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Although progress has been made in intestinal transplantation, chronic inflammation remains a challenge. We have reported that the risk of immunological graft loss is almost 100‐fold greater in recipients who carry any of the prevalent NOD2 polymorphisms associated with Crohn's disease, and have shown that the normal levels of a key antimicrobial peptide produced by the Paneth cells of the allograft, fall as the graft becomes repopulated by hematopoietic cells of the NOD2 mutant recipient. These studies are extended in this report. Within several months following engraftment into a NOD2 mutant recipient the allograft loses its capacity to prevent adherence of lumenal microbes. Despite the significantly increased expression of CX3CL1, a stress protein produced by the injured enterocyte, NOD2 mutant CX3CR1+myeloid cells within the lamina propria fail to exhibit the characteristic morphological phenotype, and fail to express key genes required expressed by NOD2 wild‐type cells, including Wnt 5a. We propose that the CX3CR1+myeloid cell within the lamina propria supports normal Paneth cell function through expression of Wnt 5a, and that this function is impaired in the setting of intestinal transplantation into a NOD2 mutant recipient. The therapeutic value of Wnt 5a administration in this setting is proposed.

The elongational flow-induced morphological change of a triblock copolymer melt of polystyrene-b-poly(ethylene butylene)-b-polystyrene (SEBS) with polystyrene (PS) weight fraction of 30% has been investigated using elongational flow opto-rheometry (EFOR) and small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). The alignment of the PS cylindrical domains in a preferred direction is achieved by roll processing at 200 °C. In the EFOR measurement, the uniaxial elongation with a Hencky strain rate, ε0, of 0.01 s^-1 is applied at 180 °C in the direction either parallel (case 1 elongation) or perpendicular (case 2 elongation) to the cylinder axis. Transient elongational viscosity, η(ε0;t), measured during the case 1 elongation exhibits an initial increase, followed by a gradual decrease to almost a steady state before rupture. One measured during the case 2 elongation shows three different regions with elongation time:  an initial increase followed by a gradual decrease and a final, rapid increase. The SAXS measurement on the elongated films demonstrates that the alignment of the cylindrical domains persists during the case 1 elongation, whereas the cylindrical domains are rotated by 90° to be aligned parallel to the elongation direction during the case 2 elongation, indicating that the final orientation of the cylinders is not determined by the initial alignment of the domain, but by the Hencky strain rate and the tensile stress level applied on the specimen.

The intercalation of organically modified montmorillonite (OMMT) in the polymer blend of poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) has been demonstrated using dichloromethane as the cosolvent at room temperature. X-ray diffraction has been used to confirm the formation of nanoscale polymers-OMMT hybrids and the localization of the polymers between the organosilicate layers. The silicate nanocomposites have higher tensile modulus and elongation at break than the polymer matrix, revealing the dispersion of the clay particles in the polymer matrix. The specific interaction between the components was quantified by the Flory−Huggins interaction parameters, B, for pairs, determined by combining the melting point depression and the binary interaction model. The estimated B values for the binary PMMA/OMMT and PEO/OMMT pairs were all negative, showing both proper intercalation of the polymer into the gallery of OMMT and the homogeneous dispersion of OMMT in the polymer matrix. The B value for the PMMA/OMMT pair was smaller than that measured for the PEO/OMMT pair, suggesting that PMMA had better affinity for OMMT than PEO.

FLASH is a protein recently shown to interact with the death effector domain of caspase-8 and is likely to be a component of the death-inducing signaling complex in receptor-mediated apoptosis. Here we show that antisense oligonucleotide-induced inhibition of FLASH expression abolished TNF-alpha-induced activation of NF-kappaB in HEK293 cells, as determined by luciferase reporter gene expression driven by a NF-kappaB responsive promoter. Conversely, overexpression of FLASH dose-dependently activated NF-kappaB, an effect suppressed by dominant negative mutants of TRAF2, NIK, and IKKalpha, and partially by those of TRAF5 and TRAF6. TRAF2 was co-immunoprecipitated with FLASH from the cell extracts of HEK293 cells or HeLa cells stably expressing exogenous FLASH (HeLa/HA-FLASH). Furthermore, serial deletion mapping demonstrated that a domain spanning the residues 856-1191 of FLASH activated NF-kappaB as efficiently as the full-length and could directly bind to TRAF2 in vitro and in the transfected cells. Taken together, these results suggest that FLASH coordinates downstream NF-kappaB activity via a TRAF2-dependent pathway in the TNF-alpha signaling.

