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The reduced expression levels and functional impairment of global miRNAs are related to various human diseases, including cancers. However, relatively little is known about how global miRNA function may be upregulated. Here, we report that global miRNA function can be enhanced by Rho-associated, coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK) inhibitors. The regulation of miRNA function by ROCK inhibitors is mediated, at least in part, by poly(A)-binding protein-interacting protein 2 (PAIP2), which enhances poly(A)-shortening of miRNA-targeted mRNAs and leads to global upregulation of miRNA function. In the presence of a ROCK inhibitor, PAIP2 expression is enhanced by the transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4A) through increased ROCK1 nuclear localization and enhanced ROCK1 association with HNF4A. Our data reveal an unexpected role of ROCK1 as a cofactor of HNF4A in enhancing PAIP2 transcription. ROCK inhibitors may be useful for the various pathologies associated with the impairment of global miRNA function.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health problem. Although current therapies, such as the use of nucleos(t)ide analogs, inhibit HBV replication efficiently, they do not eliminate covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), which persists in hepatocyte nuclei. As HBV cccDNA is a viral transcription template, novel therapeutic approaches to directly target HBV cccDNA are necessary to completely eradicate persistent HBV infections. HBV cccDNA levels in HBV-infected human liver cells are extremely low; thus, more reliable and simple measurement methods are needed to correctly monitor their levels during therapeutic treatment. Although reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or Southern blot procedures are currently used in research studies, these methods are not completely reliable and are also time-consuming and labor-intensive. Genome editing technologies, such as zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system, which are designed to target specific DNA sequences, represent highly promising potential therapeutic tools. In particular, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is an easily customizable sequence-specific nuclease with high flexibility and may be the most feasible approach to target HBV cccDNA. Further research to develop easier, safer, and more effective protocols should be pursued.

To prospectively compare the capabilities for TNM classification and assessment of clinical stage and operability among whole-body magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, coregistered positron emission tomographic (PET)/MR imaging with and without MR signal intensity (SI) assessment, and integrated fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/computed tomography (CT) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.The institutional review board approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. One hundred forty consecutive NSCLC patients (75 men, 65 women; mean age, 72 years) prospectively underwent whole-body MR imaging, FDG PET/CT, conventional radiologic examinations, and surgical, pathologic, and/or follow-up examinations. All factors and clinical stage and operability were then visually assessed. All PET/MR examinations were assessed with and without SI assessment. One examination used anatomic, metabolic, and relaxation-time information, and the other used only anatomic and metabolic information. κ statistics were used for assessment of all factors and clinical stages with final diagnoses. McNemar test was used to compare the capability of all methods to assess operability.Agreements of assessment of every factor (κ = 0.63-0.97) and clinical stage (κ = 0.65-0.90) were substantial or almost perfect. Regarding capability to assess operability, accuracy of whole-body MR imaging and PET/MR imaging with SI assessment (97.1% [136 of 140]) was significantly higher than that of MR/PET without SI assessment and integrated FDG PET/CT (85.0% [119 of 140]; P.001).Accuracies of whole-body MR imaging and PET/MR imaging with SI assessment are superior to PET/MR without SI assessment and PET/CT for identification of TNM factor, clinical stage, and operability evaluation of NSCLC patients.

MR imaging has emerged as a major new research and diagnostic tool for various pulmonary diseases, especially lung cancer. State-of-the art thoracic MR imaging now has the potential to be used as a substitute for traditional imaging techniques and/or to play a complementary role in patient management. This article focuses on these recent advances in MR imaging for lung cancer imaging, especially for pulmonary nodule assessment, lung cancer staging, postoperative lung function prediction, and prediction and evaluation of therapeutic response and recurrence. The potential and limitations of routine clinical application of these advances are discussed and compared with those of other modalities.

// Takahiro Kishikawa 1 , Motoyuki Otsuka 1, 2 , Poh Seng Tan 3, 4 , Motoko Ohno 1 , Xiaochen Sun 3 , Takeshi Yoshikawa 1 , Chikako Shibata 1 , Akemi Takata 1 , Kentaro Kojima 1 , Kenji Takehana 5 , Maki Ohishi 6 , Sana Ota 6 , Tomoyuki Noyama 1 , Yuji Kondo 1 , Masaya Sato 1 , Tomoyoshi Soga 5 , Yujin Hoshida 3 , Kazuhiko Koike 1 1 Department of Gastroenterology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113–8655, Japan 2 Japan Science and Technology Agency, PRESTO, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332–0012, Japan 3 Liver Cancer Program, Tisch Cancer Institute, Division of Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY 10029, USA 4 Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, 119228, Singapore 5 Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Research Institute, Ajinomoto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210–8681, Japan 6 Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata 997–0052, Japan Correspondence to: Motoyuki Otsuka, e-mail: otsukamo-tky@umin.ac.jp Keywords: HCC, miR122, SLC7A1, nitric oxide, arginine Received: January 26, 2015 Accepted: January 28, 2015 Published: March 21, 2015 ABSTRACT Reduced expression of microRNA122 (miR122), a liver-specific microRNA, is frequent in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its biological significances remain poorly understood. Because deregulated amino acid levels in cancers can affect their biological behavior, we determined the amino acid levels in miR122-silenced mouse liver tissues, in which intracellular arginine levels were significantly increased. The increased intracellular arginine levels were through upregulation of the solute carrier family 7 (SLC7A1), a transporter of arginine and a direct target of miR122. Arginine is the substrate for nitric oxide (NO) synthetase, and intracellular NO levels were increased in miR122-silenced HCC cells, with increased resistance to sorafenib, a multikinase inhibitor. Conversely, maintenance of the miR122-silenced HCC cells in arginine-depleted culture media, as well as overexpression of miR122 in miR122-low-expressing HCC cells, reversed these effects and rendered the cells more sensitive to sorafenib. Using a reporter knock-in construct, chemical compounds were screened, and Wee1 kinase inhibitor was identified as upregulators of miR122 transcription, which increased the sensitivity of the cells to sorafenib. These results provide an insight into sorafenib resistance in miR122-low HCC, and suggest that arginine depletion or a combination of sorafenib with the identified compound may provide promising approaches to managing this HCC subset.

Bacterial communities in sediments underneath milkfish cages and adjacent off-cage areas in Bolinao, Lingayen Gulf, West Philippine Sea were characterized using PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis to assess influence of the fish farming to the sediments. The sediments in the fish cage (FC) area showed anoxic conditions [redox potential of −165 to −213 mV and acid-volatile sulphide-sulphur (AVS-S) of 0.55–1.88 mg g−1 (dry weight)] compared to the relatively oxic off-cage area [redox potential of 72–81 mV and AVS-S of 0.09–0.14 mg g−1 (dry weight)]. The composition of the microbial populations revealed influence of the fish feed sedimentation with higher dominance of putative sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) in the FC area. Compositions of the bacterial taxa showed dominance of the Bacteroidetes group and Deltaproteobacteria. The results suggest that the fish feeds created a new suitable environment, in which reductive microorganisms such as SRB, ferric-ion-reducing bacteria and nitrate-reducing bacteria can thrive. Organic load from the feed and quantity of its leftover constituents may be the key factors that influence the structure of the bacterial community in the sediments of the milkfish farms.

Nanoporous silicas having some periodicity, high surface area (up to 1230 m(2) g(-1)), and pore diameters near the boundary between micro- and mesopores are synthesized using aromatic compounds bearing anionic end-groups as novel structure-directing agents (SDAs) that can facilitate multiple interactions between SDAs, co-SDAs and silica frameworks orthogonally.

Distribution coefficient of boron between purified solid silicon and iron–silicon melt at infinite dilution of boron was evaluated to investigate the effectiveness of boron removal from silicon by solvent refining using iron. The estimated values for distribution coefficient of boron at infinite dilution are: 0.49 ± 0.01 (1583 K), 0.41 ± 0.03 (1533 K) and 0.33 ± 0.04 (1483 K). The distribution coefficient increases with temperature showing less boron removal at higher temperatures. The estimated values for self interaction parameter of boron are as follow: −96 ± 12 (1583 K), −111 ± 28 (1533 K) and −159 ± 45 (1483 K). Activity coefficient of boron in solid silicon was obtained and related to temperature as ln γ B in solid Si 0 = ( 16317 ± 282 ) 1 T - ( 7.06 ± 0.18 ) .

Reactive arthritis, formerly called Reiter's syndrome, is one of the rare complications following intravesical instillation of Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG). A 58-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fever, hyperemia of conjunctiva, and arthralgia following the second course of intravesical instillation of BCG in the treatment of pT1 and pTis bladder cancer. We diagnosed him with reactive arthritis due to the clinical course. Reactive arthritis is usually well controlled with the discontinuation of instillation and administration of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). However, his symptoms were not improved after administration of NSAIDs, prednisolone, and isoniazid. Following initiation of methotrexate, however, there was remission. He has been free from recurrence of bladder cancer for 20 months.

Zeolites containing Zn in their frameworks are promising materials for ion-exchange and catalysis because of their unique ion-exchange capabilities and characteristic Lewis acidity. However, expensive organic compounds often required in their synthesis can prevent their practical uses. Here, a facile organic-free synthesis route for new zincoaluminosilicate zeolites having MOR topology, in which both Zn and Al are substituted in the framework, is demonstrated for the first time. The use of homogeneous zincoaluminosilicate gels prepared by a co-precipitation technique as raw materials is vital for the successful incorporation of both Zn and Al into the zeolite frameworks as revealed by several characterization techniques including solid-state NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy, and ion-exchange experiments. The obtained zincoaluminosilicate zeolites had high Zn contents comparable to those in the initial zincoaluminosilicate gels. In contrast, the uses of conventional sources of Si, Al, and Zn resulted in zeolites with very low contents of framework Zn or zeolites with extra-framework zinc oxide-species. FT-IR measurements using probe molecules and ion-exchange experiments suggested that there are two different environments of Zn in the zeolite frameworks. The obtained zincoaluminosilicate zeolites showed a higher ion-exchange efficiency for divalent cations such as nickel compared to the aluminosilicate analog. It is expected that the present co-precipitation technique is efficient for the incorporation of Zn (and other metals) into a variety of zeolite frameworks. To show its extended applicable scope, the synthesis of zincoaluminosilicate *BEA zeolite is also demonstrated.

