Magnetic record support

The magnetic layer of a magnetic record support is coated with a thin film of a polymer with a siloxane bond. The magnetic layer consists of a thin film obtained by vacuum metallization, cathode sputtering or dispersion of a ferromagnetic metal powder in a binder. The polymer with a siloxane bond is produced by the polymerization of an organic silicon compound which inherently contains or is able to form this bond. Polymerization is preferably performed by plasma polymerization

Shimanto geosyncline and Kuroshio paleoland

The late Mesozoic to early Neogene geosyncline in the Outer zone of Southwest Japan has been studied in detail in the Kii Peninsula by the Research Group for the Shimanto Geosyncline. The existence of the Kuroshio Paleoland to the south of the geosyncline was inferred by various sedimentologic evidences. The Shimanto belt in the Kii Peninsula is divided from north to south into three zones of Cretaceous, Eocene and Oligocene to lower Miocene. In these belts thick geosynclinal sediments were accumulated showing coarsening upward. The southward migration of the basin occurred in Cretaceous/Eocene, Eocene/Oligocene, and in early Miocene. In the present paper the reconstruction of paleogeography of the Shimanto geosyncline was attempted and the Kuroshio Paleoland was discussed in relation to the geohistory of the Philippine Sea. In spite of the detailed geologic survey in the Kii Peninsula there is no evidence of large exotic blocks nor tectonic mélanges, and this does not support the plate tectonic model ofthe Pacific-type orogeny for the Shimanto belt.ArticleJournal of Physics of the Earth. 26(suppl):357-366 (1978)journal articl

SHIMANTO GEOSYNCLINE AND KUROSHIO PALEOLAND

The late Mesozoic to early Neogene geosyncline in the Outer zone of Southwest Japan has been studied in detail in the Kii Peninsula by the Research Group for the Shimanto Geosyncline. The existence of the Kuroshio Paleoland to the south of the geosyncline was inferred by various sedimentologic evidences. The Shimanto belt in the Kii Peninsula is divided from north to south into three zones of Cretaceous, Eocene and Oligocene to lower Miocene. In these belts thick geosynclinal sediments were accumulated showing coarsening upward. The southward migration of the basin occurred in Cretaceous/Eocene, Eocene/Oligocene, and in early Miocene. In the present paper the reconstruction of paleogeography of the Shimanto geosyncline was attempted and the Kuroshio Paleoland was discussed in relation to the geohistory of the Philippine Sea. In spite of the detailed geologic survey in the Kii Peninsula there is no evidence of large exotic blocks nor tectonic mélanges, and this does not support the plate tectonic model ofthe Pacific-type orogeny for the Shimanto belt.ArticleJournal of Physics of the Earth. 26(suppl):357-366 (1978)journal articl

Spacetime Noncommutativity and Antisymmetric Tensor Dynamics in the Early Universe

This paper investigates the possible cosmological implications of the presence of an antisymmetric tensor field related to a lack of commutatitivity of spacetime coordinates at the Planck era. For this purpose, such a field is promoted to a dynamical variable, inspired by tensor formalism. By working to quadratic order in the antisymmetric tensor, we study the field equations in a Bianchi I universe in two models: an antisymmetric tensor plus scalar field coupled to gravity, or a cosmological constant and a free massless antisymmetric tensor. In the first scenario, numerical integration shows that, in the very early universe, the effects of the antisymmetric tensor can prevail on the scalar field, while at late times the former approaches zero and the latter drives the isotropization of the universe. In the second model, an approximate solution is obtained of a nonlinear ordinary differential equation which shows how the mean Hubble parameter and the difference between longitudinal and orthogonal Hubble parameter evolve in the early universe.Comment: 25 pages, Revtex file, 4 figures in attachmen

