Sphingomyelinase C from Streptomyces sp. A9107: Unusual primary structure for bacterial sphingomyelinase C

A sphingomyelinase C (SMase) was identified in the culture supernatant of Streptomyces sp. A9107 (S-SMase). Although S-SMase seems to be a typical bacterial SMase, the primary structure of S-SMase was unusual for known bacterial SMase. The gene was functionally overexpressed in the culture medium of recombinant Rhodococcus erythropolis.     

Dioxin-like and transthyretin-binding compounds in indoor dusts collected from Japan: average daily dose and possible implications for children

Many researchers are increasingly interested in human exposure to house dust containing household compounds such as polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs). Nevertheless, no investigations have addressed the endocrine-disrupting potencies of compounds contained in indoor dust. This study specifically addresses endocrine-disrupting potencies such as dioxin-like activity and human transthyretin (TTR)-binding potencies. Using in vitro bioassays, we investigated these activity levels in indoor dusts. We performed exposure assessments of active compounds that are contained in house dust for subsequent evaluation of house dusts' risks to humans. Dioxin-like and TTR-binding activities in sulfuric acid treatment extracts of house and office dust were investigated using Dioxin-Responsive Chemical-Activated LUciferase gene eXpression assay (DR-CALUX) and TTR-binding assay (in vitro competitive human TTR-binding assay). Dioxin-like activities in indoor dust were 38-1400 pg CALUX-TEQ (2,3,7,8-TCDD equivalent)/g (median 160 pg CALUX-TEQ/g) and TTR-binding potencies were 300-5000 pmol T4EQ (thyroxine (T4) equivalent)/g (median 1000 pmol T4EQ/g), which are higher values than those in other environmental samples, e.g., contaminated sediments. These exposure results suggest that children might be affected by both dioxin-like compounds and TTR-binding compounds via house dust. When the ingestion rate, CALUX-TEQ, and T4EQ for house dust are high, thyroid hormone homeostasis in children may be disrupted.     

Difference of histology and elemental composition of the cervical enamels among human permanent teeth

The purpose of this study is to clarify the difference of histology and elemental composition of the cervical enamels among the human permanent teeth. The re-ground surfaces at the cervical enamels of them were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The contents of seven elements were analyzed quantitatively with electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). The widths of the rod sections at the cervical enamels were larger than those at the cuspal enamels. The rod sections at the mesial cervical enamels in the incisors were more obscure and more decayed by acid solution than those in the premolars and molars. The calcium and phosphorus contents of the cervical enamels were significantly lower than those of the cuspal enamels. The carbon content of the cervical enamels was significantly higher than that of the cuspal enamels. The calcium and phosphorus contents of the cervical enamels were the significantly highest in the premolars. The carbon and sodium contents of the cervical enamels were significantly highest in the premolars. It is thought that the calcification level is lower, while the content of organic matter is higher at the cervical enamels than those at the cuspal enamels. It is considered that the sodium causes high calcification.     

Correlation between the electro-optical Kerr effect and physical parameters of nematogens

The relationship between the Kerr effect in an isotropic phase in the vicinity of phase transition temperature (T_NI) from isotropic to nematic phase and material parameters of the nematogens has been investigated. We could conclude that a strong correlation was confirmed between the Kerr constant in the vicinity of T_NI and the material parameters; the larger Kerr effect was observed in the prepared nematogen that also had larger product value of Δn × Δε × K₃₃/K₁₁, which can be useful knowledge for designing novel nematogens with high Kerr constant.     

A fuzzy self-tuning parallel genetic algorithm for optimization

The genetic algorithm (GA) is now a very popular tool for solving optimization problems. Each operator has its special approach route to a solution. For example, a GA using crossover as its major operator arrives at solutions depending on its initial conditions. In other words, a GA with multiple operators should be more robust in global search. However, a multiple operator GA needs a large population size thus taking a huge time for evaluation. We therefore apply fuzzy reasoning to give effective operators more opportunity to search while keeping the overall population size constant. We propose a fuzzy self-tuning parallel genetic algorithm (FPGA) for optimization problems. In our test case FPGA there are four operators—crossover, mutation, sub-exchange, and sub-copy. These operators are modified using the eugenic concept under the assumption that the individuals with higher fitness values have a higher probability of breeding new better individuals. All operators are executed in each generation through parallel processing, but the populations of these operators are decided by fuzzy reasoning. The fuzzy reasoning senses the contributions of these operators, and then decides their population sizes. The contribution of each operator is defined as an accumulative increment of fitness value due to each operator's success in searching. We make the assumption that the operators that give higher contribution are more suitable for the typical optimization problem. The fuzzy reasoning is built under this concept and adjusts the population sizes in each generation. As a test case, a FPGA is applied to the optimization of the fuzzy rule set for a model reference adaptive control system. The simulation results show that the FPGA is better at finding optimal solutions than a traditional GA.     

