Velocity Structure of Jets in Coronal Hole

Velocity structures of jets in a coronal hole have been derived for the first time. Hinode observations revealed the existence of many bright points in coronal holes. They are loop-shaped and sometimes associated with coronal jets. Spectra obtained with the Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) on board Hinode are analyzed to infer Doppler velocity of bright loops and jets in a coronal hole of the north polar region. Elongated jets above bright loops are found to be blue-shifted by 30 km/s at maximum, while foot points of bright loops are red-shifted. Blue-shifts detected in coronal jets are interpreted as upflows produced by magnetic reconnection between emerging flux and the ambient field in the coronal hole.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ Hinode special issu

Thermophysical Properties Measurement of High-Temperature Liquids Under Microgravity Conditions in Controlled Atmospheric Conditions

Microgravity conditions have advantages of measurement of surface tension and viscosity of metallic liquids by the oscillating drop method with an electromagnetic levitation (EML) device. Thus, we are preparing the experiments of thermophysical properties measurements using the Materials-Science Laboratories ElectroMagnetic-Levitator (MSL-EML) facilities in the international Space station (ISS). Recently, it has been identified that dependence of surface tension on oxygen partial pressure (Po2) must be considered for industrial application of surface tension values. Effect of Po2 on surface tension would apparently change viscosity from the damping oscillation model. Therefore, surface tension and viscosity must be measured simultaneously in the same atmospheric conditions. Moreover, effect of the electromagnetic force (EMF) on the surface oscillations must be clarified to obtain the ideal surface oscillation because the EMF works as the external force on the oscillating liquid droplets, so extensive EMF makes apparently the viscosity values large. In our group, using the parabolic flight levitation experimental facilities (PFLEX) the effect of Po2 and external EMF on surface oscillation of levitated liquid droplets was systematically investigated for the precise measurements of surface tension and viscosity of high temperature liquids for future ISS experiments. We performed the observation of surface oscillations of levitated liquid alloys using PFLEX on board flight experiments by Gulfstream II (G-II) airplane operated by DAS. These observations were performed under the controlled Po2 and also under the suitable EMF conditions. In these experiments, we obtained the density, the viscosity and the surface tension values of liquid Cu. From these results, we discuss about as same as reported data, and also obtained the difference of surface oscillations with the change of the EMF conditions

Spin Accumulation in Nondegenerate and Heavily Doped p-Type Germanium

Spin accumulation induced in p-type germanium from Fe/MgO tunnel contacts is studied as a function of hole concentration p (10^16 - 10^19 cm-3). For all p, the contacts are free of rectification and Schottky barrier, guaranteeing spin injection into the Ge and preventing spin accumulation enhancement by two-step tunneling via interface states. The observed spin accumulation is smallest for nondegenerate doping (p ~ 10^16 cm-3) and increases for heavily doped Ge. This trend is opposite to what is expected from spin injection and diffusion theory. For heavily doped Ge, the observed spin accumulation is orders of magnitude larger than predicted.Comment: To appear in Appl. Phys. Expres

In vivo analysis of protein crowding within the nuclear pore complex in interphase and mitosis

The central channel of the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is occupied by non-structured polypeptides with a high content of Phe-Gly (FG) motifs. This protein-rich environment functions as an entropic barrier that prevents the passage of molecules, as well as the binding sites for karyopherins, to regulate macromolecular traffic between the nucleoplasm and the cytoplasm. In this study, we expressed individual Nups fused with a crowding-sensitive probe (GimRET) to determine the spatial distribution of protein-rich domains within the central channel in vivo, and characterize the properties of the entropic barrier. Analyses of the probe signal revealed that the central channel contains two protein-rich domains at both the nucleoplasmic and cytoplasmic peripheries, and a less-crowded central cavity. Karyopherins and other soluble proteins are not the constituents of the protein-rich domains. The time-lapse observation of the post-mitotic reassembly process also revealed how individual protein-rich domains are constructed by a sequential assembly of nucleoporins

Oral delivery of Lactococcus lactis that secretes bioactive heme oxygenase-1 alleviates development of acute colitis in mice

Background: Mucosal delivery of therapeutic proteins using genetically modified strains of lactic acid bacteria (gmLAB) is being investigated as a new therapeutic strategy. Methods: We developed a strain of gmLAB, Lactococcus lactis NZ9000 (NZ-HO), which secretes the anti-inflammatory molecule recombinant mouse heme oxygenase-1 (rmHO-1). The effects of short-term continuous oral dosing with NZ-HO were evaluated in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis as a model of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Results: We identified the secretion of rmHO-1 by NZ-HO. rmHO-1 was biologically active as determined with spectroscopy. Viable NZ-HO was directly delivered to the colon via oral administration, and rmHO-1 was secreted onto the colonic mucosa in mice. Acute colitis in mice was induced by free drinking of 3 % DSS in water and was accompanied by an increase in the disease activity index score and histopathological changes. Daily oral administration of NZ-HO significantly improved these colitis-associated symptoms. In addition, NZ-HO significantly increased production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-10 and decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1 alpha and IL-6 in the colon compared to a vector control strain. Conclusions: Oral administration of NZ-HO alleviates DSS-induced acute colitis in mice. Our results suggest that NZ-HO may be a useful mucosal therapeutic agent for treating IBD.ArticleMICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES. 14:189 (2015)journal articl