Here-named “autoconglomerate” comprises rounded lime-mudstone clasts of various shape (spherical, prolate, discoidal, tabular, and irregular) and size (a few millimeters to 15 cm in long diameter). Autoconglomerate is mainly interbedded with ribbon carbonate (alternating limestone and dolomitic shale) and subordinately present in the upper part of fractured lime-mud-stone bed, which is gradational to lime-mudstone downwards and commonly capped by marly shale. We coin “autoconglomeration” for the formative process of autoconglomerate, which is most likely due to compaction, fluidization, and dewatering during consolidation. The rounding process (i.e., autoconglomeration) is probably enhanced by immiscibility and surface tension of lime-mud. Autoconglomeration is analogous to autobrecciation of limestone, but furthered.

During myogenesis, mononucleated myoblasts form multinucleated myotubes by membrane fusion. Efficiency of this intercellular process can be maximized by a simultaneous progress, with a time window, of other neighboring myoblasts in the differentiation program. This phenomenon has been described as the community effect. It proposes the existence of a molecule that acts as a differentiation-inducing signal to a group of identical cells. Here, we show that neuregulin is a strong candidate for this molecule in myoblast differentiation. The expression of neuregulin increased rapidly but transiently at early stage of differentiation of rat L6 cells. Neuregulin showed a potent differentiation-promoting activity in membrane fusion and expression of myosin heavy chain. The antibodies raised against neuregulin and its cognate receptor ErbB3, which were capable of neutralizing the signal pathway, inhibited myotube formation and expression of myosin heavy chain in both L6 cells and primary rat myoblasts. The progress of differentiation was mostly halted after the expression of myogenin and cell cycle arrest. These results suggest that the activation of an autocrine signaling of neuregulin may provide a basic mechanism for the community effect observed in the differentiation of the embryonic muscle cells.

Human beings have a prevailing drive to achieve their self-interest goals or equilibrium states, which may subsume their social interests. An ideal working environment or cooperative game situation would be one in which each participant or player maximizes his/her own interest while maximizing his/her contribution to the collective group interest. This paper addresses the feasibility, methods, and bounds for reframing a generaln-person game into an ideal game in which full cooperation or a targeted solution can be induced and maintained by the players' self-interest maximization. Criteria for good reframing are introduced. Monotonic games, self-interest cooperative and noncooperative games, and a decomposition theory of general games are also introduced to facilitate the study. It is shown that everyn-person game can be written as the sum of a self-interest cooperative game and a self-interest noncooperative game. Everyn-person game can be reframed so that full cooperation can be achieved by the players' self-interest maximization. Everyn-person game can be reframed so that a targeted solution can be obtained and maintained through the players' self-interest maximization.

In formulating solutions forn-person cooperative games, the concept of stability has played a dominant role. Although the core concept has the strongest stability, the core of a game is often empty. In this paper, the taxation system is incorporated into our framework, so that a modified solution concept, which enjoys the stability of core, can be developed. Various formulations based on principles such astaxation proportional to income andequity after tax are given.

