Secondary abnormality of carnitine biosynthesis results from carnitine reabsorptional system defect in juvenile visceral steatosis mice

We characterized the L-carnitine transport system which is defective in the kidney of juvenile visceral steatosis (JVS) mice by using kidney slices and carnitine-related compounds, and evaluated the influence of the transport defect on the biosynthetic pathway of carnitine. The JVS mouse transport system defect, calculated as the difference in the transport activity between control and JVS mice, was simulated in control by gamma-butyrobetaine (gamma-BB) and acetyl L-carnitine. gamma-BB hydroxylase activity in the liver of JVS mice was double that of control mice, but the hepatic level of gamma-BB in JVS mice was lower than in control mice, suggesting that the conversion of gamma-BB to carnitine is not activated in the liver of JVS mice. JVS mice showed higher fractional excretions not only of L-carnitine but also of gamma-BB and acetyl L-carnitine than control mice, indicating disturbed reabsorption of gamma-BB and acetyl L-carnitine. The disturbed reabsorption of gamma-BB in JVS mice is consistent with the fact that the amount of urinary gamma-BB in JVS mice was four times that of control. The sum of the concentrations of L-carnitine, acetyl L-carnitine and gamma-BB in the urine of JVS mice was not significantly different from that of the control, suggesting no remarkable increase of biosynthesis of gamma-BB and carnitine in JVS mice. All these findings suggest that the carnitine transport system plays a role in the transport of gamma-BB and that carnitine deficiency is aggravated by the disturbed reabsorption of gamma-BB in the kidney.     

Spatial distribution of silica fillers in phase-separated rubber blends investigated by three-dimensional elemental mapping

The distribution of nano-sized silica in binary rubber blends is characterized by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) tomography combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). 3D distribution of silica is visualized by STEM-EDX tomography with the tilt-series of silicon elemental maps, while the phase-separated morphologies of polyisoprene rubber (IR) and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) are visualized by STEM-tomography in high-angle-annular-dark field (HAADF) mode. The combination of STEM-EDX and STEM-HAADF tomography enables us to determine the distribution of silica between the two rubber phases quantitatively even with high contents of silica up to 70 phr (weight parts per hundred rubber). It is found that silica is preferentially distributed in the SBR phase, but it is also distributed in the IR phase when the IR fraction in the total rubber components is higher than 40 wt%. The preferential distribution of silica in the SBR phase improves the dispersion of the IR domains. This is the first use of this technique for a multicomponent polymer system, showing the advantage to characterize the complicated multicomponent polymer composite morphologies.     

Evolution of the trappin multigene family in the Suidae

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of manipulating lung volume (LV) on phonatory and articulatory kinematic behavior during sentence production in healthy adults. Five men and five women repeated the sentence "I sell a sapapple again" under five LV conditions. These included (1) speaking normally, (2) speaking after exhaling most of the air from the lungs, (3) speaking at end expiratory level (EEL), (4) speaking after a maximal inhalation, and (5) speaking after a maximal inhalation while attempting to maintain as normal a mode of speech as possible. From a multichannel recording, measures were made of LV, sound pressure level (SPL), fundamental frequency (F0) and semitone standard deviation (STSD), and upper and lower lip displacements and peak velocities. When compared with the reference condition, the sentence was spoken significantly more quickly at the lowest LV. SPL increased significantly for the high LV condition, as did the women's F0 and STSD. Upper lip displacements and peak velocities generally decreased for LVs other than the reference condition. Lower lip movements showed inconsistent changes as a function of LV. Adjustments to the LV for speech led to SPL and F0 changes consistent with a coordinated control of the respiratory system and the larynx. However, less consistent effects were observed in the articulatory kinematic measures, possibly because of a less direct biomechanical and neural control linkage between respiratory and articulatory structures.     

Novel exposure system using light-emitting diodes and an optical fiber array for printing serial numbers and code marks

Feasibility of a novel exposure system to print serial numbers and two-dimensional code marks was demonstrated. The new system used light-emitting diodes (LEDs) combined with an optical fiber matrix array as a light source. At first, as preparatory experiments, code mark patterns were printed using a prototype exposure system without using the optical fiber array but using the combination of arrayed LEDs with a central wavelength of 428 nm, spherical lenses, and rod lenses. Although the code mark patterns were successfully printed, it took too much exposure time. For this reason, bullet-type LEDs with a high power and a shorter wavelength of 405 nm were used and the optical fiber matrix array was adopted. Because the emitted light rays were efficiently taken into the fiber, and the resist sensitivity was improved, practically available short exposure time of less than 2 s was obtained.     

In-circuit hot-carrier model and its application to inverter chainoptimization

An analytical in-circuit device lifetime model and design methodology for minimizing hot-carrier effects in an inverter chain are presented. Based on the model, in-circuit device lifetime, τ_AC , for hot-carrier induced degradation is given by τ_AC =τ_DC/R, R≡√π/2√Vcc/b√(T _rise.T_fall)/T_c where τ_DC is the device lifetime under a DC test, T_rise and T_fall are the rise time for input and fall time for output, T_C is cycle time and b is a constant. The model also shows that minimizing circuit delay in the inverter chain maximizes hot-carrier reliability     

Multiple uses of Essential Oil and By-Products from Various Parts of the Yakushima Native Cedar (Cryptomeria Japonica)

This article presents multiple potential uses of the Yakushima native cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), known in Japan as the Yaku-sugi tree. The Yaku-sugi was divided into four parts: leaves, branches with leaves, branches, and stems. We obtained the essential oil, hydrosol, distillation residue, and distillation wastewater from the trees. Essential oil and hydrosol were determined to be volatile organic compounds. All samples were screened for the following bioactivities: antioxidative, antibacterial, and anti-melanogenesis activities. Freeze-dried distillation residue was tested to assess whether it had a deodorizing effect. The main component of the leaf essential oil was found to be monoterpenes. In contrast, the stem essential oil mainly contained sesquiterpenes. In terms of bioactivities, the leaf essential oil showed antibacterial activity and the stem essential oil showed anti-melanogenesis activity. Distillation residue and wastewater showed many activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-melanogenesis activities. Moreover, the residue had a deodorizing effect against ammonia.     

Denatured-jacalin derivatives with selective recognition for O-linked glycosides (ST,T, Tn,and STn Type) on IgA1 hinge region

Immunoglobulin A1 (IgA1) concentration in the plasma of patients with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) as the cause of renal failure is higher than that in the plasma of normal controls. IgA1 with abnormal sugars is considered to deposit in the glomerular mesangium, aggravating nephritis in IgAN. Jacalin is a lectin that recognizes sugars on IgA1. However, its selective-recognition for normal-type (ST type, NeuAc-α(2,3)-Gal-β(1,3)-GalNAc) and abnormal-type (T type, Gal-β(1,3)-GalNAc; Tn type, GalNAc; STn type, NeuAc-α(2,6)-GalNAc) sugars α-O-linked to serine/threonine in IgA1 is weak. Therefore, jacalin cannot be used for recognizing specific sugar types on IgA1. We attempted to develop a new recognition method for specific sugar types on IgA1 by utilizing the multirecognition capability of jacalin. Its binding abilities were regulated by heat denaturation with suitable template sugar (galactose or N-acetylgalactosamine). Further, we successfully prepared denatured-jacalin derivatives, which recognized ST-/T-type sugars on IgA1, by sugar-immobilized affinity chromatography. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of denatured-jacalin derivatives, showed the ratios of abnormal sugars on IgA1 in the plasma of IgAN patients and normal controls to be approximately 60% and 20%, respectively. The results proved that profiling of sugar types in IgAN can successfully be performed by solely using jacalin derivatives.     

Performance of a solid oxide fuel cell couple operated via in situ catalytic partial oxidation of n-butane

The operation of a pair of anode-to-anode-facing solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) via in situ catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) of n-butane was investigated. In this simple “no-chamber” setup, butane is partially oxidized by heterogeneous reactions inside the porous anodes, providing processed fuel and the heat required for SOFC operation. The cell couple yielded a power density of up to 270 mW cm⁻², and the maximum total power obtained was 1.2 W with cell sizes of 13 mm × 23 mm. The maximum electrical efficiency was 1.3%. High CO concentrations of up to 1000 ppm were detected in the exhaust gas, indicating that the cell couple could not efficiently consume the complete provided fuel. A flame, lit at the exhaust, minimized the carbon monoxide level while having insignificant influence on the cell performance. Thermal insulation of the cell couple improved the output remarkably, showing the strong influence of temperature on cell performance. The two cells had a distance of only 2 mm, suggesting a potential for high volumetric power densities in multi-cell configurations for a self-sustained combined heat and power system.     

Evaluation of the redox stability of segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cell stacks

The tolerance for the reduction and oxidation (redox) reactions of the segmented-in-series solid oxide fuel cells (SIS-SOFCs) has been investigated. In conventional anode-supported solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), the anode and the substrate are typically prepared from Ni-YSZ-based materials which exhibit a significant dimensional change because of the redox reaction and cannot retain their structure. The substrate of the SIS-SOFCs is prepared from Ni-doped MgO-based material, which has a high redox tolerance, and the SIS-SOFC exhibits a good performance after the redox cycles.The degradation rate is approximately 0.15% per cycle in a redox condition of start-and-stop operation without fuel supply. In the other redox condition (when the fuel supply is interrupted for 1.5 min), the voltage of the SIS-SOFCs remains almost constant. However, the voltage of SIS-SOFCs decreases with an increase in the reoxidation time of the interruption in the fuel supply. The high redox tolerance is attributed to the fact that the diffusion coefficients, mean free path, and existence of the Ni particles in the substrate can effectively deter the oxidation of the anode.