Engineering of Lipid Nanoparticles by the Multifunctionalization of the Surface with Amino Acid Derivatives for the Neutralization of a Target Toxic Peptide

Protein affinity reagents (e.g., antibodies) are often used for basic research, diagnostics, separations, and disease therapy. Although a lot of “synthetic” protein affinity reagents have been developed as a cost-effective alternative to antibodies, their low biocompatibility is a considerable problem for clinical application. Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) represent a highly biocompatible drug delivery agent. However, little has been reported that LNP itself works as a protein affinity reagent in living animals. Here, LNP is engineered for binding to and neutralizing a target toxic peptide in living animals by multifunctionalization with amino acid derivatives. Multifunctionalized LNP (MF-LNP) is prepared using amino acid derivative-conjugated lipids. Optimized MF-LNP exhibits nanomolar affinity to the target toxic peptide and inhibits toxic peptide-dependent hemolysis and cytotoxicity. In addition, MF-LNP captures and neutralizes the toxic peptide after intravenous injection in the bloodstream; in addition, MF-LNP does not release the toxic peptide in the accumulated organ. These results reveal the potential of using LNP as a highly biocompatible protein affinity reagent such as an antidote.     

Thermal Diffusion of Si Atoms at the Interface of Mo／Si Bilayers Studied with a Soft X-ray Emission Microscope

1　Ｉｎｔｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｏｎ　　Ｔｈｅｐｒｏｐｅｒｔｙｏｆｔｈｅｄｅｖｉｃｅｓｗｉｔｈａｌａｙｅｒｓｔｒｕｃ ｔｕｒｅｓｕｃｈａｓｓｕｐｅｒｌａｔｔｉｃｅｓ,ｍｕｌｔｉｌａｙｅｒｃｏａｔｉｎｇｓ,ａｎｄｓｅｍｉｃｏｎｄｕｃｔｏｒｄｅｖｉｃｅｓｉｓｄｅｐｅｎｄｅｎｔｕｐｏｎｔｈｅｑｕａｌｉ ｔｙｏｆｔｈｅｉｎｔｅｒｆａｃｅｂｅｔｗｅｅｎａｄｊａｃｅｎｔｌａｙｅｒｓ.Ｆｒｏｍｔｈｅｖｉｅｗｐｏｉｎｔｏｆｔｈｅｉｒｐｒａｃｔｉｃａｌｕｓａｇｅ,ｔｈｅｒｍａｌｓｔａ ｂｉｌｉｔｙｏｆｔｈｅｉｎｔｅｒｆａｃｅｉｓ…     

Template‐Free Fabrication of Mesoporous Alumina Nanospheres Using Post‐Synthesis Water‐Ethanol Treatment of Monodispersed Aluminium Glycerate Nanospheres for Molybdenum Adsorption

This work reports the template‐free fabrication of mesoporous Al₂O₃ nanospheres with greatly enhanced textural characteristics through a newly developed post‐synthesis “water‐ethanol” treatment of aluminium glycerate nanospheres followed by high temperature calcination. The proposed “water‐ethanol” treatment is highly advantageous as the resulting mesoporous Al₂O₃ nanospheres exhibit 2–4 times higher surface area (up to 251 m² g^?1), narrower pore size distribution, and significantly lower crystallization temperature than those obtained without any post‐synthesis treatment. To demonstrate the generality of the proposed strategy, a nearly identical post‐synthesis “water treatment” method is successfully used to prepare mesoporous monometallic (e.g., manganese oxide (MnO₂)) and bimetallic oxide (e.g., CuCo₂O₄ and MnCo₂O₄) nanospheres assembled of nanosheets or nanoplates with highly enhanced textural characteristics from the corresponding monometallic and bimetallic glycerate nanospheres, respectively. When evaluated as molybdenum (Mo) adsorbents for potential use in molybdenum‐99/technetium‐99m (⁹⁹Mo/^99mTc) generators, the treated mesoporous Al₂O₃ nanospheres display higher molybdenum adsorption performance than non‐treated Al₂O₃ nanospheres and commercial Al₂O₃, thereby suggesting the effectiveness of the proposed strategy for improving the functional performance of oxide materials. It is expected that the proposed method can be utilized to prepare other mesoporous metal oxides with enhanced textural characteristics and functional performance.     

Epitaxial growth of WOx nanorod array on W(001)

Nanorods of substoichiometric tungsten oxide (WO_x) were grown on W(001) substrates. Two methods for the growth of nanorods were used: oxidation of the substrate under appropriate conditions and the deposition of tungsten oxide from a tungsten foil heated in the presence of oxygen. The grown nanorods were observed using a scanning electron microscope and an atomic force microscope. The diameters of the nanorods were 5–20 nm. The nanorods were slightly inclined from the directions parallel or normal to the surface. The inclination of nanorods was explained in terms of the epitaxial relationship between WO₃ crystals and the W(001) substrate. The WO₃ crystals formed at the initial stage of growth act as the nuclei of WO_x nanorods. We observed selective enhancement of the growth in a certain epitaxial direction depending on the method of growth, and an array of WO_x nanorods was produced on the W(001) substrate.     

