H_2 Dissociative Adsorption at the Armchair Edges of Graphite

We investigate and discuss how hydrogen behaves at the edges of a graphite sheet, in particular the armchair edge. Our density functional theory-based calculations results show that, in contrast to the zigzag edge [cf., e-J. Surf. Sci. Nanotech. 2 (2004) 77], regardless of orientation, there is an activation barrier hindering H_2 dissociation at the armchair edges. And once they do get dissociatively adsorbed at the armchair edges, we find that it would be extremely hard to desorb the H from their adsorption sites at the armchair edges. Furthermore, we also found that, consistent with our earlier conclusions [cf., J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 72 (2003) 1867], it is unlikely that we would find a whole H_2 in between plain graphite sheets.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, preprin

Feasibility Trial of Oral UFT after Platinum-based Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Resected Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

We evaluated the feasibility of maintenance treatment using UFT (a combination of tegafur and uracil) after adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy in patients with resected lung cancer. A prospective feasibility trial was conducted. Between 2010 and 2014, UFT was administered for 2 years sequentially after platinum-based adjuvant chemotherapy in 24 patients with resected Stage IIA-IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. The safety of UFT and the rate of treatment completion were then evaluated. The prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimens consisted of cisplatin+vinorelbine in 16 patients, carboplatin+paclitaxel in 5 and carboplatin+S-1 in one. During the subsequent UFT administration, a total of 3 patients required a dose reduction because of Grade 1 blood-stained sputum, Grade 2 numbness, and Grade 2 constipation, in one patient each. Eleven patients underwent the planned 2-year UFT administration, but 12 patients could not because of the recurrence of lung cancer in 5 patients, metachronous malignancy in one, and toxicities in 6. The completion rate for UFT administration was 64.7% (11/17). The most common type of toxicity was gastrointestinal toxicities. All of the toxicities were grade 1 or 2, and no severe toxicities were observed. UFT treatment after platinum-based chemotherapy was revealed to be feasible

Abnormal social behavior, hyperactivity, impaired remote spatial memory, and increased D1-mediated dopaminergic signaling in neuronal nitric oxide synthase knockout mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is involved in the regulation of a diverse population of intracellular messenger systems in the brain. In humans, abnormal NOS/nitric oxide metabolism is suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of some neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Mice with targeted disruption of the nNOS gene exhibit abnormal behaviors. Here, we subjected nNOS knockout (KO) mice to a battery of behavioral tests to further investigate the role of nNOS in neuropsychiatric functions. We also examined the role of nNOS in dopamine/DARPP-32 signaling in striatal slices from nNOS KO mice and the effects of the administration of a dopamine D1 receptor agonist on behavior in nNOS KO mice.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>nNOS KO mice showed hyperlocomotor activity in a novel environment, increased social interaction in their home cage, decreased depression-related behavior, and impaired spatial memory retention. In striatal slices from nNOS KO mice, the effects of a dopamine D1 receptor agonist, SKF81297, on the phosphorylation of DARPP-32 and AMPA receptor subunit GluR1 at protein kinase A sites were enhanced. Consistent with the biochemical results, intraperitoneal injection of a low dose of SKF81297 significantly decreased prepulse inhibition in nNOS KO mice, but not in wild-type mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings indicate that nNOS KO upregulates dopamine D1 receptor signaling, and induces abnormal social behavior, hyperactivity and impaired remote spatial memory. nNOS KO mice may serve as a unique animal model of psychiatric disorders.</p

Mediastinal and Hilar Lymph Node Metastases from Renal Cell Carcinoma with Concomitant Lung Carcinoma: A Rare Case with Unique Diagnostic Challenges

A 75-year-old man presented to our hospital 1 year after partial renal resection for clear cell carcinoma. A right lower lobe lung nodule noted at the time of surgery had increased to 3.0 cm in diameter and was confirmed as squamous cell lung carcinoma by bronchoscopic cytology. Computed tomography had also revealed paratracheal lymph node swelling. He underwent right lower lobectomy with lymph node dissection by video-assisted thoracic surgery. Pathological examination confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the lung but diagnosed the right hilar and mediastinal lymph node metastases as clear cell carcinoma

