Man, Communication, Being

Power Symposium, 2008. NAPS '08. 40th North American, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada, Sept 28th to 30th, 2008Hybrid system reachability is applied to verification of fault release control in a power system. Fault release control is one strategy in emergency control and aims to mitigate an electrical stress of power system caused by disturbances. We introduce practical data in a fault release control of double machine-infinite bus (DMIB) system. The data is obtained using the RTDS and describes that the control is effective for prevention of transient instability in the DMIB system. By modeling of swing dynamics of the DMIB system as a hybrid automaton and reachability analysis of the automaton, we show that the control is correct for the prevention of transient instability

Structure of the catalytic region of DNA ligase IV in complex with an Artemis fragment sheds light on double-strand break repair.

Nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) is central to the repair of double-stranded DNA breaks throughout the cell cycle and plays roles in the development of the immune system. Although three-dimensional structures of most components of NHEJ have been defined, those of the catalytic region of DNA ligase IV (LigIV), a specialized DNA ligase known to work in NHEJ, and of Artemis have remained unresolved. Here, we report the crystal structure at 2.4 Å resolution of the catalytic region of LigIV (residues 1-609) in complex with an Artemis peptide. We describe interactions of the DNA-binding domain of LigIV with the continuous epitope of Artemis, which, together, form a three-helix bundle. A kink in the first helix of LigIV introduced by a conserved VPF motif gives rise to a hydrophobic pocket, which accommodates a conserved tryptophan from Artemis. We provide structural insights into features of LigIV among human DNA ligases

気管支喘息患者における細胞性免疫,ガンジダ抗原に対する遅延型反応の抑制

Delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity towards Candida albicans was examined　in 200 patients with bronchial asthma in relation to patient age and the level of　total IgE. 1. Delayed skin reactivity towards C.albicans was depressed in the patients between the ages of 10 and 20 and in those over the age of 61. A significant difference was present in delayed skin reactivity between the groups of 10-20 and 41-50 years old. 2. The frequency of the patients with positive delayed skin reactivity towards C.albicans was the highest in those with low levels of total IgE (0 -100 IU/ml) and the low est in those with high levels of total IgE (over than 1001 IU/ml). The results suggest that cell-mediated immunity towards C.albicans is depressed re lating to atopics in the patients between 10 and 20 and to aging in the patients over 61.気管支喘息200例を対象にカンジダに対する即時型および遅延型皮膚反応を観察し,これらの皮膚反応と年令,血清IgE値との関連について検討を加えた｡1. カンジダに対する遅延型皮膚反応は,10～20才の年齢層および61才以上の年齢層の症例において,その陽性率の低下が観察された｡そして,10～20才の年齢層と41～50才の年齢層の症例では,両者間で陽性率の有意の差が見られた(p<0.001)。2. カンジダに対する遅延型皮膚反応の陽性率は,血清IgE値が低い(0～100 IU/ml)症例において最も高く,一方血清IgE値が高い(1001IU/ml以上)症例において最も低いという傾向が見られた｡これらの結果は,カンジダに対する細胞性免疫は,10～20才の年齢層ではアトピーと,また61才以上の年齢層では加齢と関連して抑制されることを示唆するものと考えられる

CCDC61/VFL3 is a paralog of SAS6 and promotes ciliary functions

Centrioles are cylindrical assemblies whose peripheral microtubule array displays a 9-fold rotational symmetry that is established by the scaffolding protein SAS6. Centriole symmetry can be broken by centriole-associated structures, such as the striated fibers in Chlamydomonas that are important for ciliary function. The conserved protein CCDC61/VFL3 is involved in this process, but its exact role is unclear. Here, we show that CCDC61 is a paralog of SAS6. Crystal structures of CCDC61 demonstrate that it contains two homodimerization interfaces that are similar to those found in SAS6, but result in the formation of linear filaments rather than rings. Furthermore, we show that CCDC61 binds microtubules and that residues involved in CCDC61 microtubule binding are important for ciliary function in Chlamydomonas. Together, our findings suggest that CCDC61 and SAS6 functionally diverged from a common ancestor while retaining the ability to scaffold the assembly of basal body-associated structures or centrioles, respectively

