Mass, Spectroscopy, and Two-Neutron Decay of

The structure and decay of the most neutron-rich beryllium isotope, ^{16}Be, has been investigated following proton knockout from a high-energy ^{17}B beam. Two relatively narrow resonances were observed for the first time, with energies of 0.84(3) and 2.15(5) MeV above the two-neutron decay threshold and widths of 0.32(8) and 0.95(15) MeV, respectively. These were assigned to be the ground (J^{π}=0^{+}) and first excited (2^{+}) state, with E_{x}=1.31(6) MeV. The mass excess of ^{16}Be was thus deduced to be 56.93(13) MeV, some 0.5 MeV more bound than the only previous measurement. Both states were observed to decay by direct two-neutron emission. Calculations incorporating the evolution of the wave function during the decay as a genuine three-body process reproduced the principal characteristics of the neutron-neutron energy spectra for both levels, indicating that the ground state exhibits a strong spatially compact dineutron component, while the 2^{+} level presents a far more diffuse neutron-neutron distribution.

Quasifree Neutron Knockout Reaction Reveals a Small s-Orbital Component in the Borromean Nucleus

A kinematically complete quasifree (p,pn) experiment in inverse kinematics was performed to study the structure of the Borromean nucleus ^{17}B, which had long been considered to have a neutron halo. By analyzing the momentum distributions and exclusive cross sections, we obtained the spectroscopic factors for 1s_{1/2} and 0d_{5/2} orbitals, and a surprisingly small percentage of 9(2)% was determined for 1s_{1/2}. Our finding of such a small 1s_{1/2} component and the halo features reported in prior experiments can be explained by the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum, revealing a definite but not dominant neutron halo in ^{17}B. The present work gives the smallest s- or p-orbital component among known nuclei exhibiting halo features and implies that the dominant occupation of s or p orbitals is not a prerequisite for the occurrence of a neutron halo.

Surface Localization of the Dineutron in

The formation of a dineutron in the ^{11}Li nucleus is found to be localized to the surface region. The experiment measured the intrinsic momentum of the struck neutron in ^{11}Li via the (p,pn) knockout reaction at 246 MeV/nucleon. The correlation angle between the two neutrons is, for the first time, measured as a function of the intrinsic neutron momentum. A comparison with reaction calculations reveals the localization of the dineutron at r∼3.6 fm. The results also support the density dependence of dineutron formation as deduced from Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations for nuclear matter.

Application of inorganic phosphate limitation to efficient isoprene production in Pantoea ananatis.

AIMS: Establishment of an efficient isoprene fermentation process by adopting inorganic phosphate limitation as the trigger to direct metabolic flux to the isoprene synthetic pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: We constructed isoprene-producing strains of Pantoea ananatis (a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family) by integrating a heterologous mevalonate pathway and a metabolic switch that senses external inorganic phosphate (Pi) levels. This metabolic switch enabled dual-phase isoprene production, where the initial cell growth phase under Pi-saturating conditions was uncoupled from the subsequent isoprene production phase under Pi-limiting conditions. In fed-batch fermentation using our best strain (SWITCH-PphoC/pIspSM) in a 1-l bioreactor, isoprene concentration in the off-gas was maintained between 300 and 460 ppm during the production phase and at 20 ppm during the cell growth phase, respectively. The strain SWITCH-PphoC/pIspSM produced totally 2·5 g l-1 of isoprene from glucose with a 1·8% volumetric yield in 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that our Pi-dependent dual-phase production system using a P. ananatis strain as a producer has potential for industrial-scale isoprene fermentation. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This Pi-dependent dual-phase fermentation process could be an attractive and economically viable option for the production of various commercially valuable isoprenoids.

Competitive networks using chaotic circuits with hierarchical structure.

Coupled oscillatory systems are good models that are able to describe a variety of higher dimensional nonlinear phenomena. Coupled chaotic circuits produce many kinds of interesting synchronization phenomena. In recent years, research studies on complex networks related to the synchronization of coupled oscillators have attracted much attention. In the real world, there are a variety of different network structures. We focus on the competitive interaction network that includes conflict between two networks. Here, we propose a new paradigm for this competitive interaction network using coupled chaotic circuits.

