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The acai palm (Euterpe oleracea Mart) is native to the floodplains of central and South America and is cultivated in Brazil for its berries, which are considered to be a ‘superfood’. The waste acai fiber and seeds obtained after fruit processing pose a challenge since they remain unutilised despite being an abundant waste by-product of acai processing.This leads to a build-up of waste, regular dumping and environmental management challenges. Here we examine the potential use of acai seed biochar as a soil conditioner. The biochar was produced from waste seeds in a handmade kiln, incorporated into two soils of different textures and then compacted in volumetric rings with a hydraulic press. The samples were kept in a greenhouse for a 270-day incubation period. After this, the samples were evaluated for their soil physical and chemical attributes. Nine months after the application of the acai seed biochar, soil physical properties were not affected, except for the soil aggregate size distribution, for which the highest dosage resulted in a larger weighted average diameter. However, biochar increased phosphorus, potassium and magnesium contents, and reduced the aluminum content, which was reflected in an increase of the base saturation and a reduction in aluminum saturation. Therefore, within a relatively short time period, the biochar was found to improve soil chemical quality more so than soil physical properties, thus offering potential as a sustainable solution to manage acai waste in the Amazon region.

Transcatheter closure is an established method to treat coronary artery fistula (CAF). We present transcatheter closure in a 6-year-old girl with CAF and anomalous aortic origin of the left main coronary artery from the right aortic sinus. The CAF originated from the left coronary artery (LCA), coursed through the interventricular septum (intraseptal course) with prominent dilation, and drained into the right ventricular outflow tract. She underwent transcatheter closure and was in a stable condition at the 3-year follow-up with regression of the dilated portion of the intraseptal-type LCA. Hence, transcatheter closure of CAF is feasible in patients with anomalous origins of coronary arteries.

Highlights • We presented a patient with gastric tube cancer who successfully underwent subtotal gastrectomy with intraoperative ICG fluorescence. • ICG fluorescence is useful for evaluating the flow of the gastric tube and helping to determine the operating method., Introduction Currently, the frequency of evaluating the flow of a reconstructed gastric tube using indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence has been increasing. However, it has been difficult to decide on the operation method for patients with gastric tube cancer (GTC). We herein report a case in which ICG was effective in a patient with resection of GTC. Presentation of case An 83-year-old man underwent subtotal esophagectomy with gastric tube reconstruction via the retrosternal route for esophageal cancer and right hemicolectomy for ascending colon cancer 16 years earlier. Postoperatively, the proximal part of the gastric tube had poor blood flow. Therefore, the patient underwent proximal-side resection of the gastric tube. Thereafter, free jejunal graft reconstruction was performed. The patient had not developed recurrence at that point. Recently, the patient visited the hospital complaining of nausea and chest discomfort. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a type 0-IIa + IIc lesion located around the pylorus. A biopsy showed adenocarcinoma. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with gastric tube cancer (cT1bN0M0StageI). The invasion depth of the cancer was predicted to be widespread submucosal invasion. Therefore, the patient underwent surgery. Intraoperatively, we evaluated the flow of the gastric tube after clamping the right gastroepiploic artery using ICG fluorescence. As a result, the flow of the gastric tube was deemed insufficient. Consequently, subtotal gastrectomy was performed with preservation of the right gastroepiploic artery via Roux-en-Y reconstruction. Discussion ICG fluorescence is useful for evaluating the flow of the gastric tube helping to decide the operating method. Conclusion We herein report a case of subtotal gastrectomy for GTC using intraoperative ICG fluorescence.

We report a case of undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells ocalized within the main pancreatic duct (MPD). A 61-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for evaluation of dilatation of the MPD that was detected on screening sonogram. Preoperative MR imaging revealed a small hypervascular tumor within the dilated MPD, showing high signal on R2* map and signal reduction on in-phase as compared to out-of-phase. R2* hyperintensity and in-phase signal reduction may be a characteristic feature of undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells, which indicates intratumoral hemorrhage even if they are small. Keywords: Undifferentiated carcinoma of the pancreas with osteoclast-like giant cells, Intratumoral hemorrhage, Intraductal growth, R2* map, Chemical-shift imaging

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of earlier intervention by an antimicrobial stewardship team (AST) on antimicrobial use, antimicrobial resistance rates, and the clinical outcomes, without changing the weekly intervention schedule. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at Fukuoka University Hospital between April 2013 and March 2016. The effects were compared among three study periods (SP): SP1 (patients receiving anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus agents and carbapenems for ≥14 days), SP2 (patients receiving specific antimicrobials for ≥14 days), and SP3 (patients receiving specific antimicrobials regardless of the duration of treatment). Results: The timing of AST intervention was shortened from an average of 15.5 days after administration in SP1 to 4.2 days in SP3. The antimicrobial use density (AUD) of carbapenems and piperacillin–tazobactam decreased significantly (SP2 vs. SP3, p

