Search

Background This study aimed to investigate the effects of metformin on gingival wound healing in insulin-resistant prediabetes. Methods C57BL/6J mice were fed normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 10 weeks; half of the HFD mice were treated with metformin (HFD+Met) for the last 2 weeks. Insulin and glucose tolerance tests were performed. The palatal gingiva (2.0×0.5 mm) was surgically removed adjacent to the maxillary molars. Post-surgical wound closure was histomorphometrically evaluated for 1 week. The mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the tissue were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. In vitro, the proliferation and migration of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) cultured under high-glucose or control conditions with/without metformin were analyzed. Akt phosphorylation and VEGF expression following the insulin stimulation were evaluated with/without metformin in high-glucose or control media. Results HFD mice showed significantly higher plasma glucose levels and insulin resistance than ND mice. Gingival wound healing was delayed in HFD group compared with ND group but significantly improved in HFD+MET group. The decreased expression of VEGF and eNOS in HFD group was significantly elevated in the HFD+MET group. The proliferation and migration of HGFs were significantly impaired in high-glucose conditions compared with control; metformin treatment partially attenuated these effects. Metformin treatment significantly recovered the downregulated Akt phosphorylation and VEGF expression in high-glucose conditions. Conclusions Metformin improved delayed gingival wound healing in insulin-resistant prediabetes by accelerating HGFs proliferation and migration via Akt phosphorylation in insulin signaling pathway. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid that is abundant in fish oil, and has anti-inflammatory or anti-obesity effects. However, the effects of EPA supplementation on mitochondrial content and dynamics (fusion and fission) in skeletal muscle has not been elucidated. We investigated the effects of EPA intake for 4 weeks on denervation-induced mitochondrial adaptation in mice skeletal muscle. ICR mice (male, 8 weeks old) were daily administrated olive oil (control) or EPA at a dose of 300 mg/kg body weight by gavage for 4 weeks. After 2 weeks of oil intake, mice underwent unilateral sciatic nerve transection surgery. The hindlimb without surgery served as the sham-operated control. Body and skeletal muscle weights did not differ between the control and the EPA groups. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins were significantly decreased by denervation surgery. Denervation also induced the reduction of mitochondrial fusion molecules and the increase of mitochondrial fission molecules. Expression levels of PGC-1α and mitochondrial respiration protein MTCO1 were higher in the EPA group than in the control (olive oil) group. In addition, the EPA group contained higher levels of mitochondrial fusion protein OPA1. Our results suggest that EPA intake prevents the reduction of mitochondrial content and fusion proteins in denervated skeletal muscle.

Poly(lactic acid)(PLA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic resin used for a medical instrument because the material does not require removal after operation. Injection molding methods have been used for the processing of PLA. In contrast, processing by a fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer has attracted attention in recent years. One of the important parameter for FFF 3D printer is scan pattern of the nozzle. The strength of the structure depends on the scan pattern of the nozzle. The strength characteristics associated with decomposition is considered to depend on the scan pattern of the nozzle. In this study, we fabricated bending and tensile test pieces by the FFF 3D printer, and compared the strength change due to the immersion whereas formed by the different scan patterns of the nozzle. The maximum bending stresses were increased for the test pieces immersed in saline. This tendency was remarkable in the test pieces of unidirectional scan patterns. In contrast, the maximum tensile stresses were decreased for the test pieces immersed in saline. The obtained results can be applied to the strength design of PLA structures made by the FFF 3D printer.

Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are associated with the aging process. However, the role of nuclear factor erythroid 2 ‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) in skeletal muscle during aging remains to be clarified. In the current study, we assessed whether the lack of Nrf2, which is known as a master regulator of redox homeostasis, promotes age‐related mitochondrial dysfunction and muscle atrophy in skeletal muscle. Here, we demonstrated that mitochondrial 4‐hydroxynonenal and protein carbonyls, markers of oxidative stress, were robustly elevated in aged Nrf2 knockout (KO) mice because of the decreased expression of Nrf2‐target antioxidant genes. Mitochondrial respiration declined with aging; however, there was no difference between Nrf2 KO and age‐matched WT mice. Similarly, cytochrome c oxidase activity was lower in aged WT and Nrf2 KO mice compared with young WT mice. The expression of Mfn1 and Mfn2 mRNA was lower in aged Nrf2 KO muscle. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production per oxygen consumed was elevated in aged Nrf2 KO mice. There was no effect of Nrf2 KO on muscle mass normalized to body weight. These results suggest that Nrf2 deficiency exacerbates age‐related mitochondrial oxidative stress but does not affect the decline of respiratory function in skeletal muscle.

