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The release of anthropogenic marine debris (AMD) is one of the major environmental challenges of our time. In this study, a topic model called latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) was used to infer the research topics about AMD to provide the whole picture of the research area. The results of the LDA showed that the AMD research topics are mostly applied topics and belong to interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary research areas. Furthermore, the analysis of the temporal trends of the topics showed that topics related to such as plastic pollution exhibit an upward trend, whereas those dealing with the spatiotemporal dynamics and distribution patterns of marine debris showed a downward trend. The analysis of topic distribution over countries showed that research is scarce in landlocked countries. The findings of this study can be used as a map for the area of AMD study by various stakeholders related to marine debris issues.

The technique of improving damping characteristics by complexing fine particles in a viscoelastic material is well-known; however, the relevant underlying mechanism is not yet established. It was found damping characteristics were improved by compounding the particles from dynamic viscoelasticity test result. Furthermore, the strain amplitude dependency becomes stronger in the damping material which the fiber orientation and the tensile direction coincide, and a large damping characteristic is shown. The focus of this study is on the interface state and strain distribution in the composite material with fiber-shaped particles and the investigation of factors affecting the change of damping characteristics. The X-ray computed tomography image of a test piece was obtained, both before and after the application of a tensile load, and all the aforementioned factors were investigated through image processing. The strain was calculated by tracking the feature points on the image to create a three-dimensional (3D) strain distribution. It was confirmed that a local strain occurred from this distribution and was suggested to be a possible factor promoting more energy dissipation.

In order to measure friction coefficients of tire grounding surfaces in car running, a simple cantilever-type tactile sensor that can detect the vertical load and friction force applied to the sensing part as well as direction of the friction force, simultaneously, has been proposed. The present study equips the proposed sensor to a tire and confirms that the sensor can measure the friction coefficient of the tire grounding surface. For this purpose, measurements in this study were conducted using a sensor under a similar load as that of a common automobile travelling in an arbitrary direction. In order to perform the experiments under a high load in an arbitrary direction, we developed a parallel mechanism-type tire-driving device. The developed device can apply a high load to the tire in an arbitrary direction and can measure the vertical load, friction force, and the direction of the friction force applied to the tire involving the sensor. Thus, the measurement accuracy of the proposed sensor can be verified by comparing the output of the sensor to that of the driving device. As a result of this study, we clarified that the measurement values of the sensor are affected by the deformation of the tire, and proposed a method for correcting the effect of the tire deformation. By introducing the proposed correction method to the measurement of the sensor, it was confirmed that the friction coefficients of various surfaces can be measured with sufficient accuracy under a practical high-load condition.

We newly developed a data assimilation system based on a particle filter approach with the Spatially Explicit Individual-Based Dynamic Global Vegetation Model (SEIB-DGVM). We first performed an idealized observing system simulation experiment to evaluate the impact of assimilating the leaf area index (LAI) data every 4 days, assuming the satellite-based LAI. Although we assimilated only LAI as a whole, the forest and grass LAIs were estimated separately with high accuracy. Uncertain model parameters and other state variables were also estimated accurately. Therefore, we extended the experiment to the real world using the real Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LAI data, and obtained promising results.

When a greatly varying load is connected to a weak system, stability of the system becomes a problem. In these days, because the use of renewable energy is accelerating, not only the loads but also the distributed power sources can be critical factors in destabilizing the system. The virtual synchronous generator (VSG) control allows a static inverter to behave similar to a synchronous generator (SG). Using this VSG technology, we can decrease the introduction ratio of SGs with fossil fuels, and thus, we can combine various types of power sources. At the same time, if the combination of governor and rotor inertia is represented in a first-order lag element, the VSG can suppress the frequency fluctuations in microgrids. In this paper, we present a design guideline of a VSG. The simulation results by EMTP-RV confirmed that the parallel-connected VSG can suppress the frequency fluctuation. In addition, the results were almost consistent with the experimental test results.

