Stress Responses from the Endoplasmic Reticulum in Cancer

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a dynamic organelle that is essential for multiple cellular functions. During cellular stress conditions, including nutrient deprivation and dysregulation of protein synthesis, unfolded/misfolded proteins accumulate in the ER lumen, resulting in activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR also contributes to the regulation of various intracellular signalling pathways such as calcium signalling and lipid signalling. More recently, the mitochondria-associated ER membrane (MAM), which is a site of close contact between the ER and mitochondria, has been shown to function as a platform for various intracellular stress responses including apoptotic signalling, inflammatory signalling, the autophagic response, and the UPR. Interestingly, in cancer, these signalling pathways from the ER are often dysregulated, contributing to cancer cell metabolism. Thus, the signalling pathway from the ER may be a novel therapeutic target for various cancers. In this review, we discuss recent research on the roles of stress responses from the ER, including the MAM

A Method of Automatic Washing for Salt Contaminated Insulators

Described in this paper is a method of automatic washing for salt contaminated insulators. An average value of leakage current through the surface of the pilot insulator in a duration is measured, for this is a function of the quantity of salt adhered and its moisture content. In each cycle, the program signals give one by one the instructions on a start and an end of the integration of leakage current, a detection of the integrated value, a stop of the washing device and a reset of the integrator. The integrator consists of RC circuit and the main detecting part consists of the thyristor whose firing gate voltage is used as a reference value. If the integrator output rises above the firing gate voltage, the pulse signals are made in the signal conversion part at the same time that the thyristor turns on, which are distributed to the pump motor or the electromagnetic valve. Then the insulators on hot-line are washed all together in the appointed duration. Finally, by the various experiments this method was proved to have enough accuracy and reliability in practical use. The conclusions are summarized as follows. (1) An average value of leakage current is justified to be the detecting variable. (2) The RC circuit used as the integrator is proved to be easy in maintenance. (3) Because of the fairly short duration of the detecting action, the integrator is kept in a sufficiently safe condition under expected environment

Synthesis of Titanium Dioxide Nanocrystals with Controlled Crystal- and Micro-structures from Titanium Complexes

Selective synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) polymorphs including anatase, rutile, brookite and TiO2(B) by solvothermal treatment of water-soluble titanium complexes is described with a special focus on their morphological control. The utilization of water-soluble titanium complexes as a raw material allowed us to employ various additives in the synthesis of TiO2. As a result, the selective synthesis of the polymorphs, as well as diverse morphological control, was achieved

Possibility/Necessity-Based Probabilistic Expectation Models for Linear Programming Problems with Discrete Fuzzy Random Variables

This paper considers linear programming problems (LPPs) where the objective functions involve discrete fuzzy random variables (fuzzy set-valued discrete random variables). New decision making models, which are useful in fuzzy stochastic environments, are proposed based on both possibility theory and probability theory. In multi-objective cases, Pareto optimal solutions of the proposed models are newly defined. Computational algorithms for obtaining the Pareto optimal solutions of the proposed models are provided. It is shown that problems involving discrete fuzzy random variables can be transformed into deterministic nonlinear mathematical programming problems which can be solved through a conventional mathematical programming solver under practically reasonable assumptions. A numerical example of agriculture production problems is given to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed models to real-world problems in fuzzy stochastic environments

Fuzzy Random Weighted Weber Problems in Facility Location

This article considers facility location in a Weber problem with weights including both uncertainty and vagueness. By representing its weights as fuzzy random variables, it can be extended to a fuzzy random weighted Weber problem, and then formulated as a fuzzy random programming problem. By introducing possibility and necessity measures and chance constraints, the extended problem is reformulated to new two types of Weber problems. Based upon characteristics of facility location, theorem for solving the reformulated problems are shown

FAPlus/FNPlus blood culture bottles

Background : The comparison of the performance of FAPlus/FNPlus bottles and combination of SA/SN and FA/FN bottles is not yet reported. Methods : We used human blood samples to investigate microorganism detection rates and the time to positivity (TTP) in a before-vs.-after study (a combination of SA/SN and FA/FN bottles from September 2012 to August 2013 vs. FAPlus/FNPlus bottles from September 2013 to August 2014). Results : The microorganism detection rate was significantly higher in the later period than in the earlier period (11.2% vs. 9.6%, P < 0.001), particularly for Enterococcus and Streptococcus species, nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli, and Helicobacter cinaedi. TTP for pathogens was longer when FAPlus/FNPlus bottles were used than when a combination of SA/SN and FA/FN bottles was used (14.9 vs. 13.3 h, P = 0.014), particularly, in the case of Gram-negative bacilli including Escherichia coli. Conclusion : The microorganism detection rate was improved with the use of FAPlus/FNPlus bottles compared with the combination of SA/SN and FA/FN bottles ; however, FAPlus/FNPlus bottles seemed to be inferior to SA/SN and FA/FN bottles in terms of TTP

Survey of the stray dog population and the health education program on the prevention of dog bites and dog-acquired infections: a comparative study in Nepal and Okayama Prefecture, Japan.

We estimated the number of stray dogs in Kathmandu, Nepal, where human rabies cases still occur, and in Shimotsui, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. In Kathmandu, the stray dog density was 2,930 stray dogs/km2, and the ratio of stray dogs to humans was 1:4.7. In Shimotsui, the density was 225 stray dogs/km2, and the ratio was 1:5.2. Since the stray dog population in Nepal is very large, one of the measures used to prevent dog bites and dog-acquired infections such as rabies is an effort to capture stray dogs. Another such measure is an effort to decrease the availability of food for stray dogs. We also organized health education programs in both Nepal and Okayama Prefecture, Japan, which involved a course on the prevention of dog bites and subsequent infections. After each course, a questionnaire survey was conducted. The results suggest that the course participants understood these important preventive methods. In addition to the measures mentioned above and the routine vaccination of dogs, this health education course is recommended as a long-term preventive program</p