Role of TRPV3 in immune response to development of dermatitis

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Variation of Inner Radius of Dust Torus in NGC4151

The long-term optical and near infrared monitoring observations for a type 1 act ive galactic nucleus NGC 4151 were carried out for six years from 2001 to 2006 b y using the MAGNUM telescope, and delayed response of flux variations in the $K(2.2\mu m)$ band to those in the $V(0.55\mu m)$ band was clearly detected. Based on cross correlation analysis, we precisely measured a lag time $\Delta t$ for eight separate periods, and we found that $\Delta t$ is not constant changing be tween 30 and 70 days during the monitoring period. Since $\Delta t$ is the ligh t travel time from the central energy source out to the surrounding dust torus, this is the first convincing evidence that the inner radius of dust torus did ch ange in an individual AGN. In order to relate such a change of $\Delta t$ with a change of AGN luminosity $L$, we presented a method of taking an average of th e observed $V$-band fluxes that corresponds to the measured value of $\Delta t$, and we found that the time-changing track of NGC 4151 in the $\Delta t$ versus $L$ diagram during the monitoring period deviates from the relation of $\Delta t \propto L^{0.5}$ expected from dust reverberation. This result, combined with t he elapsed time from period to period for which $\Delta t$ was measured, indicat es that the timescale of dust formation is about one year, which should be taken into account as a new constraint in future studies of dust evolution in AGNs.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, To appear in the ApJ Lette

Structure analysis of Zn-Mg-Ho icosahedral quasicrystal by modified Rietveld method using ellipsoid and sphere windows

A structure analysis of Zn-Mg-Ho icosahedral quasicrystal was carried out by the powder X-ray diffraction method using synchrotron radiation (Lambda=0.73490 A) at SPring-8. The intensity distribution was analyzed by the Rietveld method modified for an icosahedral quasicrystal, in which simplified models were assumed: ellipsoid and spherical windows were assumed at five crystallographic sites in a F-type hypercubic unit cell. The analysis revealed the presence of an almost perfect Penrose tiling with edge length 5.20 A. The vertices are occupied alternatively by Zn and Mg, and almost all of the edge centers of the Penrose rhombohedra are occupied by 0.8Zn and 0.2Mg. Ho and Mg atoms tend to be present on the body diagonal of the prolate rhombohedra. Good agreement between the measured and calculated intensity distribution using the simplified model suggests the applicability and the limitation of structure analysis using the powder X-ray diffraction method.Comment: 10 pages, 3 tables, 3 figure

Cav2.3 (α1E) Ca2+ channel participates in the control of sperm function

AbstractTo know the function of the Ca2+ channel containing α12.3 (α1E) subunit (Cav2.3 channel) in spermatozoa, we analyzed Ca2+ transients and sperm motility using a mouse strain lacking Cav2.3 channel. The averaged rising rates of Ca2+ transients induced by α-D-mannose–bovine serum albumin in the head region of Cav2.3−/− sperm were significantly lower than those of Cav2.3+/+ sperm. A computer-assisted sperm motility assay revealed that straight-line velocity and linearity were greater in Cav2.3−/− sperm than those in Cav2.3+/+ sperm. These results suggest that the Cav2.3 channel plays some roles in Ca2+ transients and the control of flagellar movement

Randomized phase II study to determine the optimal dose of 3-week cycle nab-paclitaxel in patients with metastatic breast cancer

