Shaking Table Test Using Full-scale Model for Lateral Resistance Force of Ballasted Tracks During Earthquake

AbstractIn Japan where large earthquakes frequently occur, it is important to increase the resistibility of railway structures to earthquakes. The authors performed a shaking table test using a full-scale model to evaluate the lateral resistance force of the ballasted track during earthquakes. In this study, the shaking table test was attempted under test conditions under which the sleeper is given the lateral force to induce track buckling. Two kinds of cross sections of ballasted track for the full-scale model were applied: a straight track and a curved track to evaluate the influence of the difference of the cross section of ballasted track on the lateral resistance force. The results of the shaking table test clarified that the lateral resistance force of the ballasted track decreased during shaking, and the lateral sleeper displacement increased significantly by lateral force smaller than the lateral resistance force of the ballasted track after shaking. In addition, it is considered that the influence of the cross section of ballasted track on the lateral ballast resistance force during shaking and after shaking is small

Numerical method for evaluating the lateral resistance of sleepers in ballasted tracks

AbstractBallasted track sleepers have the important function of providing sufficient lateral resistance to prevent the lateral movement of rails. If the lateral force induced by the thermal expansion of steel rails overcomes the lateral resistance of sleepers, rail buckling may occur. More attention has been paid to this problem of lateral stability since the introduction of continuous welded rails. However, there is a high degree of uncertainty in the prediction of the lateral resistance of sleepers. In view of the foregoing, a series of laboratory tests was conducted on 1/5-scale models to evaluate the lateral resistance of sleepers. Single-sleeper pullout tests and track panel pullout tests were conducted on different types of concrete sleepers. The results of the pullout tests revealed the effects of the sleeper shape, the sleeper spacing, and the number of sleepers on the lateral resistance. Based on the model test results, a new numerical method for evaluating the lateral resistance of sleepers is proposed

Effect of Hyperprolactinemia Induced by Prolactinoma (MtT/F84) on the Accessory Sexual Organs of Male Rat

A new transplantable prolactinoma, designated MtT/F84 has been serially passaged in female F344 rats. Persistently high levels of serum prolactin could be achieved in male F344 rats by MtT/F84 inoculating under the skin. This investigation deals with the effects of hyperprolactinemia upon the accessory sexual organs of male rats during puberty. The weights and the concentrations of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the dorsal prostate increased significantly in rats with moderate hyperprolactinemia (756 ± 179 ng/ml), but they in rats with marked hyperprolactinemia (3612 ± 1089 ng/ml) were similar t.o those of control rats. In contrast, serum testosterone levels (0.52 ± 0/17 ng/ml) in those of hyperprolactinemic rats were significantly decreased compared to that of controls (1.11± 0.13 ng/ml). These results suggested that the growth-promoting effect of prolactin on the rat prostate mediated through the action of androgen varied according to the degree of hyperprolactinemia

TICAM-1/TRIF associates with Act1 and suppresses IL-17 receptor–mediated inflammatory responses

TICAM-1 (also called TRIF) is the sole adaptor of TLR3 that recognizes double-stranded RNA. Here, we report that TICAM-1 is involved not only in TLR3 signaling but also in the cytokine receptor IL-17RA signaling. We found that TICAM-1 bound to IL-17R adaptor Act1 to inhibit the interaction between IL-17RA and Act1. Interestingly, TICAM-1 knockout promoted IL-17RA/Act1 interaction and increased IL-17A–mediated activation of NF-κB and MAP kinases, leading to enhanced expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines upon IL-17A stimulation. Moreover, Ticam-1 knockout augmented IL-17A–mediated CXCL1 and CXCL2 expression in vivo, resulting in accumulation of myeloid cells. Furthermore, Ticam-1 knockout enhanced delayed type hypersensitivity and exacerbated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Ticam-1 knockout promoted accumulation of myeloid and lymphoid cells in the spinal cord of EAE-induced mice. Collectively, these data indicate that TICAM-1 inhibits the interaction between IL-17RA and Act1 and functions as a negative regulator in IL-17A–mediated inflammatory responses

Regulation of 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Activity in Rat Testis under Hyperprolactinemia and Excessive 17β-Estradiol

The effects of hyperprolactinemia on the activity of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) in rat testis were studied during excessive 17β-estradiol (E2) administration. Without E2 treatment, 3β-HSD activity did not change significantly in moderate hyperprolactinemic rats (756 ± 179 ng/ml). However, this enzyme activity was significantly decreased in marked hyperprolactinemic rats (3612 ± 1090 ng/ml) compared to that in control rats (45.4 ± 6.2 ng/ml). Under the excessive E2 administration, this enzyme activity was insignificantly decreased in slight hyperprolactinemic rats (218 ± 42 ng/ml1 and inhibited in moderate hyperprolactinemic rats (566 ± 77 ng/ml) as refer to control level. It may be concluded that inhibition of 3β-HSD activity in testis due to the excess administration of estrogen is promoted by the transplantation of MtT/F84 which produces prolactin at the limited level

The tumor suppressor protein Tob functions as a transcriptional coregulator

[Curriculum Vitae & Summary] International Symposium on Tumor Biology in Kanazawa 2004 / Kanazawa, Japan February 12 and 13, 200

Genome-wide association study of individual differences of human lymphocyte profiles using large-scale cytometry data

Human immune systems are very complex, and the basis for individual differences in immune phenotypes is largely unclear. One reason is that the phenotype of the immune system is so complex that it is very difficult to describe its features and quantify differences between samples. To identify the genetic factors that cause individual differences in whole lymphocyte profiles and their changes after vaccination without having to rely on biological assumptions, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS), using cytometry data. Here, we applied computational analysis to the cytometry data of 301 people before receiving an influenza vaccine, and 1, 7, and 90 days after the vaccination to extract the feature statistics of the lymphocyte profiles in a nonparametric and data-driven manner. We analyzed two types of cytometry data: measurements of six markers for B cell classification and seven markers for T cell classification. The coordinate values calculated by this method can be treated as feature statistics of the lymphocyte profile. Next, we examined the genetic basis of individual differences in human immune phenotypes with a GWAS for the feature statistics, and we newly identified seven significant and 36 suggestive single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with the individual differences in lymphocyte profiles and their change after vaccination. This study provides a new workflow for performing combined analyses of cytometry data and other types of genomics data

Production of Al-based composite materials including stress-luminescent particles using 3-dimensional penetration casting (3DPC)

A stress-luminescent powder can be applied as sensors because of luminous characteristic under stress. Key point in fabrication is how uniformly to disperse powders in metallic matrix. Three-dimensional penetration casting (3DPC) process is a good application to fabricate the composite materials using stress-luminescent powders and molten Al. A commercial stress-luminescent powder was prepared (a)stress- luminescent powders (Taikourozai Co.) and (b)EZ bright (EZ bright Cooperation). 3DPC process was conducted using a special mould has dimensions of 42mm height and 30mm diameter. Mould was heated up to 750°C before 3DPC. After 3DPC, particles were well dispersed in Al matrix without crack generations with optical microscopy observation. Also, samples were emitted when they were pressed and scratched