The Viscoelastic Properties of Wood Used for Musical Instruments II

この論文は国立情報学研究所の学術雑誌公開支援事業により電子化されました。In order to make clear the relation between the acoustic properties and the fine structures of wood, the present paper deals with the dynamic mechanical and dielectric properties in relation to the angle of micellar orientation and the degree of crystallinity estimated by X-ray measurements of wood using for the musical instruments (Sitka spruce) and other few wood species (Hinoki, Sugi and Hoonoki). The dynamic elastic modulus, loss modulus, dielectric constant and loss factor for Sitka spruce were large in magnitude for its specific gravity compared with the other species. The mean angle of micellar orientation and the half width in the distribution function of spiral angle for Sitka spruce were the smallest among the coniferous wood species used. The crystallinity indexes calculated from transmission method for Sitka spruce and Hinoki were smaller than those for Sugi and Hoonoki. From these results, it may be concluded that the principal cause which the dynamic elastic and loss modulus for Sitka spruce are large in magnitude for its density is due to its small angle of micellar orientation and/or its uniformity in the gross structures

<Note>Some Physical Properties of Wood and Cellulose Irradiated with Gamma Rays

この論文は国立情報学研究所の学術雑誌公開支援事業により電子化されました。The effect of gamma irradiation from cobalt-60 on specific gravity, degree of crystallinity, thermal softening temperature, tensile strength and torsional creep behavior of wood and cellulose were investigated and the following results were obtained. 1) A dosage up to about 10^8 rad had little effect on the specific gravity of wood and cellulose. 2) The degree of crystallinity of wood and cellulose remained almost unchanged up to 3×10^7 rad, but started to decrease rapidly at about 1×10^8 rad. 3) The softening temperature of cellulose shifted gradually to a lower temperature region up to about 3×10^7 rad and abruptly in the range exceeding 3×10^7 rad. 4) Strength of wood decreased with increasing irradiation dosage, depending remarkably on loading modes. 5) The value of creep compliance of wood at time 0.1 min did not change up to 1×10^7 rad, but increased markedly in the range exceeding about 3×10^7 rad

The Histone H4 Lysine 20 Monomethyl Mark, Set by PR-Set7 and Stabilized by L(3)mbt, Is Necessary for Proper Interphase Chromatin Organization

Drosophila PR-Set7 or SET8 is a histone methyltransferase that specifically monomethylates histone H4 lysine 20 (H4K20). L(3)MBT has been identified as a reader of methylated H4K20. It contains several conserved domains including three MBT repeats binding mono- and dimethylated H4K20 peptides. We find that the depletion of PR-Set7 blocks de novo H4K20me1 resulting in the immediate activation of the DNA damage checkpoint, an increase in the size of interphase nuclei, and drastic reduction of cell viability. L(3)mbt on the other hand stabilizes the monomethyl mark, as L(3)mbt-depleted S2 cells show a reduction of more than 60% of bulk monomethylated H4K20 (H4K20me1) while viability is barely affected. Ploidy and basic chromatin structure show only small changes in PR-Set7-depleted cells, but higher order interphase chromatin organization is significantly affected presumably resulting in the activation of the DNA damage checkpoint. In the absence of any other known functions of PR-Set7, the setting of the de novo monomethyl mark appears essential for cell viability in the presence or absence of the DNA damage checkpoint, but once newly assembled chromatin is established the monomethyl mark, protected by L(3)mbt, is dispensable

Calibration of AGN Reverberation Distance Measurements

In Yoshii et al. (2014), we described a new method for measuring extragalactic distances based on dust reverberation in active galactic nuclei (AGNs), and we validated our new method with Cepheid variable stars. In this paper, we validate our new method with Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) which occurred in two of the AGN host galaxies during our AGN monitoring program: SN 2004bd in NGC 3786 and SN 2008ec in NGC 7469. Their multicolor light curves were observed and analyzed using two widely accepted methods for measuring SN distances, and the distance moduli derived are $\mu=33.47\pm 0.15$ for SN 2004bd and $33.83\pm 0.07$ for SN 2008ec. These results are used to obtain independently the distance measurement calibration factor, $g$. The $g$ value obtained from the SN Ia discussed in this paper is $g_{\rm SN} = 10.61\pm 0.50$ which matches, within the range of 1$\sigma$ uncertainty, $g_{\rm DUST} = 10.60$, previously calculated ab initio in Yoshii et al. (2014). Having validated our new method for measuring extragalactic distances, we use our new method to calibrate reverberation distances derived from variations of H$\beta$ emission in the AGN broad line region (BLR), extending the Hubble diagram to $z\approx 0.3$ where distinguishing between cosmologies is becoming possible.Comment: Astrophysical Journal Letters accepte

