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Aim: This study aimed to investigate the improvement in gait velocity variability after cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) elimination, and the association between gait velocity variability and gait and cognitive impairment in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. Methods: The gait velocity of 44 patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus was measured using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG) for a total of 10 times over 3 days each before and after CSF elimination. The coefficient of variation (CV) in the time required for the sequence of actions in TUG (TUG‐CV) was calculated using 10 TUG data, and used for measuring intraindividual gait velocity variability. Gait quality was evaluated with the Gait Status Scale Revised (GSSR), and cognitive function was evaluated with the Mini‐Mental State Examination and the Frontal Assessment Battery. Results: The TUG, TUG‐CV, GSSR and Frontal Assessment Battery results improved significantly after CSF elimination. The analyses using pre‐CSF elimination results showed that the TUG‐CV significantly and positively correlated with the TUG and GSSR results, and negatively with Mini‐Mental State Examination results, but not with age and the Frontal Assessment Battery results. The stepwise multiple regression analysis indicates that the TUG, GSSR and Mini‐Mental State Examination results were significant predictors of the TUG‐CV. The analysis using data of change after CSF elimination showed that ΔTUG and ΔGSSR were significant predictors of ΔTUG‐CV. Conclusions: Gait velocity variability improved after CSF elimination, and gait velocity variability was associated with gait disturbances and cognitive impairment in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 693–699. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transient noise appearing in the data from gravitational‐wave detectors frequently causes problems, such as instability of the detectors and overlapping or mimicking gravitational‐wave signals. Because transient noise is considered to be associated with the environment and instrument, its classification would help to understand its origin and improve the detector's performance. In a previous study, an architecture for classifying transient noise using a time–frequency 2D image (spectrogram) is proposed, which uses unsupervised deep learning combined with variational autoencoder and invariant information clustering. The proposed unsupervised‐learning architecture is applied to the Gravity Spy dataset, which consists of Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational‐Wave Observatory (Advanced LIGO) transient noises with their associated metadata to discuss the potential for online or offline data analysis. In this study, focused on the Gravity Spy dataset, the training process of unsupervised‐learning architecture of the previous study is examined and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetraploidy is a hallmark of cancer cells, and tetraploidy‐selective cell growth suppression is a potential strategy for targeted cancer therapy. However, how tetraploid cells differ from normal diploids in their sensitivity to anti‐proliferative treatments remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that tetraploid cells are significantly more susceptible to inhibitors of a mitotic kinesin (CENP‐E) than are diploids. Treatment with a CENP‐E inhibitor preferentially diminished the tetraploid cell population in a diploid–tetraploid co‐culture at optimum conditions. Live imaging revealed that a tetraploidy‐linked increase in unsolvable chromosome misalignment caused substantially longer mitotic delay in tetraploids than in diploids upon moderate CENP‐E inhibition. This time gap of mitotic arrest resulted in cohesion fatigue and subsequent cell death, specifically in tetraploids, leading to tetraploidy‐selective cell growth suppression. In contrast, the microtubule‐stabilizing compound paclitaxel caused tetraploidy‐selective suppression through the aggravation of spindle multipolarization. We also found that treatment with a CENP‐E inhibitor had superior generality to paclitaxel in its tetraploidy selectivity across a broader spectrum of cell lines. Our results highlight the unique properties of CENP‐E inhibitors in tetraploidy‐selective suppression and their potential use in the development of tetraploidy‐targeting interventions in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer stem‐like cells (CSCs) have a unique translation mode, but little is understood about the process of elongation, especially the contribution of tRNA modifications to the maintenance