FeII/MgII Emission Line Ratios of QSOs. II. z>6 Objects

Near-infrared spectra of four QSOs located at $z>6$ are obtained with the OH-airglow suppressor mounted on the Subaru telescope. The FeII/MgII emission-line ratios of these QSOs are examined by the same fitting algorithm as in our previous study of $z<5.3$ QSOs. The fitting results show that two out of the four $z>6$ QSOs have significant FeII emission in their rest-UV spectra, while the other two have almost no FeII features. We also applied our fitting algorithm to more than 10,000 SDSS QSOs and found two trends in the distribution of FeII/MgII against redshift: (1) the upper envelope of the FeII/MgII distribution at $z>3$ shows a probable declination toward high redshift, and (2) the median distribution settles into lower ratios at $z\sim 1.5$ with small scatter compared to the other redshift. We discuss an Fe/Mg abundance evolution of QSOs with a substantial contribution from the diverse nature of the broad-line regions in high-redshift QSOs.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ (10 October 2004, v614

Prediction of emergence period of overwintering Chironomid larvae (Diptera: Chironomidae) at lower reaches of the Kiso River, Central Japan.

Species composition and period of emergence were investigated for overwintering Chironomidae at the lower reaches of the Kiso River by rearing larvae to obtain fundamental information for drafting a plan to prevent outbreaks of nuisance midges. Adults of 9 species emerged from the substrate samples in February 2006. The four most abundant species, Stictochironomus akizukii, Hydrobaenus kondoi, Tanytarsus takahashii and Einfeldia dissidens, occupied 88.0% of the total abundance. Using effective accumulative temperature for emergence and in situ water temperatures, the in situ emergence periods of the overwintering generation in 2006 were predicted as until early March for H. kondoi, from the end of March to early May for S. akizukii and T. takahashii, and late April to mid-June for E. dissidens.Article衛生動物.58(3):183-190(2007)journal articl

Direction Dependence of Compressive Properties of Mg Processed by Directional Solidification

Pure Mg consisting of elongated grains was fabricated by the directional solidification process, and its compressive properties were investigated at room temperature, 473 and 773 K under the conditions where the angle between the long axis direction of the elongated grains and the compression direction was 0, 45 and 90 degree. At room temperature, the specimen at the angle of 45 degree was fractured prior to &quot; ¼ 0:3, although the specimens at the angles of 0 and 90 degree were not fractured even at &quot; ¼ 0:3. In addition, the yield stress at the angle of 45 degree was higher than those at the angles of 0 and 90 degree. The (0002) basal planes were distributed at a tilt of 30-50 degree to the solidification direction. This was responsible for the higher yield stress at the angle of 45 degree. Also, the yield stress at the angle of 0 degree was lower than that at the angle of 90 degree. The lower yield stress at the angle of 0 degree was attributed to twinning. At 473 K, the yield stress at the angle of 45 degree decreased significantly. The large decrease in yield stress at the angle of 45 degree resulted from grain boundary sliding. At 773 K, the yield stresses were almost the same, irrespectively of the loading direction. Thus, compressive properties of the directionally solidified Mg were affected by the loading direction

Spin chirality and electric polarization in multiferroic compounds RRMn2_2O5_5 (R=R=Ho, Er)

Polarized neutron diffraction experiments have been performed on multiferroic materials $R$Mn$_{2}$O$_{5}$ ($R=$Ho, Er) under electric fields in the ferroelectric commensurate (CM) and the low-temperature incommensurate (LT-ICM) phases, where the former has the highest electric polarization and the latter has reduced polarization. It is found that, after cooling in electric fields down to the CM phase, the magnetic chirality is proportional to the electric polarization. Also we confirmed that the magnetic chirality can be switched by the polarity of the electric polarization in both the CM and LT-ICM phases. These facts suggest an intimate coupling between the magnetic chirality and the electric polarization. However, upon the transition from the CM to LT-ICM phase, the reduction of the electric polarization is not accompanied by any reduction of the magnetic chirality, implying that the CM and LT-ICM phases contain different mechanisms of the magnetoelectric coupling.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Proceedings of PNCMI2008/QuBS200

Neuroprotective effects of 5-S-GAD against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis in RGC-5 cell.

金沢大学医薬保健研究域　医学系N-β-Alanyl-5-S-glutathionyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (5-S-GAD), an antibacterial substance isolated from the flesh fly, has been described as having multipotential biological activities toward various tissues. In a previous paper, we reported a novel neuroprotective action of 5-S-GAD on rat retinal ganglion cell apoptosis induced by optic nerve injury and intraocular N-methyl-d-aspartate treatment in vivo. In the present study, we further investigated the protective mechanism of this small peptide against other types of apoptosis in cultured cells of the established rat retinal ganglion cell line RGC-5. Hydrogen peroxide and serum deprivation treatments induced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and lipid peroxidation, revealed by 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal production, in RGC-5 cells within 9-12 h. The treatments also induced cell death accompanied by nuclear condensation, DNA laddering and increases in apoptotic Bax and caspase-3 proteins in RGC-5 cells within 12-24 h. 5-S-GAD at 25-50 μM clearly suppressed the cell death and apoptotic features induced by these treatments. 5-S-GAD restored the nuclear condensation, DNA laddering and increases in apoptotic proteins. Furthermore, 5-S-GAD directly activated anti-apoptotic phospho-Akt and Bcl-2 proteins in RGC-5 cells. 5-S-GAD also quenched the reactive oxygen species production and inhibited the lipid peroxidation induced by oxidative stress. Therefore, 5-S-GAD may complementarily protect RGC-5 cells against apoptosis through dual actions as a radical scavenger and an inducer of anti-apoptotic phospho-Akt and Bcl-2. Taken together, 5-S-GAD is a high-potential tool for rescuing the retinal ganglion cell apoptosis induced by a variety of glaucomatous conditions. Crown Copyright © 2009

