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Protein secretion in cancer cells defines tumor survival and progression by orchestrating the microenvironment. Studies suggest the occurrence of active secretion of cytosolic proteins in liver cancer and their involvement in tumorigenesis. Here, we investigated the identification of extended-synaptotagmin 1 (E-Syt1), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-bound protein, as a key mediator for cytosolic protein secretion at the ER-plasma membrane (PM) contact sites. Cytosolic proteins interacted with E-Syt1 on the ER, and then localized spatially inside SEC22B

Protein kinase C delta (PKCδ) is a multifunctional PKC family member and has been implicated in many types of cancers, including liver cancer. Recently, we have reported that PKCδ is secreted from liver cancer cells, and involved in cell proliferation and tumor growth. However, it remains unclear whether the extracellular PKCδ directly regulates cell surface growth factor receptors. Here, we identify epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as a novel interacting protein of the cell surface PKCδ in liver cancer cells. Imaging studies showed that secreted PKCδ interacted with EGFR-expressing cells in both autocrine and paracrine manners. Biochemical analysis revealed that PKCδ bound to the extracellular domain of EGFR. We further found that a part of the amino acid sequence on the C-terminal region of PKCδ was similar to the putative EGFR binding site of EGF. In this regard, the point mutant of PKCδ in the binding site lacked the ability to bind to the extracellular domain of EGFR. Upon an extracellular PKCδ-EGFR association, ERK1/2 activation, downstream of EGFR signaling, was apparently induced in liver cancer cells. This study indicates that extracellular PKCδ behaves as a growth factor and provides a molecular basis for extracellular PKCδ-targeting therapy for liver cancer.

Protein secretion in cancer cells defines tumor survival and progression by orchestrating the microenvironment. Studies suggest the occurrence of active secretion of cytosolic proteins in liver cancer and their involvement in tumorigenesis. Here, we investigated the identification of extended-synaptotagmin 1 (E-Syt1), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-bound protein, as a key mediator for cytosolic protein secretion at the ER–plasma membrane (PM) contact sites. Cytosolic proteins interacted with E-Syt1 on the ER, and then localized spatially inside SEC22B+vesicles of liver cancer cells. Consequently, SEC22B on the vesicle tethered to the PM via Q-SNAREs (SNAP23, SNX3, and SNX4) for their secretion. Furthermore, inhibiting the interaction of protein kinase Cδ (PKCδ), a liver cancer-specific secretory cytosolic protein, with E-Syt1 by a PKCδ antibody, decreased in both PKCδ secretion and tumorigenicity. Results reveal the role of ER–PM contact sites in cytosolic protein secretion and provide a basis for ER-targeting therapy for liver cancer.

Context: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) recovery is an important treatment goal for patients with heart failure (HF) and reduced EF (HFrEF); however, the applicability of the left atrial volume index (LAVI) in predicting long-term LVEF recovery in HFrEF remains unknown. Aim: We aimed to assess the predictive value of the LAVI in predicting long-term LVEF recovery in patients hospitalized with HFrEF. Settings and Design: This was a retrospective cohort study. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 70 decompensated patients with HF, hospitalized between 2013 and 2014, with an LVEF 3 years postdischarge. Predictive LAVI values used to predict long-term LVEF improvement were determined. Statistical Analysis: The survival rate was determined using Kaplan–Meier analysis. In receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, the area under the curve (AUC) and optimal cutoff values were obtained from several echocardiographic parameters. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified predictors of LVEF improvement. Results: Twenty-seven (39%) patients had recovered LVEFs. During a median follow-up period of 76 (60–80) months, the survival rate was significantly higher in the recovered group (log-rank test, P = 0.001). ROC analysis showed that LAVI's predictive performance in long-term LVEF improvement (AUC 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66–0.87) was optimal at a cutoff of 35 g/m2. LAVI

Renin-angiotensin system inhibitor (RASi) and β-blocker provide prognostic benefits as guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). However, there is limited data for the favorable effects in such patients receiving regular hemodialysis. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic impact of RASi and β-blocker in patients with HFrEF who receive regular hemodialysis.In this retrospective, single-center, observational study, from 2110 consecutive patients hospitalized for HF and who survived to discharge, 97 with HFrEF who received regular hemodialysis were included for analysis. They were classified into three groups according to prescribed medication at discharge following index hospitalization: both RASi and β-blocker (Dual-GDMT group: n = 55), either RASi or β-blocker (Mono-GDMT group: n = 34), and neither RASi nor β-blocker (No-GDMT group: n = 8). The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death and rehospitalization for heart failure.The mean age was 66 years and 79% of the patients were men. During the median follow-up of 501 days, the primary endpoint occurred in 43 patients (44%). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the Dual-GDMT group had the lowest rates of the primary endpoint (log-rank test for trend: p 0.001). Even after adjustment for diverse covariates (multivariate Cox regression), the Dual-GDMT (hazard ratio [HR]: 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.005-0.32) and Mono-GDMT (HR: 0.08, 95% CI: 0.01-0.50) groups had better prognoses than the No-GDMT group.The prescription of RASi and/or β-blocker was associated with a lower adverse-event rate after discharge in patients with HFrEF who were on regular hemodialysis.

Introduction: Heart rate (HR) reduction is a key strategy for improving clinical prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF) regardless of presenting atrial fibrillation (AF) or sinus rhythm (SR). However, the prognostic impact of HR reduction during hospitalization is still unclear. Hypothesis: The degree of HR reduction during hospitalization between HF patients with AF and SR differently contributes to the prognosis after discharge. Methods: This observational study included 1,930 hospitalized HF patients who were discharged alive. After excluding patients who were implanted pacing devices, those presenting paroxysmal AF, and those with missing data of HR, 1,137 patients were ultimately analyzed. Of them, 456 patients presented AF and 681 presented SR at admission. Change of HR was defined as the difference between HR at admission and discharge. We evaluated the association between in-hospital HR change and the incidence of a composite of cardiovascular death after discharge and HF re-hospitalization in patients with AF and SR, respectively. Results: During the observation period (median 528 (IQR: 135-736) days), the composite endpoint developed in 169 (37%) and 187 (27%) patients with AF and SR, respectively. The ROC curves for the composite endpoint showed the cut-off values of HR reduction were 0 bpm and 28 bpm in patients with AF and SR, respectively. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a significantly lower incidence of a composite endpoint in patients who achieved HR reduction greater than the cut-off value in both groups (log-rank test: p Conclusions: The ideal HR reduction level during hospitalization was different between AF and SR. Target HR reduction in HF patients with AF could lead to better clinical outcomes, but the benefit is limited in patients with SR.

Facile direct radical homopolymerization of vinyl ethers without a hydroxy group was achieved up to near full conversion. This polymerization was conducted in water suspension in the presence of lithium hydroxide using a thermally triggered azo-initiator of dimethyl 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionate). In the polymerization system, appropriate hydrogen bonding and cation-π interactions under basic conditions are keys to the successful direct radical homopolymerization. The hydrogen bonding between water and vinyl ether oxygen reduces the reactivity of the growing radical, thus suppressing unfavorable side reactions such as β-scission. In addition, Li+ interacts with the oxygen and the vinyl group of vinyl ethers. The vinyl ether tends to be "activated" and the polymerization can be facilitated. Based on the results of free radical polymerization of vinyl ethers, controlled polymerization was also accomplished using the appropriate dithiocarbamate RAFT agent in view of the solubilities of the radical leaving group.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D) is a slow-developing cardiomyopathy characterized by ventricular arrhythmias and fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricular (RV) myocardium. Its clinical diagnosis is challenging because of its variable clinical presentation and low genetic penetrance. We describe the case of a 67-year-old man who was diagnosed as having ARVC/D with a desmoplakin mutation that appeared after occlusion of an atrial septal defect (ASD). He underwent patch closure surgery for ASD at the age of 54 years. Four years later, he underwent catheter ablation for multifocal atrial tachycardias. Because of pre-syncope and inducible sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, an implantable cardioverter defibrillator was implanted. When he was admitted for worsening heart failure at the age of 61 years, the desmoplakin mutation was detected with progressive left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. Subsequently, he was diagnosed as having ARVC/D with RV dysfunction. At cardiac autopsy, characteristics of ARVC/D, including dilatation, fibrofatty changes in the right ventricle, and diffuse fibrosis in the left ventricle were detected. Along with the effect of RV dysfunction caused by ASD, the progression of LV dysfunction after ASD closure was also possibly caused by the disease progression of ARVC/D. Physicians should carefully assess the various states of ARVC/D.

The lysine methyltransferase SETDB1, an enzyme responsible for methylation of histone H3 at lysine 9, plays a key role in H3K9 tri-methylation-dependent silencing of endogenous retroviruses and developmental genes. Recent studies have shown that ubiquitination of human SETDB1 complements its catalytic activity and the silencing of endogenous retroviruses in human embryonic stem cells. However, it is not known whether SETDB1 ubiquitination is essential for its other major role in epigenetic silencing of developmental gene programs. We previously showed that SETDB1 contributes to the formation of H3K4/H3K9me3 bivalent chromatin domains that keep adipogenic Cebpa and Pparg genes in a poised state for activation and restricts the differentiation potential of pre-adipocytes. Here, we show that ubiquitin-resistant K885A mutant of SETDB1 represses adipogenic genes and inhibits pre-adipocyte differentiation similar to wild-type SETDB1. We show this was due to a compensation mechanism for H3K9me3 chromatin modifications on the Cebpa locus by other H3K9 methyltransferases Suv39H1 and Suv39H2. In contrast, the K885A mutant did not repress other SETDB1 target genes such as Tril and Gas6 suggesting SETDB1 represses its target genes by two mechanisms; one that requires its ubiquitination and another that still requires SETDB1 but not its enzyme activity.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common gastrointestinal disorder. In the present study, we investigated TRP vanilloid subfamily member 2 (TRPV2) expression in lower oesophageal sphincter (LES) and its involvement in acid reflux oesophagitis in rats. Expression of TRPV2 and nerve growth factor mRNAs was significantly enhanced in LES of rats with reflux oesophagitis compared with normal rats. TRPV2 was mainly expressed in inhibitory motor neurons, and partly in intrinsic and extrinsic primary afferent neurons, and macrophages in LES of normal and reflux oesophagitis rats. Number of TRPV2-immunopositive nerve fibres was significantly increased, but that of nNOS-, CGRP-, and PGP9.5-nerve fibres was not changed in reflux oesophagitis compared with normal group. Probenecid produced nitric oxide production and relaxation in LES and this response was significantly enhanced in oesophagitis compared with normal group. Probenecid-induced relaxant effect was blocked by a TRPV2 inhibitor, tranilast, and a NOS inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, in reflux oesophagitis rats. Oral administration of tranilast significantly improved body weight loss, oesophageal lesions, and epithelial thickness in oesophagitis model. These results suggest that up-regulation of TRPV2 in inhibitory motor neurons is involved in LES relaxation in oesophagitis model. TRPV2 inhibition might be beneficial for treatment of GERD.

Intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) counterpulsation provides potent supports on hemodynamic status of patients with cardiogenic shock. However, only limited numbers of patients with acute heart failure (AHF) under collapsed hemodynamic status received such benefit of IABP. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the timing of IABP induction on clinical prognosis in AHF patients at very high risk.Of 404 consecutive AHF patients, 57 patients both with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)35% and systolic blood pressure on admission100 mmHg were ultimately enrolled in this observational study. They were divided into 3 groups depending on IABP use; Early-IABP group (induction at ≤3 days after admission, n = 17), Late-IABP group (3 days, n = 15) and No-IABP group (n = 25). The primary endpoint was a composite of in-hospital cardiovascular (CV) death and ventricular assisted device implantation.This high-risk population was typically mid-age (60 years-old), 61% male, and 75% with chronic kidney disease, and its average LVEF was 24.7%. Clinical profiles on admission were comparable among 3 subgroups, except prehospital prescription rate of loop diuretics. During hospital stay, intravenous inotropes were significantly more frequently administered in the Late-IABP group than other 2 groups. The primary endpoint was developed in 17.6% of patients in the Early-IABP group, which was significantly lower than that in the Late-IABP group (53.3%, p = 0.034) and was comparable to the No-IABP group (40.0%, p = 0.12).Early induction of IABP is one of the therapeutic options for improvement of in-hospital prognosis in AHF patients at very high risk.

INTRODUCTION Screening of coexistent typical atrial flutter (AFL) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) is sometimes challenging. This study investigated whether a prolonged right atrial conduction time (RACT) estimated by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) predicts patients with concomitant AFL and AF. METHODS AND RESULTS We retrospectively analyzed 398 patients (mean age: 61.6 years, 73.4% men) undergoing catheter ablation of paroxysmal AF. The patients were classified into two groups according to whether they had evidence of AFL (N = 122, 30.7%) determined by a clinical observation (N = 68), induction during procedures (N = 33), or AFL recurrence after procedures (N = 21) or not (N = 276, 69.3%). The preoperative RACT, defined as a longer duration between the onset of the P-wave and peak A'-wave on the right atrial lateral wall or septal wall, and total atrial conduction time (TACT), defined as the same time duration on the left atrial lateral wall, were evaluated in all patients. Patients with evidence of AFL had a significantly longer RACT than those without AFL (p

Background Recent clinical trials’ findings have revealed the therapeutic noninferiority of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) to standard therapy with vitamin K antagonist (VKA) in patients with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE). However, few studies have quantitatively analyzed thrombus reduction in the pulmonary artery. Methods This observational study included 38 symptomatic PTE patients with stable hemodynamics. All patients received an intravenous heparin bolus followed by continual heparin injections immediately after the PTE diagnosis. The heparin was discontinued after edoxaban therapy began in the DOAC group (n = 22) or after the therapeutic range for the prothrombin time-international normalized ratio was achieved in the VKA group (n = 16). The thrombus volumes in the pulmonary arteries were quantitatively analyzed using contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans, and they were compared at baseline and at 2 weeks after admission. Results The pulmonary thrombus volumes declined in the VKA and DOAC groups from 7.9 to 4.2 cm3 (P = 0.048) and from 7.1 to 3.7 cm3 (P Conclusions In relation to pulmonary artery thrombus volume reduction, DOAC monotherapy for PTE may be comparable with standard therapy involving VKAs.

The improved synthesis and aqueous solution properties of hydroxy-functional vinyl ether (OH-VE) copolymers with lower critical solution temperatures (LCST) in water are presented. A series of OH-VE copolymers were directly prepared by free radical polymerization. Effects of water and comonomers on the free radical polymerization using 2-hydroxyethyl vinyl ether (HEVE) were investigated in detail. The free radical polymerization of HEVE at 40–60 wt % in water proceeded with complete monomer conversion. The copolymerizations of HEVE with other vinyl ethers (VEs) or vinyl acetate (VAc) also proceeded smoothly. In each case, the primary key to success in the free radical copolymerization is proper hydrogen bonding between the VE oxygen and hydroxyl group in the pendant or nonacidic water as a solvent. In particular, the copolymerization of OH-VE and VE without a hydroxy group is enabled by a hydrogen-bonded monomer complex. Using the resulting copolymers, we demonstrated the existence of thermoresponsive beh...

