Comparison of sulfur isotope ratio measurements by various techniques, and the δ(34)S values of some sulur standards

Three techniques (combustion of Ag(2)S by Cu(2)O, thermal decomposition of BaSO(4) and KIBA reagent method under vacuum) for sulfur isotope ratio measurements of geological samples are described in detail. The δ(34)S values of three working standards (MSS-2, MSS-3 and MSS-4) obtained by these techniques for the last 13 years were compared (Table 1 and Fig. 3): the most acceptable values of the three standards are +21.5, +3.5 and +4.5‰, respectively

An optical system for measuring the eccentricity of glass wool pipe－for industrial use

An optical system for measuring the eccentricity of the glass wool pipe has been developed for an industrial use. The system consists of a contact sensor, a photo light sensor and a signal processing system with a logic circuit. The system is simple, fast and efficient for practical use; it allows implementation of on-line process monitoring and alarm warning signals for unacceptable pipe eccentricity during manufacturing

Focal Surface Projection: Extending Projector Depth-of-Field Using a Phase-Only Spatial Light Modulator

We present a focal surface projection to solve the narrow depth-of-field problem in projection mapping applications. We apply a phase-only spatial light modulator to realize nonuniform focusing distances, whereby the projected contents appear focused on a surface with considerable depth variations. The feasibility of the proposed technique was validated through a physical experiment

Enhancement of tumor-associated antigen-specific T cell responses by radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and is known to enhance host immune response. However, the epitopes to which enhanced immune responses occur, the impact on patient prognosis, and the functions and phenotype of T cells induced are still unclear. To address these issues, we analyzed immune responses before and after RFA in 69 HCC patients using 11 tumor-associated antigen (TAA)-derived peptides that we identified to be appropriate to analyze HCC-specific immune responses. The immune responses were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay and tetramer assays using peripheral blood mononuclear cells. An increase in the number of TAA-specific T cells detected by interferon-γ ELISPOT assays occurred in 62.3% of patients after RFA. The antigens and their epitope to which enhanced T cell responses occur were diverse, and some of them were newly induced. The number of TAA-specific T cells after RFA was associated with the prevention of HCC recurrence, and it was clarified to be predictive of HCC recurrence after RFA by univariate and multivariate analyses. The number of TAA-specific T cells after RFA was inversely correlated with the frequency of CD14+HLA-DR-/low myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). The modification of T cell phenotype was observed after RFA. The number of TAA-specific T cells at 24 weeks after RFA was decreased. Conclusion: Although RFA can enhance various TAA-specific T cell responses and the T cells induced contribute to the HCC recurrence-free survival of patients, besides immunosuppression by MDSCs, the memory phenotype and lifetime of TAA-specific T cells are not sufficient to prevent HCC recurrence completely. Additional treatments by vaccine or immunomodulatory drugs might be useful to improve the immunological effect of RFA. © 2012 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

Mathematical Identification of Critical Reactions in the Interlocked Feedback Model

Dynamic simulations are necessary for understanding the mechanism of how biochemical networks generate robust properties to environmental stresses or genetic changes. Sensitivity analysis allows the linking of robustness to network structure. However, it yields only local properties regarding a particular choice of plausible parameter values, because it is hard to know the exact parameter values in vivo. Global and firm results are needed that do not depend on particular parameter values. We propose mathematical analysis for robustness (MAR) that consists of the novel evolutionary search that explores all possible solution vectors of kinetic parameters satisfying the target dynamics and robustness analysis. New criteria, parameter spectrum width and the variability of solution vectors for parameters, are introduced to determine whether the search is exhaustive. In robustness analysis, in addition to single parameter sensitivity analysis, robustness to multiple parameter perturbation is defined. Combining the sensitivity analysis and the robustness analysis to multiple parameter perturbation enables identifying critical reactions. Use of MAR clearly identified the critical reactions responsible for determining the circadian cycle in the Drosophila interlocked circadian clock model. In highly robust models, while the parameter vectors are greatly varied, the critical reactions with a high sensitivity are uniquely determined. Interestingly, not only the per-tim loop but also the dclk-cyc loop strongly affect the period of PER, although the dclk-cyc loop hardly changes its amplitude and it is not potentially influential. In conclusion, MAR is a powerful method to explore wide parameter space without human-biases and to link a robust property to network architectures without knowing the exact parameter values. MAR identifies the reactions critically responsible for determining the period and amplitude in the interlocked feedback model and suggests that the circadian clock intensively evolves or designs the kinetic parameters so that it creates a highly robust cycle

Effects of Composite Supplement Containing Collagen Peptide and Ornithine on Skin Conditions and Plasma IGF-1 Levels—A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Aging-associated changes of skin conditions are a major concern for maintaining quality of life. Therefore, the improvement of skin conditions by dietary supplementation is a topic of public interest. In this study, we hypothesized that a composite supplement containing fish derived-collagen peptide and ornithine (CPO) could improve skin conditions by increasing plasma growth hormone and/or insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. Twenty-two healthy Japanese participants were enrolled in an 8-week double-blind placebo-controlled pilot study. They were assigned to either a CPO group, who were supplemented with a drink containing CPO, or an identical placebo group. We examined skin conditions including elasticity and transepidermal water loss (TEWL), as well as plasma growth hormone and IGF-1 levels. Skin elasticity and TEWL were significantly improved in the CPO group compared with the placebo group. Furthermore, only the CPO group showed increased plasma IGF-1 levels after 8 weeks of supplementation compared with the baseline. Our results might suggest the novel possibility for the use of CPO to improve skin conditions by increasing plasma IGF-1 levels

The Protective Role of Astaxanthin for UV-Induced Skin Deterioration in Healthy People—A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Skin is a major safeguard tissue in humans. Because biological barrier function is deteriorated by several kinds of stresses including exposure to ultra-violet (UV) rays, the protection and treatment of skin conditions by dietary supplements are important. We therefore evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation with an algal food-derived antioxidant, astaxanthin, on UV-induced skin deterioration. Twenty-three healthy Japanese participants were recruited to a 10-week double-blind placebo-controlled study. They were assigned to the astaxanthin group supplemented with a capsule containing 4 mg of astaxanthin or the placebo group. To assess the protective role of astaxanthin for UV-induced skin deterioration, we determined the minimal erythema dose (MED) and analyzed UV-induced changes of moisture and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) at baseline and after 9 weeks of supplementation. Subjective skin conditions were assessed by the visual analog scale. The astaxanthin group showed increased MED compared with placebo. In addition, the astaxanthin group had a reduced loss of skin moisture in the irradiated area compared with placebo. Subjective skin conditions for “improvement of rough skin” and “texture” in non-irradiated areas were significantly improved by astaxanthin. Astaxanthin seems protective against UV-induced skin deterioration and helps maintain healthy skin in healthy people

A subchronic oral toxicity study of Salacia reticulata extract powder in rats

The safety of Salacia plant (Salacia reticulata) extract powder, which is used in Ayurvedic medical practices, was studied in a dose range-finding subchronic toxicity study in Crl:CD Sprague–Dawley rats. Male and female rats were randomly assigned to 4 treatment groups and were treated by oral gavage with 0, 10, 65, and 400 mg/kg body weight/day of the powder for 91 days. Body weight, food consumption, and clinical signs were assessed during the treatment period. Urinalysis, hematology, blood chemistry, and organ weights were determined one day after the final treatment. The animals were euthanized at the end of the treatment and were examined for necropsy and histopathological purposes. No adverse toxicity was observed in the Salacia powder-treated groups with a No Observed Adverse Effect Level of ≧400 mg/kg body weight/day in both male and female SD rats