Nesterov's acceleration for level set-based topology optimization using reaction-diffusion equations

This paper discusses level set-based structural optimization. Level set-based structural optimization is a method used to determine an optimal configuration for minimizing an objective functional by updating level set functions characterized as solutions to partial differential equations (PDEs) (e.g., Hamilton-Jacobi and reaction-diffusion equations). In this study, based on Nesterov's accelerated method, a nonlinear (damped) wave equation will be derived as a PDE satisfied by level set functions and applied to a minimum mean compliance problem. Numerically, the method developed in this study will yield convergence to an optimal configuration faster than methods using only a reaction-diffusion equation, and moreover, its FreeFEM++ code will also be described

Effect of enhanced expression of connexin 43 on sunitinib-induced cytotoxicity in mesothelioma cells

AbstractConnexin (Cx) makes up a type of intercellular channel called gap junction (GJ). GJ plays a regulatory role in cellular physiology. The Cx expression level is often decreased in cancer cells compared to that in healthy ones, and the restoration of its expression has been shown to exert antiproliferative effects. This work aims to evaluate the effect of the restoration of connexin 43 (Cx43) (the most ubiquitous Cx subtype) expression on sunitinib (SU)-induced cytotoxicity in malignant mesothelioma (MM) cells. Increased Cx43 expression in an MM cell line (H28) improved the ability of SU to inhibit receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling. Moreover, higher Cx43 expression promoted SU-induced apoptosis. The cell viability test revealed that Cx43 enhanced the cytotoxic effect of SU in a GJ-independent manner. The effect of Cx43 on a proapoptotic factor, Bax, was then investigated. The interaction between Cx43 and Bax was confirmed by immunoprecipitation. Furthermore, higher Cx43 expression increased the production of a cleaved (active) form of Bax during SU-induced apoptosis with no alteration in total Bax expression. These findings indicate that Cx43 most likely increases sensitivity to SU in H28 through direct interaction with Bax. In conclusion, we found that Cx43 overcame the chemoresistance of MM cells

Relation of leg phase angle from bioelectrical impedance analysis with voluntary and evoked contractile properties of the plantar flexors

Introduction: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) can noninvasively and quickly assess electrical properties of the body, such as the phase angle. Phase angle is regarded as the quantity and/or quality of skeletal muscle and is associated with exercise performance, such as jump height and walking speed. Although the phase angle derived from BIA is assumed to be a useful way to assess muscle function, the relationship between the phase angle and neuromuscular properties has not been fully investigated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of phase angle with voluntary and evoked contractile properties in 60 adults (age, 21–83 years; 30 females and 30 males).Methods: The phase angle of the right leg at 50 kHz was evaluated using BIA. The twitch contractile properties (peak twitch torque [PTtwitch], rate of twitch torque development [RTDtwitch], and time-to-PTtwitch [TPTtwitch]) of the plantar flexors were measured using tibial nerve electrical stimulation. Maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) were performed to measure the maximal muscle strength and explosive muscle strength, from which the peak MVIC torque (PTMVIC) and rate of torque development (RTD) over a time interval of 0–200 ms were assessed, respectively. The root mean square (RMS) values of electromyographic (EMG) activity during the PTMVIC and RTD measurements (EMG-RMSMVIC and EMG-RMSRTD, respectively) were calculated. The RTD and EMG-RMSRTD were normalized using PTMVIC and EMG-RMSMVIC, respectively.Results and discussion: Phase angle significantly correlated with twitch contractile properties (|r| ≥ 0.444, p < 0.001), PTMVIC (r = 0.532, p < 0.001), and RTD (r = 0.514, p < 0.001), but not with normalized RTD (r = 0.242, p = 0.065) or normalized EMG-RMSRTD (r = −0.055, p = 0.676). When comparing measurement variables between the low- and high-phase angle groups while controlling for sex and age effects, the high-phase angle group showed greater PTtwitch, RTDtwitch, PTMVIC, and RTD (p < 0.001) and shorter TPTtwitch (p < 0.001) but not normalized RTD (p = 0.184) or normalized EMG-RMSRTD (p = 0.317). These results suggest that the leg phase angle can be an indicator of voluntary and evoked muscle contractile properties but not the neuromuscular activity of the plantar flexors, irrespective of sex and age

