Showing papers by "Tohoku University published in 2005"
Newcastle University1, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust2, Mayo Clinic3, University of Nottingham4, Istanbul University5, University of British Columbia6, University of California, Los Angeles7, Veterans Health Administration8, Drexel University9, Stavanger University Hospital10, Tohoku University11, King's College London12, Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University13, University of California, San Diego14, McGill University15, Rush University Medical Center16, Autonomous University of Madrid17, Neuroscience Research Australia18, National Institutes of Health19, University of Tokyo20, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill21, Tel Aviv University22, University of Pennsylvania23, University College London24, University of Louisville25, Lund University26, University of Pittsburgh27, University of Washington28, Juntendo University29, Complutense University of Madrid30, University of Göttingen31, Kanazawa University32
TL;DR: The dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) Consortium has revised criteria for the clinical and pathologic diagnosis of DLB incorporating new information about the core clinical features and suggesting improved methods to assess them as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) Consortium has revised criteria for the clinical and pathologic diagnosis of DLB incorporating new information about the core clinical features and suggesting improved methods to assess them. REM sleep behavior disorder, severe neuroleptic sensitivity, and reduced striatal dopamine transporter activity on functional neuroimaging are given greater diagnostic weighting as features suggestive of a DLB diagnosis. The 1-year rule distinguishing between DLB and Parkinson disease with dementia may be difficult to apply in clinical settings and in such cases the term most appropriate to each individual patient should be used. Generic terms such as Lewy body (LB) disease are often helpful. The authors propose a new scheme for the pathologic assessment of LBs and Lewy neurites (LN) using alpha-synuclein immunohistochemistry and semiquantitative grading of lesion density, with the pattern of regional involvement being more important than total LB count. The new criteria take into account both Lewy-related and Alzheimer disease (AD)-type pathology to allocate a probability that these are associated with the clinical DLB syndrome. Finally, the authors suggest patient management guidelines including the need for accurate diagnosis, a target symptom approach, and use of appropriate outcome measures. There is limited evidence about specific interventions but available data suggest only a partial response of motor symptoms to levodopa: severe sensitivity to typical and atypical antipsychotics in ∼50%, and improvements in attention, visual hallucinations, and sleep disorders with cholinesterase inhibitors.
4,258 citations
TL;DR: The use of Raman spectroscopy to reveal the remarkable structure and the unusual electronic and phonon properties of single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) is reviewed comprehensively in this article.
3,835 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the atomic size difference, heat of mixing (H mix), and period of the constituent elements in the periodic table were classified according to the atomic sizes of the BMGs discovered to date.
Abstract: Bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) have been classified according to the atomic size difference, heat of mixing (� H mix ) and period of the constituent elements in the periodic table. The BMGs discovered to date are classified into seven groups on the basis of a previous result by Inoue. The seven groups are as follows: (G-I) ETM/Ln-LTM/BM-Al/Ga, (G-II) ETM/Ln-LTM/BM-Metalloid, (G-III) Al/Ga-LTM/BMMetalloid, (G-IV) IIA-ETM/Ln-LTM/BM, (G-V) LTM/BM-Metalloid, (G-VI) ETM/Ln-LTM/BM and (G-VII) IIA-LTM/BM, where ETM, Ln, LTM, BM and IIA refer to early transition, lanthanide, late transition, group IIIB–IVB and group IIA-group metals, respectively. The main alloying element of ternary G-I, G-V and G-VII, ternary G-II and G-IV, and ternary G-VI BMGs is the largest, intermediate and smallest atomic radius compared to the other alloying elements, respectively. The main alloying element of ternary BMGs belonging to G-I, G-V, G-VI and G
2,983 citations
Macquarie University1, University of Minnesota2, VU University Amsterdam3, University of Oslo4, Centre national de la recherche scientifique5, Tohoku University6, Curtin University7, Landcare Research8, Polish Academy of Sciences9, University of Tokyo10, Utrecht University11, University of Córdoba (Spain)12, University of New South Wales13
TL;DR: Global-scale quantification of relationships between plant traits gives insight into the evolution of the world's vegetation, and is crucial for parameterizing vegetation-climate models.
Abstract: Summary • Global-scale quantification of relationships between plant traits gives insight into the evolution of the world’s vegetation, and is crucial for parameterizing vegetation‐ climate models. • A database was compiled, comprising data for hundreds to thousands of species for the core ‘leaf economics’ traits leaf lifespan, leaf mass per area, photosynthetic capacity, dark respiration, and leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, as well as leaf potassium, photosynthetic N-use efficiency (PNUE), and leaf N : P ratio. • While mean trait values differed between plant functional types, the range found within groups was often larger than differences among them. Future vegetation‐ climate models could incorporate this knowledge. • The core leaf traits were intercorrelated, both globally and within plant functional types, forming a ‘leaf economics spectrum’. While these relationships are very general, they are not universal, as significant heterogeneity exists between relationships fitted to individual sites. Much, but not all, heterogeneity can be explained by variation in sample size alone. PNUE can also be considered as part of this trait spectrum, whereas leaf K and N : P ratios are only loosely related.
1,606 citations
J. Craig Venter Institute1, Washington University in St. Louis2, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute3, University of Manchester4, Complutense University of Madrid5, Tohoku University6, University of Nottingham7, Tulane University8, University of Kentucky9, Max Planck Society10, Spanish National Research Council11, University of Salamanca12, University of São Paulo13, Innsbruck Medical University14, University of Wisconsin-Madison15, University of Tokyo16, Nagoya University17, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology18, Pasteur Institute19, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center20, University of Idaho21, University of Lausanne22, University of Göttingen23, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology24, University of Sheffield25, Broad Institute26
TL;DR: The Af293 genome sequence provides an unparalleled resource for the future understanding of this remarkable fungus and revealed temperature-dependent expression of distinct sets of genes, as well as 700 A. fumigatus genes not present or significantly diverged in the closely related sexual species Neosartorya fischeri, many of which may have roles in the pathogenicity phenotype.
Abstract: Aspergillus fumigatus is exceptional among microorganisms in being both a primary and opportunistic pathogen as well as a major allergen. Its conidia production is prolific, and so human respiratory tract exposure is almost constant. A. fumigatus is isolated from human habitats and vegetable compost heaps. In immunocompromised individuals, the incidence of invasive infection can be as high as 50% and the mortality rate is often about 50% (ref. 2). The interaction of A. fumigatus and other airborne fungi with the immune system is increasingly linked to severe asthma and sinusitis. Although the burden of invasive disease caused by A. fumigatus is substantial, the basic biology of the organism is mostly obscure. Here we show the complete 29.4-megabase genome sequence of the clinical isolate Af293, which consists of eight chromosomes containing 9,926 predicted genes. Microarray analysis revealed temperature-dependent expression of distinct sets of genes, as well as 700 A. fumigatus genes not present or significantly diverged in the closely related sexual species Neosartorya fischeri, many of which may have roles in the pathogenicity phenotype. The Af293 genome sequence provides an unparalleled resource for the future understanding of this remarkable fungus.
1,356 citations
TL;DR: High levels of selective sorption of acetylene molecules as compared to a very similar molecule, carbon dioxide, onto the functionalized surface of a MOM are reported.
Abstract: Metal-organic microporous materials (MOMs) have attracted wide scientific attention owing to their unusual structure and properties, as well as commercial interest due to their potential applications in storage, separation and heterogeneous catalysis. One of the advantages of MOMs compared to other microporous materials, such as activated carbons, is their ability to exhibit a variety of pore surface properties such as hydrophilicity and chirality, as a result of the controlled incorporation of organic functional groups into the pore walls. This capability means that the pore surfaces of MOMs could be designed to adsorb specific molecules; but few design strategies for the adsorption of small molecules have been established so far. Here we report high levels of selective sorption of acetylene molecules as compared to a very similar molecule, carbon dioxide, onto the functionalized surface of a MOM. The acetylene molecules are held at a periodic distance from one another by hydrogen bonding between two non-coordinated oxygen atoms in the nanoscale pore wall of the MOM and the two hydrogen atoms of the acetylene molecule. This permits the stable storage of acetylene at a density 200 times the safe compression limit of free acetylene at room temperature.
1,301 citations
National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology1, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation2, Intec, Inc.3, Tohoku University4, University of Tokyo5, Nagoya University6, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology7, University of Manchester8, Broad Institute9, George Washington University10, Agricultural Research Service11, University of Nottingham12, Tulane University13, J. Craig Venter Institute14, Kikkoman15, Kyushu University16, Nara Institute of Science and Technology17
TL;DR: Specific expansion of genes for secretory hydrolytic enzymes, amino acid metabolism and amino acid/sugar uptake transporters supports the idea that A. oryzae is an ideal microorganism for fermentation.
