Wide-range robust wireless power transfer using heterogeneously coupled and flippable neutrals in parity-time symmetry.

Recently, stationary wireless power transfer (WPT) has been widely adopted in commercial devices. However, the current WPT configuration is limited in its operational area and susceptible to operating condition changes, impeding its applications for dynamic environments. To overcome the limitations, we propose a WPT system with laterally aligned neutral elements in parity-time (PT) symmetry, which can widen the operational area with the number of neutrals .

Metformin Protects the Intestinal Barrier by Activating Goblet Cell Maturation and Epithelial Proliferation in Radiation-Induced Enteropathy.

Radiotherapy or accidental exposure to high-dose radiation can cause severe damage to healthy organs. The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is a radiation-sensitive organ of the body. The intestinal barrier is the first line of defense in the GI tract, and consists of mucus secreted by goblet cells and a monolayer of epithelium.

Wireless Power Transfer and Telemetry for Implantable Bioelectronics.

Implantable bioelectronic devices are becoming useful and prospective solutions for various diseases owing to their ability to monitor or manipulate body functions. However, conventional implantable devices (e.g.

Role of Autophagy in Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Induced Anti-Apoptotic Effects in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy.

Background: We previously, reported that granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) reduces cardiomyocyte apoptosis in diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Therefore, we investigated whether the mechanisms underlying of the anti-apoptotic effects of G-CSF were associated with autophagy using a rat model of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

Soft implantable drug delivery device integrated wirelessly with wearable devices to treat fatal seizures.

Personalized biomedical devices have enormous potential to solve clinical challenges in urgent medical situations. Despite this potential, a device for in situ treatment of fatal seizures using pharmaceutical methods has not been developed yet. Here, we present a novel treatment system for neurological medical emergencies, such as status epilepticus, a fatal epileptic condition that requires immediate treatment, using a soft implantable drug delivery device (SID).

Modified method for effective primary vascular smooth muscle progenitor cell culture from peripheral blood.

In previous studies, vascular smooth muscle progenitor cells (vSMPCs) isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were cultured using medium containing platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) for 4 weeks. However, this method requires long culture periods of up to 4 weeks and yields low cell counts. Therefore, we proposed the modified method to improve the cell yield and purity and to reduce the cell culture period.

Evaluation of the radiation response and regenerative effects of mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium in an intestinal organoid system.

Intestinal organoids have recently emerged as an in vitro model relevant to the gut system owing to their recapitulation of the native intestinal epithelium with crypt-villus architecture. However, it is unclear whether intestinal organoids reflect the physiology of the in vivo stress response. Here, we systemically investigated the radiation response in organoids and animal models using mesenchymal stem cell-conditioned medium (MSC-CM), which contains secreted paracrine factors.

Material Design and Fabrication Strategies for Stretchable Metallic Nanocomposites.

Stretchable conductive nanocomposites fabricated by integrating metallic nanomaterials with elastomers have become a vital component of human-friendly electronics, such as wearable and implantable devices, due to their unconventional electrical and mechanical characteristics. Understanding the detailed material design and fabrication strategies to improve the conductivity and stretchability of the nanocomposites is therefore important. This Review discusses the recent technological advances toward high performance stretchable metallic nanocomposites.

Biosurfactant as an Enhancer of Geologic Carbon Storage: Microbial Modification of Interfacial Tension and Contact Angle in Carbon dioxide/Water/Quartz Systems.

Injecting and storing of carbon dioxide (CO) in deep geologic formations is considered as one of the promising approaches for geologic carbon storage. Microbial wettability alteration of injected CO is expected to occur naturally by microorganisms indigenous to the geologic formation or microorganisms intentionally introduced to increase CO storage capacity in the target reservoirs. The question as to the extent of microbial CO wettability alteration under reservoir conditions still warrants further investigation.

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived vascular endothelial growth factor attenuates cardiac apoptosis via regulation of cardiac miRNA-23a and miRNA-92a in a rat model of myocardial infarction.

Bone marrow-mesenchymal stem cell (BM-MSC) therapy improves the recovery of cardiac function after myocardial infarction (MI); however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are not completely understood. Recent studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) modulate the pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the effects of BM-MSC-derived paracrine factors and cardiac miRNAs on myocardial regeneration after MI.

