Rainwater drainage management for urban development based on public-private partnership.

The Urban Development Corporation (UDC) is one of the biggest implementation bodies for urban development in Japan. UDC has developed rainwater infiltration technology since 1975. This technology has effectively reduced runoff to a river and sewer system in the new town project areas. Recently, UDC has developed a new system which is defined as a "Rainwater Recycle Sewer System", which is supported by "Rainwater Storage and Infiltration Technology (RSIT)" applicable to new town creation and urban renewal. The new system consists of two elements: RSIT components based on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) and a stormwater drainage system. Herein, the private sector is responsible for the main part of RSIT, and the public sector is responsible for the stormwater drainage from the development area. As a result, the capacity of public facilities, such as rainwater sewers and stormwater reservoirs, can be reduced effectively. In parallel, the initial/running cost of public facilities is expected to be reduced. In conclusion, the authors would stress the importance of a co-maintenance system also based on PPP, which will be required especially in order to properly operate the whole system for the long term.

Degradation kinetics and isomerization of cefdinir, a new oral cephalosporin, in aqueous solution. 1.

Hydrolytic degradation products of cefdinir were studied in acidic (pH 1), neutral (pH 6), and basic (pH 9) solutions. Seven major degradation products were isolated by preparative and/or high-performance liquid chromatography and characterized by UV, IR, 1H-NMR, and mass spectra. To clarify degradation pathways in each pH solution, kinetic and product analyses during hydrolysis of cefdinir were carried out along with the followup reaction of representative degradation products. Cefdinir was shown to degrade via two major degradation routes: beta-lactam ring-opening and pH-dependent isomerizations (lactonization, epimerization at C-6 or C-7, syn-anti isomerization of N-oxime function).

Degradation kinetics and isomerization of cefdinir, a new oral cephalosporin, in aqueous solution. 2. Hydrolytic degradation pathway and mechanism for beta-lactam ring opened lactones.

Hydrolysis of cefdinir leads to pH-dependent isomerizations and beta-lactam ring-opening. Lactam ring opened gamma-lactones were produced as a mixture of four diastereoisomers based on the lactone methyl, and C-6 isomerizations in acidic to neutral solutions. Cefdinir and its 7-epimer were hydrolyzed to clarify the pathway leading to these lactones and the mechanism of C-6 epimerization with the aid of chiral separation techniques. Chiral separation using a bovine serum albumin column was employed to detect the beta-lactam ring opened products of cefdinir and its 7-epimer; the C-6 and C-7 isomerization was thereby observed; however, it was found to be pH-dependent at pH > or = 9. Optical activity detection applied to the lactones produced from cefdinir and its 7-epimer demonstrated that the corresponding peaks of these lactones were enantiomeric pairs. In addition, the smallest rate constant at pH 4 was observed for C-6 epimerization of the lactones, and it was found to proceed without deprotonation at C-6 by 1H-NMR spectroscopy. From the results of these studies, a plausible mechanism for C-6 epimerization has been proposed. Additionally, it was confirmed that two degradation pathways were involved during hydrolysis of cefdinir to the lactone.

[Ultrasonographic diagnosis of hidrohematometrocolpos: case report]. / Diagnóstico ultra-sonográfico de hidrohematometrocolpos: relato de caso.

After reviewing the literature, the authors report a case and the ultrasonographic findings of hidrohematometrocolpos. They also report the differential diagnoses and the diagnostic criteria.

Method development for the determination of cefdinir and its related substances by high-performance liquid chromatography.

The validation of the HPLC method used for the determination of cefdinir and its related substances is described. The developed method was specific and stability-indicating and provided a linear response with concentration. The system and method precision, expressed as relative standard deviations, were not greater than 1%, and the reproducibilities within and between laboratories were acceptable for the assay method. The procedure can quantitate related substances greater than approximately 0.05% of the principal cefdinir peak.

Arterial supply of the masseter muscle in the lion (Panthera leo).

