An improved method for quantitative sugar analysis of glycoproteins

Although there are numerous methods available to hydrolyze glycans utilizing strong acids, it all requires lengthy steps to obtain quantitative yield. We have developed a new simple one-step method for analysis of amino and neutral monosaccharides of glycoproteins quantitatively. Free monosaccharides were found to be stable during hydrolysis of glycans with 6 N HCI at 80 degrees C up to 2 h. Using this condition, analysis of free monosaccharides hydrolyzed from the bovine fetuin showed sugar composition of Gal: Man: GlcN: GaIN = 13.2: 11.0: 15.5: 2.6, which is closely matched with the reported value of 12.4: 9.6: 17.2: 2.7 (Townsend et al., ABRF News 8: 14, 1997). This method was shown to be applicable to varieties of well-characterized glycoproteins, erythropoietin, fibrinogen and soybean agglutinin. The amounts of sugars released under the condition were very close to the experimental values by other procedures or to the theoretical ones. This condition was found to be suitable for direct sugar analysis of fetuin, which have been immobilized onto polyvinylidene difluoride membrane. Based on these results, it support that the 6 N HCl/80 degrees C/2 h is the simplest method for quantitative analysis of monosaccharide composition of glycoproteins.     

On some contact problems for composite half-spaces PMM vol. 31, no. 6, 1967, pp. 1001–1008

Solutions are presented herein of some contact problems connected with the torsion of a composite half-space. In the general case the problem of the torsion of a composite elastic half-space is examined by means of the rotation of a stiff finite cylinder welded into a vertical recess of this half-space. Moreover, the following particular problems on the torsion of such a half-space are considered.

1. 1) A composite half-space with a vertical elastic infinite core, twisted by means of the rotation of a stiff stamp affixed to the upper endplate of the elastic core.

2. 2) A half-space with a vertical cylindrical infinite hole, twisted by means of the rotation of a stiff finite cylinder welded into the upper part of this hole.

In the general case the solution of the problem reduces to the solution of an integral equation of the second kind on a half-line. The question of the solvability of this fundamental integral equation is investigated, and it is shown that its solution may be constructed by successive approximations.

Let us note that the problem of the torsion of a homogeneous half space and of an elastic layer by means of rotation of a stiff stamp has been considered by Rostovtsev [1], Reissner and Sagoci [2], Ufliand [3], Florence [4], Grilitskii [5] and others.

The problem of the torsion of a circular cylindrical rod and the half-space welded to it which are subject to a torque applied to the free endface of the rod has been considered by Grilitskii and Kizyma[6].

The torsion of an elastic half-space with a vertical cylindrical inclusion of some other material by the rotation of a stiff stamp on the surface of this half-space has been considered in [7], wherein it has been assumed that the stamp is symmetrically disposed relative to the axis of the inclusion and lies simultaneously on both materials.     

Biomedical significance of endothelial cell specific growth factor, angiopoietin

Until recently, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was the only growth factor proven to be specific and critical for blood vessel formation. Other long-known factors, such as the fibroblast growth factors (FGFs), platelet-derived growth factor, or transforming growth factor-beta, had profound effects in endothelial cells. But such factors were nonspecific, in that they could act on many other cells, and it seemed unlikely that these growth factors would be effective targets for treatment of endothelial cell diseases. A recently discovered endothelial cell specific growth factor, angiopoietin, has greatly contributed to our understanding of the development, physiology, and pathology of endothelial cells (Davis et al., 1996; Yancopoulos et al., 2000). The recent studies that identified and characterized the physiological and pathological roles of angiopoietin have allowed us to widen and deepen our knowledge about blood vessel formation and vascular endothelial function. Therefore, in this review, we describe the biomedical significance of these endothelial cell growth factors, the angiopoietins, in the vascular system under normal and pathological states.     

Crystal Structures of Hydrochlorides of 2,3-Pentamethylene-3, 4-dihydroquinazolin-4-one

The crystal structures of hydrate (1) and anhydrate (2) forms of 2,3-pentamethylene-3,4-dihydroquinazolin-4-one hydrochloride have been determined by X-ray structure analysis. Crystal data of 1 are 2(C₁₃H₁₄N₂O)*3(HCl)*4.5 (H₂O), triclinic P?1, Z=2, a=8.004(5), b=13.129(7), c=15.725(7) Å, α=106.45(4), β=92.61(4), γ=97.98(5), R=0.0652 and 2 are C₁₃H₁₄N₂O*HCl, monoclinic C2/c, Z=8, a=21.360(4), b=5.954(1), c=21.263(4), β=117.89(3), R=0.0556. The crystal of the hydrate form 1is unstable. This form collapses easily with evaporation of H₂O and part of HCl molecules from crystals. By recrystallizing destroyed form has been obtained stable crystal form 2.     

