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Accepted: 2019-04-03, 資料番号: SA1190179000

The high design luminosity of the SuperKEKB electron-positron collider is expected to result in challenging levels of beam-induced backgrounds in the interaction region. Properly simulating and mitigating these backgrounds is critical to the success of the Belle~II experiment. We report on measurements performed with a suite of dedicated beam background detectors, collectively known as BEAST II, during the so-called Phase 1 commissioning run of SuperKEKB in 2016, which involved operation of both the high energy ring (HER) of 7 GeV electrons as well as the low energy ring (LER) of 4 GeV positrons. We describe the BEAST II detector systems, the simulation of beam backgrounds, and the measurements performed. The measurements include standard ones of dose rates versus accelerator conditions, and more novel investigations, such as bunch-by-bunch measurements of injection backgrounds and measurements sensitive to the energy spectrum and angular distribution of fast neutrons. We observe beam-gas, Touschek, beam-dust, and injection backgrounds. We do not observe significant synchrotron radiation, as expected. Measured LER beam-gas backgrounds and Touschek backgrounds in both rings are slightly elevated, on average three times larger than the levels predicted by simulation. HER beam-gas backgrounds are on on average two orders of magnitude larger than predicted. Systematic uncertainties and channel-to-channel variations are large, so that these excesses constitute only 1-2 sigma level effects. Neutron background rates are higher than predicted and should be studied further. We will measure the remaining beam background processes, due to colliding beams, in the imminent commissioning Phase 2. These backgrounds are expected to be the most critical for Belle II, to the point of necessitating replacement of detector components during the Phase 3 (full-luminosity) operation of SuperKEB., 101 pages, 127 figures

To develop a successful global brand strategy, a profound understanding of consumers’ perceptions about the brand in the main markets or countries is needed. Measuring the image of global brands includes at least two challenges. First, the market researcher has to select an appropriate method, knowing that different methods may yield different outcomes. Second, measuring the image of global brands differs categorically from measuring the image of local ones, as the global perspective requires measuring the brand image in diverse markets that may differ according to various cultural and socioeconomic characteristics. To meet these challenges, this paper proposes a two-factor approach, including a combination of the factors “method” and “country.” The data used for illustration purposes were collected in three leading target countries using a multi-method approach, including the free association method, the brand concept maps (BCM) method, and a usergenerated content (UGC) method. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) shows how the two-factor approach enables the uncovering of method and country effects and howthe suggested procedure leads to a holistic picture of the global brand image.

Koki Takagaki,1 Yasumasa Okamoto,2 Ran Jinnin,2 Asako Mori,2 Yoshiko Nishiyama,3 Takanao Yamamura,4 Satoshi Yokoyama,2 Syouichi Shiota,5,6 Yuri Okamoto,1 Yoshie Miyake,1 Akiko Ogata,7 Yoshihiko Kunisato,8 Haruki Shimoda,9 Norito Kawakami,10 Toshi A Furukawa,11 Shigeto Yamawaki2 1Health Service Center, Hiroshima, Japan; 2Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan; 3Haruma City Office, Haruma, Japan; 4Kanazawa University Hospital Neuropsychiatry, Kanazawa, Japan; 5Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan; 6Department of Cognitive Psychology in Education, Graduate School of Education, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; 7Department of Psychology, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan; 8Department of Psychology, School of Human Sciences, Senshu University, Kawasaki, Japan; 9Department of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan; 10Department of Psychiatry of Mental Health, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; 11Department of Health Promotion and Human Behavior and of Clinical Epidemiology, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public health, Kyoto, Japan Background: No significant effect of psychological treatment has been reported from meta-analysis of subthreshold depression patients and control subjects at 1-year follow-up. However, behavioral activation is a simpler and more cost-effective treatment than cognitive behavioral therapy. The primary purpose of this study was to assess by comparison to an assessment-only control group whether the effects of behavioral activation program for depressive symptoms can persist up to 1-year follow-up without the use of antidepressants or other psychotherapy.Patients and methods: Late adolescent students were the population targeted in this study. Participants were allocated randomly to an intervention group (n=62) or a control group (n=56). Treatment consisted of five-weekly 60-minute sessions. Participants underwent a structured interview and completed self-report scales at 1 year post-assessment.Results: Late adolescent students receiving treatment had significantly lower mean Beck Depression Inventory, second edition scores at 1-year follow-up than control group students. The effect size (Hedges’ g) for between-group differences at 1-year follow-up was -0.41.Conclusion: Our behavioral activation program is simple and short. Nevertheless, the results obtained at 1-year follow-up of the control group and late adolescent students receiving treatment indicated a significant difference in their Beck Depression Inventory, second edition scores. Our 5-week behavioral activation program based on behavioral characteristics for subthreshold depression might be promising for subthreshold depression. The sample examined for this study imposed some study limitations. Keywords: behavioral activation, first-year university students, randomized controlled trial, subthreshold depression