Synthesis of cementite-dispersed carbons by pressure pyrolysis of organoiron copolymers

Cementite-dispersed carbons were synthesized by pressure pyrolysis of divinylbenzene-vinylferrocene and styrene-vinylferrocene copolymer at temperatures below 600° C and the pressure of 125 MPa. The pyrolysis process of both copolymers was analysed by infrared spectra and magnetization of the pyrolysed substances. The absorption band of iron-carbon bond of divinylbenzene-vinylferrocene copolymer decreased on increasing its pyrolysis temperature from 300 to 450° C and finally disappeared at 500° C. The carbonization of divinylbenzene-vinylferrocene proceeded more rapidly than styrene-vinylferrocene at temperatures between 450 and 500° C. Styrene-vinylferrocene was heat-treated at 250° C for 2 h under 100 MPa affording a paramagnetic product, whereas the paramagnetic character of divinylbenzene-vinylferrocene was revealed after heat-treatment at 380° C. The saturation magnetization of cementite-dispersed carbon synthesized from both kinds of copolymers was comparable when the pressure pyrolysis was carried out at temperatures between 520 to 600° C at 125 MPa. The saturation magnetization of cementite-dispersed carbon formed at 550° C under 125 MPa was correlated linearly with the iron content in carbon. Threedimensional cross-linked divinylbenzene-vinylferrocene copolymer gave the highly dispersed cementite particles less than 50 nm with the coercive force of 950 Oe. On the other hand, the larger particle size of cementite up to 120 nm and the lower coercive force about 400 Oe were obtained in carbon matrix prepared by the pressure pyrolysis of styrene-vinylferrocene copolymer.     

Magnetic Properties of Ca3Ru2O7 Grown by a Floating Zone Method

We have succeeded in growing single crystals of Ca₃Ru₂O₇ by a floating zone method. The temperature dependence of magnetic susceptibility was measured in the temperature range from 2 to 300 K for the field along ab-plane and c-axis. The magnetic susceptibility shows anisotropic behavior. For T>55 K, the susceptibilities of both directions increase like the Curie–Weiss behavior with decreasing temperature. In the temperature range between 55 and 48 K, the susceptibility along ab-plane decreases steeply, while the one along c-axis is almost constant, which implies that the magnetic moment is aligned antiferromagnetically in the ab-plane. The susceptibilities drastically decrease in both directions at 48 K and are almost independent of temperature below 30 K.     

A static voltage fluctuation compensator for AC electric railway using self-commutated inverters

In this paper, the authors describe the basic configuration of an RPC (Railway Static Power Conditioner), its compensation principles and successful test results (using a small model of RPC). An ac electric railway is placed under a rapidly changing single-phase load. To avoid a voltage fluctuation under single-phase loads, electric power is received from a large source. At a feeding substation, three-phase electric power is transformed into two kinds of directional single-phase feeding electric power. The authors have already proposed a static voltage compensator for the ac electric railway, called “RPC.” The RPC links a pair of feeding circuits, using two self-commutated inverters. At the substation, the RPC accommodates an active power in the directional pair of feeding circuits to balance three-phase power, and possess a reactive power to regulate a three-phase voltage fluctuation. At a sectioning post, it can compensate for voltage drop using reactive power. It can also act as an active filter to compensate for harmonics. The authors have made a small model (220 V, 20 kVA) of the RPC, and report on the test results obtained using this small model under various conditions. The results indicate that the RPC can accommodate single phase loads, such as transformers and thyristors, can handle an exciter rush current from a transformer, can compensate for harmonics, and so on.     

Effect of high-pressure pre-treatment of starting carbon on diamond formation

Four starting carbons differing in crystallinity and grain size were pre-treated with or without nickel at 3 GPa and 1800° C or at 6 GPa and 1700° C. Diamond synthesis from carbons pre-treated and then further treated in vacuum was carried out at 8 GPa and 1700° C. Pre-treated carbons with or without nickel, which were fully or partly graphitized, changed a little or did not convert to diamond at 8 GPa and 1700° C. Diamond did form from the pre-treated carbons after treatment in a vacuum at 1000° C. Diamond formation, even from the graphitized carbons, was found to be inhibited mainly by gases adsorbed on the treated carbon during the pre-treatment under high pressure.