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We investigate the drift and diffusion dynamics of optically spin-polarized electrons in p-type rectangular GaAs/AlAs quantum wires with small (10 nm) lateral sizes by time- and spatially resolved photoluminescence measurement. The drift process causes a rapid expansion of the spin-polarized electrons, keeping the spin polarization beyond by 10 \ensuremath{\mu}m. We theoretically analyze the transport characteristics of spin-polarized electrons and their spin-relaxation dynamics based on a drift-diffusion model which includes a spin-flip process. Experiment can be consistently explained by considering that the dependence of the diffusivity and mobility on the degree of the spin polarization, demonstrating the possibility of spin-dependent electron-electron scattering that affects the transport properties in one-dimensional structures.

Primary mixed cultures of astrocytes and microglia were obtained from neonatal mice, and were irradiated with high-LET carbon ions. Immunohistochemical staining showed astrocytes survived more prominently than microglia. Tagged with specific antibodies, astrocytes and microglia surviving after irradiation were counted by flow cytometry. Decreases in the number of microglia and astrocytes were detected at a dose as small as 2 Gy when Day 5 cultures were irradiated with 13 keV/micrometer carbon ions. When the cultures were irradiated on Day 10, the dose-dependent decrease of microglia was more prominent for 13 keV/micrometer carbon ions than 70 keV/micrometer carbon ions. Astrocytes showed a marginal decrease at Day 10 and Day 14. We concluded that microglia are more sensitive than astrocytes to carbon ions and X-rays, and that the radiosensitivity of microglia depends on both differentiation/proliferation status and radiation quality.

A new type of crystal of glycylglycine (GlyGly) hydrate was crystallized from an aqueous solution, and the structure of the crystal has been determined by x-ray diffraction. The crystal is monoclinic, and the space group is C2/c, with the cell constants of a = 15.941(2) A, b = 4.774(2) A, c = 19.428(2) A and β = 109.884(7)° at 296 K. There are eight GlyGly molecules and six water solvent in the cell. The GlyGly molecules are packed in a parallel β-sheet arrangement. The single crystal was obtained with a maximum size of 10 × 7 × 4 mm and is not stable under atmospheric conditions. The transparent crystal turned to turbid with the elapse of time. The isotropic 13C chemical shifts obtained from the 13C cross polarization magic angle spinning nmr experiments reveal that GlyGly hydrate was changed into GlyGly (form α) by dehydration. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 45: 333–339, 1998

To investigate processes occurring during thin-film deposition by plasma chemical vapor deposition, a study was made of the radical species in an RF CH 4 H 2 plasma using photoionization mass spectrometry. The method avoids fragmentation of particles as can occur in conventional mass spectrometry by using photons for their ionization. In the present experiment, a capacitive 13.56-MHz RF plasma reactor was used and the total gas pressure was 2.7 × 102Pa. Besides the CH3 radical on whose detection emphasis was laid, CH2, CH, C2H3 and C2H4 were detected in the excited CH 4 H 2 plasma using a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a Kr or Ar resonance lamp. The lamp was microwave-operated at 2.45 GHz to produce the ultraviolet resonance radiation with two components of energies 10.03 and 10.64 eV in Kr or 11.62 and 11.83 eV in Ar. Suppression of undesirable ionization of particles by impact of accelerated photoelectrons generated by lamp radiations was achieved by voltage control of the ion-lens electrodes. The detection sensitivity of the apparatus was estimated as having a CH3 number density of typically 2.0 × 1011cm−3. Data were obtained on the dependence of CH3 radical density upon the CH4 mole fraction of the CH 4 H 2 source gas.

We have designed a microprocessor that is based on a single instruction multiple data stream (SIMD) architecture. It features a two-way superscalar architecture for multimedia embedded systems that need to support especially MPEG2 video decoding/encoding and 3DCG image processing. This microprocessor meets all requirements of embedded systems, including (a) MPEG2 (MP@ML) decoding and graphic processing capabilities for three-dimensional images, (b) programming flexibility, and (c) low power consumption and low manufacturing cost. High performance was achieved by enhanced parallel processing capabilities while adopting a SIMD architecture and a two-way superscalar architecture. Programming flexibility was increased by providing 170 dedicated multimedia instructions. Low power consumption was achieved by utilizing advanced process technology and power-saving circuits. The processor supports a general-purpose RISC instruction set. This feature is important, as the processor will have to work as a controller of various target systems. The processor has been fabricated by 0.21-/spl mu/m CMOS four-metal technology on a 9.84/spl times/10.12 mm die. It performs 2.16 GOPS/720 MFLOPS at an operating frequency of 180 MHz, with a power consumption of 1.2 W and a power supply of 1.8 V.

The deformation behavior of single crystals of CrSi2 with the C40 structure has been investigated as a function of crystal orientation in the temperature range from room temperature to 1400°C in compression. Plastic flow is observed only above 800°C when slip along 〈1 2 10〉 on (0001) is operative and no other slip systems are observed in the whole temperature range investigated. The critical resolved shear stress (CRSS) for basal slip decreases rapidly with increasing temperature. Dislocations with b=1/3〈1 2 10〉 gliding on (0001) basal planes are observed to dissociate into two identical partials with b=1/6〈1 2 10〉 involving a stacking fault. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy of 1/3〈1 2 10〉 dislocations indicates that basal slip in CrSi2 occurs through a synchroshear mechanism.