Koki Takagaki,1 Yasumasa Okamoto,1 Ran Jinnin,1 Satoshi Yokoyama,1 Atsuo Yoshino,1 Fumi Kagawa,1 Yuri Okamoto,2 Yoshie Miyake,2 Shigeto Yamawaki1 1Department of Psychiatry and Neurosciences, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan; 2Health Service Center, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan Background: A Japanese study revealed that 20.7% of first-year undergraduate students had a major depressive episode during the previous 12 months: first-year undergraduate students with depression need early support. Reportedly, antidepressant medication use during adolescence is associated with modestly increased risk of suicidality. This case study of a late-adolescent woman with depression illustrates the effects of behavioral activation without psychotropic medication.Case presentation: A first-year undergraduate student was diagnosed as having major depressive disorder. From earlier studies, we developed a behavioral activation program for late-adolescent people with major depressive disorder. Behavioral activation administered in 10 weekly 60-minute sessions decreased depressive symptoms, avoidant behaviors, and rumination. Moreover, the Beck Depression Inventory, second version score was 1 at 1-year follow-up.Conclusion: Results of this case study show that behavioral activation is effective without psychotropic medication. Future studies of large samples must be conducted to assess the effectiveness of behavioral activation without psychotropic medication for depression in late adolescence. Keywords: avoidant behavior, behavioral activation without psychotropic medication, major depressive symptoms, rumination

The bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins are promising drug targets for cancer and immune diseases. However, BET inhibition effects have been studied more in the context of bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) than BRD2, and the BET protein association to histone H4-hyperacetylated chromatin is not understood at the genome-wide level. Here, we report transcription start site (TSS)-resolution integrative analyses of ChIP-seq and transcriptome profiles in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line H23. We show that di-acetylation at K5 and K8 of histone H4 (H4K5acK8ac) co-localizes with H3K27ac and BRD2 in the majority of active enhancers and promoters, where BRD2 has a stronger association with H4K5acK8ac than H3K27ac. Although BET inhibition by JQ1 led to complete reduction of BRD2 binding to chromatin, only local changes of H4K5acK8ac levels were observed, suggesting that recruitment of BRD2 does not influence global histone H4 hyperacetylation levels. This finding supports a model in which recruitment of BET proteins via histone H4 hyperacetylation is predominant over hyperacetylation of histone H4 by BET protein-associated acetyltransferases. In addition, we found that a remarkable number of BRD2-bound genes, including MYC and its downstream target genes, were transcriptionally upregulated upon JQ1 treatment. Using BRD2-enriched sites and transcriptional activity analysis, we identified candidate transcription factors potentially involved in the JQ1 response in BRD2-dependent and -independent manner.

Sho Yokoyama,1 Takashi Kojima,2 Toshio Mori,3 Taisuke Matsuda,1 Hiroyuki Sato,3 Norihiko Yoshida,4 Tatsushi Kaga,1 R Theodore Smith,5 Kazuo Ichikawa6 1Department of Ophthalmology, Japan Community Healthcare Organization Chukyo Hospital, Nagoya, Japan; 2Department of Ophthalmology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; 3Department of Ophthalmology, Iida Municipal Hospital, Iida, Japan; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Japanese Red Cross Gifu Hospital, Gifu, Japan; 5Department of Ophthalmology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; 6Chukyo Eye Clinic, Nagoya, Japan Summary: We evaluated the clinical outcomes for ophthalmic endoscope-assisted vitrectomy in consecutive patients with uncomplicated rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD). The primary success rate was 98.4% (125/127) without performing a posterior drainage retinotomy or using perfluorocarbon liquids (PFCL) for subretinal fluid drainage.Purpose: To investigate the clinical outcomes of endoscope-assisted vitrectomy in patients with uncomplicated RRD.Methods: We examined 127 eyes from consecutive patients who underwent repair of RRD by 23- or 25-gauge endoscope-assisted vitrectomy, with a minimum follow-up of 3 months. Eyes with the following criteria were excluded: Giant retinal tears, grade C proliferative vitreoretinopathy, dense vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment secondary to other ocular diseases, and prior retinal or vitreous surgery. All cases underwent subretinal fluid drainage, endolaser photocoagulation and fundus inspection were performed under ophthalmic endoscopic observation. Success rate, visual acuity, surgery time and complications were evaluated.Results: Primary and final success rate was 98.4% (125/127) and 100% (127/127), respectively, Surgery time was 59.6±26.3 minutes. The best-corrected visual acuity significantly improved from 20/100 to 20/20 (P

The LIGO discoveries have rekindled suggestions that primordial black holes (BHs) may constitute part to all of the dark matter (DM) in the Universe. Such suggestions came from 1) the observed merger rate of the BHs, 2) their unusual masses, 3) their low/zero spins, and 4) also from the independently uncovered cosmic infrared background (CIB) fluctuations signal of high amplitude and coherence with unresolved cosmic X-ray background (CXB). Here we summarize the prospects to resolve this important issue with electromagnetic observations using the instruments and tools expected in the 2020's. These prospects appear promising to make significant, and potentially critical, advances. We demonstrate that in the next decade, new space- and ground-borne electromagnetic instruments, combined with concurrent theoretical efforts, should shed critical light on the long-considered link between primordial BHs and DM. Specifically the new data and methodologies under this program will involve: I) Probing with high precision the spatial spectrum of source-subtracted CIB with Euclid and WFIRST, and its coherence with unresolved cosmic X-ray background using eROSITA and Athena, II) Advanced searches for microlensing of Galactic stars by the intervening Galactic Halo BHs with OGLE, Gaia, LSST and WFIRST, III) Supernovae (SNe) lensing in the upcoming surveys with WFIRST, LSST and also potentially with Euclid and JWST, IV) Advanced theoretical work to understand the details of PBH accretion and evolution and their influence on cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies in light of the next generation CMB experiments, V) Better new samples and theoretical understanding involving stability and properties of ultra faint dwarf galaxies, pulsar timing, and cosmological quasar lensing., Comment: Science whitepaper submitted to the Astro2020 Decadal Survey

Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research / A Accelerators, spectrometers, detectors and associated equipment Section A A914, 69 - 144 (2019). doi:10.1016/j.nima.2018.05.071, The high design luminosity of the SuperKEKB electron–positron collider is expected to result in challenging levels of beam-induced backgrounds in the interaction region. Properly simulating and mitigating these backgrounds is critical to the success of the Belle II experiment. We report on measurements performed with a suite of dedicated beam background detectors, collectively known as BEAST II, during the so-called Phase 1 commissioning run of SuperKEKB in 2016, which involved operation of both the high energy ring (HER) of 7 GeV electrons as well as the low energy ring (LER) of 4 GeV positrons. We describe the BEAST II detector systems, the simulation of beam backgrounds, and the measurements performed. The measurements include standard ones of dose rates versus accelerator conditions, and more novel investigations, such as bunch-by-bunch measurements of injection backgrounds and measurements sensitive to the energy spectrum and angular distribution of fast neutrons. We observe beam–gas, Touschek, beam–dust, and injection backgrounds. As there is no final focus of the beams in Phase 1, we do not observe significant synchrotron radiation, as expected. Measured LER beam–gas backgrounds and Touschek backgrounds in both rings are slightly elevated, on average three times larger than the levels predicted by simulation. HER beam–gas backgrounds are on average two orders of magnitude larger than predicted. Systematic uncertainties and channel-to-channel variations are large, so that these excesses constitute only 1–2 sigma level effects. Neutron background rates are higher than predicted and should be studied further. We will measure the remaining beam background processes, due to colliding beams, in the imminent commissioning Phase 2. These backgrounds are expected to be the most critical for Belle II, to the point of necessitating replacement of detector components during the Phase 3 (full-luminosity) operation of SuperKEB., Published by North-Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam

The first edition of the standard IEC 61400-24, Wind Generator Systems – Part 24 Lightning Protection, was issued in June 2010, and the scope was to reflect the experiences and technical understanding of lightning protection of wind turbines by manufacturers, certification organizations, research institutes and universities. It presented background statistical information on lightning damage to wind turbines, and it provided guidance on lightning protection best practices. Since then, the wind power industry has further developed towards even larger onshore and offshore wind turbines and into a mature industry. This is the background for the current draft of the 2018 revision of the IEC 61400-24, which transforms the 2010 edition into an evolution of the previous issued standard based on improved technical experience and expertise.