of CSCs properties. Here, it is reported that, contrary to the initial aim, a tRNA‐modifying methylthiotransferase CDKAL1 promotes CSC‐factor SALL2 synthesis by assembling the eIF4F translation initiation complex. CDKAL1 expression is upregulated in patients with worse prognoses and is essential for maintaining CSCs in rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and common cancers. Translatome analysis reveals that a group of mRNAs whose translation is CDKAL1‐dependent contains cytosine‐rich sequences in the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR). Mechanistically, CDKAL1 promotes the translation of such mRNAs by organizing the eIF4F translation initiation complex. This complex formation does not require the enzyme activity of CDKAL1 but requires only the NH2‐terminus domain of CDKAL1. Furthermore, sites in CDKAL1 essential for forming the eIF4F complex are identified and discovered candidate inhibitors of CDKAL1‐dependent translation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loss‐of‐function variants of the human asparagine synthetase (ASNS) gene cause asparagine synthetase deficiency (ASNSD). Diagnosis of ASNSD requires genetic tests because a specific biochemical diagnostic for ASNSD is not available. There are a few reports describing the functional evaluation of ASNS variants. Therefore, in vitro methods are needed to evaluate the detected variants in patients. In this report, five types of human ASNS proteins (wild‐type and our reported four variants: p.Leu145Ser, p.Leu247Trp, p.Val489Asp, and p.Trp541Cysfs*5) were expressed in silkworm using a baculoviral expression system. An enzymatic activity assay of ASNS was performed, and the concentration of asparagine by ninhydrin and High Performance Liquid Chromatography methods using the purified recombinant proteins was measured. We established ASNS deficient HEK293 cells using the CRISPR/Cas9 method and evaluated the growth of cells without asparagine after transduction of ASNS variants with a lentiviral expression system. The four ASNS variants displayed significantly low enzymatic activity. The ASNS deficient HEK293 cells transduced with wild‐type ASNS grew without asparagine, whereas cells transduced with the variants did not grow or showed significantly slower growth than cells transduced with wild‐type ASNS. Herein, we established a method for evaluating the enzymatic activity of the recombinant human ASNS variants. The results of the cell‐based assay corroborated the results of the enzymatic activity. These methods should enable the evaluation of the pathogenicity of ASNS variants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2.9‐Ma Hotokezawa Ignimbrite, which was ejected from the Aizu caldera cluster in the northeast Japan arc, is a typical monotonous intermediate ignimbrite, with 40–50 vol% crystals and an eruptive volume of >140 km3 dense‐rock equivalent. This ignimbrite filled Hiwada caldera and was deformed by post‐caldera plutonic intrusions that formed a resurgent dome. The Hotokezawa Ignimbrite is a calc‐alkaline, medium‐K dacite to rhyolite with SiO2 contents of 67.9–71.3 wt%, and has homogeneous trace‐element abundances and Sr–Nd isotopic ratios. These geochemical features suggest that the Hotokezawa magma was formed by partial melting of amphibolitic crustal rocks. This crystal‐rich magma did not appear during the post‐caldera stage. Therefore, it is plausible that the chamber of eruptible magma was emptied by the caldera‐forming eruption. In contrast, post‐caldera plutonic rocks exhibit a variety of compositions and have a clear SiO2 gap corresponding to the caldera‐forming magma: the early pluton (tonalite) and later ones (quartz porphyry, granite porphyries, and granite) contain 62.0–66.6 and 71.2–76.5 wt% SiO2, respectively. The tonalite and the Hotokezawa Ignimbrite form a continuous trend in their major‐element variations. The Sr–Nd isotopic ratios of the ignimbrite and tonalite overlap, but those of the porphyries and granite are more enriched. The early tonalite represents the more basic part of the Hiwada caldera system that was held in small pockets separate from the main magma chamber, because its trace‐element abundances are varied and distinct from those of the Hotokezawa Ignimbrite. The distinct compositional change from the Hotokezawa Ignimbrite to the late porphyries and granite indicates that the partial melting crust generating felsic magma was renewed by the subsequent intrusion of the mantle melts. The new felsic magma ascended through subsidence‐related faults into the shallow caldera system and emplaced as laccoliths forming the resurgent dome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The disposition of drugs and