Blue-tilted Primordial Gravitational Waves from Massive Gravity

We study a theory of massive tensor gravitons which predicts blue-tilted and largely amplified primordial gravitational waves. After inflation, while their mass is significant until it diminishes to a small value, gravitons are diluted as non-relativistic matter and hence their amplitude can be substantially amplified compared to the massless gravitons which decay as radiation. We show that such gravitational waves can be detected by interferometer experiments, even if their signal is not observed on the CMB scales.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Electric Dipole Moments of Neutron-Odd Nuclei

The electric dipole moments (EDMs) of neutron-odd nuclei with even protons are systematically evaluated. We first derive the relation between the EDM and the magnetic moment operators by making use of the core polarization scheme. This relation enables us to calculate the EDM of neutron-odd nuclei without any free parameters. From this calculation, one may find the best atomic system suitable for future EDM experiments.Comment: 4 page

土壌改質材 FFC エースによるオオムギの生育と収量の促進効果

The effects of a unique soil conditioner, FFC-ace, on photosynthesis, transpiration, growth and yield of barley were examined in a field experiment. FFC-ace well-mixed with sandy soil greatly enhanced root and shoot growth, tillering and the number of grains per stock. The total yield in the treated plot increased by about 172%. The plants grown in the FFC-ace plot were greener and contained a higher level of chlorophyll, compared with the control. Photosynthesis and transpiration, which are tightly linked to productivity were also significantly enhanced at the broad range of photon flux observed in our study. The quality of grain harvested from the FFC-ace plot was similar to the control plot in terms of nutritional and inorganic components. The increased photosynthesis in the FFC-ace treated barley reflects a higher absorption of CO(2) from the atmosphere. It was also noted that the efficiency of water utilization for photosynthesis was significantly greater under the high light intensity in the treated plot. The relationship between application of FFC-ace and absorption of atmospheric CO(2) is discussed. Our investigation provides data showing that application of FFC-ace to soil significantly reduces water requirements for plant growth and yield.本報は，㈱エフエフシー・ジャパンから販売されている土壌改質材FFCエースTMの作物の生長促進効果について，2006年11月から翌年６月，本学農学部内の実験圃場で実施された，オオムギの生育ならびに収量調査に関する試験結果をとりまとめたものである．実施圃場の砂土壌にFFCエースを所定量混和した区画を設け，オオムギの種子を播種した．なお，対照区は非導入土壌とした．定期的に行った生育調査の結果，FFCエースを導入した土壌では非導入の区画と比べて，生育初期における根の生育が良好となり，地上部における分けつ数の増加とともに穂の生長も旺盛となって，１穂当たりの収穫量（粒数）の著しい増加をもたらした．結果，FFCエース導入区における全収量は非導入区と比べて約1.7倍となった．また，それぞれから収穫したオオムギ粒に含まれる栄養価ならびに無機元素類の量には，FFCエースの導入，非導入によって大きな違いは認められず，導入の効果は収量に大きく反映された．事実，調査期間中に行った測定から，FFCエースを投入した土壌で生育するオオムギ葉は高いクロロフィル量を示しており，光合成が促進されているものと考えられた．実際，播種後４ヶ月目以降，光合成ならびに蒸散速度値を測定した結果，FFCエース導入区で生育したオオムギでは常に高い値を示した．また，FFCエースの導入によって強光条件下における水利用効率が促進された．本報告では，FFCエースの投与と空気中からの二酸化炭素の吸収量との関連について考察するとともに，併せて，FFCエースの土壌への導入によって作物の生育に必要な灌水量を大きく減らすことができる可能性についても言及したい

The effect of clonus and muscle spasm on cardiovascular responses in patients with quadriplegia

