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Environmental pollution is a pressing and widespread issue in contemporary society that necessitates innovative solutions to meet the growing demand for clean water resources. One crucial development in the realm of nanomaterials involves the creation of multifunctional materials with specific adsorption properties and ease of recovery, which are integral to water purification efforts. Among these materials, magnetic nanocarriers have emerged as a versatile and efficient means of immobilizing target pollutants for water decontamination. Their effectiveness stems from their expansive surface area, relatively straightforward fabrication, and diverse applications, particularly in environmental remediation processes. This comprehensive review aims to delve into the various classes of magnetic carriers and their roles in removing contaminants from water sources. Each class is examined critically, providing insights into synthesis methodologies, accompanied by noteworthy examples from the literature, and an exploration of the significant contributions these materials offer to the field. Through this review, we seek to provide a thorough understanding of the use of magnetic nanocarriers in addressing the crucial issue of water pollution and highlight their potential to play a pivotal role in achieving cleaner and more sustainable water resources for our growing population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report sputtering yields of Li+, H−, O−, and OHx− ion species from an Li–O–H surface for H, D, He, Ne, and Ar ion irradiation at 45° incidence in the energy range of 30–2000 eV. A Li film was deposited on a stainless steel target using Li evaporators in the LTX-β vessel, using the LTX-β Sample Exposure Probe (SEP), which includes an ultrahigh vacuum suitcase for transferring targets without significant contamination from air exposure. The SEP was used to transfer the Li-coated target from LTX-β to a separate Sample Exposure Station (SES) to perform ion exposure measurements. The SEP was also used for characterization of the Li-coated target utilizing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy in a different chamber, showing that the lithium film surface was oxidized. Ion exposures were performed using an electron cyclotron resonance plasma source in the SES. Sputtered/ejected species were sampled by a quadrupole mass spectrometer with capabilities for detecting positive and negative ions, and an energy filter for determining the mean kinetic energy of the ejected ion species. All ion irradiations caused Li+ ions to be ejected, while causing impurity ions such as H+, H−, O− and OH− to be ejected. Measured ion energies of Li+ ions from a Li–O–H surface suggested that the typical sheath potential on the divertor surface can trap sputtered Li+ ions, which were previously reported as ~ 60% of total sputtered Li species from Li targets (Allain and Ruzic in Nucl Fusion 42:202, 2002). Hence, our results for the sputtering yields of ejected ion species and their associated ion energies from a Li–O–H surface indicates that lithium sputtering is suppressed and impurity removal is enhanced due to the sheath potential at the divertor surface for fusion reactor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

JEM-EUSO is an international program for the development of space-based Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray observatories. The program consists of a series of missions which are either under development or in the data analysis phase. All instruments are based on a wide-field-of-view telescope, which operates in the near-UV range, designed to detect the fluorescence light emitted by extensive air showers in the atmosphere. We describe the simulation software ESAF in the framework of the JEM-EUSO program and explain the physical assumptions used. We present here the implementation of the JEM-EUSO, POEMMA, K-EUSO, TUS, Mini-EUSO, EUSO-SPB1 and EUSO-TA configurations in ESAF. For the first time ESAF simulation outputs are compared with experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solar surface activity produces space weather. Solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and coronal holes are examples of solar activity phenomena that can compress the magnetosphere and cause a geomagnetic storm. Previous studies have indicated that these solar events disturb the near-Earth region. This study examines the behavior of the terrestrial geomagnetic field (H-component) and focuses on how the geomagnetic index (SYM/H) responds to solar wind parameters related to solar activity. Results showed that on September 9, 2017, a powerful geomagnetic storm (SYM/H = 200 nT) was observed that was brought on by powerful solar flares, CMEs, and coronal holes that happened on September 7 and 8, 2017, which generated significant alterations in the magnetosphere's solar wind. On October 3 and 18, 2017, a moderate geomagnetic storm occurred, which resulted in a strong southbound situation with a high solar wind pressure that blasted high-density plasma due to CME associated with a coronal hole event into the magnetosphere. A moderate geomagnetic storm (SYM/H = 80 nT) on November 14, 2017, was triggered, according to findings, by a wider direction and high speed of CME with CIR event occurrence implies the accelerated large-scale solar wind that exacerbated the reconnection of the flowing interplanetary magnetic field into the inner magnetosphere. There were fewer injections of ions and energetic solar particles into the magnetosphere on December 12, 2017, which were thought to be a source of a weak geomagnetic storm(SYM/H = 49 nT). Additionally, the response of solar wind parameters and geomagnetic storm due to solar flare, CMEs and coronal holes to the modest drop in the ground geomagnetic field resulted in H-component reading at the RAN and DLT station. This study has contributed to the study of earthquake precursors in ultra-low frequency (ULF) emission with the effect of solar wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence of the association between chronic low-grade inflammation, as reflected by C-reactive protein (CRP) measurements, and cancer risk is equivocal. Specifically, few studies have examined this in uncommon cancers and Asian populations.Methods: We utilised a case-cohort design consisting of multi-types of cancer (N = 3608), and a random subcohort (N = 4432) in a Japanese large population-based study, with a median follow-up time of 15.6 years, and measured baseline plasma CRP using high sensitivity assay. The hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated using weighted Cox proportional hazards methods.Results: The multivariable-adjusted HR (95% confidence interval) for the top quartile of CRP was 1.28 (1.11‒1.48) (Ptrend < 0.001) for overall cancer compared to the bottom quartile of CRP. Among site-specific cancers, higher CRP levels were associated with an increased risk of colorectal, lung, breast, biliary tract, and kidney cancer, and leukaemia. These positive associations remained among participants after >3 years' follow-up. Furthermore, subgroup analyses for overall cancer robustly showed a positive association with CRP levels, regardless of sex and obesity.Conclusion: Our consistent findings suggested that chronic low-grade inflammation measured by CRP is associated with the risk of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With its drought tolerant and protein-rich properties, Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc.], an indigenous African legume crop can contribute immensely to food security. This miracle crop is used as food and for the enhancement of soil fertility in South Africa. Knowledge on the genetic diversity and structure among the Bambara groundnut landraces can pave the way for the effective use and cultivation of this crop in southern Africa, especially South Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity and structure among Bambara groundnut landraces collected across South Africa and compared to a limited number of accessions from southern Africa using SSR markers. Seventy-eight Bambara groundnut accessions were genotyped using 19 Bambara specific SSR markers. SSR loci explored in this study, were all polymorphic. A total of 127 alleles were detected with a mean of 6.7 alleles per locus. Allele diversity and frequency among genotypes varied from 0.21 to 0.85 with an average of 0.62 per locus. Genetic variation as described by the analysis of molecular variance indicated higher genetic diversity (92%) within landraces than between (8%) different landraces. Population structure analysis showed that three subpopulations existed, and most of the South African accessions were restricted to one subpopulation, indicating that Bambara landraces has the ability to form unique haplotypes in different environments. Information harnessed in this study is helpful for further use in breeding programs for crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the magnetic susceptibility and magnetization of the single-crystal CeF $$_{3}$$ precisely measured in external magnetic field-directed B $$\vert \vert $$ c and B $$\bot $$ c in wide ranges of temperatures from 1.8 to 300 K and magnetic field strength of 0-40 kG. Magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, and Ce $$^{3+}$$ Stark energies of CeF $$_{3}$$ have been calculated in the framework of the crystal field theory; good agreement with the experimental data has been achieved in the whole range of temperatures and magnetic fields without taking into account the mixed-valent Ce $$^{3+}$$ -Ce $$^{4+}$$ behavior or super-exchange interaction of cerium ions that have been proposed before. Anomalous behavior of the magnetic susceptibility near T $$\sim $$ 50 K is naturally explained in the crystal field model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used a generalized linear model (GLM) to investigate environmental characteristics of capture sites of the invasive small Indian mongoose ( Herpestes auropunctatus) on Amami Island, Japan. Data were collected from 2002 to 2011, from an area with the lowest mongoose density. Data on capture levels and environmental factors were obtained within 1 × 1 km grid cells. In addition, we developed an evaluation map that predicts the occurrence of mongooses throughout the island by extrapolating the 2011 results, in which the last mongoose appearance was confirmed. We found that environmental characteristics of capture sites drastically changed during the final stage of the eradication project. From 2002 to 2010, mongooses were captured in grid cells with many gentle ridges. In 2011, when mongoose density became exceedingly low, mongooses seem to have survived in the grid cells with abundant steep ridges, where it was difficult to establish traps. Therefore, environmental factors affected capture levels and the density of the mongoose population. The evaluation map predicts that mongooses could survive on the southwest and southeast island peninsulas. This evaluation map will be helpful in allocating limited labor and financial resources toward the most effective capture strategies. This study suggests that an analysis of pest management data is an important step in the eradication of mongooses. Our results can contribute to long-term projects in invasive pest management not only for the mongoose population on Amami Island, but also for other invasive species globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bohr-Sommerfeld quantization is discussed for Grassmann-variant fermionic degrees of freedom. It is shown that this procedure applied to a Grassmannian dynamical variable of the Majorana type gives rise to a Clifford number, shedding further light on the quantum-classical correspondence for fermions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cetuximab-containing treatments for metastatic colorectal cancer have been shown to have higher overall response rates and longer progression-free and overall survival than other systemic therapies. Cetuximab-related manifestations, including severe skin toxicity and early tumor shrinkage, have been shown to be predictors of response to cetuximab. We hypothesized that early skin toxicity is a predictor of response and better outcomes in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma. We retrospectively evaluated 62 patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma who had unresectable tumors and were treated with cetuximab in our institution. Skin toxicity grade was evaluated on each treatment day. Tumor size was evaluated using computed tomography prior to treatment and 4-8 weeks after the start of treatment with cetuximab.Patients with early tumor shrinkage after starting treatment with cetuximab had a significantly higher overall response rate ( P = 0.0001). Patients with early skin toxicity showed significantly longer overall survival ( P = 0.0305), and patients with higher skin toxicity grades had longer progression-free survival ( P = 0.0168).We have shown that early tumor shrinkage, early onset of skin toxicity, and high skin toxicity grade are predictors of treatment efficacy and/or outcome in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma treated with cetuximab. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study elementary excitations of spin-1 bosons with antiferromagnetic interaction in an optical lattice by applying the Gutzwiller approximation to the spin-1 Bose-Hubbard model. There appear various excitations associated with spin degrees of freedom in the Mott-insulator (MI) phase as well as in the superfluid (SF) phase. In this system, the ground state in the MI phase is known to exhibit a remarkable effect of even-odd parity of particle filling, in which even fillings stabilize the MI state due to formation of spin-singlet pairs. We find that excitation spectra in the MI phase exhibit characteristic features that reflect the even-odd parity effect of the ground state. We clarify evolution of elementary excitations across the quantum critical point of the SF-MI transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence rate increased rapidly in Japan between the 1950s and 1990s. We examined the association between rice intake and CRC risk in comparison with bread, noodles and cereal among Japanese adults enrolled in the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective Study.Methods: A total of 73,501 Japanese men and women were followed-up from 1995 to 1999 until the end of 2008 for an average of 11 years. During 801,937 person-years of follow-up, we identified 1276 incident cases of CRC. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of CRC for rice, noodle, bread and cereal intake were calculated by Cox proportional hazards model.Results: Overall, no significant association was observed for the highest quartile of rice intake compared with the lowest and the risk of CRC and its subsites in men (HR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.56-1.07) and women (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.71-1.68). However, a non-significant inverse trend was observed between rice intake and rectal cancer in men. No clear patterns of association were observed in bread, noodle and cereal intake.Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the consumption of rice does not have a substantial impact on the risk of CRC in the Japanese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: A 3-year follow-up study on 334 young Japanese females enrolled in a university at the age of 18 years revealed that discontinuation of leisure time impact-loading exercises performed in junior high and/or high school was associated with increased risk of reduction in calcaneus osteo-sono assessment index (OSI). Introduction: Bone strength rapidly increases during puberty and reaches its peak by the end of adolescence. The aim of this study was to determine the lifestyle factors that influence the maintenance of calcaneus OSI in young adult females around the time when peak bone mass is attained. Methods: Annual health checkups including OSI measurements, anthropometrics, lifestyle analysis, and blood examination were performed 4 times on 334 Japanese females enrolled in a university at the age of 18 years. According to the slope of OSI change during the 3-year follow-up, the subjects were grouped into two categories: OSI loss (the lowest tertile) and OSI gain/stable (the second and third tertiles). Results: At the baseline assessment, the OSI loss group had higher OSI and height and an earlier menarche age than the OSI gain/stable group. Performing leisure time impact-loading exercise in junior high and/or high school but discontinuing it at university was associated with increased risk of OSI loss, independent of OSI, height and weight at the age of 18 years, weight change during follow-up, age of menarche, energy-adjusted nutrient intake, and alcohol drinking; the odds ratios were 4.1-4.9 compared with those performing impact-loading exercise at university. In particular, duration, frequency, and subjective intensity of impact-loading exercise during high school were positively associated with OSI loss. Conclusion: Discontinuation of leisure time impact-loading exercises performed during late adolescence is associated with an increased risk of OSI loss in young adult females during the 3-year follow-up period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4), a translation inhibitor, plays an essential role in tumor suppression, but its role in apoptosis remains unclear. Here we show that Pdcd4 is a critical suppressor of apoptosis by inhibiting the translation of procaspase-3 mRNA. Pdcd4 protein decreased more rapidly through microRNA-mediated translational repression following apoptotic stimuli than did the activation of procaspase-3, cleavage of poly(ADP)ribose polymerase (PARP) by active caspase-3, and nuclear fragmentation. Strikingly, the loss of Pdcd4 by the specific RNA interference increased procaspase-3 expression, leading to its activation and PARP cleavage even without apoptotic stimuli, and sensitized the cells to apoptosis. Thus, our findings provide insight into a novel mechanism for Pdcd4 as a regulator of apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microstructural state and evolution of fault gouge has important implications for the mechanical behaviour, and hence the seismic slip potential of faults. We use 3D discrete element (DEM) simulations to investigate the fragmentation processes operating in fault gouge during shear. Our granular fault gouge models consist of aggregate grains, each composed of several thousand spherical particles stuck together with breakable elastic bonds. The aggregate grains are confined between two blocks of solid material and sheared under a given normal stress. During shear, the grains can fragment in a somewhat realistic way leading to an evolution of grain size, grain shape and overall texture. The 'breaking up' of the fault gouge is driven by two distinct comminution mechanisms: grain abrasion and grain splitting. The relative importance of the two mechanisms depends on applied normal stress, boundary wall roughness and accumulated shear strain. If normal stress is sufficiently high, grain splitting contributes significantly to comminution, particularly in the initial stages of the simulations. In contrast, grain abrasion is the dominant mechanism operating in simulations carried out at lower normal stress and is also the main fragmentation mechanism during the later stages of all simulations. Rough boundaries promote relatively more grain splitting whereas smooth boundaries favor grain abrasion. Grain splitting (plus accompanying abrasion) appears to be an efficient mechanism for reducing the mean grain size of the gouge debris and leads rapidly to a power law size distribution with an exponent that increases with strain. Grain abrasion (acting