Lateral Grain Growth in the Excimer Laser Crystallization of Poly-Si

We have succeeded in obtaining nondoped, thin poly-Si film (thickness ∼500Å) with excellent crystallinity and large grain size (Maximum grain size ∼4.5 μ m) by an excimer laser annealing Method, which offers the features of low-temperature processing and a short processing time. The grain size distribution shrinks in the region around 1.5 μ m and this poly-Si film exhibits a strong (111) crystallographic orientation. Poly-Si thin film transistors using these films show quite a high field effect mobility of 440cm2/V · s below 600°C process.

24 EFFECT OF CULTURE OF SEMEN IN A LOW PRESSURE CONDITION AT ROOM TEMPERATURE ON VIABILITY AND CAPACITATION STATUS OF BOAR SPERM

Sperm are affected by physical conditions, such as centrifugation and temperature. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of a low atmospheric pressure on viability and capacitation status of boar sperm during semen preservation at room temperature. Sperm-rich fraction from Berkshire boars was diluted at cells mL–1 with modified Modena containing 20% seminal fluid after washing with centrifugation (300 × g for 35 min at room temperature) in a Percoll gradient (45%/90%). The sperm suspension was stored at a pressure of 0.5 or 1.0 atmospheres in the dark at room temperature (25°C). Following storage for 4 h or 4 days, the semen samples were analysed for viability, intracellular calcium level, and acrosome status of the sperm. Viability and intracellular calcium level of sperm were assessed by flow cytometry following staining with SYBR-Green/PI and Furo-3/PL, respectively. Sperm status associated with capacitation and acrosome reaction was analysed by CTC-assay under fluorescence microscope. Statistical analyses of data from 4 or 5 replicated trials were carried out by ANOVA and with a Bonferroni-Dunn post hoc test (significance, P < 0.05). Viability of sperm was not different (P = 0.50) between 2 pressures (0.5 and 1.0 atm) 4 h and 4 days after the start of storage (94.6% v. 95.6% and 92.7% v. 94.3%, respectively). Although the percentage of live sperm with high intracellular calcium levels drastically increased (P < 0.01) 4 days after the start of storage (20.2% v. 23.4%) compared with 4 h of storage (5.5% v. 4.9%), there were no differences between sperm stored in 0.5 and 1.0 atm at 4 h (P = 0.80) and 4 days of storage (P = 0.40). After 4 h of storage, there were no differences in the percentage of intact (93.3% v. 94.7%), capacitated (5.5% v. 4.3%), and acrosome-reacted sperm (1.5% v. 1.5%) between sperm stored in 0.5 and 1.0 atm. After 4 days of storage, however, the percentage of intact sperm decreased when the sperm suspension was cultured in 0.5 atm (71.8%) compared with 1.0 atm (88.5%), and the incidence of capacitated sperm increased (14.3% v. 7.8%, respectively), whereas there was no difference in the acrosome-reacted cells. These results demonstrate that the status of sperm associated capacitation is stimulated in a low atmospheric pressure without any effects of the viability of sperm, during storage for 4 days.

Doping-dependent nodal fermi velocity of the high-temperature superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+δ) revealed using high-resolution angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy

The improved resolution of laser-based angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) allows reliable access to fine structures in the spectrum. We present a systematic, doping-dependent study of a recently discovered low-energy kink in the nodal dispersion of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O(8+δ) (Bi-2212), which demonstrates the ubiquity and robustness of this kink in underdoped Bi-2212. The renormalization of the nodal velocity due to this kink becomes stronger with underdoping, revealing that the nodal Fermi velocity is nonuniversal, in contrast with assumed phenomenology. This is used together with laser ARPES measurements of the gap velocity (v2) to resolve discrepancies with thermal conductivity measurements.

Neurodegenerative influence of oxidative stress in the retina of a murine model of diabetes

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Diabetic retinopathy is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, but the underlying mechanism is still obscure. Here, we focused on oxidative stress in the retina, and analysed its influence on retinal neurodegeneration, using an antioxidant, lutein.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were constantly fed either a lutein-supplemented diet or a control diet from the onset of diabetes, and their metabolic data were recorded. In 1-month-diabetic mice, reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the retina were measured using dihydroethidium and visual function was evaluated by electroretinograms. Levels of activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), synaptophysin and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were also measured by immunoblotting in the retina of 1-month-diabetic mice. In the retinal sections of 4-month-diabetic mice, histological changes, cleaved caspase-3 and TUNEL staining were analysed.

RESULTS

Lutein did not affect the metabolic status of the diabetic mice, but it prevented ROS generation in the retina and the visual impairment induced by diabetes. ERK activation, the subsequent synaptophysin reduction, and the BDNF depletion in the diabetic retina were all prevented by lutein. Later, in 4-month-diabetic mice, a decrease in the thickness of the inner plexiform and nuclear layers, and ganglion cell number, together with increase in cleaved caspase-3- and TUNEL-positive cells, were avoided in the retina of lutein-fed mice.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

The results indicated that local oxidative stress that has a neurodegenerative influence in the diabetic retina is prevented by constant intake of a lutein-supplemented diet. The antioxidant, lutein may be a potential therapeutic approach to protect visual function in diabetes.