Purpose To directly compare fat suppression efficacy of Dixon, spectral attenuated inversion recovery (SPAIR) and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) techniques for a 3 T MR system. Materials and methods Nineteen consecutive patients (11 men, 8 women; mean age 67.9 years) underwent chest MR imaging. Contrast-noise ratio (CNR) between muscle and fat (CNRFat) was calculated by ROI measurement. Then, two radiologists used a five-point scale for visual assessment of image quality, fat suppression capability and lesion detection. Next, the quantitative calculations obtained with all three techniques were compared by means of Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test. Inter-observer agreements were assessed by kappa statistics and χ2 test. Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) test was used for comparison among all scores. Results CNRFat of SPAIR were significantly higher than those of Dixon and STIR (p Conclusion Dixon technique has better fat suppression capability on T2-weighted turbo SE imaging than SPAIR technique on chest MR imaging examined with a 3 T MR system, although it can't substitute STIR technique on fat suppression and lesion visualization.

A marine raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo is a causative agent of harmful microalgal blooms, which often cause the massive mortality of aquacultured finfish. In the present study, the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas was reared with H. akashiwo, and effect of the microalga on filter-feeding behavior and microflora of the gastrointestinal tract was investigated. The intake of the raphidophyte cells inhibited the molluscan filter-feeding activities, suggesting the negative physiological effect of the microalgal cell contents. However, the bivalves ingested the H. akashiwo cells to the same extent as the diatom Chaetoceros calcitrans, a non-harmful indicator to estimate the filtration rate, showing a continuation of their non-selective ingestion of the phytoplankton. Microflora of the oyster soft tissue was dominated by bacteria affiliated with the family Rhodobacteraceae, some of which are associated with microalgae. In addition, the Bacteroidetes species, in which algicidal bacteria are included, were also found in the bivalve individuals exposed to H. akashiwo. These results suggested that the ingested phytoplankton affected the microbial flora in the gastrointestinal tracts, some constituents of which helped the mollusc assimilate the ingested red tide phytoplankton. This study will provide beneficial information to clarify mechanisms by which the oyster evades the ichthyotoxicity of harmful microalgae and the participation of the intestinal microorganisms in these processes.

Purpose To compare the capability of amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), and FDG-PET/CT for the differentiation of malignant from benign pulmonary nodules. Materials and Methods In all, 82 consecutive patients with pulmonary nodules underwent APTw imaging and DWI with a 3T system, and FDG-PET/CT. All nodules were divided as either malignant (n = 49) or benign (n = 39) groups based on pathological and follow-up examinations. To evaluate the capability for differentiation of malignant from benign nodules, magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTRasym)(3.5ppm) on APTw imaging, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and maximum value of standard uptake value (SUVmax) were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were performed to computationally determine each feasible threshold value. Next, McNemar's test was used for comparing diagnostic performance with each other as well as with a combination of the significant factors determined by multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Although sensitivity of ADC was significantly higher than that of MTRasym(3.5 ppm) (P = 0.002) and SUVmax (P = 0.004), specificity of MTRasym(3.5 ppm) and SUVmax was significantly higher than that of ADC (P < 0.05). Sensitivity of combined MTRasym(3.5ppm) with SUVmax was significantly higher than that of MTRasym(3.5ppm) (P = 0.001) and SUVmax (P = 0.002) alone. Moreover, specificity and accuracy of combined MTRasym(3.5ppm) with SUVmax were significantly higher than that of ADC (specificity: P = 0.002, accuracy: P = 0.008). Conclusion APTw imaging appears to be as useful as DWI and FDG-PET/CT for differentiation of malignant from benign nodules. Level of Evidence: 2 Technical Efficacy: Stage 2 J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017.

In this study, we developed an excited-state calculation method for large systems using dynamical polarizabilities at the time-dependent density functional theory level. Three equivalent theories, namely, coupled-perturbed self-consistent field (CPSCF), random phase approximation (RPA), and Green function (GF), were extended to linear-scaling methods using the divide-and-conquer (DC) technique. The implementations of the standard and DC-based CPSCF, RPA, and GF methods are described. Numerical applications of these methods to polyene chains, single-wall carbon nanotubes, and water clusters confirmed the accuracy and efficiency of the DC-based methods, especially DC-GF.

The incidence of port-site metastasis in urologic laparoscopic surgery is low, especially in prostate cancer, with 4 reported cases to date. A 65-year-old man was introduced to our hospital presenting with gross hematuria and dysuria. His prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level was 3.1 ng/ml. He was diagnosed with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the prostate, Gleason 9 (5＋4), cT3aN0M0 with non-invasive urothelial cancer of bladder (pTaN0M0, low grade). Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy was performed. Histopathological examination revealed adenocarcinoma, Gleason 9 (5＋4), pT3bN0, and surgical margins were positive. Eighteen weeks postoperatively, local recurrence, lymph node metastases, and a port-site metastasis were observed. Androgen deprivation therapy with 4 courses of induction docetaxel chemotherapy achieved a complete response on imaging study, 2 years postoperatively.