alone) is an effective way to generate excess fine grains and leads to a bimodal distribution of grain sizes. We suggest that these two distinct mechanisms would operate at different stages of a fault's history. The resulting distributions in grain size and grain shape may significantly affect frictional strength and stability. Our results therefore have implications for the earthquake potential of seismically active faults with accumulations of gouge. They may also be relevant to the susceptibility of rockslides since non-cohesive basal shear zones will evolve in a similar way and potentially control the dynamics of the slide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) have several advantages as gene therapy vectors, including stable episomal maintenance, and the ability to carry large gene inserts. We previously developed HAC vectors from the normal human chromosomes using a chromosome engineering technique. However, endogenous genes were remained in these HACs, limiting their therapeutic applications. In this study, we refined a HAC vector without endogenous genes from human chromosome 21 in homologous recombination-proficient chicken DT40 cells. The HAC was physically characterized using a transformation-associated recombination (TAR) cloning strategy followed by sequencing of TAR-bacterial artificial chromosome clones. No endogenous genes were remained in the HAC. We demonstrated that any desired gene can be cloned into the HAC using the Cre-loxP system in Chinese hamster ovary cells, or a homologous recombination system in DT40 cells. The HAC can be efficiently transferred to other type of cells including mouse ES cells via microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. The transferred HAC was stably maintained in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, tumor cells containing a HAC carrying the suicide gene, herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-TK), were selectively killed by ganciclovir in vitro and in vivo. Thus, this novel HAC vector may be useful not only for gene and cell therapy, but also for animal transgenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the effect of priming rhesus monkeys with an Ad5/35 vector expressing simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) gag and gp120, and then boosting the animals with an modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vector encoding the same antigens after a 2-month interval. The animals were intravenously challenged with 100 TCID50 of highly pathogenic SIVmac239 virus 2 months after the booster vaccination. The priming vaccination induced robust SIV-specific cell-mediated and humoral immune responses, and boosting further enhanced the cellular immunity. Vaccination reduced peak and long-term viral loads by 1–2 logs for a period of >6 months, as reflected by a reduction in both the SIV RNA and DNA levels. Of considerable interest, the immunized monkeys did not suffer from loss of CD4 T cells, particularly central memory CD4 T cells. These results demonstrate that prophylactic vaccination with Ad5/35 followed by MVA reduces viral replication and prevents CD4 T-cell loss, and that these effects may decrease the likelihood of disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analytical method to investigate wave propagation in single- and double- walled carbon nanotubes under initial compression stress is presented. The nanotube structures are treated within the multilayer thin shell approximation with the elastic properties taken to be those of the graphene sheet. The governing equations are derived based on Flügge equations of motion. Frequency equations of wave propagation in single and double wall carbon nanotubes are described through the effects of initial compression stress and van der Waals force. To show the effects of Initial compression stress on the wave propagation in nanotubes, the symmetrical mode can be analyzed based on the present elastic continuum model. It is shown that the wave speed are sensitive to the compression stress especially for the lower frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human artificial chromosomes (HACs) have several advantages as gene therapy vectors, including stable episomal maintenance that avoids insertional mutations and the ability to carry large gene inserts including regulatory elements. Multipotent germline stem (mGS) cells have a great potential for gene therapy because they can be generated from an individual's testes, and when reintroduced can contribute to the specialized function of any tissue. As a proof of concept, we herein report the functional restoration of a genetic deficiency in mouse p53−/− mGS cells, using a HAC with a genomic human p53 gene introduced via microcell-mediated chromosome transfer. The p53 phenotypes of gene regulation and radiation sensitivity were complemented by introducing the p53-HAC and the cells differentiated into several different tissue types in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, the combination of using mGS cells with HACs provides a new tool for gene and cell therapies. The next step is to demonstrate functional restoration using animal models for future gene therapy.Gene Therapy (2008) 15, 617–624; doi:10.1038/sj.gt.3303091; published online 28 February 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The network approach plays a distinguished role in contemporary science of complex systems/phenomena. Such an approach has been introduced into seismology in a recent work [S. Abe, N. Suzuki, Europhys. Lett. 65, 581 (2004)]. Here, we discuss the dynamical property of the earthquake network constructed in California and report the discovery that the values of the clustering coefficient remain stationary before main shocks, suddenly jump up at the main shocks, and then slowly decay following a power law to become stationary again. Thus, the dynamical network approach characterizes main shocks in a peculiar manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To assess the status of dietary folate intake, serum and red blood cell (RBC) folate, and related nutritional biomarkers in healthy Japanese women in early pregnancy.Design:A cross-sectional, observational study.Subjects:Pregnant women in the first trimester, at 7–15 weeks gestation (n=70), who were not consuming any folate supplements or folate fortified foods.Methods:Three-day dietary records were obtained from each subject to assess dietary folate intake. Blood samples were collected for measurement of biomarkers. Biomarkers and nutrient intake were analyzed in two groups defined by their serum folate concentrations: the low folate group (serum folate <9 