their metabolites have been extensively described in the literature, based primarily on the analysis of plasma and urine. However, there are more limited data on their disposition in whole blood, which is often the only specimen available in forensic investigations and cases of driving under the influence of drugs. In this study, we have, for the first time, established pharmacokinetic properties of cocaine (COC) and its metabolites from concurrently collected whole blood and plasma samples, following a single 100 mg dose of cocaine hydrochloride administered via nasal insufflation to seven healthy volunteers. The median Cmax of COC and its major metabolites, benzoylecgonine (BZE) and ecgonine methyl ester (EME), were closely related in whole blood and plasma. The median Cmax for COC in plasma was 379.7 ng/mL (347.5–517.7) and 344.24 ng/mL (271.6–583.2) in whole blood. The median Cmax for BZE in plasma was 441.2 ng/mL (393.6–475. and 371.18 ng/mL (371.1–477.3) in whole blood, EME was 105.5 ng/mL (93.6–151.8) in plasma and 135.5 ng/mL (87.8–183) in whole blood. Calculated medians of the whole blood to plasma ratio of COC (0.76), BZE (0.98) and EME (1.02) of approximately 1, strongly suggesting that the erythrocyte cell wall presents no barrier to COC and its metabolites. Furthermore, whole blood and plasma concentrations of COC were strongly correlated (R2 = 0.0914 R = 0.956, p < 0.0001), as was BZE (R2 = 0.0932 R = 0.965, p < 0.0001) and EME (R2 = 0.0964R = 0.928, p < 0.0001). The minor oxidative metabolite norcocaine (NCOC) was detected in both whole blood and plasma at concentrations between 1 and 5 ng/mL within 60–180 minutes, suggesting that NCOC could be indicator of recent COC administration. Data from this study have shown for the first time that COC and its metabolites BZE and EME are evenly distributed between plasma and whole blood following controlled single‐dose intranasal COC administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,7,10,15‐Tetrahydroxytetraphenylene (THTP) was synthesized in two steps by the homo‐coupling reaction of 2,2′‐dibromo‐5,5′‐dimethoxybiphenyl. Optical resolution of racemic THTP was achieved by complexation with (S)‐1‐phenylethylamine in toluene to afford (S,S)‐THTP in good yield. (R,R)‐THTP was also obtained using (R)‐1‐phenylethylamine. In the course of these studies, (S,S)‐THTP constituted an inclusion compound even with (R)‐1‐phenylethylamine. Both complexes were characterized by X‐ray structural analyses and the thermal analyses (DSC and TGA). The hydrogen bonding networks of the complex with (R)‐1‐phenylethylamine are more complicated than those of the complex with (S)‐1‐phenylethylamine. The thermal analysis suggests that the complex with (S)‐1‐phenylethylamine is a less stable clathrate than the complex with (R)‐1‐phenylethylamine. (S,S)‐2,7,10,15‐Tetrahydroxytetraphenylene (THTP) generated diastereotopic inclusion complexes with both enantiomers of 1‐phenylethylamine. Both complexes were characterized by X‐ray structural analysis and the thermal analysis. Those analyses suggest that the complex with (S)‐1‐phenylethylamine is a less stable clathrate than the complex with the (R)‐isomer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X‐ray diffraction imaging is a technique for visualizing the structure of biological cells. In X‐ray diffraction imaging experiments using synchrotron radiation, cryogenic conditions are necessary in order to reduce radiation damage in the biological cells. Frozen‐hydrated biological specimens kept at cryogenic temperatures are also free from drying and bubbling, which occurs in wet specimens under vacuum conditions. In a previous study, the diffraction apparatus KOTOBUKI‐1 [Nakasako et al. (2013), Rev. Sci. Instrum. 84, 093705] was constructed for X‐ray diffraction imaging at cryogenic temperatures by utilizing a cryogenic pot, which is a cooling device developed in low‐temperature physics. In this study a new cryogenic pot, suitable for tomography experiments, has been developed. The pot can rotate a biological cell over an angular range of ±170° against the direction of the incident X‐ray beam. Herein, the details and the performance of the pot and miscellaneous devices are reported, along with established experimental procedures including specimen preparation. The apparatus has been used in tomography experiments for visualizing the three‐dimensional structure of a Cyanidioschyzon merolae cell with an approximate size of 5 µm at a resolution of 136 nm. Based on the experimental results, the necessary improvements for future experiments and the resolution limit achievable under experimental conditions within a maximum tolerable dose are discussed. Diffraction apparatus and experimental procedures for tomography X‐ray diffraction imaging of frozen‐hydrated biological cells have been established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a two case study related to two sporadic Japanese children with cantú syndrome (CS) resulting from novel ABCC9 variants. Topics include the CS being rare disease characterized by has generalized hypertrichosis, coarse facial features, neonatal macrosomia, and skeletal abnormalities, the ABCC9 and KCNJ8 genes in patients with clinical manifestations has generalized hypertrichosis, and abnormalities resembling MPS, and the coarse facial features and excessive hair growth.