A new sampling method, capable of sampling plaque from its surface to its interior for quantitative studies, was modified to meet some of the requirements for the determination of the fluoride and mineral (Ca and P) profiles within dental plaque formed in vivo. Plaque samples were repeatedly collected from the same individual, using special devices, before a single fluoride rinse (900 parts/10(6) fluoride) and 10 min and 24 hr after rinse. The method allowed examination of fluoride, calcium and phosphorus distribution along the entire thickness of plaque. Fluoride content significantly increased throughout the sample 10 min after rinsing, indicating the fluoride had rapidly penetrated into the plaque. Although the elevated fluoride concentrations diminished almost to baseline with 24 hr, a high correlation was found between fluoride and minerals in each plaque fraction. It is concluded that this technique will be useful for evaluating the fluoride and mineral behaviour in the saliva/plaque and plaque/enamel interfaces, and the anti caries efficacy of fluoride applications.

Flow-rate modulation epitaxy is the MOCVD-based version of migration-enhanced epitaxy which has been developed to grow atomically flat surfaces and interfaces of III–V compound semiconductors. This method has additional advantages relating to the controllability of the growth process. During flow-rate modulation epitaxy, undesirable gaseous reactions are avoided between group III and group V source gases, and the initial surface condition for every layer growth is precisely controlled. This method has also proved useful for the selective epitaxy of AlGaAs and for the fabrication of low-dimensional structures surrounded by sharp crystal facets. By utilizing these advantages, hexagonal prism-shaped AlGaAs/GaAs dots were successfully grown on patterned (111)B substrates. Each dot lased at an extremely low threshold indicating the desirable effect of flow-rate modulation epitaxy.

The new broadcast center of Fuji Television Network Inc. requires a large capacity and flexible routing network for video/audio signals. It has been decided to employ the newly developed wavelength-division and time-division hybrid multiplexed (WD/TD) optical network for video/audio signal distribution/transmission in the new facilities, in order to extend possibilities in the coming multimedia era. A prototype WD/TD optical network has been developed to examine basic operation and preliminary reliability issues. The prototype has been designed to distribute/transmit 240 digital NTSC video signals, employing a newly developed flat gain optical amplifier and a 2.29 Gbit/sec time-division multiplexer/selector. The prototype has been under field trials at the master control room of Fuji Television Network Inc. and has shown successful operation.

Summary Rail steel is a typical high carbon material and has previously been extensively researched to improve its weldability. This paper describes an investigation of narrow gap automatic gas shielded arc welding of rails to determine the effects of the process parameters, weld metal carbon content, and post weld heat treatment through observations of defects and microstructures, hardness measurements, and tensile tests of welded joints. Through adjustment of the temperature of the water-cooled copper block surrounding the rail welds, the heat input to the base material can be controlled and the weld quality thus improved. Suitable post weld heat treatment and welding conditions improve the weld properties. Control of the weld metal carbon content is an important factor in prevention of hot cracking. Hot cracking in the HAZ is influenced by MnS inclusions and can be prevented through application of suitable process parameters.

New observables with which we can study the two-nucleon weak interactions at low energies are considered. In the breakup of the deuteron by photons, polarization of outgoing neutrons can depend on the parity-violating component of two-nucleon interactions. We express the parity-violating polarization in general forms, and perform numerical calculations with a pionless effective field theory. The theory has unknown parity-violating low energy constants, and the results are expressed in linear combination of them. We discuss the results and their implication to the understanding of the hadronic weak interactions., 18 pages, 5 figures

Application of the muramyldipeptide derivative B30-MDP to liposomal vaccines will aid in the development of improved high immunogenicity vaccines. To give full play to the effectiveness of B30-MDP as a liposomal vaccine, it is important to evaluate the effect of cholesterol, dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or distearoylphosphatidylcholine (DSPC) incorporation on the chemical stability of B30-MDP and physicochemical properties of B30-MDP/lipid mixed vesicles from the view point of pharmaceutics.

The muramyldipeptide derivative B30-MDP has immunoadjuvant activity and vesicleforming ability in aqueous solutions. To assist in the clinical application of B30-MDP to liposomal vaccine, we investigated the physicochemical properties including membrane fluidity, surface charge and particle size of B30-MDP vesicles containing cholesterol, dipalmitoylphosphatidyl-choline (DPPC) or dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol (DPPG).

Age-related alterations of presynaptic functions were studied in terms of acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis and release using synaptosomes isolated from mouse brain cortices. The following three findings were obtained: (1) Choline acetyltransferase activity and ACh production rate remained constant throughout all ages tested. This observation, obtained with synaptosomes, was not consistent with data reported for brain slices (Gibson GE, Peterson C: J Neurochem 37:978–984, 1981). Various conditions, such as low glucose or membrane depolarization, modulated ACh synthesis to similar extents in young and aged synaptosomes. (2) Depolarization-induced release of ACh from synaptosomes significanty decreased in the senescent stage. The fraction of ACh released from aged synaptosomes was less than that released from young synaptosomes, although the ACh contents in the synaptosomes did not change with age. (3) Calcium influx induced by depolarization was lower in the synaptosomal preparations from aged mice than in those from young mice. A strong positive correlation was observed between the amounts of ACh released and the increased calcium levels when the data for all preparations, both from young and aged mice, were plotted. This indicates that diminished calcium influx may cause the reduced ACh release by aged synapses. The present study provides evidence for an age-related decrease in presynaptic functions, that is, a reduction in calcium influx via voltage-dependent calcium channels followed by a decreased ACh release from synapses despite an abundance of ACh within the synapses. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

(1996). Selection of electron beam welding conditions for 7175 high strength aluminium alloy. Welding International: Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 89-94.

