Formation of Fine Protrusions by Sputter Etching of Stainless Steels and Evaluation of Gripping Ability of Fiber Sheets

Masayoshi Nakamura,Keijiro Nakasa,Yudai Kitamika,Sande Gao,Tsunetaka Sumomogi 한국정밀공학회 2021 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.22 No.4

Argon ion sputter etching of AISI type 420 stainless steels was carried out at a power of 250 W for 14.4 ks to form coneshaped protrusions with bottom diameters of 10–20 μm by using a radio-frequency magnetron sputter apparatus. The sputter etching was also applied to AISI type 316 stainless steel at 250 W for 10.8 ks, and fi ne column-shaped protrusions with diameters smaller than 500 nm were formed. In addition, plasma-nitriding was applied to the protrusions of type 420 steel using nitrogen gas of 0.53 Pa mixed with argon gas of 0.67 Pa at a power of 50 W for 1.8 ks. The gripping ability of protrusions was measured by friction tests for three types of fiber sheets. For a cotton cloth, the friction coefficients of the as-sputter-etched and plasma-nitrided type 420 steel specimens were 1.3 and 1.7 at a nominal compressive stress of 0.8 kPa, and that of the as-sputter-etched type 316 steel specimen was 1.0. These are much larger than 0.8 and 0.5 of the specimens polished with #100 emery paper and buff -polished with alumina powders. Also for microfiber and polyester fiber sheets, the specimen with protrusions showed a higher gripping ability than those of the mechanically polished specimens. The reason for the large gripping ability of protrusion specimens is due to piercing of the protrusions between and into weaving yarns.

Synthesis and Luminescence Properties of a Cyan-blue Thiosilicate-based Phosphor SrSi2S5:Eu2+

Masayoshi Nakamura,Hideki Kato,Yuji Takatsuka,Valery Petrykin,Satoko Tezuka,Masato Kakihana 한국정보디스플레이학회 2010 Journal of information display Vol.11 No.4

A series of Sr-Si-S compounds was synthesized using an advanced chemical method in which the use of one solution-based process uniformly dispersed the Eu2+ activators in the host crystals, to find new compositions that would suit phosphor applications. Particular focus was given to the Si-rich region. This led to the synthesis of a single-phase compound that showed an unknown X-ray diffraction pattern. This compound had a composition close to that of SrSi2S5. When this compound is activated with Eu2+ (SrSi2S5:Eu2+), it shows a cyan-blue emission with a main luminescence peak at 495 nm. This emission is excited by wavelengths of 250-440 nm and has a maximum excitation at 350 nm.

Improving the Surface Functionality of Curdlan by Conjugation with Unfolding Protein through Naturally Occurring Maillard Reaction

Nakamura, Soichiro,Ogawa, Masahiro,Saeki, Hiroki,Saito, Masayoshi,Miyasaka, Satoko,Hata, Junya,Adachi, Naoko,Hwang, Jae-Kwan The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2000 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.5 No.4

Protein conjugation of curdlan belonging to $\beta$-1, 3-glucan was carried out to improve it surface functionalities. The glucan was mixed with phosvitin, {TEX}$$\alpha$_{s}${/TEX}-casein, lysozyme or ovalbumin, respectively. The mixture was freeze-dried, and he resulting powder was incubated at 6$0^{\circ}C$ and 79% relative humidity for 12 days in order to generate a controlled Maillard reaction between curdlan and proteins. conjugation with unfolding proteins, i.e., phosvitin and {TEX}$$\alpha$_{s}${/TEX}-casein, drastically increased the solubility of the glucan, whereas lysozyme and ovalbmin did not. The solubility in water of curdlan was 3.44% for the phosvitin conjugate and 1.09% for the {TEX}$$\alpha$_{s}${/TEX}-casein conjugate. SDS-slab polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that curdlan was solubilized due to covalent binding with phosvitin. Emulsifying properties of curdlan were substantially improved by the conjugation with phosvitin and {TEX}$$\alpha$_{s}${/TEX}-casein. Emulsion stability of the curdlan-phosvitin conjugate was about 2.9 times greater than that of the curdlan-phosvitin mixture.