Knee-ankle-foot orthosis (KAFO) is sometimes used for gait training in stroke patients. The impact of the time of wearing KAFO on activities of daily living (ADL) recovery has not been clarified. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the days from onset to KAFO wearing and functional prognosis in patients after stroke.This retrospective, observational study was conducted with stroke patients who were prescribed a KAFO. Patients were divided into early and delayed groups according to the median days from onset to KAFO wearing. Baseline characteristics were evaluated at the initiation of KAFO wearing. The primary outcome was the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) gain, which was scored by the nurse at baseline and discharge.112 participants (mean age 67.9 ± 14.0 years, 51.8% male) were included. The time period measure from day of onset to KAFO wearing for the early group was significantly shorter than the delayed group (35.8 ± 6.6 days vs. 73.5 ± 28.9 days). The early group had a higher FIM at discharge (84.9 ± 28.0% vs. 65.1 ± 29.0%, P 0.001) and higher FIM gain (36.9 ± 19.8% vs. 26.8 ± 22.3, P = 0.013) than did the delayed group. Multiple regression analysis showed that the early group was associated with FIM gain (coefficient = 8.607, P = 0.032).Early wearing of KAFO, irrespective of the difference in ADL at the time of KAFO wearing, may have a positive impact on the improvement of ADL in patients after stroke.

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate actual skeletal muscle mass change and factors associated with its increase in patients aged ≥80 years undergoing hip fracture rehabilitation. METHODS This case-control study was conducted in the rehabilitation hospital. Participants were 368 patients aged ≥80 years undergoing hip fracture rehabilitation. Patients were divided into two groups based on the change of skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) during hospitalization: two groups with increased SMI and without increased SMI, after evaluation of skeletal muscle mass changes. Analysis between two groups and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the factors associated with SMI increases. RESULTS The SMI at discharge was significantly increased (5.20 kg/m2) compared to baseline (5.00 kg/m2; p

We investigated crystalline orientation dependence of magnetostriction of twinned rhombohedral perovskite cobalt oxide, La0.8Sr0.2CoO3. The magnetostriction in a magnetic field applied along the pseudo-cubic [ 111 ] c and [ 110 ] c axes showed large hysteresis and residual strains. On the other hand, hysteresis and residual strain were not observed in the applied magnetic field along the [ 001 ] c axis. The large hysteresis and residual strains of the magnetostriction along the [ 111 ] c and [ 110 ] c axes are successfully interpreted as a rearrangement of the rhombohedral domains with the magnetocrystalline hard axis along the rhombohedral [ 111 ] r . The no hysteresis and no residual strain of the magnetostriction along the [001]c axis are interpreted by equal projection to [001]c axis of [111]r of all the domains. The twinned structure of La0.8Sr0.2CoO3 with the magnetic anisotropy qualitatively accounts for the crystalline-orientation dependence of the magnetostrictions.

Objective In many cases, swallowing function is impaired after the onset of stroke and gradually improves. However, delayed dysphagia has been reported in some post-stroke patients. Recently, several studies have reported that low muscle strength and decreased muscle mass cause dysphagia. This study aimed to investigate whether these conditions are associated with delayed dysphagia after stroke. Design A multicenter prospective observational cohort study. Setting and Participants Participants included 165 patients with post-stroke dysphagia (mean age 79.1 ± 8.0 years, 53.3% women) admitted to rehabilitation wards for post-stroke rehabilitation. Methods Swallowing function was assessed using the Functional Oral Intake Scale. Delayed dysphagia was defined as dysphagia that occurred more than 7 days after stroke onset. We used logistic regression to examine the independent association between low muscle strength and decreased muscle mass and delayed dysphagia development. Furthermore, we examined the relationship between improvement in dysphagia and delayed dysphagia. Results Delayed dysphagia was observed in 18 (10.9%) patients. The combination of severely low muscle strength and decreased muscle mass was independently associated with the development of delayed dysphagia (adjusted odds ratio: 4.423, 95% confidence interval: 1.400–13.974, P = .011). Delayed dysphagia had an adverse effect on the improvement of dysphagia during in-hospital rehabilitation (adjusted odds ratio: 0.278, 95% confidence interval: 0.078–0.986, P = .047). Conclusions and Implications The development of delayed dysphagia was influenced by a combination of severely low muscle strength and decreased muscle mass. Furthermore, delayed dysphagia adversely affects the improvement of dysphagia in patients with stroke and needs to be identified early. Identifying delayed dysphagia using the methods proposed in this study and incorporating early intervention may prevent or delay dependency conditions in this population.