Androgen deficiency in women

As evidências sugerem que a deficiência androgênica na mulher exibe como principal manifestação clínica a disfunção sexual, especialmente a queda da libido. Entretanto, outros fatores podem também estar implicados na gênese da disfunção sexual, como o relacionamento interpessoal, os estressores sociais, o sedentarismo e o próprio fator masculino. A prevalência da disfunção sexual feminina oscila entre 9 por cento e 43 por cento e recentemente muitos estudos têm mostrado que a reposição com androgênios não só melhora o desempenho sexual, mas também os distúrbios do humor e sintomas vasomotores. Por isso, o profissional de saúde deve sempre incluir no diagnóstico diferencial da disfunção sexual a Síndrome de Deficiência Androgênica, mesmo em mulheres com concentrações séricas normais de estrogênios. O presente artigo tem como objetivo revisar os aspectos práticos da Síndrome de Deficiência Androgênica, enfocando especialmente o diagnóstico e tratamento. Para tanto, nos valemos da análise de 105 artigos publicados em revistas indexadas no PUBMED nos últimos 51 anos (até maio de 2010), incluindo consensos e opiniões de especialistas. Como conclusão, a Síndrome de Deficiência Androgênica na mulher é negligenciada, existindo ainda muitas controvérsias quanto ao seu diagnóstico e terapêutica, especialmente no tocante à escolha do androgênio, a via de administração e o tempo de duração de usoThe evidences suggest that androgen deficiency in women induces sexual dysfunction as the main clinical manifestation, especially reduction of libido. However, other factors may be involved in the disease genesis, such as interpersonal relationships, social stressors, sedentarism and the partner. Prevalence of sexual problems among women ranges from nine to 43% and, recently, many studies have reported that androgens are beneficial not only for the sexual function of women, but for mood disorders and vasomotor symptoms. That is why the physician should include androgen deficiency syndrome as differential diagnosis, even in women with adequate levels of estrogen. Our goal was to present practical aspects of this disease, emphasizing diagnosis and focusing on treatment. This survey covered all the publications indexed in PUBMED in the last 51 years ending May 2010, including consensus and expert opinions; 105 articles were identified. We conclude that the syndrome of androgen deficiency in women is overlooked in clinical practice. There is controversy in literature regarding diagnosis and treatment including choice of drug, route of administration and time of applicatio

The Infrared Cloud Monitor for the MAGNUM Robotic Telescope at Haleakala

We present the most successful infrared cloud monitor for a robotic telescope. This system was originally developed for the MAGNUM 2-m telescope, which has been achieving unmanned and automated monitoring observation of active galactic nuclei at Haleakala on the Hawaiian island of Maui since 2001. Using a thermal imager and two aspherical mirrors, it at once sees almost the whole sky at a wavelength of $\lambda\sim 10\mu{\rm m}$. Its outdoor part is weather-proof and is totally maintenance-free. The images obtained every one or two minutes are analysed immediately into several ranks of weather condition, from which our automated observing system not only decides to open or close the dome, but also selects what types of observations should be done. The whole-sky data accumulated over four years show that 50$-$60 % of all nights are photometric, and about 75 % are observable with respect to cloud condition at Haleakala. Many copies of this system are now used all over the world such as Mauna Kea in Hawaii, Atacama in Chile, and Okayama and Kiso in Japan.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, 7 tables, accepted for publication in PAS

Mice Transgenic for KitV620A: Recapitulation of Piebaldism but not Progressive Depigmentation Seen in Humans with this Mutation

Piebaldism is an autosomal dominant genetic pigmentary disorder, characterized by congenital white hair and patches located on the forehead, anterior trunk, and extremities. Most piebald patients have a mutation of the KIT gene, which encodes a tyrosine kinase receptor involved in pigment cell development. The white hair and patches of such patients are already completely formed at birth and do not usually expand thereafter. This stability of pigmented spots also applies to KitW and KitlSl mutant mice. However, two novel cases of piebaldism were reported in 2001, in which both mother and daughter having a novel Val620Ala mutation in their KIT gene showed progressive depigmentation. To prepare an animal model of this mutation, to explore undefined functions of KIT signaling for maintaining pigmented melanocytes in the skin or more specifically the integrity of the melanocyte stem cell system in the postnatal skin, we produced transgenic mice expressing Val620Ala Kit. These mice well mimicked the white spotting pattern of patients; however, no change in this pattern was observed after birth, even after increasing the transgene expression by various means. Here, we report the unexpectedly extremely stable maintenance of the melanocyte stem cell system under stringent conditions for KIT signaling