Conglomerate of the Karaumedate Formation in the Kitakami Massif, Northeast Japan

The gravels contained in the Karaumedate Formation (Carboniferous) are described and discussed as to depositional environment and stratigraphical value

Virtual structure based target-enclosing strategies for nonholonomic agents

In this paper, we discuss a target-enclosing problem for a group of multiple nonholonomic agents in a plane. The proposed strategies guarantee that multiple agents\u27 coordination finally results in a circular formation enclosing the targe-to-bject which moves in the plane. Firstly, virtual agents for the feedback linearization of the real nonholonomic agents are introduced. Secondly, we propose the target-enclosing control laws based on the consensus algorithm to the virtual agents. Algebraic graph theory and consensus algorithm are employed to prove convergence and stability of the enclosing problem. Finally, experiments are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed control laws. ©2008 IEEE

Attaining Complete Remission May Confer a Better Outcome after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Adult Patients with Acute B-cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Introduction : Treatment outcome of adult patients with acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is suboptimal even after an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). To maximize the efficacies of this treatment strategy, risk stratification is crucial. Methods : We retrospectively collected clinical data of the adult patients with allo-HSCT for ALL at a single insitiution in Japan between 2003 and 2022. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and GVHD-free-and-relapse-free survival (GRFS) at 3 years. Results : A total of 58 patients were included with 34 females and a median age of 39. Sixty-two percent of patients harbored high-risk cytogenetic features or Philadelphia chromosome (Ph). Hematologic complete response (CR) rate was 93 ％ after a first induction, but 75.9 ％ were in CR at allo-HSCT. Blinatumomab was used in 1.7 ％ of patients. A chimeric mRNA had been detected in 4 of 26 patients at allo-HSCT. The 3-year OS, PFS and GRFS were 72.7 ％, 54.7 ％ and 46.2 ％, respectively. Pre-transplantation CR was an independent risk factor. Discussion/Conclusions : Our results imply that a better OS may potentially be achieved by improved pretransplantation CR rate with more frequent application of novel agents.Article信州医学雑誌 71(5) : 257-267, (2023)journal articl

Denudation Process of Crystalline Nappes in a Continental Collision Zone Constrained by Inversion of Fission‐Track Data and Thermokinematic Forward Modeling: An Example From Eastern Nepalese Himalaya

Thermochronological methods were applied to the Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) nappe and the underlying Lesser Himalayan Sequences (LHS) to elucidate the denudation process for the middle- and upper-crust of eastern Nepal over millions of years. Thermochronological inverse modeling was undertaken for new results of fission-track (FT) age and FT length data of zircon and apatite in order to reconstruct the time-temperature (t-T) paths in the temperature range of 60–350°C. Eight t-T paths calculated along the across-strike section show that the cooling process of the HHC nappe in this study area is characterized by the following three aspects: (a) gradual cooling followed by rapid cooling and subsequent gradual cooling, (b) northward-younging of the timing of the rapid cooling, and (c) gradual cooling followed by <2 Myr rapid cooling in the frontmost part of the HHC nappe. The observed FT ages and t-T paths were then compared with those predicted by forwarding thermokinematic modeling. The results of the thermokinematic modeling for the “Flat-Ramp-Flat MHT model”, in which the HHC and the underlying LHS are denudated in direct proportion to the uplift of rocks transported along the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT), reproduced the observed t-T paths and FT ages in eastern Nepal. This indicates that the observed FT ages and t-T paths reflect a denudation process driven by the movement of the MHT with a flat-ramp-flat geometry and that the denudation rate and its spatial distribution have roughly been constant in eastern Nepal since ca. 9 Ma

Novel migrating mouse neural crest cell assay system utilizing P0-Cre/EGFP fluorescent time-lapse imaging

