Effect of 5-fluorouracil and UFT on experimental liver metastasis model of colorectal cancer using mouse colon 26 cells

Effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and UFT on an experimental liver metastasis model were compared at equi-effective dosage levels against subcutaneous tumor of mouse colon 26. 5-FU at the dosage level of 40 mg/kg suppressed the subcutaneous tumor growth by 70.0% and 45.0% on day 13 and day 18, respectively, and UFT at 20 mg/kg provided almost equal suppression (63.0% and 48.0%). In the liver metastasis model, 5-FU at 40 mg/kg showed more potent prevention of the formation of metastatic foci (94.9%) than did UFT (60.4%) at 20 mg/kg. 5-FU at 40 mg/kg produced a much higher peak serum level of 5-FU than did UFT at 20 mg/kg and also showed a much higher AUC (area under the curve) level in the portal blood. These results suggest that oral administration of 5-FU might be useful in prevention of liver metastasis of colorectal cancer.     

Development of co-continuous structure in liquid crystalline polyester

We investigated liquid crystallization of liquid crystalline polyester BB-5 during isothermal annealing by digital high-fidelity microscope and light scattering. A liquid crystalline spherical domain having a radius of micrometers appeared by annealing at around 180 °C. The domain grew dendritically in all directions. Neighboring liquid crystalline regions coalesced and then interconnected. The interconnected structure changed to a co-continuous two-phase structure with increasing ordering of the liquid crystalline phase, and the interface between the liquid crystalline phase and the isotropic phase became smoother over time. Liquid crystallization stopped before volume filling the whole space, and the liquid crystalline phase and isotropic phase coexisted. The liquid crystalline region became narrower with an increase in the temperature of the liquid crystallization. Such structural development is different from the liquid-liquid phase separation via spinodal decomposition, and it may be attributed to the segregation of non-liquid crystallizable low molecular weight molecules from the growth front by fractionation of the molecular weight distribution during the liquid crystallization in terms of the instability of the diffusion-controlled interface.     

Transient analysis of an advanced static var compensator using quad-series voltage-source PAM inverters

This paper deals with an advanced static Var compensator (ASVC) using quad-series voltage-source PAM inverters. The ASVC consists of four three-phase voltage-source inverters with a common dc capacitor and four three-phase transformers, each primary winding of which is connected in series with each other. Each inverter outputs a square-wave voltage, while the synthesized output voltage of the ASVC has a 24-step wave shape. This results not only in a great reduction of harmonic currents and dc voltage ripples but also in fewer switching and snubbing losses. In this paper, transient analysis is performed with the focus on the response of reactive power and the resonance between the dc capacitor and ac reactors. Experimental results obtained from a small-rated laboratory model of 10 kVA are also shown to verify analytical results based on the p-q transformation. The analytical results help in the design of system parameters such as the capacity of the dc capacitor and feedback gains.     

Fabrication of blue-light emission fused-silica substrates by using Si-ion implantation and high-temperature annealing

We fabricated fused-silica substrates which emit blue light by using Si-ion implantation and high-temperature annealing. Photoluminescence peak wavelengths are around 400 nm, and the peak intensities can be remarkable after annealing above 1150 °C.     

Induction of Tertiary Phase Epileptiform Discharges after Postasphyxial Infusion of a Toll-Like Receptor 7 Agonist in Preterm Fetal Sheep

Background: Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists are key immunomodulatory factors that can markedly ameliorate or exacerbate hypoxic–ischemic brain injury. We recently demonstrated that central infusion of the TLR7 agonist Gardiquimod (GDQ) following asphyxia was highly neuroprotective after 3 days but not 7 days of recovery. We hypothesize that this apparent transient neuroprotection is associated with modulation of seizure-genic processes and hemodynamic control. Methods: Fetuses received sham asphyxia or asphyxia induced by umbilical cord occlusion (20.9 ± 0.5 min) and were monitored continuously for 7 days. GDQ 3.34 mg or vehicle were infused intracerebroventricularly from 1 to 4 h after asphyxia. Results: GDQ infusion was associated with sustained moderate hypertension that resolved after 72 h recovery. Electrophysiologically, GDQ infusion was associated with reduced number and burden of postasphyxial seizures in the first 18 h of recovery (p < 0.05). Subsequently, GDQ was associated with induction of slow rhythmic epileptiform discharges (EDs) from 72 to 96 h of recovery (p < 0.05 vs asphyxia + vehicle). The total burden of EDs was associated with reduced numbers of neurons in the caudate nucleus (r² = 0.61, p < 0.05) and CA1/2 hippocampal region (r² = 0.66, p < 0.05). Conclusion: These data demonstrate that TLR7 activation by GDQ modulated blood pressure and suppressed seizures in the early phase of postasphyxial recovery, with subsequent prolonged induction of epileptiform activity. Speculatively, this may reflect delayed loss of early protection or contribute to differential neuronal survival in subcortical regions.     

