Application of a novel method for subsequent evaluation of sinusoids and postsinusoidal venules after ischemia-reperfusion injury of rat liver

Although several intravital fluorescence microscopic studies demonstrated that microcirculatory derangement is induced during liver ischemia-reperfusion, these data were obtained from randomly selected microvascular areas and microvessels, Repeated observation of the identical microvessels has not been performed yet. Using a specially designed cover glass, it is now possible to relocate desired sites of observation repeatedly over the whole reperfusion time, The aim of this study was to determine the impact of reperfusion time on hepatic microvascular perfusion state. Twenty minutes of ischemia induced a significant decrease in sinusoidal perfusion rate (29.1 +/- 10.2%) as compared with baseline values (98.0 +/- 0.3%). At 30, 60, and 120 min of reperfusion, the percentage of perfused sinusoids recovered to 62.8 +/- 6.6, 67.5 +/- 5.7, and 77.2 +/- 5.4%. The number of stagnant leukocytes in the same sinusoids was 6.2 +/- 1.9/lobule at baseline and increased to 22.3 +/- 3.6/lobule at 120 min of reperfusion. The number of leukocytes adhering within postsinusoidal venules was 53.5 +/- 12.5/mm(2) before ischemia and increased to 414.2 +/- 62.5/mm(2) at 120 min of reperfusion. We have demonstrated that during 120 min of reperfusion, there was a steady increase in both sinusoidal and venular leukocyte adhesion along with an attenuation of the initially severely depressed sinusoidal perfusion. a no-reflow phenomenon at an early phase of reperfusion and subsequent reflow were proven

Numerical analysis of the eutectic melting and relocation of the b4c control rod materials by the MPFI-MPS method

Eutectic melting and subsequent relocation of the boron-carbide (B4C) control rod materials were simulated by a particle method. In the past, it was difficult to simulate the eutectic melting by a particle method because the melting starts at the interface between two different materials, which leads to the instability of the particle motion due to the small amount of fluid particles and lack of the thermodynamic consistency of the particle system. Thus, the Moving Particle Full Implicit (MPFI)-Moving Particle Semi-implicit (MPS) method was developed and introduced in the current study. Specifically, the MPFI method was introduced for the momentum transfer calculation, and the MPS method was introduced for the heat and mass transfer calculation. The MPFIMPS method realized the simulation of the eutectic melting and subsequent relocation behaviour

Crystal Chemistry and Magnetic Properties of Manganese Zinc Alloy "YMn2Zn20" Comprising a Mn Pyrochlore Lattice

The chemical composition, crystal structure, and magnetic properties of a manganese zinc alloy with an ideal composition of YMn2Zn20, which comprises a pyrochlore lattice made of Mn atoms, are reported. The compound is stable only when In or Al is partially substituted for Zn. We have determined the actual chemical formula as YMn2+dZn20-x-dMx, with M = In or Al, and have identified the characteristic preferences with which the incorporated M and excess Mn atoms occupy the three crystallographic sites for Zn atoms. The Mn atoms in the pyrochlore lattice possess small magnetic moments that interact with each other antiferromagnetically but exhibit no long-range order above 0.4 K, probably owing to the geometrical frustration of the pyrochlore lattice. As a result, the effective mass of the conduction electrons is considerably enhanced, as observed in the related pyrochlore-lattice compounds (Y,Sc)Mn2 and LiV2O4. However, the presence of excess Mn atoms with large localized magnetic moments comparable to spin 5/2 tends to mask the inherent magnetism of the pyrochlore Mn atoms. It is suggested that "YMn2Zn18In2" with neither excess Mn atoms nor site disorder would be an ideal compound for further study.Comment: 19 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in J. Solid State Che

First Simultaneous Observation of H-alpha Moreton Wave, EUV Wave, and Filament/Prominence Oscillations

We report on the first simultaneous observation of an H-alpha Moreton wave, the corresponding EUV fast coronal waves, and a slow and bright EUV wave (typical EIT wave). Associated with an X6.9 flare that occurred on 2011 August 9 at the active region NOAA 11263, we observed a Moreton wave in the H-alpha images taken by the Solar Magnetic Activity Research Telescope (SMART) at Hida Observatory of Kyoto University. In the EUV images obtained by the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) we found not only the corresponding EUV fast "bright" coronal wave, but also the EUV fast "faint" wave that is not associated with the H-alpha Moreton wave. We also found a slow EUV wave, which corresponds to a typical EIT wave. Furthermore, we observed, for the first time, the oscillations of a prominence and a filament, simultaneously, both in the H-alpha and EUV images. To trigger the oscillations by the flare-associated coronal disturbance, we expect a coronal wave as fast as the fast-mode MHD wave with the velocity of about 570 - 800 km/s. These velocities are consistent with those of the observed Moreton wave and the EUV fast coronal wave.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ

Neurosecretory protein GL stimulates food intake, de novo lipogenesis, and onset of obesity.

