BMCs and periodontal tissue healing

Bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs) are considered to be a major source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in adults and are known to be effective in periodontal tissue regeneration. However, whether endogenous BMCs are involved in periodontal tissue repair process is uncertain. We therefore created periodontal tissue defects in the buccal alveolar bone of mandibular first molars in bone marrow chimeric mice, and immunohistochemically examined the expression of stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and the mobilization of BMCs. We found that SDF-1 expression was increased around the defects at as early as 1 week after injury and that BMCs were mobilized to the defects, while GFP+/CD45+ were rarely observed. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis demonstrated that the number of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (pdgfr) α+/Sca-1+ (PαS) cells in the bone marrow decreased after injury. Taken together, these results suggest that BMCs are mobilized to the periodontal tissue defects. Recruitment of BMCs, including a subset of MSCs could be a new target of periodontal treatment

First Nonperturbative Test of a Relativistic Heavy Quark Action in Quenched Lattice QCD

We perform a numerical test of a relativistic heavy quark(RHQ) action, recently proposed by Tsukuba group, in quenched lattice QCD at $a\simeq 0.1$ fm. With the use of the improvement parameters previously determined at one-loop level for the RHQ action, we investigate a restoration of rotational symmetry for heavy-heavy and heavy-light meson systems around the charm quark mass. We focused on two quantities, the meson dispersion relation and the pseudo-scalar meson decay constants. It is shown that the RHQ action significantly reduces the discretization errors due to the charm quark mass. We also calculate the S-state hyperfine splittings for the charmonium and charmed-strange mesons and the $D_s$ meson decay constant. The remaining discretization errors in the physical quantities are discussed.Comment: 21 pages, 16 figures. A reference and a comment added, a major modification in appendix, several minor changes in the abstract and the main text. Errors in affiliation are corrected. Version appeared in JHE

Tensile Properties of Forged Mg-Al-Zn-Ca Alloy

Continuously-casted Mg-9Al-1Zn-1Ca (in mass%) alloy (Mg-Ca alloy) and Mg-9Al-1Zn alloys (Ca-free Mg alloy) were forged at 573 K and their mechanical properties were investigated by tension tests at ambient temperature and 573 K. The forged Mg-Ca alloy showed higher 0.2% proof stress than the forged Ca-free Mg alloy. The high strength for the Mg-Ca alloy was attributed not only to grain refinement by hot forging, but also to the strengthening mechanisms arising from the difference in thermal expansion and geometrical incompatibility between Mg matrix and second phase. The Ca addition decreased the elongation to failure; however, the decrease was reduced for the forged specimens, compared to the unforged specimen. This results from segmentation of the second phases by the hot forging. Also, the forged Mg-Ca alloy showed a large elongation of 284% at 573 K

Effects of Homogenization Annealing on Dynamic Recrystallization

Compression tests were conducted at the temperature of 573 K with the true strain rates of 10 À3 -1 s À1 on as-cast and homogenized Mg6Al-2Ca-2RE (RE = rare earth) (in mass%) alloy specimens, and their dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behaviors were investigated. Strain hardening occurred after yielding, followed by strain softening. The flow stress of the as-cast specimen was higher than that of the homogenized specimen. The DRX grain size depended minimally on the Z-parameter in both of the as-cast and homogenized specimens. This is likely to be due to the particle-stimulated nucleation mechanism involving the second-phase particles. When the specimens were deformed to the true compressive strain of 1.6, non-recrystallized regions were not observed in the homogenized specimen; however, they were partially observed in the as-cast specimen. The grain size in the recrystallized region in the as-cast specimen was smaller than that in the homogenized specimen. Elemental analyses revealed Al segregation around the second-phase particles in the as-cast specimen. Therefore, it is suggested that DRX in the present Mg-Al-Ca-RE alloy is affected by not only the second-phase particles, but also the Al segregation

Numerical Study on Acoustic Oscillations of 2D and 3D Flue Organ Pipe Like Instruments with Compressible LES

Acoustic oscillations of flue instruments are investigated numerically using compressible Large Eddy Simulation (LES). Investigating 2D and 3D models of flue instruments, we reproduce acoustic oscillations excited in the resonators as well as an important characteristic feature of flue instruments – the relation between the acoustic frequency and the jet velocity described by the semi-empirical theory developed by Cremer & Ising, Coltman and Fletcher et al. based on experimental results. Both 2D and 3D models exhibit almost the same oscillation frequency for a given jet velocity, but the acoustic oscillation as well as the jet motion is more stable in the 3D model than in the 2D model, due to less stability in 3D fluid of the rolled up eddies created by the collision of the jet with the edge, which largely disturb the jet motion and acoustic field in the 2D model. We also investigate the ratio of the amplitude of the acoustic flow through the mouth opening to the jet velocity, comparing with the experimental results and semi-empirical theory given by Hirschberg et al.

