Role of stearic acid in the strain-induced crystallization of crosslinked natural rubber and synthetic cis-1,4-polyisoprene

Strain-induced crystallization of crosslinked natural rubber (NR) and its synthetic analogue, cis-1,4-polyisoprene (IR), both mixed with various amounts of stearic acid (SA), were investigated by time-resolved X-ray diffraction using a powerful synchrotron radiation source and simultaneous mechanical (tensile) measurement. No acceleration or retardation was observed on NR in spite of the increase of SA amount. Even the SA-free IR crystallized upon stretching, and the overall crystallization behavior of IR shifted to the larger strain ratio with increasing SA content. No difference due to the SA was detected in the deformation of crystal lattice by stress for both NR and IR. These results suggested that the extended network chains are effective for the initiation of crystallization upon stretching, while the role of SA is trivial. These behaviors are much different from their crystallization at low temperature by standing, where SA acts as a nucleating agent.     

Liposome Microencapsulation for the Surface Modification and Improved Entrapment of Cytochrome c for Targeted Delivery

In this study, we established a procedure based on the microencapsulation vesicle (MCV) method for preparing surface‐modified liposomes, using polyethylene glycol (PEG) and a site‐directed ligand, with high entrapment efficiency of cytochrome c (Cyt c). For preparing a water‐in‐oil (W/O) emulsion, egg phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol were dissolved in organic solvents (O phase) and emulsified by sonication with aqueous solution of Cyt c (W₁). Although the dispersion stability of the W₁/O emulsion was low when n‐hexane was used to dissolve the lipids in the O phase, it was substantially improved by using mixed solvents consisting of n‐hexane and other organic solvents, such as ethanol and dichloromethane (DCM). The W₁/O emulsion was then added to another water phase (W₂) to prepare the W₁/O/W₂ emulsion. PEG‐ and/or ligand‐modified lipids were introduced into the W₂ phase as external emulsifiers not only for stabilizing the W₁/O/W₂ emulsion but also for modifying the surface of liposomes obtained later. After solvent evaporation and extrusion for downsizing the liposomes, approximately 50% of Cyt c was encapsulated in the liposomes when the mixed solvent consisting of n‐hexane and DCM at a volume ratio of 75/25 was used in the O phase. Finally, the fluorescence‐labeled liposomes, with a peptide ligand having affinity to the vasculature in adipose tissue, were prepared by the MCV method and intravenously injected into mice. Confocal microscopy showed the substantial accumulation of these liposomes in the adipose tissue vessels. Taken together, the MCV technique, along with solvent optimization, could be useful for generating surface‐modified liposomes with high drug entrapment efficiency for targeted delivery.     

CVD preparation of alumina-supported niobium nitride and its activity for thiophene hydrodesulfurization

Niobium nitride was synthesized on a Si(400) substrate and a γ-alumina pellet using a CVD method with a stream of NbCl₅/Ar, NH₃, and H₂ gases at 723–973 K under reduced pressure. The composition and surface properties of the deposited niobium nitride were analyzed using XRD and XPS measurements. The activity of alumina-supported niobium nitrides for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene at 673 K and atmospheric pressure was determined. The alumina had a surface area of 177 m² g⁻¹ and the alumina-supported niobium nitride catalyst had surface areas of 179–190 m² g⁻¹. Although the catalysts had low activity in the initial stages, the activity increased after 200–300 min started to about three times the initial activities. XPS analysis indicated that the activity of the niobium nitride catalysts was decreased by sulfur accumulation on the surface and nitrogen released from niobium nitride. The relationship between the surface properties of the niobium nitride catalysts and the activities for thiophene HDS is discussed.     

Indentation-Induced Contact Deformation and Damage of Glasslike Carbon

Fracture mechanics are examined for the Vickers-indentation-induced contact deformation and damage of glassy carbons produced by different densification processes. The indentation load versus indentation depth relationship during the loading-unloading cycle reveals that the contact deformation is purely elastic even under such a sharp indentation, which subsequently leads to an indentation-induced ring/cone crack system instead of the median/radial crack system. The processes and mechanisms of such an anomalous surface crack system are related to the very open microstructure of glassy carbons. The ring/cone cracks induced by Vickers indentation are, however, significantly different in nature from the well-known Hertzian cone crack which is induced by pressing a spherical indenter on a brittle surface. Demonstrated is the superiority of glassy carbons to ordinary brittle ceramic materials in resistance to strength degradation by contact with hard particles such as in ballistic situations.     

