Photocontrolled adsorption chromatography for lysozyme using azoaromatic polymer

Photoresponsive polymeric adsorbents containing an azobenzene moiety were prepared, and adsorption behavior of lysozyme onto the adsorbents was studied. In the dark the amount of lysozyme adsorbed increased with increasing hydrophobicity of the surface of the adsorbents. Therefore, it is suggested that hydrophobic interaction between lysozyme and the adsorbents plays an important role in their adsorption behavior. On irradiation with UV light, the amount of lysozyme adsorbed decreased. This result is due to increased polarity of the surface of the adsorbent induced by UV irradiation and the resultant reduction in hydrophobic interaction with lysozyme. When a column chromatography of lysozyme was carried out using the photoresponsive polymeric adsorbent as a packing material, lysozyme was eluted by photoirradiation in a system using water as the single solvent.     

Polarization-holding single-mode optical-fiber cables

Polarization-holding properties of low-loss and highly birefringent single-mode fibers inserted into two kinds of cable are presented. Variation of the properties and microbending loss during cabling processes were investigated. No degradation in extinction ratio between two orthogonal polarizations was measured in cabling processes for the both cables. Furthermore, length dependence of the extinction ratio was examined theoretically and experimentally by splicing fibers over a 10-km optical transmission line, and the experimental results were found to be in good agreement with those evaluated from the coupled-wave equation.     

Risk factors for neonatal thrombocytopenia in pregnancy complicated by idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

The Authors report three cases of patients operated for acute thrombotic aortic occlusion. All the three patients were treated with an aortic transabdominal approach, thromboendarteriectomy and aorto-femoral by-pass. In two patients the result was satisfying, one with a late and partial recovery of the motility of the inferior limbs. One patient died for heart failure in eighth postoperative day. The Authors believe that this unsatisfying result was caused by delay in the surgical treatment (almost 30 hours).     

Physical Properties of Two Isomers of Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Thermal properties, powder X-ray diffraction patterns and FT-IR absorption spectra of crystals of two isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), 9-cis, 11-trans-CLA (c9t11), 10-trans, 12-cis-CLA (t10c12) were examined. To search for polymorphic modifications, we carefully performed crystallization from melt and solution phases, and isolated one type of crystalline form in c9t11 and t10c12. The melting temperature (T _m) was 14.9 °C, enthalpy of fusion (ΔH) was 38.7 kJ/mol, and entropy of fusion (ΔS) was 134 J/mol K for c9t11, and T _m = 19.8 °C, ΔH = 35.6 kJ/mol and ΔS = 122 J/mol K for t10c12. The X-ray diffraction and FT-IR measurements indicated O_⊥ subcell packing in the crystals of c9t11 and t10c12, and long spacing values of 4.22 nm for c9t11 and 3.88 nm for t10c12. The unique molecular structures of the two isomers of CLA are discussed in comparison to the polymorphism of oleic acid, petroselinic acid, elaidic acid and linoleic acid, all of which are unsaturated fatty acids having the same carbon number of 18 as that of the two CLA isomers.     

Organically-bound copper in lake and river waters in Japan

Organically-bound copper, organic matter concentrations and molecular weight of the organic matter in lake and river waters at Hokkaido in Japan were measured. The interaction between copper and the organic matter was also investigated by using Sephadex gel. The ratio of organicallybound copper to total copper was 10–70%. There was no relationship between the copper complex and the organic matter. From thermodynamic calculation, it was concluded that the variation of the ratio from 10 to 70% depended on the variation of stability constant of copper with the organic matter. The organic matter has molecular weight of 300–700 which resembles fulvic acid originating in river water.     

Development of stealth nanoparticles coated with poly(2-methoxyethyl vinyl ether) as an alternative to poly(ethylene glycol)

Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) modification, also known as PEGylation, has been extensively used to improve the stability of nanoparticles for nanomedical applications. However, PEG exhibits antigenicity in some formulations, motivating researchers to explore alternative polymers. Herein, poly(vinyl ether) (PVE) derivatives are highlighted as promising alternatives to PEG because they form intermediate water molecules that suppress non-specific protein adsorption and platelet adhesion to the material surface. We prepared a water-soluble PVE derivative, poly(2-methoxyethyl vinyl ether) (PMOVE), and utilized it as a surface modifier for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as model nanoparticles. PMOVE with a thiol terminus was synthesized and confirmed to form an intermediate water molecule using differential scanning calorimetry. Similar to the synthesis of PEGylated AuNPs (PEG-AuNPs), PMOVE-modified AuNPs (PMOVE-AuNPs) were successfully fabricated with an appreciably high density of PMOVE palisades via a thiol-gold coordination reaction. Similar to PEG-AuNPs, PMOVE-AuNPs showed reduced serum protein adsorption and prolonged blood circulation. Additionally, no significant cytotoxicity was observed after incubation of a murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7, with PMOVE-AuNPs. Our results indicate that the PMOVE modification increases the stealthiness of nanoparticles that is equivalent to that achieved by PEGylation.     

