Role of Metabolism in Bone Development and Homeostasis

Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are the underlying energy sources for animals and are catabolized through specific biochemical cascades involving numerous enzymes. The catabolites and metabolites in these metabolic pathways are crucial for many cellular functions; therefore, an imbalance and/or dysregulation of these pathways causes cellular dysfunction, resulting in various metabolic diseases. Bone, a highly mineralized organ that serves as a skeleton of the body, undergoes continuous active turnover, which is required for the maintenance of healthy bony components through the deposition and resorption of bone matrix and minerals. This highly coordinated event is regulated throughout life by bone cells such as osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and osteocytes, and requires synchronized activities from different metabolic pathways. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive review of the cellular metabolism involved in bone development and homeostasis, as revealed by mouse genetic studies.     

Dynamical Properties of Vortices in a Bose-Einstein Condensate in a Rotating Lattice

We present simulation results of the vortex dynamics in a trapped Bose-Einstein condensate in the presence of a rotating optical lattice. Changing the potential amplitude and the relative rotation frequency between the condensate and the optical lattice, we find a rich variety of dynamical phases of vortices. In particular, when the optical lattice rotates faster than the condensate, the competition between the pinning force and the interactions by nucleated interstitial vortices leads to the melting of vortex lattice, yielding a vortex liquid phase.     

Superconductivity in SrTa2S5

A strontium tantalum sulfide, SrTa₂S₅, has a hexagonal structure with lattice constants of a =3.32 and c=24.1 Å. With decreasing temperature the electrical resistivity decreases monotonically and exhibits an abrupt superconducting transition at 3.16 K (midpoint). The diamagnetic susceptibility is observed below T_c. The magnetic susceptibility is nearly independent of temperature above T_c and shows Pauli paramagnetism.     

Effect of ibudilast on microcirculation thrombosis in rat inner ear

Arterial wall thickening may be quantitatively assessed by measuring the intima-media thickness (IMT) with high resolution ultrasound. Previous studies have shown a good inter/intraobserver variability of IMT measurements in the common carotid. In this study we evaluated the inter/intraobserver variability of IMT measurements in 10 randomly selected asymptomatic subjects (age 55.4 +/- 6). Two carotids and two femorals were studied in each subject. IMT for each patient was the average of five IMT measurements at the artery bifurcation. Three observers repeated the scanning and the measurements twice with no knowledge of the previous readings. The between observer coefficient of variation (CV) was 8.45%; the intraobserver CV (mean of carotids and femorals) varied from 4.4 to 5.1% for the three observers who measured IMT three times. The mean absolute difference between the first and the third measurement was 0.0738 mm. In conclusion IMT measurement variability is mostly due to differences between observers. The intraobserver variability is very small. IMT measurements at the carotid and femoral bifurcations have a low variability and are a good expression of atherosclerosis as they consider early lesions at the bifurcation level which may not be observed in the common carotid.     

Analytic Approximation to The Standard Error of Swap-Rate

When we select No students from N applicants on the basis of a composite score of subtests, it is important to evaluate the contribution of each subtest. The swap-rate, which is defined as the proportion of the applicants who actually pass the examination but would fail if the j-th subtest were not included in the component to rank the applicants, is one of the measures of the contribution of the j-th subtest.

In this article, first, we derive the characteristics and limiting properties of the population swap-rate. Next, using the properties of the order statistics and the extended hypergeometric distribution, we derive an approximation to the asymptotic variance of the sample swap-rate when the number of applicants is large. Finally, we propose the use of our analytic approximation to the variance of the sample swap-rate in the real data problem and show that it is very efficient.

     

Development of 170 GHz/500 kW gyrotron

A development of 170GHz/500kW level gyrotron was carried out as R&D work of ITER. The oscillation mode is TE_31,8. In a short pulse experiment, the maximum power of 750kW was achieved at 85kV/40A. The efficiency was 22%. In the depressed collector operation, 500kW/36%/50ms was obtained. The maximum efficiency of 40% was obtained at P_RF=470kW whereas the power decrease by the electron trapping was observed. Pulse extension was done up to 10s at P_RF=170kW with the depressed collector operation. The power was limited by the temperature increase of the output window.     

