XIII. Yeast sequencing reports. Cloning and sequencing of the NES24 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

We have cloned NES24 using a temperature-sensitive nes24-1 mutant as a host and sequenced a 3162 bp XhoI-EcoRI DNA fragment containing the NES24 gene. Computer analysis revealed that this segment contains a 1806 bp open reading frame which is needed for complementation of the nes24-1 mutation. We found SUP8 in the region upstream of the NES24 gene, placing the NES24 gene on chromosome XIII. A protein homology search indicated that NES24 encodes a new protein. The disruption of the NES24 gene resulted in temperature-sensitive growth. The sequence has been deposited in DDBJ/EmBL/GenBank data bases under Accession Number D15052.     

Hyperperfusion syndrome following carotid endarterectomy: evaluation using diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging--case report

OBJECTIVE: Epidemiological evidence suggests that resistance to insulin is the common nexus of the accumulation of factors in patients at high cardiovascular risk. To find a test which enables resistance to insulin to be identified in large populations will allow preventive and therapeutic measures to be taken. DESIGN: Crossover. SETTING: Carrascosa del Campo and Cuenca Health Centres. PARTICIPANTS: 408 patients (154 men and 254 women), all the non-diabetic obese patients at the two health centres, were studied. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and uric acid were measured. Patients were medically examined, and blood pressure, waist and hip measurements, toxic habits and cardiovascular history were found. They were classified by pathology and normograms. The O'Sullivan and microalbuminuria tests were performed, and all the statistical associations with biochemical and medical characteristics were studied. The O'Sullivan test was significantly associated (p < 0.01) with cardiovascular risk and insulin-resistance factors such as hypercholesterolaemia (RR 1.63), hypertension (RR 1.92), hypertriglyceridaemia (RR 2.47), hyperuricaemia (RR 1.80), with the Berglund resistance index (RR 1.52) and the microalbuminuria test (RR 1.83). The association was more consistent when there were a number of factors combining. There was no relationship with the waist/hip index found. CONCLUSION: The O'Sullivan test, on its own or with the microalbuminuria test, seems very useful for identifying obese subjects with resistance to insulin.     

Thermal conductivity of polymer filled with carbon materials: Effect of conductive particle chains on thermal conductivity

Thermal and electric conductivities of polyethylene and poly(vinyl chloride) filled with carbon materials over a wide range are measured in order to study the effect of formed conductive particle chains on thermal conductivities of the composites. With increase of content of carbon particles, the amount of formed conductive chains exponentially increases and the conductive chains tend largely to increase thermal conductivity of a composite. Some models proposed to predict thermal conductivity of a composite in a two-phase system could not be applied to the system with high volume content of particles. In this study, a new thermal conduction model is proposed to correctly predict thermal conductivity of a composite which contains various amounts of particles ranging from a small content, to the region in which conductive chains largely effect a thermal conductivity of a composite. Thermal conductivity of a polymer filled with high volume content of particles largely decreased with a rise in temperature. This phenomenon can be referred to as a PTC phenomenon in thermal resistance.     

Electric double‐layer capacitor module with series‐parallel reconfigurable cell voltage equalizers

When electric double‐layer capacitors (EDLCs) are connected in series, a cell voltage imbalance occurs due to nonuniform cell properties. Cell voltage imbalance should be minimized to prolong cycle lives and maximize the available energy of cells. In this study, we propose a series‐parallel reconfigurable cell voltage equalizer that is considered suitable for energy storage systems using EDLCs instead of traditional secondary batteries as the main energy storage sources. The proposed equalizer requires only EDLCs and switches as its main circuit elements, and it utilizes EDLCs not only for energy storage but also for equalization. An equivalent circuit model using equivalent resistors that can be regarded as an index of equalization speed is developed. Current distribution and cell voltage imbalancing during operation are quantitatively generalized. Experimental charge–discharge tests were performed on the EDLC modules to demonstrate the performance of the cell voltage equalizer. All the cells in the modules could be charged/discharged uniformly even when a degradation‐mimicking cell was intentionally included in the module. The resultant cell voltage imbalances and current distributions were in good agreement with those predicted by mathematical analyses. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 181(4): 38–50, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/eej.21287     

Active device‐less voltage equalization charger using capacitors,diodes, and an AC power source

