Synthesis of Reactive Sulfur Species in Cultured Vascular Endothelial Cells after Exposure to TGF-β1: Induction of Cystathionine γ-Lyase and Cystathionine β-Synthase Expression Mediated by the ALK5-Smad2/3/4 and ALK5-Smad2/3-ATF4 Pathways

Transforming growth factor-β₁ (TGF-β₁) occurs at high levels at damage sites of vascular endothelial cell layers and regulates the functions of vascular endothelial cells. Reactive sulfur species (RSS), such as cysteine persulfide, glutathione persulfide, and hydrogen persulfide, are cytoprotective factors against electrophiles such as reactive oxygen species and heavy metals. Previously, we reported that sodium trisulfide, a sulfane sulfur donor, promotes vascular endothelial cell proliferation. The objective of the present study was to clarify the regulation and significance of RSS synthesis in vascular endothelial cells after exposure to TGF-β₁. Bovine aortic endothelial cells in a culture system were treated with TGF-β₁ to assess the expression of intracellular RSS, the effect of RSS on cell proliferation in the presence of TGF-β₁, induction of RSS-producing enzymes by TGF-β₁, and intracellular signal pathways that mediate this induction. The results suggest that TGF-β₁ increased intracellular RSS levels to modulate its inhibitory effect on proliferation. The increased production of RSS, probably high-molecular-mass RSS, was due to the induction of cystathionine γ-lyase and cystathionine β-synthase, which are RSS-producing enzymes, and the induction was mediated by the ALK5-Smad2/3/4 and ALK5-Smad2/3-ATF4 pathways in vascular endothelial cells. TGF-β₁ regulates vascular endothelial cell functions such as proliferation and fibrinolytic activity; intracellular high-molecular-mass RSS, which are increased by TGF-β₁, may modulate the regulation activity in vascular endothelial cells.     

Mechanical Properties of Human Concentrated Growth Factor (CGF) Membrane and the CGF Graft with Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 (BMP-2) onto Periosteum of the Skull of Nude Mice

Concentrated growth factor (CGF) is 100% blood-derived, cross-linked fibrin glue with platelets and growth factors. Human CGF clot is transformed into membrane by a compression device, which has been widely used clinically. However, the mechanical properties of the CGF membranes have not been well characterized. The aims of this study were to measure the tensile strength of human CGF membrane and observe its behavior as a scaffold of BMP-2 in ectopic site over the skull. The tensile test of the full length was performed at the speed of 2mm/min. The CGF membrane (5 × 5 × 2 mm³) or the CGF/BMP-2 (1.0 μg) membrane was grafted onto the skull periosteum of nude mice (5-week-old, male), and harvested at 14 days after the graft. The appearance and size of the CGF membranes were almost same for 7 days by soaking at 4 °C in saline. The average values of the tensile strength at 0 day and 7 days were 0.24 MPa and 0.26 MPa, respectively. No significant differences of both the tensile strength and the elastic modulus were found among 0, 1, 3, and 7 days. Supra-periosteal bone induction was found at 14 days in the CGF/BMP-2, while the CGF alone did not induce bone. These results demonstrated that human CGF membrane could become a short-term, sticky fibrin scaffold for BMP-2, and might be preserved as auto-membranes for wound protection after the surgery.     

Steep fronts at transient recovery voltages appearing with the interruption of inrush currents of transformers

High lightning overvoltages do not appear in underground substations connected to transmission cables. Consequently, it is very important to thoroughly investigate switching overvoltages and to achieve rational insulation coordination for apparatus installed in such underground substations. This paper discusses the occurrence of steep fronts at transient recovery voltages (TRV) appearing at circuit breakers when the inrush currents of transformers are interrupted. Caused by a steep front at the TRV, reignitions occur at circuit breakers, resulting in the generation of high overvoltages with high frequencies. The overvoltages are among the highest switching overvoltages appearing at the terminal of a transformer. The authors clarified the mechanism of the generation of steep fronts at TRV by means of EMTP analysis, as well as by carrying out tests in a high‐power laboratory. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 135(1): 24–32, 2001     

Advanced closing switch for three‐phase short‐circuit test of a very fast current limiter

Advanced closing switch for three‐phase short‐circuit test was developed for very fast current limiter using power electronics devices. The conventional short‐circuit test method was used for verification of the current interrupting device with longer time duration to interrupt fault current after the separation of contacts. In the conventional short‐circuit test method, a deviation of the closing time between each phase closing switch with a mechanical driving was regulated so that the breaking performance of the conventional switching device could be examined. However, in the new current limiter with very short fault current interruption time, the deviation time between each phase must be reduced less than the regulated time by the conventional test method. For this purpose, the advanced closing switch for three‐phase short‐circuit test method was developed. In the advanced test method, power electronics devices were used for the initiation of three‐phase short‐circuit fault. Results of the short‐circuit test showed that the advanced circuit had very small deviation time between the initiation of each phase fault. Also, the very fast current limiter with power electronics devices was shown to have an intended interrupting performance. © 1999 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 130(1): 68–75, 2000     

Two-Dimensional Thermal Stress Analysis in Adhesive Butt Joints Containing Hole Defects and Rigid Fillers in Adhesive Under Non-Uniform Temperature Field

This study is concerned with the thermal stress analysis of an adhesive butt joint which contains circular holes and rigid fillers in an adhesive and is under a non-uniform temperature field. In the analysis, the adherends are assumed to be rigid and the adhesive is replaced with a finite strip having holes and rigid fillers in it and the thermal stress distribution in the adhesive is analyzed using a two-dimensional theory of elasticity. The effects of size and location of the circular holes and rigid fillers on the stress distributions at the interface and at the hole and filler peripheries are clarified by numerical calculations. For verification, photoelastic experiments were performed using an epoxide resin plate with small holes and fillers in it, to model and adhesive in the joint. The analytical results are fairly consistent with the experimental ones.     

