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We have previously reported that relaxin (Rln) expression from the ovary is upregulated by orthodontic tooth movement. This study was performed to test the hypothesis that Rln family peptides (Rxfps), the G-protein-coupled Rln receptor, is induced in periodontal ligament (PDL) cells to modulate the molecules involved in periodontal tissue remodeling while applying biophysical force. Rats were implanted with orthodontic appliances to investigate changes to Rxfps in vivo. An in vitro biophysical force analysis was performed to measure the level of Rxfp 1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in primary human PDL cells. The levels of Rxfp 2 transcription and translation increased in a time-dependent manner during tooth movement. Rxfp 2 was localized in the PDL by immunofluorescence. In vitro analyses revealed that the level of Rxfp 1 mRNA in PDL cells increased significantly with both compression and tension force. The levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-2, interleukin-6, and vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA, which are important for periodontal tissue remodeling, also changed under force application and Rln treatment. PDL cells responded to Rln to modulate effector molecules for periodontal tissue remodeling by upregulating Rxfps expression under a biophysical force. Rln and Rxfps may serve as a PDL turnover molecule complex to control orthodontic tooth movement.

article i nfo End-stage renal failure deteriorates bone mass and increases fracture risk. However, there are conflicting re- ports in the literature regarding the effects of mild to moderate renal dysfunction on bone mineral density (BMD). We investigated the association between renal function and BMD at the spine and hip and bone me- tabolism markers in community-dwelling elderly Japanese men. From 2174 male volunteers aged ≥65 years, we examined 1477 men after excluding those with diseases or medications known to affect bone metabo- lism. Renal function was assessed by serum cystatin C and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calcu- lated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation. Bone metabolism was evaluated using levels of serum amino-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (PINP) and tartrate-resistant acid phospha- tase isoenzyme 5b (TRACP-5b), which represent bone metabolic status independent of renal function. eGFR was inversely associated with BMD after adjusting for potential confounders (P b 0.01). Cystatin C showed a weaker but significant association with BMD. eGFR was modestly positively associated with PINP levels (P = 0.04), although cystatin C concentrations were neither associated with PINP nor TRACP-5b levels. Since BMD integrates bone metabolism from the past to present, inverse associations between renal function and BMD may be attributed to past factors, such as obesity. Our findings suggest that low renal function does not affect bone metabolism in a population of community-dwelling elderly Japanese men. Longitudinal studies will be necessary to clarify whether low renal function affects bone loss.

We evaluated the effectiveness of 2 selective enrichment broths, Rappaport-Vassiliadis Soy (RVS) and Muller-Kauffmann tetrathionate with novobiocin (MKTTn), for the isolation of Salmonella from chicken carcasses obtained from 3 different types of retail markets. We also compared a chromogenic agar, chromID Salmonella agar (SM-ID 2), with a classic plating medium, xylose lysine deoxycholate agar (XLD). Salmonella were isolated from 118 of the 180 samples (65.5%). Salmonella were detected in 105 samples (88%) plated on XLD and 111 samples (94%) plated on SM-ID 2 when RVS broth was used for enrichment, and 43 samples (36.4%) plated on XLD and 67 samples (56.8%) plated on SM-ID 2 when the MKTTn broth was used. The highest sensitivity was found in the RVS-XLD combination (0.99), followed by RVS-SM-ID 2 (0.97). The specificity of the RVS-SM-ID 2 combination was the highest (0.89), but that of the MKTTn-XLD combination was zero. The results of this study indicate that the selective enrichment broths had a great effect on the sensitivity and specificity of plating media, and our study confirms that the RVS broth is the most suitable enrichment for the investigation of Salmonella in chicken carcasses. This observation suggests that use of RVS broth for selective enrichment and SM-ID 2 for selective isolation may be the best combination to determine the presence of Salmonella in chicken carcasses.