We have implemented a linear-scaling divide-and-conquer (DC)-based higher-order coupled-cluster (CC) and Moller-Plesset perturbation theories (MPPT) as well as their combinations automatically by means of the tensor contraction engine, which is a computerized symbolic algebra system. The DC-based energy expressions of the standard CC and MPPT methods and the CC methods augmented with a perturbation correction were proposed for up to high excitation orders [e.g., CCSDTQ, MP4, and CCSD(2)TQ ]. The numerical assessment for hydrogen halide chains, polyene chains, and first coordination sphere (C1) model of photoactive yellow protein has revealed that the DC-based correlation methods provide reliable correlation energies with significantly less computational cost than that of the conventional implementations. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has been advocated since 1996 as a technique for evaluation of regional ventilation using molecular oxygen as the contrast agent. Molecular oxygen, which contains two unpaired electrons and is weakly paramagnetic, can provide not only regional ventilation, but also oxygen transfer (i.e., diffusion of oxygen from alveoli to capillary bed) and related information for oxygen-enhanced MR imaging. Many investigators have successfully used oxygen-enhanced MR imaging for patients with pulmonary diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, interstitial lung disease, pulmonary vascular diseases, and lung cancer in a clinical setting, and demonstrated the physiological significance of oxygen enhancement. In this review article, we discuss (1) respiratory physiology relevant for oxygen-enhanced MR imaging; (2) theory of oxygen enhancement; (3) oxygen-enhanced MR imaging sequence design; (4) basic study of oxygen-enhanced MR imaging for animal models and humans; (5) clinical studies of oxygen-enhanced MR imaging; and (6) advantages and disadvantages of oxygen-enhanced MR imaging compared with those of hyperpolarized noble gas MR imaging.

Titanium carbide is used as reinforcement particles in composites due to its hardness, wear resistance and stability. This work is a part of the study in which titanium carbides are formed in stainless steel castings in the mold to improve the wear resistance of a certain surface of the casting. Such local reinforcement is a very potential method but it is a quite demanding task requiring profound knowledge of interfacial phenomena in the system, wettability, stability, dissolution and precipitation of new phases in production of these materials. Good wetting between different constituents in the material is a key factor to attain maximal positive effects. Mo is used with TiC or Ti(C,N) reinforcement in composites to improve wettability. In this work the effect of Mo on the phenomena in Fe/stainless steel–TiC systems was examined by wetting experiments between the substrate and the alloy. Wetting was not significantly improved by adding Mo to the systems. Core-rim type carbides as well as more homogenous carbide particles were observed. Overall the carbide particles are very complex regarding to their chemistry, size and shape which aspects have to be taken into account in the development of these materials and manufacturing processes.

To compare the use of dynamic oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with the use of quantitatively assessed computed tomography (CT) for assessment of clinical stage and evaluation of pulmonary functional change due to treatment in patients with asthma.The institutional review board of Kobe University Hospital approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from each subject. Thirty consecutive patients with asthma (17 men and 13 women; age range, 27-78 years) underwent dynamic oxygen-enhanced MR imaging, multidetector CT, and assessment of forced expiratory volume in 1 second. All patients were classified as having one of four stages of asthma according to the guidelines of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program. Relative enhancement ratio ( RER relative enhancement ratio ) and wash-in time maps were generated by means of pixel-by-pixel analyses. Regions of interest were placed on images of the lung in all sections, and all measurements were averaged to determine mean RER relative enhancement ratio and mean wash-in time for each subject. Percentage of airway wall area and mean lung density were determined at quantitative CT. For comparison of the modalities for assessment of clinical stage, indexes of subjects at all clinical stages were compared by means of the Tukey honestly significant difference test. Evaluation of pulmonary functional improvement was assessed by correlating improvement of each index with that of forced expiratory volume.Mean wash-in time was significantly different among patients with asthma of different clinical stages (P.05), but significant differences between mean RER relative enhancement ratio and percentage of airway wall area were observed for a limited number of clinical stages (P.05). Improvement of mean RER relative enhancement ratio (r = 0.63, P = .0002) and mean wash-in time (r = -0.75, P.0001) was significantly correlated with forced expiratory volume.Dynamic oxygen-enhanced MR imaging has potential as a tool for assessment of clinical stage and evaluation of pulmonary functional change due to treatment in patients with asthma.

Solution growth of SiC is currently regarded as a promising process to produce high-quality SiC crystals. To date, Si–Cr, Si–Ti, and Fe–Si solvents have been used for rapid solution growth of SiC. However, optimization of the solvent system and composition is still needed to maximize the growth rate of high-quality SiC crystals. In this paper, to clarify the features of respective solvents from the viewpoint of the solubility of carbon, the C–Cr–Si, C–Ti–Si, and C–Fe–Si systems were evaluated by thermodynamic analysis. Phase relations in the respective ternary systems were investigated by the calculation of phase diagrams method. In addition, the solubility of carbon in Si–Cr, Si–Ti, and Fe–Si alloys at saturation with SiC was measured and its consistency with the estimated results was examined. Correlation of the experimental growth rate of SiC using Si–Cr, Si–Ti, and Fe–Si solvents was analyzed in terms of the supersaturation of carbon in each solution evaluated from the estimated temperature dependence of carbon solubility. Rate determining step for solution growth was presumed to be mass transfer in the liquid phase.

