Energy dependence of K−K^--"pppp" effective potential derived from coupled-channel Green's function

We investigate the energy dependence of a single-channel effective potential between the $K^-$ and the "$pp$"-core nucleus, which can be obtained as an $K^-$-"$pp$" equivalent local potential from a coupled-channel model for $\bar{K}(NN)$-$\pi(\Sigma N)$ systems. It turns out that the imaginary part of the resultant potential near the $\pi \Sigma N$ decay threshold can well approximate the phase space suppression factor of $K^-pp \to \pi \Sigma N$ decay modes. The effects on the pole position of the $\pi(\Sigma N)$ state in the $\pi \Sigma N$ channel are also discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, Proceedings of the International Conference on Exotic Atoms and Related Topics (EXA2011), September 5-9, 2011, Wien, Austria, to appear in Hyperfine Interaction

Calculation of the 3^3He(in-flight K−K^-,nn) reaction for searching the deeply-bound K−ppK^-pp state

The formation of a deeply-bound $K^-pp$ state by the $^3$He(in-flight $K^-$,$n$) reaction is investigated theoretically in the distorted-wave impulse approximation using the Green's function method. The expected inclusive and semi-exclusive spectra at $p_{K^-}$ = 1.0 GeV/c and $\theta_n = 0^{\circ}$ are calculated for the forthcoming J-PARC E15 experiment. We employ optical potentials between the $K^-$ and ``$pp$'' core-nucleus, and demonstrate systematically the dependence of the spectral shape on $V_0$ and $W_0$, which are the real and imaginary parts of the strength for the optical potential, respectively. The necessary condition to observe a distinct peak of the $K^-pp$ bound state with $I=1/2$, $J^\pi=0^-$ in the spectrum turns out to be that the value of $V_0$ is deeper than $\sim-100$ MeV and $W_0$ shallower than $\sim-100$ MeV, of which the strength parameters come up to recent theoretical predictions.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figures, REVTeX 4, accepted for publication in Physics Letters

Cathepsin G, a Neutrophil Protease, Induces Compact Cell-Cell Adhesion in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells

Cathepsin G is a serine protease secreted by activated neutrophils that play a role in the inflammatory response. Because neutrophils are known to be invading leukocytes in various tumors, their products may influence the characteristics of tumor cells such as the growth state, motility, and the adhesiveness between cells or the extracellular matrix. Here, we demonstrate that cathepsin G induces cell-cell adhesion of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells resulting from the contact inhibition of cell movement on fibronectin but not on type IV collagen. Cathepsin G subsequently induced cell condensation, a very compact cell colony, resulting due to the increased strength of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion. Cathepsin G action is protease activity-dependent and was inhibited by the presence of serine protease inhibitors. Cathepsin G promotes E-cadherin/catenin complex formation and Rap1 activation in MCF-7 cells, which reportedly regulates E-cadherin-based cell-cell junctions. Cathepsin G also promotes E-cadherin/protein kinase D1 (PKD1) complex formation, and Go6976, the selective PKD1 inhibitor, suppressed the cathepsin G-induced cell condensation. Our findings provide the first evidence that cathepsin G regulates E-cadherin function, suggesting that cathepsin G has a novel modulatory role against tumor cell-cell adhesion

Very Low Nucleation Rates of Glucose Isomerase Crystals under Microgravity in the International Space Station

In situ observation of the nucleation and growth of glucose isomerase (GI) crystals under microgravity was conducted using an optical microscope during the first flight of the Advanced Nano Step project undertaken in the International Space Station (ISS). Very low apparent nucleation rates (J’) of GI crystals in the solution and on the substrate of the growth container were confirmed compared with those on the ground. In particular, J’ of GI crystals in the solution were a few times lower than that on the substrate. The growth rates (R) of the {101} faces of GI crystals on the substrate and the apparent growth rates (R’) in the solution were measured. The very low nucleation rates allowed us to successfully measure R at a very high supersaturation region (up to ln(C/Ce) = 6), at which R cannot be measured on the ground

A simplified numerical model for evaluating sediment control by open-type sabo dams in the Joganji River basin

The present study proposes a method to estimate sediment runoff by introducing a dam function of the relationship between inflow sediment and sediment runoff through a slit dam. The model can process rainfall runoff, sediment yield and runoff of a mountainous basin, and the model is applied to the upper reaches of the Joganji River basin, which is known for its huge amount of sediment runoff and intense bed variation because of the sediment yield caused by the earthquake in 1858. The performance of the calculations of sediment control of the slit dam is evaluated by the model. The result indicates that sediment deposition is significantly changed by sediment runoff. The proposed method can be expected to evaluate sediment transport with sabo dams on a basin scale

Association Between Tooth Loss and Longitudinal Changes in B-Type Natriuretic Peptide Over 5 Years in Postmenopausal Women: The Nagahama Study