There are few reports on the vascular system of the lion or Panthera leo except for that on the facial artery investigated by Lin and Takemura (1990). Morphological analysis of the masseter muscle of the lion according to the muscle-tendon theory has been performed only by Takemura et al. (1991). The present authors attempted to elucidate the blood supply of the masseter, using 3 lion heads injected with acryl plastic into the carotid system by the plastic vascular injection method. This description is based on examination of the detailed laminar formation of the masseter. The findings are discussed in comparison with those of the felid family in carnivorae. Masseteric branches of the superficial temporal, buccal and facial arteries were distributed to the primary sublayer of the superficial layer, those of the above arteries and the masseteric artery to its secondary sublayer, the intermediate layer and the anterior and posterior portions of the deep layer, and those of the superficial temporal and masseteric arteries to the primary sublayer of the posterior portion of the deep layer. The maxillomandibularis muscle was supplied by the buccal and masseteric arteries and the zygomaticomandibularis by the superficial temporal and posterior auricular arteries as well. No gross differences between the lion and cat were observed in arterial supply of the masseter proper and improper, although the superficial temporal artery was distributed only to the superficial and intermediate layers in the cat but to all the deep layers in the lion.

On the laminar formation of the masseter muscle in the lion (Panthera leo).

An investigation was made of the laminar structure of the masseter muscle in 3 lions (Panthera leo s. Felis leo), and the findings obtained were evaluated in comparison with those in some other carnivora. Although the general aspect of the masseter of the lion resembled that of the cat, there was no close similarity or analogy between them. The construction of the masseter in the lion was as follows. The superficial layer consisted of primary and secondary sublayers, the intermediate layer was composed of anterior and posterior portions, and the deep layer also had anterior and posterior portions. Among these three layers (the masseter proper muscle), the superficial layer was extremely well developed as a characteristic feature of this species. The maxillomandibularis muscle was developed in a muscular element of its origin and had its tendinous insertion on the anteroinferior margin of the masseteric fossa. The zygomaticomandibularis muscle was also fairly well developed in the form of two muscular bundles which originated from the temporal crest, a shelf forming a lateral protrusion on the basis of the zygomatic process, and its posterior surface. Both muscles were also well developed as the masseter improper. Such a huge and complicated laminar pattern of the masseter muscle in the lion should be sufficient to exert a strong force as a predatory animal.

Microvascular architecture of the enamel organ of the upper major incisor in the rabbit.

The ultrastructure of the ameloblasts in the rabbit major incisor was investigated previously by Okada (1983) and the amelogenetic process was classified into six zones/stages. The present paper deals with changes in the microvascular architecture and ultrastructure of the blood capillaries in proportion to the amelogenetic process in the upper major incisor of the rabbit utilizing the acryl plastic injection method. Three different vascular layers were observed in the periodontal spaces of the major incisor of the rabbit. The inner vascular network consisted of a capillary network supplying the enamel organ and its meshes have vigorously changed during the amelogenesis. The capillary network was observed to be in the shape of a ladder with a continuous wall in the proliferation zone, to appear as round meshes with a fenestrated wall in the differentiation zone, as polygonal meshes with abundant fenestrations in the secretion zone, as ovoid meshes with fenestrations in the early maturation zone, and finally as coarse and avoid meshes with a continuous wall again in the late maturation and regression zones. In the intermediate layer, arterioles and venules were located close to the capillary network, and the arterioles were derived from the short and long branches of the anterior superior alveolar artery. In the outer layer, a sinusoid network was observed to be in contact with the alveolar wall and received blood from the capillary network as well as venous vessels in the alveolar bone. The ladder-shaped capillary network mentioned above was thought to represent an intermediate form towards the succeeding zone, in which the round meshes may be suitable for supplying the nutrient elements that are needed in the differentiation of the inner enamel epithelial cells. The polygonal and ovoid meshes may be favorable for the transport of various necessary metabolic materials that are involved in the enamel ground substance formation and calcium deposition within a very short period.

Thrombopoietic activity of human interleukin-6.

