Theory of Macroscopic Quantum Tunneling and Dissipation in High-Tc Josephson Junctions

We have investigated macroscopic quantum tunneling (MQT) in in-plane high-Tc superconductor Josephson junctions and the influence of the nodal-quasiparticle and the zero energy bound states (ZES) on MQT. We have shown that the presence of the ZES at the interface between the insulator and the superconductor leads to strong Ohmic quasiparticle dissipation. Therefore, the MQT rate is noticeably suppressed in comparison with the c-axis junctions in which ZES are completely absent.Comment: 4 pages. 1 figur

Ectopic Expression of Human Herpesvirus 1 Thymidine Kinase Induces Male Infertility

The herpesvirus family comprises several widespread infectious pathogens. They infect a variety of animal hosts, including humans and cause complex clinical outcomes. Recently, the possible correlation between genital infection by human herpesviruses (HHVs) and male infertility has attracted considerable attention. In this chaper, we investigated the mechanism of HHV‐1‐induced infertility in transgenic (Tg) rats and its possible correlation with infertility in human males. Ectopic expression of HHV‐1 thymidine kinase (TK) in the testis of Tg rats increased male infertility. In addition, truncated TK proteins were found in postmeiotic spermatids of Tg rat testis, leading to progressive degeneration of germ cells and vacuolization of the seminiferous epithelium. These findings suggest the possibility that a similar process occurs within HHV‐infected human germ cells

Drift-Induced Step Instabilities Due to the Gap in the Diffusion Coefficient

On a Si(111) vicinal face near the structural transition temperature, the $1 \times 1$ structure and the $7 \times 7$ structure coexist in a terrace: the $1 \times 1$ structure is in the lower side of the step edge and the $7 \times 7$ structure in the upper side. The diffusion coefficient of adatoms is different in the two structures. Taking account of the gap in the diffusion coefficient at the step, we study the possibility of step wandering induced by drift of adatoms. A linear stability analysis shows that the step wandering always occurs with step-down drift if the diffusion coefficient has a gap at the step. Formation of straight grooves by the step wandering is expected from a nonlinear analysis. The stability analysis also shows that step bunching occurs irrespective of the drift direction if the diffusion in the lower side of the step is faster. The step bunching disturbs the formation of grooves. If step-step repulsion is strong, however, the step bunching is suppressed and the straight grooves appear. Monte Carlo simulation confirms these predictions.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Informe de Expediente Civil No 00101-2009-0-1308-JR-FC-01 Sobre Divorcio por Causal. Informe de Expediente Administrativo No 949-2011-0-1801-JR-CA-16 Sobre Declaración Contraria a Derecho

Materia: Divorcio por Causal Nº de Expediente: 00101-2009-0-1308-JR-FC-01. El presente caso versa sobre una demanda de divorcio por causal de separación de hecho, con la finalidad que mediante sentencia judicial se declare la disolución del vínculo matrimonial, la cesación de los alimentos entre los cónyuges y el cese de toda vocación hereditaria entre el demandante y la demandada. Materia: Declaración Contraria a Derecho Nº de Expediente: 949-2011-0-1801-JR-CA-16. El presente caso versa sobre una demanda contencioso administrativa interpuesta por una empresa de hidrocarburos en contra de un fallo administrativo que, le denegó el derecho de utilizar el crédito fiscal – en calidad de contribuyente – respecto de sus importaciones para el cumplimiento de un Contrato de Operaciones suscrito con el Estado, para efectos de la exploración y explotación de hidrocarburos en el territorio nacional. En este proceso, se puede analizar conceptos como el crédito fiscal, los requisitos formales y sustanciales para la utilización del crédito fiscal, la responsabilidad en materia tributaria y si es posible que un Decreto Ley pueda configurar un régimen especial en materia tributaria

Experimental study on dynamic pipe fracture in consideration of hydropower plant model

AbstractIn the case of sudden valve closure, water hammer creates the most powerful pressure and damage to pipeline systems. The best way to protect the pipeline system is to eliminate water hammer. The main reasons for water hammer occurrence are valve closure, high initial velocity, and static pressure. However, it is difficult to eliminate water hammer. Water hammer tends to occur when the valve is being closed. In this study, the pipe fracture caused by static water pressure, gradually increasing pressure, and suddenly increasing pressure were compared experimentally in a breaking PVC test pipe. The quasi-static zone, the dynamic zone, and the transition zone are defined through the results of those experiments, with consideration of the fracture patterns of test pipes and impulses. The maximum pressure results were used to design the pipeline even though it is in the dynamic zone

Development of high-pressure low-temperature plane strain testing apparatus for methane hydrate-bearing sand

AbstractA high-pressure low-temperature plane strain testing apparatus was developed for visualizing the deformation of methane hydrate-bearing sand due to methane hydrate production. Using this testing apparatus, plane strain compression tests were performed on pure Toyoura sand and methane hydrate-bearing sand with localized deformation measurements. From the results, it was observed that the methane hydrate-free specimens, despite their relatively high density, showed changes in compressive volume. Marked increases in the initial stiffness and strength of the methane hydrate-bearing sand were observed (methane hydrate saturation of SMH=60%). Moreover, the volumetric strain changed from compressive to dilative. For the specimens with methane hydrate, a dilative behavior above SMH=0% was observed. An image analysis showed that the shear bands of the methane hydrate-bearing sand were thinner and steeper than those of the host sand. In addition, the dilative volumetric strain in the shear band increased markedly when methane hydrate existed in the pore spaces

