CD63, a member of tetraspanin membrane protein family, plays pivotal role in cell growth, motility, signal transduction, host-pathogen interactions and cancer. In this work, the cDNA encoding CD63 homologue (TmCD63) was cloned from larvae of coleopteran beetle, Tenebrio molitor. The cDNA is comprised of an open reading frame of 705 bp, encoding putative protein of 235 amino acid residues. In silico analysis shows that the protein has four putative transmembrane domains and one large extracellular loop. The characteristic ‘Cys-Cys-Gly’ motif and ‘Cys188’ residues are highly conserved in the large extracellular loop. Phylogenetic analysis of TmCD63 revealed that they belong to the insect cluster with 50-56% identity. Analysis of spatial expression patterns demonstrated that TmCD63 mRNA is mainly expressed in gut and Malphigian tubules of larvae and the testis of the adult. Developmental expression patterns of CD63 mRNA showed that TmCD63 transcripts are detected in late larval, pupal and adult stages. Interestingly, TmCD63 transcript was upregulated the maximum 4.5 fold in response to DAP-type peptidoglycan during the first 6 h, although other immune elicitors also made significant increase in the transcript level at later time-points. These results suggest that CD63 might contribute to T. molitor immune response against various microbial pathogens.

We have identified novel ricin-type (R-type) lectin by sequencing of random clones from cDNA library of the coleopteran beetle, T.molitor. The cDNA sequence is comprised of 495 bp encoding a protein of 164 amino acid residues and shows 49% identity with galectin of Tribolium castaneum. Bioinformatics analysis shows that the amino acid residues from 35 to 162 belong to ricin-type β-trefoil structure. The transcript was significantly upregulated after early hours of injection with peptidoglycans derived from Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria, beta-1, 3 glucan from fungi and an intracellular pathogen, L. monocytogenes suggesting putative function in innate immunity.

Alpha-tocopherol as an antioxidant acts in preservation of chilled semen by preserving cell membrane damage from lipid peroxidation. Optimum concentrations of α-tocopherol in egg yolk-citrate (EYC) extender need to be studied in crossbred bull’s semen. Different concentrations of α-tocopherol viz. 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6mg per ml of extender were used. Semen was collected once a week from four bulls used to regular collection, aged 4 to 7 years, weighing 320 to 450 kg, and with body condition score 4 to 4.5 and scrotal circumference 23 to 32 cm. Semen was evaluated routinely and sperm morphology was viewed under light microscope at ×1,000 magnification after fixing with buffered formal saline. Over 90% had normal head, acrosome, mid-piece and tail. Semen was diluted with egg-yolk-citrate extender to produce 15×106 spermatozoa/ml and 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6 mg/ml α-tocopherol were added. The semens amples were kept at 8℃. Sperm motility and viability were examined daily up to 5 days under light microscopy at ×200 magnification. Sperm viability was acceptable (≥40%) up to the 4th day with all concentrations of α-tocopherol and up to the 5th day with 2 mg/ml α-tocopherol. Sperm motility was acceptable (≥40%) up to the 3rd day irrespective of α-tocopherol concentration, and up to the 4th day with 2 mg/ml α-tocopherol. It is suggested that the lifespan of chilled semen may be extended up to 4 days by adding 2mg/ml α-tocopherol.

Following the first Public Release of the AKARI Point Source catalogues, we have worked on the production of a new far-infrared All-Sky Diffuse mapping product. In this paper we report first results from the All Sky diffuse maps that will shortly be released to the community, based on analysis of data from the Far Infrared Surveyor ( 65 μm − 160 μm ) instrument. These data are likely to have a strong impact on studies of extended structures, and the diffuse ISM.