The authors have developed a new longitudinal vibration analysis model of a tape transport system for VCRs containing a tension control mechanism. Using this analysis model, we have achieved an effective vibration control method.

In this multicentre, non-randomized clinical study, 35 hypertensive patients with concomitant non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus were treated with the selective α1 adrenoceptor blocker doxazosin mesilate for 24 weeks, either alone or together with existing antihypertensive therapy. The effects of the drug on blood pressure, glucose and lipid metabolism were examined. Daily administration of 0.5 – 8 mg doxazosin caused a significant reduction in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure within 2 weeks. This effect was stable and lasted the entire trial period. The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased from 172 ± 15/90 ± 11 mmHg at the beginning, to 149 ± 19/80 ± 12 mmHg at the end of the trial. Heart rate was not affected. The plasma glucose level showed no change, whereas the haemoglobin A1c level decreased significantly from 7.4 ± 1.2% to 7.1 ± 1.2% ( P < 0.01). Total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels remained unchanged. The triglycerides level, however, decreased from 113 ± 54 mg/dl at the beginning to 98 ± 49 mg/dl at the end of the trial ( P < 0.05). In a subgroup of patients, who showed hypercholesterolaemia (≥ 220 mg/dl, n = 9) at the beginning, the total cholesterol level decreased from 252 ± 33 mg/dl to 220 ± 33 mg/dl ( P < 0.05). Two patients complained of abdominal fullness or diarrhoea, but both were easily manageable. The results indicate that doxazosin is effective and safe in the treatment of hypertension in non-insulin-dependent diabetics and does not affect glucose metabolism. As for lipid metabolism in non-insulin-dependent diabetic patients, doxazosin seems to have a beneficial effect.

The muramyldipeptide derivative B30-MDP has immunoadjuvant activity and vesicle-forming ability in aqueous environments. It is therefore important to evaluate the relationship between its physicochemical properties and chemical stability for use as a vaccine adjuvant. We studied the effects of octyl-β-D-glucoside (O.G.) incorporation on the physicochemical properties and chemical stability in aqueous solution at pH 7.4. The changes in particle size and in the membrane fluidity of B30-MDP liposomes, which were induced by the addition of O.G., were measured to confirm the transition from micelle phase to vesicle phase. The degradation of B30-MDP in both liposomal and mixed micellar solutions was measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. This degradation occurred by a pseudo first-order reaction at 313, 323 and 333 K. The shelf-life of the B30-MDP solution supplemented with O.G. was approximately one-seventh of that of B30-MDP alone in the liposomal solution. The changes in thekobs values of B30-MDP correlated well with those in membrane fluidity induced by O.G. incorporation. These results indicate that an increase in membrane fluidity labilizes B30-MDP in liposomal solution.

This article describes an ongoing study for a new type of tactile sensing device which is based on instantaneous localization of acoustic emissions caused by touch and/or contact movement. The authors assume a sensor structure which consists of a flexible, spherical, fingertip-like body and a quadruple polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF, a kind of piezoelectric polymer) sound-sensing matrix embedded at the center of the body. Any points on the spherical surface work as emission sources when touched, and the body transmits the waves inward. The PVDF matrix works as a wideband acoustic emission (AE) transducer which is capable of detecting arrival directions of the waves, packet by packet. This means it can independently resolve and localize a series of ultrasonic emissions caused by a touch and slip. In order to realize this type of tactile sensor, the authors consider two important questions: 1) What kind of ultrasonic emissions appear by touch, and are they detectable? 2) How can the multiple wave packets be resolved and localized instantaneously? For the first question, the authors develop a theory of wave generation at collision, and examine detectability by several experiments. For the second question, the authors show how their sound localization algorithm for an auditory sensor is applied. By assuming the use of this algorithm, and from several experiments under various contact and slip conditions, the authors confirm that the following features and tactile information are obtainable: 1) quick localization of touch and separation; 2) sensation of surface roughness under movements; and 3) quick detection of precursor of slip. >

