Distribution of halogens in an Antarctic ordinary chondrite, Y-74014 (H6)

One of the striking features in Antarctic meteorites is overabundances of halogens, especially iodine. In order to investigate how these halogens are distributed in constituent mineral phases of Antarctic chondrites, the outer portion of Yamato (Y)-74014 H6 chondrite (Y-74014,101) was subjected to fractional dissolution using several solutions with different chemical properties. Pulverized meteorite sample was successively leached by acetone, (hot) water, EDTA and nitric acid, and individual leachates as well as the acid residue were analyzed for halogens by neutron activation analysis. About 10% of iodine was recovered in acetone whereas only less than 2% of Cl and Br are leached, suggesting that overabundant iodine is partly present in the form of acetone-soluble, possibly organic compound. Dissolution patterns of Cl and I with water are similar to each other. This implies that contaminated Cl and I both reside in a common phase, presumably in akaganeite, a corrosion product of Fe-Ni alloy with chlorine attracted from the environment. Either iodine was involved in this mineral when corrosion reaction occurred or iodine was later migrated into the mineral by exchanging with Cl^- and/or OH^-. For the chronological studies using long-lived nuclides such as ^Cl and ^I, it is essential to use indigenous halogens in meteorites. For such purposes, the acid-residual fraction can be used even for Antarctic meteorites having overabundant halogens. In addition, Cl, Br and I contents in bulk Allende and Bruderheim chondrites are also obtained in this study and their abundances are briefly discussed

The Effects of Restricting Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Fertilizers on Erianthus (\u3cem\u3eErianthus arundinaceus\u3c/em\u3e) Growth and Nutrient Contents

Low inputs and sustainability are the major concerns in bioenergy crop production (Reijnders 2006). Erianthus spp. is a relative of sugarcane and is a perennial crop with high dry matter production (Matsuo et al. 2003). It is expected to become a cellulosic bioenergy crop. However, its fertilizer requirements are still unknown because erianthus has a highly developed root system (Matsuo et al. 2003), and appears to absorb nutrients from the subsoil layer, which is hardly used by other crops. Therefore, it is necessary to experimentally restrict fertilizer application and maintain the rhizosphere to clarify the fertilizer requirements. In this study, we grew Erianthus (Erianthus arundinaceus) in pots and restricted nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer application to evaluate the fertilizer requirements

An efficient grid layout algorithm for biological networks utilizing various biological attributes

BACKGROUND: Clearly visualized biopathways provide a great help in understanding biological systems. However, manual drawing of large-scale biopathways is time consuming. We proposed a grid layout algorithm that can handle gene-regulatory networks and signal transduction pathways by considering edge-edge crossing, node-edge crossing, distance measure between nodes, and subcellular localization information from Gene Ontology. Consequently, the layout algorithm succeeded in drastically reducing these crossings in the apoptosis model. However, for larger-scale networks, we encountered three problems: (i) the initial layout is often very far from any local optimum because nodes are initially placed at random, (ii) from a biological viewpoint, human layouts still exceed automatic layouts in understanding because except subcellular localization, it does not fully utilize biological information of pathways, and (iii) it employs a local search strategy in which the neighborhood is obtained by moving one node at each step, and automatic layouts suggest that simultaneous movements of multiple nodes are necessary for better layouts, while such extension may face worsening the time complexity. RESULTS: We propose a new grid layout algorithm. To address problem (i), we devised a new force-directed algorithm whose output is suitable as the initial layout. For (ii), we considered that an appropriate alignment of nodes having the same biological attribute is one of the most important factors of the comprehension, and we defined a new score function that gives an advantage to such configurations. For solving problem (iii), we developed a search strategy that considers swapping nodes as well as moving a node, while keeping the order of the time complexity. Though a naïve implementation increases by one order, the time complexity, we solved this difficulty by devising a method that caches differences between scores of a layout and its possible updates. CONCLUSION: Layouts of the new grid layout algorithm are compared with that of the previous algorithm and human layout in an endothelial cell model, three times as large as the apoptosis model. The total cost of the result from the new grid layout algorithm is similar to that of the human layout. In addition, its convergence time is drastically reduced (40% reduction)

