Uniform hydrogel-filled elastomer microcapsules structured with mechanically resilient complex shell layers

Controlled polymerization of polyurethane precursors between the interfaces of W/O/W double emulsion drops leads to the production of a mechanically resilient but flexible microshell structure.</p

Activation of mTOR for the loss of skeletal muscle in a hindlimb-suspended rat model

The hindlimb-suspended or unloading rodent model was developed to mimic the microgravity of a spaceflight environment and has been used extensively to study the physiological responses to various aspects of musculoskeletal loading and unloading. This study investigated a compensating response to skeletal muscle loss in a hindlimb-suspended model that involves up-regulation of mTOR phosphorylation at four weeks. Body weight and muscle volume significantly decreased over four weeks in the hindlimb-suspended group compared with the sham control. Expressions of p-mTOR, raptor protein, p-p70S6K, p-Akt, and p-ERK, anti- or pro-apoptotic p53, Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, Bax, and Bak proteins were significantly increased in the hindlimb-suspended group compared to the sham control at four weeks. These results indicate that p-mTOR and p-Akt/p-ERK proteins might be up-regulated to compensate for the loss of skeletal muscle in the hindlimb-suspended model. Expressions of p-AMPK, IRS1, and IRS2 proteins were significantly increased, but that of p-eIF2 alpha was significantly reduced in the hindlimb-suspended group compared to the sham control at four weeks. Our results suggest that the loss of skeletal muscle in a hindlimb-suspended model induces activation of p-mTOR and p-Akt/p-ERK proteins, and that these signaling pathways may preserve protein synthesis and cell growth in skeletal muscles of hindlimb-suspended animals

Cut-and-Paste Transferrable Pressure Sensing Cartridge Films

Flexible tactile sensors have been intensively studied for healthcare and electronic skin devices. Currently, a sensing material, electrode, and substrate are manufactured as one set by depositing the sensing material on the electrode. For this reason, when another electrode or substrate is used in the sensor or when different sensor characteristics are required, a new sensing material must be developed and the fabrication conditions should be changed. This study proposes a novel method of manufacturing a pressure sensing material like a cartridge film. The cartridge film is made by filling the holes of a stencil film (one MP in each hole) with conductive microparticles (MPs). Using the cartridge film, the sensing material can be cut-and-pasted on electrodes and transferred to other electrodes for reuse. This study analyzes the electrical responses of the sensors made of the cartridge film on the basis of the Hertzian contact theory, and also correlates the sensing performance of the sensors with the conductivity of the MPs and the degree of protrusion of the MPs from the stencil surface.11Nsciescopu