Micro-/Meso-Structure Control of Multi-Hostmetal Alloys by Massive Nitrogen Supersaturation.

The low-temperature plasma nitriding was utilized to describe the microscopic solid-phase separation in the austenitic stainless-steel type AISI316, induced by the nitrogen supersaturation. This nitrogen supersaturated layer with the thickness of 60 μm had a two-phase nanostructure where the nitrogen-poor and nitrogen-rich clusters separated from each other. Due to this microscopic solid-phase separation, iron and nickel atoms decomposed themselves from chromium atoms and nitrogen solutes in this nitrogen supersaturated AISI316 layer.

Isolation, identification and characterisation of Pseudomonas koreensis CM-01 isolated from diseased Malaysian mahseer (Tor tambroides).

Pseudomonas species are one of the most threatening fish pathogens which reside a wide range of environments. In this study, the dominant bacteria were isolated from diseased Malaysian mahseer (Tor tambroides) and tentatively named CM-01. It was identified as Pseudomonas koreensis based on its biochemical, morphological, genetic and physiological information.

A mixed antioxidant supplement improves cognitive function, and coordination in aged mice.

Accumulation of oxidative damage increases the risk of several disorders. To prevent these diseases, people consume supplements. However, there is little evidence of the impact of supplement intake on cognitive function.

Artifact reduction in photoacoustic images by generating virtual dense array sensor from hemispheric sparse array sensor using deep learning.

Purpose: Vascular distribution is important information for diagnosing diseases and supporting surgery. Photoacoustic imaging is a technology that can image blood vessels noninvasively and with high resolution. In photoacoustic imaging, a hemispherical array sensor is especially suitable for measuring blood vessels running in various directions.

Mouthguard-Type Wearable Sensor for Monitoring Salivary Turbidity to Assess Oral Hygiene.

Salivary turbidity is a promising indicator for evaluating oral hygiene. This study proposed a wearable mouthguard-type sensor for continuous and unconstrained measurement of salivary turbidity. The sensor evaluated turbidity by measuring the light transmittance of saliva with an LED and a phototransistor sealed inside a double-layered mouthguard.

A Blended Vitamin Supplement Improves Spatial Cognitive and Short-Term Memory in Aged Mice.

Although many types of antioxidant supplements are available, the effect is greater if multiple types are taken simultaneously rather than one type. However, it is difficult to know which type and how much to take, as it is possible to take too many of some vitamins. As it is difficult for general consumers to make this choice, it is important to provide information based on scientific evidence.

Robust-optimal control of rotary inverted pendulum control through fuzzy descriptor-based techniques.

Expanding upon the well-established Takagi-Sugeno (T-S) fuzzy model, the T-S fuzzy descriptor model emerges as a robust and flexible framework. This article introduces the development of optimal and robust-optimal controllers grounded in the principles of stability control and fuzzy descriptor systems. By transforming complicated inequalities into linear matrix inequalities (LMI), we establish the essential conditions for controller construction, as delineated in theorems.

The Effect of Variations in Knee and Hip Angles on Electromyographic Activity of the Hamstrings and Related Muscles During the Nordic Hamstring Exercise.

Background: The benefit of performing the Nordic Hamstring Exercise (NHE) on an inclined board has been described, however, isometric hamstring activation in different knee and hip angles has not yet been thoroughly explored.

Purpose: This study investigated the effect of variations in knee and hip angles during the isometric performance of the NHE on electromyographic activity of the hamstring muscles.

Study Design: Crossover study.

Temperature-dependent augmentation of ciliary motility by the TRP2 channel in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Temperature is a critical factor for living organisms. Many microorganisms migrate toward preferable temperatures, and this behavior is called thermotaxis. In this study, the molecular and physiological bases for thermotaxis are examined in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Evaluation of erythrocyte membrane oxidation due to their exposure to shear flow generated by extracorporeal blood pump.

Several similarities have been found between shear stress-induced erythrocyte damage and physiological aging of erythrocytes in terms of elevated mechanical fragility, increased erythrocyte aggregation, and decreased membrane surface charge. Accordingly, we hypothesized that blood pump circulation, which generates shear stress, would accelerate erythrocyte aging, manifesting as oxidation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of blood pump circulation on erythrocyte oxidation.

Chondrocyte hypertrophy in the growth plate promotes stress anisotropy affecting long bone development through chondrocyte column formation.

The length of long bones is determined by column formation of proliferative chondrocytes and subsequent chondrocyte hypertrophy in the growth plate during bone development. Despite the importance of mechanical loading in long bone development, the mechanical conditions of the cells within the growth plate, such as the stress field, remain unclear owing to the difficulty in investigating spatiotemporal changes within dynamically growing tissues. In this study, the mechanisms of longitudinal bone growth were investigated from a mechanical perspective through column formation of proliferative chondrocytes within the growth plate before secondary ossification center formation using continuum-based particle models (CbPMs).

Sensory Nutrition and Bitterness and Astringency of Polyphenols.

Recent studies have demonstrated that the interaction of dietary constituents with taste and olfactory receptors and nociceptors expressed in the oral cavity, nasal cavity and gastrointestinal tract regulate homeostasis through activation of the neuroendocrine system. Polyphenols, of which 8000 have been identified to date, represent the greatest diversity of secondary metabolites in plants, most of which are bitter and some of them astringent. Epidemiological studies have shown that polyphenol intake contributes to maintaining and improving cardiovascular, cognitive and sensory health.

The shear rate promotes pinocytosis of extracellular dextran in platelets.

