Clustering and Triaxial Deformations of 40^{40}Ca

We have studied the positive-parity states of $^{40}$Ca using antisymmetrized molecular dynamics (AMD) and the generator coordinate method (GCM). Imposing two different kinds of constraints on the variational calculation, we have found various kinds of $^{40}{\rm Ca}$ structures such as a deformed-shell structure, as well as $\alpha$-$^{36}$Ar and $^{12}$C-$^{28}$Si cluster structures. After the GCM calculation, we obtained a normal-deformed band and a superdeformed band together with their side bands associated with triaxial deformation. The calculated $B(E2)$ values agreed well with empirical data. It was also found that the normal-deformed and superdeformed bands have a non-negligible $\alpha$-$^{36}$Ar cluster component and $^{12}$C-$^{28}$Si cluster component, respectively. This leads to the presence of an $\alpha$-$^{36}$Ar higher-nodal band occurring above the normal-deformed band.Comment: 11pages, 9 figure

Triaxial superdeformation in 40^{40}Ar

Superdeformed (SD) states in $^{40}$Ar have been studied using the deformed-basis antisymmetrized molecular dynamics. Low energy states were calculated by the parity and angular momentum projection (AMP) and the generator coordinate method (GCM). Basis wave functions were obtained by the energy variation with a constraint on the quadrupole deformation parameter $\beta$, while other quantities such as triaxiality $\gamma$ were optimized by the energy variation. By the GCM calculation, an SD band was obtained just above the ground state (GS) band. The SD band involves a $K^\pi = 2^+$ side band due to the triaxiality. The calculated electric quadrupole transition strengths of the SD band reproduce the experimental values appropriately. Triaxiality is significant for understanding low-lying states.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Deformations and clustering correlations in pp- and sdsd-shell nuclei using the Gogny and Skyrme interactions

Structures of $p$- and $sd$-shell nuclei are studied with the deformed-basis antisymmetrized molecular dynamics method using the Gogny D1S and Skyrme SLy7 forces as effective interactions. By the energy variation with a constraint, energy curves as functions of quadrupole deformation parameter $\beta$ are obtained. The energy curves for $sd$-shell nuclei show structure change as a function of $\beta$, and suggest shape coexistence. Nuclear structures in the deformed region are discussed focusing on deformations and clustering. It is found that the deformations often involve cluster structures. Effective-interaction dependence is also discussed comparing the results obtained with the two effective interactions. Although the two forces give similar results when cluster structures do not develop clearly, they give different energies in the largely deformed region when an $\alpha$ cluster develops.Comment: 21 pages, 22 figure

肺癌におけるREG Iα遺伝子の発現は、腺癌、肩平上皮癌で異なったメカニズムにより、予後不良を示唆する。

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the REG Iα and REG Iβ genes on lung cancer cell lines, and thereafter, the expression of REG family genes (REG Iα, REG Iβ, REG III, HIP/PAP and REG IV) in lung cancer in relation to patient prognosis was evaluated. Lung adenocarcinoma (AD) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines expressing REG Iα or REG Iβ (HLC-1 REG Iα/Iβ and EBC-1 REG Iα/Iβ) were established, and cell number, cell invasive activity, and anchorage-independent cell growth were compared with these variables in the control cells. The expression levels of REG family genes were evaluated by real-time RT-PCR in surgically resected lung cancers, and disease-specific survival (DSS) curves were generated. The HLC-1 REG Iα/Iβ cell line showed significant increases in cell number and anchorage-independent cell growth compared with the control cells. EBC-1 REG Iα/Iβ cells showed significant increases in cell invasive activity and anchorage-independent cell growth as compared with the control cells. Except for the REG Iβ gene, expression of other REG family genes was observed in the surgically resected samples; however, DSS was significantly worse only in stage I patients who were positive for REG Iα expression than in patients who were negative for REG Iα expression. The effects of REG Iα on AD and SCC cells were different in the in vitro study, and a correlation between REG Iα expression and patient prognosis was noted in the in vivo study. Therefore, overexpression of REG Iα is a risk factor for poor prognosis caused by discrete mechanisms in AD and SCC patients.博士（医学）・乙第1339号・平成26年5月28日本文のリンク：http://dx.doi.org/10.3892/or.2013.2739Copyright © Spandidos Publications 201

Changes on the Physiological Lactonase Activity of Serum Paraoxonase 1 by a Diet Intervention for Weight Loss in Healthy Overweight and Obese Women

Low caloric diet (LCD) is used for weight loss. Paraoxonase 1 (PON-1) is associated with the antioxidant functions of high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Among limited data on the relationships between obesity and PON-1, there has been no study on the effects of a stand-alone LCD on the physiological lactonase activity of PON-1. We investigated the prospective effects of LCD intervention (2 months) for weight loss on serum PON-1 activities (lactonase, arylesterase [mono-esterase] and tri-esterase) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), and their association with low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in overweight and non-morbidly obese but otherwise healthy women (n = 30; mean age, 50.3 years; mean body mass index [BMI], 28.5 kg/m2). In addition to the data such as BMI, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipids, PON-1 activities were examined between pre- and post-intervention. The intervention reduced all metabolic outcomes, and PON-1 lactonase activity (determined with 5-[thiobutyl]butyrolactone) significantly decreased by 6.1%, paralleled by arylesterase (by 7.3%) and tri-esterase (by 7.8%). In multiple regression analysis, the percent change of PON-1 lactonase was significantly, positively and independently correlated to that of LDL-C (β = 0.51), HDL-C (β = 0.40), and BMI (β = 0.37). Our results showed that the solo diet treatment on weight loss might reduce serum PON-1 lactonase activity with reduced HDL-C and LDL-C. The relationship between the lactonase and LDL-C may be adaptive, plausibly hypothesizing less need for PON-1 activity as an antioxidant property to protect lipoproteins. Further research is needed to confirm this prediction