Abstract: The genome of Aspergillus oryzae, a fungus important for the production of traditional fermented foods and beverages in Japan, has been sequenced. The ability to secrete large amounts of proteins and the development of a transformation system have facilitated the use of A. oryzae in modern biotechnology. Although both A. oryzae and Aspergillus flavus belong to the section Flavi of the subgenus Circumdati of Aspergillus, A. oryzae, unlike A. flavus, does not produce aflatoxin, and its long history of use in the food industry has proved its safety. Here we show that the 37-megabase (Mb) genome of A. oryzae contains 12,074 genes and is expanded by 7-9 Mb in comparison with the genomes of Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus. Comparison of the three aspergilli species revealed the presence of syntenic blocks and A. oryzae-specific blocks (lacking synteny with A. nidulans and A. fumigatus) in a mosaic manner throughout the genome of A. oryzae. The blocks of A. oryzae-specific sequence are enriched for genes involved in metabolism, particularly those for the synthesis of secondary metabolites. Specific expansion of genes for secretory hydrolytic enzymes, amino acid metabolism and amino acid/sugar uptake transporters supports the idea that A. oryzae is an ideal microorganism for fermentation.
1,149 citations
Tohoku University1, University of Tokyo2, University of Alabama3, Los Alamos National Laboratory4, University of California, Berkeley5, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory6, California Institute of Technology7, Kansas State University8, Drexel University9, Louisiana State University10, University of New Mexico11, Stanford University12, Imperial College London13, University of Tennessee14, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill15, Duke University16, University of Bordeaux17
TL;DR: In this article, a study of neutrino oscillation based on a 766 ton/year exposure of KamLAND to reactor antineutrinos is presented, where the observed energy spectrum disagrees with the expected spectral shape.
Abstract: We present results of a study of neutrino oscillation based on a 766 ton/year exposure of KamLAND to reactor antineutrinos. We observe 258 [overline nu ]e candidate events with energies above 3.4 MeV compared to 365.2±23.7 events expected in the absence of neutrino oscillation. Accounting for 17.8±7.3 expected background events, the statistical significance for reactor [overline nu ]e disappearance is 99.998%. The observed energy spectrum disagrees with the expected spectral shape in the absence of neutrino oscillation at 99.6% significance and prefers the distortion expected from [overline nu ]e oscillation effects. A two-neutrino oscillation analysis of the KamLAND data gives Deltam2=7.9 -0.5 +0.6 ×10-5 eV2. A global analysis of data from KamLAND and solar-neutrino experiments yields Deltam2=7.9 -0.5 +0.6 ×10-5 eV2 and tan2theta=0.40 -0.07 +0.10 , the most precise determination to date.
992 citations
TL;DR: Experimental evidence for ferroelectricity arising from electron correlations in the triangular mixed valence oxide, LuFe2O4 is reported, and resonant X-ray scattering measurements are used to determine the ordering of the Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions.
Abstract: Ferroelectric materials have a spontaneous electric polarization and are widely used in electronic devices including memories. Conventional ferroelectricity arises from ionic displacement, but an alternative mechanism has been proposed based on ordered electrons. Evidence for the latter behaviour has now been found in a mixed valence oxide. This type of ferroelectricity may offer potential for devices with enhanced controllability. Ferroelectric materials are widely used in modern electric devices such as memory elements, filtering devices and high-performance insulators. Ferroelectric crystals have a spontaneous electric polarization arising from the coherent arrangement of electric dipoles1 (specifically, a polar displacement of anions and cations). First-principles calculations2,3 and electron density analysis4 of ferroelectric materials have revealed that the covalent bond between the anions and cations, or the orbital hybridization of electrons on both ions, plays a key role in establishing the dipolar arrangement. However, an alternative model—electronic ferroelectricity5—has been proposed in which the electric dipole depends on electron correlations, rather than the covalency. This would offer the attractive possibility of ferroelectric materials that could be controlled by the charge, spin and orbital degrees of freedom of the electron. Here we report experimental evidence for ferroelectricity arising from electron correlations in the triangular mixed valence oxide, LuFe2O4. Using resonant X-ray scattering measurements, we determine the ordering of the Fe2+ and Fe3+ ions. They form a superstructure that supports an electric polarization consisting of distributed electrons of polar symmetry. The polar ordering arises from the repulsive property of electrons—electron correlations—acting on a frustrated geometry.
842 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the primordial abundances of the hadronic decay modes of X were derived using the JETSET 7.4 Monte Carlo event generator, which is used to calculate the spectrum of hadrons produced by the decay of X. In order to estimate the uncertainties, the Monte Carlo simulation which includes the experimental errors of the cross sections and transfered energies.