When exposed to sublethal high temperatures, budding yeast cells can survive for a period of time; however, a sufficient amount of ubiquitin is necessary for this survival. To understand the nature of the stress, we examined the morphological changes in yeast cells, focusing on the vacuoles. Changes in vacuolar morphology were notable, and ruffled vacuolar membranes, accelerated invaginations of vacuolar membranes, and vesicle-like formations were observed. These changes occurred in the absence of Atg1, Atg9 or Ivy1 but appeared to require endosomal sorting proteins, such as Vps23, Vps24 or Pep12. Furthermore, the serial sections of the vacuoles analysed using an electron microscopic analysis revealed that spherical invaginated structures were linked together in a vacuole. Because degradation of cell surface proteins is induced from heat stress, fusion of endosomal and vacuolar membranes might occur frequently in heat-stressed cells, and yeast cells might be able to cope with a rapid increase in vacuolar surface area by such invaginations.

Delayed gingival wound healing is widely observed in periodontal patients with diabetes. However, the molecular mechanisms of the impaired function of gingival fibroblasts in diabetes remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the properties of human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) under high-glucose conditions. Primary HGFs were isolated from healthy gingiva and cultured with 5.5, 25, 50, and 75 mM glucose for 72 h. In vitro wound healing, 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU), and water-soluble tetrazolium salt (WST-8) assays were performed to examine cell migration and proliferation. Lactase dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were measured to determine cytotoxicity. The mRNA expression levels of oxidative stress markers were quantified by real-time PCR. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also measured in live cells. The antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC, 1 mM) was added to evaluate the involvement of ROS in the glucose effect on HGFs. As a result, the in vitro wound healing assay showed that high glucose levels significantly reduced fibroblast migration and proliferation at 6, 12, 24, 36, and 48 h. The numbers of cells positive for EdU staining were decreased, as was cell viability, at 50 and 75 mM glucose. A significant increase in LDH was proportional to the glucose concentration. The mRNA levels of heme oxygenase-1 and superoxide dismutase-1 and ROS levels were significantly increased in HGFs after 72 h of exposure to 50 mM glucose concentration. The addition of NAC diminished the inhibitory effect of high glucose in the in vitro wound healing assay. The results of the present study show that high glucose impairs the proliferation and migration of HGFs. Fibroblast dysfunction may therefore be caused by high glucose-induced oxidative stress and may explain the delayed gingival wound healing in diabetic patients.

The mechanical properties of shape memory alloys, shape memory polymers and their composites studied by Prof. H. Tobushi are summarized. The main subjects achieved are as follows. (1) Characteristics of shape memory alloy heat engine, (2) Thermomechanical properties of shape memory alloy, (3) Subloop deformation and influence of strain- and stress-rates on deformation, (4) Bending fatigue properties and enhancement of fatigue life of shape memory alloy, (5) Torsional deformation properties of shape memory alloy thin tape and their application, (6) Thermomechanical properties of shape memory polymer, (7) Thermomechanical properties of shape memory polymer foam and secondary shape forming and (8) Shape memory composite and functionally-graded shape memory polymer. The published papers related to these subjects are explained and listed.

A fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printer is a simple device capable of manufacturing three-dimensional structures in a series of easy steps. Commercial-level FFF 3D printers have spread rapidly in many fields in recent years. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer used as a typical printing medium for FFF 3D printers. The FFF printer constructs an object with melted polymer extruded from a tiny scanning nozzle. The mechanical properties of FFF 3D structures printed with different scan patterns can therefore vary in accordance with the directions from which forces act upon them. The nozzle scan pattern also influences the deterioration of the mechanical properties of the structures in accordance with the degradation caused by the hydrolysis of PLA. In this study we conducted tensile tests to evaluate the strength characteristics of 3D printed test pieces formed from PLA using four different scan patterns: parallel, vertical, parallel-and-vertical, and cross-hatched at opposing diagonal angles to the tensile direction. We also formed test pieces by an injection molding method using the same material, for further comparison. We evaluated the deterioration of the test pieces after immersing them in saline for certain periods. After the test pieces formed by different nozzle scan patterns were immersed, they exhibited differences in the rates by which their maximum tensile stresses deteriorated and their masses increased through water uptake. The influences of the scan patterns could be classified into two types: the unidirectional scan pattern influence and bidirectional scan pattern influence. The data obtained in this research will be applied to structural design when the FFF 3D printer is employed for the fabrication of structures with PLA filament.

It is now evident that exercise training leads to increases in monocarboxylate transporter (MCT)1 and MCT4, but little is known about the mechanisms of coupling muscle contraction with these changes. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) induced activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) on MCT1, MCT4, and GLUT4 in denervated muscle. Protein levels of MCT4 and GLUT4 after 10 days of denervation were significantly decreased in mice gastrocnemius muscle, while MCT1 protein levels were not altered. AICAR treatment for 10 days significantly increased MCT4, and GLUT4 protein levels in innervated muscle as shown in previous studies. We found that the MCT1 protein level was also increased in AICAR treated innervated muscle. AICAR treatment prevented the decline in MCT4 and GLUT4 protein levels in denervated muscle. Thus, the current study suggests that MCT1 and MCT4 protein expression in muscles, as well as GLUT4, may be regulated by AMPK-mediated signal pathways, and AMPK activation can prevent denervation-induced decline in MCT4 protein.

During high-intensity exercise, the concentration of ammonia is augmented in skeletal muscle. Ammonia activates phosphofructokinase and prevents oxidation of pyruvate to acetyl CoA, thus leading to exhaustion. Citrulline is an amino acid component of the urea cycle in the liver, along with ornithine and arginine. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of citrulline supplementation on fatigue and performance during high-intensity exercise. We constructed a swimming exercise protocol, in which mice were subjected to exhaustive swimming with a load of 5% body weight, and measured the time until exhaustion, the blood levels of lactate and ammonia, and the glycogen content of the gastrocnemius and biceps femoris muscles. Citrulline supplementation significantly increased the swimming time until exhaustion. Exercise-induced blood ammonia elevation was repressed by citrulline supplementation, and exercise-induced blood lactate increment in the citrulline-supplemented group was significantly lower than that in the non-supplemented group. Citrulline supplementation may facilitate the detoxification of ammonia via the urea cycle and inhibit additional glycolysis. Our findings suggest that citrulline supplementation may be useful for improving the exercise performance of athletes.

The present study aimed to investigate the periodontal regenerative effect of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in diabetes. Thirty-six rats were assigned to streptozotocin-induced diabetes or control (non-diabetic) groups. Three-wall intrabony defects were surgically generated in the bilateral maxilla molar, followed by application of EMD or saline. Primary wound closure and defect fill were evaluated via histomorphological analysis and micro-computed tomography. mRNA expression levels of inflammatory and angiogenic factors in the defects were quantified via real-time polymerase chain reaction. Gingival fibroblasts were isolated from control animals and cultured in high-glucose (HG) or control medium. The effects of EMD on insulin resistance and PI3K/Akt/VEGF signaling were evaluated. The achievement rate of primary closure and the parameters of defect fill were significantly higher at EMD-treated site than at EMD-untreated sites in both diabetic and non-diabetic rats, although defect fill in the diabetic groups was significantly lower in the control groups on two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (for both, p

