2,3-Dimeth­oxy-5,12-tetra­cenequinone

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C20H14O4, is approximately planar [maximum deviation 0.168 (2) Å]. The two meth­oxy groups are slightly twisted relative to the plane of the 5,12-tetra­cenequinone system, with twist angles of 3.3 (3) and 5.6 (2)°. All O atoms are involved in intermolecular C—H⋯O inter­actions and the mol­ecules are arranged into slipped face-to-face stacks along the b axis via π–π inter­actions with an inter­planar distance of 3.407 (2) Å

Virtual Reality approaches for evacuation simulation of various disasters

This paper presents a virtual reality (VR) system of evacuation in the cases of various disasters. We considered a combination of disasters under realistic scenarios. Disaster simulations by numerical models were imported into the VR system to express a realistic situation. Not only disaster experts but also designers and non-professionals are able to share realistic experiences for escape from the disasters. This system is useful for performance-based design, planning of escape, disaster prevention, evacuation drill etc. The VR system consists of Building Information Modelling, physical simulation models for disasters and human behaviour’s simulation

Modulation by static magnetism of neuronal activity

In neurons, the signal propagation involves both the conduction mediated by local electric currents through voltage-sensitive cation channels in axons and the transmission mediated by the exocytotic release of neurotransmitters from nerve endings into synaptic clefts. A great number of desperate efforts have been dedicated to biochemical, pharmacological and molecular biological studies on the elucidation of mechanisms underlying the neurotransmission at synapses, while relatively little attention has been paid to the comprehensive evaluation of the conduction except for local anesthetics. According to a physical theorem, exposure to magnetism should lead to the generation of a certain mechanical force in neurons with concomitant electric currents in a particular situation. In particular, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation is beneficial for the treatment of selected patients suffering from depression, bipolar affective disorder and schizophrenia as a possible alternative to the electroconvulsive therapy for refractory depression. In this review, therefore, we will summarize our recent advances made on the neurochemical and molecular biological elucidation in cultured rat hippocampal neurons toward better understanding by the readers of different disciplines of mechanisms associated with the modulation by magnetism of the neuronal activity in the brain.Biomedical Reviews 2004; 15: 21-35

Two mechanisms of oral malodor inhibition by zinc ions

Objectives The aim of this study was to reveal the mechanisms by which zinc ions inhibit oral malodor. Material and Methods The direct binding of zinc ions to gaseous hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was assessed in comparison with other metal ions. Nine metal chlorides and six metal acetates were examined. To understand the strength of H2S volatilization inhibition, the minimum concentration needed to inhibit H2S volatilization was determined using serial dilution methods. Subsequently, the inhibitory activities of zinc ions on the growth of six oral bacterial strains related to volatile sulfur compound (VSC) production and three strains not related to VSC production were evaluated. Results Aqueous solutions of ZnCl2, CdCl2, CuCl2, (CH3COO)2Zn, (CH3COO)2Cd, (CH3COO)2Cu, and CH3COOAg inhibited H2S volatilization almost entirely. The strengths of H2S volatilization inhibition were in the order Ag+ >; Cd2+ >; Cu2+ >; Zn2+. The effect of zinc ions on the growth of oral bacteria was strain-dependent. Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC 25586 was the most sensitive, as it was suppressed by medium containing 0.001% zinc ions. Conclusions Zinc ions have an inhibitory effect on oral malodor involving the two mechanisms of direct binding with gaseous H2S and suppressing the growth of VSC-producing oral bacteria

English in Indonesian Islamic Higher Education: Examining the Relationship Between Performance in the Yes/no Test and Reading Skills

This study examines the relationship between performance in the Yes/No test of English recognition vocabulary and reading skills in Indonesian Islamic learners of English as a foreign language (EFL). Participants in the study were 83 Indonesian undergraduate students, comprising an Advanced group (n=41) and Intermediate group (n=42) of EFL learners enrolled in the English department at the State Islamic University (UIN) of Malang, Indonesia. All participants completed both tests. The results reveal that the hits accuracy performance between the Advanced EFL group and the Intermediate EFL group was statistically significant, indicating that Yes/No test performance, in context of hits accuracy, did discriminate between levels of English proficiency. However, the differences disappeared with corrected scores since both groups indicated a high false alarm rate. In addition, this study also reveals that there was no evidence of a relationship between Yes/No performance and reading scores. Several pedagogical implications for EFL language teachers are discussed