Purpose To compare predictive capabilities of non-contrast-enhanced (CE)- and dynamic CE-perfusion MRIs, thin-section multidetector computed tomography (CT) (MDCT), and perfusion scan for postoperative lung function in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Materials and Methods Sixty consecutive pathologically diagnosed NSCLC patients were included and prospectively underwent thin-section MDCT, non-CE-, and dynamic CE-perfusion MRIs and perfusion scan, and had their pre- and postoperative forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) measured. Postoperative percent FEV1 (po%FEV1) was then predicted from the fractional lung volume determined on semiquantitatively assessed non-CE- and dynamic CE-perfusion MRIs, from the functional lung volumes determined on quantitative CT, from the number of segments observed on qualitative CT, and from uptakes detected on perfusion scans within total and resected lungs. Predicted po%FEV1s were then correlated with actual po%FEV1s, which were %FEV1s measured postoperatively. The limits of agreement were also determined. Results All predicted po%FEV1s showed significant correlation (0.73 ≤ r ≤ 0.93, P

The distribution of boron between purified solid silicon and iron-silicon melt was evaluated to investigate the possibility of boron removal from silicon by solvent refining with iron-silicon alloys. The distribution coefficient, defined as the ratio of the mole fraction of boron in solid to that of liquid, was found to be strongly dependent on boron concentration. Solvent refining at lower temperatures resulted in smaller distribution coefficient values. The boron removal percentages for the lowest boron concentration examined in this study were 70 pct [1583 K (1310 °C)], 65 pct [1533 K (1260 °C)], and 65 pct [1483 K (1210 °C)]. The values obtained for interaction parameter of boron on iron in solid silicon are as follows: −813 ± 53 [1583 K (1310 °C)], −830 ± 92 [1533 K (1260 °C)], −863 ± 91 [1483 K (1210 °C)]. Lower temperature resulted in smaller distribution coefficient and higher silicon yield.

Graphical processing units (GPUs) are emerging in computational chemistry to include Hartree−Fock (HF) methods and electron-correlation theories. However, ab initio calculations of large molecules face technical difficulties such as slow memory access between central processing unit and GPU and other shortfalls of GPU memory. The divide-and-conquer (DC) method, which is a linear-scaling scheme that divides a total system into several fragments, could avoid these bottlenecks by separately solving local equations in individual fragments. In addition, the resolution-of-the-identity (RI) approximation enables an effective reduction in computational cost with respect to the GPU memory. The present study implemented the DC-RI-HF code on GPUs using math libraries, which guarantee compatibility with future development of the GPU architecture. Numerical applications confirmed that the present code using GPUs significantly accelerated the HF calculations while maintaining accuracy. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

To optimize Si-Sn solvent refining of Si for its use in solar cells, the solid solubility of Sn in Si and diffusion coefficient in a Si-Sn melt at various temperatures were measured by the temperature gradient zone melting (TGZM) method. The solid solubility of Sn in Si was 0.70-1.52×10 in mole fraction in the temperature range of 1273-1655 K. The activity coefficient of Sn in solid Si at infinite dilution relative to the standard state of diamond was RTln = 57,700 (±1,400) (J/mol). The diffusion coefficient in a Si-saturated melt was 1.25-2.51×10 m/s in the temperature range of 1273-1655 K, which was confirmed using Darken's equation.

Despite recent progress in the development of direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C virus (HCV), chronic HCV infection remains an important health burden worldwide. MicroRNA122 (miR122), a liver-specific microRNA (miRNA), positively regulates HCV replication, and systemic application of antisense oligonucleotides against miR122 led to the long-lasting suppression of HCV viremia in human clinical trials. Here, we report that apigenin, a flavonoid and an inhibitor of maturation of a subset of miRNAs, inhibits HCV replication in vitro. Apigenin decreased the expression levels of mature miR122 without significantly affecting cell growth. Because supplementation of synthesized miR122 oligonucleotides or overexpression of constitutively active TRBP blocked these effects, the inhibitory effects of apigenin on HCV replication seemed to be dependent on the reduction of mature miR122 expression levels through inhibition of TRBP phosphorylation. Thus, apigenin intake, either through regular diet or supplements, may decrease HCV replication in chronically infected patients.

The purpose of this study was to investigate efficacy of two types of emphysema quantification: percentage of low-attenuation lung regions (%LA); and size distribution of these regions. On a log-log plot, cumulative frequency-size distribution of low-attenuation lung regions can be fitted by a straight line whose slope (D) has been reported to reflect diffusing capacity. In this study, %LA and D were compared with pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters, especially with ratio of diffusing capacity of carbon monoxide to effective alveolar ventilation (i.e., DLCO/VA).Thin-section unenhanced CT images were acquired from 30 patients (25 men, five women; mean [SD] age, 70.1 ± 12.1 years), of whom 25 had received diagnosis of COPD, and %LA and D were calculated at 20 thresholds, ranging from -995 to -900 HU. To determine utility of %LA and D, we used Pearson's correlation for emphysema quantification and PFT. Significance of the coefficients was determined with Bonferroni correction (p0.0025). Finally, the relationships between emphysema quantification and DLCO/VA were examined by linear models and Akaike information criterion (AIC).The correlation coefficients for %LA and DLCO/VA were statistically significant at all the thresholds (optimal coefficient, -0.761). The correlation coefficients for D and DLCO/VA were statistically significant at the thresholds from -945 to -900 HU (optimal coefficient, -0.646). AIC values showed that the most accurate prediction of DLCO/VA was obtained by the model incorporating both %LA and D.Both %LA and D showed significant correlation with DLCO/VA. Combining %LA and D resulted in more accurate evaluation of DLCO/VA than did using %LA or D alone.

