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This paper reports a detailed study of Li+ incorporation and electron and hole trapping in Li+-codoped Y3Al5O12:Ce garnet scintillation crystals, using the combination of the local probe EPR and NMR methods with optical characterization.

Background: Despite advances in surgery and pharmacotherapy, there remains significant residual ischemic risk after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Methods: In REDUCE-IT (Reduction of Cardiovascular Events With Icosapent Ethyl–Intervention Trial), a multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, statin-treated patients with controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia were randomized to 4 g daily of icosapent ethyl or placebo. They experienced a 25% reduction in risk of a primary efficacy end point (composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina) and a 26% reduction in risk of a key secondary efficacy end point (composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) when compared with placebo. The current analysis reports on the subgroup of patients from the trial with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting. Results: Of the 8179 patients randomized in REDUCE-IT, a total of 1837 (22.5%) had a history of coronary artery bypass grafting, with 897 patients randomized to icosapent ethyl and 940 to placebo. Baseline characteristics were similar between treatment groups. Randomization to icosapent ethyl was associated with a significant reduction in the primary end point (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.63–0.92]; P =0.004), in the key secondary end point (HR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.56–0.87]; P =0.001), and in total (first plus subsequent or recurrent) ischemic events (rate ratio, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.50–0.81]; P =0.0002) compared with placebo. This yielded an absolute risk reduction of 6.2% (95% CI, 2.3%–10.2%) in first events, with a number needed to treat of 16 (95% CI, 10–44) during a median follow-up time of 4.8 years. Safety findings were similar to the overall study: beyond an increased rate of atrial fibrillation/flutter requiring hospitalization for at least 24 hours (5.0% vs 3.1%; P =0.03) and a nonsignificant increase in bleeding, occurrences of adverse events were comparable between groups. Conclusions: In REDUCE-IT patients with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting, treatment with icosapent ethyl was associated with significant reductions in first and recurrent ischemic events. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01492361.

Effects of the tungsten (W) ions co-doping on the crystal growth, optical and scintillation properties for the Czochralski (Cz) grown Ce:Gd3Ga3Al2O12(GGAG) single crystals were investigated. The W 0%, 0.1%, 0.3%, 1%, and 5% co-doped Ce 1%:GGAG single crystals with a diameter of 1 in and length of 60–80 mm were grown by the Cz method. The effective segregation coefficient of the W ions was found as 0.002, 0.001, and 0.005 for W 0.1%, 0.3%, and 1%, Ce:GGAG, respectively. The segregation of W ions in GGAG host, light yield, and scintillation decay of the W co-doped Ce:GGAG were evaluated. The light yield decreased as the concentration of W co-dopant increased and toward the tail of the crystal. Furthermore, the defect role and related charge trapping in the W co-doped crystals were monitored by the thermo-stimulated luminescence.

This article is directed on the creation of composite scintillators which are based on the films and crystals of R2Si2O7:Ce (R = Lu, Gd, La) pyrosilicates using the liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) growth method for application in the radiation monitoring of different components of mixed ionization fluxes. Such types of composite scintillators are epitaxial structures containing film scintillators grown by the LPE method onto the substrates of crystal scintillators. In this article, the film and crystal parts of the composite scintillators were fabricated from effective scintillation materials on the base of Ce3+ doped Gd2- x Lu x Si2O7 and Gd2- x La x Si2O7, and $x = {0}$ and 0.25 mixed pyrosilicates with various scintillation decay kinetics due to the different Lu/Gd/La cation content. We briefly report on the results of the LPE growth of the composite scintillators based on the Ce3+ doped (Lu,Gd)2Si2O7 films and (Gd,La)2Si2O7:Ce crystal substrates, as well as the results of investigation of their luminescent and scintillation properties.

This paper reports on the preparation of undoped cesium hafnium chloride (Cs2HfCl6) and study of its thermal properties. The Cs2HfCl6 is considered, due to its excellent scintillation properties, as a promising candidate for cost-effective radiation detectors with potential to replace traditional halide scintillators, e.g., NaI:Tl and CsI:Tl. The Cs2HfCl6 material was successfully synthesized from a cesium chloride and a hafnium chloride mixed together in stoichiometric ratio. The presence of only one crystalline phase of the Cs2HfCl6 in the material was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis. The simultaneous non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry (DSC–TG) of the synthesized material under nitrogen atmosphere, vacuum, and in enclosed system was performed. The Cs2HfCl6 decomposition and melting of CsCl–Cs2HfCl6 mixture under nitrogen and vacuum were observed. On the contrary, the DSC measurement of the cesium hafnium chloride in enclosed system showed only one endothermic peak related to the congruent melting point. Furthermore, the repeated DSC–TG measurements to investigate the materials’ stability in enclosed system were carried out as well.