Helimagnetic materials are identified as promising for novel spintronic applications. Since helical spin order is manifested as a compromise of competing magnetic exchange interactions, its emergence is limited by unique constraints imposed by the crystalline lattice and the interaction geometries, as exemplified by the multiferroic perovskite manganites with large orthorhombic distortion. Here we show that a simple cubic perovskite SrCoO$_3$ with room-temperature ferromagnetism has the potential to host helimagnetic order upon isotropic lattice expansion. Increasing the Ba content $x$ in Sr$_{1-x}$Ba$_x$CoO$_3$ continuously expands the cubic lattice, eventually suppressing the ferromagnetic order near $x$=0.4, where helimagnetic correlations are observed as incommensurate diffuse magnetic scattering by neutron diffraction measurements. The emergence of helimagnetism is semi-quantitatively reproduced by first-principles calculations, leading to the conjecture that a simple cubic lattice with strong $d$-$p$ hybridisation can exhibit a variety of novel magnetic phases originating from competing exchange interactions., Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures, To appear in Phys. Rev. Materials

Histone acetylation is generally associated with gene activation and chromatin decondensation. Recent mass spectrometry analysis has revealed that histone H4 lysine 20, a major methylation site, can also be acetylated. To understand the function of H4 lysine 20 acetylation (H4K20ac), we have developed a specific monoclonal antibody and performed ChIP-seq analysis using HeLa-S3 cells. H4K20ac was enriched around the transcription start sites (TSSs) of minimally expressed genes and in the gene body of expressed genes, in contrast to most histone acetylation being enriched around the TSSs of expressed genes. The distribution of H4K20ac showed little correlation with known histone modifications, including histone H3 methylations. A motif search in H4K20ac-enriched sequences, together with transcription factor binding profiles based on ENCODE ChIP-seq data, revealed that most transcription activators are excluded from H4K20ac-enriched genes and a transcription repressor NRSF/REST co-localized with H4K20ac. These results suggest that H4K20ac is a unique acetylation mark associated with gene repression.

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-DQA1*01:07 was identified as an HLA-DQ blank specificity that segregated with the serological HLA-A2, -B7, -DR14, -DR52 haplotype, which carried DQB1*05:03. The blank specificity of DQA1*01:07-DQB1*05:03 may be because of lack of reactivity of available typing sera, or disruption of proper assembly of DQ heterodimer. The cDNA sequence of DQA1*01: 07 is nearly identical to DQA1*01: 04 except for a variant at position 304, which results in the replacement of an arginine with a cysteine at 79 alpha. To determine whether the DQA1*01: 07 product can be expressed on cell-surface, we co-expressed DQA1*01: 07 with various DQB1*05 or *06 alleles in fibroblast cells. Cell-surface expression of DQ was detectable when DQA1*01: 07 was co-expressed with DQB1*06:04 but undetectable with other DQB1*05 and DQB1*06 alleles, including DQB1*05: 03, to which DQA1*01: 07 was encoded in cis. These data suggest that DQA1*01: 07 may act as a phenotypically null allele in the DQA1*01: 07-DQB1*05: 03 haplotype, while it can be expressed at a low level in the presences of certain DQB1*06 alleles, such as DQB1*06: 04, in trans. Based on the null or low expression of DQA1*01: 07 as shown in the previous and present studies, DQA1*01: 07 has recently been renamed to DQA1*01:07Q, indicating its questionable expression.

In northern Laos, water buffaloes have been managed under free-grazing condition on swidden fallow lands as an effective practical use of previously cultivated fallow lands. However, there is little information about how water buffaloes utilize the mosaic environments which consist of patchy biotopes. We investigated the spatiotemporal use of swidden fallow lands by four water buffaloes using animal-borne GPS data-logger and satellite image analysis in August, 2011, in the village of Kachet. Villagers in Kachet use a relatively long fallow period (7 years) compared to other villages in northern Laos. All water buffaloes stayed in a 6-year-old fallow plot during the daytime hours, while they moved to a 1-year-old fallow plot by sunset, and spent time there until sunrise. We hypothesize that water buffaloes might stay in the older fallow plot with tree-shade areas during the day to regulate their body temperature because the buffaloes have few sweat glands and have a poor ability to maintain body temperature. The younger fallow plot was also useful for the animals: it was covered with various germinated plants and was utilized as feeding grounds by the water buffaloes. Our results suggested that plots of varying fallow periods have different roles for water buffalo. The spatial heterogeneity in swidden fallows might provide suitable grazing ground for water buffalo., 19–22 May 2022 Kyoto, Japan