Background: Several conventional studies focused on platelet pinocytosis for possible utilization as drug delivery systems. Although platelet pinocytosis is important in such utilization, the impact of the shear rate on pinocytosis is unclear.

Objective: Our objective was to investigate the relationship between shear rate and platelet pinocytosis in vitro.

In Situ Lubrication in Forging of Pure Titanium Using Carbon Supersaturated Die Materials.

A new solid lubrication method was proposed for dry forging of pure titanium with high reduction in thickness. A free-carbon tribofilm was formed in situ at the hot spots on the contact interface to protect the die surfaces from severe adhesion of work materials. This film consisted of the free carbon, which isolated from the carbon supersaturated die substrate materials, diffused to the contact interface and agglomerated to a thin film.

Ultraconformable Capacitive Strain Sensor Utilizing Network Structure of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Wireless Body Sensing.

Capture and real-time recording of precise body movements using strain sensors provide personal information for healthcare monitoring and management. To acquire this information, a sensor that conforms to curved irregular surfaces, including biological tissue, is desired to record complex body movements while acting like a second skin to avoid interference with the movements. In this study, we developed a thin-film-type capacitive strain sensor that is flexible and stretchable on the surface of a living body.

Microfluidic paper-based analytical device with a preconcentration system for the measurement of anionic surfactants using an optode detector.

The paper discusses the development of a low-cost, simple, and sensitive on-site measurement system for anionic surfactants (AS), specifically sodium alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), using a microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) with an optode as a detector. The need arises due to the discharge of AS-containing wastewater into natural environments, posing risks to aquatic organisms. Traditional methods for AS measurement have drawbacks like the use of harmful solvents, time-consuming procedures, and the need for expensive equipment, prompting the exploration of alternative approaches.

Flexible Electrohydrodynamic Fluid-Driven Valveless Water Pump via Immiscible Interface.

The conventional electrohydrodynamic (EHD) pump is limited to pumping functional and dielectric liquids, which restricts its applications in fields like microfluidics, food safety, and materials production. In this study, we present a flexible water pump driven by EHD fluid, achieved by integrating valveless elements into the fluidic channel. Our approach leverages the water-EHD interface to propel the immiscible aqueous liquid and reciprocate this process using the nozzle-diffuser system.

Exploring 2-methyl-substituted vitamin K derivatives with potent inhibitory activity against the 3CL protease of SARS-CoV-2.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, various anti-SARS-CoV-2 drugs have been developed. In particular, 3CL protease (3C-like protease, 3CLpro) is an attractive drug target because it is an essential enzyme for viral multiplication and is present only in viruses, not in humans. To date, 3CLpro inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 such as nirmatrelvir and ensitrelvir have been launched as oral drugs in Japan, but there is still no potent drug against SARS-CoV-2, due to issues of in vivo absorption and stability.

Improvement of Superconducting Joint Properties for GdBaCuO Bulk Superconductors Joined with ErBaCuO Superconductor Using Local Melt-Growth Method.

The important factors in obtaining a high-quality superconducting joint were investigated for the superconducting joint of a GdBaCuO (GdBCO) bulk superconductor with sintered ErBaCuO (ErBCO) using the local melt-growth method. REBCO (RE: rare earth) bulk superconductors can be used as strong magnets by magnetizing them, but they require large bulk sizes for their application. Although the superconducting joint presents a viable solution, many possibilities for property improvement remain, such as property degradation, depending on the joining direction.

The Influence of Micro-Hexapod Walking-Induced Pose Changes on LiDAR-SLAM Mapping Performance.

Micro-hexapods, well-suited for navigating tight or uneven spaces and suitable for mass production, hold promise for exploration by robot groups, particularly in disaster scenarios. However, research on simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) for micro-hexapods has been lacking. Previous studies have not adequately addressed the development of SLAM systems considering changes in the body axis, and there is a lack of comparative evaluation with other movement mechanisms.

Solution-Plasma Synthesis and Characterization of Transition Metals and N-Containing Carbon-Carbon Nanotube Composites.

Lithium-air batteries (LABs) have a theoretically high energy density. However, LABs have some issues, such as low energy efficiency, short life cycle, and high overpotential in charge-discharge cycles. To solve these issues electrocatalytic materials were developed for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER), which significantly affect battery performance.

Actual state of the diurnal masseteric electromyogram: Differences between awareness and non-awareness of awake bruxism.

Purpose: This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between diurnal masseter muscle activity and awareness of diurnal awake bruxism (d-AB) by conducting a comparative analysis of electromyographic (EMG) data from individuals with and without awareness of diurnal awake bruxism (d-AB), utilizing EMG data gathered from multiple subjects.

Methods: Unilateral masseter electromyography (EMG) recordings were performed during the daytime using an ultraminiature wearable EMG device. A total of 119 participants (59 with awareness of diurnal tooth clenching [d-TC] and 60 without awareness of d-TC) were included.

Application of a genetically engineered macrophage cell line for evaluating cellular effects of UV/US-treated poly(ethylene terephthalate) microplastics.

Microplastic (MP) pollution is a global environmental problem. To understand the biological effects of MPs on humans, it is essential to evaluate the response of human cells to model plastic particles that mimic environmental MPs in a sensitive and non-invasive manner. In this study, we investigated the preparation of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) fragments with properties similar to those of environmental MPs by combining photo-oxidative degradation via ultraviolet (UV) irradiation with mechanical pulverization and hydrolysis via ultrasound (US) exposure.