ng/ml) and the high folate group (serum folate 9 ng/ml).Result:Mean serum and RBC folate concentrations in all subjects were 10.3 and 519 ng/ml, respectively. These levels were remarkably higher than the reported values from many other countries despite our subjects receiving no folic acids supplements. However, mean folate intake by our subjects from natural foods was 289 μg/day, which is thought to be low according to the Japanese dietary recommendation specified for pregnant women. The intake of spinach and fruits was significantly greater in the high folate group than in the low folate group.Conclusion:Folate intake was thought to be adequate to maintain a desirable level of serum folate concentration in Japanese pregnant women in the first trimester, although the intake of folate from natural food was not high enough to meet the recommended daily intake.Sponsorship:This study was funded by a Ministry of Health Labour and Welfare, Health and Labour Research Grant, for Research on Children and Families.European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) 61, 83–90. doi:10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602497; published online 2 August 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetogenic effects of some atypical antipsychotic drugs have been reported, although the mechanisms are not fully understood. We investigated the long-term effects of culturing isolated rat pancreatic islets with atypical antipsychotic clozapine. Glucose- and non-glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, glucose metabolism and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were measured in islets cultured with or without clozapine. Although acute incubation or 3-day culture with clozapine did not affect glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, clozapine suppressed glucose-stimulated insulin secretion by 53.2% at 1.0 μmol/l (therapeutic concentration) after 7 days of culture. Islet glucose oxidation and [Ca2+]i elevation by high glucose were not affected after 3 days of culture, but clozapine significantly inhibited islet glucose oxidation, ATP production, and [Ca2+]i elevation by high glucose after 7 days of culture. Moreover, 7 days of culture with clozapine inhibited insulin secretion stimulated by: (1) membrane depolarisation induced by high K+; (2) protein kinase C activation; and (3) mastoparan at 16.7 mmol/l glucose under stringent Ca2+-free conditions. Elevation of [Ca2+]i by high K+-induced membrane depolarisation was similar in control and clozapine-treated islets. Clozapine, a muscarinic blocker, acutely inhibited carbachol-induced insulin secretion, as did atropine, whereas after 7 days of culture atropine did not have the inhibitory effect shown by clozapine after 7 days. The impairment of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion recovered 3 days after the removal of clozapine treatment. The present study demonstrated that the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine directly impaired insulin secretion via multiple sites including glucose metabolism and the distal step in insulin exocytosis in a long-term culture condition. These mechanisms may be involved in the form of diabetes mellitus associated with atypical antipsychotic drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In spite of its small size, Japan suffers many landslide disasters due to intense rainfall and earthquakes. This article describes the distribution and topography of these landslides, and a new method of evaluating the susceptibility, the analytical hierarchic process (AHP). The method assigns scores to each factor of micro-topography of landslide-prone areas identified in aerial photographs, and assesses the susceptibility of landslide from the total score. In addition, a method of simulating sliding mass runout is briefly presented for the designating sediment-related disaster warning areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro reporter gene assays using vertebrate cell lines or yeast have been used for assessment of the estrogenic chemicals. However, estrogen receptor α (ERα)- and ERβ-mediated reporter gene system in fish has yet to be developed. In the present study, we developed an ERα- and ERβ-mediated reporter gene assay in fish and estimated estrogenic activities of 17β-estradiol (E2), p-nonylphenol (NP), bisphenol A (BPA), p,p′-DDE, and genistein (Gen) using the in vitro reporter assay. The activity was intensely induced by transfection with either ERα or ERβ expression plasmid under E2 or Gen administration, whereas it was significantly induced by transfection with ERα expression plasmid, but not with ERβ expression plasmid under NP administration. On the other hand, the activity was induced more intensely by transfection with ERα expression plasmid than ERβ expression plasmid under BPA or p,p′-DDE administration. These results indicate that there are obvious differences in the activity through ERα and ERβ among the estrogenic chemicals examined in vitro. Thus, the in vitro reporter assay provides an excellent system for elucidating the action mechanism of estrogenic chemicals in fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family including survivin, are expressed in many tumors. However, age-related changes in their expression in cancer have not been clarified. Thus, we investigated the expression of mRNA-coding for IAP family proteins in colon cancer samples from young (<70 years of age) and elderly (>70 years) patients by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Samples were collected from cases with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma or moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma and their adjacent normal epithelial tissue. Well-differentiated adenocarcinoma tended to express higher levels of survivin than normal mucosa, and expression in moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was significantly greater than in normal mucosa in samples from both groups of patients (p<0.05, respectively). When samples were compared between the different age groups, the normal mucosa exhibited similar levels of survivin expression. However, samples from older patients showed a significantly higher level of expression than those from younger patients in well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas (p<0.05, respectively). In contrast, the levels of expression of cIAP1, cIAP2, and NAIP in the cancerous tissues were lower than those found in normal mucosa regardless of age. As for age-related changes, the expression of cIAP2 in normal mucosa and moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma was stronger in the