Civic Technology and Community Building: Interaction Effects Between Integrated Connectedness to a Storytelling Network (ICSN) and Internet and Mobile Uses on Civic Participation

This study draws on communication infrastructure theory (CIT) to examine the extent to which expressive uses of Internet and mobile devices moderate the relationship between integrated connectedness to a storytelling network (ICSN) and offline and online civic participation. Data collected through a Web survey of a U.S. national online panel (N = 1201) reveal that the relationships of ICSN with offline and online civic participation are conditioned by locality‐oriented expressive uses of Internet and mobile media. With these findings, this study discusses theoretical insights, policy implications, and practical applications.     

Identification of Chimeric αβγ Diterpene Synthases Possessing both Type II Terpene Cyclase and Prenyltransferase Activities

Two unusual diterpene synthases composed of three domains (α, β, and γ) were identified from fungal Penicillium species. They are the first enzymes found to possess both type II terpene cyclase (TC) and prenyltransferase (PT) activities. These enzymes were characterized by heterologous expression in Aspergillus oryzae and in vitro experiments with wild-type, mutated, and truncated enzymes. The results revealed that the α domain in the C-terminal region of these enzymes was responsible for the PT activity, whereas the βγ domains in the N-terminal region composed the type II TC, and formed copalyl diphosphate ( 2 ). Additionally, between the α and βγ domains, there is a characteristic linker region, in which minimal secondary structure is predicted. This linker does not exist in the characterized three-domain (αβγ) terpene synthases known as monofunctional type I or type II TCs, or bifunctional type I and type II TC enzymes. Therefore, both the catalytic activities and protein architecture substantially differentiate these new enzymes from the previously characterized terpene synthases.     

Translational and rotational energy measurements of desorbed water molecules in their vibrational ground state following 157 nm irradiation of amorphous solid water

Water ice is the major solid component in a variety of astrophysical environments, e.g., cold and dense molecular clouds. Photodesorption plays a dominant role in consuming ice in such cold regions. In this study, photodesorption of vibrationally ground-state H₂O(v = 0) from amorphous solid water has been investigated at 157 nm. Using a resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization technique, the translational and rotational energy distributions of photodesorbed H₂O(v = 0) were measured, i.e., Boltzmann distributions at 1800 and 300 K, respectively. These energies are in good accordance with those predicted by classical molecular calculations for water photodesorption due to a kick-out mechanism following absorption of a single photon; hot H atom released by photodissociation of H₂O in ice transfers enough momentum to another H₂O molecule to kick it off the surface. Desorption of D₂O(v = 0) following 193 nm photoirradiation of a D₂O/H₂S mixed ice was investigated to provide further direct evidence for the operation of a kick-out mechanism. The other desorption mechanisms were also discussed in the context of possible photodesorption of vibrationally excited H₂O.     

Durability of a novel sulfonated polyimide membrane in polymer electrolyte fuel cell operation

A novel sulfonated polyimide membrane containing triazole groups (SPI-8) was subjected to long-term fuel cell operation. Excellent durability of the SPI-8 membrane was confirmed by single cell operation for 5000 h at 80 °C. Open circuit voltage and hydrogen crossover through the membrane showed only minor changes during cell operation, indicating a lack of catastrophic damage for the SPI-8 membrane. It was found by post-test analyses of the membrane that the ion exchange capacity (IEC) decreased only slightly, but the molecular weight decreased to 1/10, resulting in a loss of mechanical strength. It was concluded that the major degradation mode of the sulfonated polyimide membrane involves the ring-opening of the imide linkages via hydrolysis, while a certain degree of side chain degradation occurs as a result of oxidative attack by radical species.     

Immunoelectron microscopic observation of connexin43 in rat odontoblasts

Gap junctions play an important role in differentiation of odontoblasts. Gap junction protein, connexin 43 is expressed in odontoblast. However, the detailed localization in odontoblasts has yet to be fully investigated. We investigated the localization of connexin43 in rat odontoblasts immuno‐electron microscopically. The rats were transcardially fixed with 1% paraformaldehyde in 0.1M phosphate buffer, and mandibles were decalcified with 10% ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid. Pre‐embedding method was carried out for immuno‐electron microscopic analysis. Microscopically, gap junctions were localized between bodies of odontoblasts, and between bodies and processes of odontoblasts. The gap junctions were labeled with gold particles that indicated connexin43. These results suggest that gap junctions between odontoblasts are definitely composed of connexin43 in rats, and our methods used in this study is useful to investigate localization of connexin43 immuno‐electron microscopically. Microsc. Res. Tech., 76:988–991, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Regenerative Medicine for Epilepsy: From Basic Research to Clinical Application

Epilepsy is a chronic neurological disorder, which presents with various forms of seizures. Traditional treatments, including medication using antiepileptic drugs, remain the treatment of choice for epilepsy. Recent development in surgical techniques and approaches has improved treatment outcomes. However, several epileptic patients still suffer from intractable seizures despite the advent of the multimodality of therapies. In this article, we initially provide an overview of clinical presentation of epilepsy then describe clinically relevant animal models of epilepsy. Subsequently, we discuss the concepts of regenerative medicine including cell therapy, neuroprotective agents, and electrical stimulation, which are reviewed within the context of our data.