Immunohistochemical Detection of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection in the Lung of Child Autopsy Cases

Viral infection in the respiratory tract is suspected in some cases of infant death; however, in most of those cases, routine postmortem examination has been unable to determine a definitive etiology. Using immunohistochemistry with a specific antibody to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in paraffin sections, we investigated a possible association of RSV infection with interstitial pneumonia or bronchitis in four child autopsy cases while two adult cases with cytomegalic inclusion disease, pneumocystis carinii pneumonia, or acute interstitial pneumonia were also included as negative control. Immunoreactivity for RSV was detected in one of the 4 child cases; the bronchial and bronchiolar epithelium were immunostained. No immunoreactivity was observed in the two adult cases. Retrospective microscopic examination in routinely stained slides could find no distinctive findings indicating RSV infection in this case as well as the other three cases. Although further evidence, e.g., detection of the viral nucleic acid in specimens, may be needed, the present results suggest that this antibody can be utilized for detection of RSV infection in autopsy samples

Research on Pupils' Progress of Mathematical Ability at Lower Secondary School Level (4) : Considering the "Number" of Test Points

Kassel-Exeter Projectによって開発された共通問題を用いて, 日本の中学生の数学的能力の発達・変容を調査し, その検討を通して, よりよい数学教育に向けての示唆を得ることが本研究の目的である。「数」調査問題をもとに1019名の公立中学校2, 3年生を対象とする調査を行ったところ, 日本の中学生の「数」得点は1年次からすでに高いレベルにあり, そのレベルを維持したままで, イギリス・ドイツなどと比して遜色のない程度の伸びを示していることがわかった。さらに, 問題ごとの正答率の変容に着目すると同時に, 被験者を3つの群に層化することによって, 正答率の変容の要因を分析した。その結果, 数学学習に対する「潜在力」の高い生徒および「潜在力」の低い生徒の「数」得点の変容に関する特徴が洗い出され, 個に応じた数学指導を考慮していく際の示唆が得られた。, The authors administered the "number" of test composed of 50 problems developed by Kassel-Exeter Project to students in Tokyo, Nara, Hiroshima, Fukuoka and Nagasaki prefectures a year earlier to identify the students' progress in mathematical ability at lower secondary school level. Analysis of the test shows that Japanese students' progress is almost comparable with the students from other countries like England and Germany, which can be attributed to the effective teaching of Mathematics.Aside from the overall analysis of the test scores, a longitudinal analysis of each problem was made. The analysis showed that Japanese pupils made remarkable progress in many problems but they showed corresponding regression on estimation of problems. Based on their points in a "potential" test, students were grouped as potentially high (PH), potentailly medium (PM) or potentially low (PL). PH students exhibited high points in comparatively difficult problem items while PL students' showed progress in comparatively easy problem items. The observed regression could be attributed to the same kind of problem items. Important implications for the improvement of the teaching of Mathematics were identified

Dynamics of cellular immune responses in the acute phase of dengue virus infection.

In this study, we examined the dynamics of cellular immune responses in the acute phase of dengue virus (DENV) infection in a marmoset model. Here, we found that DENV infection in marmosets greatly induced responses of CD4/CD8 central memory T and NKT cells. Interestingly, the strength of the immune response was greater in animals infected with a dengue fever strain than in those infected with a dengue hemorrhagic fever strain of DENV. In contrast, when animals were re-challenged with the same DENV strain used for primary infection, the neutralizing antibody induced appeared to play a critical role in sterilizing inhibition against viral replication, resulting in strong but delayed responses of CD4/CD8 central memory T and NKT cells. The results in this study may help to better understand the dynamics of cellular and humoral immune responses in the control of DENV infection

Influenza A (H3N2) infection followed by anti-signal recognition particle antibody-positive necrotizing myopathy: A case report

A 60-year-old Japanese woman presented with subacute progressive muscle pain and weakness in her proximal extremities. She was diagnosed with influenza A (H3N2) infection a week before the onset of muscle pain. At the time of admission, she exhibited weakness in the proximal muscles of the upper and lower limbs, elevated serum liver enzymes and creatinine kinase, and myoglobinuria. She did not manifest renal failure and cardiac abnormalities, indicating myocarditis.Electromyography revealed myogenic changes, and magnetic resonance imaging of the upper limb showed abnormal signal intensities in the muscles, suggestive of myopathy. Muscle biopsy of the biceps revealed numerous necrotic regeneration fibers and mild inflammatory cell infiltration, suggesting immune-mediated necrotizing myopathy (IMNM). Necrotized muscle cells were positive for human influenza A (H3N2). Autoantibody analysis showed the presence of antibodies against the signal recognition particle (SRP), and the patient was diagnosed with anti-SRP-associated IMNM. She was resistant to intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy but recovered after administration of oral systemic corticosteroids and immunoglobulins. We speculate that the influenza A (H3N2)infection might have triggered her IMNM. Thus, IMNM should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with proximal muscle weakness that persists after viral infections

砒素・鉄・マンガン・アンモニア同時除去の鉄バクテリア生物ろ過 : 我が国および途上国の浄水施設への適用

地下水中に自生するバクテリアを用いた亜ヒ酸・砒酸・鉄・マンガン・アンモニア同時除去の生物ろ過システムの開発を行ってきた。様々なバクテリアのうち,鉄バクテリア(溶解性の鉄及びマンガンを生物学的に酸化し,これらを酸化物として沈積させるバクテリア)および硝化菌が著者らの生物ろ過システムでは大きな役割を果たす。この報告では2004年以来の生物ろ過のパイロット試験結果を概括する。目的は砒素の効率的除去を達成するための最適運転条件探索である。We have worked on the development of a biological filtration system utilizing indigenous bacteria to remove arsenite, arsenate, iron, manganese and ammonia from groundwater. Among various bacteria, iron bacteria (bacterial species that biologically oxidize dissolved Fe and/or Mn, and deposit them as oxides) together with nitrifiers play the most important role in our system. This report is a brief summary of our pilot study (started in 2004), treating groundwater by the biological filtration. The purpose is to determine the optimal operating conditions to achieve the most efficient removal of arsenic