X-Ray Fluctuations from Locally Unstable Advection-Dominated Disks

The response of advection-dominated accretion disks to local disturbances is examined by one-dimensional numerical simulations. It is generally believed that advection-dominated disks are thermally stable. We, however, find that any disurbance added onto accretion flow at large radii does not decay so rapidly that it can move inward with roughly the free-fall velocity. Although disturbances continue to be present, the global disk structure will not be modified largely. This can account for persistent hard X-ray emission with substantial variations observed in active galactic nuclei and stellar black hole candidates during the hard state. Moreover, when the disturbance reaches the innermost parts, an acoustic wave emerges, propagating outward as a shock wave. The resultant light variation is roughly (time) symmetric and is quite reminiscent of the observed X-ray shots of Cygnus X-1.Comment: plain TeX, 11 pages, without figures; to be published in ApJ Lette

In vitro characterization of cells derived from chordoma cell line U-CH1 following treatment with X-rays, heavy ions and chemotherapeutic drugs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chordoma, a rare cancer, is usually treated with surgery and/or radiation. However, very limited characterizations of chordoma cells are available due to a minimal availability (only two lines validated by now) and the extremely long doubling time. In order to overcome this situation, we successfully derived a cell line with a shorter doubling time from the first validated chordoma line U-CH1 and obtained invaluable cell biological data.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>After isolating a subpopulation of U-CH1 cells with a short doubling time (U-CH1-N), cell growth, cell cycle distribution, DNA content, chromosome number, p53 status, and cell survival were examined after exposure to X-rays, heavy ions, camptothecin, mitomycin C, cisplatin and bleocin. These data were compared with those of HeLa (cervical cancer) and U87-MG (glioblastoma) cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The cell doubling times for HeLa, U87-MG and U-CH1-N were approximately 18 h, 24 h and 3 days respectively. Heavy ion irradiation resulted in more efficient cell killing than x-rays in all three cell lines. Relative biological effectiveness (RBE) at 10% survival for U-CH1-N was about 2.45 for 70 keV/μm carbon and 3.86 for 200 keV/μm iron ions. Of the four chemicals, bleocin showed the most marked cytotoxic effect on U-CH1-N.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data provide the first comprehensive cellular characterization using cells of chordoma origin and furnish the biological basis for successful clinical results of chordoma treatment by heavy ions.</p

Copy number loss of (src homology 2 domain containing)-transforming protein 2 (SHC2) gene: discordant loss in monozygotic twins and frequent loss in patients with multiple system atrophy

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a sporadic disease. Its pathogenesis may involve multiple genetic and nongenetic factors, but its etiology remains largely unknown. We hypothesized that the genome of a patient with MSA would demonstrate copy number variations (CNVs) in the genes or genomic regions of interest. To identify genomic alterations increasing the risk for MSA, we examined a pair of monozygotic (MZ) twins discordant for the MSA phenotype and 32 patients with MSA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>By whole-genome CNV analysis using a combination of CNV beadchip and comparative genomic hybridization (CGH)-based CNV microarrays followed by region-targeting, high-density, custom-made oligonucleotide tiling microarray analysis, we identified disease-specific copy number loss of the (Src homology 2 domain containing)-transforming protein 2 (<it>SHC2</it>) gene in the distal 350-kb subtelomeric region of 19p13.3 in the affected MZ twin and 10 of the 31 patients with MSA but not in 2 independent control populations (<it>p </it>= 1.04 × 10^-8, odds ratio = 89.8, Pearson's chi-square test).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Copy number loss of <it>SHC2 </it>strongly indicates a causal link to MSA. CNV analysis of phenotypically discordant MZ twins is a powerful tool for identifying disease-predisposing loci. Our results would enable the identification of novel diagnostic measure, therapeutic targets and better understanding of the etiology of MSA.</p

