Search

More than 10 y have passed since the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1-NPP) accident, but there are still many areas with high levels of radioactive contamination, especially reservoirs and lakes, where the levels decrease slowly. The exposed dose to non-human biota is of great concern. In this work, the exposure dose to wild medaka (small aquarium fish) around F1-NPP was measured/estimated by two approaches: in situ measurement and with the ERICA assessment tool. S2 is a reservoir located 7.5 km from F1-NPP, and the ambient dose rate was 25.0 μSv per h in 2012, but decreased to 4.82 μSv per h in 2021. The external exposure dose rate to wild medaka living there was 0.8–11.8 μGy per h (2017–21) by in situ measurement, and the estimated dose rate with the ERICA assessment tool was 0.6–54.5 μGy per h (2012–21). The estimated and measured doses to wild medaka are not expected to cause any significant radiation effects.

Investigation on possible induction of adaptive response (AR) by high-liner energy transfer (LET) particle radiation for protection against low-LET photon radiation-induced detrimental effects has not yet been performed in utero. This study verified if an AR could be induced by high-LET particle radiation from accelerated heavy ions against low-LET X-ray radiation-induced detrimental effects on fetal mice. Total body irradiation of pregnant C57BL/6J mice were performed by delivering a priming dose ranging from 10 mGy to 320 mGy of particle radiation on gestation day 11 followed one day later by a challenge dose at 3500 mGy from X-ray radiation. The monoenergetic beams of carbon, silicon and iron with the LET values of about 15, 55, and 200 KeV/μm, respectively, were examined. Significant suppression by the priming radiation of the detrimental effects (fetal death, malformation, or low body weight) was used as the endpoints for judgment of a successful AR induction on gestation day 18. Existence of AR was not observed. On the other hand, the priming dose of high-LET particle radiation, in some cases, even increased the detrimental effects induced by the challenge dose from low-LET X-ray radiation. Although existence of AR induced by high-LET radiation in cultured mammalian cells in vitro and in certain tissues of laboratory mice in vivo was demonstrated, the present study did not suggest that low dose of high-LET particle radiation could induce an AR in fetal mice in utero under the setup of our experimental system

Astronauts can develop psychological stress (PS) during space flights due to the enclosed environment, microgravity, altered light-dark cycles, and risks of equipment failure or fatal mishaps. At the same time, they are exposed to cosmic rays including high atomic number and energy (HZE) particles such as iron-56 (Fe) ions. Psychological stress or radiation exposure can cause detrimental effects in humans. An earlier published pioneering study showed that chronic restraint-induced psychological stress (CRIPS) could attenuate Trp53 functions and increase carcinogenesis induced by low-linear energy transfer (LET) γ rays in Trp53-heterozygous (Trp53+/–) mice. To elucidate possible modification effects from CRIPS on high-LET HZE particle-induced health consequences, Trp53+/– mice were received both CRIPS and accelerated Fe ion irradiation. Six-week-old Trp53+/– C57BL/6N male mice were restrained 6 h per day for 28 consecutive days. On day 8, they received total-body Fe-particle irradiation (Fe-TBI, 0.1 or 2 Gy). Metaphase chromosome spreads prepared from splenocytes at the end of the 28-day restraint regimen were painted with the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for chromosomes 1 (green), 2 (red) and 3 (yellow). Induction of psychological stress in our experimental model was confirmed by increase in urinary corticosterone level on day 7 of restraint regimen. Regardless of Fe-TBI, CRIPS reduced splenocyte number per spleen at the end of the 28-day restraint regimen. At 2 Gy, Fe-TBI alone induced many aberrant chromosomes and no modifying effect was detected from CRIPS on induction of aberrant chromosomes. Notably, neither Fe-TBI at 0.1 Gy nor CRIPS alone induced any increase in the frequency of aberrant chromosomes, while simultaneous exposure resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal exchanges. These findings clearly showed that CRIPS could enhance the frequency of chromosomal exchanges induced by Fe-TBI at a low dose of 0.1 Gy.

