Redetermination of synthetic warwickite, Mg3TiO2(BO3)2

Single crystals of warwickite, trimagnesium titanium(IV) dioxide bis­(borate), Mg3TiO2(BO3)2, were prepared by slow cooling of the melt. The title compound is isotypic with Co3TiO2(BO3)2. In contrast to the previous refinement of warwickite [Moore & Araki (1974 ▶). Am. Mineral. 59, 985–1004], that reported only isotropic atomic displacement parameters for all atoms, anisotropic displacement parameters of all atoms were refined during the current redetermination. All atoms are situated on special positions (site symmetry .m.). One of the two Mg sites is statistically disordered with Ti atoms (ratio 1:1), while the other is fully occupied by Mg atoms. The occupancy ratio of the Mg and Ti atoms is similar to that reported in the previous study. Metal atoms (M) at the Ti/Mg and Mg sites are coordinated by six O atoms in form of distorted octa­hedra. Four edge-sharing MO6 octa­hedra form M 4O18 units, which are connected by common corners into layers parallel to (010). Adjacent layers are linked along [010] into a framework structure by sharing common edges. The B atoms are located in the triangular prismatic tunnels of the framework

Transmission Electron Microscope Study of Neutron Irradiation-induced Defects in Silicon

Commercial Czochralski-grown silicon (Cz-Si) and float-zone silicon(Fz-Si) wafers were irradiated with fission neutrons at various fluences from 10^ to 10^ n/cm^2 at temperatures ranging from 473K to 1043K. The irradiation induced defect structures were examined by transmission electron microscopy and ultra high voltage electron microscopy, which were compared with Marlowe code computer simulation results. It was concluded that the vacancy-type damage structure formed at 473K were initiated from collapse of vacancy-rich regions of cascades, while interstitial type defect clusters formed by irradiation above 673K were associated with interstitial oxygen atoms and free interstitials which diffused out of the cascades. Complex defect structures were identified to consist of {113} and {111} planar faults by the parallel beam illumination diffraction analysis

Dynamical Modulation of Wintertime Synoptic-Scale Cyclone Activity over the Japan Sea due to Changbai Mountain in the Korean Peninsula

The dynamical impact of the Changbai Mountain Range in the Korean Peninsula on the extratropical cyclone activity over the Japan Sea in early winter is examined using the Weather Research Forecasting model. We have conducted two independent long-term integrations over 15 winter months (December only) from 2000 to 2014 with and without modified topography. The results show that the Changbai Mountain Range plays a vital role in increasing cyclone track frequency, low-level poleward eddy heat flux, and the local deepening rate over the Japan Sea through enhancement of the lower-tropospheric baroclinic zone (LTBZ). This mountain range gives rise to activation of the synoptic-scale cyclone activity over that region. From our case study on three typical cyclones, it is found that mesoscale structures in the vicinity of a cyclone’s center are dynamically modulated when it passes through the LTBZ and that cyclogenesis is triggered around that zone. A vorticity budget analysis shows that the stretching term relevant to enhanced low-level convergence plays a dominant role in intensifying cyclonic vorticities. We confirmed that the composite features of the three typical cases are consistent with the statistical ones of the dynamical modulation of the Changbai Mountain on synoptic-scale cyclone activity

The genome sequence of pepper vein yellows virus (family Luteoviridae, genus Polerovirus)

The complete genome of pepper vein yellows virus (PeVYV) was sequenced using random amplification of RNA samples isolated from vector insects (Aphis gossypii) that had been given access to PeVYV-infected plants. The PeVYV genome consisted of 6244 nucleotides and had a genomic organization characteristic of members of the genus Polerovirus. PeVYV had highest amino acid sequence identities in ORF0 to ORF3 (75.9 - 91.9%) with tobacco vein distorting polerovirus, with which it was only 25.1% identical in ORF5. These sequence comparisons and previously studied biological properties indicate that PeVYV is a distinctly different virus and belongs to a new species of the genus Polerovirus

Guideline-based Treatment of Glucocorticoid-induced Osteoporosis in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Retrospective Study with the AORA Registry

Glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) is one of the side effects associated with glucocorticoid (GC) therapy. In 2014, the Japanese Society for Bone and Mineral Research (JSBMR) provided new guidelines for the management and treatment of GIOP. The aim of the present study was to clarify the prevalence of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) requiring treatment according to the new guidelines and to identify risk factors associated with lack of treatment in these patients. Patients in the 2018 Akita Orthopedic group on Rheumatoid Arthritis (AORA) database were enrolled. Of 2,234 patients with RA in the database, 683 (30.6%) met the 2014 JSBMR guideline treatment criteria, and 480 (70.3%) had been treated. The untreated group included a larger number of males, younger patients, and patients treated in clinics rather than hospital (p<0.001, p=0.015, and p<0.001, respectively). Multivariate analyses found that male sex, younger age, and clinic-based RA care were significant risk factors associated with lack of treatment (p<0.001, p=0.013, and p<0.001, respectively). Thus, male sex, younger age, and clinic-based care were identified as risk factor

