New auroral spectrometer using an acousto-optic tunable filter

This paper reports the performance and capability of a newly developed zenith spectrometer (for measurements of airglow and aurora) that uses an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF). The AOTF can scan the pass-band of the spectrometer between 450 and 700 nm with a bandwidth of 2-3 nm by changing the RF driver frequency from 180 to 100 MHz. The absolute sensitivity of the spectrometer is ～0.1-1.5 counts/Rayleigh/s per spectral step. The spectrometer is fully automated. The O I (557.7 nm) airglow line can be clearly identified in test observations of midlatitude airglow performed at Shigaraki Observatory, Japan. Based on an estimate of the signal-to-noise ratio, we conclude that the full auroral spectrum (450-700) nm can be measured by the AOTF spectrometer with a time resolution of ～100 s and a signal-to-noise ratio of ～100 for an auroral emission intensity of 10 kR. An example of the auroral spectra is shown for observations made at Syowa Station in Antarctica

Association between plasma levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor and renal dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease

Background: Although plasma pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) levels have been shown to be significantly correlated with the levels of creatinine (Cr) in type 2 diabetes, little is known about the association between PEDF levels and renal dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: We enrolled 134 consecutive patients with diagnosed CAD and measured plasma levels of PEDF, serum Cr, uric acid (UA) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP). Results: Plasma PEDF levels were positively correlated with serum Cr (p < 0.0001) and UA (p < 0.0001) and negatively correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (p < 0.0001), whereas there was no association between plasma PEDF and age or hsCRP. When the subjects were divided into five groups (0&#8211;4) according to the number of metabolic factors (obesity, diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia), PEDF levels in patients with four factors were significantly higher than those in patients without factors. Next, we divided the patients into quartiles according to their plasma PEDF levels (< 9.9 &#956;g/mL, 9.9&#8211;12.8, 12.9&#8211; &#8211;15.7, > 15.7). The eGFR in the first group was significantly higher than those in the third and fourth groups. Multivariate logistic analysis indicated that eGFR (p < 0.0001) and age (p = 0.030) were significant independent variables that correlated with the quartile classification according to PEDF levels. Conclusions: This study revealed that PEDF may play a role in renal dysfunction in CAD patients. (Cardiol J 2011; 18, 5: 515&#8211;520

Hydrophobic silica aerogel production at KEK

We present herein a characterization of a standard method used at the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) to produce hydrophobic silica aerogels and expand this method to obtain a wide range of refractive index (n = 1.006-1.14). We describe in detail the entire production process and explain the methods used to measure the characteristic parameters of aerogels, namely the refractive index, transmittance, and density. We use a small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) technique to relate the transparency to the fine structure of aerogels.Comment: To be published in Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A, 9 pages, 10 figures, 1 tabl

A pre-metazoan origin of the CRK gene family and co-opted signaling network.

CRK and CRKL adapter proteins play essential roles in development and cancer through their SRC homology 2 and 3 (SH2 and SH3) domains. To gain insight into the origin of their shared functions, we have investigated their evolutionary history. We propose a term, crk/crkl ancestral (crka), for orthologs in invertebrates before the divergence of CRK and CRKL in the vertebrate ancestor. We have isolated two orthologs expressed in the choanoflagellate Monosiga brevicollis, a unicellular relative to the metazoans. Consistent with its highly-conserved three-dimensional structure, the SH2 domain of M. brevicollis crka1 can bind to the mammalian CRK/CRKL SH2 binding consensus phospho-YxxP, and to the SRC substrate/focal adhesion protein BCAR1 (p130(CAS)) in the presence of activated SRC. These results demonstrate an ancient origin of the CRK/CRKL SH2-target recognition specificity. Although BCAR1 orthologs exist only in metazoans as identified by an N-terminal SH3 domain, YxxP motifs, and a C-terminal FAT-like domain, some pre-metazoan transmembrane proteins include several YxxP repeats in their cytosolic region, suggesting that they are remotely related to the BCAR1 substrate domain. Since the tyrosine kinase SRC also has a pre-metazoan origin, co-option of BCAR1-related sequences may have rewired the crka-dependent network to mediate adhesion signals in the metazoan ancestor