Reevaluation of Neutron Electric Dipole Moment with QCD Sum Rules

We study the neutron electric dipole moment in the presence of the CP-violating operators up to the dimension five in terms of the QCD sum rules. It is found that the OPE calculation is robust when exploiting a particular interpolating field for neutron, while there exist some uncertainties on the phenomenological side. By using input parameters obtained from the lattice calculation, we derive a conservative limit for the contributions of the CP violating operators. We also show the detail of the derivation of the sum rules.Comment: 33 pages, 5 figure

Glucocorticoids strengthen PD-1 effects

The inhibitory co-receptor programmed cell death 1 (PD-1, Pdcd1) plays critical roles in the regulation of autoimmunity, anti-cancer immunity, and immunity against infections. Immunotherapies targeting PD-1 have revolutionized cancer management and instigated various trials of improved cancer immunotherapies. Moreover, extensive trials are underway to potentiate PD-1 function in order to suppress harmful immune responses. Here, we found that both natural and synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) up-regulate PD-1 on T cells without altering the expression levels of other co-receptors and cell-surface molecules. The GC-induced up-regulation of PD-1 depended on the transactivation of PD-1 transcription mediated through the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). We further found that a GC response element (GRE) 2525 bp upstream from the transcription start site of Pdcd1 is responsible for GC-mediated transactivation. We also observed that in vivo administration of GCs significantly up-regulates PD-1 expression on tumor-infiltrating T cells. By analyzing T cells differing in PD-1 expression, we directly demonstrated that the amount of PD-1 on the cell surface correlates with its inhibitory effect. Accordingly, GCs potentiated the capacity of PD-1 to inhibit T cell activation, suggesting that this PD-1-mediated inhibition contributes, at least in part, to the anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects of GCs. In light of the critical roles of PD-1 in the regulation of autoimmunity regulation, we expect that the potentiation of PD-1 activity may offer a promising therapeutic strategy for managing inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Our current findings provide a rationale for strategies seeking to enhance the inhibitory effect of PD-1 by increasing its expression level

Genetic distance of inbred lines of Chinese cabbage and its relationship to heterosis

AbstractChinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. var. pekinensis) is an important vegetable in Asia. Most Japanese commercial cultivars of Chinese cabbage use an F1 hybrid seed production system because of the high yielding cultivars produced. An efficient method for predicting hybrid performance in the parental generations is desired, and genetic distance between parental lines might be a good indicator of the level of hybrid vigor in a cross. Information concerning the genetic relationships among parental candidate inbred lines is useful for variety protection. The number of DNA markers available that can be used to assess the purity of inbred lines is limited in B. rapa. The aim of this study is to use DNA markers to assess the genetic distance between inbred lines to examine early developmental and yield heterosis so as to develop methods for selecting the best parental lines for the production of hybrids. We screened highly polymorphic SSR and CAPS markers to assess the genetic uniformity of inbred lines and characterize their genetic relationship. We examined the early size and yield heterosis in 32 F1 hybrids of Chinese cabbage. There was a moderate correlation in mid-parent heterosis between leaf size at 21days after sowing and harvested biomass but not in best-parent heterosis. In contrast there was no correlation between genetic distance and mid-parent or best-parent heterosis, indicating that genetic distance does not predict the heterosis phenotype

Molecular and cellular characteristics of hybrid vigour in a commercial hybrid of Chinese cabbage

Abstract Background Heterosis or hybrid vigour is a phenomenon in which hybrid progeny exhibit superior performance compared to their parental inbred lines. Most commercial Chinese cabbage cultivars are F1 hybrids and their level of hybrid vigour is of critical importance and is a key selection criterion in the breeding system. Results We have characterized the heterotic phenotype of one F1 hybrid cultivar of Chinese cabbage and its parental lines from early- to late-developmental stages of the plants. Hybrid cotyledons are larger than those of the parents at 4 days after sowing and biomass in the hybrid, determined by the fresh weight of leaves, is greater than that of the larger parent line by approximately 20 % at 14 days after sowing. The final yield of the hybrid harvested at 63 days after sowing is 25 % greater than the yield of the better parent. The larger leaves of the hybrid are a consequence of increased cell size and number of the photosynthetic palisade mesophyll cells and other leaf cells. The accumulation of plant hormones in the F1 was within the range of the parental levels at both 2 and 10 days after sowing. Two days after sowing, the expression levels of chloroplast-targeted genes in the cotyledon cells were upregulated in the F1 hybrid relative to their mid parent values. Shutdown of chlorophyll biosynthesis in the cotyledon by norflurazon prevented the increased leaf area in the F1 hybrid. Conclusions In the cotyledons of F1 hybrids, chloroplast-targeted genes were upregulated at 2 days after sowing. The increased activity levels of this group of genes suggested that their differential transcription levels could be important for establishing early heterosis but the increased transcription levels were transient. Inhibition of the photosynthetic process in the cotyledon reduced heterosis in later seedling stages. These observations suggest early developmental events in the germinating seedling of the hybrid may be important for later developmental vigour and yield advantage.This work was supported in part by a grant-in-aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (24113509) (JSPS), by the Sasakawa Scientific Research Grant (24–517) from The Japan Science Society, by Grant for Promotion of Niigata University Research Projects (23C024) and by PREST (12101066) (JST) to R. Fujimoto

