Cholic acid (CA) transport was investigated in nine intestinal Bifidobacterium strains. Upon energization with glucose, all of the bifidobacteria accumulated CA. The driving force behind CA ...accumulation was found to be the transmembrane proton gradient (Delta pH, alkaline interior). The levels of accumulated CA generally coincided with the theoretical values, which were calculated by the Henderson-Hasselbalch equation using the measured internal pH values of the bifidobacteria, and a pK(a) value of 6.4 for CA. These results suggest that the mechanism of CA accumulation is based on the diffusion of a hydrophobic weak acid across the bacterial cell membrane, and its dissociation according to the Delta pH value. A mixture of short-chain fatty acids (acetate, propionate and butyrate) at the appropriate colonic concentration (117 mM in total) reduced CA accumulation in Bifidobacterium breve JCM 1192(T). These short-chain fatty acids, which are weak acids, reduced the Delta pH, thereby decreasing CA accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. The bifidobacteria did not alter or modify the CA molecule. The probiotic potential of CA accumulation in vivo is discussed in relation to human bile acid metabolism.
This paper describes Research and Development of disaster information temporary network which is assumed vehicles as network nodes. And it assumes that a refuge, a hospital, and the local government ...existing in the area in 2 km every direction, exist around ten places. The target of R&D is set-up and connection of wireless communication network by the means of different plural wireless communication among them, for less than 30 minutes, after emergency vehicles arrive at the disaster spot. As wireless communication means which is put on vehicles, it assumes the existing radio system or near practical use system in Japan, and the domestic DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) system which have been already put to practical use in ETC (ARIB STD-T75), 700 MHz band Intelligent Transport Systems (ARIB STD-T109), and European and American DSRC system (IEEE 802.11p) are referred. The communication data assume a sound and Web information. For relay communication and different plural wireless communication of the transmission speed, we will evaluate communication quality and effectiveness by computer simulation and prototype, this year.
Streptomyces griseus possesses multiple stress-response sigma factors including sigma super(H). Previously, we have suggested that sigma super(H) and related sigma factors are involved in the ...developmental control of S. griseus. Herein, we studied the role of two sigma super(H) paralogs- sigma super(F) and sigma super(N)-which are encoded in tandem coding sequences of sigF-sigN in S. griseus sigma super(N) has been described as sigma super(L) previously (Gene 320:127, 2003). A sigF mutant produced decreased levels of intracellular melanin and formed irregular spores. A triple mutant for sigHNF exhibited defective melanin production. While sigN was transcribed by three tandem promoters during the early to late growth phases, sigF was transcribed in the late developmental phase by a single promoter. The activity of the promoter preceding the rpp operon (Prpp), which is responsible for the intracellular melanin biosynthesis, was decreased in the sigF mutant and abolished in the sigHNF, adpA and A-factor biosynthesis mutants. The in vitro transcription assay demonstrated that E sigma super(F) transcribed the rpp promoter. Both E sigma super(F) and E sigma super(N) transcribed a sigma super(H)-dependent promoter that preceded the sigH operon, and their activities were repressed by the addition of RshA, an anti- sigma super(H) protein. Overall, the results suggest that the three sigma factors have similar functions and that they are required for spore development and pigmentation. The transcription of the rpp operon is regulated both by the stress-response sigma factors and the A-factor regulatory cascade. mycelium formation and streptomycin production in S. griseus stress-response sigma factor sigma super(H) sigma super(N)
In the proton counterflow model of a pulsar magnetosphere that we have recently proposed, nonrelativistic protons are supplied from the magnetosphere to flow toward the pulsar surface and screen an ...electric field above the polar cap region. In this Letter, we show that the proton counterflow is also suitable for the bunching of pair plasma. The two-stream instability is easily excited and can produce bunches of pairs with a relevant length scale to emit coherent curvature radiation.
The diagnostic significance of the plasma concentration of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) was evaluated in 72 dogs with mitral valve insufficiency and 36 control dogs. In the ...controls, the plasma NT-proBNP concentration was 163.9 +- 114.7 (SD) pmol/l. The values in those with International Small Animal Cardiac Health Council (ISACHC) functional classification of heart failure class Ia, Ib, II and IIIa mitral valve insufficiency were 302.8 +- 257.1 (n = 21), 634.2 +- 642.5 (n = 23), 1,277.9 +- 756.2 (n = 18) and 1,908.9 +- 538.8 (n = 10) pmol/l, respectively; those in the class Ib or severer groups were significantly higher than that in the controls. In dogs in which the intensity of cardiac murmurs was Levine 3, 4, 5 and 6, plasma NT-proBNP concentrations were 647.6 +- 577.3 (n = 27), 1,184.7 +- 841.0 (n = 18), 1,532.4 +- 784.2 (n = 10) and 1,461.8 +- 932.2 (n = 4) pmol/l, respectively, and were significantly higher than that in the controls. The plasma NT-proBNP concentration was significantly correlated with the cardiac size (VHS) and LA/Ao (r = 0.611, n = 89, p 0.01; and r
4.5 kV 120 A SICGT with a chip size of 8 mm times 8 mm and a new high heat resistive resin capable of 400 degC operations were developed. The SICGT coated with the resin has a low leakage current of ...less than 5 times 10 6 A/cm 2 at both 4.5 kV and 250 degC, a low VF of 5.0 V at 120 A, and short turn-on and turn-off times of 0.3 mus and 1.7 mus respectively. A SICGT module was built by mounting one SICGT and two 6mm times 6mm SiC pn diodes in a metal can package, and a 110 kVA PWM 3 phase inverter was developed by using six of the SICGT modules. The electric power capabilities of both the developed SICGT and the 3 phase inverter are the largest ones among the reported SiC switching devices and SiC inverters, respectively
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