Simple treatment of arenes with α‐bromoacetyl chloride and AlCl3, followed by the reaction with molecular iodine and aq. NH3, thioamides, or amidines gave the corresponding primary aromatic amides, 4‐arylthiazoles, or 4‐arylimidazoles in good yields, respectively. Aryl α‐bromomethyl ketones are the key intermediates in those reactions. Primary aromatic amides were formed from arenes through the reaction of aryl α‐bromomethyl ketones with molecular iodine and aq. NH3, and 4‐arylthiazoles and 4‐arylimidazoles were formed from arenes through the reactions of aryl α‐bromomethyl ketones with thioamides and amidines, respectively, in one pot under transition‐metal‐free conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of oligonaphthodioxepins was synthesized, revealing a helically arranged octamer, ( R, R, R, R, R, R, R)- 3, which showed intense circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) both in solution and in the solid state. The fluorescence quantum yields (ΦFL) in solution and in the solid state were 0.90 and 0.22, respectively, and the glum values in solution and in the solid state were +2.2×10−3 and +7.0×10−3, respectively. This is one of the highest solid-state CPL glum values yet reported. The high ΦFL and glum values were due to the rigidity, as well as to the fact that ( R, R, R, R, R, R, R)- 3 was a non-planar molecule. Moreover, ( R, R, R, R, R, R, R)- 3 was highly stable both chemically and stereochemically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermoelectric power factor of bilayer phosphorene is investigated by performing first-principle calculations based on density functional theory combined with semiclassical Boltzmann transport theory. Our simulations show that the thermoelectric performance of phosphorene strongly depends on the interlayer coupling, the direction of the temperature gradient, and the direction of strain. We find that the interlayer coupling oppositely affects the power factor induced by the temperature gradient along either the zigzag direction or the armchair direction; the power factor under the effect of the temperature gradient is larger for monolayer (bilayer) phosphorene along the armchair (zigzag) direction. We also show that the power factor for bilayer phosphorene monotonically increases as a function of tensile strain up to 6%, despite the direction of strain. Above a strain of 6%, the power factor continues to increase with increasing strain along the armchair direction, while it decreases with increasing strain in the zigzag direction. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of edge disorder on thermoelectric performance of graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) were investigated through computational simulations based on the non-equilibrium Green's function method combined with the tight-binding method. We found that the thermoelectric power factor PF can be optimized by adjusting the length, Lg, of GNRs with edge disorder concentration Cd. For example, PF of zigzag-edged GNRs with a Cd of 10 % at room temperature and at the Fermi energy shows a maximum value of 33 mW/(m K2) at Lg = 210 nm. Both the maximum PF and optimum Lg decrease with increasing Cd. The maximum PF is theoretically explained in terms of the crossover from the ballistic transport regime to the Anderson's localization regime. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIMS In September 2012 the UK's Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) recommended chan ges in the management of paracetamol poisoning: use of asingle '100 mg l - 1 ' nomogr am treatment line, ceasing risk assessment, treating all staggered/uncertain ingestions and increasing the duration of the initial acetylcysteine (NAC) infusion from 15 to 60 min. We evaluated the effect of this on presentation, admission, treatment, adverse reactions and costs of paracetamol poisoning. METHODS Data were prospectively collected from adult patients presenting to three large UK hospitals from 3 September 2011 to 3 September 2013 (year before and after change). Infusion duration