The development of observing the effects of culture environment on cell bioactivity is important for deeply understanding fundamental physiological issues in various in vitro experiments. Meanwhile, as we know, surfaces with multiscale structures on cell culture substrates could be used to aid in induction of many cellular responses, which are related to the advancement of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Herein, we review morphological and functional responses of different types of cells cultured in a two-dimensional or three-dimensional culture substrates.

Nanostructured lanthanum cobaltite powders were fabricated by a sol-gel method. Both lanthanum and cobalt nitrate salts were dissolved into water and ethylene glycol solvents, respectively. For both solvents, the XRD profiles of powders seemed to be observed as an amorphous or nano-sized single phase. However, unexpected phases were found by measurements of the mass and the density, and the ratios of the unexpected phases to the purity one determined the density of the particles.

In this study, the ammonia oxidation activity of Pt Black and Pt Oxide Black was investigated by using rotating disk electrode in order to clarify the influence of electrochemical reduction and the content of anion-exchange resin in the electrocatalyst layer. The H₂/O₂ and NH₃/O₂ fuel cells were then manufactured by using three types of anode catalysts, namely, Pt Black, Pt Oxide Black and Pt Oxide Black electrochemically reduced, and these discharge performances were examined. The ammonia oxidation activity of the Pt Oxide Black was increased by electrochemical reduction. The activity was also improved by changing the mass ratio of Pt/anion-exchange resin in the electrocatalyst layer. The increase of three-phase boundary was interpreted as the key factor in the improvement of ammonia oxidation activity. Both the H₂/O₂ and NH₃/O₂ fuel cells using the Pt Oxide Black electrochemically reduced as the anode catalyst showed the superior discharge performance compared with the fuel cells using the Pt Black or the Pt Oxide Black without reduction. The reaction mechanism of the ammonia oxidation on the former catalyst may be different from those on the two latter catalysts, with the result that the poisoning by the intermediate products of ammonia oxidation on the Pt Oxide Black electrochemically reduced was inhibited.

Propagation of higher order mode Lamb waves of 2 MHz in a glass plate is visualized using a strobe photoelastic system introducing sensitive tint visualization method. The birefringence from stresses causes the interference of color while the Lamb waves propagation. Time transition of ultrasonic waves propagation can be observed by varying the timing of strobe pulse light. A2 mode Lamb waves are selectively excited using oblique incidence by the wedge. Incidence angle was adjusted by the phase velocity calculated by the Rayleigh-Lamb frequency equation. Obtained bitmap image from the visualization system and CMOS camera are processed to enhance the contrast. Directions of applied forces were determined using image of static stresses. Lamb waves in the glass are clearly visualized with the polarity of sound pressure.