Laboratory Tests on Embedded Reactor Building on Hard Ground

In order to experimentally confirm the dynamic characteristics of embedded reactor building, shaking table tests and hammering tests were carried out, utilizing hard ground model made of hard silicone rubber and structural model made of aluminum which is embedded by soft silicone rubber. From the test results, it was confirmed that embedment increases system frequency of soil- structure interaction system, the ratio of elastic deformation of structure and radiation damping. Using the transient data of impulse responses, impedance function and foundation input motion could be identified in a smooth shape. Simulated results for non-embedded case by wave propagation theory and axi-symmetric FEM showed fairly good agreement with test results

Long-Term Field Experiment for Monitoring Soil Carbon Content in Japanese Grasslands: Initial Data from 2010 to 2012

A long-term field experiment for monitoring soil carbon content in Japanese grasslands started in 2010 to investigate the changes in soil carbon content and the effect of composted livestock manure application. We established grassland plots with 3 levels of manure application treatment at 10 sites. Bulk density values in many sites had wide inter-replicate and inter-annual variability. It is reasonable to suppose that the variability in the bulk density reflect spatial variability of physical properties within the grasslands because the annual trends of the bulk density values were not consistent. Organic carbon concentration tended to increase yearly in the surface layer (0–5 cm), whereas those for the subsoil layer (5–30 cm) stayed relatively constant. The organic carbon concentration in the surface layer tended to increase with increasing latitude and the amount of manure applied. When data from all the sites were taken into account, carbon content also tended to increase over time following grassland renovation. These results indicate that Japanese grasslands have the potential to sequester organic carbon. The monitoring has just begun, and it is important to continue the effort to achieve the goals of this study

Classification of multiple emotional states from facial expressions in head-fixed mice using a deep learning-based image analysis

Facial expressions are widely recognized as universal indicators of underlying internal states in most species of animals, thereby presenting as a non-invasive measure for assessing physical and mental conditions. Despite the advancement of artificial intelligence-assisted tools for automated analysis of voluminous facial expression data in human subjects, the corresponding tools for mice still remain limited so far. Considering that mice are the most prevalent model animals for studying human health and diseases, a comprehensive characterization of emotion-dependent patterns of facial expressions in mice could extend our knowledge on the basis of emotions and the related disorders. Here, we present a framework for the development of a deep learning-powered tool for classifying facial expressions in head-fixed mouse. We demonstrate that our machine vision was capable of accurately classifying three different emotional states from lateral facial images in head-fixed mouse. Moreover, we objectively determined how our classifier characterized the differences among the facial images through the use of an interpretation technique called Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping. Importantly, our machine vision presumably discerned the data by leveraging multiple facial features. Our approach is likely to facilitate the non-invasive decoding of a variety of emotions from facial images in head-fixed mice.Tanaka Y., Nakata T., Hibino H., et al. Classification of multiple emotional states from facial expressions in head-fixed mice using a deep learning-based image analysis. PLoS ONE 18, e0288930 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288930

Graphene-Based Nano-Electro-Mechanical Switch with High On/Off Ratio

Locally defined nanomembrane structures can be produced in graphene films on a SiC substrate with atomic steps. The contact conductance between graphene and a metal-coated nanoprobe in scanning probe microscopy can be drastically reduced by inducing local buckling of the membranes. Repeatable current switching with high reproducibility can be realized. The on/off ratio can be varied from about 105 to below 10 by changing the contact force. At a low contact force, the contact conductance changes from 10μS (‘‘ON’’ state) to 100pS (‘‘OFF’’ state). This novel device structure could represent a new path to electrical switching at the nanoscale

Diabetes-Mediated Exacerbation of Neuronal Damage and Inflammation After Cerebral Ischemia in Rat: Protective Effects of Water-Soluble Extract from Culture Medium of Ganoderma lucidum Mycelia

"Advances in the Preclinical Study of Ischemic Stroke, Chapter 11", Edited by Maurizio Balestrino, ISBN 978-953-51-0290-8, Published: March 16, 2012. Open Acess

A rapid and simple electrochemical detection of the free drug concentration in human serum using boron-doped diamond electrodes

