Mutated KIT Tyrosine Kinase as a Novel Molecular Target in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

KIT is a type-III receptor tyrosine kinase that contributes to cell signaling in various cells. Since KIT is activated by overexpression or mutation and plays an important role in the development of some cancers, such as gastrointestinal stromal tumors and mast cell disease, molecular therapies targeting KIT mutations are being developed. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), genome profiling via next-generation sequencing has shown that several genes that are mutated in patients with AML impact patients’ prognosis. Moreover, it was suggested that precision-medicine-based treatment using genomic data will improve treatment outcomes for AML patients. This paper presents (1) previous studies regarding the role of KIT mutations in AML, (2) the data in AML with KIT mutations from the HM-SCREEN-Japan-01 study, a genome profiling study for patients newly diagnosed with AML who are unsuitable for the standard first-line treatment (unfit) or have relapsed/refractory AML, and (3) new therapies targeting KIT mutations, such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors and heat shock protein 90 inhibitors. In this era when genome profiling via next-generation sequencing is becoming more common, KIT mutations are attractive novel molecular targets in AML.     

Studies on Effective Utilization of SOFC Exhaust Heat Using Thermoelectric Power Generation Technology

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are being researched around the world. In Japan, a compact SOFC system with rated alternative current (AC) power of 700 W has become available on the market, since the base load electricity demand for a standard home is said to be less than 700 W AC. To improve the generating efficiency of SOFC systems in the 700-W class, we focused on thermoelectric generation (TEG) technology, since there are a lot of temperature gradients in the system. Analysis based on simulations indicated the possibility of introducing thermoelectric generation at the air preheater, steam generator, and exhaust outlet. Among these options, incorporating a TEG heat exchanger comprising multiple CoSb₃/SiGe-based TEG modules into the air preheater had potential to produce additional output of 37.5 W and an improvement in generating efficiency from 46% to 48.5%. Furthermore, by introducing thermoelectric generation at the other two locations, an increase in maximum output of more than 50 W and generating efficiency of 50% can be anticipated.     

Colossal Barocaloric Effect by Large Latent Heat Produced by First-Order Intersite-Charge-Transfer Transition

Materials which show novel thermal properties can be used to make highly efficient and environmentally friendly energy systems for thermal energy storage and refrigeration through caloric effects. An A-site-ordered quadruple perovskite-structure oxide, NdCu₃Fe₄O₁₂, is found to release significant latent heat, 25.5 kJ kg⁻¹ (157 J cc⁻¹), at the intersite-charge-transfer transition temperature near room temperature. The transition is first-order and accompanied by an unusual magnetic ordering and a large negative-thermal-expansion-like volume change, and thus, it causes a large entropy change (84.2 J K⁻¹ kg⁻¹). The observed entropy change is comparable to the largest changes reported in inorganic solid materials, and more importantly, it is utilized through a colossal barocaloric effect. The adiabatic temperature change by applying 5.1 kbar pressure is estimated to reach 13.7 K, which means efficient refrigeration can be realized through this effect.     

Conceptual design of rain radar for the tropical rainfall measuring mission

Specifications for a spaceborne rain radar for tropical rainfall measurement are described. A spaceborne rain radar has problems peculiar to rain observation from space. The radar must have a fast scanning mechanism to cover a large swath. Very weak rain echoes compared to the sea or land surface signal must be detected. These capabilities must be attained under the severe power consumption and mass limitations of the satellite bus. The fast scanning requirement forces application of an electrically scanning mechanism. This requirement also causes a severe limitation of the available number of independent samples. The requirement for weak rain echoes excludes application of the pulse compression technique, which is a very conventional technique for other active microwave sensors on board satellites. Under these constraints, a rain radar with an electrically scanning planar antenna at 13-8 GHz is proposed.     

Temporal occurrence of immature skeletal muscle fibers in the sciatic nerve matrix regenerating within the silicone chamber after nerve transection in the normal rat

We examined by light and electron microscopy the immature skeletal muscle fibers in the rat sciatic nerve regenerating within the silicone chamber 14 days after nerve transection. Small myelinated and nonmyelinated nerve fibers associated with Schwann cells from the proximal stump began to approach the midportion of the interstump zone. In the middle segment, fibroblasts or fibroblast-like mesenchymal cells and macrophages were observed everywhere in the newly formed matrix filled with exuded erythrocytes and fibrin clots. In addition to some fibroblast-like mesenchymal cells were closely apposed to each other. However, the proximal and distal segments contained immature muscle fibers with various amount of myofilaments and one or plural centrally located nuclei, thus indicating various phases of the early differentiation of skeletal muscle fibers similar to those observed during an early stage of developing muscle fibers. However, the precise origin of these skeletal muscle fibers remains to be determined.     

Measurement on the dielectric properties of acid-doped ice at 9.7GHz

The relative complex dielectric permittivity of acid-doped ice was measured at 9.7 GHz with the standing wave method. The objective of this measurement is to clarify the basic physical properties of ice necessary for the microwave remote sensing of the cryosphere. The acid-doped ice was investigated because acid is one of the major impurities found in snow and ice in the cryosphere. The experimental results show that the complex permittivity increases linearly with concentration of doped acid. Moreover, when the concentration of acid is expressed by molarity, this linear relation is independent of the sort of acid. The complex permittivity of acid-doped ice can be expressed as a function of concentration of acid and temperature definitely. A possible mechanism for enhancing the complex permittivity of acid-doped ice is formation of liquid phase in ice     

A GaAs FET-IC mixer achieving high receiver sensitivity for coherent optical heterodyne detection at 2.5 Gb/s

A FET-IC mixer that uses a Gilbert-cell multiplier with a single-to-balance conversion input buffer is proposed. The key point in the FET-IC mixer design is that a single-to-balance conversion input buffer is used to improve the amplitude and phase balance of signals output from the input buffer stage. Excellent squaring characteristics were achieved in the range from 0 to -25 dBm. The FET-IC mixer was successfully tested in a 2.5 Gb/s CPFSK demodulator for optical heterodyne reception. Compared to the best diode passive double-balanced diode mixers, receiver sensitivity was improved by 1 dB at +10 dBm electrical input power. Very small degradation in receiver sensitivity, less than 3 dB, was achieved at electrical input power levels ranging from +10 to -10 dBm.<>