Astronauts can develop psychological stress (PS) during space flights due to the enclosed environment, microgravity, altered light-dark cycles, and risks of equipment failure or fatal mishaps. At the same time, they are exposed to cosmic rays including high atomic number and energy (HZE) particles such as iron-56 (Fe) ions. Psychological stress or radiation exposure can cause detrimental effects in humans. An earlier published pioneering study showed that chronic restraint-induced psychological stress (CRIPS) could attenuate Trp53 functions and increase carcinogenesis induced by low-linear energy transfer (LET) γ rays in Trp53-heterozygous (Trp53+/-) mice. To elucidate possible modification effects from CRIPS on high-LET HZE particle-induced health consequences, Trp53+/- mice were received both CRIPS and accelerated Fe ion irradiation. Six-week-old Trp53+/- C57BL/6N male mice were restrained 6 h per day for 28 consecutive days. On day 8, they received total-body Fe-particle irradiation (Fe-TBI, 0.1 or 2 Gy). Metaphase chromosome spreads prepared from splenocytes at the end of the 28-day restraint regimen were painted with the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes for chromosomes 1 (green), 2 (red) and 3 (yellow). Induction of psychological stress in our experimental model was confirmed by increase in urinary corticosterone level on day 7 of restraint regimen. Regardless of Fe-TBI, CRIPS reduced splenocyte number per spleen at the end of the 28-day restraint regimen. At 2 Gy, Fe-TBI alone induced many aberrant chromosomes and no modifying effect was detected from CRIPS on induction of aberrant chromosomes. Notably, neither Fe-TBI at 0.1 Gy nor CRIPS alone induced any increase in the frequency of aberrant chromosomes, while simultaneous exposure resulted in a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal exchanges. These findings clearly showed that CRIPS could enhance the frequency of chromosomal exchanges induced by Fe-TBI at a low dose of 0.1 Gy.

Since the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1-NPP) accident in 2011, radiation effects on wildlife in the contaminated areas have been a major concern. The outskirts of the F1-NPP are mainly rural areas, where many rice fields and streams and reservoirs are located. We searched for wild medaka (small aquarium fish) around the F1-NPPand found 2 wild medaka habitats (S1 and S2). S1 is a stream located 4 km from the F1-NPP, where the ambient dose equivalent rate was 0.4-0.9 μSv/h (2013-14), and S2 is a reservoir located 7.5 km from the F1-NPP, where the ambient dose equivalent rate was 9.8-22 μSv/h (2013-14 and 2017-18). Dosimeters were placed for one day at the locations where the medaka were captured, and the absorbed dose rates were estimated. Radiation effects on wild medaka were examined using micronucleus assay between 2013 and 2018. No significant difference in frequency of micronucleated gill cells was observed among the wild medaka from S1, S2 and our cultivated medaka that were used as a control.

Since the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1-NPP) accident in 2011, radiation effects on wildlife in the contaminated areas have been a major concern. The outskirts of the F1-NPP are mainly rural areas, where many rice fields, streams and reservoirs are located. We searched for wild medaka (small aquarium fish) around the F1-NPP and found two wild medaka habitats (S1 and S2). S1 is a stream located 4 km from the F1-NPP, where the ambient dose equivalent rate was 0.4–0.9 μSv/h (2013–14), and S2 is a reservoir located 7.5 km from the F1-NPP, where the ambient dose equivalent rate was 9.8–22 μSv/h (2013–14 and 2017–18). Dosimeters were placed for one day at the locations where the medaka were captured, and the absorbed dose rates were estimated. Radiation effects on wild medaka were examined using micronucleus assay between 2013 and 2018. No significant difference in frequency of micronucleated gill cells was observed among the wild medaka from S1, S2 and our cultivated medaka that were used as a control.

High atomic number and energy (HZE) particles such as iron-56 (Fe) ions are a major contributor to health risks in long-term manned space exploration. The aim of this study is to understand radiation-induced differential genotoxic effects between HZE particles and low linear energy transfer (LET) photons. C57BL/6J Jms female mice of 8 weeks old were exposed to total body irradiation of accelerated Fe-particles with a dose ranging from 0.1 to 3.0 Gy or of X-rays with a dose ranging from 0.1 to 5.0 Gy. Chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in splenocytes were examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization at 1- and 2-months after exposure. Clonal expansions of cells with CAs were found to be induced only by X-rays but not by Fe-particles. Dose-dependent increase in the frequencies of stable-type CAs was observed at 1- as well as 2-months after exposure to both radiation types. The frequencies of stable-type CAs in average were much higher in mice exposed to X-rays than those to Fe-particles and did not change significantly between 1- and 2-months after exposure to both radiation types. On the other hand, the frequencies of unstable-type CAs induced by X-rays and Fe-particles were not much different, and they appeared to decrease with time from 1- to 2-months after exposure. These results suggested that larger fraction of stable-type CAs induced by Fe-particles might be non-transmissible than those by X-rays because of some associating lethal alterations on themselves or on other chromosomes in the same cells and that these cells might be removed by 1-month after Fe-TBI. We also demonstrated that exposure to Fe-particles induced insertions at relatively higher frequency to other stable-type CAs than X-rays. Our findings suggest that insertions can be used as indicators of past exposure to high-LET particle radiation.

