Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER)‐Targeted,Galectin‐Mediated Retrograde Transport by Using a HaloTag Carrier Protein

Investigations into metabolic processes within the cell have often relied on genetic methods such as forced expression and knockout or knockdown techniques. An alternative approach would be introducing a molecule into the desired location inside the cell. To translocate compounds from outside cells into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), we constructed a delivery carrier protein. This comprised N‐terminal galectin‐1 for cell‐surface binding (G1), a protease cleavable sequence (ps), a HaloTag domain for attaching exogenous compounds (Halo), and a C‐terminal KDEL sequence for ER retention. Fluorescently labeled G1‐ps‐Halo‐KDEL passed through the Golgi apparatus and reached the ER. By using Man₉GlcNAc₂‐BODIPY as a cargo compound, the carrier protein was also delivered into the ER with concomitant processing of mannose to Man_5,6, by the ER‐resident α1,2‐mannosidase. G1‐ps‐Halo‐KDEL might serve as a new type of delivery carrier protein to direct compounds into the ER.     

Improvement of response characteristics of TiO2 humidity sensors by simultaneous addition of Li2O and V2O5

Porous TiO₂ ceramics were prepared by adding various amounts of Li₂O and V₂O₅ and the humidity sensitivity of the resulting ceramics was investigated by means of electrical measurements, scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry. Simultaneous addition of Li₂O and V₂O₅ to TiO₂ enabled sintering at temperatures as low as 700 °C and also decreased the impedance of the ceramics. Furthermore, in the ceramics including these additives simultaneously, excellent humidity sensitivity as well as good response characteristics were observed. The microstructures of these ceramics depended on the firing temperature and the amount and ratio of Li₂O/V₂O₅, and optimum humidity sensitivity was observed for the sample including both 0.25 mol% Li₂O and 0.75 mol% V₂O₅ fired at 700 °C. These results indicated that the humidity sensitivity and its response characteristics were closely related to the microstructure, and that improving the uniformity of microstructure is important for improving humidity sensitivity and its response characteristics.     

Hydrodesulfurization of tetrahydrothiophene over evaporated Mo, Co and Mo–Co model catalysts

The hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of tetrahydrothiophene was studied over model catalysts prepared by deposition of Co and Mo thin films on a stainless‐steel foil covered with graphite. There are three main findings: (1) the nominal turnover rate for the HDS reaction is approximately constant and independent of the Co to Mo ratio, (2) the main product was 1,3‐butadiene for cobalt and 1,3‐butadiene and 1‐butene for molybdenum, and (3) the reaction is not poisoned by sulfur. The surfaces were characterized by Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) before and after reaction. The reactions were carried out under 2.6 kPa of tetrahydrothiophene and 100 kPa of H₂ at 613 K. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Stabilization of a high-power diode-side-pumpedintracavity-frequency-doubled CW Nd:YAG laser by compensating forthermal lensing of a KTP crystal and Nd:YAG rods

We have analyzed the stability of a high-power diode-side-pumped intracavity-frequency-doubled CW Nd:YAG laser. It is found that large green power fluctuations observed experimentally are suppressed by compensating thermal lensing of the nonlinear crystal KTP and that of the Nd:YAG rods with an advanced resonator design. Stable CW green powers of 27 W with a beam quality of M²=8 and 16 W with M ²=1.2 (TEM₀₀-mode) were generated     

Surface-engineered metal-on-metal bearings improve the friction and wear properties of local area contact in total joint arthroplasty

Metal-on-metal articulating total joint arthroplasty has the potential to eliminate polyethylene-wear-induced osteolysis and aseptic loosening around the prosthesis. Metal surface coatings, however, are subject to delamination in areas of local contact. Various studies have been conducted to reduce metal wear debris and corrosion by introducing surface treatments.In this study we applied carbon ion implantation (CII) and diamond-like carbon (DLC) films to a cobalt-chrome alloy substrate by plasma source ion implantation. Once the films were prepared, we put them through simple geometry wear tests under high contact pressure (an average load of 1030 MPa) to establish the tribological properties during the phase of local contact that leads to severely increased wear in total joint arthroplasty. The CII-coated bearings showed less wear, lower friction coefficients, and higher resistance to catastrophic damage compared to uncoated Co-Cr alloy and DLC couples, even under high contact pressure. The CII-coated surface offers potential advantages as a hard coating for articulating joints.     

