Nosocomial diarrhoea in the elderly due to enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens

Zinc is an important trace element for immune function. Here, we show that zinc addition in a serum- and lipopolysaccharide-free cell culture system leads to significantly enhanced levels of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and to expression of the corresponding mRNA in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Structurally related divalent cations like cobalt, nickel, and mercury also partially increase monokine secretion but to a much lower and thus insignificant extent. They fail to induce mRNA of TNF-alpha after 3 h of culture. Therefore, monokine induction is a zinc-specific effect influenced by the physicochemical properties of the ion. Confirmation of the unique significance of zinc for immune function provides a better understanding of the mechanisms of specific zinc-mediated immune modulation.     

Accelerated neutrophil apoptosis in mice lacking A1-a, a subtype of the bcl-2-related A1 gene

To elucidate the role of A1, a new member of the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulators active in hematopoietic cell apoptosis, we established mice lacking A1-a, a subtype of the A1 gene in mice (A1-a-/- mice). Spontaneous apoptosis of peripheral blood neutrophils of A1-a-/- mice was enhanced compared with that of either wild-type mice or heterozygous mutants (A1-a+/- mice). Neutrophil apoptosis inhibition induced by lipopolysaccharide treatment in vitro or transendothelial migration in vivo observed in wild-type mice was abolished in both A1-a-/- and A1-a+/- animals. On the other hand, the extent of tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced acceleration of neutrophil apoptosis did not differ among A1-a-/-, A1-a+/-, and wild-type mice. The descending order of A1 mRNA expression was wild-type, A1-a+/-, and A1-a-/-. Taken together, these results suggest that A1 is involved in inhibition of certain types of neutrophil apoptosis.     

A Web Server for Designing Molecular Switches Composed of Two Interacting RNAs

The programmability of RNA–RNA interactions through intermolecular base-pairing has been successfully exploited to design a variety of RNA devices that artificially regulate gene expression. An in silico design for interacting structured RNA sequences that satisfies multiple design criteria becomes a complex multi-objective problem. Although multi-objective optimization is a powerful technique that explores a vast solution space without empirical weights between design objectives, to date, no web service for multi-objective design of RNA switches that utilizes RNA–RNA interaction has been proposed. We developed a web server, which is based on a multi-objective design algorithm called MODENA, to design two interacting RNAs that form a complex in silico. By predicting the secondary structures with RactIP during the design process, we can design RNAs that form a joint secondary structure with an external pseudoknot. The energy barrier upon the complex formation is modeled by an interaction seed that is optimized in the design algorithm. We benchmarked the RNA switch design approaches (MODENA+RactIP and MODENA+RNAcofold) for the target structures based on natural RNA-RNA interactions. As a result, MODENA+RactIP showed high design performance for the benchmark datasets.     

Polyacrylonitrile/Nylon 6 Blends: Preparation and Characterization

Summary: Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) particles with micro‐size ranges (0.15–2 μm) were prepared by emulsion and dispersion polymerizationa and in supercritical carbon dioxide media. The PAN particles were blended with Nylon 6 (PA6) at 220 °C by using a miniature mixer; it was found that melt‐mixing was possible for PAN‐rich compositions as high as 70 wt.‐%. Blends were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, IR, viscosity measurements, differential scanning calorimetry, and dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA). The size and shape of original PAN particles were retained in PAN/PA6 blends. The useful range to blend PAN particles size was less than 1 μm in terms of shape retention of the PAN particles in blends. Blends with 40 wt.‐% PAN content were found to be melt‐processable. The elastic modulus was higher for PAN/PA6 blends than pure PA6.

SEM photograph of PAN‐SC/PA6 blend with a 40/60 weight ratio.     

Differential scanning calorimetric studies on the glass transition temperature of polyhydroxystyrene derivatives containing sorbed water

Poly(4-acetoxystyrene) (PAS) and poly(4-acetoxy-3-methoxystyrene) (PAMS), poly(4-hydroxystyrene) (PHS) and poly(4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene) (PHMS) have been prepared. The effects of hydrogen bonding on the glass transition temperatures (T_g) of these polymers have been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The T_g′s of partially hydrolyzed PAS and PAMS increased with the degree of hydrolysis. Partially hydrolyzed PAS and PAMS are estimated to be random copolymers, judging from the correspondence between the calculated and observed T_g′s of these polymers. The effect of water on the glass transition was also studied, and it was clarified how water adsorbed on the polymers acts as a hydrogen-bond breaker. The ‘critical water content’ is calculated from the decrease of T_g by water absorption, and the relation between hydrogen bonding and T_g is discussed.     

