Shape Memory Wires in R3

We propose a new model describing the dynamics of wire made of shape memory alloys, by combining an elastic curve theory and the Ginzburg-Landau theory. The wire is assumed to be a closed curve and is not to be stretched with deformation. The derived system of nonlinear partial differential equations consists of a thermoelastic system and a geometric evolution equation under the inextensible condition. We also show that the system has dual variation structure as well as a straight material case. The structure implies stability of infinitesimally stable stationary state in the Lyapunov sense

Extracellular NM23 Protein as a Therapeutic Target for Hematologic Malignancies

An elevated serum level of NM23-H1 protein is a poor prognostic factor in patients with various hematologic malignancies. The extracellular NM23-H1 protein promotes the in vitro growth and survival of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cells and inversely inhibits the in vitro survival of normal peripheral blood monocytes in primary culture at concentrations equivalent to the levels found in the serum of AML patients. The growth and survival promoting activity to AML cells is associated with cytokine production and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) signaling pathways. Inhibitors specific for MAPK signaling pathways inhibit the growth/survival-promoting activity of NM23-H1. These findings indicate a novel biological action of extracellular NM23-H1 and its association with poor prognosis. These results suggest an important role of extracellular NM23-H1 in the malignant progression of leukemia and a potential therapeutic target for these malignancies

NAD Metabolism in Cancer Therapeutics

Cancer cells have a unique energy metabolism for sustaining rapid proliferation. The preference for anaerobic glycolysis under normal oxygen conditions is a unique trait of cancer metabolism and is designated as the Warburg effect. Enhanced glycolysis also supports the generation of nucleotides, amino acids, lipids, and folic acid as the building blocks for cancer cell division. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a co-enzyme that mediates redox reactions in a number of metabolic pathways, including glycolysis. Increased NAD levels enhance glycolysis and fuel cancer cells. In fact, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), a rate-limiting enzyme for NAD synthesis in mammalian cells, is frequently amplified in several cancer cells. In addition, Nampt-specific inhibitors significantly deplete NAD levels and subsequently suppress cancer cell proliferation through inhibition of energy production pathways, such as glycolysis, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. NAD also serves as a substrate for poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), sirtuin, and NAD gylycohydrolase (CD38 and CD157); thus, NAD regulates DNA repair, gene expression, and stress response through these enzymes. Thus, NAD metabolism is implicated in cancer pathogenesis beyond energy metabolism and considered a promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment. In this review, we present recent findings with respect to NAD metabolism and cancer pathogenesis. We also discuss the current and future perspectives regarding the therapeutics that target NAD metabolic pathways

Synthesis of active metabolite(s) from 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 by human monocytic leukemia cells

AbstractSynthesis of the biologically active metabolite(s) from 1α-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1α(OH)D3) was examined in various types of human leukemia cell lines. Untreated monocytoid leukemia cells (U937 and HE/S) metabolized 1α(OH)D3 to the active metabolite(s), possibly 1α,24- and/or 1α, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, and these cells were efficiently induced to differentiate by treatment with 1α(OH)D3. However, the other types of leukemia cells did not efficiently metabolize it and were not induced to differentiate by 1α(OH)D3. The possible therapeutic advantage of 1α(OH)D3 in the treatment of monocytic leukemia is discussed

Interleukin-4 inhibits the differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia M1 cells induced by dexamethasone, D-factor/leukemia inhibitory factor and interleukin-6, but not by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

AbstractThe effects of interleukin-4(IL-4) on the growth and differentiation of mouse myeloid leukemia M1 cells induced by various differentiation inducers were investigated. IL-4 alone did not have any significant effect on the growth or differentiation of M1 cells, but inhibited their differentiation induced by dexamethasone, D-factor/leukemia inhibitory factor, or interleukin 6. IL-4 also restored the proliferation or M1 cells after growth inhibition during their induction of differentiation by inducers. In contrast, IL-4 enhanced inhibition of growth and induction of differentiation of M1 cells by 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. These results indicate that modulation or differentiation of M1 cells by IL-4 depends on the differentiation inducer

Decomposition Process of Woody Debris and Fungal Community Structure

We examined the relationship between the community structure of wood-decaying fungi, detected by high-throughput sequencing, and the decomposition rate using 13 years of data from a forest dynamics plot. For molecular analysis and wood density measurements, drill dust samples were collected from logs and stumps of Fagus and Quercus in the plot. Regression using a negative exponential model between wood density and time since death revealed that the decomposition rate of Fagus was greater than that of Quercus. The residual between the expected value obtained from the regression curve and the observed wood density was used as a decomposition rate index. Principal component analysis showed that the fungal community compositions of both Fagus and Quercus changed with time since death. Principal component analysis axis scores were used as an index of fungal community composition. A structural equation model for each wood genus was used to assess the effect of fungal community structure traits on the decomposition rate and how the fungal community structure was determined by the traits of coarse woody debris. Results of the structural equation model suggested that the decomposition rate of Fagus was affected by two fungal community composition components: one that was affected by time since death and another that was not affected by the traits of coarse woody debris. In contrast, the decomposition rate of Quercus was not affected by coarse woody debris traits or fungal community structure. These findings suggest that, in the case of Fagus coarse woody debris, the fungal community structure is related to the decomposition process of its host substrate. Because fungal community structure is affected partly by the decay stage and wood density of its substrate, these factors influence each other. Further research on interactive effects is needed to improve our understanding of the relationship between fungal community structure and the woody debris decomposition process

食品の官能検査に関する研究

Conceerning the recent trend of marked advances in the sensory tests of foods in various fields, the auther has taken up this subject as a topic of summer seminar to give a review and some tests. The results of these tests are given, where the participants are all female aged 18-49 whose profession is largely teacher and the large part of the remainder college student. 1. Classification of taste perception has been performed on all the 40 participants according the method of Fox by the use of PTC-Na benzoate. In this test, six types have been detected, namely, bitter-sweet, bitter-tasteless, bitter-bitter, bitter-sour, tasteless-sweet, and tasteless-bitter, and the numbers are, respectively, 18,10,, 3,3, and 1, It has been noted in the present tests that the bitter-sweet type is the largest and that the tastsblind occupies 10%. There have been observed no marked correspondence between the preperence in regard to sweetness and bitterness and the taste perception type, or between the seneibility and the taste perception typer. 2. Two kinds of multi-component seasoning (Sogo-chomiryo) and fish-meat ham have been used to test the prefence of the participants, and the results are classified into the taste perception type in an attemp to find specific correlation, but there are found none in particura. Consideration has bene given, in the next place, in each of the taste-blind group and the one which is not. There are slight difference in the typings between the two groups but there are no common trend on the food samples. No significant difference has been observed between the two groups in the average values in the test for deliciousness. 3. It has been reported that the order and experience of food-taking influence on the judgement of taste, but the present tests on the multi-component seasonings has shown that they make no great factors in determining taste

Temporal and Spatial Cellular Distribution of Neural Crest Derivatives and Alpha Cells during Islet Development

Recent studies have revealed that signals from neural crest (NC) derivatives regulate the mass, proliferation, and maturation of beta cells in developing fetal pancreas. However, little is known about the cellular distribution of NC derivatives during pancreatic development or the process whereby the developing islets are enclosed. We studied the temporal and spatial distribution of NC derivatives and endocrine cells at each developmental stage. At embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) of mouse embryo, NC derivatives that migrated to the prospective pancreatic region were distributed in close proximity to pancreatic epithelial cells. As development advanced, most NC derivatives progressively surrounded endocrine rather than exocrine cells, and were distributed in closer proximity to alpha cells rather than to beta cells. At E20, approximately 70% of the NC derivatives enclosing endocrine cells were distributed in close proximity to alpha cells. Moreover, the expression of SynCAM, a Ca2+-independent homophilic trans-cell adhesion molecule, was confirmed from E16.5 on and was more remarkable at the cell boundaries of alpha cells and NC derivatives. These findings suggest that NC derivatives might be distributed in close proximity to alpha cells as a result of homophilic binding of SynCAM expressed by alpha cells and NC derivatives during islet development