When the zero-index medium has Kerr-type nonlinearity, the threshold for optical bistability can be reduced noticeably due to the enhanced uniform fields. Based on a transmission line, we fabricate an effective zero-index medium

sandwiched in electric and magnetic walls and experimentally demonstrate the enhanced nearly uniform fields. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3573506]“
“We have previously shown that islet emboli in the portal vein block blood flow and induce local inflammatory reaction, resulting in functional loss of islet grafts following intraportal transplantation. This study was designed to test whether Toll-like receptor (TLR) activation mediates early islet graft failure. Syngeneic islet grafts were transplanted into chemically induced diabetic mice, and Galardin molecular weight TLR deficient mice were used as donors and/or recipients of islet grafts. Islet viability, proinflammatory cytokines, high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) and NF-kappa B activation were analyzed by bioluminesce imaging (BLI), quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR)

and histology. Early islet graft failure was observed in mice with intraportal islet engrafts with increased proinflammatory cytokines, HMGB1 expression, NF-kappa B activation, caspase-3 and TUNEL positive cells. Deficiency of TLR4 in donor, but not in recipient, inhibited NF-kappa B activation, reduced proinflammatory cytokines and improved viability of islet grafts. Blockade of HMGB1 with anti-HMGB1 monoclonal antibody (mAb, 2g7) inhibited inflammatory reactions, as evidenced by reduced Kinesin inhibitor buy Vorinostat TNF alpha and IL-1 ss production, and improved islet viability. We conclude that TLR4 activation mediates early graft failure following intraportal islet transplantation. Inhibition of TLR4 activation represents a novel strategy to attenuate

early graft failure following intraportal islet transplantation.”
“An electromagnetic design of a double-sided high temperature superconducting (HTS) linear synchronous motor (HTSLSM) with an HTS bulk magnet secondary is introduced in this paper. A HTS magnetic suspension system is applied to replace the sliding rail to levitate the secondary mover resulting in the HTSLSM moving without sliding friction. The thrust model of the HTSLSM is built using a magnetic circuit method and the thrust characteristics obtained from the model are compared with finite element analysis and practical testing results. The theoretical analysis on the prototype has also been verified by measurements. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3572237]“
“Although glomerular hematuria is likely a sign of chronic kidney disease that will develop into overt nephropathy after donation, it remains unclear whether prospective donors with hematuria should be excluded. We reviewed the medical records of 242 donors who donated at our institution from 2001 to 2007 and surveyed the prevalence of hematuria pre- and postdonation.