Predicting viewer-perceived activity/dominance in soccer games with stick-breaking HMM using data from a fixed set of cameras

We attempted to predict activity/dominance for soccer games, where activity is defined as the degree of activity of the game as perceived by the viewer, whereas dominance is the degree at which the viewer perceives a particular team to dominate over the other team. Such activity/dominance information would help a layman viewer understand the game. It would also enable construction of an automatic digest creation system that extracts scenes having high activity/dominance. There are two facets of this study: 1. The main part of the underlying prediction model consists of a Stick-Breaking Hidden Markov Model, where the data automatically estimates the number of states of the Markov process behind the data. 2. The data used in this paper is vector time-series data consisting of player, referee, and ball positions, together with team information, acquired by a set of fixed cameras. The problem was approached with a Bayesian framework where learning and prediction were implemented by three different methods: Markov Chain Monte Carlo, Expectation Maximization, and Variational Bayes. The proposed method was tested using a dataset consisting of 10 professional soccer games and was compared against standard regression methods.     

Integration of 3-D shape construction and assembly to realize micro systems

In order to make micro 3-D structures, we are designing a table-sized factory, namely Nano Manufacturing World (NMW). In NMW, we challenged to use a new process fused by semiconductor process for preciseness and machine process for 3-dimensionality. In order to realize the new process, we designed three new mechanisms in this paper: multi-face shape making beam, co-focus rotational robot and micro mechanical tools. Through an evaluation to actually make a micro Gojunoto with the mechanisms, we confirmed their validities for functions of integration of 3-D shape construction and assembly.     

Quantitative determination of cardiac glycosides in Digitalis lanata leaves by reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography

We have recently chosen to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the modulation of gene expression by oxidative stress, using mRNA as a marker. Our model system is HA-1 hamster fibroblasts, using conditions under which we observe an adaptive response. Under these conditions, the HA-1 cells respond to a minimally toxic "pretreatment" dose of hydrogen peroxide by synthesizing RNAs and proteins that protect them against subsequent exposure to a highly cytotoxic concentration of hydrogen peroxide. Using the differential display technique to screen for modulated RNAs, we have recently reported an RNA species, adapt15/gadd7, whose steady-state level is significantly induced by a pretreatment dose of hydrogen peroxide (D. R. Crawford, G. P. Schools, S. L. Salmon, and K. J. A. Davies (1996) Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 325, 256-264). Here we report a second induced mRNA, designated adapt33. Two homologous adapt33 mRNAs were revealed by Northern blot hybridization. Both of these species were inducible by hydrogen peroxide, and they were sized at 1.46 and 0.99 kb. These inductions appeared to be dependent upon calcium, occurred as early as 90 min, and were maximal at 5 h. Cell fractionation revealed that a significant proportion of adapt33 RNA is associated with active translation. adapt33 is a novel sequence, as determined by cloning, sequencing, and GenBank analysis. adapt33 represents a new oxidant-inducible RNA and marker of cellular oxidative stress and a potential aid in the study, detection, and possible therapy of oxidant-related disorders.     

Detection algorithm for color dynamic images by multiple surveillance cameras under low luminance conditions based on fuzzy corresponding map

An objects detection algorithm for color dynamic images from two cameras is proposed for a surveillance system under low illumination. It provides automatic calculation of a fuzzy corresponding map and color similarity for lower luminance conditions, which detects little chromatic regions in CCD camera images under lower illumination and presents regions with a possibility of occlusion situation. Experimental detection results for two dynamic images from real surveillance cameras in a downtown area in Japan under low luminance conditions show that the proposed algorithm has 15% improved accuracy compared with the independent detection algorithm in the same false alarm rate, which occlusion regions are correctly presented. Moreover, implementability for severe surveillance situation is discussed. The proposed algorithm is being considered for use in a low cost surveillance system at a relatively poor security downtown (shopping mall) area in Japan.     

VS‐CONTROL WITH TIME‐VARYING SLIDING SECTOR — DESIGN AND APPLICATION TO PENDULUM —

In general, a Variable Structure (VS) system is designed with a sliding mode. Recently a sliding sector, designed by an algebraic Riccati equation, has been proposed to replace the sliding mode for chattering‐free VS controllers. In this paper we extend the design algorithm for the sliding sector to a time‐varying sliding sector. The time‐varying sliding sector is defined by functions dependent on both state and time, hence time‐varying uncertainty can be considered. The VS controller is designed to stabilize an uncertain system, quadratically. The design procedure for real systems is introduced via an implementation to the control of “Furuta pendulum”. To enhance the stability it is necessary to compensate the time‐varying nonlinear static friction of the actuator adequately, hence this problem is a good example to demonstrate the performance of the proposed VS control method. In the experiment, it will be shown that the VS control with the time‐varying sliding sector is superior to an orthodox chattering‐free VS control.