Showing papers by "University of Tsukuba published in 1995"

Observation of top quark production in p̄p collisions with the collider detector at fermilab

Abstract: We establish the existence of the top quark using a $67{\mathrm{pb}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ data sample of $\overline{p}p$ collisions at $\sqrt{s}\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}=\phantom{\rule{0ex}{0ex}}1.8\mathrm{TeV}$ collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab (CDF). Employing techniques similar to those we previously published, we observe a signal consistent with $t\overline{t}$ decay to $\mathrm{WWb}\overline{b}$, but inconsistent with the background prediction by $4.8\ensuremath{\sigma}$. Additional evidence for the top quark is provided by a peak in the reconstructed mass distribution. We measure the top quark mass to be $176\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}8(\mathrm{stat})\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}10(\mathrm{syst})\mathrm{GeV}{/c}^{2}$, and the $t\overline{t}$ production cross section to be ${6.8}_{\ensuremath{-}2.4}^{+3.6}\mathrm{pb}$.

Tobacco MAP Kinase: A Possible Mediator in Wound Signal Transduction Pathways

Abstract: A complementary DNA encoding a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase homolog has been isolated from tobacco plants. Transcripts of the corresponding gene were not observed in healthy tobacco leaves but began to accumulate 1 minute after mechanical wounding. In tobacco plants transformed with the cloned complementary DNA, trans inactivation of the endogenous homologous gene occurred, and both production of wound-induced jasmonic acid and accumulation of wound-inducible gene transcripts were inhibited. In contrast, the levels of salicylic acid and transcripts for pathogen-inducible, acidic pathogenesis-related proteins were increased upon wounding. These results indicate that this MAP kinase is part of the initial response of higher plants to mechanical wounding.

Correlation between the induction of a gene for delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase and the accumulation of proline in Arabidopsis thaliana under osmotic stress.

Abstract: The isolation and characterization is reported of a cDNA for delta 1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) synthetase (cAtP5CS), an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of proline, from a cDNA library prepared from a dehydrated rosette plant of Arabidopsis thaliana. Southern blot analysis suggested that only one copy of the corresponding gene (AtP5CS) is present in A. thaliana. The deduced amino acid sequence of the P5CS protein (AtP5CS) from A. thaliana exhibited 74% homology to that of the P5CS from Vigna aconitifolia. Northern blot analysis revealed that the gene for P5CS was induced by dehydration, high salt and treatment with ABA, while it was not induced by heat or cold treatment. Moreover, the simultaneous accumulation of proline was observed as a result of the former treatments in A. thaliana. A cDNA for P5C reductase (cAtP5CR) was also isolated from A. thaliana and Northern blot analysis was performed. The AtP5CR gene was not induced to a significant extent by dehydration or high-salt stress. These observations suggest that the AtP5CS gene plays a principal role in the biosynthesis of proline in A. thaliana under osmotic stress.

Comparative ecophysiology of leaf and canopy photosynthesis

Abstract: Leaves and herbaceous leaf canopies photosynthesize efficiently although the distribution of light, the ultimate resource of photosynthesis, is very biased in these systems. As has been suggested in theoretical studies, if a photosynthetic system is organized such that every photosynthetic apparatus photosynthesizes in concert, the system as a whole has the sharpest light response curve and is most adaptive. This condition can be approached by (i) homogenization of the light environment and (ii) acclimation of the photosynthetic properties of leaves or chloroplasts to their local light environments. This review examines these two factors in the herbaceous leaf canopy and in the leaf. Changes in the inclination of leaves in the canopy and differentiation of mesophyll into palisade and spongy tissue contribute to the moderation of the light gradient. Leaf and chloroplast movements in the upper parts of these systems under high irradiances also moderate light gradients. Moreover, acclimation of leaves and chloroplasts to the local light environment is substantial. These factors increase the efficiency of photosynthesis considerably. However, the systems appear to be less efficient than the theoretical optimum. When the systems are optically dense, the light gradients may be too great for leaves or chloroplasts to acclimate. The loss of photosynthetic production attributed to the imperfect adjustment of photosynthetic apparatus to the local light environment is most apparent when the photosynthesis of the system is in the transition between the light-limited and light-saturated phases. Although acclimation of the photosynthetic apparatus and moderation of light gradients are imperfect, these markedly raise the efficiency of photosynthesis. Thus more mechanistic studies on these adaptive attributes are needed. The causes and consequences of imperfect adjustment should also be investigated.

