Superabsorbent poly(acrylic acid) complex

Acrylic acid and crosslinking agent [poly(ethylene glycol)-diacrylate or divinylbenzene] were copolymerized in benzene in the presence of layered sodium silicate (δ-Na₂Si₂O₅) powder. The resultant poly(acrylic acid) complex shows large water absorbability, for which dependency on crosslinking degree was investigated. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Microporous polypropylene fibers containing poly(methylsilsesquioxane) filler

Microporous polypropylene fibers were prepared by stretching polypropylene fibers containing poly(methylsilsesquioxane) filler. The properties of the resultant fibers are controllable by adjusting the filler content and stretching degree. The resultant fibers have a fine texture of polypropylene fibrils, in which the filler particles are dispersed. Some properties were investigated: tensile strength, elongation, Young's modulus, porosity, pore size, and specific surface area. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Nucleotide sequences of alcohol acetyltransferase genes from lager brewing yeast,Saccharomyces carlsbergensis

The nucleotide sequences of alcohol acetyltransferase genes isolated from lager brewing yeast, Saccharomyces carlsbergensis have been determined. S. carlsbergensis has one ATF1 gene and another homologous gene, the Lg-ATF1 gene. There was a high degree of homology between the amino acid sequences deduced for the ATF1 protein and the Lg-ATF1 protein (75·7%), but the N-terminal region has a relatively low degree of homology. Southern analysis and contour-clamped homogeneous electric field analysis of Saccharomyces strains suggest that the ATF1 gene is located on chromosome XV in S. cerevisiae and that the Lg-ATF1 gene might originate from the ‘non-S. cerevisiae’ genome of S. carlsbergensis, which is similar to that of S. bayanus and S. pastorianus. The nucleotide sequence data reported in this paper will appear in the DDBJ, EMBL and GenBank data banks with the Accession Numbers D63449 (ATF1) and D63450 (Lg-ATF1).     

Inhibitory effect of zinc on beta-hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cells by synthetic chemicals

The effects of foods and chemicals related to food hygiene on degranulation were evaluated using a method for assaying the enzyme activity of beta-hexosaminidase as an index of chemical mediator release from RBL-2H3 cells in vitro. Using a previously developed assay system, we had found a large number of inhibitors and promoters of degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells. In the present study, we examined the inhibitory effect of zinc chloride on the degranulation (beta-hexosaminidase release) from RBL-2H3 cells with or without antigen in the presence of the degranulation-promotive chemicals, namely, 4 food additives, 7 pesticides and 2 veterinary drugs. These promotive chemicals were classified into two types on the basis of inhibitory profile by zinc chloride: 1) those which showed marked degranulation-inhibitory action when the cells were stimulated with antigen, such as butylhydroxyanisole, dibutylhydroxytoluene, EPN, cis- and trans-permethrin, prothiofos, pyridaben, terbufos, 2) those which showed marked degranulation-inhibitory action whether the cells were stimulated with antigen or not, such as butyl p-hydroxybenzoate, o-phenylphenol, bitertanol, salinomycin. In conclusion, zinc had a dramatic inhibitory effect on enhanced degranulation induced by synthetic chemicals in vitro.     

Preparation of La2Zr2O7 by Sol—Gel Route

The La₂Zr₂O₇ phase was prepared from metal acetylacetonates by a sol—gel route without any intermediate phase formation. X-ray peaks appeared at a temperature as low as 500°C at the positions expected for La₂Zr₂O₇, although they were broad. The crystal structure of La₂Zr₂O₇ was found to be of the fluorite type below 900°C and of thepyrochlore type above 1000°C. The substitution of a small amount of Eu for La was carried out to investigate the crystal structure from the viewpoint of fluorescence, and these results confirmed the formation of fluorite type La₂Zr₂O₇ below 900°C.     

Effect of pre-oxidation on reactivity of chars in steam

The effects of pre-oxidation of char from Taiheiyo coal, a non-caking bituminous coal, in the 400–550 °C temperature range on its gasification reactivity with N₂-H₂O at 0.1 MPa (steam partial pressure of 13.2 kPa) have been investigated. The pre-oxidation of char markedly enhances gasification rates at temperatures between 800 and 900 °C. Reactivity is found to parallel the burn-off level during preoxidation at low temperatures (400–430 °C), whereas at relatively high temperatures (480–550 °C), the burn-off level only affects the reactivity slightly. The amount of CO and CO₂ evolved from the preoxidized char by heat treatment is proportional to the burn-off level at low temperatures (400–430 °C), being closely related to the enhancement of the gasification reactivity in steam.     

Treatment of Chronic Kidney Disease with Extracellular Vesicles from Mesenchymal Stem Cells and CD133+ Expanded Cells: A Comparative Preclinical Analysis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is characterized by structural abnormalities and the progressive loss of kidney function. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from human umbilical cord tissue (hUCT)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and expanded human umbilical cord blood (hUCB)-derived CD133⁺ cells (eCD133⁺) maintain the characteristics of the parent cells, providing a new form of cell-free treatment. We evaluated the effects of EVs from hUCT-derived MSCs and hUCB-derived CD133⁺ cells on rats with CDK induced by an adenine-enriched diet. EVs were isolated by ultracentrifugation and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and electron microscopy. The animals were randomized and divided into the MSC-EV group, eEPC-EV group and control group. Infusions occurred on the seventh and 14th days after CKD induction. Evaluations of kidney function were carried out by biochemical and histological analyses. Intense labeling of the α-SMA protein was observed when comparing the control with MSC-EVs. In both groups treated with EVs, a significant increase in serum albumin was observed, and the increase in cystatin C was inhibited. The results indicated improvements in renal function in CKD, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of EVs derived from MSCs and eCD133⁺ cells and suggesting the possibility that in the future, more than one type of EV will be used concurrently.     

Growth of bubbles containing plasma in water by high-frequency irradiation

Plasma was generated in water by irradiation at high frequency of 13.56 MHz, and the behavior of bubbles including the plasma was observed by a high-speed camera. The generation pattern of the bubbles was classified into four types according to liquid temperature and supplied power. Conducting the simulation, the maximum temperature in the bubble was found to be from 3500 K to 4300 K, and the decomposition of water molecule occurred. The gas in the bubble was found to become high ratio of hydrogen. The phenomenon can be regarded as a film boiling of exceptionally high heat flux.