Effect of Hypoxia on Pulmonary Endothelial Cells from Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis Model Mice

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive and fatal disorder characterized by dysregulated repair after recurrent injury. Destruction of the lung architecture with excess extracellular matrix deposition induces respiratory failure with hypoxia and progressive dyspnea. The impact of hypoxia on pulmonary endothelial cells during pulmonary fibrogenesis is unclear. Using a magnetic-activated cell sorting system, pulmonary endothelial cells were isolated from a mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by intratracheally administered bleomycin. When endothelial cells were exposed to hypoxic conditions, a hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α protein was detected in CD31- and α-smooth muscle actin (SMA)-positive cells. Levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, von Willebrand factor, and matrix metalloproteinase 12 were increased in endothelial cells isolated from bleomycin-treated mice exposed to hypoxic conditions. When endothelial cells were cultured under hypoxic conditions, levels of fibrotic mediators, transforming growth factor-β and connective tissue growth factor, were elevated only in endothelial cells from bleomycin-treated and not from saline-treated lungs. The increased expression of α-SMA and mesenchymal markers and collagen production in bleomycin- or hypoxia-stimulated endothelial cells were further elevated in endothelial cells from bleomycin-treated mouse lungs cultured under hypoxic conditions. Exposure to hypoxia damaged endothelial cells and enhanced fibrogenesis-related damage in bleomycin-treated pulmonary endothelial cells.     

Competitive interaction of polyanions and anionic dye with bovine serum albumin

The binding of anionic dye, p-(2-amino-6-sulfonyl-8-naphthylazo)benzene sulfonic acid disodium salt (ASANA) to bovine serum albumin (BSA) at pH 7.5 has been studied by spectrophotometric techniques. The values of the dissociation constants were obtained with the use of the Benesi-Hildebrand equation for ASANA. Competitive binding of polyanions, sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) (PSSNa), potassium poly(vinyl sulfonate) (PVSK), poly(acrylic acid) (PAA), and poly(methacrylic acid) (PMAA) and anionic dye to BSA was evaluated through the variations in the different spectra of BSA-dye-polymer systems.     

Examination of simple analytical method for calculating 60-Hz magnetic field in power substations

In the last decade, increasing attention has been paid to ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) electromagnetic environments in work areas as well as in and near homes, regarding their interaction both with electric apparatus such as CRT's and with biological systems. Experimental and theoretical analyses are presented of 60 Hz magnetic field (B-field) characteristics at and near ground level in both 187/66-kV EHV and 66/6.6-kV HV power substations. Experimental results of B-field profiles along horizontal paths as well as harmonic contents in B-field waveforms at several positions are shown and discussed. Furthermore, analytical B-field profiles calculated by using a B-field approximation method based on Biot-Savart law are shown and compared with the measured ones. The comparisons verify that the assumptions employed are applicable to the substation B-field calculation, and that the B-field calculation method employed can estimate B-field in EHV and HV power substation to significant accuracy, except for areas where localized B-field sources, such as power transformers and underground power cables, exist. The analytical profiles of three orthogonal components of B-field are also described in terms of equiflux contour maps, which show 3-D characteristics of B-field in power substations.     

Mixed mode fracture criterion of interface crack between dissimilar materials

This study presents an application of fracture mechanics to the interface crack between dissimilar materials. In this study, a concept of the stress intensity factors of an interface crack is discussed, and various types of specimens are tested experimentally for investigating the mixed mode fracture toughness criterion of an interface crack. The fracture toughness based on the stress intensity factors of an interface crack is decided by the fracture test and the boundary element analysis using the contour integral method. The mixed mode fracture toughness criterion is successfully characterized by the stress intensity factors of an interface crack.     

Automated generation of simply connected solid objects from wire-frame data using operations on graphs

This paper presents an algorithm for the automatic generation of solid objects from three-dimensional wire-frame data. In this work, as we mainly use topological information of wire-frame data, we can achieve high-speed execution and adapt this algorithm to free-from surfaces. We present the conversion algorithm and show several experimental results.     

Translator knowledge base for machine translation systems

This paper presents a new method for utilizing translator knowledge bases for machine translation systems. Translator knowledge to be stored and utilized consists of translationally equivalent pattern pairs: surface-level phrasal, clausal, and sentential correspondences between the source and target languages. This knowledge will be utilized to translate domain-specific idiomatic, nonstandard, or ungrammatical expressions. The proposed method has been implemented in an adaptive English to Japanese machine translation system, HICATS/EJ, as one of its customization facilities.     

Wetting Transition in a Molten Metal and Solid Substrate System in High Magnetic Fields

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A - Wetting transitions between molten metals and different solid substrates were investigated using the sessile drop method to evaluate the possibilities...     

Equilibrium state and crystal growth of (BEDT-TTF)2I3

The equilibrium state and crystal growth of (BEDT-TTF)₂I₃ were investigated. Measurements of the temperature dependence of solubility and analyses of the components in the solution were carried out. The analysis of the solution showed that the crystals decompose into neutral BEDT-TTF and I₂ molecules. As to the polymorphism, it was clarified that the -form is more stable than the -form in the temperature region between 0 and 50 °C. Using these information, we succeed in growing single crystals form BEDT-TTF and I₂ and in control of the crystallizing polymorph. The polymorphic behavior was explained in terms of supersaturation as a driving force of crystal growth.     

Histological features of the vomeronasal organ in the giraffe,Giraffa camelopardalis

The vomeronasal organ (VNO) that preferentially detects species‐specific substances is diverse among animal species, and its morphological properties seem to reflect the ecological features of animals. This histological study of two female reticulated giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) found that the VNO is developed in giraffes. The lateral and medial regions of the vomeronasal lumen were covered with sensory and nonsensory epithelia, respectively. The vomeronasal glands were positive for periodic acid‐Schiff and alcian blue (pH 2.5) stains. The VNO comprises several large veins like others in the order Cetartiodactyla, suggesting that these veins function in a pumping mechanism in this order. In addition, numerous thin‐walled vessels located immediately beneath the epithelia covering the lumen entirely surrounded the vomeronasal lumen. This sponge‐like structure might function as a specific secondary pump in giraffes.