Development of non-deterioration-type skin tissue phantom using silicone material

We developed a new type of three-layered skin tissue phantom using silicone material. This phantom maintains its optical properties in a certain period of time, typically about three months, which is much longer than about 30 min with our previous agar-type phantom. Experiments on spectral reflectance measurements and color analysis indicate the possibility of silicone-type skin tissue phantom.     

A Strategy for Neuraminidase Inhibitors Using Mechanism‐Based Labeling Information

A potent inhibitor for Vibrio cholerae neuraminidase (VCNA) was developed by using a novel two‐step strategy, a target amino acid validation using mechanism‐based labeling information, and a potent inhibitor search using a focused library. The labeling information suggested the hidden dynamics of a loop structure of VCNA, which can be a potential target of the novel inhibitor. A focused library composed of 187 compounds was prepared from a 9‐azide derivative of 2,3‐dehydro‐N‐acetylneuraminic acid (DANA) to interrupt the function of the loop of the labeled residues. Inhibitor 3c showed potent inhibition properties and was the strongest inhibitor with FANA, a N‐trifluoroacetyl derivative of DANA. Validation studies of the inhibitor with a detergent and a Lineweaver–Burk plot suggested that the 9‐substitution group would interact hydrophobically with the target loop moiety, adding a noncompetitive inhibition property to the DANA skeleton. This information enabled us to design compound 4 having the combined structure of 3c and FANA. Compound 4 showed the most potent inhibition (K_i=73 nM , mixed inhibition) of VCNA with high selectivity among the tested viral, bacterial, and mammal neuraminidases.     

Preparation of highly oriented poly-diacetylene films with ion beam irradiation

Abstract

Substituting metallic or rare-earth atoms or removing O in the superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O₇ usually has a strong effect on the superconducting properties. We have made extensive XAFS studies on Co, Fe, Ni, Zn, Gd, and Pr substituted materials including some thin film samples. In nearly all cases, significant distortions are found. Although the lattice constant change is small (< 0.05 Å) the local distortions can be significant larger (～ 0.1 to 0.3 Å). The observed large local distortions of the lattice together with a change in the charge distribution at a site indicate that the interior of the unit cell is easily distorted. The correlation of a strong Tc suppression with large local distortions suggests that distortions of the nearby layers must play a significant role in models for superconductivity in high Tc materials.     

Synthesis and determination of the relative structure of akaterpin, a potent inhibitor of PI-PLC

We describe the first total synthesis and structural determination of akaterpin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). The key features of the synthetic strategy include a regio- and stereoselective C-alkylation at the angular C1′ position and an exo-selective intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction. The relative stereochemistry was determined by a comparison of the NMR spectra of synthetic akaterpin with those of natural akaterpin.     

Visualization of temperature fields and double-diffusive convection using liquid crystals in an aqueous solution crystallizing along a vertical wall

This article presents a simple technique for temperature visualization using liquid crystals in an aqueous solution during the process of cooling and solidification. This method provides a clear picture of the role of double-diffusive convection in producing vertical compositional and density stratification in an initially homogeneous liquid during solidification.     

Thermal stresses around a ribbon-like inclusion in a semi-infinite medium under uniform heat flow

On the basis of the two-dimensional theory of thermoelasticity, the present paper deals with the thermal stresses around a thermally insulated and rigid ribbon-like inclusion in a semi-infinite medium under steady-state uniform heat flow. The ribbon-like inclusion is replaced by continuous distributions of sources of temperature discontinuity and concentrated forces. Then we obtain a system of singular integral equations with Cauchy kernels. The solution is given in the form of the product of the series of Chebyshev polynomials of the first kind and their weight function. By means of this method, the singular behavior of the thermal stresses near the tips of the ribbon-like inclusion is estimated exactly and the strength of the thermal stress singularity can be easily evaluated.

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Zusammenfassung Auf dem Grund von der zweidimensionalen Theorie der Thermoelastizität befasst sich der vorliegende Bericht mit der Wärmespannungen um eine thermisch isolierte und starre Bandeinlagerung in einem semi-unendlichen Medium unter stationärzustandlicher gleichmässiger Hitzeausströmung. Die Bandeinlagerung ist durch kontinuierliche Verteilung von Quellen der Temperaturdiskontinuität und konzentrierten Kräften umgestellt. Dann wird ein System von singulären Integralgleichungen mit Cauchyschen Kernen erhalten. Die Lösung kann in der Form des Produkts von der Reihe von Tchebycheffschem Polynomen erster Art und ihrer Gewichtsfunktion angegeben werden. Durch Anwendung von dieser Methode wird das singuläre Benehmen von der Wärmespannungen nahe den Spitzen der Bandein-lagerung richtig geschätzt und kann die Intensität der Wärmespannungsingularität leicht berechnet werden.

     

Distribution of late gadolinium enhancement in end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy: Differential diagnosis and prediction of cardiac outcome

Background

The prognostic implications of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) have been evaluated in ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathies. The present study analyzed LGE distribution in patients with end-stage hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ES-HCM) and with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), and tried to identify high risk patients in DCM.

Methods

Eleven patients with ES-HCM and 72 with DCM underwent cine- and LGE-cardiac magnetic resonance and ultrasound cardiography. The patient outcome was analyzed retrospectively for 5 years of follow-up.

Results

LGE distributed mainly in the inter-ventricular septum, but spread more diffusely into other left ventricular segments in patients with ES-HCM and in a certain part of patients with DCM. Thus, patients with DCM can be divided into three groups according to LGE distribution; no LGE (n = 24), localized LGE (localized at septum, n = 36), and extensive LGE (spread into other segments, n = 12). Reverse remodeling occurred after treatment in patients with no LGE and with localized LGE, but did not in patients with extensive LGE and with ES-HCM. The event-free survival rate for composite outcome (cardiac death, hospitalization for decompensated heart failure or ventricular arrhythmias) was lowest in patients with extensive LGE (92%, 74% and 42% in no LGE, localized LGE, and extensive LGE, p = 0.02 vs. no LGE), and was comparable to that in patients with ES-HCM (42%).

Conclusions

In DCM, patients with extensive LGE showed no functional recovery and the lowest event-free survival rate that were comparable to patients with ES-HCM. The analysis of LGE distribution may be valuable to predict reverse remodeling and to identify high-risk patients.     

The one-dimensional cutting stock problem with usable leftovers – A survey

In this article, we review published studies that consider the solution of the one-dimensional cutting stock problem (1DCSP) with the possibility of using leftovers to meet future demands, if long enough. The one-dimensional cutting stock problem with usable leftovers (1DCSPUL) is a problem frequently encountered in practical settings but often, it is not dealt with in an explicit manner. For each work reviewed, we present the application, the mathematical model if one is proposed and comments on the computational results obtained. The approaches are organized into three classes: heuristics, item-oriented, or cutting pattern-oriented.