Nutrition as Scientific Knowledge in Physical Education and Sports: Historical Documents of Meiji Period

体育・スポーツ現場において、科学知に基づいた栄養教育がアスリートに実施されるべきであり、その栄養教育の担い手として競技指導者の役割が重要であると認識されている。しかしながら、科学知を軽視した栄養教育が体育・スポーツ現場の指導者によって行われているという現象も見うけられる。その背景には、そもそも体育・スポーツの指導現場において「栄養」が科学知として位置づけられているのかという問題が横たわる。本研究の目的は、明治時代の体育・スポーツにおいて、「栄養」が科学知としてどのように成立し、展開してきたかを明らかにすることであった。研究の結果から、体育・スポーツにおける「栄養」の位置づけにより、「黎明期（明治元年～明治10年代）」、「導入期（明治20～40年代）」の2期に分類することができた。黎明期に「栄養」を科学知として扱った記述はほぼ皆無であったが、体育において「栄養」が位置づけられ始めてきたと推察される記述がみられた。導入期では、個々人の発育のために摂取すべき栄養素の種類や量、そして摂取する食品に含まれる栄養素量についてのデータが資料に記載されており、当時の「栄養」に関する最先端の科学知が盛り込まれた内容となっていたことから、「栄養」が科学知として成立したことが明らかとなった。さらに、この時期には「栄養」について記載された体育書が体育教員らよって数多く出版された。そして、これらがたくさんの体育専門家の目にふれ、体育の現場に科学知としての「栄養」が導入されていったのではないかと推察される。It is recognized that the role of a coach is important for nutrition education in physical education and sports. However, some coaches of physical education and sports have been known to impart nutrition education that is lacking in scientific knowledge. In this context, it is not clear whether "nutrition" was originally positioned as scientific knowledge in physical education and sports. The aim of this study is to clarify how "Nutrition" was established and developed based on scientific knowledge in the Meiji Period and used in physical education and sports. "Nutrition" in physical education and sports can be classified into two stages: the "Dawn period (Meiji 1st ~ Meiji 10s)" and the "Introduction period (Meiji 20-40s). "There is almost no description dealing with "Nutrition" as scientific knowledge in the dawn period, but "Nutrition" is clearly described as playing a role in physical education. In the introduction period, it became clear that "Nutrition" was established as scientific knowledge because the latest scientific knowledge such as the type and amount of nutrients to be ingested for growth and data on the amount of nutrients contained in foods were posted in the documents of the time. Furthermore, during the introduction period, many physical education books on "Nutrition" were published by sports teachers and others. Therefore, it can be inferred that many physical education experts had noticed these facts, and "Nutrition" as scientific knowledge gradually spread to the field of physical education

OCT with a Visible Broadband Light Source Applied to High-Resolution Nondestructive Inspection for Semiconductor Optical Devices

Optical coherence tomography with a visible broadband light source (vis-OCT) was developed for high-resolution and nondestructive measurements of semiconductor optical devices. Although a near-infrared (NIR) light source should be used for medical OCT to obtain deep penetration of biological samples, a visible broadband light source is available as a low-coherence light source for industrial products. Vis-OCT provides higher axial resolution than NIR-OCT, because the axial resolution of an OCT image is proportional to the square of the center wavelength of the light source. We developed vis-OCT with an axial resolution of less than 1 μm in air and obtained cross-sectional profiles and images of ridge-type waveguides having heights and widths of several μm. Additionally, we performed cross-sectional measurements and imaging of a stacked semiconductor thin layer. The measured values were similar to those measured by scanning electron microscopy, and the effectiveness of vis-OCT for nondestructive inspection of semiconductor optical devices was demonstrated

Comparative proteomic analysis of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ppGpp-deficient mutant to identify a novel virulence protein required for intracellular survival in macrophages

