Transcriptional Induction of Metallothionein by Tris(pentafluorophenyl)stibane in Cultured Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells

Vascular endothelial cells cover the luminal surface of blood vessels and contribute to the prevention of vascular disorders such as atherosclerosis. Metallothionein (MT) is a low molecular weight, cysteine-rich, metal-binding, inducible protein, which protects cells from the toxicity of heavy metals and active oxygen species. Endothelial MT is not induced by inorganic zinc. Adequate tools are required to investigate the mechanisms underlying endothelial MT induction. In the present study, we found that an organoantimony compound, tris(pentafluorophenyl)stibane, induces gene expression of MT-1A and MT-2A, which are subisoforms of MT in bovine aortic endothelial cells. The data reveal that MT-1A is induced by activation of both the MTF-1–MRE and Nrf2–ARE pathways, whereas MT-2A expression requires only activation of the MTF-1–MRE pathway. The present data suggest that the original role of MT-1 is to protect cells from heavy metal toxicity and oxidative stress in the biological defense system, while that of MT-2 is to regulate intracellular zinc metabolism.     

Surface control of hydrophilicity and degradability with block copolymers composed of lactide and cyclic carbonate bearing methoxyethoxyl groups

Block copolymers of L-lactide (LA) and trimethylene carbonate (TMC) derivatives bearing methoxyethyl groups [poly(TMCM-MOE1OM)-block-PLLA] were employed as spin-coated films on substrates, and their hydrophilic and degradation behaviors were investigated. Changing the solvents for film preparation, film thickness, and copolymer composition ratios varied the contact angles in the range of 84.3° ± 2.8° at 269 nm thickness and 18.2° ± 2.5° at 15 nm thickness. These contact angles showed dynamic changes from hydrophobic to hydrophilic properties, probably due to the methoxyethoxyl groups connecting the flexible TMC moieties in the copolymer. Immersion into water or hexane affected the dynamic contact angles. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses revealed that a large amount of hydrophilic groups was segregated onto the surface, although both LA and TMC units existed. Such dynamic contact angle changes were delayed by the crystallization of polylactide. The hydrolyzed behaviors of these films were examined by quartz cell microbalance, showing a slow degradation process.     

Homogeneous Coexistence in CaFe1−x Co x AsF and Phase Segregation in LaFeAsO1−x F x Studied via NMR

In iron-based pnictides, one of the interesting topics is homogeneous coexistence or phase segregation at the boundary between antiferromagnetic (AF) and superconducting (SC) phases. We addressed this problem on a microscopic level by means of ⁷⁵As NMR measurements in LaFeAsO_1?x F _x (x=0.026) (La1111), and CaFe_1?x Co _x AsF (x=0.06) (Ca1111) having an intermediate electronic phase diagram between Ba(Fe_1?x Co _x )₂As₂ and the La1111 series. NMR spectra for 6 % Co-doped Ca1111 samples were very similar to those for the undoped samples even below T _c , suggesting homogeneous coexistence of the AF and SC states. For 2.6 % F-doped La1111 samples, AF and paramagnetic (PM) domains coexist at ambient pressure, and AF and SC domains coexist at 3.0 GPa. The coexistence of domains is explained by considering a SC dome separated from the AF phase in the phase diagram. The homogeneous coexistence support S _±-wave superconductivity, whereas separation of the AF and SC phases gives credence to S ₊₊-wave superconductivity.     

Characterization of FtsZ homolog from hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus kodakaraensis KOD1

The gene of bacterial type ftsZ homolog in hyperthermophilic archaeon, Pyrococcus kodakaraensis KOD1 (Pk-ftsZ), was identified. The gene product of the Pk-ftsZ gene is composed of 380 amino acids with a molecular mass of 41,354 Da. In the deduced amino acid sequence of the Pk-ftsZ gene, a glycine-rich sequence (Gly-Gly-Gly-Thr-Gly-Ala-Gly) implicated in GTP binding was well conserved. The Pk-ftsZ gene was overexpressed using Escherichia coli as a host and the recombinant protein was purified. The purified Pk-FtsZ protein exhibited GTPase activity with optimum temperatures higher than 80 degrees C. However, the protein showed little GTPase activity at 40 degrees C, indicating that a high reaction temperature is required for the GTPase activity in accordance with the thermophilic nature of P. kodakaraensis KOD1. The GTP-binding ability of Pk-FtsZ protein could also be detected by UV-induced cross-linking of a protein to [alpha-32P] GTP. The Pk-ftsZ gene was expressed in E. coli cells with a temperature-sensitive ftsZ mutation, E. coli ftsZ84 (ts), but its mutant phenotype of elongated cell form at a nonpermissive temperature (42 degrees C) could not be compensated, possibly because of the thermophilic nature of the Pk-FtsZ. Pk-FtsZ could form protofilaments in a GTP-dependent manner at 90 degrees C. Results of phylogenetic analysis suggest that there might be additional factors required for formation of the Z ring in P. kodakaraensis KOD1.     

