Optoelectronic matrix switch using heterojunction switching photodiodes

Heterojunction switching photodiodes (InGaAs/InP) were used to construct a 3×3 matrix switch. Isolation and cross-talk losses were better than 63 dB over a frequency range of 10 Hz to 400 MHz and 400 Mbit/s digital signals were switched with switching times shorter than 30 ns.     

Involvement of follicular basement membrane and vascular endothelium in blood follicle barrier formation of mice revealed by 'in vivo cryotechnique'

The molecular sieve with size- and charge selectivity in ovarian follicles, the so-called blood-follicle barrier (BFB), was examined during follicular development under physiological conditions to reveal ovarian structures responsible for the BFB by using our 'in vivo cryotechnique' (IVCT). Mouse ovary specimens were prepared with different methods including IVCT, immersion, or perfusion chemical fixation and quick-freezing following resection or perfusion. Their paraffin sections or cryosections were stained with hematoxylin-eosin or immunostained for serum proteins with different molecular weights: albumin, immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 heavy chain, inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (I alpha I), fibrinogen, and IgM. Their immunoreactivity was better preserved with IVCT. The immunostaining for albumin was clearly observed in blood vessels, interstitium, and developing follicles, but that of IgG1, I alpha I, or fibrinogen was significantly decreased inside the follicles. IgM was immunohistochemically decreased throughout the interstitium outside blood vessels. The immunoreactivities of IgG1 and IgM, as compared with albumin, were clearly changed along follicular basement membranes and around vascular endothelial cells respectively. These findings indicate that BFB functions throughout follicular development, and the follicular basement membrane and the vascular endothelium could play some significant roles in the permselectivity for such soluble proteins with intermediate and high molecular weight respectively.     

Application of electron holography to the determination of contact potential difference in an AlGaN/AlN/Si heterostructure

Electron holography was applied to determine the contact potential differences in an AlGaN/AlN/Si heterostructure formed by metallorganic vapor phase epitaxy. Since mean inner potentials are generally different for different materials, their values before and after forming the junction were evaluated first, then the contact potential difference was obtained by subtracting the difference of the mean inner potentials before forming the junction from the corresponding difference after forming the junction. The contact potential differences thus obtained were consistent with a reported asymmetric nonlinear behavior in the current-voltage characteristics measured for a similar heterojunction diode.     

Stress resistance of biofilm and planktonic Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum JCM 1149

The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in resistance of biofilm and planktonic food spoilage lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to environmental stresses, which strongly inhibit bacterial growth and are important in food preservation or in disinfection. The stress responses of biofilm and planktonic cells of Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum JCM 1149, which was used as a model spoilage bacterium, in various organic acids (namely, acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, and malic acid), ethanol, and sodium hypochlorite, were investigated using survival tests. The bacterial cells in biofilms showed greater resistance to all treatments than the planktonic bacterial cells in either the stationary or logarithmic phase. The planktonic bacterial cells showed reduced resistance to acetic acid after the cell suspension was diluted; however, intriguingly, the bacterial cells in biofilms maintained their resistance to acetic acid even after they were suspended or the cell suspension was diluted. These findings suggested the risk for food spoilage due to LAB derived from biofilms and suspended or diluted in foods, and demonstrated the importance of controlling biofilms of LAB in the food industry.     

Clinical evaluation of fullerene-C60 dissolved in squalane for anti-wrinkle cosmetics

Highly purified and organic solvent-free fullerene-C60 was dissolved, at nearly saturated concentration of 278 ppm, in squalane prepared from olive oil, which is designated as LipoFullerene (LF-SQ) and was examined for usage as a cosmetic ingredient with antioxidant ability. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-wrinkle formation efficacy of LF-SQ in subjects. A total of 23 Japanese women (group I: age 38.9 +/- 3.8, n = 11, group II; age 39.4 +/- 4.3, n = 12) were enrolled in an 8-week trial of LF-SQ blended cream in a randomized, matched pair double-blind study. The LF-SQ cream was applied twice daily on the right or left half of the face, and squalane blended cream (without fullerene-C60) was applied as the placebo on another half of the face. As clinical evaluations of wrinkle grades, visual observation and photographs, and silicone replicas of both crow's feet areas were taken at baseline (0 week) and at 4th and 8th weeks. Skin replicas were analyzed using an optical profilometry technique. The wrinkle and skin-surface roughness features were calculated and statistically analyzed. Subsequently, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), moisture levels of the stratum corneum, and visco-elasticity (suppleness: RO and elasticity: R7) were measured on cheeks by instrumental analysis. LF-SQ cream enhanced the skin moisture and the anti-wrinkle formation. LF-SQ cream that was applied on a face twice daily was not effective at 4th week, but significantly more effective than the placebo at 8th week (p < 0.05) without severe side effects. The roughness-area ratio showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) at 8th week with LF-SQ cream as compared to 0 week with LF-SQ cream, but no significant difference was detected between LF-SQ cream and the placebo. We suggest that LF-SQ could be used as an active ingredient for wrinkle-care cosmetics.     

