Freeze-thawing single human embryonic stem cells induce e-cadherin and actin filament network disruption via g13 signaling

Poor adhesion of single human embryonic stem (hES) cells after freeze-thawing causes death. To investigate mechanisms responsible for this, Rho-dependent protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitor Y-27632-treated and untreated single hES cells were analyzed for E-cadherin and F-actin distribution by immunostaining and phalloidin staining respectively and for G13 signaling pathway components by DNA microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Y-27632-treated cells clustered rapidly and maintained E-cadherin and F-actin distribution without losing Oct-3/4. Immediately after thawing, E-cadherin in untreated hES cells dotted along the membrane and then displayed eccentric cytoplasmic localization. Bleb formation and early Oct-3/4 loss occurred after F-actin network condensation in the cytoplasm. Microarray analyses and quantitative PCR indicated upregulation of two actin reorganization-associated components of the G13 signaling pathway, Arhgdib and Cdc42, in untreated cells. Considering these findings and that cell death was partly interrupted by Y-27632, E-cadherin and actin cytoskeleton network disruption through the G13 signaling pathway may cause hES cell death after freeze-thawing.     

Electromagnetic analysis of specular resonance by periodic bilayer cylinders

Specular resonance by periodic bilayer cylinders is electromagnetically analyzed for the first time to our knowledge. The phenomenon occurs when the radius is roughly 0.8 times the wavelength. It is also discovered that the structure behaves as a good guided-mode resonant grating filter when the radius is around 0.4 times the wavelength.     

Ab initio molecular orbital study on three feasible mechanisms for substitution of the vinylic carbon in F2C=C(OMs)BMe3−

A substitution on 2,2-difluorovinylic carbon was investigated by using ab initio molecular orbital calculations. Three feasible mechanisms, which are the S_N1-like, the S_N2-type and the addition-elimination mechanisms, were ex- amined for a model borate, 2,2-difluoro-1-mesyloxyvinyl(trimethyl)borate. Four TSs were obtained depending on the position of Li⁺ around the vinylborate although activation energies in the gas phase are rather high (ca. 30–40 kcal mol⁻¹) in comparison with that expected from the experimental conditions. It was confirmed at the SCRF-IPCM calculations that the solvent effect reduces the acti- vation energy of one S_N2-type mechanism very much (4. l kcal mol⁻¹ at the B3LYP/6-31+G^*//RHF/6-31+G^/s* level of theory) while those for the other mechanisms do not change very much. Therefore, the S_N2-type mechanism is applicable to the substitution reaction observed for the vinylborate.     

Spontaneous ignition temperature for the compacted mixture of Ni–Al system: Experiment,theory, and comparisons

Spontaneous ignition of compacted mixture has been examined not only experimentally but also theoretically, relevant to materials synthesis for Ni–Al system. Spontaneous ignition temperature, determined from the inflection-point of the temporal variation of surface temperature, is found to decrease at first, reach the minimum, and then increase gradually, with increasing size ratio, being defined as the ratio of compact and particle diameters and reported to be useful in correlating experimental results. The lowest temperature observed is as low as that, more than 200 K below the melting point 934 K of Al, at the size ratio of c.a. 700. While its decrease is attributed to the increase in the particle surface per unit spatial volume of compacted mixture, as reported in the literature, its increase found in the course of the present study can fairly be correlated to an enhancement of heat loss from each particle in the compacted mixture, by conducting a theoretical consideration. As for the dependence of spontaneous ignition temperature on the mixture ratio, a shifting occurs from a decreasing trend with increasing mixture ratio at small size ratios, less than about 700, to an insensitive trend to the mixture ratio, had not been reported in the literature. In addition, a fair degree of agreement, shown in experimental comparisons with theoretical results, indicates that the present formulation has captured the essential features of the spontaneous ignition of compacted mixture, especially for size ratios with large values. Since this kind of particle size effects, relevant to the spontaneous ignition of the compacted mixtures, has not been captured in the previous studies, its elucidation can be considered not only notable but also useful, in manipulating combustion process in materials synthesis, especially, in choosing a specific condition for the lowest spontaneous ignition temperature by varying the size ratio.     

Measuring of electrostatically induced voltage and its polarity in partially opened metal box by means of neon lamp and photomultiplier tube

Electronic apparatus in partially opened metal boxes often malfunctions due to electrostatically induced voltage. The induced voltage (induced potential difference, IPD) produces when charged bodies exist and move close. Objectives of this study are (1) to improve the voltage level capable of measuring an induced voltage, (2) to discriminate its polarity. In this study, the IPD and its polarity are demonstrated by means of a neon lamp and a photomultiplier tube. The results will be useful to estimate the value and polarity of the IPD as well as to help with the basic design of printed circuit boards.