Cadherin-8 protein expression in gray matter structures and nerve fibers of the neonatal and adult mouse brain

The topological distribution of mouse cadherin-8 protein in the neonatal and adult mouse brain was studied immunohistochemically using a rabbit antiserum. Cadherin-8 expression was restricted to several areas in neonatal brains constituting particular neural circuits, i.e. the limbic system, the basal ganglia-thalamocortical circuit, and the cerebellum and related nuclei. In addition, the nerve fibers linking some of the cadherin-8-positive areas, i.e. the habenulo-interpeduncular tract, decussation of the dorsal tegmentum, the medial longitudinal fasciculus, transverse pontine fibers, the brachium conjunctivum and the inferior cerebellar peduncle were cadherin-8 positive, as were the spinal tract of the trigeminal nerve, oculomotor nerve, facial nerve and trigeminal nerve. Cadherin-8 expression also showed a patch-like distribution in the intermediate gray layer of the superior colliculus, resembling acetylcholinesterase-rich patches in allocation. Segmentally organized cadherin-8-positive areas were found in the neonatal cerebellar Purkinje cell layer. Some nuclei and fibers in the brainstem and cerebellum, expressing cadherin-8 at neonatal stages, were also stained in the adult mouse brain. These findings suggest that cadherin-8 is involved in the formation of particular neural circuits by connecting areas expressing this molecule with positive nerve fibers, and indicate its possible implication in subdivisional organization in the superior colliculus and cerebellum.     

Thermal oxidation crosslinking in the blended precursors of organosilicon polymers containing polyvinylsilane with polycarbosilane

The polymer precursors containing polyvinylsilane (PVS) with polycarbosilane (PCS) in coating form were prepared. As the content of PVS increases, the onset temperature of the precursor oxidation decreases and the surfaces formed after the oxidation become smooth and hard. The role of Si–H bonds in the PCS–PVS systems during the oxidation is quantitatively analysed on the basis of the absorption of the Si–H stretching band in the precursor spectra. In the blended systems, the oxidation of the Si–H groups forms the dense crosslinked polymer layer which limits the oxygen diffusion into the precursor interior. © 1998 Chapman & Hall     

Arteriovenous malformation of the rectum: report of a case

We report herein the case of a 38-year-old man found to have a rectal arteriovenous malformation (AVM). The patient was admitted to our hospital for investigation of fresh anal bleeding and general malaise. Barium-enema examination showed a slightly elevated lesion in the rectum, and a selective superior rectal angiogram subsequently revealed an AVM in the peripheral region of the superior rectal artery, which was presumed to be the cause of the anal bleeding. Colonoscopic examination disclosed a submucosal tumor-like lesion in the left posterior wall of the rectum, 3cm above the anal verge. After marking the boundaries by clipping, transanal resection of the lesion was performed. Histological examination revealed an irregularly expanded arteriovenous aggregation in the submucosal layer. The patient had a favorable postoperative course, and no residual AVM was seen on a postoperative selective inferior mesenteric arteriogram. There have been no signs of recurrence in the 2 years since his operation.     

Joining of dissimilar materials with friction stir welding

The welding and joining of dissimilar metals which have very different properties, such as aluminium and carbon steel, is considered to be a subject for research and development in the welding/joining sector continuing into the 21st century. There are also huge requirements and expectations for this sector.¹ Due to the aforementioned, the research and development of welding and joining of dissimilar materials have been carried out over many years; for instance, eutectic bonding of copper pipe and aluminium pipe was developed 30 years ago and this process is still applied for the heat pipes of refrigerators. Recently it has even progressed for applications in joining of wide plate materials of aluminium alloy and stainless steel by means of the vacuum rolling process² and also for weldments of aluminium alloy and carbon steel joined by means of friction welding and employed as automobile components.³ However, there are problems from aspects of cost and restrictions concerning the configurations for which joining is feasible using conventional welding and joining processes and these techniques have not yet reached the stage where they can be applied in a number of industrial sectors. Accordingly, an extensive programme of research and development has been deployed in recent years using fusion welding processes, such as electron beam and laser welding and brazing, diffusion bonding and also friction stir welding (FSW).⁴     

Ferroelectric and Photostrictive Properties of Fine-Grained PLZT Ceramics Derived from Mechanical Alloying

Single-phase lead lanthanum zirconate titanate (PLZT) solid solution powder was synthesized from the constituent oxides at ambient temperature through a mechanical alloying (MA) process and was then densified to fine-grained ceramics by sintering and hot-pressing. The anomalous photovoltaic effect (APV) and photoinduced strain of the resultant PLZT ceramics were investigated and analyzed in association with the influence of grain size. It was found that a photoinduced voltage up to 6000 V·cm⁻¹ can be obtained as the grain size is reduced to 0.42 μm. This is extremely high and about three times that achievable in normal micrometer-grained PLZT ceramics. The maximum photoinduced strain of the PLZT ceramics with an average grain diameter of 0.54 μm reached 0.01%, which is equivalent to electric-field-induced strain of common piezoelectric materials.     

Degeneration in vivo of rat hippocampal neurons by wild-type Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein overexpressed by adenovirus-mediated gene transfer

In an attempt to elucidate the pathological implications of intracellular accumulation of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) in postmitotic neurons in vivo, we transferred APP695 cDNA into rat hippocampal neurons by using a replication-defective adenovirus vector. We first improved the efficiency of adenovirus-mediated gene transfer into neurons in vivo by using hypertonic mannitol. When a beta-galactosidase-expressing recombinant adenovirus suspended in 1 M mannitol was injected into a dorsal hippocampal region, a number of neurons in remote areas were positively stained, presumably owing to increased retrograde transport of the virus. When an APP695-expressing adenovirus was injected into the same site, part of the infected neurons in the hippocampal formation underwent severe degeneration in a few days, whereas astrocytes near the injection site showed no apparent degeneration. These degenerating neurons accumulated different epitopes of APP, and beta/A4 protein (Abeta)-immunoreactive materials were undetected in the extracellular space. A small number of degenerating neurons showed nuclear DNA fragmentation. Electron microscopic examinations demonstrated that degenerating neurons had shrunken perikarya along with synaptic abnormalities. Microglial cells/macrophages were often found in close proximity to degenerating neurons, and in some cases they phagocytosed these neurons. These results suggest that intracellular accumulation of wild-type APP695 causes a specific type of neuronal degeneration in vivo in the absence of extracellular Abeta deposition.     

Protection of bulk regular network system with dispersed generators

In urban areas there is a growing need to ensure bulk power distribution, service reliability and an interconnection to dispersed generators. It is effective to improve the network distribution system for the foregoing view. Regular network systems often are used for the area, but coordinations of the protection are complex as usual. This report describes the protective coordinations of the regular network system that performs a bulk power distribution and includes dispersed generators. The interconnections influence the coordination of substation protective relays and network protectors at the primary feeder fault. The increase of the network currents associated with the bulk network system makes the protection difficult at low-voltage grid cable fault.     

Digestion of Ceramide 2-Aminoethylphosphonate,a Sphingolipid from the Jumbo Flying Squid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dosidicus gigas</Emphasis>, in Mice

Ceramide 2-aminoethylphosphonate (CAEP), a sphingophosphonolipid containing a carbon–phosphorus bond, is frequently found in marine organisms and has a unique triene type of sphingoid base in its structure. CAEP has not been evaluated as a food ingredient, although it is generally contained in Mollusca organisms such as squids and shellfish, which are consumed worldwide. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effects of CAEP as a food component by evaluating the digestion of CAEP extracted from the skin of the jumbo flying squid Dosidicus gigas. Our results revealed that dietary CAEP was digested to free sphingoid bases via ceramides by the mouse small intestinal mucosa. At pH 7.2, CAEP was hydrolyzed more rapidly than the major mammalian sphingolipid sphingomyelin; however, the hydrolysis of CAEP was similar to that of sphingomyelin at pH 9.0. Thus, the digestion of CAEP may be catalyzed by alkaline spingomyelinase and other enzymes. Our findings provide important insights into the digestion of the dietary sphingophosphonolipid CAEP in marine foods.     

An efficient method for synthesis of some heterocyclic compounds containing 3-iminoisatin and 1,2,4-triazole using Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles

1,2,4-triazole derivatives were prepared by reaction of thiocarbohydrazide and some esters in 60% ethanol. Condensation of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives with isatin gave Schiff bases of 3-iminoisatin derivatives. Reaction of malonic or succinic acid dihydrazide with isatin lead to formation of N,N'-bis-(3-imino-1,3-dihydro-indolyl-2-one)-malonamide 8a and N,N'-bis-(3-imino-1,3-dihydro-indolyl-2-one)succinamide 8b in good yields under mild reaction conditions. These reactions are catalyzed by Fe₃O₄ MNPs. The chemical structures were confirmed by Fourier transform-infrared, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry spectroscopy, and elemental analysis.