Strain through the neck linker ensures processive runs: a DNA-kinesin hybrid nanomachine study

The motor protein kinesin has two heads and walks along microtubules processively using energy derived from ATP. However, how kinesin heads are coordinated to generate processive movement remains elusive. Here we created a hybrid nanomachine (DNA-kinesin) using DNA as the skeletal structure and kinesin as the functional module. Single molecule imaging of DNA-kinesin hybrid allowed us to evaluate the effects of both connect position of the heads (N, C-terminal or Mid position) and sub-nanometer changes in the distance between the two heads on motility. Our results show that although the native structure of kinesin is not essential for processive movement, it is the most efficient. Furthermore, forward bias by the power stroke of the neck linker, a 13-amino-acid chain positioned at the C-terminus of the head, and internal strain applied to the rear of the head through the neck linker are crucial for the processive movement. Results also show that the internal strain coordinates both heads to prevent simultaneous detachment from the microtubules. Thus, the inter-head coordination through the neck linker facilitates long-distance walking

Pre-operative anxiety and nursing care - Through two students'case studies on surgical patients -

手術前の看護は,患者が安全･安楽に手術を受けることができ,術後の回復過程がスムーズにいくように援助することである.その看護の一つとして術前不安の緩和に向けての援助がある。その人の不安レベルに応じた適切な看護援助を行うためには,患者の不安を正しくアセスメントすることが重要になる｡看護学生にとって,患者の不安への理解は,臨床実習の場で,患者を観察したり,患者と向き合って話を交わしたり,ケアを行ったりする体験を通して培われていくものであると思われる｡本論文では,2名の学生が行った術前不安に関する事例研究から,客観的に分析する方法を用いて患者を観察したり, 患者の話を聞いたり,看護行為を行うことによって,術前不安と看護援助の理解が深められることを論述した｡Pre-operative nursing is to care and educate a patient so that he/she can undergo an operation at ease and in safety and recover quickly after surgery. One of the pre-operative nursing is to relieve anxiety. It's very important for pre-operative nursing to assess pre-operative anxiety and do the nursing action according to patient's anxiety level. Nursing student seems to have much understanding of pre-operative anxiety through observing a patient's behavior, talking with a patient, and caring a patient in clinical practice. Two students'case studies on surgical patients are presented in this paper. This paper shows how they promote deeper understanding of pre-operative anxiety and the nursing care is promoted by observing the patient and listening objectively to what the patient says and giving appropriate feedback

Noise reduction effect in super-high resolution LCDs using independent sub-pixel driving technology

We have developed and reported a super-high resolution liquid crystal display (SHR-LCD) using a new resolution enhancement technology of the independent sub-pixel driving (ISD) that utilizes three sub-pixels in each pixel element. This technology realizes the three-times resolution enhancement of monochrome LCDs, and improves the depiction ability of detailed shape such as micro-calcifications of a mammography and bone structures. Furthermore, the ISD technology brings not only resolution enhancement but also noise reduction effect by the high-resolution data sampling in displaying the clinical images. In this study, we examined the efficacy of the newly developed LCDs from the noise power spectrum measurement (NPS), the perceptual comparison of the phantom images and the clinical images. A 15 mega-pixel (MP)SHR-LCD out of a 5MP LCD and a 6MP SHR-LCD out of a 2MP LCD were used for the measurement and the evaluation. In the NPS measurements, the noise of all the SHR-LCDs was improved obviously. The improvement degree of the NPS varied according to the sub-sampling ratio of the data sampling implemented during the image displaying, and the 6MP LCD showed higher improvement. In the perceptual evaluation of the quality-control phantom images and the low-contrast images of the micro-calcifications of the mammography, all the SHR-LCDs provided higher performance than the conventional LCDs. These results proved that the SHR-LCDs using the ISD technology had the excellent ability to display the high-resolution clinical images

Development of a new resolution enhancement technology for medical liquid crystal displays

金沢大学大学院医学系研究科量子医療技術学A new resolution enhancement technology that used independent sub-pixel driving method was developed for medical monochrome liquid crystal displays (LCDs). Each pixel of monochrome LCDs, which employ color liquid crystal panels with color filters removed, consists of three sub-pixels. In the new LCD system implemented with this technology, sub-pixel intensities were modulated according to detailed image information, and consequently resolution was enhanced three times. In addition, combined with adequate resolution improvement by image data processing, horizontal and vertical resolution properties were balanced. Thus the new technology realized 9 mega-pixels (MP) ultra-high resolution out of 3MP LCD. Physical measurements and perceptual evaluations proved that the achieved 9MP (through our new technology) was appropriate and efficient to depict finer anatomical structures such as micro calcifications in mammography

Physical and chemical characterization of the pulp of different varieties of avocado targeting oil extraction potential Caracterização física e química da polpa de diferentes variedades de abacate visando o potencial para extração de óleo

Physical and chemical characterization of the pulp of different varieties of avocado targeting oil extraction potential Ciência e Tecnologia de Alimentos, vol. 32, núm. 2, abril-junio, 2012, pp. 274-28

Immunological Changes in Mesothelioma Patients and Their Experimental Detection

It is common knowledge that asbestos exposure causes asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma (MM) not only in people who have handled asbestos in the work environment, but also in residents living near factories that handle asbestos. These facts have been an enormous medical and social problem in Japan since the summer of 2005. We focused on the immunological effects of asbestos and silica on the human immune system. In this brief review, we present immunological changes in patients with MM and outline their experimental detection. For example, there is over-expression of bcl-2 in CD4+ peripheral T-cells, high plasma concentrations of interleukin (IL)-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß, and multiple over-representation of T cell receptor (TcR)-Vß in peripheral CD3+ T-cells found in MM patients. We also detail an experimental long-term exposure T-cell model. Analysis of the immunological effects of asbestos may help our understanding of the biological effects of asbestos