I^+ states of ^<26>Mg through the (α, ^3He) reaction at 81MeV

The ^Mg (α, ^3He) ^Mg reaction leading to seven 1^+ states, proposed previously by proton scattering at 201 MeV and by the (α, ^3He) reaction at 50MeV, was measured at E_α=80.9MeV. The cross sections obtained were analyzed within the framework of the exact-finite-range distorted wave Born approximation. The spectroscopic factors for a d_ transfer to 1^+ states were compared with those predicted by sd shell model calculations. Two of the 1^+ states were found to have a simple (d_d_) structure consistent with the shell model picture. Others with too large d_ transfer strength were ascribed owing to a mixture of other nearby states with J^π values other than 1^+ in referring to a recent compilation

High-mass star formation in Orion triggered by cloud-cloud collision II, Two merging molecular clouds in NGC2024

We analyzed the NANTEN2 13CO (J=2-1 and 1-0) datasets in NGC 2024. We found that the cloud consists of two velocity components, whereas the cloud shows mostly single-peaked CO profiles. The two components are physically connected to the HII region as evidenced by their close correlation with the dark lanes and the emission nebulosity. The two components show complementary distribution with a displacement of 0.4 pc. Such complementary distribution is typical to colliding clouds discovered in regions of high-mass star formation. We hypothesize that cloud-cloud collision between the two components triggered the formation of the late O stars and early B stars localized within 0.3 pc of the cloud peak. The collision timescale is estimated to be ~ 10^5 yrs from a ratio of the displacement and the relative velocity 3-4 km s-1 corrected for probable projection. The high column density of the colliding cloud 1023 cm-2 is similar to those in the other massive star clusters in RCW 38, Westerlund 2, NGC 3603, and M42, which are likely formed under trigger by cloud-cloud collision. The present results provide an additional piece of evidence favorable to high-mass star formation by a major cloud-cloud collision in Orion.Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures, submitted for publication in PASJ (cloud-cloud collision special issue

Response Evaluation of Seismically Isolated Lattice Domes using Amplification Factors

p. 355-365Seismic responses of raised lattice domes with substructures are known to be very complicated, and it is known that not only horizontal response but also vertical response is excited under horizontal seismic input. Such action causes damage on structures and nonstructural elements such as ceiling and suspended lightning equipments. A seismic isolation system is known to be effective to reduce such responses. In this paper, simple response evaluation methods for lattice domes supported by substructures with seismic isolation bearings are proposed using response amplification factors and linearization techniques with the same concept proposed by authors. Their validities are discussed against the results of time history analyses.Takamatsu, K.; Takeuchi, T.; Kumagai, T.; Ogawa, T. (2009). Response Evaluation of Seismically Isolated Lattice Domes using Amplification Factors. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/652

Treatment for recurrence after esophagectomy

Background : With regard to the recurrence of esophageal cancer after surgery, the prognosis has improved with the progress of multimodal perioperative treatment. In this study, the recurrence pattern, treatment method, and prognosis of recurrent cases following esophageal cancer surgery were retrospectively examined. Materials and Methods : Three hundred seven patients with histologically proven squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and others were enrolled in the study. With respect to clinicopathologic factors and recurrence patterns, recurrence risk factors, recurrence period, treatment for recurrence, and prognosis were investigated. Results : Ninety two percent of all recurrent cases were observed within two years after radical esophagectomy. Locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and mixed recurrence were observed in 38 (35%), 56 (51%), and 16 (14%) cases, respectively. Patients with lymph node metastasis showed a significantly longer survival in comparison to those with metastasis to other organs (p = 0.0032). When analyzed using the treatment method, patients who underwent surgery (only surgery or additional postoperative chemotherapy) exhibited better survival in comparison to those who underwent other treatments. Discussion : Detailed and strict follow-up within two years are necessary in cases with deeper than muscular invasion, cases with extensive lymph node metastasis, or cases with lymphatic or vascular invasion

Enzyme systems involved in glucosinolate metabolism in Companilactobacillus farciminis KB1089

Cruciferous vegetables are rich sources of glucosinolates (GSLs). GSLs are degraded into isothiocyanates, which are potent anticarcinogens, by human gut bacteria. However, the mechanisms and enzymes involved in gut bacteria-mediated GSL metabolism are currently unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the enzymes involved in GSL metabolism in lactic acid bacteria, a type of gut bacteria. Companilactobacillus farciminis KB1089 was selected as a lactic acid bacteria strain model that metabolizes sinigrin, which is a GSL, into allylisothiocyanate. The sinigrin-metabolizing activity of this strain is induced under glucose-absent and sinigrin-present conditions. A quantitative comparative proteomic analysis was conducted and a total of 20 proteins that were specifically expressed in the induced cells were identified. Three candidate proteins, β-glucoside-specific IIB, IIC, IIA phosphotransferase system (PTS) components (CfPttS), 6-phospho-β-glucosidase (CfPbgS) and a hypothetical protein (CfNukS), were suspected to be involved in sinigrin-metabolism and were thus investigated further. We hypothesize a pathway for sinigrin degradation, wherein sinigrin is taken up and phosphorylated by CfPttS, and subsequently, the phosphorylated entity is degraded by CfPbgS. As expression of both pttS and pbgS genes clearly gave Escherichia coli host strain sinigrin converting activity, these genes were suggested to be responsible for sinigrin degradation. Furthermore, heterologous expression analysis using Lactococcus lactis suggested that CfPttS was important for sinigrin degradation and CfPbgS degraded phosphorylated sinigrin