Molecular basis for the interaction between human IgM and staphylococcal protein A

To examine the relationship between VH gene usage and reactivity of immunoglobulins, we cloned B cells from peripheral blood from adults and from human neonatal cord blood by EBV transformation. Nearly one-third of the B cell clones from both sources produced IgM reactive with staphylococcal protein A (SPA). None of such IgM reacted with other antigens, except for the crude extract of Staphylococcus aureus. All of 22 B cell clones producing IgM reactive with SPA expressed VH3 genes, while none of the control 15 clones secreting IgM nonreactive with SPA expressed VH3. The IgM proteins reactive with SPA could be clearly divided into two subjects based on the differential binding avidity to solid-phase SPA. Both kappa and lambda light chains were used in each subset of SPA-reactive IgM. Sequence analysis of the PCR products from seven VH3-IgM clones revealed that the VH3 genes were used in nearly germline configuration. The D and J gene usage was diverse. Comparison of amino acid sequences between antibodies with high and low avidity to SPA suggests that the differential avidity is related to amino acid sequence differences in the complementarity determining region 2 and framework region 3. The high frequencies of B cells committed to the production of SPA-reactive IgM in normal blood and the restricted use of VH3 heavy chain genes in nearly germline configuration in these cells support the notion that SPA behaves like a superantigen toward human B cells.     

Numerical analysis of electromagnetic scattering from 3D dielectric objects using the Yasuura method

In order to calculate 3D electromagnetic scattering problems by dielectric objects which we need to solve a large‐size simultaneous linear equation, we present a rapid algorithm on the Yasuura method where we accelerate the convergence rate of solution by using an array of multipoles as well as a conventional multipole. As a result, we can obtain the radar cross sections of dielectric objects in the optical wave region over a relatively wide frequency range and a TDG pulse response. Furtherrmore, we analyze the scattering data about dielectric objects by using the pulse responses cut by an appropriate window function in the time domain and clarify the scattering processes on dielectric objects. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 148(2): 39–45, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/ eej.10292     

Acute sympathetic hyperfunction in overlapping syndromes of systemic lupus erythematosus and polymyositis

A 20-year-old woman with arthralgia, serositis, thrombocytopenia, proteinuria, muscle weakness, elevated creatinine kinase, and positive anti-Sm antibody was diagnosed as having polymyositis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She had persistent high temperature, sinus tachycardia, hyperhidrosis, mydriasis, visual disturbance, hallucination, and loss of consciousness. Levels of plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine and cerebrospinal fluid interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 were all high. A diagnosis of sympathetic hyperfunction accompanied by central nervous system (CNS) involvement in SLE was made parenteral. Pulse administration of high dose corticosteroid therapy was effective. This is the first reported case of a connective tissue disease with CNS involvement manifesting as sympathetic hyperfunction with high plasma catecholamine levels.     

Turbulent Effects on the Settling Velocity of Suspended Sediment

The mean settling velocities of suspended sediments in turbulence have been examined. The settling velocities in a flume are directly measured by using an acoustic Doppler velocimeter. The results indicate the same trend as previous work in homogeneous isotropic turbulence. In addition to the flume experiment, the numerical experiments were conducted in the velocity field of homogeneous isotropic turbulence simulated by Kraichnan’s technique. The experimental and numerical results show that at high turbulence intensity the relative settling velocity increases with the increasing relative turbulence intensity regardless of the Stokes number. At intermediate turbulence intensity, it seems that the settling data bifurcate, i.e., the particles at the large Stokes number tend to be slowed, whereas the settling velocity of particles is increased at the small Stokes number.     

Cell-Based Odorant Sensor Array for Odor Discrimination Based on Insect Odorant Receptors

The olfactory system of living organisms can accurately discriminate numerous odors by recognizing the pattern of activation of several odorant receptors (ORs). Thus, development of an odorant sensor array based on multiple ORs presents the possibility of mimicking biological odor discrimination mechanisms. Recently, we developed novel odorant sensor elements with high sensitivity and selectivity based on insect OR-expressing Sf21 cells that respond to target odorants by displaying increased fluorescence intensity. Here we introduce the development of an odorant sensor array composed of several Sf21 cell lines expressing different ORs. In this study, an array pattern of four cell lines expressing Or13a, Or56a, BmOR1, and BmOR3 was successfully created using a patterned polydimethylsiloxane film template and cell-immobilizing reagents, termed biocompatible anchor for membrane (BAM). We demonstrated that BAM could create a clear pattern of Sf21 sensor cells without impacting their odorant-sensing performance. Our sensor array showed odorant-specific response patterns toward both odorant mixtures and single odorant stimuli, allowing us to visualize the presence of 1-octen-3-ol, geosmin, bombykol, and bombykal as an increased fluorescence intensity in the region of Or13a, Or56a, BmOR1, and BmOR3 cell lines, respectively. Therefore, we successfully developed a new methodology for creating a cell-based odorant sensor array that enables us to discriminate multiple target odorants. Our method might be expanded into the development of an odorant sensor capable of detecting a large range of environmental odorants that might become a promising tool used in various applications including the study of insect semiochemicals and food contamination.     

An Active Carbon Catalyst Prevents Coke Formation from Asphaltenes during the Hydrocracking of Vacuum Residue

Abstract

Active carbons were prepared by the steam activation of a brown coal char. The active carbon with mesopores showed greater adsorption selectivity for asphaltenes. The active carbon was effective at suppressing coke formation, even with the high hydrocracking conversion of vacuum residue. The analysis of the change in the composition of saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes in the cracked residue with conversion demonstrated the ability of active carbon to restrict the transformation of asphaltenes to coke. The active carbon that was richer in mesopores was presumably more effective at providing adsorption sites for the hydrocarbon free-radicals generated initially during thermal cracking to prevent them from coupling and polycondensing.     

Synthesis,characterization, and CO2 permeation properties of acetylene‐terminated polyimide membranes

A novel fluorine‐containing telechelic polyimide end‐capped with acetylene group which derived from 4,4‐(hexafluoroisopropylidene) diphthalic anhydride (6FDA), 3,4‐diaminodiphenyl ether (DADE), and 4‐(2‐phenylethynyl) phthalic anhydride (PEPA) was synthesized using polycondensation. The physical and CO₂ permeation properties of its crosslinked membranes prepared by the cyclotrimerization reaction of the acetylene groups at the polymer chain end using tantalum (V) chloride (TaCl₅) as a catalyst under thermal treatment was investigated in terms of CO₂‐induced membrane plasticization. The crosslinked membranes showed a gel content in organic solvent, which was good solvent of noncrosslinked membranes, and improved their thermal stability. Based on the measurement of the high‐pressure time dependence on CO₂ permeation, the crosslinked 6FDA–DADE–PEPA membranes exhibited more resistance to CO₂‐induced plasticization than noncrosslinked 6FDA–DADE and thermal treated 6FDA–DADE–PEPA. Furthermore, the increase in TaCl₅ content resulted in more resistance to plasticization. The cyclotrimerization reaction of the acetylene groups at the polymer chain ends using a transition metal catalyst under thermal treatment was found to be more effective than conventional thermal treatments for suppressing membrane plasticization without the membrane densification. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers