EU, NAFTA, and Asian Responses: A Perspective from the Calculus of Participation

This paper assesses the economic conditions for Asian countries to cope with the formation of EU and NAFTA. Is it desirable for them to form their own trading area? And, if desirable, is it better to have a closed one like the EAEC or a more open one like the APEC? Relying on public economics and the calculus of participation combined with the Dixit-Stiglitz-Krugman framework, we find the following: (i) the development of the EAEC by the leadership of Malaysia would be a natural response of Asian countries against two big blocs in the world, EU and NAFTA; (ii) it is natural for the United States to discourage this move because the formation of an economic bloc in Asia will have a negative economic impact on the non- Asian countries; (iii) it is natural for the U.S. to propose an opposing coalition like the APEC to nullify the possible economic impact of the EAEC; but (iv) perhaps the APEC will be a good roundabout way towards international free trade.

Protective effect of the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis against nitric oxide donor-induced neuronal death in cultured cerebellar granule cells

We have previously shown that an aqueous extract of the hooks and stems of Uncaria sinensis (O_.) H_., Uncariae Uncus Cum Ramulus, protects against glutamate-induced neuronal death in vitro. Nitric oxide (NO) free radicals are also implicated in the process of neuronal death. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Uncaria sinensis extract (USE) and its phenolic and alkaloid fractions against NO donors, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), -induced neuronal death in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells. MTT assay showed cell viability to be significantly increased by the addition of USE (10, 30 and 100 μg/ml) compared with exposure (6, 12 and 24 h) to SNP (30 μM) only, and by the addition of USE (10 and 30 μg/mi) compared with exposure (6, 12 and 24 h) to SIN-1 (300μM) only. Phenolic fraction of USE (10 and 30μg/ml) significantly protected against SNP (30 μM, 24 hr)-induced cell death, and 3 and 10 μg/ml of this fraction significantly protected against SIN-1 (300 μM, 24 hr)-induced cell death. Alkaloid fraction of USE (30 and 100 μg/ml) significantly protected against SNP (30 μM, 24 hr) and SIN-1 (300 μM, 24 hr)-induced cell death. These results appear to indicate that Uncaria sinensis has a protective effect against NO-mediated neuronal death in cultured cerebellar granule cells and that its active components are included in phenolic and alkaloid fractions. 培養ラット小脳顆粒細胞を用いて,NO donor誘導神経細胞死に対する釣藤鈎エキスの保護作用を検討した。NO donorにはsodium nitroprusside(SNP) と 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1)を用い,細胞生存率の評価にはMTT法を用いた。釣藤鈎エキス(10,30,100μg/ml)は,SNP(30μM)6,12,24時間添加による神経細胞死を有意に抑制した。釣藤鈎エキス(10,30μg/ml)は,SIN-1(300μM)6,12,24時間添加による神経細胞死を有意に抑制した。釣藤鈎エキスのフェノール画分は,10,30μg/mlの濃度でSNP(30μM,24時間)添加による神経細胞死を有意に抑制し,同じく3,10μg/mlの濃度でSIN-1(300μM,24時間)添加による神経細胞死を有意に抑制した。釣藤鈎エキスのアルカロイド画分(30,100g/ml)は,SNP(30μM,24時間)およびSIN-1(300μM,24時間)添加による神経細胞死を有意に抑制した。以上より,釣藤鈎エキスはNO donorによって誘導される神経細胞死に対して保護作用を有し,その活性は釣藤鈎のフェノール画分およびアルカロイド画分にあることが示唆された

Potential endocrine effects of hypothalamic peptide "neurotensin" on pancreas in dogs

Effects of synthetic neurotensin on the endocrine pancreas were studied in nine normal and six hypophysectomized (10th to 14th day post-hypophysectomy) dogs. Synthetic neurotensin was administered into the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery, and plasma insulin and glucagon concentrations were measured radioimmunologically. In normal dogs, ten microgram/kg neurotensin administration brought about a mild hyperglycemic response and sharp and rapid increase of plasma insulin and glucagon concentrations in the superior pancreaticoduodenal vein. A biphasic insulin response was noted in the pancreatic vein. The results suggest that a large dose of neurotensin acts directly on the endocrine pancreas causing secretion of these hormones. In hypophysectomized dogs, basal levels of plasma insulin and glucagon were decreased and neurotensin had little effect on the endocrine pancreas even with the administration of a large dose.</p

Particle Size Estimation from Pressure Drops of a Pneumatic Conveying Pipe Line

Size measurement of solid particles has been generally performed for a test sample. In such a conventional measurement, however, it is time-consumable and not easy to get test samples from a process line. A method of particle size estimation from pressure drops of a pneumatic conveying pipe line is herein discussed for the flow of Newton's region. According to the previous report'), pressure drops of a pneumatic conveying pipe line have been able to be calculated theoretically using empirical values of λs and vt, i.e. friction factor of solid flow through a pipe and mean settling velocity of solid particles respectively. In this paper, λs and vt are obtained from the relations between solid-gas mixture ratio and pressure drops of an accelerating and a constant velocity sections, where the accelerating section has to start at the position of ν=0 such as the feed point of solid particles. Then the mean particle size equivalent to a sphere is calculated from νt, and shows good agreement with experimental results

Direct measurement of a patient\u27s entrance skin dose during pediatric cardiac catheterization

Children with complex congenital heart diseases often require repeated cardiac catheterization; however, children are more radiosensitive than adults. Therefore, radiation-induced carcinogenesis is an important consideration for children who undergo those procedures. We measured entrance skin doses (ESDs) using radio-photoluminescence dosimeter (RPLD) chips during cardiac catheterization for 15 pediatric patients (median age, 1.92 years; males, n = 9; females, n = 6) with cardiac diseases. Four RPLD chips were placed on the patient\u27s posterior and right side of the chest. Correlations between maximum ESD and dose–area products (DAP), total number of frames, total fluoroscopic time, number of cine runs, cumulative dose at the interventional reference point (IRP), body weight, chest thickness, and height were analyzed. The maximum ESD was 80 ± 59 (mean ± standard deviation) mGy. Maximum ESD closely correlated with both DAP (r = 0.78) and cumulative dose at the IRP (r = 0.82). Maximum ESD for coiling and ballooning tended to be higher than that for ablation, balloon atrial septostomy, and diagnostic procedures. In conclusion, we directly measured ESD using RPLD chips and found that maximum ESD could be estimated in real-time using angiographic parameters, such as DAP and cumulative dose at the IRP. Children requiring repeated catheterizations would be exposed to high radiation levels throughout their lives, although treatment influences radiation dose. Therefore, the radiation dose associated with individual cardiac catheterizations should be analyzed, and the effects of radiation throughout the lives of such patients should be followed