Crystallization and vitrification of electrons in a glass-forming charge liquid.

Charge ordering (CO) is a phenomenon in which electrons in solids crystallize into a periodic pattern of charge-rich and charge-poor sites owing to strong electron correlations. This usually results in long-range order. In geometrically frustrated systems, however, a glassy electronic state without long-range CO has been observed. We found that a charge-ordered organic material with an isosceles triangular lattice shows charge dynamics associated with crystallization and vitrification of electrons, which can be understood in the context of an energy landscape arising from the degeneracy of various CO patterns. The dynamics suggest that the same nucleation and growth processes that characterize conventional glass-forming liquids guide the crystallization of electrons. These similarities may provide insight into our understanding of the liquid-glass transition.

High-Convexity Tightness Predicts the Shunt Response in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although neuroimaging plays an important role in the diagnosis of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus, its predictive value for response to shunt surgery has not been established. The purpose of the current study was to identify neuroimaging markers that predict the shunt response of idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus underwent presurgical brain MR imaging and clinical evaluation before and 1 year after shunt surgery. The assessed MR imaging features included the Evans index, high-convexity tightness, Sylvian fissure dilation, callosal angle, focal enlargement of the cortical sulci, bumps in the lateral ventricular roof, and deep white matter and periventricular hyperintensities. The idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus grading scale total score was used as a primary clinical outcome measure. We used measures for individual symptoms (ie, the idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus grading scale subdomain scores, such as gait, cognitive, and urinary scores), the Timed Up and Go test, and the Mini-Mental State Examination as secondary clinical outcome measures. The relationships between presurgical neuroimaging features and postoperative clinical changes were investigated by using simple linear regression analysis. To identify the set of presurgical MR imaging features that best predict surgical outcomes, we performed multiple linear regression analysis by using a bidirectional stepwise method. RESULTS: Simple linear regression analyses demonstrated that presurgical high-convexity tightness, callosal angle, and Sylvian fissure dilation were significantly associated with the 1-year changes in the clinical symptoms. A multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that presurgical high-convexity tightness alone predicted the improvement of the clinical symptoms 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: High-convexity tightness is a neuroimaging feature predictive of shunt response in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Development and testing of an endoscopic pseudo-viewpoint alternating system.

PURPOSE: An endoscopic system is needed that presents informative images irrespective of the surgical situation and the number of degrees of freedom in endoscopic manipulation. This goal may be achieved with a virtual reality view for a region of interest from an arbitrary viewpoint. An endoscopic pseudo-viewpoint alternation system for this purpose was developed and tested. METHOD: Surgical experts and trainees from an endoscopic surgery training course at the minimally invasive surgery training center of Kyushu University were enrolled in a trial of a virtual reality system. The initial viewpoint was positioned to approximate the horizontal view often seen in laparoscopic surgery, with [Formula: see text] between the optical axis of the endoscope and the task surface. A right-to-left suturing task with right hand, based on a task from the endoscopic surgery training course, was selected for testing. We compared task outcomes with and without use of a new virtual reality-viewing system. RESULT: There was a 0.37 mm reduction in total error ([Formula: see text]) with use of the proposed system. Error reduction was composed of 0.1 mm reduction on the y-axis and 0.27 mm reduction on the x-axis. Experts benefited more than novices from use of the proposed system. Most subjects worked at a pseudo-viewpoint of around 34[Formula: see text]. DISCUSSION: Suturing performance improved with the new virtual reality endoscopic display system. Viewpoint alternation resulted in an overview that improved depth perception and allowed subjects to better aim the marker. This suggests the proposed method offers users better visualization and control in endoscopic surgery.

Estradiol and raloxifene induce the proliferation of osteoblasts through G-protein-coupled receptor GPR30.