Effect of the External Mirror Feedback Strength in the Dynamics and Spectrum of the Injected Semiconductor Lasers

We analytically investigate the effect of an external mirror on the stability of an injected semiconductor laser, the latter treated as injected damped oscillators. In the studied configuration, the injected semiconductor laser with an external mirror is under the influence of a chaotic oscillating optical signal that is generated by a similar semiconductor master laser. We derive our results in terms of the damping rate and resonance frequency. We show that the external mirror can eliminate the unstable modes of the injected laser at low frequencies. Furthermore, the mirror can enhance the damping of the oscillation modes of the injected semiconductor laser; consequently, the driven response of the injected laser may have a broad spectrum, even wider than that of the chaotic driving signal. We also show results for the bandwidths of the injection amplitude and phase increment as functions of the injection rate and feedback strength of the external mirror. In addition, we use bifurcation and time-series curves to describe the dynamical behavior of the injected laser. We identify the feedback strength of injected laser, relative to that of the master laser, which induces synchronization between the injected-laser oscillation modes and the master laser.     

Improved optical and electrical properties of sol–gel-derived boron-doped zinc oxide thin films

Sol–gel spin-coating was used to grow zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films doped with 0–2.5 at.% B on quartz substrates. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of the thin films were investigated using field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy, and van der Pauw Hall-effect measurements. All the thin films had deposited well onto the quartz substrates and exhibited granular morphology. The average crystallite size, lattice constants, residual stress, and lengths of the bonds in the crystal lattice of the thin films were calculated from the XRD data. The PL spectra showed near-band-edge (NBE) and deep-level emissions, and B doping varied the PL properties and increased the efficiency of the NBE emission. The optical transmittance spectra for the undoped ZnO and boron-doped zinc oxide (BZO) thin films show that the optical transmittance of the BZO thin films was significantly higher than that of the undoped ZnO thin films in the visible region of the spectra and that the absorption edge of the BZO thin films was blue-shifted. In addition, doping the ZnO thin films with B significantly varied the absorption coefficient, optical band gap, Urbach energy, refractive index, extinction coefficient, single-oscillator energy, dispersion energy, average oscillator strength, average oscillator wavelength, dielectric constant, and optical conductivity of the BZO thin films. The Hall-effect data suggested that B doping also improved the electrical properties such as the carrier concentration, mobility, and resistivity of the thin films.     

Hispidulin Ameliorates Endotoxin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Mice

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin that plays a crucial role in septic acute kidney injury (AKI). Hispidulin is a natural flavonoid that possesses various biological activities. Recent studies have shown that hispidulin administration alleviates various inflammatory diseases in animal models. This study aimed to investigate the renoprotective effect of hispidulin on LPS-induced AKI. Male C57BL/6 mice were administered LPS (10 mg/kg) with or without hispidulin (50 mg/kg). Hispidulin administration attenuated renal dysfunction, histological alterations, and the upregulation of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin. This flavonoid also reduced cytokine production and Toll-like receptor 4 expression, inhibited nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades, and alleviated immune cell infiltration. The oxidation of lipids and DNA was also inhibited by hispidulin administration. This antioxidant effect of hispidulin was associated with the downregulation of NADPH oxidase 4, the activation of catalase and superoxide dismutase activities, and the restoration of glutathione levels. Moreover, hispidulin administration attenuated tubular cell apoptosis by inhibiting caspase-3 pathway. These data suggest that hispidulin ameliorates endotoxin-induced kidney injury by suppressing inflammation, oxidative stress, and tubular cell death.     

Loss-coupled distributed-feedback lasers with amplified optical feedback for optical microwave generation

Multisection semiconductor lasers for optical microwave generation have been fabricated that consist of a loss-coupled distributed feedback (LC-DFB), a phase control, and an amplifier section. High-frequency self-pulsations are generated according to the concept of a single-mode laser with short optical feedback. The effect of the optical feedback via the phase control and the amplifier section on the self-pulsation is apparently shown as a result of the superior single-mode characteristic of the LC-DFB section. Continuous frequency tuning is achieved in the range of 17-35 GHz.     

The Inclusion Properties of a New Watersoluble Sulfonated Calix[4]resorcinarene towards Alkylammonium and N-Methylpyridinium Cations

The inclusion behaviour of a new water-soluble sulfonated calix[4]resorcinarene towards alkylammonium and N-methylpyridinium cations has been investigated on the basis of ¹H NMR spectroscopy and pH-potentiometry data. The inclusion of the N-methylpyridinium cation has been found to be dependent on pH with the preferable inclusion of the methyl substituent in alkaline and the aromatic ring in neutral aqueous media.     

Magneto-transport properties of La0.7Ca0.3MnO3/SrTiO3/La0.7Ce0.3MnO3 tunnel junction

Hole-doped rare-earth manganite La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ and the electron-doped manganite La_0.7Ce_0.3MnO₃ both show a metal-insulator transition around 250 K associated with a ferromagnetic transition and colossal magnetoresistance. In an earlier publication we have reported the rectifying characteristic of La_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃/SrTiO₃/La_0.7Ce_0.3MnO₃ tunnel junction at room temperature, showing that it is possible to fabricate a diode out of the polaronic insulator regime of doped manganites. Here we report the magneto-transport properties of such a tunnel junction above and below the metal-insulator transition. We show, from the large positive magnetoresistance of the tunnel junction at low temperature, that La_0.7Ce_0.3MnO₃ could be a minority spin carrier ferromagnet. The implication of this observation is discussed.