2,3-Dimeth­oxy-5,12-tetra­cenequinone

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C20H14O4, is approximately planar [maximum deviation 0.168 (2) Å]. The two meth­oxy groups are slightly twisted relative to the plane of the 5,12-tetra­cenequinone system, with twist angles of 3.3 (3) and 5.6 (2)°. All O atoms are involved in intermolecular C—H⋯O inter­actions and the mol­ecules are arranged into slipped face-to-face stacks along the b axis via π–π inter­actions with an inter­planar distance of 3.407 (2) Å

An Investigation Into the Relationship Between Onset Age of Musical Lessons and Levels of Sociability in Childhood

Previous studies have suggested that musical training in childhood is beneficial for sociability. However, it remains unclear how age of onset of group music lessons is associated with the late sociability of children from a long-term perspective. This study investigated associations between group music lessons conducted at a music school and children’s levels of sociability by focusing on the age of onset of the lessons. We conducted a survey of 276 children aged 4–5 years (M = 58.5 months) and 6–7 years (M = 82.7 months) who commenced music lessons at ages 1, 2, 4, and 6 years. We found that (1) the empathy scores of children aged 6–7 years who began lessons when 1-year-old were greater than those who began lessons when 4-years-old, (2) the communication scores of children aged 4–5 years who began lessons when 1-year-old were greater than those who began lessons when older than 1 year, and (3) the empathy and extraversion scores were high in those aged 6–7 years who began lessons in that age range. The results suggest that early onset of music lessons could positively influence children’s sociability; in contrast, after about age 7 years, children who already had high sociability may be more inclined to select group music lessons. By focusing on the impact of regular group music lessons from a very young age on later levels of sociability, these results further elucidate the effects of musical lessons. In sum, participation in group music lessons 2–4 times per month can be effective social training for very young children and foster their later sociability

Testis size variation within sneaker males of the dusky frillgoby Bathygobius fuscus (Gobiidae): effects of within-tactic competition

A ‘sneaking tactic’ is an alternative reproductive strategy that usually results in sperm competition among males with different tactics. Relatively large testes are a sneaker-specific trait that has generally been thought to have evolved due to sperm competition between sneaker males and bourgeois (guarding) males. However, here we show that competition among sneaker males can also affect testis enlargement in the dusky frillgoby (Bathygobius fuscus) sneaker males. The competitive advantage of focal sneaker males was experimentally manipulated by placing them in tanks with either relatively smaller or larger males. Testis enlargement was conspicuous in focal males that were cohoused with larger males. Smaller sneaker males may invest more in testicular growth because they are at a competitive disadvantage in physical contests for sneaking opportunities among sneaker males and consequently may be confined to making relatively late intrusions during spawning into nests that have a higher risk of sperm competition. Another possible reason for the relative size-dependent energy investment in testes may be increased investment by large sneaker males in aggressive interactions for sneaking opportunities. This is the first evidence that testis size variation among sneaker males is affected by the competition among sneaker males

1,4,5,8-Tetra­isopropyl­anthracene

The mol­ecules of the title compound, C26H34, possess crystallographically imposed inversion symmetry. The anthracene ring system is planar within 0.038 (1) Å. The two methyl groups in each independent isopropyl group are oriented on either side of the anthracene plane. In the crystal structure, the mol­ecules adopt a herringbone-like arrangement without π–π stacking

1,7-Diethyl-4,10-diisopropyl­tetra­cene

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C28H32, is located on a crystallographic inversion center. The ethyl groups are essentially coplanar with the tetra­cene ring, making a torsion angle of −0.4 (4)°. The isopropyl groups adopt an asymmetric conformation with their terminal methyl groups positioned on opposite sides of the tetra­cene plane [the Me—C—C—C torsion angles are −22.5 (4) and 100.9 (3)°]. In the crystal, the mol­ecules adopt an arrangement without significant π–π inter­actions along the stacking direction (y axis)

1,4,5,8-Tetra-n-butyl­anthracene

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C30H42, occupies a special position on an inversion center. The four butyl side chains have all-trans planar conformations, and the alkyl planes are nearly orthogonal to the anthracene plane [C—C—C—C torsion angles of 79.6 (2) and 78.2 (2)°]. The overall mol­ecule has a stair-like shape with the n-butyl groups at the 1 and 8 positions extending towards the same side of the anthracene plane. In the crystal structure, mol­ecules adopt a slipped–parallel arrangement without π–π stacking

Activation of ASC induces apoptosis or necrosis, depending on the cell type, and causes tumor eradication

The adaptor protein ASC (also called TMS1) links certain NLR proteins (e.g., NLRC4, NLRP3) and caspases. It is involved in the chemosensitivity of tumor cells and inflammation. Here, we found that ASC activation using NLRC4 mimicry or an autoinflammatory disease-associated NLRP3 mutant induced necrosis in COLO205 colon adenocarcinoma cells, but induced caspase-8-dependent apoptosis in NUGC-4 stomach cancer cells. As the Fas ligand induced caspase-8-dependent apoptosis in COLO205 cells, caspase-8 was intact in this cell line. ASC-mediated necrosis was preceded by lysosomal leakage, and diminished by inhibitors for vacuolar H+-ATPase, cathepsins, and calpains but not by inhibitors for caspase-8, or aspartic proteases, suggesting that lysosomes and certain proteases were involved in this process. Finally, growing tumors of transplanted human cancer cells in nude mice were eradicated by the activation of endogenous ASC in the tumor cells, irrespective of the form of cell death. Thus, ASC mediates distinct forms of cell death in different cell types, and is a promising target for cancer therapy. (Cancer Sci 2010). © 2010 Japanese Cancer Association

Photodynamic Therapy With YAG-OPO Laser for Early Stage Lung Cancer

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) utilizing Photofrin is proving to be effective for the treatment of early stage lung cancers. The effect of PDT utilizing YAG-OPO laser as new light source was evaluated in 26 patients (29 lesions) with early stage lung cancers. YAG-OPO laser is solid state tunable laser which is easy to change wavelength between 620 and 670 nm exciting various kinds of photosensitizers. Moreover, YAG-OPO laser is more reliable, smaller and has less consumables than argon-dye laser or excimer-dye laser. As the result of PDT with YAG-OPO laser, complete remission (CR) was obtained in 82.6% of the 29 lesions, partial remission (PR) in 13.8% and no change (NC) was obtained in 3.4%. We conclude that PDT utilizing YAG-OPO laser is efficacious in the treatment of early stage lung cancers and can achieve complete remission