Zusammenfassung Der Effekt einer intravenosen Insulininfusion auf die pra- umd postprandialen Konzentrationen an Wachstumshormon im Plasma beim Kalb Um den Effekt einer Insulininfusion auf die Konzentration von Wachtumshormon (GH) pra- und postprandial bei weiblichen japanischen schwarzen Kalbern zu untersuchen, erhielten die Tiere 10 mU bovines Insulin je kg Korpergewicht oder 10 mU/kgBW/h Insulin plus 75 mg/kgBW/h Glucose intravenos infundiert uber 5 Stunden vor der Futterung bis 5 Stunden nach der Futterung. Eine Kontrollgruppe erhielt auf die gleiche Weise Kochsalzlosung. Die Plasmakonzentrationen an Insulin, GH, Glucose und freien Fettsauren (FFA) wurden in 30 Min Abstanden von 6 Stunden vor bis 5 Stunden nach der Futterung gemessen. Die Insulininfusion fuhrte zu einer Erhohung (p < 0,05) des Plasmainsulin- und zu einer Erniedrigung der Glucose-Konzentration (p < 0,05). Bei der Infusion von Insulin plus Glucose war der Insulingehalt ebenfalls erhoht (p < 0,05), der Glucosegehalt lag so hoch wie in der Kontrollgruppe; nach der Infusion von Insulin und von Insulin plus Glucose lag die Insulinkonzentration praprandial unter 41,0 mU/ml Plasma, postprandial zwischen zwischen 51,9 und 151,8 mU/ml Plasma. Bei den FFS-Gehalten wurden keine Behandlungseffekte festgestellt. Die AUC vom Wachstumshormon lag postprandial niedriger (p < 0,05) als die praprandial bei Infusion von Insulin und Insulin plus Glucose gemessene. Zwischen den Infusions-Kalbern und den Kontrolltieren wurden keine Unterschiede beobachtet. Daraus last sich ableiten, das hohe Plasmainsulingehalte zu einer post-prandialen Depression der GH-Sekretion bei Kalbern fuhren.

Francium is the heaviest species among the alkali elements. Due to its properties, francium is said to be of advantage in measurements of tiny observations, such as atomic parity violation and electric dipole moment. Before executing experiments with francium, it must be produced artificially because it is one of the most unstable elements. We produced francium with the nuclear fusion reaction of an oxygen beam and gold target, ionized the produced francium through a thermal ionization process, and extracted the ion with electrostatic fields. However, the thermal ionization process is known to ionize not only an objective atom but also other atomic species. Therefore, a Wien filter was installed to analyze the composition of the ion beam and purify the beam. This allowed us to improve the beam purity from ∼10(-6) to ∼10(-3).

As the material for realizing gigahertz conducted noise suppressors, Ni-Zn-Co ferrite films (Ni/sub 0.15-0.21/Zn/sub 0.20-0.36/Co/sub x/Fe/sub 2.39-2.58/O/sub 4/, x=0-0.10) were deposited from an aqueous solution by spin spray ferrite plating at 90/spl deg/C. We applied 1.3-kOe bias field parallel to the centrifugal direction of liquid flow on the substrate. The bias field and the Co addition induced an in-plane uniaxial anisotropy with easy axis parallel to the liquid flow (or bias field) direction. The effect was strongest at x=0.03; the complex permeability (/spl mu/=/spl mu/'-j/spl mu/'') along the hard axis exhibited a high-natural ferromagnetic resonance of f/sub r/=1.4 GHz and a strong magnetic loss of /spl mu/''>30 in a wide range between 300 MHz and 3 GHz. Measured along the easy axis, however, /spl mu/' and /spl mu/'' were negligibly small, indicating that the high permeability with strong loss was ascribed to magnetization rotation, with no contribution from domain motion. Cole-Cole impedance (0.1 Hz-1 MHz) plots for each Ni-Zn-Co ferrite film were fitted by a depressed semicircle, whose relaxation angle became largest at x=0.03. This means that the relaxation time in conduction process is most widely dispersed at the same Co content where, as mentioned above, the magnetic loss became strong in a wide frequency range.

The electromagnetic-noise suppression sheets made of Fe–Si–Al thin flakes embedded in polymer improve their noise suppressing performance appreciably in the magnetic field. We have already confirmed that the transmission characteristics of a microstrip line exhibit a high-frequency suppressing feature when a small piece of the sheet is placed on it [S. Yoshida et al., IEEE Trans. Magn. 37, 2401 (2001)]. In this article we found that this filtering performance is appreciably improved by a dc magnetic field. The effect becomes explicit in a field with intensity higher than a few hundred Oe and rise of the transmission loss becomes much steeper near the frequency of magnetic resonance. An example is that in the field of 1 kOe the 3 dB width of half to the peak of frequency profile of the transmission loss at resonance is reduced to less than a quarter of the one without magnetic field. This improvement brings about a new research subject to develop the high performance electromagnetic noise absorber that is expected to work under the optimized conditions in various digital electronic devices with operation frequencies up to the GHz band.

Infective agents may affect pregnancy outcomes by deregulating homeostasis.The effects of Porphyromonas gingivalis infection before and at different gestation periods were evaluated.Wistar rats infected via subcutaneous with P. gingivalis W83, one week before mating (BM), days 1 (PR1) and 11 of gestation (PR11), and controls were evaluated, and samples were obtained at the end of gestation. P. gingivalis was detected by PCR. Cytokine was determined by ELISA.Infected rats had lower maternal gain of weight. Implantation was not observed in 2/12 BM rats. PR11 presented more fetal-placental resorptions and lower placenta/fetus weight than controls. P. gingivalis was detected in placenta and fetus. IL-6 and TNF-α levels were higher in placenta and serum of infected groups, except for TNF-α in placenta of PR1. IL-1β levels were higher in placenta of PR11, but lower in serum and placenta of PR1. There were no differences in IL-10 and PGE2 concentrations among the groups (P0.05).The experimental infection by P. gingivalis resulted in alterations in the gestational pattern and in fetal development. The consequences of infection at mid-gestation were more severe than at the beginning, possibly due to the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the fetal compartment.