Purpose To clarify clinico-radiological factors for high-risk esophago-gastric varices (EGV), including extracellular volume fraction (ECV) of the liver, pancreas, and the spleen. Methods Between 2014 and 2018, 70 chronic liver disease patients who underwent 4-phase CT of the upper abdomen and either of upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy, or actual treatment for bleeding EGV, within three months after CT, were retrospectively included. Patients were subdivided into high-risk EGV group (HRG), who had high-risk endoscopic findings or actual hemostatic treatments, and non-high-risk EGV group (NHRG). ECV of the liver, pancreas, and the spleen was measured on the ECV map generated from routine diagnostic CT data, and additional clinico-radiological factors including direct visualization of EGV on portal venous phase CT, were correlated to HRG, using both univariable and multivariable analyses. Results There were 8 and 62 patients in HRG, and NHRG, respectively. None had symptoms related to EGV at the time of CT examinations. Univariable analysis revealed splenic volume, liver and splenic ECVs, and EGV visualization on portal venous phase CT, as significant factors. Multivariable analysis suggested that EGV visualization, splenic ECV, and splenic volume were independently significant factors. Using these three factors, sensitivity/specificity/positive predictive value/negative predictive value/accuracy = 100/85/40/100/87% were obtained with partition model analysis. Conclusions High-risk EGV can be predicted with acceptable accuracy using routine diagnostic CT data including splenic ECV.

This paper presents a novel atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based nanofabrication technique for Si in water that is based on highly localized catalytic etching with a Pt-coated AFM probe. It has been shown that nanoscale grooves can be fabricated on the Si surface at room temperature via Pt-assisted catalytic chemical etching in water without the addition of any chemicals. Furthermore, dissolved oxygen (O2) in water has been found to be a key element for driving the chemical reaction of Si with water in the Si removal process. Experimental results have also suggested that an oscillating cantilever of the Pt-coated AFM probe for the stirring of water is essential in order to overcome the oxygen mass-transfer limitations and enhance the Si removal rate. The elementary chemical reactions taking place during the etching of Si has been estimated on the basis of electrochemical theory. It is proposed that in the first step, dissolved oxygen is reduced and forms hydroxide ions (OH−) with water molecules (H2O) on the surface of the Pt-coated tip. In the second step, Si atoms are oxidized on reaction with OH− ions and water soluble silicates are formed. The catalytic reaction taking place on the surface of a Pt-coated tip can be enhanced by the application of an anodic potential to an additional Pt wire electrode, resulting in a dramatic fifty-fold increase in the Si removal rate.

We have successfully prepared 5-(2-phenylethynyl)isophathalilc acid as a signaling unit and the corresponding derivatives for an anion receptor 2 and a barbiturate receptor 4 . Receptor 2 showed characteristic UV–vis changes and dramatic fluorescence quenching upon the addition of anions and receptor 4 showed UV–vis and an OFF-ON fluorescence changes upon the addition of dibutylbarbituric acid based on the diphenylethyne moiety.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) has a wide range of commercial applications and some types are known to be biologically stable. Zinc (Zn) has received attention because it enhances the production of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), which promotes bone calcification. Therefore, we manufactured a DLC that contains Zn (Zn-DLC) and can supply Zn to biological systems, as a potential biomaterial to enhance osteogenesis. The present study compared the characteristics of DLC films manufactured using different amounts of Zn, which was introduced using the reactive sputtering method, and compared these with normal DLC, which does not contain Zn. We evaluated film crystallinity using Raman spectroscopy and measured the amount of released Zn using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). In addition, we evaluated the effects of Zn-DLC on osteogenesis in vitro . Raman spectroscopy verified that Zn-DLC had an increased D peak compared to normal DLC. ICP-MS measurement of the concentration of Zn released from Zn-DLC into the cell culture medium showed that small amounts of Zn were released from this film. Osteoblasts cultured on Zn-DLC tended to show a greater area of calcification than those cultured on DLC, although no significant differences in ALP activity were observed. These results suggested the possibility that osteogenesis could be enhanced by the Zn that is released from Zn-DLC.

High-speed 100 MHz strain monitor using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) and an optical filter has been devised for the magnetostriction measurements under ultrahigh magnetic fields. The longitudinal magnetostriction of LaCoO$_{3}$ has been measured at room temperature, 115, 7 and 4.2 K up to the maximum magnetic field of 150 T. The field-induced lattice elongations are observed, which are attributed to the spin-state crossover from the low-spin ground state to excited spin-states., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, proceedings of SCES 2017

This report describes an automatic control system that allows an assistive robot pushing a wheelchair to climb steps. The robot is equipped with a wheeled mechanism and dual manipulators. The wheelchair is a commercially available model that has been equipped with sensors, circuits, and batteries. The robot and wheelchair are connected when the vehicles climb a step. In that operation, the front wheels of the wheelchair are lifted and placed on the step using the velocity differences between the wheelchair and the robot. Next, when the rear wheels of the wheelchair ascend the step, the robot imitates the upper arm motions of a human pushing against his/her chest that commonly occurs when maneuvering a wheelchair up a step. Similarly, the front wheels of the robot are lifted and placed on the step using the velocity differences between the vehicles and the robot’s front wheels. After that, with the assistance of the wheelchair, the other wheels of the robot climb onto the step. In an effort to ensure safety, we also performed a theoretical analysis to determine the most suitable distance for lifting the front wheels of the robot when approaching and climbing a step. Our newly developed cooperative step-climbing system makes it possible to eliminate the complicated operations that were required by previous methods and can also prevent collisions between the wheelchair’s front wheels and the step, thus drastically improving the convenience of the operation. The test subject riding the wheelchair was an able-bodied male, and the experiment conducted to evaluate our system was performed on a 120 mm step height that had a friction coefficient of 0.72. This setup was sufficient for demonstrating the overall effectiveness of our system.

