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Objective: To evaluate the breed‐characteristic features of cervical intervertebral disc disease (C‐IVDD) and associated vertebral instability in small‐breed dogs and to present the concept of intervertebral disc degeneration and associated instability stage, method of diagnosis, treatment and outcomes. Animals: In total, 307 client‐owned dogs with C‐IVDD treated with spinal cord decompression with or without vertebral stabilization (2000–2021). Methods: Information on age, sex, affected sites, stabilized sites, diagnostic methods for vertebral instability and outcomes were retrieved. The patient's age, affected sites (cranial vs caudal discs), and frequency of vertebral stabilization were compared in six CD and five NCD breed. Multivariable analyses of the chondrodystrophic (CD) vs non‐CD (NCD) groups, and vertebral stabilization (dogs stabilized vs dogs not stabilized) were performed. Results: In total, 222 (72.3%) and 77 (25.1%) were CD and NCD breeds, respectively. Vertebral instabilities were diagnosed based on the survey radiographs with computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (n = 2), dynamic myelography (n = 29), intraoperative spinal manipulation (n = 11) or second surgery in dogs with persistent postoperative paraspinal pain (n = 3). Of these dogs, 295 (96.1%) recovered (median follow‐up: 8.5 [range, 1–119] months). Significant differences in age, affected sites and frequency of stabilization were noted among the breeds. Older age and frequent vertebral stabilization were the associated factors for the NCD breed dogs. Male dogs, caudal discs affected (C5–T1) and the NCD breed dogs were risk factors for the dogs with vertebral stabilization. Conclusion: Vertebral stabilization is indicated for small‐breed dogs with cervical disc‐associated vertebral instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetocaloric properties of {MnII 2 (imH) 2 (H 2 O) 4 [NbIV(CN) 8 ]·4H 2 O} n molecular magnet are reported. The coordination polymer crystallizes in the monoclinic P 2 1 / c space group and displays a magnetic second-order phase transition at T c ≈ 24.1 K. The relaxation calorimetry measurements are analyzed in order to determine the temperature dependence of the magnetic entropy change Δ S M as well as the adiabatic temperature change Δ T ad for an array of applied field changes ranging from 0 to 9 T. For μ 0 Δ H = 5 T the entropy change Δ S M attains the maximum value of 6.55 J K−1 mol−1 (9.5 J K−1 kg−1) at 25.5 K, while the corresponding maximum value of Δ T ad amounts to 2.02 K at 25.1 K. The critical behavior of the isothermal entropy change is discussed. In particular, the analysis of the field dependence of Δ S M in terms of the power law implies that the studied compound belongs to the mean-field universality class. • Magnetocaloric effect of manganese octacyanidoniobate is comprehensively reported. • Relaxation calorimetry is employed to get insight into the MCE properties. • Isothermal magnetic entropy and adiabatic temperature changes are determined. • Critical scaling universality class of the compound is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase transitions of quantum dimer magnets can be explained in terms of Bose-Einstein condensation of magnons. Here we consider a natural extension of the dimer magnets to SU(4)-symmetric tetramer systems, which could be created with four nuclear-spin components (named "u," "d," "c," and "s") of 173Yb atoms in optical superlattices. We apply the cluster mean-field approximation to the SU(4) Heisenberg model on a tetramerized square lattice, and study the phase transition phenomena in the presence of the field that creates a population imbalance between the two components u , d and the other two c , s . When the population of the four components is balanced, the ground state is approximately given by the direct product of local SU(4)-singlet states. When the field is applied, the population ratio of the components u and d is increased and the system eventually reaches a "saturated" state, which is a SU(2) system with only u and d. We show that in the saturation process, the system exhibits two successive step-like transitions, in contrast to the standard dimer magnets with continuous transition process associated with Bose-Einstein condensation of magnons. The intermediate phase in between the two step-like transitions is a nontrivial solid phase with alternating arrangement of the SU(4)-singlet and four-site resonating-valence-bond states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Zr and Mo removal from HLLW is the current issue for repeated usage of the CMPO/SiO2-P-packed column. The adsorbability of the 2-mm-sized HDEHP/SiO2-P adsorbent, which was prepared by fabricating a SiO2 particle from the vibration cutting method and adapting a new polymerization method, was evaluated by the batch-wise adsorption experiment. In spite of the impregnation ratio of the HDEHP extractant, the extraction of Zr and Mo ions from the simulated HLLW was achieved but lanthanide ions e.g., Nd and Gd were also extracted as a minor component. Such unusual adsorption behavior of lanthanide ions could be only provided by accurate, sensitive and reliable micro-PIXE analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic structure and the thermoelectric properties of (α-, δ-, ζ-) Ti–Ru–B approximants related to its decagonal quasicrystal phase were investigated. The band structure calculation reveals that they form pseudogaps in the electronic density of states across the Fermi level. The samples were synthesized by arc-melting, followed by spark plasma sintering. The electrical conductivity at 373 K varies from 1600 to 4200 Ω −1 cm −1 and their temperature coefficients are negative. All measured compounds show n -type properties, judging from the sign of the Seebeck coefficient; however, the magnitudes are rather low of less than 25 μ V K −1 . The phonon thermal conductivity at 373 K have a range 3–5 W m −1 K −1 resulting from complex crystal structures with large unit cell volumes. The maximum dimensionless figure-of-merit of 0.008 is evaluated at 773 K for δ-Ti–Ru–B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The J-PARC E36 experiment will search for a violation of lepton universality by a precise measurement of the ratio of the kaon decay widths R K = Γ ( K + → e + ν ) / Γ ( K + → μ + ν ) . Charged particles will be identified by the combination of three independent systems: a lead-glass Cherenkov counter, an aerogel Cherenkov counter, and a time-of-flight measurement. The performance of the lead-glass Cherenkov counter was investigated with e + , μ + , and π + beams in the relevant momentum region from the K + decays. By using a polyethylene degrader to slow down the beam momentum in front of the lead-glass block, we succeeded in reducing the muon mis-identification probability down to 5% while maintaining a high e + detection efficiency of 98%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have studied transport properties of composite oxides composed of ferrimagnetic conductor Fe 3 O 4 (magnetite) and insulating α -Fe 2 O 3 (hematite) at room temperature. High-density composite oxides with different Fe 3 O 4 /Fe 2 O 3 ratios were successfully synthesized by melting Fe 2 O 3 rods at high temperatures in ambient atmosphere. Transport properties of Fe 3 O 4 -Fe 2 O 3 composites were measured and compared with that of Fe 3 O 4 single crystals. As the ratio of the insulating Fe 2 O 3 concentration to the conductive Fe 3 O 4 one increases, the longitudinal resistivity increases exponentially, while the Seebeck coefficient decreases linearly. The contrasting dependences of electric and thermoelectric transports on the insulating Fe 2 O 3 concentration indicate that the thermoelectric transport is less susceptible to disorder effects than electric ones. The measurement of the Hall effect shows that the anomalous Hall effect due to the ferrimagnetic Fe 3 O 4 phase is clearly observed in the composite oxides. In line with the resistivity increase with the Fe 2 O 3 concentration, the anomalous Hall resistivity increases, following the universal scaling relation established in the dirty limit. The anomalous Nernst effect due to the Fe 3 O 4 phase is also observed in the composite oxides. The anomalous Nernst coefficient decreases with increasing Fe 2 O 3 concentration, and the decrease is found to be related to the anomalous Hall effect through the Mott relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:We recently isolated vasohibin-1 (VASH1), a novel angiogenic molecule that is specifically expressed in activated vascular endothelial cells (ECs), and the status of VASH1 expression has been documented in various cancer angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of VASH1 expression in prostate cancer (PCa).Methods:In this study, we retrospectively analysed the clinical records and evaluated the VASH1 expression of tumour microvessels in 167 patients with PCa who underwent radical prostatectomy. We immunohistochemically examined the microvessels positive for anti-CD34 as microvessel density (MVD) and the microvessels with activated ECs positive for VASH1 density.Results:We found that the VASH1 expression was restricted to ECs in the tumour stroma. VASH1 density was significantly associated with pathological T stage, Gleason score and MVD. The 5-year PSA recurrence-free survival rate was 58.8% in patients with higher VASH1 density (≧12 per mm2) and 89.1% in patients with lower VASH1 density (<12 per mm2), respectively (P<0.001). Microvessel density was not an independent predictor of PSA recurrence. Multivariate analysis revealed that high VASH1 density was an independent prognostic indicator of PSA recurrence (P=0.007, HR=2.950).Conclusion:VASH1 density represents a clinically relevant predictor of patient prognosis and can be a new biomarker that would provide additional prognostic information in PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We search for lepton-flavor and lepton-number-violating τ decays into a lepton (ℓ= electron or muon) and two charged mesons ( or ) using of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider. We obtain 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions in the range . These results improve upon our previously published upper limits by factors of about 1.8 on average. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The treatment of patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) would be greatly facilitated with a rapid method for determining prognosis that can be performed more easily and earlier than cytological or specific pathological examinations. It has been suggested that newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL who have low maximum standard uptake value (SUV(max)) on (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) are more likely to be successfully treated and remain in remission compared with patients with high SUV(max), but this concept has been poorly studied. We retrospectively analyzed 50 patients with de novo DLBCL to evaluate the relationship between the SUV(max) and disease progression. For patients with low SUV(max) (n = 10) and high SUV(max) (n = 40) (P = 0.255), respectively, the 3-year overall survival rates were 90 and 72 %, and the progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 90 and 39 % (P = 0.012). By multivariate analysis, the revised International Prognostics Index (R-IPI) and SUV(max) at diagnosis were shown to predict longer PFS. The 3-year PFS for patients with low SUV(max) classified into the good prognosis group by R-IPI was 100 vs. 62 % for those with high SUV(max) (P = 0.161), and patients with low SUV(max) classified into the poor prognosis group by R-IPI was 80 vs. 18 % for those with high SUV(max) (P = 0.050). We conclude that the SUV(max) on FDG-PET for newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL is an important predictor of disease progression, especially for patients with poor prognosis by R-IPI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Magnetic properties of manganese (Mn) nanosilicide embedded in thin silicon-on-insulator (SOI) layers are investigated. Mn nanosilicide formed by Mn+ ion implantation into a thin SOI layer followed by a thermal annealing at 600–900°C shows soft ferromagnetism or superparamagnetism at 5K. A monotonic decrease of the saturation magnetization is observed with increasing temperature for post implantation annealing and consequently with increasing mean particle size of nanosilicide. In addition, the magnetization is found to be enhanced when the Si surrounding the Mn nanosilicide is selectively removed. These results indicate that the magnetic moment indeed arises from the nanosilicide and is sensitive to the interface conditions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We search for lepton-flavor-violating decays, where ℓ is an electron or muon and is one of the vector mesons , ϕ, ω, and . We use of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider. No evidence for a signal is found in any decay mode, and we obtain 90% confidence level upper limits on the individual branching fractions in the range . [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: There are several advantages by applying a high-temperature superconducting wire to an on-board superconducting magnet for the maglev train. At first, an increase of thermal capacity of superconducting coils contributes a stability of the superconducting state of the coils. In addition, a reliability of superconducting magnet improves by simplification of the magnet structure. And the weight of the superconducting magnet and the energy consumption of the on-board cryocooler will decrease. Therefore, we examined the possibility on application of the 2G wire with a high critical current density in a high magnetic field. We performed numerical analysis regarding the weight of a superconducting magnet and the energy consumption of an on-board cryocooler in consideration of the characteristics of the 2G wire. Furthermore, we have carried out the I c measurement for the commercial 2G wires under various experimental conditions such as temperature, magnetic field strength and angle. We also performed the trial manufacture and evaluation of I c characteristics for the small race track-shaped superconducting coil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have searched for the lepton-flavor-violating decays and (), using a data sample of 671 fb−1 collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider. No evidence for a signal was found in any of the decay modes, and we set the following upper limits for the branching fractions: , , and at the 90% confidence level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We search for lepton flavor and lepton number violating τ decays into a lepton ( or muon) and two charged mesons ( or ), and , using 671 fb−1 of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider. We obtain 90% C.L. upper limits on the branching fractions in the range for , and for processes. These results improve upon previously published upper limits by factors between 1.6 to 8.8. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) in 220 patients with advanced colorectal cancer reported no significant differences in survival periods between folinic acid/5-fluorouracil/irinotecan (FOLFIRI) and folinic acid/5-fluorouracil/oxaliplatin (FOLFOX6) therapies, irrespective of the treatment sequence. Based on a literature search, an economic assessment of both treatments given in 1 of 2 sequences (FOLFIRI and FOLFOX6, or FOLFOX6 and FOLFIRI) has not been conducted in Japan. Objective: The present cost-minimization analysis used a mathematical Markov model to assess health care costs of these 2 treatment sequences from the perspective of National Health Insurance (NHI) in Japan. Methods: The analysis simulated the expected costs resulting from the influence of treatment sequence in a hypothetical cohort of 10,000 patients with nonresectable advanced colorectal cancer over a period of 100 months using a hypothetical Markov model. Clinical parameters were obtained from the RCTs. Cost parameters included those for physical examination, medication, and personnel. Medication and physical examination costs were based on 2008 NHI drug prices and medical service fees, respectively. Costs were discounted at a monthly rate of 0.4575% (equivalent to an annual rate of 3%). The influence of each parameter (clinical and cost parameters) was assessed using a probabilistic sensitivity analysis by the 10,000-time Monte Carlo simulation. Results: When FOLFIRI was used as the initial treatment in this analysis, costs to the NHI were reduced. On analysis of the influence of each parameter, the expected reduction in costs, compared with FOLFOX administered as the initial treatment, was significant (¥7,787,828 [95% CI, ¥6,098,517-¥9,499,952]). Conclusions: The findings of this cost-minimization analysis suggest that using FOLFIRI followed by FOLFOX versus the reverse strategy produced cost savings from the perspective of the NHI in Japan. However, differences in adverse-events profiles may warrant treatment adjustments in individual patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We search for lepton-flavor-violating τ decays into a lepton (electron or muon) and an meson using 671 fb−1 of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider. No events are observed and we set the following 90% C.L. upper limits on the branching fraction products: and . This is the first search performed for these modes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: We examined the effects of rosiglitazone treatment on profiles of adipocytokines levels, postprandial insulin and glucose excursion, lipids levels, comparing with those of pioglitazone treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: Changes in body weight, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), glucose/insulin/C-peptide/free fatty acid (FFA) during 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), HDL-/LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG) and adipocytokines [tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, leptin and adiponectin] were measured in T2DM patients treated with rosiglitazone, 8 mg/day (n = 35), or pioglitazone, 45 mg/day (n = 21), for 3 months. Results: After rosiglitazone or pioglitazone treatment, HbA1c (8.6–7.2 vs. 8.3–6.9%, rosiglitazone vs. pioglitazone), fasting plasma glucose (190–144 vs. 178–140 mg/dl), fasting FFA (729–595 vs. 641–526 μEq/l), mean plasma glucose-OGTT (292–229 vs. 285–233 mg/dl) and mean FFA-OGTT (580–430 vs. 488–377 μEq/l) decreased similarly and all were statistically significant (p < 0.01). The insulinogenic index (ΔI0–120/ΔG0–120) (0.19–0.30 vs. 0.17–0.26) and Matsuda index of insulin sensitivity (2.0–3.1 and 2.7–4.3) increased (p < 0.01) similarly, despite increase in body weight (85–88 vs. 81–84 kg). TNF-α (3.8–3.4 vs. 5.2–4.5 pg/ml) decreased (p < 0.05) and adiponectin (6.3–17.8 vs. 7.1–16.4 μg/ml) increased (p < 0.01), while leptin did not change following either treatment. After rosiglitazone treatment, plasma HDL-cholesterol (34–38 mg/dl) and LDL-cholesterol (103–120 mg/dl) increased (p < 0.01), while TGs (177–167 mg/dl) did not change significantly. After pioglitazone treatment, plasma HDL-cholesterol (34–37 mg/dl) increased (p < 0.05), while LDL-cholesterol (104–105 mg/dl) did not change and TGs (153–106 mg/dl) decreased (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone have similar beneficial effects on glycaemic control insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion and plasma adipocytokine levels. However, pioglitazone has a more beneficial effect on the plasma lipid profile than rosiglitazone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CD4+ T cells that lack surface expression of the CD28 co-stimulatory molecule (CD4+CD28- T cells) were expanded in peripheral blood of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) [5.20 ± 1.67% vs 13.00 ± 2.68% (healthy controls (HC) versus patients with MS)]. Both the CD4+CD28+ and CD4+CD28- T-cell populations of patients with MS produced higher levels of interferon (IFN)-γ compared with those in HC. In particular, the proportion of IFN-γ+ cells among CD4+CD28- T cells from patients with MS was considerably high. However, expression of co-stimulatory molecules including inducible costimulator (ICOS), activating natural killer receptors, or members of tumor necrosis factor receptor family that replace CD28 in CD4+CD28- T cells of patients with MS could not be identified. A unique subpopulation bearing the CD45RAhighCCR7- phenotype was identified among the CD4+CD28- T cells of some patients with MS. Because only MS samples contained this CD45RAhighCCR7- population attributed to terminally differentiated effector memory cells and lacked naive CD45RAhighCCR7+ cells, we suggest that CD4+CD28- T cells of patients with MS represent a cell population which is in more differentiated state than healthy subjects. In patients treated with IFN-β-1b, IFN-γ production from CD4+CD28+ T cells was suppressed compared with that in untreated patients. On the contrary, in the CD4+CD28- population, production of IFN-γ in IFN-β-1b-treated patients was not significantly suppressed compared with that in untreated patients with MS. Thus, an additional treatment strategy that specifically targets this cell population may enhance the beneficial effect of IFN-β on MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A Th1 predominant immune response has been shown in acute hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Predominance of Th2 appears to favour the development of pulmonary fibrosis through the profibrotic process and has been described as crucial in the progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Chronic bird fancier's lung (cBFL) can present with a histological pattern of usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP)-like lesions. Little is known about the Th1/Th2 balance in the pathogenesis of cBFL. Methods: To evaluate the relevance of Th1-type chemokines (interferon-inducible protein, IP-10) and Th2-type chemokines (thymus- and activation-regulated chemokine, TARC) and their receptors (CXCR3 and CCR4) to the histological patterns of cBFL, 40 patients with cBFL who underwent surgical lung biopsies, 12 with acute BFL (aBFL) and 10 healthy volunteers were analysed. IP-10 and TARC levels in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were measured by ELISA. Immunohistochemistry for CXCR3 and CCR4 was performed on surgical lung specimens. Results: The ratio of TARC to P-10 in the serum of patients with UIP-like lesions was significantly higher than in patients with cNSIP/OP-like lesions, aBFL and healthy volunteers. The ratio of CCR4 to CXCR3 in patients with UIP-like lesions was significantly higher than in those with cNSIP/OP-like lesions and cNSIP-like lesions. The ratio of CCR4-positive to CXCR3-positive cells correlated with the ratio of TARC to IP-10 in serum. Conclusions: A Th2 predominant immune response may play an important role in the development of UIP-like lesions, as already observed in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. A Th1 predominance may play a role in the development of cNSIP/OP-like lesions in cBFL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two-dimensional structures of decagonal approximant crystals have been studied in a B-Mg-Ru system where decagonal quasicrystals have been predicted. High-angle annular detector dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) imaging confirms that four approximant phases, which form at high temperatures, can be described as tessellations of hexagon and boat subunits with the same atomic decorations as B11Mg5Ru13. The images also support the existence of bow-tie flip structures in the all four approximant crystals. Long periodicities in one direction up to 8.5 nm are interpreted to be caused by modulation of rows of boat tiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myeloperoxidase (MPO), a pivotal lineage marker for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), has been also shown to have a prognostic value: a high percentage of MPO-positive blasts correlates to favorable prognosis. To understand the relationship between the expression of MPO in leukemia cells and the response to chemotherapeutic agents, we established MPO-expressing K562 leukemia cell lines and then treated them with cytosine arabinocide (AraC). Cells expressing wild-type MPO, but not mutant MPO that could not mature, died earlier of apoptosis than control K562 cells. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were generated more in leukemia cells expressing MPO, and the generation was abrogated by MPO inhibitors or antioxidants. Tyrosine nitration of cellular protein also increased more in MPO-expressing K562 cells than control cells after treatment with AraC. In clinical samples, CD34-positive AML cells from high-MPO cases showed a tendency to be sensitive to AraC in the colony-formation assay, and the generation of ROS and the nitration of protein were observed only when the percentage of MPO-expressing cells was high. These data suggest that MPO enhances the chemosensitivity of AML through the generation of ROS and the nitration of proteins.Leukemia (2008) 22, 956–964; doi:10.1038/leu.2008.8; published online 14 February 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diet is one of the important factors that modulate immune responses. In the present study, we have examined the capacity of dietary lipids to modify immune responses in mice and we have investigated the contribution of glycolipid-reactive natural killer T (NKT) cells in this process. Mice fed, high fat diet (HFD; 21.2% fat, 0.20% cholesterol) for 3 weeks, as compared with mice fed standard fat diet (SFD; 4.3% fat, 0.03% cholesterol), showed significantly reduced interferon-γ production in sera at 6 or 12 h after intraperitoneal injection of an NKT cell ligand, α-galactosylceramide. In contrast, production of interleukin-13 was significantly higher at 2 and 6 h in HFD fed mice compared with mice on SFD. No difference was detected in the serum interleukin-4 levels between these two groups of animals. The proportion of NKT cells in spleen and liver was reduced in mice fed HFD compared with those on SFD. In addition, activation of NKT cells assessed by up-regulation of CD69 was suppressed specifically in liver from mice fed HFD. Recall responses of conventional T cells and delayed-type hypersensitivity (Th1 type) against ovalbumin were significantly suppressed in mice fed HFD in comparison with those fed SFD. This suppression was not observed in CD1d−/− mice, suggesting that NKT cells in mice fed HFD played a role in suppressing Th1 responses. Taken together, our findings suggest a critical link between NKT cells, dietary lipid and adaptive immune responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We search for lepton flavor violating τ decays into three leptons (electron or muon) using 535 fb−1 of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider. No evidence for these decays is observed, and we set 90% confidence level upper limits on the branching fractions of . These results improve upon our previously published upper limits by factors of 4.9 to 10. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: CaMnO3−δ with complex additives Bi2O3–V 2O5 were prepared by the solid-state reaction. The crystal structures of the Ca1−x Bi x Mn1−y V y O3−δ (0≤x=y≤0.08) solid solutions were determined by means of the powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) using Rietan 2000 program and the high temperature thermoelectric properties were also investigated. Perovskite-type Ca1−x Bi x Mn1−y V y O3−δ solid solutions are n-type semiconductors. The lattice parameters increase with increasing dopant level. The high temperature thermoelectric properties are improved due to Bi2O3–V 2O5 simultaneous doping. A maximum ZT value reaches to 0.21 for electron-doped Ca0.96Bi0.04Mn0.96V 0.04O3−δ at 1050 K, which is about twice as high as that of CaMnO3−δ. The thermal shock resistance at temperatures between 20 and 450 ∘C is also highly improved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thiazolidinediones are insulin-sensitizing compounds that reduce plasma glucose and improve the lipid profile of type 2 diabetic patients. We determined the effect of rosiglitazone in 15 type 2 diabetic patients and compared these results to 14 randomly assigned placebo patients. After 3 months, the urinary albumin to creatinine ratio was significantly decreased, while the glucose metabolic clearance rate, during insulin clamp, was significantly increased by rosiglitazone compared to the placebo group. Fasting free fatty acid and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were significantly decreased, while the adiponectin concentration was significantly increased by rosiglitazone treatment. The percentage decrease in albuminuria correlated with the decrease in fasting plasma glucose, free fatty acids TNF-α and the increase in fat mass, plasma adiponectin, and glucose metabolic clearance rate. Stepwise linear regression analysis showed the decrease in TNF-α and the increase in adiponectin were independently associated with decreased albuminuria. Our study indicates that thiazolidinediones may be useful to prevent nephropathy in type 2 diabetic patients.Kidney International (2007) 72, 1367–1373; doi:10.1038/sj.ki.5002516; published online 5 September 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have discovered four new approximant phases of the B-Mg-Ru decagonal quasicrystal. Six phases were observed in electron diffraction patterns of B-Mg-Ru alloys prepared at 1673 K from B2xMg(1-x)Ru2(1-x) (x = 0.44-0.48). Two of them are known, B4Mg2Ru5 and B11Mg5Ru13, and the other four are new approximant phases. Their lattice parameters range from a = 0.84 nm to 8.5 nm; some of them can be described with the Fibonacci sequence. We suggest tiling models of these approximants using two subunits of B4Mg2Ru5 and B11Mg5Ru13, 'hexagon' and 'boat'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) can provide long-term remission for patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) caused by human retrovirus, human T-lymphocyte virus (HTLV-1). To understand how HTLV-1-positive cells including ATLL cells were suppressed by allo-HSCT, we examined HTLV-1 provirus load and residual ATLL cells in peripheral blood of transplant recipients using PCR-based tests. We found that the copy number of HTLV-1 genome, called provirus, became very small in number after allo-HSCT; however, in most cases, provirus did not disappear even among long-term survivors. Tumor-specific PCR tests demonstrated that most of HTLV-1-positive cells that remained long after transplantation were not primary ATLL cells but donor-derived HTLV-1-positive cells. We also found a case having very low amount of residual disease in peripheral blood even long after transplantation. There was only one recipient in whom we failed to show the presence of HTLV-1 genome and antibody against HTLV-1 even with an extensive search, which strongly suggested the elimination of HTLV-1 after allo-HSCT. These results demonstrated that after allo-HSCT the small amount of residual HTLV-1-positive cells were heterogeneous in origin and that long-term disease control for ATLL could be obtained without the complete elimination of HTLV-1.Leukemia (2007) 21, 1212–1217. doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2404678; published online 5 April 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have searched for lepton-flavor-violating τ decays with a pseudoscalar meson (η, and ) using a data sample of 401 fb−1 collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider. No evidence for these decays is found and we set the following upper limits on the branching fractions: , , , , and at the 90% confidence level. These results improve our previously published upper limits by factors from 2.3 to 6.3. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims Type 2 diabetes is preceded by a symptom-free period of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Pancreatic B-cell function decreases as glucose intolerance develops. In many patients with IGT, fasting blood glucose is within normal limits and hyperglycaemia occurs only postprandially. We examined whether pancreatic B-cell function changes during acute hyperglycaemia induced by oral glucose loading. Methods We calculated the insulinogenic index (I.I.) as an indicator of pancreatic B-cell function and measured serum levels of thioredoxin, a marker of cellular redox state, and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), a marker of oxidative stress, during a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in 45 subjects [24 patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 14 with IGT and seven with Type 2 diabetes]. Results Thioredoxin levels decreased after glucose loading [66.1 ± 23.7, *59.3 ± 22.4, *49.3 ± 21.2 and *37.7 ± 18.0 ng/ml, fasting (0 min) and at 30, 60 and 120 min, respectively; * P < 0.001 vs. fasting]. In contrast, concentrations of 8-OHdG peaked at 30 min and then gradually decreased (0.402 ± 0.123, *0.440 ± 0.120, †0.362 ± 0.119 and †0.355 ± 0.131 ng/ml, * P < 0.05 vs. fasting, † P < 0.01 vs. 30 min). The insulinogenic index correlated with the change in thioredoxin levels ( r = 0.34, P < 0.05). However, there was no relationship with the change in 8-OHdG levels from 0 to 30 min. Conclusions Hyperglycaemia in response to oral glucose impairs pancreatic B-cell function with decreasing thioredoxin levels. The augmented oxidative stress induced by hyperglycaemia may affect the cellular redox state. These findings strongly suggest that repeated postprandial hyperglycaemia may play an important role in the development and progression of diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic hyperglycemia results from insulin resistance of peripheral tissues and glucose overproduction due to increased gluconeogenesis (GNG). Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) improve peripheral insulin sensitivity, but the effect on the liver is less clear. The goal of this study was to examine the effect of TZDs on GNG. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Twenty sulfonylurea-treated type 2 diabetic subjects were randomly assigned (double-blind study) to receive pioglitazone (PIO group; 45 mg/day) or placebo (Plc group) for 4 months to assess endogenous glucose production (EGP) (3-(3)H-glucose infusion), GNG (D(2)O technique), and insulin sensitivity by two-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp (240 and 960 pmol/min per m(2)). RESULTS: Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (10.0 +/- 0.8 to 7.7 +/- 0.7 mmol/l) and HbA(1c) (9.0 +/- 0.4 to 7.3 +/- 0.6%) decreased in the PIO and increased in Plc group (P < 0.05 PIO vs. Plc). Insulin sensitivity increased approximately 40% during high insulin clamp after pioglitazone (P < 0.01) and remained unchanged in the Plc group (P < 0.05 PIO vs. Plc). EGP did not change, while GNG decreased in the PIO group (9.6 +/- 0.7 to 8.7 +/- 0.6 micromol x min(-1) x kg(ffm)(-1)) and increased in the Plc group (8.0 +/- 0.5 to 9.6 +/- 0.8) (P < 0.05 PIO vs. Plc). Change in FPG correlated with change in GNG flux (r = 0.63, P < 0.003) and in insulin sensitivity (r = 0.59, P < 0.01). Plasma adiponectin increased after pioglitazone (P < 0.001) and correlated with DeltaFPG (r = -0.54, P < 0.03), DeltaGNG flux (r = -0.47, P < 0.05), and Deltainsulin sensitivity (r = 0.65, P < 0.005). Plasma free fatty acids decreased after pioglitazone and correlated with DeltaGNG flux (r = 0.54, P < 0.02). From stepwise regression analysis, the strongest determinant of change in FPG was change in GNG flux. CONCLUSIONS: Pioglitazone improves FPG, primarily by reducing GNG flux in type 2 diabetic subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We have searched for the lepton flavor violating decays ( or μ), using a data sample of 281 fb−1 collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider. No evidence for a signal was found in either of the decay modes, and we set the following upper limits for the branching fractions: and at the 90% confidence level. These results improve the previously published limits set by the CLEO Collaboration by factors of 16 and 19, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: We have searched for τ lepton decays, and , that simultaneously violate the conservation of the lepton (L) and baryon (B) number using a data sample of collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy collider. No evidence for a signal was found in either of the decay modes and we set the following upper limits for the branching fractions: and at the 90% confidence level. This is the first search ever performed for these modes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We know that entrainment, a stable phase relationship with an environmental cycle, must be established for a biological clock to function properly. Phase response curves (PRCs), which are plots of phase shifts that result as a function of the phase of a stimulus, have been created to examine the mode of entrainment. In circadian rhythms, single-light pulse PRCs have been obtained by giving a light pulse to various phases of a free-running rhythm under continuous darkness. This successfully explains the entrainment to light-dark cycles. Some organisms show circannual rhythms. In some of these, changes in photoperiod entrain the circannual rhythms. However, no single-pulse PRCs have been created. Here we show the PRC to a long-day pulse superimposed for 4 weeks over constant short days in the circannual pupation rhythm in the varied carpet beetle Anthrenus verbasci. Because the shape of that PRC closely resembles that of the Type 0 PRC with large phase shifts in circadian rhythms, we suggest that an oscillator having a common feature in the phase response with the circadian clock, produces a circannual rhythm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat capacity measurements of the two-dimensional metal-assembled complex, (NEt4)[{MnIII(salen)}2FeIII(CN)6] [Et=ethyl, salen= N,N’-ethylenebis(salicylideneaminato) dianion], were performed in the temperature range between 0.2 and 300 K by adiabatic calorimetry. A ferrimagnetic phase transition was observed at Tc1=7.51 K. Furthermore, another small magnetic phase transition appeared at Tc2=0.78 K. Above Tc1, a heat capacity tail arising from the short-range ordering of the spins characteristic of two-dimensional magnets was found. The magnetic enthalpy and entropy were evaluated to be Δ H=291 J mol-1 and Δ S=27.4 J K-1 mol-1, respectively. The experimental magnetic entropy agrees roughly with Δ S= Rln(5·5·2) (=32.5 J K-1 mol-1; R being the gas constant), which is expected for the metal complex with two Mn(III) ions in high-spin state (spin quantum number S=2) and one Fe(III) ion in low-spin state ( S=1/2). The heat capacity tail above Tc1 became small by grinding and pressing the crystal. This mechanochemical effect would be attributed to the increase of lattice defects and imperfections in the crystal lattice, leading not only to formation of the crystal with a different magnetic phase transition temperature but also to decrease of the magnetic heat capacity and thus the magnetic enthalpy and entropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aerodyne Aerosol Mass Spectrometer (AMS) provides size-resolved chemical composition of non-refractory (vaporized at 600°C under vacuum) submicron aerosols with a time resolution of the order of minutes. Ambient measurements were performed in Tokyo between February 2003 and February 2004. We present intercomparisons of the AMS with a Particle-Into-Liquid Sampler combined with an Ion Chromatography analyzer (PILS-IC) and a Sunset Laboratory semi-continuous thermal-optical carbon analyzer. The temperature of the AMS inlet manifold was maintained at > 10 C above the ambient dew point to dry particles in the sample air (relative humidity (RH) in the inlet [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) is a distinct peripheral