Changes in lipid peroxide level in retinal pigment epithelial cells in vitro upon addition of linoleic acids or linoleic acid hydroperoxides under varying concentrations of oxygen

BACKGROUND: Plasma prolactin response to fenfluramine, a serotonergic agent, is typically blunted in moderately to severely depressed adults when compared to healthy controls. It is not clear, however, whether this dysregulation represents an acute change during symptomatic depression or a chronic disturbance. METHODS: In the current study, the prolactin responses to D,L-fenfluramine (weight-adjusted oral dose) of 29 adults who had a history of at least one major depressive episode (DSM-III-R criteria), but not during the past year, were compared to the prolactin responses of 58 age-, sex-, and socioeconomic status-matched adults without a lifetime history of major depression. RESULTS: Individuals with a positive history of major depression had significantly lower peak prolactin responses than controls. This finding was not attributable to weight, fenfluramine bioavailability, or baseline prolactin levels. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first investigation to compare men and women with a history of depression but not depressed at the time of the fenfluramine challenge to a similar group of healthy controls. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that central serotonergic activity is persistently disturbed in adults who experience depressive episodes.     

Utility-cogenerator game for pricing power sales and wheeling fees

The authors have studied an extensive game model of an electricity market where a cogenerator sells excess electricity to an electric utility or to an end user. They found that a buy-back system (the utility purchases cogenerated power) is as efficient as a cogenerator-customer wheeling system and that these two systems are more desirable than a monopoly system for the regulator. The buy-back rate should be equal to (LP bargaining solution) or less than (Nash bargaining solution) the marginal cost of the electric utility. They also conducted an analysis of a two-period electricity market in which they found that the cogenerator that can supply excess power during peak period obtains the market advantage     

Development of effective power supply using electric double layer capacitor for static magnetic field coils in fusion plasma experiments

A cost-effective power supply for static magnetic field coils used in fusion plasma experiments has been developed by application of an electric double layer capacitor (EDLC). A prototype EDLC power supply system was constructed in the form of a series LCR circuit. Coil current of 100 A with flat-top longer than 1 s was successfully supplied to an equilibrium field coil of a fusion plasma experimental apparatus by a single EDLC module with capacitance of 30 F. The present EDLC power supply has revealed sufficient performance for plasma confinement experiments whose discharge duration times are an order of several seconds.     

N-terminal domain of eotaxin-3 is important for activation of CC chemokine receptor 3

Eotaxin-3 belongs to the CC chemokine family, and specificallyrecognizes CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 3 that is expressed oneosinophils, basophils and helper T type 2 cells. The three-dimensionalstructure of eotaxin-3 determined by nuclear magnetic resonancehas revealed that the N-terminal nine residues preceding thefirst cysteine comprise an unstructured domain, which is alsoobserved in other chemokine molecules. In order to determinethe function of the N-terminal domain of eotaxin-3, we constructedvarious N-terminal-deletion mutants, and then examined theirbinding and chemotactic activities toward eosinophils in vitro.Competitive binding studies showed that the binding affinityof truncated mutant toward CCR3 was almost the same as thatof wild-type eotaxin-3 even though the N-terminal truncationinvolved the first through to the ninth residues. In contrast,the chemotactic activity gradually decreased with extensionof the N-terminal deletion, and when the deletion extended tothe eighth residue, the activity was not detected at all. Thus,the N-terminal nine residues are not critical for binding butthe N-terminal eight residues are essential for activation ofCCR3. The truncated eotaxin-3 proteins lacking the N-terminaleight or nine residues inhibited the chemotactic activity ofchemokines that recognize CCR3. The truncated mutants can possiblybe used for anti-allergic and anti-HIV-1 therapy.     

Are Monkeys Aesthetists? Rensch (1957) Revisited.

