Effect of personality traits on matching dolls and their makers

Studies have shown that possessions such as cars and dogs resemble their owners, and products such as dolls resemble their makers even when students make them. We conducted three experiments to examine which part of the dolls resembled their makers. The results demonstrated that people match dolls to their makers when their eye regions were masked (Experiment 1), and the matching is possible even with the back views of the dolls (Experiment 2). These results may indicate people match dolls to their makers based on resemblances other than faces. Experiment 3 demonstrated that no effect of resemblance in personality traits was observed when dolls’ faces were visible. However, the resemblance of personality traits assumed by the dolls and their makers play an important role in the matching judgment when dolls’ faces were invisible (because of back views)

EMT型口腔扁平上皮癌細胞における癌幹細胞特性の解析

広島大学(Hiroshima University)博士(歯学)Doctor of Philosophy in Dental Sciencedoctora

The inhibitory effects of Orengedokuto on inducible PGE2 production in BV-2 microglial cells

[Background and aim] Reactive microglia has been associated with neuroinflammation caused by the production of proinflammatory molecules such as cytokines, nitric oxide, and prostaglandins. The overexpression of these molecules may provoke neuronal damage that can cause neurodegenerative diseases. A traditional herbal medicine, Orengedokuto (OGT), has been widely used for treating inflammation-related diseases. However, how it influences neuroinflammation remains poorly understood. [Experimental procedure] This study investigated the effects of OGT on inflammatory molecule induction in BV-2 microglial cells using real-time RT-PCR and ELISA. An in vivo confirmation of these effects was then performed in mice. [Results and conclusion] OGT showed dose-dependent inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production in BV-2 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). To elucidate the mechanism of PGE2 inhibition, we examined cyclooxygenases (COXs) and found that OGT did not suppress COX-1 expression or inhibit LPS-induced COX-2 upregulation at either the transcriptional or translational levels. In addition, OGT did not inhibit COX enzyme activities within the concentration that inhibited PGE2 production, suggesting that the effect of OGT is COX-independent. The inhibitory effects of OGT on PGE2 production in BV-2 cells were experimentally replicated in primary cultured astrocytes and mice brains. OGT can be useful in the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases by modulating PGE2 expression

Fabrication of 1 T Bi-2223 Superconducting Magnet with 92 mm Bore Diameter at 77 K

A Bi-2223 superconducting magnet for practical use in liquid nitrogen is designed and fabricated. Bi-2223 tapesprepared by ConTrolled Over Pressure (CT-OP) process are used for the winding, and the critical current at 77.3 K and self-field is in the range of 174–185 A. 28 double-pancake coils are resistively connected in series by copper terminals. Highcritical current tape is used for top and bottom double-pancake coils, since the magnetic field normal to the tape surface ishighest at the top and bottom of the magnet. Two iron plates at top and bottom of the magnet are used for reduction of thenormal component of magnetic field to the Bi-2223 tape, since the total performance of the magnet is determined by theminimum critical current at maximum normal magnetic field component to the tape. The inner bore diameter of the magnetis 92 mm. And the homogeneity of magnetic field of long-axis direction in 50 mmφ × 100 mm length is within 3%. Themaximum magnetic field at the center of the bore is over 1.0 T at 77.3 K.Proceedings of the Cryogenic Engineering Conference (2013) , June 17–21, 2013, Anchorage, Alaska, US

Human Myoblast Fusion Requires Expression of Functional Inward Rectifier Kir2.1 Channels

Myoblast fusion is essential to skeletal muscle development and repair. We have demonstrated previously that human myoblasts hyperpolarize, before fusion, through the sequential expression of two K+ channels: an ether-à-go-go and an inward rectifier. This hyperpolarization is a prerequisite for fusion, as it sets the resting membrane potential in a range at which Ca2+ can enter myoblasts and thereby trigger fusion via a window current through α1H T channels

Vertically-oriented nanoparticle dimer based on focused plasmonic trapping.

We proposed a vertically-oriented dimer structure based on focused plasmonic trapping of metallic nanoparticle. Quantitative FDTD calculations and qualitative analysis by simplified dipole approximation revealed that localized surface plasmon coupling dominates in the plasmon hybridization, and the vertically-oriented dimer can effectively make use of the dominant longitudinal component of the surface plasmon virtual probe thus providing much stronger electric field in the gap. Furthermore, for practical application the top nanoparticle of the dimer can be replaced with an atomic force microscope tip which enables the precise control of the gap distance of the dimer. Therefore the proposed vertically-oriented dimer structure provides both the scanning capability and the extremely-high electrical field necessary for the high sensitivity Raman imaging.This work is partly supported by UK EPSRC Research Grant EP/L019787/1 and EP/K023349/1. Z.S. gratefully acknowledges the financial support from China Scholarship Council (No.201408060330)