Waseda University

About: Waseda University is a education organization based out in Tokyo, Japan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Large Hadron Collider. The organization has 24220 authors who have published 46859 publications receiving 837855 citations. The organization is also known as: Waseda daigaku & Sōdai.

A chromium-free conversion coating of magnesium alloy by a phosphate–permanganate solution

Abstract: A chromium-free conversion coating for AZ91D magnesium alloy has been obtained by using a phosphate–permanganate solution, which has been developed out without acid pickling. Examinations have been carried out on the conversion coatings for morphology, composition, adhesion force, and corrosion resistance. Results show that the conversion coatings are relatively uniform and continuous, with thickness from 7 μm to 10 μm. They demonstrate good adhesion to matrix and have some non-penetrating tiny holes on the surface. The main elements of the conversion coating of AZ91D alloy are Mg, O, P, K, Al and Mn by EPMA analysis. Results of corrosion resistance test indicate that the corrosion resistance of the conversion coating by phosphate–permanganate solution is matched to that of the conversion coating by traditional chromate solution, but for the corrosion resistance after painting, the former is better than the later.

Adsorption of taxol into ordered mesoporous silicas with various pore diameters

Abstract: Taxol, an anticancer substance, was adsorbed into FSM-type mesoporous silicas with the pore sizes larger than 1.8 nm, while it was not adsorbed into the channels with the pore size less than 1.6 nm, indicating that mesoporous silicas have a molecular sieving property for relatively large molecules. The adsorption behavior of Taxol depended on the solvents; Taxol was not adsorbed into mesoporous silicas when methanol or acetone was used but was adsorbed when dichloromethane or toluene was used. The adsorption behavior of Taxol is discussed on the basis of the solubility parameters of the solvents. The proton-acceptor solubility parameter (δa) is a predominant factor in this liquid−solid partition system. The adsorption−desorption of an extract from yew needles was performed using the mesoporous silica and several elution solvents. In the adsorption, many components including Taxol were adsorbed into mesoporous silica. When the desorption of the extract components adsorbed into the mesoporous silica was per...

Computer-assisted simulations in orthodontic diagnosis and the application of a new cone beam X-ray computed tomography.

Abstract: Computational simulations which include three-dimensional (3-D) image processing and biomechanical calculations should provide useful information to our research and orthodontic clinic as a clinical tool defined as 'thinking'. In this review, 1) biomechanical simulations applied to predict the mandibular growth; 2) mathematical models of virtual bone cells and 3) 3-D images and solid model simulations for surgical planning are introduced. In biomechanical simulation, biting force, electromyographic (EMG) activity and cephalograms of 32 subjects were applied. Computational results of mathematical model were compared with actual bone growth in a rat. Three-dimensional image and solid model of 14 patients were utilized for their treatment planning. From the results, several concepts of our simulations were confirmed: 1) reaction forces generated by masticatory muscles at the condyle control the direction of mandibular growth; 2) some mathematical models have the possibility to describe the process of bone growth; 3) 3-D image processing software and solid models are necessary for diagnosis and planning of orthognathic surgery. We also believe that the orthodontists can more accurately predict the affects of surgical procedures and orthodontic tooth movement using the new cone beam X-ray computed tomography (CT) (CB MercuRay; Hitachi Medico Technology, Tokyo, Japan) and its advanced application software.

NF-κB non-cell-autonomously regulates cancer stem cell populations in the basal-like breast cancer subtype

Abstract: Patients with triple-negative breast cancer display the highest rates of early relapse of all patients with breast cancer. The basal-like subtype, a subgroup of triple-negative breast cancer, exhibits high levels of constitutively active NF-κB signalling. Here we show that NF-κB activation, induced by inflammatory cytokines or by epigenetically dysregulated NIK expression, cell-autonomously upregulates JAG1 expression in non-cancer stem cells. This upregulation stimulates NOTCH signalling in cancer stem cells in trans, leading to an expansion of cancer stem cell populations. Among breast cancers, the NF-κB-dependent induction of JAG1 and the NOTCH-dependent expansion of the cancer stem cell population occur only in the basal-like subtype. Collectively, our results indicate that NF-κB has a non-cell-autonomous role in regulating cancer stem cell populations by forming intratumoural microenvironments composed of JAG1-expressing non-cancer stem cells with a basal-like subtype.