The Emi2 Protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a Hexokinase Expressed under Glucose Limitation

Hexokinases catalyze glucose phosphorylation at the first step in glycolysis in eukaryotes. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae , three enzymes for glucose phosphorylation have long been known: Hxk1, Hxk2, and Glk1. In this study, we focus on Emi2, a previously uncharacterized hexokinase-like protein of S. cerevisiae . Our data show that the recombinant Emi2 protein (rEmi2), expressed in Escherichia coli , possesses glucose-phosphorylating activity in the presence of ATP and Mg ²⁺ . It was also found that rEmi2 phosphorylates not only glucose but also fructose, mannose and glucosamine in vitro . In addition, we examined changes in the level of endogenous Emi2 protein in S. cerevisiae in the presence or absence of glucose and a non-fermentable carbon source. We found that the expression of Emi2 protein is tightly suppressed during proliferation in high glucose, while it is strongly upregulated in response to glucose limitation and the presence of a non-fermentable carbon source. Our data suggest that the expression of the endogenous Emi2 protein in S. cerevisiae is regulated under the control of Hxk2 in response to glucose availability in the environment.     

Specific changes in human brain following reperfusion after cardiac arrest

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Very few reports are available on serial changes in human brain after cardiac arrest. The primary objective of this study is to investigate sequential neuroradiological changes in patients remaining in a persistent vegetative state following resuscitation after cardiac arrest. METHODS: We repeatedly studied eight vegetative patients resuscitated from unexpected out-of-hospital cardiac arrest using computed tomographic (CT) scanning and high-field magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 1.5 T. RESULTS: In seven of the eight patients, CT scans obtained between days 2 and 6 features symmetrical low-density lesions in the bilateral caudate, lenticular, and/or thalamic nuclei. These ischemic lesions were persistently of low density on serial CT scans. In these seven patients, MR images demonstrated what were thought to be hemoglobin degradation products derived from minor hemorrhages localized in the bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, and/or substantia nigra. Diffuse brain edema in the acute stage and diffuse brain atrophy in the chronic stage were consistent neuroradiological findings. No abnormal enhanced lesions were demonstrated by CT scans. CONCLUSIONS: The most characteristic findings on high-field MR images were symmetrical lesions in the bilateral basal ganglia, thalami, and/or substantia nigra with specific changes suggestive of minor hemorrhages that were not evident on CT scans. We speculate that these minor hemorrhages result from diapedesis of red blood cells in these regions during the reperfusion period through the endothelium disrupted by ischemia-reperfusion insult.     

Extensions of polyacrylic acid ammonium salts in the adsorption layer to fluidize alumina slurries

An average shell volume occupied in the adsorption layer on alumina by a polyacrylic acid ammonium salts molecule (PAA) defined as the average area occupied by an adsorbed PAA on alumina multiplied by the average thickness of the water layer at the limit of thickening, has been calculated from the adsorbed amount of PAA and from the flow points of alumina in the presence of PAA of different molecular weights. A steric effect of the PAA dispersant on the dispersion of alumina resulted in a flow with no yield stress. This was due to the change of the extension of PAA in the adsorption shell from a sphere to an ellipsoid with a long axis which exceeded the effective distance that the van der Waals attraction force reaches at a molecular weight for the PAA of between 10 000–20 000.     

Osteoclastic features of multinucleated giant cells responding to synthetic hydroxyapatite implanted in rat jaw bone.

Multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) that responded to synthetic hydroxyapatite (HAP) implanted in rat mandibles were studied with electron microscopy. HAP used in this study sintered at 200 degrees C (HAP200) and at 125 degrees C (HAP1250) after the synthesis by a wet method. One to three weeks after the intraosseous implantation of HAP, MGCs responding to HAP200 had not only well-developed ruffled border and the clear zone but well-developed perinuclear Golgi complex, many mitochondria and vesicles in their cytoplasms. MGCs responding to HAP1250 had the clear zone, but not the ruffled border although they showed similar cytoplasmic features to those of MGCs responding to HAP200. They merely extended short slender cytoplasmic processes to HAP1250. These results suggest that although osteoclast-like MGCs respond to HAP implanted in the bone, the development of the ruffled border-clear zone system depends on physicochemical properties of HAP.     

Surface Hardening of Carbon Steel Using High Powered YAG Laser

A high powered YAG laser with kaleidoscope for surface modification was applied to the surface hardening of carbon steels containing 0. 18-0.54 wt% C without the absorbents, and the relationships between laser processing and surface hardening were investigated by hardness and microstructure. The structure of the hardened zone underwent complete martensitic transformation in all of the carbon steels tested, and its hardness increased with greater carbon content. Under identical irradiated conditions, the hardened zone expanded with increasing carbon content. A hardened zone extending from the surface to a depth of 1.0 mm was obtained at a laser power of 1.0 kW and a scanning speed of 1 mm/sec. It was found that in the surface hardening of carbon steels, a high powered YAG laser can be used to control the hardened zone by selecting the appropriate irradiation conditions, however, the hardened zone was affected by the assistant gas and the flow rate.     

