The nuclear receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α acts as a morphogen to induce the formation of microvilli

Microvilli are actin-based organelles found on apical plasma membranes that are involved in nutrient uptake and signal transduction. Numerous components, including ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) proteins, have been identified that link filamentous actins to transmembrane proteins, but the signals driving microvillus biogenesis are not known. In this study, we show that the conditional and/or ectopic expression of a nuclear receptor, hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α), triggers microvillus morphogenesis. We also demonstrate that HNF4α expression induces ERM-binding phosphoprotein 50 (EBP50) expression and that attenuation of EBP50 using RNA interference inhibits microvillus development. We conclude that HNF4α acts as a morphogen to trigger microvillus formation

Chemical effect on muonic atom formation through muon transfer reaction in benzene and cyclohexane samples

To investigate the chemical effect on the muon capture process through a muon transfer reaction from a muonic hydrogen atom, the formation rate of muonic carbon atoms is measured for benzene and cyclohexane molecules in liquid samples. The muon transfer rate to carbon atoms of the benzene molecule is higher than that to the carbon atoms of the cyclohexane molecule. Such a deviation has never been observed among those molecules for gas samples. This may be because the transfers occur from the excited states of muonic hydrogen atoms in the liquid system, whereas in the gas system, all the transfers occur from the 1s (ground) state of muon hydrogen atoms. The muonic hydrogen atoms in the excited states have a larger radius than those in the 1s state and are therefore considered to be affected by the steric hindrance of the molecular structure. This indicates that the excited states of muonic hydrogen atoms contribute significantly to the chemical effects on the muon transfer reaction

Intermittent parathyroid hormone 1-34 induces oxidation and deterioration of mineral and collagen quality in newly formed mandibular bone

Intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) administration is known to promote bone healing after surgical procedures. However, the mechanism and influence of PTH on the mineral and collagen quality of the jaw are not well understood. Most studies have focused on analyzing the bone density and microstructure of the mandible, and have insufficiently investigated its mineral and collagen quality. Oxidative stress activates osteoclasts, produces advanced glycation end products, and worsens mineral and collagen quality. We hypothesized that PTH induces oxidation and affects the mineral and collagen quality of newly formed mandibular bone. To test this, we examined the mineral and collagen quality of newly formed mandibular bone in rats administered PTH, and analyzed serum after intermittent PTH administration to examine the degree of oxidation. PTH administration reduced mineralization and worsened mineral and collagen quality in newly formed bone. In addition, total anti-oxidant capacity in serum was significantly decreased and the oxidative-INDEX was increased among PTH-treated compared to vehicle-treated rats, indicating serum oxidation. In conclusion, intermittent administration of PTH reduced mineral and collagen quality in newly formed mandibular bone. This effect may have been induced by oxidation

Strukturierung des Unterrichts anhand der Lehrer:innenfragen. Perspektiven der Jugyo Kenkyu

Analog zum Leipziger Ansatz der qualitativen Unterrichtsforschung stellt das Team der Hiroshima Universität sein spezifisches Vorgehen der Lesson Study vor. Auf der Basis der normativen Lesson Study mit Fokus auf die Gruppenbildung im Klassenzimmer zeigt die Analyse ihre Praxisnähe und moniert ein gewisses Defizit der Untersuchungsmaterialien, die aus dem Kontext der qualitativen Unterrichtsforschung bereitgestellt wurden. Die forschungsmethodologische Differenz zeigt sich darin, dass der Fokus auf die Lehrer:innenfrage im qualitativen Zugang Prozesse der Offenheit und Lenkung und in der Jugyo Kenkyu Strukturen der Gruppenbildung in den Blick rückt. (DIPF/Orig.

Development of a non-destructive depth-selective quantification method for sub-percent carbon contents in steel using negative muon lifetime analysis

鋼鉄の品質管理・日本刀など文化財の非破壊分析も 鋼鉄中のわずかな炭素を素粒子で透視する --ミュオンによる新しい非破壊微量軽元素分析法の開発--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2024-02-09.The amount of C in steel, which is critical in determining its properties, is strongly influenced by steel production technology. We propose a novel method of quantifying the bulk C content in steel non-destructively using muons. This revolutionary method may be used not only in the quality control of steel in production, but also in analyzing precious steel archaeological artifacts. A negatively charged muon forms an atomic system owing to its negative charge, and is finally absorbed into the nucleus or decays to an electron. The lifetimes of muons differ significantly, depending on whether they are trapped by Fe or C atoms, and identifying the elemental content at the muon stoppage position is possible via muon lifetime measurements. The relationship between the muon capture probabilities of C/Fe and the elemental content of C exhibits a good linearity, and the C content in the steel may be quantitatively determined via muon lifetime measurements. Furthermore, by controlling the incident energies of the muons, they may be stopped in each layer of a stacked sample consisting of three types of steel plates with thicknesses of 0.5 mm, and we successfully determined the C contents in the range 0.20–1.03 wt% depth-selectively, without sample destruction

