GDNF administration induces recovery of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system both in young and aged parkinsonian mice

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a member of the transforming growth factor beta superfamily and acts as a neurotrophic factor for the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system. GDNF was injected stereotaxically into the striatum of young (2 months old) and aged (12 months old) C57BL/6 mice that were treated with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) 1 week earlier. Immunocytochemical and neurochemical analyses showed significant recovery of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic system both in young and in aged mice. Since Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder mainly affecting elderly people, this result demonstrates the potential usefulness of GDNF in treating Parkinson's disease.     

Biodegradability of polyesters having tetrahydropyran rings in their backbones

Biodegradability of several homo- and copolyesters, containing tetrahydropyran rings in their backbones with or without pendant groups, was investigated by degradation tests, both in soil and in an activated sludge. These polyesters were hydrolytically degraded to lower molecular weight compounds, and eventually to hydroxytetrahydropyran carboxylic acids, at different rates, depending on their molecular structure. Quantitative determination of carbon dioxide, generated during the treatment with the activated sludge, showed that the hydrolysates from polyesters 2 and 10 , without pendant alkoxycarbonyl groups, were catabolized by microorganisms. It was concluded from these results that at least the polyesters without pendant groups were biodegradable, and that polyester 10 , consisting of 2,6-linked tetrahydropyran rings, underwent biodegradation more readily than polyester 2 , consisting of 2,5-linked tetrahydropyran rings. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Two cases of RA-like and SLE-like features similar to remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE syndrome)

This report presents the common and unusual appearances of fatty infiltration of the liver (FIL) on ultrasound (US) and computerized tomography (CT) from pathological, proven cases. Potential diagnostic pitfalls and methods of avoiding these pitfalls will be emphasized. Generalized and the geographic pattern of FIL are well recognized. Focal FIL and focal sparring of the liver have a number of atypical appearances. Focal sparring has several distinct patterns (pseudotumor, glove pattern and possible metastasis), which may be confused with other pathologies. Likewise, focal FIL may simulate a space-occupied mass. Among the more helpful features used to distinguish focal FIL from other abnormalities include its lack of mass effect, low density on CT combined with increased echogenicity on US.     

Recording Resolution and Writability for (Co-Pt)-SiO2/Co-SiO 2 Hard/Soft-Stacked Granular Perpendicular Media

The magnetic properties and recording performance of hard/soft stacked media consisting of a magnetically hard 9-nm-thick (Co-Pt)-SiO ₂ layer underneath a thin (2-3 nm) soft granular layer were studied. Experimental results indicated that an increase in the mean value of saturation magnetization of the soft layer langM_s ^softrang was very effective at improving the recording resolution D₅₀ due to an increase in the slope of magnetization curve alpha. The use of a Co-SiO₂ layer, which has the highest langM_s ^softrang in the present study, resulted in the highest D₅₀ value. It is likely that the increase in alpha was mainly caused by the demagnetization field in grains due to the difference between langM _s ^softrang and the mean value of saturation magnetization of the hard layer, langM_s ^hardrang. Moreover, it was successfully demonstrated that the magnetization reversal of (Co-Pt)-SiO₂/Co-SiO₂ stacked media changed systematically as theoretically predicted on reducing the interfacial exchange coupling by using NiFeCr-SiO₂ or Pt-SiO₂ interlayers. The reduction of remanence coercivity H_r was achieved by controlling the thickness and film composition of the interlayer, moreover, a high-langM_s ^softrang enhanced the H_r reduction. The H_r reduction improved recording writability without degrading D₅₀, the signal to medium noise ratio SN_mR and thermal stability     

Fluorex reprocessing system for the thermal reactors cycle and future thermal/fast reactors (coexistence) cycle

A new reprocessing technology, FLUOREX was proposed for thermal reactors cycle and future thermal/fast reactors (coexistence) cycle. The proposed system is a hybrid system that combines fluoride volatility and solvent extraction methods. Spent fuel will be sheared and cladding material will be removed by dry oxidation/reduction method such as AIROX process. Fluorination and purification of most uranium can be easily achieved by fluoride volatility method with compact facility. About 10% residues including plutonium can be treated in well-established PUREX method, which means this facility load will be about 1/10 of the conventional PUREX facility with same capacity. Between fluorination process and PUREX process, there is a pyrohydrolysis process where the fluoride compounds from fluorination process are converted to the oxides. Pure mixture of Pu and U can be obtained by solvent extraction method without separating Pu and U, which is suitable for conventional MOX fuel fabrication. The system can recover pure U and MOX with the decontamination factor of over 10⁷ and can drastically reduce the cost and waste generation compared with the conventional one.

