Showing papers by "Utsunomiya University published in 2004"
TL;DR: This review focuses on the applicability of growing bacterial/fungal/algal cells for metal removal and the efforts directed towards cell/process development to make this option technically/economically viable for the comprehensive treatment of metal-rich effluents.
1,088 citations
TL;DR: An inducible system to visualize gene expression at the levels of DNA, RNA and protein in living cells is developed, able to correlate changes in chromatin structure with the progression of transcriptional activation allowing for a real-time integrative view of gene expression.
696 citations
260 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that mTOR is not common to the signaling mechanisms of amino acids and insulin in autophagy, and that the amino acid signaling starts extracellularly with their “receptor(s),” probably other than transporters, and is mediated through a novel route distinct from the mTOR pathway employed by insulin.
211 citations
TL;DR: Zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus from captured wild deer or boars to humans to humans has been suggested and presumably indigenous HEV of genotype 3 was isolated from a boar in Japan.
Abstract: Zoonotic transmission of hepatitis E virus (HEV) from captured wild deer or boars to humans has been suggested. Antibody to HEV was detected in 9% of 35 wild boars and 2% of 117 wild deer tested, and a presumably indigenous HEV of genotype 3 was isolated from a boar in Japan.
177 citations
TL;DR: The purpose of this paper was to briefly review the current knowledge of how BCAAs act as regulators of protein synthesis in physiologically important tissues, with particular focus on the mechanisms by which BCA as regulate translation initiation.
173 citations
National Physical Laboratory1, National Research Council2, University of Paris3, German National Metrology Institute4, Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung5, University of Jena6, Leipzig University7, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology8, Utsunomiya University9, National Institute for Materials Science10, Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science11, National University of Singapore12, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research13, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology14, Philips15, University of Surrey16, Daresbury Laboratory17, National Institute of Standards and Technology18, Alcatel-Lucent19
TL;DR: In this paper, a study was carried out for the measurement of ultrathin SiO on (100) and (111) orientation silicon wafer in the thickness range 1.5-8 nm.
Abstract: A study was carried out for the measurement of ultrathin SiO on (100) and (111) orientation silicon wafer in the thickness range 1.5-8 nm. XPS, medium-energy ion scattering spectrometry (MEIS), nuclear reaction analysis (NRA), RBS, elastic backscattering spectrometry (EBS), SIMS, ellipsometry, gazing-incidence x-ray reflectometry (GIXRR), neutron reflectometry and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used for the measurements. Water and carbonaceous contamination about 1 nm were observed by ellipsometry and adsorbed oxygen mainly from water at thickness of 0.5 nm were seen by MEIS, NRA, RBS and GIXRR. The different uncertainty of the techniques for the scaling constant were also discussed.
135 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the Phgdh-dependent phosphorylated pathway is essential for normal embryonic development, especially for brain morphogenesis, using targeted gene disruption in embryonic stem cells.
121 citations
01 Apr 2004-Precision Engineering-journal of The International Societies for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology
TL;DR: In this article, the magnetic field assisted finishing of the inner surfaces of alumina ceramic components has been studied and the effect of volume of lubricant, ferrous particle size, and abrasive grain size on the finishing characteristics has been examined.
Abstract: This study presents the application of a new technique, magnetic field assisted finishing, for finishing of the inner surfaces of alumina ceramic components. The experiments performed on alumina ceramic tubes examine the effects of volume of lubricant, ferrous particle size, and abrasive grain size on the finishing characteristics. The finished surface is highly dependent on the volume of lubricant, which affects the abrasive contact against the surface; on the ferrous particle size, which changes the finishing force acting on the abrasive; and on the abrasive grain size, which controls the depth of cut. By altering these conditions, this process achieves surface finishes as fine as 0.02 μm in surface roughness ( R a ) and imparts minimal additional residual stress to the surface. This study also reveals the mechanism to smooth the inner surface of alumina ceramic tube and to improve the form accuracy, i.e. the roundness of inside the alumina ceramic tube.