In order to develop a low-cost metallurgical route for solar grade silicon (SOG-Si) production, a novel process sequence of slag treatment and solidification refining using Si-Sn solvents under induction heating, followed by acid leaching was investigated. Slag and metal phases can be fully separated due to their density difference. Refined Si crystals were agglomerated in the metal by combining the electromagnetic stirring effect with controlled cooling. The purification efficiency showed high removal of impurities, especially B content decreasing to 0.3 ppmw, satisfying its allowable content in usage of solar cell. This route allows more effective removal of B with much less usage of slag volume which has the great potential for practical application and an overall low-cost process for producing SOG-Si using Si-Sn solvent was proposed.

To prospectively and directly compare oxygen-enhanced (O2-enhanced) MRI with thin-section CT for pulmonary functional loss and disease severity assessment in connective tissue disease (CTD) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD).Thin-section CT, O2-enhanced MRI, pulmonary function test and serum KL-6 were administered to 36 CTD patients with ILD (23 men, 13 women; mean age: 63.9 years) and nine CTD patients without ILD (six men, and three women; mean age: 62.0 years). A relative-enhancement ratio (RER) map was generated from O2-enhanced MRI and mean relative enhancement ratio (MRER) for each subject was calculated from all ROI measurements. CT-assessed disease severity was evaluated with a visual scoring system from each of the thin-section CT data. MRER and CT-assessed disease severities of CTD patients with and without ILD were then statistically compared. To assess capability for pulmonary functional loss and disease severity assessment in CTD patients, correlations of MRER and CT-assessed disease severity with pulmonary functional parameters and serum KL-6 in all subjects were statistically determined.MRER and CT-assessed disease severity showed significant differences between CTD patients with (MRER: 0.15 ± 0.08, CT-assessed disease severity: 13.0 ± 7.4%) and without ILD (MRER: 0.25 ± 0.06, p=0.0011; CT-assessed disease severity: 1.6 ± 1.6%, p0.0001). MRER and CT-assessed disease severity correlated significantly with pulmonary functional parameters and serum KL-6 in all subjects (0.61 ≤ r ≤ 0.79, p0.05).O2-enhanced MRI was found to be as useful as thin-section CT for pulmonary functional loss and disease severity assessment of CTD patients with ILD.

We examined the effectiveness of cocopeat and rice hull powder obtained from agricultural wastes as biocarriers for an oil-degrading bacterial consortium. Scanning electron microscopy revealed colonization and strong attachment of bacterial cells on the surface of both carriers. Results of a 60-day in vitro seawater bioremediation trial showed significant oil reduction and high cultivable bacterial counts in treatments augmented with the carrier-attached bacterial consortia compared to treatments supplemented with the same consortium in free living and encapsulated forms. Significant degradations in both aliphatic and aromatic fractions were obtained in treatments augmented with carrier-immobilized consortia. The developed immobilized cells showed sustained activities and viabilities during storage for six months. Results of this study demonstrated that inexpensive waste materials can be utilized as biocarriers of an oil-degrading consortium and that immobilization on biocarriers can enhance the bioremediation of oil-contaminated seawater.

1) Formerly Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University. Now at Kakogawa Works, Iron & Steel Business, Kobe Steel, Ltd, 1 Kanazawa-cho, Kakogawa, Hyogo, 675-0137 Japan. 2) Formerly Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University. Now at Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1, Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 153-8505 Japan. 3) Division of Materials and Manufacturing Science, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University, 1-1, Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871 Japan.

With the aim of minimizing the loss of platinum into slags by controlling the slag composition during the high-temperature recycling process, the effects of representative slag components, namely, Al2O3, MgO, Fe2O3, and CuOx, on the dissolution behavior of platinum into Na2O­SiO2-based slags were investigated. The solubility of platinum in the slags was measured by equilibrating the Na2O­SiO2-based slags with pure solid platinum at 1473K in air. The dissolution of platinum in the slags was found to be suppressed by the addition of Al2O3, MgO, and Fe2O3 .A l2O3 and Fe2O3 behaved as acidic oxides, whereas MgO behaved as a diluent and decreased the solubility of platinum in the slags. CuOx behaved as a weakly basic oxide and slightly enhanced the dissolution of platinum into the slags. The correlation between the platinate capacity of the slag, which is a parameter proposed in this paper, and the optical basicity enabled the content of platinum in slags at 1473K to be estimated from the slag composition. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.M2014042]

