Comparing the Osteogenic Potential and Bone Regeneration Capacities of Dedifferentiated Fat Cells and Adipose-Derived Stem Cells In Vitro and In Vivo: Application of DFAT Cells Isolated by a Mesh Method

Background: We investigated and compared the osteogenic potential and bone regeneration capacities of dedifferentiated fat cells (DFAT cells) and adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). Method: We isolated DFAT cells and ASCs from GFP mice. DFAT cells were established by a new culture method using a mesh culture instead of a ceiling culture. The isolated DFAT cells and ASCs were incubated in osteogenic medium, then alizarin red staining, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays, and RT-PCR (for RUNX2, osteopontin, DLX5, osterix, and osteocalcin) were performed to evaluate the osteoblastic differentiation ability of both cell types in vitro. In vivo, the DFAT cells and ASCs were incubated in osteogenic medium for four weeks and seeded on collagen composite scaffolds, then implanted subcutaneously into the backs of mice. We then performed hematoxylin and eosin staining and immunostaining for GFP and osteocalcin. Results: The alizarin red-stained areas in DFAT cells showed weak calcification ability at two weeks, but high calcification ability at three weeks, similar to ASCs. The ALP levels of ASCs increased earlier than in DFAT cells and showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) at 6 and 9 days. The ALP levels of DFATs were higher than those of ASCs after 12 days. The expression levels of osteoblast marker genes (osterix and osteocalcin) of DFAT cells and ASCs were higher after osteogenic differentiation culture. Conclusion: DFAT cells are easily isolated from a small amount of adipose tissue and are readily expanded with high purity; thus, DFAT cells are applicable to many tissue-engineering strategies and cell-based therapies.     

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Contributes to Differentiation of Monocyte-Derived Tumor-Associated Macrophages via PAI-1 and IL-8 Production

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote cancer cell proliferation and metastasis, as well as anti-tumor immune suppression. Recent studies have shown that tumors enhance the recruitment and differentiation of TAMs, but the detailed mechanisms have not been clarified. We thus examined the influence of cancer cells on the differentiation of monocytes to TAM subsets, including CD163⁺, CD204⁺, and CD206⁺ cells, in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) using immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, and a cytokine array. Furthermore, we investigated the effect of OSCC cells (HSC-2, SQUU-A, and SQUU-B cells) on the differentiation of purified CD14⁺ cells to TAM subsets. The localization patterns of CD163⁺, CD204⁺, and CD206⁺ in OSCC sections were quite different. The expression of CD206 on CD14⁺ cells was significantly increased after the co-culture with OSCC cell lines, while the expressions of CD163 and CD204 on CD14⁺ cells showed no change. High concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were detected in the conditioned medium of OSCC cell lines. PAI-1 and IL-8 stimulated CD14⁺ cells to express CD206. Moreover, there were positive correlations among the numbers of CD206⁺, PAI-1⁺, and IL-8⁺ cells in OSCC sections. These results suggest that PAI-1 and IL-8 produced by OSCC contribute to the differentiation of monocytes to CD206⁺ TAMs.     

A support tool incorporating a districtdisaster mitigation performance evaluation method for the examination of improvement plans in built-up areas

Approximately 20,000 ha of densely built-up areas still remain in Japan. However, the advance of improvements in these areas has been very slow. Thus, making draft improvement plans through citizen–administration partnerships is indispensable to promote improvements. The planning support tool proposed in this study supports a consensus-building process during the creation of draft improvement plans. We develop a disaster mitigation performance evaluation method (DMPEM) for built-up areas at the district level and incorporate this method into a disaster mitigation support Web-GIS. However, DMPEM requires lengthy calculation time because it uses the probabilistic Monte Carlo computation method. Using this tool in real- time planning is therefore difficult. In this study, we first develop a system that reduces the calculation time required by DMPEM. Second, the support tool is used to make draft plans through citizen–administration partnerships in districts where residents are conducting various disaster mitigation activities. Finally, we investigate the usefulness of the tool for consensus building through the promotion of lively discussions among residents and clarify the issues associated with practical use of the tool.     

Characteristics of Nonequilibrium Plasma Flow and Its Sterilization Efficacy in a Tube at Atmospheric Pressure

A nonequilibrium plasma flow produced uniformly in a tube was developed in this paper. The plasma was generated in polyvinyl chloride tube, 3 mm in inner diameter and 100 mm in length, between a wire electrode, 0.2 mm in diameter, and a grounded flat electrode located at the bottom of the tube. We investigated the spectrum, temperature, and ozone concentration of this plasma flow and its sterilization efficacy against Geobacillus stearothermophilus. The temperature in the tube showed uniformity along the wire electrode and increases as applied voltage was increased. With a wire electrode temperature of 337 K at a peak-to-peak applied voltage of 10 kV_pp in the sine wave and a frequency of 6 kHz, sterilization of 10⁵ cells was obtained. This result suggests the potential of the application of plasma flow rather than ethylene oxide for sterilization of the inner wall of tubes, such as catheters and artificial blood vessels.     