Here, the authors describe the construction of a forcing dataset for Land Surface Models (including both physical and biogeochemical models; LSMs) with eight meteorological variables for the 35 year period from 1979 to 2013. The dataset is intended for use in a model intercomparison (MIP) study, called GTMIP, which is a part of the Japanese-funded Arctic Climate Change research project. In order to prepare a set of site-fitted forcing data for LSMs with realistic yet continuous entries (i.e. without missing data), four observational sites across the pan-Arctic region (Fairbanks, Tiksi, Yakutsk, and Kevo) were selected to construct a blended dataset using both global reanalysis and observational data. Marked improvements were found in the diurnal cycles of surface air temperature and humidity, wind speed, and precipitation. The datasets and participation in GTMIP are open to the scientific community (https://ads.nipr.ac.jp/gtmip/gtmip.html).

Studies on the mechanisms underlying Na balance in anaesthetized rats are complicated by the fact that the most frequently used barbiturate anaesthetics attenuate or abolish this phenomenon. In the present study we show that a combination of nonbarbiturate anaesthetics: chloralose (140 mg/kg i.v.) and ketamine (30 mg/kg i.m. ), preserve the ability of rats to excrete intragastrically applied NaCl loads dose dependently. Thus rats anaesthetized with this regime excreted 86-102% of in- tragastrically applied NaCl whereas rats anaesthetized with thiobutabarbitone sodium (Inactin) excreted only 20-28%. We conclude that chloralose/ketamine anaesthesia is suitable for studies on Na balance mechanisms.

An earth system model (MIROC-ESM) is fully described in terms of each model component and their interactions. Results for the CMIP5 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5) historical simulation are presented to demonstrate the model's performance from several perspectives: atmosphere, ocean, sea-ice, land-surface, ocean and terrestrial biogeochemistry, and atmospheric chemistry and aerosols. An atmospheric chemistry coupled version of MIROC-ESM (MIROC-ESM-CHEM) reasonably reproduces transient variations in surface air temperatures for the period 1850–2005, as well as the present-day climatology for the zonal-mean zonal winds and temperatures from the surface to the mesosphere. The historical evolution and global distribution of column ozone and the amount of tropospheric aerosols are reasonably simulated in the model based on the Representative Concentration Pathways' (RCP) historical emissions of these precursors. The simulated distributions of the terrestrial and marine biogeochemistry parameters agree with recent observations, which is encouraging to use the model for future global change projections.

DC microgrid is suitable for dc output type distributed generations and energy storages. In this paper, dc microgrid for residential houses is described. Electrical power through dc distribution line (± 170 V) can be converted into some proper ac or dc voltages by converters placed near loads. Each house has a cogeneration system such as gas engine or fuel cell. The outputs of those distributed generations are connected to dc distribution line, and the power from generations can be shared among residences. We constructed a small scale experimental system in our laboratory, and examined the fundamental characteristics of dc microgrid. The experimental results demonstrated that high quality power was supplied even when voltage sag occurred in the utility grid.

Several converter/inverter circuit topologies using silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) and gate turn off (GTO) devices have been developed for operating a superconductive magnetic energy storage (SMES) coil with an electric utility. Control of real and reactive power and shorting switch and current bypass techniques have been investigated. Experimental tests of independent real and reactive power control have been successfully performed using an 8-h superconducting coil and 10-kVA power conditioning circuits. In typical studies, the real power was cycled from zero to a peak charging power of 7 kW and then the discharging power was held constant at 3 kW, while the reactive power was independently held constant at various values between 0 and +or-5 kvar. A technique for zero current opening of a mechanical bypass switch using converter control to cancel the coil current in the closed bypass switch was also successfully demonstrated using the 8-h coil.

The on-resistance of a power MOSFET has a minimum value at around 80 K. This characteristic was utilized in order to operate a power converter circuit using power MOSFETs in a cryostat with a superconducting coil. As a result, it was confirmed that power losses of the chopper circuit and the size of the current leads can be greatly reduced. The power loss of the circuit was half of that at room temperature, and the loss can be reduced further by using diodes with lower on-voltages at low temperatures. The size of the current leads was reduced by using the chopper circuit as a DC transformer.

Power supply for the large scale accelerator magnets draws a large amount of power from the utility network. For example, the pulse power amplitude and the dissipation power of J-PARC 50 GeV synchrotron magnet power are estimated to be about 170 MW and 30 MW, respectively. Superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) is one of candidates to compensate these large pulse load and line voltage fluctuation. Study on circuit configuration of the power supply with SMES has been continued. Present status of the R&D for the SMES system and the laboratory scale experiment results will be discussed.

When listening to music in a vehicle, its sound quality is disrupted by noise of the vehicle. In order to find the best method to compensate for the deterioration in sound quality, psychoacoustical experiments were conducted to evaluate the following four methods for designing the frequency characteristics of a car audio equalizer: simple amplification, non-linear amplification, narrow-band loudness compensation, and masked frequency spectrum compensation. As a result, narrow-band loudness compensation method was regarded as the best method.

In J-PARC 50 GeV synchrotron, peak active power and the dissipation power of main magnets are estimated to be about 135 MW and 37 MW, respectively. Super Conducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES) is one of candidates to compensate these large load and line voltage fluctuation. Study on circuit configuration of the power supply with SMES will be discussed. Plan of experiment is also described.

A novel low loss technology of thin film layered electrode and its application to dielectric filter in 2 GHz band is described. We confirmed that the surface resistance of thin film layered electrode is reduced in proportion to the approximately square root of the number of conductor layers, compared to a bulk metal.

The superconductive magnetic energy store (SMES) approach to utility-load leveling has the potential for very high energy conversion efficiency and fast response to changes in load demands. It can be used to improve utility system operation economics and system stabilities. The power-conditioning circuit interfacing an SMES and a utility network consists of thyristor or gate-turn-off (GTO) device bridges of the combinations of thyristor bridges and GTO bridges. The special requirements for power-conditioning circuits are discussed, and an experimental model system for testing the performance of the proposed circuits is described. The experimental studies concern power transfer of the model system, current balance control, independent real (P) and reactive (Q) power control, online numeric P-Q measurement, and protection of the SMES system. The proposed GTO circuit topology appears to satisfactorily provide independent real and reactive power control and maintain the high efficiency and fast response properties of the SMES system. >

The authors discuss the circuit configurations and design of two AC-to-DC power converters for superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) using gate-turn-off (GTO) thyristors. The circuits are current-source rectifiers, so that suppressing the overvoltage on the GTOs during commutation is an important consideration. Moreover, to get high conversion efficiency it is necessary to handle the commutation energy properly. Two circuits are presented for this purpose, and the detailed computer simulation of these circuits is discussed. The resulting design policies and characteristics for both circuits are described, and the best choice of converter circuit for SMES is determined. >

Two-dimensional device model based simulation of power MOSFETs and of power electronics circuits are presented. In order to develop MOSFETs with lower on-resistance at the low temperature region around 80 K device characteristics of a MOSFET for various temperature were examined. Simulated drain characteristics showed good agreement with experimental results. Circuit simulation using two-dimensional device models needs more computation time and memories than the simulation using equivalent circuit models for switching devices such as SPICE type device models. >

A new simulation model for GTO thyristors is proposed by using a commercial circuit simulator, PSPICE. The model can be used in the design simulation of inverter circuits. The proposed model is easy to use for GTO consumers, because the model parameters are simply obtained from the manufacturer's data-sheet and some simple measurements. The model can he used in accurate simulation of the GTO switching transient, and can be used in analyzing the interference between upper and lower GTOs. The model is a useful and effective tool in the actual design of the high power GTO inverter.

Unbundled power quality service is paid much attention under the circumstances of deregulation and diversification of needs of customers for quality and price of electric power. Characteristics of one possible and simple circuit, which enables us to deliver different power quality level to single-phase loads, are presented. The system can supply three levels of power quality to single-phase loads by use of three-phase four-wire AC system, one inverter and a battery. Finally, for a practical usage of the proposed system, location of the system at some places such as factories and individual houses is presented.

This paper presents a new control strategy for parallel active filters. The instantaneous positive sequence extraction of load current and utility voltage is combined with the p-q theory. This method is able to control a four leg active filter for compensation of reactive power, current harmonics, three-phase imbalance and neutral current cancellation simultaneously in 3-phase 4-wire distribution systems. The presented method can operate in harmonic polluted and/or imbalance utility voltage case. The simulation results prove the considerable ability of control strategy to suppress the above-mentioned subjects with a very fast dynamic response. This method is also usable in 3-wire systems.

The transfer switch is one of the most useful devices for power quality improvement. The authors have been studying about the control scheme of a solid state transfer switch for faster and stabler operation, and a hybrid configuration with mechanical and semiconductor switch for lower conduction losses. On the other hand, distributed generators such as wind turbines, photovoltaic generators, micro turbines and fuel cells are coming into the load side. As a new power delivery system with such distributed generations, the Flexible, Reliable and Intelligent Electrical eNergy Delivery System (FRIENDS) is proposed. These situations make the fault current level of distribution networks higher and some fault current limiting devices are required in distribution systems. The authors propose to combine the fault current limiter with the hybrid transfer switch. Configuration of the system, detection method of faults, and experimental results to show the principle are presented.

In this paper, many issues on a new type of power delivery system named FRIENDS (flexible, reliable and intelligent electrical energy delivery system) are discussed. FRIENDS is one of most promising future power delivery systems under deregulated circumstances. The purpose of FRIENDS is to develop a desirable structure for future power delivery systems where distributed generators and distributed energy storage systems are allocated near the demand side, and to develop reliable and energy conservation oriented operating strategies of the power systems. The future power delivery system will be more and more consumer friendly and will be a more and more essential part of the total energy delivery system.

Unbundled power quality service is paid much attention to under the circumstances of deregulation and diversification of needs of customers for quality and price of electric power. One of the features of flexible, reliable and intelligent electrical energy delivery system (FRIENDS) is the unbundled power quality service. It is required to define the power quality in order to design the hardware of quality control center (QCC) in the FRIENDS concept, which is placed in the distribution system to supply several levels of power quality to customers, because there are many aspects for power quality. This paper shows one method to define the quality of power for unbundled power quality service, assuming to supply three levels of power quality such as premium power, high quality and normal quality power. The simplest circuit of QCC for single-phase loads is also presented in this paper.

Transfer switches will play an important role in the flexible, reliable and intelligent electrical energy delivery system (FRIENDS), which is a promising distribution system in the future. Transfer switches will be used for flexible operation of the distribution system and reduction of distribution losses in the FRIENDS system. Although transfer switches using thyristors are already used for power quality improvement, following studies are still needed: (1) transfer characteristics of the switch for various phase difference between two feeders and various power factor have not been studied; and (2) reduction of losses is needed. This paper shows a proper gate control scheme for transfer without causing circulating current. From a loss point of view, a hybrid configuration with mechanical switches and semiconductor switches is studied. Experimental results from the hybrid configuration are also shown in this paper.

Although a chimeric gene combining the 11beta-hydroxylase gene (CYP11B1) and the aldosterone synthase gene (CYP11B2) explains the pathophysiology of familial hyperaldosteronism (FH) type I, the contribution of this abnormality to FH type II has not been tested. We screened genomic DNA from a Japanese family with FH type II for the CYP11B1/CYP11B2 gene. The index patient was a 27-year-old woman with hypertension. Hypokalaemia, elevated plasma aldosterone and suppressed plasma renin activity suggested primary aldosteronism. Though computed tomography failed to reveal an adrenal tumour, left adrenalectomy was indicated due to a high aldosterone concentration in left adrenal venous blood. The resected adrenal gland contained an adenoma. As her mother had also been diagnosed with primary aldosteronism due to an adenoma, we administered oral dexamethasone to our patient before the operation and observed the response of the blood pressure and plasma aldosterone concentration for 2 weeks. Both parameters remained elevated during the treatment period, confirming the diagnosis of FH type II. Total DNA was isolated from blood cells of the index patient, her mother, and an unaffected brother. Samples were amplified by polymerase chain reaction using specific primers from CYP11B1 and CYP11B2. Unique DNA fragments of 1.4 kb were obtained from the index patient and her mother, but not from the healthy subject. The CYP11B1/CYP11B2 chimeric gene was found in a Japanese family with FH type II.

The nonhistone chromosomal protein, high mobility group 1 (HMG1), which is ubiquitously expressed in higher eukaryotic cells, preferentially binds to cisplatin-modified DNA. The observation that HMG1 is overexpressed in cisplatin-resistant human cancer cells suggests that cisplatin resistance may be closely associated with HMG1. To decipher the mechanism of HMG1 overexpression in cisplatin-resistant cells, we isolated two overlapping genomic DNA clones containing the entire human HMG1 gene. These clones, which span approximately 15 kb of contiguous DNA, include 5 kb of the 5' flanking region as well as the entire coding sequence. We sequenced 1500 bp upstream of the first exon. The segment proximal to the transcription initiation site did not contain a TATA box but did possess an activating transcription factor site, an activator protein-2 site, one CCAAT box, and two CCAAT-binding transcription factor/nuclear factor-1 (CTF/NF-1) sites. HMG1 promoter activity was 3-10-fold higher in cisplatin-resistant KB-CP20 cells than in parental KB cells. An in vivo footprint experiment showed several differences of dimethyl sulfate modifications between KB and KB-CP20 cells in the area around the CTF/NF-1 sites. In addition, electrophoretic gel mobility shift assays showed that binding of a nuclear factor from cisplatin-resistant cells to the CTF/NF-1 site was significantly higher than the binding of the same factor from parental cells. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot analysis also showed that expression of CTF/NF-1 was 3-20-fold higher in the resistant cell line than in its parental counterpart. These findings suggest that, in cisplatin-resistant cells, the expression of HMG1 gene product is enhanced at the transcriptional level and that this probably occurs through the enhanced expression of the CCAAT binding factor, CTF/NF-1.

The UDP-N-acetyl-alpha-D-galactosamine: polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyl transferase-3 (Gal NAc-T3) gene, a member of the Gal NAc transferase gene family, is expressed in a tissue-specific manner. To elucidate the function of this gene, we have focused on the molecular mechanism underlying regulation of gene expression. We have cloned Gal NAc-T3 cDNA and used it to show that Gal NAc-T3 mRNA is expressed in tumor cell lines derived from secretory epithelial tissue adenocarcinomas but not in cell lines derived from bladder and epidermoid carcinomas. Using a polyclonal antibody to Gal NAc-T3, we observed protein expression in adenocarcinoma but not non-adenocarcinoma cell lines, and in breast carcinoma cells but not in normal breast tissue. We used Gal NAc-T3 cDNA to isolate three overlapping genomic clones containing the 5'-portion of the human Gal NAc-T3 gene, and we sequenced 1.6 kb around the first exon. A transient expression assay using the luciferase gene showed that promoter activity was much higher in MCF-7 cells than in KB cells. In vivo footprint experiments showed significant protection of a distal GC box, an NRF-1 site, and an AP-2 site in MCF-7 cells. A novel stem and loop structure extending from nucleotide -103 to nucleotide -165 and contiguous to these transcription factor binding sites seemed to be functional in regulating Gal NAc-T3 gene transcription, and a KMnO4 footprint experiment showed that this stem and loop structure could be formed in vivo. We also observed dimethyl sulfate hypersensitive sites in the untranslated region around nucleotide +50 in MCF-7 but not in KB cells. These findings indicate that Gal NAc-T3 gene expression is regulated by multiple systems, including transcription factor binding sites and a stem-and-loop structure, and that this regulation is restricted to cell lines derived from epithelial gland adenocarcinomas but not cells derived from nonsecretory epithelial tissue carcinomas. In addition, our immunohistochemical results suggest that our anti-Gal NAc-T3 antibody may be useful for diagnostic purposes in the early stages of breast cancer.