カシコウ オウトウガタ ヒカリショクバイ ノ ゴウセイ ト カンキョウ ジョウカ プロセス ノ カイハツ

In this study, to improve the photocatalytic reactivity of TiO2 and to extend its light absorption into the visible light region, nitrogen (N) and fluorine (F) doped TiO2 and some Perovskite-type LaTiO2+xN1-x were synthesized. The photocatalytic activity of N,F-doped TiO2 under not only visible irradiation but also UV irradiation exceeded that of commercial anatase type TiO2 (ST-01 by Ishihara Sangyo, Ltd.). This high photocatalytic activity under LED irradiation is indispensable to development of photocatalytic environmental purification process. Some Perovskite-type LaTiO2+xN1-x with anion nonstoichiometry were prepared by heating an oxide precursor under ammonia atmosphere and successively annealed under diluted ammonia. Increasing O/N ratio enhances the optical bandgap of the oxynitrides. A series of perovskite-type LaTiO2N materials with compositions a slightly deviated from the stoichiometric metal composition was also prepared. Increasing Ti/La ratio results in deterioration of reflectivity

The Effects of Maxillomandibular Advancement and Genioglossus Advancement on Sleep Quality

Maxillomandibular advancement (MMA) using a standardized surgical procedure consisting of a LeFort I osteotomy and bilateral sagittal split ramus osteotomy and genioglossus advancement (GA) using a genioplasty improve airway volume, oxygen desaturation, and the AHI in patients with OSA. However, there are few reports on changes in sleep quality following MMA and GA. We assessed the effects of MMA and GA on sleep quality by comparing oxygen desaturation, AHI, and sleep architecture before and after surgery. Methods: Eight patients underwent polysomnography (PSG) and CT scan before and after surgery. Conclusions: Our study finds that %TST and %REM were both increased, while %S1 and NA both decreased. Based on these results, it appears that both the quality and quantity of sleep were improved. MMA and GA improve sleep respiratory disturbance and can also improve sleep quality

Fyn Phosphorylates Transglutaminase 2 (Tgm2) and modulates autophagy and p53 expression in the development of diabetic kidney disease

Autophagy is involved in the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. The Fyn tyrosine kinase (Fyn) suppresses autophagy in the muscle. However, its role in kidney autophagic processes is unclear. Here, we examined the role of Fyn kinase in autophagy in proximal renal tubules both in vivo and in vitro. Phospho-proteomic analysis revealed that transglutaminase 2 (Tgm2), a protein involved in the degradation of p53 in the autophagosome, is phosphorylated on tyrosine 369 (Y369) by Fyn. Interestingly, we found that Fyn-dependent phosphorylation of Tgm2 regulates autophagy in proximal renal tubules in vitro, and that p53 expression is decreased upon autophagy in Tgm2-knockdown proximal renal tubule cell models. Using streptozocin (STZ)-induced hyperglycemic mice, we confirmed that Fyn regulated autophagy and mediated p53 expression via Tgm2. Taken together, these data provide a molecular basis for the role of the Fyn–Tgm2–p53 axis in the development of DKD

Dysbindin Regulates the Transcriptional Level of Myristoylated Alanine-Rich Protein Kinase C Substrate via the Interaction with NF-YB in Mice Brain