BACKGROUND: Although G-protein-coupled receptor, GPR30, has been considered as a G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor, conflicting results have been reported and the function of GPR30 in bone remains unresolved. The aim of this study was to clarify the functional role of GPR30 in osteoblasts using its derived cell line. METHODS AND RESULTS: Immunohistochemical study revealed that GPR30 is expressed in human osteoblasts. Human fetal osteoblast cell lines, hFOB cells, which express GPR30 but lack estrogen receptor, were used for the in vitro experiments. Estradiol or raloxifene induced the proliferation of hFOB cells, which was accompanied by the activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. Those proliferative effects were completely abrogated by the transfection of GPR30 small interfering RNA, while the transfection alone did not affect the cell viability. CONCLUSION: GPR30 is required for the proliferation of hFOB cells induced by estradiol or raloxifene. This proliferative effect was at least partly mediated via MAP kinase activation. These findings revealed a novel function of GPR30 in osteoblasts and might lead to a better understanding of how estrogen and selective estrogen receptor modulators show their osteoprotective effects.

Counting-backward test for executive function in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a bedside test for executive function in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients with INPH and 20 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were enrolled in this study. We developed the counting-backward test for evaluating executive function in patients with INPH. Two indices that are considered to be reflective of the attention deficits and response suppression underlying executive dysfunction in INPH were calculated: the first-error score and the reverse-effect index. Performance on both the counting-backward test and standard neuropsychological tests for executive function was assessed in INPH and AD patients. RESULTS: The first-error score, reverse-effect index and the scores from the standard neuropsychological tests for executive function were significantly lower for individuals in the INPH group than in the AD group. The two indices for the counting-backward test in the INPH group were strongly correlated with the total scores for Frontal Assessment Battery and Phonemic Verbal Fluency. The first-error score was also significantly correlated with the error rate of the Stroop colour-word test and the score of the go/no-go test. In addition, we found that the first-error score highly distinguished patients with INPH from those with AD using these tests. CONCLUSION: The counting-backward test is useful for evaluating executive dysfunction in INPH and for differentiating between INPH and AD patients. In particular, the first-error score may reflect deficits in the response suppression related to executive dysfunction in INPH.

Pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine A at a high-peak concentration of twice-daily infusion and oral administration in allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: The most appropriate immunosuppressive strategy with calcineurin inhibitors for the prevention of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) has not yet been established. To estimate the safety and efficacy of a new strategy, we investigated the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine A (CyA) delivered by twice-daily infusion and oral administration maintained with a peak level above 1000 ng/mL to keep 24 h area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0-24) higher than 10 000 ng·h/mL in 12 patients. METHODS: Cyclosporine A was started as a twice-daily infusion at 1·5 mg/kg and then orally administered at twice the infusion dose to maintain the trough blood concentration between 200 and 500 ng/mL, and with a peak level above 1000 ng/mL. Serial blood samples were collected at 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8 and 12 h after CyA dosing (C0, C1, C2, C3, C5, C8 and C12) on days 14-21 after transplantation and on days 7-14 after switching to oral administration, and the AUC was calculated. RESULTS: In all patients, the AUC0-24 for both twice-daily infusion and oral administration was higher than 10 000 ng·h/mL. Two close relationships were observed between AUC0-12 and the C3 for infusion and between AUC0-12 and the C8 for oral administration. None of the patients had grades 3-4 aGVHD or other serious complications. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This strategy was well tolerated, and the C3 for twice-daily infusion and the C8 for oral administration were the optimal points for monitoring of CyA concentration in the early phase of transplantation.

Corticolimbic gray matter loss in Parkinson's disease without dementia.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between corticolimbic involvement and cognitive dysfunction in non-demented Parkinson's disease (PD) patients has not yet been elucidated. OBJECTIVES: To delineate involvement of the cerebral cortex and limbic structures in non-demented PD and to clarify distributional differences of gray matter loss between non-demented PD with impaired cognition (PD-CI) and without cognitive impairment (PD-NC). METHODS: Operational criteria based on the Clinical Dementia Rating were used to identify PD-CI. Of 40 consecutive non-demented patients with PD, 13 were classified as PD-CI and 27 as PD-NC. Comparisons of regional gray matter volume (rGMV) were made amongst the PD-CI, PD-NC, and control groups using voxel-based morphometry. RESULTS: Gray matter loss was found extensively in the frontal, temporal, parietal, and occipital cortices in the present non-demented patients with PD. rGMV in the medial frontal and medial occipital cortices was reduced comparably in the PD-NC and PD-CI groups. The severity of gray matter loss in the perisylvian cortices increased in order from the control, to the PD-NC, to the PD-CI groups. rGMV reduction in the lateral and orbital frontal, medial and lateral temporal, medial and lateral parietal, and lateral occipital cortices and cerebellum was found specifically in PD-CI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that corticolimbic degeneration occurs in non-demented patients with PD, and extensive involvement of the limbic and posterior cortical regions as well as the frontal cortices is associated with cognitive impairment in PD.