T-cell neoplasm that is highly resistant to chemotherapy. Several groups, including ours, have reported encouraging results of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) for patients with ATLL. To confirm our previous report and to establish the basis for a phase II clinical study, we analyzed 40 allo-HSCT for acute and lymphoma types of ATLL in seven institutions in Japan between 1997 and 2002. All evaluable cases entered complete remission (CR) after allo-HSCT and the median survival time was 9.6 months for all patients. The estimated 3-year overall and relapse-free survival, and disease relapse were 45.3, 33.8 and 39.3%, respectively. Among 10 cases with ATLL relapse, five cases achieved CR again: three by the reduction or cessation of immunosuppressive agents, which suggested a graft-versus-ATLL (GvATLL) effect. However, univariate or multivariate analysis did not show any benefit of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) on the prevention of relapse. These results suggested that allo-HSCT was effective for some patients with aggressive ATLL, and that the GvATLL effect could be achieved even without GVHD. A new phase II trial to test the efficacy of allo-HSCT for ATLL is warranted.Leukemia (2005) 19, 829-834. doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2403682 Published online 3 March 2005 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: The present report describes the effects of antidiabetic ingredients from white-skinned sweet potato (AWSSP) on the immune response of human cells. METHODS: We studied the effects of inactive Staphylococcus aureus cells coated with AWSSP on phagocytic activity, phagosome-lysosome fusion, and superoxide anion release by human leukocytes in vitro. RESULTS: AWSSP increased phagocytic activity and phagosome-lysosome fusion in neutrophils and monocytes in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast, AWSSP had no significant effect on superoxide anion release (O2-) from human neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that AWSSP is useful in the prevention and improvement of diabetic symptoms by stimulating human immunity and that Ipomoea batatas L. is a beneficial food because it increases immune activity in addition to its antidiabetic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat capacity studies of the layered molecule-based magnetic material {N(n-C5H11)4[MnIIFeIII(ox)3]}∞ (ox=oxalato) have been made in the 2–280 K range. Two distinct heat capacity anomalies were detected at 27.1 K (TN) and 226 K corresponding to magnetic and structural phase transitions, respectively, along with a hump around 23 K. The magnetic heat capacities above TN can be well represented by S=5/2 two-dimensional antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model of a honeycomb lattice with intralayer exchange interaction J/kB=-3.3 K. Application of spin-wave theory indicated the existence of a very weak interlayer magnetic interaction below TN. The anomaly at 27.1 K is due to the antiferromagnetic transition, in conformity with the magnetic results reported earlier. The hump around 23 K might be associated with the existing uncompensated magnetic moments. The estimated magnetic entropy (33.22 J K-1 mol-1) is close to the expected magnetic entropy (R ln (6×6)=29.80 J K-1 mol-1) for the spin multiplicity of high spin MnII and FeIII ions. The heat capacity anomaly at 226 K may be assigned to a structural phase transition of order–disorder type due to increasing conformational change of the n-C5H11 chains in the organic cation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The relationship between basal serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) levels and peripheral tissue (muscle) sensitivity to insulin was examined in 63 subjects with normal glucose tolerance (NGT), 18 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and 123 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The BMI was similar in NGT (28.8 ± 0.7 kg/m[SUP2]), IGT (31.1 ± 1.0), and T2DM (30.0 ± 0.4) groups. The fasting serum TNFα concentration in T2DM (4.4 ± 0.2 pg/ml) was significantly higher than in NGT (3.1 ± 0.2) and IGT (3.4 ± 0.2; both P < 0.05). In T2DM the fasting plasma glucose (FPG = 183 ± 5 mg/dl) and insulin (FPI = 17 ± 1 μU/ml) concentrations were significantly higher than in NGT (FPG = 95 ± 1; FPI = 10 ± 1) and IGT (FPG = 100 ± 2; FPI = 13 ± 1; all P < 0.01). The rate of total body insulin-mediated glucose disposal (Rd; 40 mU/m[SUP2]min euglycemic insulin clamp in combination with [SUP3]H-glucose) was reduced in T2DM (102 ± 3 mg/m[SUP2]min) compared with NGT (177 ± 10) and IGT (151 ± 14; both P < 0.01). The serum TNFα concentration was inversely correlated with Rd (r = -0.47, P < 0.0001) and positively correlated with both FPG (r = 0.32, P = 0.004) and FPI (r = 0.32, P = 0.004) in NGT plus IGT. No correlation was observed between serum TNFα and Rd (r = 70.02), FPG (r = 0.15), or FPI (r = 0.15) in T2DM. In stepwise multiple regression analysis using age, sex, BMI, FPG, FPI and serum TNFα concentration as independent variables, only BMI and serum TNFα concentration were significant and independent predictors of Rd (r[SUP2]= 0.29, P < 0.0001) in the NGT plus IGT group, while FPG and FPI were significant and independent predictors of Rd (r[SUP2]= 0.13, P < 0.0001) in T2DM. These results suggest that: (i) an increase in circulating TNFα concentration is associated with peripheral insulin... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exposure to whole-body vibration (WBV) and the ISO 2631/1-1997 frequency weighting on gastric motility. The gastric motility was measured by electrogastrography (EGG) in nine healthy volunteers. Sinusoidal vertical vibration at a frequency of 4, 6·3, 8, 12, 16, 31·5, or 63 Hz was given to the subjects for 10 min. The magnitude of exposure at 4 Hz was 1·0m/s2 (r.m.s.). The magnitudes of the other frequencies gave the same frequency-weighted acceleration according to ISO 2631/1-1997. The pattern of the dominant frequency histogram (DFH) was changed to a broad distribution pattern by vibration exposure. Vibration exposure had the effect of significantly reducing the percentage of time for which the dominant component had a normal rhythm and increasing the percentage of time for which there was tachygastria (p<0·05). Vibration exposure generally reduced the mean percentage of time with the dominant frequency in normal rhythm component. There was a significant difference between the condition of no vibration and exposure to 4 and 6·3 Hz of vibration frequency (p<0·05). The frequency weighting curve given in ISO 2631/1-1997 was not adequate for use in evaluating the physiological effects of WBV exposure on gastric motility. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We have determined the crystal structure of the quasi one-dimensional cuprate Ca0.83CuO2, known as Ca4Cu5O10, etc., by a superspace group approach. The compound consists of two interpenetrating subsystems of CuO2 chains and Ca atoms. Structural parameters were refined with a superspace group of F2/m(1+α 0 γ)0s using powder X-ray and neutron diffraction data. Lattice parameters were refined to be a1=2.8043(2) A˚, b=6.3179(2) A˚, c1=10.5744(5) A˚, and β1=90.10(1)° for the [CuO2] subsystem and a2=3.3652(2) A˚, b=6.3179(2) A˚, c2=10.5893(5) A˚, and β2=93.04(1)° for the [Ca] subsystem. Remarkable displacive modulation of the O and Ca atom sites is observed parallel to the b-axis and the c-axis, respectively. On the other hand, the Cu atom sites deviate mainly in the a direction to yield a periodic fluctuation between the nearest Cu–Cu distances. The Ca atoms suitably sit in the center of the modulated O6 octahedra. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is a poor prognosis T cell malignancy. In order to improve the outcome, we employed allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for ATL in 10 patients, nine of whom were from HLA-identical siblings and one from an unrelated donor. Conditioning regimens varied among the patients except that all received total body irradiation. The patients tolerated the regimens well with mild, if any toxicity, and engraftment occurred in all cases. Median leukemia-free survival after allo-SCT was 17.5+ months (range 3.7–34.4+). Six of the 10 patients developed acute GVHD (one case each with grade I, III or IV, and three cases with grade II) and three patients developed extensive chronic GVHD. Four patients died after allo-SCT during the study period from either acute GVHD (grade IV), pneumonitis, gastrointestinal bleeding or renal insufficiency. Two of the 10 cases with no symptoms of GVHD relapsed with clinical ATL. These results strongly suggest that allo-SCT may improve the survival in ATL if a controlled degree of GVHD develops. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2001) 27, 15–20. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

De novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with dysplastic features in erythroblasts, granulocytes and megakaryocytes, similar to those in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) has been described as AML with trilineage dysplasia (AML-TLD) since 1987. Several reports have suggested that AML-TLD is a subtype of de novo AML in adults and has a poor clinical outcome when treated by conventional chemotherapy. It is not certain whether allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) brings a favorable outcome for AML-TLD. To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of allogeneic BMT for AML-TLD, we investigated the clinical data and outcomes of conventional chemotherapy and allogeneic BMT for 118 patients with de novo AML. These patients were registered consecutively for the Japan Adult Leukemia Study Group (JALSG) protocols at our institutes. We treated 28 AML-TLD patients and 90 AML-nonTLD patients with conventional chemotherapeutic protocols. AML-TLD patients did not have a significantly different complete remission (CR) rate (75.0% and 88.4% P = 0.1234), but had a significantly higher relapse rate than AML-nonTLD patients (94.1% and 49.3%, P= 0.0007). The outcome of chemotherapy for AML-TLD was significantly worse than that for AML-nonTLD. The overall survival (OS) and leukemia-free survival (LFS) at 6 years were 9.4% and 0% in AML-TLD group, and 51.9% (P= 0.0017) and 46.3% (P< 0.0001) in AML-nonTLD group, respectively. Meanwhile, among the patients who underwent allogeneic BMT, five of eight AML-TLD patients and eight of 14 AML-nonTLD patients were alive, and three and five patients survived more than 3 years, respectively. These results suggest that allogeneic BMT can improve the outcome for AML-TLD, which is poor when conventional chemotherapy is given alone. Allogeneic BMT before relapse may be the best therapeutic strategy for AML-TLD patients under 50 years of age if a donor is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the increase of platelet-associated IgG and complement component, ³CO caused by the in vitro action of anti-platelet MoAbs, and the effect of mouse and human IgG on these events, Anti-glycoprotein IIb/IIIa and anti-glycoprotein Ib MoAbs caused a slight increase of C3, but not of platelet-associated IgG. In contrast, anti-CD9 and anti-Fey II receptor MoAbs caused an increase of both platelet-associated C3 and IgG. In particular, three MoAbs which activated the complement system caused a marked increase of C3. When platelet-rich plasma was treated with aspirin and prostaglandin, before incubation with antibodies, the increase of platelet-associated IgG was inhibited in all cases. In contrast, the increase of platelet-associated C3 was scarcely influenced. These results suggest that the binding to platelets of platelet-activating antibodies caused the increased expression of IgG molecules on the platelet surface and a possible increase of platelet-associated IgG, However, the increase of platelet-associated C3 appeared to depend on specific characteristics of the antibodies tested, such as a complement-activating effect. In addition, intact mouse or human IgG inhibited the increase of platelet-associated C3 caused by complement-activating antibodies, white F(ab') 2 mouse or human IgG had no such effect. This suggested that the Fc portion of IgG may block the increase of C3 mediated by anti-platelet antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have established an erythropoietin-dependent human leukemia cell line, AS-E2, from a patient with acute myeloid leukemia. These cells have many characteristics of late erythroid progenitor cells, they are positive for CD36, Glycophorin A, and CD71 but negative for CD41, and positive for benzidine and PAS staining. These cells express GATA-1 and have low affinity erythropoietin (EPO) receptor on their surface. Interestingly, AS-E2 cells are strictly dependent on EPO for their growth and survival; other cytokines including GM-CSF, stem cell factor, or IL-3 cannot support the growth of this cell line. These features are similar to late erythroid lineage cells, like normal BFU-E or CFU-E, and we have demonstrated that EPO stimulation induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in AS-E2 cells including the EPO receptor and JAK2 kinase. This new cell line is a useful reagent to study biological and molecular events during the late stages of erythropoiesis, and to understand transforming events in human erythroid cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]