Semi engineering scale experiments for the fluorination, pyrohydrolysis, and dissolution of Pu containing materials were carried out. From those experimental results, key elemental processes were fundamentally proofed.     

Tracking the Oxygen Status in the Cell Nucleus with a Hoechst‐Tagged Phosphorescent Ruthenium Complex

Molecular oxygen in living cells is distributed and consumed inhomogeneously, depending on the activity of each organelle. Therefore, tractable methods that can be used to monitor the oxygen status in each organelle are needed to understand cellular function. Here we report the design of a new oxygen‐sensing probe for use in the cell nucleus. We prepared “Ru‐Hoechsts”, each consisting of a phosphorescent ruthenium complex linked to a Hoechst 33258 moiety, and characterized their properties as oxygen sensors. The Hoechst unit shows strong DNA‐binding properties in the nucleus, and the ruthenium complex shows oxygen‐dependent phosphorescence. Thus, Ru‐Hoechsts accumulated in the cell nucleus and showed oxygen‐dependent signals that could be monitored. Of the Ru‐Hoechsts prepared in this study, Ru‐Hoechst b , in which the ruthenium complex and the Hoechst unit were linked through a hexyl chain, showed the most suitable properties for monitoring the oxygen status. Ru‐Hoechsts are probes with high potential for visualizing oxygen fluctuations in the nucleus.     

Design,Synthesis, and Evaluation of Lipopeptide Conjugates of Mercaptoundecahydrododecaborate for Boron Neutron Capture Therapy

We developed new ¹⁰B carriers for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) that can effectively transport and accumulate boron clusters into cells. These carriers consist of a lipopeptide, mercaptoundecahydrododecaborate (BSH), and a disulfide linker. The carriers were conceived according to the structure of pepducin, a membrane-penetrating lipopeptide targeting protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1). To improve the membrane permeability of BSH, the structure was optimized using various lipopeptides possessing different peptides and lipid moieties. These synthesized lipopeptides were conjugated with BSH and evaluated for intracellular uptake using T98G glioblastoma cells. Among them, the most effectively incorporated and accumulated in the cells was compound 5 a , which contains a peptide of 13 residues derived from the intracellular third loop of PAR1 and a palmitoyl group. For further improvement of ¹⁰B accumulation in cells, the introduction of an amine linker was investigated; intracellular uptake similar to that of 5 a was observed for compound 14 , which has a piperazine linker. Both compounds 5 a and 14 showed a stronger radiosensitizing effect than BSH along on T98G cells under mixed-neutron beam irradiation. The results demonstrate that lipopeptide conjugation is effective for enhancing intracellular delivery and accumulation of BSH and improving the cytotoxic effect of BNCT.     

Pretreatment with fine bubbles for effective zinc ion precipitation and removal from zinc electroplating wastewater

Heavy metals such as zinc are widely used in plating plants for the processing of material surfaces; therefore, an adequate wastewater treatment is required afterwards to comply with wastewater regulations. However, the presence of chemicals such as degreasing agents in the wastewater generated from the plating process inhibits the formation of hydroxides, thereby making treatment of wastewater and compliance with the stipulated regulations difficult. Herein, the effects of fine bubbles on oil cleaning and wastewater treatment were investigated for developing an alternative cleaning technology to degreasing agents. The concentration of fine bubbles significantly affected the oil cleaning. The fine bubbles demonstrated remarkable cleaning of highly viscous oil, which was difficult to remove using pure water. The high cleaning effect of fine bubbles on oil was achieved because of the hydrophobic interaction of the bubbles. Furthermore, a decrease in cleaning effect was observed for samples with uneven shapes, which was attributed to the difficulty in penetration of fine bubbles in materials with irregularities. Furthermore, fine bubble cleaning exhibited better efficiency for wastewater treatment than degreaser cleaning. Therefore, fine bubble cleaning is speculated to be an excellent cleaning technology with high oil cleaning effectiveness and improved wastewater treatability.