Molecular cloning and characterization of rat lin-10

In Caenorhabditis elegans, the vulval induction is mediated by tyrosine kinase receptor/Ras signal transduction pathway composed of the lin-3, let-23, and let-60 products. In addition to these gene products, the lin-2, lin-7, and lin-10 products are also implicated in this pathway. Lin-2 encodes a MAGUK and lin-7 encodes a small protein with one PDZ domain. The lin-10 product has no homology to known proteins. Here, we have cloned a rat homologue of the lin-10 product and characterized it. Rat lin-10 is ubiquitously expressed in various rat tissues and distributed in both the cytosol and membrane fractions. In brain, however, rat lin-10 is distributed only in the membrane fraction and enriched in the synaptic plasma membrane and postsynaptic density fractions. These results suggest that rat lin-10 is involved at least in synaptic functions in brain.     

The integral experiment on beryllium with D-T neutrons for verification of tritium breeding

A clean benchmark experiment on beryllium was performed with D-T neutrons at the FNS facility of the Japan Atomic Energy Agency. The main objective was to verify the integral data related to the tritium production on lithium isotopes. Tritium production rates, as well as activation reaction rates were measured inside the beryllium assembly that was shaped as a pseudo-cylindrical slab with an area-equivalent diameter of 628 mm and a thickness of 355 mm. Experimental results were analyzed with a three-dimensional Monte Carlo transport code MCNP-4C and FENDL/MC-2.0, JENDL-3.2/3.3 neutron transport libraries. Evaluation of reaction rates was based on the cross section data taken from the JENDL Dosimetry File and ENDF B-VI data libraries. Analysis shows that all calculation combinations (transport and activation cross section libraries) used for evaluation of reaction rates give data that is agreeable with measured values within 10%.     

The role of prostate specific antigen in diagnosis of localized adenocarcinoma of the prostate. Nara Uro-Oncology Research Group

The number of cases of prostate carcinoma (PCA) is steadily inceasing in Japan. The clinical application of a reliable tumor marker, prostate specific antigen (PSA) for the diagnosis, as well as the increasing elderly population in Japan may account for this increase. The subjects were patients at the Nara Medical University and its affiliated hospitals; 1) 687 cases without PCA were evaluated for age-specific PSA and the incidence of abnormal PSA following urological manipulations, 2) 135 cases with histological proven BPH by transurethral resection of prostate (TUR-P) were examined for PSA density (PSAD) and positive PSA rate in BPH, 3) 135 cases receiving a needle biopsy with suspicion of PCA were examined for the efficacy of PSA and PSAD and other parameters, and 4) 459 PCA cases treated between 1988 and 1994, were examined for specific PSA and PSAD values by stage and degree of cell differentiation. The PSA assay used in this study was MARKIT-M PA (normal range < or = 3.6 ng/ml). The PSA was decreased gradually with age in non-PCA patients, and abnormal PSA was found in 5.5% of these patients following manipulations. The average PSA was 2.95 +/- 2.03 ng/ml in 130 BPH patients (mean age: 71.1 +/- 7.0 years old. and average prostate volume: 32.9 +/- 16.1 ml). And abnormal PSA level (more than 3.61 ng/ml) was found in 22.3%. The mean PSAD was 0.1.0 +/- 0.06, and PSAD was below 0.15 in 86.1% of these BPH cases. Among the 135 cases receiving a needle biopsy, 33 cases had PSA values between 3.61 and 10.0 ng/ml. Of these cases, PCA was found in 18.5% of the 27 cases with a PSAD below 1.5, and in 33.3% of the 6 cases with a PSAD over 1.5. PSA and PSAD were proportionally increased with stage, and a significant difference in the PSA value was observed between stage B1 and B2, and stage C and D (P < 0.05). However, PSA and PSAD values were not significantly correlated with the cell differentiation in PCA stage A2-C. In total, PSA was 18.1 ng/ml in well, 23.9 ng/ml in moderately and 35.9 ng/ml in poorly differentiated type PCA. The positive rate of PSA was 22.3, 65.4 and 83.5%, that of prostate acid phosphatase (PAP) was 10.0, 17.8 and 45.8%, and that of GSM was 25.0, 14.7 and 68.4%, in BPH, stage A PCA and stage BPCA, respectively. In conclusion, PSA is the most reliable tool in the diagnosis of localized PCA. However, the differential diagnosis of BPH and localized PCA is difficult when the PSA value is between 3.61 and 10.0 ng/ml, and accurate staging of localized PCA is difficult with PSA or PSAD alone. At present, it is necessary to use all possible tools for the early detection of localized PCA, and to perform the needle biopsy in all PCA-suspicious cases.     

Highly reliable a‐IGZO TFTs on a plastic substrate for flexible AMOLED displays

We have successfully reduced threshold voltage shifts of amorphous In–Ga–Zn–O thin‐film transistors (a‐IGZO TFTs) on transparent polyimide films against bias‐temperature stress below 100 mV, which is equivalent to those on glass substrates. This high reliability was achieved by dense IGZO thin films and annealing temperature below 300 °C. We have reduced bulk defects of IGZO thin films and interface defects between gate insulator and IGZO thin film by optimizing deposition conditions of IGZO thin films and annealing conditions. Furthermore, a 3.0‐in. flexible active‐matrix organic light‐emitting diode was demonstrated with the highly reliable a‐IGZO TFT backplane on polyimide film. The polyimide film coating process is compatible with mass‐production lines. We believe that flexible organic light‐emitting diode displays can be mass produced using a‐IGZO TFT backplane on polyimide films.     