It was investigated whether the C3a-receptor antagonist (C3aRA) SB 290157 was involved in the suppression of anti-OVA pAb–induced arthritis because it is well known that anaphylatoxin C3a plays a crucial role in the development of an effective inflammatory response during complement activation. Anti-OVA pAb–induced arthritis was induced in DBA/1J mice by administration of anti-OVA pAb 0.5 h prior to intra-articular (i.a.) injection of OVA (0 h). Two peaks of joint swelling were observed at 0.5 and 3 h. The role of C3aRA in arthritis was investigated by injection of SB 290157 at concentrations of 10 and 30 mg/kg at 0 and 2 h. The antagonist was able to reduce joint swelling only at 3 h, and about 50% inhibition of joint swelling was observed with the concentration of 30 mg/kg. The C3 level was significantly decreased at 3 h compared with naïve mice showing complement consumption. Furthermore, the C3 activation was observed and increased corresponding to the graded concentration of anti-OVA pAb. The results also revealed that the C3aRA was able to reduce the expression of IL-1β in synovial tissue. Taken together, the results suggested that C3aRA may be effective in the inhibition of arthritis. Keywords:: rheumatoid arthritis, OVA, anti-OVA antibody–induced arthritis, C3a-receptor antagonist, inflammation

The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms linking high glucose to gingival wound healing. Bilateral wounds were created in the palatal gingiva adjacent to maxillary molars of control rats and rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. After evaluating postsurgical wound closure by digital imaging, the maxillae including wounds were resected for histological examinations. mRNA expressions of angiogenesis, inflammation, and oxidative stress markers in the surgical sites were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Primary fibroblast culture from the gingiva of both rats was performed in high glucose and normal medium. In vitro wound healing and cell proliferation assays were performed. Oxidative stress marker mRNA expressions and reactive oxygen species production were measured. Insulin resistance was evaluated via PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk signaling following insulin stimulation using Western blotting. To clarify oxidative stress involvement in high glucose culture and cells of diabetic rats, cells underwent N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment; subsequent Akt activity was measured. Wound healing in diabetic rats was significantly delayed compared with that in control rats. Nox1, Nox2, Nox4, p-47, and tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA levels were significantly higher at baseline in diabetic rats than in control rats. In vitro study showed that cell proliferation and migration significantly decreased in diabetic and high glucose culture groups compared with control groups. Nox1, Nox2, Nox4, and p47 expressions and reactive oxygen species production were significantly higher in diabetic and high glucose culture groups than in control groups. Akt phosphorylation decreased in the high glucose groups compared with the control groups. Erk1/2 phosphorylation increased in the high glucose groups, with or without insulin treatment, compared with the control groups. Impaired Akt phosphorylation partially normalized after antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine treatment. Thus, delayed gingival wound healing in diabetic rats occurred because of impaired fibroblast proliferation and migration. Fibroblast dysfunction may occur owing to high glucose-induced insulin resistance via oxidative stress.

Bisphenol A (BPA)-imprinted membranes were prepared by hybridization of a porous polysulfone (PSu) scaffold with a BPA-imprinted polymer powder copolymerized with dimethacrylate BPA and divinylbenzene. When exposed to a donor calf serum (DCS) solution containing 0.05-100 microM of BPA, the imprinted hybrid membrane (10 x 10 mm(2)) bound BPA at a capacity of 6.0 x 10(-9)-20 x 10(-6) mol/g-membrane. In contrast, a similar sized powder-free PSu membrane bound BPA at a capacity of only 1.5 x 10(-9)-1.9 x 10(-6) mol/g-membrane. The difference in the binding capacities of the two membranes was attributed to the BPA-imprinted powder hybridized in the PSu membrane. Clinical analyses confirmed that the DCS parameters remained nearly constant before and after the BPA binding. This observation suggests that BPA was removed selectively from the DCS solution by the imprinted hybrid membrane. Together, these results demonstrate that the molecular imprinting technique is very useful as a novel medical material adsorbent that can reduce exposure to the endocrine disruptor, BPA.