Genes and Gene Networks Involved in Sodium Fluoride-Elicited Cell Death Accompanying Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Oral Epithelial Cells

Here, to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying cell death induced by sodium fluoride (NaF), we analyzed gene expression patterns in rat oral epithelial ROE2 cells exposed to NaF using global-scale microarrays and bioinformatics tools. A relatively high concentration of NaF (2 mM) induced cell death concomitant with decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential, chromatin condensation and caspase-3 activation. Using 980 probe sets, we identified 432 up-regulated and 548 down-regulated genes, that were differentially expressed by >2.5-fold in the cells treated with 2 mM of NaF and categorized them into 4 groups by K-means clustering. Ingenuity^® pathway analysis revealed several gene networks from gene clusters. The gene networks Up-I and Up-II included many up-regulated genes that were mainly associated with the biological function of induction or prevention of cell death, respectively, such as Atf3, Ddit3 and Fos (for Up-I) and Atf4 and Hspa5 (for Up-II). Interestingly, knockdown of Ddit3 and Hspa5 significantly increased and decreased the number of viable cells, respectively. Moreover, several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes including, Ddit3, Atf4 and Hapa5, were observed in these gene networks. These findings will provide further insight into the molecular mechanisms of NaF-induced cell death accompanying ER stress in oral epithelial cells.     

The Pepsin Digestibility of Thermal Gel Products Made from White Croaker (Pennahia argentata) Muscle in Associating with Myosin Polymerization Levels

Thermal gels were made from white croaker (Pennahia argentata) surimi at various polymerization levels of myosin heavy chains induced by suwari treatment at 38 °C for various time periods and subsequently heated at 85 °C for 20 min. Myosin heavy chain polymerization levels were also achieved in the presence of microbial transglutaminase (MTG) added at various concentrations in the surimi. The breaking strength and breaking strain rate were markedly increased during suwari treatment up to 60 min in accordance with the increased levels of myosin heavy chain polymerization. MTG enhanced myosin heavy chain polymerization during suwari treatment for 15 and 30 min, resulting in the increase of breaking strength. The solubilization in 8 M urea and pepsin digestibility of these gels as well as angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of their pepsin digests were decreased with the increased levels of myosin heavy chain polymerization. These results suggest that myosin heavy chain polymerization affects not only rheological properties of thermal gels but also their functional properties for human health.     

Relation Between Vortex Pinning Energy and Anderson's Theorem

We discuss the elementary vortex pinning in type-II superconductors in connection with the Anderson's theorem for nonmagnetic impurities. We address the following two issues. One is an enhancement of the vortex pinning energy in the unconventional superconductors. This enhancement comes from the pair-breaking effect of a nonmagnetic defect as the pinning center far away from the vortex core (i.e., the pair-breaking effect due to the non-applicability of the Anderson's theorem in the unconventional superconductors). The other is an effect of the chirality on the vortex pinning energy in a chiral p-wave superconductor. The vortex pinning energy depends on the chirality. This is related to the cancellation of the angular momentum between the vorticity and chirality in a chiral p-wave vortex core, resulting in local applicability of the Anderson's theorem (or local recovery of the Anderson's theorem) inside the vortex core.     

Improvement of optical nonlinear response in GaAs/AlGaAs nipi-MOW structure with Au ohmic contact

Experiments demonstrate that the optical nonlinear response in a GaAs/AlGaAs nipi-MQW structure can be improved by introducing ohmic contacts, which electrically connect n- and p-layers. The response time is reduced by more than two orders of magnitude because of the enhanced recombination rate of photoexcited carriers, whereas the figure of merit for absorptive nonlinearity sigma /sub eh/ is kept constant and is an order of magnitude larger than that in a conventional GaAs/AlGaAs MQW structure.<>