Initial phantom validation of minute roughness measurement using phase tracking for arterial wall diagnosis non-invasively in vivo

To detect minute roughness, we utilized the phase change that occurs in a radio frequency echo from the rough surface of an object during its lateral motion. The new method was optimized and validated using saw-tooth-shaped silicone phantoms sized from 13 to 33 μm; results were compared to those obtained using a confocal laser scanning microscope.     

Coupling stimuli-responsive magnetic nanoparticles with antibody-antigen detection in immunoassays

Because current homogeneous immunoassays show some limitations, particularly low sensitivity, we developed a new immunoassay to overcome these limitations. The approach was based on magnetic nanoparticles with a thermoresponsive polymer layer, a negatively charged polymer, and streptavidin-biotin-based antibody-antigen detection and yielded higher sensitivity than commonly used heterogeneous immunoassays. Because no special equipment is needed, it can be applied to currently available absorbance-based systems for high-throughput assays.     

Enhanced Reliability of Avian Influenza Virus (AIV) and Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) Identification Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-MS)

In-solution enzymatic and nonenzymatic digestion methods have been successfully implemented in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS)-based virus identification, extending to typing/subtyping of deadly influenza viruses. However, these methods are inefficient in obtaining more precise information on surface proteins of myxovirus particles, not only the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase of influenza virus but also the hemagglutinin-neuraminidase of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Imbalances in viral protein composition cause ion suppression of tryptic fragments from low-abundant target proteins (surface proteins), adversely affecting reproducibility of mass spectra. Additionally, the coexistence of tryptic peptides from several proteins requires sophisticated statistical solutions for precise result interpretations. To circumvent these, we apply detergent-based (gel-free) partitioning of whole viruses into soluble surface proteins and insoluble virus materials, using differential centrifugation. MALDI-TOF or MALDI-TOF/TOF MS was applied to analyze tryptic peptides from separated viral proteins. In this study, we achieved type/subtype of avian influenza virus (AIV) within 5 h, based on 4 major proteins, by significantly reducing ion suppression and signal overlap from various protein sources. Hence, our approach can both yield dependable results and allow Web-based search engines to be directly employed, obviating the need for additional statistical strategy. Additionally, we demonstrate the utility of the method using NDV.     

Modeling of eddy characteristic time in LES for calculating turbulent diffusion flame

We have constructed an eddy characteristic time derived from large-scale motion to calculate the combustion reaction rate using a new eddy dissipation concept (EDC) model, and estimated combustion characteristics in the combustor. The calculated temperature and CH₄ mole fraction distribution are in fairly good agreement with the experimental data. However, the calculated CO mole fraction distribution does not agree well with the measured result of CO mole fraction because of using a simple CO reaction mechanism. This study shows that the combustion simulation using LES with EDC model is effective for calculating the characteristics of turbulent diffusion flame.     

9-oxo-10(E),12(E)-Octadecadienoic acid derived from tomato is a potent PPAR α agonist to decrease triglyceride accumulation in mouse primary hepatocytes

Scope: Tomato is one of the most common crops worldwide and contains many beneficial compounds that improve abnormalities of lipid metabolism. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of tomato on lipid metabolism is unclear. It has been commonly accepted that peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor α (PPARα) is one of the most important targets for ameliorating abnormalities of lipid metabolism. Therefore, we focused on the activation of PPARα and attempted to detect active compounds activating PPARα in tomato. Methods and results: To identify such active compounds, we screened fractions of tomato extracts using PPARα luciferase reporter assay. One fraction, rechromatographed‐fraction eluted in 57 min (RF57), significantly increased PPARα reporter activity, in which a single compound is detected by LC/MS analysis. On the basis of LC/MS and NMR analyses, we determined the chemical structure of the active compound in RF57 as 9‐oxo‐10(E),12(E)‐octadecadienoic acid (9‐oxo‐ODA). The RF57 fraction significantly increased the mRNA expression levels of PPARα target genes involved in fatty acid oxidation and O₂ consumption in mouse primary hepatocytes. Furthermore, RF57 inhibited cellular triglyceride accumulation in the hepatocytes. Conclusion: These findings suggest that tomatoes containing 9‐oxo‐ODA that acts on PPARα are valuable for ameliorating abnormalities of lipid metabolism.     