Background: Several factors found in foods are beneficial to human health and they may contribute to radiation protection. Taking food factors could be an easy way to reduce the effects of radiation after nuclear accidents, as well as secondary radiation risks after cancer radiotherapy or space missions. Here, diallyl disulfide (DADS), a component of garlic oil, was studied for its ability to mitigate radiation damage. Material/Methods: We investigated the effects of DADS on micronucleus (MN) formation and apoptosis in HepG2 cells by use of 4-Gy X-ray irradiation. We also assessed the effects of DADS on radiation damage in vivo by evaluating MN formation in bone marrow cells in mice (BALB/c, 8-week-old females) after oral intake of DADS prior to irradiation with 4 Gy. Several tissue effects were also investigated. Results: The presence of DADS inhibited MN formation, whereas DADS had no influence on the radiation-induced inhibition of cell cycle progression in HepG2 cells. An increase in apoptosis in HepG2 cells was induced after irradiation, and this effect was stronger in the presence of DADS than in its absence. In mice, when DADS was administered daily for 3 days prior to irradiation, MN formation in irradiated mice was decreased. The decrease in MN formation in mice was greater with 0.5% DADS compared to 1% DADS. Moreover, an increase in spleen weight observed 3 weeks after irradiation was suppressed in mice administered DADS. Conclusions: DADS is a potential radiation-protective agent that effectively mitigates DNA damage, and its effects in the spleen observed after irradiation may be related to inflammation and carcinogenesis

BACKGROUND Several factors found in foods are beneficial to human health and they may contribute to radiation protection. Taking food factors could be an easy way to reduce the effects of radiation after nuclear accidents, as well as secondary radiation risks after cancer radiotherapy or space missions. Here, diallyl disulfide (DADS), a component of garlic oil, was studied for its ability to mitigate radiation damage. MATERIAL AND METHODS We investigated the effects of DADS on micronucleus (MN) formation and apoptosis in HepG2 cells by use of 4-Gy X-ray irradiation. We also assessed the effects of DADS on radiation damage in vivo by evaluating MN formation in bone marrow cells in mice (BALB/c, 8-week-old females) after oral intake of DADS prior to irradiation with 4 Gy. Several tissue effects were also investigated. RESULTS The presence of DADS inhibited MN formation, whereas DADS had no influence on the radiation-induced inhibition of cell cycle progression in HepG2 cells. An increase in apoptosis in HepG2 cells was induced after irradiation, and this effect was stronger in the presence of DADS than in its absence. In mice, when DADS was administered daily for 3 days prior to irradiation, MN formation in irradiated mice was decreased. The decrease in MN formation in mice was greater with 0.5% DADS compared to 1% DADS. Moreover, an increase in spleen weight observed 3 weeks after irradiation was suppressed in mice administered DADS. CONCLUSIONS DADS is a potential radiation-protective agent that effectively mitigates DNA damage, and its effects in the spleen observed after irradiation may be related to inflammation and carcinogenesis.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish a new method of real-time, in vivo detection of radiation damage and recovery.Methods: The thymus was observed under fluorescent light in a g...

The relation of creep rupture life to minimum creep rate, namely Monkman-Grant (MG) relation is examined by using a creep database of modified 9Cr-1Mo steel. The database covers wide ranges of creep rupture life up to 1.2 × 105 h and of minimum creep rate down to 7.6 × 10−8 h−1. The MG plot exhibits a low overall value of MG exponent (p = 0.85) together with wide scatter of data points at long rupture life. Causes of the low p value and the wide scatter are discussed in the present study paying attention to change in creep curve shape with creep rupture life. There are four regions H, M, L1 and L2 showing different creep behavior in the steel. Regional MG relations are examined also in each region. Values of p are less than unity and change among the four regions. The p value is especially low (0.62) in long-term region L2. The regional p values less than unity result in the low overall p value of 0.85. The especially low regional value of p in the long-term region causes the wide scatter of data points in the overall MG plot. A modified Monkman-Grant equation (Eq. (29)) is proposed taking account of creep deceleration rate A (=−1/(dln e ˙ /de), where e ˙ and e are the creep strain rate and the creep strain) in primary creep and creep acceleration rate B (=1/(dln e ˙ /de)) in tertiary creep. The rates characterize shape of a creep curve. The modified equation can explain the difference of p values among the four regions.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to establish a new method of real-time, in vivo detection of radiation damage and recovery. Methods: The thymus was observed under fluorescent light in a green fluorescent protein transgenic medaka. After irradiation, medaka thymus images were analyzed to quantify the effects of radiation by measuring changes in thymus size. A single acute irradiation of X-rays (0–30 Gy) or heavy Fe ions (0–10 Gy) was delivered to the medaka. Images were captured 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 11, and 21 days after irradiation. Dose-response assessment was conducted to provide a direct measurement of the effects of the radiation. Conclusion: A biomonitoring system to detect the effects of radiation in real time was established. Using this system, the threshold doses for the induction of thymic atrophy by acute X-rays and Fe ions were 2–5 Gy and 0.5–1 Gy, respectively. The Relative Biological Effectiveness (RBE) of Fe-ion to X-rays was estimated to be around 3. This system may be used to evaluate the risk from concurrent exposure to hazards, such as chemicals and radiation, and for aging research.

Grade 91 steel is widely used as steam pipes in ultrasupercritical (USC) steam boilers. In residual creep life assessment of the pipes by calculation, one needs creep rupture life of the steel as a function of stress and temperature in a time range longer than 105 h. Four regions with different creep rupture characteristics appear in a stress versus creep rupture life diagram of the steel. Main steam pipes made of the steel are used in a long-term region with low values of stress exponent and activation energy for creep rupture life (referred to as region G in this paper). Creep rupture lives of the steel in this region vary from heat to heat depending on their prior austenite grain size. This paper proposes a grain size-dependent equation representing creep rupture life of the steel in region G. The equation is verified with creep rupture data up to 232,833 h at 600 °C. Region G is absent in some heats with a large grain size. The equation can rationalize the absence in the heats. In a stress versus creep rupture life diagram of grade 92 steel, there is the same long-term region G. In the region, a creep rupture life of each heat is dependent on its grain size as is the case in grade 91 steel. The proposed equation accords well with the creep rupture lives of the grade 92 steel in region G.

Application of green fluorescent protein (GFP) in a variety of biosystems as a unique bioindicator or biomarker has revolutionized biological research and made groundbreaking achievements, while increasing evidence has shown alterations in biological properties and physiological functions of the cells and animals overexpressing transgenic GFP. In this work, response to total body irradiation (TBI) was comparatively studied in GFP transgenic C57BL/6-Tg (CAG-EGFP) mice and C57BL/6 N wild type mice. It was demonstrated that GFP transgenic mice were more sensitive to radiation-induced bone marrow death, and no adaptive response could be induced. In the nucleated bone marrow cells of GFP transgenic mice exposed to a middle dose, there was a significant increase in both the percentage of cells expressing pro-apoptotic gene Bax and apoptotic cell death. While in wild type cells, lower expression of pro-apoptotic gene Bax and higher expression of anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2, and significant lower induction of apoptosis were observed compared to GFP transgenic cells. Results suggest that presence of GFP could alter response to TBI at whole body, cellular and molecular levels in mice. These findings indicate that there could be a major influence on the interpretation of the results obtained in GFP transgenic mice.

In this study, the ultrahigh-temperature tensile creep behaviour of a TiC-reinforced Mo-Si-B-based alloy was investigated in the temperature range of 1400–1600 °C at constant true stress. The tests were performed in a stress range of 100–300 MPa for 400 h under vacuum, and creep rupture data were rationalized with Larson-Miller and Monkman-Grant plots. Interestingly, the MoSiBTiC alloy displayed excellent creep strength with relatively reasonable creep parameters in the ultrahigh-temperature range: a rupture time of ~400 h at 1400 °C under 137 MPa with a stress exponent (n) of 3 and an apparent activation energy of creep (Qapp) of 550 kJ/mol. The increasing rupture strains with decreasing stresses (up to 70%) and moderate strain-rate oscillations in the creep curves suggest that two mechanisms contribute to the creep: phase boundary sliding between the hard T2 and (Ti,Mo)C phases and the Moss phase, and dynamic recovery and recrystallization in Moss, observed with orientation imaging scanning electron microscopy. The results presented here represent the first full analysis of creep for the MoSiBTiC alloy in an ultrahigh-temperature range. They indicate that the high-temperature mechanical properties of this material under vacuum are promising.

Background: Periostin is overexpressed in metastases from bone cancer. Many studies have indicated that periostin plays an important role in bone metastasis. Radiotherapy improves local tumor control, but recent evidence suggests that irradiation of the target tumor can promote tumor invasion and metastasis. Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of irradiation with carbon ion or gamma ray on the expression of periostin in breast cancer cells and the cytokine levels of osteoblasts in bone tumor metastases. Materials and methods: Breast cancer cells (FM3A/R cells) were exposed to carbon ion or gamma ray and then cocultured with non-irradiated osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. Periostin expression in breast cancer cells and the levels of cytokines influencing bone invasion in osteoblastic cells were measured. Results: Periostin expression increased after irradiation with carbon ion or gamma ray. Carbon ion-irradiated cells expressed less periostin than did gamma ray-irradiated cells. Carbon ion irradiation stimulated low levels of periostin synthesis than gamma ray irradiation. The cytokines influencing bone invasion levels rose in tandem with the increase in periostin level. Conclusions: Carbon ion irradiation may reduce the production of bone-destroying cytokines and vascularization factors by osteoblasts in the microenvironment of cancer invasion in bone. A combination of carbon ion irradiation and a periostin inhibitor would improve treatment of bone metastatic breast cancer.