Molecular imprinted copolymers, which highly recognized and bound bile acid (BA), were synthesized using a covalently imprinting technique. BA triacrylate (BAA) was a novel monomer targeting the BA imprinting by copolymerizing with a crosslinkable monomer of divinylbenzene (DVB). The resultant copolymer was treated under an acidic condition to form comprehensive BA imprinted sites in the DVB copolymers. The resultant BA imprinted copolymers had less bindings to deoxycholic acid and cholesterol relative to BA. The value of the binding amount of BA for the imprinted copolymer was 22.6 μmol/g, indicating an excellent binding capacity for a template molecule. The recognition ability of the imprinted copolymer was probed with fluorescence of DVB segments in the copolymers: When exposed to the 300 nm light, the fluorescence of the phenyl segments of DVB was observed in the substrate solution. It was found that the BA imprinted copolymer enhanced the monomer fluorescence intensity of the DVB segments near 346 nm, as BA bound. However, when other substrates bound, the segments enhanced the excimer intensity observed near 435 nm. The comparison suggested that the BA binding to the imprinted sites was favorable for the enhanced monomer fluorescence, because comprehensive binding of the molecule into the imprinted DVB segments interfered the excimer formation of the phenyl groups in the copolymer.

The purposes of our study were to examine (1) Rh B glycoprotein (Rhbg) and Rh C glycoprotein (Rhcg) expressions in mouse skeletal muscle; and (2) the effect of 6-week training on Rhbg and Rhcg expressions. The levels of Rhbg and Rhcg expressions were much higher in the soleus (Sol) than in the plantaris (Pla) or gastrocnemius (Gas). Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that Rhbg colocalizes with dystrophin, a plasma membrane protein marker, whereas Rhcg colocalizes with CD31, a vascular endothelial cell marker. In a 6-week swim training study, we set up two different training groups. Endurance (END) group underwent swim training without load for 30 min and exercise time was increased by 30 min every 2 weeks. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) group underwent 10–12 sets of swim training at 20 sec per set and intervals of 10 sec, with a load of 10% body weight. After 6 weeks of training, all mice performed exhaustive swimming performance test (PT), with 9% of body weight to exhaustion. HIIT group could significantly swim more and showed significantly lower blood ammonia level compared with control (CON) group at immediately after PT. Rhbg and Rhcg levels did not change after 6 weeks in both END and HIIT groups. Our results indicate that ammonia transporters are more abundant in slow fiber than fast fiber muscles and 6 weeks swim training suppresses blood ammonia elevation induced by high-intensity exercise with performance improvement, although the levels of ammonia transporter proteins does not change.

Bisphenol A (BPA) imprinted polymer, which was prepared with BPA methacrylate and divinyl benzene (DVB), was hybridized in porous membrane scaffolding of polystyrene (PS), cellulose acetate (CA), nylon 66 (Ny) and polysulfone (PSf) by phase inversion process. Resultant hybrid imprinted membranes showed high capture ability to the BPA having 148, 142 and 158 μmol/g for the hybrid CA, Ny and PSf scaffolds, respectively. Relative to corresponding scaffold polymers in the absence of BPA imprinted polymer, the hybrid PSf membrane had excellent recognition to the BPA. Scatchard analysis to the hybrid PSf scaffold membrane showed equilibrium binding constants of 20,700, 19,100 and 17,300 M −1 for BPA, bisphenol E and bisphenol F, respectively. The permselective separation of 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl alcohol (HPA) and the bisphenol derivatives was accomplished by using the hybrid membranes for the mixture solution. Evidence of the separation of the mixture indicated that separation factor of BPA and HPA was estimated as 11.5, 8.1 and 10.8 for the hybrid CA, Ny and PSf, respectively. Effect of hybrid imprinted membrane on the enhanced separation ability was also discussed.

Nylon 6, nylon 6,6, and terephthalic phenylene polyamide (TPPP) were functionalized by phase-inversion molecular imprinting to add L-phenylalanine recognition ability. Formic acid containing 20 wt % nylon and 8 wt % L-phenylalanine was used as the solvent for the cast solution of the imprinting process. The resultant porous membranes behaved as membrane adsorbents that separated the L/D mixture of the substrate. The imprinted nylon 6 and nylon 6,6 presented high selectivity to the L-form substrate with respect to the TPPP membranes, but the imprinted TPPP membranes showed higher binding capacity with 0.57 μmol/g for L-phenylalanine. The apparent partition coefficients of L- and D-forms by the imprinted membranes were 6.8, 4.2, and 1.7 for nylon 6, nylon 6,6, and TPPP, respectively. The separation manner of the L- and D-forms from the mixture was also confirmed by membrane filtration under 1.5 kgf/cm2 of applied pressure. The imprinted nylon 6, nylon 6,6, and TPPP membranes had separation factors of L- and D-phenylalanines of 1.1, 1.1, and 1.2, respectively. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 620–626, 2005