Ipragliflozin Ameliorates Diabetic Nephropathy Associated with Perirenal Adipose Expansion in Mice

Sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors inhibit the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). We determined whether changes in perirenal fat (PRAT) by a SGLT2 inhibitor ipragliflozin (Ipra) contribute to the suppression of DN development. High-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice were used as a DN model and were treated with or without Ipra for 6 weeks. Ipra treatment reduced urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and glomerular hypertrophy in HFD-fed mice. In the PRAT of Ipra-treated mice, adipocyte size was increased, and inflammation, fibrosis, and adipocyte death were suppressed. In conditioned medium made from PRAT (PRAT-CM) of Ipra-treated mice, the concentration of leptin was significantly lower than PRAT-CM of mice without Ipra treatment. Serum leptin concentration in renal vein positively correlated with UAE. PRAT-CM from HFD-fed mice showed greater cell proliferation signaling in mouse glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) than PRAT-CM from standard diet-fed mice via p38MAPK and leptin-dependent pathways, whose effects were significantly attenuated in PRAT-CM from Ipra-treated mice. These findings suggest that Ipra-induced PRAT expansion may play an important role in the improvement of DN in HFD-fed mice. In vitro experiments suggest that reduced PRAT-derived leptin by Ipra could inhibit GECs proliferation, possibly contributing to the suppression of DN development.     

Chiral separation, determination of absolute configuration, and high-performance liquid chromatography detection of enantiomeric 3-hydroxyhexadecanoyl-CoA

The enoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) hydratase catalyzes the hydration of 2-enoyl-CoA to yield 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA in mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation. However, the stereospecificities of these hydratases differ from each other. To provide clear evidence of the stereospecificities of hydratases, the absolute configuration of 3-hydroxyhexadecanoyl-CoAs was determined, and they were subjected to a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a chiral separation column. The retention time of 3(R)-hydroxyhexadecanoyl-CoA was shorter than that of 3(S)-hydroxyhexadecanoyl-CoA. The HPLC analysis carried out using a chiral separation column is considered to be useful for the study of enoyl-CoA hydratase.     

Dielectric breakdown and healing of anodic oxide films on aluminium under single pulse anodizing

Single pulse anodizing of aluminium micro-electrode has been employed to study the behaviour of dielectric breakdown and subsequent oxide formation on aluminium in alkaline silicate and pentaborate electrolytes. Current transients during applying pulse voltage have been measured, and surface has been observed by scanning electron microscopy. Two types of current transients are observed, depending on the electrolyte and applied voltage. There is a good correlation between the current transient behaviour and the shape of discharge channels. In alkaline silicate electrolyte, circular open pores are healed by increasing the pulse width, but such healing is not obvious in pentaborate electrolyte.     

Dynamic equilibrium of MoSi2 polymorphs during mechanical milling

The phase transformation of α-MoSi₂ into β-MoSi₂ induced by mechanical milling (MM) was studied. Planetary ball milling was performed on an α-MoSi₂ powder under six different milling conditions. The X-ray diffraction results show that the dynamic equilibrium between α-MoSi₂ and β-MoSi₂ is reached at low milling intensities, while a single phase of β-MoSi₂ is formed when milled at high milling intensities. The single-phase β-MoSi₂ formation is found to be due to Fe impurity. The mechanism of the phase transformation of MoSi₂ is discussed, and the phase fractions under the dynamic equilibrium are explained by the redistribution of the close-packed layers via synchroshear processes.     

Design and operation of gas–liquid slug flow in miniaturized channels for rapid mass transfer

The influences of operating parameters such as channel size, flow rate, and void fraction on the mass transfer rate in the gas–liquid slug flow are investigated to establish a design method to determine the parameters for rapid mass transfer. From the experimental results, the turnover index, including the slug linear velocity, its length, and the channel size that represents the turnover frequency of the internal circulation flow, is proposed. For PTFE tube in which no liquid film exists in slug flow, a master curve is derived from the relationship between the mass transfer coefficient and the turnover index. For each channel material, the Sherwood number is also roughly correlated with the Peclet number. These correlations make it possible to arbitrarily determine a set of operating parameters to achieve the desired mass transfer rate. However, the turnover index and the Peclet number include the slug length, which cannot be controlled directly. The relationship between the slug length and the operating parameters is also investigated. The slug volume mainly depends on the inner diameter (i.d.) of a union tee. At a fixed union tee i.d., the slug length is controlled through the exit i.d. of the channel connected to the union tee and the void fraction. Thus, the final slug length depends on the union tee and exit channel inner diameters. At low flow rates, the gas and liquid collision angle is significant in determining the slug length.