Larson-Miller (LM) and Orr-Sherby-Dorn (OSD) parameters are widely used when formulating and predicting creep rupture life tr. The LM constant C and the activation energy Q in the OSD parameter characterize temperature dependence of tr. Q = QLSD (QLSD: activation energy for lattice self-diffusion) and C = 20 are often assumed in the formulation. Creep rupture datasets of 11 heats of nickel alloy A617, 304H and 304J1 stainless steels, 6 heats of A3004N aluminum alloy and four Mg-Al alloys are formulated with the parameters for determining C and Q of each dataset. Based on the correlation between C and Q among similar materials, it is discussed what is the C value equivalent to Q = QLSD. It is also examined how the C value changes with melting temperature of the material. The value of C equivalent to Q = QLSD varies from 14 to 9.5 depending on average values of log(rupture life) and of reciprocal temperature of the dataset. These values of C point out that C = 20 is not equivalent to Q = QLSD. The equivalent C values are similar in all the materials independently of their melting temperatures.

Boron segregation behavior during tempering at 600 and 790 °C was examined in a boron-doped 9Cr-steel by using high-resolution SIMS imaging (nano-SIMS). Boron segregation that developed at prior austenite grain boundaries (PAGBs) during austenitizing was found to decrease reduced during tempering because the equilibrium concentration of B segregation for austenite is larger than that for ferrite so that the segregated boron atoms diffused into block and packet boundaries. The size and the volume fraction of the carbide precipitates at PAGBs were smaller than those at packet boundaries, suggesting that boron segregation at PAGBs suppresses the carbide precipitation upon tempering.

Heat-to-heat variation of creep strength is significant in grade 91 (Gr.91) steel, but the causes of the variation have not been well understood yet. In the present paper, creep rupture data of 14 heats of Gr.91 steel were analyzed paying attention to their chemical compositions and microstructures. The longest creep rupture lives analyzed are 2 × 105 h at 500 and 550 °C and 105 h at 600 °C. The causes of the heat-to-heat variation are different, depending on creep test conditions. At low temperature and high stress (creep rupture life of 104 h at 500 and 550 °C), creep rupture strength increases with increase of hardness after tempering. This suggests strengthening by a fine subgrain microstructure developed during normalizing and subsequent tempering. At higher temperature and intermediate time range (104 h at 600 °C), creep rupture strength depends on Cr concentration of the heats in addition to the hardness. This finding suggests an important contribution of recovery process of the subgrain microstructures to creep strength of the steel. In long-term creep (2×105 h at 550 °C and 105 h at 600 °C) creep rupture strength primarily increases with increasing grain size of the heats. This suggests that grain boundary sliding is an important deformation mode at low strain rate because of fine grain size usual with Gr.91 steel. Specifications on Ni concentration and N%/Al% ratio are newly introduced in the type II version of Gr.91 steel. They are not effective to eliminate a heat with low creep strength.

The present paper studies stress, temperature and heat dependence of creep rupture life of 9Cr-1.8W-0.5Mo-VNb (Gr. 92) steel with creep rupture data of 4 heats reported in National Institute for Materials Science Creep Data Sheet 48B. In creep of Gr. 92 steel there are four regions, H, M, L and G, showing different stress and temperature dependence of creep rupture life. Creep rupture life of Gr. 92 steel increases with increasing hardness after tempering in Regions H and M (high and medium stress), and with increasing prior austenite grain size in long-term Region G. Its creep rupture life is insensitive to the heats in low-stress Region L. Creep rupture lives of the steel are formulated in each region as a function of stress, temperature and a metallurgical variable determining its creep rupture life. Two types of breakdown in creep strength (substantial decrease in stress exponent for creep rupture life) take place in Gr. 92 steel; one from Region M to Region L, and the other from Region M or L to Region G. Since Gr. 92 steel is used in Region G in steam power boilers, the second breakdown to Region G is of engineering importance. Causes of the second breakdown are discussed with creep rupture data of four grades of creep strength enhanced ferritic steels.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to report the case of a patient who underwent vitrectomy for bilateral rhegmatogenous retinal detachment caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis while undergoing steroid and immunosuppressant therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Case Report: We report on a 29-year-old female who was undergoing steroids and immunosuppressants treatment for SLE at Osaka Medical College Hospital, Takatsuki City, Japan. Examination of the patient due to prolonged and worsening diarrhea revealed positive test results for C7-HRP, and she was diagnosed with CMV colitis. She was subsequently admitted to the hospital and started on intravenous ganciclovir for treatment. Approximately 1.5 months later, her primary complaint was deterioration of the upper visual field in her left eye, and she was then referred to the Department of Ophthalmology. Numerous granular exudative spots were found around the lower retinal area of her left eye with retinal breaks that had developed in an area of retinal necrosis that resulted in retinal detachment. After time was allowed for the patient’s general condition to improve, a vitrectomy was performed on that eye. The patient subsequently developed a similar retinal detachment in her right eye, for which she underwent a vitrectomy. Although the patient required multiple surgeries on both eyes, her retinas currently remain reattached and the inflammation has subsided. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that strict attention must be paid to SLE patients on immunosuppressive therapy due to the possible association of CMV retinitis.