Thrombopoietin (TPO), a regulatory factor in platelet production, was purified from the conditioned medium of TNK-01 cells cultured in the presence of human interleukin-1. The N-terminal sequence of purified TPO was determined to be VPPGEDSKDVAAPHRQPLT, identical to that of the N-terminal region of human interleukin-6 (IL-6). Two forms of TPO with molecular masses of 24 and 27 kDa were identified as IL-6 by Western analysis using an anti-IL-6 antibody. Commercial recombinant human IL-6 produced in Escherichia coli, stimulated megakaryocyte colony formation in the presence of mouse interleukin-3 and increased the number of peripheral platelets in mice in a dose-dependent manner. From these results, it is concluded that human IL-6 has thrombopoietic activity.

Human urinary erythropoietin: preparation with high potency.

Human urinary erythropoietin has been purified to homogeneity. The seven-step procedure yielded a preparation with a potency of 225,000 U/mg protein. SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of the purified hormone revealed a single protein band with a molecular weight of about 35,000 that migrated with the biological activity. As to its stability, the purified hormone retained its activity in the presence of 0.001% Tween 20.

Human erythropoietin stimulates murine megakaryopoiesis in serum-free culture.

Recombinant erythropoietin (Epo) was capable of stimulating murine megakaryopoiesis both in serum-containing and serum-free cultures, although a relatively high amount of Epo was necessary to provide sufficient stimulus for colony growth. This observation was further confirmed by experiments using nonadherent, nonphagocytic, and T-cell-depleted marrow cells in which Epo stimulated the growth of single megakaryocytes, as well as clusters or colonies. Total plate analysis revealed that twice as many single megakaryocytes and two-cell aggregates were generated by Epo than generated by pokeweed mitogen-stimulated spleen cell-conditioned medium (PWM-SCM). The number of colonies with four or more cells formed by PWM-SCM, however, was significantly higher than that generated by Epo. These results suggest that in comparison to the factor(s) in PWM-SCM, Epo stimulates the growth of more mature progenitors.

Purification and properties of an alpha-D-xylosidase from Aspergillus niger.

Two components of alpha-D-xylosidase (alpha-D-xylosidase I and II) were detected in the culture filtrate of Aspergillus nigher grown in a medium containing Sanzyme 1000-treated Glyloid 2A. The major component (alpha-D-xylosidase I) was purified to an electrophoretically pure state. The purified enzyme showed approximately 540-fold increase in specific activity over the original culture filtrate. The purified enzyme was shown to be an oligomeric protein consisting of four subunits, each of which had a molecular weight of 123,000. The enzyme showed the highest activity at pH 2.5-3.0 and 45 degrees C, and was stable in the pH range from 3.0 to 7.0 and at the temperatures up to 60 degrees C. The isoelectric point of this enzyme was pH 5.6. The purified enzyme was highly specific for p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-xylopyranoside and isoprimeverose (6-O-alpha-D-xylopyranosyl-D-glucopyranose). The apparent Km and Vmax values of the enzyme for p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-xylopyranoside and isoprimeverose were 10.5 mM and 40.8 mumol/min/mg protein, and 2.2 mM and 30 mumol/min/mg protein, respectively. The purified enzyme could also split off the alpha-D-xylopyranosyl residue on the non-reducing terminal of the backbone of oligoxyloglucans such as alpha-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----4)-[(alpha-D-xylopyranosyl-(1----6)-]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl- (1----4)-] 2-D-glucopyranose.

A novel enzyme producing isoprimeverose from oligoxyloglucans of Aspergillus oryzae.

An enzyme producing isoprimeverose from xyloglucan fragment oligosaccharides has been purified to the electrophoretically pure state from a commercial enzyme preparation of Aspergillus oryzae (Sanzyme 1000). The purified enzyme showed approximately 1,280-fold increase of the specific activity over the original preparation. The purified enzyme was shown to be an oligomeric protein consisting of two subunits, each of which had a molecular weight of 115,000. The enzyme showed the highest activity at pH 5.0 and 60 degrees C, and was stable in the pH range from 5 to 7 and at up to 50 degrees C. The isoelectric point of this enzyme was pH 3.9. The purified enzyme was highly specific for xyloglucan fragment oligosaccharides and split off isoprimeverose units from the non-reducing end of the backbone of the substrate.