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High-dimensionally structured Mo-Fe oxide (HDS-MoFeO) was synthesized through an assembly of structural units supplied from Keplerate-type polyoxometalate, {Mo 72 Fe 30 }, under an appropriate hydrothermal condition. HDS-MoFeO showed excellent catalytic activity for the selective oxidation of methanol with slightly lower selectivity for formaldehyde than that of a conventional Mo-Fe oxide catalyst.

Calcium and lithium ion beams are required by NASA Space Radiation Laboratory at Brookhaven National Laboratory to simulate the effects of cosmic radiation. To identify the difficulties in providing such highly reactive materials as laser targets, both species were experimentally tested. Plate shaped lithium and calcium targets were fabricated to create ablation plasmas with a 6 ns 1064 nm neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser. We found significant oxygen contamination in both the Ca and Li high charge state beams due to the rapid oxidation of the surfaces. A large spot size, low power density laser was used to create low charge state beams without scanning the targets. The low charge state Ca beam did not have any apparent oxygen contamination, showing the potential to clean the target entirely of oxide with a low power beam once in the chamber. The Li target was clearly still oxidizing in the chamber after each low power shot. To measure the rate of oxidation, we shot the low power laser at the target repeatedly at 10 s, 30 s, 60 s, and 120 s interval lengths, showing a linear relation between the interval time and the amount of oxygen in the beam.

To generate laser ablation plasma, a pulse laser is focused onto a solid target making a crater on the surface. However, not all the evaporated material is efficiently converted to hot plasma. Some portion of the evaporated material could be turned to low temperature plasma or just vapor. To investigate the mechanism, we prepared an aluminum target coated by thin carbon layers. Then, we measured the ablation plasma properties with different carbon thicknesses on the aluminum plate. The results showed that C(6+) ions were generated only from the surface layer. The deep layers (over 250 nm from the surface) did not provide high charge state ions. On the other hand, low charge state ions were mainly produced by the deeper layers of the target. Atoms deeper than 1000 nm did not contribute to the ablation plasma formation.

We studied proton beam production from a laser ion source using hydrogen rich target materials. In general, gas based species are not suitable for laser ion sources since formation of a dense laser target is difficult. In order to achieve reliable operation, we tested hydride targets using a sub nanosecond Q-switched Nd-YAG laser, which may help suppress target material consumption. We detected enough yields of protons from a titanium hydride target without degradation of beam current during the experiment. The combination of a sub nanosecond laser and compressed hydride target may provide stable proton beam.

We investigated the high intensity plasma generated by using a Nd:YAG laser to apply a laser-produced plasma to the direct plasma injection scheme. The capability of the source to generate high charge state ions strongly depends on the power density of the laser irradiation. Therefore, we focused on using a higher power laser with several hundred picoseconds of pulse width. The iron target was irradiated with the pulsed laser, and the ion current of the laser-produced iron plasma was measured using a Faraday cup and the charge state distribution was investigated using an electrostatic ion analyzer. We found that higher charge state iron ions (up to Fe(21+)) were obtained using a laser pulse of several hundred picoseconds in comparison to those obtained using a laser pulse of several nanoseconds (up to Fe(19+)). We also found that when the laser irradiation area was relatively large, the laser power was absorbed mainly by the contamination on the target surface.

In the laser ion source (LIS) at the Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), a solenoid is used to guide the laser ablation plasma and modulate the extracted beam current. Many types of ion species are guided. In some cases, the plasma plume is injected into the solenoid away from the solenoidal axis. To investigate the effects of the solenoid on the beam extracted from the plasma that has different properties, the beam current was measured in the setup of the LIS at the BNL. The beam current of Li, Al, Si, Fe, and Au increased when the magnetic field was applied. For most of the species the peak current and the total charge within a single beam pulse increased around 10 times with a magnetic field less than 100 G. In addition, for some species the rate of increase of the peak currents became smaller when the magnetic flux densities were larger than certain values depending on the species. In this case, the current waveforms were distorted. At the same magnetic field value, the field was more effective on lighter species than on heavier ones. When plasma was injected offset from the axis of the solenoid, peak current and total charge became half of those without offset. The experimental data are useful for the operation of the LIS at the BNL.

Heavy-ion collider experiment in isobaric system is under investigation at Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. For this experiment, ion source is required to maximize the abundance of the intended isotope. The candidate of the experiment is (96)Ru + (96)Zr. Since the natural abundance of particular isotope is low and composition of isotope from ion source depends on the composites of the target, an isotope enriched material may be needed as a target. We studied the performance of the laser ion source required for the experiment for Zr ions.

We have investigated laser ablation plasma of various species using nanosecond and sub-nanosecond lasers for both high and low charge state ion productions. We found that with sub-nanosecond laser, the generated plasma has a long tail which has low charge state ions determined by an electrostatic ion analyzer even under the laser irradiation condition for highly charged ion production. This can be caused by insufficient laser absorption in plasma plume. This property might be suitable for low charge state ion production. We used a nanosecond laser and a sub-nanosecond laser for low charge state ion production to investigate the difference of generated plasma using the Zirconium target.

