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The order Parmales (class Bolidophyceae) is a minor group of pico-sized eukaryotic marine phytoplankton that contains species with cells surrounded by silica plates. Previous studies revealed that Parmales is a member of ochrophytes and sister to diatoms (phylum Bacillariophyta), the most successful phytoplankton group in the modern ocean. Therefore, parmalean genomes can serve as a reference to elucidate both the evolutionary events that differentiated these two lineages and the genomic basis for the ecological success of diatoms vs. the more cryptic lifestyle of parmaleans. Here, we compare the genomes of eight parmaleans and five diatoms to explore their physiological and evolutionary differences. Parmaleans are predicted to be phago-mixotrophs. By contrast, diatoms have lost genes related to phagocytosis, indicating the ecological specialization from phago-mixotrophy to photoautotrophy in their early evolution. Furthermore, diatoms show significant enrichment in gene sets involved in nutrient uptake and metabolism, including iron and silica, in comparison with parmaleans. Overall, our results suggest a strong evolutionary link between the loss of phago-mixotrophy and specialization to a silicified photoautotrophic life stage early in diatom evolution after diverging from the Parmales lineage. Results from a comparative genomic analysis suggest a strong evolutionary link between the loss of phago-mixotrophy and specialization to a silicified photoautotrophic life stage early in diatom evolution after divergence from the Parmales lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleurosira laevis is a salt‐tolerant diatom distributed around the world. The valve of P. laevis has distinct structures called ocelli, which are sharply defined areas with fine, densely packed pores. Two formae of this diatom, P. laevis f. laevis and P. laevis f. polymorpha, are distinguished from each other by their flat or dome‐shaped valve faces and degree of elevation of the ocelli, respectively. In this study, we established 4 strains of P. laevis isolated from freshwaters or coastal areas in Japan and the United States, and tracked the formation of newly formed valves with the fluorescent SDV‐specific dye PDMPO in culture under several salinity conditions. The result clearly demonstrated the morphological plasticity of the valves, controlled by environmental salinity. The laevis form and polymorpha form valves were produced at salinities of 2 and 7, respectively. The salinity thresholds dictating the morphological plasticity of the valve were consistent in all 4 strains. A similar morphology to the polymorpha form was reproduced in a freshwater medium with the addition of sorbitol, suggesting that osmotic pressure plays a key role in this morphological plasticity. The highly reproducible and easily manipulated change in morphology makes this diatom an ideal model for lab experiments focusing on the molecular and genetic factors involved with valve morphogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies of depression have examined older inpatients with fracture and preexisting cognitive impairment. The current study sought to confirm whether depression affects the condition of older inpatients with fracture who also have cognitive impairment, and to investigate the extent to which depression affects activities of daily living. This was a retrospective cross-sectional study. The subjects were older inpatients with fracture and preexisting cognitive impairment. We examined data within 1 week of hospitalization, obtained from medical records. The data included demographic information, the motor Functional Independence Measure, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Mini-Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale 15, Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, Skeletal Muscle Index and maximum grip strength test. These variables were compared between the two groups (with and without depression), and multiple regression analysis was performed with the motor Functional Independence Measure as the dependent variable. The subjects were 68 patients. Only the motor Functional Independence Measure was significantly lower in the depression group than the non-depression group. Multiple regression analysis confirmed that depression strongly affected activities of daily living. In considering the recovery of older inpatients with fracture and preexisting cognitive impairment, it is important to take the effects of depression into account. The number of older fracture inpatients with cognitive impairment is predicted to increase, and such patients have a high prevalence of depression. Depression strongly affected Activities of Daily Living in older inpatients with fracture and pre-existing cognitive impairment. Focusing on depression assessment and intervention is important for rehabilitation of older fracture inpatients with cognitive impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: The small phytoplankton genus Triparma belongs to the class Bolidophyceae and contains two distinct forms: silicified species and naked flagellated species (formerly Bolidomonas). Recent studies showed that four silicified species/strains (Triparma laevis f. inornata, T. laevis f. longispina, T. strigata, and T. aff. verrucosa) belong to a single clade that is paraphyletic, because it also contains an unclassified flagellated strain, and is sister to a flagellated species, T. eleuthera. In this study, we isolated and characterized two new strains of silicified species to test the phylogenetic unity of silicified bolidophytes. The isolates were identified as T. retinervis strains because they possessed fine areolation on the cell wall. 18S rDNA and rbcL phylogenetic analyses demonstrated that T. retinervis formed a new silicified clade that is sister to the flagellated species T. pacifica. This reveals that there are