Formation Process of Super-Water-Repellent Al2O3 Coating Films with High Transparency by the Sol–Gel Method

Alumina thin films with a roughness of 20 to 50 nm were formed by immersing porous alumina gel films prepared by the sol-gel method in boiling water. When hydrolyzed fluoroalkyltrimethoxysilane was coated on the alumina films, the contact angle for water was increased with an increase of immersion time, and immersion for 30 s was long enough to give super-water-repellency and high transparency; the contact angle for water of the film was 165° and the transmittance for the visible light was higher than 92%. It was found that the surface of the alumina gel films immersed in boiling water consisted of boehmite crystals. It was shown that the existence of air in the hydrophobic pores on the surface caused the super-water-repellency.     

Rapid Reconstitution of Biosynthetic Machinery for Fungal Metabolites in Aspergillus oryzae: Total Biosynthesis of Aflatrem

Reconstitution of the biosynthetic machinery for fungal secondary metabolites in Aspergillus oryzae provides an opportunity both for stepwise determination of the biosynthetic pathways and the total biosynthesis of fungal natural products. However, to maximize the utility of the reconstitution system, a simple and rapid strategy for the introduction of heterologous genes into A. oryzae is required. In this study, we demonstrated an effective method for introducing multiple genes involved in the biosynthesis of fungal metabolites by using the expression vectors pUARA2 and pUSA2, each of which contains two cloning sites. The successful introduction of all the aflatrem biosynthetic genes (seven genes in total) after two rounds of transformation enabled the total biosynthesis of aflatrem. This rapid reconstitution strategy will facilitate the functional analysis of the biosynthetic machinery of fungal metabolites.     

Simultaneous induction of calcium transients in embryoid bodies using microfabricated electrode substrates

Precise control of differentiation processes of pluripotent stem cells is a key component for the further development of regenerative medicine. For this purpose, combining a cell-aggregate-size treatment for regulating intercellular signal transmissions and an electrical stimulation technique for inducing cellular responses is a promising approach. In the present study, we developed microfabricated electrode substrates that allow simultaneous stimulation of embryoid bodies (EBs) of P19 cells. Mouse embryonal carcinoma P19 cells can be induced to differentiate into three germ layers and serve as a promising stem cell model. Microcavity–array patterns were fabricated onto indium–tin–oxide (ITO) substrates using a standard photo-lithography technique, and uniform-sized EBs of P19 cells were inserted into each microcavity. Electrical stimulation was applied to the EBs through substrate electrodes and stimulus-induced intracellular calcium transients were monitored. We confirmed that the developed electrode device could simultaneously stimulate smaller (200 μm diameter) and larger (500 μm diameter) EBs inserted in the microcavities and induce specific spatio-temporal patterns of intracellular calcium transients in the EBs with fine reproducibility. We concluded that the developed microcavity array with embedded electrodes could simultaneously and effectively stimulate uniform-sized EBs inserted in it. Therefore, it is a promising experimental tool for precisely controlling cell differentiation processes.     

Speckle interferometry by using virtual speckle pattern based on Carré algorithm

Dynamic deformation measurement with a large deformation is effectively performed by using virtual speckle patterns. The virtual speckle pattern has been generally produced by using the operation based on Fourier transform. However, it takes a long calculating time to produce a virtual speckle pattern, because the method requires Fourier transform operation at each pixel of CCD. In the proposed method, virtual speckle patterns are produced by Carré algorithm without any operation by Fourier transform. The method is applied to the in-plane deformation measurement in this paper. As the results, it is confirmed that the calculating cost of virtual speckle patterns is improved remarkably, and that the measurement accuracy of the new method is also equal to the ordinary methods. It is also confirmed that the proposed method will expand the use of the speckle interferometry based on virtual speckle pattern technology.     

Gasification characteristics of organic waste by molten salt

Recently, along with the growth in economic development, there has been a dramatic accompanying increase in the amount of sludge and organic waste. The disposal of such is a significant problem. Moreover, there is also an increased in the consumption of electricity along with economic growth. Although new energy development, such as fuel cells, has been promoted to solve the problem of power consumption, there has been little corresponding promotion relating to the disposal of sludge and organic waste. Generally, methane fermentation comprises the primary organic waste fuel used in gasification systems. However, the methane fermentation method takes a long time to obtain the fuel gas, and the quality of the obtained gas is unstable. On the other hand, gasification by molten salt is undesirable because the molten salt in the gasification gas corrodes the piping and turbine blades. Therefore, a gasification system is proposed by which the sludge and organic waste are gasified by molten salt. Moreover, molten carbonate fuel cells (MCFC) are needed to refill the MCFC electrolyte volatilized in the operation. Since the gasification gas is used as an MCFC fuel, MCFC electrolyte can be provided with the fuel gas. This paper elucidates the fundamental characteristics of sludge and organic waste gasification. A crucible filled with the molten salt comprising 62 Li₂CO₃/38 K₂CO₃, is installed in the reaction vessel, and can be set to an arbitrary temperature in a gas atmosphere. In this instance, the gasifying agent gas is CO₂. Sludge or the rice is supplied as organic waste into the molten salt, and is gasified. The chemical composition of the gasification gas is analyzed by a CO/CO₂ meter, a HC meter, and a SO_x meter gas chromatography. As a result, although sludge can generate CO and H₂ near the chemical equilibrium value, all of the sulfur in the sludge is not fixed in the molten salt, because the sludge floats on the surface of the carbonate by the specific gravity of sludge lighter than the carbonate, and is not completely converted into CO and H₂. Moreover, the rice also shows good characteristics as a gasifying agent. Consequently, there is high expectation to using the organic waste as a molten salt gasifying agent. However, this requires lengthening the contact time between the organic waste and the molten salt.     