Antibacterial actin of vinegar against food-borne pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli O157:H7 (Part 2). Effect of sodium chloride and temperature on bactericidal activity

Bactericidal effects of various kinds of AWASEZU (processed vinegar, 2.5% acidity) on food-borne pathogenic bacteria including Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other bacteria were examined. the order of bactericidal activities was NIHAIZU (3.5% NaCl was added) > SANBA-IZU (3.5% NaCl and 10% sucrose were added) > plain vinegar (spirit vinegar) > AMAZU (10% sucrose was added). This indicates that their activities were enhanced by the addition of sodium chloride and suppressed by the addition of sugar. On the other hand, when soy sauce was used instead of sodium chloride, the order of bactericidal activities was plain vinegar > AMAZU > NIHAIZU > SANBAIZU. This is mainly because their activities were suppressed by the increase in the pH value. The effect of sodium chloride (0.01-15%) and temperature (10-50 degrees C) on bactericidal activities against E. coli O157:H7 in spirit vinegar (0.5-2.5% acidity) was further examined. When vinegar was used in combination with sodium chloride, predominant synergism on the bactericidal activity was observed. Their activities were markedly enhanced by the addition of sodium chloride in proportion to the concentration. In addition to this, at higher temperatures spirit vinegar killed bacteria much more rapidly. It should be noted that the bactericidal activity of spirit vinegar was extremely enhanced by the combined use of the addition of sodium chloride and the rise of temperature. For example, in 2.5% acidity vinegar, the time required for 3 log decrease in viable cell numbers at 20 degrees C was shortened to 1/140-fold by the addition of 5% sodium chloride, shortened to 1/51-fold by the rise of the reaction temperature at 40 degrees C, and shortened to 1/830-fold; 0.89 minutes by both the addition of 5% sodium chloride and the rise of temperature at 40 degrees C. In order to propose the methods to prevent food poisoning by bacterial infection, bactericidal activities of vinegar solution containing sodium chloride on cooking tools and raw vegetables were examined. Vinegar solution (1-2% acidity, 3-7% NaCl) produced more than 3 log decrease in viable cell numbers of E. coli O157:H7 on the surface of cutting board, and cabbage and cucumber at 20-50 degrees C. These results suggested that the treatment with vinegar solution containing sodium chloride may be one of the useful methods to prevent food poisoning.     

Relationship between local immune response to Helicobacter pylori and the diversity of disease: investigation of H. pylori-specific IgA in gastric juice

In order to evaluate the relationship between local immune response to Helicobacter pylori and the diversity of disease, 77 asymptomatic subjects who underwent a health examination were studied. Helicobacter pylori-specific IgG in serum and H. pylori-specific IgA in gastric juice were measured by ELISA, and the measured IgA titre was classified into two grades, low or high. Histological classification of gastritis was performed according to the Sydney system. Cytokines in gastric juice were also measured, and the cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) status of H. pylori was tested by PCR. Of the 65 subjects who were positive for H. pylori-specific IgG in serum, 38 (58.5%) were classified as H. pylori-specific IgA low titre in gastric juice and 27 (41.5%) had high titres. In the IgG-positive, IgA-low group, the rate of peptic ulcers (especially duodenal ulcers) in endoscopic findings was higher (P < 0.05); the score of activity and the density of H. pylori were higher (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively); the score of metaplasia was lower (P < 0.05); and the level of interleukin-1 beta was lower (P < 0.05) than in the IgG-positive, IgA-high group. The positive rate of the cagA gene was 84.4% and there was no significant difference between the two groups. There were differences in endoscopic and histological findings between the IgG-positive, IgA-low and the IgG-positive, IgA-high groups. It is suggested that persons infected with H. pylori can be divided into two different states of disease according to local immune response.     

Design optimization of tall tubular lead/acid cells based on an analysis of the reaction distribution

In order to estimate the discharge performance of tall lead/acid cells (with tubular positives), changes in current and potential distributions with discharge progress were calculated with a computer on the basis of plate resistance and the current—potential—time relationship between small facing parts of positive and negative plates. The taller the cell, the larger the voltage drop along the plates. Thus, the discharge time became shorter despite a large amount of available active mass remaining in the bottom part of the plates.Various current-collector designs were evaluated, e.g., one with varying resistance at each height; a side conductor placed along the plates and connected to them at the top, centre and bottom, etc. Results revealed an optimum collector design with which the maximum discharge capacity could be obtained. Furthermore, it was shown that the side conductor markedly improved the discharge performance because the active mass near the connecting parts was appreciably used.