X-ray and Neutron Study on the Structure of Hydrous SiO2 Glass up to 10 GPa

The structure of hydrous amorphous SiO2 is fundamental in order to investigate the effects of water on the physicochemical properties of oxide glasses and magma. The hydrous SiO2 glass with 13 wt.% D2O was synthesized under high-pressure and high-temperature conditions and its structure was investigated by small angle X-ray scattering, X-ray diffraction, and neutron diffraction experiments at pressures of up to 10 GPa and room temperature. This hydrous glass is separated into two phases: a major phase rich in SiO2 and a minor phase rich in D2O molecules distributed as small domains with dimensions of less than 100 angstrom. Medium-range order of the hydrous glass shrinks compared to the anhydrous SiO2 glass by disruption of SiO4 linkage due to the formation of Si-OD deuterioxyl, while the response of its structure to pressure is almost the same as that of the anhydrous SiO2 glass. Most of D2O molecules are in the small domains and hardly penetrate into the void space in the ring consisting of SiO4 tetrahedra

Identification of novel canonical strigolactones produced by tomato

Canonical strigolactones (SLs), such as orobanchol, consist of a tricyclic lactone ring (ABC-ring) connected to a methylbutenolide (D-ring). Tomato plants have been reported to produce not only orobanchol but also various canonical SLs related to the orobanchol structure, including orobanchyl acetate, 7-hydroxyorobanchol isomers, 7-oxoorobanchol, and solanacol. In addition to these, structurally unidentified SL-like compounds known as didehydroorobanchol isomers (DDHs), whose molecular mass is 2 Da smaller than that of orobanchol, have been found. Although the SL biosynthetic pathway in tomato is partially characterized, structural elucidation of DDHs is required for a better understanding of the entire biosynthetic pathway. In this study, three novel canonical SLs with the same molecular mass as DDHs were identified in tomato root exudates. The first was 6,7-didehydroorobanchol, while the other two were not in the DDH category. These two SLs were designated phelipanchol and epiphelipanchol because they induced the germination of Phelipanche ramosa, a noxious root parasitic weed of tomato. We also proposed a putative biosynthetic pathway incorporating these novel SLs from orobanchol to solanacol

Biomechanical Analysis of a Pedicle Screw-Rod System with a Novel Cross-Link Configuration

Study DesignThe strength effects of a pedicle screw-rod system supplemented with a novel cross-link configuration were biomechanically evaluated in porcine spines.PurposeTo assess the biomechanical differences between a conventional cross-link pedicle screw-rod system versus a novel cross-link instrumentation, and to determine the effect of the cross-links.Overview of LiteratureTransverse cross-link systems affect torsional rigidity, but are thought to have little impact on the sagittal motion of spinal constructs. We tested the strength effects in pullout and flexion-compression tests of novel cross-link pedicle screw constructs using porcine thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.MethodsFive matched thoracic and lumbar vertebral segments from 15 porcine spines were instrumented with 5.0-mm pedicle screws, which were then connected with 6.0-mm rods after partial corpectomy in the middle vertebral body. The forces required for construct failure in pullout and flexion-compression tests were examined in a randomized manner for three different cross-link configurations: un-cross-link control, conventional cross-link, and cross-link passing through the base of the spinous process. Statistical comparisons of strength data were analyzed using Student's t-tests.ResultsThe spinous process group required a significantly greater pullout force for construct failure than the control group (p=0.036). No difference was found between the control and cross-link groups, or the cross-link and spinous process groups in pullout testing. In flexion-compression testing, the spinous processes group required significantly greater forces for construct failure than the control and cross-link groups (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). However, there was no difference between the control and cross-link groups.ConclusionsA novel cross-link configuration that features cross-link devices passing through the base of the spinous processes increased the mechanical resistance in pullout and flexion-compression testing compared to un-cross-link constructs. This configuration provided more resistance to middle-column damage under flexion-compression testing than conventional cross-link configuration

The K computer Operations: Experiences and Statistics

AbstractThe K computer, released on September 29, 2012, is a large-scale parallel supercomputer system consisting of 82,944 compute nodes. We have been able to resolve a significant number of operation issues since its release. Some system software components have been fixed and improved to obtain higher stability and utilization. We achieved 94% service availability because of a low hardware failure rate and approximately 80% node utilization by careful adjustment of operation parameters. We found that the K computer is an extremely stable and high utilization system

The Pavlik harness in the treatment of developmentally dislocated hips: results of Japanese multicenter studies in 1994 and 2008