We have previously shown that the DNA topoisomerase II alpha (topo II alpha) gene is down-regulated in VP16/VM26-resistant cells at the transcriptional level. To determine the DNA elements responsible for down-regulation, the transcriptional activities of luciferase reporter constructs containing various lengths of the promoter sequences were investigated by transient transfection of two resistant cell lines, KB/VP2 and KB/VM4. The transcriptional activities of the full-length promoter (-295 to +85) and of three deletion constructs (-197, -154 and -74 to +85) were significantly down-regulated in resistant cells. In contrast, the transcriptional activity of the minimal promoter (-20 to +85) in resistant cells was similar to that in parental KB cells. Furthermore, introduction of a mutation in ICE1 abolished the down-regulation of the topo II alpha promoter activity in drug-resistant cells. In vivo footprinting analysis of topo II alpha gene promoter revealed several specific protein-binding sites, a GC box, ICE1, ICE2 and ICE3. In vivo footprinting analysis also identified a cluster of hypersensitive sites. However, there was no marked difference in protein-binding sites between parental and resistant cells. To confirm our previous results, we have established the VP16-resistant cell lines T12-VP1 and T12-VP2 from T12 cells derived from human bladder cancer T24 cells stably transfected with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene driven by the topo II alpha gene promoter. The expression to topo II alpha was down-regulated in both cell lines. We also found that CAT gene expression was significantly decreased to one-fifth of that in T12 parental cells. These results suggest that the expression of the topo II alpha gene requires the binding of multiple factors to the core promoter and is down-regulated at the transcriptional level, probably through binding of a negative factor to ICE1 in drug-resistant cells.

The Y-box binding protein (YB-1) binds to inverted CCAAT box sequences that are present in the promoter region of many genes. We previously showed that YB-1 is overexpressed in human cancer cell lines that are resistant to cisplatin and that the depletion of YB-1 by transfection of a vector expressing YB-1 antisense RNA increases the sensitivity of human cancer cells to cisplatin. To determine whether YB-1 can bind to cisplatin-modified DNA, we fused YB-1 cDNA to glutathione S-transferase (GST) cDNA and purified the resulting GST fusion protein. When we tested the fusion protein with unmodified or cisplatin-modified oligonucleotides, we found that GST-YB-1 bound more strongly to cisplatin-modified oligonucleotides, as did GST fusion proteins of high mobility group 1 (HMG1), HMG2, and xeroderma pigmentosum group A protein. When we assayed the ability of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) to interact with the GST fusion proteins, we observed binding to YB-1 but not to HMG1, HMG2, or xeroderma pigmentosum group A. Subsequent experiments demonstrated that YB-1 and PCNA interact directly via the COOH-terminal region of YB-1. Using immunochemical coprecipitation methods, we observed binding of YB-1 and PCNA in vivo. These results suggest that YB-1 can function as a recognition protein for cisplatin-damaged DNA and that it may be important in DNA repair or in directing the cellular response to DNA damage.

