Submillimeter CO emission from shock-heated gas in the L1157 outflow

We present the CO J=6-5, 4-3, and 3-2 spectra from the blueshifted gas of the outflow driven by the low-mass class 0 protostar in the L1157 dark cloud. Strong submillimeter CO emission lines with T_mb > 30 K have been detected at 63" (~0.13 pc) south from the protostar. It is remarkable that the blue wings in the submillimeter lines are stronger by a factor of 3-4 than that of the CO J=1-0 emission line. The CO line ratios suggest that the blueshifted lobe of this outflow consists of moderately dense gas of n(H_2) = (1-3)x10^4 cm^-3 heated to T_kin = 50-170 K.It is also suggested that the kinetic temperature of the outflowing gas increases from ~80 K near the protostar to ~170 K at the shocked region in the lobe center, toward which the largest velocity dispersion of the CO emission is observed. A remarkable correlation between the kinetic temperature and velocity dispersion of the CO emission along the lobe provides us with direct evidence that the molecular gas at the head of the jet-driven bow shock is indeed heated kinematically. The lower temperature of ~80 K measured at the other shocked region near the end of the lobe is explained if this shock is in a later evolutionary stage, in which the gas has been cooled mainly through radiation of the CO rotational lines.Comment: 10 pages, 4 PDF figures, APJL in pres

Functional peptide KP24 enhances submandibular gland tissue growth in vitro

AbstractIntroductionSalivary gland hypofunction, also known as xerostomia, occurs as a result of radiotherapy for head and neck cancer, autoimmune diseases, or aging. Xerostomia leads to oral health problems and thus affects the quality of life. Biological salivary gland tissue generated in vitro would provide an alternative mode of treatment for this disease.MethodsTo develop a novel method for modulating salivary gland tissue growth in vitro, we prepared a KP24 peptide-immobilized hydrogel sheet, wherein the peptide comprised repeating proline and lysine sequences, and evaluated the effect of this peptide on salivary gland tissue growth.ResultsWe found that the KP24 peptide has the potential to enhance glandular tissue growth in vitro. This enhancement is associated with neurite outgrowth and increasing neural innervation.ConclusionKP24 peptide modified material would be a promising material for the modulation of salivary gland tissue growth in vitro

Versatile Psychophysiological Potencies of Essential Oils, when Seen as a Function of Behavioral Task Assigned to the Participants after Inhalation

To elucidate the psychophysiological effect of inhaling essential oils, in this paper, we sought to assess the following 12 essential oils: basil, bergamot, cardamom, cinnamon, juniper, lemon, orange, palmarosa, peppermint, sandalwood, spearmint, and ylang ylang. As these being target odors, we focused on the verbal (semantic) and non-verbal (skin temperature) endpoints of the stimuli. In our experimental design, we managed to assign different behavioral tasks to the participants. The Uchida-Kraepelin test was used as a mental arithmetic task and listening to environmental (natural) sounds as an auditory task. In the verbal study, for an example, we conducted the sensory test twice, once before and once after the task. As a measure of the perceived odor quality in participants after inhalation of a given aroma, we employed a sensory evaluation spectrum. It is a bar graph in which the mean of the difference in score between pre- and post-task inquiry (post minus pre) was plotted against the impression descriptors. Taking into account of the obtained skin temperature changes between pre- and post-task inhalations, the subtle nuances between verbal and non-verbal expressions seen as a function of the two behavioral tasks assigned to the participant suggested that essential oils may have versatile psychophysiological potencies by the nature

Stratifying a Risk for an Increased Variation of Airway Caliber among the Clinically Stable Asthma

