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For solving the safety issue of lithium ion batteries, the choice of all-solid polymer electrolyte is one of the possible solutions. However, usual polyethylene oxide including lithium supporting agent has not enough lithium ion conductivity as electrolyte for practical use. Some of our research group (M. W. and H. M.) have tried the addition of plasticizer such as borate ester or aluminate ester (Al-PEG) into monomer mixture containing lithium salt for increasing the ionic conductivity resulting in polymer electrolyte after polymerization. For such all-solid polymer electrolyte (SPE), the ionic conductivity, a value of 10 S/cm has been attained at 60 °C and the value will be acceptable for practical use. Since the SPE also has nonflammable property, the combination of the SPE with suitable cathode and anode may produce a new all-solid polymer battery with safety. In the present study, the SPE containing Al-PEG and dimethoxy ethylene glycol mixture as the plasticizer was newly combined with spinel LiTiO anode and olivine LiFePO cathode objecting for developing stationary battery. The cell performance of the new combination will be reported at 30 °C and 50 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We propose a new method to isolate and distribute the photoluminescence emission wavelengths of InAs quantum dots (QDs) over a wide-wavelength range by the growth of the partial GaAs capping layer at low temperature and annealing processes. When the partial capping layer was grown at 485°C, the emission wavelengths of the QDs were distributed within a small range around the mean wavelength. On the other hand, when the partial capping layer was grown at a lower temperature of 423°C, the emission wavelengths of the individual QDs were isolated and distributed over a wide range. Thus fabricated QDs are effective for the QD based devices such as single photon sources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have investigated effects of growth temperature of thin GaAs capping layer in the initial stage of indium-flush process using atomic force microscopy and microscopic photoluminescence (μ-PL) methods. The shape of capped InAs quantum dot (QD) and its μ-PL properties are sensitive to the growth temperature of thin GaAs capping layer. In the case of the high temperature cap, the QD shape in initial capping stage is elongated along the [11−0] direction, and μ-PL spectrum shows several peaks accompanied with indefinite peaks. On the other hand, the low temperature case, the QD shape is kept in isotropic and μ-PL spectrum shows distinctive emissions from excitonic states of the QD with suppressed indefinite peaks. These results indicate that the low temperature capping is effective to keep an isotropic shape of QD and suppress indefinite peaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between normal tension glaucoma and the candidate disease locus glaucoma 1, open angle, B (GLC1B) on chromosome 2. There are many reports describing the results of association or linkage studies for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), with GLC1B as one of the loci associated with normal or moderately elevated intraocular pressure. However, there are few reports about the association of genes or defined genomic regions with normal tension glaucoma, which is the leading type of glaucoma in Japan. The GLC1B locus is hypothesized to be a causative region for normal tension glaucoma. Methods: Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood of normal tension glaucoma (n = 143) and healthy controls (n = 103) of Japanese origin. Results: Fifteen microsatellite markers within and/or near to the GLC1 B locus were genotyped, and their association with normal tension glaucoma was analysed. Two markers D2S2264 and D2S176 had significant positive associations. Conclusion: The D2S176 marker had the strongest significant association and it is located 24 kb from the nearest gene NCK2, which now becomes an important new candidate gene for future studies of its association with normal tension glaucoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) easily undergoes genomic changes, especially in the hypervariable region (HVR) in the N-terminus of the E2/NS1 region. The quasispecies nature of HCV may have important biological implications in relation to viral persistence; however, the relationship between disease activity of chronic HCV infection and development of the genomic complexity have yielded conflicting results. We explored the changes in the complexity of the HVR-1 in the natural course of chronic HCV infection with and without elevation of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) levels. Materials and methods Ten patients with chronic hepatitis C proven by liver biopsy, who showed persistent elevation of the serum ALT levels, and 15 patients with chronic HCV infection and persistently normal serum ALT levels (PNAL) were enrolled in this study. The number of the HCV quasispecies was determined twice for each patient at an interval of mean 2·5 years by fluorescence single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequence analysis. Results There was no significant difference in the changes in the number of quasispecies during the follow-up period between chronic hepatitis C and PNAL. There was also no significant difference in the change in the number of variable nucleotides sites between the two groups. In these patients, the number of quasispecies and the diversity of HVR-1 were correlated with platelet counts and serum hyaluronic acid levels previously shown to be associated with disease progression. Conclusion Our results suggested that the disease activity is not always related to the generation of the HVR-1 quasispecies complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have performed temperature-dependent studies of photoluminescence (PL) properties of p-type modulation-doped InAs/GaAs quantum dots (QDs) structures grown by molecular beam epitaxy. In temperature dependence of integrated PL intensity, full width at half maximum (FWHM) of PL spectra and its peak energy, differences between undoped and p-doped have depended on a