Background Fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin (LV) and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) plus panitumumab therapy is a commonly used first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, the long-term administration of oxaliplatin is associated with peripheral neuropathy (PN). We investigated whether the planned discontinuation of oxaliplatin after FOLFOX plus panitumumab therapy can maintain efficacy and reduce PN incidence. Patients and methods Chemotherapy-naive patients with RAS wild-type mCRC, aged ≥20 years, were enrolled and received six cycles of modified FOLFOX6 (mFOLFOX6) plus panitumumab as induction therapy. Patients who completed induction therapy without progression were randomised to mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab (group A) or to 5-FU/LV plus panitumumab (group B). The primary end-point was the progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 9 months after randomisation. The secondary end-points were PFS, overall survival (OS), time to treatment failure (TTF), response rate (RR) and safety. Results In total, 164 patients were enrolled; of whom, 113 patients were then randomised (group A, n = 56; group B, n = 57). The median follow-up after randomisation was 19.6 months. The PFS rates at 9 months and median PFS were 46.4% (80% confidence interval [CI], 38.1–54.9) and 9.1 months (95% CI, 8.6–11.1) in group A, compared with 47.4% (80% CI, 39.1–55.8) and 9.3 months (95% CI, 6.0–13.0) in group B, respectively. RR, OS and TTF were also similar in both groups. Grade ≥2 PN incidence was lower in group B (9.3%) than in group A (35.7%). Conclusion Planned discontinuation of oxaliplatin after six cycles of mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab is a potential treatment option in patients with mCRC, achieving similar efficacy while reducing oxaliplatin-associated PN compared with mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab. Trial registration number NCT02337946

Homeland security is an emerging application field for inorganic scintillators. Detection and identification of radioactive materials in both individual and cargo transport requires scintillators with excellent energy resolution and high light output. On the other hand, the time characteristics of the scintillation are less crucial. Furthermore, price is a key parameter due to the large volume of the detectors. State-of-the-art halide scintillators e. g. SrI2:Eu or LaBr3:Ce can satisfy the requirements for light yield and energy resolution, but the production costs are very high due to complicated crystal growth and the high prices of rare earth metals. Cesium hafnium chloride (Cs2HfCl6) is a promising intrinsic scintillator with high light yield and excellent resolution. Moreover, its low hygroscopicity and cubic crystal structure could allow lower production costs compared to SrI2 or LaBr3. Intrinsic luminescence of Cs2HfCl6 is commonly attributed to self-trapped excitons. However, the luminescence of Cs2HfCl6 shows complex structure and temperature dependence. This might be explained by the presence of zirconium which is a common impurity in hafnium compounds. We present a study of the influence of zirconium doping on the scintillation properties of Cs2HfCl6. Single crystals of Cs2HfCl6 with zirconium doping from 0 to 1 mol% were grown by the vertical Bridgman method. Their phase purity, radioluminescence, scintillation decay, light yield, and afterglow were evaluated. Results show that zirconium doping can affect the scintillation properties of Cs2HfCl6 even at concentrations comparable to impurity levels of zirconium in hafnium compounds.

NUMO and JAEA have been conducting a joint research since FY2011, which is aimed to enhance the methodology of repository design and performance assessment in preliminary investigation stage for the deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. As a part of this joint research, we have been developing glass dissolution models which include various processes derived from glass-overpack-bentonite buffer interaction, considering the precipitation of Fe-silicates associated with steel overpack corrosion, and Si transport through altered layer of glass. The objective of this modeling work is to show comprehensively the lifetime of the vitrified waste due to glass matrix dissolution timescales through sensitivity analysis, and to identify the feature/process that most strongly influences the lifetime, and to identify future R&D issues that would help to improve the nuclide transport analysis with confidential value and the safety case in future. The sensitivity analysis suggested that the duration of the glass dissolution might be predicted in the ranges from 3.8×103 to 1.9×105 years. Also, the results indicated that the precipitation of Fe–silicate has the strongest influence on the long-team behavior of vitrified waste.

Time and cost effective methods are highly desirable in research and development of new scintillators. Modern techniques like micro-pulling down (μ-PD) are suitable for material screening but are unfit for the growth of some crystals. These crystals must be grown by different methods that are usually very time demanding. Modification of halide μ-PD apparatus by custom made elements allowed us to grow cesium hafnium chloride (Cs2HfCl6) by vertical Bridgman method (VB) with significantly reduced growth time. Structural and optical properties of samples prepared from as-grown crystals were studied and compared to crystals grown by standard VB method. The X-ray diffraction confirmed the formation of cesium hafnium chloride single-phase and natural cleavage of the crystals along the (1 1 1) crystallographic plane. Photoluminescence emission, excitation, absorption, and radioluminescence spectroscopy revealed that the optical quality of the crystals grown by modified VB method was comparable to the quality of the crystals grown by standard VB method. Therefore we can use samples prepared by modified VB to estimate and optimize the performance of Cs2HfCl6 based crystals in scintillation detectors. This setup allows the time and cost-effective material screening and it is a powerful tool for the development of new halide based single crystal scintillators.

