Main‐chain smectic liquid crystalline polymer exhibiting unusually high thermal conductivity in an isotropic composite

The thermal conductivity (TC) of an isotropic composite comprising of a main‐chain smectic liquid crystalline PB‐10 polyester and 50‐μm‐sized roughly spherical magnesium oxide (MgO) particles is investigated. The increase in the composite TC with higher MgO fractions is steeper than that expected by Bruggeman's theory for the TC of a polydomain PB‐10 polyester (0.52 W m^?1 K^?1). When the filler content is larger than 30 vol %, the composite TC approaches a value that can be explained only if the polyester functions as a matrix with 1.0 W m^?1 K^?1, which is five times as high as those of isotropic common polymers (0.2 W m^?1 K^?1). Such an unusually high TC for a polymer matrix is attributed to some polymer lamellae that lie parallel to the particle surface and are stacked toward neighboring particles, thus creating effective heat paths between the particles and a continuous thermal network in a composite. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2014 , 131, 39896.     

Direct Reprogramming and Induction of Human Dermal Fibroblasts to Differentiate into iPS-Derived Nucleus Pulposus-like Cells in 3D Culture

Intervertebral disc (IVD) diseases are common spinal disorders that cause neck or back pain in the presence or absence of an underlying neurological disorder. IVD diseases develop on the basis of degeneration, and there are no established treatments for degeneration. IVD diseases may therefore represent a candidate for the application of regenerative medicine, potentially employing normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) induced to differentiate into nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Here, we used a three-dimensional culture system to demonstrate that ectopic expression of MYC, KLF4, NOTO, SOX5, SOX6, and SOX9 in NHDFs generated NP-like cells, detected using Safranin-O staining. Quantitative PCR, microarray analysis, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting revealed that the induced NP cells exhibited a fully differentiated phenotype. These findings may significantly contribute to the development of effective strategies for treating IVD diseases.     

Screening of lactic acid bacteria for bile salt hydrolase activity

Bile salt hydrolysis is an important metabolic reaction in the bile salt metabolism of mammals. This reaction has a facilitating effect for bile salt excretion but can also be involved in various illnesses. In recent years interest has increased to use bile salt hydrolysis to influence the cholesterol metabolism of humans and farm animals. To understand the distribution and range of bile salt hydrolase activity in lactic acid bacteria, we screened more than 300 strains of the genera Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and the species Lactococcus lactis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, and Streptococcus thermophilus. Results obtained for 273 strains showed that bile salt hydrolase activity is common in Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus but absent in L. lactis, Leu. mesenteroides, and S. thermophilus. Nearly all bifidobacteria species and strains have bile salt hydrolase activity, whereas this activity can only be found in selected species of lactobacilli. A strong correlation can be observed between the habitat of a genus or species and the presence of bile salt hydrolase activity. Most often bile salt hydrolase activity is found in strains that have been isolated from the intestines or from feces from mammals--an environment rich in conjugated and unconjugated bile acids. Strains and species from other habitats like milk or vegetables--environments from which bile salts are absent--do normally not have bile salt hydrolase activity. In two independent assays, we established that bile salt hydrolase activity in bifidobacteria is, in general, much higher than in lactobacilli.     

溶胶-凝胶法制备MgxZn1-xO纳米材料

以硝酸锌(Zn(NO3)2·6H2O)、柠檬酸(C6H8O7·H2O)为主要原料,采用改进的溶胶一凝胶法合成了纳米ZnO.在此基础上,添加硝酸镁(Mg(NO3)2·6H2O)合成了MgxZn1-xO.利用X-射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)表征分析了煅烧温度和Mg掺杂量对产物的相组成及显微形貌的影响.结果表明,x≤10at%时,MgxZn1-xO属于六方纤锌矿结构,当x≥20at%时,MgxZn1-xO中除了具有属于六方纤锌矿结构的ZnO以外还有属于NaCl结构的MgO晶相存在.随煅烧温度的升高,MgxZn1-xO纳米颗粒逐渐长大.     

Evaluation of drug toxicity with hepatocytes cultured in a micro-space cell culture system

A micro-space cell culture system was recently developed in which cells such as hepatocytes can be cultured and formed into a multicellular three-dimensional (3D) architecture. In this study, we assessed the performance of HepG2 cells cultured in this micro-space cell culture system in a drug toxicity test, and evaluated the effects of micro-space culture on their hepatocyte-specific functions. The micro-space cell culture facilitated the formation of 3D HepG2 cell architecture. HepG2 cells cultured in a micro-space culture plate exhibited increased albumin secretion and enhanced mRNA expression levels of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme compared to those cultured in a monolayer culture. When the cells were exposed to acetaminophen, a hepatotoxic drug, the damage to the HepG2 cells grown in micro-space culture was greater than the damage to the HepG2 cells grown in monolayer culture. In addition, human primary hepatocytes grown in micro-space culture also exhibited increased albumin secretion, enhanced CYP mRNA expression levels and increased sensitivity to acetaminophen compared to those grown in monolayer culture. These results suggest that this micro-space culture method enhances the hepatocyte-specific functions of hepatocytes, including drug-metabolizing enzyme activities, making hepatocytes grown in the micro-space culture system a useful tool for evaluating drug toxicity in vitro.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of a gene (aly PG) encoding poly(alpha-L-guluronate)lyase from Corynebacterium sp. strain ALY-1

The aly PG gene, coding for a poly alpha-l-guluronate lyase (PG lyase) of Corynebacterium strain ALY-1, was cloned and sequenced. The gene consists of 768 bp encoding a signal peptide of 32 amino acids and a mature protein of 224 amino acids. Two disulfide bond cross-linkages were found to be formed between Cys-4 and Cys-51 and between Cys-200 and Cys-206 in the native PG lyase molecule. The deduced amino acid sequence of the Corynebacterium sp. aly PG gene exhibited 29% homology toward that of the Klebsiella pneumoniae, subsp. aerogenes aly A gene, with two conserved regions (the amino acid sequences from Y-102 to M-110 and from Y-221 to Q-229).     