117 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the relation between the stored energy and the Taylor factor was investigated using the SEM/EBSP analysis in an Al-Mg-Mn alloy sheet worked by the continuous cyclic bending (CCB).
Abstract: The relation between the stored energy and the Taylor factor (TF) has been investigated using the SEM/EBSP analysis in an Al-Mg-Mn alloy sheet worked by the continuous cyclic bending (CCB). The analysis reveals that the stored energy is high for the high TF region, whereas a significant increase of the stored energy with the decrease of the Taylor factor appears in the vicinity of the minimum TF value of 2. This observation is discussed using the Schmid factor calculated. Further, the local strain accommodation during deformation is analyzed for grains of different orientations. The stored energy is derived from the calculation based on the kernel average misorientation (KAM).
113 citations
TL;DR: The results suggest that the P3 protein is an important factor in the infection cycle of TuMV and in determining the host range of this and perhaps other potyviruses.
Abstract: Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV, genus Potyvirus, family Potyviridae) infects mainly cruciferous plants. Isolates Tu-3 and Tu-2R1 of TuMV exhibit different infection phenotypes in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) and Japanese radish (Raphanus sativus L.). Infectious full-length cDNA clones, pTuC and pTuR1, were constructed from isolates Tu-3 and Tu-2R1, respectively. Progeny virus derived from infections with pTuC induced systemic chlorotic and ringspot symptoms in infected cabbage, but no systemic infection in radish. Virus derived from plants infected with pTuR1 induced a mild chlorotic mottle in cabbage and infected radish systemically to induce mosaic symptoms. By exchanging genome fragments between the two virus isolates, the P3-coding region was shown to be responsible for systemic infection by TuMV and the symptoms it induces in cabbage and radish. Moreover, exchanges of smaller parts of the P3 region resulted in recombinants that induced complex infection phenotypes, especially the combination of pTuC-derived N-terminal sequence and pTuR1-derived C-terminal sequence. Analysis by tissue immunoblotting of the inoculated leaves showed that the distributions of P3-chimeric viruses differed from those of the parents, and that the origin of the P3 components affected not only virus accumulation, but also long-distance movement. These results suggest that the P3 protein is an important factor in the infection cycle of TuMV and in determining the host range of this and perhaps other potyviruses.
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of vibration of workpiece on magnetic field, polishing pressure, in-process abrasive behavior and polishing performances in three vibration modes and to describe their machining mechanism.
Abstract: The automatic precision polishing technique of three-dimensional complicated micro-curved surfaces of components in extremely low surface roughness and high efficiency is greatly demanded by advanced industrial fields. The existing polishing methods have great difficulty in satisfying these demands. Therefore, three modes (horizontal vibration, vertical vibration and compound vibration) of vibration-assisted magnetic abrasive polishing processes have been developed. Previous research focused on each polishing characteristic. The aims of this paper are to characterize effects of vibration of workpiece on magnetic field, polishing pressure, in-process abrasive behavior and polishing performances in three vibration modes and to describe their machining mechanism. Furthermore, a realization of efficient polishing of a 3D micro-curved surface was confirmed to be possible by the process.
TL;DR: It was concluded that the three species of Bifidobacteria could be involved in digestive degradation of glucosinolates in the human intestinal tract.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors developed an efficient finishing process enabling unskilled operators to finish automatically the complicated micro-curved surface and edge surface of the magnesium alloy, which is used in the first phase as described in this paper.