Abstract: We study the big-bang nucleosynthesis (BBN) with the long-lived exotic particle, called X. If the lifetime of X is longer than \sim 0.1 sec, its decay may cause non-thermal nuclear reactions during or after the BBN, altering the predictions of the standard BBN scenario. We pay particular attention to its hadronic decay modes and calculate the primordial abundances of the light elements. Using the result, we derive constraints on the primordial abundance of X. Compared to the previous studies, we have improved the following points in our analysis: The JETSET 7.4 Monte Carlo event generator is used to calculate the spectrum of hadrons produced by the decay of X; The evolution of the hadronic shower is studied taking account of the details of the energy-loss processes of the nuclei in the thermal bath; We have used the most recent observational constraints on the primordial abundances of the light elements; In order to estimate the uncertainties, we have performed the Monte Carlo simulation which includes the experimental errors of the cross sections and transfered energies. We will see that the non-thermal productions of D, He3, He4 and Li6 provide stringent upper bounds on the primordial abundance of late-decaying particle, in particular when the hadronic branching ratio of X is sizable. We apply our results to the gravitino problem, and obtain upper bound on the reheating temperature after inflation.
840 citations
Kevork N. Abazajian1, Jennifer K. Adelman-McCarthy2, Marcel A. Agüeros3, S. Allam2 +164 more•Institutions (47)
TL;DR: The Third Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) as mentioned in this paper contains data taken up through 2003 June, including imaging data in five bands over 5282 deg2, photometric and astrometric catalogs of the 141 million objects detected in these imaging data, and spectra of 528,640 objects selected over 4188 deg2.
Abstract: This paper describes the Third Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). This release, containing data taken up through 2003 June, includes imaging data in five bands over 5282 deg2, photometric and astrometric catalogs of the 141 million objects detected in these imaging data, and spectra of 528,640 objects selected over 4188 deg2. The pipelines analyzing both images and spectroscopy are unchanged from those used in our Second Data Release.
Macquarie University1, University of Minnesota2, VU University Amsterdam3, University of Oslo4, Curtin University5, Tohoku University6, Landcare Research7, University of Concepción8, University of Tartu9, Polish Academy of Sciences10, University of Tokyo11, Utrecht University12, University of New South Wales13
TL;DR: To quantify climatic influences on key leaf traits and relationships at the global scale provides insight into how plants have adapted to different environmental pressures, and will lead to better calibration of future vegetation‐climate models.
Abstract: Aim Our aim was to quantify climatic influences on key leaf traits and relationships at the global scale. This knowledge provides insight into how plants have adapted to different environmental pressures, and will lead to better calibration of future vegetation‐climate models. Location The data set represents vegetation from 175 sites around the world. Methods For more than 2500 vascular plant species, we compiled data on leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf life span (LL), nitrogen concentration (N mass ) and photosynthetic capacity (A mass ). Site climate was described with several standard indices. Correlation and regression analyses were used for quantifying relationships between single leaf traits and climate. Standardized major axis (SMA) analyses were used for assessing the effect of climate on bivariate relationships between leaf traits. Principal components analysis (PCA) was used to summarize multidimensional trait variation. Results At hotter, drier and higher irradiance sites, (1) mean LMA and leaf N per area were higher; (2) average LL was shorter at a given LMA, or the increase in LL was less for a given increase in LMA (LL‐LMA relationships became less positive); and (3) A mass was lower at a given N mass , or the increase in A mass was less for a given increase in N mass . Considering all traits simultaneously, 18% of variation along the principal multivariate trait axis was explained by climate.
University of Tokyo1, Boston University2, Brookhaven National Laboratory3, University of California, Irvine4, California State University, Dominguez Hills5, Chonnam National University6, Duke University7, George Mason University8, Gifu University9, Indiana University10, University of Tsukuba11, Okayama University12, Kobe University13, Kyoto University14, Los Alamos National Laboratory15, Louisiana State University16, University of Maryland, College Park17, University of Minnesota18, Miyagi University of Education19, Stony Brook University20, Nagoya University21, Niigata University22, Osaka University23, Seoul National University24, Shizuoka University25, Sungkyunkwan University26, Tohoku University27, Tokai University28, Tokyo Institute of Technology29, University of Warsaw30, University of Washington31
TL;DR: In this article, a combined analysis of fully-contained, partially-contained and upward-going muon atmospheric neutrino data from a 1489 d exposure of the Super-Kamiokande detector is presented.
