Characterization of wax esters in the roe oil of amber fish,Seriola aureovittata

The wax esters of the roe oil of the amber fish,Seriola aureovittata, have been resolved by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the silver-ion mode. Each of the fractions collected was transmethylated, and the fatty acids and alcohols were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) as the picolinyl esters and nicotinates, respectively. Their compositions were determined by GC. The fatty acid composition is complex, and the main components are C18:1n-9 (35.5 mol%), C22:6n-3 (20.3 mol%), and C16:1n-7 (10.7 mol%), while fatty alcohols are limited to saturated (C16:0, 60.3 mol%; C18:0, 15.3 mol%; C14:0, 5.1 mol%) and monoenoic alcohols (C18:1n-9, 6.5 mol%; C16:1n-7, 4.5 mol%) with traces (<0.1 mol%) of polyunsaturated fatty alcohols such as C20:3n-3, C20:4n-6, C20:5n-3, and C22:5n-3. Silver-ion HPLC exhibited excellent resolution in which fractions were resolved on the basis of the number and configuration of double bonds as well as the distribution pattern between the acid and alcohol moieties of the molecules with a given number of double bonds. The main wax ester fraction are those of monoenoic acid-saturated alcohol species, hexaenoic acid/saturated alcohol species, and pentaenoic acid/saturated alcohol species. Appreciable specificity was observed in the esterification of fatty acids with alcohols, and surprisingly, no saturated acid-monoenoic alcohol species were detected.     

Dynamic response of rotating flexible cantilever pipe conveying fluid with tip mass

In this study the vibration system is consisted of a rotating cantilever pipe conveying fluid and a tip mass. The equation of motion is derived by using the Lagrange's equation. Also, the equation of motion is derived applying a modeling method that employs hybrid deformation variables. The influences of the rotating angular velocity and the velocity of fluid flow on the dynamic behavior of a cantilever pipe are studied by the numerical method. The effects of a tip mass on the dynamic behavior of a rotating cantilever pipe are also studied. The influences of a tip mass, the velocity of fluid, the angular velocity of a cantilever pipe and the coupling of these factors on the dynamic behavior of a cantilever pipe are analytically clarified. The natural frequencies of a cantilever pipe conveying fluid are proportional to the angular velocity of the pipe and a tip mass in both axial direction and lateral direction.     

Albumin Suppresses Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Proliferation and the Cell Cycle

Many investigations have revealed that a low recurrence rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with high serum albumin levels in patients; therefore, high levels of serum albumin are a major indicator of a favorable prognosis. However, the mechanism inhibiting the proliferation of HCC has not yet been elucidated, so we investigated the effect of serum albumin on HCC cell proliferation. Hep3B was cultured in MEM with no serum or containing 5 g/dL human albumin. As control samples, Prionex was added to generate the same osmotic pressure as albumin. After 24-h incubation, the expressions of α-fetoprotein (AFP), p53, p21, and p57 were evaluated with real-time PCR using total RNA extracted from the liver. Protein expressions and the phosphorylation of Rb (retinoblastoma) were determined by Western blot analysis using total protein extracted from the liver. For flow cytometric analysis of the cell cycle, FACS analysis was performed. The percentages of cell cycle distribution were evaluated by PI staining, and all samples were analyzed employing FACScalibur (BD) with appropriate software (ModFit LT; BD). The cell proliferation assay was performed by counting cells with using a Scepter handy automated cell counter (Millipore). The mRNA levels of AFP relative to Alb(−): Alb(−), Alb(+), and Prionex, were 1, 0.7 ± 0.2 (p < 0.001 for Alb(−)), and 1 ± 0.3, respectively. The mRNA levels of p21 were 1, 1.58 ± 0.4 (p = 0.007 for Alb(−) and p = 0.004 for Prionex), and 0.8 ± 0.2, respectively. The mRNA levels of p57 were 1, 4.4 ± 1.4 (p = 0.002 for Alb(−) and Prionex), and 1.0 ± 0.1, respectively. The protein expression levels of Rb were similar in all culture media. The phosphorylation of P807/811 and P780 of Rb protein was reduced in Alb(+). More cells in the G0/G1 phase and fewer cells in S and G2/M phases were obtained in Alb(+) than in Alb(−) (G0/G1: 60.9%, 67.7%, 61.5%; G2/M: 16.5%, 13.1%, 15.6%; S: 22.6%, 19.2%, 23.0%, Alb(−), Alb(+), Prionex, respectively). The same results were obtained in HepG2. Cell proliferation was inhibited in 5 g/dL albumin medium in both HepG2 cells and Hep3B cells in 24 h culture by counting cell numbers. The presence of albumin in serum reduces the phosphorylation of Rb proteins and enhances the expression of p21 and p57, following an increase in the G0/G1 cell population, and suppresses cell proliferation. These results suggest that albumin itself suppresses the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma.     