Homeostatic regulation of intestinal epithelia by intraepithelial gamma delta T cells

Abstract: Although T cells bearing gamma delta T-cell receptors have long been known to be present in the epithelial lining of many organs, their specificity and function remain elusive. In the present study, we examined the intestinal epithelia of T-cell-receptor mutant mice, which were deficient in either gamma delta T cells or alpha beta T cells, and of normal littermates. The absence of gamma delta T cells was associated with a reduction in epithelial cell turnover and a downregulation of the expression of major histocompatibility complex class II molecules. No such effects were observed in alpha beta T-cell-deficient mice. These findings indicate that intraepithelial gamma delta T cells regulate the generation and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells.

Hydrous modified spinel, Mg1.75SiH0.5O4: A new water reservoir in the mantle transition region

Abstract: The water content in modified spinel, synthesized at 15.5 GPa under hydrous conditions, has been measured by means of secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMSrpar;. We found that the modified spinel crystals contain up to 3.1±0.4 wt % H2O, which is consistent with the amounts estimated from the deficits in the oxide totals of the microprobe analysis. X-ray diffraction analyses for a single crystal showed that the sample containing 2.5±0.3 wt % H2O is of the modified spinel structure with the lattice parameters a=5.663(1), b=11.546(2), c=8.247(4)A and V=539.2(5)A³. The present results suggest that a considerable amount of H2O may exist as hydrous modified spinel in the mantle transition zone, which could have important implications for the constitution and dynamics of the mantle.

The “Spite” Dilemma in Voluntary Contribution Mechanism Experiments:

Abstract: This article explains deviations from formal expectations regarding choice behavior in settings where economic rationality (i.e., own payoff maximization) dictates either cooperating (full contribution) or free riding (no contribution) in the provision of public goods via the voluntary contribution mechanism. The authors find that the difference between full contribution and the observed level of contribution is greater than or equal to the corresponding difference when free riding is the best strategy. This surprising result is interpreted as the “spiteful” behavior of subjects whose first priority is not the total amount of payoff they receive but the ranking among them.

Microallelotyping defines the sequence and tempo of allelic losses at tumour suppressor gene loci during colorectal cancer progression

Abstract: Microallelotyping of many regions from individual colorectal tumours was used to determine the sequence and tempo of allelic loss on 5q, 17p and 18q during neoplastic progression. No allelic losses were found in normal tissues surrounding colorectal neoplasms, but losses occurred abruptly on 5q at the transition from normal colonic epithelium to the benign adenoma, and on 17p at the transition from adenoma to carcinoma, indicating an essential role for these losses in tumour progression. Allelic losses were uniform throughout extensively microdissected benign adenomas and carcinomas. However, substantial allelic heterogeneity was found in high-grade dysplasia, the transition lesion between adenoma and carcinoma. Thus, allelic losses on 5q and 17p are associated with abrupt waves of clonal neoplastic expansion, and high-grade dysplasia is characterized by a high degree of allelic heterogeneity.

Molecular phytogeny of conifers using RFLP analysis of PCR-amplified specific chloroplast genes.

Abstract: We investigated the molecular phylogeny of conifers using restriction endonuclease fragment length polymorphism of six polymerase chain reaction-amplified chloroplast genes — frxC, rbcL, psbA, psbD, trnK, and 16S. We detected 227 total site changes among species, representing 23, 26, 38, 48, 67, and 25 site changes in frxC, psbA, psbD, rbcL, trnK and 16S, respectively. The mean nucleotide substitution was 10.75% (SD 0.573) among species in five families. Forty maximally parsimonious trees were obtained using the Wagner parsimony method, and a 50% majority-rule consensus tree was obtained from them. Data analysis produced similar basic patterns when both the Wagner parsimony and the neighbor-joining methods were applied, and the main lineages were clearly separated. Taxaceae and Cephalotaxaceae species were used as the out-groups when applying Wagner parsimony methods. With the Wagner method, the consistency index was 0.510, the retention index was 0.879, and tree length was 435 steps. Our results indicated that Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae are closely related families and that Sciadopitys verticillata is the basal lineage of Cupressaceae and Taxodiaceae. The neighbor-joining tree is similar to the 50% majority-rule consensus of the 40 Wagner parsimony trees except for the position of Keteleeria daversifolia, the Picea and Cedrus group, and the divergence within Cupressaceae.