Monthly minodronate inhibits bone resorption to a greater extent than does monthly risedronate

AbstractAs a bisphosphonate, minodronate (MIN) is one of the strongest inhibitors of bone resorption. However, there have been no reports directly comparing the antiresorptive effects of monthly MIN with those of monthly risedronate (RIS). We enrolled 30 cases of osteoporosis (OP; 16 in the MIN group [mean age: 68.2 years] and 14 in the RIS group [mean age: 68.1 years]) to investigate the early effects of treatment by monthly MIN or RIS over a 4-month period using bone turnover marker values. Only female patients were enrolled to avoid gender bias. Urinary cross-linked N-telopeptide of type I collagen (NTX) before treatment and at 1, 2, and 4 months of therapy, as well as serum bone alkaline phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase before treatment and at 4 months afterwards, were evaluated. All bone turnover marker values were significantly decreased at 4 months in both groups. The changes in urinary NTX at the study end point for RIS and MIN were −30.1% and −63.1%, respectively. From 2 months of treatment, the antiresorptive effects on urinary NTX by MIN were significantly higher than those by RIS, indicating that MIN more immediately and strongly inhibited bone absorption. Thus, monthly MIN seems to suppress bone resorption faster and more strongly than RIS in OP treatment

Regulation of drug transporters by PDZ adaptor proteins and nuclear receptors

金沢大学大学院自然科学研究科分子作用学金沢大学薬学部Drug transporters have been suggested to be involved in various aspects of pharmacokinetics. Identification and characterization of drug transporters have given us a scientific basis for understanding drug disposition, as well as the molecular mechanisms of drug interaction and inter-individual/inter-species differences. On the other hand, regulatory mechanisms of drug transporters are still poorly understood, and information is limited to induction and down-regulation of drug transporters by various microsomal enzyme inducers. Little is known about the molecular machinery that directly interacts with the drug transporters. As a first step to clarify such molecular mechanisms, recent studies have identified PDZ (PSD-95/Discs-large/ZO-1) domain-containing proteins that directly interact with the so-called PDZ binding motif located at the C-terminus of drug transporters. Some of the PDZ proteins have been suggested to regulate transporters via at least two pathways, i.e. stabilization at the cell-surface and direct modulation of transporter function. Therefore, it is possible that membrane transport of therapeutic agents is not only governed by the drug transporters themselves, but also indirectly by PDZ proteins. The PDZ proteins are classified as a family, the members of which are thought to have distinct, but also redundant physiological roles. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the available knowledge on protein interactions and functional modulation of drug transporters. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

抗癌剤の消化管毒性回避を目指した小腸上皮細胞取り込み機構の分子論的解析

金沢大学理工研究域消化管上皮細胞への薬物取り込み過程は、癌化学療法における消化管毒性を決定する重要因子と考えられるものの、これまでその分子メカニズムに関する検討はごくわずかであった。本研究は、塩酸イリノテカンやメソトレキサートなど有機アニオン系抗癌剤に消化管毒性が問題となっている点に着目し、種々のアニオン性モデル薬物を用いた消化管取り込み機構の実体解明を目的とした。併せて消化管に発現する有機カチオントランスポーターについてもその機能特性や輸送制御機構について検討を行った。本研究により消化管上皮細胞刷子縁膜において有機アニオントランスポーターOATP-Bが機能的に発現しており、種々の有機アニオン性基質薬物を選択的に取り込むことが明らかとなった。このことは、OATP-Bが消化管上皮細胞における薬物取り込み機構の一つとして生理的役割を果たすことを示唆し、抗癌剤をはじめとする医薬品の消化管への暴露を規定する標的分子の一つである可能性を示した。消化管に発現することが報告されている有機カチオン/カルニチントランスポーターであるOCTN1に見いだされる数種類の遺伝子多型について、その輸送機能、細胞内局在さらには発現量に及ぼす影響をHEK293細胞における一過性発現系を用い解析した。その結果、日本人において見いだされた遺伝子変異の一つが、OCTN1の細胞内局在や発現量にはほとんど影響を与えないものの、その有機カチオン輸送能を大きく低下させることが示された。OCTN1遺伝子はリュウマチやクローン病との関連性が示唆されており、今回見いだされた種々の遺伝子変異と病態との関連性について検討の必要性を示した。さらに、scaffoldタンパク質であるPDZタンパク質の一部がOCTN1の輸送機能に直接影響を与える輸送制御因子であることを、OCTN1とPDZタンパク質との同時発現系を用い示した。研究課題/領域番号:16023227, 研究期間(年度):2004出典：「抗癌剤の消化管毒性回避を目指した小腸上皮細胞取り込み機構の分子論的解析」研究成果報告書　課題番号16023227（KAKEN：科学研究費助成事業データベース（国立情報学研究所））（https://kaken.nii.ac.jp/ja/grant/KAKENHI-PROJECT-16023227/)を加工して作