at least two distinct clades including both silicified and flagellated Triparma species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The abundance and species composition of Parmales (Bolidophyceae), a siliceous marine phytoplankton, were investigated in the waters surrounding Hokkaido, North Japan. In the Pacific Ocean, high Parmales abundances were observed in the Oyashio region (84.9–95.2 cells mL−1), in the surrounding area of the cold Oyashio Current, and in the Coastal Oyashio Water (35.1–41.4 cells mL−1) being low temperature and salinity in spring. In the Okhotsk Sea, Parmales abundance was moderate (>5 cells mL−1) in the Intermediate Cold Water, which is formed by convective mixing under the pack ice. On the other hand, their abundance was quite low in warm water masses, such as the Tsushima Warm Current in the Sea of Japan and the Soya Warm Current in the Okhotsk Sea. Parmales cells were also found in the sea ice in the Notoro-ko Lagoon connected to the Okhotsk Sea, suggesting that they have an ice algal life cycle. Triparma spp. were almost dominant in the study areas with the occasional contribution of Tetraparma spp. in the Okhotsk Sea. These results indicate that Parmales abundance and species composition are significantly influenced by water currents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triparma laevis f. inornata is a unicellular alga belonging to the Bolidophyceae, which is most closely related to diatoms. Like diatoms, T. laevis f. inornata has a siliceous cell wall. The cell wall of T. laevis f. inornata consists of four round plates (three shields and one ventral plate) and one dorsal and three girdle plates. But, unlike diatoms, T. laevis f. inornata cells can grow when concentrations of silica are depleted. We took advantage of this ability, using TEM to study the ontogeny of the siliceous plate, pattern center formation, and development. Two types of pattern centers (annulus and sternum) were observed in the early and middle stage of plate formation. During their formation, the annuli were initially crescent‐shaped but eventually their ends fused to make a ring. Only outward silica deposition of the branching ribs occurred on the growing annulus until it became a ring, resulting in an unfilled circle inside the annulus. The pattern center of the shield plate was always an annulus, but in ventral plates both annulus and sternum were observed. The annuli and sterna in T. laevis f. inornata round plates were very similar to the annuli and sterna in diatom valves. These results suggested that the round plates of Parmales are homologous to diatom valves. This information on the plate ontogeny of T. laevis f. inornata provides new insights into the evolution of the siliceous cell wall in the Parmales and diatoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TV-1106 is a human serum albumin genetically fused to recombinant human growth hormone, designed to provide a long-acting alternative to daily growth hormone (GH) injections in patients with GH deficiency. This study investigated the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety of single subcutaneous doses of TV-1106 (7.5, 15, 50, and 100 mg) in Japanese (n = 44) and caucasian (n = 44) healthy subjects. TV-1106 pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics were comparable in Japanese and caucasian populations. TV-1106 demonstrated relatively slow absorption (median tmax, 10-30 hours) and a mean elimination half-life of 26-36 hours. Apparent clearance and volume of distribution decreased with increasing TV-1106 doses in both populations and appeared to increase more than dose proportionality across the tested doses. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) increased in a dose-related manner, with maximum responses observed at 33-96 and 42-109 hours, respectively. IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 returned to baseline values at 168 hours following 7.5 and 15 mg of TV-1106, and 336 hours following 50 and 100 mg of TV-1106. TV-1106 appeared safe in both populations. There was no evidence of differences in pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, or safety of TV-1106 between Japanese and caucasian populations. The data also demonstrate long-acting growth hormone properties of TV-1106 and support its potential for once-weekly dosing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine alga Triparma laevis NIES-2565, belonging to the Parmales (Bolidophyceae), possesses a siliceous cell wall that is composed of shield, ventral, dorsal and girdle plates. The cell wall is lost under silicate-deficient culture conditions. Regeneration of the cell wall occurs with the addition of sufficient silicate ions into the culture medium. In this study, the formation of the siliceous cell wall was observed by transmission electron microscopy. Silica deposition vesicles (SDVs) forming the shield and ventral plates were initially found around the chloroplast, moving toward the plasma membrane as they expanded, with siliceous plates being built within the SDV. The SDV membrane was tightly adpressed to the siliceous plate. In contrast, SDVs for dorsal and girdle plates were formed adjacent to the plasma membrane. Extracellular secretion of mature siliceous plates began with shield plates, followed in turn by ventral, dorsal and girdle plates. The dorsal and girdle plates were inserted into the space between the previously secreted shield and ventral plates. Our study demonstrates that SDVs develop in different areas of the cell, according to whether they are forming dorsal and girdle plates or shield and ventral plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Rigakuryoho Kagaku is the property of International Press Editing Center Incorporation and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The order Parmales (Heterokontophyta) is a group of small-sized unicellular marine phytoplankton, which is distributed widely