Extracting the principal behavior of a probabilistic supervisor through neural networks ensemble

In this paper, we propose a model of a neural network ensemble that can be trained with a supervisor having two kinds of input-output functions where the occurrence probability of each function is not even. This condition can be likened to a learning condition, in which the learning data are hampered by noise. In this case, the neural network has the impression that the learning supervisor (object) has a probabilistic behavior in which the supervisor generates correct learning data most of the time but occasionally generates erroneous ones. The objective is to train the neural network to approximate the greatest distributed input-output relation, which can be considered to be the principal nature of the supervisor, so that we can obtain a neural network that is able, to some extent, to suppress the ill effect of erroneous data encountered during the learning process.     

Solubility of saturated fatty acids in water at elevated temperatures

The solubility in water of saturated fatty acids with even carbon numbers from 8 to 18 was measured in the temperature range of 60 to 230 degrees C and at a pressure of 5 or 15 MPa. The pressure had no significant effect on the solubility. The solubility of the fatty acids increased with increasing temperature. At temperatures higher than about 160 degrees C, the logarithm of the solubility in mole fraction was linearly related to the reciprocal of the absolute temperature for each fatty acid, indicating that the water containing solubilized fatty acid molecules formed a regular solution at the higher temperatures. The enthalpy of a solution of the fatty acids in water, which was evaluated from the linear relationship at the given temperatures, increased linearly with the carbon number of the fatty acid.     

Transgenic pigs expressing human decay-accelerating factor regulated by porcine MCP gene promoter

Porcine membrane cofactor protein (pMCP) is abundantly expressed throughout the body with particularly strong expression on the vascular endothelia. Previous studies demonstrated that the promoter of the pMCP gene induced efficient expression of a human complement regulatory protein, decay-accelerating factor (DAF; CD55), in transgenic mice. In the present study, we tried to produce transgenic pigs with two hybrid genes, 0.9/hDAF and 5.4/hDAF, which were composed of human DAF (hDAF) gene regulated under pMCP promoters of different lengths (0.9 and 5.4 kb). Five live founder transgenic pigs were obtained only with the 0.9/hDAF construct. Although, four founder pigs transmitted the transgene to the second generation, the transmission rates varied among founders. We examined the expression of hDAF in tissues of descendants of two lines (Dm1 and Dm4). Human DAF specific RNAs were confirmed by an RT-PCR analysis in all organs examined. Levels of hDAF protein in the organs from the descendants of Dm1 line were higher than those in the corresponding human organs as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the tissue distribution of hDAF in the descendants of both lines was similar to that of endogenous pMCP. The expression level of hDAF on the vascular endothelial cells in Dm1 line was twice that on the corresponding human cells. We tested whether proinflammatory cytokines upregulate an efficiency of pMCP promoter on hDAF expression in transgenic pigs. Although the expression of hDAF on the human endothelial cells increased with a combination of cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon-gamma, no cytokine-induced upregulation was seen in the cells of transgenic pigs. The endothelial cells from transgenic pigs exhibited high resistance to the human serum-mediated cytolysis.     

Isolation and identification of EG-VEGF/prokineticins as cognate ligands for two orphan G-protein-coupled receptors

Endocrine gland-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (EG-VEGF, identical to prokineticin 1) is a novel peptide recently identified as a selective mitogen for endocrine gland endothelial cells. The present study demonstrates that EG-VEGF/prokineticin 1 and a peptide closely related to EG-VEGF, prokineticin 2, are cognate ligands of two orphan G-protein-coupled receptors designated ZAQ (=EG-VEGF/PK-R1) and I5E (=EG-VEGF/PK-R2). EG-VEGF/prokineticin 1 and prokineticin 2 induced a transient increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) with nanomolar potency in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing EG-VEGF/PK-R1 and -R2 and bind to these cells with high affinity and with different receptor selectivity. EG-VEGF/prokineticins provoke rapid phosphorylation of p44/42 MAP kinase and DNA synthesis in the bovine adrenal capillary endothelial cells (BACE). The mRNAs of both EG-VEGF/PK-R1 and -R2 were expressed in BACE. The identification of the receptors for EG-VEGF/prokineticins may provide a novel molecular basis for the regulation of angiogenesis in endocrine glands.     

Effects of endurance training on three superoxide dismutase isoenzymes in human plasma

The effects of endurance training and acute exhaustive exercise on plasma levels of three superoxidedismutase (SOD) isoenzymes and the ability of superoxide generation in neutrophils were studied. Eighteen healthy male students, aged 17-22 years, who volunteered for this study, underwent three months of endurance training in swimming or running. Before and after the training course, they performed acute exercise and blood samples were collected before and after this exercise. The endurance training significantly increased maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) in all subjects. Neither the endurance training nor the acute exercise affected the plasma CuZn-SOD level. Acute exercise after the training, but not before the training, increased both the plasma Mn-SOD and extracellular SOD (EC-SOD) levels by 33.6 and 33.5%, respectively. The training decreased the EC-SOD level at rest by 22.2%. Acute exercise after the training, but not before the training, increased the plasma lipid peroxide level, suggesting higher oxidative stress in trained subjects during exhaustive exercise. The ability of neutrophils to generate superoxide was increased by the acute exercise, but induction of the superoxide was suppressed after training. These results indicate that EC-SOD levels were changed in a different manner from the CuZn-SOD and Mn-SOD: it was decreased by training but was increased by acute exercise, suggesting that endurance training increases the reserve of EC-SOD in tissues. The results also suggest the possibility of plasma EC-SOD assay as a new index of endurance training.     

