Preparation of nickel-tungstate catalysts by a novel impregnation method

Nickel-tungstate/γ-alumina (NiW) catalysts were prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation method using citric acid as a complexing agent. Citric acid has been used by our research group in preparing cobalt-molybdate and nickel -molybdate catalysts. The extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data of the impregnating solutions indicated that citric acid contributes to the formation of polytungstate anions that are smaller than the dodecatungstate ions formed when conventional ammoniacal solutions are used. Sulfided NiW catalysts prepared by using citric acid showed higher hydrogenation activity and hydrogenation selectivity than NiW catalysts prepared using the conventional ammoniacal solutions.     

Effect of the ACAT inhibitor, HL-004, on cholesterol metabolism in macrophages

The effects of a novel acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) inhibitor, HL-004, on cholesterol metabolism were examined in mice peritoneal macrophages. Cholesteryl ester-rich foam cells were induced by incubating macrophages with acetylated LDL. HL-004 prevented the accumulation of cholesteryl ester in the presence of the cholesterol acceptor, HDL. In the absence of HDL, HL-004 generated large amounts of free cholesterol in the cell. Moreover, HL-004 stimulated the efflux of cholesterol from preestablished foam cells in the presence of HDL. These results suggest that the inhibition of foam cell formation and the stimulation of foam cell regression by HL-004 are attributed to intracellular ACAT inhibition, and that HL-004 would be expected to exhibit an antiatherosclerotic effect through direct action on arterial wall.     

Concentration of an integral membrane protein, CD43 (leukosialin, sialophorin), in the cleavage furrow through the interaction of its cytoplasmic domain with actin-based cytoskeletons

In leukocytes such as thymocytes and basophilic leukemia cells, a glycosilated integral membrane protein called CD43 (leukosialin or sialophorin), which is defective in patients with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, was highly concentrated in the cleavage furrow during cytokinesis. Not only at the mitotic phase but also at interphase, CD43 was precisely colocalized with ezrin-radixin-moesin family members. (ERM), which were previously reported to play an important role in the plasma membrane-actin filament association in general. At the electron microscopic level, throughout the cell cycle, both CD43 and ERM were tightly associated with microvilli, providing membrane attachment sites for actin filaments. We constructed a cDNA encoding a chimeric molecule consisting of the extracellular domain of mouse E-cadherin and the transmembrane/cytoplasmic domain of rat CD43, and introduced it into mouse L fibroblasts lacking both endogenous CD43 and E-cadherin. In dividing transfectants, the chimeric molecules were concentrated in the cleavage furrow together with ERM, and both proteins were precisely colocalized throughout the cell cycle. Furthermore, using this transfection system, we narrowed down the domain responsible for the CD43-concentration in the cleavage furrow. Based on these findings, we conclude that CD43 is concentrated in the cleavage furrow through the direct or indirect interaction of its cytoplasmic domain with ERM and actin filaments.     

Adenophostin, a potent agonist of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor, is useful for fertilization of mouse oocytes injected with round spermatids leading to normal offspring

Relaxin plays a major role in promoting the growth and softening of the cervix that occurs during the second half of pregnancy in the rat. There is limited evidence that prostaglandins play a role in cervical softening in mammalian species. Accordingly, this study was conducted to determine if prostaglandins mediate relaxin's effects on the rat cervix. To attain that objective, indomethacin was used to inhibit cyclooxygenase, the key enzyme in the conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins. Twenty-six nonpregnant female rats were ovariectomized when they were 78 days old (day 1 of treatment). At ovariectomy (O), each rat was fitted with silicon tubing implants containing progesterone (P) and estrogen (E) in doses that provided blood levels similar to those during late pregnancy in rats. Rats were randomly assigned to three treatment groups. Group OPE controls (n = 8 rats) received 2 ml indomethacin vehicle (0.5% methyl cellulose, 0.025 Tween 80 in water) via gavage at 0900 h on days 8 and 9 and 0.5 ml relaxin vehicle (0.9% NaCl) s.c. at 6-h intervals from 1200 h on day 8 through 0600 h on day 10. Group OPER (n = 9 rats) was treated as group OPE except that 20 microg highly purified porcine relaxin was administered. Group OPERI (n = 9 rats) was treated as group OPER except that indomethacin was administered at a dose (20 mg/kg BW) that reduced cervical PGE2 levels by more than 90%. Between 0800 h and 1000 h on day 10, the cervices were removed, trimmed of fat, weighed, and placed in ice-cold Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer, pH 7.5. Cervical extensibility (degree of softening) was determined within 4 h of tissue collection. Both the mean cervical wet weight and the mean cervical extensibility in the relaxin-treated group OPER rats were markedly greater (P < 0.01) than in the group OPE controls. Treatment with indomethacin did not diminish relaxin's effects on either cervical wet weight or cervical extensibility. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that relaxin's effects on cervical growth and softening in the rat are not mediated through prostaglandins.     