Development of a measurement technique for ion distribution in an extended nanochannel by super-resolution-laser-induced fluorescence

Ion behavior confined in extended nanospace (10(1)-10(3) nm) is important for nanofluidics and nanochemistry with dominant surface effects. In this paper, we developed a new measurement technique of ion distribution in the nanochannel by super-resolution-laser-induced fluorescence. Stimulated emission depletion microscopy was used to achieve a spatial resolution of 87 nm higher than the diffraction limit. Fluorescein was used for ratiometric measurement of pH with two excitation wavelengths. The pH profile in a 2D nanochannel of 410 nm width and 405 nm depth was successfully measured at an uncertainty of 0.05. The excess protons, showing lower pH than the bulk, nonuniformly distributed in the nanochannel to cancel the negative charge of glass wall, especially when the electric double layer is thick compared to the channel size. The present study first revealed the ion distribution near the surface or in the nanochannel, which is directly related to the electric double layer. In addition, the obtained proton distribution is important to understand the nanoscale water structure between single molecules and continuum phase. This technique will greatly contribute to understanding the basic science in nanoscale and interfacial dynamics, which are strongly required to develop novel miniaturized systems for biochemical analysis and further applications.     

亚洲城市主义——公共街道中住区生活的动态性之解读

针对亚洲文脉下的高密度城市环境,提出“亚洲城市主义”作为一种新的研究和设计模式,并提出“一席之地”的概念作为环境设计中的焦点。研究关注的是“街道社会生态”,特别是在某一时刻街道上循环的事物、活动和空间结构的一幕最小的互相依赖图景,称作“社会即景”,倡导为高密度城市环境作契合文化内涵的设计。     

Mutated KIT Tyrosine Kinase as a Novel Molecular Target in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

KIT is a type-III receptor tyrosine kinase that contributes to cell signaling in various cells. Since KIT is activated by overexpression or mutation and plays an important role in the development of some cancers, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors and mast cell disease, molecular therapies targeting KIT mutations are being developed. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), genome profiling via next-generation sequencing has shown that several genes that are mutated in patients with AML impact patients’ prognosis. Moreover, it was suggested that precision-medicine-based treatment using genomic data will improve treatment outcomes for AML patients. This paper presents (1) previous studies regarding the role of KIT mutations in AML, (2) the data in AML with KIT mutations from the HM-SCREEN-Japan-01 study, a genome profiling study for patients newly diagnosed with AML who are unsuitable for the standard first-line treatment (unfit) or have relapsed/refractory AML, and (3) new therapies targeting KIT mutations, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and heat shock protein 90 inhibitors. In this era when genome profiling via next-generation sequencing is becoming more common, KIT mutations are attractive novel molecular targets in AML.     

An efficient manufacturing method for I-shaped cross-sectional CFRP beam with arbitrary arrangement of carbon fiber using electro-activated resin molding

Abstract

The I-shaped cross-sectional beam of CFRP (CFRP I-beam) is usually manufactured by the continuous protrusion method. Carbon fibers can only be arranged in the longitudinal direction. The CFRP I-beam with arbitrary arrangement of carbon fiber was manufactured with applying the electro-activated deposition molding method. The carbon fiber fabric was immersed in the deposition solution and energized, epoxy resin precipitated around carbon fiber and impregnated. The resin-impregnated fabric was installed to the mold, and the CFRP I-beam was fabricated. The CFRP I-beam was subjected to three-point bending tests, and the relationship between load-deflection was simulated by finite-element analysis.     

Surface modification of poly(ethylene terephthalate) by plasma polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol)

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) was ‘polymerized’ onto poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) surface by radio frequency (RF) plasma polymerization of PEG (average molecular weight 200 Da) at a monomer vapour partial pressure of 10 Pa. Thin films strongly adherent onto PET could be produced by this method. The modified surface was characterized by infra red (IR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), cross-cut test, contact angle measurements and static platelet adhesion studies. The modified surface, believed to be extensively cross-linked, however showed all the chemical characteristics of PEG. The surface was found to be highly hydrophilic as evidenced by an interfacial free energy of about 0.7 dynes/cm. AFM studies showed that the surface of the modified PET became smooth by the plasma polymerized deposition. Static platelet adhesion studies using platelet rich plasma (PRP) showed considerably reduced adhesion of platelets onto the modified surface by SEM. Plasma ‘polymerization’ of a polymer such as PEG onto substrates may be a novel and interesting strategy to prepare PEG-like surfaces on a variety of substrates since the technique allows the formation of thin, pin-hole free, strongly adherent films on a variety of substrates.