Antiangiogenesis,Loss of Cell Adhesion and Apoptosis Are Involved in the Antitumoral Activity of Proteases from V. cundinamarcensis (C. candamarcensis) in Murine Melanoma B16F1

The proteolytic enzymes from V. cundinamarcensis latex, (P1G10), display healing activity in animal models following various types of lesions. P1G10 or the purified isoforms act as mitogens on fibroblast and epithelial cells by stimulating angiogenesis and wound healing in gastric and cutaneous ulcers models. Based on evidence that plant proteinases act as antitumorals, we verified this effect on a murine melanoma model. The antitumoral effect analyzed mice survival and tumor development after subcutaneous administration of P1G10 into C57BL/6J mice bearing B16F1 low metastatic melanoma. Possible factors involved in the antitumoral action were assessed, i.e., cytotoxicity, cell adhesion and apoptosis in vitro, haemoglobin (Hb), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor growth factor-β (TGF-β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) content and N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity. We observed that P1G10 inhibited angiogenesis measured by the decline of Hb and VEGF within the tumor, and TGF-β displayed a non-significant increase and TNF-α showed a minor non-significant reduction. On the other hand, there was an increase in NAG activity. In treated B16F1 cells, apoptosis was induced along with decreased cell binding to extracellular matrix components (ECM) and anchorage, without impairing viability.     

Precise Control of Temperature Rising Speed of Wafer during Rapid Thermal Processing

In rapid thermal processing of a semiconductor wafer, it is important to keep a given temperature rising speed of the wafer during the temperature rising process. We made an experimental apparatus to measure the temperature rising speed of a ceramic ball of 2 mm in diameter heated with four halogen lamp heaters. The heating rate of the halogen lamp heaters was controlled by computer to keep a given temperature rising speed of 50 ℃/s with a controlling time interval of 0.1 s. We examined the effect of various heating control methods on the error of the temperature rising speed of the ceramic ball. We found that a combined method of control with prepared correlation and PID （proportional integral derivative） control is a good method to decrease the error of the temperature rising speed. The average error of the temperature rising speed is 0.5 ℃/s, and the repetition error is almost zero for the temperature rising speed of 50 ℃/s from 330 ℃ to 370 ℃. We also measured the effects of artificial control delay time and measuring error of the monitoring temperature on the error of the temperature rising speed.     

Preparation of high-strength poly(vinyl alcohol) fibers by crosslinking wet spinning

High-strength poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) fiber was obtained by the crosslinking wet-spinning technique, which is an improved technique of the conventional non-crosslinked type wet-spinning of PVA. High tensile strength as well as high Young's modulus was achieved by introduction of the borate ion-aided crosslinks during the coagulation process. The drawability of the as-spun fiber greatly depends on the fiber thickness. The thinner the fiber, the higher the drawability. Since thinner fiber is subject to a very high shear rate on extrusion, the crosslinks introduced are believed to maintain topological memory of the oriented chains, which have a low density of entanglements. This allows drawing the fiber to a higher draw ratio. The strength and Young's modulus of the resultant highly drawn PVA fiber were achieved to be 22 g/d (2.3 GPa) and 430 g/d (50 GPa), respectively. The mechanism of the spinning was discussed and the spinning condition was carefully examined in order to optimize the final mechanical properties of the PVA fibers.     

Behavioral modeling of permanent magnet synchronous motor fed by PWM inverters considering iron losses due to carrier harmonics

This paper proposes a new method for behavioral modeling of a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) fed by a PWM inverter considering the iron losses due to carrier harmonics. In the proposed method, an inductance is connected in series with an iron loss resistance in the equivalent circuit of the PMSM to suppress the harmonic current due to carrier harmonics. The effectiveness of the proposed method is investigated by comparing the numerical results of iron losses of the PMSM obtained using a finite-element method and the newly derived equivalent circuit.