Preparation of an acrylic‐grafted polyester and its aqueous dispersion: Grafting utilizing alternating copolymerization

An investigation was undertaken to develop a new method to obtain fine dispersion of grafted polyester without gelation. As a new method, grafting utilizing alternating copolymerization of hydrophilic polymers to unsaturated polyester was discussed. By use of grafting utilizing alternating copolymerization, the reaction tendency of grafted polymer radical for an unsaturated bond of the polyester was changed. The grafting utilizing alternating copolymerization was compared with the conventional grafting, and the calculated grafting efficiency is about twice. Moreover, it was possible to increase the incorporation of less reactive monomers into the grafted side chain by the grafting utilizing alternating copolymerization. From the above results, the grafting utilizing alternating copolymerization is considered a useful method to prepare grafted polymers. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 74: 1395–1403, 1999     

Measurements of thermal-neutron capture cross-section and resonance integral of neptunium-237

The thermal-neutron capture cross-section (σ₀) and resonance integral (I₀) were measured for the ²³⁷Np(n,γ) ²³⁸Np reaction by an activation method. A method with a Gadolinium filter, which is similar to the Cadmium difference method, was used to measure the σ₀ with paying attention to the first resonance at 0.489 eV of ²³⁷Np, and a value of 0.133 eV was taken as a cut-off energy. Neptunium-237 samples were irradiated at the pneumatic tube of the Kyoto University Research Reactor in Institute for Integral Radiation and Nuclear Science, Kyoto University. Wires of Co/Al and Au/Al alloys were used as monitors to determine thermal-neutron fluxes and epi-thermal Westcott’s indices at an irradiation position. A γ-ray spectroscopy was used to measure activities of ²³⁷Np, ²³⁸Np and neutron monitors. On the basis of Westcott’s convention, the σ₀ and I₀ values were derived as 186.9 ± 6.2 barn, and 1009 ± 90 barn, respectively.     

Selective reduction of nitric oxide with propene over platinum-group based catalysts: Studies of surface species and catalytic activity

The reduction of nitric oxide by propene in the presence of oxygen over platinum-group metals supported on TiO₂, ZnO, ZrO₂, and Al₂O₃ has been investigated by combined diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectroscopy and catalytic activity studies under flow reaction conditions at 523–673 K and atmospheric pressure. The catalytic activity for the selective reduction of nitric oxide and the intensity of the IR bands due to reaction species depended strongly on the nature of the support, type of supported metal, reaction time and temperature. The main surface species detectable by IR were adsorbed hydrocarbons (2900–3080 cm⁻¹), isocyanate (2180, and 2232–2254 cm⁻¹), cyanide (2125 cm⁻¹), nitrosonium (1901 cm⁻¹), CO₂ (2343–2357 cm⁻¹), CO (2058 cm⁻¹) and carbonate (1300–1650 cm⁻¹) species. In the case of rhodium containing catalysts, when supported on Al₂O₃, they exhibited both the highest concentration of surface species and the highest activity for nitric oxide reduction and selectivity to nitrogen. The catalytic activity and the IR intensities of the nitrosonium and isocyanate bands increased with reaction temperature, reached their maximum between 570 and 620 K, and then decreased at higher temperatures. The IR band intensities due to nitrogen containing surface species were found to be strongly correlated to the activity for nitric oxide conversion and only slightly related to the selectivity to dinitrogen.     

Preparation and properties of new surfactants containingd-glucosamine as the building block

Three types of new surfactants were prepared by usingN-acetyl-d-glucosamine as a starting material. The first type of surfactant, sodium methyl 4,6-O-alkylidene-2-(carboxyl-atomethylamino)-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranoside, was prepared successively by the following treatments: methyl glucosidation ofN-acetyl-d-glucosamine, transacetalization with an appropriate aldehyde dimethyl acetal, deacetylation, and finally reaction of the resulting methyl-4,6-O-alkylidene-2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranoside (2-amino precursor) with bromoacetic acid. The reaction of this 2-amino precursor with methyl iodide yielded the second type of surfactant, methyl 4,6-O-alkylidene-2-deoxy-2-(trimethylammonio)-d-glucopyranoside iodide, in excellent yield. The last type of compound, sodium methyl 2-acetamide-4,6-O-alkylidene-3-O-[1-(carboxylato)-ethyl]-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranoside, was synthesized by the reaction of methyl 2-acetamide-4,6-O-alkylidene-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranoside with 2-chloropropionic acid. Concerning the two carboxylate types of surfactants, the compounds containing a C₉ or C₁₁ hydrophobic chain in the alkylidene part showed higher water solubility than the corresponding compounds containing a C₇ hydrophobic chain. Both the micelle-forming property and the ability to lower the surface tension of these carboxylate types of compounds increased with an increase in the length of the hydrophobic chain in the alkylidene part. These compounds can be applied to new acid-decomposable types of cleavable surfactants because they contain an acetal group. The acetal bond of the ammonium type of compound was cleaved more slowly than that of the corresponding carboxylate types of surfactants in 2% aqueous HCI solution. The biodegradabilities of these compounds were also determined.