This research deals with the luminescence and physical properties of Gd3(Ga,Al)5O12:Ce single crystal set and it is a complementary study to analogous (Y,Gd)3Al5O12:Ce and (Gd,Lu)3Al5O12:Ce single crystal sets. Those three groups of materials show similar luminescence and physical properties. In this research, the influence of substitution Ga for Al in Gd3(Ga,Al)5O12:Ce single crystals on the luminescence and scintillation characteristics as well as thermodynamical stability of the garnet phase is studied, and it is compared to (Y,Gd)3Al5O12:Ce and (Gd,Lu)3Al5O12:Ce single crystal sets. The unbalanced substitution Ga for Al makes garnet phase thermodynamically unstable and leads to the formation of the multiphase system with luminescence centers in UV and visible spectral ranges. The wavelength-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction analysis, photoluminescence and decay kinetic measurements reviled all phase types within multiphase crystals. Temperature dependent measurements were applied to determine the quenching mechanism for Ce3+ luminescence. The timing characteristics are studied as the function of Ga content.

Ce and Ca co-doped LiGdF4-LiF eutectics were grown and their directionally solidified eutectic (DSE) system has been investigated. In these eutectics, apart from the expected 305 nm emission of the regular Ce3+, 310 nm emission of the Gd3+ and Ce3+-perturbed emission around 320-380 nm was observed. Ce3+-perturbed emission at 340 nm shows the intrinsic decay time of about 27 ns. In photoluminescence mechanism the observed decay time shortening of the regular Ce3+ and Gd3+ centers point to the energy transfer in the sequence the regular Ce3+→ (Gd3+)n→ the perturbed Ce3+ sites.

Luminescence processes occurring in the 5d1 excited state of Ce3+ and Pr3+ centers in the (Gd,RE)3(Ga,Al)5O12, RE=Lu,Y, multicomponent garnet host were studied by purely optical contactless methods. Combination of measurements of the prompt nanosecond decay and slow delayed radiative recombination decay allows to resolve the presence of thermal quenching and thermally induced ionization processes acting upon the 5d1 excited state. Additional energy transfer process depleting the 5d1 state of Pr3+ center was found and is due to the resonance of 5d1-3H4 emission transition of Pr3+ and 8S-6Px absorption transition of Gd3+ which might be responsible for noticeably lower light yield in Pr-doped multicomponent garnets. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

The crystals of 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 3% Ho doped Lu3Al5O12 (Ho:LuAG) grown by the micro-pulling-down method were examined for their scintillation properties. At wavelengths longer than 300 nm, Ho:LuAG crystals demonstrated around 60% transparency with many absorption peaks attributed to Ho3+ 4f10-4 f10 transitions. When excited by 241Am α-ray to obtain radio luminescence spectra, broad host emission and four sharp Ho3+ 4f10-4 f10 emission peaks were detected in the visible region. Light yields and decay time profiles of the samples irradiated by 137Cs γ-ray were measured using photomultiplier tubes R7600 (Hamamatsu). Ho 0.5%:LuAG showed the highest light yield of 3100 ±310 photons/MeV among the present samples. The decay time profiles were well reproduced by two components exponential approximation consisting of 0.5-1 μs and 3-6 μs.

The ability to perceive and avoid harmful substances or stimuli is key to an organism's survival. The neuronal cognate of the perception of pain is known as nociception, and the reflexive motion to avoid pain is termed the nocifensive response. As the nocifensive re- sponse is an ancient and evolutionarily conserved behav- ioral response to nociceptive stimuli, it is amenable to study in relatively simple and genetically tractable model systems such as Drosophila. Recent studies have taken advantage of the useful properties of Drosophila larvae to begin eluci- dating the neuronal connectivity and molecular machinery underlying the nocifensive response. However, these studies have primarily utilized the third-instar larval stage, and many mutations that potentially influence nociception sur- vive only until earlier larval stages. Here we characterize the nocifensive responses of Drosophila throughout larval de- velopment and find dramatic changes in the nature of the behavior. Notably, we find that prior to the third instar, larvae are unable to perform the characteristic "corkscrew- like roll" behavior. Also, we identify an avoidance behavior consistent with a nocifensive response that is present im- mediately after larval hatching, representing a paradigm that may be useful in examining mutations with an early lethal phenotype.