After completion of meiosis I, the oocyte immediately enters meiosis II and forms a metaphase II (MII) spindle without an interphase, which is fundamental for generating a haploid gamete. Here, we identify tudor domain-containing protein 3 (Tdrd3) as a novel regulator of oocyte meiosis. Although early mitotic inhibitor 2 (Emi2) protein has been shown to ensure the meiosis I to II transition and the subsequent MII spindle formation by inhibiting the anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C), how it accumulates after meiosis I has remained unresolved. We isolated Tdrd3 as a protein binding specifically and directly to Emi2 mRNA. In GV-stage mouse oocytes, Emi2 mRNA assembled into RNA granules containing Tdrd3, while cyclin B1 mRNA, which was translated in early meiosis I, formed different granules. Knockdown of Tdrd3 attenuated Emi2 synthesis in meiosis II without affecting cyclin B1 synthesis in meiosis I. Moreover, Tdrd3-deficient oocytes entered interphase and failed to form an MII spindle after completion of meiosis I. These defects were rescued by GFP-Emi2 expressed after meiosis I. Taken together, our results demonstrate the importance of Tdrd3-mediated translational control of Emi2 mRNA, which promotes Emi2 synthesis in meiosis II, for the progression of meiosis.

Background and objectives Recent evidence suggests that oral bacteria can affect extra-oral diseases by modulating aspects of the gut environment such as the microbiome, metabolome, and immune profiles. However, differences in the effects of different types of oral bacteria, particularly periodontopathic and health-associated bacteria, remain elusive. Materials and methods Five-week-old germ-free mice were orally administered with either periodontopathic bacteria as oral pathobionts (Porphyromonas gingivalis, Filifactor alocis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum) or bacteria associated with periodontal health (Actinomyces naeslundii, Streptococcus mitis, and Veillonella rogosae) twice a week for five weeks. The presence of all bacterial species in the feces and the livers of the mice was analyzed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using specific primers for 16S rRNA genes. Alveolar bone resorption was evaluated histologically. The expression profiles of various genes in the liver and small intestine were analyzed using real-time PCR. Sera were analyzed to determine the levels of antibodies and endotoxin. The proportions of T helper 17 (Th17) and regulatory T (Treg) cells in mesenteric lymph nodes and Peyer's patches were analyzed using flow cytometry. Results Neither of the types of bacteria administered in this experiment induced alveolar bone resorption. All bacteria elicited some degree of systemic antibody response in the mice, although the response to S. mitis was not obvious. The response to P. gingivalis and V. rogosae was strongest. Generally, the health-associated bacteria but not the periodontitis-associated bacteria were detected in fecal samples. Interestingly, only Fusobacterium nucleatum DNA was detected in the liver, despite that live Fusobacterium nucleatum were not detected in the liver. The levels of interleukin-17 in the intestine and genes related to lipid accumulation in the liver were significantly higher in the mice that received periodontitis-associated bacteria. In addition, expression of the gene associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress was higher and that of the gene controlling circadian rhythm was lower in the periodontitis group. There was no difference in serum endotoxin, T-cell phenotypes in the lymphatic tissues, or genes related to the gut barrier. Conclusion Oral administration of periodontitis-associated bacteria can induce pathological changes in the liver and intestine that are implicated in the process of periodontitis. These findings further support the importance of the oral–gut connection.

Benzo-2-silaindanes (3a-g) and benzo-2,3-tetralines (4a-g) were synthesized by CpCo(CO)2 and Cp*Ru(cod)Cl catalyzed cyclotrimerization of siladiynes (1-2a,b) with alkynes R1C≡CR2 (R1, R2 = H, CO2Me, Ph, Ts). X-ray analyses of 3f and 4g confirmed the formation of silicon-carbon heterocycles (silacycles). The different reactivity of alkynes depend on Co- and Ru-catalysts suggesting the different mechanism. Stoichiometric NMR studies as well as DFT calculations revealed that heterolytic coupling occurs between the siladiyne and alkyne followed by an internal [4+2] cycloaddition for CpCo(I)-catalyzed reactions, whereas Cp*Ru(II)Cl-catalyzed reactions proceeded via homolytic coupling of siladiynes to afford a ruthenacyclopentatriene followed by insertion of the alkynes. Minimum energy crossing point (MECP) calculations for the former heterocoupling reaction disclosed different two-state reaction compared to known two-state one. The latter intermediate was characterized in NMR experiments as the first reported complex of a ruthenacyclopentatriene formed from terminal diyne.