Imprinted copolymers, which highly recognized and bound bisphenol A (Bis A), were synthesized by using covalent imprinting technique. Bisphenol A dimethacrylate (BADM) was used as a template monomer in the copolymerization with a crosslinkable monomer of divinyl benzene (DVB), ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM) or N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA). The resultant copolymer was hydrolyzed in acidic or basic condition. It was found that the Bis A imprinted copolymers of EGDM and MBAA had no selectivity to Bis A, because the crosslinker dissociated by the hydrolysis reaction and thus comprehensive imprinted sites were not formed. On the other hand, imprinted copolymer of DVB showed excellent selectivity to differentiate Bis A from bisphenol E and bisphenol F (Bis F). Characterization of the copolymers suggested that the DVB copolymer had resistance to the acid and alkali conditions. Effect of recognition by the Bis F imprinted polymer was also compared with that of the Bis A imprinted polymer, when DVB and bisphenol F dimethacrylate were copolymerized. The Bis F imprinted copolymer was able to recognize Bis F in ethanol solution, however showed higher binding capacity for both Bis A and Bis F in water solution without recognition. Therefore, hydrophobic interaction between Bis A and the imprinted site enhanced the binding capacity with high selectively for the BADM-co-DVB imprinted copolymer.

We report the successful growth of trivalent erbium-doped lithium calcium aluminum fluoride (Er 3+ :LiCaAlF 6 ) using the micro-pulling down method. Several absorption bands were observed at 139 nm (71,942 cm −1 ), 149 nm (67,114 cm −1 ), and 162 nm (61,728 cm −1 ), which can be ascribed to 4 f →5 d transitions in Er 3+ . Evaluation of its optical properties using the 157-nm emission of a F 2 laser reveal that it has a 163-nm vacuum ultraviolet fluorescence with 1.3-μs decay time, involving a transition originating from the high-spin state of the 4 f 10 5 d excited state configuration. This is one of the shortest emission wavelengths from solid-state materials reported at room temperature.

We study the effects of Ti doping on the near-band-edge emission (NBE) and defect-related deep-level emission (DLE) of ZnO thin films grown by DC unbalanced magnetron sputtering. DLE in pure ZnO is contributed by zinc and oxygen vacancies (VZn+VO), as revealed by photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, current–voltage (I–V) characteristic measurement, and spectroscopic ellipsometry. The reduction in the number of VZn states is clearly observed upon Ti doping, resulting in the enhancement of green emission from VO. Interestingly, the thin film with a Ti concentration of 1 at. % shows a higher excitonic emission. Furthermore, the temperature dependence of PL spectra shows that the enhanced excitonic emission originates from the donor-bound exciton promoted by the Ti dopant and native VO. This study shows an important role of the defects in controlling the optical and electronic properties of ZnO films for future optoelectronic applications.

Fast electron energy spectra have been measured for a range of intensities between 1018 Wcm-2 and 1021 Wcm-2 and for different target materials using electron spectrometers. Several experimental campaigns were conducted on peta watt laser facilities at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and Osaka University. In these experimental campaigns, the pulse duration was varied from 0.5 ps to 5 ps. The laser incident angle was also changed from normal incidence to 40° in p-polarized. The results show a reduction from the ponderomotive scaling on fast electrons over 1020 Wcm-2. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.

We performed integrated experiments on impact ignition, in which a portion of a deuterated polystyrene (CD) shell was accelerated to about 600 km/s and was collided with precompressed CD fuel. The kinetic energy of the impactor was efficiently converted into thermal energy generating a temperature of about 1.6 keV. We achieved a two-order-of-magnitude increase in the neutron yield by optimizing the timing of the impact collision, demonstrating the high potential of impact ignition for fusion energy production.