Identification of SYS1 as a Host Factor Required for Shiga Toxin-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Vero Cells

Shiga toxin (STx) or Vero toxin is a virulence factor produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli. The toxin binds to the glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) for its entry, and causes cell death by inhibiting ribosome function. Previously, we performed a loss-of-function screen in HeLa cells using a human CRISPR knockout (KO) library and identified various host genes required for STx-induced cell death. To determine whether this library targeted to the human genome is applicable to non-human primate cells and to identify previously unrecognized factors crucial for STx-induced cell death, we herein performed a similar screen in the African green monkey kidney-derived Vero C1008 subline. Many genes relevant to metabolic enzymes and membrane trafficking were enriched, although the number of enriched genes was less than that obtained in the screening for HeLa cells. Of note, several genes that had not been enriched in the previous screening were enriched: one of these genes was SYS1, which encodes a multi-spanning membrane protein in the Golgi apparatus. In SYS1 KO Vero cells, expression of Gb3 and sphingomyelin was decreased, while that of glucosylceramide and lactosylceramide was increased. In addition, loss of SYS1 inhibited the biosynthesis of protein glycans, deformed the Golgi apparatus, and perturbed the localization of trans-Golgi network protein (TGN) 46. These results indicate that the human CRISPR KO library is applicable to Vero cell lines, and SYS1 has a widespread effect on glycan biosynthesis via regulation of intra-Golgi and endosome–TGN retrograde transports.     

New catalytic functions of Pd–Zn, Pd–Ga, Pd–In, Pt–Zn, Pt–Ga and Pt–In alloys in the conversions of methanol

Pd and Pt supported on ZnO, Ga₂O₃ and In₂O₃ exhibit high catalytic performance for the steam reforming of methanol, CH₃OH+H₂OCO₂+3HH₂, and the dehydrogenation of methanol to HCOOCH₃, 2CH₃OHHCOOCH₃+2HH₂. Combined results with temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and XRD method revealed that Pd–Zn, Pd–Ga, Pd–In, Pt–Zn, Pt–Ga and Pt–In alloys were produced upon reduction. Over the catalysts having the alloy phase, the reactions proceeded selectively, whereas the catalysts having metallic phase exhibited poor selectivities.     

Numerical simulation of parallel-plate particle separator for estimation of charge distribution of PM2.5

A numerical simulation of an instrument that is used to measure the charging state of PM2.5 is conducted in order to clarify its measurement uncertainty and to improve its performance. The instrument, a parallel-plate particle separator (PPPS), is designed to classify aerosol particles according to their charging states and measure their quantities. The trajectories of submicron particles in the PPPS are numerically analyzed using the Lagrangian particle tracking method, taking into account the Brownian force and the electrostatic force. First, it is confirmed that the deterioration in the classification accuracy observed in the experiment is due to Brownian diffusion. The optimal condition that improves the accuracy is investigated through a parametric study by varying the balance of flow rates at the inlets, the geometry of the inlet and exit sections, and the applied voltage. It is found that decreasing the flow rate of the central inlet for aerosol or narrowing the central inlet improves the accuracy. The dependence of the accuracy on the flow rate is found to be in accordance with the experimental results. For charged particles, an optimum voltage that maximizes the classification accuracy is found. On the basis of the simulation results, we propose a method to determine the charge distribution of aerosol from the number of particles counted at each exit of the PPPS. In the test assuming aerosol in the air, the charge distribution determined from the number count at the exits is found to perfectly agree with the charge distribution specified at the inlet.

Copyright © 2019 American Association for Aerosol Research     

Structure and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Lanthanide Borate Glasses

The third–order nonlinear optical susceptibility, χ⁽³⁾, of lanthanide (lanthanum, praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium) borate glasses has been measured by the third harmonic generation method. The structure of the present glass system has been studied by infrared and Raman spectroscopic methods. The network structures of the present Ln₂O₃–B₂O₃ glasses have been confirmed to be basically similar to each other. Praseodymium, neodymium, and samarium borate glasses exhibit χ⁽³⁾ values that are larger than lanthanum borate glasses, because of the optical resonance effect, in accordance with the f – f transition. Especially, the χ⁽³⁾ value for 30Pr₂O₃·70B₂O₃ glass is 1.8 × 10⁻¹² esu, which is a factor of ∼60 larger than that of SiO₂ glass. This striking enhancement of χ⁽³⁾ is mainly attributed to the large transition moment to the first excitation state.     

High-Strength and High-Fracture-Toughness Ceramics in the Al2O3/LaAl11O18 Systems

Control of microstructure in the Al₂O₃/LaAl₁₁O₁₈ system was performed. Elongated alumina grains were formed by doping with small addition of silica, and 20 vol% lanthana- luminate was formed in situ by the reaction of LaAlO₃- A1₂O₃ in an alumina matrix. Strengths of over 600 MPa and a high fracture toughness (6 MPa.m^1/2) were achieved in the material with both elongated A1₂O₃ grains and LaAl₁₁O₁₈ platelets. Generally antagonistic properties such as strength and fracture toughness have been made compatible in the same ceramic system.     

Highly Transparent Lu-α-SiAlON

Novel Lu-α-SiAlON ceramics were produced by hot pressing mixtures of Si₃N₄, Lu₂O₃, AlN, and Al₂O₃ at 1950°C for 2 h in a nitrogen atmosphere. The resultant SiAlON was fully dense and possessed a uniform, equiaxed microstructure with a grain size of ∼1 μm, which resulted in a high hardness of >19 GPa. In addition to high hardness, the sample showed very high optical transparency in the visible light region, with >70% transmission at higher wavelengths. This high transparency was attributed to the uniform, dense microstructure and lack of residual grain-boundary phase.