The formation of nanostructure on tungsten (W) surface due to Helium (He) plasma irradiation can be harmful for fusion reactors. Up to now, W nanostructure growth was investigated mainly without ...sputtering. Under sputtering regime, nanostructure growth competes with erosion due to sputtering. In this study, the nanostructure growth was investigated in the linear divertor simulator NAGDIS-II at incident ion energy range of 200–500eV. The growth of nanostructures was investigated by experiments and calculations under the sputtering regime. With increasing incident ion energy, the thickness of nanostructured W layer saturated rapidly at a lower He fluence, resulting in thinner W nanostructured layer. The erosion rate of the top of the W nanostructured layer was obtained from the comparison with the numerical calculation.
The trigeminal nerve conveys delicate sensations such as warmth, pain, and tactile pressure in the oral and facial regions, and most trigeminal afferent cell bodies are located in the trigeminal ...ganglion. Our previous study has shown that sensations in trigeminal nerve innervated areas, specifically in the maxillofacial region, exhibit diurnal variation and that sensitivity changes time-dependently. In this study, we aimed to clarify the rhythm of expression of clock gene in the trigeminal ganglion of mice to elucidate the mechanism of circadian regulation in the same area.
Immunohistochemistry examined the expression of the PER2 protein in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and trigeminal ganglion of wild-type mice. To measure gene expression as bioluminescence, PERIOD2::LUCIFERASE knock-in (PER2::LUC) mice were used. Unilateral trigeminal ganglion and brain sections including the suprachiasmatic nucleus were incubated
. Bioluminescence levels were then measured using a highly sensitive photodetector. The same experiments were then conducted with
gene-deficient (
) or
gene-deficient (
) mice.
In the trigeminal ganglion, immunohistochemistry localized PER2 protein expression within the neuronal cell body. Mouse trigeminal ganglion
tissues showed distinct circadian oscillations in PER2::LUC levels in all genotypes, wild-type,
, and
. The period was shorter in the trigeminal ganglion than in the suprachiasmatic nucleus; it was shorter in
and longer in
mice than in the wild-type mice.
The expression of
in neurons of the trigeminal ganglion in
culture and the oscillation in a distinct circadian rhythm suggests that the trigeminal ganglion is responsible for the relay of sensory inputs and temporal gating through autonomous circadian oscillations.
Summary
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) control immune responses by suppressing various inflammatory cells. Tregs in newborn babies may play an important role in preventing excessive immune responses ...during their environmental change. We examined the number and phenotype of Tregs during the neonatal period in 49 newborn babies. Tregs were characterized by flow cytometry using cord blood (CB) and peripheral blood (PB) from the early (7–8 days after birth) and late (2–4 weeks after birth) neonatal periods. CD4+forkhead box protein 3 (FoxP3+) T cells were classified into resting Tregs (CD45RA+FoxP3low), activated Tregs (CD45RA– FoxP3high) and newly activated T cells (CD45RA– FoxP3low). Compared with CB and PB during the late neonatal period, the percentage of Tregs and all Treg subpopulations in the CD4+ lymphocyte population were increased significantly during the early neonatal period. Furthermore, the proportion and absolute number of activated Tregs were increased markedly compared with other Treg subpopulations, such as resting Tregs and newly activated T cells (non‐Tregs), in the early neonatal period. Increased Tregs concomitantly expressed the suppressive molecule cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen‐4 (CTLA‐4). The up‐regulated expression of chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) and down‐regulated expression of CCR7 were also observed in expanded Tregs. When cord blood cells were cultured in vitro with CD3 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) for 5 days, CD4+CD45RA–FoxP3high cells were increased significantly during the culture. Thus, the presence of increased activated Tregs in early neonates may play an important role in immunological regulation by suppressing excessive T cell activation caused by the immediate exposure to ubiquitous antigens after birth.
Regulatory T cells increase and may play an important role in immune response to adapt environmental change after birth.
Nanostructuring technology has been proven to create unique biological properties in various biomaterials. Here we present a discovered phenomenon of titanium nano-nodular self-assembly that occurs ...during physical vapor depositions of titanium (Ti) onto specifically conditioned micro-textured titanium surfaces, and test a hypothesis that the Ti nanostructure has the potential to enhance bone-titanium integration. The nanostructure creation effectively provided geometrical undercut and increased the surface area by up to 40% compared with the acid-etched surface with microtopography. Depending on the size control, the nano-nodules can be added without smearing the existing micro-texture, creating a nano-micro-hybrid architecture. Titanium implants with 560-nm nano-nodules produced 3.1 times greater strength of osseointegration than those with an acid-etched surface in a rat femur model. The discovered titanium nano-nodular self-structuring has been proven feasible on biocompatible materials other than titanium, offering new avenues for the development of implant surfaces and other implantable materials for better bone-generative and -regenerative potential.
The C‐shaped root canal constitutes an unusual root morphology that can be found primarily in mandibular second permanent molars. Due to the complexity of their structure, C‐shaped root canal systems ...may complicate endodontic interventions. A thorough understanding of root canal morphology is therefore imperative for proper diagnosis and successful treatment. This review aims to summarize current knowledge regarding C‐shaped roots and root canals, from basic morphology to advanced endodontic procedures. To this end, a systematic search was conducted using the MEDLINE, BIOSIS, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Google Scholar, Web of Science, PLoS and BioMed Central databases, and many rarely cited articles were included. Furthermore, four interactive 3D models of extracted teeth are introduced that will allow for a better understanding of the complex C‐shaped root canal morphology. In addition, the present publication includes an embedded best‐practice video showing an exemplary root canal procedure on a tooth with a pronounced C‐shaped root canal. The survey of this unusual structure concludes with a number of suggestions concerning future research efforts.
