Selection of causal gene sets for lymphoma prognostication from expression profiling and construction of prognostic fuzzy neural network models

To assess the response of lymphomas to chemotherapy, gene expression profiling data from DNA microarrays were analyzed using the fuzzy neural network (FNN) modeling method. We used the FNN modeling method to produce 10 noninferior models. Using these models, we were able to predict diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patient outcome with 93% accuracy. Of the 37 genes in the 10 models, 13 genes were repeatedly selected, indicating that these genes are important for prognostication. On Kaplan-Meier plots of overall survival, patients predicted by the FNN model to be cured survived significantly longer than those predicted to be refractory (P<0.0001), indicating that the FNN could successfully identify patients with a relatively poor prognosis among low-clinical-risk patients. The FNN modeling method presented here is able to precisely extract significant biological markers affecting prognosis.     

Gingival and dermal fibroblasts: their similarities and differences revealed from gene expression

Gene expression profiles in normal human gingival and dermal fibroblasts were investigated using DNA microarrays. Their fundamental characteristics were almost identical, but 5% of their genes were uniquely expressed. These results help us to choose an optimal cell source for effective fibroblast-based cell therapy that is dependent on differential gene expression profiles.     

In Planta production of immunogenic poliovirus peptide using tobacco mosaic virus-based vector system

The tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) provides an attractive means of producing foreign peptides in plants. In this study, a TMV-based vector was designed such that a fragment encoding 15 amino acids of the poliovirus peptide (PVP) derived from the viral capsid proteins VP3 and VP1 of poliovirus type 1 Sabin was inserted downstream of the six-base 3' context nucleotide sequence of the TMV coat protein (CP) gene. This design allowed readthrough at the amber stop codon, thereby producing the chimeric TMV particle with both intact CP and CP-fusion protein (CP-PVP) in Nicotiana tabacum cv. Samsun infected with the TMV vector. The TMVCP-PVP virus particle induced antibodies against PVP as well as TMVCP in mice after intraperitoneal immunization. These data illustrate the potential of the readthrough translation system with TMVCP for antigen presentation and vaccine production.     

Inference of common genetic network using fuzzy adaptive resonance theory associated matrix method

Inferring genetic networks from gene expression data is the most challenging work in the post-genomic era. However, most studies tend to show their genetic network inference ability by using artificial data. Here, we developed the fuzzy adaptive resonance theory associated matrix (F-ART matrix) method to infer genetic networks and applied it to experimental time series data, which are gene expression profiles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae responding under oxidative stresses such as diamide, heat shock and H2O2. We preprocessed them using the fuzzy adaptive resonance theory and successfully identified genetic interactions by drawing a 2-dimensional matrix. The identified interactions between diamide and heat shock stress were confirmed to be the common interactions for two stresses, compared with the KEGG metabolic map, BRITE protein interaction map, and gene interaction data of other papers. In the predicted common genetic network, the hit ratio was 60% for the KEGG map. Several gene interactions were also drawn, which have been reported to be important in oxidative stress. This result suggests that F-ART matrix has the potential to function as a new method to extract the common genetic networks of two different stresses using experimental time series microarray data.     

Solubility of nitrogen in liquid Fe-Cr-Ni alloys containing manganese and molybdenum

The nitrogen solubility in liquid Fe-Cr-Ni alloys containing Mo or Mn was determined by the Sieverts’ method. The first and second order mutual interactions among nitrogen, chromium, nickel, molybdenum, and manganese in iron were determined as a function of temperature. The heat and entropy of solution in these alloys were correlated as functions of the logarithm of the activity coefficient of nitrogen at {dy1873} K independent of the composition of the alloys. An equation was derived to predict the nitrogen solubility in liquid multicomponent iron alloys for the range from logf_N, 1873K = 0 to -1.4 as, log (wt pct N)_T = (-247/T - 1.22) - (4780JT - 1.51) (logf_n, 1873K)-(1760/T -0.91) (logf_N,{dy1873}K )².     

On the electrochemical behavior of H2O2 AT Ag in alkaline solution

Electrochemical oxidation and reduction of H₂O₂ on Ag were studied in alkaline solution of 10^?3?0.3 M H₂O₂ and 2 × 10^?3 ?1.0 M KOH under N₂ bubbling. Steady i-φ curves obtained by a cyclic potential sweep method in a potential range where no electrode oxidation takes place, lead to the following results: (1) i^c_d (A cm^?2) (cathodic limiting current density) = 1.0 × [H₂O₂]^1.0_T (M), (2) i¹_d (A cm^?2 (anodic limiting one) = i^c_d ([KOH] ? [H₂O₂]_T) or 1.0 × [KOH] < [H₂O₂]_T), (3) φ_m (V) (mixed potential) = 0.126-0.060 log [KOH]^1.0 and (4) (?φ/?i)_φ=φm (Ωcm²) (reaction resistance at φ = φ_m) = 0.057 × [H₂O₂]^?1.0_T (M^?1), where [H₂O₂]_T designates a total H₂O₂ concentration and the others have their usual meanings.The above results are explained by the following mechanism; HO^?₂ formed by the reversible chemical reaction, H₂O₂ + OH ? HO^?₂ + H₂O, is oxidised in anodic reaction by two steps: HO^?₂

HO₂ (a) + e^? and HO₂(a) + OH^? → O₂ + H₂O + e^?, whereas in cathodic reaction, H₂O₂ is reduced by H₂O₂ + e^?

OH(a) + OH^?, OH(a) + e^? → OH^?. Here,

designates a rate determining step,Catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂ on the electrode is also discussed.     

MASS-PRODUCTION OF BIOCATALYST-ENTRAPPING ALGINATE GEL PARTICLES BY A FORCED OSCILLATION METHOD

A forced oscillation method applying reverse-piezo electric effect has been proposed for mass-production of biocatalyst-entrapping polymer gel particles. A jet of aqueous alginate solution flowing out through an orifice was disintegrated into droplets by an oscillating pressure which was exerted by a ceramic plate vibrated by the reverse-piezo electric effect. The droplets formed were immediately solidified into gel particles in calcium chloride solution.

The particle production rate by the method was up to 270 particles s^-1 or 1 × 10^-6m³.s^-1 The size of the particles produced were down to I mm depending on the applied frequency. The smallest matrix size of the gel's polymer network was estimated to be around 5 nm.

The method was applied for immobilization of yeast cells. The diameter of immobilized particles was 2.5 mm. The immobilized yeast grew well in the particle. The damage of yeast cells caused by the immobilization was not remarkable     

The operability of patient with pulmonary hypertension judged from hemodynamic changes before and after surgery

1) In congenital heart disease with pulmonary hypertension, the place for surgical correction still remains even with almost systemic PA pressure if R to L shunt ratio on lung scintigram is lower than 25%. 2) The patient with pulmonary hypertension in congenital heart disease younger than 3 years of age has wider acceptability for surgery compared to older patient. 3) In patients with mitral valvular disease, surgical correction seems to be indicated irrespective of PA pressure, if their preoperative U/L are lower than 2.4.     

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Ketones with Polymer‐Bound BINAP/Diamine Ruthenium Catalysts

The BINAP/1,2‐diphenylethylenediamine RuCl₂ complexes bound to a polystyrene resin act as precatalysts for asymmetric hydrogenation of various simple ketones. The enantioselectivity, turnover number, and turnover frequency are comparable to those attained under homogeneous conditions.