Monomeric, monovalent derivative of Maackia amurensis leukoagglutinin. Preparation and application to the study of cell surface glycoconjugates by flow cytometry

A stable subunit of Maackia amurensis leukoagglutinin (MMAL) was prepared by the selective reduction of disulfide bridges between the subunits followed by alkylation with 4-vinylpyridine. MMAL failed to precipitate fetuin, whereas it retained its ability to bind to the same glycoprotein coated on a plastic plate, indicating the monovalency of this derivative. This binding to immobilized fetuin was inhibited by a haptenic sugar, Neu5Ac alpha 2-3lactose, with the same inhibitory potency as against the native M. amurensis leukoagglutinin. Microscopic observation as well as flow cytometric analyses showed that Chinese hamster ovary cells were clearly stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled MMAL without any detectable agglutination. This staining was inhibited by the addition of fetuin or by the sugar chains of fetuin. Differences in the types of sialylated glycoconjugates on the cell surface of several cell lines were detected by the combined use of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled MMAL and the monomeric derivative of elderberry bark lectin (specific for the Neu5Ac alpha 2-6Gal/GalNAc sequence) by flow cytometry. These results demonstrate the usefulness of these monovalent derivatives of sialylated oligosaccharide-specific lectins as probes for the analysis of cell surface glycoconjugates containing sialic acid by the technique of flow cytometry.     

Operation of superconducting fault current limiter using vacuum interrupter driven by electromagnetic repulsion force for commutating switch

Using conventional high‐temperature superconducting wire, a model superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) is made and tested. Solenoid coil using Bi2223 silver sheath wire is so made that inductance is as small as possible and a vacuum interrupter is connected in series to it. A conventional reactor coil is connected in parallel. When the fault current flows in this equipment, superconducting wire is quenched and current is transferred into the parallel coil because of voltage drop of superconducting wire. This large current in parallel coil actuates magnetic repulsion mechanism of vacuum interrupter. Due to opening of vacuum interrupter, the current in superconducting wire is broken. By using this equipment, current flow time in superconducting wire can be easily minimized. On the other hand, the fault current is also easily limited by large reactance of parallel coil. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 164(1): 52–61, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20315     

Thermal stability of reinforced Nb3Sn composite superconductor under cryocooled conditions

Several types of reinforced Nb₃Sn wires have been developed to prevent reduction of superconducting properties by applying a strong electromagnetic force. To fabricate a cryocooled magnet using those reinforced wires, we experimentally measured the minimum quench energy (MQE) under cryocooled conditions of some reinforced Nb₃Sn wires. As a result, it became clear that thermal stability expressed as MQE was controlled by the temperature margin between the temperature of the operating condition and the transition temperature from superconductivity to normal. Using the FEM analysis, it was realized that the cause of the decline in thermal stability for the reinforced wires was the low thermal conductivity of the reinforced materials.     

IMPINGING JET DRYER

In coating and gravure printing, an impinging jet nozzle with high thermal efficiency for drying of coated film was developed.

Trial production 0f 40 kinds of nozzle enables to develop a high-performance impinging jet nozzle with heat transfer coefficient 1.5 times larger than that of current slit nozzle, through measurement of heat transfer coefficient, visualizations of air flow and heat transfer, and measuremenu of jet velocity and turbulence distribution. The purpose of the trial production was to expand a range of high heat transfer and promote turbulence compared with the current nozzle.

Paying attention to mass transfer within gravure ink coated film, drying characteristic of the film was analyzed by numerical solution of a set of equations governing the drying process in which concentration dependencies 0f the diffusion coefficient and the equilibrium vapor pressure were considered.

Applying these analyses. an industrial scale dryer with excellent drying efficiency has finally been developed.     

Characteristics of a continuous Si-Ti-C-O fibre with low oxygen content using an organometallic polymer precursor

A continuous Si-Ti-C-O fibre with 12 wt% oxygen content, which is lower than the usual 18 wt% found in the normal fibres, was synthesized by using polytitanocarbosilane which has fewer Si-Si bonds than the usual precursor polymer. The density, tensile strength, tensile modulus and thermal conductivity were found to be 2.37 g cm^–3, 3.4±0.3 GPa, 190±10 GPa and 1.40 W m^–1 K^–1, respectively. Amongst these properties, the tensile modulus was improved by 20 GPa and the thermal conductivity had a higher value in comparison with that of the ordinary Si-Ti-C-O fibre with 18 wt% oxygen content. The Si-Ti-C-O fibre with a 12 wt% oxygen content has a better heat resistance above 1400 °C in an argon atmosphere and 1300 °C in air, than the usual fibre. About 60 and 40% of its tensile strength at room temperature were retained in air at respectively, 1500 and 1600 °C. This improved ceramic fibre is considered to be useful as a reinforcing material for advanced composites such as high-temperature ceramic matrix composites and metal matrix composites.     

Handling of fine-particles by time-averaged particle driving method in plasmas

We developed a noble technique for the fine-particle handling in plasmas. In this method a pair of point electrodes are introduced in the plasma, to which positive pulses are applied alternatively. When the pulse repetition period is shorter than the particle response time, the particles feel only time-averaged force because of their large mass. Spatial profile of the equivalent potential of the time-averaged force varies from a circle to an ellipse with an increase in the local discharge at the electrodes. The particles are eventually transported toward a middle point between two point-electrodes, being almost independent of their initial positions. This method is quite effective for converging fine particles in the plasma.     

A monocyte chemotactic factor, S19 ribosomal protein dimer, in phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells

HL-60 cells derived from a human promyelocytic leukemia underwent apoptosis by heat treatment. When the heat-treated HL-60 cells were injected into guinea pig skin, monocyte/macrophage infiltration was observed 24 or 36 hours later, and the apoptotic cells were phagocytically cleared by 48 hours after their injection. The infiltration and clearance patterns were quite different from those observed in injection of necrotic or boil-fixed HL-60 cells. The apoptotic cells released a monocyte chemotactic factor in vitro 24 hours after the heat treatment. The chemotactic factor generated was identified as the cross-linked homodimer of S19 ribosomal protein by its immunologic and physicochemical properties. A serine protease that inactivates the monocyte chemotactic factor was also released from the apoptotic cells 30 hours after the heat treatment. A super infusion of this protease into the skin where the apoptotic cells had been injected diminished the number of infiltrated monocytes. The present results indicate an important role of the S19 ribosomal protein dimer in the phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells.     

Fractal characteristics of gas-solids flow in a circulating fluidized bed

A fractal approach is adopted to describe the dynamic behavior of a circulating fluidized bed. Two times series, differential pressure fluctuations along the riser height and solids momentum fluctuations along the radial direction, are measured and analyzed in terms of fractal dimensions. The influences of operating conditions and axial/radial positions on the fractal dimension are discussed. Attempts are also made to interpret the flow structure in the bed in terms of the fractal dimension. It is found that fractal analysis can provide a useful tool for understanding the characteristics of gas-solids flow in circulating fluidized beds.