Privalov Space on the Upper Half Plane

In this paper, we shall consider Privalov space Np 0 (D) (p &#62; 1) which consists of holomorphic functions f on the upper half plane D := {z &#8712; C|Imz &#62; 0} such that (log+ |f(z)|)p has a harmonic majorant on D. We shall give some properties of Np 0 (D).</p

Role of proline residue in the channel-forming and catecholamine-releasing activities of the peptaibol, trichosporin-B-VIa

AbstractTrichosporin-B-VIa (TS-B-VIa) has a Pro14-kinked helical structure which is considered to be important for the formation of peptaibol-type ion-channels in lipid bilayer membranes. TS-B-VIa and its analog [Aid14]TS-B-VIa with Pro → Aib substitution at position 14, resulting in a straight helical structure, were tested for ion-channel-forming activity in planar lipid bilayer membranes and for ability to induce catecholamine secretion from cultured bovine adrenal chromaffin cells. Voltage-dependent multi-channel conductance, which is characteristic of TS-B-VIa, was also observed for [Aid14]TS-B-VIa. In single-channel measurements, current fluctuations induced by [Aid14]TS-B-VIa had a shorter life-time and showed fewer substates than those induced by TS-B-VIa. Catecholamine secretion induced by these peptides at low concentrations is completely Ca2+-dependent. At high concentrations, TS-B-VIa-induced secretion was partly independent of external Ca 2+, but this was not the case for the analog. The differences of behavior can be explained in terms of the differences of hydrophobicity, amphiphilicity, and magnitude of dipole moment due to the conformational changes around position 14 and the C-terminal domain caused by the Pro → Aib substitution

Asymmetrical membrane fluidity of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells and granules and effect of trichosporin-B-VIa

AbstractWe examined membrane fluidity of bovine adrenal chromaffin cells and chromaffin granules using cationic trimethylammonium derivative of diphenylhexatriene (TMA-DPH) as a fluorescence probe. After adding TMA-DPH to the suspension of chromaffin cells and that of granules, it first bound to the outer layer of the plasma membrane of the cells and that of the granule membrane, then gradually penetrated the inner layer of each membrane and distributed to both leaflets of the respective membranes. Accompanying increases in the ratio of incorporated probe on the cytoplasmic side of the chromaffin cell membrane, its fluorescence anisotropy gradually decreased. However, in chromaffin granules, the fluorescence anisotropy gradually increased with increases in the ratio of incorporated probe. These findings suggest that the inner layer of the plasma membrane and outer layer of the granular membrane are more fluid than the corresponding side of each membrane, which is suitable for the fusion between both membranes. We also examined the effect of trichosporin-B-VIa, a fungal ion channel forming α-aminoisobutyric acid-containing peptide, on the fluidity of chromaffin cells using TMA-DPH. The peptide decreased the fluorescence anisotropy and increased the fluorescence intensity in the concentration range that induced Ca2+ dependent catecholamine secretion, suggesting that a change in lipid dynamics of the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane was induced by this peptide

AN INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS ON LEARNING OF "TRACKING"

一般に大学教育では採用されることはないが,英会話学校で広く採用されている"track system"所謂能力別クラス編成による教育が,四年生大学での必修英会話の講座においても効果があるものかどうかを統計的に調査研究しようとすることが本研究の目的である。つまり,「四年生大学での英会話の教育は,mixed ability groupsでの教育より,track systemを採用したクラス編成による教育のほうが有効である。」という仮説を種々の統計的手法を用いて検証しようというのが本稿のテーマである。この仮説を検証するために,1988年度に本学に入学した全学生に実施した英語読解力,構文,発音テストの得点の結果に依り,上位1/3をhigher track,残り2/3と再履修者をlower trackというクラスに分け,前期の初期と後期の期末にそれぞれ聴き取り能力をテストするHAC pre-testとHAC post-testを実施した。次の5種類の統計的手法に依り2回のHAC testの結果を分析した。(1)相関係数(2)スペアマンの順位相関係数(3)対応のある平均差検定(4)分散分析(5)等分散検定これらの統計的手法による分析結果はそれぞれ次の通りであった。(1) r=0.548.無相関検定に依り帰無仮説は棄却され,相関があると判断できた。(2) r_s=0.513.無相関検定に依り帰無仮説は棄却され,相関があると判断できた。(3) 18クラス中13クラスは帰無仮説が棄却され平均差があると判断できたが,6つのhigher track classでは2クラスにおいてだけ帰無仮説が棄却され,平均差があると判断できたにすぎなかった。(4)両HACテストにおいて帰無仮説は棄却され,各クラスの能力差は存在すると判断できた。(5)全18クラス中6クラスは帰無仮説が棄却され等分散でないと判断できた。以上の統計的分析の過程において,クラス分けをする際に採用した読解力を中心としたテストの結果とHAC pre-testの結果を比較するとIV. DISCUSSIONのD. TABLE 3に見られるように約29%のクラス割りふりミスが発見された。このため本研究で提起した仮説が真であることを十分検証するに至らなかった。しかし,III. STATISTICAL ANALYSISのB. TABLE 2に見られるように,1987～88年次の学生に実施したHAC pre-testの分散のほうがHAC post-testの分散より大であったが,1988～89年次におけるその大小は逆転してしまっており,track systemの負の効果も発見された。今後,IV. DISCUSSIONにある4つの反省点を十分議論しつつ,Jerome S. Brunerによるmixed ability groupsに関するideaも概観しながら,track systemの正のみならず,負の効果についても改めて検証研究したい