Periodontal diseases result from the interaction of bacterial pathogens with the host's gingival tissue. Gingival epithelial cells are constantly challenged by microbial cells and respond by altering their transcription profiles, inducing the production of inflammatory mediators. Different transcription profiles are induced by oral bacteria and little is known about how the gingival epithelium responds after interaction with the periodontopathogenic organism Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. In the present study, we examined the transcription of genes involved in signaling transduction pathways in gingival epithelial cells exposed to viable A. actinomycetemcomitans. Immortalized gingival epithelial cells (OBA-9) were infected with A. actinomycetemcomitans JP2 for 24 h and the transcription profile of genes encoding human signal transduction pathways was determined. Functional analysis of inflammatory mediators positively transcribed was performed by ELISA in culture supernatant and in gingival tissues. Fifteen of 84 genes on the array were over-expressed (P0.01) after 24 h of infection with viable A. actinomycetemcomitans. Over-expressed genes included those implicated in tissue remodeling and bone resorption, such as CSF2, genes encoding components of the LDL pathway, nuclear factor-κB-dependent genes and other cytokines. The ELISA data confirmed that granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor/colony-stimulating factor 2, tumor necrosis factor-α and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were highly expressed by infected gingival cells when compared with control non-infected cells, and presented higher concentrations in tissues from patients with aggressive and chronic periodontitis than in tissues from healthy controls. The induction in epithelial cells of factors such as the pro-inflammatory cytokine CSF2, which is involved in osteoclastogenesis, may help to explain the outcomes of A. actinomycetemcomitans infection.

A quantitative isolation method for gangliosides from small sizes of samples has been developed. Total lipids were separated into gangliosides and other lipids using Phenyl Sepharose column chromatography. Gangliosides were recovered in a yield of 99%. Determination of gangliosides was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a selected ion-monitoring technique. These combined methods can provide quantitative isolation and determination of gangliosides from as little as 10 mg fresh brain tissues or 0.5 mg protein of membrane fractions. The present methods were successfully applied to the analysis of gangliosides from mouse brain synaptic plasma membranes to reveal that the ganglioside contents and composition remain constant from adult to senescence.

We investigated the physicochemical properties of B30-MDP [6-O-(2-tetradecylhexadecanoyl)-N-acetyl-muramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine], a muramyldipeptide derivative having immunoadjuvant activity [1], using polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. Microscopic observations showed that B30-MDP molecules form myelin figures in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). It was revealed that B30-MDP forms membranous structure because of an increase in the hydrophobicity. In the DSC measurements, the B30-MDP membrane in PBS gave no endothermic peak between 5° to 50°C. Enthalpy change upon the phase transition from the gel to liquid crystalline state or dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) membrane and its phase transition temperature decreased by the addition of B30-MDP. ESR measurements using 5 doxyl stearic acid showed that the fluidity of the B30-MDP membrane was almost comparable to that of DPPC membrane at the temperature below the phase transition temperature of DPPC, while it was lower than that of DPPC at the temperature higher than this point. The fluidity of DPPC membrane increased upon the addition of B30-MDP. These results indicate that B30-MDP forms membranous structure and that the bulky hydrophilic region of B30-MDP influences its membrane structures, thermal behavior, and membrane fluidity.

SUMMARYIRBP is a glycolipoprotein with a four-fold partially homologous repeat structure approximately 300 residues in length, and is one of the retinal antigens capable of inducing experimental autoimmune uveoretinitis (EAU) in susceptible animals by their active immunization. The most immunopathogenic peptide of bovine IRBP for FAU in Lewis rats is reported to be the sequence 1169–1191 (PTARSVGAADGSSWEGVGVVPDV) with two immunogenic motifs common to T cell epitopes (underlined). The uveitogenic site of peptide 1169–1191 was localized at the carboxyl terminus (peptide 1182 1191) and not al the amino acid terminus (peptide 1169–1182). Repeat peptides of sequenee 11 79–1191 containing the four homologous residues (1182W. 1186G. 1187V and 1189P). that is the peptides 271–283, 579 591 and 880892. all elicited EAU. Peptide 579–591 could not stimulate proliferation of lymphocytes from rats immunized with IRBP, but had the capacity to adoptively transfer EAU. The roie of the homologous residues was examined using analogues of the uveitogenic peptide 1182–1194. in which each homologous residue was substituted by giycine (G) or leucine (L) (1182W→G, 1186G→L, 1187V→G, and 1189 P→G). One analogue (1186G →L) strongly diminished the ability to induce FAU. while the other three analogues completely abolished the ability, indicating that these homologous residues were essential for the induction of FAU. In addition, the uveitogenic peptides tested in this study were found not to contain the major epitope for antibody production.

Carotenoid distribution was examined in muscle, ovary, integument and serum from red- and white-fleshed chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), along with their muscle proximate compositions. There were no significant differences in muscle compositions of moisture, protein and lipid except for the carotenoid levels between red- and white-fleshed salmon. Similar carotenoid levels of ovaries were found between red- and white-fleshed chinook salmon, although the muscle carotenoid level of white-fleshed salmon was apparently low compared to red-fleshed salmon. This suggests that white-fleshed chinook salmon have the ability to accumulate the carotenoids in their ovaries but not muscle. The white-fleshed chinook salmon may be devoid of carotenoid receptors in their muscle and this seems to be the reason for the failure to accumulate the carotenoids in their muscle.

