Search

Objective To investigate the effect of PCI on patient-reported outcomes in focal and diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) as defined by the pullback pressure gradient (PPG). Background Improvements in fractional flow reserve (FFR) following PCI are associated with freedom from angina. CAD patterns influence the FFR change after stenting. Therefore, CAD patterns might be essential to assess the likelihood of PCI success in terms of angina relief. Methods This is a sub-analysis of the TARGET-FFR randomized clinical trial (NCT03259815). The 7-item Seattle Angina Questionnaire (SAQ-7) and EuroQol five-level EQ-5D questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) were administered at baseline and three months after PCI. The PPG index was calculated from manual pre-PCI FFR pullbacks and the median PPG value was used to define focal and diffuse CAD. Results 103 patients (51 with focal and 52 with diffuse disease) were analyzed. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between patients with focal and diffuse CAD. Patients with focal disease had larger increases in FFR with PCI than those with diffuse disease (0.30±0.14 units vs 0.19±0.12 units, p Conclusion Persistent angina after PCI was almost twice as common in patients with diffuse CAD as defined by the pre-PCI PPG. Patients with focal disease reported greater improvement in angina and quality of life with PCI. The likelihood of successful angina relief from PCI can be predicted by the baseline pattern of CAD. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

In 2004, we searched for very high energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission from the Galactic Plane using the CANGAROO-III stereoscopic observation system. Two different longitude regions (l = −19°.5 and l = +13°.0) on the Galactic Plane were observed during July and August 2004. We analyzed events that triggered three telescopes aiming to measure the diffuse emission component. No significant signal associated with the Galactic Plane was found from either of the regions. Assuming that the gamma-ray spectrum is described by a single power-law for energies ranging between a few GeV and TeV, lower limits of the power-law spectral indices were found to be 2.2 for both of the regions with a 99.9% confidence level. This result is consistent with the other VHE measurements and constrains a hypothesis in which a very hard (∼2.0) cosmic ray electron spectrum was introduced to explain the EGRET GeV anomaly.

We observed the unidentified TeV gamma-ray source HESS J1804-216 with the CANGAROO-III atmospheric Cerenkov telescopes from May to July in 2006. We detected very high energy gamma rays above 600 GeV at the 10 sigma level in an effective exposure of 76 hr. We obtained a differential flux of (5.0+/-1.5_{stat}+/-1.6_{sys})\times 10^{-12}(E/1 TeV)^{-\alpha} cm^{-2}s^{-1}TeV^{-1} with a photon index \alpha of 2.69 +/- 0.30_{stat} +/- 0.34_{sys}, which is consistent with that of the H.E.S.S. observation in 2004. We also confirm the extended morphology of the source. By combining our result with multi-wavelength observations, we discuss the possible counterparts of HESS J1804-216 and the radiation mechanism based on leptonic and hadronic processes for a supernova remnant and a pulsar wind nebula., Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, Accepted in ApJ

We have observed the supernova remnant MSH 15-52 (G320.4-1.2), which contains the gamma-ray pulsar PSR B1509-58, using the CANGAROO-III imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope array from April to June in 2006. We detected gamma rays above 810 GeV at the 7 sigma level during a total effective exposure of 48.4 hours. We obtained a differential gamma-ray flux at 2.35 TeV of (7.9+/-1.5_{stat}+/-1.7_{sys}) \times 10^{-13} cm^{-2}s^{-1}TeV^{-1} with a photon index of 2.21+/-0.39_{stat}+/-0.40_{sys}, which is compatible with that of the H.E.S.S. observation in 2004. The morphology shows extended emission compared to our Point Spread Function. We consider the plausible origin of the high energy emission based on a multi-wavelength spectral analysis and energetics arguments.

