Molecular cloning, purification and characterization of two endo-1,4-beta-glucanases from Aspergillus oryzae KBN616

Two endo-1,4-beta-glucanase genes, designated celA and celB, from a shoyu koji mold Aspergillus oryzae KBN616, were cloned and characterized. The celA gene comprised 877 bp with two introns. The CelA protein consisted of 239 amino acids and was assigned to the cellulase family H. The celB gene comprised 1248 bp with no introns. The CelB protein consisted of 416 amino acids and was assigned to the cellulase family C. Both genes were overexpressed under the promoter of the A. oryzae taka-amylase A gene for purification and enzymatic characterization of CelA and CelB. CelA had a molecular mass of 31 kDa, a pH optimum of 5.0 and temperature optimum of 55 degrees C, whereas CelB had a molecular mass of 53 kDa, a pH optimum of 4.0 and temperature optimum of 45 degrees C.     

Aconitine induces bradycardia through a transmission pathway including the anterior hypothalamus in conscious mice

Aconitine administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) produces bradycardia mainly by a central muscarinic action. The involvement of hypothalamic regions in the occurrence of aconitine-induced bradycardia was investigated in hypothalamus-lesioned mice. The lesions were made by passing a direct current (1.5 mA, 13 s) through a monopolar electrode. The aconitine (30 micrograms/kg, i.p.)-induced bradycardia was prevented by bilateral lesions of either the whole hypothalamus, except for the lateral hypothalamus area, or the anterior hypothalamus (AH). The bradycardia was not prevented by bilateral lesions of the ventromedial, the paraventricular, the posterior or the lateral hypothalamus regions. Bupivacaine, but not atropine (1 microgram, administered into the intact AH) prevented aconitine-induced bradycardia in mice with a contralaterally lesioned AH. Aconitine (0.8 microgram) directly administered into the unilateral AH in intact mice caused a late phase and lesser extent of bradycardia. These results suggest that a transmission pathway including the AH contributes to the aconitine-induced bradycardia but does not involve the activation of muscarinic receptors in the AH.     

Manufacturing preparation by use of product model in computer

This paper describes the general concept and the framework of a product model for design and manufacturing preparation. Machining preparation, such as process and operation planning, generation of NC cutter path, and geometrical and physical simulation of the machining operation, made by utilizing information stored in the preceding stages, are implemented at each stage. Finally the use of information is shown in a product model for off-line programming of robots and for geometric and physical simulation of robot operation.     

Unique profile of IL-4 and IFN-gamma production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in infants with atopic dermatitis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using high vacuum, thermal evaporation to deposit thin films of Ti-6Al-4V onto plates for subsequent cell culture investigations. Osteoblastic response to thin-film coated plates was compared to that of cells grown on Ti alloy disk inserts and uncoated culture plates. The Ti alloy disks were polished, cleaned, and passivated following a commercial protocol for orthopedic implants. Mean surface roughness was 262 nm for the Ti alloy disks and 4.756 nm for the coated culture plates. Osteoblasts isolated from 16-day chick embryo calvariae were cultured on polystyrene, thin films, and disks. At confluence, the cells were cultured an additional 48 h and were evaluated for cell number (DNA content), rate of glycolysis (lactate production), alkaline phosphatase activity (ALPase), and collagenous (3H-proline hydroxylation) and noncollagenous protein synthesis. Cell morphology was similar for the controls, disks, and thin-film groups. DNA, lactate, cell layer ALPase, 3H-hydroxyproline, and noncollagenous protein were not different (p > 0.05) among the control, thin-film, and disk groups. Medium ALPase was lower (p < 0.05) in the thin-film group compared to the control group. Although aluminum and vanadium percentages varied from nominal in the thin-film groups (11Al-2V as opposed to 6Al-4V), avian osteoblasts responded similarly to the Ti alloy thin films, disks, and uncoated culture plates for the smooth surfaces tested. The thin-film cell culture system used for elemental material studies appears to offer a promising method for the investigation of cellular response to alloyed biomaterials as well. Proper adjustments in alloy percentages before deposition, however, need to be made if thermal evaporation is utilized.     