Effects of UV dose on formation of spontaneously developing pocks in Streptomyces azureus ATCC14921

Spontaneously developing pocks (S pocks) of Streptomyces azureus ATCC14921 were formed by the both functions of conjugative plasmid pSA1 and lysogenic phage SAt2. The formation was affected by the dose of UV irradiation. The mean pock diameter in cultures treated with UV light at 0, 7.1, 14.2 and 21.3 x 10(2) microW. erg/cm, respectively, were 1.3, 0.4, 2.2, and 0.5 mm. The dose affected conjugative plasmid pSA1 related to pock formation. There was UV damage of autonomous pSA1 replicon and UV induction of the chromosomal integrated sequence. Increases and decreases in the amount of autonomous pSA1 replicon corresponded to increases and decreases, respectively, in the diameter of the pocks. Both pSA1 and SAt2 syntheses were developed in the large pocks (1.3 and 2.2 mm), but only SAt2 synthesis was developed in the pinhole pocks (0.4 and 0.5 mm).     

PDGF-BB enhances alpha1beta1 integrin-mediated activation of the ERK/AP-1 pathway involved in collagen matrix remodeling by rat mesangial cells

Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of progressive glomerulonephritis (GN). Previous studies have reported that PDGF-BB stimulates mesangial cells (MCs)-induced collagen matrix remodeling through enhancement of alpha1beta1 integrin-dependent migratory activity. To determine the cell signaling pathway responsible for abnormal MC-related mesangial matrix remodeling in progressive GN, we studied the involvement of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/activator protein-1 (AP-1) pathway in PDGF-BB-enhanced collagen gel contraction. Western blotting and gel shift assay revealed that MC-induced gel contraction resulted in ERK activation in parallel with that of AP-1 binding, peaking at 4 h and lasting at least for 24 h. Application of the MEK inhibitor, U0126, and the c-jun/AP-1 inhibitor, curcumin, inhibited gel contraction and AP-1 activity, respectively, dose dependently. PDGF-BB enhanced not only gel contraction but ERK phosphorylation and AP-1 activity by MCs. Marked inhibitory effects on PDGF-BB-induced gel contraction and ERK/AP-1 activity were observed in the presence of either function blocking anti-alpha1- or anti-beta1-integrin antibody or U0126. Consistently, AP-1-inactive MCs expressing a dominant-negative mutant of c-jun showed a significant decrease of PDGF-BB-induced gel contraction as compared with mock-transfected MCs. Finally, migration assay showed that ERK/AP-1 activity is required for PDGF-BB-stimulated alpha1beta1 integrin-dependent MC migration to collagen I. These results indicated that PDGF-BB enhances alpha1beta1 integrin-mediated collagen matrix reorganization through the activation of the ERK/AP-1 pathway that is crucial for MC migration. We conclude that the ERK/AP-1 pathway plays an important role in PDGF-BB-induced alpha1beta1 integrin-dependent collagen matrix remodeling; therefore, the inhibition of its pathway may provide a novel approach to regulate abnormal collagen matrix remodeling in progressive GN.     

Extraction of defatted rice bran by subcritical water treatment

Defatted rice bran was treated with subcritical water in the temperature range of 180–280 °C for 5 min using 117 mL and 9 mL vessels to produce the extracts. The total sugar and protein contents and radical scavenging activity of the extracts were then estimated for both vessels. The total sugar concentration of ca. 0.3 g/L-extract was the highest for the extracts at 200 °C, and it significantly decreased at the higher temperatures. The protein concentration and radical scavenging activity were higher at the higher temperatures. Extraction was also done at 200 °C and 260 °C for various times using the small vessel. The total sugar concentration decreased with the increasing extraction time, while the protein concentration and radical scavenging activity only slightly depended on the extraction time. The extracts at 200 °C or lower temperatures using the large vessel possessed the emulsifying and emulsion-stabilizing activities. The HPLC analysis of the extract at 260 °C for 5 min using the small vessel indicated that it contained both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances. The hydrophilic fraction of the extract mainly contained low-molecular-mass substances.     

Processed and Unprocessed Red Meat and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: Analysis by Tumor Location and Modification by Time

Although the association between red meat consumption and colorectal cancer (CRC) is well established, the association across subsites of the colon and rectum remains uncertain, as does time of consumption in relation to cancer development. As these relationships are key for understanding the pathogenesis of CRC, they were examined in two large cohorts with repeated dietary measures over time, the Nurses’ Health Study (n = 87,108 women, 1980–2010) and Health Professionals Follow-up Study (n = 47,389 men, 1986–2010). Cox proportional hazards regression models generated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), which were pooled by random-effects meta-analysis. In combined cohorts, there were 2,731 CRC cases (1,151 proximal colon, 816 distal colon, and 589 rectum). In pooled analyses, processed red meat was positively associated with CRC risk (per 1 serving/day increase: HR = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.01–1.32; P for trend 0.03) and particularly with distal colon cancer (per 1 serving/day increase; HR = 1.36; 95% CI: 1.09–1.69; P for trend 0.006). Recent consumption of processed meat (within the past 4 years) was not associated with distal cancer. Unprocessed red meat was inversely associated with risk of distal colon cancer and a weak non-significant positive association between unprocessed red meat and proximal cancer was observed (per 1 serving/day increase: distal HR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.68–0.82; P for trend <0.001; proximal HR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.92–1.40; P for trend 0.22). Thus, in these two large cohorts of US health professionals, processed meat intake was positively associated with risk of CRC, particularly distal cancer, with little evidence that higher intake of unprocessed red meat substantially increased risk of CRC. Future studies, particularly those with sufficient sample size to assess associations by subsites across the colon are needed to confirm these findings and elucidate potentially distinct mechanisms underlying the relationship between processed meat and subtypes of unprocessed red meat with CRC.