Mineralogy of Y-981971 LL Chondrite and Brecciation Processes of the LL Parent Body

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第35回南極隕石シンポジウム 11月30日（金） 国立国語研究所 2階講

The Behaviour of Lead in Silica-Saturated, Copper Smelting Systems

The equilibrium distribution coefficients of lead between the matte, slag and metallic phases in the silica-saturated, copper smelting system were determined. These experiments were carried out by simultaneously equilibrating the various phases in silica crucibles at 1300℃. The conditions investigated in this study ranged from iron and copper alloy saturation at low oxygen potentials to a sulfur dioxide partial pressure of 0.1 atm and up to a matte grade of 75 wt. % Cu. The lead was found primarily in matte except in the presence of the copper alloy phase. The accumulation of lead in the copper alloy phase was pronounced, particularly at low oxygen potentials. Under conventional smelting conditions, the lead content in slag increased with increasing matte grade. The behaviour of lead was explained by proposing metallic and sulfidic species in matte and oxidic and sulfidic dissolution in slag. In this manner, the activity coefficients of the various species were calculated in their respective phases

Isolation, characterization and comparison of Atlantic and Chinook salmon growth hormone 1 and 2

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Growth hormone (GH) is an important regulator of skeletal growth, as well as other adapted processes in salmonids. The GH gene (<it>gh</it>) in salmonids is represented by duplicated, non-allelic isoforms designated as <it>gh1 </it>and <it>gh2</it>. We have isolated and characterized <it>gh</it>-containing bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) of both Atlantic and Chinook salmon (<it>Salmo salar </it>and <it>Oncorhynchus tshawytscha</it>) in order to further elucidate our understanding of the conservation and regulation of these loci.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>BACs containing <it>gh1 </it>and <it>gh2 </it>from both Atlantic and Chinook salmon were assembled, annotated, and compared to each other in their coding, intronic, regulatory, and flanking regions. These BACs also contain the genes for skeletal muscle sodium channel oriented in the same direction. The sequences of the genes for interferon alpha-1, myosin alkali light chain and microtubule associated protein Tau were also identified, and found in opposite orientations relative to <it>gh1 </it>and <it>gh2</it>. Viability of each of these genes was examined by PCR. We show that transposon insertions have occurred differently in the promoters of <it>gh</it>, within and between each species. Other differences within the promoters and intronic and 3'-flanking regions of the four <it>gh </it>genes provide evidence that they have distinct regulatory modes and possibly act to function differently and/or during different times of salmonid development.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A core proximal promoter for transcription of both <it>gh1 </it>and <it>gh2 </it>is conserved between the two species of salmon. Nevertheless, transposon integration and regulatory element differences do exist between the promoters of <it>gh1 </it>and <it>gh2</it>. Additionally, organization of transposon families into the BACs containing <it>gh1 </it>and for the BACs containing <it>gh2</it>, are very similar within orthologous regions, but much less clear conservation is apparent in comparisons between the <it>gh1</it>- and <it>gh2</it>-containing paralogous BACs for the two fish species. This is consistent with the hypothesis that a burst of transposition activity occurred during the speciation events which led to Atlantic and Pacific salmon. The Chinook and other <it>Oncorhynchus </it>GH1s are strikingly different in comparison to the other GHs and this change is not apparent in the surrounding non-coding sequences.</p

Fresnel lens sidewall design for imaging optics

We developed a ray tracing simulation tool for imaging systems including a Fresnel lens with a quasi-arbitrary sidewall structure. One issue with Fresnel lens is that noise in the image plane can appear from rays passing through or reflected at its sidewalls. One way to reduce it is to modify the orientation of the sidewalls so that rays will not reach the image plane. To find the best sidewall orientations, we developed a method where locally, a sidewall can freely be oriented. We could then derive the best modulation scheme for each Fresnel lens sidewall. In the case of a single imaging Fresnel lens, relative parasite noise intensity could mostly be prevented. To experimentally check our method, snapshot images were taken with single Fresnel lenses and a single spherical lens. No noticeable differences in image quality could be observed using a standard C-MOS camera. However, parasite noise could experimentally be detected with a Fresnel lens prototype when using a very high-dynamic range C-MOS camera

Serum chemokine profile in patients with bullous pemphigoid

金沢大学大学院医学系研究科血管分子科学Background: Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease causing blister formation at the dermoepidermal junction. Cutaneous infiltration of activated CD4+ T cells and eosinophils is an early event in blister formation during the disease process, suggesting that the trafficking of circulating leucocytes through the sites of inflammation is crucial in the pathogenesis of the disease. While the accumulated evidence suggests that some cytokines are involved in the pathogenesis, there have been few reports about serum chemokine profiles in patients with BP. Objectives: To determine serum profiles of various chemokines and their clinical association in patients with BP. Methods: Concentrations of 10 chemokines - interferon (IFN)-γ- inducible protein-10 (IP-10), monokine induced by IFN-γ (MIG), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, eotaxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, MCP-2, MCP-3 and growth-regulated oncogene-α- were measured in serum samples from 38 patients with BP, 16 with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and 17 normal controls using a sandwich immunoassay-based multiplex protein array system. Results: While there was no significant increase in any serum chemokine levels in patients with PV, serum levels of IP-10 and MCP-1 were significantly increased in patients with BP compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, serum levels of IP-10, MIG, MCP-1 and eotaxin in patients with BP increased significantly with disease severity as determined by the area affected. Conclusions: These observations suggest that an elaborately orchestrated network of chemokines, especially MCP-1 and IP-10, contributes to the pathomechanism of BP. © 2007 The Authors

Increased serum levels of a proliferation-inducing ligand in patients with bullous pemphigoid

金沢大学大学院医学系研究科血管分子科学Background: B cells have been demonstrated to have critical roles in developing autoimmune bullous diseases. Recently identified tumor necrosis factor-like molecules, B cell-activating factor of the TNF family (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are essential molecules for B cell development, survival, and proliferation. Although the functions of APRIL have not been fully evaluated, recent studies suggest that circulating levels of APRIL are increased in various autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. Objectives: To determine serum APRIL levels in patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and bullous pemphigoid (BP), and compare those with clinical findings and laboratory findings. Patients/Methods: Sera from 15 PV patients, 43 BP patients, and 15 normal controls were subjected to ELISA assays to measure serum APRIL, BAFF, Dsg3, and BP180 levels. Results and conclusions: Circulating APRIL levels were significantly elevated in BP patients but not in PV patients, and correlated with serum BAFF levels. Our study revealed that serum APRIL levels tended to be increased in the quite early stage of disease. In conclusion, circulating APRIL levels may be a useful marker for early activation of autoimmune diathesis, and furthermore, an effective therapeutic target molecule in patients with BP. © 2007 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology