Improvement and benchmarking of the deterministic transport calculation code CBZ to design beam shaping assembly for BNCT.

The quick and accurate neutron and photon transport calculations are desired in the optimization calculations for the neutron source design, and in the present work, we establish the deterministic neutron and photon transport calculation procedure with the nuclear reactor physics calculation code system CBZ. Numerical calculation conditions are carefully chosen, and the efficient and practical condition is determined. Test calculations are carried out for the simple cylindrical systems with various kinds of neutron moderators, and the results are compared with the reference solutions obtained by the continuous-energy Monte Carlo code PHITS.

Artificial Notch Signaling Activation Method Using Immobilized Ligand Beads.

Activation of Notch signaling requires physical interaction between ligand- and receptor-expressing cells and pulling force to release the Notch intracellular domain. Therefore, the soluble recombinant ligand protein is not suitable for the activation of Notch signaling in a cell culture system. Here, we describe an efficient method for transient activation of Notch signaling using immobilized ligand beads.

Immobilized DLL4-induced Notch signaling is mediated by dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton.

Notch signaling, which is essential for tissue development and homeostasis, has received attention as an attractive target for cancer therapy, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. For signal activation, the Notch receptor undergoes proteolysis after binding to its ligand. This process is mediated by a mechanical pulling force, and receptor trans-endocytosis is known to play a central role in supplying the force.