Westernized food habits and concentrations of serum lipids in the Japanese

It has recently been reported that there exists a new 'RING-finger' protein family among the zinc-finger (Zf) proteins. Previously, we had isolated the mouse Mel-18 cDNA (mMel-18) encoding the nuclear RING-finger protein that exhibits an ability to bind to a nonspecific DNA column. Here, we have isolated and characterized the human Mel-18 cDNA (hMel-18) using the mMel-18 cDNA as a probe. The deduced hMel-18 protein contains 344 amino acids (38 kDa) with a RING-finger motif, a helix-loop-helix (HLH)-like structure and a Pro/Ser-rich region. The hMel-18 gene is conserved among vertebrates. Its mRNA is highly expressed in placenta, lung and kidney, but the level is low in liver, pancreas and skeletal muscle. Using in situ hybridization, we mapped hMel-18 to band q22 of chromosome 12. It is possible that the Mel-18/bmi-1 gene family represents a mammalian homologue of the Drosophila polycomb gene group.     

Phenol novolac/poly(4- hydroxyphenylmaleimide) blend hardeners for DGEBA-type epoxy resin

Phenol novolac/poly (4-hydroxyphenylmaleimide) (PHPMI) blends were used as an epoxy resin hardener. The curing behavior of the above system and the thermal and mechanical properties of the cured epoxy resin were studied. It was not necessary to use a curing accelerator for this system, because PHPMI caused acceleration of the curing reaction. The curing mechanism of this system was investigated by using model compounds. Test pieces from the neat resins and the glass fiber reinforced resins were evaluated in terms of thermal and mechanical properties, respectively. It was found that heat resistance and mechanical properties were improved by increasing the amount of PHPMI in the hardener.     

Zero and first sound velocity and Fermi liquid parameterF 2 s in normal3He

A precise velocity measurement of zero and first sound in normal³He was performed over the pressure range of 0.5 bar and 10 bar at a frequency of 389.1 MHz using a phase detection technique. From these measurements, the Fermi liquid parameter F ₂ ^s was determined as a function of pressure. The new value of F ₂ ^s was positive and less than 0.25 at all pressures below 10 bar. It allows propagation of transverse zero sound mode for all pressures within the current theoretical picture.     

Drug resistance of Helicobacter pylori strains isolated from patients with inflammation of stomach mucous membrane and peptic ulcer of stomach and duodenum

Twelve strains of H. pylori were tested. They were isolated from biosamples from 23 patients with stomach inflammation (16 persons) and stomach (3) and duodenum peptic ulcer. By application of solid medium dilution of MIC50 and MIC90-16 antibiotics and antimicrobials were tested. Values of MIC50 and MIC90 for antibiotics from the tetracycline group were, respectively 0.25-0.5 microgram/ml and 0.12-1.0 microgram/ml. Similar results were obtained with macrolide antibiotics. All strains were sensitive to penicillin (MIC 0.03-0.12 microgram/ml, ampicillin (MIC 0.06-0.5 microgram/ml) and amoxicillin and rifampicin (MIC 0.07-0.3 microgram/ml). Ten out of 12 investigated strains were resistant to metronidazole (MIC90 = 30 micrograms/ml). Results of this study may be important for etiotropic treatment of infections with H. pylori.     

Reduced drug accumulation and multidrug resistance in human breast cancer cells without associated P-glycoprotein or MRP overexpression

MCF-7 human breast cancer cells selected in Adriamycin in the presence of verapamil developed a multidrug resistant phenotype, which was characterized by as much as 100,000-fold resistance to mitoxantrone, 667-fold resistance to daunorubicin, and 600-fold resistance to doxorubicin. Immunoblot and PCR analyses demonstrated no increase in MDR-1 or MRP expression in resistant cells, relative to parental cells. This phenotype is similar to one previously described in mitoxantrone-selected cells. The cells, designated MCF-7 AdVp, displayed a slower growth rate without alteration in topoisomerase II alpha level or activity. Increased efflux and reduced accumulation of daunomycin and rhodamine were observed when compared to parental cells. Depletion of ATP resulted in complete abrogation of efflux of both daunomycin and rhodamine. No apparent alterations in subcellular daunorubicin distribution were observed by confocal microscopy. No differences were noted in intracellular pH. Molecular cloning studies using DNA differential display identified increased expression of the alpha subunit of the amiloride-sensitive sodium channel in resistant cells. Quantitative PCR studies demonstrated an eightfold overexpression of the alpha subunit of the Na+ channel in the resistant subline. This channel may be linked to the mechanism of drug resistance in the AdVp cells. The results presented here support the hypothesis that a novel energy-dependent protein is responsible for the efflux in the AdVp cells. Further identification awaits molecular cloning studies.     

Soft decision decoding of block codes using received signalenvelope in digital mobile radio

The codeword error rate (WER) performance of noncoherent frequency-shift keying with soft decision decoding of block codes using Chase's second algorithm (1972) is investigated in a Rayleigh fading channel. The received signal envelope is sampled and used as channel measurement information. The theoretical upper and lower bounds of the WER are derived, assuming independent Rayleigh envelope samples in a received block. When the Golay (23, 12, 7) code is used, soft decision decoding with 6-bit error correction capability (3-bit error and 3-bit erasure) requires an average signal-to-noise power ratio about 5 dB lower than that for minimum distance decoding with 3-bit error correction to obtain a WER=10^-3. The effects of bit interleaving on the WER performance when fading envelope variation is slow compared to the bit rate are investigated through computer simulations     

Continuous formation of slurry ice by cooling water–oil emulsion in a tube

Water-silicone oil emulsion with an additive, (C₂H₅O)₃SiC₃H₆NH₂, was examined as a heat storage material. A spiral tube used as a heat exchanger was immersed in a low temperature bath and the emulsion was circulated in the tube to make ice continuously. Ice was separated from the ice–liquid suspension in an outlet tank. The amount of formed ice, the temperatures of the inlet and the outlet of the heat exchanger, and the temperatures in the tube wall were measured and the overall heat transfer coefficient and the heat flux through the tube were calculated. Experiments were carried out, varying the flow rate, the temperature of cooling brine, and the thickness of tube wall. The condition under which slurry ice was formed continuously without adhesion of ice to the cooling wall was clarified. Though decrease in the thermal resistance of the tube increased the rate of ice formation or raised the brine temperature, it narrowed the range of the flow rate and of the brine temperature in which slurry ice was formed continuously.