We have developed a novel method for decarboxylative benzoyloxylation of β-hydroxy amino acids using photoredox catalyst Ru(bpy)3Cl2·6H2O and benzoylperoxide (BzO)2. This strategy was expanded to the synthesis of structurally diverse chiral 1,2-amino alcohols with different aryl or alkyl groups, starting from serine or threonine derivatives.

We utilized the high temporal resolution of functional near-infrared spectroscopy to explore how sensory input (visual and rhythmic auditory cues) are processed in the cortical areas of multimodal integration to achieve coordinated motor output during unrestricted dance simulation gameplay. Using an open source clone of the dance simulation video game, Dance Dance Revolution, two cortical regions of interest were selected for study, the middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and the frontopolar cortex (FPC). We hypothesized that activity in the FPC would indicate top-down regulatory mechanisms of motor behavior; while that in the MTG would be sustained due to bottom-up integration of visual and auditory cues throughout the task. We also hypothesized that a correlation would exist between behavioral performance and the temporal patterns of the hemodynamic responses in these regions of interest. Results indicated that greater temporal accuracy of dance steps positively correlated with persistent activation of the MTG and with cumulative suppression of the FPC. When auditory cues were eliminated from the simulation, modifications in cortical responses were found depending on the gameplay performance. In the MTG, high-performance players showed an increase but low-performance players displayed a decrease in cumulative amount of the oxygenated hemoglobin response in the no music condition compared to that in the music condition. In the FPC, high-performance players showed relatively small variance in the activity regardless of the presence of auditory cues, while low-performance players showed larger differences in the activity between the no music and music conditions. These results suggest that the MTG plays an important role in the successful integration of visual and rhythmic cues and the FPC may work as top-down control to compensate for insufficient integrative ability of visual and rhythmic cues in the MTG. The relative relationships between these cortical areas indicated high- to low-performance levels when performing cued motor tasks. We propose that changes in these relationships can be monitored to gauge performance increases in motor learning and rehabilitation programs.

This study aims to investigate the 24 d and 8 b site occupancies, valence state, and spin state of Co ions in Co-doped In2O3 prepared by a chemical solution method. The Rietveld analysis of X-ray powder diffraction patterns of the products revealed that Co2+ and Co3+ ions tend to occupy the 24 d and 8 b sites, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that the Co2+ ions are dominant at low-doping region ( x ≤ 0.044 ) and that Co3+ ions appear at high-doping region ( x ≥ 0.052 ). Magnetic susceptibility measurements revealed that the effective Bohr magneton number p e f f is ~3.8 at the low-doping region, consistent with the value for Co2+ in the high-spin ( S = 3 / 2 ) state. The p e f f decreases at the high-doping region, where Co3+ ions appear. These results indicate that the Co3+ ions are in the low-spin ( S = 0 ) state or intermediate-spin ( S = 1 ) state.

Background Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is a malignancy of mature T lymphocytes induced by human T-cell leukemia virus-1, and has a poor outcome. New molecular targets for the prevention and treatment of ATL are urgently needed. We previously reported that Sirtuin 1, a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)-dependent histone/protein deacetylase, is highly expressed in primary acute-type ATL cells. NAD+ biosynthesis via nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) modulates Sirtuin 1 activity. Here, we examined the expression and effects of inhibiting NAMPT, a rate-limiting. Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from ATL patients were carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Committees for Ethical Review of Research involving Human Subjects at Kagoshima University Hospital. Cell viability was evaluated in the S1T cell line derived from an ATL patient, MT-2 cell line derived from normal human leukocytes transformed by leukemic T-cells from an ATL patient, and primary ATL cells. Animal experiments were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committee of Rakuno Gakuen University in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Results Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from acute-type ATL patients expressed significantly higher NAMPT protein levels than cells from healthy controls. FK866, a NAMPT inhibitor, induced apoptosis in fresh ATL cells ex vivo and HTLV-1-infected T-cell lines in vitro, which was accompanied by NAD+ depletion, activation of caspases, DNA fragmentation, and disruption of mitochondrial transmembrane potential. A pan-caspase inhibitor failed to prevent the FK866-induced cell death, while FK866 increased endonuclease G, a caspase-independent cell death mediator. Intriguingly, FK866 activated autophagy, revealed by increased LC3-II protein levels and autophagic flux. Thus, FK866 simultaneously activated apoptosis and autophagy. Finally, FK866 treatment markedly decreased human ATL tumor xenograft growth in immunodeficient mice. Conclusions These results demonstrate that NAMPT inhibition induces autophagy and caspase-dependent and -independent cell death in ATL cells, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy for patients with this fatal disease. Legal entity responsible for the study The authors. Funding Has not received any funding. Disclosure All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Pro-protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), a secreted serine protease, regulates serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by targeting the degradation of LDL receptor (LDLR) in the liver. Although previous reports describe elevated levels of PCSK9 in patients with periodontitis, the mechanisms that trigger this increase in serum PCSK9 levels and induce the related inflammatory response remain unclear. In an unc93b1-deficient mouse of Porphyromonas gingivalis infection, nucleic acid antigen recognition via Toll-like receptors was found to promote PCSK9 production, suggesting an indirect role for tumor necrosis factor-α as an inducer of PCSK9 in contrast to that reported in previous studies. Furthermore, PCSK9 production was independent of the TIR domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β-dependent signaling pathway. These results indicate that changes in LDLR expression precede an increase in the serum PCSK9 level in the context of an infectious disease such as periodontitis.

