Homage to Professor Shinko Ogiwara

<p><b><i>Primula undulifolia</i> sp. nov.</b> (A) Habit in Flowering; (B) Type Locality; (C) Calyx; (D) Pin and Thrum Flowers; (E) Leaf. Photographed by Yuan XU.</p

Comparison between simulation and experimental result of the scale down vertical concrete cask under the historical earthquake hit

In recent years, the final disposal facility for the long-term storage of high radioactive waste is an important issue and an urgent task for nuclear Industry. This study is focus on the understanding the procedure of dry storage system in a nuclear power plant. The dry storage system is known as transportable storage canister (TSC) packing by using spent fuel placed in vertical concrete cask (VCC) or VCC with add-on-shell (AOS) canister and then those conveyed VCC or AOS will be put on the concrete pad. A numerical simulation for evaluation the behavior of VCC and AOC under the earthquake hits is used the finite element model by LS-DYNA and the real seismic behavior is obtained using shaking table test. Test results indicate that the simulation by numerical model can slightly simulate the dynamic records by shaking table test. This is because that the behavior of shaking table test is the rocking motion but the numerical model is the sliding motion. The surface roughness between the cask and concrete pad is an important variable and it needs more numerical simulation to solve the interface and friction coefficient between the cask and concrete pad

In Situ Measurement of the Junction Temperature of Light Emitting Diodes Using a Flexible Micro Temperature Sensor

This investigation aimed to fabricate a flexible micro resistive temperature sensor to measure the junction temperature of a light emitting diode (LED). The junction temperature is typically measured using a thermal resistance measurement approach. This approach is limited in that no standard regulates the timing of data capture. This work presents a micro temperature sensor that can measure temperature stably and continuously, and has the advantages of being lightweight and able to monitor junction temperatures in real time. Micro-electro-mechanical-systems (MEMS) technologies are employed to minimize the size of a temperature sensor that is constructed on a stainless steel foil substrate (SS-304 with 30 μm thickness). A flexible micro resistive temperature sensor can be fixed between the LED chip and the frame. The junction temperature of the LED can be measured from the linear relationship between the temperature and the resistance. The sensitivity of the micro temperature sensor is 0.059 ± 0.004 Ω/°C. The temperature of the commercial CREE® EZ1000 chip is 119.97 °C when it is thermally stable, as measured using the micro temperature sensor; however, it was 126.9 °C, when measured by thermal resistance measurement. The micro temperature sensor can be used to replace thermal resistance measurement and performs reliably

Sensor Fabrication Method for in Situ Temperature and Humidity Monitoring of Light Emitting Diodes

In this work micro temperature and humidity sensors are fabricated to measure the junction temperature and humidity of light emitting diodes (LED). The junction temperature is frequently measured using thermal resistance measurement technology. The weakness of this method is that the timing of data capture is not regulated by any standard. This investigation develops a device that can stably and continually measure temperature and humidity. The device is light-weight and can monitor junction temperature and humidity in real time. Using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), this study minimizes the size of the micro temperature and humidity sensors, which are constructed on a stainless steel foil substrate (40 μm-thick SS-304). The micro temperature and humidity sensors can be fixed between the LED chip and frame. The sensitivities of the micro temperature and humidity sensors are 0.06 ± 0.005 (Ω/°C) and 0.033 pF/%RH, respectively

The genetic correlation and causal association between key factors that influence vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease incidence

Background: Serum calcium (Ca), vitamin D (VD), and vitamin K (VK) levels are key determinants of vascular calcification, which itself impacts cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The specific relationships between the levels of these different compounds and particular forms of CVD, however, remain to be fully defined. Objective: This study was designed to explore the associations between these serum levels and CVDs with the goal of identifying natural interventions capable of controlling vascular calcification and thereby protecting against CVD pathogenesis, extending the healthy lifespan of at-risk individuals.Methods: Linkage disequilibrium score (LDSC) regression and a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) framework were leveraged to systematically examine the causal interplay between these serum levels and nine forms of CVD, as well as longevity through the use of large publically accessible Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) datasets. The optimal concentrations of serum Ca and VD to lower CVD risk were examined through a restrictive cubic spline (RCS) approach.Results: After Bonferroni correction, the positive genetic correlations were observed between serum Ca levels and myocardial infarction (MI) (p = 1.356E–04), as well as coronary artery disease (CAD) (p = 3.601E–04). Negative genetic correlations were detected between levels of VD and CAD (p = 0.035), while elevated VK1 concentrations were causally associated with heart failure (HF) [odds ratios (OR) per 1-standard deviation (SD) increase: 1.044], large artery stroke (LAS) (OR per 1-SD increase: 1.172), and all stroke (AS) (OR per 1-SD increase: 1.041). Higher serum Ca concentrations (OR per 1-SD increase: 0.865) and VD levels (OR per 1-SD increase: 0.777) were causally associated with reduced odds of longevity. These findings remained consistent in sensitivity analyses, and serum Ca and VD concentrations of 2.376 mmol/L and 46.8 nmol/L, respectively, were associated with a lower CVD risk (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: Our findings support a genetic correlation between serum Ca and VD and CVD risk, and a causal relationship between VK1 levels and CVD risk. The optimal serum Ca (2.376 mmol/L) and VD levels (46.8 nmol/L) can reduce cardiovascular risk.</p

Monoclonal antibodies to human sperm antigens

To elucidate the molecular nature of human sperm autoantigens, attempts were made to raise monoclonal antibodies against these antigens by hybridoma techniques. After successive immunizations with the particulate fractions of human sperm extract in BALB/c mice, the spleen cells were fused with P3-X63-Ag8 myeloma cells. Several clones and their subclones were obtained and shown by microplate radioimmunoassay to produce antibodies against human sperm antigens. When SDS gel/protein blot radioimmunobinding was used for further molecular analysis, three independently derived clones were shown to produce antibodies, all of which cross-reacted with the same two human sperm antigens with a molecular weight of about 10 000. Using an indirect immunofluorescence assay, antibodies produced by these clones were shown to react with antigens localized on the acrosomal regions of human spermatozoa. Monoclonal antibodies produced by other clones, however, showed no cross-reactivity with any of the blotted proteins from SDS gels of human spermatozoa. Some possible reasons for this are presented.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23934/1/0000180.pd

Peptide modified mesenchymal stem cells as targeting delivery system transfected with miR-133b for the treatment of cerebral ischemia.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been regarded as potential targeting vehicles and demonstrated to exert therapeutic benefits for brain diseases. Direct homing to diseased tissue is crucial for stem cell-based therapy. In this study, a peptide-based targeting approach was established to enhance cell homing to cerebral ischemic lesion. Palmitic acid-peptide painted onto the cell membrane was able to direct MSCs to ischemic tissues without any observed cell cytotoxicity and influence on differentiation, thus reducing accumulation of cells in peripheral organs and increasing engraftment of cells in the targeted tissues. With enhanced cell homing, MSCs were used to deliver miR-133b to increase the expression level of miR-133b in an ischemic lesion and further improve therapeutic effects. This study is the first to develop MSCs co-modified with targeting peptide and microRNAs as potential targeting therapeutic agents. This targeting delivery system is expected to be applicable to other cell types and other diseases aside from stroke