The existence of radiation-induced adaptive response (AR) was reported in varied biosystems. In mice, the first in vivo AR model was established using X-rays as both the priming and the challenge doses and rescue of bone marrow death as the end point. The underlying mechanism was due to the priming radiation-induced resistance in the blood-forming tissues. In a series of investigations, we further demonstrated the existence of AR using different types of ionizing radiation (IR) including low linear energy transfer (LET) X-rays and high LET heavy ion. In this article, we validated hematopoietic stem cells/hematopoietic progenitor cells (HSCs/HPCs) measured as endogenous colony-forming units-spleen (CFU-S) under AR inducible and uninducible conditions using combination of different types of IR. We confirmed the consistency of increased CFU-S number change with the AR inducible condition. These findings suggest that AR in mice induced by different types of IR would share at least in part a common underlying mechanism, the priming IR-induced resistance in the blood-forming tissues, which would lead to a protective effect on the HSCs/HPCs and play an important role in rescuing the animals from bone marrow death. These findings provide a new insight into the mechanistic study on AR in vivo.

Predictions as to 105 hrs creep rupture strength of grade 91 steel have been made recently. The predictions should be verified by some means, since they are based on certain assumptions. A formula for predicting long-term creep rupture lives should correctly describe long-term data points used in its formulation. Otherwise the formula cannot properly predict further longer-term creep rupture lives. On the basis of this consideration, the predictions are examined with long-term creep rupture data of the steel. In the predictions three creep rupture databases were used: data of tube products of grade 91 steel reported in NIMS Creep Data Sheet (NIMS T91 database), data of T91 steel collected in Japan, and data of grade 91 steel collected by an ASME code committee. Short-term creep rupture data points were discarded by the following criteria for minimizing overestimation of the strength: selecting long-term data points with low activation energy (multi-region analysis), selecting data points crept at stresses lower than a half of proof stress (σ0.2/2 criterion), and selecting data points longer than 1000 hrs (cut-off time of 1000 hrs). In the case of NIMS T91 database, a time-temperature parameter (TTP) analysis of a dataset selected by the multi-region analysis can properly describe the long-term data points. However, the TTP analyses of datasets selected by the σ0.2/2 criterion and by the cut-off time of 1000 hrs from the same database overestimate the long-term data points. The different criteria for data selection have more substantial effects on predicted values of the strength of the steel than difference of the databases.

Hemoglobin transports oxygen in many organisms and consists of α- and β-globin chains. Previously, using molecular phylogenetic analysis, we proposed that both α- and β-globins of teleost could be classified into four groups. We also showed that the Hd-rR strain of medaka (Oryzias latipes) inhabiting southern Japan had all four groups of globin genes but that the α- and β-globin genes of group III were pseudogenized (α5(ψα), β5(ψβ)). Based on the small degree of nucleotide variations, the pseudogenization of β5 was assumed to have occurred at a relatively late stage of evolution. Here, we compared the α5(ψα)-β5(ψβ) of two other strains of O. latipes and found that both α5(ψα) and β5(ψβ) of the northern Japanese and Korean strains were pseudogenized similar to those of Hd-rR. In a Philippine population (Oryzias luzonensis), α5(ψα) was also pseudogenized, but the structure was different from that of O. latipes, and β5(ψβ) was almost deleted. Interestingly, an Indonesian population (Oryzias celebensis) had α5 and β5 genes that were deduced to be functional. Indeed, they were expressed from the young to adult development stages, and this expression pattern was consistent with the expression of α2 and ad.α1 in Hd-rR. Because α2 and ad.α1 in Hd-rR were assigned to groups I and II, respectively, we speculate that their expression patterns might be altered by pseudogenization of group III genes. These results provide a basis for further investigations of recruiting and changing expression patterns of one globin gene after pseudogenization of other globin genes during evolution.