Predator Avoidance by Phytophagous Mites is Affected by the Presence of Herbivores in a Neighboring Patch

When predators invade a leaf patch inhabited by herbivores, the herbivores disperse to a neighboring predator-free leaf patch, thus escaping from the predators. However, the neighboring patch might already be used by con- or heterospecific herbivores. We used laboratory bioassays to examine whether perception of odor from con- or heterospecific competitors on a neighbored lima bean leaf patch influences dispersal behavior of the herbivorous mite Tetranychus urticae when attacked by predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis. The dispersal rates of T. urticae that perceived odors from leaf patches infested by conspecifics or cowpea aphids (Aphis craccivora) did not differ from the control (the dispersal rate of T. urticae that perceived odor from uninfested leaf patches). By contrast, the dispersal rate of T. urticae was reduced when they perceived odors from leaf patches that were currently or had previously been infested by larvae of the common cutworm (Spodoptera litura). Previous herbivory by S. litura larvae induced resistance in leaf patches to T. urticae as indicated by the reduced number of eggs laid by T. urticae. Our results are discussed with respect to the feeding behavior of the tested competitors of T. urticae and the impact of the plant and arthropod community on the dispersal behavior of these mites.     

Mechanism of elongation of gold or silver nanoparticles in silica by irradiation with swift heavy ions

It has been reported that elongated Au nanoparticles oriented parallel to one another can be synthesized in SiO₂ by ion irradiation. Our aim was to elucidate the mechanism of this elongation. We prepared Au and Ag nanoparticles with a diameter of 20 nm in an SiO₂ matrix. It was found that Au nanoparticles showed greater elongated with a higher flux of ion beam and with thicker SiO₂ films. In contrast, Ag nanoparticles split into two or more shorter nanorods aligned end to end in the direction parallel to the ion beam. These experimental results are discussed in the framework of a thermal spike model of Au and Ag nanorods embedded in SiO₂. The lattice temperature exceeds the melting temperatures of SiO₂, Au and Ag for 100 ns after one 110 MeV Br¹⁰⁺ ion has passed through the middle of an Au or Ag nanorod.     

Molecular, seasonal, and spatial distributions of organic aerosols from fourteen Chinese cities

Organic aerosols were studied at the molecular level in 14 coastal and inland mega-cities in China during winter and summer 2003. They are characterized by the abundant presence of n-alkanes (annual average, 340 ng m(-3)), fatty acids (769 ng m(-3)), sugars (412 ng m(-3)), and phthalates (387 ng m(-3)). In contrast, fatty alcohols, polyols/polyacids, lignin and resin products, sterols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and hopanes were detected as relatively minor components. n-Alkanes show a weak odd/even carbon predominance (CPI = 1.1) and PAHs show a predominance of benzo(b)fluoranthene, suggesting a serious contribution from fossil fuel (mainly coal) combustion. Their concentrations (except for phthalates and polyols/polyacids) were 2-15 times higher in winter than summer due to a significant usage of coal burning and an enhancement of atmospheric inversion layers. Phthalates were found to be more abundant in summer than winter, probably due to enhanced vaporization from plastics followed by adsorptive deposition on the pre-existing particles. Concentrations of total quantified compounds are extremely high (approximately 10 microg m(-3)) in the midwest (Chongqing and Xi'an) where active industrialization/urbanization is going on. This study shows that concentrations of the compounds detected are 1-3 orders of magnitude higher than those reported from developed countries.     

Specific changes in human brain following reperfusion after cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Very few reports are available on serial changes in human brain after cardiac arrest. The primary objective of this study is to investigate sequential neuroradiological changes in patients remaining in a persistent vegetative state following resuscitation after cardiac arrest. METHODS: We repeatedly studied eight vegetative patients resuscitated from unexpected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using computed tomographic (CT) scanning and high-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 1.5 T. RESULTS: In seven of the eight patients, CT scans obtained between days 2 and 6 features symmetrical low-density lesions in the bilateral caudate, lenticular, and/or thalamic nuclei. These ischemic lesions were persistently of low density on serial CT scans. In these seven patients, MR images demonstrated what were thought to be hemoglobin degradation products derived from minor hemorrhages localized in the bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, and/or substantia nigra. Diffuse brain edema in the acute stage and diffuse brain atrophy in the chronic stage were consistent neuroradiological findings. No abnormal enhanced lesions were demonstrated by CT scans. CONCLUSIONS: The most characteristic findings on high-field MR images were symmetrical lesions in the bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, and/or substantia nigra with specific changes suggestive of minor hemorrhages that were not evident on CT scans. We speculate that these minor hemorrhages result from diapedesis of red blood cells in these regions during the reperfusion period through the endothelium disrupted by ischemia-reperfusion insult.