from tropical to polar waters. The cells of Parmales are surrounded by a distinctive cell wall, which consists of several siliceous plates fitting edge to edge. Phylogenetic and morphological analyses suggest that Parmales is one of the key organisms for elucidating the evolutionary origin of Bacillariophyceae (diatoms), the most successful heterokontophyta. The effects of silicon-limitation on growth and morphogenesis of plates were studied using a strain of Triparma laevis NIES-2565, which was cultured for the first time in artificial sea water. The cells of T. laevis were surrounded by eight plates when grown with sufficient silicon. However, plate formation became incomplete when cells were cultured in a medium containing low silicate (ca. <10 µM). Cells finally lost almost all plates in a medium containing silicate concentrations lower than ca. 1 µM. However, silicon-limitation did not affect growth rate; cells continued to divide without changing their growth rate, even after all plates were lost. Loss of plates was reversible; when cells without plates were transferred to a medium containing sufficient silicate, regeneration of shield and ventral plates was followed by the formation of girdle and triradiate plates. The results indicate that the response to silicon-limitation of T. laevis is different from that of diatoms, where cell division becomes inhibited under such conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin polycrystalline zinc-doped indium oxide (In2O3-ZnO) films were prepared by post-annealing amorphous films with various weight concentrations x of ZnO in the range 0 ⩽ × ⩽ 0.06. We have studied the dependences of the resistivity ρ and Hall coefficient on temperature T and magnetic field H in the range 0.5 ⩽ T ⩽ 300 K, H ⩽ 6 Tfor 350 nm films annealed in air. Films with 0 ⩽ × × 0.03 show the superconducting resistive transition. The transition temperature Tc is below 3.3K and the carrier density n is about 1025-1026 m-3. The annealed In2O3-ZnO films were examined by transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis revealing that the crystallinity of the films depends on the annealing time. We studied the upper critical magnetic field Hc2(T ) for the film with x = 0.01. From the slope of dHc2/dT , we obtain the coherence length ζ(0) ≈10 nm at T = 0 K and a coefficient of electronic heat capacity that is small compared with those of other oxide materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neocortical neuronal circuits are refined by experience during the critical period of early postnatal life. The shift of ocular dominance in the visual cortex following monocular deprivation has been intensively studied to unravel the mechanisms underlying the experience-dependent modification. Synaptic plasticity is considered to be involved in this process. We previously showed in layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons of rat visual cortex that low-frequency stimulation-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) at excitatory synapses, which requires the activation of Ni2+-sensitive (R-type or T-type) voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) for induction, shared a similar age and experience dependence with ocular dominance plasticity. In this study, we examined whether this LTP is involved in ocular dominance plasticity. In visual cortical slices, LTP was blocked by mibefradil, kurtoxin and R-(−)-efonidipine, T-type VGCC blockers, but not by SNX-482, an R-type VGCC blocker, indicating that LTP induction requires T-type VGCC activation. Mibefradil did not affect synaptic transmission even at a dose about 30 times higher than that required for LTP blockade. Therefore, this drug was used to test the effect of T-type VGCC blockade on ocular dominance shift produced by 6 days of monocular deprivation during the critical period using visual evoked potentials (VEPs). Although this monocular deprivation commonly produced both depression of deprived eye responses and potentiation of nondeprived eye responses, only the former change occurred when mibefradil was infused into the visual cortex during monocular deprivation. Mibefradil infusion produced no acute effects on VEPs. These results suggest that T-type VGCC-dependent LTP contributes to the experience-dependent enhancement of visual responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Cortical pyramidal neurons alter their responses to input signals depending on behavioral state. We investigated whether changes in somatic inhibition contribute to these alterations. In layer 5 pyramidal neurons of rat visual cortex, repetitive firing from a depolarized membrane potential, which typically occurs during arousal, produced long-lasting depression of somatic inhibition. In contrast, slow membrane oscillations with firing in the depolarized phase, which typically occurs during slow-wave sleep, produced long-lasting potentiation. The depression is mediated by L-type Ca2+ channels and GABAA receptor endocytosis, whereas potentiation is mediated by R-type Ca2+ channels and receptor exocytosis. It is likely that the direction of modification is mainly dependent on the ratio of R- and L-type Ca2+ channel activation. Furthermore, somatic inhibition was stronger in slices prepared from rats during slow-wave sleep than arousal. This bidirectional modification of somatic inhibition may alter pyramidal neuron responsiveness in accordance with behavioral state. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We measured the transport through Au/(Pb,La)(Zr, Ti)O3/(La,Sr)2CuO4. Applying the +10 V pulses and -10 V pulses, the resistance decreases and increases, respectively. The reproducible resistance modulation is hold beyond 10 hours. After annealing at 150°C, the conductance decreases. It is considered that the band bending due to trapped electrons, returns and the effective barrier height of metal/ferroelectrics surface increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the daily living situation, fall situation, physical balance ability, gait ability and bone density of 30 patients admitted to a psychiatric hospital. Twenty-eight patients spent daily activities in the hospital and the others did so in their room. Four out of 30 (13.3%) had experienced falls. The patient's physical balance ability was at the same level as that of frail elderly people who had experienced falls. Maximum walking speed and bone density were relatively lower than those of people of similar ages. In the field of psychiatry the aging of patients in progressing, and the improvement of physical exercise, the enlargement the range of daily living activities, and affirmative intervention of physical therapists is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study that examines the risk management of physical therapy for elderly patients who are confined to bed for a longer period of time with reference to their bone density. Under the study, the osteo sono-assessment index (OSI) of bedridden patients' heel was measured and compared with that of the femoral neck fracture patients. Results of the study show that the OSI of the bedridden patients was lower than that of fractured patients.

We have shown that some neural activity is required for the maintenance of long-term potentiation (LTP) at visual cortical inhibitory synapses. We tested whether this was also the case in N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-independent LTP of excitatory connections in layer 2/3 cells of developing rat visual cortex. This LTP occurred after 2-Hz stimulation was applied for 15 min and always persisted for several hours while test stimulation was continued at 0.1 Hz. When test stimulation was stopped for 1 h after LTP induction, only one-third of the LTP instances disappeared, but most did disappear under a pharmacological suppression of spontaneous firing, indicating that LTP maintenance requires either evoked or spontaneous activities. LTP was totally abolished by a temporary blockade of action potentials with lidocaine or the removal of extracellular Ca(2+) after LTP induction, but it persisted under a voltage clamp of postsynaptic cells or after a temporary blockade of postsynaptic activity with the glutamate receptor antagonist kynurenate, suggesting that LTP maintenance requires presynaptic, but not postsynaptic, firing and Ca(2+) entry. More than one-half of the LTP instances were abolished after a pharmacological blockade of P-type Ca(2+) channels, whereas it persisted after either L-type or Ni(2+)-sensitive Ca(2+) channel blockades. These results show that the maintenance of NMDA receptor-independent excitatory LTP requires presynaptic firing and Ca(2+) channel activation as inhibitory LTP, although the necessary level of firing and Ca(2+) entry seems lower for the former than the latter and the Ca(2+) channel types involved are only partly the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phase I study of N -behenoyl-1-β- d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (BHAC) was conducted in 66 patients, 41 with solid tumors and 25 with hematological malignancies. The patients received either a 2-h single intravenous (i.v.) drip infusion (Schedule 1) or consecutive daily 2-h i.v. infusions (Schedule 2). In Schedule 1 the daily dose was initiated with 1.5 mg kg which was escalated up to 7 mg kg. Side-effects were mild, and included nausea, vomiting, epilation, and hot flushes. Because of the presence of the solvent vehicle, HCO-60 and in consideration of the mechanism of action of BHAC, the dose escalation was stopped at 7 mg kg. In Schedule 2, the daily dose was started with 1.5 mg kg which was escalated up to 8 mg kg and given for 2-16 days. Myelosuppression was found to be dose-limiting toxicity. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) in patients with non-hematological solid tumors was assumed to be 5 mg kg daily × 5 days. The plasma disappearance curve of BHAC looked biphasic, and when 4 mg kg of BHAC were administered the half-lives of the initial phase ( t α) and the second phase ( t β) were calculated as 0.798 and 5.76 h respectively. In Schedule 2 complete remission was observed in 5 out of 21 patients with acute leukemia, one partial remission in Hodgkin's disease, and one 1-B response (Karnofsky) in thyroid papillary adenocarcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N4-Palmitoyl-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (PLAC) was administered PO to 76 patients with acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs), and myeloproliferative disorders (MPDs). Of 20 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, 2 achieved complete remission, and the only patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia achieved partial remission. Remission was reached with PLAC 100-300 mg/day 25-66 days after the start of therapy. Among 22 patients with MDS, 1 patient achieved a good response and 8 achieved partial response. Responses were reached with PLAC 50-200 mg/day 7-153 days (median, 33 days) after the start of therapy. Improvement of polycythemia was observed in all 5 patients with polycythemia vera, and reduction of thrombocytosis was observed in 5 out of 6 patients with essential thrombocythemia and myelofibrosis. An antileukemia effect was noted in 1 of 5 with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Major side effects were gastrointestinal toxicities and myelosuppression. In spite of the disadvantages, such as unpredictable absorption and a lower response rate to acute leukemia compared with its parent compound, this antileukemia Ara-C analogue that is administrable PO will be useful in the treatment of MDSs and MPDs, which do not necessarily require admission to hospital, and in the treatment of acute leukemia of the aged, a condition for which intensive chemotherapy is not appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]