Optical images of SN 1987A show a triple ring structure. The inner (dust) ring has recently increased in brightness and in the number of hot spots suggesting that the supernova shock wave has collided with the dense pre-existing circumstellar medium, a scenario supported by radio and X-ray observations. Such a shocked environment is widely expected to result in the acceleration of charged particles, and the accompanying emission of very high energy gamma-rays. Here, we report the results of observations made in 2004 and 2006 which yield upper limits on the TeV gamma-ray flux, which are compared with a theoretical prediction. In addition, we set upper limits on the TeV flux for four high energy objects which are located within the same field of view of the observation: the super-bubble 30 Dor C, the Crab-like pulsar PSR B0540$-$69, the X-ray binary LMC X-1, and the supernova remnant N157B., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ

A destructive large earthquake (the 2004 mid Niigata prefecture earthquake) sequence occurred in the central part (Chuetsu district) of Niigata prefecture, central Japan on October 23, 2004. We have deployed a temporary seismic network composed of 54 stations for aftershock observation just above and around the focal area of the earthquake for about a month. Using travel time data from the temporary seismic network and surrounding routine stations, we obtained precise aftershock distribution and 3D seismic velocity structure in and around the fault planes of the earthquake and four major (M ≥ 6) aftershocks by double-difference tomography. The results clearly show three major aftershock alignments. Two of them are almost parallel and dipping toward the WNW. The shallow and deep aftershock alignments correspond to the fault plane of the mainshock and that of the largest aftershock (M6.4), respectively. The third alignment is almost perpendicular to the WNW-ward dipping planes and perhaps corresponds to the fault plane of the M6 aftershock on October 27. General feature of the obtained velocity structure is that the hanging wall (western part of the focal area) has lower velocity and the footwall (eastern part of the focal area) has higher velocity. Major velocity boundary seems to shift westward in comparison to in northern and southern parts at a location near the central part of the focal area, where the main shock rupture started. Some parts of the fault planes were imaged as low velocity zones. This complex crustal structure would be one of possible causes of the multi-fault rupture of the 2004 mid Niigata prefecture earthquake sequence.

We report the detection, with the CANGAROO-III imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescope array, of a very high energy gamma-ray signal from the unidentified gamma-ray source HESS J1614-518, which was discovered in the H.E.S.S. Galactic plane survey. Diffuse gamma-ray emission was detected above 760 GeV at the 8.9 sigma level during an effective exposure of 54 hr from 2008 May to August. The spectrum can be represented by a power-law: 8.2+-2.2_{stat}+-2.5_{sys}x10^{-12}x (E/1TeV)^{-Gamma} cm^{-2} s^{-1} TeV^{-1} with a photon index Gamma of 2.4+-0.3_{stat}+-0.2_{sys}, which is compatible with that of the H.E.S.S. observations. By combining our result with multi-wavelength data, we discuss the possible counterparts for HESS J1614-518 and consider radiation mechanisms based on hadronic and leptonic processes for a supernova remnant, stellar winds from massive stars, and a pulsar wind nebula. Although a leptonic origin from a pulsar wind nebula driven by an unknown pulsar remains possible, hadronic-origin emission from an unknown supernova remnant is preferred., 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Abstract 2335 The stepwise lineage-commitment from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow (BM) to T-lymphocyte-restricted progenitors in the thymus represents a paradigm for how distinct stages of lineage restriction from a multipotent to a lineage-restricted progenitor require different extrinsic cues. However, the commitment stage at which progenitors migrate from the BM to the thymus remains unclear. Previous studies demonstrated the existence of adult early thymic progenitors (ETPs) restricted to T lymphocyte and granulocyte-monocyte (GM) fates (Bell and Bhandoola, Nature 2008; Wada et al., Nature 2008). The challenge remains to couple this thymic T–GM restricted progenitor to candidate thymus seeding progenitors (TSPs) identified in the BM, such as common lymphoid progenitors, lymphoid-primed multipotent progenitors (LMPPs) and HSCs, which all also possess B cell potential. Using high resolution FACS and sensitive clonal assays, we have identified the most primitive ETPs in the neonatal thymus and demonstrate at the single cell level that rare Lin−CD4−CD8a−CD25−KIThiFLT3hi ETPs possess combined granulocyte-monocyte (GM), T and B lymphocyte but not megakaryocyte-erythroid (MkE) lineage potentials, identical to closely molecularly related thymus-seeding progenitors in the BM. Moreover, global molecular profiling demonstrates that neonatal Lin−CD4−CD8a−CD25−KIThiFLT3hi ETPs cluster closest to multipotent progenitors in the BM, rather than subsequent (DN1 and DN2) progenitor stages in the thymus. Finally, in support of Lin−CD4−CD8a−CD25−KIThiFLT3hi ETPs with combined T, B and GM lineage potentials, being the most multipotent progenitors in the thymus, phenotypic and functional studies demonstrate that the neonatal thymus is not seeded by HSCs or MPPs with MkE potential. These findings establish for the first time a distinct lineage commitment stage for the transition of T-lineage commitment from the BM to the remote thymus. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

