Estimation of Central Black Hole Masses in LowLuminosity Active Galactic Nuclei

Abstract We analyzed six low-luminosity active galactic nuclei (hereafter LLAGNs), which consist of two bright LINERs (low-ionization nuclear emission line region) with broad Hα, and of four bright low-luminosity Seyferts observed by the X-ray satellite ASCA. We examined the time variabilities of these targets, and found that most targets show no significant time variabilities, although these galaxies belong to LLAGNs. By applying Fourier analysis to their light curves in the 2-10 keV band, we obtained the lower limits of their time variability scales, which correspond to their central black hole masses greater than several times 10 6 M . Our result suggests that these LLAGNs are harbors of super-massive black holes, but the emitting powers are only < 1% of the Eddington luminosities of the central engines in the LLAGNs due to their small accretion rates. Since a black hole would grow by mass accretion, it is hard to create such a super-massive black hole under a small accretion rate. Therefore, the mass-accretion rates in the past must have been larger than those at present, and the galaxies have probably been as luminous as QSOs. This will be a hint to find out the cause of the lack of QSOs in the local universe

神戸女学院大学での体験型実習を利用した高校生に対する理科教育の試み

A variety of reports show that Japanese high school students dislike science as school subject. We also notice as college faculty that applicants to scientific department are decreasing year by year and the average understanding of freshman in science was also reduced. Therefore, we started several hands-on-seminar for high school students using our facility to inflate their curiosity toward natural science. "A day in a Lab" is an activity spending almost a week in laboratories to experience a day in a scientific atmosphere. In this activity, while learning several experiments, high school students can communicate with college students as a role model. "Experience in Science" is an activity in which they can survey a frontier of modern science including ecology and life science. We also joined "Science Partnership Project" by Ministry of Education and Science and were running a series of life science experiments. This project was designed to facilitate sustainable relationship between high school and college so as to help high school students be sufficiently trained in science. Through these trials, high school students, even in literature course, became familiar with natural sciences. Some of them changed their direction and entered into scientific departments. Therefore, scientific activity in college for high school students can prevent them from departure from natural science

アジア ト ニホン オ カンキョウ キョウイク デ ムスブ アラタナ ダイガクイン キョウイク システム ノ コウチク

Kobe College is a small women\u27s college located in Nishinomiya, Japan. The college has carried out international exchange programs for years under the banner of "internationalism". Taking this as a background, we developed an ESD (Education for Sustainable Development) program that has the following four characteristics. Nishinomiya city has a long history of ESD action, with Japan\u27s first Environmental Learning City Declaration. The NPO Learning and Ecological Activities Foundation for children (LEAF) formed in Nishinomiya and actively conducts ESD, Under the new program, the College, local authorities, and NPOs collaborate in order to nurture future environmental leaders who will promote ESD from the perspective of local communities. Kobe college has utilized an Internet vidoe conferencing system for international exchange. The new ESD program also includes live interactive lectures connecting students in universities across Asia. Both foreign and Japanese students learn about Japan\u27s ESD experience and case studies of various countries by professors on-site, with productive discussion. Such experiences foster an international perspective, which is essential in the implementation of ESD in local communities. Kobe College is a liberal arts college; faculties of the natural sciences (environmental science, environmental engineering, ecology, and medical science), and human sciences (economics, psychology, behavioral science, and law) have offered courses collaboratively. As ESD requires input from various fields and methods, this program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum covering a wide variety of natural and human science fields. Though it might be controversial from a gender viewpoint, the focus of this program is on training female leaders. It is our hope that after completing the ESD program the trainees will promote the participation of local women in society

