Embryonic development and postnatal changes in free D-aspartate and D-serine in the human prefrontal cortex

We have analyzed free chiral amino acids (aspartate and serine) in the human frontal cortex at different ontogenic stages (from 14 weeks of gestation to 101 years of age) by HPLC with fluorometric detection after derivatization with N-tert-butyl-oxycarbonyl-L-cysteine and o-phthaldialdehyde. Exceptionally high levels of free D-aspartate and D-serine were demonstrated in the fetal cortex at gestational week 14. The ratios of D-aspartate and of D-serine to the total corresponding amino acids were also high, at 0.63 and 0.27, respectively. The concentration of D-aspartate dramatically decreased to a trace level by gestational week 41 and then remained very low during all postnatal stages. In contrast, the frontal tip contained persistently high levels of D-serine throughout embryonic and postnatal life, whereas the D-amino acid content in adolescents and aged individuals was about half of that in the fetuses. Because D-aspartate and D-serine are known to have selective actions at the NMDA-type excitatory amino acid receptor, the present data suggest that these D-amino acids might play a pivotal role in cerebral development and functions that are related to the NMDA receptor.     

Absorption and Electrical Conductivity during Electrochemical Reduction in Fullerene Film

The results of in-situ measurements of optical absorption and electrical conductivity in C₆₀/C₇₀ (9/1) film during electrochemical reduction in a cell using solid polymer electrolyte are reported. The drastic change of absorbance and the increase of conductivity upon Li doping were obtained and the results are discussed.     

Electroplasticity memory devices using conducting polymers and solid polymer electrolytes

Erasable memory devices are fabricated by the combination of a conducting polymer and solid polymer electrolyte. The former is used as a memory channel and the latter as an electrolyte medium. The channel conductivity can be controlled over 3-4 orders of magnitude by electrochemical doping through a writing electrode. The response time, depending on the writing voltage, is several seconds. The characteristics of the memory device are discussed.     

Comparison of thermo‐oxidative treatments for the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge

BACKGROUND: In this study, various thermo‐oxidative treatments were examined and compared with the aim of overcoming the disadvantages of thermal treatment and enhancing the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. RESULTS: Oxygen, hydrogen peroxide and ozone were selected as oxidant, accompanied with the addition of either acid (HCl) or alkali (Na₂CO₃) for oxygen. The temperature and duration were fixed at 170 °C and 1 h, respectively. Anaerobically digested sludge was used as the substrate, to see the effects on the refractory part of sewage sludge. A batch methanogenesis test using 120 mL serum bottles was run at 35 °C for 20 days, and methane production, solids reduction, dewaterability and color intensity were measured. As the strength of the oxidants was increased, methane production tended to decrease, whereas solids reduction was increased. The dewaterability of the sludges and the color in the filtrates became worse for thermo‐oxidative treatment with oxygen and alkali. On the other hand, the dewaterability was improved significantly and color generation was restricted the most for the thermo‐oxidative treatment with oxygen and acid. CONCLUSION: Lowering the pH of thermo‐oxidative treatment is advantageous with respect to the dewaterability and color generation of digested sludge. Based on evaluation of the overall performance, thermo‐oxidative treatment with acid is considered the best among the thermo‐oxidative treatments examined. Copyright © 2008 Society of Chemical Industry     

Stability of electrochemomechanical strains in polypyrrole films using ionic liquids

Electrochemomechanical strain (ECMS) of conducting polymers, polypyrrole (PPy) films was studied using several kinds of ionic liquids and the mixed solution with organic solvents from the view points of strain and stability. The PPy films, which were electrodeposited from lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI), showed porous morphology. The ECMS in the films operated in ionic liquids was less than 5%, demonstrating a cation movement behavior and stable cycling. By the operation in ionic liquid/propylene carbonate (PC) mixed solution, the ECMS increased up to 24% showing the anion movement, and gradually decreased upon cycling to 16% at 10^th cycle. The strain and stability of the ECMS in mixed electrolyte solution with various ratios of the ionic liquid and PC were studied and discussed in terms of mechanisms of ECMS in mixed solutions.     

