Crosslinking Efficacy and Cytotoxicity of Genipin and Its Activated Form Prepared by Warming It in a Phosphate Buffer: A Comparative Study.

The aim of the present study was to compare the acute and cumulative cytotoxicity of intact (n-GE) and warmed genipin (w-GE), while investigating the differences in crosslinking capabilities of these two genipins by rheological and mechanical tests. The n-GE solution was prepared by dissolving genipin powder in a sodium phosphate buffer solution. The w-GE solution was prepared by warming the n-GE solution at 37 °C for 24 h.

Short-Time Impedance Spectroscopy Using a Mode-Switching Nonsinusoidal Oscillator: Applicability to Biological Tissues and Continuous Measurement.

Herein, we propose an impedance spectroscopy method using a mode-switching nonsinusoidal oscillator and apply this method for measuring the impedance of biological tissues and continuous impedance measurement. To obtain impedance spectra over a wide frequency range, we fabricated a novel nonsinusoidal oscillator incorporating binary counters and analog switches. This oscillator could periodically switch oscillation frequency through the mode switching of the feedback resistor.

A novel technique for automating stiffness measurement and emphasizing the main wave: Coherent-wave auto-selection (CHASE).

This study aims to develop and assess a new automated processing technique in MR elastography (MRE), namely coherent-wave auto-selection (CHASE). CHASE enables automatic selection of the region of interest (ROI) for stiffness measurement by extraction of the coherent wave region (CHASE ROI), and it improves the reconstruction of stiffness by a directional filter oriented along the main wave in each pixel (CHASE filtering). In this study, MRE of a phantom and of the liver of four healthy volunteers was performed.

Rotors anchored by refractory islands drive torsades de pointes in an experimental model of electrical storm.

Background: Electrical storm (ES) is a life-threatening emergency in patients at high risk of ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation (VF), but the pathophysiology and molecular basis are poorly understood.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the electrophysiological substrate for experimental ES.

Methods: A model was created by inducing chronic complete atrioventricular block in defibrillator-implanted rabbits, which recapitulates QT prolongation, torsades des pointes (TdP), and VF episodes.

Efficacy of cytochemical tests in gene analysis of hereditary spherocytosis: a case study of six patients with different disease subtypes.

Objectives: In this study, clinical and biochemical methods were utilized to predict the final diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis (HS), correlate the diagnosis with splenectomy, and examine the usefulness of this approach.

Methods: We biochemically and cytochemically analysed erythrocyte membrane proteins before making a final HS diagnosis based on gene analysis to compare diagnostic approaches. The clinical features of six patients with various subtypes of HS and symptoms were observed by blood analysis using eosin-5'-maleimide staining, biochemical analysis using sodium dodecyl sulphate - polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with western blotting, and mass spectrometry.

Performance of Bimanual Finger Coordination Tasks in Speakers Who Stutter.

Stuttering is a neurodevelopmental speech disorder characterized by the symptoms of speech repetition, prolongation, and blocking. Stuttering-related dysfluency can be transiently alleviated by providing an external timing signal such as a metronome or the voice of another person. Therefore, the existence of a core motor timing deficit in stuttering has been speculated.

A three-dimensional biomodel of type A aortic dissection for endovascular interventions.

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair is widely used for type B aortic dissection. However, there is no favorable stent-graft for type A aortic dissection. A significant limitation for device development is the lack of an experimental model for type A aortic dissection.

Osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells on diamond-like carbon-coated silicon plates: Field emission scanning electron microscopy data.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) is an amorphous form of carbon that contains aspects of both the diamond and graphite structures. It is composed of carbon and hydrogen, and owing to its texture, high mechanical hardness, chemical inertness, and optical transparency, DLC is widely used as a protective coating in the form of a thin film, which is applied to the surfaces of many materials. Recently, it has attracted attention as a biomedical material because of its high biocompatibility and stability [1,2].

Overestimation of eye size: People see themselves with bigger eyes in a holistic approach.

A face contains crucial information for identification; moreover, face recognition is superior to other types of recognition. Notably, one's own face is recognized better than other familiar faces. However, it is unclear whether one's own face, especially one's own internal facial features, is represented more accurately than other faces.

Foot-surface-structure analysis using a smartphone-based 3D foot scanner.

Background: A thorough understanding of the influence of the foot skeletal structure on hallux valgus (HV) is required for HV prevention. We developed a system using a 3D foot scanner on a smartphone to clarify the relationships between foot features and HV risk.

Methods: Two-dimensional video images were recorded on a smartphone, sent to a computer or cloud server, and used to construct a 3D foot-feature model, considering 10 foot features associated with HV.

Interface Prediction for GPCR Oligomerization Between Transmembrane Helices.

Oligomers of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are closely related to their biochemical and biological functions and have been conserved during the course of molecular evolution. The mechanisms of GPCR interactions and the reason why GPCRs interact between themselves have remained elusive. Accurate interface prediction is useful to generate guidelines for mutation and inhibition experiments and would accelerate investigations of the molecular mechanisms of GPCR oligomerization and signaling.

