Apparatus for X-ray Diffraction of Liquid Metals and Several Results

A high temperature attachment for X-ray diffraction of liquid metals has been built enabling liquid metal sample to be measured at temperatures up to 1000℃ in vacuum, whilst scanning angles from 0 to 130°of 2θ. The usefulness of this apparatus was demonstrated by obtaining the structure factors of liquid Al, Pb, Sn, and Bi at several temperatures from the measured X-ray intensities and a comparison was made with those found in earlier works. Numerical values of the structure factors obtained in this work were illustrated

Der Daß-Satz

Article信州大学教養部紀要. 第一部, 人文科学 3: 117-123(1968)departmental bulletin pape

Nephrin and podocin dissociate at the onset of proteinuria in experimental membranous nephropathy

Nephrin and podocin dissociate at the onset of proteinuria in experimental membranous nephropathy.BackgroundThe slit diaphragm plays a critical role in maintaining the barrier function of the glomerular capillary wall. The pathogenic mechanism of proteinuria in membranous nephropathy remains uncertain. This study was undertaken to analyze the pathogenic role of slit diaphragm in proteinuria in experimental membranous nephropathy.MethodsThe expression and the localization of slit diaphragm–associated molecules (nephrin, podocin, and CD2AP) and other podocyte-associated molecules (podocalyxin and α3 integrin) in passive and active Heymann nephritis were analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis. The interaction of slit diaphragm–associated molecules was investigated by the dual-labeling immunofluorescence method. The mRNA expression of these molecules was also analyzed.ResultsShifts in nephrin and podocin staining patterns, from linear to granular, were detected in the early stages of passive Heymann nephritis. These shifts were not parallel, and the dissociation of these molecules was detected by the dual-labeling immunofluorescence method in passive and active Heymann nephritis. Western blot analyses with sequentially solubilized materials indicated that the nephrin-rich fraction changed from being partly detergent-resistant to being predominantly detergent-soluble. This change did not occur with podocin. Nephrin excreted into urine was already detected in the early stages of passive Heymann nephritis. Decreased mRNA expression of nephrin and podocin was observed before the onset of proteinuria. By contrast, no extensive change in the expression of α3 integrin was observed in this study.ConclusionNephrin is dissociated from podocin and excreted into urine in the early stages of Heymann nephritis. The reduced expression of nephrin and podocin, along with their dissociation, may contribute to the development of proteinuria in Heymann nephritis

FAT is a component of glomerular slit diaphragms

FAT is a component of glomerular slit diaphragms.BackgroundSlit diaphragms are intercellular junctions of podocytes of the renal glomerulus. The molecular composition of slit diaphragms is still elusive. Slit diaphragms are characterized by the presence of a wide intercellular space. The morphological feature is shared by desmosomes and adherens junctions, which contain members of the cadherin superfamily. Thus, we have hypothesized that some components of slit diaphragms belong to the cadherin superfamily. Consequently, we have isolated cDNA encoding FAT from reverse-transcribed (RT) glomerular cDNA by homology polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers based on conserved sequences in cadherin molecules. FAT is a novel member of the cadherin superfamily with 34 tandem cadherin-like extracellular repeats, and it closely resembles the Drosophila tumor suppressor fat.MethodsExpression of FAT was examined in glomeruli of the adult rat kidney by the ribonuclease protection assay and in situ hybridization. To localize the FAT protein in podocytes minutely, we prepared affinity-purified antibody against FAT by immunizing rabbits against an oligopeptide corresponding to the C-terminal 20 amino acids.ResultsExpression of FAT mRNA was detected in total RNA from glomeruli. In situ hybridization revealed significant signals in podocytes. Western blot analysis using solubilized glomeruli showed a single band, in which the molecular weight was more than 500 kD. Immunostaining of cultured epithelial cells from rat kidney (NRK52E) revealed FAT accumulation in cell–cell contact sites. In the glomerulus, FAT staining was observed distinctly along glomerular capillary walls. Double-label immunostaining using monoclonal antibody against slit diaphragms (mAb 5-1-6) showed identical localization of anti-FAT antibody and mAb 5-1-6. Furthermore, the double-label immunogold technique with ultrathin cryosections demonstrated that gold particles for FAT cytoplasmic domain were located at the base of slit diaphragms labeled by mAb 5-1-6 and that the cytoplasmic domain of FAT colocalized with ZO-1, a cytoplasmic component associated with slit diaphragms.ConclusionThe molecular structure of FAT and its colocalization with 5-1-6 antigen and ZO-1 indicate that FAT is a component of slit diaphragms

Heavy Metal Extraction by Kenaf Vegetation

Kenaf(British great Kenaf, scientific name Hibiscus cannabinus L) is an annual plant of Malvaceae Hibiscus L. of West African origin, and is remarkable as a new pulp resource. Its ability to fix carbon dioxide is excellent because growth is rapid, and it is reported that its ability equals that of tropical forests. In addition, it is possible to use it for soil cleaning and water quality purification. This research, focussed on kenaf\u27s high water absorption capacity from the soil and its ability., to remove heavy metals from the soil, especially lead, and to reduce ground water pollution. Kenaf was grown in Hyogo Prefectur and kenaf and sorghum were grown in the tropical simulation room in our campus. These plants were burnt to ash, and the total quantity of absorbed lead was measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. Lead absorbed from the soil by kenaf vegetation was also clarified in samples processed with nitric acid. A large amount of lead was accumulated in the wood part but not so much was accumulated in the back or the living parts of the plant. It is recommended that you should harvest to absorb the heavy metal efficiently while growing up

Acclimations of Kenaf(Hibiscus cannabinus L.) to Pb in a Polluted Soil

Seeds of kenaf(H.cannabinus) could germinate and grow in the soil polluted with 5310 ppm Pb, although their growth was strongly inhibited at first. After the expansion of the third and fourth leaves, older leaves died and fell, followed by the expanding new leaves. During the first 30 days, the numbers of leaves did not increase at a same rate as the control plants growing in soil without pollution. The numbers of leaves were only 9.0 after 30 days and the dry weight of the leaves and stems (upper ground biomass hereafter) was 0.26 g, which was 3.3% of the biomass of the control plants. After the first 30 days, the plants on the polluted soil did not lose their older leaves and began to increase the numbers of leaves. The plants then increased their upper ground biomass rapidly. The upper ground biomass was 59 g after 69 days, which was 32% of the control biomass. These results strongly suggest that seedlings of kenaf can tolerate and acclimate to soils highly polluted with Pb. Although their acclimations took a long period of time, 30 days, kenaf plants could grow normally after the acclimations. The concentrations of Pb in leaves, barks of stems and cores of stems measured by atomic absorption spectrometry were 0.204, 0.211 and 0.407 ppm, respectively. After the acclimations, kenaf accumulated Pb at concentrations lower than 1.0 ppm. Phytoremediation with kenaf is necessary to research acclimations

Possible Phytoremediation of Cadmium Pollution Soil with Kenaf

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.), which can grow rapidly and maintain high primary production, was examined for its ability to decontaminate cadmium ions (Cd) from polluted soil. Although its germination and growth were not affected at first, its photosynthesis dependent growth was disturbed by Cd in the soil. No growth after expanding the true leaves was observed at above 111ppm Cd. At 74.1ppm Cd, kenaf could acclimate and began to grow after a few weeks lag. The biomass increased by 2.4 times from 4 to 6 weeks after sawing. Higher accumulation rates were observed in the plant body at below 74.1ppm Cd. The rate increased to 6.4 times in the plant body at 1.48ppm Cd. Assuming the same productions of kenaf as on the soil without Cd, it could decontaminate 1.48ppm Cd from the polluted soil for ca. 16 years and could more efficiently from the soil containing lower concentrations of Cd. These results suggested the possible phytoremediation with kenaf applied to the polluted soil with lower concentrations of Cd

Increased Expression of Integrin-Linked Kinase Improves Cardiac Function and Decreases Mortality in Dilated Cardiomyopathy Model of Rats

AIMS: Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) is a multifunctional kinase linking the extracellular matrix to intracellular signaling pathways, whose activation in the heart gives rise to a number of functional consequences. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the therapeutic and survival benefit of cardiac ILK overexpression in a rat model of dilated cardiomyopathy. METHODS AND RESULTS: The dilated cardiomyopathy model was generated in rats by intraperitoneal administration of six equal doses of doxorubicin over a 2 week period. Five weeks after the first injection, echocardiographic analysis demonstrated impaired cardiac function and, at that point, recombinant adenoviral vector harboring ILK cDNA or vehicle was injected into the myocardium, and the rats re-studied 4 weeks later. Compared with vehicle injection, ILK treatment ameliorated inflammatory cell infiltration and cardiomyocyte degeneration, as well as left ventricular dilation and dysfunction. ILK treatment was also associated with a reduction in apoptosis and an increase in proliferation of cardiomyocytes, as well as decreased oxidative stress and autophagic vacuole accumulation. Importantly, mortality was lower in rats following ILK treatment than in those following vehicle injection. In cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, we also found that ILK overexpression protected against doxorubicin-induced apoptosis, giving rise to an increase in their proliferation. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate for the first time that ILK gene therapy improves cardiac function and survival in a model of dilated cardiomyopathy, and this may be mediated through suppression of inflammation, prevention of ventricular remodeling, inhibition of cardiomyocyte apoptosis and autophagy, and stimulation of cardiomyocyte proliferation