Multiple laser shots could be used to elongate an ion beam pulse width or to intensify beam current from laser ion sources. In order to confirm the feasibility of the multiple shot scheme, we investigated the properties of plasmas produced by double laser shots. We found that when the interval of the laser shots is shorter than 10 μs, the ion current profile had a prominent peak, which is not observed in single laser experiments. The height of this peak was up to five times larger than that of single laser experiment.

To investigate efficient graphite material for carbon ion production in laser ion source, the plasma properties produced from these materials are measured. Comparing acquired current profile and charge state distribution, the distributions of ions in laser induced plasma from isotropic graphite and single crystal of graphite are different. The produced quantity of C(6+) from isotropic materials is larger than that from single crystal.

A magnetic field can increase an ion current of a laser ablation plasma and is expected to control the change of the plasma ion current. However, the magnetic field can also make some fluctuations of the plasma and the effect on the beam emittance and the emission surface is not clear. To investigate the effect of a magnetic field, we extracted the ion beams under three conditions where without magnetic field, with magnetic field, and without magnetic field with higher laser energy to measure the beam distribution in phase space. Then we compared the relations between the plasma ion current density into the extraction gap and the Twiss parameters with each condition. We observed the effect of the magnetic field on the emission surface.

To create mixed species ion beam with laser pulses, we investigated charge state distributions of plasma formed from both Al-Fe alloy targets and pure Al and Fe targets placed close together. With two targets, we observed that the two kinds of atoms were mixed when the interval of two laser pulses was large enough (40 μs). On the other hand, when the interval was 0.0 μs, we observed fewer Fe ions and they did not mix well with the Al ions. The two species were mixed well in the plasma from the alloy target. Furthermore, we observed that specific charge states of Fe ions increased. From the results, it was determined that we can use two pure targets to mix two species whose difference of the drift velocity is large. On the other hand, we must use an alloy target when the drift velocities of the species are close.

A laser ion source that provides a fully ionized carbon ion beam is under joint development at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Long-pulse (6 ns) and short-pulse (500 ps) laser systems were tested by using them to irradiate a graphite target. Notable differences between the systems were observed in these experiments. Preliminary experimental results, such as the charge-state spectrum, beam intensity, and stability, are discussed.

In Brookhaven National Laboratory, laser ion source has been developed to provide heavy ion beams by using plasma generation with 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser irradiation onto solid targets. The laser energy is transferred to the target material and creates a crater on the surface. However, only the partial material can be turned into plasma state and the other portion is considered to be just vaporized. Since heat propagation in the target material requires more than typical laser irradiation period, which is typically several ns, only the certain depth of the layers may contribute to form the plasma. As a result, the depth is more than 500 nm because the base material Al ions were detected. On the other hand, the result of comparing each carbon thickness case suggests that the surface carbon layer is not contributed to generate plasma.

Background: Prevention of the development of castration-resistant from hormone-naïve prostate cancer is an important issue in maintaining the quality of life of the patients. We explored the effect of 2'-hydroxyflavanone on proliferation and androgen responsiveness using prostate cancer cell lines., Materials and Methods: To investigate the effect of 2'-hydroxyflavanone on proliferation, prostate cancer cells were treated with 2'-hydroxyflavanone. Androgen-responsiveness in LNCaP cells was confirmed by luciferase assay after transfection of luciferase reporter driven by prostate specific antigen promoter. To detect androgen receptor (AR) expression, reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were conducted., Results: 2'-Hydroxyflavanone inhibited the proliferation of PC-3 and DU145 cells by induction of apoptosis. 2'-Hydroxyflavanone inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells stimulated by androgens and attenuated androgen-responsiveness through down-regulation of AR protein., Conclusion: 2'-Hydroxyflavanone not only inhibited proliferation of prostate cancer cells, but also repressed androgen-responsiveness, suggesting that it might be a useful agent in preventing recurrence of prostate cancer.

