Alpha lipoic acid selectively inhibits proliferation and adhesion to fibronectin of v-H-ras-transformed 3Y1 cells

Here, we focused on the effects of racemic α-lipoic acid on proliferation and adhesion properties of 3Y1 rat fibroblasts and the v-H-ras-transformed derivative, HR-3Y1-2 cells. Racemic α-lipoic acid inhibited proliferation of HR-3Y1-2 but not 3Y1 cells at 0.3 and 1.0 mM. R-(+)-α-lipoic acid also inhibited proliferation of HR-3Y1-2 cells equivalent to that of racemic α-lipoic acid. In addition, racemic α-lipoic acid decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in HR-3Y1 cells but not 3Y1 cells. Next, we evaluated the effects of racemic α-lipoic acid on cell adhesion to fibronectin. The results indicated that racemic α-lipoic acid decreased adhesive ability of HR-3Y1-2 cells to fibronectin-coated plates. As blocking antibody experiment revealed that β1-integrin plays a key role in cell adhesion in this experimental system, the effects of racemic α-lipoic acid on the expression of β1-integrin were examined. The results indicated that racemic α-lipoic acid selectively downregulated the expression of cell surface β1-integrin expression in HR-3Y1-2 cells. Intriguingly, exogenous hydrogen peroxide upregulated cell surface β1-integrin expression in 3Y1 cells. Taken together, these data suggest that reduction of intracellular reactive oxygen species levels by α-lipoic acid could be an effective means of ameliorating abnormal growth and adhesive properties in v-H-ras transformed cells

Notch controls the number of intraepithelial TCRαβ+CD8αα+ T cells

Intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) expressing CD8αα on αβ T cells (TCRαβ+CD8αα+ IELs) have suppressive capabilities in enterocolitis, but the mechanism that maintains homeostasis and cell number is not fully understood. Here, we demonstrated that the number of TCRαβ+CD8αα+ IELs was severely reduced in mice lacking recombination signal binding protein for immunoglobulin kappa J region (Rbpj) or Notch1 and Notch2 in T cells. Rbpj-deficient TCRαβ+CD8αα+ IELs expressed low levels of Atp8a2, which encodes a protein with flippase activity that regulates phospholipid asymmetry of plasma membrane such as flipping phosphatidylserine in the inner leaflet of plasma membrane. Rbpj-deficient TCRαβ+CD8αα+ IELs cannot maintain phosphatidylserine in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. Furthermore, depletion of intestinal macrophages restored TCRαβ+CD8αα+ IELs in Rbpj-deficient mice, suggesting that exposure of phosphatidylserine on the plasma membrane in Rbpj-deficient TCRαβ+CD8αα+ IELs acts as an “eat-me” signal. Together, these results revealed that Notch–Atp8a2 is a fundamental regulator for IELs and highlighted that membrane phospholipid asymmetry controlled by Notch-mediated flippase expression is a critical determinant in setting or balancing the number of TCRαβ+CD8αα+ IELs

Internal microstructure of arrested charnockite and surrounding gneiss from Kurunegala, Sri Lanka

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/第32回極域地学シンポジウム 11月30日（金） 国立極地研究所 ３階ラウン

Compositional change of hornblende and biotite during charnockite formation in Sri Lanka

第2回極域科学シンポジウム/第31回極域地学シンポジウム 11月17日（木） 国立極地研究所　2階大会議室前フロ

チジョウガタ3ジゲンレーザスキャナ ニ ヨル キャンパスナイ ノ ケイカンハアク ト ソノオウヨウ ニ ツイテ

本研究では地上型3次元レーザスキャナの景観分野への応用性を追究することを目的とし,東京農業大学世田谷キャンパスの景観把握を行うとともに,景観シミュレーションも試みた。すなわち,地上型3次元レーザスキャナによりキャンパス内の建物や植栽に対する3次元データの収集を行い,収集したデータをもとに3次元モデルを作成して景観を把握し,データの編集を行うことで景観シミュレーションを行うものである。その結果,複数の位置から地上型3次元レーザスキャナを用いて3次元計測を行うことにより,キャンパス内の景観を容易に理解可能な形で表現でき,データの編集や視点移動などによる表現の変更も可能であることが確認された。これにより,地上型3次元レーザスキャナは一定範囲の景観把握に有効であるとともに,景観シミュレーションのための道具としても有用であるものと考えられる。In order to investigate the application of the terrestrial laser scanner to a landscape field, the Landscape of Setagaya campus of Tokyo University of Agriculture was chosen, and landscape simulation was attempted in this paper. 3D data for some buildings or plants in the campus were acquired by using the terrestrial laser scanner, and 3D modeling for such objects was performed. Moreover, landscape simulation was attempted by editing the 3D model. As a result, easy understanding of the landscape in the campus became possible by 3D measurement using terrestrial laser scanner at multiple positions, and change of expression by editing of data or movement of view point were also possible. Consequently, it can be said the terrestrial laser scanner is a useful tool for some landscape fields