Calcitonin induces connective tissue growth factor through ERK1/2 signaling in renal tubular cells

Misa Nakamura,Takashi Ozaki,Aiko Ishii,Masayoshi Konishi,Yuji Tsubota,Toru Furui,Hayato Tsuda,Ichiro Mori,Kiichiro Ota,Kennichi Kakudo 생화학분자생물학회 2009 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.41 No.5

Calcitonin (CT), a polypeptide hormone, plays important roles in a variety of physiological processes. CT has been used clinically to treat osteoporosis and humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. In order to clarify the pharmacological effects of CT in the kidney, we identified potential downstream genes induced by CT in the renal cells. Using a cDNA subtraction hybridization method, we identified connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as a CT-induced gene in the porcine renal cell line, LLC-PK1. Furthermore, we found that CT-mediated induction of the gene was not inhibited by cycloheximide, which suggests that CTGF gene was not induced by an increased synthesis of regulating proteins. Therefore, CTGF is an immediate early gene. We further demonstrated that the regulation of CTGF gene expression by CT involved the ERK1/2 pathway, because PD98059, a MEK1 inhibitor, partially inhibited the mRNA expression of CTGF induced by CT. CT-induced CTGF protein expression was also observed in vivo. Our present findings suggest that CT induces the transcription of CTGF through ERK1/2 phosphorylation. We also identified twelve other genes induced by CT that, like CTGF, were related to wound healing. These results suggest that CT may have an effect on renal differentiation and wound healing in the kidney. Calcitonin (CT), a polypeptide hormone, plays important roles in a variety of physiological processes. CT has been used clinically to treat osteoporosis and humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. In order to clarify the pharmacological effects of CT in the kidney, we identified potential downstream genes induced by CT in the renal cells. Using a cDNA subtraction hybridization method, we identified connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as a CT-induced gene in the porcine renal cell line, LLC-PK1. Furthermore, we found that CT-mediated induction of the gene was not inhibited by cycloheximide, which suggests that CTGF gene was not induced by an increased synthesis of regulating proteins. Therefore, CTGF is an immediate early gene. We further demonstrated that the regulation of CTGF gene expression by CT involved the ERK1/2 pathway, because PD98059, a MEK1 inhibitor, partially inhibited the mRNA expression of CTGF induced by CT. CT-induced CTGF protein expression was also observed in vivo. Our present findings suggest that CT induces the transcription of CTGF through ERK1/2 phosphorylation. We also identified twelve other genes induced by CT that, like CTGF, were related to wound healing. These results suggest that CT may have an effect on renal differentiation and wound healing in the kidney.

Rapid Formation of Biologically Active Neoglycoprotein from Lysozyme and Xyloglucan Hydrolysates through Naturally Occurring Maillard Reaction

Soichiro Nakamura,Masayoshi Saito,Tetsuhisa Goto,Hiroki Saeki,Masahiro Ogawa,Masayuki Gotoh,Yasuhide Gohya,Jae-Kwan Hwang 한국식품영양과학회 2000 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.5 No.2

Hen egg-white lysozyme was conjugated with 7~9 mers xyloglucan hydrolysates (MW=1,400) at 60℃ and 79% relative humidity for 3 days. SDS-PAGE showed that the conjugation between lysozyme and the oligosaccharide began from 1-day incubation, and three molecules of carbohydrate chains were attached to a protein molecule after 3-day incubation. The enzymatic activity of lysozyme was totally conserved in the neoglycoprotein, when measured by using glycol chitin as substrate. Besides, the emulsifying properties of lysozyme were vastly improved by the conjugation with the oligosaccharide, in which emulsifying activity of the neoglycoprotein was five times higher than that of native one.

Improving the Surface Functionality of Curdlan by Conjugation with Unfolding Protein through Naturally Occurring Maillard Reaction

Soichiro Nakamura,Masahiro Ogawa,Hiroki Saeki,Masayoshi Saito,Satoko Miyasaka,Junya Hata,Naoko Adachi,Jae-Kwan Hwang 한국식품영양과학회 2000 Preventive Nutrition and Food Science Vol.5 No.4