Abstract: The ultimate goal of this project is to develop an efficient finishing process enabling unskilled operators to finish automatically the complicated micro-curved surface and edge surface of the magnesium alloy. The results achieved in the first phase as described in this paper focus on the basic characteristics of the plane and edge surface finishing and deburring of this alloy by the use of vertical vibration-assisted magnetic abrasive finishing process. It demonstrates that realization of efficient finishing of magnesium alloy is possible by the process. The removal volume per unit time of magnesium alloy is larger than that of other materials such as brass and stainless, that is, high-efficiency finishing could be achieved. Micro-burr of magnesium alloy could be removed easily in a short time by the use of the magnetic abrasive finishing process. Furthermore, deburring efficiency considerably increases with vertical vibration assistance.
TL;DR: SDS-PAGE analysis of extracellular proteins revealed that the expression of the 55-kDa protein, which was reported as a virulent-strain-specific protein, is controlled by AHLs, suggesting that some virulence factors are regulated by the quorum-sensing system in E. tarda.
TL;DR: It is shown that human PEX14 rescues the import of a PTS1‐dependent as well as a PTS2‐dependent protein into the peroxisomes in fibroblasts from a patient with Zellweger syndrome belonging to the new complementation group, indicating that there are 13 genotypes in PBD and that the role of PEX 14 is also essential in humans.
Abstract: Peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBD) are lethal hereditary diseases caused by abnormalities in the biogenesis of peroxisomes. At present, 12 different complementation groups have been identified and to date, all genes responsible for each of these complementation groups have been identified. The peroxisomal membrane protein PEX14 is a key component of the peroxisomal import machinery and may be the initial docking site for the two import receptors PEX5 and PEX7. Although PEX14 mutants have been identified in yeasts and CHO-cells, human PEX14 deficiency has apparently not been documented. We now report the identification of a new complementation group of the peroxisome biogenesis disorders with PEX14 as the defective gene. Indeed, human PEX14 rescues the import of a PTS1-dependent as well as a PTS2-dependent protein into the peroxisomes in fibroblasts from a patient with Zellweger syndrome belonging to the new complementation group. This patient was homozygous for a nonsense mutation in a putative coiled-coil region of PEX14, c.553C>T (p.Q185X). Furthermore, we showed that the patient's fibroblasts lacked PEX14 as determined by immunocytochemical analysis. These findings indicate that there are 13 genotypes in PBD and that the role of PEX14 is also essential in humans. Hum Mutat 23:552-558, 2004. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
TL;DR: The magnitude of the shrinking coefficient indicates that the shrinking rate of the microporous gel is probably limited by the convective flow, as unsteady flow through porous media follows the same differential equation as Fick's law, but with much greater transport coefficients, as observed here.
TL;DR: Results indicate that the promotive and protective effects of fluridone and norflurazon on the conditioning and germination of O. minor seeds would be attributed to other perturbations rather than the inhibition of ABA-biosynthesis.
Abstract: Fluridone and norflurazon, two carotenoid-biosynthesis inhibitors, shortened the conditioning period required by seeds of Orobanche minor in order to respond to the germination stimulant strigol. Neither fluridone nor norflurazon alone induced seed germination of O. minor, they promoted strigol-induced germination. In addition, these compounds restored the conditioning and germination of seeds at a supraoptimal temperature (30 degrees C) as well as in the light. Gibberellic acid (GA(3)) showed similar promotive and protective effects on the conditioning and germination of O. minor seeds. Although fluridone and norflurazon are known to prevent abscisic acid (ABA)-biosynthesis, and stresses such as supraoptimal temperatures have been reported to induce ABA accumulation in plants, the amount of ABA in the seeds or that released from the seeds into the conditioning media was not affected by the fluridone treatment and by exposure to the supraoptimal temperature. These results indicate that the promotive and protective effects of fluridone and norflurazon on the conditioning and germination of O. minor seeds would be attributed to other perturbations rather than the inhibition of ABA-biosynthesis.
TL;DR: Cucurbits are grown throughout the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan as summer and winter crops and plants having mosaic, mottling, chlorosis and leaf distortion symptoms were frequently found in most of the cucurbit fields during the survey.
