Fukushima College

We propose a simple optical instrument that simultaneously measures small-angle static and dynamic light scattering from video images, providing on-site characterization of particle aggregation. The system achieves low-frame-rate photographic measurements by integrating a collimating lens for forward light scattering with a complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor image sensor. Image analysis yields both a structural index parameter of a fractal dimension and a kinetic index of a diffusion coefficient, supporting real-time evaluation of aggregation dynamics. Using polystyrene latex particles, we demonstrate that the method reliably captures electrolyte-induced aggregation, highlighting its potential for process monitoring.

Resting cyst formation is a strategic aspect of the life cycle of some eukaryotes such as protists, and particularly ciliates, that enables adaptation to unfavorable environmental conditions. The formation of resting cysts involves large scale morphological and physiological changes that provide tolerance of extreme environmental stresses. The resting cyst shows suppression of normal features of life such as eating, moving, proliferation, and even mitochondrial metabolic activity, and appears lifeless. This review discusses resting cyst formation in the ciliates Colpoda as a representative model of cyst-forming organisms, and focusses on morphogenesis, molecular events, tolerances, and metabolic activities in resting cysts.

Hepatic macrophages respond to various microenvironmental signals and play a central role in maintaining hepatic homeostasis, dysregulation of which leads to various liver diseases. Fatty acid-binding protein 7 (FABP7), an intracellular lipid chaperone for polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), is highly expressed in liver macrophages. However, the mechanisms by which FABP7 regulates hepatic macrophage activation remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effects of FABP7 on the functions of hepatic macrophages in metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) and liver fibrosis models. In this study, we found that FABP7-deficient macrophages exhibited impaired M2 polarization, which reduced the fibrotic response of myofibroblasts and CD4+ T-cell infiltration into the liver tissues in a carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic fibrosis model. In vitro, FABP7-deficient macrophages exhibited decreased levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ and its target genes, including C-C motif chemokine ligand (CCL)-17 and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), compared to the wild-type (WT) macrophages post-interleukin (IL)-4 stimulation. However, these effects were inhibited by a PPARγ inhibitor. IL-4-stimulated WT macrophages also promoted CD4+ T-cell migration and hepatic fibroblast (TWNT-1 hepatic stellate cell [HSC]) activation, indicated by increased mRNA levels of actin alpha 2, smooth muscle (ACTA2), and collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1); however, these effects were inhibited in FABP7-deficient macrophages. Overall, FABP7 in hepatic macrophages modulated the crosstalk between hepatic fibroblasts and T cells by regulating M2 polarization. Therefore, regulation of hepatic macrophage function by FABP7 is a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.

ABSTRACTINTRODUCTIONNeuroblastoma is commonly seen in children younger than 5 years but is extremely rare in adults. There are only 23 reported cases of mediastinal neuroblastoma in adults, and no standard treatment strategy has been established.CASE PRESENTATIONA 79-year-old man was referred to our hospital for the investigation of an abnormal shadow observed on a routine chest radiograph. CT revealed a 5.5 × 5.0-cm mass in the anterior mediastinum, and fluorodeoxyglucose-PET demonstrated increased fluorodeoxyglucose uptake. Surgical resection was performed to obtain a definitive diagnosis and local control. Histopathological examination confirmed that the mass was a poorly differentiated neuroblastoma with invasion into the surrounding mediastinal fat. Postoperative radiotherapy was administered. The patient remains alive without recurrence at more than 5 years after surgery.CONCLUSIONSNeuroblastoma arising in the anterior mediastinum of adults is extremely rare and the long-term prognosis remains unclear. Complete resection followed by radiotherapy may contribute to prolonged disease-free survival in selected adult patients.

Abstract A Pd/Fe bimetallic catalyst in the presence of the Xantphos ligand promoted the cross-coupling reaction of alcohols and nitroarenes via a hydrogen-transfer redox system. The consecutive formation of aldimines from benzyl alcohols and nitroarenes proceeded in three steps in a single manipulation: oxidation of alcohols, reduction of nitroarenes, and dehydrative condensation of aldehydes and aminoarenes.

Peer Reviewed

The radiation tolerance of a microcontroller (Raspberry Pi) required for the development of decommissioning robots was investigated. We found that the flash memory needed to boot the microcontroller had particularly low-radiation tolerance, significantly reducing the operation duration of the microcontroller in a radiation environment. We also found that certain high-performance flash memories have high radiation tolerance. Investigation of the process by which flash memory becomes inoperable revealed that internal memory information is rewritten owing to irradiation, leading to limited lifetime for memory.

The effects of lattice distortion on magnetocrystalline anisotropy in α″-Fe16N2 was studied by first-principles calculations. We found that local distortion of the Fe lattice induced by interstitial N atoms is a key factor for realizing uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in α″-Fe16N2 systems. If the local distortion disappears, the uniaxial anisotropy constant K u becomes nearly zero even though there is global distortion with an axial ratio c/a = 1.1. We also discuss one possibility that the random distribution of N atoms suppresses the local distortion effect and the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy in FeN for the α′ phase and martensite phase.