729 Background: FOLFOX therapy, an infusion of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with leucovorin in combination with oxaliplatin (OXA), is a common first-line chemotherapy regimen for unresectable, advanced or recurrent colorectal carcinoma (CRC). However, long-term administration of OXA is associated with peripheral neuropathy (PN); decreasing treatment length of OXA may be beneficial without reducing its efficacy. Methods: Chemotherapy-naïve pts aged ≥20 yrs with RAS wild-type advanced/recurrent CRC were enrolled to receive 6 cycles of panitumumab (Pmab) + mFOLFOX6 once every 2 wks. Pts who completed 6 cycles of Pmab + mFOLFOX6 and confirmed no progressive disease were subsequently randomized 1:1 to continue to receive Pmab + mFOLFOX6 (arm 1) or Pmab + 5-FU/LV (arm 2). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 9 mos after randomization. The threshold PFS rate was defined as 30%, and the expected rate was set at 50%, with a 90% power and a 1-sided alpha value of 0.10. In the primary analysis, a binomial test was conducted separately for each arm. This study was designed as a phase II randomized screening comparison study which does not use direct comparison for the primary analysis. Results: Of 164 enrolled pts who received initial Pmab + mFOLFOX6 treatment, 56 were randomized to arm 1 and 57 to arm 2. PFS rates at 9 mos after randomization were significantly higher than the defined threshold at 44.6% (80% CI, 36.4–53.2) in arm 1 and 47.4% (39.1–55.8) in arm 2. Median PFS after randomization was 9.1 (8.6–11.2) and 9.3 (6.0–13.0) mos, respectively. Grade ≥2 PNs occurred in 6 (10.7%) and 1 (1.8%) pts in arms 1 and 2, respectively. Serious AEs occurred in 14 (25.0%) pts in arm 1 and in 9 (16.7%) pts in arm 2. Conclusions: The results of this trial suggest that Pmab + 5-FU/LV after 6 fixed-cycles of Pmab + mFOLFOX6 may be a treatment option in pts with RAS wild type chemotherapy-naïve advanced/recurrent CRC. Pts treated with Pmab + 5-FU/LV had a lower occurrence of grade ≥2 PNs compared with Pmab + mFOLFOX6. Clinical trial information: NCT02337946.

In order to realize more efficient electricity supply system, smart grid technologies, which are driven by the collaboration between power system technology and information and communication technology, are indispensable. One of these technologies is the smart metering infrastructure, which play a big role especially in the field of retail supply and distribution network modernization. This paper describes the overview of smart metering infrastructure and its applications developed so as to meet the current and future requirements.

Ce 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mol%-doped K2NaLuF6 crystals with 2 mm in diameter and 30-50 mm in length were grown by micro-pulling-down method. The photoluminescence spectra under ultraviolet excitation showed intense emission ascribed to 5d-4f transitions of Ce3+ replacing Lu3+ isolated octahedral site. In the radioluminescenced spectra under alpha-ray irradiation, the emission band is due to the transition from the lowest 5d excited state of Ce3+ to 2F5/2 ground state level is dominant. The light yields of Ce:K2NaLuF6 under 5.5-MeV alpha-ray excitation was estimated to be approximately 1.2 to 1.8% of those of BGO.

Detection of deposition rate of plasma-polymerized acrylate and methacrylate derivatives using quartz crystal microbalance

We have developed a rapid immunosensor for fibrinogen and fibrin degradation products (FDP) that combines a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) with the agglutination reaction of anti-FDP antibody immunized latex beads. We measured FDP concentration successfully in human serum within 10 min with a smart QCM-sensor. The detection range of the smart QCM-sensor is covered with screening concentration of FDP in serum (less than 10 μg ml−1 of FDP).

SUMMARY Elevated soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) levels are an accepted marker of endothelial damage. The physiological significance of plasma endothelial protein C receptor (sEPCR) levels is not known. To assess the relevance of this plasma protein in Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), sEPCR levels were measured in sera obtained from WG patients and related to disease activity, sTM levels, and other known markers of disease activity. In total, 129 sera (37 at active disease, 92 during follow-up) from 31 WG patients were tested. During active disease, eight (22%) and 17 (46%) out of 37 active sera had elevated levels of sEPCR and sTM, respectively (NS); sEPCR (r = 0·39; P = 0·02) and sTM (r = 0·53; P < 0·01) levels correlated with disease activity (Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score). Analysis of longitudinal sera revealed a significant increase in sEPCR (P = 0·01) and sTM (P = 0·04) levels prior to the moment of a relapse. Corrected for renal function, the increase in sEPCR remained significant (P = 0·04) whereas sTM did not (NS). Levels of sEPCR correlated with sTM levels (r = 0·32; P < 0·001). Plasma levels of sEPCR respond to changes in the disease in patients with WG.