The present paper gives a review of our recent progress and latest results for novel linear-algebraic algorithms and its application to large-scale quantum material simulations or electronic structure calculations. The algorithms are Krylov-subspace (iterative) solvers for generalized shifted linear equations, in the form of (zS-H)x=b,in stead of conventional generalized eigen-value equation. The method was implemented in our order-$N$ calculation code ELSES (http://www.elses.jp/) with modelled systems based on ab initio calculations. The code realized one-hundred-million-atom, or 100-nm-scale, quantum material simulations on the K computer in a high parallel efficiency with up to all the built-in processor cores. The present paper also explains several methodological aspects, such as use of XML files and 'novice' mode for general users. A sparse matrix data library in our real problems (http://www.elses.jp/matrix/) was prepared. Internal eigen-value problem is discussed as a general need from the quantum material simulation. The present study is a interdisciplinary one and is sometimes called 'Application-Algorithm-Architecture co-design'. The co-design will play a crucial role in exa-scale scientific computations., Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures

A 28-year-old female attended an outpatient clinic in October, 1989, because of a tumor in the left supraclavicular fossa, detected in a health examination. Following exploratory puncture of the tumor which yielded milky-white fluid, suggesting a cyst in the thoracic duct, she was admitted to our department. The cyst was unilocular measuring about 6 cm in diameter, and the fluid content was chyle-rich in lipids. Lymphography demonstrated a lymphatic structure adjacent to the lesion and scattered lymph vessels on the cyst surface. On November 16 the cyst was resected. A restiform structure was observed between the cyst and the thoracic duct, but the presence or absence of communication was unclear. The histological diagnosis was thoracic duct cyst. Thoracic duct cyst occurring in the cervical region is very rare. Our case may provide useful information as to its pathogenesis and the mode of retention of cyst fluid. Images Fig 1 Fig 2 Fig 3

International audience; XML datasets of various sizes and properties are needed to evaluate the correctness and efficiency of XML-based algorithms and applications. While several downloadable datasets can be found online, these are predefined by system experts and might not be suitable to evaluate every algorithm. Tools for generating synthetic XML documents underline an alternative solution, promoting flexibility and adaptability in generating synthetic document collections. Nonetheless, the usefulness of existing XML generators remains rather limited due to the restricted levels of expressiveness allowed to users. In this paper, we develop a novel XML By example Generator (XBeGene) for producing synthetic XML data which closely reflect the user's requirements. Inspired by the query-by-example paradigm in information retrieval, Our generator system i)allows the user to provide her own sample XML documents as input, ii) analyzes the structure, occurrence frequencies, and content distributions for each XML element in the user input documents, and iii) produces synthetic XML documents which closely concur, in both structural and content features, to the user's input data. The size of each synthetic document as well as that of the entire document collection are also specified by the user. Clustering experiments demonstrate high correlation levels between the specified user requirements and the characteristics of the generated XML data, while timing results confirm our approach's scalability to large scale document collections. \textcopyright 2013 Springer-Verlag GmbH.

One of the most effective ways to reduce the cost of hydrolysis is to reuse enzymes. To do this, it is important to know how much enzyme activity remains in the liquid phase or in the solid residue. In the solid residue, however, enzymes are absorbed onto the substrate and are difficult to completely separate from it, so it is not easy to estimate the activity by the same method as for the liquid phase. In this study, we proposed a method for evaluating the reusable cellulase activity in the residue of enzymatic hydrolysis and measured the cellulase activity by the method. 70% of cellulase activity remained in the solid residue after 70% of glucan hydrolyzed and 50% remained after nearly 90% hydrolyzed, thus cellulase was efficiently recovered from the hydrolysis residue. The cellulase activity in the solid residue after enzymatic hydrolysis measured by our proposed method was similar to that of the other experiments we conducted in this study and that reported by D. Lee et al. Therefore, our proposed method is efficient for evaluating cellulase activity in solid residue after enzymatic hydrolysis., Proceedings of the 20th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 18-22 June 2012, Milan, Italy, pp. 1697-1699

One of the most common and viable methods to remove lignin from wood is kraft pulping, which is a well­developed technology used on a commercial scale. Although kraft pulp is essentially raw material for paper, 70% of plant availability is good enough to meet the current pulp demand in Japan. This means that more than two million ton of pulp can be produced without new equipments. We therefore investigated a bioethanol production process employing kraft pulping as pretreatment. In order to estimate the practical ethanol yield, a series of enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation experiments using kraft pulp was carried out. Kraft pulp products showed sufficient digestibility for ethanol production even at a high substrate concentration (200 g/L). Thanks to this digestibility, low lignin and high polysaccharide content, the concentration of produced ethanol was over 6% at the high substrate concentration (200 g/L). The energy recovery rate in bioethanol production from oxygen delignified kraft pulp (OKP) was about 36% at the substrate concentration of 200 g/L. In this case, woody biomass was converted into not only bioethanol but also extra steam which can be supplied to paper making processes in the paper mill. We estimated ethanol production from surplus pulp production capacity in Japan based on the data in this study. More than one million m3 of ethanol per year can be produced from surplus pulp production., Proceedings of the 19th European Biomass Conference and Exhibition, 6-10 June 2011, Berlin, Germany, pp. 2143-2147