Protein conjugation of curdlan belonging to β-1,3-glucan was carried out to improve its surface functionalities. The glucan was mixed with phosvitin, α_s-casein, lysozyme or ovalbumin, respectively. The mixture was freeze-dried, and the resulting powder was incubated at 60℃ and 79% relative humidity for 12 days in order to generate a controlled Maillard reaction between curdlan and proteins. Conjugation with unfolding proteins, i.e., phosvitin and α_s-casein, drastically increased the solubility of the glucan, whereas lysozyme and ovalbumin did not. The solubility in water of curdlan was 3.44% for the phosvitin conjugate and 1.09% for the α_s-casein conjugate. SDS-slab polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed that curdlan was solubilized due to covalent binding with phosvitin. Emulsifying properties of curdlan were substantially improved by the conjugation with phosvitin and α_s-casein. Emulsion stability of the curdlan-phosvitin conjugate was about 2.9 times greater than that of the curdlan-phosvitin mixture.

Surgical Outcomes of Multilevel Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion versus Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion for the Correction of Adult Spinal Deformity: A Comparative Clinical Study

Iwamae Masayoshi,Matsumura Akira,Namikawa Takashi,Kato Minori,Hori Yusuke,Yabu Akito,Sawada Yuta,Noriaki Hidaka,Nakamura Hiroaki 대한척추외과학회 2020 Asian Spine Journal Vol.14 No.4

Study Design: A retrospective case control study.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of multilevel lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LIF) and multilevel posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) in the surgical treatment of adult spinal deformity (ASD) and to evaluate the sagittal plane correction by combining LIF with posterior-column osteotomy (PCO).Overview of Literature: The surgical outcomes between multilevel LIF and multilevel PLIF in ASD patients remain unclear.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 31 ASD patients who underwent multilevel LIF combined with PCO (LIF group, n=14) or multilevel PLIF (PLIF group, n=17) and with a minimum 2-year follow-up. In the comparison between LIF and PLIF groups, their mean age at surgery was 69.4 vs. 61.8 years while the mean follow-up period was 29.2 vs. 59.3 months. We evaluated the transition of pelvic incidence–lumbar lordosis (PI–LL) and disc angle (DA) in the LIF group, in fulcrum backward bending (FBB), after LIF and after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) with PCO. The spinopelvic radiographic parameters were compared between LIF and PLIF groups.Results: Compared with the PLIF group, the LIF group had less blood loss and comparable surgical outcomes with respect to radiographic data, health-related quality of life scores and surgical time. In the LIF group, the mean DA and PI–LL were unchanged after LIF (DA, 5.8°; PI–LL, 15°) compared with the values using FBB (DA, 4.3°; PI–LL, 15°) and improved significantly after PSF with PCO (DA, 8.1°; PI–LL, 0°).Conclusions: In the surgical treatment of ASD, multilevel LIF is less invasive than multilevel PLIF and combination of LIF and PCO would be necessary for optimal sagittal correction in patients with rigid deformity.

Poster Session : PS 0295 ; Geriatrics : Changes of Physical Strength, Serum Adiponectin and Serum Lipids for 5-Years Time Course of the Elderly in a Japanese Countryside

( Motohiko Hara ),( Hiromi Nakamura Thomas ),( Kuniyasu Takahashi ),( Hiroaki Nobuhara ),( Ikuo Murohashi ),( Sachiko Yoshioka ),( Akira Haketa ),( Takahiro Ueno ),( Masayoshi Soma ) 대한내과학회 2014 대한내과학회 추계학술대회 Vol.2014 No.1

Background: We studied changes of physical strength, serum adiponectin and serum lipids in the same elder individuals for 5-years. Methods: We examined 156 volunteers (37 males and 119 females, mean age: 71. 5 years) in Ogano- town, Saitama, Japan. All subjects were examined in a battery of physical strength tests and serum laboratory examinations including BMI, blood pressure (BP), grip strength (GS), 10m walking time (10m WT), timed up and go test (TUG) and serum examinations consisting of HDL-cholesterol (HDL), triglyceride (TG) and adiponectin. All subjects were re-tested the battery of tests 5 years later. Results: In the 5-years, the significant changes from the baseline showed in the mean values of GS, TUG and serum adiponectin (males:6. 5μg/ml to 4. 8μg/ml, females: 8. 8μg/ml to 6. 7μg/ml) (p<0. 05, paired-t test). We divided the subjects into 3 groups by serum adiponectin levels; less than 4. 0μg/ml (19 males and 27 females), 4. 0 to 10. 0μg/ ml (14males and 72 females) and higher than 10. 0μg/ml (4 males and 20 females), and compared each groups. In the group of low adiponectin level, mean values of TG (males: 191. 7mg/dl, females: 176. 9mg/dl) was signifi cant higher than that of normal adiponectin level group (TG: males:116. 9mg/dl, females:138. 2mg/dl) and high adiponectin level group (TG: males: 102. 6mg/dl, females: 102. 7mg/dl), and mean values of HDL (males: 48. 5mg/ dl, females: 53. 0mg/dl) was signifi cant lower than that of normal adiponectin level group (HDL: males: 56. 8mg/dl, females: 58. 1mg/dl) and high adiponectin level group (HDL: males: 64. 3mg/dl, females: 70. 0mg/dl) in both of males and females. Conclusions: In elderly, 5-year changes are clear in physical tests. Serum adiponectin level showed decreasing for 5-years in males and females, and low serum adiponectin value has some relation with serum high TG and low HDL.

