Low energy indium or gallium ion implantations to SiO2 thin films for development of novel catalysts

It has been demonstrated that indium (In) implanted silicon dioxide (SiO thin films catalyze a reaction of benzhydrol with acetylacetone. In this study, it is found that the threshold In ion incident energy for manifestation of the catalytic effect exists between 400 and 470 eV. Furthermore, a technique to implant gallium (Ga) to SiOfilms has been developed with highly controlled doses and injection energies for the formation of thin films that promote Ga catalysts. The efficiency of catalytic reactions by Ga implanted SiOthin films is yet to be improved. Unlike In implanted SiO2, the reason why no significant reaction was observed in the case of Ga implanted SiOfilms examined in this study seems that the Ga ion energy was so low that deposited surface Ga atoms should lack interactions with Si atoms for the manifestation of catalytic reaction. © 2014 The Surface Science Society of Japan.Satoru Yoshimura, Masato Kiuchi, Yoshihiro Nishimoto, Makoto Yasuda, Akio Baba, Satoshi Hamaguchi, Low Energy Indium or Gallium Ion Implantations to SiO2 Thin Films for Development of Novel Catalysts, e-Journal of Surface Science and Nanotechnology, 2014, Volume 12, Pages 197-202, Released April 26, 2014, Online ISSN 1348-0391, https://doi.org/10.1380/ejssnt.2014.197, https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ejssnt/12/0/12_197/_article/-char/e

Assessment of energy expenditure using doubly labeled water, physical activity by accelerometer and reported dietary intake in Japanese men with type 2 diabetes: A preliminary study

The aim of the present study was to determine the total energy expenditure, physical activity and dietary intake of men with type 2 diabetes mellitus and control participants without type 2 diabetes mellitus who were matched for age and body mass index. The participants in the present study were 12 well‐controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and 10 controls, aged 40–75 years, with a body mass index <30 kg/m2. Total energy expenditure under free‐living conditions was assessed using the doubly labeled water method, and physical activity was measured using a triaxial accelerometer. Dietary intake was assessed using a self‐recorded food intake diary during the measurement period. Participants were instructed to record their dietary intake over 3 days, including 2 weekdays. Total energy expenditure was not significantly different between the groups (P = 0.153), nor were energy (P = 0.969) or macronutrient intakes. In conclusion, when age and body mass index are matched, total energy expenditure and self‐reported energy intake are not significantly different between type 2 diabetes mellitus patients and healthy controls

Loss of SOCS3 in T helper cells resulted in reduced immune responses and hyperproduction of interleukin 10 and transforming growth factor–β1

Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)3 is a major negative feedback regulator of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)3-activating cytokines. Transgenic mouse studies indicate that high levels of SOCS3 in T cells result in type 2 T helper cell (Th2) skewing and lead to hypersensitivity to allergic diseases. To define the physiological roles of SOCS3 in T cells, we generated T cell–specific SOCS3 conditional knockout mice. We found that the mice lacking SOCS3 in T cells showed reduced immune responses not only to ovalbumin-induced airway hyperresponsiveness but also to Leishmania major infection. In vitro, SOCS3-deficient CD4+ T cells produced more transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and interleukin (IL)-10, but less IL-4 than control T cells, suggesting preferential Th3-like differentiation. We found that STAT3 positively regulates TGF-β1 promoter activity depending on the potential STAT3 binding sites. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that more STAT3 was recruited to the TGF-β1 promoter in SOCS3-deficient T cells than in control T cells. The activated STAT3 enhanced TGF-β1 and IL-10 expression in T cells, whereas the dominant-negative form of STAT3 suppressed these. From these findings, we propose that SOCS3 regulates the production of the immunoregulatory cytokines TGF-β1 and IL-10 through modulating STAT3 activation

Critical contribution of MCL-1 in EMT-associated chemo-resistance in A549 non-small-cell lung cancer

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the leading causes of death in all lung cancer patients due to its metastatic spread. Even though cisplatin treatment after surgical resection of the primary tumor has been established as a standard chemotherapy for residual disease including metastatic spread, NSCLC often acquires a resistance against chemotherapy, and metastatic disease is often observed. Amongst many potential mechanisms, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been considered as an important process in acquiring both metastatic spread and chemo-resistance of NSCLC. In this study, we identified MCL-1 as a critical molecule for chemoresistance in A549 cells associated with TGF-β-induced EMT. Importantly, downregulation of MCL-1 by siRNA or inhibition of MCL-1 with pan-BCL2 inhibitor to inhibit MCL-1 was able to overcome the EMT-associated chemo-resistance in A549 cells. Collectively, MCL-1 can be a new therapeutic target for overcoming EMT-associated chemo-resistance in NSCLC patients in the context of post-operative chemotherapies

Magnetic properties of (Bi1-xLax)(Fe,Co)O-3 films fabricated by a pulsed DC reactive sputtering and demonstration of magnetization reversal by electric field

(Bi1-xLax)(Fe,Co)O-3 multiferroic magnetic film were fabricated using pulsed DC (direct current) sputtering technique and demonstrated magnetization reversal by applied electric field. The fabricated (Bi0.41La0.59)(Fe0.75Co0.25)O-3 films exhibited hysteresis curves of both ferromagnetic and ferroelectric behavior. The saturated magnetization (M-s) of the multiferroic film was about 70 emu/cm(3). The squareness (S) (=remanent magnetization (M-r)/M-s) and coercivity (H-c) of perpendicular to film plane are 0.64 and 4.2 kOe which are larger compared with films in parallel to film plane of 0.5 and 2.5 kOe. The electric and magnetic domain structures of the (Bi0.41La0.59)(Fe0.75Co0.25)O-3 film analyzed by electric force microscopy (EFM) and magnetic force microscopy (MFM) were clearly induced with submicron scale by applying a local electric field. This magnetization reversal indicates the future realization of high performance magnetic device with low power consumption