Recent findings have demonstrated that amniotic fluid cells are an interesting and potential source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). In this study, we isolated MSCs from canine amniotic fluid and then characterized their multilineage differentiation ability. Canine amniotic fluid stem (cAFS) cells at passage 5 had a fibroblast-like morphology instead of forming colonies and were positive for pluripotent stem cell markers such as OCT4, NANOG, and SOX2. Flow cytometry analysis showed the expression of MSC surface markers CD44, CD29, and CD90 on the cAFS cells. In addition, these cells were cultured under conditions favorable for adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic induction. The results of this experiment confirmed the mesenchymal nature of cAFS cells and their multipotent potential. Interestingly, although the cells exhibited a fibroblast-like morphology after hepatogenic induction, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed that the expression of several hepatic genes, such as albumin, tyrosine aminotransferase, and alpha-1 antiproteinase, increased following maturation and differentiation. These findings indicated that cAFS cells have functional properties similar to those of hepatocytes. Taken together, the results of our study demonstrated that cAFS cells with mesenchymal characteristics can be successfully isolated from canine amniotic fluid and possess functional properties characteristic of hepatocytes. The findings of our work suggest that cAFS cells have the potential to be a resource for cell-based therapies in a canine model of hepatic disease.

This letter reports on an improved forward voltage drop (VF) and reverse leakage current (IR) in Schottky barrier rectifier using vanadium (V–SBR) as the barrier metal with a low barrier height (φB) and argon implantation. The VF for a V–SBR was as low as 0.25 V compared to 0.39 V for a molybdenum (Mo)–SBR at the same forward current density (JF) of 60 A/cm2. This study was able to achieve a good result for JF in SBR. Presently, the conventional Schottky rectifier with a low φB metal is used to achieve low VF, but at the expense of a high IR. To reduce this effect, crystalline Si was altered into amorphous Si using argon implantation on the n-epitaxial layer. Finally, a SBR with a high JF and low IR could be fabricated.

We have fabricated a microbiochemical reactor with integrated heater and sensor in the microwell, which is the unlike conventional micromachined biochemical reactors which have an integrated heater and sensor on the backside of the wafer. In order to pattern heater and sensor inside the well, a thick negative Su-8 photo- resist (PR) was used. As a desirable thermal isolation layer at the bottom of the well, we proposed a thick silicon dioxide layer using porous silicon. The temperature distribution in the well for various heater shapes and the effect of the thermal isolation layer was investigated by simulation. Because of the thick thermal isolation layer and Pt heater in the well, we can expect low power consumption and less heat dissipation to the silicon substrate, which is a good thermal conductor, and real-time sensing of reagent.