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The global ppGpp-mediated stringent response in pathogenic bacteria plays an important role in the pathogenesis of bacterial infections. In <it>Salmonella enterica </it>serovar Typhimurium (<it>S</it>. Typhimurium), several genes, including virulence genes, are regulated by ppGpp when bacteria are under the stringent response. To understand the control of virulence genes by ppGpp in <it>S</it>. Typhimurium, agarose 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) combined with mass spectrometry was used and a comprehensive 2-DE reference map of amino acid-starved <it>S</it>. Typhimurium strain SH100, a derivative of ATCC 14028, was established.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 366 examined spots, 269 proteins were successfully identified. The comparative analysis of the wild-type and ppGpp⁰mutant strains revealed 55 proteins, the expression patterns of which were affected by ppGpp. Using a mouse infection model, we further identified a novel virulence-associated factor, STM3169, from the ppGpp-regulated and <it>Salmonella</it>-specific proteins. In addition, <it>Salmonella </it>strains carrying mutations in the gene encoding STM3169 showed growth defects and impaired growth within macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, we found that expression of <it>stm3169 </it>was controlled by ppGpp and SsrB, a response regulator of the two-component system located on <it>Salmonella </it>pathogenicity island 2.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A proteomic approach using a 2-DE reference map can prove a powerful tool for analyzing virulence factors and the regulatory network involved in <it>Salmonella </it>pathogenesis. Our results also provide evidence of a global response mediated by ppGpp in <it>S. enterica</it>.</p

Therapeutic Outcomes of 15 Postoperative Bronchopleural Fistulas Including Seven Endoscopic Interventions

Therapeutic approaches to bronchopleural fistula (BPF) closure after lung resection are surgical or endoscopic interventions. We evaluated therapeutic outcomes to determine the optimal approach. We reviewed 15 patients who had developed BPF after lung resection for thoracic malignant diseases at our institution in the 10 years since 2008. The patients were 11 men and 4 women (mean age 68 years). We performed one pneumonectomy, 6 lobectomies, 7 segmentectomies, and one partial resection for malignant diseases. The median interval from lung resection to the BPF diagnosis was 46 days. The BPF-associated mortality rate was 26.7% (4/15). The rate of successful BPF closure was 66.6% (10/15). The endoscopic and surgical intervention success rates were 14.2% (1/7) and 69.2% (9/13), respectively (p<0.01). Of 5 patients who had failed BPF treatments, 4 died, and one transferred out without BPF closure. The therapeutic outcomes were related to preoperative comorbidities, performance status at the BPF diagnosis, time intervals from lung resection to BPF diagnosis, and presence of active pneumonia. The difference between endoscopic and surgical outcomes was nonsignificant, although the surgical intervention success rate was somewhat higher. The selection of endoscopic or surgical intervention for BPF does not significantly affect therapeutic outcomes

EGFR Mutation is a Prognostic Factor in Lung Cancer Patients with Pleural Dissemination Detected During or After Surgery

Background. Primary lung tumors are sometimes resected when either pleural dissemination (PD) or malignant pleural effusion (MPE) exists. This study clarified the prognostic factors for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with either PD and MPE, or both, detected during or after surgery. Patients and Methods. We examined patients with NSCLC from a multicenter database who had either PD, MPE, or both, detected during or after surgery between 2005 and 2015. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for potential confounding factors. Results. Among 9463 registered patients, PD, MPE, or both, were found in 114 patients with NSCLC during or after surgery. Primary tumor resection and exploratory thoracotomy were performed in 65 and 49 patients, respectively. In univariate analysis, adenocarcinoma, clinically undetected lymph node metastasis (c-N0 or unknown), EGFR mutation, and combination of chemotherapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors after surgery were better prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), whereas in the multivariate analysis, adenocarcinoma, clinically undetected lymph node metastasis, and EGFR mutation were favorable independent prognostic factors in OS. Additionally, limited to patients with EGFR mutation, patients with primary lung tumor resection showed a significantly better 5-year OS than those with exploratory thoracotomy (86.4 vs. 44.8%; p Conclusion. Our findings show that surgical resection of primary tumors could improve the prognosis of patients with PD, MPE, or both, detected during or after surgery when the tumors harbor an EGFR mutation

隠れマルコフモデルを用いたマウス状態の自動判定と2値マルコフモデルによるコンソミックマウス系統の特徴付け

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