Wrinkled-Surface Mediated Reverse Transfection Platform for Highly Efficient, Addressable Gene Delivery.

A novel reverse transfection platform, which embraces a wrinkled-surface, is developed for highly efficient long-term gene delivery. Since reverse transfection utilizes the contact between cell and substrate, the increase in the contact area between substrate and cells significantly increases the gene delivery rate. Furthermore, by adopting microwell structures, multiplex, addressable delivery of exogenous materials is successfully demonstrated.

Local injection of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor accelerates wound healing in a rat excisional wound model.

A systemic treatment of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is known to improve healings of damaged tissues. However, recent studies suggested local actions of G-CSF on the healing processes of damaged tissues. We investigated the treatment effect of locally injected G-CSF and compared to that of systemically injected G-CSF in a rat model.

The Effects of Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor on Regeneration in Nerve Crush Injuries in Rats.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) is widely known to have a neuroprotective effect, but its effects on function and morphology in mechanical nerve injury are not well understood. The aim of this study was to confirm the time course of the functional changes and morphological effects of G-CSF in a rat model of nerve crush injury. Twelve-eight rats were divided into three group: sham-operated control group, G-CSF-treated group, and saline treated group.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor prevents the development of hepatic steatosis in rats.

Background And Aims: Previously, we reported that granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) improves hepatic steatosis in experimental animals. It may also have preventive effects on the development of hepatic steatosis. Therefore, we investigated the preventive effects of G-CSF by using a high-fat diet (HFD) rat model.

Transplanted Human Amniotic Epithelial Cells Secrete Paracrine Proangiogenic Cytokines in Rat Model of Myocardial Infarction.

Human amniotic epithelial cells (h-AECs) have been shown to differentiate into cardiomyocyte-like cells in vivo that can regenerate myocardial tissue and improve cardiac function in a rat model of myocardial infarction (MI). In this study, we investigated the paracrine factors released from h-AECs under hypoxic conditions to elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying this previously reported phenomenon of h-AEC-mediated cardiac repair. We used hypoxic cell culture conditions to simulate myocardial infarction in vitro.

Anti-obesity effects of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor in Otsuka-Long-Evans-Tokushima fatty rats.

Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has molecular structures and intracellular signaling pathways that are similar to those of leptin and ciliary neurotropic factor (CNTF). It also has immune-modulatory properties. Given that leptin and CNTF play important roles in energy homeostasis and that obesity is an inflammatory condition in adipose tissue, we hypothesized that G-CSF could also play a role in energy homeostasis.

Analysis of temperature rise for piezoelectric transformer using finite-element method.

Analysis of heat problem and temperature field of a piezoelectric transformer, operated at steady-state conditions, is described. The resonance frequency of the transformer is calculated from impedance and electrical gain analysis using a finite-element method. Mechanical displacement and electric potential of the transformer at the calculated resonance frequency are used to calculate the loss distribution of the transformer.

Design and characteristic analysis of L1B4 ultrasonic motor considering contact mechanism.

Up to the present time, the analysis and design of ultrasonic motors (USMs) have been performed using rough analytic methods or commercial analysis tools without considering the complex contact mechanisms. As a result, it was impossible to achieve an exact analysis and design of a USM. In order to address the problem, we proposed the analysis and design methodology of an L1B4 USM using a three-dimensional finite element method combined with an analytic method that considers complex contact mechanisms in linear operation.

Identification of the piezoelectric material coefficients using the finite element method with an asymptotic waveform evaluation.

A rapid identification of the piezoelectric material constants for a piezoelectric transducer is proposed. The validity of a three-dimensional finite element routine was confirmed experimentally. The asymptotic waveform evaluation (AWE) was adopted for a fast frequency sweep of the finite element analysis.

Identification of material constants for piezoelectric transformers by three-dimensional, finite-element method and a design-sensitivity method.

In this paper, an inversion scheme for piezoelectric constants of piezoelectric transformers is proposed. The impedance of piezoelectric transducers is calculated using a three-dimensional finite element method. The validity of this is confirmed experimentally.