Proneurotensin/neuromedin N secreted from small cell lung carcinoma cell lines as a potential tumor marker

Proteins secreted from specific cancer cells have a high potential for use as tumor markers. We identified secreted proteins produced by 15 different carcinoma cell lines grown in serum-free medium using MS/MS. Proneurotensin/neuromedin N (proNT/NMN) was found in conditioned medium from four of seven small cell lung carcinoma cell lines but not from eight nonsmall cell lung carcinoma cell lines. These results indicate proNT/NMN has potential as a specific tumor marker of small cell lung carcinoma.     

An image processing approach for two-phase interfaces visualized by a real time neutron radiography technique

An image enhancement technique for a visualization of gas–liquid metal two-phase interfaces is developed for a real time neutron radiography (RTNR) technique, where the dynamic motion of bubbles inside liquid metal cannot be observed optically. The proposed image enhancement technique consisted of noise reduction, pipe–fluid interface determination, and image smoothing procedures. The results show that the RTNR technique is able to visualize the dynamics of gas–liquid metal interfaces, and also is able to determine more accurate two-phase flow parameters such as void fraction.     

Janus Kinase Inhibitors Ameliorated Gastrointestinal Amyloidosis and Hypoalbuminemia in Persistent Dermatitis Mouse Model

Malnutrition is not only regarded as a complication of rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease but also that of inflammatory skin disease; however, the mechanisms and efficacy of its treatment have not been elucidated. Using a mouse model of dermatitis, we investigated the pathophysiology of malnutrition in inflammatory skin conditions and efficacy of its treatment. We employed spontaneous skin inflammation mice models overexpressing human caspase-1 in the epidermal keratinocytes. Body weight, nutrition level, and α1-antitrypsin fecal concentration were measured. The gastrointestinal tract was histologically and functionally investigated. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran was forcibly fed on an empty stomach, and plasma FITC-dextran was measured. The treatment efficacy of antibodies against tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-α/β as well as Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors was investigated. Compared with wild-type littermates, the inflammatory skin mice models showed a lowered body weight, reduction of serum albumin level, amyloid deposition in the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, and increased α1-antitrypsin fecal concentration. However, the plasma FITC-dextran was unchanged between the dermatitis models and wild-type littermates. The over-produced serum amyloid A1 in the liver was detected in the plasma in the dermatitis model. Antibodies against TNF-α and IL-α/β showed partial effects on amyloid deposition; however, JAK inhibitors improved gastrointestinal amyloidosis with the improvement of skin symptoms. Chronic dermatitis is closely related to secondary amyloidosis in the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in hypoalbuminemia. Therefore, active control of skin inflammation is essential for preventing gastrointestinal complications.     

Molecular structure and gene analysis of Ce3+ -induced methanol dehydrogenase of Bradyrhizobium sp. MAFF211645

The molecular structure and nucleotide sequence of Ce(3+)-induced methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) of Bradyrhizobium sp. MAFF211645 were investigated. The addition of 30 μM Ce(3+) to 1/10 nutrient broth containing 0.5% methanol remarkably increased MDH activity. Furthermore, La(3+) increased MDH activity, but other heavier rare earth and metal elements did not have the same effect. MDH increased by Ce(3+) was purified by sequential column chromatography, and the purified MDH migrated as a single band with an apparent molecular weight of 68 kDa on SDS-PAGE. The apparent molecular weight of native MDH was estimated to be 108,000 by gel chromatography. The MDH was comprised of two identical subunits. N-terminal 23-amino acid sequence, 1-NDELHKMAQNPKDWVMPAGDYAN-23, of the purified MDH exhibited 91.3% identity to that of the MDH large subunit-like protein encoded by mxaF' of Bradyrhizobium japonicum USDA110. Nucleotide sequencing of the MDH gene of strain MAFF211645 yielded a deduced amino acid sequence comprising 601 amino acid residues, an N-terminal signal peptide, and a mature MDH comprising 578 amino acid residues with a predicted molecular mass of 62,918 Da. Further analysis of the deduced amino acid sequence of mature MDH revealed that the functional amino acids in its active site, such as two adjacent Cys residues, and bacterial quinoprotein signatures 1 and 2 were conserved. These results indicate that Ce(3+)-induced MDH encoded by mxaF' may be involved in methanol metabolism in Bradyrhizobium sp. MAFF211645.     

Optical Transition in Reduced C60 Thin Films

Absorption spectra of C60 thin film reduced in an electrochemical cell are studied. The results are compared with data of chemically reduced C60 anions. Absorption with relatively broad line-width below the energy of 1 eV is observed in the film besides the peaks at 1.14 ∼ 1.4 eV observed in C60 anion solution. The electronic states of reduced COT are discussed in terms of the solid state effect.     

Development of optical ZCT and its application to fault section detection for 66-kV underground branch transmission lines

The optical ZCT (Zero-phase Current Transformer) which combines an optical magnetic field sensor with a magnetic ring core of silicon steel plates has been developed. Bi-doped YIG [Yttrium Iron Garnet, (BiYbGd)₃Fe₅o₁₂] having a large Verdet constant is used as a Faraday element. The optical ZCT detects the conductor current of 0 to 2000 A at high resolution and has been applied to the fault section detection system for 66-kV underground branch transmission lines which monitors a multiterminal line having Y-branch joint box in on-line state. Optical ZCTs and a section detector/indicator are connected with optical fibers which are capable of nonrepeatedly transmitting signals over 6 km, and allow monitoring long-distance underground power transmission lines. A developed system is now operating on the JR Kasai line (Shinkawa pump line) of Tokyo Electric Power Company.     

Multi-echelon inventory production system solution

The multi-echelon inventory problem can be examined from the points of view of dynamic programming. The difficulty is that the number of possible states will be exceptionally large. The authors avoid this difficulty by using some formulation. An introductory section surveys what Clark and Clark-Scarf formulated, the problem of a single product carried at an arbitrary number of activities arranged in a series structure. Subsequent sections provide the researches on analytic consideration and numerical consideration. The final section discusses the production planning in a multi-echelon inventory production system.     

Absorption and Electrical Conductivity during Electrochemical Reduction in Fullerene Film

The results of in-situ measurements of optical absorption and electrical conductivity in C₆₀/C₇₀ (9/1) film during electrochemical reduction in a cell using solid polymer electrolyte are reported. The drastic change of absorbance and the increase of conductivity upon Li doping were obtained and the results are discussed.     

Electroplasticity memory devices using conducting polymers and solid polymer electrolytes

Erasable memory devices are fabricated by the combination of a conducting polymer and solid polymer electrolyte. The former is used as a memory channel and the latter as an electrolyte medium. The channel conductivity can be controlled over 3-4 orders of magnitude by electrochemical doping through a writing electrode. The response time, depending on the writing voltage, is several seconds. The characteristics of the memory device are discussed.