Reproduction of Lateral Ground Displacements and Lateral-Flow Earth Pressures Acting on Pile Foundations Using Centrifuge Modeling

Dynamic centrifuge model tests were conducted to simulate the seismically-induced displacements of sheet pile quay walls, in order to understand the mechanisms of lateral ground flow of liquefied soil and to evaluate the effects of the lateral-flow earth pressures acting on pile foundations. Two wall-structure-soil model systems were prepared in a laminar container with the inner dimensions of 31.5cm in the height, 47.5cm in the width and 80cm in the length. Shaking table tests were performed under a centrifuge acceleration of 30 g. The first model was designed to simulate the lateral ground flow displacements both during shakings and post liquefaction on sand ground behind a sheet pile quay wall. The second model was designed to measure lateral-flow earth pressures acting on pile foundations against lateral ground flow that probably occurs due to induced lateral movement of the sheet pile wall. It was found that the tests could virtually reproduce the actual lateral-flow of ground caused both during shakings and post liquefaction; the influence of shaking acceleration was very large for the residual displacement of pile foundations; the lateral-flow earth pressures acting on foundations were considerably smaller than the value calculated in the Specifications for Highway Bridges

Activation of Natural Killer Cells and Dendritic Cells upon Recognition of a Novel CD99-like Ligand by Paired Immunoglobulin-like Type 2 Receptor

Paired receptors that consist of highly related activating and inhibitory receptors are widely involved in the regulation of the immune system. Here, we report a mouse orthologue of the human activating paired immunoglobulin-like type 2 receptor (PILR) β, which was cloned from a cDNA library of natural killer (NK) cells based on its ability to associate with the DAP12 signaling adaptor protein. The activating PILRβ was expressed not only on NK cells but also on dendritic cells and macrophages. Furthermore, we have identified a novel CD99-like molecule as a ligand for the activating PILRβ and inhibitory PILRα receptors. Transcripts of PILR ligand are present in many tissues, including some T cell lines. Cells expressing the PILR ligand specifically activated NK cells and dendritic cells that express the activating PILRβ. Our findings reveal a new regulatory mechanism of innate immunity by PILR and its CD99-like ligand

GPR52 accelerates fatty acid biosynthesis in a ligand-dependent manner in hepatocytes and in response to excessive fat intake in mice

Gpr52 is an orphan G-protein-coupled receptor of unknown physiological function. We found that Gpr52-deficient (Gpr52−/−) mice exhibit leanness associated with reduced liver weight, decreased hepatic de novo lipogenesis, and enhanced insulin sensitivity. Treatment of the hepatoma cell line HepG2 cells with c11, the synthetic GPR52 agonist, increased fatty acid biosynthesis, and GPR52 knockdown (KD) abolished the lipogenic action of c11. In addition, c11 induced the expressions of lipogenic enzymes (SCD1 and ELOVL6), whereas these inductions were attenuated by GPR52-KD. In contrast, cholesterol biosynthesis was not increased by c11, but its basal level was significantly suppressed by GPR52-KD. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced increase in hepatic expression of Pparg2 and its targets (Scd1 and Elovl6) was absent in Gpr52−/− mice with alleviated hepatosteatosis. Our present study showed that hepatic GPR52 promotes the biosynthesis of fatty acid and cholesterol in a ligand-dependent and a constitutive manner, respectively, and Gpr52 participates in HFD-induced fatty acid synthesis in liver

スイタイブ ヒシンジュンセイ スイカンナイ ニュウトウセンガン ニ タイシ ヒ オンゾン スイタイ ビブ セツジョジュツ オ シコウ シタ 1レイ

We report a case of non-invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma that was performed spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because he was pointed out a cystic tumor of the pancreatic body by near doctor. Abdominal ultrasonography and endoscopic ultrasonography showed a cystic tumor with papillary elevated lesion. But there were no evidence of infiltration to another organs. Based on these various examinations a diagnosis non-invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma was determined. Then we determined to perform a minimal invasive operation, and underwent spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy. After the operation there were no major complications and he discharged on 45th post operative days. To determine the surgical procedure of non-invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma, because of the high incidence of postoperative infections after splenectomy, we should try to preserve the organ function. It was considered that this procedure was a useful method for non-invasive intraductal papillary-mucinous carcinoma of the pancreas body

Changes in 12-Year First-Line Eradication Rate of Helicobacter pylori Based on Triple Therapy with Proton Pump Inhibitor, Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin

A triple therapy based on a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin (AMPC), and clarithromycin (CAM) is recommended as a first-line therapy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and is widely used in Japan. However, a decline in eradication rate associated with an increase in prevalence of CAM resistance is viewed as a problem. We investigated CAM resistance and eradication rates over time retrospectively in 750 patients who had undergone the triple therapy as first-line eradication therapy at Nagoya City University Hospital from 1995 to 2008, divided into four terms (Term 1: 1997–2000, Term 2: 2001–2003, Term 3: 2004–2006, Term 4: 2007–2008). Primary resistance to CAM rose significantly over time from 8.7% to 23.5%, 26.7% and 34.5% while the eradication rate decreased significantly from 90.6% to 80.2%, 76.0% and 74.8%. Based on the PPI type, significant declines in eradication rates were observed with omeprazole or lansoprazole, but not with rabeprazole. A decrease in the H. pylori eradication rate after triple therapy using a PPI + AMPC + CAM has been acknowledged, and an increase in CAM resistance is considered to be a factor. From now on, a first-line eradication regimen that results in a higher eradication rate ought to be investigated

A Novel Strategy in Production of Oligosaccharides in Digestive Tract: Prevention of Postprandial Hyperglycemia and Hyperinsulinemia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral administration of transglucosidase (TG) on postprandial glucose concentrations in healthy subjects. A randomized placebo-controlled three-way crossover trial was separated by a washout period of more than 3 days. Twenty-one normal healthy volunteers, aged 30–61 years old (17 males and 4 females) were selected for this study. The subjects’ health was assessed as normal by prestudy screening. All subjects received 3 types of test meals (3 rice balls: protein, 14.4 g; fat, 2.1 g; and carbohydrate, 111 g: total energy, 522 kcal) with 200 ml water in which 0 mg, 150 mg, or 300 mg of TG was dissolved. Blood samples for estimating plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were collected before and every 30 min after the experiment. As compared to no TG treatment, TG administration tended to prevent a postprandial increase in plasma glucose (p = 0.069: 150 mg of TG vs control) but there were no significant difference among three groups. With regard to the 17 subjects who were suggested to have impaired glucose tolerance, TG significantly decreased the postprandial blood glucose (p<0.05: 150 mg and 300 mg of TG vs control) and marginally decreased insulin concentrations (p = 0.099: 300 mg of TG vs control). These results suggest that TG may be useful for preventing the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus

SDSSp J104433.04−-012502.2 at z=5.74z=5.74 is Gravitationally Magnified by an Intervening Galaxy

During the course of our optical deep survey program on L$\alpha$ emitters at $z \approx 5.7$ in the sky area surrounding the quasar SDSSp J104433.04$-$012502.2 at $z=5.74$, we found that a faint galaxy with $m_B$(AB) $\approx 25$ is located at \timeform{1".9} southwest of the quasar. Its broad-band color properties from $B$ to $z^\prime$ suggest that the galaxy is located at a redshift of $z \sim 1.5$ -- 2.5. This is consistent with no strong emission line in our optical spectroscopy. Since the counter image of the quasar cannot be seen in our deep optical images, the magnification factor seems not to be very high. Our modest estimate is that this quasar is gravitationally magnified by a factor of 2.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, PASJ, in pres

Superwind-Driven Intense H_2 Emission in NGC 6240

We have performed a long-slit K band spectroscopic observation of the luminous infrared galaxy NGC 6240. The peak position of the H_2 v=1-0 S(1) emission in the slit is located ~0.3" - 0.4" north of the southern nucleus. It is almost the midpoint between the southern nucleus and the peak position of the ^12CO J=1-0 emission. Based on the line-ratio analyses, we suggest the excitation mechanism of H_2 is pure thermal at most positions. In the southern region we find the following three velocity components in the H_2 emission: the blueshifted shell component (~-250 km s^-1 with respect to V_sys) which is recognized as a distinct C-shape distortion in the velocity field around the southern nucleus, the high-velocity blueshifted ``wing'' component (~-1000 km s^-1 with respect to V_sys), and the component indicating possible line splitting of ~500 km s^-1. The latter two components are extended to the south from the southern nucleus. We show that the kinematic properties of these three components can be reproduced by expanding motion of a shell-like structure around the southern nucleus. The offset peak position of the H_2 emission can be understood if we assume that the shell expanding to the north interacts with the extragalactic molecular gas. At the interface between the shell and the molecular gas concentration the cloud-crushing mechanism proposed by Cowie et al. (1981) may work efficiently, and the intense H_2 emission is thus expected there. All these findings lead us to propose a model that the most H_2 emission is attributed to the shock excitation driven by the superwind activity of the southern nucleus.Comment: 33 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in PAS