Observation of metal on Si(0 0 1) by STM/STS and its consideration based on the first principles calculations

Local density of states (LDOS) is obtained by the first principles calculation based on the density functional theory on the Si(0 0 1)2 × 1 surface and on the surface with an Al dimer. At an Al dimer, LDOS has a high intensity in the conduction band region, which cannot be seen on the Si(0 0 1)2 × 1 surface. This tendency is observed in STS measurements as well. The possibility for a microelementary analysis is presented by applying this method to other metal atoms on the Si surface. Furthermore, it is pointed out that STS measurements should be always performed at the same tip-sample separation to obtain reproducible STS spectrums.     

Study of Dielectric Properties of (Sr1-xPbx)TiO3: MgO Composites for Field Tunable Devices

(Sr_1-xPb_x)TiO₃ (SPT) ceramics have low loss tangents and high dielectric tunabilities under DC bias fields at room temperature, but they have the disadvantage of high dielectric constants. In order to exploit these materials for microwave applications, the reduction of dielectric permittivities is necessary. Thus, the composites of the SPT system by the addition of a non-ferroelectric oxide such as MgO were prepared and electrical properties were measured. Loss tangents of the composite sintered at the same temperature as SPT's sintering were less than 0.3% in paraelectric region just above the transition temperature and the dielectric tunabilities of ~20% at 20 kV/cm and ~35% at 40 kV/cm were observed at 10 kHz.     

Molecular Dissection of TDP-43 as a Leading Cause of ALS/FTLD

TAR DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a DNA/RNA binding protein involved in pivotal cellular functions, especially in RNA metabolism. Hyperphosphorylated and ubiquitinated TDP-43-positive neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions are identified in the brain and spinal cord in most cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and a substantial proportion of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) cases. TDP-43 dysfunctions and cytoplasmic aggregation seem to be the central pathogenicity in ALS and FTLD. Therefore, unraveling both the physiological and pathological mechanisms of TDP-43 may enable the exploration of novel therapeutic strategies. This review highlights the current understanding of TDP-43 biology and pathology, describing the cellular processes involved in the pathogeneses of ALS and FTLD, such as post-translational modifications, RNA metabolism, liquid–liquid phase separation, proteolysis, and the potential prion-like propagation propensity of the TDP-43 inclusions.     

Heat transfer enhancement in duct with blunt body inserted close to its wall

This paper shows the effects of clearance length between a body and a duct wall, and duct height on the heat transfer characteristics and flow behavior at a downstream region of the body when a blunt body was set in a parallel plate duct with some distance separating it from the duct wall as a turbulence promoter. For the ratio of clearance to body height, C/D = 0.05–01, the heat transfer was characterized by the reattachment of shear flow separated from the body. Furthermore, the heat transfer depended on both the reattachment flow and the separation vortex at C/D = 0.15–0.2, and the side vortex induced by Karman vortex at C/D = 0.25–0.275 was also observed. We found the reattachment flow gives a superior effect to enhance heat transfer at a low Reynolds number, but at a larger Reynolds number, the side vortex induced by Karman vortex becomes more effective to heat transfer enhancement. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res, 34(5): 336–349, 2005; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/htj.20067     

Development of 72‐kV high‐pressure air‐insulated GIS with vacuum circuit breaker

SF₆ gas has excellent dielectric strength and interruption performance. For these reasons, it has been widely used for gas‐insulated switchgear (GIS). However, use of SF₆ gas has become regulated under agreements set at the 1997 COP3. Thus, investigation and development for GIS with a lower amount of SF₆ gas are being carried out worldwide. Presently, SF₆‐free GIS has been commercialized for the 24‐kV class. Air or N₂ gas is used as the insulation gas for this GIS. On the other hand, SF₆‐free GIS has not been commercialized for the 72‐kV‐class GIS. The dielectric strengths of air and N₂ gas are approximately one‐third that of SF₆ gas. To enhance the insulation performance of air and N₂ we have investigated a hybrid gas insulation system which has the combined features of providing an insulation coating and suitable insulation gas. We have developed the world's first 72‐kV SF₆‐free GIS. This paper deals with key technologies for SF₆‐free GIS, such as the hybrid insulation structure, a bellows for the high‐pressure vacuum circuit breaker, a newly designed disconnector and spacer, and prevention of particle levitation. Test results of the 72‐kV high‐pressure air‐insulated GIS with the vacuum circuit breaker are described. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 157(4): 13–23, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20451     

Defect structure and electrical conductivity in rapidly-quenched and slowly-cooled rhombohedral solid solutions of the system Bi2O3-BaO

The solid solubility limit, grain orientation, defect structure and electrical conductivity of solidified rhombohedral specimens in the Bi₂O₃-BaO system are described. The c-axes (in hexagonal notation) of solidified specimens were almost entirely oriented along the platelet/film thickness. Slow-cooling (∼ 10⁻²° Csec⁻¹) of the system gave solid solutions with substitutional type of 2BaO → 2Ba_Bi′ + 20+ V ₀ ^.. for 12 to 32 mol % BaO. High-temperature modification of slowly-cooled sample (16 mol % BaO) showed a conductivity of 8.8×10⁻¹ Ω⁻¹ cm ⁻¹ at 600° C along the conduction plane (perpendicular to the c-axis). Rapid quenching (∼ 10⁵° C sec⁻¹) produced solid solutions for 8 to 20 mol % BaO introducing interstitial Ba²⁺ (10–12 mol % BaO) and Schottky type defects such as V_Bi‴ and V _Bi ^‴ and V ₀ ^.. (16 to 20 mol % BaO), however the high-temperature modification of the rhombohedral structure could not be frozen.