Monitoring drug concentration in blood and reflecting this in the dosage are crucial for safe and effective drug treatment. Most drug assays are based on total concentrations of bound and unbound proteins in the serum, although only the unbound concentration causes beneficial and adverse events. Monitoring the unbound concentration alone is expected to provide a means for further optimisation of drug treatment. However, unbound concentration monitoring has not been routinely used for drug treatment due to the long analysis time and the high cost of conventional methods. Here, we have developed a rapid electrochemical method to determine the unbound concentration in ultrafiltered human serum using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. When the anticancer drug doxorubicin was used as the test drug, the catalytic doxorubicin-mediated reduction of dissolved oxygen provided a sensitive electrochemical signal, with a detection limit of 0.14 nM. In contrast, the sensitivity of glassy carbon (GC) was inferior under the same conditions due to interference from the dissolved oxygen reduction current. The signal background ratio (S/B) of BDD and GC was 11.5 (10 nM doxorubicin) and 1.1 (50 nM), respectively. The results show that a fast measurement time within ten seconds is possible in the clinical concentration range. Additionally, in the ultrafiltered human serum, the obtained values of unbound doxorubicin concentration showed good agreement with those quantified by conventional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. This approach has the potential for application in clinical settings where rapid and simple analysis methods would be beneficial.Reproduced from Analyst., 2022, 147, 4442-4449 with permission from the Royal Society of Chemistry.https://doi.org/10.1039/d2an01037

Biochemical characterization of reactive nitrogen species by eosinophil peroxidase in tyrosine nitration

It is well known that eosinophils are involved in tyrosine nitration. In this study, we evaluated tyrosine nitration by rat eosinophils isolated from peritoneal fl uid and constituent eosinophils in the stomach. Rat peritoneal eosinophils activated with 1 &#956;M phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and 50 &#956;M NO2 &#65437; showed immunostaining for nitrotyrosine only in smaller cells, despite the fact that eosinophils are capable of producing superoxide (O2·&#65437;). Free tyrosine nitrating capacity after incubation with PMA and NO2 &#65437; was 4-fold higher in eosinophils than in neutrophils. Catalase and &#65400;- and &#65402; -tocopherol inhibited free tyrosine nitration by reactive nitrogen species from eosinophils but not that by peroxynitrite. Superoxide dismutase augmented free tyrosine nitration by activated eosinophils and peroxynitrite. The concentration of nitric oxide released from eosinophils was relatively low (0.32 &#956;M/106 cells/h) and did not contribute to the formation of nitrotyrosine. On the other hand, most constituent eosinophils constituent in the rat stomach stimulated by PMA and NO2 &#65437; showed tyrosine nitration capacity. These results suggest that intact cells other than apoptotic-like eosinophils eluted in the intraperitoneal cavity could not generate reactive species responsible for nitration by a peroxidase-dependent mechanism. In contrast, normal eosinophils in the stomach were capable of nitration, suggesting that the characteristics of eosinophils in gastric mucosa are diff erent from those eluted in the peritoneal cavity.</p

Chronic Treatment with a Water-Soluble Extract from the Culture Medium of Ganoderma lucidum

Type 2 diabetes mellitus has been known to increase systemic oxidative stress by chronic hyperglycemia and visceral obesity and aggravate cerebral ischemic injury. On the basis of our previous study regarding a water-soluble extract from the culture medium of Ganoderma lucidum mycelia (designed as MAK), which exerts antioxidative and neuroprotective effects, the present study was conducted to evaluate the preventive effects of MAK on apoptosis and necroptosis (a programmed necrosis) induced by hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) in type 2 diabetic KKAy mice. H/I was induced by a combination of unilateral common carotid artery ligation with hypoxia (8% O2 for 20 min) and subsequent reoxygenation. Pretreatment with MAK (1 g/kg, p.o.) for a week significantly reduced H/I-induced neurological deficits and brain infarction volume assessed at 24 h of reoxygenation. Histochemical analysis showed that MAK significantly suppressed superoxide production, neuronal cell death, and vacuolation in the ischemic penumbra, which was accompanied by a decrease in the numbers of TUNEL- or cleaved caspase-3-positive cells. Furthermore, MAK decreased the expression of receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 mRNA and protein, a key molecule for necroptosis. These results suggest that MAK confers resistance to apoptotic and necroptotic cell death and relieves H/I-induced cerebral ischemic injury in type 2 diabetic mice