Heterochromatin silencing is pivotal for genome stability in eukaryotes. In Arabidopsis, a plant-specific mechanism called RNA–directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is involved in heterochromatin silencing. Histone deacetylase HDA6 has been identified as a component of such machineries; however, its endogenous targets and the silencing mechanisms have not been analyzed globally. In this study, we investigated the silencing mechanism mediated by HDA6. Genome-wide transcript profiling revealed that the loci silenced by HDA6 carried sequences corresponding to the RDR2-dependent 24-nt siRNAs, however their transcript levels were mostly unaffected in the rdr2 mutant. Strikingly, we observed significant overlap of genes silenced by HDA6 to those by the CG DNA methyltransferase MET1. Furthermore, regardless of dependence on RdDM pathway, HDA6 deficiency resulted in loss of heterochromatic epigenetic marks and aberrant enrichment for euchromatic marks at HDA6 direct targets, along with ectopic expression of these loci. Acetylation levels increased significantly in the hda6 mutant at all of the lysine residues in the H3 and H4 N-tails, except H4K16. Interestingly, we observed two different CG methylation statuses in the hda6 mutant. CG methylation was sustained in the hda6 mutant at some HDA6 target loci that were surrounded by flanking DNA–methylated regions. In contrast, complete loss of CG methylation occurred in the hda6 mutant at the HDA6 target loci that were isolated from flanking DNA methylation. Regardless of CG methylation status, CHG and CHH methylation were lost and transcriptional derepression occurred in the hda6 mutant. Furthermore, we show that HDA6 binds only to its target loci, not the flanking methylated DNA, indicating the profound target specificity of HDA6. We propose that HDA6 regulates locus-directed heterochromatin silencing in cooperation with MET1, possibly recruiting MET1 to specific loci, thus forming the foundation of silent chromatin structure for subsequent non-CG methylation., Author Summary Eukaryotes are defended from potentially harmful DNA elements, such as transposons, by forming inactive genomic structure. Chromatin, which consists of DNA and histone proteins, is densely packed in the silent structure, and chromatin chemical modifications such as DNA methylation and histone modifications are known to be essential for this packing. In plants, small RNA molecules have been thought to trigger DNA methylation and resulting silent chromatin formation. We revealed that elimination of specific histone modifications concomitant with DNA methylation is pivotal for the silent chromatin. Furthermore, the histone deacetylase was shown to have more profound target specificity than the DNA methyltransferase and is required for locus-directed DNA methylation, implying the involvement of the histone deacetylase for targeting the DNA methyltransferase to specific places on the genome. These proteins and their functions for gene silencing are evolutionarily conserved in higher eukaryotes, and several proteins involved in small RNA production are plant-specific. Thus, we present a hypothesis that the plant genome may build the protecting foundation by the conserved genome surveillance in eukaryotes, and the reinforcing machinery involving small RNAs could be evolutionarily added to the plant heterochromatin silencing system.

The Thermus thermophilus protein TTHA0988 is a protein of unknown function which represents a fusion of two proteins found almost ubiquitously across the bacterial kingdom. These two proteins perform a role regulating sporulation in Bacillus subtilis, where they are known as KipI and KipA. kipI and kipA genes are usually found immediately adjacent to each other and are often fused to produce a single polypeptide, as is the case with TTHA0988. Here, three crystal forms are reported of TTHA0988, the first structure to be solved from the family of KipI-KipA fusion proteins. Comparison of the three forms reveals structural flexibility which can be described as a hinge motion between the KipI and KipA components. TTHA0988 is annotated in various databases as a putative allophanate hydrolase. However, no such activity could be identified and genetic analysis across species with known allophanate hydrolases indicates that a misannotation has occurred. © 2011 International Union of Crystallography Printed in Singapore all rights reserved.

