Suzaku Observation of the Diffuse X-Ray Emission from the Open Cluster Westerlund 2: a Hypernova Remnant?

We present the analysis of Suzaku observations of the young open cluster Westerlund 2, which is filled with diffuse X-ray emission. We found that the emission consists of three thermal components or two thermal and one non-thermal components. The upper limit of the energy flux of the non-thermal component is smaller than that in the TeV band observed with H.E.S.S. This may indicate that active particle acceleration has stopped in this cluster, and that the accelerated electrons have already cooled. The gamma-ray emission observed with H.E.S.S. is likely to come from high-energy protons, which hardly cool in contrast with electrons. Metal abundances of the diffuse X-ray gas may indicate the explosion of a massive star in the past.Comment: Accepted for publication in PAS

K-ras mutations are frequent in pulmonary squamous cell carcinomas but not in adenocarcinomas of WBN/Kob rats induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine

Pulmonary carcinomas induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl) amine (BOP) in WBN/Kob rats were screened for point mutations in the K-ras protooncogene. Exons 1 and 2 were polymerase chain reaction amplified from paraffin-embedded sections, followed by direct DNA sequencing. G ↑ A transition mutations in the second base of codon 12 of the K-ras gene were found in 6/24 (25%) rat lung tumors induced by BOP. The incidence of point mutations was significantly higher (P < 0.005) in squamous cell carcinomas (5/7; 71%) than in adenocarcinomas (1/17; 6%), suggesting that the mutational activation of K-ras is associated with a differential growth advantage in these two histologically distinct types of lung tumors in rats. No mutations were found in codons 13, 61 or adjacent regions of these codon

An optical system for measuring the eccentricity of glass wool pipe－for industrial use

An optical system for measuring the eccentricity of the glass wool pipe has been developed for an industrial use. The system consists of a contact sensor, a photo light sensor and a signal processing system with a logic circuit. The system is simple, fast and efficient for practical use; it allows implementation of on-line process monitoring and alarm warning signals for unacceptable pipe eccentricity during manufacturing

Plural growth factors in the supernatant of embryos and adult muscles of chickens

An attempt was made to isolate the cell proliferation stimulation factors in the supernatant of embryo carcases and adult muscles of chickens. Evidence was obtained for the presence of at least two or more stimulating factors in both the embryonic and adult muscular supernatants. These factors did not require a supplement of sera or other supporting agents. Furthermore, the use of the salting-out method with ammonium sulfate revealed two or more growth stimulants in the supernatant of chick cells.</p

In-situ micro Raman studies on graphitic carbon in some Antarctic ureilites

The fine structures of graphitic materials contained in four Antarctic ureilites (ALH-77257,ALH-78019,MET-78008 and Y-791538) were investigated using a laser light (514.5nm), which could be focused onto a spot of 1μm in diameter. Raman spectra obtained differ not only among individual ureilite samples, but also among positions within a single carbonaceous vein of the same specimen. Moreover, one can classify the carbon into several groups on the basis of the spectra concerned. For all samples, both well-ordered graphitic carbon and semi-ordered graphitic carbon were observed. Amorphous carbon was detected in ALH-77257 and MET-78008. The difference in structural ordering among the samples is attributed to the difference in distribution of the components of carbonaceous material, indicating minor difference in genetic conditions or in locality within the parent body. Structural heterogeneity of carbon within a single carbonaceous vein implies the occurrence of two (or three) types of carbonaceous matters which have fairly different physicochemical properties and distinct histories. For the genesis of the carbonaceous matter in ureilites, a two-stage model is proposed assuming the graphite crystallization from metallic phase followed by the inflow of semi-ordered graphitic carbon or amorphous carbon into the well-ordered graphitic carbon produced from the metal

Distribution of blue-sensitive photoreceptors in amphibian retinas

AbstractPreviously, we reported that an opsin (Rc-MS) belonging to the SWS2 group opsins is expressed in bullfrog green rods [Hisatomi, O. et al., FEBS Lett., 1999, 447, 44–48]. An anti-Rc-MS antiserum recognized the cones of the Japanese common newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster, which has no green rods. We isolated a cDNA encoding an SWS2 group opsin (Cp-SWS2) from this newt and found that Cp-SWS2 is expressed in a small population of the cones. Our results suggest that SWS2 opsins can be expressed in either green rods or cones of caudata. It seems reasonable to suppose that green rods arose before amphibia were divided into caudata and anura

Expression of β-nerve growth factor mRNA in rat glioma cells and astrocytes from rat brain

AbstractA 50-base synthetic oligodeoxynucleotide complementary to a portion of mouse nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA was used as a probe for analysis of the expression of NGF gene. Northern blot analysis showed the presence of a major 1.3 kb transcript, which was identical in size to mouse NGF mRNA, in both C6Bu1 cells and rat astrocytes cultured from newborn rat brain. Further, the rearrangement of DNA sequence in and around the NGF gene locus of C6Bu1 cells was not detected by Southern blot analysis. These results indicate the expression of NGF mRNA in both C6Bu1 cells and astrocytes from rat brain, suggesting that astrocytes may produce NGF protein in the rat brain, especially in developing rat brain

Co-existence of inhibitory and stimulatory factors modulating cell proliferation in rat liver cytoplasm.

Factors that inhibit and stimulate cell proliferation were found to coexist in rat liver supernatant. The inhibitory and stimulatory factors were separated by ethanol fractionation. Both factors were sensitive to heat- and trypsin-treatment. The activity of the inhibitor was diminished by partial hepatectomy. The inhibitor from normal livers inhibited DNA and RNA synthesis in the L-cell system, but the same fraction from regenerating livers caused little or no inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis. The stimulatory factor from regenerating livers had a stronger effect on cell proliferation than that of normal livers. Furthermore, the inhibitor from normal livers depressed DNA synthesis in vivo in regenerating livers