Free-viewpoint images captured using phase-shifting synthetic aperture digital holography

Free-viewpoint images obtained from phase-shifting synthetic aperture digital holography are given for scenes that include multiple objects and a concave object. The synthetic aperture technique is used to enlarge the effective sensor size and to make it possible to widen the range of changing perspective in the numerical reconstruction. The lensless Fourier setup and its aliasing-free zone are used to avoid aliasing errors arising at the sensor edge and to overcome a common problem in digital holography, namely, a narrow field of view. A change of viewpoint is realized by a double numerical propagation and by clipping the wave field by a given pupil. The computational complexity for calculating an image in the given perspective from the base complex-valued image is estimated at a double fast Fourier transform. The experimental results illustrate the natural change of appearance in cases of both multiple objects and a concave object.     

Interactions of the amino acid residue at position 31 of the c-Ha-Ras protein with Raf-1 and RalGDS

The Ras and Rap1A proteins can bind to the Raf and RalGDS families. Ras and Rap1A have Glu and Lys, respectively, at position 31. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of mutating the Glu at position 31 of the c-Ha-Ras protein to Asp, Ala, Arg, and Lys on the interactions with Raf-1 and RalGDS. The Ras-binding domain (RBD) of Raf-1 binds the E31R and E31K Ras mutants less tightly than the wild-type, E31A, and E31D Ras proteins; the introduction of the positively charged Lys or Arg residue at position 31 specifically impairs the binding of Ras with the Raf-1 RBD. On the other hand, the ability of the oncogenic RasG12V protein to activate Raf-1 in HEK293 cells was only partially reduced by the E31R mutation but was drastically impaired by the E31K mutation. Correspondingly, RasG12V(E31K) as well as Rap1A, but not RasG12V(E31R), exhibited abnormally tight binding with the cysteine-rich domain of Raf-1. On the other hand, the E31A, E31R, and E31K mutations, but not the E31D mutation, enhanced the RalGDS RBD-binding activity of Ras, indicating that the negative charge at position 31 of Ras is particularly unfavorable to the interaction with the RalGDS RBD. RasG12V(E31K), RasG12V(E31A), and Rap1A stimulate the RalGDS action more efficiently than the wild-type Ras in the liposome reconstitution assay. All of these results clearly show that the sharp contrast between the characteristics of Ras and Rap1A, with respect to the interactions with Raf-1 and RalGDS, depends on their residues at position 31.     

Discussion Paper: Who Should Take Responsibility for Unexpected Interest Changes? Lesson from the Privatization of Japanese Railroad System

Due to inefficient operations exacerbated by political intervention, Japanese National Railways (JNR) was dissolved in 1987 after piling up huge debts. It was divided into six regional companies. The three Mainland Companies inherited debts as well as physical assets, while the three Island Companies which are located in sparsely populated areas inherited no debts and were also given financial assets. The Island Companies were expected to lose money in rail operations but make up for the loss with financial income. However, Japan??s low interest rates have jeopardized this seemingly ingenious scheme. This raises the question: who should take responsibility for unexpected interest changes?     

Lignin–silica hybrids as precursors for silicon carbide

Lignin, prepared by digesting cedar with acetic acid, and tetraethoxysilane have been allowed for a sol–gel reaction in tetrahydrofuran using H₂SO₄ as catalyst to yield lignin–SiO₂ hybrids in the bulk gel form. The solid-state ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of the hybrids and products formed solely from the lignin under the acidic conditions revealed that the lignin underwent crosslinking during the sol–gel reaction. The degree of crosslinking increased with an increasing amount of H₂SO₄. The powdered hybrids have been heated at 1500°C in Ar for carbothermal reduction, resulting in the formation of SiC powders. The lignin-to-tetraethoxysilane mixing ratio of the starting solutions varied free carbon content in the SiC powders. In addition, the amount of carbonaceous residue formed from the lignin upon heating depended on the degree of crosslinking of the lignin. Thus, to adjust the amounts of both the lignin and H₂SO₄ was necessary for producing the hybrids suitable for precursors for SiC powders with high purity. Critical adjustment of the amounts led to the formation of SiC powders with a free carbon content of 0.57 wt %, implying that the lignin is a beneficial carbon source for the production of SiC powders by the hybrid route. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 1321–1328, 1999     

Inhibitory effects of acidic xylooligosaccharide on stress-induced gastric inflammation in mice

The preventive effects of acidic xylooligosaccharide prepared from xylan of corncobs and related sugars on stress-induced gastric inflammation in mice were investigated. Oral administration of acidic xylooligosaccharide and hydrocortisone at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight significantly reduced the number of bleeding points in the gastric mucosa of mice loaded with cold-restraint stress. Acidic xylooligosaccharide showed concentration-dependent superoxide anion radical-scavenging activity at concentrations of 3.3-4.3 mg/mL and its IC50 was 3.5 mg/mL, although this value is approximately six times that of quercetin. The antioxidant activity of acidic xylooligosaccharide could contribute, in part, to its suppressive activities on stress-induced mouse gastritis. Xylose, xylobiose, xylan, and glucuronic acid showed no significant suppressive activities on mouse gastric inflammation at a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight. These results suggest that an appropriate degree of polymerization of xylan (larger than trimer) is necessary for the activities of acidic xylooligosaccharide.     

