Real submanifolds of codimension two of a complex space form

AbstractWe prove some classification theorems for real submanifolds of codimension two of a complex space form under the condition that h(FX,Y)+h(X,FY)=0, where h is the second fundamental form of the submanifold and F is the endomorphism induced from the almost complex structure J on the tangent bundle of the submanifold

Mechanisms With Clinical Implications for Atrial Fibrillation–Associated Remodeling: Cathepsin K Expression, Regulation, and Therapeutic Target and Biomarker

Background: The cysteine protease cathepsin K (CatK) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. We sought to determine the link between atrial fibrillation (AF) and plasma CatK levels and to investigate the expression of and therapeutic target for CatK in vivo and in vitro. Methods and Results: Plasma CatK and extracellular matrix protein peptides (intact procollagen type I of N‐terminal propeptide; carboxyl‐terminal telopeptide of type I collagen [ICTP]) were measured in 209 consecutive patients with AF (paroxysmal AF, 146; persistent AF, 63) and 112 control subjects. In addition, the regulation of CatK expression was investigated in vivo and vitro. Patients with AF had higher plasma CatK and ICTP levels than did control subjects. Patients with persistent AF had higher levels of plasma CatK and ICTP than did patients with paroxysmal AF. CatK was correlated with ICTP concentration and left atrial diameter in all subjects. In rabbits, superoxide production, CatK activity, fibrosis, and the levels of atrial tissue angiotensin II, angiotensin type 1 receptor, gp91phox, phospho‐p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase, and CatK were greater in those with tachypacing‐induced AF than in controls, and these changes were reversed with angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonist. Olmesartan and mitogen‐activated protein kinase inhibitor decreased the CatK expression induced by angiotensin II in rat neonatal myocytes. Conclusions: These data indicated that increased plasma CatK levels are linked with the presence of AF. Angiotensin type 1 receptor antagonist appears to be effective in alleviating atrial fibrosis in a rabbit AF model, partly reducing angiotensin type 1 receptor‐p38mitogen‐activated protein kinase‐dependent and ‐independent CatK activation, thus preventing AF

Identification of paleomagnetic remanence carriers in ca. 3.47 Ga dacite from the Duffer Formation, the Pilbara Craton

金沢大学理工研究域地球社会基盤学系The ca. 3.47 Ga Duffer Formation has been considered to carry one of the oldest paleomagnetic records. Yet, the lack of rock magnetic data limits the interpretation of the nature of the remanence. We conducted a rock magnetic and paleomagnetic investigation on columnar dacite of the Duffer Formation. The main magnetic minerals are phenocrysts of titanomagnetite and magnetite, and secondary hematite in groundmass. Detailed thermal demagnetization revealed more complex natural remanence than previously estimated, consisting of four components with typical unblocking temperature of 200–350, 200–500, 590, and 690 °C. Combined with alternating field demagnetization and rock magnetic data, they are attributed to titanomagnetite, coarse-grained magnetite, fine-grained magnetite, and hematite, respectively. The comparison of unblocking temperature and coercivity suggests that the previously proposed secondary component is carried by fine-grained magnetite as well as hematite, while the putative primary component is carried by coarse-grained magnetite and titanomagnetite. Microscopic observations showed that coarse-grained magnetite and titanomagnetite are primary crystals, although this does not necessarily indicate they preserve primary remanence. The remanence directions of all components revealed higher scatter than the previous studies, suggesting the need for caution in interpretation. The low unblocking temperature of titanomagnetite suggests that if their remanence is truly primary, the rocks must have kept below ~ 250 °C for ~3.47 billion years. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.Embargo Period 24 month

Percutaneous Cryoablation of Pulmonary Metastases from Colorectal Cancer

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cryoablation for metastatic lung tumors from colorectal cancer. Methods: The procedures were performed on 24 patients (36–82 years of age, with a median age of 62; 17 male patients, 7 female patients) for 55 metastatic tumors in the lung, during 30 sessions. The procedural safety, local progression free interval, and overall survival were assessed by follow-up computed tomographic scanning performed every 3–4 months. Results: The major complications were pneumothorax, 19 sessions (63%), pleural effusion, 21 sessions (70%), transient and self-limiting hemoptysis, 13 sessions (43%) and tract seeding, 1 session (3%). The 1- and 3-year local progression free intervals were 90.8 % and 59%, respectively. The 3-years local progression free intervals of tumors #15 mm in diameter was 79.8 % and that of tumors.15 mm was 28.6 % (p = 0.001; log-rank test). The 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 91% and 59.6%, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicated that percutaneous cryoablation is a feasible treatment option. The local progression fre

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead