Estimation of Amplification Spectra for P and SV Waves

In order to evaluate site effects on strong ground motions, the earthquake motions obtained from the vertical array deploying toward the depth of 400m and a part of the satellite array around its array are used. Dividing horizontal and vertical Lime histories into two potions which have primary and secondary arrivals respectively, their amplification spectral ratios between particular two points in and around the vertical array are examined as a problem of incident P- and SV-wave into stratified structures

Electrical Excitation of the Pulmonary Venous Musculature May Contribute to the Formation of the Last Component of the High Frequency Signal of the P Wave

Pulmonary veins (PVs) have been shown to play an important role in the induction and perpetuation of focal AF. Fifty-one patients with AF, and 24 patients without AF as control subjects, were enrolled in this study. Signal-averaged P-wave recording was performed, and the filtered P wave duration (FPD), the root-mean-square voltage for the last 20, 30 and 40 ms (RMS20, 30, and 40, respectively) were compared. In 7 patients with AF, these parameters were compared before and after the catheter ablation. The FPD was significantly longer and the RMS20 was smaller in the patients with AF than those without AF. Because RMS30 was widely distributed between 2 and 10 µV, the AF group was sub-divided into two groups; Group 1 was comprised of the patients with an RMS30 ≧5.0 µV, and group 2, <5.0 µV. In group 1, short-coupled PACs were more frequently documented on Holter monitoring, and exercise testing more readily induced AF. After successful electrical disconnection between the LA and PVs, each micropotential parameter was significantly attenuated. These results indicate that the high frequency signal amplitude of the last component of the P wave is relatively high in patients with AF triggered by focal repetitive excitations most likely originating from the PVs. That is, attenuation by the LA-PV electrical isolation, and thus the high frequency P signals of the last component, may contain the electrical excitation of the PV musculature

A complex of rab3A, SNAP-25, VAMP/synaptobrevin-2 and syntaxins in brain presynaptic terminals

AbstractTwo monoclonal antibodies (SPM-1 and SPM-2) immunoprecipitate brain N-type calcium channels. On immunoaffinity chromatography of digitonin extracts of bovine brain membranes on SPM-1- and SPM-2-Sepharose, proteins of 36 (syntaxins A and B), 28 and 19 kDa are specifically retained by both columns. Here we show that the 19 and 28 kDa bands contain VAMP/synaptobrevin-2, and rab3A/smg25A and SNAP-25, respectively. Since SPM-1 and SPM-2 recognize only syntaxins and the 28 kDa band (rab3A/smg25A and SNAP-25), respectively, the results indicate that all these proteins form a complex. Our results suggest tight linkage between the components involved in neurotransmitter release

The comparison of endothelial function between conduit artery and microvasculature in patients with coronary artery disease

Background: Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and reactive hyperemia-peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) are both established modalities to assess vascular endothelial function. However, clinical significance of FMD and RH-PAT may be different because these methods measure vascular function in different vessels (conduit arteries and resistance vessels). Methods: To elucidate differences in the clinical significance of FMD and RH-PAT, a simultaneous determination of FMD was performed and reactive hyperemia index (RHI) measured by RH-PAT in 131 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography for suspicion of coronary artery disease (CAD). Results: There was no significant correlation between FMD and RHI in patients overall. When patients were divided into four groups: FMD ≥ 6%/RHI ≥ 1.67 group, FMD ≥ 6%/RHI &lt; 1.67 group, FMD &lt; 6%/RHI ≥ 1.67 group and FMD &lt; 6%/RHI &lt; 1.67 group, the highest incidence of multivessel CAD was seen in the FMD &lt; 6%/RHI &lt; 1.67 group (52%). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that a prevalence of both FMD &lt; 6% and RHI &lt; 1.67 was an independent predictor of multivessel CAD (odds ratio: 4.160, 95% confidence interval: 1.505–11.500, p = 0.006). RHI was negatively correlated with the baseline vessel diameter (R = –0.268, p = 0.0065) and maximum vessel diameter (R = –0.266, p = 0.0069) in patients with FMD &lt; 6%, whereas these correlations were absent in patients with FMD ≥ 6%. Conclusions: Present results suggest that noninvasive assessment of vascular endothelial functions provide pathophysiological information on both conduit arteries and resistance vessels in patients with CAD

Microflora and Selected Metabolites of Potato Pulp Fermented with an Indonesian Starter Ragi Tapé

When potato pulp was mixed with Indonesian starter ragi tapé and incubated, both lactic acid and ethanol were gradually formed and attained certain concentrations during 2 days of fermentation. Viable counts of fungi in fresh weight matter, yeasts and lactic acid bacteria after fermentation were 105, 107 and 105 CFU/g, respectively. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the PCR-amplified internal transcribed spacer of 18S–28S rRNA genes detected Amylomyces rouxii-Rhizopus oryzae, Mucor indicus, Candida tropicalis and Saccharomycopsis fibuligera and revealed that Amylomyces rouxii-Rhizopus oryzae dominated throughout the fermentation period. Amylomyces rouxii cannot be discriminated from the lactic acid-accumulating group of Rhizopus oryzae because the amplified sequences of these fungi were shown to be identical. Morphological characteristics were then studied for Rhizopus-like fungi isolated from fermented potato pulp. Those strains that had produced an enormous number of chlamydospores in the aerial and substrate mycelium were identified as Amylomyces rouxii. The microflora of fermented potato pulp was similar to that made from glutinous rice, namely tapé ketan

Current Topics in Food and Biodynamic Chemistry Research

Studies on chemical structures, metabolisms and physiological significances of food and bioactive natural products are currently being addressed in our laboratory to explain their health effects in humans. Some novel molecules and functions of food and nutrients were discovered, and new foodstuffs and products were developed. The researches were carried out on stable authentic phosphatidylcholine hydroperoxide; membrane lipid glycation and its inhibitors; cancer growth suppression by conjugated triene fatty acids; antiangiogenicity of rice bran tocotrienol; glucosidase inhibition by mulberry 1-deoxynojirimycin; and high quality broccoli products regarding hepatoprotective sulforaphane contents