In these lectures I describe long scale properties of fluctuating polymerized membranes in the presence of network anisotropy and random heterogeneities. Amazingly, even infinitesimal amount of these seemingly innocuous but physically important ingredients in the membrane’s internal structure leads to a wealth of striking qualitatively new phenomena. Anisotropy leads to a “tubule” phase that is...

We have examined the monomer-polymer equilibria which form the cytoskeletal polymers in squid axoplasm by extracting protein at low concentrations of monomer. The solution conditions inside the axon were matched as closely as possible by the extraction buffer (buffer P) to preserve the types of protein associations that occur in axoplasm. Upon extraction in buffer P, all of the neurofilament pr...

The production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), such as MMP9, by macrophages may be a critical factor in the rupture of unstable atherosclerotic plaques and aortic aneurysms. Therefore, we studied the role of matrix and soluble cytokines in the regulation of monocyte/macrophage expression of MMP9. Although freshly isolated monocytes synthesize little MMP9, cells cultured on tissue-culture p...

Rare earth copper sulfides, LnCuS2 (Ln 1⁄4 Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Gd and Tb), powders were synthesized by the following procedure: (1) Ln-Cu complex oxide was synthesized using the polymerized complex method, and (2) LnCuO2 was sulfurized by the CS2 gas. CS2 gas sulfurization combined with a polymerized complex method can reduce a reaction temperature and a duration time. TG-DTA and XRD results indica...

PURPOSE Polyamide polymers do not provide sufficient bond strength to auto-polymerized resins for repairing fractured denture or replacing dislodged denture teeth. Limited treatment methods have been developed to improve the bond strength between auto-polymerized reline resins and polyamide denture base materials. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of surface modifica...

OBJECTIVE To explore the use of β-lactoglobulin polymerized using microbial transglutaminase and heating to identify whether protein polymerization could reduce in vivo allergenicity and maintain in vitro and ex vivo immunoreactivity for use in tolerance-induction protocols. METHODS Based on previous protocols applied in mice and children, we performed in vivo challenges (using a skin prick t...

BACKGROUND To evaluate a potential correlation between flexural strength and indirect tensile strength in assessing the mechanical strength of resin composite cements. METHODS Flexural strength (n = 5) and indirect tensile strength (n = 5) of 7 resin composite cements (RelyX Unicem 2 Automix [RXU], Panavia SA [PSA], Clearfil SA [CSA], Panavia F2.0 [PF2], Multilink Implant [MLI], DuoCem [DCM],...