Index of Shear Wave Velocity in Diluvial Gravel Samples

Measurements of shear wave velocities, Vs, during triaxial compression tests were conducted on undisturbed samples obtained from a diluvial gravel deposit. The reconstituted gravel samples were also tested to compare the characteristics of shear wave velocity. The results of these measurements indicated that Vs increases at the initial stage of the triaxial compression tests, and decreases gradually until the failure of specimen and that the reduction in Vs was more noticeable for the undisturbed samples than for the reconstituted samples. The results also revealed a unique relationship between Vs when evaluating the effect of stress ratio and confining pressure for both undisturbed and reconstituted samples at failure. Index of shear wave velocity is introduced to express uniquely the change of Vs in both undisturbed samples and reconstituted samples during triaxial compression tests

Tuning the thermo- and mechanoresponsive behavior of luminescent cyclophanes

Many cyclophanes have been investigated in dilute solution, where their internal cavities are accessible for supramolecular interactions. However, their photophysical properties in the solid state remain largely unexplored. We here report a new mechano- and thermoresponsive luminescent cyclophane that is comprised of two 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene moieties and features two hexaethylene glycol bridges. The compound was found to exhibit a nematic liquid-crystalline phase at elevated temperature. X-ray diffraction patterns confirm that thermal and mechanical treatments induce changes in the molecular assembly, which are the basis for the observed photoluminescent color variations. The stimuli-responsive behavior of the new compound is quite different from that of a previously reported cyclophane with similar structure but shorter bridges. Thus, merely changing the ring size is an effective tool to tailor the stimuli-responsiveness and the phase behaviour of luminescent cyclophanes

Far-infrared rays control prostate cancer cells _in vitro_ and _in vivo_

We introduce a new effective method to control hormone refractory prostate cancer cells by using an activated rubber/resin form (RB), far-infrared ray emitter, with or without sodium butyrate (SB). The growth of three human prostate cancer cell lines (Du145, PC-3 and LNCaP) was suppressed _in vitro_ and _in vivo_ by using RB, and the cells were eradicated with RB + 3 mM SB. G1 arrest and apoptotic pathway proteins were induced by RB with intensified expressions of apoptosis - related mRNA on cDNA microarray. RB radiates the infra-red rays of the 4 to 25 [mu]m wavelengths to an object which exert a favorable influence on a cancer control. These results may render us a new therapeutic modality in hormone refractory prostate cancer

Posterior surgical approach procedures for cervical myelopathy

This is the protocol for a review and there is no abstract. The objectives are as follows: The main objective of this review is to assess the effects of laminectomy and fusion versus laminoplasty for multilevel cervical stenosis with myelopathy, on treatment outcomes such as pain, quality of life, functional and neurological improvement, and complication rates. © 2015 The Cochrane Collaboration

Slant Geometry of Spacelike Hypersurfaces in Hyperbolic space and de Sitter space

We consider a one-parameter family of new extrinsic differential geometries\ud on hypersurfaces in Hyperbolic space. Recently, the second author and his collaborators have\ud constructed a new geometry which is called horospherical geometry on Hyperbolic space.\ud There is another geometry which is the famous Gauss-Boryay-Robechevski geometry (i.e., the\ud hyperbolic geometry) on Hyperbolic space. The slant geometry is a one-parameter family of geometries which\ud connect these two geometries. Moreover, we construct a one-parameter family of geometries on\ud spacelike hypersurfaces in de Sitter space

Immunohistochemical study for the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules, and FGF23 and ACE2 in P. gingivalis LPS-induced diabetic nephropathy

Objective The present study aims to examine the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules and renal metabolic factors in diabetic mouse kidneys with periodontal pathogen Pg-LPS-induced nephropathy. Background We recently reported that the glomerular endothelium expresses toll-like receptor (TLR)2 and TLR4 in diabetic environments and TLR2/4 ligand Porphyromonas (P.) gingivalis lipopolysaccharides (Pg-LPS) induce nephropathy in diabetic mice. It is thought that Pg-LPS promotes the chronic inflammation with the overexpression of leukocyte adhesion molecules and renal-specific metabolic enzymes by the recognition of Pg-LPS via TLR in the diabetic kidneys. There have been no reports of the effects of periodontopathic bacteria on the expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules and the accumulation of physiologically active substances in the kidney. Methods The immunohistochemical investigation was performed on diabetic mouse kidney with Pg-LPS-induced nephropathy with glomerulosclerosis in glomeruli. Results There were no vessels which expressed vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, or fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic ICR mice (STZ-ICR), or in healthy ICR mice administered Pg-LPS (LPS-ICR). However, in diabetic ICR mouse kidneys with Pg-LPS-induced nephropathy (LPS-STZ) the expression of VCAM-1 and the accumulation of FGF23 were observed in renal tubules and glomeruli, and the expression of E-selectin was observed in renal parenchyma and glomeruli. The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was detected in the proximal tubules but not in other regions of ICR, STZ-ICR, or LPS-ICR. In LPS-STZ ACE2 was detected both in renal tubules as well as in glomeruli. The Mac-1 and podoplanin-positive cells increased in the renal parenchyma with diabetic condition and there was the distribution of a large number of Mac-1-positive cells in LPS-STZ. Conclusions The Pg-LPS may induce diabetic renal inflammation such as glomerulosclerosis and tubulitis with infiltration of Mac-1/podoplanin positive macrophages via glomerular overexpression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin, resulting in accumulation of both ACE2 and FGF23 which were unmetabolized with the inflammation-induced kidney damage under the diabetic condition. Periodontitis may be a critical factor in the progress of nephropathy in diabetic patients

A mechano- and thermoresponsive luminescent cyclophane

The first fluorescent cyclophane with mechano- and thermoresponsive solid-state fluorescence characteristics is reported. The new cyclophane comprises two 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene moieties that are bridged by tetraethylene glycol spacers. The stimuli-responsiveness is based on molecular assembly changes