How important is geographical agglomeration to factory efficiency in Japan’s manufacturing sector?

In this paper, the productivity spillovers from efficient factories have been investigated using factory-level data of Japan’s Census of Manufactures. The following three steps have been performed by estimating: first, efficiency of each factory using a nonparametric data envelopment analysis model for each industry, second, geographical distances to the most efficient factory in the prefecture and Japan overall are third, determinants of factories’ performance. Results suggest that clustering occurs in each industry and efficient factories concentrate in certain regions. The share of efficient firms in total firms is particularly high in the Chubu and Tohoku regions. For many industries closeness to the most efficient factories plays a statistically significant positive role in the efficiency of manufacturing factories in Japan. However, this is not the case in high-tech industries.     

Homophilic Interaction of CD147 Promotes IL-6-Mediated Cholangiocarcinoma Invasion via the NF-κB-Dependent Pathway

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), an aggressive cancer of bile ducts, is a well-known chronic inflammation-related disease. The major impediment in CCA treatment is limited treatment options for advanced disease; hence, an alternative is urgently required. The role of CD147 on cytokine production has been observed in inflammation-related diseases, but not in CCA. Therefore, this study was focused on CD147-promoting proinflammatory cytokine production and functions. Proinflammatory cytokine profiles were compared between CD147 expressing CCA cells and CD147 knockout cells (CD147 KO). Three cytokines, namely interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and granulocyte–monocyte colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), were dramatically diminished in CD147 KO clones. The involvement of the CD147-related cytokines in CCA invasion was established. CD147-promoted IL-6, IL-8, and GM-CSF secretions were regulated by NF-κB nuclear translocation, Akt activation, and p38 phosphorylation. CD147-fostering IL-6 production was dependent on soluble CD147, CD147 homophilic interaction, and NF-κB function. The overexpression of specific genes in CCA tissues compared to normal counterparts emphasized the clinical importance of these molecules. Altogether, CD147-potentiated proinflammatory cytokine production leading to CCA cell invasion is shown for the first time in the current study. This suggests that modulation of CD147-related inflammation might be a promising choice for advanced CCA treatment.     

Effect of bismuth on the isothermal fatigue properties of Sn-3.5mass%Ag solder alloy

Sn-3.5mass%Ag eutectic solder is selected as a candidate base alloy for replacing the eutectic Sn-Pb, and the effect of bismuth (2, 5, 10mass%) on the fatigue life of bulk Sn-3.5mass%Ag eutectic at room temperature has been studied over the total strain range from 0.3 to 3 percent in tension-tension mode. Fatigue life is defined as the number of cycles at which the load decreases to a half of the initial value. The fatigue life dramatically decreases with increasing contents of bismuth and adding this element over 2% makes fatigue life shorter than that of tin-lead eutectic alloy. Tensile strength of the alloy significantly increases with an increase in bismuth contents due to solid solution hardening (<5%Bi) or dispersion strengthning of fine bismuth particles, while ductility of this system dramatically decreases with increasing bismuth contents. Fatigue life of these alloys depends on ductility obtained by tensile test. The fatigue life of Bi containing Sn-3.5%Ag alloys can be described by, (Δε_p/2D)·N _f ^0.59 =0.66 where N_f is fatigue life defined by number of cycles to one-half load reduction, Δε_p is the plastic strain range for initial cycles, D is the ductility as measured by reduction in area.     

Induction of antitumor immune response by NK-cell-sensitive target cells transfected by B7-1 gene

The aim of the study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of TVT (tension-free vaginal tape) for the surgical treatment of stress urinary incontinence. The design was a prospective open multicenter study including six centers, each operating an approximately 20 patients. In total 131 patients suffering from genuine stress incontinence were included. They were followed for at least 1 year using a specific protocol for objective and subjective evaluation of the outcome. All patients underwent the operation under local anesthesia. Mean operation time was 28 minutes (range 19-41 minutes); 119 (91%) of the patients were cured according to the protocol and another 9 (7%) were significantly improved. There were 3 (2%) failures. The majority of the patients (about 90%) were operated upon on a day-care basis, which implied that they were released from the hospital within 24 hours, with no postoperative catheterization. No defect healing and no tape rejection occurred. Three patients needed an indwelling catheter for 3 days. In 1 patient catheterization was necessary for more than 10 days. Two uncomplicated hematomas and one uncomplicated bladder perforation occurred. Based on the results, we conclude that TVT is a safe and effective ambulatory procedure for surgical treatment of genuine stress urinary incontinence.