Background In Japan, oxaliplatin (OXA)/5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV)—the mFOLFOX6 regimen—is the most frequently used first-line chemotherapy backbone for metastatic colorectal cancer. However, peripheral nerve disorders caused by OXA during mFOLFOX6 therapy can decrease patients' quality of life. OXA can be safely discontinued from a FOLFOX regimen after 6 cycles during first-line therapy. Also, for patients who discontinue OXA without having experienced peripheral nerve disorders, reintroducing OXA in the later stages of treatment could remain an option. Patients and Methods The study is a phase II, multicenter, open-label, parallel-group, randomized, controlled exploratory study comparing the efficacy and safety of mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab and 5-FU/LV plus panitumumab in patients with chemotherapy-naive, unresectable, advanced or recurrent colorectal carcinoma of RAS wild-type (SAPPHIRE; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT02337946 ). Eligible patients will receive 6 cycles of mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab combination therapy, followed by 1:1 randomization to either further treatment with mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab or discontinuation of OXA and treatment with 5-FU/LV plus panitumumab. Up to 100 randomized patients will receive treatment for approximately 12 months or until any of the criteria for treatment discontinuation have been met. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival rate at 9 months after the day of randomization. The secondary endpoints are progression-free survival, overall survival, response rate, and interval to treatment failure. Safety will be evaluated according to the incidence and severity of adverse events, including the incidence of peripheral nerve and skin disorders. Additional endpoints will include maintenance of performance status, continuation of OXA in the mFOLFOX6 plus panitumumab group, and continuation of panitumumab in both groups.

Salt stress adversely affects plant growth at various stages of development including seed germination, seedling establishment, vegetative growth and finally reproduction. Because of their immobile nature, plants have evolved mechanisms to sense and respond to salt stress. Seed dormancy is an adaptive trait that enables seed germination to coincide with favorable environmental conditions. We identified a novel locus of Arabidopsis, designated SHG1 (salt hypersensitive germination 1), whose disruption leads to reduced germination rate under moderate salt stress conditions. SHG1 encodes a transmembrane protein with an ankyrin-repeat motif that has been implicated in diverse cellular processes such as signal transduction. The shg1-disrupted Arabidopsis mutant died at the cotyledon stage when sown on salt-containing medium, although wild-type plants could form true leaves under the same conditions. On the other hand, this mutant showed similar phenotypes to wild-type plants when sown on medium without salt and transferred to salt-containing medium at the vegetative stage. These results suggested that SHG1 played indispensable role in the seed germination and seedling establishment under moderate salt stress conditions. SHG1 may be involved in the release of seed dormancy., {"references":["C. Chang, B. Wang, L. Shi, Y. Li, L. Duo, and W. Zhang, \"Alleviation of Salt Stress-Induced Inhibition of Seed Germination in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) by Ethylene and Glutamate,\" J. Plant Phys., vol. 167, pp. 1152–1156, 2010.","A. J. Vallejo, M. J. Yanovsky, and J. F. Botto, \"Germination Variation in Arabidopsis thaliana Accessions under Moderate Osmotic and Salt Stresses,\" Ann. Botany, vol. 106, pp.833-842, 2010.","W. E. Finch-Savage, and G. Leubner-Metzger, \"Seed Dormancy and the Control of Germination,\" New Phytol., vol. 171, pp. 501-523, 2006.","C. Becerra, T. Jahrmann, P. Puigdomènech, and C.M. Vicient, \"Ankyrin Repeat- Containing Proteins in Arabidopsis: Characterization of a Novel and Abundant Group of Genes Coding ankyrin-transmembrane proteins,\" Gene, vol. 340, pp. 111–121, 2004.","J. Huang, X. Zhao, H. Yu, Y. Ouyang, L. Wang, and Q. Zhang, \"The Ankyrin Repeat Gene Family in Rice. Genome-Wide Identification, Classification and Expression Profiling,\" Plant Mol. Biol., vol. 71, pp. 207–226, 2009.","H. Lu, D.N. Rate, J.T. Song, and J.T. Greenberg, \"ACD6, a Novel Ankyrin Protein, is a Regulator and an Effector of Salicylic Acid Signaling in the Arabidopsis Defense Response,\" Plant Cell, vol. 15, pp. 2408–2420, 2003.","H. Lu, Y. Liu, and J.T. Greenberg, \"Structure–Function Analysis of the Plasma Membrane-Localized Arabidopsis Defense Component ACD6,\" Plant J., vol. 44, pp. 798–809, 2005.","Y. Yang, Y. Zhang, P. Ding, K. Johnson, X. Li, and Y. Zhang, \"The Ankyrin-Repeat Transmembrane Protein BDA1 Functions Downstream of the Receptor-Like Protein SNC2 to Regulate Plant Immunity,\" Plant Physiol., vol. 159, pp. 1857–1865, 2012.","H. Sakamoto, O. Matsuda, and K. Iba, \"ITN1, a Novel Gene Encoding an Ankyrin-Repeat Protein that Affects the ABA-Mediated Production of Reactive Oxygen Species and Is Involved in Salt-Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana,\" Plant J., vol. 56, pp. 411–422, 2008.\n[10]\tH. Sakamoto, K. Sakata, K. Kusumi, M. Kojima, H. Sakakibara, and K. Iba, \"Interaction between a Plasma Membrane-Localized Ankyrin-Repeat Protein ITN1 and a Nuclear Protein RTV1,\" Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., vol. 423, pp. 392–397, 2012.\n[11]\tH. Sakamoto, Y. Nakagawara, and S. Oguri, \"The Expression of a Novel Gene Encoding an Ankyrin-Repeat Protein, DRA1, is Regulated by Drought-Responsive Alternative Splicing,\" Int. J. Biol. Life Sci. Eng.,vol. 7, pp. 81-84, 2013.\n[12]\tT. Murashige, and F. Skoog, \"A Revised Medium for Rapid Growth and Bioassays with Tobacco Tissue Culture,\" Physiol. Plant., vol. 15, pp. 473–497, 1962.\n[13]\tT. Nanjo, M. Kobayashi, Y. Yoshiba, Y. Kakubari, K. Yamaguchi-Shinozaki, and K. Shinozaki, \"Antisense Suppression of Proline Degradation Improves Tolerance to Freezing and Salinity in Arabidopsis thaliana,\" FEBS Lett., vol. 461, pp. 205–210, 1999.\n[14]\tS. Mahajan, and N. Tuteja, \"Cold, Salinity and Drought Stresses: An Overview,\" Arch. Biochem. Biophys., vol. 444, pp. 139–158, 2005.\n[15]\tJ. Y. Kang, H. I. Choi, M. Y. Im, and S. Y. Kim, \"Arabidopsis Basic Leucine Zipper Proteins That Mediate Stress-Responsive Abscisic Acid Signaling,\" Plant Cell, vol. 14, pp. 343–357, 2002."]}

