Distribution and subcellular localization of a growth inhibitory factor in hamster liver and its intracellular partner(s)

The subcellular, intralobular distributions and intracellular partner(s) of a factor which inhibits the proliferation of cell growth (Hashimoto C. et al. (1994) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1221, 107-117) were determined in hamster livers, using a combination of immunological and biochemical techniques. The IgG fraction from an antiserum raised against the growth inhibitory factor with 37 kDa was shown to be highly specific for the antigen. The nuclear and cytosolic fractions demonstrated inhibitory effects on cell growth and Western blot analysis revealed that both fractions contained the immunoreactive 37 kDa protein with the anti-inhibitory factor IgG but microsomal and mitochondrial fractions did not. The nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of the inhibitory factor were further confirmed by immunochemical staining mediated through the immune IgG and an avidin-biotinylated horseradish peroxidase complex, the parenchymal liver cells were clearly stained, but endothelial and connective tissue cells were not. Although some staining was evident throughout the liver parenchyma, the hepatocytes with most intensively stained nuclei were located in the periportal region. In the liver from hamsters 6 days old or the regenerating hamster livers 3 days after partial hepatectomy, the staining intensity was low and the number of hepatocytes with the inhibitory factor positive nuclei was very few compared with the adult hamster livers. In primary cultures of the isolated hepatocytes from adult hamster the inhibitory factor disappeared from nuclei after incubation for 24-48 h. The extracts of hepatic nuclei from adult hamsters were immunoprecipitated with either the anti-growth inhibitory factor IgG or a monoclonal antibody to the RM protein. The growth inhibitory factor and the RB protein coprecipitated in each case, implying that the proteins were complexed with each other in the nuclei. The RB protein family is composed of two sets of species, an un- or underphosphorylated species and a hyperphosphorylated one. It was suggested that the factor bound preferentially to the un- or underphosphorylated member of the family.     

Regularized field map estimation in MRI

In fast magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with long readout times, such as echo-planar imaging (EPI) and spiral scans, it is important to correct for the effects of field inhomogeneity to reduce image distortion and blurring. Such corrections require an accurate field map, a map of the off-resonance frequency at each voxel. Standard field map estimation methods yield noisy field maps, particularly in image regions with low spin density. This paper describes regularized methods for field map estimation from two or more MR scans having different echo times. These methods exploit the fact that field maps are generally smooth functions. The methods use algorithms that decrease monotonically a regularized least-squares cost function, even though the problem is highly nonlinear. Results show that the proposed regularized methods significantly improve the quality of field map estimates relative to conventional unregularized methods.      

Silver(I)-Ion-Mediated Cytosine-Containing Base Pairs: Metal Ion Specificity for Duplex Stabilization and Susceptibility toward DNA Polymerases

Spectroscopic characterization of Ag^I-ion-mediated C-Ag^I-A and C-Ag^I-T base pairs found in primer extension reactions catalyzed by DNA polymerases was conducted. UV melting experiments revealed that C-A and C-T mismatched base pairs in oligodeoxynucleotide duplexes are specifically stabilized by Ag^I ions in 1:1 stoichiometry in the same manner as a C-C mismatched base pair. Although the stability of the mismatched base pairs in the absence of Ag^I ions is in the order C-A≈C-T>C-C, the stabilizing effect of Ag^I ions follows the order C-C>C-A≈C-T. However, the comparative susceptibility of dNTPs to Ag^I-mediated enzymatic incorporation into the site opposite templating C is dATP>dTTP≫dCTP, as reported. The net charge, as well as the size and/or shape complementarity of the metal-mediated base pairs, or the stabilities of mismatched base pairs in the absence of metal ions, would be more important than the stability of the metallo-base pairs in the replicating reaction catalyzed by DNA polymerases.     

Development of a New Conversion Process Consisting of Hydrothermal Treatment and Catalytic Reaction Using ZrO2–FeO X Catalyst to Convert Fermentation Residue into Useful Chemicals

Conversion of coliform-fermented residue to useful chemicals such as ketone was carried out by a new conversion process consisting of hydrothermal treatment and catalytic reaction using ZrO₂–FeO _X , resulting in the selective production of acetone. Moreover, catalytic reactions using a model compounds were carried out to clarify the reaction mechanism and kinetics for the fermentation residue conversion.     