The shape of the emotion

　The emotion is an active reaction with being eloquent of the emotions such as the change of the look with the physiological reaction which is strong in the automatic nerves system, the immune system, the endocrine system which occurs with the organolepty which the creature felt.However, the definition of the emotion is ambiguous.　It is different roughly every learning field and for it, there is not a strict distinction of the emotion and the feelings.　The handling depends on the interval of the research area and the researcher.There seems to be possibility to complicate the discussion of the concerning with anxiety, theamygdala which is the nucleus of the fear and a cerebral limbic system for the ambiguousness of the definition and to make difficult.　Therefore, we made a chart with the emotion , feelings and the mood, placing as the differentreaction. In the tunnel of the tube-like of the comparatively gently long lasting mood, the feelings were wavering but supposed that doing of the eloquent of the emotion which is a physiological reaction and an active reaction didn\u27t accompany.　On the other hand, it supposed that an emotion was accompanied by the reaction which is physiological which is strong in the automatic nerves system, the immune system, the endocrine system and doing of the eloquent of the emotion physiological strong, deviating from the feeling control by the ventromedial prefrontal cortex.　Moreover, it considered about the relation, too, about the amygdala which is the existence like a nucleus of the experience like an emotion and the chronic pain

Jacobian Adaptation of HMM with Initial Model Selection for Noisy Speech Recognition

An extension of Jacobian Adaptation (JA) of HMMs for degraded speech recognition is presented in which appropriate set of initial models is selected from a number of initial-model sets designed for different noise environments. Based on the first order Taylor series approximation in the acoustic feature domain, JA adapts the acoustic model parameters trained in the initial noise environment A to the new environment B much faster than PMC that creates the acoustic models for the target environment from scratch. Despite the advantage of JA to PMC, JA has a theoretical limitation that the change of acoustic parameters from the environment A to B should be small in order that the linear approximation holds. To extend the coverage of JA, the ideas of multiple sets of initial models and their automatic selection scheme are discussed. Speaker-dependent isolated-word recognition experiments are carried out to evaluate the proposed method

Impact of renal dysfunction on the choice of diagnostic imaging, treatment strategy, and outcomes in patients with stable angina

We investigated the interaction between the prognostic impact of a decrease in eGFR and the choice of initial diagnostic imaging modality for coronary artery disease. Out of 2878 patients who enrolled in the J-COMPASS study, 2780 patients underwent single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), coronary computed tomography (CT) angiography, or coronary angiography (CAG) as an initial diagnostic test. After excluding patients with routine hemodialysis or lacked serum creatinine levels, 2096 patients in the non-decreased eGFR group (eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m²) and 557 patients in the decreased eGFR group (eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m²) were analyzed in this study. Major adverse cardiac events, including death, myocardial infarction, heart failure hospitalization, and late revascularization, were followed, with a median follow-up duration of 472 days. SPECT or CAG was preferable to CT in patients in the decreased eGFR group (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0024, respectively). There was a marginally significant interaction between the prognostic impact of a decrease in eGFR and the choice of diagnostic imaging modality (interaction-p = 0.056). A decrease in eGFR was not associated with a poor outcome in patients who underwent CT, while a decrease in eGFR was associated with poor outcomes in patients who underwent SPECT or CAG. In conclusion, the prognostic impact of a decrease in eGFR tended to be different among the initial imaging modalities

養護教諭の認識するニーズと教員,保護者が求めるニーズの検討

To clarify the differences between the necessary skills and the job requirements as recognized by the Yogo teachers themselves, a questionnaire survey was conducted with Yogo teachers and teachers working at public elementary and junior high schools in District A, Aichi Prefecture, as well as with the parents of the students. Positional differences between anticipated needs and perceived needs were identified based on the relationship between various other factors and the factors extracted from factor analysis of the scale of requirements for school nurses. The three groups highlighted the necessity for cooperation among the three groups to effectively address the problems the children were experiencing. The results highlighted the necessity for Yogo teachers to acknowledge and use their coordination skills to respond to the needs of those around them