Abstract: We present a combined analysis of fully-contained, partially-contained and upward-going muon atmospheric neutrino data from a 1489 d exposure of the Super-Kamiokande detector. The data samples span roughly five decades in neutrino energy, from 100 MeV to 10 TeV. A detailed Monte Carlo comparison is described and presented. The data is fit to the Monte Carlo expectation, and is found to be consistent with neutrino oscillations of {nu}{sub {mu}}{r_reversible}{nu}{sub {tau}} with sin{sup 2}2{theta}>0.92 and 1.5x10{sup -3}<{delta}m{sup 2}<3.4x10{sup -3} eV{sup 2} at 90% confidence level.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that OXTR plays a critical role in regulating several aspects of social behavior and may have important implications for developmental psychiatric disorders characterized by deficits in social behavior.
Abstract: The oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and its ligand, oxytocin (OXT), regulate reproductive physiology (i.e., parturition and lactation) and sociosexual behaviors. To define the essential functions of OXTR, we generated mice with a null mutation in the Oxtr gene (Oxtr-/-) and compared them with OXT-deficient (Oxt-/-) mice. Oxtr-/- mice were viable and had no obvious deficits in fertility or reproductive behavior. Oxtr-/- dams exhibited normal parturition but demonstrated defects in lactation and maternal nurturing. Infant Oxtr-/- males emitted fewer ultrasonic vocalizations than wild-type littermates in response to social isolation. Adult Oxtr-/- males also showed deficits in social discrimination and elevated aggressive behavior. Ligand Oxt-/- males from Oxt-/- dams, but not from Oxt+/- dams, showed similar high levels of aggression. These data suggest a developmental role for the OXT/OXTR system in shaping adult aggressive behavior. Our studies demonstrate that OXTR plays a critical role in regulating several aspects of social behavior and may have important implications for developmental psychiatric disorders characterized by deficits in social behavior.
TL;DR: Four heterozygous de novo mutations of HRAS are identified in 12 of 13 affected individuals, suggesting that germline mutations in HRAS perturb human development and increase susceptibility to tumors.
Abstract: Costello syndrome is a multiple congenital anomaly and mental retardation syndrome characterized by coarse face, loose skin, cardiomyopathy and predisposition to tumors. We identified four heterozygous de novo mutations of HRAS in 12 of 13 affected individuals, all of which were previously reported as somatic and oncogenic mutations in various tumors. Our observations suggest that germline mutations in HRAS perturb human development and increase susceptibility to tumors.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present room-temperature deformation mechanisms in polycrystalline Mg alloys and show that dislocation slip of basal and prismatic alloys can occur nearly at the same ease when the basal planes are tilted in such a way that the Schmid-factor ratio (equivalent to the critically resolved shear stress (CRSS) ratio) of prismatic to basal slip is larger than a value ranging from 1.5 to 2.
Abstract: This article presents room-temperature deformation mechanisms in polycrystalline Mg alloys. Dislocation slip of basal 〈a〉 and prismatic 〈a〉 types are shown to occur nearly at the same ease when the basal planes are tilted in such a way that the Schmid-factor ratio (equivalent to the critically resolved shear stress (CRSS) ratio) of prismatic 〈a〉 to basal 〈a〉 slip is larger than a value ranging from 1.5 to 2.0, depending on the initial texture distribution and grain size. Grain-boundary sliding (GBS) also occurs at room temperature up to 8 pct of total strain, enhanced by plastic anisotropy as well as by the increasing number of grain-boundary dislocations. Twinning plays an important role in both flow and fracture behaviors. Twins are induced mostly by stress concentrations caused by the anisotropic nature of dislocation slip. Twins can be classified into two types based on their shape: a wide lenticular type and a narrow banded type. The wide twins are
$$\{ 10\bar 12\} $$
twins appearing in the early stage of deformation and accompany little change of surface height. The narrow twins are
$$\{ 10\bar 11\} $$
or
$$\{ 30\bar 32\} $$
appearing in the late stage of deformation and accompany a substantial change in surface height. The formation of the narrow twins seems to give rise to highly localized shear deformation within the twin, leading to strain incompatibility and to final failure.
Tohoku University1, University of Kiel2, Wayne State University3, LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport4, Johns Hopkins University5, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research6, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center7, Dartmouth–Hitchcock Medical Center8, Saitama Medical University9, Osaka Medical College10, Kagoshima University11
TL;DR: A consensus nomenclature and criteria for classifying variants as distinctive IPMN subtypes including gastric type, intestinal type, pancreatobiliary type, and oncocytic type are defined and can be used for further analyses of the clinicopathological significance of the variations of IPMN.