Hyperkalaemia with renal tubular dysfunction by sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with lymphoid malignancy

The prenatal diagnosis of an 11q;22q translocation in a triplet pregnancy detected at the time of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) because of advanced maternal age is reported. Karyotypes obtained from two apparently different CV samples showed the balanced form of translocation, while the one obtained from a third empty sac showed the unbalanced form: 46,XX,-22,+der(22)t(11;22). Second-trimester amniocentesis confirmed the balanced translocation in one of the two viable fetuses and a normal karyotype in the other. The detected karyotypes derived from two different types of meiotic segregation, alternate and adjacent 1. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an unbalanced karyotype not due to a 3:1 meiotic segregation of this specific translocation.     

Simulation and application of response surface methodology to a nylon‐6 hydrolytic polymerization in a semibatch reactor

This work presents an experimental design methodology combined with computational simulation to correlate the influence of operational conditions and reactants charge in the numeric average molecular weight (MWN) as well as on monomer conversion (X_CL), for the hydrolytic polymerization of nylon‐6 in a semibatch reactor. It evaluated the reaction temperature, the pressure profile, and the proportion of reactants in the charge. Experimental design was used to screen the most statistically significant variables and to develop a reliable predictive model for each response. The combined use of the models can be applied for process optimization, by establishing MWN and maximum X_CL as objective functions. Responses surface allowed the visualization of the responses behavior when changing the independent variables and therefore to identify the optimal tendencies. This work demonstrates that such methodology can be applied for optimization of complex processes like the hydrolytic polymerization of nylon‐6. This polymerization has many side reactions occurring at the same time, which are sensitive to different profiles of pressure and temperature that are applied. This evaluation is quite interesting as such profiles are necessary to perform the several polymerization steps and have a significant impact on product characteristics and therefore in its applications. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Disruption of cell-cell adhesion in an inbred strain of hereditary cardiomyopathic hamster (Bio 14.6)

OBJECTIVE: Disarrangement of cardiomyocytes is a pathological characteristic of dilated cardiomyopathy. Hereditary cardiomyopathic hamster Bio 14.6, a model of dilated cardiomyopathy, displays disorder of cardiomyocyte arrangement. The aim of this study was to analyse the disturbance of cell alignment from the point of view of the cell-cell adhesion system in Bio 14.6. METHOD: Cardiomyopathic hamster Bio 14.6 was used as a model of dilated cardiomyopathy. Histological study was performed by light and electron microscopy. Disorder of the adherens junction-specific cell-adhesion molecule (A-CAM) was analysed by immunofluorescent microscopy and immunoblotting with anti-A-CAM antibody. RESULTS: Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed that intercalated disks were identifiable less clearly in cardiomyopathy than in a normal cardiac muscle. It was disclosed by electron microscopy that cardiomyocytes adhered to each other with reduction in subsarcolemmal electron density at intercalated disks in Bio 14.6 compared with normal hamsters. We examined the localization of the A-CAM molecule in heart by immunofluorescent microscopy. In contrast to normal cardiac samples, fluorescence was weak in intensity and unclearly demarcated in the Bio 14.6 hamsters. We measured the content of A-CAM in the heart. In Bio 14.6 hamsters, the content of A-CAM was 60 +/- 11% of that measured in normal adult hamsters. A-CAM was reduced to a lesser extent (81 +/- 12%) in the newborn hamsters. CONCLUSIONS: In Bio 14.6 hamster, structural disturbance of the intercalated disks was found on histological examination of the heart. Biochemically, A-CAM, which plays a role in intercellular adhesion in intercalated disk areas, decreased significantly. These results suggest that cardiomyopathy may be accompanied by structural disruption of cell-cell adhesion in intercalated disk regions, which may lead to the pathological feature of disarranged cardiomyocytes.     

超高速电梯对乘客耳膜的影响

对高层建筑物内的超高速电梯，事先评估其运行时对人耳膜的影响，对改善乘客的舒适感是非常重要的。我们研究开发出了一种测试超高速电梯运行时，乘客耳膜的振动和变形的方法，可以用来评估耳膜的振动、周围环境和耳压不舒服之间的关系。用显影成像法显示出了由显微镜和高速照相机所摄录到的耳膜振动和变形的情况，从而可以评估耳膜的变形和耳压不舒服感的关系。