Calcium additional to that bound to the transport sites is required for full activation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase from skeletal muscle

The sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca-ATPase is fully activated when approximately 1 microM [Ca2+] saturates the two transport sites; higher [Ca] inhibits the ATPase by competition of Ca-ATP with Mg-ATP as substrates. Here we describe a novel effect of EGTA and other chelators, raising the possibility of an additional activating effect of Ca in the sub- or low microM range. Sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes were isolated from rabbit skeletal muscles. The ATPase activity was measured after incubation at 37 degreesC in 3 mM ATP, 3 mM MgCl2, 50 mM MOPS-Tris (pH 7.2), 100 mM KCl, and variable CaCl2, EGTA and calcimycin. In the absence of added EGTA and Ca the ATPase activity is high due to contaminant Ca. The determination of the ATPase activity in the presence of increasing amounts of EGTA, without added Ca, yields a decreasing sigmoidal function. Ki ranged between 20 and 100 microM, depending on the enzyme concentration. Pi production is linear with time for several [EGTA] yielding suboptimal ATPase activities, which are inhibited by thapsigargin. These suboptimal Ca-ATPase activities are inhibited by preincubation of the enzyme in EGTA, at pH 7.2. This effect increases upon increasing EGTA concentration and preincubation time. The inhibitory effect of the previous exposure of the enzyme to EGTA is partially but significantly reverted by increasing [Ca2+] during incubations. Calcimycin and EDTA have similar effects as EGTA when added in preincubations. The effect of calcimycin is fully reverted by optimal [Ca2+] in incubations. The effects of EGTA, EDTA and calcimycin in preincubation are not additive. The results suggest that an additional calcium, lost during preincubations from a site with affinity near 1 microM, is necessary for full activation of the ATPase.     

A highly efficient two-stage Er3+-doped optical fiberamplifier employing an optical gate to effectively reduce ASE

Highly efficient amplification of ultrashort optical pulses is demonstrated with a two-stage Er³⁺-doped optical fiber amplifier that includes an optical gate to efficiently reduce amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) generated from the first Er³⁺-doped fiber. A gain of 49 dB, an amplified peak power 0f 105 W, and 1.05 nJ pulse energy are achieved for 2-Mb/s, 10-ps pulses at a total pumping power of 90 mW from 1.48-μm LDs     

Ultrafast reflective optical Kerr demultiplexer using polarisation rotation mirror

A novel all-optical switching scheme in a reflective mode is proposed and its stable 60 Gbit/s operation at 1.307 mu m demonstrated. The scheme uses a 90 degrees polarisation rotation on reflection to compensate for birefringence phase turbulence in the Kerr media.<>     

Disappearance of the co-existing aneurysm and arteriovenous malformation after wrapping of aneurysm (author's transl)

The authors reported a case of an arteriovenous malformation associated with an aneurysm on its feeding vessel that is the left anterior inferior cerebellar artery. A housewife, aged 56-years, was admitted to our hospital with severe headache, nausea and vomiting. On admission, lumbar puncture revealed grossly bloody CSF. Neurological examination revealed meningeal irritation sign, horizontal nystgmus and disturbance of left auditory acuity. Bilateral carotid and retrograde brachial arteryography revealed an AVM near the left cerebellopontine angle and a small aneurysm of the left anterior inferior cerebellar artery at the left internal auditory meatus. At operation, the aneurysm was wrapped with a muscle piece and no surgical intervention for AVM. Post-operative course was uneventful except for disterbance of the left auditory acuity. Follow-up angiographies revealed a change of size the aneurysm and AVM and finaly failed to demonstrate the aneurysm and AVM demonstrated preoperatively. The spontaneous regression of the AVM might be due to the post-operative brain swelling and adhesion. We also speculated that the spontaneous disappearance of the aneurysm might be due to the decreased blood flow of parent artery by the spontaneous regression of the AVM. It is very rare that an aneurysm of anterior inferior cerebellar artery co-existed with AVM, and resulted in thrombosis of the aneurysm and regression of the AVM after wrapping alone.     

Spectrum-efficient and scalable elastic optical path network: architecture, benefits, and enabling technologies

The sustained growth of data traffic volume calls for an introduction of an efficient and scalable transport platform for links of 100 Gb/s and beyond in the future optical network. In this article, after briefly reviewing the existing major technology options, we propose a novel, spectrum- efficient, and scalable optical transport network architecture called SLICE. The SLICE architecture enables sub-wavelength, superwavelength, and multiple-rate data traffic accommodation in a highly spectrum-efficient manner, thereby providing a fractional bandwidth service. Dynamic bandwidth variation of elastic optical paths provides network operators with new business opportunities offering cost-effective and highly available connectivity services through time-dependent bandwidth sharing, energy-efficient network operation, and highly survivable restoration with bandwidth squeezing. We also discuss an optical orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing-based flexible-rate transponder and a bandwidth-variable wavelength cross-connect as the enabling technologies of SLICE concept. Finally, we present the performance evaluation and technical challenges that arise in this new network architecture.     