Abstract: Now that more than two decades have passed since the first reports of intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs), it has become clear that IPMN consists of a spectrum of neoplasms with both morphological and immunohistochemical variations. At a meeting of international experts on pancreatic precursor lesions held in 2003, it was agreed that a consensus classification of IPMN subtypes should be established to enable a more detailed analysis of the clinicopathological significance of the variations. Based on our experience and on information from the literature, we selected representative histological examples of IPMNs and defined a consensus nomenclature and criteria for classifying variants as distinctive IPMN subtypes including gastric type, intestinal type, pancreatobiliary type, and oncocytic type. These definitions can be used for further analyses of the clinicopathological significance of the variations of IPMN.
TL;DR: Conventional BP measurements may not identify some individuals at high or low risk, but these people may be identifiable by the use of ambulatory BP.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used an organic metal free indoline dye as a sensitizer in a solid state solar cell with a hole conductor and achieved an efficiency of 4 % over the solar spectrum.
Abstract: Dye sensitized solar cells are an interesting low cost alter native to conventional solar cells. Efficiencies over 10 % have been achieved. [1,2] Advantageous is the replacement of the liquid electrolyte in these devices with a solid charge carrier material to avoid any sealing and long term stability prob lems. In 1998 Bach et al. [3] demonstrated that the electrolyte can be replaced by a hole conductor. Here we report a very efficient solid state solar cell with the amorphous organic hole transport material 2,2¢,7,7¢ tetrakis (N,N di p methoxyphenyl amine)9,9¢ spirobifluorene (spiro OMeTAD) as hole conduc tor and for the first time an organic metal free indoline dye as sensitizer. Record efficiencies for this type of cell of over 4 % over the solar spectrum were reached. Until now, sensitization using organic dyes has not been as efficient as using ruthenium dyes, which have been success fully applied previously. Metal free dyes such as perylene de rivatives, [4] coumarin dyes, [5] porphyrin dyes, [6] and cyanine and merocyanine dyes [7] have been used as sensitizers, but did not achieve the same solar conversion efficiency as ruthenium dyes. The efficiencies achieved in this work with the indoline dye (D102) are even higher than the highest currently report ed values for ruthenium dye sensitized solid state cells. In ad dition, this dye has the advantage that it can be produced at low cost, because it does not contain the expensive rare metal ruthenium and it is easy to synthesize. Up to now the best results reported with spiro OMeTAD as a hole conductor are efficiencies of 3.2 %. [8] In that work the dye uptake and open circuit voltage were optimized by a sil ver complexation. In the case of the indoline dye we were able to reach an efficiency of just over 4 % without further optimi zation. This shows the extremely high potential of the indoline dye as a sensitizer in solid state dye sensitized solar cells. In doline dyes have previously been used in dye sensitized solar cells with a liquid electrolyte. [9,10] There also they showed a good performance of up to g = 6.1 % conversion efficiency compared to 6.3 % for a N3 dye sensitized cell. [9] Solid state devices usually have a lower performance, which is not the case here with an extraordinary efficiency of 4 %, which ap proaches that of their liquid …
TL;DR: It is concluded that acetate and propionate short chain fatty acids may have important physiological roles in adipogenesis through G PCR43, but not through GPCR41.
Abstract: It has recently been discovered that G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) 41 and 43 are characterized by having the short chain fatty acids acetate and propionate as their ligands. The objective of this study was to investigate the involvement of GPCR41, GPCR43, and their ligands in the process of adipogenesis. We measured the levels of GPCR41 and GPCR43 mRNA in both adipose and other tissues of the mouse. GRP43 mRNA expression was higher in four types of adipose tissue than in other tissues, whereas GPCR41 mRNA was not detected in any adipose tissues. A high level of GPCR43 expression was found in isolated adipocytes, but expression level was very low in stromal-vascular cells. Expression of GPCR43 was up-regulated in adipose tissues of mice fed a high-fat diet compared with those fed a normal-fat diet. GPCR43 mRNA could not be detected in confluent and undifferentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes; however, the levels rose with time after the initiation of differentiation. GPCR41 expression was not detected in confl...
TL;DR: It is shown that Meisetz (meiosis-induced factor containing a PR/SET domain and zinc-finger motif) is a histone methyltransferase that is important for the progression of early meiotic prophase.