Conventional cell/module voltage equalizers or equalization chargers based on traditional DC‐DC converters require numerous switches or transformers as the number of series connections increases; therefore, their cost and complexity tend to increase and their reliability decreases as the number of connections increases. This paper proposes a novel voltage equalization charger that consists only of passive components such as capacitors, diodes, and a transformer. The fundamental operating principle, major features, and derivation of equivalent DC circuits are presented. A symmetrical configuration is also proposed to mitigate the RMS current flowing through energy storage cells in the charging process. Simulations and experimental charging and cycle tests were performed on series‐connected electric double‐layer capacitor modules to demonstrate the equalization performance. The experimental and simulation results were in good agreement, and the voltage imbalances were gradually eliminated as time elapsed even during charge‐discharge cycling. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 181(3): 39‐48, 2012; Published online in Wiley Online Library ( wileyonlinelibrary.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.21288     

Simple Short-Pulse CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Laser Excited by Longitudinal Discharge without High-Voltage Switch

We have developed a longitudinally excited CO₂ laser without a high-voltage switch. The laser produces a short laser pulse similar to those from TEA and Q-switched CO₂ lasers. This system, which is the simplest short-pulse CO₂ laser yet constructed, includes a pulsed power supply, a high-speed step-up transformer, a storage capacitor, and a laser tube. At high pressure (4.2 kPa and above), a rapid discharge produces a short laser pulse with a sharp spike pulse. In mixed gas (CO₂: N₂: He = 1: 1: 2) at a pressure of 9.0 kPa, the laser pulse contains a spike pulse of 218 ns and has a pulse tail length of 16.7 μs.     

Budding of fowlpox and pigeonpox viruses at the surface of infected cells

Chick embryo fibroblasts and chorioallantoic membranes infected with fowlpox virus (FWPV) or pigeonpox virus (PPV) were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Immature virus particles were observed in finely granular areas, i.e. virus factories, of the cytoplasm. These particles had various forms depending on their stages of development. Many tubular structures were also seen in these regions. Mature virus particles with ellipsoidal or brick-shaped forms enclosing electron-dense cores were detected throughout the cytoplasm. Notably, there was a high frequency of virus budding at the cell surface, but only occasional virus wrapping in the cytoplasm. Another remarkable feature of the infected cells was accumulation of many virions just beneath the plasma membrane, indicating that this phenomenon is closely related to virus budding. Based on the observed frequency of budding, this mechanism seems to be the predominant way for FWPV and PPV to exit the cell.     

Study on critical dimension of printable phase defects using an EUV microscope

We constructed an extreme ultraviolet microscopy (EUVM) system for actinic mask inspection that consists of Schwarzschild optics and an X-ray zooming tube. This system was used to inspect finished extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUVL) masks and Mo/Si glass substrates. A clear EUVM image of a 300-nm-wide pattern on a 6025 glass mask was obtained. The resolution was estimated to be 50 nm or less from this pattern. Programmed phase defects on the glass substrate were also used for inspection. The EUV microscope was able to resolve a programmed pit defect with a width of 40 nm and a depth of 10 nm and also one with a width of 70 nm and a depth of 2 nm. However, a 75-nm-wide 1.5-nm-deep pit defect was not resolved. Thus, in this study, one critical dimension of a pit defect was estimated to be a depth of 2 nm.     

Engineering of Lipid Nanoparticles by the Multifunctionalization of the Surface with Amino Acid Derivatives for the Neutralization of a Target Toxic Peptide

Protein affinity reagents (e.g., antibodies) are often used for basic research, diagnostics, separations, and disease therapy. Although a lot of “synthetic” protein affinity reagents have been developed as a cost-effective alternative to antibodies, their low biocompatibility is a considerable problem for clinical application. Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) represent a highly biocompatible drug delivery agent. However, little has been reported that LNP itself works as a protein affinity reagent in living animals. Here, LNP is engineered for binding to and neutralizing a target toxic peptide in living animals by multifunctionalization with amino acid derivatives. Multifunctionalized LNP (MF-LNP) is prepared using amino acid derivative-conjugated lipids. Optimized MF-LNP exhibits nanomolar affinity to the target toxic peptide and inhibits toxic peptide-dependent hemolysis and cytotoxicity. In addition, MF-LNP captures and neutralizes the toxic peptide after intravenous injection in the bloodstream; in addition, MF-LNP does not release the toxic peptide in the accumulated organ. These results reveal the potential of using LNP as a highly biocompatible protein affinity reagent such as an antidote.