Small angle X‐ray methods have been used to investigate the self‐assembling columnar structures formed by a polymethacrylate with large highly tapered side groups, and by one of its low molar mass precursors. The polymer is poly{2‐{2‐[2‐(2‐methacryloyloxyethoxy)ethoxy] ethoxy}ethyl‐3, 4, 5‐tris(p‐dodecyloxybenzyloxy)‐benzoate} (H12‐ABG‐4EO‐PMA); the precursor is 2‐{2‐[2‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)‐ethoxy]ethoxy}‐ethyl‐3, 4, 5‐tris(p‐dodecyl‐oxybenzyloxy)benzoate (H12‐ABG‐4EO‐OH). Both the polymer and the precursor form three dimensionally ordered structures at room temperature, consisting of hexagonally packed cylinders with diameters in the region of 60 and 53Å, respectively, in which the interiors of the columns probably have helical arrays of the stacked tapered groups. At higher temperatures these are converted to columnar hexagonal (ϕh) liquid crystalline phases. At temperatures close to this transition for the precursor we detect two coexisting columnar structures, with the ϕhstructure having a diameter approximately 1Å higher than that in the solid state. For the polymer, the data are not so well resolved, and coexisting phases cannot be resolved. However, the changes in column dimensions are larger than for the precursor. Conversion of the room temperature phase to the ϕhphase at 40°C results in an increase of 3Å in the diameter, which then declines by approximately the same amount as the temperature rises to 90°C, close to the isotropization point. Cooling to room temperature does not immediately restore the room temperature structure. Rather, we obtain a quenched ϕhstructure, with a column diameter almost 10% higher. These dimensional changes correlate well with the changes in diameter with temperature seen for the bulk fiber, and suggest a continuous rearrangement of the interiors of the columns in the ϕhphase, such as a partial unwinding of a disordered helical structure.

Traditional wet analytical method such as the gravimetric, Kjeldahl or Walkley-Black method are still the most widely used for determining the organic matter (OM), moisture and notal nitrogen (T–N) content of soils. However, these are time-consuming, high in cost and labour intensive as well producing harmfull pollutants making the method undesirable for field measurement. Over three years we have been working on the development of a non-destructive on-site analyser for measuring OM, moisture and T–N. In this research we investigated the possibility of using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for the non-destructive analysis of T–N, inorganic and available nitrogen in domestic soil samples.85 soil samples of upland over the Kyungpook prefecture were colledted to make a calibration and validation. Dried soil samples were packed in the closed-cup and the NIR spectra data was measured from 1100–2500 nm using a scanning type NIR instrum, InfraAlyzer 500 and filter type NIR instrument, InfraAlyzer 400, which has a modified sample compartment. Multiple linear regression analysis between the content of soil properties determined by the traditional method and the NIR spectral data were conducted to develop an non-destructive analysing equation for T–N, inorganic and available nitrogen. In the case of the scanning type, the standard error or prediction were 0.028%. 1.7 mg−1and 1.1 mg−1for T–N, inorganic and available nitrogen respectively. The prediction results in the filter type appeared to have the same accuracy as the scanning type. It is concluded that NIR spectroscopy could be used to predict soil nitrogen compounds such as total nitrogen, inorganic and available nitrogen non-destructively.

The expression of the protamines, the predominant nuclear proteins of mammalian spermatozoa, is regulated translationally during male germ-cell development. The 3' untranslated region (UTR) of protamine 1 mRNA has been reported to control its time of translation. To understand the mechanisms controlling translation of the protamine mRNAs, we have sought to identify cis elements of the 3' UTR of protamine 2 mRNA that are recognized by cytoplasmic factors. From gel retardation assays, two sequence elements are shown to form specific RNA-protein complexes. Protein binding sites of the two complexes were determined by RNase T1 mapping, by blocking the putative binding sites with antisense oligonucleotides, and by competition assays. The sequences of these elements, located between nucleotides + 537 and + 572 in protamine 2 mRNA, are highly conserved among postmeiotic translationally regulated nuclear proteins of the mammalian testis. Two closely linked protein binding sites were detected. UV-crosslinking studies revealed that a protein of about 18 kDa binds to one of the conserved sequences. These data demonstrate specific protein binding to a highly conserved 3' UTR of translationally regulated testicular mRNA.

Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant brain tumor of childhood, has a variable prognosis. Although half of the children and young adults with the disease survive longer than 10 years after diagnosis, the others relapse and die despite identical therapy. We have examined the expression of neurotrophins and their receptors in medulloblastoma samples snap frozen in the operating room to preserve RNA integrity. All tumors (n = 12) were found to express mRNA encoding neurotrophin 3 and its receptor TrkC. The level of trkC expression was highly variable, with a more than 50-fold difference between the highest and lowest values. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, patients with tumors expressing high levels of trkC mRNA had significantly longer intervals without disease progression than those with low levels (log-rank, P = 0.03) and a more favorable overall survival (log-rank, P = 0.05). Thus, trkC expression is a prognostic indicator for patients with medulloblastoma.