effect on vomiting and ana phylactoid reactions was examined in one centre. A cost analysis from an NHS perspective was performed for 90 000 patients/annum with paracetamol overdose. RESULTS There were increases in the numbers presenting to hospital (before 1703, after 1854; increase 8.9% [ 95% CI 1.9, 16.2], P = 0.011); admitted (1060/1703 [62.2%] vs. 1285/1854 [69.3%]; increase 7.1% [4.0, 10.2], P < 0.001) and proportion treated (626/1703 [36.8%] vs. 926/1854 [50.0%]; increase: 13.2% [ 9 5% CI 10.0,16.4], P < 0.001). Increasing initial NAC infusion did not change the proportion of treated patients developing adverse reactions (15 min 87/323 [26.9%], 60 min 145/514 [28.2%]; increase: 1.3% [ 9 5% CI - 4 . 9, 7 . 5 ], P = 0.682). Across the UK the estimated cost impact is £8.3 million (6.4 million - 1 0 . 2 million) annually, with a cost-per-life saved of £17.4 million (13.4 million - 2 1 .5 million). CONCLUSIONS The changes introduced by the CHM in September 2012 have increased the numbers of patients admitted to hospital and treated with acetylcysteine without reducing adverse reactions. A safety and cost-benefit review of the C HM guidance is warranted, including novel treatment protocols and biomarkers in the assessment of poisoning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically study electric transport in edge-disordered armchair graphene nanoribbons (ED-AGNRs) using an extended Hückel model combined with the non-equilibrium Green's function formulation. We find that ED-AGNRs exhibit the Anderson localization even at the Fermi energy (i.e., charge neutral point) originating from broken chiral symmetry of the system. Moreover, the localization length increases with temperature at low-density edge disorder, whereas it is almost independent of temperature at high-density one. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We were able to reduce process time in fabricating a liquid crystal display by using a blue-phase liquid crystal having a characteristic texture. Further, we fabricated a liquid crystal display using the blue-phase liquid crystal and an oxide semiconductor for an element substrate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that examines the hydrological process and other factors that affect nutrient discharge in the Todoroki watershed in Ishigaki Island, Japan. It says that nutrient discharges affect coral reefs because of an increase in macroalgae. It states that nutrient analyzer was used at the Todoroki River to measure dissolved nutrients. It adds that nutrient discharge is a stressor for coral reefs, which stresses the need to adopt ways to protect reef ecosystems.

OBJECTIVE To develop a prototype of a non-live bacterial agent that consists of a cell wall (CW) preparation from heat-killed bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG-CW) incorporated into octaarginine-modified cationized liposomes as a vector (R8-liposome-BCG-CW), and to evaluate its immunoprotective potentiation in mice, as although BCG is an established effective immunotherapy for nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer, more active and less toxic treatments are needed. MATERIALS AND METHODS The cellular interaction of R8-liposome-BCG-CW co-cultured with mouse bladder cancer cell line (MBT-2) was examined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. MBT-2 cells (7 × 105) were subcutaneously inoculated with 1 mg BCG, 0.1 mg or 1 mg BCG-CW, 0.1 mg or 1 mg R8-liposome-BCG-CW in female C3H/HeN mice. The MBT-2 cells pretreated with BCG or R8-liposome-BCG-CW were re-challenged at 6 weeks. The sizes of the primary and re-challenged tumours were evaluated at 4 and 10 weeks, respectively. RESULTS Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed the enhanced incorporation of R8-liposome-BCG-CW into MBT-2 cells after 1 h of co-incubation. 0.1 mg R8-liposome-BCG-CW completely inhibited the growth of MBT-2 tumours while 0.1 mg BCG-CW alone did not ( P = 0.002). Mice vaccinated with a mixture of MBT-2 cells and R8-liposome-BCG-CW inhibited the growth of re-challenged tumour of MBT-2 cells pretreated with BCG or R8-liposome-BCG-CW but did not inhibit that of MBT-2 cells with no pretreatment at 10 weeks, with mean (sd) tumours sizes of 54 (60) mm2 ( P < 0.001) or 69 (43) mm2 ( P = 0.003) compared with 309 (125) mm2, respectively. CONCLUSION The immunotherapeutic potential of BCG-CW was enhanced by improving cellular association using the R8-liposomes delivery system. Development of this non-live bacterial agent may contribute to providing a more active and less toxic tool as a substitute for live BCG as immunotherapy against nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancer in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Diabetes mellitus (DM) often causes gastrointestinal dysmotility. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC), which express c-kit receptor tyrosine kinase (KIT), are considered the pacemaker cells for gastrointestinal movement. The present study was designed to determine the role of ICC in the pathogenesis of gastroenteropathy in type 2 DM. Methods: We examined C57BL/KsJ- db/db mice as a model for type 2 DM. Gastrointestinal motility was evaluated by measuring gastric emptying, whole gut transit time, and isometric tension of the isolated small intestine. The area of KIT-positive cells in the gastrointestinal tract was examined by image analysis of fluorescent immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression of KIT ligand, stem cell factor (SCF), in the gastrointestinal tract was quantified by real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Compared with 12-week-old db/+m control mice, diabetic db/db mice of the same age exhibited delayed gastric emptying, prolonged whole gut transit time, irregular frequency of isometric tension in the small intestine, smaller areas of KIT-positive cells in the antrum, small intestine, and colon, and lower mRNA expression levels of SCF in the small intestine and colon. Conclusions: We demonstrated disturbed gastrointestinal motility in db/ db mice with reduced areas of ICC and expression of SCF. Our results suggest the involvement of ICC in the gastroenteropathy of type 2 DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Promoter hypermethylation of E-cadherin plays an important role on gastric carcinogenesis. We have previously reported that the odds ratio for gastric carcinoma and the prevalence of diffuse-type early gastric carcinoma in Helicobacter pylori-induced enlarged fold gastritis increased with increasing fold width. Thus, we examined E-cadherin methylation in gastric mucosa from H. pylori-induced enlarged fold gastritis before and after H. pylori eradication. Moreover, we analyzed the mechanism of H. pylori infection-induced E-cadherin hypermethylation. Materials and methods: Twenty-three H. pylori-positive patients with enlarged folds, 18  H. pylori-positive and seven H. pylori-negative patients without enlarged folds, were involved in the study. E-cadherin promoter methylation was studied using quantitative methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. We investigated methylation percentage and DNA methyltransferase activity in gastric cancer cell lines treated with EGF, TNFα, and MG132. Results: E-cadherin methylation percentage of the gastric antral and body mucosa in H. pylori-positive patients with enlarged folds was much greater than that in both H. pylori-positive and -negative patients without enlarged folds. After H. pylori eradication, the methylation percentage in six patients with enlarged fold gastritis decreased significantly from 15.6 ± 3.9 to 8.8 ± 2.2 ( p < .05). Moreover, the methylation was induced by TNFα, MG132, and EGF treatment, and DNA methyltransferase activity was induced by EGF treatment in MKN-1 cells. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the hypermethylation of E-cadherin promoter might be involved in the process of gastric carcinoma through the specialized factors in H. pylori-induced enlarged fold gastritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River incision into bedrock results in the decrease of burial depths, which can be of critical importance, for example, in the safe long-term storage of high-level radioactive waste. For the long-term prediction of river erosion, it is essential to know the rate of incision during the Late Quaternary period. In the Abukuma Mountains on the forearc side of northeast Japan, a low-relief peneplain that was uplifted in the Pliocene period is widely developed. Degradational fluvial terraces that are discontinuously distributed along draining rivers are scattered in the study area. The fluvial sediments were mainly transported from the summit regions as debris flows or hyperconcentrated flows. The terrace deposits are capped by a series of eolian veneers containing key tephra beds. From the oldest to the youngest, these tephra beds are the 150–125 ka Iizuna–Kamitaru tephra, the 135–125 ka Hiuchigatake–Tagashira tephra, the 120 ka Adatara–Dake tephra, the 70–80 ka Bandai–Hayama-2 tephra, the 45 ka Numazawa–Mizunuma tephra and the 42 ka Bandai–Hayama-1 tephra. Using tephrochronological data, the terraces are divided into three groups: higher, middle and lower. The ages of formation of the higher, middle and lower terraces are estimated to be within marine isotope stage (MIS) 6, MIS 5.4–5.2 and MIS 3 to MIS 2, respectively. The incision