Risk of Revision After Vertebral Augmentation for Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture: A Narrative Review

Shinji Takahashi,Hiroyuki Inose,Koji Tamai,Masayoshi Iwamae,Hidetomi Terai,Hiroaki Nakamura 대한척추신경외과학회 2023 Neurospine Vol.20 No.3

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures (OVFs) can hinder physical motor function, daily activities, and the quality of life in elderly patients when treated conservatively. Vertebral augmentation, which includes vertebroplasty and balloon kyphoplasty, is a commonly used procedure for OVFs. However, there have been reports of complications. Although serious complications are rare, there have been instances of adjacent vertebral fractures, cement dislocation, and insufficient pain relief due to cement failure, sometimes necessitating revision surgery. This narrative review discusses the common risks associated with vertebral augmentation for OVFs, such as cement leakage and adjacent vertebral fractures, and highlights the risk of revision surgery. The pooled incidence of revision surgery was 0.04 (0.02– 0.06). The risks for revision are reported as follows: female sex, advanced age, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, dementia, blindness or low vision, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, split type fracture, large angular motion, and large endplate deficit. Various treatment strategies exist for OVFs, but they remain a subject of controversy. Current literature underscores the lack of substantial evidence to guide treatment strategies based on the risks of vertebral augmentation. In cases with a high risk of failure, other surgeries and conservative treatments should also be considered as treatment options.

Structural Study on the UCST-Type Phase Separation of Poly(<i>N</i>-isopropylacrylamide) in Ionic Liquid

Asai, Hanako,Fujii, Kenta,Ueki, Takeshi,Sawamura, Shota,Nakamura, Yutaro,Kitazawa, Yuzo,Watanabe, Masayoshi,Han, Young-Soo,Kim, Tae-Hwan,Shibayama, Mitsuhiro American Chemical Society 2013 Macromolecules Vol.46 No.3

<P>Upper critical solution temperature (UCST)-type phase separation behavior and its conformational change of well-defined poly(<I>N</I>-isopropylacrylamide) (pNIPAm) in deuterated room-temperature ionic liquid (IL), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide (<I>d</I><SUB>8</SUB>-[C<SUB>2</SUB>mIm<SUP>+</SUP>][TFSA<SUP>–</SUP>]), were investigated by means of dynamic light scattering (DLS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements. From the temperature dependence of time-averaged scattering intensity obtained by DLS, it was found that the cloud points of pNIPAm/<I>d</I><SUB>8</SUB>-[C<SUB>2</SUB>mIm<SUP>+</SUP>][TFSA<SUP>–</SUP>] solutions increased with molecular weight (<I>M</I><SUB>w</SUB>) and concentration. In addition, it was found that there are two relaxation modes of pNIPAm in the IL solutions. From SANS measurements, the radius of gyration, <I>R</I><SUB>g</SUB>, and the Flory–Huggins interaction parameter, χ, were evaluated as a function of temperature during the phase separation.</P><P><B>Graphic Abstract</B> <IMG SRC='http://pubs.acs.org/appl/literatum/publisher/achs/journals/content/mamobx/2013/mamobx.2013.46.issue-3/ma3020273/production/images/medium/ma-2012-020273_0009.gif'></P><P><A href='http://pubs.acs.org/doi/suppl/10.1021/ma3020273'>ACS Electronic Supporting Info</A></P>