In Arabidopsis, several genes encoding proteins with ankyrin repeats and transmembrane domains (AtANKTM) have been identified as mediators of biotic and abiotic stress responses. It has been known that the expression of an AtANKTM gene, At2g24600, is induced in response to abiotic stress and that there are four splicing variants derived from this locus. In this study, by RT-PCR and sequencing analysis, an unknown splicing variant of the At2g24600 transcript was identified. Based on differences in the predicted amino acid sequences, the five splicing variants are divided into three groups. The three predicted proteins are highly homologous, yet have different numbers of ankyrinrepeats and transmembrane domains. It is generally considered that ankyrin repeats mediate protein-protein interaction and that the number oftransmembrane domains affects membrane topology of proteins. The protein variants derived from the At2g24600 locus may have different molecular functions each other., {"references":["S.G. Sedgwick, and S.J. Smerdon, \"The Ankyrin Repeat: A Diversity of Interactions on a Common Structural Framework,\" Trends Biochem. Sci., vol. 24, pp. 311–316, 1999.","C. Becerra, T. Jahrmann, P. Puigdomènech, and C.M. Vicient, \"AnkyrinRepeat-Containing Proteins in Arabidopsis: Characterization of a Novel and Abundant Group of Genes Coding Ankyrin-Transmembrane Proteins,\" Gene, vol. 340, pp. 111–121, 2004.","J. Huang, X. Zhao, H. Yu, Y. Ouyang, L. Wang, and Q. Zhang, \"The Ankyrin Repeat Gene Family in rice. Genome-wide identification, Classification and Expression Profiling,\" Plant Mol. Biol., vol. 71, pp. 207–226, 2009.","H. Lu, D.N. Rate, J.T. Song, and J.T. Greenberg, \"ACD6, a Novel Ankyrin Protein, Is a Regulator and an Effector of Salicylic Acid Signaling in the Arabidopsis Defense Response,\" Plant Cell, vol. 15, pp. 2408–2420, 2003.","H. Lu, Y. Liu, and J.T. Greenberg, \"Structure–Function Analysis of the Plasma Membrane-Localized ArabidopsisDefense Component ACD6,\" Plant J., vol. 44, pp. 798–809, 2005.","Y. Yang, Y. Zhang, P. Ding, K. Johnson, X. Li, and Y. Zhang, \"The Ankyrin-Repeat Transmembrane Protein BDA1 Functions Downstream of the Receptor-Like Protein SNC2 to Regulate Plant Immunity,\" Plant Physiol., vol. 159, pp. 1857–1865, 2012.","H. Sakamoto, O. Matsuda, and K. Iba, \"ITN1, a Novel Gene Encoding an Ankyrin-Repeat Protein that Affects the ABA-Mediated Production of reactive oxygen species and is involved in Salt-Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana,\" Plant J., vol. 56, pp. 411–422, 2008.","H. Sakamoto, K. Sakata, K. Kusumi, M. Kojima, H. Sakakibara, and K. Iba, \"Interaction between a Plasma Membrane-Localized Ankyrin-Repeat Protein ITN1 and a Nuclear Protein RTV1,\" Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., vol. 423, pp. 392–397, 2012.","H. Sakamoto, Y. Nakagawara, and S. Oguri, \"The Expression of a Novel Gene Encoding an Ankyrin-Repeat Protein, DRA1, is Regulated by Drought-Responsive Alternative Splicing,\" Int. J. Biol. Life Sci. Eng.,vol. 7, pp. 81-84, 2013.\n[10]\tA.M. Mastrangelo, D. Marone, G. Laidò, A. M. De Leonardis, and P. De Vita, \"Alternative Splicing: Enhancing Ability to Cope with Stress via Transcriptome Plasticity,\" Plant Sci., vol. 185–186, pp. 40–49, 2012.\n[11]\tM. Arniges, J. M. Fernández-Fernández, N. Albrecht, M. Schaefer, and M. A. Valverde, \"Human TRPV4 Channel Splice Variants Revealed a Key Role of Ankyrin Domains in Multimerizationand Trafficking,\" J. Biol. Chem., vol. 281, pp. 1580-1586, 2006.\n[12]\tT. Murashige, and F. Skoog, \"A Revised Medium for Rapid Growth and Bioassays with Tobacco Tissue Culture,\" Physiol. Plant., vol. 15, pp. 473–497, 1962.\n[13]\tA. Matsui, J. Ishida, T. Morosawa, Y. Mochizuki, E. Kaminuma, T.A. Endo, M. Okamoto, E. Nambara, M. Nakajima, M. Kawashima, M. Satou, J.M. Kim, N. Kobayashi, T. Toyoda, K. Shinozaki, and M. Seki, \"Arabidopsis Transcriptome Analysis under Drought, Cold, High-Salinity and ABA Treatment Conditions Using a Tiling Array,\" Plant Cell Physiol., vol. 49, pp. 1135-1149, 2008."]}