Development of a non-destructive depth-selective quantification method for sub-percent carbon contents in steel using negative muon lifetime analysis

Ninomiya K., Kubo M.K., Inagaki M., et al. Development of a non-destructive depth-selective quantification method for sub-percent carbon contents in steel using negative muon lifetime analysis. Scientific Reports 14, 1797 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-52255-5.The amount of C in steel, which is critical in determining its properties, is strongly influenced by steel production technology. We propose a novel method of quantifying the bulk C content in steel non-destructively using muons. This revolutionary method may be used not only in the quality control of steel in production, but also in analyzing precious steel archaeological artifacts. A negatively charged muon forms an atomic system owing to its negative charge, and is finally absorbed into the nucleus or decays to an electron. The lifetimes of muons differ significantly, depending on whether they are trapped by Fe or C atoms, and identifying the elemental content at the muon stoppage position is possible via muon lifetime measurements. The relationship between the muon capture probabilities of C/Fe and the elemental content of C exhibits a good linearity, and the C content in the steel may be quantitatively determined via muon lifetime measurements. Furthermore, by controlling the incident energies of the muons, they may be stopped in each layer of a stacked sample consisting of three types of steel plates with thicknesses of 0.5 mm, and we successfully determined the C contents in the range 0.20–1.03 wt% depth-selectively, without sample destruction

Positive Therapeutic Response to Bevacizumab Plus Paclitaxel in a Patient with Advanced, Life-Threatening Breast Cancer and Carcinomatous Lymphangitis:a Subsequent Treatment Change to Hormone Therapy

We present a case of advanced, life-threatening breast cancer with carcinomatous lymphangitis treatedwith bevacizumab plus paclitaxel. A positive therapeutic response was achieved and the treatment was subsequentlychanged to hormone therapy.The patient was a 53-year-old postmenopausal woman with a non-contributory medical history. She presentedto a nearby hospital with chief complaints of continued exertional dyspnea and coughing since March2012. Physical findings included a palpable mass in the left breast, and the patient was referred and presentedto our hospital in May. Examinations at our hospital revealed left-sided breast cancer (estrogen receptorpositive, progesterone receptor positive, and no amplification of the human epidermal growth factorreceptor 2 by FISH). The patient had bone metastasis and carcinomatous lymphangitis (cT2N3cM1-stageIV). The condition was life threatening, and administration of bevacizumab plus weekly paclitaxel was initiatedwith the expectation of a high response rate. Coughing and dyspnea resolved two weeks later. CTscans were taken in August after the completion of 3 cycles and showed improvement in carcinomatouslymphangitis. No major side effects were observed due to bevacizumab plus weekly paclitaxel. When theCT scans were taken in December after the completion of 6 cycles, the primary lesion and lymph node metastaseswere reduced in size. In the lung field, there was no thickening of the interlobular septa or subpleuralinterstitium, and the findings of carcinomatous lymphangitis were improved. Thus, bevacizumab plus paclitaxelwere discontinued and the treatment was changed to oral letrozole (2.5 mg/day). The patient hasbeen followed up with no recurrence as of March 2013

A Case of Inflammatory Pseudotumor of the Breast after Augmentation Mammoplasty

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a benign reactive lesion which forms due to diverse tissue responses of inflammatory cells and mesenchymal cells. It can occur in various organs of the body but rarely in the breast. We report a case of inflammatory pseudotumor of the breast after augmentation mammoplasty. The patient was a 78-year-old woman who noticed a mass in her right breast in July 2012. She had a history of augmentation mammoplasty at age 24 years. She was referred to our hospital for thorough examination. A 3-cm immovable induration was palpated in the upper lesion of the right breast. Ultrasound examination revealed a hypoechoic mass at the same site. The mass was 2.9×1.7 cm with irregular, ill-defined borders. Mammography revealed some areas of elevated density with coarse, lucent-centered calcifications in bilateral breasts but no clear findings of malignancy. Core needle biopsy of this site revealed marked fibrous hyperplasia and proliferation of fibroblast-like spindle cells. Infiltration of neutrophils and plasma cells was observed in the stroma. There were spindle cells with no atypia and scarce mitotic figures. Thus, the patient was diagnosed with inflammatory pseudotumor. The patient received only follow-up observation without surgical resection as per the patient\u27s wishes. There has not been any change as of May 2013