We investigated the hemodynamic, renal, and hormonal effects of cyclosporin A (CyA) treatment (6 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks in 12 patients with nephrotic syndrome (8 women: 4 men, aged 36-66 years, 3 cases of focal glomerular sclerosis: 9 cases of membranous nephropathy). To evaluate the effects of CyA on the diurnal variation of blood pressure (BP), 24-h non-invasive BP monitoring was performed using model ABPM-630 (Nihon Colin, Tokyo, Japan) before and during CyA treatment. As indices of hemodynamics, intra-arterial pressure was monitored and cardiac output was measured by the dye-dilution technique using a cuvette at 0 and 4 weeks after treatment. CyA ameliorated urinary protein excretion and hypoproteinemia from 3.5 +/- 0.9 to 2.2 +/- 0.7 g/day, and serum protein concentration from 4.9 +/- 0.2 to 5.5 +/- 0.2 g/dl after 4 weeks' treatment. Endogenous creatinine clearance, 24-h urinary sodium excretion, and plasma renin activity decreased significantly at 1 week. CyA treatment raised casual BP from 122 +/- 4/75 +/- 2 to 140 +/- 5/87 +/- 3 mmHg after 1 week and to 146 +/- 4/90 +/- 2 mmHg after 4 weeks. Before treatment 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring showed BP reduction at night (116 +/- 5/68 +/- 3 mmHg) compared to the daytime (124 +/- 5/75 +/- 2 mmHg). The diurnal variation of BP disappeared during CyA treatment; mean daytime and nighttime pressures were 135 +/- 4/81 +/- 2, 132 +/- 5/80 +/- 3 mmHg at 1 week and 139 +/- 5/83 +/- 3, 131 +/- 6/80 +/- 3 mmHg at 4 weeks, respectively. On hemodynamic study; a 4-week treatment with CyA increased mean arterial pressure from 91 +/- 3 to 104 +/- 3 mmHg, total peripheral resistance index from 2.1 +/- 0.1 to 2.5 +/- 0.1 x 10(3) dyne.sec.cm-5.m2, and unchanged heart rate and cardiac index. Serum Mg concentration decreased from 2.1 +/- 0.1 to 1.7 +/- 0.1 mg/dl. These results suggest that CyA-induced hypertension is characterized by the loss of nocturnal decline in blood pressure, which is accompanied by volume retention after 1 week and systemic vasoconstriction after 4 weeks.

Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders including mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Fc receptor-like (FCRL) proteins comprise a newly identified family of immunoregulatory proteins with sequence similarity as Fc receptors. The transmembrane FCRL1-5 molecules are preferentially expressed on B lineage cells. Objectives To analyze the expression of FCRL1-5 proteins on B cells and test the cytotoxicity of specific immunotoxins on clonal B cells. Methods We analyzed by flow cytometry the expression of FCRL1-5 on B cells from 15 HCV-infected patients with type II MC, 20 HCV patients without MC and 20 healthy donors. Results We found a markedly increased expression of FCRL5 and decreased expression of FCRL1 on clonal CD21 -/lo marginal zone-like B cells compared to other B cell subsets from the HCV patients and healthy donors. To evaluate FCRL5 as an immunotherapy target for HCV-related lymphoproliferation, we produced two anti-FCRL5 recombinant immunotoxins (F56-IT and F25-IT) based on anti-FCRL5 monoclonal antibodies and Pseudomonas exotoxin. The immunotoxins showed specific cytotoxicity against FCRL5-expressing clonal CD21 -/lo marginal zone-like B cells isolated from HCV patients as well as FCRL5-transfected cell lines. In contrast, no cytotoxicity was observed against T cells or conventional B cells. Conclusions Taken together, our findings suggest that FCRL5-targeting therapies could be a specific treatment of HCV-related lymphoproliferation and other FCRL5-positive malignancies and/or autoimmune B-cell disorders. Disclosure of Interest None Declared

To elucidate the roles of endogenous endothelin (ET) and nitric oxide (NO) in tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF), the effects of FR139317, a specific ET-A receptor antagonist, and NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), a NO synthase inhibitor on TGF were studied in Sprague-Dawley rats. FR139317 (1.5 mg/kg/hr i.v.) reversed the systemic pressor and renal vasoconstrictor responses induced by ET-1 (2 nmol/kg/hr i.v.), but did not alter the early proximal flow rate (EPFR) reduction in response to a loop perfusion with an artificial tubular fluid at 40 nl/min (47 +/- 3 vs. 47 +/- 3% in controls). L-NNA (0.2 mg/kg + 2 micrograms/kg/min i.v.) had no effect on systemic blood pressure (BP), renal hemodynamics or EPFR measured at zero perfusion (31 +/- 2 vs. 31 +/- 2 nl/min in controls), but enhanced the EPFR reduction during loop perfusion to 77 +/- 3%. Loop perfusion with 10(-3) M L-NNA in perfusate also increased the EPFR reduction to 70 +/- 7%. In conclusion, inhibition of NO synthesis enhances the TGF-mediated reduction of nephron GFR. This indicates an active participation of endogenous NO in the control of afferent arteriolar tone. endogenous ET does not influence TGF via the ET-A receptor.