Human tyrosinase inhibitor in rum distillate wastewater

An inhibitor of human tyrosinase activity in rum distillate wastewater was isolated and identified as (S)-(+)-imperanene (1). (S)-(+)-Imperanene significantly inhibited tyrosinase isolated from HMV-II cells (IC(50) 1.85 mM). Inhibition kinetics studies revealed that imperanene is a competitive inhibitor of tyrosinase when L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine is used as the substrate. The inhibitory activities of 1, O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl imperanene (2) and O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3-methoxyl imperanene (3) were 1>2>3.     

Volatile aroma components and antioxidant activities of the flavedo peel extract of unripe Shiikuwasha (Citrus depressa Hayata)

The flavedo peel extracts of unripe Shiikuwasha (Citrus depressa Hayata) fruits were extracted using steam distillation (SD) or a cold-press (CP) system. Volatile aroma content and composition were determined using gas chromatography (GC) and each compound was identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS). The major constituents of the extracts were monoterpene hydrocarbons (91.75-93.75%[709.32-809.05 mg/100 g of fresh flavedo peel]) including limonene (43.08-45.13%[341.46-379.81 mg/100 g of fresh flavedo peel]), γ-terpinene (27.88-29.06%[219.90-245.86 mg/100 g of fresh flavedo peel]), and p-cymene (8.13-11.02%[61.47-97.22 mg/100 g of fresh flavedo peel]). The extraction process used was determined to be a decisive factor that affects the composition of key citrus aroma components, as well as the antioxidant activities of the Shiikuwasha fruit. Antioxidant capabilities of the extracts were examined by assay of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and β-carotene bleaching inhibition. The cold-press extraction system may better retain the total phenolic content of the flavedo peel and display superior antioxidant activities, compared to the steam distillation extraction method. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Shiikuwasha (Citrus depressa Hayata) is a type of small citrus fruit, and has been used as raw material for beverage and food additive productions in Japan. It had a unique aroma composition in which the limonene content of its peels is lower than that of other commonly known citrus peels. The present study detailed the volatile aroma composition, as well as antioxidant capabilities of Shiikuwasha peel extracts of different extraction methods, that are cold-press and steam distillation methods. The results of this study may provide a basis for selection of Shiikuwasha peel extracts in food industry for citrus flavor production.     

Application of enzyme immunoassay for postchemotherapy evaluation of human strongyloidiasis

Primer extension preamplification (PEP) increases the scope and capacity of single cell genetic diagnosis by generating sufficient template to perform multiple subsequent DNA analyses using the polymerase chain reaction. We report the simultaneous analysis of single cells at five commonly deleted dystrophin exons and at the ZFX/ZFY loci. Ninety three percent of PEP reactions with single amniocytes, chorionic villus cells and blastomeres were successful, and a blinded analysis of single lymphoblasts from affected males resulted in 93% diagnostic accuracy, demonstrating its applicability in preimplantation prevention of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Transfer of unaffected male embryos and improved diagnostic reliability are achieved with the ability to perform replicate multilocus analyses from the same blastomere.     

Over-1000-channel ultradense WDM transmission with supercontinuum multicarrier source

In this paper, ultradense wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) transmission technologies are discussed, and a field demonstration of over-1000-channel ultradense WDM transmission is reported. The generation of an ultradense WDM signal using a supercontinuum multicarrier source that generates more than 1000 carriers and uniform precise channel spacing of 6.25 GHz is presented. The influence of four-wave-mixing generated in the transmission fiber and the requirements placed on the WDM multiplexer and demultiplexer is described. An over-1000-channel ultradense WDM transmission experiment is reported. A 1046 /spl times/ 2.67-Gbit/s 6.25-GHz-spaced ultradense WDM signal is successfully transmitted over 126 km of field-installed fibers in the test bed of JGN II.     

Ultrafast polarisation-independent all-optical switching using a polarisation diversity scheme in the nonlinear optical loop mirror

Polarisation-independent 32 to 8 Gbit/s demultiplexing in the nonlinear optical loop mirror is successfully demonstrated using a novel polarisation diversity scheme in which two independent switching operations are performed along the two principal axes of a polarisation-maintaining fibre loop. The variation of the switched signal powers is measured to be less than 1 dB as the input polarisation direction is varied over 180 degrees .<>