症例:72歳,男性.主訴は便秘.注腸X線検査では,虫垂が造影されず,盲腸底部に径約2cm大の隆起があり,その中央に小隆起を認めた.大腸内視鏡検査では,虫垂開口部が腫大し,その中心に小隆起を認めた.同部からの生検ではリンパ濾胞過形成がみられた.腹部US,腹部CT検査では回盲部に径約1.5～2.0cm,長さ約5cm大,嚢状に腫大した虫垂を認めた.虫垂嚢胞と診断したが,悪性病変の合併を否定し得ず,回盲部切除を施行.肉眼的には棍棒状に腫大し,波動感を伴う虫垂であり割面では虫垂開口部はリンパ濾胞過形成や炎症性変化で閉塞されていた.組織学的には腫瘍細胞はみられず,retention cystと診断された.嚢胞内容液CEA値は2000ng/ml以上(血中CEA値1.3ng/ml)と高値を呈していた,この様な症例の報告は見当らず,若干の文献的考察を加えた

CEACAM1 (carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1) is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein expressed in epithelial cells with three or four extracellular domains (ECDs) and either long or short cytoplasmic domain isoforms. We have previously shown that the four extracellular domains, short cytoplasmic domain isoform, CEACAM1-4S, plays an essential role in lumen formation in an in vitro model of mammary morphogenesis. In this study, we transfected MCF-7 cells with either the long or short cytoplasmic domain isoforms of CEACAM1, and grew the cells in humanized mammary mouse fat pads in NOD/SCID mice. In this in vivo model, only the long cytoplasmic domain isoform, CEACAM1-4L, formed glands with lumen. On the basis of other studies that revealed phosphorylation of key Thr and Ser residues in the short cytoplasmic domain, we introduced phosphorylation mimic (for example, Thr or Ser to Asp) or null (Thr or Ser to Ala) mutations into the cytoplasmic domain of CEACAM1-4S and tested them in the in vivo model. Mutation of either Thr or Ser to Asp or the double mutant Thr+Ser to Asp, but not the null mutants, induced gland formation with a central lumen-containing apoptotic cells. Moreover, the phosphorylation mimic mutants of CEACAM1-4S induced downregulation of beta1-integrin, overexpression of beta2-integrin, inhibited phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (pTyr-397) and resulted in myofibroblast differentiation as characterized by expression of vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin and beta2-integrin, as well as the production of abundant extracellular matrix.

O arroz-vermelho e o arroz-preto constituem-se nas principais plantas daninhas infestantes da cultura de arroz irrigado, devido à dificuldade de controle seletivo desta espécie em lavouras comerciais. A utilização de cultivares geneticamente modificados resistentes a herbicidas não-seletivos constitui uma alternativa de controle do arroz-vermelho e arroz-preto em arroz irrigado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o comportamento de populações híbridas F2 originárias do cruzamento entre o arroz transgênico resistente ao herbicida glufosinato de amônio (arroz GM) e o arroz-vermelho ou arroz-preto. As populações híbridas F2 resultantes do cruzamento entre o arroz transgênico e o arroz-vermelho e preto são viáveis, mas não apresentam vantagem competitiva aparente em comparação com o arroz-vermelho e arroz-preto não-hibridizado, respectivamente. Nas populações híbridas F2, as características morfológicas, como capacidade de perfilhamento, número de folhas produzidas e estatura média das plantas, foram em parte reduzidas e em parte não foram afetadas pela introgressão do gene BAR. A duração média do período entre o transplante e 50% da fase de floração aumentou nos híbridos F2 entre arroz-vermelho e arroz GM, comparado com os parentais arroz-vermelho e arroz GM. Nos híbridos com arroz-preto, observou-se o contrário: as plantas reduziram o ciclo médio em relação a este. O degrane natural médio observado nos quatro cruzamentos foi inferior ao apresentado pelos dois parentais (arroz-vermelho e arroz-preto)-aspecto este também desfavorável à persistência do arroz-vermelho no ambiente. A esterilidade média de espiguetas aumentou e a produção de sementes viáveis foi inferior ou no máximo similar àquela observada no arroz-vermelho e no arroz-preto. A dormência de sementes foi pouco afetada, quando comparadas as populações híbridas F2 portadoras do gene BAR com os parentais arroz-vermelho e arroz-preto. Mesmo assim, os usuários dessa tecnologia deverão adotar, obrigatoriamente, medidas que evitem a possibilidade de cruzamento entre o arroz transgênico e o arroz-vermelho ou arroz-preto. Red rice is an important weed in paddy rice fields. The use of ammonium glufosinate - resistant genetically modified (GM) rice cultivars is a viable alternative for controlling red rice in cultivated rice crops. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior of F2 hybrid population derivates of crossing between ammonium glufosinate - resistant GM rice and red rice. The F2 hybrid population derivates of crossing between GM rice and red rice are viable but do not present any apparent competitive advantage over red rice. The morphological characteristics of the F2 hybrid populations, such as tillering capacity, number of leaves produced and average plant height were partly reduced and partly unaffected by the introgression of the bar gene. The period between rice planting and 50% flowering increased in the red rice x GM rice F2 hybrids, compared to the parental red rice and GM rice. Average seed shattering rate in the four hybrid families was lower than in the red rice ecotypes, with such aspect also being unfavorable to the persistence of red rice in the environment. Seed dormancy of the hybrids was similar to that of the red rice ecotypes. However, management practices should be adopted to avoid crossing between transgenic rice and red rice.