Arterial pressure and its regulation in rats bred successively on low sodium diet

To investigate the effects of long-term sodium restriction on mechanisms regulating cardiovascular function, Wistar rats at weaning (F0) were placed on a normal (0.4%) or low (0.05%) sodium diet. The first (F1) and second (F2) generations were derived from inbreeding within each group. The resting mean arterial pressure did not differ between the diet groups of F0 or F1 rats, but it was significantly lower in F2 rats on the low sodium diet. Plasma renin concentration was similar in the two groups in each generation, and the F2 rats on both diets responded to [Sar1, Ala8] angiotensin II with the same degree of decrease in arterial pressure. Plasma norepinephrine was not influenced by sodium intake in the F0 or F1 rats, but was significantly lower in F2 rats on the low sodium diet. The depressor response to hexamethonium was similar in the two F1 groups, while low sodium F2 rats exhibited a lesser response. These results suggest that rats bred successively on a low sodium diet have a suppressed sympathetic nerve function with no enhancement of the renin-angiotensin system, which in turn results in a lower arterial pressure.     

Development of an expert system for estimating fault section incontrol center based on protective system simulation

The authors describe a practical expert system which estimates the fault section in an electric power system by inferring dynamically the protective coordination of the protective relays. The expert system represents the characteristics of protective relays by using numerical figures corresponding to the protection zone and time setting. This method provides high maintainability of the system, and also allows the system to display inference processes in a user friendly manner. The expert system described will be used at three new control centers of Shikoku Electric Power Co., Inc., in 1991     

Primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the sinonasal cavities: correlation of CT evaluation with clinical outcome

PURPOSE: To determine retrospectively the primary site of origin of sinonasal lymphomas with computed tomography (CT) and correlate the CT findings with histologic phenotype and clinical outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 24 patients with stage I and II non-Hodgkin lymphomas of the sinonasal cavities, the CT appearances and clinical data were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: The sites of primary tumor determined at CT were the nasal cavity in 13 patients, the ethmoidal sinus in three patients, and the maxillary sinus in eight patients. B-cell lymphomas were found mainly in the maxillary sinus, while T-cell lymphomas were found in the nasal cavity and ethmoidal sinus (P < .005). The 5-year survival rates in relation to the primary site of the tumor were 64% for the nasal cavity, 50% for the ethmoidal sinus, and 100% for the maxillary sinus (P = .26). CONCLUSION: Patients with B-cell primary lymphoma of the maxillary sinus tended to have a good prognosis in contrast to those with T-cell lymphomas that originated from midline structures. The primary site determined at CT appears to be correlated with the histologic phenotype and clinical outcome.     

Restriction of environmental space attenuates locomotor activity and hippocampal acetylcholine release in male rats

We examined the effects of the restriction of environmental space on hippocampal acetylcholine release and spontaneous locomotor activity. Four days after the housing in a large or small cage, sampling for microdialysis study was begun. The locomotor activity counts exhibited significant daily changes in all rats in either the large or small cage. But, the mean locomotor activity counts in rats in the small cage was significantly less than that in the large cage. In contrast, the amount of acetylcholine collected per 20-min sample exhibited significant diurnal changes in all six rats in the large cage and in 5 of 6 rats in the small cage. The mean acetylcholine release in the rat in the small cage was significantly lower than that in the rat in the large cage during the dark phase, but not during the light phase. In addition, during the dark phase, hippocampal acetylcholine release was closely associated with spontaneous activity in all six rats in the large cage but not in 3 of 6 rats in the small cage. The present study suggests that the restriction of environmental space somehow interfere with the spontaneous locomotor activity and hippocampal acetylcholine release during the dark phase.     

Initial experience with the Cordis stent: analysis of serial angiographic follow-up

Studies were carried out on 150 workers with mental disturbances, who had been involved in the clean-up of the Chernobyl atomic energy station accident. Visual and computer analyses of EEG traces from 43 workers were compared with traces from 17 healthy subjects, and the comparison revealed that the most common features in workers were disorganization of the alpha-rhythm and strengthening of beta-1-activity in the sensorimotor cortex. In neurosis-like syndromes (13 patients), there was a significant increase in the power of the alpha-rhythm in the anterior parts of the cortex; in psycho-organic states, power as significantly reduced (especially in the left hemisphere). Contributing to the greater proportion of flat EEG traces in patients with psycho-organic syndromes as compared with other groups of patients. Most patients among the clean-up workers had increased assimilation of flashing light rhythms and weakening of non-specific and skin galvanic responses to a light stimulus. It was concluded that systemic CNS changes occurred in patients from the clean-up worker groups, especially in those with psycho-organic syndrome.