Abstract: Cucurbits are grown throughout the North-West Frontier Province of Pakistan as summer and winter crops. Plants having mosaic, mottling, chlorosis and leaf distortion symptoms were frequently found in most of the cucurbit fields during the survey. Using dot immunobinding assay, Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV), Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), Watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) and Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) were found infecting cucurbits. CGMMV was widespread, infecting 46.9% of the samples tested followed by ZYMV (14.8%), WMV (12.5%) and PRSV (7.8%). Multiple infections were common with 42% of the samples being infected with two viruses and 8% with three viruses. The nucleotide sequences of the coat protein (CP) genes of these four viruses were determined and deduced amino acid sequence comparisons revealed 88.3-99% similarity of the ZYMV-Pak isolate with other isolates of ZYMV reported worldwide. The amino acid sequence identity of Pakistani isolates of WMV, CGMMV and PRSV ranged from 96.8 to 98.4%, 98.1 to 99.4% and 79.3 to 84.2%, respectively, with other isolates reported elsewhere. Little variability was observed in the sequences of WMV and CGMMV. ZYMV-Pak was very close to the USA isolate, and the PRSV-Pak isolate was close to Indian isolates of PRSV possibly reflecting the geographical relationship between these isolates.
TL;DR: In this article, the infrared features of Landau gauge QCD are studied by lattice simulation of 6.0,16,4,24, 4,32,48,4.
Abstract: The infrared features of Landau gauge QCD are studied by lattice simulation of $\ensuremath{\beta}{=6.0,16}^{4}{,24}^{4}{,32}^{4}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}{=6.4,32}^{4}{,48}^{4}.$ We adopt two definitions of the gauge field, (1) U linear and (2) $\mathrm{log}U,$ and measured the gluon propagator and ghost propagator. The infrared singularity of the gluon propagator is less than that of the tree level result, but the gluon propagator at 0 momentum remains finite. The infrared singularity of the ghost propagator is stronger than the tree level. The QCD running coupling measured by using the gluon propagator and the ghost propagator has a maximum ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}(p)\ensuremath{\simeq}1$ at around $p=0.5$ GeV and decreases as p approaches 0. The data are analyzed with use of the formula of the principle of minimal sensitivity and the effective charge method, and by the contour-improved perturbation method, which suggest the necessity of the resummation of the perturbation series in the infrared region together with the existence of the infrared fixed point. The Kugo-Ojima parameter is about $\ensuremath{-}0.8$ in contrast with the theoretically expected value of $\ensuremath{-}1.$ The color off-diagonal part of the ghost propagator in the Landau gauge is consistent with zero, and its fluctuation can be parametrized as a $\mathrm{constant}{/(\mathrm{qa})}^{4}.$
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors studied curves and surfaces in 3-dimensional contact manifolds whose mean curvature vector is in the kernel of certain elliptic dieren tial operators.
Abstract: Biharmonic or polyharmonic curves and surfaces in 3-dimensional contact manifolds are investigated. Introduction. This paper concerns curves and surfaces in 3-dimen- sional contact manifolds whose mean curvature vector eld is in the kernel of certain elliptic dieren tial operators. First we study submanifolds whose mean curvature vector eld is in the kernel of the Laplacian (submanifolds with harmonic mean curvature vector elds). The study of such submanifolds is inspired by a conjecture of Bang-yen Chen (14):
TL;DR: Wang et al. as discussed by the authors found that of 534 documented bamboos in China, 153 species produce edibleshoots and of which 56 species are recommended for agricultural plantation; 139 species provide timbers and with which 58 species recommended; 116 species can be splited as good strips for weaving and with the same number of recommended species.