State feedback control of current-type PWM AC-to-DC converters

A control method for current-type PWM AC-to-DC converters that realizes a sinusoidal AC input current and unity power factor is discussed in detail. In such converters, an LC filter placed on the AC side may cause a resonant problem, especially in the transient condition. To overcome this problem, state feedback control is introduced, and a control strategy suitable for DC-output current control as well as AC-side current control is proposed. Circuit parameters and feedback coefficients in the AC-side current control system are optimized on the basis of an analysis in which the system is treated as a sampled-data system. A method of investigating parameters in the DC-side current control system is shown. To confirm the effectiveness of the control strategy and the validity of the analytical results, an experimental investigation of the basic characteristics of the system is made. As an example, this system is applied to controlling the current waveform in the reactor. The experimental results for this application are also included     

Prenatal diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy using single fetal cell in maternal blood

We developed a method that allows prenatal diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy using a single nucleated erythrocyte (NRBC) isolated from maternal blood. Maternal blood was obtained at 8 to 20 weeks of gestation. NRBCs were separated with Percoll using a discontinuous density gradient method and then collected by micromanipulator under microscopic observation. The entire genome of a single cell amplified by primer extension preamplification (PEP). Sex was determined from a small aliquot of the PEP reaction. After an NRBC was determined to be male and confirmed to be of fetal origin, dystrophin exons 4, 8, 12, 45, 48, 50, and 51 were determined from the same PEP reaction. This diagnostic method using maternal blood is safer than amniocentesis or cordocentesis and can be applied to other X-linked disease.     

The integral experiment on beryllium with D-T neutrons for verification of tritium breeding

A clean benchmark experiment on beryllium was performed with D-T neutrons at the FNS facility of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The main objective was to verify the integral data related to the tritium production on lithium isotopes. Tritium production rates, as well as activation reaction rates were measured inside the beryllium assembly that was shaped as a pseudo-cylindrical slab with an area-equivalent diameter of 628 mm and a thickness of 355 mm. Experimental results were analyzed with a three-dimensional Monte Carlo transport code MCNP-4C and FENDL/MC-2.0, JENDL-3.2/3.3 neutron transport libraries. Evaluation of reaction rates was based on the cross section data taken from the JENDL Dosimetry File and ENDF B-VI data libraries. Analysis shows that all calculation combinations (transport and activation cross section libraries) used for evaluation of reaction rates give data that is agreeable with measured values within 10%.     

Oral absorption improvement of poorly soluble drug using solid dispersion technique

A new triazol antifungal agent, (+)-2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)-3-methyl-1-(1H-1, 2,4-triazol-1-yl)-3-[6-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pyridazin++ +-3-ylthio]butan-2-ol (MFB-1041), shows poor oral absorption and is practically insoluble in water (1.2 micrograms/ml). Solid dispersion systems with an enteric polymer such as hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate (HP-55) and carboxymethylethylcellulose (CMEC), and a nonenteric polymer, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (Metolose) were evaluated to improve drug absorption and solubility. The oral bioavailabilities of these solid dispersions in beagle dogs were over 6 times higher than that of a suspension system with increasing drug solubility in an alkaline medium. X-Ray powder diffraction measurement of the solid dispersion showed a complete drug phase change from a crystal to an amorphous state. Further, from the results of a stability test, the preparations were stable in a desiccated condition and the absorption profiles also showed no change. From the results, it was suggested that the oral administrative preparation of MFB-1041 having a superior absorption profile and a high stability could be obtained by a drug phase change from a crystal to an amorphous state, especially in the spray-drying method using enteric polymers.