Background The self-management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), which involves adherence to medical instructions on diet and nutritional advice, physical activity, medication regimen, and weight and stress management, is necessary for the treatment of T2DM. In this study, we investigated the relationship between patients’ perceptions of their disease and their adherence to their medications. And we attempted to determine whether distinct subphenotypes of behavioral change of medication adherence can be discerned based on a patients’ perceptions. Method A cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was conducted among 157 patients with T2DM from October 2015 to September 2017. Questionnaires were administered to assess the participants’ demographic and clinical characteristics, medication adherence, diabetes knowledge, and perception of being diabetic. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analyses were performed to classify medication adherence patterns in the total cohort. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify the determinant factors of medication adherence. Results PCA showed the interpretable medication adherence of patients with diabetes by using component 1 (“accessibility to medical treatment”) and component 2 (“status of taking medicines”). We identified four groups that show significantly different medication adherence by using cluster analysis on the basis of the two components. Multiple regression analysis showed that body mass index (BMI), family history of diabetes, one factor of patient’s perception (living an orderly life), and diabetes knowledge were found to be significant predictors of medication adherence in patients with T2DM. Conclusions In patients with T2DM, the patient’s diabetes perception of “living an orderly life” is associated with medication adherence. A poor adherence group may be able to change their adherence to diabetes treatment by developing the perception of “living an orderly life.” Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40780-019-0132-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

We developed high capacitance density and highly reliable Si deep trench capacitors with textured surface and SiN dielectric film. The developed capacitor consists of parallel unit cells with 14.3 μm depth textured surface trench capacitors, using Si wafer process compatible to 3D integration, realizing high scalability and versatility. Various fabrication conditions were experimented with to optimize the electrical characteristics. As a result, over 230 fF μm−2 capacitance density and 9.0 V breakdown voltage were achieved. Regarding reliability, it has been confirmed that SiN dielectric film leads to below 10−9 A cm−2 leakage current density at 1 V and the predicted lifetime of over 50 years at 3.3 V. For low voltage applications, higher capacitance density is available by using thinner SiN dielectric films.

This paper deals with the table assignment problem in a restaurant, where groups of customers arrive without reservations. The problem is basically a combinatorial optimization problem of finding a desirable match between the groups of customers and the possible sets of combinable tables, but has dynamic as well as subjective aspects. This makes full automation of the task unsuitable and hence it is usually carried out by an individual based on informal and unspecified strategies. This paper proposes a serious game approach for eliciting effective tacit strategies for handling the dynamic table assignment task in a restaurant. The developed game is a single player game, where the player carries out the table assignment task in a virtual restaurant. In the game, customers randomly arrive at the restaurant in groups of different sizes and wait in a room to be seated. The player can at any time assign a set of tables in the restaurant dining room to any of the waiting customer groups, if all the tables to be assigned are vacant and combinable. However, if dissatisfaction due to waiting reaches a pre-specified limit, the customer group will leave the waiting room without having a meal in the restaurant. A prototype of the game is developed and laboratory experiments are conducted using it. As a result, it is confirmed that the score of the proposed game depends on the player’s experience in performing the table assignment task in a real restaurant. Hence, the proposed game and the actual table assignment task have at least some characteristics in common. Further, the players, on average, can improve their game scores through applying their own strategies, and the strategies can be characterized through the data obtained from the game.

Motilin is a gastrointestinal peptide hormone that stimulates gastrointestinal motility. Motilin is produced primarily in the duodenum and jejunum. Motilin receptors (MTLRs) are G protein-coupled receptors that may represent a clinically useful pharmacological target as they can be activated by erythromycin. The functions of motilin are highly species-dependent and remain poorly understood. As a functional motilin system is absent in rodents such as rats and mice, these species are not commonly used for basic studies. In this study, we examine the usefulness of human MTLR-overexpressing transgenic (hMTLR-Tg) mice by identifying the mechanisms of the gastric motor response to human motilin and erythromycin.The distribution of hMTLR was examined immunohistochemically in male wild-type (WT) and hMTLR-Tg mice. The contractile response of gastric strips was measured isometrically in an organ bath, while gastric emptying was determined using phenol red.hMTLR expression was abundant in the gastric smooth muscle layer but more potently expressed in the myenteric plexus of hMTLR-Tg mice but not WT mice. hMTLR was not co-localized with vesicular acetylcholine transporter, a marker of cholinergic neurons in the myenteric plexus. Treatment with human motilin and erythromycin caused concentration-dependent contraction of gastric strips obtained from hMTLR-Tg mice but not from WT mice.The contractile response to human motilin and erythromycin in hMTLR-Tg mice was affected by neither atropine nor tetrodotoxin and was totally absent in Ca2+-free conditions. Furthermore, intraperitoneal injection of erythromycin significantly promoted gastric emptying in hMTLR-Tg mice but not in WT mice.Human motilin and erythromycin stimulate the gastric motor response in hMTLR-Tg mice. This action is mediated by direct contraction of smooth muscle via the influx of extracellular Ca2+. Thus, hMTLR-Tg mice may be useful for the evaluation of MTLR agonists as gastric prokinetic agents.