Abstract: In the past, utilization of bamboo resources in China has been traditionally dominated by direct consumption of local farmers as minor forest products with weak linkage with market. In recent years, the over-supply of grains and rapid degradation of agricultural environment call for alternative crops that can be developed through integrating the environmental plantation with the market demands. Closely associated with forestry and agriculture, bamboo is able to deal with the new challenges which China’s agriculture is facing. Of 534 documented bamboo species in China, 153 species produce edibleshoots and of which 56 species are recommended for agricultural plantation; 139 species provide timbers and of which 58 species recommended; 116 species can be splited as good strips for weaving and of which 22 species recommended; 88 species are considered as garden bamboos and of which 34 species recommended; 45 species are able to produce paper pulp and of which 18 species recommended.
TL;DR: In this article, a unified geometric interpretation of the second AKNS-hierarchies via the geometric concept of Schrodinger flows in the category of symplectic manifolds and binormal motion for curves in the Minkowski 3-space is presented.
Abstract: In this paper, we present a unified geometric interpretation of the second AKNS-hierarchies via the geometric concept of Schrodinger flows in the category of symplectic manifolds and binormal motion for curves in the Minkowski 3-space.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors give a systematic study of Lorentz conformal structure from structural viewpoints, and apply loop group theoretic Weierstrass-type representation of timelike constant mean curvature for time-like minimal surfaces.
Abstract: This work consists of two parts. In Part I, we shall give a systematic study of Lorentz conformal structure from structural viewpoints. We study manifolds with split-complex structure. We apply general results on split-complex structure for the study of Lorentz surfaces. In Part II, we study the conformal realization of Lorentz surfaces in the Minkowski 3-space via conformal minimal immersions. We apply loop group theoretic Weierstrass-type representation of timelike constant mean curvature for timelike minimal surfaces. Classical integral representation formula for timelike minimal surfaces will be recovered from loop group theoretic viewpoint.
TL;DR: It was concluded that the short stature of the lk mutant is due to a defect in the steroidal 5α-reductase gene, which is a key hydrogenation step in the synthesis of campestanol from campesterol.
Abstract: The endogenous brassinosteroids in the dwarf mutant lk of pea (Pisum sativum) were quantified by gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring. The levels of castasterone, 6-deoxocastasterone, and 6-deoxotyphasterol in lk shoots were reduced 4-, 70-, and 6-fold, respectively, compared with those of the wild type. The fact that the application of brassinolide restored the growth of the mutant indicated that the dwarf mutant lk is brassinosteroid deficient. Gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring analysis of the endogenous sterols in lk shoots revealed that the levels of campestanol and sitostanol were reduced 160- and 10-fold, respectively, compared with those of wild-type plants. These data, along with metabolic studies, showed that the lk mutant has a defect in the conversion of campest-4-en-3-one to 5α-campestan-3-one, which is a key hydrogenation step in the synthesis of campestanol from campesterol. This defect is the same as that found in the Arabidopsis det2 mutant and the Ipomoea nil kbt mutant. The pea gene homologous to the DET2 gene, PsDET2, was cloned, and it was found that the lk mutation would result in a putative truncated PsDET2 protein. Thus it was concluded that the short stature of the lk mutant is due to a defect in the steroidal 5α-reductase gene. This defect was also observed in the callus induced from the lk mutant. Biosynthetic pathways involved in the conversion of campesterol to campestanol are discussed in detail.
TL;DR: Chiral rotaxanes composed of the asymmetric crownophane incorporating two hydroxy groups as a rotor moiety and the asymmetrical axis were effectively synthesized via covalent bond formation, i.e. tandem Claisen rearrangement, esterification, and aminolysis.
TL;DR: In this paper, a lattice Landau gauge QCD simulation was performed and the running coupling of the ensemble average was adjusted by the perturbative QCD results near the highest momentum point.