Background Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy is commonly observed in patients treated with nanoparticle albumin–bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX). We conducted a multicenter randomized controlled study to evaluate the optimal dose of nab-PTX. Methods We compared three different doses of q3w nab-PTX (Standard: 260 mg/m2 [SD260] vs Medium: 220 mg/m2 [MD220] vs Low: 180 mg/m2 [LD180]) in patients with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Grade 3/4 neuropathy rates in the three doses were estimated using the logistic regression model. The optimal dose was selected in two steps. Initially, if the hazard ratio (HR) for PFS was 1.33, the inferior dose was excluded, and we proceeded with the non-inferior dose. Then, if the estimated incidence rate of grade 3/4 neurotoxicity exceeded 10%, that dose was also excluded. Results One hundred forty-one patients were randomly assigned to SD260 (n = 47), MD220 (n = 46), and LD180 (n = 48) groups, and their median PFS was 6.66, 7.34, and 6.82 months, respectively. The HRs were 0.73 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.42–1.28) in MD220 vs SD260, 0.77 (95% CI 0.47–1.28) in LD180 vs SD260, and 0.96 (95% CI 0.56–1.66) in LD180 vs MD220. SD260 was inferior to MD220 and was excluded. The estimated incidence rate of grade 3/4 neurotoxicity was 29.5% in SD260, 14.0% in MD220, and 5.9% in LD180. The final selected dose was LD180. Conclusions Intravenous administration of low-dose nab-PTX at 180 mg/m2 q3w may be the optimal therapy with meaningful efficacy and favorable toxicity in patients with MBC

Reverberation measurements of the inner radius of the dust torus in 17 seyfert galaxies

We present the results of a dust reverberation survey for 17 nearby Seyfert 1 galaxies, which provides the largest homogeneous data collection for the radius of the innermost dust torus. A delayed response of the K-band light curve after the V-band ligh

Association of Genetic Polymorphism with Taxane-induced Peripheral Neuropathy: Sub-analysis of a Randomized Phase II Study to Determine the Optimal Dose of 3-week Cycle Nab-Paclitaxel in Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is an important clinical challenge that threatens patients’ quality of life. This sub-study of the ABROAD trial investigated the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on CIPN, using genotype data from a randomized study to determine the optimal dose of a 3-week-cycle regimen of nab-paclitaxel (q3w nab-PTX) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Patients with HER2-negative MBC were randomly assigned to three doses of q3w nab-PTX (SD: 260 mg/m2 vs. MD: 220 mg/m2 vs. LD: 180 mg/m2). Five SNPs (EPHA4-rs17348202, EPHA5-rs7349683, EPHA6-rs301927, LIMK2-rs5749248, and XKR4-rs4737264) were analyzed based on the results of a previous genome-wide association study. Per-allele SNP associations were assessed by a Cox regression to model the cumulative dose of nab-PTX up to the onset of severe or worsening sensory neuropathy. A total of 141 patients were enrolled in the parent study; 91(65%) were included in this sub-study. Worsening of CIPN was significantly greater in the cases with XKR4 AC compared to those with a homozygote AA (HR 1.86, 95%CI: 1.00001−3.46, p=0.049). There was no significant correlation of CIPN with any other SNP. A multivariate analysis showed that the cumulative dose of nab-PTX was most strongly correlated with CIPN (p<0.01)

An Al-doped SrTiO3 photocatalyst maintaining sunlight-driven overall water splitting activity for over 1000 h of constant illumination

Photocatalytic water splitting is a viable approach to the large-scale production of renewable solar hydrogen. The apparent quantum yield for this reaction has been improved, but the lifespan of photocatalysts functioning under sunlight at ambient pressure have rarely been examined, despite the critical importance of this factor in practical applications. Herein, we show that Al-doped SrTiO3 (SrTiO3: Al) loaded with a RhCrOx (rhodium chromium oxide) cocatalyst splits water with an apparent quantum yield greater than 50% at 365 nm. Moreover, following the photodeposition of CoOOH and TiO2, this material maintains 80% of its initial activity and a solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion efficiency greater than or equal to 0.3% over a span of 1300 h under constant illumination by simulated sunlight at ambient pressure. This result is attributed to reduced dissolution of Cr in the cocatalyst following the oxidative photodeposition of CoOOH. The photodeposition of TiO2 further improves the durability of this photocatalyst. This work demonstrates a concept that could allow the design of longterm, large-scale photocatalyst systems for practical sunlight-driven water splitting.ArticleCHEMICAL SCIENCE.10(11):3196-3201(2019)journal articl