Arcwise connectedness of the complement in a hyperspace

The hyperspace C(X) of a continuum X is always arcwise connected. In [6], S.B.Nadler Jr. and J.Quinn show that of C(X)-{Ai} is arcwise connected for each i=1,2, then C(X)-{A1.A2} is alsp arcwise connected. Nadler raised questions in his book [5]: Is it ture with the two sets A1 and A2 replaced by n sets, n finite? What about comtably many? What about a collection {Aλ:λ∈A} which is a compact zero-dimensional subset of the hyperspace? in this paper we porve that if A⊂C(X) is a closed countable subset, U is an arc component of an open set of C(X) and C(X)-{a} is arcwise connected for each A∈A, then U-A is arcwise connected

Craniofacial manifestations of Loeys Dietz syndrome : A case report and a review of the literature : Case report

症例報

Conditioned media of glial cell lines induce alkaline phosphatase activity in cultured artery endothelial cells Identification of interleukin-6 as an induction factor

AbstractConditioned media of human glial cell lines induced alkaline phosphatase activity in cultured calf artery endothelial cells. The maximal alkaline phosphatase activity in the culture was comparable to the level in isolated brain capillary endothelial cells. An induction factor in the conditioned media was purified and identified as interleukin-6 from its amino-terminal sequence, molecular weight, amino acid composition and immunoreactivity. Recombinant interleukin-6 had similar induction activity. Our findings raise the possibility that interleukin-6 induces and modulates alkaline phosphatase activity in endothelial cells during normal development of the blood—brain barrier and under certain pathological conditions

Will Preoperative Atrophy and Fatty Degeneration of the Shoulder Muscles Improve after Rotator Cuff Repair in Patients with Massive Rotator Cuff Tears?

Recently, retear rate after repair for massive cuff tear have been improved through devised suture techniques. However, reported retear rate is relevant to preoperative atrophy and fatty degeneration. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether preoperative atrophy and fatty degeneration of rotator cuff muscles improve by successful repair. Twenty-four patients with massive rotator cuff tear were evaluated on the recovery of atrophy and fatty degeneration of supraspinatus and infraspinatus muscle after surgery. Atrophy was classified by the occupation ratio and fatty degeneration by modified Goutallier's classification. Both were assessed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after the operation. When the cuff was well repaired, improvement of the atrophy and fatty degeneration were observed in a half and a one-fourth of the cases, respectively. In retear cases, however, atrophy and fatty degeneration became worse. Improvement of atrophy and fatty degeneration of the rotator cuff muscles may be expected in the cases with successful achievement of rotator cuff repair for large and massive tear

Measurement of radon and thoron concentrations in the Tokyo Metropolitan University Arakawa Campus building

Smoking and radon inhalation are the primary causes of lung cancer in many countries. The world average annual dose due to radon inhalation is 1.26 mSv y^, which is more than half of the annual exposure dose from natural radiation sources, 2.40 mSv y^. In this study, radon and thoron radioactivity concentrations（ hereafter referred to simply as concentrations） measurements were carried out in the Tokyo Metropolitan University Arakawa Campus building using a pulse type ionization chamber and passive radon and thoron discriminative monitors. The respective average （±σ） radon concentrations （Bq m^） for each day of the week from Sunday to Saturday were: 21 ± 7, 20 ± 7, 20 ± 8, 22 ± 6, 21 ± 7, 20 ± 6, 23 ± 7. On week days, the radon concentration peaked daily at 8:00 am with a value of 25 ±6 Bq m^, it decreased until 7:00 pm reaching a value of 17 ±7 Bq m^, and then, showed a rising trend to the next morning’s peak. Radon concentration tended to show a higher value and less fluctuation on weekends. No seasonal change was observed. No correlation was observed between radon concentration and thoron concentration. In Japan, the repor ted arithmetic average radon concentration indoors is 15.5 Bq m^ and the arithmetic average concentration outdoors is 5.4 Bq m^. The annual effective dose of radon by inhalation in Japan is 0.64 mSv y^. The average radon concentration of reinforced concrete buildings tends to be higher, though a radon concentration survey in reinforced concrete buildings in Japan is lacking. Calculated annual average exposure dose in the campus reinforced concrete building was 0.15 mSv y^. Annual average exposure dose considering an indoor environment other than the Arakawa Campus building was 0.42 mSv y^