Atom numbers of 239Np and 239Pu, which had been produced by the neutron capture reaction of 238U in the uranium solution of the JCO criticality accident at Tokai-mura, Japan, were determined precisely by a radiochemical method. It was found that the measured atom ratio of 239Np/239Pu at termination of the criticality depends sensitively on the history of the neutron capture reaction during the accident (about 20-hours continuance). The history was evaluated by comparing the measured value and those calculated by a burnup calculation code. The percentage of the number of the neutron capture reaction at the initial stage of the criticality during 25 min against the total events was determined to be 24±6%.

Colloidal effect is one of the major factors to enhance the migration of radionuclides in groundwater. The experimental and theoretical studies of colloid mobility and colloid-facilitated radionuclide transport for the performance assessment of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) geological disposal is presented in this paper. The major aims of the study are (1) to study the filtration effect on colloids by the engineered barrier system, (2) to study bentonite colloid generation by erosion of the engineered barrier system, and (3) to calculate radionuclide migration with groundwater colloids through fractured rock systems. Alternative coagulants based on prehydrolyzed forms of aluminium or iron can be more effective than the traditional materials in many cases, but their mode of action is not completely understood, especially with regard to the role of charge neutralization and hydroxide precipitation. Basic principles of colloid stability and metal ion hydrolysis are briefly reviewed, and the action of hydrolyzing metal coagulants is then discussed, with some examples from recent experimental studies. Although it is possible to interpret results reasonably well in terms of established ideas, there are still some uncertainties that need to be resolved

We present a male autopsied case of chondrodysplasia punctata with abnormal face, symmetrical proximal limb shortness, severe psychomotor developmental delay, respiratory muscle weakness, and death at the age of 2 years. Although his clinical manifestations were similar to those of rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP), biochemical studies using skin fibroblasts did not document the peroxisomal dysfunction described in RCDP. In addition, the sterol profile, for which abnormalities have recently been reported in cases of X-linked dominant form chondrodysplasia punctata (CDPX2), was normal both in the liver and in the fibroblasts. This patient may represent a new lethal form of chondrodysplasia punctata.

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is widely used in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (MI). However, its thrombolytic efficacy does not correlate with the dose administered. The interactions between tPA, alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2-M), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were investigated both in vitro and in patients undergoing tPA therapy for MI in an attempt to identify variables that might affect the clinical efficacy of tPA. Purified alpha2-M (5.4 mg/ml) protected 16.0% or 22.4% of tPA (12.5 IU/ml) activity from inhibition by PAI-1 at 4 or 8 IU/ml in vitro. Of nine patients treated with 5-20 mega IU of tPA for MI, the plasma activity of tPA remained increased for 15-30 min after the cessation of infusion in eight; the patient who failed to exhibit a persistent increase in tPA activity had a low plasma concentration of alpha2-M. Total tPA activity, derived from the area under the activity-versus-time curve (AUC), showed a significant inverse correlation with the ratio of the plasma PAI-1 activity to the plasma alpha2-M concentration. Total tPA activity did not correlate with plasma PAI-1 activity or plasma alpha2-M concentration alone. Results suggest that alpha2-M, by binding to tPA, protects the latter against inhibition by PAI-1.