Possible expression of functional glutamate transporters in the rat testis

Neither expression nor functionality is clear in peripheral tissues with the molecular machineries required for excitatory neurotransmitter signaling by L-glutamate (Glu) in the central nervous system, while a recent study has shown that several Glu receptors are functionally expressed in the rat testis. This fact prompted us to explore the possible functional expression in the rat testis of the Glu transporters usually responsible for the regulation of extracellular Glu concentrations in the brain. RT-PCR revealed the expression, in the rat testis, of mRNA for five different subtypes of Glu transporters, in addition to that for particular subtypes of ionotropic and metabotropic Glu receptors. Glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) was different in the brain from that in the testis in terms of molecular sizes on Northern and Western blot analyses. In situ hybridization as well as immunohistochemical analysis showed localized expression of glutamate aspartate transporter at interstitial spaces and GLT-1 at elongated spermatids in the rat testis respectively. The expression of mRNA was localized for excitatory amino acid transporter-5 at the basal compartment of the seminiferous tubule in the rat testis. [3H]Glu was accumulated in testicular crude mitochondrial fractions in a temperature-and sodium-dependent saturable manner with pharmacological profiles similar to those shown in brain crude mitochondrial fractions. These results suggested that particular subtypes of central Glu transporters for the regulation of extracellular Glu concentrations in the rat testis could be constitutively and functionally expressed. © 2004 Society for Endocrinology

Effect of denosumab on Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a dose-response study of AMG 162 (Denosumab) in patients with RheumatoId arthritis on methotrexate to Validate inhibitory effect on bone Erosion (DRIVE)-a 12-month, multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II clinical trial

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate efficacy and safety of three different regimens of denosumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody to receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK) ligand (RANKL), for Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: In this multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled phase II study, 350 Japanese patients with RA between 6 months and <5 years, stratified by glucocorticoid use and rheumatoid factor status, were randomly assigned to subcutaneous injections of placebo or denosumab 60 mg every 6 months (Q6M), every 3 months (Q3M) or every 2 months (Q2M). All patients basically continued methotrexate treatment and had a supplement of calcium and vitamin D throughout the study. The primary endpoint was change in the modified Sharp erosion score from baseline to 12 months. RESULTS: Denosumab significantly inhibited the progression of bone erosion at 12 months compared with the placebo, and the mean changes of the modified Sharp erosion score at 12 months from baseline were 0.99, 0.27 (compared with placebo, p=0.0082), 0.14 (p=0.0036) and 0.09 (p<0.0001) in the placebo, Q6M, Q3M and Q2M, respectively. Secondary endpoint analysis revealed that denosumab also significantly inhibited the increase of the modified total Sharp score compared with the placebo, with no obvious evidence of an effect on joint space narrowing for denosumab. As shown in previous studies, denosumab increased bone mineral density. No apparent difference was observed in the safety profiles of denosumab and placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of denosumab to methotrexate has potential as a new therapeutic option for patients with RA with risk factors of joint destruction. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: JapicCTI-101263

Possible activation by the green tea amino acid theanine of mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in undifferentiated neural progenitor cells in vitro

AbstractWe have shown marked promotion of both proliferation and neuronal differentiation in pluripotent P19 cells exposed to the green tea amino acid theanine, which is a good substrate for SLC38A1 responsible for glutamine transport. In this study, we evaluated the activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase pathway, which participates in protein translation, cell growth and autophagy in a manner relevant to intracellular glutamine levels, in murine neural progenitor cells exposed to theanine. Exposure to theanine promoted the phosphorylation of mTOR and downstream proteins in neurospheres from embryonic mouse neocortex. Although stable overexpression of SLC38A1 similarly facilitated phosphorylation of mTOR-relevant proteins in undifferentiated P19 cells, theanine failed to additionally accelerate the increased phosphorylation in these stable transfectants. Theanine accelerated the formation of neurospheres from murine embryonic neocortex and adult hippocampus, along with facilitation of both 5-bromo-2’-deoxyuridine incorporation and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide reduction in embryonic neurospheres. In embryonic neurospheres previously exposed to theanine, a significant increase was seen in the number of cells immunoreactive for a neuronal marker protein after spontaneous differentiation. These results suggest that theanine activates the mTOR signaling pathway for proliferation together with accelerated neurogenesis in murine undifferentiated neural progenitor cells