Notes on the Next Generation Software Factory

Almost twenty years have passed since the first software factory started operations. From his firsthand experiences, the author introduces a typical software factory model currently being used in Japan's software factories. A project called Japanese Software Factory of the Next Generation (JSF/NEXT), which is headed up by the author, has started to work out a new software factory model. The project aims to create an extension of current software factory models in order to meet recent needs for information system-integration and software productivity/quality improvement

Recruitment of DNA repair synthesis machinery to sites of DNA damage/repair in living human cells

The eukaryotic sliding DNA clamp, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), is essential for DNA replication and repair synthesis. In order to load the ring-shaped, homotrimeric PCNA onto the DNA double helix, the ATPase activity of the replication factor C (RFC) clamp loader complex is required. Although the recruitment of PCNA by RFC to DNA replication sites has well been documented, our understanding of its recruitment during DNA repair synthesis is limited. In this study, we analyzed the accumulation of endogenous and fluorescent-tagged proteins for DNA repair synthesis at the sites of DNA damage produced locally by UVA-laser micro-irradiation in HeLa cells. Accumulation kinetics and in vitro pull-down assays of the large subunit of RFC (RFC140) revealed that there are two distinct modes of recruitment of RFC to DNA damage, a simultaneous accumulation of RFC140 and PCNA caused by interaction between PCNA and the extreme N-terminus of RFC140 and a much faster accumulation of RFC140 than PCNA at the damaged site. Furthermore, RFC140 knock-down experiments showed that PCNA can accumulate at DNA damage independently of RFC. These results suggest that immediate accumulation of RFC and PCNA at DNA damage is only partly interdependent

DNA Diploidy of Gastric Cancer from the Aspects of DNA Heterogeneity and Chromosomal Numerical Aberrations

DNA heterogeneity, which is a problem we encounter during DNA ploidy analysis, was studied on the basis of analyzing numerical aberrations (that is, in the direction of gain) of chromosomes 7, 11 and 17 in 33 cases of gastric cancer, using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Emphasis was placed on clarification of the DNA aneuploidy formation process by comparing and characterizing three types of gastric tumor: homogeneously DNA diploid tumors (DD), the diploid portion of tumors showing DNA heterogeneity (DD-H) and the aneuploid portion of tumors showing DNA heterogeneity (DA-H). DNA heterogeneity and chromosomal heterogeneity increased markedly as gastric tumor advanced from `m\u27 (mucosal) cancer to \u27sm\u27 (submucosal) cancer in early cancer. Thus, \u27sm\u27 cancer exhibited some features of advanced cancer. When DD and DD-H, both of which are DNA diploid, were compared in terms of chromosomal numerical aberrations, the number of chromosomes 11 and 17 was significantly higher in DD-H. When DD-H and DA-H were compared, the number of chromosomes 7 and 11 was significantly higer in DD-H, while the number of chromosome 17 was approximately the same in both. Based on these results of DNA ploidy analysis of gastric cancer, the numerical aberrations of chromosomes 11 and 17 strongly suggest the presence of DNA heterogeneity even in DNA diploid cases, and DNA diploid tumors with abnormal numbers of chromosomes 11 and 17 have features similar to those of DNA aneuploid tumors. When the DNA aneuploidy formation process was studied on the basis of chromosomal numerical aberrations, it appeard that the number of chromosomes 11 and 17 increases first, and that chromosomes 7 and 11 are closely involved in the change of a tumor into a DNA aneuploid tumor

Experimental investigation of pulsed entangled photons and photonic quantum channels

The development of key devices and systems in quantum information technology, such as entangled particle sources, quantum gates and quantum cryptographic systems, requires a reliable and well-established method for characterizing how well the devices or systems work. We report our recent work on experimental characterization of pulsed entangled photonic states and photonic quantum channels, using the methods of state and process tomography. By using state tomography, we could reliably evaluate the states generated from a two-photon source under development and develop a highly entangled pulsed photon source. We are also devoted to characterization of single-qubit and two-qubit photonic quantum channels. Characterization of typical single-qubit decoherence channels has been demonstrated using process tomography. Characterization of two-qubit channels, such as classically correlated channels and quantum mechanically correlated channels is under investigation. These characterization techniques for quantum states and quantum processes will be useful for developing photonic quantum devices and for improving their performances.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, in Quantum Optics in Computing and Communications, Songhao Liu, Guangcan Guo, Hoi-Kwong Lo, Nobuyuki Imoto, Eds., Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 4917, pp.13-24 (2002

Hip fracture protection by alendronate treatment in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis: a review of the literature

Osteoporosis most commonly affects postmenopausal women, placing them at a significant risk of fractures. In particular, hip fractures are an important cause of mortality and morbidity among postmenopausal women. Anti-resorptive therapies that produce greater decreases in bone turnover markers together with greater increases in bone mineral density (BMD) are associated with greater reductions in fracture risk, especially at sites primarily composed of cortical bone such as the hip. Thus, treatment with potent anti-resorptive drugs like alendronate is a strategy for preventing hip fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the efficacy of alendronate against hip fractures and the mechanism for this anti-fracture efficacy in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials has shown that alendronate reduces the risk of hip fractures by 55% in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. According to the analyses of the Fracture Intervention Trial, each 1 standard deviation reduction in a 1-year change in bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) is associated with 39% fewer hip fractures in alendronate-treated postmenopausal women, and those with at least 30% reduction in BSAP have a 74% lower risk of hip fractures relative to those with less than 30%. Alendronate is effective in reducing the risk of hip fractures across a spectrum of ages. The mechanism for this anti-fracture efficacy has been clarified; alendronate strongly suppresses bone turnover and subsequently increases hip BMD, decreases cortical porosity, improves parameters of hip structure geometry (cortical thickness, cross-sectional area, section modulus, and buckling ratio), and produces more uniform mineralization (increases the mean degree of mineralization of bone) in cortical bone. A once-weekly regimen of alendronate administration provides better patient compliance and persistence with the treatment than the once-daily dosing regimen, leading to greater efficacy against hip fractures. Thus, the efficacy of alendronate against hip fractures has been confirmed in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, especially with a once-weekly dosing regimen

INFLUENCE OF LATERAL TRUNK TILT ON THROWING ARM KINETICS DURING BASEBALL PITCHING

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between lateral trunk tilt angle and several injury-related kinetic parameters during pitching. Based on kinematic data of 12 overhand and three-quarter-hand pitchers, several pitching motions with different lateral trunk tilt angles from the original were simulated. Joint kinetics among the simulated motions was compared. As a result, elbow medial force and elbow varus torque were generally increased as the lateral trunk tilt increased, that is the greater contra-lateral side-bending to the throwing arm side. On the other hand, the shoulder shear force was decreased as the lateral trunk tilt increased. Data from the study demonstrated that the shoulder proximal force was irrelevant to the trunk tilt angle