Identification of a Polymorphic Gene, BCL2A1, Encoding Two Novel Hematopoietic Lineage-specific Minor Histocompatibility Antigens

We report the identification of two novel minor histocompatibility antigens (mHAgs), encoded by two separate single nucleotide polymorphisms on a single gene, BCL2A1, and restricted by human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*2402 (the most common HLA-A allele in Japanese) and B*4403, respectively. Two cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones specific for these mHAgs were first isolated from two distinct recipients after hematopoietic cell transplantation. Both clones lyse only normal and malignant cells within the hematopoietic lineage. To localize the gene encoding the mHAgs, two-point linkage analysis was performed on the CTL lytic patterns of restricting HLA-transfected B lymphoblastoid cell lines obtained from Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain. Both CTL clones showed a completely identical lytic pattern for 4 pedigrees and the gene was localized within a 3.6-cM interval of 15q24.3–25.1 region that encodes at least 46 genes. Of those, only BCL2A1 has been reported to be expressed in hematopoietic cells and possess three nonsynonymous nucleotide changes. Minigene transfection and epitope reconstitution assays with synthetic peptides identified both HLA-A*2402– and B*4403-restricted mHAg epitopes to be encoded by distinct polymorphisms within BCL2A1

Long‑term effect of sitagliptin on endothelial function in type 2 diabetes : a sub‑analysis of the PROLOGUE study

Background: As a sub-analysis of the PROLOGUE study, we evaluated the long-term effect of sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitor, on endothelial function in the conduit brachial artery in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods: In the PROLOGUE study, patients were randomly assigned to either add-on sitagliptin treatment (sitagliptin group) or continued conventional antihyperglycemic treatment (conventional group). Among the 463 participants in the PROLOGUE study, FMD was measured in 17 patients in the sitagliptin group and 18 patients in the conventional group at the beginning and after 12 and 24 months of treatment. Results: HbA1c levels were significantly decreased after 12 and 24 months of treatment compared to baseline values in both groups (7.0 ± 0.4 vs. 6.6 ± 0.3 and 6.6 ± 0.4 % in the sitagliptin group; 7.0 ± 0.6 vs. 6.6 ± 0.7 and 6.6 ± 0.7 % in the conventional group; P < 0.05, respectively). There was no significant difference between FMD values at baseline and after 12 and 24 months in the sitagliptin group (4.3 ± 2.6 vs. 4.4 ± 2.1 and 4.4 ± 2.3 %, P = 1.0, respectively). Although FMD had a tendency to increase from 4.3 ± 2.4 % at baseline to 5.2 ± 1.9 % after 12 months and 5.1 ± 2.2 % after 24 months in the conventional group, there was no significant difference between FMD values at baseline and after 12 and 24 months (P = 0.36 and 0.33, respectively). Conclusions: Add-on sitagliptin to conventional antihyperglycemic drugs in patients with type 2 diabetes did not alter endothelial function in the conduit brachial artery measured by FMD during a 2-year study period. Sitagliptin may be used without concern for an adverse effect on endothelial function in patients with type 2 diabetes