Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PMN) Relaxor: Dipole Glass or Nano-Domain Ferroelectric?

Combining our comprehensive investigations of polarization evolution, soft-mode by Raman scattering and microstructure by TEM, and the results reported in the literatures, we show that prototypical relaxor Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3 (PMN) is essentially ferroelectric for T<Tc~225 K. Its anomalous dielectric behavior over a broad temperature range results from the reorientation of domains in the crystal. A physic picture of the structure evolution in relaxor is also revealed. It is found that nanometric ferroelectric domains (gennerally called as polar nano-region (PNR)) interact cooperatively to form micrometric domain. Such multiscale inhomogeneities of domain structure in addition to the well-known inhomogeneities of chemical composition and local symmetry are considered to play a crucial role in producing the enigmatic phenomena in relaxor system.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures; http://www.intechopen.com/books/advances-in-ferroelectrics/pb-mg1-3nb2-3-o3-pmn-relaxor-dipole-glass-or-nano-domain-ferroelectric

Distribution of β2-adrenergic receptor mRNA expression along the hamster nephron segments

AbstractDistribution of β2-adrenergic receptor mRNA expression along the microdissected hamster nephron segments was examined by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique. Conventional RT-PCR using a set of primers on separate exons could not be applied for the detection of β2-adrenergic receptor mRNA because of its intronless nature. We used the ‘rapid amplification of cDNA ends’ protocol [(1985) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85, 8998-9002] as a maneuver for RT-PCR of an intronless gene. Using this method, we successfully located hamster β2-adrenergic receptor mRNA only in glomeruli and early proximal convoluted tubule along the nephron segments tested

A Case of Mediastinal Lymph Node Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site Treated with Docetaxel and Cisplatin with Concurrent Thoracic Radiation Therapy

Mediastinal lymph node carcinoma of unknown primary site is rare and may have a better prognosis if extensive treatment is performed. Case, A 69-year-old-male presented with a persistent cough. Chest computed tomography (CT) demonstrated a large tumor 9.5×8.2cm, in the mediastinum, compressing the right main bronchus, the right pulmonary artery, and the superior vena cava. Because fiberoptic bronchoscopy was insufficient for diagnosis, mediastinoscopic tumor biopsy under general anesthesia was undertaken. Histological examination revealed adenocarcinoma. Extensive examinations revealed no other neoplastic lesion except in the mediastinum. Mediastinal lymph node carcinoma of unknown primary site was diagnosed. The patient was treated with docetaxel and cisplatin with concurrent thoracic radiation therapy. A month after the start of chemoradiotherapy, the mediastinal tumor regressed markedly. The patient remained free of symptoms without regrowth of the primary site. Exploration of the body showed no further abnormalities 20 months after disease onset

Trion confinement in monolayer MoSe2 by carbon nanotube local gating

We have successfully confined trions into a one-dimensional restricted space of a MoSe2 device with CNT gate electrodes. The dry transfer process, including deterministic dry transfer of aligned CNTs, has led to an hBN-encapsulated MoSe2 device with CNT back gate electrodes. In contrast to a location without CNT gate electrodes, applying voltage via CNT gate electrodes significantly alters PL spectra at a location with CNT gate electrodes. PL imaging has revealed that image contrast from trions is linear along the CNT electrode underneath, consistent with 1D confinement of trions in response to the CNT local gating. The confinement width obtained from the PL image is 5.5 x 10^2 nm, consistent with nanoscale 1D confined trions with the diffraction limit broadening. This work has demonstrated electrical control of excitonic states at the nanoscale, leading to novel optoelectronic properties and exciton devices in the future

The molecular chaperone heat shock protein-90 positively regulates rotavirus infection

