Simultaneous Quantification of Plant Glyceroglycolipids Including Sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol by HPLC–ELSD with Binary Gradient Elution

Membrane lipids of photosynthetic organisms consist of glycerophospholipids and glyceroglycolipids. We investigated a method for the simultaneous quantitative analysis of neutral and acidic lipids using HPLC–ELSD, and quantified monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG). Ten complex lipid classes were separated with a binary gradient system consisting of chloroform and methanol–acetone–water–acetic acid (30:60:9:1, v/v/v/v) with 0.3% triethylamine (pH 4), and were eluted within 16 min. The contents of SQDG in ten edible plants ranged from 3 to 101 mg/100 g, and were positively correlated to the neutral glyceroglycolipids contents.     

Response of intestinal proteinase activities to the feeding of isolated winged bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) and soya bean (Glycine max) trypsin inhibitors in rats

The antinutritional activities of trypsin inhibitors (TIs) were compared between winged beans (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) and soya beans (Glycine max). The inhibitors of the two beans were isolated by trypsin‐bound Sepharose 4B, and 50 mg of lyophilised powders were intubated intragastrically into 24 h fasted rats. The activities of trypsin and chymotrypsin were compared after 30, 60 and 180 min in the washings of the upper, middle and lower parts of the small intestine. The elution profiles of TI and non‐TI compounds in the affinity chromatography were similar in the two beans, and the antitryptic activities were concentrated 5.5 and 6.2 times (based on specific activity) for winged beans and soya beans respectively. Regardless of the TI fed to rats, trypsin activity in the upper intestine was suppressed to almost undetectable levels at 30 and 60 min after intubation. The activities in the middle and lower intestines were also substantially lowered when rats were fed winged bean TI, and significant differences were detected at 30 and 60 min after intubation when compared with rats fed soya bean TI. However, at 180 min after feeding, no differences were found in the trypsin activity in any gut segments. Similar inhibitory properties of isolated TIs were observed in chymotrypsin activities in the small intestine. The results suggest that winged bean TI may have greater inhibitory activity on the intestinal proteinase compared with soya bean TI. © 2001 Society of Chemical Industry     

Seismic design method of clamped-free thin cylindrical shells immersed in fluid

We carried out excitation experiments on clamped-free thin cylindrical shells immersed in fluid that represented thermal baffles of a fast breeder reactor. At a certain excitation level, occurred external pressure buckling. We also observed that parametric vibration, which involved high-order circumferential vibration modes, occurred at a certain combination of excitation frequency and excitation level. Concerning seismic design of the thermal baffles, we, therefore, take not only the buckling but also the effect of the parametric vibration into consideration. We adopt buckling eigenvalue analyses to estimate buckling pressure and propose a formula to prevent the buckling. Further, we discuss important factors such as buckling strength reduction caused by initial shape imperfections and interaction between horizontal and vertical seismic response. Concerning the parametric vibration, a significant deformation of cylinders should be prevented. A practical method applying the dynamic stability theory is proposed to obtain the condition, under which the parametric vibration takes place.     

The Sympathetic Nervous System Contributes to the Establishment of Pre-Metastatic Pulmonary Microenvironments

Emerging evidence suggests that neural activity contributes to tumor initiation and its acquisition of metastatic properties. More specifically, it has been reported that the sympathetic nervous system regulates tumor angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastasis. The function of the sympathetic nervous system in primary tumors has been gradually elucidated. However, its functions in pre-metastatic environments and/or the preparation of metastatic environments far from the primary sites are still unknown. To investigate the role of the sympathetic nervous system in pre-metastatic environments, we performed chemical sympathectomy using 6-OHDA in mice and observed a decrease in lung metastasis by attenuating the recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells. Furthermore, we note that neuro-immune cell interactions could be observed in tumor-bearing mouse lungs in conjunction with the decreased expression of Sema3A. These data indicate that the sympathetic nervous system contributes to the preparation of pre-metastatic microenvironments in the lungs, which are mediated by neuro-immune cell interactions.     

SYNTHESES AND PHOTOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF FULLEROPYRROLIDINES CONTAINING PHOTOACTIVE UNITS

As a reply to the title question, it has been elucidated that metallic bucky tubes are equivalent to those involving plural numbers of isolated polyacetylene (PA) skeletons (cis-type) arranged either in a helical or non-helical manner on the tube surface. Such helical PA skeletons guarantee the metallic conduction path to the electrons near the Fermi level (spiralons). Control of the flow of these spiralons may open up a stage for nano-technology of the electronic devices such as molecular solenoid applicable to molecular electromagnet, molecular electric generator and so on.