AbstractBackgroundIt has already been more than 50years since the Pavlik harness was introduced in Japan, and today the Pavlik harness is widely recognized as the standard initial treatment modality for developmental dysplasia of the hip. We performed a multicenter nationwide questionnaire study concerning the results of Pavlik harness treatment twice in 1994 and 2008.MethodsIn 1994 and in 2008, we sent questionnaires to 12 institutes in Japan specializing mainly in pediatric orthopedics. We compare the results of these two studies and discuss differences in reduction rates, incidence of avascular necrosis in the femoral epiphysis and the percentage of joints with acceptable morphology (Severin grade I+II/total) at skeletal maturity. We statistically assessed these results to see whether there were changes in the treatment outcomes over this 14-year period.ResultsReduction of the dislocated hips was obtained by the Pavlik harness in 80.2% (1990/2481 hips; 1994) and 81.9% (1248/1523 hips; 2008). The incidences of avascular necrosis of the proximal femoral epiphysis in the dysplastic hips were 14.3% (119/835 hips; 1994) and 11.5% (76/663 hips; 2008). The type of avascular necrosis in hips from the 2008 study was determined according to the classification of Kalamchi and MacEwen: 24/69 hips (34.8%) were classified as group I; 20/69 hips (29.0%) as group II; 11/69 hips (15.9%) as group Ill; 14/69 hips (20.3%) as group IV. The percentages of hips with acceptable outcomes at skeletal maturity discerned from Severin X-ray changes (grade I+II/total) were 72.3% (604/835 hips; 1994) and 77.7% (488/628 hips; 2008).ConclusionReduction rates and the incidence of avascular necrosis in 2008 were statistically similar to the results in 1994. The rate of acceptable outcome (Severin grade I+II/total) in 2008 was statistically higher than that of 1994

Tree of motility – A proposed history of motility systems in the tree of life

Motility often plays a decisive role in the survival of species. Five systems of motility have been studied in depth: those propelled by bacterial flagella, eukaryotic actin polymerization and the eukaryotic motor proteins myosin, kinesin and dynein. However, many organisms exhibit surprisingly diverse motilities, and advances in genomics, molecular biology and imaging have showed that those motilities have inherently independent mechanisms. This makes defining the breadth of motility nontrivial, because novel motilities may be driven by unknown mechanisms. Here, we classify the known motilities based on the unique classes of movement-producing protein architectures. Based on this criterion, the current total of independent motility systems stands at 18 types. In this perspective, we discuss these modes of motility relative to the latest phylogenetic Tree of Life and propose a history of motility. During the ~4 billion years since the emergence of life, motility arose in Bacteria with flagella and pili, and in Archaea with archaella. Newer modes of motility became possible in Eukarya with changes to the cell envelope. Presence or absence of a peptidoglycan layer, the acquisition of robust membrane dynamics, the enlargement of cells and environmental opportunities likely provided the context for the (co)evolution of novel types of motility

Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and Transforming Growth Factor-beta Synergistically Upregulate Endothelin-1 Expression in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells BEAS-2B

Endothelin-1 is a peptide with many functions including bronchoconstriction and the stimulation of fibroblasts, and myofibroblasts, and airway smooth muscle cell proliferation. These functions are related to airway remodeling and endothelin-1 is known to be upregulated in the epithelium of patients with severe asthma. We thus sought to elucidate the mechanisms underlying endothelin-1 expression in bronchial epithelial cells in vitro. The human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B was grown in culture and then treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-13 (IL-13), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Expression of endothelin-1 mRNA and protein was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. We also repressed expression of the key transcription factor in the pathogenesis of severe asthma, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), using small interfering RNA (siRNA). TNF-α and TGF-β significantly increased the release of endothelin-1 protein into the culture medium of BEAS-2B cells at 24 h after treatment compared to untreated cells; however, the Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13, had no effect. Endothelin-1 mRNA expression was also upregulated by TNF-α and TGF-β with a peak time point at 4 h after stimulation. Finally, the combination of TNF-α and TGF-β synergistically increased both endothelin-1 protein secretion and mRNA expression, and this upregulation was significantly suppressed in cells transfected with siRNA to repress NF-κB expression. TNF-α and TGF-β synergistically upregulate the expression of endothelin-1 in human bronchial epithelial cells, possibly via the activity of NF-κB. Our findings thus suggest NF-κBa as a potential therapeutic target for the regulation of airway remodeling

Spherical Lactic Acid Bacteria Activate Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cells Immunomodulatory Function via TLR9-Dependent Crosstalk with Myeloid Dendritic Cells

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) are a specialized sensor of viral and bacterial nucleic acids and a major producer of IFN-α that promotes host defense by priming both innate and acquired immune responses. Although synthetic Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands, pathogenic bacteria and viruses activate pDC, there is limited investigation of non-pathogenic microbiota that are in wide industrial dietary use, such as lactic acid bacteria (LAB). In this study, we screened for LAB strains, which induce pDC activation and IFN-α production using murine bone marrow (BM)-derived Flt-3L induced dendritic cell culture. Microbial strains with such activity on pDC were absent in a diversity of bacillary strains, but were observed in certain spherical species (Lactococcus, Leuconostoc, Streptococcus and Pediococcus), which was correlated with their capacity for uptake by pDC. Detailed study of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis JCM5805 and JCM20101 revealed that the major type I and type III interferons were induced (IFN-α, -β, and λ). IFN-α induction was TLR9 and MyD88-dependent; a slight impairment was also observed in TLR4-/- cells. While these responses occurred with purified pDC, IFN-α production was synergistic upon co-culture with myeloid dendritic cells (mDC), an interaction that required direct mDC-pDC contact. L. lactis strains also stimulated expression of immunoregulatory receptors on pDC (ICOS-L and PD-L1), and accordingly augmented pDC induction of CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg compared to the Lactobacillus strain. Oral administration of L. lactis JCM5805 induced significant activation of pDC resident in the intestinal draining mesenteric lymph nodes, but not in a remote lymphoid site (spleen). Taken together, certain non-pathogenic spherical LAB in wide dietary use has potent and diverse immunomodulatory effects on pDC potentially relevant to anti-viral immunity and chronic inflammatory disease