In Silico Study of Rett Syndrome Treatment-Related Genes, MECP2, CDKL5, and FOXG1, by Evolutionary Classification and Disordered Region Assessment

Rett syndrome (RTT), a neurodevelopmental disorder, is mainly caused by mutations in methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), which has multiple functions such as binding to methylated DNA or interacting with a transcriptional co-repressor complex. It has been established that alterations in cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5) or forkhead box protein G1 (FOXG1) correspond to distinct neurodevelopmental disorders, given that a series of studies have indicated that RTT is also caused by alterations in either one of these genes. We investigated the evolution and molecular features of MeCP2, CDKL5, and FOXG1 and their binding partners using phylogenetic profiling to gain a better understanding of their similarities. We also predicted the structural order–disorder propensity and assessed the evolutionary rates per site of MeCP2, CDKL5, and FOXG1 to investigate the relationships between disordered structure and other related properties with RTT. Here, we provide insight to the structural characteristics, evolution and interaction landscapes of those three proteins. We also uncovered the disordered structure properties and evolution of those proteins which may provide valuable information for the development of therapeutic strategies of RTT

An Integrated Approach to Developing Japanese Students' English Presentation and Discussion Skills

We examined the types of difficulties that Japanese high school students have in English presentation and discussion activities. We conducted factor analysis (principal factor method with promax rotation) on the survey data, which was divided into four stages: (1) the presentation preparation stage; (2) the presentation stage; (3) the listening stage; and (4) the discussion stage. The results showed that students had difficulty with the following skills during each of the four stages: (1) "effective ways of providing information," "revision," and "collaborative work" during the presentation preparation stage; (2) "basic presentation skills," "handling questions," and "audience management" during the presentation stage ; (3) "active interaction" and "active understanding" during the listening stage; and (4) "overcoming communication anxiety," "adaptation to classroom activities," "problem solving approach," and "self-relativization" during the discussion stage

An Integrated Approach to Developing Japanese Students' English Presentation and Discussion Skills

We examined the types of difficulties that Japanese high school students have in English presentation and discussion activities. We conducted factor analysis (principal factor method with promax rotation) on the survey data, which was divided into four stages: (1) the presentation preparation stage; (2) the presentation stage; (3) the listening stage; and (4) the discussion stage. The results showed that students had difficulty with the following skills during each of the four stages: (1) "effective ways of providing information," "revision," and "collaborative work" during the presentation preparation stage; (2) "basic presentation skills," "handling questions," and "audience management" during the presentation stage ; (3) "active interaction" and "active understanding' during the listening stage; and (4) "overcoming communication anxiety," "adaptation to classroom activities," "problem solving approach," and "self-relativization" during the discussion stage

Thrombin stimulates platelet-derived growth factor release by alveolar macrophages in rats : significance in bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Thrombin is a multifunctional enzyme generated at sites of vascular injury, and is known to be increased in the lungs in some types of fibrotic lung disease. In this study, to determine whether thrombin is associated with fibroblast growth and pulmonary fibrosis in these disorders, we examined whether a growth factor for fibroblasts (platelet-derived growth factor, PDGF) was released by thrombin-stimulated alveolar macrophages (AM). The culture supernatants of rat AM stimulated with 1 or 10 U/ml of thrombin showed a significant increase in fibroblast growth-stimulating activity (FGA). Pretreatment of the AM supernatant with anti-PDGF-AA antibody significantly decreased the FGA, but pretreatment with anti-PDGF-BB antibody did not. The supernatants of AM stimulated with thrombin also increased the growth of fibroblasts from the lungs of rats with bleomycin-induced lung injury. These results indicate that thrombin stimulates AM to release PDGF-AA, which is responsible, at least in part, for fibroblast growth and the development of pulmonary fibrosis in some types of fibrotic lung disease

Chemical Pleurodesis Could Exacerbate Lymphedema of Yellow Nail Syndrome

Chemical pleurodesis is sometimes performed for the management of intractable pleural effusion. We describe a woman with yellow nail syndrome (YNS), which is characterized by yellow discoloration of the nails, lymphedema, and pleural effusion. At the age of 43, she was hospitalized with edema of the lower limbs. Despite a number of medical treatments, massive lymphedema of lower limbs developed over a period of three years, resulting in skin cracks and subsequent infection, septicemia and multiple organ failure. At autopsy, abnormally dilated lymph and blood vessels were evident in soft tissue throughout the whole body. She had undergone chemical pleurodesis at 36 years of age for reduction of pleural effusion associated with YNS. Our case illustrates possible complication of chemical pleurodesis to YNS, which resulted in accumulation of lymph flow into the lower half of the body