126 research outputs found
Conversion of MO programs to True BASIC
Programs of overlap integrals and extended Huckcl MO can be coded using external subroutines by True BASIC without using line numbers and go to statements. The use of MAT statements are found to be effective in expressing matrix Operations
Modulation of anti-cancer drug sensitivity through the regulation of mitochondrial activity by adenylate kinase 4
Background: Adenylate kinase is a key enzyme in the high-energy phosphoryl transfer reaction in living cells. An isoform of this enzyme, adenylate kinase 4 (AK4), is localized in the mitochondrial matrix and is believed to be involved in stress, drug resistance, malignant transformation in cancer, and ATP regulation. However, the molecular basis for the AK4 functions remained to be determined.
Methods: HeLa cells were transiently transfected with an AK4 small interfering RNA (siRNA), an AK4 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) plasmid, a control shRNA plasmid, an AK4 expression vector, and a control expression vector to examine the effect of the AK4 expression on cell proliferation, sensitivity to anti-cancer drug, metabolome, gene expression, and mitochondrial activity.
Results: AK4 knockdown cells treated with short hairpin RNA increased ATP production and showed greater sensitivity to hypoxia and anti-cancer drug, cis-diamminedichloro-platinum (II) (CDDP). Subcutaneous grafting AK4 knockdown cells into nude mice revealed that the grafted cells exhibited both slower proliferation and reduced the tumor sizes in response to CDDP. AK4 knockdown cell showed a increased oxygen consumption rate with FCCP treatment, while AK4 overexpression lowered it. Metabolome analysis showed the increased levels of the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, fumarate and malate in AK4 knockdown cells, while AK4 overexpression lowered them. Electron microscopy detected the increased mitochondrial numbers in AK4 knockdown cells. Microarray analysis detected the increased gene expression of two key enzymes in TCA cycle, succinate dehydrogenase A (SDHA) and oxoglutarate dehydrogenease L (OGDHL), which are components of SDH complex and OGDH complex, supporting the metabolomic results.
Conclusions: We found that AK4 was involved in hypoxia tolerance, resistance to anti-tumor drug, and the regulation of mitochondrial activity. These findings provide a new potential target for efficient anticancer therapies by controlling AK4 expression
Intralesional steroid infusion using a spray tube to prevent stenosis after endoscopic submucosal dissection of esophageal cancer
Background/Aims Intralesional steroid injections have been administered as prophylaxis for stenosis after esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, this method carries a risk of potential complications such as perforation because a fine needle is used to directly puncture the postoperative ulcer. We devised a new method of steroid intralesional infusion using a spray tube and evaluated its efficacy and safety. Methods Intralesional steroid infusion using a spray tube was performed on 27 patients who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection for superficial esophageal cancer with three-quarters or more of the lumen circumference resected. The presence or absence of stenosis, complications, and the number of endoscopic balloon dilations (EBDs) performed were evaluated after treatment. Results Although stenosis was not observed in 22 of the 27 patients, five patients had stenosis and dysphagia requiring EBD. The stenosis in these five patients was relieved after four EBDs. No complications related to intralesional steroid infusion using the spray tube were observed. Conclusions Intralesional steroid infusion using a spray tube is a simple and safe technique that is adequately effective in preventing stenosis (clinical trial number, UMIN000037567)
Can Ground-based Telescopes Detect The Oxygen 1.27 Micron Absorption Feature as a Biomarker in Exoplanets ?
The oxygen absorption line imprinted in the scattered light from the
Earth-like planets has been considered the most promising metabolic biomarker
of the exo-life. We examine the feasibility of the detection of the 1.27 micron
oxygen band from habitable exoplanets, in particular, around late- type stars
observed with a future instrument on a 30 m class ground-based telescope. We
analyzed the night airglow around 1.27 micron with IRCS/echelle spectrometer on
Subaru and found that the strong telluric emission from atmospheric oxygen
molecules declines by an order of magnitude by midnight. By compiling nearby
star catalogs combined with the sky background model, we estimate the
detectability of the oxygen absorption band from an Earth twin, if it exists,
around nearby stars. We find that the most dominant source of photon noise for
the oxygen 1.27 micron band detection comes from the night airglow if the
contribution of the stellar PSF halo is suppressed enough to detect the planet.
We conclude that the future detectors for which the detection contrast is
limited by photon noise can detect the oxygen 1.27 micron absorption band of
the Earth twins for ~50 candidates of the late type star. This paper
demonstrates the importance of deploying small inner working angle efficient
coronagraph and extreme adaptive optics on extremely large telescopes, and
clearly shows that doing so will enable study of potentially habitable planets.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journa
Search for Outer Massive Bodies around Transiting Planetary Systems: Candidates of Faint Stellar Companions around HAT-P-7
We present results of direct imaging observations for HAT-P-7 taken with the
Subaru HiCIAO and the Calar Alto AstraLux. Since the close-in transiting planet
HAT-P-7b was reported to have a highly tilted orbit, massive bodies such as
giant planets, brown dwarfs, or a binary star are expected to exist in the
outer region of this system. We show that there are indeed two candidates for
distant faint stellar companions around HAT-P-7. We discuss possible roles
played by such companions on the orbital evolution of HAT-P-7b. We conclude
that as there is a third body in the system as reported by Winn et al. (2009,
ApJL, 763, L99), the Kozai migration is less likely while planet-planet
scattering is possible.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, PASJ in pres
Polarimetric Imaging of Large Cavity Structures in the Pre-transitional Protoplanetary Disk around PDS 70: Observations of the disk
We present high resolution H-band polarized intensity (PI; FWHM = 0."1: 14
AU) and L'-band imaging data (FWHM = 0."11: 15 AU) of the circumstellar disk
around the weak-lined T Tauri star PDS 70 in Centaurus at a radial distance of
28 AU (0."2) up to 210 AU (1."5). In both images, a giant inner gap is clearly
resolved for the first time, and the radius of the gap is ~70 AU. Our data show
that the geometric center of the disk shifts by ~6 AU toward the minor axis. We
confirm that the brown dwarf companion candidate to the north of PDS 70 is a
background star based on its proper motion. As a result of SED fitting by Monte
Carlo radiative transfer modeling, we infer the existence of an optically thick
inner disk at a few AU. Combining our observations and modeling, we classify
the disk of PDS 70 as a pre-transitional disk. Furthermore, based on the
analysis of L'-band imaging data, we put an upper limit mass of companions at
~30 to ~50MJ within the gap. Taking account of the presence of the large and
sharp gap, we suggest that the gap could be formed by dynamical interactions of
sub-stellar companions or multiple unseen giant planets in the gap.Comment: accepted by APJ
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