Pemafibrate Prevents Retinal Dysfunction in a Mouse Model of Unilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion

Cardiovascular diseases lead to retinal ischemia, one of the leading causes of blindness. Retinal ischemia triggers pathological retinal glial responses and functional deficits. Therefore, maintaining retinal neuronal activities and modulating pathological gliosis may prevent loss of vision. Previously, pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha modulator, was nominated as a promising drug in retinal ischemia. However, a protective role of pemafibrate remains untouched in cardiovascular diseases-mediated retinal ischemia. Therefore, we aimed to unravel systemic and retinal alterations by treating pemafibrate in a new murine model of retinal ischemia caused by cardiovascular diseases. Adult C57BL/6 mice were orally administered pemafibrate (0.5 mg/kg) for 4 days, followed by unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (UCCAO). After UCCAO, pemafibrate was continuously supplied to mice until the end of experiments. Retinal function (a-and b-waves and the oscillatory potentials) was measured using electroretinography on day 5 and 12 after UCCAO. Moreover, the retina, liver, and serum were subjected to qPCR, immunohistochemistry, or ELISA analysis. We found that pemafibrate enhanced liver function, elevated serum levels of fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), one of the neuroprotective molecules in the eye, and protected against UCCAO-induced retinal dysfunction, observed with modulation of retinal gliosis and preservation of oscillatory potentials. Our current data suggest a promising pemafibrate therapy for the suppression of retinal dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases.     

Internal reforming characteristics of cermet supported solid oxide fuel cell using yttria stabilized zirconia fed with partially reformed methane

In order to investigate the internal reforming characteristics in a cermet supported solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using YSZ as the electrolyte, the concentration profiles of the gaseous species along the gas flow direction in the anode were measured. Partially reformed methane using a pre-reformer kept at a constant temperature is supplied to the center of the cell which is operated with a seal-less structure at the gas outlet. The anode gas is sucked in via silica capillaries to the initially evacuated gas tanks. The process is simultaneously carried out using five sampling ports. The sampled gas is analyzed by a gas chromatograph. Most of the measurements are made at the cell temperature (T_cell) of 750 °C and at various temperatures of the pre-reformer (T_ref) with various fuel utilizations (U_f) of the cell. The composition of the fuel at the inlet of the anode was confirmed to be almost the same as that theoretically calculated assuming equilibrium at the temperature of the pre-reformer. The effect of internal reforming in the anode is clearly observed as a steady decrease in the methane concentration along the flow axis. The effect of the water-gas shift reaction is also observed as a decrease in the CO₂ concentration and an increase of CO concentration around the gas inlet region, as the water-gas shift reaction inversely proceeds when T_cell is higher than T_ref. The diffusion of nitrogen from the seal-less outermost edge is observed, and the diffusion is confirmed to be more significant as U_f decreases. The observations are compared with the results obtained by the SOFC supported by lanthanum gallate electrolyte. With respect to the internal reforming performance, the cell investigated here is found to be more effective when compared to the previously reported electrolyte supported cell.     

Layer-by-layer growth of graphene layers on graphene substrates by chemical vapor deposition

We demonstrate a synthesis of graphene layers on graphene templates prepared by the mechanical exfoliation of graphite crystals using a developed chemical vapor deposition (CVD) apparatus that has a furnace with three temperature zones and can regulate the temperatures separately in each zone. This results in individual control over the decomposition reaction of the carbon feedstock and the growth of graphene layers by activated carbon species. CVD growth using multi-temperature zones provides wider temperature windows appropriate to grow graphene layers. We observed that graphene layers proceed by a layer-by-layer growth mode using an optical microscopy, an atomic force microscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. This result suggests that a graphene growth technique using the CVD apparatus is a potential approach for making graphene sheets with precise control of the layer numbers.     

Elschnig pearl formation along the posterior capsulotomy margin after neodymium:YAG capsulotomy

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of Elschnig pearl formation along the capsulotomy margin (string of pearls) after neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy and to elucidate its clinical features, predisposing factors, effect on visual function, and association with additional capsulotomy. SETTING: Keio University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. METHODS: The records of 418 eyes that had had Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy after cataract surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Of those, 315 were excluded for short follow-up (fewer than 12 months) or insufficient clinical examination data. In the remaining 103 eyes, the incidence of string of pearls was calculated, and its clinical features, predisposing factors, effect on visual function, and correlation with additional capsulotomy were evaluated. RESULTS: String of pearls was identified in 49 eyes (47.6%); 37 (75.5%) developed pearls within 1 year after Nd:YAG capsulotomy. The incidence was significantly higher in patients having intraocular lens implantation and continuous curvilinear capsulorhexis (CCC) than in those without (95.9 versus 61.1% and 97.9 versus 55.6%, respectively). No significant differences were found in patient age and sex, total Nd:YAG energy, and the presence of diabetes mellitus or high myopia. String of pearls caused visual disturbances in 17 eyes (34.7%). The rate of repeat capsulotomy was higher in patients with string of pearls than in those without (36.7 and 9.3%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: String of pearls formation was a common and significant complication after Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy. Intraocular lens implantation and CCC may promote its formation.