Abstract: Meiosis is a unique cell division that is necessary for sexual reproduction; it produces functional haploid gametes and shuffles genomic information. Progression through meiosis is controlled by the proper orchestration of a number of meiotic genes. A candidate gene for regulating meiotic gene expression has now been identified. Meisetz, encoding a meiosis-specific histone H3 lysine 4-specific trimethyltransferase, is essential for meiotic recombination between homologous chromosomes in mice. Meisetz has essential functions in spermatocytes through epigenetic modification of chromatin, the first instance of a gene regulating epigenetic control of gene expression during meiotic progression. Epigenetic modifications of histones regulate gene expression and chromatin structure1,2. Here we show that Meisetz (meiosis-induced factor containing a PR/SET domain and zinc-finger motif) is a histone methyltransferase that is important for the progression of early meiotic prophase. Meisetz transcripts are detected only in germ cells entering meiotic prophase in female fetal gonads and in postnatal testis. Notably, Meisetz has catalytic activity for trimethylation, but not mono- or dimethylation, of lysine 4 of histone H3, and a transactivation activity that depends on its methylation activity. Mice in which the Meisetz gene is disrupted show sterility in both sexes due to severe impairment of the double-stranded break repair pathway, deficient pairing of homologous chromosomes and impaired sex body formation. In Meisetz-deficient testis, trimethylation of lysine 4 of histone H3 is attenuated and meiotic gene transcription is altered. These findings indicate that meiosis-specific epigenetic events in mammals are crucial for proper meiotic progression.
TL;DR: In this article, the primordial abundance of late-decaying particles with hadronic branching ratio was derived for the non-thermal production process of D, 3 He and 6 Li.
TL;DR: Both forced and spontaneous motions of microbeads tightly bound to the CSK of human muscle cells are reported, establishing a striking analogy between the behaviour of the living CSK and that of inert non-equilibrium systems, including soft glasses, but with important differences that are highly ATP-dependent.
Abstract: The cytoskeleton (CSK) is a crowded network of structural proteins that stabilizes cell shape and drives cell motions. Recent studies on the dynamics of the CSK have established that a wide variety of cell types exhibit rheology in which responses are not tied to any particular relaxation times and are thus scale-free. Scale-free rheology is often found in a class of materials called soft glasses, but not all materials expressing scale-free rheology are glassy (see plastics, wood, concrete or some metals for example). As such, the extent to which dynamics of the CSK might be regarded as glassy remained an open question. Here we report both forced and spontaneous motions of microbeads tightly bound to the CSK of human muscle cells. Large oscillatory shear fluidized the CSK matrix, which was followed by slow scale-free recovery of rheological properties (aging). Spontaneous bead motions were subdiffusive at short times but superdiffusive at longer times; intermittent motions reflecting nanoscale CSK rearrangements depended on both the approach to kinetic arrest and energy release due to ATP hydrolysis. Aging, intermittency, and approach to kinetic arrest establish a striking analogy between the behaviour of the living CSK and that of inert non-equilibrium systems, including soft glasses, but with important differences that are highly ATP-dependent. These mesoscale dynamics link integrative CSK functions to underlying molecular events, and represent an important intersection of topical issues in condensed matter physics and systems biology.
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: In this paper, a cylindrical quartz tube with an inner diameter of 2mm was used as a model channel, and the downstream part of the tube was heated by an external heat source, and hence the temperature gradient in the axial direction was formed in the tube.
Abstract: Characteristics of premixed combustion in a heated channel with an inner diameter smaller than the conventional quenching distance of the employed mixture were investigated experimentally, analytically, and numerically. A cylindrical quartz tube with an inner diameter of 2 mm was used as a model channel. The downstream part of the tube was heated by an external heat source, and hence the temperature gradient in the axial direction was formed in the middle of the tube. Flat and stationary conventional premixed flames were stabilized at a point in this temperature gradient. In addition to these flames, various other flames that exhibit dynamic behaviors such as cyclic oscillatory motions, and repetitive ignition and extinction were also observed experimentally. These flames with large amplitude oscillatory motion might be utilized as a heat source with high speed temporal temperature variations in microsystems for future application. Another stable flame region in extremely low speed criteria at a mixture velocity of 2–3 cm/s was also experimentally confirmed. This flame was inferred to be an example of mild combustion, and it might also be used as a mild heat source for microdevices. The overall stability criteria of these flame regimes were analytically examined, and the detailed structure of each flame on the stable solution branches was numerically examined by employing 1D computation with detailed chemistry. The two results qualitatively agreed with each other and clarified the mechanism of the present various flames and their dynamic characteristics.