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neural crest cells (NCCs) are embryonic, multipotent stem cells. Their long-range and precision-guided migration is one of their most striking characteristics. We previously reported that <it>P0-Cre/CAG-CAT-lacZ </it>double-transgenic mice showed significant lacZ expression in tissues derived from NCCs.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, by embedding a <it>P0-Cre/CAG-CAT-EGFP </it>embryo at E9.5 in collagen gel inside a culture glass slide, we were able to keep the embryo developing <it>ex vivo </it>for more than 24 hours; this development was with enough NCC fluorescent signal intensity to enable single-cell resolution analysis, with the accompanying NCC migration potential intact and with the appropriate NCC response to the extracellular signal maintained. By implantation of beads with absorbed platelet-derived growth factor-AA (PDGF-AA), we demonstrated that PDGF-AA acts as an NCC-attractant in embryos.</p> <p>We also performed assays with NCCs isolated from <it>P0-Cre/CAG-CAT-EGFP </it>embryos on culture plates. The neuromediator 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) has been known to regulate NCC migration. We newly demonstrated that dopamine, in addition to 5-HT, stimulated NCC migration <it>in vitro</it>. Two NCC populations, with different axial levels of origins, showed unique distribution patterns regarding migration velocity and different dose-response patterns to both 5-HT and dopamine.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Although avian species predominated over the other species in the NCC study, our novel system should enable us to use mice to assay many different aspects of NCCs in embryos or on culture plates, such as migration, division, differentiation, and apoptosis.</p

Dual-alkylator Conditioning Regimen with Busulfan and Melphalan for Bone Marrow Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Patients with Myelofibrosis : The Results of a Retrospective Study at a Single Institution in Japan

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) remains the only curative approach. While the optimal conditioning regimen before allo-HSCT for MF patients remains to be determined, recent studies have suggested that a thiotepa-busulfan-containing dual-alkylator regimen, FBT regimen, may be associated with favorable outcomes. In Japan, however, thiotepa is not indicated for MF. Here we describe the results of 6 cases of MF treated with melphalan-busulfan containing dual-alkylator regimen, FBM regimen, followed by their first allo-HSCT at a single institution. Neutrophil and platelet engraftment was achieved in all patients. And a full donor chimerism was confirmed in all patients at ＋30 days after allo-HSCT. The relatively small size and short observation period of our study make it difficult to draw a definitive conclusion ; however, our results suggest that a dualalkylator regimen of FBM may be a candidate for an conditioning for allo-HSCT for MF, which should be verified with a large cohort of patients.Article信州医学雑誌 71(6) : 393-402, (2023)journal articl

Investigation of a Peptide Responsible for Amyloid Fibril Formation of β2-Microglobulin by Achromobacter Protease I

This research was originally published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Gennady V. Kozhukh, Yoshihisa Hagihara, Toru Kawakami, Kazuhiro Hasegawa, Hironobu Naiki and Yuji Goto. Investigation of a Peptide Responsible for Amyloid Fibril Formation of β2-Microglobulin by Achromobacter Protease I. J. Biol. Chem. 2002; 277, 1310-1315. © the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biolog

Methods for sequential resonance assignment in solid, uniformly 13C, 15N labelled peptides: Quantification and application to antamanide

The application of adiabatic polarization-transfer experiments to resonance assignment in solid, uniformly 13C-15N-labelled polypeptides is demonstrated for the cyclic decapeptide antamanide. A homonuclear correlation experiment employing the DREAM sequence for adiabatic dipolar transfer yields a complete assignment of the Cα and aliphatic side-chain 13C resonances to amino acid types. The same information can be obtained from a TOBSY experiment using the recently introduced P91 12 TOBSY sequence, which employs the J couplings as a transfer mechanism. A comparison of the two methods is presented. Except for some aromatic phenylalanine resonances, a complete sequence-specific assignment of the 13C and 15N resonances in antamanide is achieved by a series of selective or broadband adiabatic triple-resonance experiments. Heteronuclear transfer by adiabatic-passage Hartmann-Hahn cross polarization is combined with adiabatic homonuclear transfer by the DREAM and rotational-resonance tickling sequences into two- and three-dimensional experiments. The performance of these experiments is evaluated quantitativel