Far-infrared observations provide crucial data for the investigation and characterisation of the properties of dusty material in the Interstellar Medium (ISM), since most of its energy is emitted between ~ 100 and 200 μm . We present the first all-sky image from a sensitive all-sky survey using the Japanese AKARI satellite, in the wavelength range 50 − 180 μm . Covering > 99% of the sky in four photometric bands with four filters centred at 65 μm , 90 μm , 140 μm , and 160 μ m wavelengths, this achieved spatial resolutions from 1 to 2 arcmin and a detection limit of < 10 MJy s r − 1 , with absolute and relative photometric accuracies of < 20%. All-sky images of the Galactic dust continuum emission enable astronomers to map the large-scale distribution of the diffuse ISM cirrus, to study its thermal dust temperature, emissivity and column density, and to measure the interaction of the Galactic radiation field and embedded objects with the surrounding ISM. In addition to the point source population of stars, protostars, star-forming regions, and galaxies, the high Galactic latitude sky is shown to be covered with a diffuse filamentary-web of dusty emission that traces the potential sites of high latitude star formation. We show that the temperature of dust particles in thermal equilibrium with the ambient interstellar radiation field can be estimated by using 90 μm , 140 μm , and 160 μm data. The FIR AKARI full-sky maps provide a rich new data set within which astronomers can investigate the distribution of interstellar matter throughout our Galaxy, and beyond.

Only an optimum number of viable spermatozoa in a frozen-thawed insemination dose can ensure conception at artificial insemination (AI). We report here the percentages of normal, abnormal and viable spermatozoa present in the frozen-thawed semen of 20 Black Bengal bucks used for commercial AI. Bucks in this experiment were of 19.3~46.1 months old and 25~42 kg body weight. Four semen straws (0.25 ml) from each buck were collected for evaluation of their kinetic parameters. Scrotal circumference was measured by using a scrotal tape, sperm motility was estimated on eye estimation and sperm concentration was determined by using a haemocytometer. Sperm morphology was studied in paraformaldehyde fixed spermatozoa under differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope. To determine the proportion of live (plasma membrane intact) spermatozoa, semen was stained with SYBR-14 and propidium iodide and examined under fluorescent microscope. Scrotal circumference, post-thaw sperm motility, sperm concentration per insemination dose and proportion of normal spermatozoa were , , million and , respectively. The percentages of spermatozoa with head shape and acrosome abnormalities were lower ( and , respectively), whereas higher percentages of abnormalities () were observed in mid piece and tail portion. The proportion of live spermatozoa was . It is concluded that although a good number of morphologically normal spermatozoa are present in the insemination dose, the proportion of live spermatozoa is low, which warrants further improvements of buck semen freezing procedures to ensure good quality at AI.

Successful in vitro embryo production heavily relies on the normal maturation and fertilisation of oocytes. We examined the normal and abnormal fertilisation of zebu cattle oocytes matured in vitro. Immature cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) from zebu cattle ovaries at slaughter were matured in vitro (IVM) for 24 h. The oocytes were either fixed, stained and examined for nuclear changes or fertilised in vitro (IVF) with Percoll-separated, heparintreated spermatozoa (1.0 /mL) of zebu (n = 7) and crossbred bulls (n = 7). After 18 h of sperm-COCs co-incubation at C with 5% in humidified air, the presumptive zygotes were fixed, stained and examined for pronuclei. The number of oocytes retrieved per ovary was 5.4 0.7. The percentage of matured oocytes was 73.0. The difference in motility of spermatozoa before and after Percoll seperation was significant (p<0.001). The percentages of normal and abnormal fertilisation (polyspermia and oocytes with one pronucleus) varied significantly depending on individual bulls (p<0.05). A protocol for IVF of IVM oocytes in Bangladeshi zebu cattle is developed. A future study may elucidate the capacity of such IVM-IVF oocytes to develop to the blastocyst stage for transfer to surrogate mother.

Oral squamous carcinoma (OSC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of the oral mucosa. Although the etiology of OSC is not fully understood, accumulated evidences indicate that the activation of proto-oncogenes and the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes underlie the disease development. An OSC cell line, YD-9 was newly established and characterized. However, the mutational analysis of p53 gene was not performed. Thus, in this study, the presence of mutation in the p53 gene was examined by amplification of exon-4 to -8 and subsequent DNA sequencing. Two point mutations were found in exon-4 and -6: A to G, resulting in amino acid change Tyr to Cys in exon-4, and C to G, resulting in amino acid change Gly to Arg in exon-6, respectively. Any mutation was not found in the exon-5, -7 and -8. The presented results would contribute to basic research to understand the biological mechanism of OSC using YD-9 cells.