rate, calculated from the relative height between the terrace surface and present-day valley floor fill, is 1.5–0.8 m/10 000 years in the elevations from 350 to 700 m. The calculated rate does not show significant differences between the higher, middle and lower terraces. All the relative heights decrease with increasing elevation, because the erosional rates of streams in the upper reaches are lower than those in downstream reaches where the discharge rates are higher. This value can be regarded as an estimate of the rate of incision in granitic mountains where there is no volcanic or distinct tectonic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Vasorelaxation to β2-adrenoceptor stimulation occurs through both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent mechanisms, and the former is mediated through Ca2+-independent activation of endothelial-type nitric oxide synthase (NOS-3). Since Ca2+-independent NOS-3 activation may occur through its serine phosphorylation via protein kinase A (PKA) or Akt, we determined the PKA and Akt dependency of β2-adrenergic relaxation of rat aorta. 2. Rat aortic rings were pre-incubated with the PKA inhibitor H-89 (10-7 M), th ephosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (P13K) inhibitor wortmannin (5 x 10-7 M), Akt inhibitor (10-3M), or vehicle, in the absence or presence of the NOS inhibitor N6-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10-4 M). Rings were then contracted with phenylephrine (10-7 M), and concentration relaxation responses determined to the β2-andrenoceptor agonist albuterol. 3. Rings exhibited a concentraion-dependent relaxation to albuterol pEC50 6.9 %±0.2, Emax 88.2 ± 4.0%, L-NAME attenuated Emax to 60.2 ± 3.5% (P<0.001). 4. In the presence of L-NAME, wortmannin or Akt inhibitor did not influence albuterol responses, whereas H-89 reduced Emax further, to 27.5 ± 2.2 % (P<0.0001). 5. In the absence of L-NAME, Emax to albuterol was reduced by H-89, wortmannin or Akt inhibitor, to 56.2 ± 2.2, 56.0 ± 1.6 and 55.4 ± 1.8%, respectively (P<0.001 for each), the combinations H-89 plus wortmannin or H-89 plus Akt inhibitor reduced Emax further still. 6. Western blotting of NOS-3 immunoprecipitates from rat aortas confirmed that albuterol increased serine phosphorylation of NOS-3, and this increase was attenuated by H-89 or Akt inhibitor. 7. Our results indicate that β2-adrenoceptor stimulaion relaxes rat aorta through both NO-dependent and independent mechanisms. The latter is predominantly PKA-mediated, whereas the former occurs through both PKA and P13K/Akt activation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the advent of cisplatin-based chemotherapy, the majority of metastatic testicular cancers can be cured by chemotherapy followed by retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). However, postchemotherapy RPLND confers no therapeutic benefit if the residual mass contains no viable cells. Therefore, to determine which parameters predict a patient's likelihood of having only necrosis in the residual mass, we retrospectively analyzed clinical parameters of patients who underwent postchemotherapy RPLND. Data from 27 patients with metastatic testicular cancer were analyzed. The histology of the primary tumor was seminoma in 11 cases and non-seminoma in 16 cases. All of the patients with non-seminoma showed a normalization of tumor markers after chemotherapy. Analysis of clinical parameters included data for the initial histology, pretreatment tumor marker levels, postchemotherapy retroperitoneal mass size, and the histology of the dissected RPLNs. Histological examination of dissected RPLNs showed residual tumor in 27% of seminoma patients and 38% of non-seminoma patients. In seminoma patients, no viable cells were found in all six patients with pretreatment lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels below 7.5 times the upper limit of normal, or in all five of the patients with postchemotherapy RPLNs less than 2.5 cm. In non-seminoma patients, no viable cells were found in nine of 10 patients with pretreatment alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels less than 2700 ng/mL, or in eight of nine patients with residual mass less than 2.5 cm. Both postchemotherapy RPLN mass size and pretreatment tumor marker levels are possible predictors for necrosis of the residual mass in testicular cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Image registration is very important in analyzing multitemporal images. We have proposed an automated method, ARTSIM (Automated Registration meThod for Satellite IMages), for generating control point pairs on multitemporal images. Since we used spatial correlation as the index of point pair correspondence, the