Induction of angiotensin converting enzyme and angiotensin II receptors in the atherosclerotic aorta of high-cholesterol fed Cynomolgus monkeys

Psychometric characteristics of the Social Introversion (Si) scale, the Social Discomfort (SOD) scale, and the Si subscales of the MMPI-2 were examined in clinical samples of 122 psychiatric patients and 399 patients with substance-use disorders. The combined Si1 (Shyness/Self-Consciousness) and Si2 (Social Avoidance) subscales correlated highly with SOD and are apparent measures of the social introversion construct. Si3 (Self/Other Alienation) was found to be a measure of the general maladjustment factor of the MMPI-2. Content not included on the Si subscales was divided into a group of items that measures general maladjustment and 2 other item groups that may assess minor constructs related to social introversion. As in previous research, the 3 Si subscales accounted well for variance in Si scores.     

基于MOS-1b/MESSR的洪灾遥感监测

以湖南洞庭湖为研究区，MOS-1b/MESSR影像数据作为遥感信息源，应用ERDAS IMAGINE处理系统，对枯水期和洪水期两个不同时相的各波段影像数据进行组合运算、比值变换等处理，以及影像、光谱、直方图的对比分析。基于处理与分析结果，利用分类技术，建立了水体分类模型（B1+B2）/(B3+B4)>t，可快速准确地提取水体信息；同时，还提取和建立了水深系数模型WDI=B1/B2，得出了基于非线性回归分析的水体深度探测模型。依据洪水信息提取模型，对枯水期与洪水期的分类专题图进行叠加分析，得到了洞庭湖区洪水期的洪水分布图与洪水淹没信息，可为防洪救灾决策提供重要的科学依据。     

Elastic properties of a crossply SiC f /Ti composite at elevated temperatures

Using electromagnetic acoustic resonance (EMAR), we measured the complete set of elastic constants and internal friction of a silicon-carbide-fiber-reinforced Ti-6Al-4V-matrix cross-ply composite between room temperature and 1000 K. This material exhibits tetragonal symmetry and possesses six independent C _ij . By changing the magnetic-field direction, we selected two vibration groups among the eight vibration groups of a rectangular parallelepiped. The elastic constants showed anomalous temperature dependence around 650 K and internal friction Q ⁻¹ increased rapidly above that temperature; neither the C _ij nor Q ⁻¹ returned to the before-heating values. We attributed this to disbonding between the matrix alloy and SiC, and between SiC and the carbon core within the fiber caused by oxidation of carbon, which is supported by the microstructure observation. We present the temperature derivatives of the composite C _ij and estimate those of the fiber C _ij by comparing the matrix-C _ij derivatives.     

Isolation of Pseudozyma churashimaensis sp. nov., a novel ustilaginomycetous yeast species as a producer of glycolipid biosurfactants, mannosylerythritol lipids

An ustilaginomycetous anamorphic yeast species isolated from the leaves of Saccharum officinarum (sugarcane) in Okinawa, Japan, was identified as a novel Pseudozyma species based on morphological and physiological aspects and molecular taxonomic analysis using the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (26S) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1)-5.8S-ITS2 regions. The name Pseudozyma churashimaensis sp. nov. was proposed for the novel species, with JCM 16988(T) as the type strain. Interestingly, P. churashimaensis was found to produce glycolipid biosurfactants, a mixture of mannosylerythritol lipids (MELs), including a novel tri-acetylated derivative (MEL-A2), from glucose. The observed critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the surface tension at CMC of MEL-A2 were 1.7 × 10?? M and 29.2 mN/m, respectively. Moreover, on a water-penetration scan, MEL-A2 efficiently formed different lyotropic liquid crystalline phases, including the lamella phase at a wide range of concentrations, indicating its excellent surface-active and self-assembling properties. The novel strain of the genus Pseudozyma should thus facilitate the application of glycolipid biosurfactants in combination with other MEL producers.