Genetic association of the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor gene with sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: A specific isoform of apolipoprotein E has been associated with the accelerated rate of disease expression of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) and late-onset familial AD (FAD)1–12. An earlier age at onset has also been demonstrated in familial AD patients with mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APR) gene (APP717 and APP670/671)13 carrying the APOEɛ-4 allele compared to those who do not, but not in familial AD patients with APP692 or 693 mutations14, or in chromosome 14-linked familial AD patients15.Hypothesizing that receptors for apoE-containing lipoprotein16–22 act as a potential risk factor for AD, we performed an association study using a polymorphic triplet (CGG) repeat21,23 in the gene for the VLDL receptor (VLDL-R), a receptor for apoE-containing lipoproteins.The frequency of the 5-repeat allele was significantly higher in all of the Japanese sporadic AD patients (P<0.02) than in the Japanese controls. Moreover, the odds ratio was significantly increased in the AD patients homozygous for the 5-repeat allele (OR=2.1,95% Cl=[1.1–4.2]). Multiple logistic regression analysis reveals that the relative risk conferred by the presence of two copies of the 5-repeat allele and at least one copy of the APOEɛ-4 allele is 8.7 (95% Cl=[2.9–25.8]). Our results suggest that the VLDL-R gene is a susceptibility gene for AD.

Superoxide dismutase derivative reduces oxidative damage in skeletal muscle of rats during exhaustive exercise

Abstract: A superoxide dismutase derivative (SM-SOD) that circulates and is bound to albumin with a half-life of 6 h was injected intraperitoneally into rats before exhaustive treadmill running to study its antioxidant scavenging capacity in the plasma and soleus and tibialis muscles. The exercise induced a marked increase in xanthine oxidase activity in plasma and an increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in the plasma as well as in the soleus and tibialis muscles of nonadministered rats immediately after the exercise. The immunoreactive content and activity of both SOD isoenzymes (Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD) of the nonadministered rats increased in the soleus and tibialis muscles immediately after running. SM-SOD treatment definitely attenuated the degree of the increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and xanthine oxidase in all samples examined immediately after exercise. Glutathione peroxidase activity significantly increased in the soleus muscle of nonadministered rats 1 day after running, whereas catalase activity remained unchanged throughout the experimental period. These results suggest that a single bout of exhaustive exercise induces oxidative stress in skeletal muscle of rats and that this oxidative stress can be attenuated by exogenous SM-SOD.

Diet-Induced Thermogenesis Is Lower in Rats Fed a Lard Diet Than in Those Fed a High Oleic Acid Safflower Oil Diet, a Safflower Oil Diet or a Linseed Oil Diet

Abstract: The objectives of the present study were to examine the effects of dietary fats differing in fatty acid composition on diet-induced thermogenesis, sympathetic activity in brown adipose tissue and body fat accumulation in rats. Rats were meal-fed for 12 wk an isoenergetic diet based on lard, high oleic acid safflower oil, safflower oil or linseed oil, and norepinephrine turnover rates in brown adipose tissue were then estimated. Whole-body oxygen consumption after the meal indicated that diet-induced thermogenesis was significantly lower in rats fed the lard diet than in those fed the other diets. The norepinephrine turnover rate in the interscapular brown adipose tissue was also significantly lower in the lard diet group than in the other diet groups. The carcass fat content was significantly higher in the lard diet group than in the other diet groups, whereas the abdominal adipose tissue weights were the same in all diet groups. These results suggest that the intake of animal fats rich in saturated fatty acids, compared with the intake of vegetable oils rich in monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids, decreases diet-induced thermogenesis by a decline of sympathetic activity in brown adipose tissue, resulting in the promotion of body fat accumulation.

