Regulation of bcl-2 family in hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells

Numerous types of cells have been shown to undergo apoptosis when exposed to oxidant agent such as hydrogen peroxide. In order to understand the functional relationship between the anti- and pro-apoptotic regulatory proteins in the cells under oxidant stress, we have studied the level of expression of apoptosis regulatory proteins, bcl-2 and bax, in human leukemia HL-60 cells. The exposure of HL-60 cells to different concentrations of H2O2 for 6 h resulted in a typical apoptosis of the cells as characterized by flow cytometry, cell cycle analysis, and DNA fragmantation. There was a block in G1 to S transition and apoptotic cells were mainly derived from S and G2 cells. Kinetic study demonstrated that the levels of both bcl-2-mRNA and -protein expression were decreased with the progression of cellular apoptosis whereas the level of bax-mRNA was unchanged but the expressed bax-protein was not detectable. Cycloheximide, a nonspecific translation inhibitor, did not prevent the hydrogen peroxide-mediated apoptosis in HL-60 cells. These results suggest that the regulation of bcl-2, but not of bax are important factor in the oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.     

Luminescence properties of PPV derivatives bearing substituted carbazole pendants

A series of PPV derivatives bearing substituted and unsubstituted carbazole and 2-ethylhexyloxy pendants were prepared and their photo- (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) properties were studied. Substituted carbazole structures were N-phenylcarbazole and 3,6-dimethoxycarbazole. The substituents on the carbazole pendants caused little change in UV-vis absorption, PL, and EL when compared with the polymer bearing the unsubstituted carbazole pendants. The presence of the benzene ring between the main chain and the carbazole pendant increased the threshold electric field in EL. We could obtain maximum brightness of ca. 17,000 - 30,000 cd/m² for the polymers carrying the unsubstituted and dimethoxy substituted carbazole pendants.     

The kinetics of polycondensation of α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene with 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol using benzyltriethylammonium chloride as a phase‐transfer catalyst

The phase‐transfer catalyzed polycondensation of α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene with 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol was carried out using benzylethylammonium chloride in a two‐phase system of an aqueous alkaline solution and benzene at 60 °C under nitrogen atmosphere. The rate of polycondensation was expressed as the combined terms of quaternary onium cation and 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenolate anion rather than the feed concentration of catalyst and 4,4′‐isopropylidenediphenol. The measured concentrations of hydroxide and chloride anion in the aqueous solution and α,α′‐dichloro‐p‐xylene in the organic phase were used to obtain the reaction rate constant with the integral method, and to analyze the polycondensation mechanism with a cyclic phase‐transfer initiation step in the heterogeneous liquid–liquid system. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 38: 3059–3066, 2000     

Characterization of multicomponent polymer trilayers with resonant soft X‐ray reflectivity

Resonant soft X‐ray reflectivity (RSoXR) has been used to quantify the layer thicknesses and the interfacial widths of a single, complex thin film with three polymeric layers supported on an inorganic substrate. By adjusting the photon energy, the sensitivity to particular interfaces within the trilayer can be selectively enhanced. The results significantly improve and broaden the capabilities of RSoXR, which has previously only been demonstrated and used for bilayers on silicon substrates. The capability of RSoXR to characterize polymer trilayers was not readily predictable from prior bilayer results, as the RSoXR characterization of bilayers benefits from a strong X‐ray reflection from the substrate that serves as a reference beam with which the reflections from the other interfaces interfere with. The impact of having the capability to investigate trilayers is exemplified by discussing the utility of RSoXR to characterize organic electronic light emitting multilayers. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 1291–1299, 2009     

Random effects logistic regression model for data envelopment analysis with correlated decision making units

This study attempts to exploit information from environmental variables together with data envelopment analysis (DEA) efficiency scores for efficiency predictions of groups with more limited information. Based on DEA efficiency scores, decision-making units (DMUs) are sorted into two sets containing efficient and inefficient units, respectively. Then they are reshuffled into homogeneous groups with respect to environmental factors. We assume that the efficiency of DMUs in such a homogeneous group would be correlated. However, efficiency of different groups would vary. A beta binomial logistic model is proposed to fit such phenomena and is applied to predict the performance of a new group of commercialization projects for given environmental characteristics.     

The risk management for technology credit guarantee fund

Technology credit guarantee Fund (TCGF) supports many small and medium companies with high degree of growth potential in technology. Generally, the performance of technology credit guarantee has been evaluated focusing on the probability of default (PD) on the fund recipient companies. But PD itself does not reflect the amount of loss. In this paper, we suggest the way to find the expected loss using the PD, Exposure at Default and Loss Given Default for risk management of the TCGF. Unlike general credit measure, we use the competing risk model in order to estimate the PD for various types of defaults. It is expected that our study can contribute to provide the efficient credit risk management for TCGF and the lending institution.     

Particle Sizes of Fumed Oxides: A New Approach Using PCS Signals

Fumed oxides produced in gas‐phase processes, such as silicas and aluminum oxide, consist of a cluster of aggregated primary particles. The aggregate size of these particles is an important variable in many applications. However, current procedures for measuring particle sizes all assume that the particles have a spherical shape and are thus not truly capable of determining aggregate size. The results of such particle size measurements are consequently called “equivalent spherical diameter” (ESD), but these results vary from method to method. This publication shows that it is feasible to use the number of primary particles per aggregate, rather than the ESD, as a measure for the particle size of clusters of this type. The method is based on dynamic light scattering (photon correlation spectroscopy, PCS), which has proven itself in the analysis of fumed oxides. A numerical simulation based on random, computer‐generated model aggregates is used to modify the well‐known Stokes‐Einstein equation so that the number of primary particles can be determined.     

On optimal design of half-wave resonators for acoustic damping in an enclosure

Acoustic design parameters of a half-wave resonator are studied experimentally for purely acoustic tuning of the resonator. According to the standard acoustic-test procedures, acoustic-pressure signals in the model enclosure with the resonators are measured. Based on the signals, quantitative acoustic properties of damping factor and sound absorption coefficient are evaluated and thereby, the acoustic-damping capacity of the resonator is characterized. Sound absorption coefficient has the advantages of the damping factor in various aspects. The coefficient indicates clearly the tuning frequency of the resonator, absorption effectiveness as a function of frequency, and overall damping capacity. The diameter and the number of a half-wave resonator, its distribution, and the blockage ratio at its inlet are selected as design parameters for optimal tuning of the resonator in the model enclosure. The resonators with larger diameter have the advantage of those with smaller one with respect to purely acoustic damping at the tuning frequency. The optimum number of resonators or the optimum open-area ratio decreases as boundary absorption decreases. When the open-area ratio exceeds the optimum value, over-damping appears, leading to a decrease in peak absorption coefficient and a broadening of absorption bandwidth. Blockage at the resonator inlet controls both peak absorption coefficient and its absorption bandwidth and it can be considered one of design factors for acoustic tuning.     

Some Continued Fractions in Ramanujan’s Lost Notebook

In this paper we first give the value of a periodic continued fraction which was recorded incorrectly by Ramanujan on page 341 of his lost notebook. Next, we describe several pairs of equivalent continued fractions in which one is the odd part of the other. One of the results is for the Rogers-Ramanujan continued fraction which was recently proved by Berndt and Yee. Finally, using the Bauer-Muir transformation we prove the equivalence of two continued fractions. One was recorded on page 44 in Ramanujan’s lost notebook, and the other is found in the unorganized pages at the end of Ramanujan’s second notebook.This work was supported by Yonsei University Research Fund of 2003.