S100A4, a member of the Ca(2+) dependent S100 protein family, is reported to associate with metastasis through regulation of the motility and invasiveness of cancer cells. A high level of S100A4 protein has been reported in a variety of cancers, including pancreatic cancer. However, its biological role in pancreatic carcinogenesis is largely unknown. We previously reported that S100A4 is frequently overexpressed and that RNAi-mediated knockdown induces apoptosis and suppression of cell growth, motility, and invasiveness. In this study, we analyzed the effects of forced expression of S100A4 in pancreatic cancer cell lines without S100A4-upregulation. We used two cell lines without upregulation of S100A4 (PCI-35 and PCI-43) as well as two cell lines with highly upregulated S100A4 as the control (MIA PaCa-2 and PAN-07-JCK). Cells did not show acceleration of their growth and invasiveness after forced expression of S100A4, but remarkable acceleration of cell motility was observed only in PCI-35 and PCI-43. We further performed microarray analyses using PCI-35 and PCI-43 with and without forced expression of S100A4 and identified 72 and 18 genes that were 2-fold or more upregulated or downregulated, respectively, in both cell lines after forced expression of S100A4. Our results suggest that S100A4 is crucial for cell motility in pancreatic cancer and that some downstream genes may play important roles in cell motility.

This paper discusses rescheduling of freight train locomotives when dealing with a disrupted situation in the daily operations in Japan. Within the current framework of dispatching processes, passenger railway operators modify the entire timetables and an adjusted freight train timetable is distributed to a freight train operator. For this timetable, we solve the locomotive rescheduling problem by changing the assignment of the locomotives to all the trains and considering their periodic inspections. We then solve the uncovered train detection problem that selects unassigned trains according to their value if the rescheduling phase fails. We formulate the two problems as integer programming problems and solve them by column generation. Our simple speeding-up technique named set-covering relaxation is applied to the rescheduling problem, which has set-partitioning constraints. The column generation subproblem is reduced to a shortest path problem with the inspection constraint and solved in polynomial time. Numerical experiments carried out with a real timetable, locomotive scheduling plan and major disruption data in the area with the highest frequency of freight trains reveal that satisfactory solutions are obtained within 30 second on a PC even for cases with a 72-hour goal for recovery. The set-covering relaxation speeds up the computation time by a factor of eight at a maximum.

Magnetization and specific heat measurements were carried out on pseudo-binary Pr 1− x Tb x Ni ( x = 0.0, 0.1) and Nd 1− x Tb x Ni ( x = 0.0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15) single crystals. The magnetic transition temperatures for Pr 1− x Tb x Ni increased with x , whereas those for Nd 1− x Tb x Ni decreased slightly as x increased. The effective magnetic moments, deduced from the temperature dependence of susceptibility, increased with x for both systems. The saturation magnetizations observed at the magnetically easy directions for all samples suggest that the magnetic coupling between the Pr (or Nd) and Tb moments is antiferromagnetic. A noticeable increase in magnetization in higher external field, onset at 5 T, is observed for Pr 0.9 Tb 0.1 Ni and indicates that there is a rearrangement of the magnetic moments. Calculations of the crystal electric field effect of Pr and Tb in Pr 1− x Tb x Ni were carried out using a simple point-charge model.

HTS dual-mode disk filters tuned by moving an upper dielectric plate which is actuated by a piezo-motor are present. We investigated the effect of the introduced piezoelectric-tunable system on the RF power handling capability of the dual-mode disk filters. The 5 GHz-band disk filters with a ground-slot for dual-mode were made from YBCO double-sided films on MgO substrate. At low temperatures, the center frequency shifts of about 270 MHz and 430 MHz were accomplished with the low-loss, high dielectric LaAlO 3 and TiO x plates, respectively. Regardless of the dielectric plates, the power handling capability was improved as the dielectric plates approach to the filter patterns. It is considered that the piezoelectric-tunable system enables to control the superconducting current density of filters.

To evaluate the cytotoxicity and the tribological properties for diamond-like carbon films (DLC), DLC films were deposited on high-polymer materials such as polymethylmethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyurethane and polytetrafluoroethylene using a radio-frequency chemical vapor deposition (CVD) system. Adhesion strength between these materials and DLC films is generically poor. To improve adhesion strength of DLC films and high-polymer materials, oxygen plasma pretreatment was performed before DLC films deposited. Evaluation of the tribological properties was performed using ball-on disc system. Especially, in the DLC films deposited on PMMA with oxygen plasma pretreatment, the friction coefficient was significantly reduced from 0.456 to 0.310. Influence of DLC films on cytotoxicity were studied in vitro cell culture by counting cells. Mouse fibroblasts (NIH-3T3) were seeded in 24 well culture plates, and four kinds of high-polymer PMMA, PC, PU and PTFE substrates, DLC-deposited and non-deposited high-polymer substrates, were immersed in each well directly for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Multiplication of cell number with DLC-deposited substrates is similar in that with non-deposited substrates. Consequently, these studies reveal that the DLC films have excellent tribological properties and cytocompatibility.