Inflammasomes in Teleosts: Structures and Mechanisms That Induce Pyroptosis during Bacterial Infection

Pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) play a crucial role in inducing inflammatory responses; they recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns, damage-associated molecular patterns, and environmental factors. Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-leucine-rich repeat-containing receptors (NLRs) are part of the PRR family; they form a large multiple-protein complex called the inflammasome in the cytosol. In mammals, the inflammasome consists of an NLR, used as a sensor molecule, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) as an adaptor protein, and pro-caspase1 (Casp1). Inflammasome activation induces Casp1 activation, promoting the maturation of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, and the induction of inflammatory cell death called pyroptosis via gasdermin D cleavage in mammals. Inflammasome activation and pyroptosis in mammals play important roles in protecting the host from pathogen infection. Recently, numerous inflammasome-related genes in teleosts have been identified, and their conservation and/or differentiation between their expression in mammals and teleosts have also been elucidated. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of the molecular structure and machinery of the inflammasomes and the ASC-spec to induce pyroptosis; moreover, we explore the protective role of the inflammasome against pathogenic infection in teleosts.     

A cross-validation of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) for Japanese with lung cancer

The EORTC QLQ-C30 was developed in English-speaking cultures. To determine if this instrument could cross a broad cultural divide and be used in Japan, the cross-cultural validity of its Japanese version was estimated. In evaluating psychometric testing, internal consistency by Cronbach's alpha, item-discrimination by multitrait scaling analysis, and validity analysis with ECOG performance score (PS) and Karnofsky Performance Status Scale (KPS) were performed. The QLQ-C30 (version 1.0) was given to 105 patients with lung cancer. Although the response rate was low in patients with PS 4, the questionnaire was well accepted by patients with PS 0-3. The Japanese QLQ-C30 has a weak scale of role functioning in terms of item discriminative validity. It also has a weak scale of cognitive functioning in items of discriminative validity and internal consistency. However, known-groups comparison showed the expected clinical validity with PS for all the scales except for financial impact, and longitudinally clinical validity with KPS was shown in scales of cognitive functioning, fatigue, and nausea and vomiting. Multitrait scaling analysis showed that the predicted scales constituting quality of life (QOL) in the English-speaking culture were extracted from the Japanese QLQ-C30, and found to be valid in Japan, indicating its possible usefulness as an instrument that is universally applicable across cultures.     

Lactobacillus helveticus SBT2171, a cheese starter,regulates proliferation and cytokine production of immune cells

Consumption of a Lactobacillus helveticus SBT2171 (LH2171)-containing cheese has been reported to exhibit immunoregulatory actions, including an increase in regulatory T cell population and reduction in proinflammatory cytokine production in mice. We examined the in vitro effects of LH2171 cells per se on immune cell function, specifically proliferation and cytokine production, which are primary reactions of the immune response. Immune cell fractions were prepared by mechanical disruption of mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), Peyer’s patches (PP), and spleens (SP) of mice. The cell fractions were dispensed into a culture plate and stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28 antibody beads in place of antigen-presenting cells or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the presence or absence of heat-treated LH2171 cells and other bacterial strains for comparison. After incubation, proliferation, cytokine production, and cell viability of the immune cells were determined. The LH2171 significantly inhibited the proliferation of MLN immune cells stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28 compared with other bacterial strains. The antiproliferative potency of LH2171 was effective not only on MLN but also on PP and SP stimulated with anti-CD3/CD28 or LPS. The LH2171 also decreased LPS-stimulated IL-6 production from MLN, PP, and SP, and IL-1β production from SP, but LH2171 did not affect the viability of immune cells. The LH2171 inhibited immune cell proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and IL-1β) production. The inhibitory actions were not due to cytotoxicity to immune cells, suggesting that LH2171 is a dairy Lactobacillus strain with beneficial immunoregulatory properties.