A cross-sectional analysis of 1,662 community dwelling elderly Japanese men suggested that habitual natto intake was significantly associated with higher bone mineral density (BMD). When adjustment was made for undercarboxylated osteocalcin levels, this association was insignificant, showing the natto–bone association to be primarily mediated by vitamin K. Low vitamin K intake is associated with an increased risk of hip fracture, but reports have been inconsistent on its effect on BMD. Our first aim was to examine the association between BMD and intake of fermented soybeans, natto, which contain vitamin K1 (20 μg/pack) and K2 (380 μg/pack). Our second aim was to examine the association between undercarboxylated osteocalcin (ucOC), a biomarker of vitamin K intake, and BMD to evaluate the role of vitamin K in this association. Of the Japanese men aged ≥65 years who participated in the baseline survey of the Fujiwara-kyo Osteoporosis Risk in Men study, 1,662 men without diseases or medications known to affect bone metabolism were examined for associations between self-reported natto intake or serum ucOC levels with lumbar spine or hip BMD. The subjects with greater intake of natto showed significantly lower level of serum ucOC. Analysis after adjustment for confounding variables showed an association of greater intake of natto with both significantly higher BMD and lower risk of low BMD (T-score

We have tried to find the most suitable conditions for the deposition process of silicon carbide thin films as a material for MEMS techniques. We have also studied its application to semiconductor processes. To do this, we have tried to fabricate several dimensions of cantilevers with these silicon carbide thin films. High quality silicon carbide thin films are grown by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). This process employs single molecular precursors such as diethylmethylsilane (DEMS), 1,3-disilabutane (DSB) at a pressure of 1 × 10−3 Pa and a growth temperature in the range of 700–1000 °C. Two fabrication methods are tested for initial fabrication of cantilevers. First, deposit SiC thin films on Si based atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilevers. Second, used the lift-off process. To get three-dimensional cantilever-shaped SiC thin films, moreover, we chemically etched silicon substrate with strong alkaline solution such as TMAH at 80 °C. In addition, a high resolution of probe tips on the cantilevers was achieved using electron-beam deposition in a carbon atmosphere.

Microcapsules with good mechanical stability were prepared using an appropriate mixture of alginate and acrylic terpolymer. It was found from the microscopic observation that the microcapsules had a porous structure with interconnected pores, with a size of 50-150 nm. The results of the permeability experiment of microcapsules using FITC-dextrans showed that the capsule had a molecular mass cut-off of 120 kDa. The hepatocytes encapsulated in both alginate and acrylic terpolymer with gelatin and PVA rapidly aggregated in the core. The aggregated cells showed high albumin synthesis and ammonia removal, suggesting good metabolic function.

Studies using natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) identification indicated that cattle could be selected for immunity. Several studies performed on intracellular organisms such as Mycobacterium, Salmonella, Brucella and Leishmania in human and mouse revealed that resistance against these bacteria was dependent on high activity of NRAMP\ in macrophages. However, hardly any researches have been done on Staphylococcus aureus in bovine mastitis, which is an intracellular organism and the main cause of bovine mastitis. The objectives of this study were to establish reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) methods, through which NRAMP\ mRNA expression could be compared and analyzed between mastitis-resistant and -susceptible cows. NRAMP\ gene and its expression were investigated using 20 cows (Holstein Friesian) in Korea. Cows were evenly split into two groups, with and without histories of clinical mastitis. Equivalent numbers of cows were randomly selected from each group. Monocytes were isolated from the bovine peripheral blood of each selected cows and activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). mRNA was separated from the monocytes and cDNA of NRAMP\ was synthesized and amplified using RT-PCR with amplification of β-actin as a control. The difference in NRAMP\ expressions of mastitis-resistant (n=10) and -susceptible (n=10) Holstein cows was analyzed. Results demonstrate that resistant cows produced more NRAMP\ mRNA than the susceptible ones, and ratios of NRAMP1:β-actin expression were higher in resistant cows with or without LPS activation. Therefore, this study could be applied to select bovine mastitis resistant cows before infection based on the expression of NRAMP1.

We demonstrate the double electron layer tunnelling transistor (DELTT), based on the gate control of two-dimensional-two-dimensional tunnelling in a double quantum well. Unlike previously proposed resonant tunnelling transistors, the DELTT is entirely planar and can be easily fabricated in large numbers. At 1.5 K we demonstrate peak-to-background ratios of :1 in source-drain conductance versus gate voltage and peak-to-valley ratios of :1 in the source-drain current versus source-drain voltage. Using a single DELTT in series with a load resistor, we demonstrate low-power bistable memories at 1.5 K. We also demonstrate a unipolar complementary static RAM by connecting two DELTTs in series.

Background and Objective Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is a tryptophan-oxidizing enzyme with immune-inhibitory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of IDO by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of gram-negative bacteria, in human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells. Material and Methods Human PDL cells and gingival fibroblasts (GFs) were prepared from explants of human PDLs and from gingival tissues of clinically healthy donors, respectively. Real-time RT-PCR, western blotting and the IDO enzyme assay were performed to determine the expression of IDO following LPS treatment of cells. LPS was injected into mice tail veins to evaluate the effects of LPS in vivo in the maxillary first molar. Immunofluorescence staining and histological analysis were followed to localize IDO in mouse PDL. Results The level of expression of IDO mRNA in primary human PDL cells after LPS treatment was increased in a dose-dependent manner, reaching a peak 8 h after LPS treatment. The expression and activities of IDO protein were significantly increased in comparison with those of the control. In addition, the increased production of kynurenine in culture medium was observed 72 h after LPS treatment. In the immunofluorescence findings, stronger immunoreactivities were shown in PDL than in gingival tissues in the maxillae. In accordance with the immunofluorescence findings, LPS treatment induced a strong up-regulation of IDO mRNA in human PDL cells, whereas human GFs showed only a weak response to LPS. Conclusion These results clearly show that IDO was induced by LPS in primary human PDL cells, suggesting that PDL might be involved in the regulation of oral inflammatory disease.

There are no data concerning a relationship between alcohol and bone status from a large-scale community-based study of elderly Japanese men. The baseline survey for the Fujiwara-kyo Osteoporosis Risk in Men Study was performed in 2174 male participants during the period from 2007 to 2008 in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Among them 1665 fitted the following inclusion criteria: (a) age ≥65years, (b) no diseases or drug therapy that could affect bone mineral density (BMD). We analyzed 1421 men with complete information about alcohol intake. We found that alcohol intake and BMD were positively correlated after adjustment for age, body mass index, natto intake, milk intake, smoking, physical activity, education, marital status, and hypertension. Adjusted total hip BMD of men with alcohol intake >39g/day was 0.90g/cm(2) and that of abstainers was 0.85g/cm(2). With regard to bone turnover markers, alcohol intake was inversely associated with serum levels of osteocalcin and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoenzyme 5b. A two-piece linear regression model revealed a positive relationship between alcohol intake and crude mean BMD for the total hip in those with alcohol intake of less than 55g/day. In contrast, alcohol intake and BMD in those with an alcohol intake of 55g/day or more was inversely correlated. The present large-scale study of elderly Japanese men revealed that although an alcohol intake of

It has been reported that the spin sprayed ferrite film shows better magnetic properties at high frequency than the ferrite by co-firing over 800 /spl deg/C . Besides, there is no limitation to select the substrate materials because it can be processed with low temperature below 100 /spl deg/C. Therefore, we fabricated a film inductor as a passive device for DC-DC converter by a use of spin sprayed Ni-Zn ferrite film on the polyimide layer without insulating layer. After, cover-lay film was laminated on the top of that. Finally, embedded form was completed by via hole process of pad opening. The magnetic properties of Ni-Zn ferrite were 6.0 k gauss of saturation magnetization and 110 of effective permeability. And 1,6 micro H of L, 25 of Q at 5 MHz were measured with spiral 16 turn inductor. The rated current of inductor was measured 897 mA.

We describe the first demonstration of small-area double electron layer tunneling transistors (DELTTs) fabricated by dual-side electron beam lithography. The DELTT is a planar quantum device which operates by modulating the two-dimensional (2D)-to-2D tunneling between two coupled quantum wells. The fabrication technique utilizes the epoxy-bond and stop-etch process to remove the substrate material which allows the backside gates to be placed in close proximity (less than 1 μm) to the frontside gates. The use of electron beam lithography provides precise alignment of the front and back features to each other. We have applied this technique to the fabrication of DELTTs on coupled AlGaAs/GaAs double quantum wells. Low temperature electrical characterization yields source-drain current–voltage curves that exhibit negative differential resistance with peak-to-valley ratios of up to 8:1. The height and position of the resonant peak varies strongly with gate bias, demonstrating transistor action.