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Composite powders mixed with yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG:Ce) and SiO2 powders were prepared in a tetraethyl orthosilicate solution of an alkali hydrolysis bath. The state of the composite powders varies depending on the reaction conditions: the amount of ammonium water and the reaction time. The photoluminescence property of the composite powder was the same as that of pure YAG powder, while the quantum efficiency varied depending on the morphologies of the composite powders. The quantum efficiency improved for the composite powder with nano-sized silica particles covering the YAG surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The viscoelasticity of polyalphaolefins confined and sheared in a submicron-to-nanometer-sized gap range was measured. A continuous transition from bulk viscosity to confined viscoelasticity was observed in this gap range. The viscosity increased when the gap was less than around 100 nm, whereas the elasticity rapidly increased when the gap was less than 10 nm. The shear rate and temperature dependence of the unique viscoelasticity was also measured in the confined state. The enhanced viscosity decreased as the shear rate and the temperature increased. These findings are expected to improve the basic understanding of hydrodynamic lubrication design in narrow gaps widths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand activates apoptotic pathways and could potentially be used in anticancer treatments. However, oral squamous cell carcinoma cells are known to be resistant to tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand‐induced cell death. It has been previously reported that hyperthermia upregulates tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand‐induced apoptosis in other cancers. As such, we evaluated whether hyperthermia upregulates tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand‐mediated apoptosis in a tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand‐resistant oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line. Methods: The oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line HSC3 was cultured and divided into hyperthermia and control groups. We investigated the antitumor effects of recombinant human tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand using cell proliferation and apoptosis assays. Additionally, we measured death receptor 4 and 5 levels, and determined death receptor ubiquitination status, as well as E3 ubiquitin ligase targeting of death receptor in both hyperthermia and control groups before recombinant human tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand administration. Results: Treatment with recombinant human tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand produced greater inhibitory effects in the hyperthermia group than in the control group. Moreover, death receptor protein expression in the hyperthermia group was upregulated on the cell surface (and overall), although death receptor mRNA was downregulated. The half‐life of death receptor was several hours longer in the hyperthermia group; concomitantly, E3 ubiquitin ligase expression and death receptor ubiquitination were downregulated in this group. Conclusion: Our findings suggested that hyperthermia enhances apoptotic signaling by tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand via the suppression of death receptor ubiquitination, which upregulates death receptor expression. These data suggest that the combination of hyperthermia and tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand has implications in developing a novel treatment strategy for oral squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Dutch tomato cultivars tend to have a greater yield than Japanese cultivars even if they are grown under the same conditions. Factors contributing to the increased yield of the Dutch cultivars were a greater light use efficiency and greater leaf photosynthetic rate. On the other hand, the relationship between tomato yields and anatomical traits is still unclear. The aim of this study is to identify the anatomical traits related to the difference in yield between Dutch and Japanese cultivars. Methods Anatomical properties were compared during different growth stages of Dutch and Japanese tomatoes. Hormone profiles and related gene expression in hypocotyls of Dutch and Japanese cultivars were compared in the hypocotyls of 3- and 4-week-old plants. Key results Dutch cultivars have a more developed secondary xylem than Japanese cultivars, which would allow for greater transport of water, mineral nutrients and phytohormones to the shoots. The areas and ratios of the xylem in the hypocotyls of 3- to 6-week-old plants were larger in the Dutch cultivars. In reciprocal grafts of the Japanese and Dutch cultivars, xylem development at the scion and rootstock depended on the scion cultivar, suggesting that some factors in the scion are responsible for the difference in xylem development. The cytokinin content, especially the level of N 6-(Δ 2-isopentenyl) adenine (iP)-type cytokinin, was higher in the Dutch cultivars. This result was supported by the greater expression of Sl-IPT3 (a cytokinin biosynthesis gene) and Sl-RR16/17 (a cytokinin-responsive gene) in the Dutch cultivars. Conclusions These results suggest that iP-type cytokinins, which are locally synthesized in the hypocotyl, contribute to xylem development. The greater xylem development in Dutch cultivars might contribute to the high yield of the tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]