Background: For the delivery of oxygen, the correct size/number of erythrocytes is required for proper blood flow. Results: By combined analyses of wild-type (WT) medaka and the kyoho (kyo) mutant, we found proliferation-mediated adaptation for size/number of erythrocytes in the blood flow during medaka development. Before the start of heart beating in the WT medaka, the karyotype of erythrocytes was 2N-4N. After the start of blood flow, the karyotype changed to 4N-8N with tetraploidization, and the cell size became larger. After the start of intersegmental and pharyngeal blood flow, the erythrocytes became smaller. The medaka mutant kyo showed erythrocytes of large size, and positional cloning of kyo demonstrated the candidate gene TFDP1, indicating higher polyploidization due to arrest in S-phase in erythrocytes of the kyo mutant. Conclusions: From our findings, we uncovered a previously unrecognized system for the regulation of the size/number in the blood flow:proliferation of erythrocytes following tetraploidization during embryonic development. Developmental Dynamics 244:651–668, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The parapineal is present in many teleost families, while it is absent in several others. To find out why the parapineal is absent at adult stages in the latter families, the development of the epithalamus was examined in the medaka fish (Oryzias latipes). For this purpose, a green fluorescent protein-transgenic medaka line, in which the pineal complex (pineal and parapineal) is visible fluorescently, was used. We found that a distinct parapineal was present in the roof plate at early developmental stages. Subsequently, however, the parapineal and the associated roof plate began to be incorporated into the habenula between embryonic stages 28 and 29. Between embryonic stages 29 and 30, the entire parapineal was incorporated into the habenula. That is, the parapineal became a small caudomedial region (termed the ‘parapineal domain') within the left habenula in the majority of embryos, resulting in the left-sided asymmetry of the epithalamus. Thereby the left habenula became larger and more complex than its right counterpart. In the minority of embryos, the parapineal was incorporated into the right habenula or into the habenulae on both sides. In the majority of embryos, the parapineal domain projected a fiber bundle to a subnucleus (termed the ‘rostromedial subnucleus') in the left habenula. The rostromedial subnucleus sent axons, through the left fasciculus retroflexus, to the rostral region of the left half of the interpeduncular nucleus. We further found that the ratio of the left-sided phenotype was temperature dependent and decreased in embryos raised at a high temperature. The present study is the first demonstration that the supposed lack of a distinct parapineal in adult teleost fishes is due to ontogenetic incorporation into the habenula.

A simultaneous determination method was examined for 312 pesticides (including isomers) in muscle of livestock and marine products by GC-MS. The pesticide residues extracted from samples with acetone and n-hexane were purified by acetonitrile-n-hexane partitioning, and C18 and SAX/PSA solid-phase extraction without using GPC. Matrix components such as cholesterol were effectively removed. In recovery tests performed by this method using pork, beef, chicken and shrimp, 237-257 pesticides showed recoveries within the range of 70-120% in each sample. Validity was confirmed for 214 of the target pesticides by means of a validation test using pork. In comparison with the Japanese official method using GPC, the treatment time of samples and the quantity of solvent were reduced substantially.

Predictions as to 105 h creep rupture strength of grade 91 steel have been made recently. The predicted values are examined with long-term creep rupture data of the steel. Three creep rupture databases were used in the predictions: data of tube products of grade 91 steel reported in National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) Creep Data Sheet (NIMS T91 database), data of T91 steel collected in Japan, and data of grade 91 steel collected by an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) code committee. Short-term creep rupture data points were discarded by the following criteria for minimizing overestimation of the strength: selecting long-term data points with low activation energy (multiregion analysis), selecting data points crept at stresses lower than a half of proof stress (σ0.2/2 criterion), and selecting data points longer than 1000 h (cutoff time of 1000 h). In the case of NIMS T91 database, a time–temperature parameter (TTP) analysis of a dataset selected by multiregion analysis can properly describe the long-term data points and gives the creep rupture strength of 68 MPa at 600 °C. However, TTP analyses of datasets selected by σ0.2/2 criterion and cutoff time of 1000 h from the same database overestimate the data points and predict the strength over 80 MPa. Datasets selected by the same criterion from the three databases provide similar values of the strength. The different criteria for data selection have more substantial effects on predicted values of the strength of the steel than difference of the databases.

Creep rupture strength of creep strength enhanced ferritic steels is often overestimated, and its evaluated value has been reduced repeatedly. In this paper, the cause of the overestimation is discussed, and the creep rupture strength of T91 steel is assessed with its updated creep rupture data. Effects of residual Ni concentration on the creep rupture strength and necessity of F factor in T91 steel are also discussed. Decrease in activation energy Q for rupture life in long-term creep is the cause of the overestimation, since conventional time–temperature parameter (TTP) methods cannot deal with the change in Q. Due to the decrease in Q, long-term creep rupture strength evaluated decreases as longer-term data points are added or shorter-term data points are discarded in the conventional TTP analysis. The long-term region with small values of activation energy and stress exponent is named region L2 in this paper. Region L2 appears in all the heats of T91 steel and plate products of Gr.91 steel. Since service conditions of the T91 steel are usually in region L2, the creep rupture strength under the service conditions should be evaluated from the rupture data in region L2 only. The 5 × 105 hrs rupture strength at 550 °C decreases from 129 MPa (evaluated from the whole data of T91 steel) to 79 MPa (evaluated from the data in region L2 only) with increasing cut-off time for data selection. The 105 hrs rupture strength at 600 °C also decreases from 87 MPa (whole data) to 70 MPa (region L2 only) despite sufficient number of long-term data points at 600 °C. Careful consideration on the data selection is necessary in evaluation of creep rupture strength of the T91 steel. A multiregion rupture data analysis (MRA) is helpful to select data points belonging to region L2.

