In vitro selection of aptamers that bind to ribosome-inactivating toxins

Ribosome-inactivating proteins, such as ricin, pepocin and gypsophilin, catalyze the hydrolysis of a single N-glycosidic bond at a specific position in rRNAs. Aptamers targeting pepocin were selected from a random sequence RNA pool that spanned 30 positions. After 8 rounds, the anti-pepocin aptamers were sequenced and a conserved hairpin motif was identified. Interestingly, the selected motif is quite different from the toxin-binding domains of rRNAs.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of rat lin-10

In Caenorhabditis elegans, the vulval induction is mediated by tyrosine kinase receptor/Ras signal transduction pathway composed of the lin-3, let-23, and let-60 products. In addition to these gene products, the lin-2, lin-7, and lin-10 products are also implicated in this pathway. Lin-2 encodes a MAGUK and lin-7 encodes a small protein with one PDZ domain. The lin-10 product has no homology to known proteins. Here, we have cloned a rat homologue of the lin-10 product and characterized it. Rat lin-10 is ubiquitously expressed in various rat tissues and distributed in both the cytosol and membrane fractions. In brain, however, rat lin-10 is distributed only in the membrane fraction and enriched in the synaptic plasma membrane and postsynaptic density fractions. These results suggest that rat lin-10 is involved at least in synaptic functions in brain.     

Systematic packaging design tools integrating functional and environmental consequences on product life cycle: Case studies on laundry detergent and milk

This study presents systematic packaging design tools integrating functional and environmental consequences on product life cycle. To design packaging for sustainability, the trade-offs between functional and environmental aspects of packaging throughout the product life cycle should be considered. However, it is difficult for packaging designers to understand the overall trade-offs because the extent of the design consequences on the entire life cycle of packaging and its contents is unclear. We developed two tools for packaging design: the Life Cycle Association Matrix (LCAM) and the Function Network Diagram (FND). The following three steps, based on literature reviews and interviews with industrial experts, were applied. Firstly, we listed the product functions and design variables related to the functions as the attributes allocated to the product life cycle. Secondly, the attributes were connected appropriately based on causal relationships. Lastly, we identified the factors to support decision making in the packaging design procedure. As a result, the LCAM depicts the design consequences on the life cycle, and the FND determines the stakeholders affected by the design consequences. Two case studies were demonstrated to analyze the trade-offs by using our tools. In the case studies, a liquid laundry detergent bottle and a milk carton were redesigned. The tools identified the design consequences and stakeholders affected by the redesign of the usability and protective function for the detergent and milk cases, respectively. The results showed the significance of understanding the design consequences on the product life cycle by integrating the functional and environmental aspects.     

New high-resolution positive and negative photoresist method for ?/4-shifted DFB lasers

High-resolution positive and negative photoresists were used to fabricate ?/4-phase-shifted corrugations by holographic exposure. To avoid mixing these photoresists, cyclised polyisoprene was used as a midlayer. The shape and depth of the corrugations on the positive and negative photoresist regions were almost the same. Single-mode operation at the Bragg wavelength was confirmed in lasers with the corrugation.     

BIO SKIN Urban Cooling Facade

Numbering 65, Nikken Sekkei's research group is the size of many substantial practices. Tomohiko Yamanashi, Tatsuya Hatori, Yoshito Ishihara and Norihisa Kawashima at Nikken Sekkei Ltd and Katsumi Niwa at the Nikken Sekkei Research Institute (NSRI) describe the unique collaborative processes that make the NSRI's contribution essential to any Nikken projects requiring the development of cutting-edge technology or urban planning proposals. Here, they detail the development of BIO SKIN, an innovative facade system developed for the Sony Research and Development Center in Tokyo, which addresses the urban heat island effect, one of the main environmental research areas of the NSRI. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Recycling of aluminum matrix composites

Separation of matrix metals in composites was tried on alumina short fiber-reinforced aluminum and 6061 alloy composites and SiC whisker-reinforced 6061 alloy composite for recycling. It is possible to separate molten matrix metals from fibers in the composites using fluxes that are used for melt treatment to remove inclusions. About 50 vol pct of the matrix metals was separated from the alumina short fiber-reinforced composites. The separation ratio of the matrix from the SiC whisker-reinforced 6061 alloy composite was low and about 20 vol pct. The separation mechanism was discussed thermodynamically using interface free energies. Since the flux/fiber interface energy is smaller than the aluminum/fiber interface energy, the replacement of aluminum with fluxes in composites takes place easily. Gases released by the decomposition of fluxes act an important role in pushing out the molten matrix metal from the composite. The role was confirmed by the great amount cavity formed in the composite after the matrix metal flowed out.     

Nonfluoroscopic guidance for catheter placement into the coronary sinus under direct vision using a balloon-tipped cardioscope

The right atrial posterior septum, including the coronary sinus (CS) ostium, is an important landmark in radiofrequency catheter ablation therapy for supraventricular tachycardia or atrial flutter. The anatomical findings around the CS ostium would be useful to determine a target site or line during catheter ablation. The aim of the study was to test the ability of the imaging catheter to identify structures in the posterior septal area of the right atrium and to evaluate the feasibility of guidance for catheter placement in the CS using a cardioscope that we recently developed. In 12 anesthetized dogs, the cardioscope, consisting of a deflectable 7 Fr fiberoptic endoscope with an inflatable and transparent balloon, was introduced into the right atrium via the femoral vein. The cardioscope was manipulated to observe the right atrial posterior septum. A deflectable electrode catheter was inserted via the jugular vein and positioned in the CS under cardioscopic guidance. In 10 of 12 dogs, the right atrial posterior septum, including the CS ostium, and the tendon of Todaro could be anatomically identified by cardioscopy. It was possible to position an electrode catheter in the CS in all 10 dogs under direct vision without fluoroscopy. But the CS ostium could not be detected in the remaining two dogs, although the cardioscope was placed at as many sites as possible. No complication occurred. The balloon-tipped cardioscope appears to be useful in observing the right atrialposterior septum and in guiding an electrode catheter into the CS.