elderly group than the young group (p<0.05, respectively), and NAIP expression in well-differentiated adenocarcinoma was higher in the young group than the elderly group (p<0.05). XIAP expression was similar in normal and cancerous tissues in both the young and elderly groups. These results suggest that the expression of IAP family proteins, especially survivin, is associated with the age-related biological characteristics of colon cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown how, among a class of generalized entropies, the Tsallis entropy can uniquely be identified by the principles of thermodynamics, the concept of stability, and the axiomatic foundations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phase II study of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and irinotecan with recombinant human granulocyte colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) support was conducted in previously untreated patients with stage IIIB or IV non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Between June 1998 and August 2001, 50 patients were registered in this phase II study. Cisplatin (20 mg m(-2)) and ifosfamide (1.5 g m(-2)) were administered on days 1-4 and irinotecan (60 mg m(-2)) was given on days 1, 8, and 15, respectively. This regimen was repeated every 4 weeks. rhG-CSF was administered subcutaneously at a dose of 50 microg m(-2) on days 5-18 except on the days of irinotecan treatment. In total, 49 patients were assessable for toxicity and response and 50 for survival. In all, 33, patients (67.3%; 95% confidence interval 57.4-77.2%) achieved an objective response. The median response duration was 192 days and the median time to progression for 49 patients was 170 days. The median survival time was 540 days with 1- and 2-year survival rates of 63.5 and 30.7%, respectively. Grade 3 or 4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia developed in 63.3 and 38.8% of the patients, respectively. In conclusion, the combination of cisplatin, ifosfamide, and irinotecan with rhG-CSF support was highly effective for the treatment of stage IIIB or IV NSCLC with acceptable toxicities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a very small amount of inner-ear tissue, we constructed a human vestibular cDNA library by means of T7-based amplification of RNA. This library should allow us to identify genes likely to be involved in auditory and vestibular functions. Here we first report the characterization of the human vestibular cDNA library. Among 506 cDNA clones randomly selected from the vestibular cDNA library, DNA sequences of 301 cDNA clones were identical to those of genes of known function. Twenty-two cDNA clones were considered to be novel because they did not match any cDNA sequences in the public database. The information in our study will provide a valuable resource for identifying several novel genes underlying deafness disorders and vestibular dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition dependence of the superconducting critical temperature T[sub c] has been investigated for A15-type V[sub 3]Ga compounds. The T[sub c] is determined by the specific heat and the magnetic flux transmission ratio through the sample and discussed in terms of the powder X-ray diffraction. The long-range order parameter and the lattice parameter of V[sub 3]Ga are evaluated quantitatively by the Rietveld method at each composition, which is evaluated exactly by the electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) measurements. The well-ordered homogeneous alloying structures. V[sub 1-x]Ga[sub x] compounds are found to have nearly the same T[sub c] as that for the stoichiometric composition between 0.23 ≤ x < 0.25. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of persistent organochlorine pesticides such as DDTs, hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), were determined in a wide variety of foodstuffs and human tissues collected from Shanghai and its vicinity in China in 2000–2001. Among the organochlorines analyzed, DDT and its metabolites were prominent compounds in most of the foodstuffs. In particular, mussels contained noticeable residues of DDTs (34,000 ng/g lipid weight), which are one to three orders greater than those reported levels in bivalves from other Asian countries. Concentrations of HCHs, CHLs, HCB, and PCBs in foodstuffs were generally low, suggesting small amounts of inputs into the environment. Temporal trends examined by comparing the results of previous studies of organochlorine levels in Chinese foodstuffs in 1970s and 1992 revealed a greater amounts of declines of DDTs and HCHs residues and the average daily intakes during the past 30 years. In contrast, very high concentrations of DDTs and HCHs were detected in human tissues from Shanghai, with the maximum values as high as 19,000 ng/g lipid weight (mean: 7,600 ng/g) and 17,000 ng/g (mean: 7,400 ng/g), respectively. Considering that foodstuffs are a main source of human exposure to contaminants, the greater concentrations of DDTs and HCHs in Chinese people might be due to past extensive usage of these compounds as agricultural pesticides. Continuous monitoring and epidemiological studies of organochlorine pesticides in humans are warranted in China. To our knowledge, this is the first report to present the residue levels of persistent organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in human tissues of China. Correspondence to: H. Nakata; email: nakata@sci.kumamoto-u.ac.jp --> [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. The significance of preoperative cisplatin (CDDP) as a single agent has not been assessed in terms of its effect on prognosis. The purpose of this multi-institution study was to assess the local effect of preoperative CDDP as a single agent as well as its impact on the prognosis of limb osteosarcoma. Patients and methods. The study group comprised 44 patients with stage IIB limb osteosarcoma who were treated with single-agent CDDP as initial preoperative chemotherapy. Two to five courses of CDDP (mean 2.4 courses) were administered intravenously and/or intraarterially as an initial preoperative treatment. The mean dose of CDDP was 3.0 mg/kg (2.5–3.4 mg/kg). The effect of the treatment was evaluated clinically and histologically. Results. The clinical and histological response rates to preoperative CDDP were 56.8% and 47.6%, respectively. The survival rate was 59.1% among all patients in the study, 64.0% among those with a grade III or IV clinical response, and 52.6% among those with a grade I or II clinical response, with no significant differences between the groups. The survival rate was 70% among patients with a grade III or IV histological response, and 54.5% among those with a grade I or II histological response, with no statistical differences between the groups. Conclusions. We consider that CDDP is a useful chemotherapeutic agent for preoperative induction therapy for osteosarcoma because of the excellent local effect observed. Good responders to preoperative CDDP showed a better survival rate, but a correlation between the local response to CDDP and the survival rate was not demonstrated statistically. Systemic multidrug chemotherapy should follow preoperative CDDP to diminish the microscopic foci of metastatic disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