modulation-doping level. We have observed the improvement of temperature stability of PL intensity by p-type modulation doping to InAs QDs in comparison with that of undoped. FWHM of PL spectrum of p-InAs QDs increases as modulation-doping level increases. Excessive modulation doping has caused the degrading of PL properties due to Beryllium (Be) diffusion from p-GaAs modulation-doping layer to InAs layer via undoped GaAs spacer layer. The Be diffusion into InAs region was confirmed by secondary ion mass spectroscopy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Electrochemical reduction and oxidation of a graphite electrode were carried out in nonaqueous electrolytes that consisted of ethylene carbonate/diethyl carbonate (1:1) solvents where LiClO4 and NaClO4 were codissolved. Reversible lithium intercalation into graphite occurred accompanied with no remarkable side reactions in the potential range between 1.5 and 0.02 V vs Li/( 1 mol dm-3 Li+), that is, no sodium deposition and no sodium intercalation were observed. Comparing to results in a sodium- free- electrolyte, i.e., a conventional electrolyte in Li-ion batteries, the initial irreversibility was noticeably suppressed by codis-solving sodium ions, and kinetics of the lithium intercalation were enhanced with better capacity retention during cycling. Additionally, the redox behavior of graphite for lithium-ion batteries was improved by sodium ion Coexistence, with no inferior influences on the negative and LiMn2O4 positive electrodes and electrolyte. When the sodium ion concentration increased to 0.22 mol dm-3, the superior reversibility of lithium intercalation was observed in comparison with that in a sodium-free system; however, the higher concentration of sodium ions deteriorated the lithium intercalation properties. We found that a surface layer formed on graphite electrode got less resistive as a lithium-ion conductor by entrapping sodium during the initial electroreduction with optimal Na+ concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the involvement of interleukin (IL)10 and transforming growth factor (TGF) β in the development of experimentally induced allergic conjunctivitis in mice. Methods: Balb/c mice were actively sensitised with ragweed in alum, and then challenged with ragweed in eye drops after 10 days. 24 h later, the conjunctivas, spleens and blood were collected for histological and cytokine expression analyses, proliferation and cytokine production assays and measurement of immunoglobulin (Ig) levels. Mice developing experimentally induced allergic conjunctivitis were injected intraperitoneally with 200 μg of anti-IL10 or anti-TGF β antibodies at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 days (induction phase treatment) or 500 μg of antibodies 2 h before ragweed challenge (effector phase treatment). Normal rat IgG was used for control injections. Results: Treatment with either anti-IL10 or anti-TGF β antibodies during the induction phase did not affect eosinophil infiltration into the conjunctiva. By contrast, treatment with either antibody during the effector phase suppressed infiltration. During the effector phase, treatment with anti-TGF β antibody, but not the anti-IL1 α antibody, markedly up regulated proliferation and Th2 cytokine production by splenocytes. IL1α levels in the conjunctiva were reduced after treatment with either antibody; in addition, eotaxin and tumour necrosis factor α levels were reduced after treatment with antibody to TGF β. Conclusions: IL10 and TGF β do not have immunosuppressive roles in the development of experimentally induced allergic conjunctivitis. Rather, they augment the infiltration of eosinophils into the conjunctiva during the effector phase of experimentally induced allergic conjunctivitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A very low emittance storage ring with an energy of 6GeV and a circumference of 1999m has been designed for use as a synchrotron radiation source. The ring consists of 32 ten-bend achromat cells and has a natural emittance of 34×10−12 mrad. Simulation showed that the horizontal dynamic apertures at the center of a straight section are −4.2 and +2.9mm and that they can be increased to −5.4 and +7.9mm, respectively by changing the strength of sextupole magnets used for chromaticity correction. Emittance growth due to intrabeam scattering and Touschek lifetime were estimated. With 0.1% coupling, the horizontal emittance was 109×10−12 mrad, and the lifetime was 0.17h for a 0.1-mA bunch current. With 100% coupling, it was 21×10−12 mrad, and the lifetime was 2.0h. These results indicate that a storage ring with picometer-order emittance is possible with realistic parameters and is thus promising as a next-generation light source. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: While tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) appears to be associated with the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), its precise role in the pathogenesis of NASH is not well understood. Methods: Male mice deficient in both TNF receptors 1 (TNFR1) and 2 (TNFR2) (TNFRDKO mice) and wild-type mice were fed a methionine and choline deficient (MCD) diet or a control diet for eight weeks, maintaining isoenergetic intake. Results: MCD dietary feeding of TNFRDKO mice for eight weeks resulted in attenuated liver steatosis and fibrosis compared with control wild-type mice. In the liver, the number of activated hepatic Kupffer cells recruited was significantly decreased in TNFRDKO mice after MCD dietary feeding. In addition, hepatic induction of TNF-α, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, and intracellular adhesion molecule 1 was significantly suppressed in TNFRDKO mice. While in control animals MCD dietary feeding dramatically increased mRNA expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) in both whole liver and hepatic stellate cells, concomitant with enhanced activation of hepatic stellate cells, both factors were significantly lower in TNFRDKO mice. In primary cultures, TNF-α administration enhanced TIMP-1 mRNA expression in activated hepatic stellate cells and suppressed apoptotic induction in activated hepatic stellate