Mechanisms underlying the central regulation of food intake and fat accumulation are not fully understood. We found that neurosecretory protein GL (NPGL), a newly-identified neuropeptide, increased food intake and white adipose tissue (WAT) in rats. NPGL-precursor gene overexpression in the hypothalamus caused increases in food intake, WAT, body mass, and circulating insulin when fed a high calorie diet. Intracerebroventricular administration of NPGL induced de novo lipogenesis in WAT, increased insulin, and it selectively induced carbohydrate intake. Neutralizing antibody administration decreased the size of lipid droplets in WAT. Npgl mRNA expression was upregulated by fasting and low insulin levels. Additionally, NPGL-producing cells were responsive to insulin. These results point to NPGL as a novel neuronal regulator that drives food intake and fat deposition through de novo lipogenesis and acts to maintain steady-state fat level in concert with insulin. Dysregulation of NPGL may be a root cause of obesity

Catalytic Efficiency of [20]Paracyclophane Oxime and Cycloheptaamylose in the Decomposition of Carboxylate and Carbonate Esters

The hydrolytic decomposition of dodecyl ρ-nitrophenyl carbonate (LPNC) and ρ-nitrophenyl dodecanoate (PNPL) as mediated by 10-hydroxy-ll-hydroxyimino[20]-paracyclophane (Oxime-I) and cycloheptaamylose (β-CD) has been investigated in aqueous media containing 9.9% (v/v) ethanol and 1.0% (v/v) acetonitrile to gain an insight into the reaction and/or substrate specificity. Both LPNC and PNPL were decomposed effectively by an equimolar amount of Oxime-I. It turned out from the analysis of kinetic data that the binding of LPNC to Oxime-I is 2.5 times tighter than that of PNPL, but the subsequent catalysis is 3.3 times more favorable for PNPL than for LPNC. Hence, the overall efficiency of Oxime-I is 1.3 times greater for PNPL, as changed from a 13-fold difference between both substrates in the simple alkaline hydrolysis. β-CD was found to be effective also in the decomposition of LPNC when added in large excess over substrate. Comparison of kinetic parameters between the two systems, Oxime-I and β-CD, indicated that the former is better in both binding and catalytic effects toward the extremely hydrophobic substrates

High-energy spectroscopic study of the III-V nitride-based diluted magnetic semiconductor Ga1−x_{1-x}Mnx_{x}N

We have studied the electronic structure of the diluted magnetic semiconductor Ga$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$N ($x$ = 0.0, 0.02 and 0.042) grown on Sn-doped $n$-type GaN using photoemission and soft x-ray absorption spectroscopy. Mn $L$-edge x-ray absorption have indicated that the Mn ions are in the tetrahedral crystal field and that their valence is divalent. Upon Mn doping into GaN, new state were found to form within the band gap of GaN, and the Fermi level was shifted downward. Satellite structures in the Mn 2$p$ core level and the Mn 3$d$ partial density of states were analyzed using configuration-interaction calculation on a MnN$_{4}$ cluster model. The deduced electronic structure parameters reveal that the $p$-$d$ exchange coupling in Ga$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$N is stronger than that in Ga$_{1-x}$Mn$_{x}$As.Comment: 6pages, 10figures. To be published to Phys. Rev.

Children with unilateral aural atresia

The effects of FM system fitted into the normal hearing ear (NHE) or a cartilage conduction hearing aid (CCHA) fitted into the affected ear (AE) on the speech recognition ability in noise were examined in children with unilateral congenital aural atresia (UCAA). In children with bilateral normal hearing (BNH), speech recognition score (SRS) was significantly decreased in the noisy environment of -5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), compared with those in quiet. In children with UCAA, SRS was significantly decreased in noisy environments of 0 and -5 dB SNR, compared with those in quiet. In noisy environments of 0 and -5 dB SNR, SRS in children with UCAA was significantly decreased, compared those in children with BNH. In the noisy environment of -5 dB SNR, SRS in UCAA children aided by FM system fitted into NHE was significantly better than those in unaided children in the same group. In the noisy environment of 0 dB SNR, SRS in UCAA children aided by CCHA into AE tended to be higher than those in unaided children in the same group. FM system and CCHA can be recommended as an audiological management for the improvement of speech recognition in children with UCHL in classrooms

Magnetic effects at the interface between nonmagnetic oxides

The electronic reconstruction at the interface between two insulating oxides can give rise to a highly-conductive interface. In analogy to this remarkable interface-induced conductivity we show how, additionally, magnetism can be induced at the interface between the otherwise nonmagnetic insulating perovskites SrTiO3 and LaAlO3. A large negative magnetoresistance of the interface is found, together with a logarithmic temperature dependence of the sheet resistance. At low temperatures, the sheet resistance reveals magnetic hysteresis. Magnetic ordering is a key issue in solid-state science and its underlying mechanisms are still the subject of intense research. In particular, the interplay between localized magnetic moments and the spin of itinerant conduction electrons in a solid gives rise to intriguing many-body effects such as Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) interactions, the Kondo effect, and carrier-induced ferromagnetism in diluted magnetic semiconductors. The conducting oxide interface now provides a versatile system to induce and manipulate magnetic moments in otherwise nonmagnetic materials.Comment: Nature Materials, July issu