— In order to understand the earthquake nucleation process, we need to understand the effective frictional behavior of faults with complex geometry and fault gouge zones. One important aspect of this is the interaction between the friction law governing the behavior of the fault on the microscopic level and the resulting macroscopic behavior of the fault zone. Numerical simulations offer a possibility to investigate the behavior of faults on many different scales and thus provide a means to gain insight into fault zone dynamics on scales which are not accessible to laboratory experiments. Numerical experiments have been performed to investigate the influence of the geometric configuration of faults with a rate- and state-dependent friction at the particle contacts on the effective frictional behavior of these faults. The numerical experiments are designed to be similar to laboratory experiments by Dieterich and Kilgore (1994) in which a slide-hold-slide cycle was performed between two blocks of material and the resulting peak friction was plotted vs. holding time. Simulations with a flat fault without a fault gouge have been performed to verify the implementation. These have shown close agreement with comparable laboratory experiments. The simulations performed with a fault containing fault gouge have demonstrated a strong dependence of the critical slip distance D c on the roughness of the fault surfaces and are in qualitative agreement with laboratory experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

— The particle-based Lattice Solid Model (LSM) was developed to provide a basis to study the physics of rocks and the nonlinear dynamics of earthquakes (M0ra and Place, 1994; Place and Mora, 1999). A new modular and flexible LSM approach has been developed that allows different micro-physics to be easily included in or removed from the model. The approach provides a virtual laboratory where numerical experiments can easily be set up and all measurable quantities visualised. The proposed approach provides a means to simulate complex phenomena such as fracturing or localisation processes, and enables the effect of different micro-physics on macroscopic behaviour to be studied. The initial 2-D model is extended to allow three-dimensional simulations to be performed and particles of different sizes to be specified. Numerical bi-axial compression experiments under different confining pressure are used to calibrate the model. By tuning the different microscopic parameters (such as coefficient of friction, microscopic strength and distribution of grain sizes), the macroscopic strength of the material and can be adjusted to be in agreement with laboratory experiments, and the orientation of fractures is consistent with the theoretical value predicted based on Mohr-Coulomb diagram. Simulations indicate that 3-D numerical models have different macroscopic properties than in 2-D and, hence, the model must be recalibrated for 3-D simulations. These numerical experiments illustrate that the new approach is capable of simulating typical rock fracture behaviour. The new model provides a basis to investigate nucleation, rupture and slip pulse propagation in complex fault zones without the previous model limitations of a regular low-level surface geometry and being restricted to two-dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of alcohol intake on haemodynamics and heart rate variability were investigated with relation to genotypes of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), which were determined in 33 male Japanese volunteers (mean ± s.e., 35.7 ± 1.4 years) using the PCR-RFLP method. On the alcohol intake day, they consumed 660 ml of beer containing 33 ml of ethanol (0.3-0.5 g/kg of body weight) from 18.00 to 18.30. On the control day, they ingested the same amount of non-alcoholic beer. Ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate, and ECG R-R intervals were measured during a 24-h period with a portable recorder. A power spectral analysis of R-R intervals was performed to obtain the low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components. Sixteen subjects were homozygotes for the normal ALDH gene (active ALDH2), only one was a homozygote for the mutant ALDH2 gene (inactive ALDH2), and the remaining 16 were heterozygotes (inactive ALDH2). Alcohol intake did not change 24-h average blood pressure (BP) either in the active ALDH2 group or in the inactive ALDH2 group. However, during the time interval from 18.30 to 0.00, alcohol intake significantly decreased diastolic BP in the active ALDH2 group and both systolic and diastolic BPs in the inactive ALDH2 group. In the active ALDH2 group, alcohol intake did not change heart rate, while in the inactive ALDH2 group, alcohol intake significantly increased 24-h average heart rate by 5.3 ± 1.6 beats per minute (P < 0.01). in the active ALDH2 group, neither the LF nor the HF component was changed by alcohol intake, while in the inactive ALDH2 group, both the LF and the HF components were significantly decreased during the time interval from 18.30 to 0.00. These results demonstrate for the first time that ALDH2 genotypes modify the effects of intake of a small amount of alcohol on haemodynamics and heart rate variability in Japanese men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rare autopsy case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presenting as extrahepatic bile duct obstruction is reported. A 54-year-old man who had been treated at another hospital for obstructive jaundice was referred to our hospital and admitted on March 1, 1998, because of progressive jaundice. On hospital day 94, he died of bleeding esophageal varices. At autopsy, a bile duct tumor, measuring 3.0 x 3.5 cm and adhering to the wall of the left hepatic duct, occluded the common hepatic duct at the hilus. A tumor measuring 2.0 x 2.0 cm was found in the parenchyma of the left liver lobe. The parenchymal tumor was not continuous