An Al-based composite containing fullerene (a mixture of C60 and C70) was fabricated using a process of severe plastic deformation through high pressure torsion (HPT) for the first time. Neither heating nor sintering was required during the HPT process, so in situ consolidation was successfully achieved at ambient temperature. Vickers microhardness reached almost 120 Hv, the composite had a tensile strength of more than 253 MPa with 0.18 nominal strain, and the grain size was reduced to ∼80 nm.

Single crystalline Ge nanowires have been fabricated by filtration of rod-shaped Ge precipitates from aged Al–Ge alloy using HCl solution. The diameter of the Ge nanowires ranged from 30 to 100 nm when the aging conditions of the Al–Ge alloy was altered. The Ge nanowires grow preferentially in the [1 1 0] direction, which is the same as observed earlier for rod-shaped Ge precipitates in the aged Al–Ge alloy.

We have focused on improving luminescent intensity and reducing direct current (DC) voltage of a nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) particle based electroluminescent (EL) device. Nc-Si particles with a size of 3.0 nm dispersed in ethanol were utilized as the luminous layer of the EL device. The EL device could be efficiently injected with carriers (electrons and holes) in the nc-Si region at a low DC voltage of 2.5 V. The injection of carriers resulted in red luminescence that was clearly visible to the naked eye. This was achieved at a low DC voltage by tuning the thickness of the oxide layer surrounding nc-Si particles.

We report an annealing effect on electrical and luminescence properties of a red electroluminescent device consisting of nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si). The red luminescence was generated by flowing the forward current into the device at a low threshold direct current (DC) forward voltage with a rise of annealing temperature up to 500 °C. Moreover, the luminescence of the device annealed at 500 °C was more intense than that of the device annealed at 200 °C or less under the same forward current density, because of the injection of a large quantity of carriers to the radiative recombination centers at the nc-Si surface vicinity. These were attained by a low resistivity of indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode and good contact at the ITO electrode/luminous layer interface region by the annealing treatment. The above results indicated that the annealing treatment of the device is effective for the realization of high luminance due to the improvement in the injection efficiency of carriers to the radiative recombination centers.

The mechanism of diamond growth and subsequent film deposition on semiconductor materials has been partially clarified. However, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) diamond growth on most metals is not understood because of insufficient experimentation. It is especially very difficult to fabricate CVD diamond on iron-based materials due to the rapid diffusion coefficient of carbon species. Synthetic diamond on iron-based materials is extremely important for mechanical and electrical applications because these materials are widely used in the industrial field. In this research, the diamond growth was carried out on pure iron with a purity of 99.999% and irons with a purity of 99.99% and 99% were used as reference substrates. The diamond film with excellent crystalline quality was achieved using the high purity iron substrate. Cross-sectional SEM images have confirmed film growth in columnar structure, as the diamond films of silicon substrates. Moreover, the differing substrate conditions before and after diamond deposition were clearly observed by XPS analysis and electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA) mappings. The result of analysis suggested that the substrate conditions directly correlate to the differences in the three samples.

Shape memory alloys (SMAs) of Nickel–titanium (NiTi) have attractive properties for biomedical applications because of their unique characteristics such as superelasticity, and shape memory effect. Therefore, their particular mechanical properties are utilized as orthodontic archwires in the field of dentistry. While, with increasing number of orthodontic treatments using devices containing nickel, there is a growing prevalence of nickel allergy. This is based on the fact that the corrosion of NiTi causes Ni release when immersed in oral saliva. Diamond-like carbon (DLC) films have many superior properties such as extreme hardness, low friction coefficients, chemical inertness, and high-corrosion resistance. This study focuses on DLC films deposited on orthodontic archwires in order to estimate the release of Ni ions in the physiological saline. The concentrations of Ni ions were detected by microwave introduced plasma mass spectrometry (MIP-MS). The DLC coating has found to dramatically protect the Ni release. The results indicated that DLC films could be applied to the implanted dental devices such as orthodontic archwires, and artificial dentures.

Recently, the diamond-like carbon (DLC) films are deposited in the wall of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles because of the protection for carbon dioxide gas penetration and deterioration against ultraviolet irradiation. However the DLC films fall into the contamination through the recycling process of PET bottle. In order to recycle the PET bottles deposited in DLC films, it is quite necessary to remove the DLC films at the early stage of recycling process. The DLC films were chemically etched by the glow discharge plasma of oxygen gas because carbon films were greatly reacted by the oxygen radicals and ions in the plasma. The etching of the DLC films deposited on the PET materials has been investigated using Raman spectroscopy. The complete removal of the DLC films was confirmed by Raman spectra. The etching depth increases with the etching time and the etching rate at optimum condition is approximately 50 nm/min. Atomic force microscopy observation was relieved surface condition of the PET after the etching treatment at different etching time. The surface roughness of the PET completely removed DLC films is almost same as the pure PET substrate without the exposure of oxygen plasma.

