Effects of Polyethylene Glycol Spacer Length and Ligand Density on Folate Receptor Targeting of Liposomal Doxorubicin In Vitro

The folate receptor is an attractive target for selective tumor delivery of liposomal doxorubicin (DXR) because it is abundantly expressed in a large percentage of tumors. This study examined the effect of polyethylene glycol (PEG) spacer length and folate ligand density on the targeting ability of folate-modified liposomes. Liposomes were modified with folate-derivatized PEG-distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine with PEG molecular weights of 2000, 3400, or 5000. The association of DXR-loaded liposomes with KB cells, which overexpress the folate receptor, was evaluated by flow cytometry at various ratios of folate modification. A low ratio of folate modification with a sufficiently long PEG chain showed the highest folate receptor-mediated association with the cells, but did not show the highest in vitro cytotoxicity. DXR release from folate-modified liposomes in endosomes might be different. These findings will be useful for designing folate receptor-targeting carriers

Kalevala Sauna - Arkkitehtonisen Ilmaisun Tutkimus

Exploring potentiality of expression is one of the most vital issues in architectural design. In any occasions, architects seek a proper way to express a meaning of spatiality. The environment, city, history, culture, age and any factors mutually collaborate to identify the place, therefore the answers are innumerable. In addition, by contrast to other art expression, human intervenes in it. One’s action and interpretation simultaneously affect architectural space in both expressive and experiential ways. Due to this complexity, it is consequently interesting yet diffi cult to express concepts in architectural manners, especially when the idea originates in an abstract subject. Our primitive senses build a fundamental core of the perceptual world. Based on this notion, this research analyses the interactive relation between architecture and human, followed by design process dealing with mythological theme to examine the architectural expression of indigenous abstraction. The thesis contains four main chapters; Expression and Experience; Kalevala; Mythology in Expression; and Kalevala Sauna. First chapter refers the theoretical research concerning to architectural meaning of expression. Bodily experience and perceptions are studied from several points of view in comparison with arts. Second and third chapters focus on mythology, oral tradition that transmitted over generations. A Finnish national epic “Kalevala” is analysed as a clue to read a vernacular context, while case study proves various interpretations of myths in any expressive scenes both in Finland and other countries. The last chapter concludes the above research with design process. The themes from the Kalevala are applied as a main concept to a design of sauna, the place of Finnish authenticity, perceived with entire bodily sense. Throughout the thesis, consistent theme is to seek the potentiality of architectural expression and of its perceptual experience

Evaluation for interventions against influenza of H5N1 in Sapporo-city by using an Individual Based Model

The spread of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) among domestic poultry and wild birds has caused global concern over the outbreak of an influenza pandemic of H5N1. The "Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Action Plan" determines the strategy against an influenza pandemic in Japan. Simulations were carried out using an individual based model (IBM). The IBM targeted a virtual area with a population of 100,000 using the demographic data of Sapporo-city, Hokkaido. The effectiveness of targeted antiviral prophylaxis (TAP), geographical targeted antiviral prophylaxis (GTAP), school closure, and pre-pandemic vaccination were explored. Moreover, this study focused on infections among children, who have a high attack rate, and analyzed the effectiveness of interventions for school-age targeted antiviral prophylaxis (STAP). Consequently, TAP, which is recommended by the "Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Action Plan", was found to have high effectiveness in the suppression of the outbreak. Moreover, this study showed the importance of intervention among children, such as STAP and school closure, to prevent the spread of H5N1 influenza