with the extrahepatic bile duct tumor. Histologically, the bile duct tumor and the parenchymal tumor of the left lobe were diagnosed as HCC. The bile duct tumor was attached to the mucosa of the bile duct with a thin stalk. No invasive growth into the submucosa was observed. The tumor may have been an intrabiliary transplantation from the HCC in the left lobe via the bile duct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutation analysis of the PDS gene and the EYA1 gene, which are reported to be responsible for hearing loss associated with ear anomalies, was performed in 24 deaf patients with various middle and inner ear anomalies. The present study was done to clarify the spectrum of middle and inner ear malformations covered by these two genes. PDS mutations were found only in patients with enlarged vestibular aqueducts and EYA1 mutations were detected only in patients with ear pits and cervical fistulae, indicating that these two genes are associated with particular forms of middle and inner ear malformation. The genetic approach provides a strong tool for the diagnosis of hearing loss associated with ear anomalies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sixteen Japanese nonsyndromic autosomal dominant sensorineural hearing loss (ADSNHL) families were investigated clinically as well as genetically. Most families showed postlingual hearing loss. Although the severity of their hearing loss varied, most patients showed mild-moderate sensorineural hearing loss of a progressive nature. Mutation analysis was performed for the MYO7A, KCNQ4, and GJB3 genes, which are known to be responsible for autosomal dominant sensorineural hearing loss. The present study reports that a mutation in KCNQ4, a member of a large family of potassium channel genes, was responsible for ADSNHL in one Japanese family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytogenetic methodology is still underdeveloped in fishes compared with mammals. Culture condition for fish lymphocytes was optimized to improve chromosome preparation using the rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) as a model after changing the combination of parameters such as mitogens, incubation periods, media, cell components, and freshness of blood. The optimized culture condition included isolation of lymphocytes from fresh blood by a stirring method, their culture in medium 199 supplemented with 10% FBS, 18μg/ml of phytohemagglutinin (PHA-W) and 100μg/ml of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as mitogens, and harvested at 6 days after culture. This condition provided a notably increased mitotic index (MI) of 4.3–10.0% in rainbow trout lymphocytes. In addition, the condition was highly reproducible as shown by the similar level of MI in cultured lymphocytes from 181 individuals without failure. Applicability of this method in a wide range of fish groups was also proven with MI of 1.1–13.3% in cultured lymphocytes from other 16 freshwater species of Acipenseridae, Anguillidae, Salmonidae, Cyprinidae, and Centrarchidae, and five marine species of Sparidae, Kyphosidae, Paralichthyidae, and Scorpaenidae. Chromosome preparations of improved quality by the present method were successfully applied for the replication R-banding with incorporation of 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine and direct R-banding fluorescence in situ hybridization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

—The elastic and frictional properties of solids are temperature-dependent. Thus, heat has without doubt a major influence on the dynamics of earthquakes, particularly considering the high temperatures generated during large slip events. In order to provide a foundation for the study of these heat related effects, the Lattice Solid Model for the study of earthquake dynamics is extended to incorporate the generation and transfer of heat. The thermal and elastic properties of 2- and 3-D lattice solids in the macroscopic limit are derived. To verify the numerical implementation of heat transfer, a simulation has been performed in a simple case and the results compared to a known analytical solution for the same problem. Thermal expansion and a simple approximation of a temperature-dependent pore fluid pressure are implemented in the 2-D Lattice Solid Model. Simulations confirm that these effects influence the dynamics of the slip of a fault with fault gouge. Whereas thermal expansion only minor influences the dynamics of fault rupture, the influence of the increase in the pore fluid pressure generated by slip heating is more significant. The simulations show that the temperatures generated during slip events accord with those expected for real earthquakes as inferred from geologic evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case report of a rapidly enlarging dermoid cyst over the anterior fontanel is presented. Our presentation demonstrates the course of rapid enlargement of the tumor with radiological images, which were examined at birth and during the process of the tumor enlargement. The literature is reviewed with respect to the nature of this tumor, especially to the relationship of tumor enlargement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Itraconazole (ITCZ), a triazole antifungal agent, was studied for its effects on the morphology and function of L929 fibroblasts. L929 fibroblasts were cultured for 20 h with ITCZ or one of several other triazoles (fluconazole, ketoconazole, and hydroxy-itraconazole [ITCZ-OH]) at the concentration of 0.5 μg/ml. Among these agents, only ITCZ and its metabolite ITCZ-OH markedly elongated the cells bidirectionally. Scanning electron microscopy studies showed that the surface of the elongated cells was smoother than that of the untreated cells. The viability of L929 cells cultured with 0.5 μg/ml of ITCZ for 20 h was not lowered. However, after treatment with 0.0375% sodium deoxycholate (DOC) solution, the viability of the cells treated with ITCZ, as evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2thiazoyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2 H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) proliferation assay or the release of lactic dehydrogenase from cytoplasm, was decreased. When L929 cells were cultured in the presence of a combination of ITCZ and vincristine, their growth was synergistically inhibited. This synergism was also observed when ITCZ was replaced by ITCZ-OH, but not by the other azoles. These findings suggest that the exposure of L929 fibroblasts to low ITCZ concentrations affects the physiological nature of their cell membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]