Spin-related current suppression in a semiconductor quantum dot spin-diode structure

We experimentally study the transport features of electrons in a spin-diode structure consisting of a single semiconductor quantum dot (QD) weakly coupled to one nonmagnetic and one ferromagnetic (FM) lead, in which the QD has an artificial atomic nature. A Coulomb stability diamond shows asymmetric features with respect to the polarity of the bias voltage. For the regime of two-electron tunneling, we find anomalous suppression of the current for both forward and reverse bias. We discuss possible mechanisms of the anomalous current suppression in terms of spin blockade via the QD-FM interface at the ground state of a two-electron QD.

Time-course of Toll-like receptor 2 expression, as a predictor of recurrence in patients with bacterial infectious diseases

The clinical course of bacterial infectious diseases is often variable, especially in elderly patients. Thus, new biological markers have been sought to predict the disease outcome. Recent studies have revealed that Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and/or TLR4 on circulating monocytes are significantly up-regulated in bacterial infections. However, the lack of reliable quantification methods hampers extensive study on the modulation of these molecules in response to the patient's clinical condition. In this study, we developed a new quantitative flow cytometric analysis system for TLR2. We then carried out a longitudinal study on TLR2 expression levels on monocytes from patients suffering from bacterial infectious diseases during and after antibiotic treatment. The clinical outcome divided 37 patients into 'cure' (n = 24) and 'recurrence' (n = 13) groups. A significant difference between the two groups was recognized in the TLR2 levels just after antibiotic treatment (antibody-binding sites/cell, 4395 +/- 784 versus 5794 +/- 1484, P < 0.001). The risk of recurrence was associated significantly with TLR2 (P < 0.001), but not C-reactive protein (P = 0.351) levels assayed during the first remission. Furthermore, antibiotic effectiveness was associated inversely with TLR2 levels during antibiotic administration (P < 0.001). Taken together, TLR2 expression levels on monocytes provide critical information for planning treatment against bacterial infectious diseases.

Prevalence of antibody to hepatitis E virus among wild sika deer, Cervus nippon, in Japan

We examined 976 sika deer serum samples, 159 liver tissue samples and 88 stool samples collected from 16 prefectures in Japan, and performed ELISA and RT-PCR assays to detect antibodies to HEV and HEV RNA, respectively. Although 25 (2.6%) of 976 samples were positive for anti-HEV IgG, the antibody titers were very low. The OD values ranged between 0.018 and 0.486, forming a single distribution rather than a bimodal distribution, suggesting that the antibody detected in this study was not induced by HEV infection, or that deer have low sensitivity to HEV. HEV RNA was not detected in these samples, also suggesting that deer may not play a role as an HEV reservoir.

Progression rate of ALSFRS-R at time of diagnosis predicts survival time in ALS

The authors calculated the progression rate (DeltaFS) using the total revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) and symptom duration at diagnosis in 82 Japanese patients with ALS. Survival (death or tracheostomy) differed significantly with the DeltaFS and postdiagnostic period according to log-rank testing, but Cox proportional hazards modeling revealed no strong association between total ALSFRS-R and mortality, suggesting that the DeltaFS provides an additional predictive index beyond ALSFRS-R alone.

Identification of novel E2F1 target genes regulated in cell cycle-dependent and independent manners

The transcription factor E2F mediates cell cycle-dependent expression of genes important for cell proliferation in response to growth stimulation. To further understand the role of E2F, we utilized a sensitive subtraction method to explore new E2F1 targets, which are expressed at low levels and might have been unrecognized in previous studies. We identified 33 new E2F1-inducible genes, including checkpoint genes Claspin and Rad51ap1, and four genes with unknown function required for cell cycle progression. Moreover, we found three groups of E2F1-inducible genes that were not induced by growth stimulation. At least, two groups of genes were directly induced by E2F1, indicating that E2F1 can regulate expression of genes not induced during the cell cycle. One included Neogenin, WASF1 and SGEF genes, which may have a role in differentiation or development. The other was the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27(Kip1), which was involved in suppression of inappropriate cell cycle progression induced by deregulated E2F. E2F1-responsive regions of these genes were located more upstream than those of typical E2F targets and did not have typical E2F sites. These results indicate that there are groups of E2F1 targets, which are regulated in a distinct manner from that of typical E2F targets.

Flow-cytometric analysis on cytotoxic effect of thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines, on lymphocytes dissociated from rat thymic glands

There is a concern on the part of public health community that adverse health consequence by thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines for infants, may occur among infants during immunization schedule. Therefore, the cytotoxic action of thimerosal was examined on lymphocytes dissociated from thymic glands of young rats using a flow cytometer and respective fluorescent probes for monitoring changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and membrane potential, and for discriminating intact living cells, apoptotic living cells and dead cells. Incubation with thimerosal at 3 microM or more (up to 30 microM) for 60 min depolarized the membranes, associated with increasing the [Ca2+]i. Thimerosal at 30 microM induced an apoptotic change in membranes of almost all living cells. Furthermore, the prolonged incubation with 30 microM thimerosal induced a loss of membrane integrity, leading to cell death. Since the blood concentration of thimerosal after receiving vaccines is theoretically submicromolar, it may be unlikely that thimerosal affects lymphocytes of infants.