Transport Barrier Analysis of LHD Plasmas in Gomparison with Neoclassical Models

Abstract In the local Electron Cyclotron Heating (ECH) experiments, high electron temperature plasmas have been olrtained in Compact Helical System (CHS), and recently in the Large Helical Device (LHD). The internal transport barrier (ITB) with strong positive radial electric field has been experimentally observed in CHS, which reduces neo-classical ripple transport and anomalous transport losses. The same physics picture; are expected in LHD high temperature plasmas. Several ion temperature profiles are assumed for analyzing LHD experimental data, and it is found that the experimentally obtained electron thermal transpc,rt coefficients seem to roughly agree with neoclassical ripple transport outside the ITB region. Howeler, around ITB region, about ten times higher than the neoclassical coefficients with strong ambipc'lar electric field prediction are obtained. The anomalous transport losses might be dominant and be redtLced by this strong electric field shear around the ITB region

Normal mitochondrial respiratory function is essential for spatial remote memory in mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) with pathogenic mutations has been found in patients with cognitive disorders. However, little is known about whether pathogenic mtDNA mutations and the resultant mitochondrial respiration deficiencies contribute to the expression of cognitive alterations, such as impairments of learning and memory. To address this point, we used two groups of <it>trans</it>-mitochondrial mice (mito-mice) with heteroplasmy for wild-type and pathogenically deleted (Δ) mtDNA; the "low" group carried 50% or less ΔmtDNA, and the "high" group carried more than 50% ΔmtDNA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both groups had normal phenotypes for not only spatial learning, but also memory at short retention delays, indicating that ΔmtDNA load did not affect learning and temporal memory. The high group, however, showed severe impairment of memory at long retention delays. In the visual cortex and dentate gyrus of these mice, we observed mitochondrial respiration deficiencies, and reduced Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent kinase II-α (α-CaMKII), a protein important for the establishment of spatial remote memory.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results indicated that normal mitochondrial respiratory function is necessary for retention and consolidation of memory trace; deficiencies in this function due to high loads of pathogenically mutated mtDNA are responsible for the preferential impairment of spatial remote memory.</p

Role of vinculin in paracellular barrier for ions

The paracellular barrier function of tight junctions (TJs) in epithelial cell sheets is robustly maintained against mechanical fluctuations, by molecular mechanisms that are poorly understood. Vinculin is an adaptor of a mechanosensory complex at the adherens junction. Here, we generated vinculin KO Eph4 epithelial cells and analyzed their confluent cell-sheet properties. We found that vinculin is dispensable for the basic TJ structural integrity and the paracellular barrier function for larger solutes. However, vinculin is indispensable for the paracellular barrier function for ions. In addition, TJs stochastically showed dynamically distorted patterns in vinculin KO cell sheets. These KO phenotypes were rescued by transfecting full-length vinculin and by relaxing the actomyosin tension with blebbistatin, a myosin II ATPase activity inhibitor. Our findings indicate that vinculin resists mechanical fluctuations to maintain the TJ paracellular barrier function for ions in epithelial cell sheets

Phase separation of an actin nucleator by junctional microtubules regulates epithelial function

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is involved in various dynamic biological phenomena. In epithelial cells, dynamic regulation of junctional actin filaments tethered to the apical junctional complex (AJC) is critical for maintaining internal homeostasis against external perturbations; however, the role of LLPS in this process remains unknown. Here, after identifying a multifunctional actin nucleator, cordon bleu (Cobl), as an AJC-enriched microtubule-associated protein, we conducted comprehensive in vitro and in vivo analyses. We found that apical microtubules promoted LLPS of Cobl at the AJC, and Cobl actin assembly activity increased upon LLPS. Thus, microtubules spatiotemporally regulated junctional actin assembly for epithelial morphogenesis and paracellular barriers. Collectively, these findings established that LLPS of the actin nucleator Cobl mediated dynamic microtubule-actin cross-talk in junctions, which fine-tuned the epithelial barrier

Potential application of measuring serum infliximab levels in rheumatoid arthritis management: A retrospective study based on KURAMA cohort data

Infliximab (IFX) therapy has considerably improved the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, some patients still do not respond adequately to IFX therapy, or the efficacy of the treatment diminishes over time. Although previous studies have reported a relationship between serum IFX levels and therapeutic efficacy, the potential applications of IFX therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in clinical practice remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential applications of IFX TDM by analyzing a Japanese cohort database. Data were collected retrospectively from the Kyoto University Rheumatoid Arthritis Management Alliance cohort between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2018. Serum IFX levels were measured using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer. Out of the 311 RA patients that used IFX, 41 were eligible for the analysis. Serum IFX levels were significantly higher in responders than in non-responders. An optimal cut-off value was determined to be 0.32 μg/mL based on a receiver operating characteristic curve. At the IFX measurement point, a better therapeutic response was observed in the high IFX group (n = 32) than in the low IFX group (n = 9). Conversely, at the maximum effect point, when DAS28-ESR was the lowest between IFX introduction and measurement points, there were no differences in responder proportions between the low and high IFX groups. IFX primary ineffectiveness could be avoided with appropriate dose escalation without blood concentration measurement in clinical practice. In conclusion, IFX TDM could facilitate the identification of secondary non-responders and in turn, proper IFX use

Ciliated muconodular papillary tumors of the lung with KRAS/BRAF/AKT1 mutation

Background: Ciliated muconodular papillary tumors (CMPTs) are newly recognized rare peripheral lung nodules that are histologically characterized by ciliated columnar, goblet, and basal cells. Although recent studies have shown that CMPTs constitute a neoplastic disease, the complete histogenesis of CMPTs is not fully understood and molecular data are limited. Methods: We reviewed four cases of CMPT and performed immunohistochemical and genomic analyses to establish CMPT profiles. Results: All cases were positive for hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α and mucin 5B and negative for programmed death ligand 1 expression, as determined by immunohistochemistry. The genetic analysis revealed three pathogenic mutations (BRAF V600E, AKT1 E17K, and KRAS G12D), with the KRAS mutation reported here for the first time. Conclusion: Histological and genetic profiles indicate that CMPTs are likely neoplastic and exhibit features similar to mucinous adenocarcinoma. This suggests that some CMPTs may be a precursor lesion of mucinous adenocarcinoma