Exposure to ionizing radiation (IR) could induce deleterious effects including cancer. Diet, as one of the major factors to influence susceptibility to many diseases, plays a critical role in maintaining human heath. It is known that unbalanced diet could result in health consequences, for example, high-calorie diet could lead to obesity, which could increase the risk of diabetes, heart disease, fatty liver, and some forms of cancer. Although the impact of diet on susceptibility to IR is thought to be big, the evidence is not clear due to lack of study. In this work, effects from dietary fat on modulation of mouse responses to total-body-irradiation (TBI) were studied. The mice were fed after weaning at postnatal age of 4 weeks with a standard diet (MB-1), a very high-fat diet (HFD32), and a very low-fat diet (CE-2 Low Fat), containing of 4.4%, 32.0%, and 0.4% of crude fat, respectively. A mouse model for radiation-induced adaptive response (AR) was applied to this work. The priming low-dose TBI at a dose of 0.5 Gy from X-rays was given at postnatal age of 6 weeks, and the challenge high dose of TBI was given at postnatal age of 8 weeks. The mouse response to low dose of TBI was evaluated by the efficacy of the priming low dose to rescue the animals from bone marrow death induced by the challenge high dose in the 30-day survival test. The mouse response to high dose of TBI was evaluated by comparing the LD50 in the 30day survival test. In addition, dietary modulation of the residual (late) genotoxic effect from TBI was also evaluated by comparing the incidence of micronucleated erythro‐ cytes in bone marrow using micronucleus test. Results showed that for the mice fed with the MB-1, a successful AR was demonstrated. While for the mice fed with either HFD32 or CE-2 Low Fat, no AR was observed, and all the animals died within 15 days after TBI with the challenge high dose at 7.5 Gy regardless the priming low dose at © 2015 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 0.5 Gy. When comparing the LD50 in the 30-day survival test, the LD50 values for the animals fed with the MB-1, HFD32 diet, and CE-2 Low Fat were 7.1 Gy, 6.0 Gy, and 6.2 Gy, respectively. As to the micronucleus test, for the mice fed with MB-1, the priming low dose at 0.5 Gy could significantly reduce the incidence of micronucleated erythrocytes in bone marrow that were caused by a challenge high dose at 4.0 Gy, while for the mice fed with either HFD32 or CE-2 Low Fat no such effect was observed. These findings indicated that under an unbalanced diet, namely, either of very high fat or of very low fat, alterations in mouse responses to TBI were induced. These findings confirmed that diet played a pivotal role in the response of the animals to radiation exposure, and suggested the possibility to modulate radiosensitivity through diet intervention in humans.

After the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1NPP) in March 2011, much attention has been paid to the biological consequences of the released radionuclides into the surrounding area. We investigated the morphological changes in Japanese fir, a Japanese endemic native conifer, at locations near the F1NPP. Japanese fir populations near the F1NPP showed a significantly increased number of morphological defects, involving deletions of leader shoots of the main axis, compared to a control population far from the F1NPP. The frequency of the defects corresponded to the radioactive contamination levels of the observation sites. A significant increase in deletions of the leader shoots became apparent in those that elongated after the spring of 2012, a year after the accident. These results suggest possibility that the contamination by radionuclides contributed to the morphological defects in Japanese fir trees in the area near the F1NPP.

Radiation therapy is effective for pain and local control. However, it has some associated problems such as increased bone metastasis after irradiation and side effects to the surrounding normal bone. Over expression of periostin has been observed in bone metastatic cancer. Many studies have indicated that periostin plays an important role in bone metastasis. However, the role of periostin in the microenvironment of bone invaded by destructive cancer cells remains unclear. It has been reported that expression of periostin is significantly enhanced in bone tissues requiring reconstruction. High LET radiation therapy induces bone hyperplasia and calcification in the irradiated area. In this study, after exposure to gamma-ray and carbon ion irradiation, FM3A/R cells were co cultured with non-irradiated MC3T3-E1 cells. The expression of various bone maturation and metabolic factors in MC3T3-E1 cells was evaluated by RT-PCR or western blotting during a time course. Furthermore, Runx2, OSX, OPN, and OCN were evaluated in MC3T3-E1 cells. The expression levels of these calcification and bone formation cytokines in MC3T3-E1 cells were enhanced by co culture with carbon ion-irradiated FM3A/R cells in the early stage. Radiation therapy for bone metastatic cancer, especially carbon ion beam therapy, has excellent cell-killing effects, and also causes less bone resorption in the radiation field than that observed for gamma-ray irradiation. The differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts might be promoted by periostin stimulation. It can be expected that combined treatment with both carbon ion irradiation and periostin inhibitor administration might become a treatment of choice.