高齢者気管支喘息における気道過敏性と温泉療法

Clinical effects of spa therapy were examined in 150 patients with asthma in relation tobronchial hyperresponsiveness and patient age. 1. The efficacy rate of spa therapy was larger as the patient age was higher: the rate was 73.3% in patients under age 49, 81.8% in those between the ages of 50 and 59, 86.4% in those between the ages of 60 and 69, and 90.6% in those over age 70. The mean of efficacy rates was 83.3% in all subjects. 2. The bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BH) was lower as patient age was higher: the BH in patients between the ages of 60 and 69 and in those over age 70 was significantly lower compared to the BH in those under age 49 (p < O.OOl). 3. Clinical effects of spa therapy tended to be lower in patients with increased bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The bronchial hyperresponsiveness showed a tendency to decrease after spa therapy in whom the therapy was effective, however, the BH did not change in patients with slight or no efficacy during spa therapy.1.温泉療法では,年齢が高くなるほどその有効率も高くなると言う傾向が見られ､49才以下の症例では73.3% ,50-59才の症例では81.8% , 60-69才の症例では86.4% ,70才以上では90.6% であり,全症例の平均有効率は73.3% であった｡　 2.気道過敏性は,年齢が高くなるほど低下する傾向が見られ,60-69才および70才以上の症例の気道過敏性は,49才以下の症例と比べ有 意に低い値を示した(P < 0.001)。　 3.温泉療法の臨床効果は,気道過敏性が強くなるにつれて低下する傾向が見られた｡また,温泉療法の著効例や有効例では,治療により 気道過敏性が低下してくるが､やや有効例や無効例では,気道過敏性はほとんど変化しないことが示された

気管支喘息患者の血清コーチゾール値について. 副腎皮質ホルモン投与および年齢との関連

Serum cortisol levels were examined in 94 patients with bronchial asthma in relation to dose of glucocorticoids and age. 1. The level of serum cortisol was significantly lower in group A patients, treated with glucocorticoids (prednisolone of 5mg/day or more) for more than 2 years, (2.4±1.2mcg/㎗) than in group B, treated with glucocorticoids (prednisolone of 5mg or less) for less than 2 years, (6.8±3.7mcg/㎗) (p<0.001) and in group C, treated without glucocorticoids, (12.6±3.9mcg/㎗) (p<0.001). The serum cortisol level was also significantly lower in group B than in group C (p<0.001). 2. The level of serum cortisol was significantly lower in patients over the age of 70 compared to that in those aged between 0 and 39 years (p<0.01) and those between 40 and 49 (p<0.05), and those between 50 and 59 (p<0.02). The level was also lower in patients between 60 and 69 compared to that in those between 0 and 39, however, this was not significant. These results demonstrate that the level of serum cortisol decreases by long-term glucocorticoid regimen and with aging.気管支喘息94例を対象に,副腎皮質ホルモン投与および年齢との関連のもとに,血清コーチゾール値の変動を観察した｡まず副腎皮質ホルモンの投与量および投与期間により以下の3群に分けて検討した｡グループA :副腎皮質ホルモン,プレドニソロンに換算して1日5mg以上を2年間以上にわたり使用している症例,グループB:プレドニソロン1日5mg以下で2年間以内の使用症例, グループC:副腎皮質ホルモンを全く使用していない症例｡その結果,グループAの血清コーチゾ-ル値(2.4±1.2mcg/㎗)は,グループB (6.8±3.7mcg/㎗)(p 0.01)やC(12.6±3.9mcg/㎗)(p 0.001)に比べ有意に低い値であった｡2､グループCでは,70才以上の症例の血清コーチゾ-ル値は,0-39才の症例(p 0.0l),40-49才の症例(p 0.05),そして,50-59才の症例(p 0.02)に比べ有意に低い値であった｡これらの結果は,血清コーチゾール値は,副腎 皮質ホルモンの投与量や投与期間以外にも､加齢による影響を受ける可能性を示唆している

Development of a low-alpha-emitting {\mu}-PIC for NEWAGE direction-sensitive dark-matter search

NEWAGE is a direction-sensitive dark-matter-search experiment that uses a micro-patterned gaseous detector, or {\mu}-PIC, as the readout. The main background sources are {\alpha}-rays from radioactive contaminants in the {\mu}-PIC. We have therefore developed a low-alpha-emitting {\mu}-PICs and measured its performances. We measured the surface {\alpha}-ray emission rate of the {\mu}-PIC in the Kamioka mine using a surface {\alpha}-ray counter based on a micro TPC.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

成長因子脳室内持続投与に対する成体脳内内在性神経幹細胞の反応に関する時空間的解析

学位の種別: 論文博士審査委員会委員 : （主査）東京大学教授 尾藤 晴彦, 東京大学教授 岩坪 威, 東京大学教授 栗原 裕基, 東京大学准教授 近藤 健二, 東京大学講師 岩﨑 広英University of Tokyo(東京大学

サーモグラフィーによる体表面温度の測定 3.体表面温度の回復率と末消血流量との相関

The body surface peripheral circulation in 12 cases,　including 9 patients with　diabetes mellitus who were suffering coldness, numbness or pain in their feet, and 3 healthy volunteers was examined using Laser-Doppler blood flowmetry. At the same time, the body surface temperature was estimated by thermography. Thermographic results were analyzed quantitatively by calculating a recovery ratio as : Recovery ratio = [Total counts of thermography(Pixels) over temperature (T) after cold loading] ÷ [Initial counts over T before cold loading] x 100(%). The recovery ratio and the blood flow were correlated, r=0.68, p<O.01. The peripheral circulation of 16 patients with diabetes mellitus was observed at three different conditions including, l)placed at room temperature at 20℃for 15 min, 2) submerged and warmed for 5 min in a hot bath at 36℃(i.e. hot loading), and 3) submerged and cooled for 5 min in a water bath at 20℃ (i.e. cold loading). Three different baseline temperatures, 26℃, 27℃ and 28 ℃, were used in processing the　thermographic results into pictures. The highest correlation (r=0.59, p=0.0002) was obtained under the condition of cold loading using a baseline temperature limitation of27℃.The difference ratio (%) of blood flow was calculated as the blood flow at cold loading divided by the blood flow at hot loading in these 16 patients. The difference　ratio of the blood flow and the recovery ratio of thermography were correlated, r=0.46, p<O.OOO1. We found a strong correlation between the results of Laser-Doppler blood flowmetry and one of thermographic methods used to monitor peripheral circulation in patients with diabetes mellitus. Cold loading using a baseline temperature limitation of 27℃ were recommended for further examinations. Patients with low blood flow as well as　with large differences in their peripheral circulation between cold loading and hot　loading had severe coldness in their body surface temperature. We showed the usefulness of the results of thermography, when quantified by picture processing using computer software, in relation with the results of Laser-Doppler blood flowmetry.末梢神経障害を有する糖尿病患者の末梢循環障害の程度を数量的に検討する目的で､下肢に冷感ならびにしびれ感または疼痛を訴える糖尿病患者9症例と健常ボランティア3例の計12例(平均年齢59歳)についてサーモグラフィーを用いて体表面温度を測定した｡更に,サーモグラフィーで得られた結果と末梢皮膚血流量をレーザードプラー血流計を用いて測定して得られた結果と比較した｡サーモグラフィーによる測定で得られた結果は回復率として数量化して表示された｡回復率の算出方法は回復率= [冷水負荷後の特定温度27℃以 上の体表面温度のサーモグラフィーのPixelの総数]÷ [冷水負荷前の特定温度27℃以上の体表面温度のサーモグラフィーのPixelの総数]×100%で求めた｡レーザードプラ-血流計を用いて測定して得られた末梢血流量は左右それぞれ5カ所,計10カ所の測定値の平均で表示した｡その結果,末梢皮膚温度の回復率と末梢皮膚の血流量との問には正の相関関係(r=0.68,p<0.01)が認められた｡次に,末梢皮膚血流量について,室温20℃安静15分後,温水36℃浸水負荷10分後,冷水20℃浸水負荷30分後の異なる3条件について､またサーモグラフィーで得られた結果を,画像処理の過程で用いられた,26℃,27℃,28℃の3つの異なる特定温度との関連について検討を行なった｡対象は,下肢に冷感ならびにしびれ感または疼痛を訴える糖尿病患者16症例(平均年齢69歳,平均HbAIC9.6%)について測定した｡その結果,末梢皮膚 血流量は冷水20℃浸水負荷30分後に測定して得られた結果と,回復率は特定温度27℃で画像処理して得られた結果とが最も相関が高い(r=0.59,p=0.0002)ことが示された｡`次に,相関が高い条件は,室温20℃安静15分後に血流量を測定した場合(r=0.483,p=0.0002)であった｡そして温 水36℃浸水負荷10分後に測定して得られた結果とが最も相関関係が低い結果となった｡更に,冷水20℃浸水負荷30分後に測定して得られた結果を温水36℃浸水負荷10分後に測定して得られた結果で割った比を%で表示したところ回復率とこの比との間には正の相関関係(r=0.46,p<0.0001)が認められた｡このことから,温水36℃負荷時と,冷水20℃負荷時との差が大きい患者 において末梢皮膚温度の低下が著しいことが示された｡これまで悲観血的に測定されてきたサーモグラフィーによる末梢循環の数量的評価の試みは,レーザー血流計による結果と組み合わせることで,両者の間に正の相関関係が示されたことにより,今後,数量化された客観的評価を可能にした