Tritium, which is used as a fuel of a D-T burning fusion reactor, is the most important radionuclide for the safety assessment of a nuclear fusion experimental reactor such as ITER. Thus, a computer code, ACUTRI, which calculates the radiological impact of tritium released accidentally to the atmosphere, has been developed, aiming to be of use in a discussion of licensing of a fusion experimental reactor and an environmental safety evaluation method in Japan. ACUTRI calculates an individual tritium dose based on transfer models specific to tritium in the environment and ICRP dose models. In this calculation it is also possible to analyze statistically on meteorology in the same way as a conventional dose assessment method according to the meteorological guide of the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan. A Gaussian plume model is used for calculating the atmospheric dispersion of tritium gas (HT) and/or tritiated water (HTO). The environmental pathway model in ACUTRI considers the following internal exposures: inhalation from a primary plume (HT and/or HTO) released from the facilities and inhalation from a secondary plume (HTO) reemitted from the ground following deposition of HT and HTO. This report describes an outline of the ACUTRI code, a user guide and the results of test calculation.

Third International Conference on Cold Climate Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning: 01 November 2000, Sapporo, Japan

A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever, anemia and thrombocytopenia in March 1997. Laboratory findings showed elevated serum LDH levels and polyclonal gammopathy. Bone marrow aspiration samples revealed hemophagocytosis and plasmacytosis. Although serum interleukin-6 was elevated, serum interferon-lambda and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were below detectable limits. Magnetic resonance images disclosed a tumor in the patient's pelvic cavity. The tumor was resected and diagnosed as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The patient was treated with combination chemotherapy and has remained in complete remission. Also, histiocyte and plasma cell counts in the bone marrow fell significantly and the serum interleukin-6 level returned to the normal range. We reasoned that lymphoma cells may have induced plasmacytosis in the bone marrow and polyclonal gammopathy accompanied by hemophagocytic syndrome.

Eight patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer were treated by intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) with electron beams, and the tumor responses were followed using serial CT scans. In five cases, external beam irradiation with 10 MV X-rays was added. While there was no evident change after 2-3 weeks, 6-8 weeks after IORT partial responses were noted in all five examined cases. Furthermore, 12-16 weeks after IORT, three out of five examined patients showed good tumor response with more than 75% regression. Mean survival time was 8.0 +/- 2.7 months. Two patients who lived longer than 1.5 years had shown excellent tumor responses. Serial CT scans in the early period following IORT allowed accurate estimation of the tumor response, which might predict some long-surviving cases.

application/pdf, 学術雑誌論文

application/pdf, 学術雑誌論文

application/pdf, 学術雑誌論文

application/pdf, 学術雑誌論文

application/pdf, 学術雑誌論文

On August 7 (09h 12m, local time), 1977, a major eruption of dacite pumice occurred from the summit of Usu Volcano (42°32'N, 140°50'E), Hokkaido, Japan, after 32 years of dormancy since the birth of Showa-Shinzan lava dome. Four notable explosive eruptions, two moderate and ten small ones have been recorded until the midnight of August 13-14, and then marked crustal movements and local earthquake swarms continue still at present. The sequence of the present eruption, the distribution and nature of the new ejecta, and the topographic deformation of the volcano, are briefly given in this report.

Post-translational histone modifications play a critical role in genome functions such as epigenetic gene regulation and genome maintenance. The tail of the histone H4 N-terminus contains several amino acids that can be acetylated and methylated. Some of these modifications are known to undergo drastic changes during the cell cycle. In this study, we generated a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies against histone H4 modifications, including acetylation at K5, K8, K12, and K16, and different levels of methylation at K20. Their specificity was evaluated by ELISA and immunoblotting using synthetic peptide and recombinant proteins that harbor specific modifications or amino acid substitutions. Immunofluorescence confirmed the characteristic distributions of target modifications. An H4K5 acetylation (H4K5ac)-specific antibody CMA405 reacted with K5ac only when the neighboring K8 was unacetylated. This unique feature allowed us to detect newly assembled H4, which is diacetylated at K5 and K12, and distinguish it from hyperacetylated H4, where K5 and K8 are both acetylated. Chromatin immunoprecipiation combined with deep sequencing (ChIP-seq) revealed that acetylation of both H4K8 and H4K16 were enriched around transcription start sites. These extensively characterized and highly specific antibodies will be useful for future epigenetics and epigenome studies.