Recent Results of Solid-State Spectroscopy

Solid state spectroscopy continues to be an important source of information on the mineralogical composition and physical properties of dust grains both in space and on planetary surfaces. With only a few exceptions, artificially produced or natural terrestrial analog materials, rather than 'real' cosmic dust grains, are the subject of solid state astrophysics. The Jena laboratory has provided a large number of data sets characterizing the UV, optical and infrared properties of such cosmic dust analogs. The present paper highlights recent developments and results achieved in this context, focussing on 'non-standard conditions' such as very low temperatures, very high temperatures and very long wavelengths.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures. Contribution to an IAU Conference "The Molecular Universe" held in Toledo in June 201

Receptor for Activated Protein Kinase C: Requirement for Efficient MicroRNA Function and Reduced Expression in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression that control physiological and pathological processes. A global reduction in miRNA abundance and function is a general trait of human cancers, playing a causal role in the transformed phenotype. Here, we sought to newly identify genes involved in the regulation of miRNA function by performing a genetic screen using reporter constructs that measure miRNA function and retrovirus-based random gene disruption. Of the six genes identified, RACK1, which encodes “receptor for activated protein kinase C” (RACK1), was confirmed to be necessary for full miRNA function. RACK1 binds to KH-type splicing regulatory protein (KSRP), a member of the Dicer complex, and is required for the recruitment of mature miRNAs to the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). In addition, RACK1 expression was frequently found to be reduced in hepatocellular carcinoma. These findings suggest the involvement of RACK1 in miRNA function and indicate that reduced miRNA function, due to decreased expression of RACK1, may have pathologically relevant roles in liver cancers

Structural deterioration of finger joints with ultrasonographic synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients with clinical low disease activity

Objective. In this study we investigated the relationship between synovial vascularity (SV) and structural alteration of finger joints in patients with RA and long-term sustained clinical low disease activity (CLDA). Methods. RA patients with CLDA of >2 years (minimum 1 year of CLDA for study entry plus 1 year of observation) were analysed. Quantitative SV values were sequentially measured in each finger joint using power Doppler ultrasonography (0, 8, 20 and 52 weeks). Radiological progression of local finger joints was evaluated according to the Genant-modified Sharp score (0-52 weeks). Results. Of the 25 patients enrolled, 15 patients were finally analysed after excluding 10 patients who failed to maintain CLDA during the observational period. Changes in radiological progression of MCP and PIP joints with positive SV were significantly greater than those in joints with negative SV. Joint space narrowing (JSN) was strongly related to structural alteration of finger joints. In joints with positive SV, changes in structural alteration did not relate to total SV values, which reflect total exposure to inflammation in an observational period. Conclusion. Even in patients with a long period of CLDA, finger joints with positive SV showed structural alteration, especially in the progression of JSN

Adult paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria following mRNA COVID‐19 vaccination

Abstract Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria (PCH) is an extremely rare subtype of autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) in adults. PCH is caused by the biphasic Donath–Landsteiner (DL) antibody which fixes complement to red blood cells at low temperatures and dissociates at warmer temperatures, leading to complement‐mediated intravascular hemolysis. Autoimmune hematological disorders including AIHA and immune thrombocytopenia have been reported to develop following the mRNA COVID‐19 vaccination. However, PCH developing subsequent to mRNA vaccination has never been reported. We report a 59‐year‐old male who developed PCH approximately a month after his second mRNA COVID‐19 vaccination

【汗器官系腫瘍】 Papillary Eccrine Adenomaの1例 導管部分化が示唆された症例

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PHOTOSYNTHETIC PIGMENT COMPOSITION OF ICE ALGAL AND PHYTOPLANKTON ASSEMBLAGES IN EARLY SPRING IN SAROMA KO LAGOON, HOKKAIDO, JAPAN (19th Symposium on Polar Biology)

Ice algae were collected from sea ice of 35 cm thickness at Saroma Ko lagoon in early February, 1996 The sea ice was sectioned into 5cm height intervals from the bottom so as to separate ice algae according to vertical distribution. Phytoplankton were also harvested at the same site in mid-April, 1996, a few days after the sea ice disappeared. Photosynthetic pigments of ice algae and phytoplanktonic algae were analyzed by reverse-phase HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography). Chlorophyll a, c, β-carotene, and several kind of carotenoids, such as fucoxanthm, diadmoxanthin or diatoxanthin, were detected, but chlorophyll b was not recognized, suggesting that diatom species were predominant in ice algae and phytoplanktonic algae. The pigment composition of ice algae changed according to their vertical distribution The ratios of chlorophyll c and carotenoids to chlorophyll a in ice algae harvested from the top of the sea ice were higher than those of ice algae collected from the lower position, in other words, ice algae in the lower position, i e., where they experienced less light decreased the ratio This suggests that ice algae adopted very peculiar light-shade adaptation, because vascular plant or green algae have the opposite response so that they decrease the ratio of auxiliary pigments to chlorophyll a with increasing light intensity Pigment composition of phytoplanktonic algae resembled that of ice algae collected from the uppermost portion of sea ice

Circulation Improvement of Articles in Journals written by Non-English Language - Development of a Special Journal Titles Translation List of Journals written in Japanese for the International Bibliographical Database

Non-English articles are still "Grey Literature" due to language barriers even though material circulation has improved like English articles with the expansion of the Internet era. In the INIS Database, bibliographic information such as titles and abstracts etc. is written in English. This feature of the INIS Database contributes to improvement of international circulation of scientific information from the nuclear field. However, titles of journals written in non-English languages were described in transliterated Roman alphabet which means that non-native users cannot understand the nature or subject of those journals. Consequently, we developed a special journal titles translation list written in the Japanese language for the INIS Database, as an attempt to improve the circulation of articles in journals written in non-English languages.Includes: Conference preprint, Powerpoint presentation, Abstract and Biographical notes, Pratt student commentaryXAInternationa