Training techniques for neural network applications in ATM

The main problems of adaptive ATM quality of service (QoS) control methods using neural networks were the exponentially wide range of the output target and the real-time training data sampling. But new practical techniques to overcome these problems may open new neural network applications. In this article, the framework of connection admission control (CAC) is described as a typical example of neural-network-based QoS estimation and two practical techniques, called relative target method and virtual output buffer method, are presented to enhance the neural network performance in CAC     

Highly reliable a‐IGZO TFTs on a plastic substrate for flexible AMOLED displays

We have successfully reduced threshold voltage shifts of amorphous In–Ga–Zn–O thin‐film transistors (a‐IGZO TFTs) on transparent polyimide films against bias‐temperature stress below 100 mV, which is equivalent to those on glass substrates. This high reliability was achieved by dense IGZO thin films and annealing temperature below 300 °C. We have reduced bulk defects of IGZO thin films and interface defects between gate insulator and IGZO thin film by optimizing deposition conditions of IGZO thin films and annealing conditions. Furthermore, a 3.0‐in. flexible active‐matrix organic light‐emitting diode was demonstrated with the highly reliable a‐IGZO TFT backplane on polyimide film. The polyimide film coating process is compatible with mass‐production lines. We believe that flexible organic light‐emitting diode displays can be mass produced using a‐IGZO TFT backplane on polyimide films.     

Dispersion of ZrO2 particles in aqueous suspensions by ammonium polyacrylate

The effects of poly anionic-electrolyte (ammonium polyacrylate, PAA) as a dispersant on two kinds of ZrO₂ (monoclinic and yttria-doped tetragonal zirconia) aqueous suspensions were examined by the measurements of-potential and viscosity, the sedimentation test and the determination of the wet point and flow point of the powders. Additions above 2.5 wt% PAA to zirconia gave a negative high-potential above –30 mV, and then –45 and –30 mV were obtained for monoclinic and tetragonal zirconia above 5 wt% PAA, respectively. A high negative-potential above –30 mV was retained with 5 wt% PAA for a change in pH over a wider range (pH 6 to 10 for monoclinic ZrO₂, 7 to 9 for tetragonal ZrO₂) in comparison to that of ZrO₂ without dispersant. The increase of the-potential resulted in a decrease in the viscosity. The evaluation of dispersion by the sedimentation test was correlated well with the value of-potential and the viscosity of the suspensions. The presence of native positive charge of monoclinic and tetragonal zirconia powders required an excess amount of PAA to attain dispersion of the suspension. There was a small difference in the least amount of PAA required to attain good dispersion between monoclinic and tetragonal ZrO₂. The difference was also indicated by changes of the flow point on PAA addition. Addition of 0.1% PAA to monoclinic ZrO₂ and 0.25 wt% to tetragonal ZrO₂ gave a maximum value of the flow point, whereas the positive-potential fell to zero. Measurement of the flow point was a simple and useful technique for rapid evaluation of a required amount of dispersant for ZrO₂ suspensions.     

The Effect of Lanthanum on the Scales Developed on Thin Foils of Fe-20Cr-5Al at Very High Temperatures

A study has been undertaken of the effects oflanthanum on the oxidation of thin foils of Fe-20Cr-5Alin air at 1150°C. The addition of lanthanum causesthe time to breakaway to increase from about 24 hr for Fe-20Cr-5Al to over 400 hr. Oxidationof the lanthanum-containing alloy occurs in threestages. During the first stage, an-Al₂O₃ layer is establishedand thickens with time until the aluminum in the foil is depleted sufficiently for alayer of Cr₂O₃ to become stableand develop at the scale-alloy interface. This continuesto thicken at a relatively slow rate until breakawayoccurs. The main emphasis in the present paper has been anexamination and analysis of the scale established on thelanthanum-containing alloy in cross section in theanalytical transmission electron microscope (TEM), after an exposure period that coincides with thesecond stage of oxidation, prior to breakaway. The scaleat that time consists of three layers. The outer layeris composed of equiaxed Al₂O₃grains. The intermediate and inner layers consist of columnarAl₂O₃ grains and equiaxedCr₂O₃ grains, respectively.Numerous voids are observed in the oxide grainboundaries and at the intermediate-inner layerinterface. Lanthanum segregates in the oxide grain boundaries andits concentration increases toward the outermost surfaceof the scales. These results are consistent with thedynamic segregation model to account for the effects of reactive elements on thegrowth of Al₂O₃ scales.