An alkanolamine, N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine, is used as an organic structure-directing agent (OSDA) to synthesize aluminophosphate (AlPO-5) and silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO-5...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally through complementary base pairing with thousands of messenger RNAs. Although the precise biological functions of individual miRNAs are still unknown, miRNAs are speculated to play important roles in diverse biological processes through fine regulation of their target gene expression. A growing body of data indicates the deregulation of miRNAs during hepatocarcinogenesis. In this review, we summarize recent findings regarding deregulated miRNA expression and their possible target genes in hepatocarcinogenesis, with emphasis on inflammation-related hepatocarcinogenesis. Because miRNA-based strategies are being applied to clinical therapeutics, precise knowledge of miRNA functions is crucial both scientifically and clinically. We discuss the current open questions from these points of view, which must be clarified in the near future.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to compare diagnostic capabilities for assessment of recurrence in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients by contrast-enhanced whole-body MRI (CE-WB-MRI) with and without CE-Quick 3D and double RF fat suppression technique (DFS), FDG-PET/CT and conventional radiological examinations. Materials and methods A total of 134 pathologically proven and completely resected NSCLC patients (78 males, 56 females; mean age: 72 years) underwent FDG-PET/CT, CE-WB-MRI with and without Quick 3D and DFS at 3 T as well as conventional radiological examinations. The probability of recurrence was assessed with a 5-point scoring system on a per-patient basis, and final diagnosis was made by consensus between two readers. The capability for overall recurrence assessment by all the methods was compared by means of ROC analysis and their sensitivity, specificity and accuracy by means of McNemar's test. Results Although areas under the curve did not show any significant differences, specificity (100%) and accuracy (95.5%) of CE-WB-MRI with CE-Quick 3D and DFS were significantly higher than those of FDG-PET/CT (specificity: 93.6%, p = 0.02; accuracy: 89.6%, p = 0.01) and conventional radiological examinations (specificity: 92.7%, p = 0.01; accuracy: 91.0%, p = 0.03). In addition, specificity of CE-WB-MRI without CE-Quick 3D and DFS (100%) was significantly higher than that of FDG-PET/CT (p = 0.02) and conventional radiological examinations (p = 0.01). Conclusion Specificity and accuracy of CE-WB-MRI with CE-Quick 3D and DFS for assessment of recurrence in NSCLC patients are at least as high as, or higher than those of others.

The solution growth behavior of silicon carbide (SiC) by a temperature difference method using Fe–Si solvent below 1773 K was investigated to clarify the dominant factor affecting growth kinetics. Solution growth experiments were conducted both under the suppression of buoyancy convection and under forced convection controlled by rotating the seed and supply source substrates. In addition, the fluid flow in the solution was estimated by numerical analysis. When buoyancy convection was suppressed, a ridge of SiC grew on the seed substrate only around the edge of the contact area with the solution, which was affected by Marangoni flow generated by the large temperature gradient. Under forced convection in the solution by substrates rotation, lateral growth of SiC was observed over the entire region of the contacting area. Growth rates of SiC of 60–160 μm/h were obtained for various temperature conditions and were increased proportionally by increasing the supersaturation of carbon at the growth interface. It was thus clarified that the mass transfer of carbon in the solution was the rate-determining step of the solution growth process of SiC.

Purpose To assess the influence of ultrashort TE (UTE) intervals on pulmonary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with UTEs (UTE-MRI) for pulmonary functional loss assessment and clinical stage classification of smokers. Materials and Methods A total 60 consecutive smokers (43 men and 17 women; mean age 70 years) with and without COPD underwent thin-section multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT), UTE-MRI, and pulmonary functional measurements. For each smoker, UTE-MRI was performed with three different UTE intervals (UTE-MRI A: 0.5 msec, UTE-MRI B: 1.0 msec, UTE-MRI C: 1.5 msec). By using the GOLD guidelines, the subjects were classified as: “smokers without COPD,” “mild COPD,” “moderate COPD,” and “severe or very severe COPD.” Then the mean T2* value from each UTE-MRI and CT-based functional lung volume (FLV) were correlated with pulmonary function test. Finally, Fisher's PLSD test was used to evaluate differences in each index among the four clinical stages. Results Each index correlated significantly with pulmonary function test results (P

Purpose To evaluate the utility of pulmonary magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with ultra-short echo times (UTEs) at a 3.0 T MR system for pulmonary functional loss and disease severity assessments of connective tissue disease (CTD) patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD). Materials and methods This prospective study was approved by the institutional review board, and written informed consent was obtained from 18 CTD patients (eight men and ten women) and eight normal subjects with suspected chest disease (three men and five women). All subjects underwent thin-section MDCT, pulmonary MR imaging with UTEs, pulmonary function test and serum KL-6. Regional T2* maps were generated from each MR data set, and mean T2* values were determined from ROI measurements. From each thin-section MDCT data set, CT-based disease severity was evaluated with a visual scoring system. Mean T2* values for normal and CTD subjects were statistically compared by using Student's t-test. To assess capability for pulmonary functional loss and disease severity assessments, mean T2* values were statistically correlated with pulmonary functional parameters, serum KL-6 and CT-based disease severity. Results Mean T2* values for normal and CTD subjects were significantly different (p = 0.0019) and showed significant correlations with %VC, %DLCO, serum KL-6 and CT-based disease severity of CTD patients (p Conclusion Pulmonary MR imaging with UTEs is useful for pulmonary functional loss and disease severity assessments of CTD patients with ILD.

While inhibition of microRNA122 (miR122) function in vivo results in reduced serum cholesterol and fatty acid levels, the molecular mechanisms underlying the link between miR122 function and lipid metabolism remains unclear. Because the expression of SREBP1, a central transcription factor involved in lipid metabolism, is known to be increased by suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) expression, and because we previously found that SOCS3 expression is regulated by miR122, in this study, we examined the correlation between miR122 status and the expression levels of SOCS3 and SREBP1. SREBP1 expression decreased when SOCS3 expression was reduced by miR122 silencing in vitro. Conversely, SREBP1 expression in miR122-silenced cells was restored by enforced expression of SOCS3. Such correlations were observed in human liver tissues with different miR122 expression levels. These signaling links may explain one of the molecular mechanisms linking inhibition of miR122 function or decreased expression of miR122 to decreased fatty acid and cholesterol levels, in the inhibition of miR122 function, or in pathological status in chronic liver diseases.