Selective Effects of Emi1 Depletion in Cancer

Background: To improve the effectiveness of chemo- and radiotherapy only in cancer tissue is important for avoiding side effects. Results: Emi1 depletion enhanced the sensitivity of anticancer reagents and X-ray irradiation in cancer cells. Conclusion: Emi1 siRNA would be a useful new modality for enhancing the effect of chemo- and radiotherapy in various tumors. Significance: This work provides new insights regarding synergistic effect of Emi1 knockdown in combination therapies

Identification of genes potentially involved in supporting hematopoietic stem cell activity of stromal cell line MC3T3-G2/PA6

Although coculture of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with stromal cells is a useful system to study hematopoiesis in the niche, little is known regarding the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms of maintaining HSCs through cell–cell interactions. The murine preadipose stromal cell line MC3T3-G2/PA6 (PA6) has been demonstrated to support HSCs in vitro. In this study, microarray analysis was performed on PA6 cells and HSC-nonsupporting PA6 subclone cells to identify genes responsible for supporting HSC activity. Comparison of gene expression profiles revealed that only 144 genes were down-regulated by more than twofold in PA6 subclone cells. Of these down-regulated genes, we selected 11 candidate genes and evaluated for the maintenance of HSC function by overexpressing these genes in PA6 subclone cells. One unknown gene, 1110007F12Rik (also named as Tmem140), which is predicted to encode an integral membrane protein, demonstrated a partial restoration of the defect in HSC-supporting activity

Abnormally High Levels of Virus-Infected IFN-γ+CCR4+CD4+CD25+ T Cells in a Retrovirus-Associated Neuroinflammatory Disorder

BACKGROUND:Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a human retrovirus associated with both HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP), which is a chronic neuroinflammatory disease, and adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). The pathogenesis of HAM/TSP is known to be as follows: HTLV-1-infected T cells trigger a hyperimmune response leading to neuroinflammation. However, the HTLV-1-infected T cell subset that plays a major role in the accelerated immune response has not yet been identified. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Here, we demonstrate that CD4(+)CD25(+)CCR4(+) T cells are the predominant viral reservoir, and their levels are increased in HAM/TSP patients. While CCR4 is known to be selectively expressed on T helper type 2 (Th2), Th17, and regulatory T (Treg) cells in healthy individuals, we demonstrate that IFN-gamma production is extraordinarily increased and IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, and Foxp3 expression is decreased in the CD4(+)CD25(+)CCR4(+) T cells of HAM/TSP patients as compared to those in healthy individuals, and the alteration in function is specific to this cell subtype. Notably, the frequency of IFN-gamma-producing CD4(+)CD25(+)CCR4(+)Foxp3(-) T cells is dramatically increased in HAM/TSP patients, and this was found to be correlated with disease activity and severity. CONCLUSIONS:We have defined a unique T cell subset--IFN-gamma(+)CCR4(+)CD4(+)CD25(+) T cells--that is abnormally increased and functionally altered in this retrovirus-associated inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system

イギリスにおける政策の導入と変遷：1988 年から2013 年の25 年間にわたる教師たちへの影響

As policies for national education become increasingly contested, professional development of teachers needs to include critical understanding of the political context within which they work. That was the rationale for my recent book: Politics and the Primary Teacher (Routledge 2012). This seminar is based on research undertaken in the UK on the role of primary teachers, but will also identify distinct developments in secondary schooling. Consideration will be given to curriculum, pedagogy, teacher status and local and central governance and administration of schools in both the primary and secondary sectors, including quality assurance