New approach to environmentally benign epoxidation: the solid-phase-system using urea–H2O2 and recyclable dodecatungstate on apatite

On the basis of new concept using a solid disperse phase we have developed an efficient catalytic solid-phase-system for epoxidations of alkenes using urea–hydrogen peroxide (urea–H₂O₂) complex and cetylpyridinium dodecatungstate ((CetylPy)₁₀[H₂W₁₂O₄₂]) catalyst on fluorapatite (FAp). The recovered solid catalyst phase was reused to keep the catalytic activity after several times. In the conceptual idea it is a key point that in situ solid-phase-activation of the catalyst with urea–H₂O₂ proceeds to form microcrystals of the active species dispersed on the solid phase. The dispersion of the catalyst on FAp in the case of tungstic acid (H₂WO₄) was suggested by EPMA analysis. We proposed the peroxo type of species keeping the parent polyoxometalate framework as novel active species from FT-IR spectroscopic studies. FAp phase plays important roles of dispersing the active species on its surface to have high catalytic activity and of stabilizing the active species to lead to high reusability.     

Multivariate analysis of the associations between laboratory data and clinical features among patients with infectious mononucleosis syndrome

Infectious mononucleosis (IM) syndrome is typically caused by EBV, but also by drugs and other organisms such as CMV and HBV. It demonstrates a wide range of clinical and laboratory characteristics, presumably depending on the age of onset. However, associations of laboratory abnormalities with the clinical features have not been well documented. We evaluated here, the associations among patients with IM syndrome using of multiple regression (MR) and multiple logistic regression (MLR) analyses. We examined 90 (40 males, 50 females) patients, who were admitted to our hospital with IM syndrome. The diagnostic criteria were fever and presence of atypical lymphocytes (> 5% of the WBC or the count including monocytes > 5000/microliter), and at least 3 of 7 clinical features: tonsillitis, lymphadenopathy, skin rash, hepato-, spleno-megaly, hepatic dysfunction. The diagnosis of EBV was serologically confirmed in 41 cases. MR revealed that the higher age group tended to have lower platelet counts, and that lower platelet counts were associated with higher ALT levels. In addition, MLR revealed that patients with skin rash tended not to have splenomegaly. The frequency of splenomegaly was not related to age, contrary to the findings of previous reports. These findings are useful to differentiate IM syndrome based on laboratory data.     

Phase separation behavior and morphology development of phenolic resin/PMMA/hexamethylenetetrarnine blends

Summary In order to obtain materials with nanopores which will be applicable for many fields, the structures of the cured blends of phenolic resin (PhN), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and curing agent were studied. After PMMA was extracted from cured blends, the structures of cured phenolic resins were observed with SEM. As a results, it was found that nanosized continuous pore structures were formed in extremely wide composition region if curing temperature was high.     

Some ultrastructural effects of testosterone and insulin on the ventral prostate of rats in organ culture

The fine structure of the secretory epithelial cells of rat's ventral prostate has been studied following organ culture. Culturing with either testosterone or insulin alone, and with the two hormones combined, were carried out to investigate how insulin modifies the action of testosterone on the maintenance of cellular integrity. After 4 days in hormone-free culture, the secretory epithelial cells showed signs of cellular atrophy and regression, involving loss of the apical microvilli, absence of the apical secretory vacuoles, atrophy of the Golgi apparatus, decrease in rough endoplasmic reticulum and the appearance of autophagic vacuoles. The presence in the medium of either testosterone or insulin alone, or combined, prevented cellular atrophy and regression. The best maintenance of cellular integrity was obtained in a culture containing both hormones. The effects of insulin was approximately equivalent to those of testosterone in the maintenance of cellular integrity.     

Protective effect of amiloride against reperfusion damage as evidenced by inhibition of accumulation of free fatty acids in working rat hearts

To examine whether amiloride protects against ischemia-induced or reperfusion-induced damage to the heart, mechanical and metabolic studies were performed in the isolated, working rat heart. Ischemia decreased both mechanical function and the tissue levels of high-energy phosphates and increased the tissue levels of free fatty acids (FFAs). Reperfusion restored the levels of high-energy phosphates but further increased FFA accumulation. For this reason, accumulation of FFAs was used as an indicator of both ischemia-induced and reperfusion-induced damage. Drugs were added to the perfusion solution 5 min before ischemia until the end of ischemia (pre) or until 10 min after reperfusion (pre + post). Diltiazem (1 or 5 mumol/L pre) decreased the mechanical function of the non-ischemic heart and attenuated both ischemia-induced and reperfusion-induced accumulation of FFAs. Amiloride (50 mumol/L pre) did not affect the mechanical function of the non-ischemic heart or attenuate ischemia-induced or reperfusion-induced FFA accumulation effectively. However, amiloride (50 mumol/L pre + post) did markedly attenuate the reperfusion-induced accumulation of FFAs. In conclusion, diltiazem attenuates both ischemia-induced and reperfusion-induced myocardial damage, probably through its energy-sparing effect as a result of a decrease in mechanical function before ischemia. In contrast, amiloride attenuates only the reperfusion-induced myocardial damage through mechanisms other than the energy-sparing effect.     

A New Silicon Sensor for Hot Metal Measurements

In the present study, an electrochemical sensor has been designed for the direct measurement of silicon content in hot metal. The sensor represents a galvanic silicon concentration cell of the type Ni_sat—Si(1) II silicate electrolyte (1) II Fe—C—Si(1) The tubular silica-glass sensor can be immediately immersed into the metal bath at a response time of 30 to 60 s. A reproducible EMF vs. wt.% Si relationship was obtained for measurements in carbon-saturated Fe—C—Si melts at 1400°C and Si contents from 0.05 to 1.8 wt.%. This relationship is nearly identical with the cell function calculated from thermodynamic data.     

Differences in the recognition of tumor-specific CD8+ T cells derived from solid tumor, metastatic lymph nodes and ascites in patients with gastric cancer

We established gastric cancer-specific CD8+ T-cell (T(CD8+)) lines derived from different lymphocyte sources in the same patients by repeated stimulation with mitomycin-C-treated autologous tumor cells with low-dose interleukin-2, and we compared recognition patterns among the T(CD8+) derived from solid tumor, lymph node metastasis and ascites in the same patient (n = 3) to determine their similarities and differences for therapeutic purposes. We confirmed that gastric cancer-specific T(CD8+) lines can be isolated, in a MHC class I-restricted manner, from solid tumors, metastatic lymph nodes and malignant ascites. T(CD8+) lines derived from tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in solid tumor recognized autologous tumor cells derived from solid tumor, but not autologous tumor cells derived from ascites or metastatic lymph node, while T(CD8+) lines derived from tumor-associated lymphocytes (TAL) in malignant ascites recognized autologous tumor cells derived from ascites, but not tumor cells from solid tumor or metastatic lymph node. Furthermore, T(CD8+) lines derived from regional lymph node lymphocytes (RLNL) recognized autologous tumor cells derived from metastatic lymph nodes, but not tumor cells derived from ascites. No significant differences were seen in MHC class I expression among the tumors derived from solid tumor, lymph node metastasis or ascites in the same patient. This suggests that there are differences of recognition patterns among the TILs, TALs and RLNLs in the same patient and that it is important to consider the source of lymphocytes, e.g., a combination of TILs, TALs and RLNLs, for adoptive immunotherapy in gastric cancer patients.     

An in-frame deletion in peripheral myelin protein-22 gene causes hypomyelination and cell death of the Schwann cells in the new Trembler mutant mice

Cloning and sequencing of the peripheral myelin protein-22 cDNA and genomic DNA from newly found Trembler mice revealed an in-frame deletion including exon IV which codes for the second (TM2) and a part of third (TM3) transmembrane domain of peripheral myelin protein-22. This mutation was distinct from those in both other allelic Trembler and Trembler-J mice, which carry point mutations within the putative transmembrane spanning regions of peripheral myelin protein-22. Inheritance was autosomal dominant. The affected mice revealed an abnormal gait, which appeared at 15-20 days of age, followed by motor and sensory ataxia, which remained throughout life. Most of the affected mice could survive more than one year. One of the most notable pathological phenotypes was a giant vacuolar formation in the sciatic nerve of homozygotes. They vary in size within the cytoplasm of Schwann cells, which failed to assemble myelin at any ages studied. Heterozygotes showed normal myelination during the early postnatal stages, followed by a segmental demyelination at an advanced stage. Vacuolar formation was not so frequent as in the homozygotes. These results suggest that the missing of transmembrane spanning region (TM2 and TM3) of peripheral myelin protein-22 may disturb a dual biological function of peripheral myelin protein-22, leading to a dysmyelination of axons and to a vacuolar formation within the cytoplasm of the Schwann cells. The latter phenotype is discussed in conjunction with the disruption of an intracellular transport system and subsequent cell death.     

Prospects for Automation of the Aluminum Reduction Process

A discussion of a control system for power circuits, continuous feeding of alumina, anode level control, etc., with reference to the possibility of introducing computers to the pot operation.