Complete Genome Sequence of sp. Strain skT53, Isolated from Farm Soil.

This study reports the complete genome sequence of sp. strain skT53. The genome is 3,454,394 bp in length and has a G+C content of 48.

Magnetic Circularly Polarized Luminescence in the Photoexcited States of Racemic [n]Helicenes (n=3-5,7) in Tetrahydrofuran and Dimethyl Sulfoxide Solutions.

This paper reports the first magnetic circularly polarized luminescence (MCPL) characteristics of racemic helicenes, including four unsubstituted [n]helicenes (n=3,4,5,7) and two [4]helicene derivatives bearing methoxy substituents, in tetrahydrofuran (THF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solutions. The value of |g | was calculated to be of the order of 10  T within 350-430 nm under the north-up (N-up) and south-up (S-up) Faraday geometries in an external magnetic field of 1.6 T.

Effusibacillus dendaii sp. nov. isolated from farm soil.

A Gram-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming, thermophilic, and acidophilic bacterium, designated as strain skT53, was isolated from farm soil in Tokyo, Japan. Under aerobic conditions, the strain grew at 35-55 °C (optimum temperature 44-55 °C) and pH 4.0-6.

The asymmetric learning rates of murine exploratory behavior in sparse reward environments.

Goal-oriented behaviors of animals can be modeled by reinforcement learning algorithms. Such algorithms predict future outcomes of selected actions utilizing action values and updating those values in response to the positive and negative outcomes. In many models of animal behavior, the action values are updated symmetrically based on a common learning rate, that is, in the same way for both positive and negative outcomes.

A novel Schiff base macrocycle based on 1,1'-binaphthyl for fluorescence recognition.

A novel chiral polyimine macrocycle C-1 was designed and synthesized by the self-condensation of the dialdehyde of the chiral dinaphtho[2,1-d:1',2'-f][1,3]dioxepine derivative and o-phenylenediamine by Schiff base formation, and the corresponding polyamine macrocycle C-1H was obtained by the reduction of the polyimine macrocycle. The UV-vis and fluorescence spectral studies indicated that both C-1 and C-1H form the complex with metal ions in a 1:2 ratio. The fluorescence behaviour of C-1 upon the addition of Zn or Cd showed a 'turn-on' response accompanied by fluorescence enhancement at 510 nm six times for Cd and 13 times for Zn .

A New Systematic Construction of Novel Three-Dimensional Spin Crossover Coordination Polymers Based on the [Ag (CN)] Building Unit.

New three-dimensional spin crossover (SCO) coordination polymers systematically constructed by the novel building unit [Ag (CN)], Fe(3-Br-5-CHpyridine)[Ag (CN)][Ag(CN)] (), Fe(3-Br-5-Clpyridine)[Ag (CN)][Ag(CN)] (), and Fe(3,5-Brpyridine)[Ag (CN)][Ag(CN)] (), have been synthesized and characterized. The bismonodentate binuclear [Ag(CN)] and mononuclear [Ag(CN)] units and Fe atoms assemble to form a 3D network structure. The structures of - are crystallographically identical, which made up the triply interpenetration combined with complicated intermolecular interactions including Ag···Ag, Ag···X (pyridine substituents) and π-stacking interactions.

Isotopic Depth Profiling of Discharge Products Identifies Reactive Interfaces in an Aprotic Li-O Battery with a Redox Mediator.

Prior to the practical application of rechargeable aprotic Li-O batteries, the high charging overpotentials of these devices (which inevitably cause irreversible parasitic reactions) must be addressed. The use of redox mediators (RMs) that oxidatively decompose the discharge product, LiO, is one promising solution to this problem. However, the mitigating effect of RMs is currently insufficient, and so it would be beneficial to clarify the LiO reductive growth and oxidative decomposition mechanisms.

Rapid Nitriding of Titanium Alloy with Fine Grains at Room Temperature.

Multifunctional surfaces are required to design safe engineering products for human lives. Heating in a nitrogen atmosphere (nitriding) improves the tribological properties but reduces the strength of titanium (Ti) alloys owing to grain coarsening. A rapid nitriding method for Ti alloys forms the nitrided layer on the surface of a Ti alloy by bombarding with commercially pure Ti fine particles with a nitrided phase at room temperature within a short period.

Fecal Microbiota Perspective for Evaluation of Prebiotic Potential of Bamboo Hemicellulose Hydrolysate in Mice: A Preliminary Study.

Bamboo hemicellulose hydrolysate (BHH) may possess antihypercholesterolemic activity; however, this activity requires further comprehensive study to assess the prebiotic mechanisms of BHH in vivo. Here, we used high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing to preliminarily investigate the correlations between BHH and the fecal microbiomes of three groups of mice fed either a normal diet, a high-fat diet, or a high-fat diet supplemented with 5% BHH for 5 weeks. Alpha diversity (within community) was nonsignificant for all groups; however, beta diversity analysis among communities showed that 5% BHH suppressed the significant changes induced by the high-fat diet.