The Dynamics of Desire in Emerson's Early Writings

Article人文科学論集 16: 75-89 (1982)departmental bulletin pape

Tunneling and rattling in clathrate crystal

We present tunneling and rattling motions of an off-center guest atom in cage referring to a clathrate crystal La_3Pd_{20}Ge_6. The elastic constant C_{44} of La_3Pd_{20}Ge_6 shows a Debye-type dispersion around 20 K obeying a relaxation time tau = tau_0exp(E/k_{B}T) with an attempt time tau_0 = 2.0*10^{-12} sec and an activation energy E = 197 K. At low temperatures below 3 K down to 20 mK, the C_{44} shows a softening of C_{44} = C_{44}^0(T-T_C^0)/(T-Theta) with T_C^0 = -337.970 mK and Theta = -338.044 mK. These facts are attributed to two different types of the off-center motions with Gamma_5 symmetry in 4a-site cage of La_3Pd_{20}Ge_6, a thermally activated rattling motion over the potential hill and a tunneling motion through the potential hill at low temperatures.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published Phys. Rev.

Activation of cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase in Epidermis by the Compounds which Increase Epidermal cAMP

Pig epidermal slices were incubated with various compounds which increased epidermal cAMP (adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate), and the change in cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio was studied by the method of Cherrington et al (J Biol Chem 251:5209–5218, 1976) with modification.Epinephrine (5 × 10−5 m), histamine (10−4 m) and adenosine (10−3 m), potent agonists of epidermal adenyl cyclase, fully activated the protein kinase (PK) during an incubation of 30 to 45 seconds, that was much shorter than that required for maximal cAMP accumulation under the same conditions (5 min). With such a brief stimulus, the epidermal cAMP-PK system did not become refractory and responded to repeated stimuli. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and isobuthylmethylxanthine (IBMX) and ethanol only partially activated the enzyme. Prostaglandin F2α. (PGF2α) and theophylline which were much less effective in increasing epidermal cAMP, activated the enzyme to the same extent as PGE2 and IBMX respectively.These results suggest that protein kinase activation takes place in response to a cAMP increase in small locus of the cell. Such an increase in cAMP can be very small or even not measurable when measured as total cAMP in the tissue homogenate. Also, increases above this level may not be physiologic.It is concluded that measurement of cAMP-dependent protein kinase activity ratio is a more direct and more sensitive way to study the effect of compounds which act through cAMP mediated mechanism

Phosphorylation of Pig Epidermal Soluble Protein by Endogenous cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase

The distribution of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase and its substrate proteins was analyzed using soluble and particulate fractions of pig epidermal homogenates. When histone was used as a substrate for this enzyme reaction, protein kinase activity was distributed almost equally between the soluble and particulate fractions. However, the effect of exogenously added cAMP was confined almost exclusively to the soluble enzyme. Endogenous protein phosphorylation in the absence of exogenous histone was higher in the particulate fraction than in the soluble fraction, but the stimulating effect of cAMP was observed only in the soluble fraction. These results indicate that cAMP-dependent protein kinase is predominantly localized in the soluble fraction and phosphorylates soluble epidermal proteins. The particulate fraction contains protein kinase which is cAMP-independent and phosphorylates particulate-bound proteins as well as histone. Based on these observations, the soluble fraction was incubated with [γ-32P]-ATP in the presence or absence of cAMP, and phosphorylated protein was analyzed by SDS disc- or slab-gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography. Among many proteins whose phosphorylation was slightly increased by cAMP, a protein with Mr ∼45,000 was found which was markedly phosphorylated in the presence of cAMP. Although this protein corresponds to one of the richest proteins in the epidermal soluble fraction, an important physiologic role for this phosphorylation has not been clarified

Chondroitin sulfate attenuates formalin-induced persistent tactile allodynia

AbstractWe examined the effect of chondroitin sulfate (CS), a compound used in the treatment of osteoarthritis and joint pain, on the formalin-induced tactile allodynia in mice. A repeated oral administration of CS (300 mg/kg, b.i.d.) significantly ameliorated the formalin-induced tactile allodynia from day 10 after formalin injection. On day 14, the phosphorylation of spinal p38 MAPK and subsequent increase in c-Fos-immunoreactive dorsal lumbar neurons were attenuated by the repeated administration of CS. These findings suggest that CS attenuates formalin-induced tactile allodynia through the inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation and subsequent up-regulation of c-Fos expression in the dorsal lumbar spinal cord

Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinase Isozymes of Pig Skin and Human Skin from Normal and Psoriatic Subjects

Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase isozymes of pig and human skin (epidermis) were separated by DEAE- cellulose column chromatography after micromodification for small biopsy samples. Clear-cut separations of type I and type II isozymes, winch were of about equal amounts, could be obtained only when the ischemia effect was avoided by in vivo freezing of skin and homogenization for less than 10 s. Intradermal injections of epinephrine caused dose-dependent activation of type I isozyme, but not of type 11. Injections of other skin adenylate cyclase stimulators such as histamine, adenosine, and prostaglandin E2 elevated the local cyclic AMP levels to not more than 5 pmol/mg protein and also stimulated only the type I isozyme. Incubation of keratome-sliced pig skin under various conditions caused both activation by dissociation and inactivation by dissociation of the subunits, which appeared to be dependent on the cyclic AMP content. Epinephrine added to the incubation medium led to complete activation of both type I and type II isozymes (the intraepidermal cyclic AMP contents ranged from 20–50 pmol/mg protein). The isozymes of normal skin and involved skin of psoriatics showed identical peaks of type I and type II Isozymes of equal amounts. The data indicate that protein kinase in the involved skin is not in an activated (by cyclic AMP) state

Two Cases of Primary Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma of the Liver: Immunohistochemical Expression of Ezrin and Its Relationship with Prognosis

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) as soft tissue sarcoma would not be especially noteworthy, but primary hepatic MFH reports are extremely rare. Herein, we report ezrin expression in tumor tissues from two primary hepatic MFH cases with different prognoses. Cases 1 and 2 were both women, ages 45 and 70 years, respectively. Case 1 had an 11×10 cm liver tumor in segment (S) 3, and case 2 had two liver tumors, 12×8 cm in S5 and 10×7 cm in S8. Neither had any other systemic tumors. Cases 1 and 2 survived for two year and ten months and for eight and a half months, respectively, after the initial tumor resection. Microscopically, the tumors of these two cases were similar and showed proliferation of atypical cells, including spindle, pleomorphic and multi-nucleated giant cells arranged in storiform, sheet and/or fascicle patterns, with scattered foci of inflammatory cells, indicating MFH. Ezrin expression in tumor tissue from case 1 was sparse, whereas that of case 2 showed strong ezrin expression in many tumor cells. The present results indicate ezrin immunoreactivity in primary hepatic MFH to correlate possible with prognosis, which is consistent with reports on some other types of malignancies

Magnetic phase diagram of antiferroquadrupole ordering in HoB2C2

The magnetic phase diagram for antiferro-quadrupole (AFQ) ordering in tetragonal HoB$_2$C$_2$ has been investigated by measurements of elastic constants $C_{11}$, $C_{44}$ and $C_{66}$ in fields along the basal $x$-$y$ plane as well as the principal [001]-axis. The hybrid magnet (GAMA) in Tsukuba Magnetic Laboratory was employed for high field measurements up to 30 T. The AFQ phase is no longer observed above 26.3 T along the principal [001] axis in contrast to the relatively small critical field of 3.9 T in fields applied along the basal [110] axis. The quadrupolar intersite interaction of $O_{xy}$ and/or $O_2^2$ is consistent with the anisotropy in the magnetic phase diagram of the AFQ phase in HoB$_2$C$_2$.Comment: Phys. Rev. B. (2005) in press. approx 8 pages, 10 figure

Involvement of Spinal Angiotensin II System in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Neuropathic Pain in Mice

ABSTRACT Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activity increases under hyperglycemic states, and is thought to be involved in diabetic complications. We previously demonstrated that angiotensin (Ang) II, a main bioactive component of the RAS, might act as a neurotransmitter and/or neuromodulator in the transmission of nociceptive information in the spinal cord. Here, we examined whether the spinal Ang II system is responsible for diabetic neuropathic pain induced by streptozotocin (STZ). Tactile allodynia was observed concurrently with an increase in blood glucose levels the day after mice received STZ (200 mg/kg, i.v.) injections. Tactile allodynia on day 14 was dose-dependently inhibited by intrathecal administration of losartan, an Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist, but not by PD123319, an AT2 receptor antagonist. In the lumbar dorsal spinal cord, the expression of Ang II, Ang converting enzyme (ACE), and phosphop38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) were all significantly increased on day 14 after STZ injection compared with vehicletreated controls, whereas no differences were observed among AT1 receptors or angiotensinogen levels. Moreover, the increase in phospho-p38 MAPK was significantly inhibited by intrathecal administration of losartan. These results indicate that the expression of spinal ACE increased in STZ-induced diabetic mice, which in turn led to an increase in Ang II levels and tactile allodynia. This increase in spinal Ang II was accompanied by the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK, which was shown to be mediated by AT1 receptors

Effects of Finishing Materials against Carbonation and Corrosion Condition of Model Building Exposed to Outdoor Conditions for 30 Years

A model building made out of concrete block specimens whose surfaces were coated with various finishing materials was constructed for the outdoor exposure test. After 30 years of outdoor exposure, the deterioration of finishes and their carbonation and corrosion inhibition effects were investigated. As a result, the following conclusions were obtained: Though the deterioration levels differed depending on their types and thickness, all finishing materials showed some kind of deterioration after 30 years‘ long-term outdoor exposure. The progress of carbonation and corrosion are prevented when the surface is coated with finishing materials of sufficient thickness or waterproof effect. Regarding the relationship between corrosion depth and carbonation depth, corrosion is initiated after the carbonation front reaches the area. It usually takes a while to initiate corrosion in the carbonated area, not immediately after the carbonation reaction. When the concrete surface is properly coated with finishing material, corrosion may not be initiated in non-carbonated area in concrete where the pH level is not lowered