Research Activities in the Department of Medical Engineering

The Department of Medical Engineering is dedicated to the research and educational activities to fulfill its mission as educating medical professionals in medical engineering under the diploma policy and curriculum policy, that is, "research and education aiming for fostering professionals competent in comprehensive resolving capacity based upon a wide field of knowledge and vision in clinical engineering, which can be attained by wearing the basic knowledge of medical science and engineering." For this reason, the Faculty of the Department of Medical Engineering is composed of the two areas; PhDs in engineering-based clinical medicine, and mainly MDs in medical sciences and clinical medicine. To summarize the research activities at the Department of Medical Engineering, the authors will describe the overview of research activities being performed in the Department of Medical Engineering Fields, by dividing into 1) Research in Biomedical Engineering Fields, and 2) Research in Medical Science and Clinical Engineering Fields

The ASTRO-H X-ray Observatory

The joint JAXA/NASA ASTRO-H mission is the sixth in a series of highly successful X-ray missions initiated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). ASTRO-H will investigate the physics of the high-energy universe via a suite of four instruments, covering a very wide energy range, from 0.3 keV to 600 keV. These instruments include a high-resolution, high-throughput spectrometer sensitive over 0.3-2 keV with high spectral resolution of Delta E < 7 eV, enabled by a micro-calorimeter array located in the focal plane of thin-foil X-ray optics; hard X-ray imaging spectrometers covering 5-80 keV, located in the focal plane of multilayer-coated, focusing hard X-ray mirrors; a wide-field imaging spectrometer sensitive over 0.4-12 keV, with an X-ray CCD camera in the focal plane of a soft X-ray telescope; and a non-focusing Compton-camera type soft gamma-ray detector, sensitive in the 40-600 keV band. The simultaneous broad bandpass, coupled with high spectral resolution, will enable the pursuit of a wide variety of important science themes.Comment: 22 pages, 17 figures, Proceedings of the SPIE Astronomical Instrumentation "Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray

The Quiescent Intracluster Medium in the Core of the Perseus Cluster

Clusters of galaxies are the most massive gravitationally-bound objects in the Universe and are still forming. They are thus important probes of cosmological parameters and a host of astrophysical processes. Knowledge of the dynamics of the pervasive hot gas, which dominates in mass over stars in a cluster, is a crucial missing ingredient. It can enable new insights into mechanical energy injection by the central supermassive black hole and the use of hydrostatic equilibrium for the determination of cluster masses. X-rays from the core of the Perseus cluster are emitted by the 50 million K diffuse hot plasma filling its gravitational potential well. The Active Galactic Nucleus of the central galaxy NGC1275 is pumping jetted energy into the surrounding intracluster medium, creating buoyant bubbles filled with relativistic plasma. These likely induce motions in the intracluster medium and heat the inner gas preventing runaway radiative cooling; a process known as Active Galactic Nucleus Feedback. Here we report on Hitomi X-ray observations of the Perseus cluster core, which reveal a remarkably quiescent atmosphere where the gas has a line-of-sight velocity dispersion of 164+/-10 km/s in a region 30-60 kpc from the central nucleus. A gradient in the line-of-sight velocity of 150+/-70 km/s is found across the 60 kpc image of the cluster core. Turbulent pressure support in the gas is 4% or less of the thermodynamic pressure, with large scale shear at most doubling that estimate. We infer that total cluster masses determined from hydrostatic equilibrium in the central regions need little correction for turbulent pressure.Comment: 31 pages, 11 Figs, published in Nature July

Current status of a helicopter transportation system on remote islands for patients undergoing mechanical thrombectomy

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is standard treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with large-vessel occlusion within 6 h of symptom onset to treatment initiation (OTP). Recent trials have extended the therapeutic time window for MT to within 24 h. However, MT treatment remains low in remote areas. Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan has many inhabited islands with no neurointerventionalists. Our hospital on the mainland is a regional hub for eight island hospitals. We evaluated clinical outcomes of MT for patients with AIS on these islands versus on the mainland. Methods: During 2014–2019, we reviewed consecutive patients with AIS who received MT at our hospital. Patients comprised the Islands group and Mainland group. Patient characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared between groups. Results: We included 91 patients (Islands group: 15 patients, Mainland group: 76 patients). Seven patients (46.7%) in the Islands group versus 43 (56.6%) in the Mainland group achieved favorable outcomes. Successful recanalization was obtained in 11 patients (73.3%) on the islands and 67 (88.2%) on the mainland. The median OTP time in the Islands was 365 min. In both the Islands and Mainland groups, the OTP time and successful recanalization were associated with functional outcome. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 90 days ≤2 was obtained in two patients and mRS = 3 in four patients among eight patients with OTP time >6 h. Conclusions: Few patients with AIS on remote islands have received MT. Although patients who underwent MT on the islands had longer OTP, the clinical outcomes were acceptable. OTP time on remote islands must be shortened, as this is related to functional outcome. In some cases with successful recanalization, a favorable outcome can still be obtained even after 6 h. Even if OTP exceeds 6 h, it is desirable to appropriately select patients and actively perform MT