AbstractRotaviruses are the major cause of severe dehydrating gastroenteritis in children worldwide. In this study, we report a positive role of cellular chaperone Hsp90 during rotavirus infection. A highly specific Hsp90 inhibitor, 17-allylamono-demethoxygeldanamycin (17-AAG) was used to delineate the functional role of Hsp90. In MA104 cells treated with 17-AAG after viral adsorption, replication of simian (SA11) or human (KU) strains was attenuated as assessed by quantitating both plaque forming units and expression of viral genes. Phosphorylation of Akt and NFκB observed 2–4 hpi with SA11, was strongly inhibited in the presence of 17-AAG. Direct Hsp90–Akt interaction in virus infected cells was also reduced in the presence of 17-AAG. Anti-rotaviral effects of 17-AAG were due to inhibition of activation of Akt that was confirmed since, PI3K/Akt inhibitors attenuated rotavirus growth significantly. Thus, Hsp90 regulates rotavirus by modulating cellular signaling proteins. The results highlight the importance of cellular proteins during rotavirus infection and the possibility of targeting cellular chaperones for developing new anti-rotaviral strategies

Peripheral Blood as a Preferable Source of Stem Cells for Salvage Transplantation in Patients with Graft Failure after Cord Blood Transplantation: A Retrospective Analysis of the Registry Data of the Japanese Society for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation

To compare the different stem cell sources used in salvage transplantation for graft failure (GF) after cord blood transplantation (CBT), we retrospectively analyzed data of 220 patients who developed GF after undergoing CBT between January 2001 and December 2007 and underwent a second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) within 3 months. The donor sources for salvage HSCT were cord blood (n = 180), peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs; n = 24), and bone marrow (BM; n = 16). The cumulative incidence of neutrophil engraftment on day 30 after the second HSCT was 39% with CB, 71% with PBSCs, and 75% with BM. Multivariate analysis revealed that PBSC and BM grafts were associated with a significantly higher engraftment rate than CB (hazard ratio [HR], 7.77; P < .001 and HR, 2.81; P = .016, respectively). Although the incidence of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease was significantly higher in the PBSC group than in the CB group (HR, 2.83; P = .011), the incidence of 1-year nonrelapse mortality was lower in the PBSC group than in the CB group (HR, 0.43; P = .019), and 1-year overall survival was superior in the PBSC group compared with the CB group (HR, 0.45; P = .036). Our results suggest that PBSC is the preferable source of stem cells in salvage HSCT for GF after CBT

Biochemical classification of tauopathies by immunoblot, protein sequence and mass spectrometric analyses of sarkosyl-insoluble and trypsin-resistant tau

Intracellular filamentous tau pathology is the defining feature of tauopathies, which form a subset of neurodegenerative diseases. We have analyzed pathological tau in Alzheimer’s disease, and in frontotemporal lobar degeneration associated with tauopathy to include cases with Pick bodies, corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, and ones due to intronic mutations in MAPT. We found that the C-terminal band pattern of the pathological tau species is distinct for each disease. Immunoblot analysis of trypsin-resistant tau indicated that the different band patterns of the 7–18 kDa fragments in these diseases likely reflect different conformations of tau molecular species. Protein sequence and mass spectrometric analyses revealed the carboxyl-terminal region (residues 243–406) of tau comprises the protease-resistant core units of the tau aggregates, and the sequence lengths and precise regions involved are different among the diseases. These unique assembled tau cores may be used to classify and diagnose disease strains. Based on these results, we propose a new clinicopathological classification of tauopathies based on the biochemical properties of tau

Results of the search for inspiraling compact star binaries from TAMA300's observation in 2000-2004

We analyze the data of TAMA300 detector to search for gravitational waves from inspiraling compact star binaries with masses of the component stars in the range 1-3Msolar. In this analysis, 2705 hours of data, taken during the years 2000-2004, are used for the event search. We combine the results of different observation runs, and obtained a single upper limit on the rate of the coalescence of compact binaries in our Galaxy of 20 per year at a 90% confidence level. In this upper limit, the effect of various systematic errors such like the uncertainty of the background estimation and the calibration of the detector's sensitivity are included.Comment: 8 pages, 4 Postscript figures, uses revtex4.sty The author list was correcte