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Hiroshi Nakase,1,2 Shinji Sakuma,3 Takumi Fukuchi,4 Takuya Yoshino,1,5 Kohta Mohri,3 Kohei Miyata,3,6 Hironori Kumagai,6 Ken-Ichiro Hiwatari,6 Kazufumi Tsubaki,6 Tetsuya Ikejima,6 Etsuo Tobita,6 Meiying Zhu,7 Kevin J Wilson,7 Kay Washington,8 John C Gore,7,9–13 Wellington Pham7,9–12,14 1Division of Endoscopy, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan; 2Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan; 3Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan; 4Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Osakafu Saiseikai Nakatsu Hospital, Osaka, Japan; 5Division of Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Digestive Disease Center, Kitano Hospital, Osaka, Japan; 6Advanced Materials R&D Laboratory, ADEKA Corp., Tokyo, Japan; 7Department of Radiology, Vanderbilt University Institute of Imaging Science, 8Division of Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Pathology, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, 9Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, 10Department of Biomedical Engineering, 11Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt School of Medicine, 12Vanderbilt Brain Institute, 13Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, 14Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA Abstract: The Thomsen–Friedenreich (TF) antigen represents a prognostic biomarker of colorectal carcinoma. Here, using a nanobeacon, the surface of which was fabricated with peanut agglutinin as TF-binding molecules, we demonstrate that the nanobeacon is able to detect TF antigen in frozen and freshly biopsied polyps using fluorescence microscopy. Our results provide important clues about how to detect aberrant colonic tissues in the most timely fashion. Given the versatile application method for this topical nanobeacon, the protocol used in this work is amenable to clinical colonoscopy. Moreover, the prospects of clinical translation of this technology are evident. Keywords: TF antigen, fluorescence colonoscopy, nanobeacon, colorectal cancer

Tissue fibrosis occurs when matrix production outpaces matrix degradation. Degradation of collagen, the main component of fibrotic tissue, is mediated through an ex tracellular proteolytic pathway and intracellular pathway of cellular uptake and lysosomal

The surface flashover characteristics initiated by the local field intensification have been investigated for lightning impulse, switching impulse and ac voltages, using disc-type model spacer systems with the wedge shaped gas gap formed between the spacer flange and the earthed sheath end. The surface flashover voltages of the systems have been evaluated by the simple theory in SF(sub 6) gas and compared with the experimental results. The practical methods by the thin dielectric coating of a low permittivity material on the sheath ends and by the shielding sheath ends protruded inwardly are effective in improving the dielectric performance of the system.

Metal–oxide–semiconductor structures with a Ge nanocrystal embedded in SiO[sub 2] films were fabricated by Ge[sup +] ion implantation and subsequent high-temperature annealing. The Raman spectra indicate the evidence of self-assembled Ge nanocrystals in the SiO[sub 2] films. The Ge size and its density were estimated to 3–5 nm and 1×10[sup 12]/cm[sup 2], respectively. Photoluminescence spectra showed a strong blue–violet band around 400 nm and a weak near-infrared band around 750 nm, respectively. The several implantation-induced deficient centers are believed to be responsible for the blue-light luminescence. Capacitance–voltage characteristics exhibit the flatband voltage shifts of 1.02 V after the electron injection into the SiO[sub 2]/Ge/SiO[sub 2] potential well. An anomalous leakage current was clearly observed in the current–voltage characteristics. The precise simulation of quantum electron transport in the SiO[sub 2] film indicates that the anomalous conduction is originated from resonant tunneling in the SiO[sub 2]/Ge/SiO[sub 2] double-well band structure. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]