It has been reported that glucose intolerance is occasionally found in primary aldosteronism. In this study, we measured insulin sensitivity by the euglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamp technique and ability to release insulin by 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in primary aldosteronism. Seven patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) (53.7 +/- 3.4 years; mean +/- SEM) and eight normotensive subjects (NS) (57.5 +/- 2.6 years) were employed in this study. The two-hour euglycemic hyperinsulinaemic glucose clamp technique was performed in seven PA before adrenalectomy, six PA after adrenalectomy and eight NS. The 75 g OGTT was also done in five PA before and after adrenalectomy and eight NS. The mean rate of glucose infusion to maintain euglycemia for the last 30 minutes of the clamp technique was used as an indicator of insulin sensitivity (M-value). The total blood glucose levels during 75 g OGTT (area under the curves) (sigma blood glucose) were significantly higher in PA than those in NS, and the total insulin levels during 75 g OGTT (area under the curves) (sigma IRI) were significantly lower in PA than those in NS. After adrenalectomy in PA, blood glucose levels were significantly decreased and IRI were significantly increased compared with the normal range. There was a significant positive correlation (P0.05, r = 0.71) between serum potassium levels and IRI in PA which were determined before and after adrenalectomy. In PA, M-values (240.7 +/- 14.6 mg/m2/min) were significantly higher than those in NS (199.0 +/- 12.3 mg/m2/min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

When water‐in‐oil emulsions are placed in electric fields, the droplets line up into a lengthwise extended chain in the direction of the field, and then coalescence between the droplets proceeds. The process of the chain formation is studied theoretically and experimentally. Behavior for electrical coalescence of the droplets is discussed by using a model proposed by Harada.

Analysis of our data in conjunction with other recent literature allows the following conclusions regarding the role of endothelin in the tubuloglomerular feedback control mechanism and in the pathogenesis of acute ischemic renal failure: (1) Endothelin reduces nephron filtration rate in the nephrons with interrupted signal perception at the macula densa, in accord with preglomerular arteriolar constriction. Yet, the increase in filtration fraction in the whole kidney clearance study suggests a preferential postglomerular arteriolar constriction. Taken together, endothelin, which is a very potent renal vasoconstrictor, seems to constrict both preglomerular and postglomerular arterioles with a predominant constriction of the latter at the doses employed. (2) The endothelin-induced natriuresis is due to a fall in tubular reabsorption, reflecting a direct tubular action, possibly related to an elevation in blood pressure. (3) At the doses of endothelin used and under the present experimental conditions, changes in the magnitude of tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) response or the feedback characteristic could not be detected. (4) No evidence was found for a participation of endothelin in the pathogenesis of acute postischemic renal failure, as evidenced by the absence of an improvement in glomerular filtration after treatment with endothelin antiserum.

For SMES (Superconducting Magnet Energy Storage) composed of Superconducting Magnet (SM) and thyristor converters, the harmonic currents which are generated by SMES converter should be compensated. We have developed active filter, the output of which is adaptively controlled such that the deviation of the waveform of ac line current from the sinusoidal one can be cancelled out. SMES system composed of two sets of GTO (Gate Turn-Off) thyristor converter, 0.5 MJ pulsed SM which are controlled by a direct digital controller, and the active filter, has been developed. The SMES system has been connected to a model power transmission system together with a 10 kVA generator. The controlled characteristics of SMES in the model power transmission system and compensated characteristics of active filter have been experimentally studied. The experimental results show that harmonic currents of SMES can be successfully compensated by active filter, and simultaneous active and reactive power control of SMES can be carried out without the influence of harmonic distortion.