Transcription factor AP-2beta inhibits expression and secretion of leptin, an insulin-sensitizing hormone, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported an association between the activator protein-2beta (AP-2beta) transcription factor gene and type 2 diabetes. This gene is preferentially expressed in adipose tissue, and subjects with a disease-susceptible allele of AP-2beta showed stronger AP-2beta expression in adipose tissue than those without the susceptible allele. Furthermore, overexpression of AP-2beta led to lipid accumulation and induced insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. RESULT: We found that overexpression of AP-2beta in 3T3-L1 adipocytes decreased the promoter activity of leptin, and subsequently decreased both messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression and secretion. Furthermore, knockdown of endogenous AP-2beta by RNA-interference increased mRNA and protein expression of leptin. Electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed specific binding of AP-2beta to leptin promoter regions in vitro and in vivo. In addition, site-directed mutagenesis of the AP-2-binding site located between position +34 and +42 relative to the transcription start site abolished the inhibitory effect of AP-2beta. Our results clearly showed that AP-2beta directly inhibited insulin-sensitizing hormone leptin expression by binding to its promoter. CONCLUSION: AP-2beta modulated the expression of leptin through direct interaction with its promoter region.

Membrane localization of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B is essential for its activation of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 gene expression.

Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) is a key transcription factor in stimulating lipogenesis in the liver. Protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) induces SREBP-1 gene expression via protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activation. PTP1B is reported to be anchored on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via its C-terminal tail, and change in intracellular localization of PTP1B by C-terminal-truncation did not alter its inhibitory effects on insulin signaling. In this study, we investigated whether the change in intracellular localization of PTP1B could influence SREBP-1 gene expression. Overexpression of C-terminal truncated PTP1B (PTP1BdeltaCT) in rat Fao cells did not induce SREBP-1 gene expression. Furthermore, PTP1BdeltaCT failed to bind PP2A, resulting in impaired PP2A activation, whereas overexpression of wild-type PTP1B (PTP1BWT) associated with PP2A. Moreover, a membrane-targeted PTP1BDeltaCT activated PP2A with restored PP2A binding, despite the absence of its C-terminal region. Finally, overexpression of PTP1BdeltaCT into mouse primary cultured hepatocytes failed to enhance SREBP-1c mRNA, whereas membrane-targeted PTP1BdeltaCT led to enhanced SREBP-1c mRNA in hepatocytes as well as PTP1BWT. In conclusion, membrane localization of PTP1B is essential for PP2A activation, which is crucial for its enhancement of SREBP-1 gene expression.

Photoinduced melting of a stripe-type charge-order and metallic domain formation in a layered BEDT-TTF-based organic salt.

Photoinduced melting of charge-order (CO) in [bis(ethylenedithiolo)]-tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF) salts was investigated by femotosecond spectroscopy. Comparative studies on two polytypes exhibiting large [theta-(BEDT-TTF)2RbZn(SCN)_{4}] and small [alpha-(BEDT-TTF)2I3] molecular rearrangements through the CO transition were performed. Ultrafast melting of CO for both compounds demonstrates the major contribution of the electronic instability which is due to Coulomb interaction. The roles of the molecular rearrangements on the formation of the CO and the metallic domain are discussed on the basis of low-frequency lattice dynamics.