737–1 Heart Fatty Acid-binding Protein and Myoglobin can Accurately Detect Successful Reperfusion as Early as 15 Minutes After Reperfuslon

Human heart fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) is an abundant low molecular weight protein in cytoplasm of myocardial cell similar to myoglobin (Mb). To evaluate whether FABP can also detect successful reperfusion very early like Mb, we examined serum FABP and Mb levels in 45 patients (pts) undergoing PTCR or PTCA within 6 hours after the onset of acute myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography was performed every 5minutes (min) during reperfusion therapy to determine the exact time of reperfusion. In 30 pts with reperfusion (reperfused group: TIMI grade 3 [23 pts] and grade 2 [7 pts]), serum samples were taken just before and at 15, 30 and 60min after initial angiographic confirmation of reperfusion. In 15 pts without reperfusion (nonreperfused group), serum samples were taken just before and at 15, 30 and 60min after the initiation of therapy. FABP was measured by competitive enzyme immunoassay and Mb by latex agglutination turbidimetry. The FABP ratio (FABP after/FABP before) and Mb ratio (Mb after/Mb before) were calculated. FABP and Mb levels increased rapidly, peaked within 60min after reperfusion. The FABP and Mb ratios in the reperfused group significantly (p&lt;0.01) exceeded those in the nonreperfused group at 15, 30 and 60 min. The sensitivity (Sen) and specificity (Spe) of these markers for reperfusion were as follows:Criteria15 min30 min60 minSenSpeSenSpeSenSpeFABP ratio&gt;1.6*93%100%97%100%100%100%Mb ratio&gt;2.4**90%100%93%100%100%100%*mean +2SD at 60 min in the nonreperfused group**published criteriaConclusionFABP, like Mb could accurately detect successful reperfusion as early as 15min after reperfusion and could provide a high level of accuracy within 60min after reperfusion

A novel neuroprotective role of a small peptide from flesh fly, 5-S-GAD in the rat retina in vivo.

金沢大学医薬保健研究域　医学系N-β-Alanyl-5-S-glutathionyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (5-S-GAD), an antibacterial substance isolated from flesh fly, has been described as having multipotential biological activities toward various tissues. However, there has been no report testing its action on neural cells. In the present study, we investigate whether 5-S-GAD is neurotoxic or neuroprotective to the rat retina. 5-S-GAD at high doses (more than 200 pmol) induced apoptosis of retinal neurons 7 days after intraocular injection. 5-S-GAD at low doses (2-20 pmol) significantly attenuated the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and the thinning of inner retina induced by NMDA in a dose-dependent manner. To understand the protective mechanism of 5-S-GAD, we investigated the influence of 5-S-GAD on the cell survival molecules, phospho-Akt and Bcl-2. 5-S-GAD (2-20 pmol) rapidly increased phospho-Akt expression 1-7 days and Bcl-2 expression 3-7 days after injection. The cellular localization of this increase was both in bipolar cells and RGCs. This neurosurvival effect of 5-S-GAD was further tested using another model of optic nerve injury. 5-S-GAD significantly blocked the apoptosis of RGCs 7 days after optic nerve crush. These results show that 5-S-GAD (2-20 pmol) protects against the NMDA- and optic nerve crush-induced apoptosis of RGCs. The neuroprotective action of 5-S-GAD in the retina might be mediated by the cell survival phospho-Akt/Bcl-2 system and offers a therapeutic option to rescue RGCs from various types of excitotoxic disease, such as glaucoma. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha mediates enhancement of gene expression of cerebroside sulfotransferase in several murine organs

Sulfatides, 3-O-sulfogalactosylceramides, are known to have multifunctional properties. These molecules are distributed in various tissues of mammals, where they are synthesized from galactosylceramides by sulfation at C3 of the galactosyl residue. Although this reaction is specifically catalyzed by cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST), the mechanisms underlying the transcriptional regulation of this enzyme are not understood. With respect to this issue, we previously found potential sequences of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) response element on upstream regions of the mouse CST gene and presumed the possible regulation by the nuclear receptor PPAR alpha. To confirm this hypothesis, we treated wild-type and Ppara-null mice with the specific PPAR alpha agonist fenofibrate and examined the amounts of sulfatides and CST gene expression in various tissues. Fenofibrate treatment increased sulfatides and CST mRNA levels in the kidney, heart, liver, and small intestine in a PPAR alpha-dependent manner. However, these effects of fenofibrate were absent in the brain or colon. Fenofibrate treatment did not affect the mRNA level of arylsulfatase A, which is the key enzyme for catalyzing desulfation of sulfatides, in any of these six tissues. Analyses of the DNA-binding activity and conventional gene expression targets of PPAR alpha has demonstrated that fenofibrate treatment activated PPAR alpha in the kidney, heart, liver, and small intestine but did not affect the brain or colon. These findings suggest that PPAR alpha activation induces CST gene expression and enhances sulfatide synthesis in mice, which suggests that PPAR alpha is a possible transcriptional regulator for the mouse CST gene.ArticleGLYCOCONJUGATE JOURNAL. 30(6):553-560 (2013)journal articl