Mutations of p16Ink4/CDKN2 and p15Ink4B/MTS2 Genes in Biliary Tract Cancers

Abstract: p16Ink4 and p15Ink4B are cyclin-dependent kinase 4 inhibitors and link to the regulation of cell cycle in mammalian cells. The genes encoding these inhibitors are located at 9p21, which is a frequent site of allelic loss in various types of tumors. Twenty-five primary biliary tract cancers were examined for somatic mutations in p16Ink4/CDKN2, p15Ink4B/MTS2, p53, and K-ras genes and allelic loss of 9p21 by microsatellite analysis. Four biliary tract cancer cell lines were analyzed for homozygous deletions and point mutations. We found frequent homozygous deletions in p16Ink4/CDKN2 and p15Ink4B/MTS2 genes in the biliary tract cancer cell lines. Each cancer cell line had alteration of either p16Ink4/CDKN2, p15Ink4B/MTS2, or p53 genes. In primary tumors, 16 of 25 (64%) biliary tract cancers had point mutations in the p16Ink4/CDKN2 gene. These include 14 missense and 2 silent mutations. The frequency of mutations in gall bladder cancer and hilar bile duct cancer were 80% (8 of 10) and 63% (5 of 8), respectively. Each of codons 1, 80, and 111 was changed in two cases of these cancers. One of three intrahepatic bile duct cancers, one of two common bile duct cancers, and one of two ampullary cancers had mutations in the p16Ink4/CDKN2 gene. In contrast, no mutation in the p15Ink4B/MTS2 gene, one base change in the K-ras gene, and one loss of heterozygosity at the IFN alpha locus in 25 cancers and one base change in the p53 gene in 19 cancers were observed. These results suggest that p16Ink4/CDKN2, rather than p15Ink4B/MTS2 or p53 genes, and its inactivation may be important in biliary tract carcinogenesis.

Exchange Monte Carlo Method and Application to Spin Glass Simulations

Abstract: We propose an efficient Monte Carlo algorithm for simulating a ``hardly-relaxing" system, in which many replicas with different temperatures are simultaneously simulated and a virtual process exchanging configurations of these replica is introduced. This exchange process is expected to let the system at low temperatures escape from a local minimum. By using this algorithm the three-dimensional $\pm J$ Ising spin glass model is studied. The ergodicity time in this method is found much smaller than that of the multi-canonical method. In particular the time correlation function almost follows an exponential decay whose relaxation time is comparable to the ergodicity time at low temperatures. It suggests that the system relaxes very rapidly through the exchange process even in the low temperature phase.

Simulation of intraluminal gas transport processes in the microcirculation

Abstract: Intraluminal resistance to gas transport between the microcirculation and tissue was neglected for a half-century following the early work of Krogh. In recent years it has come to be understood that this neglect is seriously in error. This paper reviews the background for the long period of misdirection, and progress in placing the simulation of gas transport processes on a more accurate, quantitative basis.

Development of an active Ga2O3 supported palladium catalyst for the synthesis of methanol from carbon dioxide and hydrogen

Abstract: A significant effect of the support on the catalytic activity of palladium-based catalysts for methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide and hydrogen was observed, where Pd/Ga 2 O 3 was more active than Cu/ZnO by a factor of 2 in yield and 20 in turnover frequency

Hadron scattering lengths in lattice QCD

Abstract: For {ital N}-{ital N} scattering a phenomenological study with one-boson exchange potentials indicate that the deuteron becomes unbound if the quark mass is increased beyond 30--40% of the physical value. Simulations with the Wilson action on a 20{sup 4} lattice with heavy quarks with {ital m}{sub {pi}}/{ital m}{sub {rho}}{approx}0.74--0.95 show that the nucleon-nucleon force is attractive for both spin triplet and singlet channels, and that the scatteirng lengths are substantially larger compared to those for the {pi}-{pi} and {pi}-{ital N} cases even for such heavy quarks. The problem of statistical errors, which has to be overcome toward a more realistic calculation of hadron scattering lengths, is discussed.