Practical application of predictive microbiology software programs to HACCP plans

We studied how predictive microbiology models could practically be applied to HACCP plans with two predictive software programs that are currently available. The software programs were the Food Micromodel elaborated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food, U.K. and the Pathogen Modeling Program of Eastern Regional Research Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture. They successfully provided useful information on (i) the determination of Critical Control Points (CCPs), (ii) the estimation of critical limits at CCPs, (iii) the decision of abused products, (iv) the assessment of equivalence of HACCP plans, and further (v) the development of new products. With the information simulated by the software programs, HACCP teams could make scientific and objective decisions for developing their individual plans. It was also confirmed that microbiological process standards for food processing are indispensable for the application of the predictive programs to HACCP plans.     

Highly Active HDS Catalyst for Producing Ultra-low Sulfur Diesel Fuels

Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd. developed a highly active CoMo HDS catalyst, C-606A, for the production of ultra-low sulfur diesel fuels. This patented preparation method involves impregnation of the support with a solution containing CoCO₃, MoO₃, citric acid, and phosphoric acid, and air-drying without calcination, to provide the high activity HDS catalyst. XPS studies suggested that the addition of citric acid to the impregnation solution during catalyst preparation prevents the sulfidation of Co at low temperature and the uncalcining procedure during catalyst preparation promotes the sulfidation of Mo at low temperature, thereby increasing the formation of the Co–Mo–S structure. The results of the catalytic characterization and the reactivities of the sulfur species and nitrogen species in diesel fuel during the hydrotreating process on C-606A clearly indicate that significant improvements of catalytic activity of the developed catalyst can be achieved by improving the intrinsic activity of the active sites, as well as by increasing the number of Co–Mo–S structure. The commercial operation directly demonstrates the excellent activity and stability of C-606A under industrial operating conditions.     

Laser and tandem scanning confocal microscopic studies of rabbit corneal wound healing

The process of corneal endothelial wound healing was studied using laser and tandem scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM and TSCM). Following transcorneal freeze (TCF) injury, rabbit corneas were observed using ex vivo LSCM and in vivo TSCM. LSCM revealed the intracellular actin filament organization which, stained with phalloidin-FITC, in migrating endothelial cells, transformed fibroblast-like cells, stroma keratocytes, and epithelial cells during wound healing in corneal tissue. The TSCM provided sequential spatial observation of morphologic changes from endothelium to epithelium of the cornea during in vivo cellular repair of wound healing noninvasively on the same cornea without animal sacrifice. Ex vivo LSCM supported the morphologic analysis of the in vivo TSCM observations.     

Changes in Friction Properties of Monolayer Lubricant Films Induced by Development of Molecules’ Bonding

Functional perfluoropolyether (PFPE) films consisting of mobile and bonded molecules are widely used for lubrication of magnetic disks. In order to clarify the influence of film composition (mobile/bonded) on tribological performance, we measured the friction properties of two types of 2 nm-thick PFPE films (functional Zdol2000 and nonfunctional Z03) under lightly loaded (loading force: 0–1 mN) and quasi-static (low rotational speed: 2.1 mm/s) conditions as a function of elapsed time. The friction force of Z03 remained unchanged with time and increased linearly with loading force as described by Amontons’ law. In contrast, induced by the development of the molecules’ bonding in time, the friction force of Zdol2000 increased and transited to a nonlinear increase with loading force as time proceeded. The nonlinear friction-load relationship of Zdol2000 in the equilibrium state was characterized by the Johnson-Kendall-Roberts model.     

SEK1/MKK4 is required for maintenance of a normal peripheral lymphoid compartment but not for lymphocyte development

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is characterized by a TH2 type immune response, chronic inflammation of the airways and increased airway responsiveness. The relationship between IgE- and inflammatory-dependent mechanisms that contribute to bronchial asthma are not well defined. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to compare and analyse the immune pathways that resulted in development of allergen-induced and/or inflammatory dependent increased airways responsiveness. RESULTS: BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice responded to OVA-sensitization with elevated allergen-specific IgE/IgG1 serum antibody-titres and the development of cutaneous immediate-type hypersensitivity reactions. Increased airway responsiveness was observed following airway allergen challenges. However, the inflammatory component of the lung differed between the strains. In OVA-sensitized BALB/c mice a marked increase in lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils in BAL fluids was parallelled with elevated production of IL-4, IL-5 and TNFalpha in the lung. In contrast in OVA-sensitized C57BL/6 mice, the inflammatory immune response in the lung was much weaker. We postulate that two pathways can regulate the induction of increased airway responsiveness. One depends on the presence of allergen-specific IgE/IgG1 and allergen, and a second is mediated by allergen-independent inflammation of the lung. To test this hypothesis, BALB/c mice were treated nasally with low doses of bacterial superantigen (SEB) as a prototypical inducer of airway inflammation, following which influx of lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils into the airways was parallelled by development of increased airway-responsiveness in the absence of allergen-specific IgE/IgG1 antibodies and allergen. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that increased airway responsiveness is associated with different immunological phenotypes in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice.