ASP2408 and ASP2409, novel CTLA4-Ig variants with CD86-selective ligand binding activity and improved immunosuppressive potency, created by directed evolution.

The CTLA4-Ig therapeutics abatacept and belatacept inhibit CD28-mediated T cell activation by binding CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) co-stimulatory ligands. Both compounds preferentially bind CD80, yet CD86 has been implicated as the dominant co-stimulatory ligand. Using directed evolution methods, novel CTLA4-Ig variants were created with selective CD86 binding affinity, a property that confers increased immunosuppressive potency and potentially improved efficacy and safety profiles.

Applications of flexible ultrasonic transducer array for defect detection at 150 °C.

In this study, the feasibility of using a one dimensional 16-element flexible ultrasonic transducer (FUT) array for nondestructive testing at 150 °C is demonstrated. The FUT arrays were made by a sol-gel sprayed piezoelectric film technology; a PZT composite film was sprayed on a titanium foil of 75 µm thickness. Since the FUT array is flexible, it was attached to a steel pipe with an outer diameter of 89 mm and a wall thickness of 6.

Design and fabrication of an integrated dual-mode ultrasonic probe.

In this paper, we present an integrated dual-mode ultrasonic probe that is capable of transmitting and receiving longitudinal and shear waves (LW and SW, respectively) simultaneously. The probe consists of a thick piezoelectric film LW ultrasonic transducer and a substrate with a specific shape. An SW is generated inside the substrate by mode conversion.

Ultrasonic probes having three orthogonal polarizations.

Ultrasonic probes which can simultaneously generate and receive 2 orthogonal polarized shear (S(perpendicular) and S(//)) and longitudinal (L) waves in screw shape have been presented. Thick piezoelectric films are directly fabricated onto the heads of such probes as L wave integrated ultrasonic transducers. S(perpendicular) and S(//) waves are obtained using mode conversion method.

Integrated high-temperature piezoelectric plate acoustic wave transducers using mode conversion.

Piezoelectric thick (>66 microm) films have been directly coated onto aluminum (Al) substrates using a sol-gel spray technique. With top electrode, these films serve as integrated ultrasonic transducers (IUT), which normally operate as thickness longitudinal wave transducers. When such IUT are located at the edges of the metallic plates, they can excite and detect symmetrical, antisymmetric and shear horizontal types of plate acoustic waves (PAW) using mode conversion methods.

Growth factors stimulate kidney proximal tubule cell migration independent of augmented tyrosine phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase.

Migration of human proximal tubule cells (HKC-5) was stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Integrin signaling via phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) appears to play a central role in cell migration. Once stimulated, FAK undergoes autophosphorylation at tyrosine (Y) 397, followed by phosphorylation of several sites including Y576/Y577 which increases FAK's kinase activity, as well as at Y407, Y861, and Y925.

Effects of EGF and IGF-1 on proliferation of cultured human proximal tubule cells after oxidant stress.

Background: Both insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulate proliferation of various renal tubule epithelial cells in culture including proximal tubule cells. In some epithelial cells, the effects of EGF and IGF-1 are additive or synergistic. The effects of EGF and IGF-1 in cultured tubule epithelial cells following injury are limited.