Clonal nature of mast-cell clusters formed in W/Wv mice after bone marrow transplantation.

We have recently found that the number of mast cells in the skin of adult W/Wv mice is less than 1% of that observed in congeneic +/+ mice, and that no mast cells are detected in other tissues of W/Wv mice. After the transplantation of bone marrow cells from congeneic +/+ mice, the number of mast cells in the skin, stomach, caecum and mesentery of the W/Wv mice increased to levels similar to those of the +/+ mice. Study of the mast-cell number in the W/Wv mice at various times after transplantation suggested to use that mast cells might develop in groups, particularly in the skin and mesentery. In this report, we have attempted to elucidate the possible clonal origin of such mast-cell clusters from a single precursor cell, using giant granules of beige (C57BL/6-bgJ/bgJ, Chediak-Higashi syndrome) mice as a marker to identify the origin of the mast cells (Fig. 1). We found that when WB-W/+xC57BL/6-Wv (WBB6F1)-W/Wv mice were injected with a mixture of bone marrow cells from beige C57BL/6 mice and normal C57BL/6 mice, more than 95% of mast-cell clusters consisted of either beige-type cells alone or normal-type cells alone. We conclude, therefore, that the cluster of mast cells originated from a single precursor cell.     

Targeted disruption of mu chain membrane exon causes loss of heavy-chain allelic exclusion.

Burnet's clonal selection theory suggests that each B lymphocyte is committed to a single antibody specificity. This is achieved by a programme of somatic rearrangements of the gene segments encoding antibody variable (V) regions, in the course of B-cell development. Evidence from immunoglobulin-transgenic mice and immunoglobulin-gene-transfected transformed pre-B cells suggest that the membrane form of the immunoglobulin heavy (H) chain of class mu (microns), expressed from a rearranged H-chain (IgH) locus, may signal allelic exclusion of the homologous IgH locus in the cell and initiation of light (L)-chain gene rearrangement in the Ig kappa loci. We report here that targeted disruption of the membrane exon of the mu chain indeed results in the loss of H-chain allelic exclusion. But, some kappa chain gene rearrangement is still observed in the absence of micron expression.     

Spleen colony-forming cell as common precursor for tissue mast cells and granulocytes

The haematopoietic stem cells which produce colonies in the spleen of irradiated mice (CFU-S) can differentiate into erythrocytes, granulocytes, megakaryocytes and B lymphocytes. Although mast cell precursors are known to be present in the bone marrow, spleen, fetal liver and peripheral blood of mice, the relationship between the mast cell precursor and CFU-S has remained unclear. We have now made use of mice of two mutant genotypes to determine whether or not the tissue mast cell is a progeny of CFU-S. Giant granules of beige (C57BL/6-bg/bg, Chediak-Higashi syndrome) mice can be used for identification of the origin of both tissue mast cells and granulocytes, and WBB6F1-W/Wv mice are useful recipients because they lack tissue mast cells owing to a defect in mast cell precursors. We injected the cells from a single spleen colony into each WBB6F1-W/Wv mouse and demonstrated directly that the tissue mast cell is a progeny of CFU-S.     

Quantum distribution of protons in solid molecular hydrogen at megabar pressures

Solid hydrogen, a simple system consisting only of protons and electrons, exhibits a variety of structural phase transitions at high pressures. Experimental studies based on static compression up to about 230 GPa revealed three relevant phases of solid molecular hydrogen: phase I (high-temperature, low-pressure phase), phase II (low-temperature phase) and phase III (high-pressure phase). Spectroscopic data suggest that symmetry breaking, possibly related to orientational ordering, accompanies the transition into phases II and III. The boundaries dividing the three phases exhibit a strong isotope effect, indicating that the quantum-mechanical properties of hydrogen nuclei are important. Here we report the quantum distributions of protons in the three phases of solid hydrogen, obtained by a first-principles path-integral molecular dynamics method. We show that quantum fluctuations of protons effectively hinder molecular rotation--that is, a quantum localization occurs. The obtained crystal structures have entirely different symmetries from those predicted by the conventional simulations which treat protons classically.     

日本和美国的基础设施管理经验及教训研究(英文)

经过20世纪后期大量的建设后,面临着诸如桥梁破坏等新问题。同时,由于全球气候变暖现象,21世纪的基础设施管理制度必须建立在符合总成本效益比最小和防止全球变暖的条件下。文章介绍了日本和美国对社会基础设施的一些管理制度和经验。     

银离子络合萃取法及其在分离鱼油活性成分中的应用

进行了银离子络合萃取典型不饱和有机物一般规律研究 得出 ,当有机物的碳原子数与所含双键数 (或大π键数 )之比小于等于 6且没有空间位阻时 ,络合萃取可能进行 ;采用该络合法进行了高纯度浓缩鱼油中活性成分的研究 络合反应条件为 :硝酸银水溶液浓度4mol/L ,原料鱼油脂肪酸乙酯中活性成分含量 2 8% ,反应温度室温 ,反应 4h 络合后用升温及加水稀释法从水相中分离出被络合物 浓缩后活性成分含量达 90 %以上 ,回收率约 80 %     

用标准试样测定胶体粒子的电泳

本文讨论了用动电位为零的聚苯乙烯胶乳作为标准试样测定胶体的电泳淌度或ξ电位的原理、标準试样的制备条件及其稳定性。用本文的方法测定了两性胶乳和碘化银溶胶的ξ电位,并和一般显微镜方法测定的结果作了比较。实验证明,本文提出的测定方法的原理正确、简便、重现性好,无一般方法的缺点。