The objective of our study was to prospectively compare the capability of dynamic area-detector CT analyzed with different mathematic methods and PET/CT in the management of pulmonary nodules.Fifty-two consecutive patients with 96 pulmonary nodules underwent dynamic area-detector CT, PET/CT, and microbacterial or pathologic examinations. All nodules were classified into the following groups: malignant nodules (n = 57), benign nodules with low biologic activity (n = 15), and benign nodules with high biologic activity (n = 24). On dynamic area-detector CT, the total, pulmonary arterial, and systemic arterial perfusions were calculated using the dual-input maximum slope method; perfusion was calculated using the single-input maximum slope method; and extraction fraction and blood volume (BV) were calculated using the Patlak plot method. All indexes were statistically compared among the three nodule groups. Then, receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to compare the diagnostic capabilities of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and each perfusion parameter having a significant difference between malignant and benign nodules. Finally, the diagnostic performances of the indexes were compared by means of the McNemar test.No adverse effects were observed in this study. All indexes except extraction fraction and BV, both of which were calculated using the Patlak plot method, showed significant differences among the three groups (p0.05). Areas under the curve of total perfusion calculated using the dual-input method, pulmonary arterial perfusion calculated using the dual-input method, and perfusion calculated using the single-input method were significantly larger than that of SUVmax (p0.05). The accuracy of total perfusion (83.3%) was significantly greater than the accuracy of the other indexes: pulmonary arterial perfusion (72.9%, p0.05), systemic arterial perfusion calculated using the dual-input method (69.8%, p0.05), perfusion (66.7%, p0.05), and SUVmax (60.4%, p0.05).Dynamic area-detector CT analyzed using the dual-input maximum slope method has better potential for the diagnosis of pulmonary nodules than dynamic area-detector CT analyzed using other methods and than PET/CT.

Since the publication of the Radiologic Diagnostic Oncology Group Report in 1991, the clinical application of pulmonary magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with lung cancer has been limited. In contrast, MRI for lung cancer has undergone continuous development, and several promising techniques have been introduced to overcome the previously suggested limitations. In addition, comparative studies involving multidetector-row computed tomography and positron emission tomography or positron emission tomography/computed tomography with 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose have shown useful new clinical applications for MRI in lung cancer. Moreover, MRI can provide not only morphologic information based on various parameters such as T1 and T2 relaxation times, tissue diffusion, perfusion, etc. but also functional information; it also has a significant role in nuclear medicine studies. In this review article, we describe recent advances made in MRI with respect to lung cancer, focusing on (1) detection of solid pulmonary nodules; (2) characterization of solid pulmonary nodules; (3) TNM staging assessment using chest and whole-body MRI examinations; (4) prediction of postsurgical lung function; and (5) prediction of tumor treatment response. We believe that further basic studies, as well as studies on clinical applications of new MRI techniques, are important for improving the management of lung cancer patients.

In this study, the divide-and-conquer (DC) method is extended to configuration-interaction singles, time-dependent density functional, and symmetry-adapted cluster configuration interaction (SACCI) theories for enabling excited-state calculations of large systems. In DC-based excited-state theories, one subsystem is selected as the excitation subsystem and analyzed via excited-state calculations. Test calculations for formaldehyde in water and a conjugated aldehyde demonstrate the high accuracy and effectiveness of these methods. To demonstrate the efficiency of the method, we calculated the π-π* excited state of photoactive yellow protein (PYP). The numerical applications to PYP confirm that the DC-SACCI method significantly accelerates the excited-state calculations while maintaining high accuracy.

In order to verify an alternative metallurgical process of phosphorus removal for solar grade silicon (SOG-Si), slag treatment of metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si) was conducted followed by acid leaching in the present study. MG-Si containing certain amount of phosphorus and calcium was equilibrated at 1723 and 1773 K with several compositions of the CaO-CaF2 slags and phosphorus in molten silicon was confirmed to be removed into slag phase also by reducing reaction as a form of phosphide ion, P3-, in addition to the phosphate ion, PO43-. These contents were separately determined by a wet chemical analysis method developed by ourselves. Although the distribution ratio of phosphorus could not exceed the highest reported values of 3, subsequent leaching brought about considerably high fraction of P removal. The removal fraction of 95.6% was attained when 5 g of silicon was treated with 10 g of the slag at 1773 K followed by the acid leaching, which would be much higher than that expected by the ordinary oxidizing slag treatment. Although the possibility of reducing dephosphorization by slag treatment was clarified, more effective condition should be pursued by changing slag composition, calcium content of silicon, temperature, etc.

A new conceptual technique for solar grade silicon (SOG-Si) purification was proposed in the present work. Most impurity elements in metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si) exist in the grain boundary phases and their contents inside of silicon grains are extremely small, which is resulted from significant segregation during the solidification. Thus, the excellent purification was expected by selective ejection of grain boundary phases from silicon matrix. Such phases can be melted above the eutectic temperature of the system to form impurity-enriched liquid phase. In order to achieve the selective ejection of the liquid phase, its migration in the silicon matrix was investigated by conducting the heat treatment of silicon under the temperature gradient in this paper.