Blind source separation of chaotic laser signals by independent component analysis.

We experimentally demonstrate blind source separation of chaos generated in Nd:YVO(4) microchip solid-state lasers by using independent component analysis. Two chaotic source signals are linearly mixed with randomly selected mixing ratio and independent component analysis is applied for the mixed signals to extract the source signals. We investigate blind source separation of many chaotic laser signals and succeed 100-signal separation of chaotic temporal waveforms.

Hybrid flow velocimeter measurements of transparent and turbid liquids in a microchannel using a transmission grating.

A Doppler velocimeter with a transmission grating was developed for flow rate measurements inside a microchannel. This velocimeter has the same optical setup as a recently developed flow velocimeter for transparent liquids, in which two beams (pump and probe) optically coupled to a fiber were used. Although the principle of the flow velocity measurement was quite different between the two methods, the optical setups used were almost similar; the differences are that only the probe beam is used and fast Fourier transform analysis is utilized for the signal processing in the new technique.

Specific binding of L-ficolin and H-ficolin to apoptotic cells leads to complement activation.

The serum lectins mannose-binding lectin (MBL), L-ficolin, and H-ficolin are recognition molecules in the lectin complement pathway, which play an important role in innate immunity. To assess involvement of the lectin pathway in the clearance of apoptotic cells, we used flow cytometry to quantify binding of MBL, L-ficolin, and H-ficolin to apoptotic HL60, U937, and Jurkat cells induced by actinomycin D. When apoptotic cells were incubated with normal human serum, MBL and L-ficolin bound to all three cell lines tested; moreover, H-ficolin bound to apoptotic Jurkat cells only.

Induction of nerve growth factor mRNA in a rat dorsal root ganglion after application of a tourniquet.

We investigated the mRNA levels of neurotrophins and neurotrophin receptors in a rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG), after tourniquet application to a hind limb, to identify the nerve-protective molecules that are induced immediately after peripheral nerve crush and play a part in the process leading to secondary events. No significant expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA or protein was observed in the control or contralateral DRG. NGF mRNA expression started within 2 h and NGF protein expression was observed in Schwann cells at 4 h after application of the tourniquet, due to termination of the neurotrophin supply from peripheral nerves.

L-ficolin specifically binds to lipoteichoic acid, a cell wall constituent of Gram-positive bacteria, and activates the lectin pathway of complement.

The lectin pathway of complement is activated when a carbohydrate recognition complex and associated serine proteases binds to the surface of a pathogen. Three recognition subcomponents have been shown to form active initiation complexes: mannan-binding lectin (MBL), L-ficolin, and H-ficolin. The importance of MBL in antimicrobial host defense is well recognized, but the role of the ficolins remains largely undefined.