Novel Constitutive Equation for Predicting Dynamic Recrystallization During Hot Working Considering the Efficiency of Power Dissipation

The efficiency of power dissipation (η) in a dynamic material model has been conventionally used for qualitative predictions to estimate the hot working conditions at which dynamic recrystallization (DRX) is dominant. However, predicting the quantitative value of the DRX fraction (X_DRX) from η remains a challenge. In this paper, a constitutive equation is proposed to quantitatively predict X_DRX using η. The proposed equation for describing X_DRX is derived from the reaction rate equation using the assumption that the DRX rate depends on η. The proposed equation is verified via hot compression tests of equiaxed Ti–6Al–4V ELI alloys (Ti-64) in the (α + β) region. The predicted and experimental X_DRX values are found to be generally consistent with one another, exhibiting an average absolute error of 0.05. Furthermore, the proposed equation provides the same level of prediction accuracy as the conventional Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov (JMAK) equation. Therefore, the proposed equation can be used to quantitatively predict X_DRX following hot compression tests of equiaxed Ti-64. Moreover, compared with the JMAK equation, the proposed equation is expressed in fewer parameters and constant terms. It is, thus, expected to facilitate the quantitative prediction of X_DRX.

     

Extraction and implementation of muscle synergies in neuro-mechanical control of upper limb movement

This work faces the redundancy problem, a central concern in robotics, in a particular force-producing task by using muscle synergies to simplify the control. We extracted muscle synergies from human electromyograph signals and interpreted the physical meaning of the identified muscle synergies. Based on the human analysis results, we hypothesized a novel control framework that can explain the mechanism of the human motor control. The framework was tested in controlling a pneumatic-driven robotic arm to perform a reaching task. This control method, which uses only two synergies as manipulated variables for driving antagonistic pneumatic artificial muscles to generate desired movements, would be useful to deal with the redundancy problem; thus, suggesting a simple but efficient control for human-like robots to work safely and compliantly with humans.     

Fractionation and enrichment of CLA isomers by selective esterification with Candida rugosa lipase

A commercial product of CLA contains almost equal amounts of cis-9,trans-11 (c9,t11)-CLA and trans-10,cis-12 (t10,c12)-CLA. We attempted to enrich the two isomers by a two-step selective esterification using Candida rugosa lipase that acted on c9,t11-CLA more strongly than on t10,c12-CLA. An FFA mixture containing CLA isomers was esterified with an equimolar amount of lauryl alcohol in a mixture of 20% water and the lipase. When the esterification of total FA reached 50%, two isomers were fractionated in a good yield: t10,c12-CLA was enriched in FFA, and c9,t11-CLA was recovered in lauryl esters. The FFA were esterified again to enrich t10,c12-CLA. At 27.3% esterification of total FA, the t10,c12-CLA content in FFA increased to 64.8 wt% with 89.3% recovery: The ratio of the content of t10,c12-CLA to that of two isomers was 95.9%. Lauryl esters obtained by the single esterification were employed for enrichment of c9,t11-CLA. After the esters were hydrolyzed, the resulting FFA were esterified again with lauryl alcohol. At 62.0% esterification of total FA, the c9,t11-CLA content in lauryl esters increased to 73.3 wt% with 79.4% recovery: The ratio of the content of c9,t11-CLA to that of two isomers was 95.6%. In a 600-g-scale purification, molecular distillation was effective in separating the reaction mixture into lauryl alcohol, FFA, and lauryl ester fractions.     

Effect of reaction kinetics of polymer electrolyte on the ion‐conductive behavior for poly(oligo oxyethylene methacrylate)–LiTFSI mixtures

The effect of the reaction kinetics on the ionic conductivity for a comblike‐type polyether (MEO) electrolyte with lithium bis(trifluoromethane sulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) was characterized by DSC, complex impedance measurements, and ¹H pulse NMR spectroscopy. The ionic conductivity of these electrolytes was affected by the reaction condition of the methacrylate monomer and revealed by the glass transition temperature (T_g), spin–spin relaxation time (T₂), steric effects of the terminal groups, and the number of charge carriers indicated by the VTF kinetic parameter. In this system, the electrolytes prepared by the reaction heating rate of 10°C/min of MEO–H and 15°C/min of MEO–CH₃ showed maximum ionic conductivity, σ_i, two to three times higher in magnitude than that of the σ_i of the others at room temperature. As experimental results, the reaction kinetic rate affected the degree of conversion, the ionic conductivity, and the relaxation behaviors of polyether electrolytes. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2149–2156, 2003     

Decomposition of Carbon Dioxide to Carbon with Active Wustite at 300°C

Active wustite (FeδO, with a δ value of 0.98) was prepared by keeping normal wustite (δ value of 0.94) in a N₂ atmosphere at 300°C for 10 min. This reaction is given by (4δ₂–3)Fe_δ1O→(4δ₁–3)Fe_δ2O + (δ₂–δ₁)Fe₃O₄ where δ₁= 0.94 and δ₂= 0.98. The equation indicates that the normal wustite undergoes eutectoid decomposition into active wustite and stoichiometric magnetite (Fe₃O₄). Carbon dioxide (1.013 × 10⁵ Pa) was almost completely (100%) decomposed into carbon (zero valence) by the active wustite at the low temperature of 300°C, which was associated with the transformation of the active wustite into the stoichiometric magnetite. The internal pressure of the reaction cell eventually became a vacuum.