Fluorescent imaging of endothelial glycocalyx layer with wheat germ agglutinin using intravital microscopy

Endothelial glycocalyx (GCX) is located on the apical surface of vascular endothelial cells and is composed of a negatively‐charged network of proteoglycans and glycoproteins. The GCX plays an important role in maintaining the integrity of vascular walls and preventing leakage of plasma. Therefore, degradation of the GCX is believed to lead to pathological leakage of plasma. Because the GCX is a very thin layer, its ultrastructural image has been demonstrated on electron microscope. To explore the function of the GCX, it should be visualized by a microscope in vivo. Thus, we developed in vivo visualization technique of the GCX under fluorescence microscopy using a mouse dorsal skinfold chamber (DSC) model. To label and visualize the GCX, we used fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labeled lectin, which has a high specificity for sugar moieties. We examined the affinity of the different lectins to epivascular regions under an intravital fluorescent microscope. Among seven different lectins we examined, FITC labeled Triticum vulgaris (wheat germ) agglutinin (WGA) delineated the GCX most clearly. Binding of WGA to the GCX was inhibited by chitin hydrolysate, which contained WGA‐binding polysaccharide chains. Furthermore, the septic condition attenuated this structure, suggesting structural degradation of endothelial GCX layer. In conclusion, FITC‐labeled WGA lectin enabled visualization of endothelial GCX under in vivo fluorescence microscopy. Microsc. Res. Tech. 79:31–37, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

An approach to mobile software robots for the WWW

This paper describes a framework for developing mobile software robots by using the PLANET mobile object system, which is characterized by a language-neutral layered architecture, the native code execution of mobile objects, and asynchronous object passing. We propose an approach to implementing mobile Web search robots that takes full advantage of these characteristics, and we base our discussion of its effectiveness on experiments conducted in the Internet environment. The results show that the PLANET approach to mobile Web search robots significantly reduces the amount of data transferred via the Internet and that it enables the robots to work more efficiently than the robots in the conventional stationary scheme whenever nontrivial amounts of HTML files are processed     

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.     

Spin Coherence Time T 2 in Metallic P-doped Si at Very Low Temperature

We report NMR measurements of transverse relaxation rate 1/T ₂ of the ³¹P nuclear spins in metallic Si:P (concentration of dopant P, n=18×10¹⁸ and 56×10¹⁸ cm^?3) at temperatures between 45 mK and 5 K in a magnetic field of 7 T. Above 1.4 K, 1/T ₂ is constant independent of temperature as well as concentration and is determined by magnetic dipolar interaction between the ³¹P and ²⁹Si nuclear spins. As temperature decreases below 1.4 K, 1/T ₂ increases over the dipolar-determined value by an order of magnitude and levels off around 0.6 K. The concentration dependence of 1/T ₂ at low temperatures suggests that 1/T ₂ below 1.4 K is determined by the coupling between the ³¹P nuclear spins. We understand 1/T ₂ at low temperatures originates from the RKKY interaction. We explain the temperature dependence of 1/T ₂ between 0.6 K and 1.4 K by the motional-narrowing expression of 1/T ₂ with a temperature-dependent correlation time of the fluctuating local field due to the RKKY interaction.     

A Low‐Loss Medium‐Voltage Inverter Applying Series Connected General Purpose 1.2 kV Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistors with Accurate Voltage Balancing Techniques

This paper presents a medium‐voltage inverter applying series connected general‐purpose 1.2 kV insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) as a switching device to achieve low switching losses compared to inverters applying high‐voltage IGBTs with over 3 kV rating. Gate signal synchronization, which is essential to keep the balance of collector‐emitter voltages across the IGBTs, is achieved by magnetically coupling all gate lines using a simple two‐windings transformer. In order to obtain better voltage balancing, influence of stray capacitance distribution associated with an insulating substrate in a two‐in‐one IGBT module on the voltage sharing is investigated, and an optimized layout of heat sinks for the IGBT modules is proposed. To validate some performances concerning the device losses and the voltage sharing, a 170 kVA inverter based on three 1.2 kV IGBTs connected in series is built and evaluated. The experimental results are shown. Copyright © 2007 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Nano structure of rapidly quenched Cu–(Zr or Hf) – Ti alloys and their devitrification process