Comparison of carbon dioxide and air insufflation use by non-expert endoscopists during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is subject to several complications that include a lengthy procedure time, technical difficulty, and active bowel movement induced by air insufflation. In ERCP carried out by non-expert endoscopists who are prone to excessive luminal insufflation, insufflation with carbon dioxide (CO2) may provide better and safer outcomes. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of CO2 insufflation during ERCP by non-expert endoscopists. Methods: This study included 208 consecutive patients who received ERCP, excluding those in poor general health or with obstructive lung disease. The first operator for each patient was a non-expert endoscopist having done 50 or fewer ERCP procedures. Primary outcomes were the changes in cardiopulmonary state during ERCP. Secondary outcomes were ERCP complications. We designed a single-center, randomized, prospective, double-blind, controlled trial with CO2 and air insufflation during ERCP. Results: CO2 insufflation did not affect overall procedure progression or results. A positive correlation was observed between procedure time and change in maximal systolic blood pressure from baseline among patients in the air insufflation group, but not in the CO2 insufflation group (correlation coefficient 0.408 vs 0.114, change in the maximal systolic blood pressure from baseline +4.2 vs+1.2mmHg/10min). This was consistent with our findings in patients treated by the first operator alone. The occurrence rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis tended to be lower in the CO2 group than the air group (4/102 [3.9%]vs 0/106 [0%], P=0.056). Conclusions: CO2 insufflation during ERCP by non-expert endoscopists is recommended from the standpoints of efficacy and safety.ArticleDIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY. 25(2):189-196 (2013)journal articl

Risk factors for pancreatic stone formation in autoimmune pancreatitis over a long-term course

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has the potential to progress to a chronic state that forms pancreatic stones. The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors underlying pancreatic stone formation in AIP. Sixty-nine patients with AIP who had been followed for at least 3 years were enrolled for evaluation of clinical and laboratory factors as well as computed tomography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography findings. During the course of this study, increased or de novo stone formation was seen in 28 patients, who were defined as the stone-forming group. No stones were observed in 32 patients, who were defined as the non-stone-forming group. Nine patients who had stones at diagnosis but showed no change during the course of this study were excluded from our cohort. Univariate analysis revealed no significant differences in clinical or laboratory factors associated with AIP-specific inflammation between the two groups. However, pancreatic head swelling (P = 0.006) and narrowing of both Wirsung's and Santorini's ducts in the pancreatic head region (P = 0.010) were significantly more frequent in the stone-forming group. Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified Wirsung and Santorini duct narrowing at diagnosis as a significant independent risk factor for pancreatic stone formation (OR 4.4, P = 0.019). A primary risk factor for pancreatic stone formation in AIP was narrowing of both Wirsung's and Santorini's ducts, which most presumably led to pancreatic juice stasis and stone development.ArticleJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. 47(5):553-560 (2012)journal articl

Inhibitory/Suppressive oligodeoxynucleotide nanocapsules as simple oral delivery devices for preventing atopic dermatitis in mice

Advance online publication 6 January 2015Here, we report a simple and low-cost oral oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) delivery system targeted to the gut Peyer's patches (PPs). This system requires only Dulbecco's modified eagle's medium, calcium chloride, ODNs, and basic laboratory equipment. ODN nanocapsules (ODNcaps) were directly delivered to the PPs through oral administration and were taken up by macrophages in the PPs, where they induced an immune response. Long-term continuous oral dosing with inhibitory/suppressive ODNcaps (iODNcaps, "iSG3caps" in this study) was evaluated using an atopic dermatitis mouse model to visually monitor disease course. Administration of iSG3caps improved skin lesions and decreased epidermal thickness. Underlying this effect is the ability of iSG3 to bind to and prevent phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6, thereby blocking the interleukin-4 signaling cascade mediated by binding of allergens to type 2 helper T cells. The results of our iSG3cap oral delivery experiments suggest that iSG3 may be useful for treating allergic diseases.ArticleMOLECULAR THERAPY. 23(2):297-309 (2015)journal articl

Study of the effect of a closed divertor configuration on neutral particle control in the LHD plasma periphery

An optimized closed divertor configuration for effective particle control in LHD is proposed from the viewpoints of the distribution of the strike points and neutral particle transport. Calculations of the distribution of the strike points indicate that 50% of the strike points locate in the inboard side of the torus in a standard magnetic configuration (Rax = 3.60 m). The ratio increases to 80% by installing target plates near lower/upper ports. A three-dimensional neutral particle transport simulation shows that installation of closed divertor components with the target plates raise the neutral pressure in the inboard side by more than one order of magnitude compared to that in the present open divertor case. The analysis of the neutral particle transport predicts that enhancement of the neutral pressure becomes moderate in outward shift configurations (Rax > 3.75 m)