cells. Inhibition of TNF induced TIMP-1 upregulation by TIMP-1 specific siRNA reversed the apoptotic suppression seen in hepatic stellate cells. Conclusions: Enhancement of the TNF-α/TNFR mediated signalling pathway via activation of Kupffer cells in an autocrine or paracrine manner may be critically involved in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis in this NASH animal model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibulin-5 was recently found as a secreted extracellular matrix protein that functions as a scaffold for elastic fibres. However, the distribution of fibulin-5 in human skin and its changes during the ageing process are not known. To explore the involvement of fibulin-5 in skin ageing, the age-dependent changes in fibulin-5 localization in human skin were examined compared with those of other elastic fibre components including elastin, fibrillin-1 and fibulin-2. The distribution of elastin, fibrillin-1, fibrillin-2, fibulin-2 and fibulin-5 was investigated by means of immunohistochemistry using their specific antibodies. Skin samples were recovered from 12 healthy subjects undergoing plastic surgery. Ultraviolet (UV) B-irradiated or control nonirradiated buttock skin samples were obtained from two healthy volunteers at 2 days after the irradiation at 2 minimal erythemal doses. In the reticular dermis of young sun-protected skin from the upper arm, fibulin-5 colocalized with the other elastic fibre components, while in the papillary dermis fibulin-5 showed candelabra-like structures perpendicular to the epidermis with an unstained area just beneath the epidermis, which was similar to that of elastin but not fibrillin-1. Fibulin-5 in the reticular dermis decreased and disappeared with age even in sun-protected skin from the thigh, abdomen and upper arm. In sun-exposed skin, fibulin-5 was extremely reduced in the dermis of cheek skin even from a 20-year-old man. UVB irradiation reduced fibulin-5, fibulin-2 and elastin markedly, moderately and weakly, respectively, compared with levels in control nontreated skin. Interestingly, the deposition of fibulin-5 was increased in solar elastosis, like that of other elastic fibre components. These results suggest that fibulin-5 is a good marker of skin ageing and that the earlier loss of fibulin-5 may involve age-dependent changes in other elastic fibre components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fabricated improved DC septum magnets that have smaller leakage fields for continuous beam injection. We changed the shape of the coil and placed field clamps at both ends of the magnets. We increased the thickness of the septum-plane shields and extended them to the field clamps. Leakage fields were measured and the effect they had on an electron beam during injection was studied. After reducing the leakage fields, the orbit changes during injection were less than the beam sizes, which satisfied the requirements for continuous beam injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although randomized trials have shown enhancement of efficacy for combination therapy with interferon (IFN) α-2b and ribavirin compared with IFN monotherapy as first-line treatment for chronic hepatitis C, infection with genotype lb and high viremia are still associated with significantly low response rates compared with non-1 genotypes and low viremia. We analysed amino acid sequences of the viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) or nonstructural protein SB (NSSB), responsible for ribavirin misincorporation into RNA products in patients with genotype lb-related chronic hepatitis C and high viremia, and examined the relationship between such RdRp polymorphisms, and the initial decline in viral load induced by combination therapy with IFN-α and ribavirin. Substitution of glutamic acid to lysine at the 124th position (E124K) and of isoleucine to valine at the 85th position (I8 5V) were found to be closely associated with a potent decline of viral load and viral clearance at 8 weeks of treatment (five of five patients, coincidence rate 100%). In conclusion, our results suggest that the polymorphisms of E124K and 185V identified in NS 5B protein are crucial for early viral clearance in patients with genotype lb and high viremia by combination therapy with IFN and ribavirin, and that detection of amino acid sequence motifs might enable prediction of clinical efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Background Cultured epidermal autographs (CEAs) are currently used as a coverage treatment for burn wounds, for disfiguring burn scars involving depigmentation and in restoring the elasticity of the skin. The advantage of CEAs is that epidermal sheets prepared from small skin pieces can be enlarged sufficiently to cover large burn areas. Objectives We examined the correlation between recovery of skin texture, and elastic fibre formation and keratinocyte differentiation (assessed by immunohistochemistry) in CEAs used as replacement skin after tattoo excision in a Japanese patient. Methods The tattooed skin was excised down to the deep dermal layer and then CEA was transplanted onto the patient. The skin textures were evaluated by taking replicas of the skin surface, and histological changes of filaggrin, transglutaminase, involucrin, fibrillin and elastin in the autograft skin were examined by immunohistochemistry. Results The skin texture improved with time after grafting the CEA, and appeared similar to that of normal skin at 39 months. Among keratinocyte differentiation markers, filaggrin recovered to a normal pattern at around 6 months, and transglutaminase did so at 39 months, whereas involucrin expression remained abnormal at 39 months. Fibrillin expression appeared similar to that of normal skin by 39 months, except for sparse candelabra-like structures of short fibres. Elastin expression remained at a low level throughout. Conclusions Our results show that the recovery of skin texture after application of CEAs following tattoo excision is associated with the normalization of epidermal differentiation markers, except involucrin, and with the regeneration of elastic fibres in the dermis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]