The structure and primary devitrification process of the melt-spun Cu₆₀(Zr or Hf)₃₀Ti₁₀ alloys were investigated. It was confirmed that the compositional segregation in the diameter range of 5–10 nm exists in the as-quenched state. The nanocrystalline particles with cubic structure are observed in the glassy matrix in thehigh-resolution transmission electron microscopy images, of which size is corresponding to the scale of compositional segregation. Small-angle X-ray scattering measurement also indicates the development of nanoscale inhomogeneity with the same size as that of nanocrystalline particles. The nanocrystalline region has high Cu content. In contrast, Zr or Hf and Ti elements are enriched in the glassy region. These results are recognized as the formation of novel structure consisting of the glassy and nanocrystalline phases. It is suggested that the precipitation of bcc CuZr phase as a primary crystallization phase proceeds in the glassy phase remaining the nanocrystalline phase in the Cu–Zr–Ti alloy. Meanwhile, the glassy and nanocrystalline phases are transformed to an orthorhombic Cu₈Hf₃ phase at the initial crystallization stage in the Cu–Hf–Ti alloy. These differences of crystallization process are consistent with the results of thermodynamic and kinetic analyses of the transformation mode.     

Heat Transfer Characteristics and Reynolds Stress Budget of Spatially Advancing Turbulent Flow in a Curved Channel

Direct numerical simulation was performed for the spatially advancing turbulent flow and heat transfer in a two-dimensional curved channel equating the radius ratio to 0.92 or 0.8. The frictional Reynolds number was fixed at 150, whereas the Prandtl number was set at 0.71. According to the numerical result, the remarkable enhancement of heat transfer occurred on the outer wall, suggesting the organized vortex activated the heat transfer. The budgets of Reynolds stresses clarified that the onset and growth of the organized flow was assisted by the direct energy transfer from the mean flow.     

The Radiation Element Method Coupled with the Bioheat Transfer Equation Applied to the Analysis of the Photothermal Effect of Tissues

The purpose of this study is to develop the radiation element method by ray emission method (REM²) code appropriate for coupling with the bioheat transfer equation, and to clarify the photothermal effect of various parameters inside biological tissues. First, the REM², which involves the air-tissue interface effect, is validated with the existing literature. In order to clarify the effects of optical and thermophysical properties of biological tissues, a one-dimensional tissue model of CW light transport and bioheat transfer is employed. The present study provides nondimensional results, which are obtained by varying refractive index, extinction coefficient, scattering albedo, blood perfusion parameter, and conduction-radiation parameter, show valuable guidance for understanding the coupled light and bioheat transport in tissues.     

Practical Design for Improving the Sensitivity to Search for Dark Matter Axions with Rydberg Atoms

A microwave single-photon detector was developed with highly-excited alkaline Rydberg-atoms in a cooled resonant cavity to search for dark matter axions. This detector belongs to a microwave single-photon counter, thus being free from the standard quantum limit (SQL). High sensitivity of the present detector system was demonstrated by measuring the thermal blackbody radiations in the cavity at temperatures as low as 70 mK where the sensitivity is below the SQL. The detection sensitivity of the present system is mainly limited by stray electric fields present in the detection region. Practical design of a new experimental scheme with a guiding electric field through the atomic-beam trajectory is here presented and discussed to avoid the effect of stray electric field and thus to improve the detection sensitivity.      

Improvement of Electrical Contact Between TE Material and Ni Electrode Interfaces by Application of a Buffer Layer

A single ??-structure thermoelectric (TE) module based on p-type NaCo₂O₄, n-type Mg₂Si, and Ni electrode was fabricated by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method. The NaCo₂O₄ powder was synthesized by using a metal?Ccitric acid complex decomposition method. Bulk Mg₂Si prepared by melt quenching was ground into a powder and sieved to particle size of 75???m or less. To obtain a sintered body of NaCo₂O₄ or Mg₂Si, the powder was sintered using SPS. Pressed Ni powder or mixed powder consisting of Ni and SrRuO₃ powder was inserted between these materials and the Ni electrode in order to connect them, and electrical power was passed through the electrodes from the SPS equipment. The open-circuit voltage (V _OC) values of a single module in which TE materials were connected to the Ni electrodes by using pressed Ni powder was 82.7?mV, and the maximum output current (I _max) and maximum output power (P _max) were 212.4?mA and 6.65?mW at ??T?=?470?K, respectively. On the other hand, V _OC of a single module in which TE materials and an Ni electrode were connected with a mixed powder (Ni:SrRuO₃?=?6:4 volume fraction) was 109?mV, and I _max and P _max were 4034?mA and 109?mW at ??T?=?500?K, respectively. These results indicate that the resistance at the interface between the TE materials and the Ni electrode can be decreased and the output power can be increased by application of a buffer layer consisting of Ni and SrRuO₃.