Physiological functions and regulation of K+ and Cl- channels in single smooth muscle cells

Solution- and solid-state c.d. spectra, as well as surface energetics values, were collected for a series of peptides derived from human salivary proline-rich glycoprotein (PRG). The acronyms and sequences for these peptides are as follows: PRG9-2 = NH2-G(1)-P(2)-CONH2, PRG9-3 = NH2-G(1)-P(2)-P(3)-CONH2, PRG9-4 = NH2-G(1)-P(2)-P(3)-P(4)-CONH2, PRG9-5 = NH2-G(1)-P(2)-P(3)-P(4)-H(5)-CONH2, PRG9-6 = NH2-G(1)-P(2)-P(3)-P(4)-H(5)-P(6)-CONH2, PRG9-7 = NH2-G(1)-P(2)-P(3)-P(4)-H(5)-P(6)-G(7)-CONH2, PRG9-8 = NH2-G(1)-P(2)-P(3)-P(4)-H(5)-P(6)-G(7)-K(8)-CONH2, and PRG9-9 = NH2-G(1)-P(2)-P(3)-P(4)-H(5)-P(6)-G(7)-K(8)-P(9)-CONH2. The presence of stable poly-L-proline II-like 'mini' helices in the solution state was found to be dependent on peptide chain length, pH, salt, and organic solvent type. Other conformational features such as kinks and beta-/gamma-turns were also found in the larger peptides. Solid-state peptide conformations were not necessarily related to their solution-state counterparts. Poly-L-proline II-like 'mini' helices, kinks, and beta-/gamma-turns were similarly found in the various substrate-bound PRG9 peptides. Surface energetics parameters suggested specific orientations for PRG9 peptides and their constituent acids and homopolymers.     

Frequency response function of magnetic bearings using high-temperature superconductor

A high-temperature superconductor YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x with strong pinning force has allowed stable magnetic suspension with no control to be developed. Two types of superconducting magnetic bearings (SMB) using YBCO and permanent magnet were assembled. The two types are radial and axial. The dynamic stiffness of each SMB as it was cooled down under a magnetic field by liquid nitrogen was measured both radially and axially. As a result, it was found that the spring constants of these SMBs were almost as large as a practically desirable value; however, their damping coefficients were lower than the practical level. These findings are useful as one of the data bases for development of an optimum SMB design to support the weight of rotors in an axial direction.     

Thermal expansion behavior of various aromatic polyimides

The thermal expansion behavior for various aromatic polymides was investigated. Usally polymers, including polyimides, have high thermal expansion coefficients (3–6 × 10^?5 K^?1), compared with metals and ceramics. However, there are some polyimides which have very low thermal expansion coefficients below 1 × 10^?5 K^?1. This property was observed for the polymides obtained from pyromellitic dianhydride or 3,3′ 4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and aromatic diamines which were constituted of only benzene rings fused at para positions. It was proposed that their low thermal expansion coefficient related to the linearity in their polymer molecular skeltons.     

Effect of sex hormones on rat liver cytosolic alcohol dehydrogenase activity

A large public service organization was concerned with protection of its customers against hazards associated with furniture tipping in public use concourses. Because no injury experience was available for analysis, hazard patterns for tipping accidents were developed from an observational study of public interaction with the furniture. For each hazard pattern, anthropometric models were used to find the probability of the furniture being safe from tipping, for different age and gender combinations. A safety criterion was developed from this modeling, and used to change the weights of some furniture items to resist tipping. These modifications have now been implemented and are in widespread use. Implications for broader application of these models to the development of valid tipping standards for furniture are discussed.     

Stereochemistry and mechanism of the hydrogenation of dialkyl cyclohexenes

In order to investigate the steric effect of the substituents to determine the product distribution, disubstituted cyclohexenes were hydrogenated over several transition metal catalysts. Some cyclohexenes which have two large substituents at the vicinal carbon atoms, at least one of which is trigonal, were not hydrogenated over Raney Ni at all but were hydrogenated over Pt catalyst under our experimental conditions. Presumably, the stereoselectivity depends on the competitive operation of the torsional angle strain and the catalyst hindrance with substituents. In the hydrogenation over Pd catalyst, thermodynamically more stable products were dominant at the standard condition but at high substrate to catalyst ratio the less stable products were slightly preferred. No appreciable stereoselectivity was observed in the hydrogenation of 1,4-disubstituted cyclohexenes.     

Two-stage nuclear demagnetization refrigerator

Two-stage nuclear demagnetization has been performed using PrCu₆ and Cu as coolants. The Cu nuclear stage reached temperatures as low as 10 K with a rate of temperature rise of less than a few K/h. The corresponding conduction electron temperature is estimated to be less than 50 K. A nuclear orientation thermometer of Al ⁵⁴Mn has been successfully used to measure temperatures down to 10 K.Supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.     

Saccular aneurysm associated with fenestration of the distal segment of basilar artery

A 32-year-old man who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage was found to have a saccular aneurysm arising from the proximal end of the fenestration formed at the distal third of basilar artery. The aneurysm dome was directed anteriorly and measured 3mm in diameter. It was successfully clipped via subtemporal transtentorial approach and the patient returned to his previous job. Basilar artery fenestration is angiographically found in 0.23-0.6%. The fenestration is most frequently located in the proximal basilar trunk close to the vertebro-basilar junction. In this report a rare case with an aneurysm associated with fenestration in the distal part of the basilar artery will be presented.     

Identification of Tumor Suppressive Genes Regulated by miR-31-5p and miR-31-3p in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

We identified the microRNA (miRNA) expression signature of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissues by RNA sequencing, in which 168 miRNAs were significantly upregulated, including both strands of the miR-31 duplex (miR-31-5p and miR-31-3p). The aims of this study were to identify networks of tumor suppressor genes regulated by miR-31-5p and miR-31-3p in HNSCC cells. Our functional assays showed that inhibition of miR-31-5p and miR-31-3p attenuated cancer cell malignant phenotypes (cell proliferation, migration, and invasion), suggesting that they had oncogenic potential in HNSCC cells. Our in silico analysis revealed 146 genes regulated by miR-31 in HNSCC cells. Among these targets, the low expression of seven genes (miR-31-5p targets: CACNB2 and IL34; miR-31-3p targets: CGNL1, CNTN3, GAS7, HOPX, and PBX1) was closely associated with poor prognosis in HNSCC. According to multivariate Cox regression analyses, the expression levels of five of those genes (CACNB2: p = 0.0189; IL34: p = 0.0425; CGNL1: p = 0.0014; CNTN3: p = 0.0304; and GAS7: p = 0.0412) were independent prognostic factors in patients with HNSCC. Our miRNA signature and miRNA-based approach will provide new insights into the molecular pathogenesis of HNSCC.     

循环荷载下圆柱和I型钢筋混凝土剪力墙的能量消耗与损伤分析

采用非线性有限元方法,对循环荷载下圆柱和Ⅰ型钢筋混凝土剪力墙进行试验,通过能量消耗分析评估其损伤。首先,通过对荷载-位移关系、裂缝情况的研究以及经过分析所得的总应变能与试验加载能量的比较,验证分析方法的有效性。其次,对能量消耗分布以及钢筋和混凝土的配置进行研究。研究表明:能量消耗是评估剪力墙损伤的有效方法。