An automatic liquid-nitrogen filling system for multiple Ge detectors.

In order to reduce the time and effort of the daily task of refilling Dewar vessels of Ge detectors with liquid nitrogen (LN(2)), we have developed an automatic LN(2) filling system equipped with a LN(2) plant. With this system, we were freed from the work of LN(2) filling. Such an LN(2) filling system is useful for moderate-scale Ge detector arrays consisting of fewer than 20 Ge detectors.

Clearance of bacterial lipopolysaccharides and lipid A by the liver and the role of argininosuccinate synthase.

The liver is thought to be involved in the systemic clearance and detoxification of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Argininosuccinate synthase (AS), a liver cytosolic urea cycle enzyme, has been found to bind to and inactivate LPS and lipid A. To elucidate the participation of AS in the clearance of LPS by liver and hepatocytes, we investigated the correlation between AS content and the removal of lipid A and LPS in vivo and in vitro, tracing levels of biological activity.

Induction of multicellular 3-D spheroids of MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells by neutrophil-derived cathepsin G and elastase.

In tumor metastasis, multicellular aggregates of tumor cells form and disseminate into the blood or lymph vessels from the tumor mass, following the formation of tumor cell emboli in distant vessels. However, the mechanism by which aggregates form in the tumor mass is unknown. Neutrophils often exist in tumors and are considered to affect tumor development.

Characterization of synthetic adsorbents with fine particle sizes for preparative-scale chromatographic separation.

Synthetic adsorbents with fine particle sizes (15-30 microm) were manufactured. These adsorbents are made of poly(styrenedivinylbenzene) and polymethacrylate, and have the same chemical structure as analytical- (5-10 microm) or industrial- (200-600 microm) grade synthetic adsorbents. Both of them have very similar porous structure to those of analytical or industrial sizes, so that they can adsorb compounds of various molecular masses.