Background: The matricellular protein secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) plays an important role on tumor metastasis and progression in several cancers. However, the roles of SPARC in prostate cancer (PCa) remain unclear., Methods: To identify SPARC protein in prostate tissue, immunohistochemical analysis of SPARC was conducted using human prostate tissue microarray. To detect SPARC expression in prostate cancer (LNCaP, DU145, and PC-3) and stromal cells, RT-PCR, western blot analysis, and ELISA was conducted. To reveal the function of exogenous SPARC in PCa cells, AKT phosphorylation was confirmed by western blot analysis after coculture with stromal cells. Proliferation and migration of PCa cells were examined by addition of SPARC. The interaction between SPARC and integrin β1 was confirmed by western blot analysis after immunoprecipitation., Results: SPARC protein was expressed well in normal tissue compared with PCa tissue. ELISA showed high secreted SPARC protein in normal prostate-derived stromal cell (PrSC) compared with PCa-derived stromal cell (PCaSC) and PCa. PCa cells cocultured with PrSC showed reduced AKT phosphorylation more than with PCaSC. PCa cells cocultured with PrSC whose SPARC was knocked-down restored AKT phosphorylation. Moreover, PCa cells treated with SPARC led to reduced AKT phosphorylation. Immunoprecipitation with SPARC revealed interaction of SPARC and integrin β1 in PCa cells. Inhibited proliferation and migration of PCa cells by SPARC was restored by integrin β1 neutralizing antibody., Conclusions: Reduced SPARC secretion from stromal cells might affect PCa progression mediating through limiting AKT phosphorylation after interaction with integrin β1., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Conversion into androgen-hypersensitive state and adaptation to the low concentration of androgen during ADT cause relapse of prostate cancer (PCa). It is important to identify differentially expressed genes between PCa and normal prostate tissues and to reveal the function of these genes that are involved in progression of PCa., Methods: We performed cDNA microarray analysis to identify differentially expressed genes, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2). Immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to investigate the relationship between the CAMKK2 expression level and prognosis. The function of CAMKK2 was assessed by generating CAMKK2 overexpressed LNCaP cells and by knockdown of CAMKK2., Results: We identified CAMKK2 overexpressed six times in PCa more than normal prostate by cDNA microarray analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis of CAMKK2 protein showed that CAMKK2 protein was expressed more in PCa than normal tissue. However, the expression in the high-grade PCa diminished. Moreover, the narrowness of CAMKK2-positive area before ADT was a poor prognostic factor. Androgen-deprivation treatment from the medium in which LNCaP cells were cultured in the presence of 10 nM DHT repressed CAMKK2 expression. CAMKK2 overexpressed LNCaP cells (LNCaP/GFP-CAMKK2) attenuated androgen-sensitivity. Tumorigenesis of LNCaP/GFP-CAMKK2 cells in male SCID mice was decreased compared with control cells irrespective of castration. Finally, knockdown of CAMKK2 mRNA in LNCaP cells induced androgen-hypersensitivity and stimulated LNCaP cell proliferation., Conclusions: Induction of androgen-hypersensitivity after ADT may be involved in down-regulation of CAMKK2. This result may provide new therapeutic approach to keep androgen-sensitivity of PCa after ADT., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: Although the rates of reported symptoms of Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus infection are well studied, the course of progression of these symptoms is not clear. In this study, we carefully reviewed the progress of each patient after hospitalization and clarified the clinical course of the symptoms., Methods: We retrospectively examined the clinical data of 16 consecutive patients who had been hospitalized during the early stages of an influenza epidemic and observed the clinical progression of their symptoms., Results: Each symptom had a different time of onset and progression pattern. In roughly one-third of our patients, symptoms appeared before the onset of high fever. Acute respiratory symptoms tended to last longer than other symptoms; similarly, sore throat and cough lasted longer than rhinorrhea. The SpO(2) of the patients with influenza showed a declining trend. The point at which minimum SpO(2) levels were noted was approximately 1.5 days after onset of fever., Conclusion: In this H1N1 epidemic, patients typically tended to experience general fatigue, sore throat, and cough before the onset of fever, with sore throat and cough lasting longer than the other symptoms. Most patients showed decreased SpO(2) levels at -1.5 days after onset of fever.

Background: Prospective study was carried out to observe the clinical course and find out the clinical index to predict the outcome after stopping of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)., Subjects: One hundred twelve asthmatic children (aged 12.9+/-9.6 years old) who were totally controlled with 100 microg/day of inhaled corticosteroids and have not experienced asthma symptom over 3 months, were enrolled., Methods: Patients with over PC20 0.5 mg/mL of methacholine challenge test (MCT) were recommended to stop ICS therapy. Clinical course, lung function and bronchial hyperreactivity were followed at 7, 16 and 24 months after stopping of ICS., Results: Eighty-one percent of 63 patients followed up to 24 months run on as symptom less than one time per month without remarkable change of lung function. PC20 in group of no asthma symptom during 24 months (group A) decreased weakly. That of other groups decreased remarkably. Days using ICS and plasma IgE antibody at stopping of ICS were different in clinical course at 24 months after stopping ICS., Conclusion: Over 80% of totally controlled asthmatic children with MCT PC20 over 0.5 mg/mL could stop ICS therapy and run on without relapse.

As for ambulant cancer chemotherapy at Tokai University Hachioji Hospital, we have been employing computerized methods with electronic medical charts for a series of operations, such as receiving medication instructions by doctors, preparation of drugs, chemotherapy regimen-checks and quantitative calculations for admixtures of anticancer drugs. Additionally, we have introduced new features that print information such as chemical data needed for regimen-checks and doctors' answers to questions about prescriptions on the prescriptions of injections. The system is enabled by pharmacists accurately and effectively to check prescriptions of injections, to calculate the precise quantity for admixtures of drugs, and also to share information among pharmacists. It has contributed to the efficiency and medical safety of the ambulant cancer chemotherapy.