Control of swelling height of Si crystal by irradiating Ar beam

It has been found that ion implantation can induce a swelling (step-height) phenomenon on crystal surface. In this paper, we studied about the control of swelling height of Si crystal by irradiating Ar beam under various parameters (fluence, charge and energy). These irradiation parameters were regulated by an irradiation facility that enables to achieve the multiple ionization. For both charges, the swelling height was studied with the various fluencies of two different charges Ar(1+) and Ar(4+). The swelling height increased with increasing the fluence. The swelling height was also studied by changing energy of Ar(4+) beam. The swelling height increased by increasing the energy. The obtained swelling heights are understood base on the contribution of ion-beam induced defect, which is evaluated by SRIM. By comparing with the previous results, it was found that the expansion phenomena also depend on irradiated ion. The swelling structures were found to be stable more than two months. The present results have shown that this method of producing swelling structure indicates the potential application to fabricate 3-D nanostructure.     

Vacuum Insulation and Achievement of 980 keV, 185 A/m~2 H-Ion Beam Acceleration at JAEA for the ITER Neutral Beam Injector

Vacuum insulation of 1 MV is a common issue for the HV bushing and the accel- erator for the ITER neutral beam injector (NBI). The HV bushing as an insulating feedthrough has a five-stage structure and each stage consists of double-layered insulators. To sustain 1 MV in vacuum, reduction of electric field at several triple points existing around the double-layered insulators is a critical issue. To reduce electric field simultaneously at these points, three types of stress ring have been developed. In a voltage holding test of a full-scale mockup equipped with these stress rings, 120% of rated voltage was sustained and the voltage holding capability required in ITER was verified. In the MeV accelerator, whose target is the acceleration of a H ion beam of 1 MeV, 200 A/m 2 , the gap between the grid support was extended to suppress breakdowns triggered by electric field concentration at the edge and corner of the grid support. This modi- fication improved the voltage holding capability in vacuum, and the MeV accelerator succeeded in sustaining 1 MV stably. Furthermore, it appeared that the H ions beam was deflected and a part of the beam was intercepted at the acceleration grid. This causes high heat load on the grids and breakdowns during beam acceleration. To suppress the direct interception, a new grid was designed with proper aperture displacement based on a three dimensional beam trajectory analysis. As a result, 980 keV, 185 A/m 2 H ion beam acceleration has been demonstrated, which is close to the ITER requirement.     

Effective Dissolution of Platinum by Using Chloride Salts in Recovery Process

Platinum (Pt) is typically recovered by employing dissolution processes in aqueous solutions; however, these processes require a long processing time and considerable quantities of acids with strong oxidants owing to the high chemical stability of Pt. In order to develop an efficient dissolution process, we studied chlorination treatments for Pt prior to dissolution. Chlorination was carried out at 673?K to 873?K (400?°C to 600?°C) using copper(II) chloride (CuCl₂) as a chlorine source. While pure Pt was insoluble in hydrochloric acid (HCl(aq)), the entire Pt component of the treated sample dissolved in HCl(aq) under certain conditions. Therefore, the proposed method can be used as a new, environmental friendly Pt recovery process.     

Comment on “Thermal Conductivity Measurements of Some Synthetic Al2O3-CaO-SiO2 Slags by Means of a Front-Heating and Front-Detection Laser-Flash Method”

In a previous research, it was pointed out that the thermal conductivity of molten silicate may be misled, due to the current leakage through the molten sample and the error in the resistance of the hot-wire. The applicability of the hot-wire method could be verified by the prediction of the current leakage through the sample and the comparison between the measured and the reference values of the hot-wire resistance.     

Dissolution Behavior of Rhodium in the Na2O-SiO2 and CaO-SiO2 Slags

To understand the behavior of rhodium during its recovery process, the dissolution behaviors of rhodium in Na₂O-SiO₂ and in CaO-SiO₂ slags at temperatures ranging from 1423 K to 1623 K (from 1150 °C to 1350 °C) and from 1773 K to 1873 K (from 1500 °C to 1600 °C), respectively, in an oxidizing atmosphere were investigated. The solubility of rhodium in the slags was found to increase with increasing oxygen partial pressure, temperature, and the basic oxide content. The correlation between the solubility of rhodium and the oxygen partial pressure suggested that rhodium dissolved into the slags as RhO_1.5. The dissolution of rhodium was slightly endothermic: the enthalpy change of the dissolution of solid rhodium was determined to be 50 ± 10 kJ/mol for the 50(mass pct)Na₂O-50SiO₂; and 188 ± 94 kJ/mol for the 56(mass pct)CaO-44SiO₂ slag systems. The increase in the solubility of rhodium with the basic oxide content indicated that rhodium exhibits acidic behavior in slags. The correlation between the solubility of rhodium and the sulfide capacity of the slags suggested that the ionic species of rhodium in slags is the rhodate ion, RhO ₂ ^? . The rhodate capacity of the slags was defined, and its application to estimate the possible rhodium content in various slag systems was proposed.