BACKGROUND: An accumulating body of evidence suggests that Dtnbp1 (Dysbindin) is a key susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Using the yeast-two-hybrid screening system, we examined the candidate proteins interacting with Dysbindin and revealed one of these candidates to be the transcription factor NF-YB. METHODS: We employed an immunoprecipitation (IP) assay to demonstrate the Dysbindin-NF-YB interaction. DNA chips were used to screen for altered expression of genes in cells in which Dysbindin or NF-YB was down regulated, while Chromatin IP and Reporter assays were used to confirm the involvement of these genes in transcription of Myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS). The sdy mutant mice with a deletion in Dysbindin, which exhibit behavioral abnormalities, and wild-type DBA2J mice were used to investigate MARCKS expression. RESULTS: We revealed an interaction between Dysbindin and NF-YB. DNA chips showed that MARCKS expression was increased in both Dysbindin knockdown cells and NF-YB knockdown cells, and Chromatin IP revealed interaction of these proteins at the MARCKS promoter region. Reporter assay results suggested functional involvement of the interaction between Dysbindin and NF-YB in MARCKS transcription levels, via the CCAAT motif which is a NF-YB binding sequence. MARCKS expression was increased in sdy mutant mice when compared to wild-type mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that abnormal expression of MARCKS via dysfunction of Dysbindin might cause impairment of neural transmission and abnormal synaptogenesis. Our results should provide new insights into the mechanisms of neuronal development and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia

リュウシケイ オヨビ ソセイ オ セイギョ スル コト ニヨル ユビキタス ブッシツ ノ コウキノウカ : LaTiO2N ケイ サンチッカブツ ノ コウガク トクセイ ノ セイギョ

Some Perovskite-type LaTiO2+xN1-x with anion nonstoichiometry were prepared by heating an oxide precursor under ammonia atmosphere and successively annealed under diluted ammonia. Increasing O/N ratio enhances the optical bandgap of the oxynitrides. A series of perovskite-type LaTiO2N materials with compositions a slightly deviated from the stoichiometric metal composition was also prepared. Increasing Ti/La ratio in La1-xTi1+xTiO2N results in deterioration of reflectivity in the longer wavelength region above the absorption edge. A substitution of La by Sr was effective in the enhancement of reflectivity there. Though the increase of O/N ratio in the LaTiO2+xN1-x series was found to cause oxidation of titanium by means of XPS spectroscopy, the valence state of titanium did not change in either the La1-xTi1+xO2N or the La1-xSrxTiO2N series. The increase in Ti/La ratio in the La1-xTi1+xO2N brought the grain/particle growth, which seemed to result in the deterioration of reflectivity

Rapid Formation of Cerebral Microbleeds after Carotid Artery Stenting

Background: Recent studies reported that cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), i.e. small areas of signal loss on T2*-weighted gradient-echo (GE) imaging, could develop rapidly after acute ischemic stroke. We hypothesized that CMBs rapidly emerge after carotid artery stenting (CAS). Objective: We investigated the frequency of and predisposing factors for CMBs after CAS. Methods: We retrospectively examined MRI before and after CAS in 88 consecutive patients (average age: 71.7 ± 7.2 years, average rates of carotid stenosis: 72.6 ± 12.8%) who underwent CAS for carotid artery stenosis between March 1, 2009, and September 30, 2010. We defined new CMBs as signal losses that newly appeared on the follow-up GE. We examined the association of new CMBs with demographics, risk factors, and baseline MBs. Results: Among 88 patients, 18 (20.5%) had CMBs initially, and 7 (8.0%) developed new CMBs right after CAS. New CMBs appeared on the same side of CAS in all of the 7 patients. New CMBs appeared significantly more frequently in the CMB-positive group than in the CMB-negative one (22% vs. 4%, p = 0.03) on the pre-CAS MRI. Multivariate analysis also revealed that the presence of CMBs before CAS was an independent predictor of new development of CMBs after CAS (odds ratio: 8.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.39–47.1). Conclusion: CMBs can develop rapidly after CAS, especially in patients with pre-existing CMBs. Since the existence of CMBs prior to CAS suggests a latent vascular damage which is vulnerable to hemodynamic stress following CAS, particular attention should be paid to the prevention of intracerebral hemorrhage due to hyperperfusion after CAS