Abstract: We performed lattice Landau gauge QCD simulation on $\ensuremath{\beta}=6.0,{16}^{4},{24}^{4},{32}^{4}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}=6.4,{32}^{4},{48}^{4}$ and ${56}^{4}$ by adopting the gauge fixing that minimizes the norm of the gauge field, and measured the running coupling by using the gluon propagator and the ghost propagator. In view of ambiguity in the vertex renormalization factor ${\stackrel{\texttildelow{}}{Z}}_{1}$ in the lattice, we adjust the normalization of the running coupling by the perturbative QCD results near the highest momentum point. It has a maximum ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}(q)\ensuremath{\simeq}2.1(3)$ at around $q=0.5\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$ and decreases as $q$ approaches 0, and the Kugo-Ojima parameter reached $\ensuremath{-}0.83(2)$. The infrared exponent of the ghost propagator at $0.4\text{ }\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$ region is ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{G}=0.20$ but there is an exceptional Gribov copy with ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{G}=0.27$. The features of the exceptional Gribov copy are investigated by measuring four one-dimensional Fourier transform (1-d FT) of the gluon propagator transverse to each lattice axis. We observe, in general, correlation between absolute value of the Kugo-Ojima parameter and the degree of reflection positivity violation in the 1-d FT of the gluon propagator. The 1-d FT of the exceptional Gribov copy has an axis whose samplewise gluon propagator manifestly violates reflection positivity, and the average of the Cartan subalgebra components of the Kugo-Ojima parameter along this axis is consistent to $\ensuremath{-}1$. The running coupling of the ensemble average shows a suppression at 0 momentum, but when the ghost propagator of the exceptional Gribov copy is adopted, the suppression disappears and the data implies presence of the infrared fixed point ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{s}(0)\ensuremath{\sim}2.5(5)$ and $\ensuremath{\kappa}=0.5$ suggested by the Dyson-Schwinger approach in the multiplicative renormalizable scheme. Comparison with the SU(2) QCD and ${N}_{f}=2$ unquenched SU(3) QCD are also made.
TL;DR: Au nanoparticles were electrochemically deposited on both as grown and oxygenterminated (O-terminated) boron-doped diamond (BDD) films.
TL;DR: Different phase relationships between Per2 and Cry1 in the Japanese quail PT under different photoperiods may decodePhotoperiodic information and regulate photoperperiodic PRL secretion in a manner similar to that of mammals.
Abstract: Prolactin (PRL) secretion is regulated by photoperiod in mammals and birds. In mammals, the pars tuberalis (PT) in the pituitary is involved in the regulation of photoperiodic regulation of PRL secretion. In birds, however, hypothalamic vasoactive intestinal peptide is implicated in PRL secretion, and physiological roles of the avian PT remain unknown. In the present study, we show that PRL secretion increases under long days and short days with a night interruptive schedule, both of which also cause gonadal growth in Japanese quail. We have also found Cry1 gene expression in the PT of Japanese quail. Cry1 expression was rhythmic under long and short photoperiods in the PT, and the peak was phase delayed under a lengthened photoperiod. Moreover, expression of Cry1 gene was induced by a light pulse but only when given during the photoinducible phase. In our previous study, we have shown rhythmic Per2 gene expression with a peak in the PT during the early day under various photoperiods. When taken together with the results from the present study, different phase relationships between Per2 and Cry1 in the Japanese quail PT under different photoperiods may decode photoperiodic information and regulate photoperiodic PRL secretion in a manner similar to that of mammals.
Patent•
27 Dec 2004TL;DR: In this paper, a self-optimizing computer system comprising multiple processing units, characterized in that each of the processing units operates as at least one of an operation processing unit for executing a program.
Abstract: Provided is a self-optimizing computer system that can achieve ultimate optimization (improvement in the speed) by preparing a mechanism that can observe the behavior of the program execution in the self-optimizing computer system and optimize dynamically depending on the execution behavior of program. The self-optimizing computer system comprising multiple processing units, characterized in that each of the processing units operates as at least one of an operation processing unit for executing a program, an observation processing unit for observing the behavior of the program under execution, an optimization processing unit for performing an optimization process according to the observation result of the observation processing unit, and a resource management processing unit for performing a resource management process of whole of the system such as a change of the contents of execution.