Three guidelines have recently been published for the diagnosis and treatment of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in adults. This communication seeks to harmonize the recommendations in these guidelines using a modified GRADE system. The scoring system for diagnosis of DIC using global coagulation tests is known to correlate with key clinical observations and outcomes (Moderate quality). The cornerstone of DIC treatment is the treatment of the underlying condition (Moderate quality). In general, transfusion of platelets or plasma (components) in patients with DIC should be reserved for patients who are bleeding (Low quality). Therapeutic doses of heparin should be considered in cases of DIC where clinical features of thrombosis predominate. Heparin is not recommended in those patients with a high risk of bleeding, (Moderate quality). However, prophylactic doses of unfractionated heparin or low molecular we ight heparin is recommended in critically ill and non-bleeding patients with DIC for prevention of venous thromboembolism (Moderate to High quality). Although further prospective evidence from randomized controlled trials is required, administration of antithrombin or recombinant thrombomodulin may be considered in certain patients with DIC. In general, patients with DIC should not be treated with antifibrinolytic agents (Low quality). However those who present with severe bleeding, that is characterized by a markedly hyperfibrinolytic state such as leukemia (Low quality) and trauma (Moderate quality), may be treated with antifibrinolytic agents. © 2013 International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

We present conventional detection of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) for using the competitive reaction between DNP and DNP-conjugated albumin onto DNP antibody immobilized quartz crystal microbalance (QCM). This QCM method allows detection of DNP concentration in the range of 0.01 to 100 ng/ml; linear correlation obtains DNP concentration from 1 to 100 ng/ml.

The magnetooptical Kerr spectra of Pd/Co multilayers and alloys prepared by DC magnetron sputtering system using an ultra-high vacuum chamber were measured between 1.24 and 5.90 eV. Analysis of the permeability tensor showed that the effect of plasma enhancement of the Kerr effect in Pd/Co multilayers was not so large as that in Pt/Co multilayers. The Kerr rotation spectra of multilayers had a different feature around 3 eV from that of corresponding alloys. We performed a simulation of Kerr rotation spectra by a virtual optical constant method assuming the presence of an interfacial PdCo alloy. It was found that the Kerr rotation spectra could not be explained by this assumption, suggesting that magnetically polarized Pd should be taken into account. We then performed a simulation assuming the presence of "magnetic Pd." As a result, we found that the peaks around 2.7 eV and 4.7 eV resulted from the "magnetic Pd" layers and the PdCo/Co layers, respectively.

In an investigation of tape/slurry texturing for an NiP/Al alloy substrate, it was found that disks textured with alumina slurry showed better gliding performance than those textured with diamond slurry. A carbon protective layer sputtered using argon gas or argon/methane gas also improved the tribological properties of the disks, resulting in enhanced durability. Disks textured with alumina slurry and sputtered using argon/methane gas, with a carbon protective layer in place, performed well in both a gliding test at a flying height of 0.05 ?m, and in CSS cycle tests with a thin-film head.

Background Dendritic morphology largely determines patterns of synaptic connectivity and electrochemical properties of a neuron. Neurons display a myriad diversity of dendritic geometries which serve as a basis for functional classification. Several types of molecules have recently been identified which regulate dendrite morphology by acting at the levels of transcriptional regulation, direct interactions with the cytoskeleton and organelles, and cell surface interactions. Although there has been substantial progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of dendrite morphogenesis, the specification of class-specific dendritic arbors remains largely unexplained. Furthermore, the presence of numerous regulators suggests that they must work in concert. However, presently, few genetic pathways regulating dendrite development have been defined. Methodology/Principal Findings The Drosophila gene turtle belongs to an evolutionarily conserved class of immunoglobulin superfamily members found in the nervous systems of diverse organisms. We demonstrate that Turtle is differentially expressed in Drosophila da neurons. Moreover, MARCM analyses reveal Turtle acts cell autonomously to exert class specific effects on dendritic growth and/or branching in da neuron subclasses. Using transgenic overexpression of different Turtle isoforms, we find context-dependent, isoform-specific effects on mediating dendritic branching in class II, III and IV da neurons. Finally, we demonstrate via chromatin immunoprecipitation, qPCR, and immunohistochemistry analyses that Turtle expression is positively regulated by the Cut homeodomain transcription factor and via genetic interaction studies that Turtle is downstream effector of Cut-mediated regulation of da neuron dendrite morphology. Conclusions/Significance Our findings reveal that Turtle proteins differentially regulate the acquisition of class-specific dendrite morphologies. In addition, we have established a transcriptional regulatory interaction between Cut and Turtle, representing a novel pathway for mediating class specific dendrite development.