KCNJ13 Gene Deletion Impairs Cell Alignment and Phagocytosis in Retinal Pigment Epithelium Derived from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to establish and analyze a cell model of Leber congenital amaurosis type 16 (LCA16), which is caused by mutations in the KCNJ13 gene encoding Kir7.1, an inward-rectifying potassium ion channel. Methods: The two guide RNAs specific to the target sites in the KCNJ13 gene were designed and KCNJ13 knock-out (KO) human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The KCNJ13-KO hiPSCs were differentiated into retinal pigment epithelial cells (hiPSC-RPEs). The KCNJ13-KO in hiPSC-RPEs was confirmed by immunostaining. Phagocytic activity of hiPSC-RPEs was assessed using the uptake of fluorescently labeled porcine photoreceptor outer segments (POSs). Phagocytosis-related genes in RPE cells were assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Results: Most of the translated region of the KCNJ13 gene was deleted in the KCNJ13-KO hiPSCs by the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and this confirmed that the Kir7.1 protein was not present in RPE cells induced from the hiPSCs. Expression of RPE marker genes such as BEST1 and CRALBP was retained in the wild-type (WT) and in the KCNJ13-KO hiPSC-RPE cells. However, phagocytic activity and expression of phagocytosis-related genes in the KCNJ13-null hiPSC-RPE cells were significantly reduced compared to those of WT. Conclusions: We succeeded in generating an RPE model of LCA16 using hiPSCs. We suggest that Kir7.1 is required for phagocytosis of POSs by RPE cells and that impaired phagocytosis in the absence of Kir7.1 would be involved in the retinal degeneration found in LCA16

Variations of cosmic noise absorption (CNA) by energetic electron precipitation (EEP) and changes of the auroral morphology

The Tenth Symposium on Polar Science/Ordinary sessions: [OS] Space and upper atmospheric sciences, Wed. 4 Dec. / Institute of Statistics and Mathematics (ISM) Seminar room 2 (D304) (3rd floor

Effect of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment on preoperative and postoperative retinal sensitivities

This retrospective study investigated foveal and perifoveal retinal sensitivities using microperimetry before and after surgery for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). Consecutive patients with RRD who underwent vitrectomy or scleral buckling were included. Comprehensive ophthalmological examinations, including microperimetry and swept-source optical coherence tomography, were performed before and 6 months after surgery. Pre- and postoperative retinal sensitivities at the fovea and 4 perifoveal measurement points farthest from the fixation point, both vertically and horizontally (superior, inferior, nasal, and temporal) were examined. A total of 34 foveal and 136 perifoveal measurement points in 34 eyes of 34 patients were evaluated. The postoperative retinal sensitivity was significantly higher than the preoperative value at foveal and perifoveal points with (P<0.001 for both) and without (fovea: P=0.005, perifovea: P<0.001) RRD. The postoperative retinal sensitivity was significantly lower at foveal (P<0.01) and perifoveal (P<0.001) points with preoperative RRD than at points without preoperative RRD; furthermore, it was significantly better at points with ellipsoid zone (Ez) continuity than at points with Ez discontinuity (fovea: P<0.01, perifovea: P<0.001). RRD deteriorates retinal sensitivity, regardless of its presence or absence at the measurement point before surgery. Postoperative Ez continuity is important for good postoperative retinal sensitivity

A Novel Method for Rearing Zebrafish by Using Freshwater Rotifers (Brachionus calyciflorus)

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has become a powerful model organism for studying developmental processes and genetic diseases. However, there remain several problems in previous rearing methods. In this study, we demonstrate a novel method for rearing zebrafish larvae by using a new first food, freshwater rotifers (Brachionus calyciflorus). Feeding experiments indicated that freshwater rotifers are suitable as the first food for newly hatched larval fish. In addition, we revisited and improved a feeding schedule from 5 to 40 days postfertilization. Our feeding method using freshwater rotifers accelerated larval growth. At 49 dpf, one pair out of 10 pairs successfully produced six fertilized eggs. At 56, 63, and 71 dpf, 6 out of the 10 pairs constantly produced normal embryos. Our method will improve the husbandry of the zebrafish