application/pdf, Novel hetero-metal di-, tetra-, and ocutanuclear Mn-Cu clusters of [MnIIICuII(5-Br-sap)2Cl(EtOH)] (1), [MnIIICuII(5-Cl-sap)2Cl(MeOH)] (2), [MnIII2CuII2(5-Br-sap)4(H2O)2](ClO4)2 (3(ClO4)2), [MnIIICuII3(5-Br-sae)4 (H2O)2](PF6)·2Et2O (4(PF6)·2Et2O), [MnIII2MnII2CuII4(3-OMe-sap)4(μ4-O)2 (μ2-OMe)2Cl2]Cl2·2MeOH (5Cl2·2MeOH), as well as tetranuclear Mn-Ni clusters of [MnIII2NiII2(sap)2(sal)2(μ3-OMe)2(OAc)2] (6), [MnIII2NiII2(sap)2 (sal)2(μ3-OMe)2(NO3)2(MeOH)2] (7) were prepared by simple one-pot reactions of multidentate Schiff base ligands with metal sources. All clusters were selectively obtained by changing reaction conditions, employment of suitable co-ligands, and slightly modified ligands. We report here syntheses, structure and magnetic properties of a series of hetero-metal Mn-Cu and Mn-Ni clusters.

Tactile sense directly makes an appeal to the deep feeling without language or words. Tactile sense has a language however the way of using the language is obscure. If we could have full command of the language of tactile sense, and express the feeling and tell it by using the language, cold media would be changing i n t o intimate organic ones.

これまで比較文化研究において、日本には自己卑下的呈示を望ましいとする規範が存在することが示されてきた。本研究では、日本文化では自己卑下的な振る舞いが精神的健康を促進する効果を持つか否かを検討した。20代から60代までの人々を被調査対象者として検討を行なった。世代が上がるはど、自己卑下呈示規範内在化傾向が顕著になることが明らかとなった。しかしながら、自己卑下的振る舞いを行なう程度には世代による差は認められなかった。さらに、世代が上がるほど、自己卑下呈示の実行が精神的健康を促進するという効果が顕著になる傾向が認められた。考察では、文化的な規範と精神的健康を促進する方略との関連について論じた。

Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) plays an essential role in the epigenetic repression of gene expression during development and cellular differentiation via multiple effector mechanisms, including ubiquitination of H2A and chromatin compaction. However, whether it regulates the stepwise progression of adipogenesis is unknown. Here, we show that FBXL10/KDM2B is an anti-adipogenic factor that is up-regulated during the early phase of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation and in adipose tissue in a diet-induced model of obesity. Interestingly, inhibition of adipogenesis does not require the JmjC demethylase domain of FBXL10, but it does require the F-box and leucine-rich repeat domains, which we show recruit a noncanonical polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) containing RING1B, SKP1, PCGF1, and BCOR. Knockdown of either RING1B or SKP1 prevented FBXL10-mediated repression of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation indicating that PRC1 formation mediates the inhibitory effect of FBXL10 on adipogenesis. Using ChIP-seq, we show that FBXL10 recruits RING1B to key specific genomic loci surrounding the key cell cycle and the adipogenic genes Cdk1, Uhrf1, Pparg1, and Pparg2 to repress adipogenesis. These results suggest that FBXL10 represses adipogenesis by targeting a noncanonical PRC1 complex to repress key genes (e.g. Pparg) that control conversion of pluripotent cells into the adipogenic lineage.