TL;DR: An analysis of density functional calculations determines the nature of magnetic interactions for transition metals doped ZnO and develops a physical picture based on hybridization, superexchange, and double exchange that captures chemical trends.
Abstract: The introduction of ferromagnetic order in ZnO results in a transparent piezoelectric ferromagnet and further expands its already wide range of applications into the emerging field of spintronics. Through an analysis of density functional calculations we determine the nature of magnetic interactions for transition metals doped ZnO and develop a physical picture based on hybridization, superexchange, and double exchange that captures chemical trends. We identify a crucial role of defects in the observed weak and preparation sensitive ferromagnetism in ZnO:Mn and ZnO:Co. We predict and explain co-doping of Li and Zn interstitials to both yield ferromagnetism in ZnO:Co, in contrast with earlier insights, and verify it experimentally.
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of anticoagulant therapy on the survival of patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) was evaluated in five hospitals located in the Miyagi prefecture in Japan, including a university hospital, a Red Cross hospital, two public general hospitals and a municipal hospital.
TL;DR: In this paper, structural differences in LiBH 4 before and after the melting reaction at approximately 550 K were investigated to clarify the experimental method for the confirmation of reversible dehydriding and rehydriding reactions.
TL;DR: It is concluded that the relationship between ambulatory systolic blood pressure and cardiovascular mortality is not U-shaped or J-shaped, and that nighttime blood pressure has better prognostic value than daytime blood pressure.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to elucidate the long-term prognostic significance of ambulatory blood pressure. Ambulatory and casual blood pressure values were obtained from 1332 subjects (872 women and 460 men) aged ≥40 years from the general population of a rural Japanese community. Survival was then followed for 14 370 patient years and analyzed by a Cox hazard model adjusted for possible confounding factors. There were 72 cardiovascular deaths during the 10.8-year follow-up. The relationship between 24-hour systolic blood pressure and the cardiovascular mortality risk was U-shaped in the first 5 years, then changed to J-shaped over the rest of the 10.8-year follow-up. After censoring the first 2 years of data, the risk flattened until it again increased for the fifth quintile of 24-hour systolic blood pressure for the 10.8-year follow-up period. For 24-hour diastolic blood pressure, the J-shaped relationship remained unchanged, regardless of follow-up duration and censoring. Ambulatory systolic blood pressure values consistently showed stronger predictive power for cardiovascular mortality risk than did casual systolic blood pressure in the 10.8-year follow-up data, whereas such relationships became more marked after censoring the first 2 years. When nighttime and daytime systolic blood pressure values were simultaneously included in the same Cox model, only nighttime blood pressure significantly predicted the cardiovascular mortality risk for the 10.8-year follow-up data. We conclude that the relationship between ambulatory systolic blood pressure and cardiovascular mortality is not U-shaped or J-shaped, and that nighttime blood pressure has better prognostic value than daytime blood pressure.
TL;DR: In this article, a near-band-edge bluish electroluminescence (EL) band centered at around 440 nm was observed from ZnO p-i-n homojunction diodes through a semi-transparent electrode deposited on the p-type top layer.
Abstract: A near-band-edge bluish electroluminescence (EL) band centered at around 440 nm was observed from ZnO p–i–n homojunction diodes through a semi-transparent electrode deposited on the p-type ZnO top layer. The EL peak energy coincided with the photoluminescence peak energy of an equivalent p-type ZnO layer, indicating that the electron injection from the n-type layer to the p-type layer dominates the current, giving rise to the radiative recombination in the p-type layer. The imbalance in charge injection is considered to originate from the lower majority carrier concentration in the p-type layer, which is one or two orders of magnitude lower than that in the n-type one. The current-voltage characteristics showed the presence of series resistance of several hundreds ohms, corresponding to the current spread resistance within the bottom n-type ZnO. The employment of conducting ZnO substrates may solve the latter problem.
TL;DR: The anomalous magnetic field-temperature phase diagram with a high upper critical field suggests that an unconventional superconductivity is realized in CeRhSi3.
Abstract: We report the pressure-induced superconductivity in the noncentrosymmetric heavy-fermion ${\mathrm{CeRhSi}}_{3}$. The superconductivity emerges above about 12 kbar even though the antiferromagnetic ordering persists. Furthermore, another anomaly is observed in the superconducting phase. The anomalous magnetic field-temperature phase diagram with a high upper critical field suggests that an unconventional superconductivity is realized in ${\mathrm{CeRhSi}}_{3}$.