The synthesis of the protamines, the predominant nuclear proteins of mammalian spermatozoa, is regulated during germ cell development by mRNA storage for about 7 days in the cytoplasm of differentiating spermatids. Two highly conserved sequences, the Y and H elements present in the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of all known mammalian protamine mRNAs, form RNA-protein complexes and specifically bind a protein of 18 kDa. Here, we show that translation of fusion mRNAs was markedly repressed in reticulocyte lysates supplemented with a mouse testis extract enriched for the 18-kDa protein when the mRNAs contained the 3' UTR of mouse protamine 2 (mP2) or the Y and H elements of mP2. No significant decrease was seen when the fusion mRNAs contained the 3' UTR of human growth hormone. The 18-kDa protein is developmentally regulated in male germ cells, requires phosphorylation for RNA binding, and is found in the ribonucleoprotein particle fractions of a testicular postmitochondrial supernatant. We propose that a phosphorylated 18-kDa protein plays a primary role in repressing translation of mP2 mRNA by interaction with the highly conserved Y and H elements. At a later stage of male gamete differentiation, the 18-kDa protein no longer binds to the mRNA, likely as a result of dephosphorylation, enabling the protamine mRNA to be translated.

Traditional wet analytical method such as the gravimetric, Kjeldahl or Walkley-Black method are still the most widely used for determining the organic matter (OM), moisture and notal nitrogen (T–N) content of soils. However, these are time-consuming, high in cost and labour intensive as well producing harmfull pollutants making the method undesirable for field measurement. Over three years we have been working on the development of a non-destructive on-site analyser for measuring OM, moisture and T–N. In this research we investigated the possibility of using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy for the non-destructive analysis of T–N, inorganic and available nitrogen in domestic soil samples.85 soil samples of upland over the Kyungpook prefecture were colledted to make a calibration and validation. Dried soil samples were packed in the closed-cup and the NIR spectra data was measured from 1100–2500 nm using a scanning type NIR instrum, InfraAlyzer 500 and filter type NIR instrument, InfraAlyzer 400, which has a modified sample compartment. Multiple linear regression analysis between the content of soil properties determined by the traditional method and the NIR spectral data were conducted to develop an non-destructive analysing equation for T–N, inorganic and available nitrogen. In the case of the scanning type, the standard error or prediction were 0.028%. 1.7 mg^−1 and 1.1 mg^−1 for T–N, inorganic and available nitrogen respectively. The prediction results in the filter type appeared to have the same accuracy as the scanning type. It is concluded that NIR spectroscopy could be used to predict soil nitrogen compounds such as total nitrogen, inorganic and available nitrogen non-destructively.

A solenoidal RF coil is presented that generates an RF field only perpendicular to the long axis, so that it can be used longitudinally in the usual superconducting solenoid magnet for NMR. This new design is superior to the traditional saddle coil or Helmholtz pair. Applications for the coil will include imaging of legs, arms, etc., as well as analytical application in high-resolution NMR. A tilted single-turn-solenoid, which has the plane of each loop tilted with respect to the cylinder axis, is implemented to generate an RF field with a component perpendicular to the coil-cylinder axis. The novel addition of an eddy-current coil eliminates the undesirable longitudinal component of the RF field, leaving an RF field entirely perpendicular to the coil-cylinder axis. By inserting the eddy coil, the spatial homogeneity of the transverse RF field is greatly improved, with significant increases in theH1field strength and receiving sensitivity. Images with the eddy-coil-modified tilted solenoid are remarkably uniform in intensity over a large useful volume.

Nucleosynthesis by alpha particles and heavier 4n nuclei are of great interest as they would involve nuclear cluster resonances. The role of nuclear clustering is discussed for nucleosynthesis with the Cluster Nucleosynthesis Diagram (CND) proposed before, especially those involving alpha induced reactions, based on our recent works of (α,p) reactions with low energy RI beams. We present experimental results that alpha resonances play a crucial role for the (α,p) reaction cross sections. Molecular resonances are also briefly discussed along this line for O- and C-burning.