Using polystyrene certified reference materials (CRMs) whose molecular weights range from 500 to 2400, we investigated the reliability of molecular weight determination by size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), SEC coupled with multi-angle light scattering detection (SEC-MALS), conventional static light scattering (SLS), matrix-assisted laser desorption/inonization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOFMS), and 1 H NMR. Average molecular weights determined by these methods were compared with the certified values which were determined by supercritical fluids chromatography with relative standard uncertainty less than 1%. The comparison showed that recent SEC with calibration constructed by uniform polystyrenes can provide just the same average molecular weights as certified ones within the standard uncertainty. 1 H NMR was also found to be a powerful technique to determine number-average molecular weight accurately. Average molecular weights measured by SEC-MALS and SLS nearly agreed with certified values except for lower molecular weights. Although MALDI-TOFMS provided average molecular weights in agreement with certified values, the polydispersity given by MALDI-TOFMS were found to be very small for all the polystyrenes.

Nucleation and growth process of nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) formed by radio frequency (RF) sputtering method and subsequently thermal treatment has been studied by using high resolution-transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron spin resonance (ESR) methods. Silicon (Si) atoms in amorphous sub-oxide (a-SiOx) film were coagulated to form nc-Si with diameter of approximately 1.5 nm in the film after annealing at 900 °C. The size and number of nc-Si increased with the increase of the annealing temperature. The average size of nc-Si observed at annealing temperature of 1100 °C was 2.5 nm. We also observed nc-Si with high pressure phase in the annealed sample.

Psoriasis has been recognized as an immunologically mediated inflammatory skin disease that has been associated with group A, β-haemolytic streptococcal infections. Notably cross-reactive autoimmune mechanism, which is mediated by T cells reacting to epitopes that are common to streptococcal M-protein and keratin, has been proposed in psoriasis. In order to investigate this possibility, peptides corresponding to M-protein and human epidermal keratin, which share some amino acid sequence between them, were synthesized and tested for their ability to stimulate T-cells of patients with psoriasis. Among five cases examined, we isolated a CD4 + T-cell line that recognized the type I keratin (K14) p168–181 when it was presented by the patient's HLA-DR molecules from a single psoriatic patient, whose MHC allele was HLA-A2/A26, -B27/B16, -DR4/DR8, -DQ8. Further analysis disclosed that the critical peptide recognized by the T-cell line was 10-mer keratin p171–180 (DLRNKILTAT). However, corresponding M6 protein with homology to K14 did not stimulate the T-cell response and no evidence for cross-reactivity was obtained. The K14-responsive T cell line produced IFN-γ, but little IL-4 when stimulated with irradiated autologous PBMC pulsed with this peptide. Thus, the finding that human epidermal keratin peptide is immunogenic in a psoriasis patient may provide the evidence that T lymphocytes play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis as an autoimmune disorder participated with Th1 like cells. However, the keratin-responsive T cell line was detected in only one of five cases of psoriasis examined, suggesting that such T cell line appears to be not so popular in psoriatic patients. No evidence for cross-reactivity to streptococcal M protein also suggests that the contribution of streptococci may simply be inducing proliferation of various repertoire of T cells (including K14-responsive T cells) possibly through a superantigen-dependent process.

The immunological screening of breast cancer was performed with IgG autoantibodies by the serological analysis of recombinant cDNA expression library methods to explore novel tumor associated antigens. We have focused on a small zinc finger protein metallopanstimulin-1 (MPS-1). MPS-1 mRNA was ubiquitously expressed in normal human tissues except the brain and the placenta. In Western blot analysis, MPS-1 was easily detected strongly in actively proliferating cells and three breast cancer cell lines. In the tissue the protein of MPS-1 in cancer cells was more abundant than that of surrounding normal cells. Screening of tissue specimens by immunohistochemistry revealed 50.4% positive for MPS-1 in 125 cancer patients. These data suggest that MPS-1 could be applicable to the immunotherapy of breast cancer.

Background: The atrioventricular valve function is one of the most important determinants of mortality in patients with heterotaxy syndrome (HS). Though there are many reports to show the impact of atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) on the outcome of patients with HS, there are paucity of

Magnetization measurements were carried out on Pr1−xGdxNi single crystals for x=0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 using pulsed magnetic fields up to 55 T and at 4.2 K. For the data observed along the c-axis there are clear indications of transitions, of the combined system of Pr and Gd moments, from a ferrimagnetic to a ferromagnetic state. The observed saturation magnetizations at 55 T and intermediate magnetizations at 1 T were well modeled assuming ferro- and ferri-magnetic structures, respectively.