1H and 55Mn NMR study of the dinuclear molecular magnet MnIIICuII(5-Br-sap)2Cl(MeOH) has been performed in the temperature range down to 0.4 K. Obtained results suggest that the magnetic moment is stabilized and almost parallel to the tetragonal axis even above the blocking temperature. We also found the hysteresis around zero field in the 55Mn NMR spectrum at low temperatures, which is due to the slowing down of the magnetization relaxation. The temperature dependence of the relaxation rate T 1 - 1 of 55Mn showed the activation type behavior, which suggests the existence of the energy gap above the ground-state.

The reaction of 1/3 equivalent of CuCl2.2H2O with MnCl2.4H2O and 5-bromo-2-salicylideneamino-1-propanol (H(2)5-Br-sap) in methanol gave dark brown crystals of [MnIIICuIICl(5-Br-sap)2(MeOH)] (1). Complex 1 has an alkoxo-bridged dinuclear core of MnIII and CuII ions, which have elongated octahedral and square-planar coordination geometries, respectively. In dc magnetic susceptibility measurements, chi(m)T values increased as the temperature was lowered, followed by a sudden decrease below 20 K. This behavior is indicative of the occurrence of intramolecular ferromagnetic interactions, and fitting gave an S=5/2 spin ground state with an exchange coupling constant J(MnCu) of +78 cm(-1). Magnetization data collected as a function of temperature and applied magnetic field were analyzed by using a spin Hamiltonian with isotropic Zeeman and axial zero-field splitting (ZFS) terms, and a negative D(5/2) value (-1.86 cm(-1)) was obtained. A high-field EPR (HFEPR) spectrum (342.0 GHz) at 4.2 K was composed of four peaks, and two additional peaks at higher magnetic field appeared as the temperature was increased. The temperature dependences in the HFEPR spectra are indicative of a negative D(5/2) value, and fitting of the data gave D(5/2)=-1.81 cm(-1). In the ac magnetic susceptibility measurements, frequency dependent in-phase (chi(m)') and out-of-phase (chi(m)'') signals with peak maxima at 0.7-1.5 K were observed and small peaks below 0.7 K appeared. The ac susceptibility data supports that 1 is a single-molecule magnet (SMM). Arrhenius plots for the chi(m)'' peaks from 0.7-1.5 K gave the re-orientation energy barrier (DeltaE) of 10.5 K with a pre-exponential factor of 8.2x10(-8) s.

自己卑下呈示を通じて適応が促進される過程は2つある。ひとつは自己卑下呈示を行うことそれ自体によって適応が直接的に促進される過程であり, もうひとつは自己卑下的に呈示した内容を他者から「そんなことはない」と否定する反応を受け取ることによって, 間接的に適応が促進される過程である。このような影響過程は, 自己卑下呈示規範を内在化する程度によって調整されることが考えられる。自己卑下呈示に対して他者が返す“否定反応”は, 受け手がその呈示を“卑下”として受け取ったことを示している。自己卑下呈示規範内在化高群は, 自己卑下呈示を行う際に否定反応が返されることを当然視しているが, 低群はそのように見なしていない。そのため, 低群にとって自己卑下呈示に対して“否定反応”が返されることが重要であると考えられる。本研究では, 3ヶ月の期間をおいた縦断的な調査において, 自己卑下呈示規範内在化高群では直接的な適応促進効果が見れるのに対して, 低群では間接的な適応促進効果が見られるだろうと予測し, 検討を行った。仮説はおおむね支持された。考察では, 直接的・間接的な効果が, 対人間適応あるいは個人内適応のいずれに影響を及ぼしていたのかを明らかにする必要性について論じられた。