A Comparative Study of the 1-Hexene Hydroformylation Either Under Syngas Conditions or with Paraformaldehyde Catalyzed by Rhodium/Diphosphine Systems

In order to carry out a comparison, the hydroformylation of 1-hexene to their corresponding aldehydes (heptanal and 2-methyl-hexanal) was studied both under syngas conditions and with paraformaldehyde using the catalytic rhodium/diphosphine precatalysts; the catalytic systems were formed in situ by the addition of one or two equivalents of the corresponding diphosphine, Ph₂P(CH₂)_nPPh_2, n = 2 (dppe), 3 (dppp) and 4 (dppb), to the carbonyl complex Rh(acac)(CO)₂. For the hydroformylation reactions under syngas conditions, the more active systems were the ones containing one equivalent of the diphosphine, which produce trigonal bipyramidal species like RhH(CO)₂(diphos). The activity and selectivity of these systems strongly depend on the bite angle of the ligand: when the bite angle increases both parameters are higher (dppb > dppp > dppe). Contrary to these results, for the reaction with paraformaldehyde, the systems containing two equivalents of the diphosphine ligand, which produce the cationic square planar species [Rh (diphos)₂]⁺, were more active than those containing one equivalent; the reaction rate decreases with the enlargement of the carbon chain of the bridge between the two phosphorous atoms of the diphosphine (dppe > dppp > dppb). These results may be explained by a higher steric effect on the metal center, which probably produces a decreasing of the rate of the CH₂O oxidative addition reactions. For both reactions, these effects were explained through DFT calculations of the corresponding resting states.     

Isolation and characterization of tubular basement membrane antigen common to humans and rats

Analysis of content of death notices (obituaries, in memoriams, and funeral announcements) may offer some explanation of how Ghanaians express their feelings about the death of loved ones and the meanings they assign to death and dying. Analysis of 371 death notices selected from two widely read Ghanaian newspapers, the Daily Graphic and the Ghanaian Times yielded six thematic expressions about death and dying: death is personified as cold and unfeeling and described as an ongoing painful experience: the deceased is described as beloved, devoted, and valued. Death notices indicate impending restructured roles and social relationships survivors face; the image and personality of the deceased are included; and the availability and proximity of the deceased's next of kin can be inferred. The findings add to the literature on (1) cultural attitudes toward death and (2) how death is managed and feelings about death and dying are expressed.     

Effective low-dose amiodarone therapy for ventricular tachycardia complicated with ischemic heart disease and poor left ventricular function in an elderly patient

A 71-year-old man who had ischemic heart disease with poor left ventricular function and ventricular tachycardia was admitted to hospital for evaluation. Cardiac catheterization was performed on August 19, 1996, and right coronary arteriography revealed total occlusion at segment 3. Left coronary arteriography revealed total occlusion at segment 6, and a lesion at segment 13 was 75% occluded. Partial collateral flow from the right ventricular branch to the left anterior descending artery was demonstrated, and the left ventricular ejection fraction was 24%. Recurrent ventricular tachycardia followed by pre-syncope occurred from August 23, 1996, and the patient underwent emergency coronary artery bypass surgery to the left anterior descending artery and circumflex artery using saphenous vein grafts. Ventricular tachycardia followed by pre-syncope occurred frequently after the bypass surgery, and antiarrhythmic agents (Vaughan Williams classification Ia and Ib groups) were ineffective. He received amiodarone (100 mg/day after a loading dose of 200 mg/day for 2 weeks) from September 6, 1996. His symptoms of arrhythmia decreased, and side effects have not been observed. Low-dose amiodarone was effective in this case of ischemic heart disease with left ventricular dysfunction and sustained ventricular tachycardia.     

Single-walled carbon nanotubes as excitonic optical wires

Although metallic nanostructures are useful for nanoscale optics, all of their key optical properties are determined by their geometry. This makes it difficult to adjust these properties independently, and can restrict applications. Here we use the absolute intensity of Rayleigh scattering to show that single-walled carbon nanotubes can form ideal optical wires. The spatial distribution of the radiation scattered by the nanotubes is determined by their shape, but the intensity and spectrum of the scattered radiation are determined by exciton dynamics, quantum-dot-like optical resonances and other intrinsic properties. Moreover, the nanotubes display a uniform peak optical conductivity of approximately 8 e(2)/h, which we derive using an exciton model, suggesting universal behaviour similar to that observed in nanotube conductance. We further demonstrate a radiative coupling between two distant nanotubes, with potential applications in metamaterials and optical antennas.