The primary photochemical event in rhodopsin is an 11-cis to 11-trans photoisomerization of its retinylidene chromophore to form the primary intermediate photorhodopsin. Earlier picosecond studies have shown that no intermediate is formed when the retinal 11-ene is fixed through a bridging five-membered ring, whereas a photorhodopsin-like intermediate is formed when it is fixed through a flexible seven-membered ring. Results from a rhodopsin analog formed from a retinal with locked 11-ene structure through the more flexible eight-membered ring (Ret8) are described. Incubation of bovine opsin with Ret8 formed two pigments absorbing at 425 nm (P425) and 500 nm (P500). P425, however, is an artifact because it formed from thermally denatured opsin or other proteins and Ret8. Excitation of P500 with a picosecond green pulse led to formation of two intermediates corresponding to photo- and bathorhodopsins. These results demonstrate that an appearance of early intermediates is dependent on the flexibility of the 11-ene and that the photoisomerization of P500 proceeds by stepwise changes of chromophore-protein interaction, which in turn leads to a relaxation of the highly twisted all-trans-retinylidene chromophore in photorhodopsin.

Because accretion and merger shocks in clusters of galaxies may accelerate particles to high energies, clusters are candidate sites for the origin of ultra-high-energy (UHE) cosmic-rays. A prediction was presented for gamma-ray emission from a cluster of galaxies at a detectable level with the current generation of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes. The gamma-ray emission was produced via inverse Compton upscattering of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons by electron-positron pairs generated by collisions of UHE cosmic rays in the cluster. We observed two clusters of galaxies, Abell 3667 and Abell 4038, searching for very-high-energy gamma-ray emission with the CANGAROO-III atmospheric Cherenkov telescope system in 2006. The analysis showed no significant excess around these clusters, yielding upper limits on the gamma-ray emission. From a comparison of the upper limit for the north-west radio relic region of Abell 3667 with a model prediction, we derive a lower limit for the magnetic field of the region of ~0.1 micro G. This shows the potential of gamma-ray observations in studies of the cluster environment. We also discuss the flux upper limit from cluster center regions using a model of gamma-ray emission from neutral pions produced in hadronic collisions of cosmic-ray protons with the intra-cluster medium (ICM). The derived upper limit of the cosmic-ray energy density within this framework is an order of magnitude higher than that of our Galaxy., 7 pages, 6 figures, Accepted in ApJ

Kepler's supernova, discovered in October 1604, produced a remnant that has been well studied observationally in the radio, infrared, optical, and X-ray bands, and theoretically. Some models have predicted a TeV gamma-ray flux that is detectable with current Imaging Cherenkov Atmospheric Telescopes. We report on observations carried out in 2005 April with the CANGAROO-III telescope. No statistically significant excess was observed, and limitations on the allowed parameter range in the model are discussed., 6 pages 6 figures, to appear in ApJ, August 20, 2008, v683n2

We have used the CANGAROO-III imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes to observe the high-frequency-peaked BL Lacertae (HBL) object PKS 2155-304 between 2006 July 28 (MJD 53944) and August 2, triggered by the H.E.S.S. report that the source was in a high state of TeV gamma-ray emission. A signal was detected at the 4.8 sigma level in an effective live time of 25.1 hours during the outburst period. The flux of Very High Energy gammarays from the CANGAROO-III observations shows the variability on the time scale of less than a few hours. The averaged integral flux above 660 GeV is (1.6 +/- 0.3_stat +/- 0.5_syst) x 10^-11 cm^-2 sec^-1 which corresponds to ~45% of the flux observed from the Crab nebula. Follow-up observations between August 17 (MJD 53964) and 25 indicate the source activity had decreased., 24 pages, 7 figures, to be published in ApJ