A multi-centre, non-randomized clinical study of 12-months' duration was performed in 112 patients with hyperlipidaemia associated with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus to evaluate the clinical efficacy and tolerability of pravastatin and to assess its effect on glycaemic control. Patients were eligible for this trial if they fulfilled the following criteria; a high plasma total cholesterol level greater than 220 mg/dl associated with stable glycaemic control for at least 3-months' observation period. On entry, patients received 10 mg pravastatin per day (5 mg twice daily) for 12 months. Clinical efficacy was evaluated in 108 patients. The results showed that pravastatin induced a significant decrease in serum cholesterol level mainly with LDL-cholesterol. Total cholesterol levels were decreased significantly from 275 +/- 3 mg/dl to 222 +/- 4 mg/dl within 3 months of the start of treatment, and LDL-cholesterol decreased from 192 +/- 4 mg/dl to 137 +/- 4 mg/dl. After 12 months' treatment, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels were 216 +/- 4 mg/dl (p < 0.001) and 137 +/- 5 mg/dl (p < 0.001), respectively. HDL-cholesterol levels were increased from 51 +/- 2 mg/dl to 56 +/- 2 mg/dl at 3 months (p < 0.001) and 55 +/- 2 mg/dl at 12 months (p < 0.01). Triglyceride concentrations were also decreased from 173 +/- 11 mg/dl to 156 +/- 13 mg/dl at 3 months and 137 +/- 10 mg/dl at 12 months (p < 0.01). Fasting plasma glucose and glycated haemoglobin levels were not affected by pravastatin. Adverse events observed in 5 cases were always mild and reversible. These results indicate a clinical usefulness of pravastatin with high compliance in patients with hyperlipidaemia associated with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

It had been reported that for potassium chloride (KCl) the B1–B2 phase transition (PT) occurs under shock and static compressions, but the measured transition points showed large scatter. In this study, Hugoniot measurement experiments were performed on KCl single crystals by the inclined-mirror method combined with use of a powder gun. The anisotropic Hugoniot elastic limits and PT points were observed. The PT points along the 100, 110 and 111 axis directions were determined as 2.5, 2.2 and 2.1 GPa, respectively. The anisotropic transition was reasonably explained in terms of the displacement mechanism along the 111 axis direction.

3D human face recognition with 3D imaging technology is a frontier in image processing and pattern recognition. The 3D real-time human face imaging system based on CIS is able to obtain corresponding 2D gray data and 3D depth data from human face. Dimensionality reduction of high-dimensional observation data is the key problem of face recognition. This paper applies LOGMAP theory to dimensionality reduction of 2D facial gray data 3D depth data. Tests show that the recognition results based on dimensionality reduction with LOGMAP perform well.

A motor neuron disorder resembling that of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis was found in a patient who had received the intramuscular administration of a mixture of bovine brain gangliosides (Yuki, N., Sato, S., Miyatake, T., Sugiyama, K., Katagiri, T., and Sasaki, H. (1991) Lancet 337, 1109-1110). A very high titer of anti-GM2 IgM was detected in the patient's serum and the patient quickly recovered after plasmapheresis. The clinical course of the patient appeared to be different from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and the anti-GM2 IgM was thought to be the culprit. The IgM reacted with GM2, GM1b-GalNAc, SPG(alpha 2-3)-GalNAc, and GD1a-GalNAc, but not with GA2 or GD2, meaning that the epitope recognized by the IgM was the GM2-like terminal structure, GalNAc beta 1-4(Neu-Ac alpha 2-3)Gal beta 1-. In this study, we found two novel GM2-epitope containing gangliosides, X1 and X2, in bovine brain gangliosides by TLC immunostaining using the patient's IgM. They were characterized as unique lacto-ganglio type gangliosides containing the following branching structures. [formula: see text] Their unusual structures may be immunogenic to humans to induce anti-GM2 antibody.

The superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase system in phagocytes consists of membrane-associated cytochrome b558 and three cytosolic components named p67-phox, p47-phox, and rac p21s. In a cell-free system consisting of membrane and cytosol, the oxidase can be activated with guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP gamma S) and an unsaturated fatty acid such as arachidonic acid (AA). Incubation of cytosol and membrane with AA alone caused clear translocation of p47-phox and p67-phox to the membrane, but only slight translocation of rac p21s. GTP gamma S alone did not significantly induce the translocation of rac p21s. However, GTP gamma S in combination with AA markedly augmented rac p21s translocation to the membrane. The translocation of rac p21s is not induced by GDP or GDP beta S. These results indicate that the GTP-bound active form of rac p21s is the entity that is translocated to the membrane by the action of AA.

Thiosulfate ion was used as a substitute for hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to simulate stress corrosion cracking (SCC) of corrosion-resistant alloys (CRAs) and sulfide stress cracking (SSC) of high-strength, low-alloy steels. Several SCC tests using a variety of stress application techniques showed the brine containing thiosulfate exhibited similar severity to brine containing H2S in regard to SCC when plastic strain was applied to the CRAs. Materials that exhibited SCC susceptibility in brine containing thiosulfate agreed well the SCC susceptibility of those in brine containing H2S. Types 304 (UNS S30400) and 316L (UNS S31603) stainless steels and duplex stainless steel exhibited in both environments. However, high-nickel austenitic alloys such as alloys 904L (UNS N08904) and 825 (UNS N08825) did not. A 10−3 to 10−2 mol/l S2O32− addition in 20% NaCl aqueous solution at 353 K corresponded to H2S of 0.1 to 1 MPa at 473 K. The SSC susceptibilities of high-strength, low-alloy steels in a 10−3 mol/l S2O32− ...

The effect of vesnarinone (OPC-8212), an orally active positive inotropic agent was studied in tracheal muscle isolated from guinea pigs, and the mechanism of its action was analyzed. Vesnarinone (10(-6)-10(-4) M) caused a concentration-dependent relaxation of tracheal muscle pre-contracted by 10(-4) M histamine. The potency of the relaxing effect of vesnarinone was greater than that of theophylline; the pD2 values for vesnarinone and theophylline were 4.9 and 4.5, respectively. Vesnarinone reduced the high-K(+)-induced contracture of depolarized tracheal muscle non-competitively (pD'2 = 3.7). Vesnarinone at the low concentration of 3 x 10(-6) M shifted the concentration-response curve for isoproterenol in a parallel fashion to the left. Vesnarinone additively acted on the relaxing effect of isobutyl methyl xanthine. Propranolol (10(-5) M) and reserpine pre-treatment (5 mg/kg, i.p., 24 hr) had no effect on the relaxing effect of vesnarinone. These results suggested that vesnarinone elevated the intracellular cyclic AMP level via phosphodiesterase inhibition, resulting in the tracheal muscle relaxation.

We consider the two-nucleon weak interaction with a pionless effective field theory. Dibaryon fields are introduced to ensure fast convergence of the perturbative expansion. Weak interactions are accounted for with the parity-violating dibaryon-nucleon-nucleon vertices, which contain unknown weak coupling constants. We apply the model to the calculation of a parity-violating observable in the radiative neutron capture on a proton at threshold. Result is obtained up to the linear order of the weak dibaryon-nucleon-nucleon coupling constants. We compare our result to the ones obtained from other approaches, and discuss investigation of the weak interaction in few-body systems.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is a non-motile gram-negative facultative anaerobic coccobacillus associated with the etiology of aggressive periodontitis (1). The microorganism can also be detected in the oral cavity of chronic periodontitis patients and periodontally healthy subjects (2). A. actinomycetemcomitans is classified into six serotypes (a–f) based on surface O-polysaccharides, and serotype b is usually correlated with aggressive periodontitis (1), although other serotypes have been associated with diseased patients in certain populations (3,4). Similar to other mucosa-associated gram-negative pathogens, A. actinomycetemcomitans produces a cytolethal distending toxin (CDT; 5,6). Cytolethal distending toxin is a secreted tripartite AB2 toxin [An AB2 toxin is a toxin that has an active toxic subunit (A) represented by CdtB, and a B subunit which binds to the target cell, and is formed in Cdt by the subunits CdtA and CdtC], in which CdtB is the active toxic subunit that exhibits both type I deoxyribonuclease-like and phosphatase activities while subunits CdtA and CdtC seem to bind to target cells and CdtC also aids the delivery of CdtB into cells (6). The CDT triggers a DNA-damage response resulting in cell cycle arrest in G2/M or G0/G1 phase in many epithelial and macrophage cell lines and in T lymphocytes. Interestingly, CDT was not able to affect human periodontal ligament cells, although other fibroblastic cell lines were susceptible (6,7). Although the association of CDT with pathogenesis is not fully understood, this toxin may represent a bacterial adaptation which could affect the interaction between the bacterium and the host immune system in chronic diseases. Mice experimentally challenged with a CDT-deficient Helicobacter hepaticus mutant developed a significantly lower immunoglobulin (Ig)G2c response and failed to mount an IgG1 response (8). Cytolethal distending toxin can partly inhibit the production of proinflammatory cytokines by antigen-presenting cells, although A. actinomycetemcomitans CDT induced the production of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) by human monocytes (9,10). In mice model, a Haemophilus ducreyi CDT-deficient mutant induced chancroid lesions similar to the wildtype strain (11). However, a Campylobacter jejuni CdtB-deficient mutant was less invasive in mouse tissues (12), leading to an attenuated inflammatory effect in the animal when compared with the wild-type (13). Furthermore, evidence suggested that the A. actinomycetemcomitans CDT inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production by murine macrophages (7). Very little is known about the humoral immune response to CDT in subjects colonized by producing bacteria. Similar levels of IgG to H. ducreyi CDT complex were observed in the sera of chancroid patients and control subjects, as well as in the sera of periodontitis subjects and control subjects (14). Even though the association between A. actinomycetemcomitans and localized aggressive periodontitis is well established, sera of few localized aggressive periodontitis patients contained antibodies to the A. actinomycetemcomitans CDT (15). We aimed to evaluate the association between the IgG response to A. actinomycetemcomitans serotypes and to CDT subunits in sera of subjects with different periodontal conditions. We also tested whether subgingival colonization by A. actinomycetemcomitans in generalized aggressive periodontitis subjects and induction of an antibody response against the organism would lead to an immune response to CDT subunits and to A. actinomycetemcomitans CDT neutralization by sera. The sera neutralization of localized aggressive periodontitis subjects against CDT activity was also tested.

IgE antibodies against allergens of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica, CJ) pollen in the serum of seven Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) with pollinosis were measured by fluorometric indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All of the monkeys were found to have specific IgE to the crude pollen antigen. The specific IgE levels were well correlated with those determined by the Pharmacia CAP system. IgE antibodies were then assayed with two kinds of purified allergens (Cry j I and Cry j II) by the ELISA. We found that five monkeys had specific IgE to both allergens, although the other two had IgE only to Cry j I or Cry j II; there is different immune responsiveness to the two major allergens in the monkeys.