Draft Genome Sequencing and Comparative Analysis of Aspergillus sojae NBRC4239

We conducted genome sequencing of the filamentous fungus Aspergillus sojae NBRC4239 isolated from the koji used to prepare Japanese soy sauce. We used the 454 pyrosequencing technology and investigated the genome with respect to enzymes and secondary metabolites in comparison with other Aspergilli sequenced. Assembly of 454 reads generated a non-redundant sequence of 39.5-Mb possessing 13 033 putative genes and 65 scaffolds composed of 557 contigs. Of the 2847 open reading frames with Pfam domain scores of >150 found in A. sojae NBRC4239, 81.7% had a high degree of similarity with the genes of A. oryzae. Comparative analysis identified serine carboxypeptidase and aspartic protease genes unique to A. sojae NBRC4239. While A. oryzae possessed three copies of α-amyalse gene, A. sojae NBRC4239 possessed only a single copy. Comparison of 56 gene clusters for secondary metabolites between A. sojae NBRC4239 and A. oryzae revealed that 24 clusters were conserved, whereas 32 clusters differed between them that included a deletion of 18 508 bp containing mfs1, mao1, dmaT, and pks-nrps for the cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) biosynthesis, explaining the no productivity of CPA in A. sojae. The A. sojae NBRC4239 genome data will be useful to characterize functional features of the koji moulds used in Japanese industries

Massive stars exploding in a He-rich circumstellar medium - IX. SN 2014av, and characterization of Type Ibn SNe

We present spectroscopic and photometric data of the Type Ibn supernova (SN) 2014av, discovered by the Xingming Observatory Sky Survey. Stringent pre-discovery detection limits indicate that the object was detected for the first time about 4 d after the explosion. A prompt follow-up campaign arranged by amateur astronomers allowed us to monitor the rising phase (lasting 10.6 d) and to accurately estimate the epoch of the maximum light, on 2014 April 23 (JD = 245 6771.1 ± 1.2). The absolute magnitude of the SN at the maximum light is MR = −19.76 ± 0.16. The post-peak light curve shows an initial fast decline lasting about three weeks, and is followed by a slower decline in all bands until the end of the monitoring campaign. The spectra are initially characterized by a hot continuum. Later on, the temperature declines and a number of lines become prominent mostly in emission. In particular, later spectra are dominated by strong and narrow emission features of He I typical of Type Ibn supernovae (SNe), although there is a clear signature of lines from heavier elements (in particular O I, Mg II and Ca II). A forest of relatively narrow Fe II lines is also detected showing P-Cygni profiles, with the absorption component blueshifted by about 1200 km s−1. Another spectral feature often observed in interacting SNe, a strong blue pseudo-continuum, is seen in our latest spectra of SN 2014av. We discuss in this paper the physical parameters of SN 2014av in the context of the Type Ibn SN variety

A meta-analysis of genome-wide data from five European isolates reveals an association of COL22A1, SYT1, and GABRR2 with serum creatinine level

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Serum creatinine (S_CR) is the most important biomarker for a quick and non-invasive assessment of kidney function in population-based surveys. A substantial proportion of the inter-individual variability in S_CRlevel is explicable by genetic factors.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We performed a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies of S_CRundertaken in five population isolates ('discovery cohorts'), all of which are part of the European Special Population Network (EUROSPAN) project. Genes showing the strongest evidence for an association with S_CR(candidate loci) were replicated in two additional population-based samples ('replication cohorts').</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After the discovery meta-analysis, 29 loci were selected for replication. Association between S_CRlevel and polymorphisms in the collagen type XXII alpha 1 (<it>COL22A1</it>) gene, on chromosome 8, and in the synaptotagmin-1 (<it>SYT1</it>) gene, on chromosome 12, were successfully replicated in the replication cohorts (p value = 1.0 × 10^-6and 1.7 × 10^-4, respectively). Evidence of association was also found for polymorphisms in a locus including the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor rho-2 (<it>GABRR2</it>) gene and the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2-J1 (<it>UBE2J1</it>) gene (replication p value = 3.6 × 10^-3). Previously reported findings, associating glomerular filtration rate with SNPs in the uromodulin (<it>UMOD</it>) gene and in the schroom family member 3 (<it>SCHROOM3</it>) gene were also replicated.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>While confirming earlier results, our study provides new insights in the understanding of the genetic basis of serum creatinine regulatory processes. In particular, the association with the genes <it>SYT1 </it>and <it>GABRR2 </it>corroborate previous findings that highlighted a possible role of the neurotransmitters GABA_Areceptors in the regulation of the glomerular basement membrane and a possible interaction between GABA_Areceptors and synaptotagmin-I at the podocyte level.</p

Presynaptically Localized Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinase 1 Is a Key Determinant of Spinal Synaptic Potentiation and Pain Hypersensitivity

Electrophysiological and behavioral experiments in mice reveal that a cGMP-dependent kinase amplifies neurotransmitter release from peripheral pain sensors, potentiates spinal synapses, and leads to exaggerated pain