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells correlate with patient outcomes in hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) has been employed as an alternative therapy to sorafenib for the patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, we performed a comparative analysis of various immune cell responses including tumor-associated antigen (TAA)-specific T cells, regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in advanced HCC patients treated with HAIC. Thirty-six HCC patients were examined in the study. Interferon gamma enzyme-linked immunospot assays were performed to examine the frequency of TAA-specific T cells. The frequencies of Tregs and MDSCs were examined by multicolor fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis. The treatment with HAIC using interferon (IFN)/5-fluorouracil (FU) or IFN/FU + cisplatin modulated the frequencies of various immune cells. In 22.2 % of patients, the frequency of TAA-specific T cells increased after HAIC. Although the frequency of Tregs decreased after HAIC, it was not associated with the prognosis of patients. An analysis of prognostic factors for overall survival identified diameter of the tumor (<3.0 cm), absence of major portal vein invasion, absence of distant metastasis, Union Internationale Contre Le Cancer tumor lymph node metastasis stage (I or II), neutrophil lymphocytic ratio (<2.1) and the frequency of MDSCs (<30.5 %) as factors that prolonged overall survival time after HAIC. Even in the group adjusted with progressive levels of tumors, patients with a low frequency of MDSCs had a significantly longer overall survival time. In conclusion, the frequency of MDSCs before the treatment is a prognostic factor in HAIC against HCC. © 2016 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelber

Feasibility and efficacy of hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma after sorafenib

Aim: Sorafenib is the standard treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, although there is no proven therapeutic procedure following the termination of sorafenib, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) may be a treatment option in advanced HCC. The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility and efficacy of HAIC for patients with advanced HCC as subsequent therapy. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 27 consecutive patients with advanced HCC who were treated with HAIC following sorafenib between June 2009 and December 2012 at our hospital. Cisplatin (20 mg/m2 per day) was administered via the hepatic artery for 10 min, prior to the continuous administration of 5-fluorouracil (330 mg/m2 per day) over 24 h from days 1-5 and 8-12 and the s.c. administration of pegylated interferon α-2b (1 μg/kg) on days 1, 8, 15, and 22. A treatment cycle consisted of 28 days of drug administration followed by 14 days of rest. Results: The toxicity profile showed that hematological toxicities were common, and grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were observed (51.9% and 48.1%, respectively). Five patients (18.5%) experienced device-related complications. No unexpected adverse reactions and no treatmentrelated deaths were observed. Partial response was obtained in eight patients (29.6%), and stable disease was noted in nine patients (33.3%). Median progression-free survival and median survival time from initiation of HAIC were 4.0 and 7.6 months, respectively. Conclusions: Because HAIC was well tolerated and exhibited moderate antitumor activity, it is a potentially useful treatment procedure in patients with advanced HCC even after failure of sorafenib

In vivo immunological antitumor effect of OK-432-stimulated dendritic cell transfer after radiofrequency ablation

Radiofrequency ablation therapy (RFA) is a radical treatment for liver cancers and induces tumor antigen-specific immune responses. In the present study, we examined the antitumor effects of focal OK-432-stimulated dendritic cell (DC) transfer combined with RFA and analyzed the functional mechanisms involved using a murine model. C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with colon cancer cells (MC38) in their bilateral flanks. After the establishment of tumors, the subcutaneous tumor on one flank was treated using RFA, and then OK-432-stimulated DCs were injected locally. The antitumor effect of the treatment was evaluated by measuring the size of the tumor on the opposite flank, and the immunological responses were assessed using tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, splenocytes and draining lymph nodes. Tumor growth was strongly inhibited in mice that exhibited efficient DC migration after RFA and OK-432-stimulated DC transfer, as compared to mice treated with RFA alone or treatment involving immature DC transfer. We also demonstrated that the antitumor effect of this treatment depended on both CD8-positive and CD4-positive cells. On the basis of our findings, we believe that combination therapy for metastatic liver cancer consisting of OK-432-stimulated DCs in combination with RFA can proceed to clinical trials, and it is anticipated to be markedly superior to RFA single therapy. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Frequency of CD45RO+ subset in CD4+CD25high regulatory T cells associated with progression of hepatocellular carcinoma

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系The purpose of this study was to assess the properties of CD4+CD25high/low/negative T cell subsets and analyze their relation with dendritic cells (DCs) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In HCC patients, the prevalence of CD45RO+ cells in CD4+CD25high T cells was increased and associated with higher frequencies of plasmacytoid DCs. Larger proportions of this T cell subset were detected in the patients with larger tumor burdens. These results suggest that increased frequencies of the CD45RO+ subset in CD4+CD25high Tregs in HCC patients may establish the immunosuppressive environment cooperatively with tolerogenic plasmacytoid DCs to promote disease progression of liver cancer. © 2011