頚髄損傷者にみられるクローヌスや筋痙攣が循環動態に与える影響について検討することを目的とした.対象者はC7レベルでの男性頚髄損傷者2名(症例1:年齢41歳;身長172 cm;体重55kg;罹病年数;10年)とし,損傷レベル以下での感覚機能,運動機能ともに消失していた(ASIA gradeA).5分間の車椅子安静座位の後,対象者の麻痺域末梢部に求心性の刺激を加えクローヌスや筋痙攣を誘発した.その際,収縮期血圧(BP),1回拍出量(SV),心拍出量(CO),全末梢血管抵抗値(TPR),心拍数(HR),腓腹筋部ヘモグロビン量(TotalHb),心拍変動高周波成分(HF),腓腹筋筋電図を記録した.刺激により腓腹筋の収縮が筋電図により確認された.症例1ではBP, HR, CO, TPR,HF が増加したが,SV は安静時の80%まで減少した.症例2ではBP, SV, CO,HFは増加した.さらにHRは刺激を加えた直後に,いったん安静時の150%まで増加した後,安静時の75%まで減少した.TPRは安静時の60%まで減少した後,安静時の150%まで増加した.また,TotalHbは両症例ともに変化しなかった.したがって,クローヌスや筋痙攣の出現とともに循環動態に変化がもたらされ血圧が上昇することが示され,末梢部の求心性刺激によるクローヌスや筋痙攣は脊髄内に異常興奮を生じ,反射性の交感神経活動により心臓や血管に影響を与えたことが考えられた.The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of clonus and muscle spasm on the cardiovascularresponses of patients with cervical cord injury (CCI). Two males with a lesion at C7 volunteered for thisstudy (Case 1: age 44 years; height 172 cm; weight 55 kg; duration of injury 20 years. Case 2: age 31 years;height 171 cm; weight 50 kg; duration of injury 10 years.). The subjects showed no sensory or motor belowthe level of the lesion (ASIA grade A). Following a rest period of 5 minutes in the wheelchair, peripheralafferent stimulation was performed in subjects. Systolic arterial blood pressure (BP), stroke volume (SV),Cardiac output (CO), Total peripheral resistance (TPR), heart rate (HR), total hemoglobin of calf(TotalHb), high frequency of heart rate variability (HF), and electromyogram (EMG) of gastrocnemiuschanges were measured. In result, following the stimulation, contraction of gastrocnemius wererecognized with EMG. In case 1, BP, HR, CO, TPR and HF increased, whereas SV decreased by about80%.0In case 2, BP, SV, CO and HF increased. Immediately after stimulation, HR increased by about 150-0x1.fcfap+0nd then decreased by about 75%.0 TPR decreased by about 60-0x1.4b3a0b6a4aap-149nd then increased by about 150%.0 TotalHbshowed no change in either subject. These results suggested that clonus and muscle spasm inducedcircular reaction and a marked BP. Peripheral afferent stimulation during Clonus and muscle spasm that isinduced by intraspinal hypersthenia decentralized part of the sympathetic nervous system and influencedheart and blood vessels

Prediction of outcome of patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma using vascular invasion and the strongly positive expression of vascular endothelial growth factors.

Vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis have been used as histopathological prognosticators of cancers including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). In addition to metastatic potential via blood vessels, tumor-induced angiogenesis might also be associated with prognosis. However, the efficacy of combined evaluation of vascular invasion and angiogenesis-associated molecules for the prognosis of OSCC remains obscure. This is also the case in lymph node metastasis and lymphovasculogenesis-associated molecules. The aim of this study was to examine factors related to prognosis to improve the accuracy of prognostic prediction of OSCC using vasculogenesis-associated markers. Ninety specimens of patients from 1991 to 2002 with previously untreated OSCC, who underwent either biopsy or surgery, were histopathologically and immunohistochemically analyzed using antibodies for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A, VEGF-C, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and Midkine. The ninety cases were composed of 72 well-differentiated, 12 moderately differentiated and 6 poorly differentiated OSCC. Efficient models of prognostic prediction were evaluated by extensive statistical analyses. The presence of vascular invasion or lymph node metastasis was confirmed to be significantly associated with poor prognosis in the univariate analysis. Multivariate logic regression analysis suggested that patients with the strongly positive expression of either VEGF-A or VEGF-C had a significant association with poor prognosis even in patients without vascular invasion and in early-stage patients. Neither COX-2 nor Midkine contributed to predict the prognosis of the patients. The strongly positive expression of VEGF-A or VEGF-C was suggested to reinforce the histopathological diagnosis of vascular invasion and improve the accuracy and efficacy of prognostic prediction of OSCC

Podoplanin promotes progression of MPM

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is characterized by dissemination and aggressive growth in the thoracic cavity. Podoplanin (PDPN) is an established diagnostic marker for MPM, but the function of PDPN in MPM is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine the pathogenetic function of PDPN in MPM. Forty-seven of 52 tumors (90%) from Japanese patients with MPM and 3/6 (50%) MPM cell lines tested positive for PDPN. Knocking down PDPN in PDPN-high expressing MPM cells resulted in decreased cell motility. In contrast, overexpression of PDPN in PDPN-low expressing MPM cells enhanced cell motility. PDPN stimulated motility was mediated by activation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway. Moreover, knocking down PDPN with short hairpin (sh) RNA in PDPN-high expressing MPM cells resulted in decreased development of a thoracic tumor in mice with severe combined immune deficiency (SCID). In sharp contrast, transfection of PDPN in PDPN-low expressing MPM cells resulted in an increase in the number of Ki-67-positive proliferating tumor cells and it promoted progression of a thoracic tumor in SCID mice. Interestingly, PDPN promoted focus formation in vitro, and a low level of E-cadherin expression and YAP1 activation was observed in PDPN-high MPM tumors. These findings indicate that PDPN is a diagnostic marker as well as a pathogenetic regulator that promotes MPM progression by increasing cell motility and inducing focus formation. Therefore, PDPN might be a pathogenetic determinant of MPM dissemination and aggressive growth and may thus be an ideal therapeutic target