Through different projects, CETIM and its scientific and industrial partners have evaluated the potential of the High Velocityy Compaction Technology in terms of materials and component shape. Various kinds of powder materials were studied: metals, ceramics and polymers. The HVC process was used with success to manufacture gears, large parts and multilevel components. Due to the high density of HVC parts, the green machining process enables shapes to be produced that would otherwise be impossible to compact and components to be produced with very hard sintered and homogeneous materials.

We have searched for HI 21 cm line emission from shocked atomic gas associated with southern supernova remnants (SNRs) using data from the Southern Galactic Plane Survey. Among the 97 sources studied, we have detected 10 SNRs with high-velocity HI emission confined to the SNR. The large velocity and the spatial confinement suggest that the emission is likely from the gas accelerated by the SN blast wave. We also detected 22 SNRs which show HI emission significantly brighter than the surrounding regions over a wide (>10 km s-1) velocity interval. The association with these SNRs is less certain. We present the parameters and maps of the excess emission in these SNRs. We discuss in some detail the ten individual SNRs with associated high-velocity HI emission.

Recent developments in nanocrystalline and nanocomposite rare earth-transition metal magnets are reviewed and emphasis is placed on research work at IFW Dresden. Principal synthesis methods include high energy ball milling, melt spinning, mold casting and hydrogen assisted methods such as reactive milling and hydrogenation-disproportionation-desorption-recombination. These techniques are applied to NdFeB-, PrFeB- and SmCo-type systems with the aim to produce high remanence magnets with high coercivity. Concepts of maximizing the energy density in nanostructured magnets by either inducing a texture via anisotropic HDDR or hot deformation or enhancing the remanence via magnetic exchange coupling are evaluated. With respect to high temperature applications melt spun ribbons were prepared, which showed coercivities of up to 0.53 T at 50. Partially amorphous alloys were prepared by copper mold casting. The effect of transition metal content on the glass-forming ability and the magnetic properties was investigated. The alloy exhibits an amorphous structure shown by the corresponding diffraction pattern. A small substitution of Co by 2.5 at.% Fe results In the formation of Fe-rich crystallites embedded in the Nd-rich amorphous matrix. The Fe-rich crystallites show hard magnetic behaviour at room temperature with a coercivity value of about 0.4 T, relatively low saturation magnetization and a Curie temperature of 500 K.

The C-type mesophase pitch-based carbon fiber (C-MPCF) was prepared throuch C-type spinnerette and compared the mechanical properties to those of round type mesophase pitch fiber (R-MPCF) and C-type isotropic pitch fiber (C-iPCF). The tensile strength and modulus of C-MPCF were about 18.6% and 35.7% higher than those of R-MPCF. The tensile strength of C-MPCF was 62% higher than that of C-iPCF of the same 8μm thickness because of more linear transverse texture, which could be easily converted to graphitic crystallinity during heat treatment. The torsional rigidity of C-MPCF was 2.37 times higher than that of R-MPCF. The electrical resistivity of C-MPCF was 8μΩ·m. The C-iPCF shows far lower electrical resistivity than R-iPCF as well as the mesophase carbon fiber because of better alignment of texture to the fiber axis.

We review observational evidence bearing on the formation of a prototypical large spiral galaxy, the Milky Way. New ground- and space-based studies of globular star clusters and dwarf spheroidal galaxies provide a wealth of information to constrain theories of galaxy formation. It appears likely that the Milky Way formed by an combination of rapid, dissipative collapse and mergers, but the relative contributions of these two mechanisms remain controversial. New evidence, however, indicates that initial star and star cluster formation occurred simultaneously over a volume that presently extends to twice the distance of the Magellanic Clouds.