In this study, enhanced radial transport in a volume-recombining region in detached helium plasmas in a linear device, Magnum-PSI, was investigated. By installing a reciprocating Langmuir probe, ...electrostatic fluctuations with high spatiotemporal resolutions were measured and analyzed. As a result, the ion-flux profile broadening in the detached state and the coherent plasma structure, which has an internal electric field in the azimuthal direction, were confirmed. By analyzing the emission intensities obtained with a fast framing camera viewing around the probe head, an enhanced fluctuation, which has an azimuthal mode number of m = 1, was found to be correlated with radial plasma ejection. This m = 1 mode rotates by the drift with the radial electric field and magnetic field and is correlated with the m = 0 mode. These two modes behave like a predator and prey; they quasi-periodically appear with about a quarter-period shift. Because the ion flux flowing into the target plate decreases when the radial transport is enhanced, this cross-field transport disperses the ion flux and decreases the maximum heat load applied to the target.
Summary
Uveitis (intraocular inflammation) is a leading cause of loss of vision. Although its aetiology is largely speculative, it is thought to arise from complex genetic–environmental interactions ...that break immune tolerance to generate eye‐specific autoreactive T cells. Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU), induced by immunization with the ocular antigen, interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP), in combination with mycobacteria‐containing complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), has many clinical and histopathological features of human posterior uveitis. Studies in EAU have focused on defining pathogenic CD4+ T cell effector responses, such as those of T helper type 17 (Th17) cells, but the innate receptor pathways precipitating development of autoreactive, eye‐specific T cells remain poorly defined. In this study, we found that fungal‐derived antigens possess autoimmune uveitis‐promoting function akin to CFA in conventional EAU. The capacity of commensal fungi such as Candida albicans or Saccharomyces cerevisae to promote IRBP‐triggered EAU was mediated by Card9. Because Card9 is an essential signalling molecule of a subgroup of C‐type lectin receptors (CLRs) important in host defence, we evaluated further the proximal Card9‐activating CLRs. Using single receptor‐deficient mice we identified Dectin‐2, but not Mincle or Dectin‐1, as a predominant mediator of fungal‐promoted uveitis. Conversely, Dectin‐2 activation by α‐mannan reproduced the uveitic phenotype of EAU sufficiently, in a process mediated by the Card9‐coupled signalling axis and interleukin (IL)‐17 production. Taken together, this report relates the potential of the Dectin‐2/Card9‐coupled pathway in ocular autoimmunity. Not only does it contribute to understanding of how innate immune receptors orchestrate T cell‐mediated autoimmunity, it also reveals a previously unappreciated ability of fungal‐derived signals to promote autoimmunity.
Intra‐ocular autoimmune disease (termed uveitis) presents a considerable medical challenge; yet the underlying mechanisms that mediate the eye's susceptibility to disease remain poorly understood. Even less is understood of the innate receptor pathways that are responsible for orchestration of T cell‐mediated autoimmunity targeted to the eye. This report reveals the inductive potential of fungal‐derived cues in autoimmunity with Dectin‐2/Card9‐mediated signaling axis as a mechanism.
We have investigated modification of WNOx films (thickness of 20–80 nm) by D and H ions with the energy of ~1 keV, where D and H ions are retained within the film and compared with the results by ...medium-energy and high-energy (~1 MeV/u) ion irradiation. WNOx films are prepared on C-plane-cut-sapphire (C-Al2O3) substrate. The composition x is determined to be ~0.4 and the film thickness by Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) of He+ ions. X-ray diffraction with Cu- Kα radiation (XRD) is employed to study structural modification. We find monotonic decrease of the XRD intensity with D and H ion fluence, and lattice expansion and compaction for low and high D fluence, respectively. D and H retention is measured by nuclear reaction analysis (NRA) using 15N and 3He ion beams, and elastic recoil detection (ERD). It is discussed whether effects of energy deposition by ions can be separated from inclusion effects of D and H.
•Lattice expansion and compaction of WNOx film have been observed for low and high fluence of D and H ion irradiation.•Lattice disordering at low fluence of D and H ions can be explained by doping effect.•After H ion irradiation for WNOx, H’s distribute within the depth of 20 nm, in agreement with the simulation.•Considerable H exists in as deposited WNOx and D(H) saturation-density by D(H) ion irradiation is comparable with W density.
Negative through-the-thickness Poisson’s ratios are investigated macroscopically and microscopically in the elastic–viscoplastic behavior of angle-ply carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) ...laminates. For this purpose, an analysis method is proposed based on a homogenization theory for nonlinear time-dependent composites with point-symmetric internal structures. This method is able to efficiently analyze both the macroscopic and microscopic elastic–viscoplastic properties of angle-ply CFRP laminates fully modeled with microstructures consisting of fibers and a matrix. Using the proposed method, the elastic–viscoplastic analysis of angle-ply carbon fiber/epoxy laminates with various laminate configurations is performed to investigate their Poisson’s ratios in the viscoplastic region. It is revealed that, for a range of laminate configurations, the through-the-thickness Poisson’s ratios exhibit negative values which become increasingly negative as the viscoplastic deformation progresses in the laminates. The effect of strain rate on this increasing negativity is also demonstrated, and microscopic mechanisms are investigated to explain this trend. It is further shown that the increasing negativity significantly affects microscopic interlaminar stress distributions.
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