Three monosialogangliosides containing the NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal structure have been detected in human meconium by immunological analysis using a monoclonal antibody, MSG-15, and purified by repeated silica beads column chromatography. One was previously shown to be NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc beta 1-3Gal beta 1-4Glc beta 1-1Cer. The remaining two were characterized by proton NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, methylation analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and immunological studies, and their structures were concluded to be as follows. [formula: see text] The second ganglioside has the same structure that was isolated from bovine buttermilk (Takamizawa, K., Iwamori, M., Mutai, M., and Nagai, Y. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 5625-5630), and this is the first description of the occurrence of the ganglioside with the branched structure with two N-acetyllactosamines linked to lactosylceramide via beta 1-6 and beta 1-3 in human linked to lactosylceramide via beta 1-6 and beta 1-3 in human tissues. The third ganglioside is a novel ganglioside with blood group I-type and a NeuAc alpha 2-6Gal structure.

Fragmin from plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum binds G-actin and severs F-actin in the presence of Ca2+ over 10(-6) M. The fragmin-actin complex consisting of fragmin and G-actin nucleates actin polymerization and caps the barbed (fast growing) end of F-actin, regardless of the concentrations of Ca2+, and the actin filaments are shortened. Actin kinase purified from plasmodium abolishes the nucleation and capping activities of the complex by phosphorylating actin of the fragmin-actin complex (Furuhashi, K., and Hatano, S. (1990) J. Cell. Biol. 111, 1081-1087). This inactivation of the complex leads to production of long actin filaments. We obtained evidence that Physarum actin is phosphorylated by actin kinase at Thr-201, and probably at Thr-202 and/or Thr-203, with 1 mol of phosphate distributed among them. This finding raises the possibility that the site of phosphorylation, Thr-201 to Thr-203, is positioned on the pointed (slow growing) end domain of the actin molecule, because growth of actin filaments from the fragmin-actin complex occurs only from the pointed end. These observations are consistent with a model of the three-dimensional structure of G-actin. Inactivation of the fragmen-actin complex may follow phosphorylation of the pointed end domain of actin.

The superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase system in phagocytes consists of at least membrane-associated cytochrome b558 and three cytosolic components named SOCI/NCF-3/sigma 1/C1, SOCII/NCF-1/p47-phox, and SO-CIII/NCF-2/p67-phox. p47-phox and p67-phox were isolated, and their primary structures were determined, but SOCI has not been well characterized. In the present study, we first purified SOCI to homogeneity from the cytosol fraction of the differentiated HL-60 cells. The purified SOCI was a small GTP-binding protein (G protein) with a M(r) of about 22,000. The guanosine 5'-(3-O-thio)triphosphate-bound form, but not the GDP-bound form, of this small G protein showed the SOCI activity. The partial amino acid sequence of SOCI thus far determined was identical to the amino acid sequence deduced from the cDNA encoding rac2 p21. None of the purified small G proteins, including Ki-ras p21, smg p21B/rap1B p21, rhoA p21, and rac1 p21, showed the SOCI activity. These results indicate that SOCI is a small G protein very similar, if not identical, to rac2 p21. The GDP/GTP exchange reaction of SOCI was stimulated and inhibited by stimulatory and inhibitory GDP/GTP exchange proteins for small G proteins, named smg GDS and rho GDI, respectively. The NADPH oxidase activity was also stimulated and inhibited by smg GDS and rho GDI, respectively. These results indicate that the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase system is regulated by both smg GDS and rho GDI through rac2 p21 or the rac2-related small G protein in phagocytes.

Synergistic enhancement of anti-tumor effects through the combined use of natural human interferon-alpha (nHuIFN-alpha) and natural human tumor necrosis factor-alpha (nHuTNF-alpha) enabled us to decrease the effective dose of each cytokine and consequently to reduce side effects. One hundred and twenty patients with advanced or recurrent solid cancer were entered in the trial from April 1985 to January 1988, of whom 112 patients were evaluable. A mixture of nHuINF-alpha and nHuTNF-alpha was injected intravenously as the maintenance dose 1 x 10(6)U or more/day for over 8 weeks. There was no response in 40 patients injected with the maintenance dose of 1 x 10(6)U/day, but of 72 patients receiving more than 2 x 10(6)U/day (10 micrograms of nHuIFN-alpha and 3 micrograms of nHuTNF-alpha), 4 had complete responses, 10 had partial responses, and 4 had minor responses. The overall response rate was 12.5% (14/112) and the rate was 19.5% in 72 patients with more than 2 x 10(6)U/day. Positive responses were as follows: hepatoma 3/8), renal cell cancer (4/11), breast cancer (4/17), ovarian cancer (1/2), malignant thymoma (1/1) and liposarcoma (1/1). Serious adverse effects like hypotension, oliguria and severe hepatobiliary toxicity were never experienced. The effective and adequate dose of the mixed preparation was considered 2 to 4 x 10(6)U/day/body.

(1992). The effects of casting pressure applied during squeeze casting of aluminium alloys on the properties of welds made by electron beam welding. Welding International: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 96-103.