A molecular imprinting technique was applied to the construction of prosthetic group-coupled tunable binding cavities for bisphenol A (BPA). A novel template molecule, with a structure consisting of BPA covalently conjugated with two allyl(4-carboxyphenyl)disulfides through ester bonds (BPA-D), was designed. After copolymerization of BPA-D with styrene and divinylbenzene, the BPA di(4-mercaptobenzoate) moieties were removed by reductive cleavage of the disulfide bonds, resulting in apo-type molecularly imprinted cavities bearing two thiol residues. 4-Mercaptobenzoic acid was introduced into the apo-type cavities as a prosthetic group through a disulfide bond by addition of 4,4'-dithiodibenzoic acid, which transformed the apo-type cavities into holo-type cavities with two carboxylic acid residues for binding BPA. When pyridyl prosthetic groups were introduced instead of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid by using 4,4'-dithiodipyridine, BPA recognition ability was maintained but with improved selectivity. The binding affinity was successfully altered several times by attaching and detaching these prosthetic groups, which showed that the apo-type scaffold could be reused. Furthermore, noncovalent-type ion-paired cofactors could be introduced, when the two thiol groups in the apo-type cavities were oxidized to sulfonic acid groups. When 1,2-diaminoethane (DAE) was added to the oxidized apo-type scaffold as a noncovalent-type cofactor, the binding activity was regulated successively, depending upon the concentrations of DAE added. By using various prosthetic groups and cofactors, the binding properties of the holo-type cavities could be tuned in a similar way to those found in biological systems.

Molecular imprinted membrane of indole-3-ethanol (IE) was prepared by hybridization of IE imprinted polymer powder and polysulfone (PSf) membrane. The IE imprinted polymer by covalent imprinting method was synthesized with copolymerization of indole-3-ethyl methacrylate (IEMA) and divinylbenzene (DVB). The cross-linked P(IEMA-co-DVB) was ground to be powders having less than 63 microm size and then hybridized within PSf membrane by using phase inversion process. The resultant imprinted powder showed binding capacities of 1.8, 7.2, 0 and 0 micromol g(-1) for IE, indole, 8-hydroxyquinoline and pyrrole in aqueous solution, respectively, and after hybridization with the PSf membrane, the value was 46, 26, 0 and 0 micromol g(-1). As a result, it was found that the IE imprinted powder alone showed non-selectively binding to the IE, but, the hybridized powder within the PSf membrane bound selectively the IE. Evidence was presented that hydrophobic interaction of the PSf matrix caused the selective and efficient binding. We also showed separation behavior of the hybrid membranes and discussed on the binding selectivity of the IE molecule. In view point of hybrid effect of the PSf membrane and the cross-linked imprinted powder, the results of the separation of these substrates were considered.

Pump–probe technique is an important means of studying the structure and dynamics of a single protein molecule. X-ray free electron lasers (XFELs) such as the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS) and SPring-8 Angstrom Compact free electron Laser (SACLA) provide the Angstrom-wavelength, high-intensity femtosecond pulses needed for revealing the structure of a single protein molecule without crystallization and for observing atomic motion during a chemical reaction via pump–probe experiments. In this paper, we demonstrated X-ray pump–optical probe and optical pump–X-ray probe experiments, creating new possibilities for time-resolved EUV spectroscopy of solid targets including wide-gap semiconductors such as gallium nitride.

Time-resolved vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) fluorescence was observed from a Czochralski method-grown Nd3+:LaF3 crystal excited by 61 nm femtosecond pulses from the extreme ultraviolet free-electron laser (EUV-FEL). The 172 nm fluorescence peak exhibited double exponential fluorescence decay with slow and fast decay components of 6.7 and 1.9 ns, respectively. The spectral profile is similar to those previously reported, but the double exponential nature has never been attained using conventional short-wavelength pulsed lasers. Our results demonstrate the importance of the EUV-FEL for short-wavelength spectroscopy, not just for rare-earth-doped fluorides but also for wide-band-gap semiconductors such as AlGaN.