Abrupt Seasonal Change of Large-Scale Convective Activity over the Western Pacific in the Northern Summer

Abstract: Seasonal variations of large-scale convective activity and wind over the western Pacific are examined using Geostationary Meteorological Satellite infrared equivalent blackbody temperature (T BB ) and European Center for Medium range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) global analyses over a 10-year period from 1980 to 1989. In particular, this study describes an abrupt northward shift of large-scale convective activity over the western Pacific around 20°N, 150°E in late July. The enhanced convective activity is coincident with strong cyclonic circulation there which induces westerlies to the south of the cyclone and easterlies to the north of it. It is emphasized that this strong cyclonic circulation appears suddenly over the subtropical western Pacific region. Monsoon westerlies to the west of 110°E are not similary accelerated at the same time, indicating that this abrupt change is independent of the Asian monsoon system. To the north, an anticyclonic circulation is generated, which corresponds to the withdrawal of the Baiu season over Japan. Furthermore, this abrupt northward shift of large-scale convective activity is shown to be associated with tropical cyclone activity. In the mid latitudes, geopotential height pattern between pre- and post-northward shifts of the large-scale convective activity in late July exhibit equivalent barotropic vertical structure, suggesting the Rossbywave propagation emanating northeastward from the enhanced convective region around 20°N, 140°E (western Pacific) to as far north as 60°N, 180° (Bering Sea). Another feature is that the seasonal increase of sea surface temperature (SST) over the key area (20°N, 150°E) precedes abrupt convective enhancement by about 20 days, exceeding 29°C in early July. It is inferred that the northeastward extension of the warm SST tongue is intimately associated with the enhanced convection in late July. This result suggests that SST warming is not a sufficient condition but certainly one important ingredient for the abrupt northward shift of convections.

Alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenase genotypes and drinking behavior of Chinese living in Shanghai

Abstract: Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), the principal enzymes responsible for oxidative metabolism of ethanol, exist in multiple, genetically determined molecular forms. Widely different kinetic properties in some of these isozymes account for the individual differences in alcohol sensitivity. In this study we used the polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method to determine the genotypes of the ADH2 and ALDH2 loci of alcoholic and nonalcoholic Chinese living in Shanghai. We also investigated the subjects' drinking patterns by means of semistructured interviews. The alcoholics had significantly lower frequencies of the ADH22 and ALDH22 alleles than did the nonalcoholics, suggesting the inhibitory effects of these alleles for the development of alcoholism. In the nonalcoholic subjects, ADH22 had little, if any, effect, despite the significant effect of the ALDH22 allele in decreasing the alcohol consumption of the individual. Taken together, these results fit the proposed hypothesis for the development of alcoholism, i.e., drinking behavior is greatly influenced by the individual's gentoypes of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes, and the risk of becoming alcoholic is proportionate with the ethanol consumption of the individual.

Cyclic stress-strain characteristics of TiNi and TiNiCu shape memory alloys

Abstract: The authors have examined the responses of three types of TiNi and three types of TiNiCu shape memory alloys in a pseudoelastic state to mechanical cycling in hard cycles with a constant emax and in soft cycles with a constant σmax. It was found that the transformation stress of the B2 parent phase into martensite and the hysteresis (or the amount of energy dissipated during one cycle) diminish while the residual deformation increases as the number of cycles grows. Although the maximum deformation is greater in a soft than in a hard cycle, the critical stress for inducing martensite, at least over the first 10 cycles, declines more slowly in soft than in hard loading cycles. Ternary TiNiCu alloys displayed lower transformation deformations and transformation stresses than binary TiNi alloys. In both TiNi and TiNiCu alloys, higher nickel contents were found to increase the critical stress for slip, thereby suppressing the residual plastic deformation after the specimens were unloaded and helping to stabilize the cyclic stress-strain curves.

Alcohol Intake and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Middle-Aged Japanese Men

Abstract: Background and Purpose Understanding the effects of alcohol intake on stroke and other cardiovascular diseases is an important issue for public health. Methods A 10.5-year prospective study of the relationship between alcohol intake and cardiovascular disease incidence was conducted in 2890 men, aged 40 to 69 years and free of a history of stroke and coronary heart disease, in three rural communities of Japan. Results One hundred seventy-eight strokes (40 intracerebral hemorrhages, 18 subarachnoid hemorrhages, 104 nonhemorrhagic strokes, and 16 unclassified strokes), 34 coronary heart disease events, and 19 sudden unclassified deaths occurred. Drinkers of ≥70 g/d ethanol had an approximately 2.5 times higher age-adjusted risk of all stroke than never-drinkers; the excess risk was more evident for hemorrhagic stroke than nonhemorrhagic stroke. When hypertension category, serum total cholesterol level, cigarette smoking, and diabetes mellitus were taken into account, these excess risks were reduced but rema...