Oxygen permeation modelling of perovskites

A point defect model was used to describe the oxygen nonstoichiometry of the perovskites La0.75Sr0.25CrO3, La0.9Sr0.1FeO3, La0.9Sr0.1CoO3 and La0.8Sr0.2MnO3 as a function of the oxygen partial pressure. Form the oxygen vacancy concentration predicte by the point defect model, the ionic conductivity was calculated assuming a vacancy diffusion mechanism. The ionic conductivity was combined with the Wagner model for the oxidation of metals to yield an analytical expression for the oxygen permeation current density as a function of the oxygen partial pressure gradient. A linear boundary condition was used to show the effect of a limiting oxygen exchange rate at the surface

A structural constraint for functional interaction between N-terminal and C-terminal domains in simian immunodeficiency virus capsid proteins

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Gag capsid (CA) is one of the most conserved proteins in highly-diversified human and simian immunodeficiency viruses (HIV and SIV). Understanding the limitations imposed on amino acid sequences in CA could provide valuable information for vaccine immunogen design or anti-HIV drug development. Here, by comparing two pathogenic SIV strains, SIVmac239 and SIVsmE543-3, we found critical amino acid residues for functional interaction between the N-terminal and the C-terminal domains in CA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We first examined the impact of Gag residue 205, aspartate (Gag205D) in SIVmac239 and glutamate (Gag205E) in SIVsmE543-3, on viral replication; due to this difference, Gag_206-216(IINEEAADWDL) epitope-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were previously shown to respond to SIVmac239 but not SIVsmE543-3 infection. A mutant SIVmac239, SIVmac239Gag205E, whose Gag205D is replaced with Gag205E showed lower replicative ability. Interestingly, however, SIVmac239Gag205E passaged in macaque T cell culture often resulted in selection of an additional mutation at Gag residue 340, a change from SIVmac239 valine (Gag340V) to SIVsmE543-3 methionine (Gag340M), with recovery of viral fitness. Structural modeling analysis suggested possible intermolecular interaction between the Gag205 residue in the N-terminal domain and Gag340 in the C-terminal in CA hexamers. The Gag205D-to-Gag205E substitution in SIVmac239 resulted in loss of in vitro core stability, which was recovered by additional Gag340V-to-Gag340M substitution. Finally, selection of Gag205E plus Gag340M mutations, but not Gag205E alone was observed in a chronically SIVmac239-infected rhesus macaque eliciting Gag_206-216-specific CTL responses.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results present in vitro and in vivo evidence implicating the interaction between Gag residues 205 in CA NTD and 340 in CA CTD in SIV replication. Thus, this study indicates a structural constraint for functional interaction between SIV CA NTD and CTD, providing insight into immunogen design to limit viral escape options.</p

看護師による『こころの健康相談』の来談者のニーズおよび効果の検討

本研究の代表者らは、《まちの保健室》事業の趣旨に基づき看護大学教員が展開する『専門相談』の一環として、精神看護学担当教員による『こころの健康相談』を立ち上げ、平成15年度より実践している。1年間の活動実績から、来談者にとっての、精神神経科や心療内科に求めるものとは異なるニーズが示唆された。そこで、2年目の活動実績の検討ならびに継続来談者への面接調査を行い、来談者のニーズおよび相談の効果について検討した。その結果、相談件数は1年目の約1.8倍に増加しており、来談理由については、精神的問題をもつ子どもの親としての悩みや家族関係のストレスが過半数を占めていた。自分自身の健康問題では抑うつ状態が最も多く、その半数は神経科に通院服薬中であり、その他に通院中の心療内科から紹介された人もいた。これらのことから、来談者の多くは精神科・神経科、心療内科などの医療機関の活用もしくは補完的な機能に関するニーズを有しているものと考えられた。継続来談者への面接調査の結果をも含めて検討した結果、(1)専門的な判断や助言、(2)じっくりと話を聴いてもらうこと、(3)適切な社会資源の情報、などに関するニーズが明らかになった。相談による効果については、継続来談者には、(1)心理的な安定が得られた、(2)問題解決への動機づけが高まった、(3)専門的な情報や助言を主体的に活用するようになった、(4)状況の改善や自己効力感の高まりが得られた、(5)悩みはありながらも安定した生活を営めるようになった、などの前向きな変化がみられた。In accordance with the purpose of the "Community Healthcare Room" project, in 2003 the representatives of this research set up the Mental Health Consultation Room with a base at the College of Nursing Art and Science, University of Hyogo. Since then, mental health nursing consultation has been provided by faculty members teaching mental health and psychiatric nursing. This paper reports the results of a study that examined the needs of clients and effects of the consultations, through a review of activities during the second year of the project\u27s operation and interviews with those who continue to visit the consultation office. The number of consultation cases in the second year increased to 1. 8 times the number seen in the first year. As for the reasons for visiting the mental health consultation room, the majority of reasons cited were worries as a parent who has a child with mental health problems or stress from family relationships. Among visitors who had their own health problems, the largest number of people complained about depressive moods, half of whom see a psychiatric doctor regularly and take medication. There were some people who visited the consultation room on the recommendation of their psychiatric doctors. From these findings, it is suggested that many visitors expect the consultation room to perform complementary functions with a medical institution such as a psychiatric clinic and psychosomatic medicine clinic. As a result of examining the results of interviews with those continuing to go to the consultation room, in addition to findings from past activities, the following needs of visitors have been identified : (1) professional judgment and advice ; (2) active listening ; and (3) information on and referral to appropriate social resources. Regarding the effects of consultation, the following positive changes were seen in visitors (1) increased mental stability ; (2) increased motivation for solving problems ; (3) more proactivity in seeking professional information and advice ; (4) improved conditions and increased selfefficacy ; and (5) becoming able to have a stable life despite someworries

Predictors of Malignancy in Branch Duct Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm of the Pancreas

Objective Indication of surgery for branch duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (BD-IPMN) proposed by the consensus guidelines revised in 2012 was too complex to refer to in clinical practice. This study aimed to identify simple predictors of malignancy in BD-IPMN. Methods Consecutive 202 patients with BD-IPMNs were enrolled. They comprised 35 patients that underwent surgery and 167 that were followed up without surgery by being regarded as benign neoplasms. Cutoff values of cyst size, main pancreatic duct (MPD) diameter, and mural nodule size were determined by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Factors that may discriminate benign from malignant BD-IPMNs were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model. Results Cutoff values of cyst size, MPD diameter, and mural nodule size were determined to be 30 mm, 6 mm, and 10 mm, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that mural nodule ≥10 mm (OR 198, 95% CI 23.1-1690, P&lt;0.0001) and positive cytology (OR 634, 95% CI 49.1-8,190, P&lt;0.0001) were predictors of malignancy in BD-IPMN. When BD-IPMNs with mural nodules ≥10 mm or positive cytology were diagnosed as malignant, sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy were 88%, 98%, and 97%, respectively. Conclusions Mural nodule ≥10mm and positive cytology were demonstrated to be simple predictors of malignancy in BD-IPMN.Image: ROC curves of cyst size, main pancreatic duct diameter, and nodule size