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In this paper, we report the direct visualization of heat trapping in the pores of a three-dimensional bi-continuous nanoporous graphene film and its application to a self-standing, bendable broadband terahertz (THz) and infrared (IR) detector. Utilizing a scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscope in the mid-IR region, we directly visualized that IR-induced heat is localized in the vicinities of the material nanopores. Nanoscale images of the IR amplitudes also revealed that this heat localization effect became stronger with decreasing pore diameter, and this behavior is consistent with the pore-size dependence of the global thermal conductivity and light reflection. We also found that this material exhibits a high THz and IR absorption rate (>99%), while retaining the Dirac properties of single-layer graphene; on the other hand, conventional graphene loses such properties with increasing number of layers. These unique features enabled us to develop a highly sensitive, bendable THz and IR detector with low thermal conductivity due to heat localization in the vicinities of the nanopores, bendability, and high thermopower using a p-n junction. Thus, through controlled heat conduction by the appropriate design of pore structures, this nanoporous graphene could be applied in wearable thermal devices of broadband energy harvesters and detectors.

Sensing systems that can ensure product reliability in a broad range of environments are urgently required for broader application of the internet of things. Imaging technologies based on the terahertz (THz) frequency are considered a promising solution to the challenge of inspecting industrial products in a nondestructive manner. However, current THz imaging systems require bulky and complicated components that hamper their practical application. Therefore, we herein present flexible THz imaging systems based on single-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) films that leverage the material’s advantages of mechanical strength, broad THz absorption, high thermoelectric power, and flexibility. This work investigates and optimizes the physical parameters that govern the detection sensitivity of the proposed CNT THz detector, and then tests a flexible THz imaging system based on the optimization. These imaging systems can be used in a wide range of industrial sensing applications, including inline pharmaceutical quality screening, multi-view imaging, and portable THz imaging for nondestructive quality testing of industrial products, with no bulky measurement components.

Galectins are a family of lectins characterized by their carbohydrate recognition domains containing eight conserved amino acid residues, which allows the binding of galectin to β-galactoside sugars such as Galβ1–4GlcNAc. Since galectin–glycan interactions occur extracellularly, recombinant galectins are often used for the functional analysis of these interactions. Although it is relatively easy to purify galectins via affinity to Galβ1–4GlcNAc using affinity adsorbents such as asialofetuin–Sepharose, it could be difficult to do so with mutated galectins, which may have reduced affinity towards their endogenous ligands. However, this is not the case with Caenorhabditis elegans galectin LEC-6; binding to its endogenous recognition unit Galβ1–4Fuc, a unique disaccharide found only in invertebrates, is not necessarily affected by point mutations of the eight well-conserved amino acids. In this study, we constructed mutants of mouse galectin-1 carrying substitutions of each of the eight conserved amino acid residues (H44F, N46D, R48H, V59A, N61D, W68F, E71Q, and R73H) and examined their affinity for Galβ1–4GlcNAc and Galβ1–4Fuc. These mutants, except W68F, had very low affinity for asialofetuin–Sepharose; however, most of them (with the exception of H44F and R48H) could be purified using Galβ1–4Fuc–Sepharose. The affinity of the purified mutant galectins for glycans containing Galβ1–4Fuc or Galβ1–4GlcNAc moieties was quantitatively examined by frontal affinity chromatography, and the results indicated that the mutants retained the affinity only for Galβ1–4Fuc. Given that other mammalian galectins are known to bind Galβ1–4Fuc, our data suggest that immobilized Galβ1–4Fuc ligands could be generally used for easy one-step affinity purification of mutant galectins.

Introduction The medial tibial stress syndrome is one of the most common causes of running-related injuries. The primary study objective was to observe the attachment proportion of flexor digitorum longus and soleus, at the most common location of medial tibial stress syndrome, using ultrasonography, on a large cohort of young males and females to evaluate for gender-based anatomical differences. The secondary objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the anatomical features and medial tibial stress syndrome. Methods In this study, we observed whether or not flexor digitorum longus and/or soleus attached at the middle and distal thirds of the medial margin of the tibia (most common location of medial tibial stress syndrome) using ultrasonography. History of medial tibial stress syndrome was defined by inquiries. Results The chi-square tests showed that the attachment proportion of the soleus in female participants was significantly higher than that observed in male participants. In addition, chi-square testing showed that there were no significant differences between attachment proportion of soleus of legs with history of medial tibial stress syndrome and legs without history of medial tibial stress syndrome, in both male and female participants. Conclusions These results suggested that the anatomical features of flexor digitorum longus might be involved in medial tibial stress syndrome development, whereas the anatomical features of the soleus might not be involved in medial tibial stress syndrome development. Level of clinical evidence III, cross sectional study.

We have developed polyethyleneglycol (PEG)-modified liposomes (Bubble liposomes; BLs) that entrap ultrasound (US) contrast gas, and we have reported that the combination of BLs and US exposure was an effective tool for delivering pDNA and siRNA in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we prepared pDNA-loaded BLs using three types of cationic lipids to enhance the US imaging effect and the transfection efficiency via systemic injection. We investigated the US imaging abilities of these BLs, their protective effects on pDNA from serum component, and their transfection effects in vitro and in vivo. As a result, we demonstrated that the US imaging ability and transfection effect varied with lipid component and that p-BLs containing DSDAP could be the most stable and effective tool the among three types of p-BLs. Indeed, in ischemic muscle, p-BLs containing DSDAP could be detected using diagnostic US and could deliver bFGF-expressing pDNA using therapeutic US, leading to the induction of angiogenic factors and the improvement of blood flow. These results suggest that combining p-BLs with US exposure may be useful for stable US imaging and efficient gene delivery and may lead to the establishment of a theranostic approach, which is a combination of disease diagnosis and therapy.

We report low temperature electronic properties of a newly synthesized organic conductor (DMET) 2 CuCl 2 , consisting of stacks of DMET molecules constructing a quasi-one-dimensional Fermi surface. Superconductivity transition below 0.8 K is found, which is suppressed by a small magnetic field of 0.1 T. Under magnetic fields, successive step-like anomalies of magnetoresistance and plateau-like Hall resistance with sign reversals are found, indicating the occurrence of field-induced spin density wave (FISDW) transitions. The angular-dependent magnetoresistance and thermopower are measured in order to clarify the quasi-one-dimensional electronic structure.