BACKGROUND: There is disparity between the sexes in cardiovascular diseases including heart failure (HF). This study aimed to investigate the effect of periodontal disease (PD) on plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration across sex, age, and menopausal status, as well as the interaction effect of MT and diabetes mellitus (DM) on BNP. METHODS: This large-scale prospective cohort study enrolled 7, 539 individuals with no myocardial infarctions or angina pectoris at baseline from the general Japanese population. The association between baseline number of missing teeth (MT) and the longitudinal changes in BNP over 5 years (ΔBNP) was evaluated according to sex and menopausal status. RESULTS: Among 7, 539 participants, 3, 190 were postmenopausal women with a mean age ± standard deviation of 61.1 ± 7.6 at baseline. Multivariate analysis revealed a positive association between MT and ΔBNP among postmenopausal women even after adjusting for covariates, including traditional HF risk factors (coefficient, 0.210; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.107 to 0.312; P 50. Including an interaction term (MT × DM) in the multivariate model revealed a positive interaction between MT and DM in ΔBNP among postmenopausal women (coefficient for interaction, 1.365; 95% CI, 0.902 to 1.827; P for interaction <0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed a positive association between MT and ΔBNP, as well as a positive effect of the interactive association between MT and DM, among postmenopausal women. Our results suggest a sex difference of an adverse effect of PD on initial myocardial wall stress in the ventricles

Features of and Mechanisms Underlying Insulitis In aly/aly Male Mice as an Animal Model of Autoimmune Pancreatitis: Activation of CD11c+, CD4+, and Th2 Cells and Predominant Destruction of β-cells

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is observed in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). The development of DM in AIP is believed to be due to blood flow obstruction of the endocrine gland that accompanies pancreatitis, as well as injury to the islets caused by inflammation. The latter is called insulitis and the detailed mechanisms underlying its development are not yet clear. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the development of insulitis in AIP using aly mice as an animal model of AIP: results in aly/aly male mice, as the AIP group, were compared with those inaly/+ male mice as a control group. Mice in both groups were killed between 16 and 48 weeks of age, and pancreatitis and insulitis were evaluated histologically. Inflammatory and endocrine cells were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining with anti-CD4, anti-CD8, anti-CD11b, and anti-CD11c antibodies, as well as immunohistochemical analyses using insulin and glucagon antibodies. Plasma levels and the pancreatic content of interferon (IFN)-γ (as a Th1-secreted cytokine) and interleukin (IL)-4 (as a Th2-secreted cytokine) were determined. Pancreatitis was seen in aly/aly mice from 16 weeks of age and it developed gradually thereafter. Insulitis also developed gradually and was seen in mice after 24 weeks of age in association with a decrease in the number of islets. CD11c+ cells and CD4+ T cells were seen to infiltrate into the islets. Although the number of β-cells decreased with time, the number of α-cells was maintained until mice were 48 weeks of age. IFN-γ content peaked in mice at 16 weeks of age and declined rapidly from 20 weeks. There were two peaks in IL-4 content, one at 16 weeks and the other at 32 weeks, suggesting an association between IL-4 content and advanced insulitis after 32 weeks. In conclusion, the results suggest that insulitis in AIP is induced predominantly by the infiltration of CD11c+ cells and CD4+ T cells into the islets, and progression is facilitated by the imbalance of the activation of Th2 rather than Th1. Furthermore, insulitis in AIP predominantly involves β-cells rather than α-cells

Preparation of mechanically patterned hydrogels for controlling the self-condensation of cells

Synthetic protocols providing mechanical patterns to culture substrate are essential to control the self-condensation of cells for organoid engineering. Here, we present a protocol for preparing hydrogels with mechanical patterns. We describe steps for hydrogel synthesis, mechanical evaluation of the substrate, and time-lapse imaging of cell self-organization. This protocol will facilitate the rational design of culture substrates with mechanical patterns for the engineering of various functional organoids. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Takebe et al. (2015) and Matsuzaki et al. (2014, 2022).Matsuzaki T., Kawano Y., Horikiri M., et al. Preparation of mechanically patterned hydrogels for controlling the self-condensation of cells. STAR Protocols 4, 102471 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102471

Isospin Properties of (K−K^-, NN) Reactions for the Formation of Deeply-bound Antikaonic Nuclei

The formation of deeply-bound antikaonic $K^-/\bar{K}^0$ nuclear states by nuclear ($K^-$, $N$) reactions is investigated theoretically within a distorted-wave impulse approximation (DWIA), considering the isospin properties of the Fermi-averaged $K^-+ N \to N + \bar{K}$ elementary amplitudes. We calculate the formation cross sections of the deeply-bound $\bar{K}$ states by the ($K^-$, $N$) reactions on the nuclear targets, $^{12}$C and $^{28}$Si, at incident $K^-$ lab momentum $p_{K^-}$ = 1.0 GeV/c and $\theta_{\rm lab} = 0^{\circ}$, introducing a complex effective nucleon number $N_{\rm eff}$ for unstable bound states in the DWIA. The results show that the deeply-bound $\bar{K}$ states can be populated dominantly by the ($K^-$, $n$) reaction via the total isoscalar $\Delta T=0$ transition owing to the isospin nature of the $K^-+ N \to N + \bar{K}$ amplitudes, and that the cross sections described by ${\rm Re}N_{\rm eff}$ and ${\rm Arg}N_{\rm eff}$ enable to deduce the structure of the $\bar{K}$ nuclear states; the calculated inclusive nucleon spectra for a deep $\bar{K}$-nucleus potential do not show distinct peak structure in the bound region. The few-body $\bar{K}\otimes [NN]$ and $\bar{K}\otimes [NNN]$ states formed in ($K^-$, $N$) reactions on $s$-shell nuclear targets, $^3$He, $^3$H and $^4$He, are also discussed.Comment: 61 pages, 17 figures, proofread version to be published in Nucl. Phys.