positions and numbers of the control point pair depended on the image quality. This tended to generate fewer pairs of control points in regions having larger spatial discrepancy and to yield insufficient registration accuracy. In this paper, we propose a new method, ARTOFL (Automated Registration Technique using Optical FLow), which measures local disparities between images to be registered and generates the minimum number of control point pairs in adequate positions so as to achieve the desired accuracy of the registration. In the method, we regard the two images to be registered as sequential shots in a movie scene. Optical flow is introduced as a tool for measuring local disparities. A new control point is generated at the point having the maximum length of the optical flow vector. Since images may have severe distortion and/or temporal changes in pixel density, some compensations are required so that larger disparities yield larger optical flow vectors. These procedures are repeated until the maximum length of the optical flow vector falls below a threshold, so that the accuracy of the registration is ensured. The validity of ARTOFL was confirmed by numerical simulation and processing of real remote sensing images. ARTOFL generated fewer control point pairs but provided higher accuracy than ARTSIM. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 86(1): 38–47, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.10034 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eight-week-old male Crj:Donryu rats underwent subtotal resection of the fundus and X-ray irradiation. Six months later the animals were autopsied and examined for intestinal metaplasia. The numbers of alkaline phosphatase-positive foci with the two treatments in combination were significantly increased, compared to the operation alone and non-treatment groups. Histologically assessed intestinal metaplasia was also increased in the combined treatment group. In conclusion, subtotal resection of the fundus combined with X-ray irradiation is an effective induction protocol for intestinal metaplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the intravascular large B cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) with hepatic portal vein, splenic vein and mesentric vein tumour embolism. It mentions that IVLBCL is a disease known to be restricted to the smallest of blood vessels. It notes that IVLBCL is a rare subtype of extranodal diffuse large B cell lymphoma that is characterized by selective proliferation of neoplastic cells within the lumina of capillaries, arterioles, and venules.

Splenogonadal fusion is a rare congenital anomaly. We report herein a case of splenogonadal fusion associated with contra lateral testicular aplasia, and review the etiology, pathogenesis and management of this rare disease. As far as we know, this is the first reported case of splenogonadal fusion associated with testicular aplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many marine species have a pelagic larval phase that undergo dispersal among habitats. Studies on marine larval dispersal have revealed a large variation in the spatial scale of dispersal and self‐recruitment. However, few studies have investigated the influence of types of coastline (e.g., bay vs. open coast) on marine larval dispersal. Bays or lagoons generally enhance the retention of larvae, while larvae are more likely to be flushed by strong currents in open coasts. To examine associations between larval dispersal, coastline type, and hydrodynamics, we compared fin‐scale dispersal patterns, self‐recruitment, and local retention (LR) of two anemonefishes (Amphiprion frenatus and Amphiprion perideraion) between a semi‐enclosed bay and an open coast in the Philippines combining genetic parentage analysis and biophysical dispersal modeling. Contrary to our expectations, parentage analysis revealed lower estimates of self‐recruitment in the semi‐closed bay (0%) than in the open coast (14–15%). The result was consistent with dispersal simulations predicting lower LR and self‐recruitment in the semi‐closed bay (0.4% and 19%) compared to the open coast (2.9% and 38%). Dispersal modeling also showed that cross‐shore currents toward offshore were much stronger around the semi‐closed bay and were negatively correlated with LR and self‐recruitment. These results suggest that stronger cross‐shore currents around the semi‐closed bay transport anemonefish larvae to the offshore and mainly contributed to the lower self‐recruitment. Our results highlight importance of hydrodynamics on larval dispersal and difficulty in predicting self‐recruitment from coastline type alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]