We have observed the giant radio galaxy Centaurus A and the globular cluster $\omega$ Centauri in the TeV energy region using the CANGAROO-III stereoscopic system. The system has been in operation since 2004 withan array of four Imaging Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (IACT) with $\sim$100-m spacings. The observations were carried out in March and April 2004. In total, approximately 10 hours data were obtained for each target.No statistically significant gamma-ray signal has been found above 420 GeV over a wide angular region (a one-degree radius from thepointing center) and we derive flux upper limits using all of the field of view.Implications for the total energy of cosmic rays and the density of the cold dark matter are considered., Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, to appear in ApJ, emulateapj.cls

Sub-TeV gamma-ray emission from the North-West rim of the supernova remnant RX J0852.0$-$4622 was detected with the CANGAROO-II telescope and recently confirmed by the H.E.S.S. group. In addition, the H.E.S.S. data revealed a very wide (up to two degrees in diameter), shell-like profile of the gamma-ray emission. We have carried out CANGAROO-III observations in January and February 2005 with three telescopes and show here the results of three-fold coincidence data. We confirm the H.E.S.S. results about the morphology and the energy spectrum, and find the energy spectrum in the NW-rim is consistent with that of the whole remnant., 9 pages, 13 figures, to appear in ApJ

Vessels of large colonic polyps often cause postpolypectomy hemorrhage. Preligation with endoloop increases the current density and coagulates more at the site of preligation as compared with at the site of polypectomy. Ligation of stalks after polypectomy is very difficult. The Anchor clip keeps the stalk after polypectomy; in addition, the Anchor clip also suppresses the rolling up, which makes it easy to ligate the stalk. The partially placed Anchor clip draws the electrical current, avoiding burn injury around the Endoclips at the site of the polypectomy. The Anchor clip technique allows easy and safe prevention of postpolypectomy hemorrhage. This article is part of an expert video encyclopedia.

Duocarmycins have been reported to derive their potent antitumor activity through a sequence-selective minor groove alkylation of N3 adenine in double-stranded DNA. We have used gel mobility shift assays to detect proteins that bind to DNA treated in vitro with duocarmycin SA and identified a protein, named duocarmycin-DNA adduct recognizing protein (DARP), which binds with increased affinity to duocarmycin-damaged DNA. Examination with partially purified DARP revealed that the protein recognized not only the DNA adduct of structurally related drug, CC-1065, but unexpectedly, the protein also recognized the DNA adduct of another chemotype of minor groove binder, anthramycin. These results demonstrate that DARP recognizes the structural alteration of DNA induced by these potent DNA-alkylating drugs, suggesting the possibility that the protein might modulate the antitumor activity of these drugs.

UCN-01 (7-hydroxyl-staurosporine) was originally isolated as a Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C selective inhibitor and now is being developed as an anticancer agent. Results from our and other laboratories have suggested that UCN-01 induces preferential G1-phase accumulation in several human tumor cell lines tested. To elucidate this mechanism, we examined the effects of UCN-01 on several cell cycle-regulatory proteins critical for G1-S-phase transition in p53-mutated human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. After 24 h exposure at around 50% growth-inhibitory concentrations (IC50s), 260 and 520 nM, UCN-01 induced the accumulation of pRb (the dephosphorylated retinoblastoma protein form). The protein expression of cyclin A but not cyclin E was markedly reduced and that of cyclin D1 was partially reduced under the same condition. UCN-01 also showed the concentration-dependent inhibitions of the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) using histone H1 and pRb as substrates in vitro (IC50, 530 and 640 nM, respectively). In addition, CDK2 activities of the cells pretreated with UCN-01 for 24 h at 260 and 520 nM were markedly inhibited, giving IC50s of far less than 260 nM. When the same cell lysates were analyzed by Western blotting for CDK2, the lower band (e.g., active and phosphorylated CDK2) was remarkably reduced, in accordance with the reduced activity. Furthermore, UCN-01 induced the expression of the CDK inhibitor p21 protein and its complex formation with CDK2 after 24 h exposure at 260 and 520 nM, whereas the expression level was very low or undetectable in untreated or DNA-damaged cells. The increase of p21 mRNA levels was also induced under the same condition. UCN-01 further increased luciferase activities in A431 cells transiently transfected with p21 promoter-luciferase reporter plasmid after 24 h exposure at 260 and 520 nM. UCN-01 also increased the expression of the CDK inhibitor p27 protein after 24 h exposure at 260 and 520 nM. These results suggest that G1-phase accumulation induced by UCN-01 is associated with dephosphorylation of Rb and CDK2 proteins as well as induction of CDK inhibitors p21 and p27.

The chromosomal DNA of Streptomyces griseus 2247 (a derivative of strain IFO3237) was digested with several restriction endonucleases and analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Digestion with AseI and DraI gave 15 and 9 fragments, respectively, the total sizes of which were 7.8 Mb. All the AseI and DraI fragments were aligned on a linear chromosome map by using linking plasmids and cosmids. PFGE analysis of the intact chromosome also showed a linear DNA band of about 8 Mb. Detailed physical maps of both terminal regions were constructed; they revealed the presence of a 24-kb terminal inverted repeat on each end. PFGE analysis with and without proteinase K treatment suggested that each end of the chromosome carries a protein molecule.

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科情報システム, 金沢大学工学部, A new infinite impulse response (IIR) Nyquist filter with zero intersymbol interference is proposed. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the transfer function are obtained. The proposed IIR Nyquist filter requires only frequency-domain optimization. Multistep optimization, using the iterative Chebyshev approximation, is proposed. This method is able to design a new kind of IIR Nyquist filter with the minimum order. Numerical examples for 30- and 15-percent rolloff rates are illustrated. From these examples, it is confirmed that the IIR approach can reduce the filter order and hardware size, compared with the conventional finite impulse response (FIR) Nyquist filters. Its efficiency becomes marked for high Q Nyquist filters.

A new method of cross-linked polyethylene cables, vulcanization in inert gas, was researched and developed. In this paper, the principle of the new method of the gas curing process is explained. And then the electrical and physical properties of the cables cured in inert gas are outlined and are compared with those of the cables cured in steam. It is found that the curing method and condition have heavy influence on the micro-structure of the XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) insulation and electrical strength. In conclusion, we can cure the polyethylene cables in the flow of the high temperature and high pressure inert gas. A.C and impulse breakdown voltage of the cables cured in inert gas (gas-cured cable) were respectively higher about 50∼70% and 20∼ 70% than those of the cables cured in steam (steam-cured cable). By our new method of the gas curing process perhaps insulation thickness will be reduced to 70∼60% of that of the present steam-cured cables. It will be of great advantage to use this method in manufacturing EHV XL-PE insulated power cables.

A cleavage map of Bacillus subtilis temperate phage rho 11 was constructed with restriction endonucleases SalI, BamHI and BglII, which cut the genome into 6, 7 and 21 fragments, respectively. The molecular weight of the rho 11 genome was calculated to be 78 x 10(6). Among other endonucleases tested, PvuII, EcoRI and XbaI cleaved the genome into more than 25 fragments, while HaeIII, StuI, BalI and BamNx did not cut the genome at all. The rho 11-coded thymidylate synthetase gene, thyP11, was found to be located in the SalI-D fragment, which was in the central region of the genome.

HaeIII, BalI, StuI, BamHI, SlaI, and EcoRII did not cut the genome of Bacillus subtilis phage phi 1 at all, whereas ThaI, BglII, EcoRI, SalI, and Bsu1247I cut the genome once or twice. The physical map of the phi 1 genome was constructed with the latter restriction endonucleases.