of above 70% at 4 and 25 °C. In contrast, those stabilised with sodium cholate had stability of >30 days with their EEs of over 70% only at 25 °C.     

Suppression of thermal denaturation of myosin and salt-induced denaturation of actin by sodium citrate in carp (Cyprinus carpio)

The effect of sodium citrate (Na-citrate) on myosin and actin denaturation in myofibrils was investigated. Na-citrate significantly suppressed the thermal inactivation of Ca²⁺-ATPase of carp myosin in a concentration-dependent manner. The effect was greater than that of sorbitol. A similar effect was observed with myofibrils in which myosin is stabilized by F-actin binding. Na-citrate dissolved myofibrils at lower concentration than NaCl. Nevertheless, Na-citrate at 1 M failed to denature F-actin in myofibrils, while 1 M NaCl denatured F-actin almost completely. Na-citrate suppressed the NaCl-induced F-actin denaturation. Sorbitol did not show such protective effect on F-actin denaturation. Moreover, Na-citrate suppressed the freeze denaturation of myofibrils at lower concentration than sorbitol. Thus, Na-citrate was proved to be superior to sorbitol. It was suggested that Na-citrate alone could substitute sorbitol as cryoprotectant in surimi and NaCl as dissolving reagent of myofibril in thermal gel production.