University of Tsukuba

About: University of Tsukuba is a education organization based out in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 36352 authors who have published 79483 publications receiving 1934752 citations. The organization is also known as: Tsukuba daigaku & Tsukuba University.

Genome-wide association study identifies three new susceptibility loci for adult asthma in the Japanese population

Abstract: Bronchial asthma is a common inflammatory disease caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. Through a genome-wide association study and a replication study consisting of a total of 7,171 individuals with adult asthma (cases) and 27,912 controls in the Japanese population, we identified five loci associated with susceptibility to adult asthma. In addition to the major histocompatibility complex and TSLP-WDR36 loci previously reported, we identified three additional loci: a USP38-GAB1 locus on chromosome 4q31 (combined P = 1.87 × 10(-12)), a locus on chromosome 10p14 (P = 1.79 × 10(-15)) and a gene-rich region on chromosome 12q13 (P = 2.33 × 10(-13)). We observed the most significant association with adult asthma at rs404860 in the major histocompatiblity complex region (P = 4.07 × 10(-23)), which is close to rs2070600, a SNP previously reported for association with FEV(1)/FVC in genome-wide association studies for lung function. Our findings offer a better understanding of the genetic contribution to asthma susceptibility.

Mechanical Properties and Shape Memory Behavior of Ti-Nb Alloys

Abstract: Mechanical properties and shape memory behavior of Ti-(20–29)at%Nb alloys were investigated in order to develop Ni-free biomedical shape memory alloys. The Ti-Nb alloys were fabricated by arc melting method. The ingots were cold-rolled with a reduction up to 95% in thickness and then solution treated at 1173 K for 1.8 ks. The martensitic transformation temperature decreased by 43 K per 1 at% increase of Nb content. The shape memory effect and superelastic behavior were observed at room temperature in the Ti-(22–25)at%Nb alloys and Ti-(25.5– 27)at%Nb alloys, respectively. A small enthalpy of the martensitic transformation and a large difference between Ms and Mf were observed in the Ti-Nb alloys compared to Ti-Ni shape memory alloys. The maximum recovered strain of 3% was obtained at room temperature in solution treated Ti-(25–27)at%Nb alloys. The heat treatment at 573 K for 3.6 ks stabilized superelastic behavior of Ti-Nb alloys by increasing the critical stress for slip.

Production of uniform droplets using membrane, microchannel and microfluidic emulsification devices

Abstract: This review provides an overview of major microengineering emulsification techniques for production of monodispersed droplets. The main emphasis has been put on membrane emulsification using Shirasu Porous Glass and microsieve membrane, microchannel emulsification using grooved-type and straight-through microchannel plates, microfluidic junctions and flow focusing microfluidic devices. Microfabrication methods for production of planar and 3D poly(dimethylsiloxane) devices, glass capillary microfluidic devices and single-crystal silicon microchannel array devices have been described including soft lithography, glass capillary pulling and microforging, hot embossing, anisotropic wet etching and deep reactive ion etching. In addition, fabrication methods for SPG and microseive membranes have been outlined, such as spinodal decomposition, reactive ion etching and ultraviolet LIGA (Lithography, Electroplating, and Moulding) process. The most widespread application of micromachined emulsification devices is in the synthesis of monodispersed particles and vesicles, such as polymeric particles, microgels, solid lipid particles, Janus particles, and functional vesicles (liposomes, polymersomes and colloidosomes). Glass capillary microfluidic devices are very suitable for production of core/shell drops of controllable shell thickness and multiple emulsions containing a controlled number of inner droplets and/or inner droplets of two or more distinct phases. Microchannel emulsification is a very promising technique for production of monodispersed droplets with droplet throughputs of up to 100 l h−1.