ABSTRACTBackgroundRecently, correlations of peak expiratory flow (PEF) variation have been shown to facilitate the prediction of later asthma symptoms and exacerbations. However, it has not been fully examined whether or not any patient characteristics are associated with the residual airway lability in treated asthmatics. The objective of this study is to examine a predictive marker for increased variation of PEF in patients with clinically stable asthma.MethodsWe studied 297 asthmatic patients who were monitored for PEF twice a day. Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ), spirometry, and exhaled nitric oxide fraction (FENO) were measured. After the assessment of baseline values, PEF measuring was continued and associations between these clinical markers and later variation of PEF over a week (Min%Max) were investigated.Results17.5% of the subjects showed increased PEF variability (Min%Max < 80%). ACQ, forced expiratory volume in 1 s % of predicted (%FEV1), and FENO were identified as independent predictors of Min%Max < 80%. An ACQ ≥ 0.4 yielded 96% sensitivity and 59% specificity, a %FEV1 ≤ 85% yielded 62% sensitivity and 89% specificity, and a FENO ≥ 40 ppb yielded 75% sensitivity and 90% specificity for identifying the subjects with high variability in PEF. When we combine %FEV1 ≤ 85% and FENO ≥ 40 ppb, this index showed the highest specificity (98%) for increased PEF variability.ConclusionsThese results indicate that ACQ, %FEV1 and FENO can stratify the risk for increased variation in airway caliber among patients with stable asthma. This may help identify subjects in whom further monitoring of lung function fluctuations is indicated

Improvement of Airflow Limitation by Fluticasone Propionate/Salmeterol in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: What is the Specific Marker?

Backgrounds: Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS)/inhaled long-acting beta2-agonists (LABA) combination drugs are widely used for the long-term management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, COPD is a heterogeneous condition and treatment with ICS is associated with a higher risk of pneumonia. The identification of a specific marker for predicting the efficacy of ICS/LABA on pulmonary function would be useful in the treatment of COPD. Methods: Fourteen COPD patients receiving tiotropium therapy participated consecutively. The relationship between the baseline exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) levels as well as serum markers and changes in pulmonary function by fluticasone propionate (FP)/salmeterol (SAL) were analyzed. Results: FP/SAL therapy significantly improved forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), and the third phase slope of the single nitrogen washout curve (ΔN2) as well as the FENO level. The baseline FENO levels and positive specific IgE (atopy+) were significantly associated with airway obstructive changes assessed by FEV1 and ΔN2. A baseline FENO level >35 ppb yielded 80.0% sensitivity and 66.7% specificity for identifying the subjects with significant improvement in FEV1 (greater than 200 mL). An atopy+ yielded 60.0% sensitivity and 88.9% specificity for an improvement in FEV1. When combined with FENO > 35 ppb and atopy+, it showed 40% sensitivity and 100.0% specificity for FEV1 improvement. Alternatively, COPD subjects with FENO ≤ 35 ppb and atopy− did not show significant improvement in FEV1. Conclusion: Combining FENO and specific IgE may be a useful marker for predicting the response to ICS/LABA on airflow limitation in COPD

SiO Emission in the Multi-Lobe Outflow associated with IRAS 16293-2422

We have mapped the thermal emission line of SiO (v = 0; J = 2-1) associated with the quadrupolar molecular outflow driven by the very cold far-infrared source IRAS 16293-2422. The SiO emission is significantly enhanced in the northeastern red lobe and at the position ~50" east of the IRAS source. Strong SiO emission observed at ~50" east of the IRAS source presents evidence for a dynamical interaction between a part of the eastern blue lobe and the dense ambient gas condensation, however, such an interaction is unlikely to be responsible for producing the quadrupolar morphology. The SiO emission in the northeastern red lobe shows the spatial and velocity structure similar to those of the CO outflow, suggesting that the SiO emission comes from the molecular outflow in the northeastern red lobe itself. The observed velocity structure is reproduced by a simple spatio-kinematic model of bow shock with a shock velocity of 19-24 km/s inclined by 30-45 deg from the plane of the sky. This implies that the northeastern red lobe is independent of the eastern blue lobe and that the quadrupolar structure is due to two separate bipolar outflows. The SiO emission observed in the western red lobe has a broad pedestal shape with low intensity. Unlike the SiO emission in the northeastern red lobe, the spatial extent of the SiO emission in the western red lobe is restricted to its central region. The spatial and velocity structures and the line profiles suggest that three different types of the SiO emission are observed in this outflow; the SiO emission arises from the interface between the outflowing gas and the dense ambient gas clump, the SiO emission coming from the outflow lobe itself, and the broad SiO emission with low intensity observed at the central region of the outflow lobe.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures (figures 1 and 4 are color), gzipped tar file, To appear in the Ap