Three experiments assessed whether capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) prefer regular and symmetrical visual patterns. Pictorial representations of faces were included in 1 stimulus set. When the monkeys could pick up and manipulate small cards bearing the stimuli, all preferences expressed by capuchins and most of those expressed by squirrel monkeys were for regular stimuli. Symmetry of the patterns was influential but not essential. Some preferences were also found for faces. When images of the patterns were presented on a touch screen, capuchins continued to express preferences especially for regular and symmetrical stimuli, but they showed some avoidance of faces. Squirrel monkeys responded less discriminatingly to the touch screen stimuli. The findings provide support for B. Rensch's (1957) claim that monkeys prefer visual stimuli that humans find aesthetically pleasing. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The effects of dopa and oxygen on RNA concentrations in cultured chick embryonal retinal pigment epithelial cells

We measured RNA and DNA concentrations in cultured chick embryonal retinal pigment epithelial cells to investigate the effects of dopa and oxygen on DNA and RNA synthesis. RNA/DNA ratios were decreased by addition of 250 microM dopa. Decrease of RNA/DNA ratios was suppressed when the oxygen concentrations were reduced from 20% to 10%. Incubation with medium containing 100 microM dopa increased RNA/DNA ratios in 10% oxygen. Exposure of retinal pigment epithelial cells to 250 microM dopa caused the decrease of RNA concentrations in the retinal pigment epithelial cells, which was ameliorated by lowering oxygen concentrations. However, the addition of 100 microM dopa in 10% oxygen stimulated retinal pigment epithelial cells and seemed to increase RNA concentrations.     

Computer Graphics System for Reproducing Three- Dimensional Shape from Idea Sketch

This paper describes the technical features and method of implementation of our designer support system which enables reproducing a three-dimensional shape from an idea sketch speedily and modifying the reproduced shape easily, thereby facilitating the consistency of the shape to be checked from a design viewpoint. The designer support system was developed as a tool to cut the time and labor designers have to spend in the design process and help designers to fully display their creativity–the essential attribute of designers. This system uses cross-section lines of an idea sketch of an object drawn by an industrial designer as input data to reproduce automatically a three-dimensional wireframe model of the object by a newly developed three-dimensional graphic algorithm including graphic constraints. In addition, it automatically creates planes by scanning the area enclosed by reproduced curved lines and subjects them to shading. In this process, the dimensions of the object need not be input to the system. The designer can operate the system simply by using the mouse to input appropriate data. Thus, the system permits the designer to easily express his idea in the form of a three-dimensional shape and study idea variations on the display screen without creating a mockup.     

Game-theoretic analysis of a buy-back system and a cogenerator-customer wheeling system

Electricity markets are experiencing widespread changes that are significantly altering the industry. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the economic consequence of various rules of purchased power pricing and wheeling fees of an electric utility by game theory. A regulator, an electric utility, and a cogenerator are included in this model as players of the game. Consider an extensive game model of an electricity market where a cogenerator sells excess electricity to anelectric utility or an end user. The regulator behaves so as to maximize social welfare. The electric utility and the cogenerator intend to maximize their own profit. The wheeling fee between the electric utility and the cogenerator is adjusted to maximize the sum of incremental profits. We have found that a buy-back system (the utility purchases cogenerated power) and a cogenerator-customer wheeling system are equally efficient and are more desirable than a monopoly system. The buy-back rate should be equal to (in the LP bargaining solution) or less than (in the Nash bargaining solution) the marginal cost of the electric utility. We also conducted an analysis of two-period electricity market.     

MXene Phase with C3 Structure Unit: A Family of 2D Electrides

A new structural phase is discovered for M₂CO₂ MXenes with M = Sc, Y, La, Lu, Tm, and Ho. The hexagonal carbon layer sandwiched between M atoms, typical for MXenes, is transformed into C₃ trimers with anionic electrons localized in quasi zero-dimensional lattice spaces in-between the C₃ units, so the systems can be described as [M₆ C₃ O₆]^+II : 2e⁻ electrides. The systems are readily ionized into [M₆ C₃ O₆]^+II with very low ionization energy via an anti-doping mechanism. It is shown that this new structure of Sc₂CO₂ can bind multiple lithium atoms, with low migration barriers. The findings indicate that these M₂CO₂ MXenes with unusual carbon trimers are a new family of 2D electride insulators with the potential for charge storage applications, thermal field emission, and as anode material in lithium batteries.     

Osteochondritis dissecans of the elbow managed by Herbert screw fixation

Different procedures of breast reconstruction were employed in the treatment of 223 breast cancer patients (primary reconstruction-97; delayed reconstruction-136). No major complications were recorded, including total necrosis of transverse abdominal island flap. The advantage offered by the latter is due to its resistance to chemoradiotherapy: complications such as boundary necrosis do not destroy cosmetic effect as in the case of expander application.