Increased expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-beta and -delta and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 genes in aortas from hyperinsulinaemic rats.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We evaluated whether hyperinsulinaemia stimulates the expression of transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)-beta and C/EBP-delta and leads to the induction of the chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 gene (Ccl2, also known as MCP-1) expression in aortas. METHODS: Hyperinsulinaemia was induced by feeding rats a high-fructose diet. CCL2 production was analysed by ELISA. The expression of Ccl2, Cebpb and Cebpd mRNAs was investigated by quantitative RT-PCR. The binding of C/EBP-beta to Ccl2 was assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. RESULTS: Insulin at a concentration of 10 nmol/l significantly stimulated the expression of Cebpb, Cebpd and Ccl2 mRNAs, depending on activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. The knock-down of C/EBP-beta with siRNA abolished the insulin-induced Ccl2 mRNA expression. In the aortas from fructose-fed rats, the levels of phosphorylation of Akt/protein kinase B, a downstream effector of PI3K, were also increased. The expression of Cebpb, Cebpd and Ccl2 mRNAs in the aortas from fructose-fed rats were significantly elevated, by 330, 300 and 300%, respectively, compared with those of control-fed rats. The induction Ccl2 mRNA expression in the aortas was significantly correlated with the expression of Cebpb and Cebpd mRNAs in the aortas. Furthermore, the ChIP assay showed elevated binding of C/EBP-beta to the 5' upstream region of Ccl2 in the aortas from fructose-fed rats. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These findings clearly indicate the role of C/EBPs in the mechanism of upregulation of CCL2, an inflammation-related protein, observed in the hyperinsulinaemic state, which may initiate the process of atherosclerosis.

Actions anchored by concepts: defective action comprehension in semantic dementia.

OBJECTIVE: To study the ability of patients with semantic dementia to understand actions, in order to examine the contribution of semantic memory to action comprehension. METHODS: The ability to comprehend symbolic and instrumental actions was assessed in 6 patients with semantic dementia and 10 healthy controls. The patients were also given the imitation test of meaningful and meaningless actions. RESULTS: In all patients with semantic dementia, comprehension of both symbolic and instrumental actions was defective. The comprehension of symbolic actions was more impaired than that of instrumental actions. Their ability to imitate other's actions was well preserved. CONCLUSION: This study showed that comprehension of action was impaired in semantic dementia, suggesting that semantic memory has an important role in comprehension of human action.

Pit patterns in rectal mucosa assessed by magnifying colonoscope are predictive of relapse in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Relapse of ulcerative colitis is difficult to predict by routine colonoscopy. A high-resolution video-magnifying colonoscope with chromoscopy enables the observation of colorectal mucosal pit patterns. AIMS: To investigate the association of pit patterns as assessed by magnifying colonoscopy (MCS) with histological inflammation and mucosal chemokine activity in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis, and to prospectively analyse the prognostic factors that may predict exacerbations. METHODS: MCS was performed in 113 patients with ulcerative colitis in remission. Pit patterns in the rectal mucosa were classified into four MCS grades on the basis of size, shape and arrangement. Mucosal interleukin (IL) 8 activity was measured in biopsy specimens of rectal mucosa and the specimens were assessed for histological disease activity. The patients were then followed until relapse or for a maximum of 12 months. Multivariate survival analysis was carried out to determine the independent predictors of clinical relapse. RESULTS: A positive correlation was identified between MCS grade, histological grade (p = 0.001) and mucosal IL8 activity (p<0.001). Multivariate proportional hazard model analysis showed that MCS grade was a significant predictor of relapse (relative risk 2.06, p = 0.001). Kaplan-Meier estimate of relapse during 12 months of follow-up was found to increase with increasing MCS grade, with values of 0% for grade 1, 21% for grade 2, 43% for grade 3 and 60% for grade 4. CONCLUSION: MCS grading is associated with the degree of histological inflammation and mucosal IL8 activity in patients with quiescent ulcerative colitis, and may predict the probability of subsequent disease relapse in patients with ulcerative colitis in remission.

MPO-ANCA-associated pseudovasculitis in cardiac myxoma.

We describe a case of cardiac myxoma whose clinical presentation mimicked that of polyarteritis nodosa. The serum levels of MPO-ANCA and IL-6 were elevated on laboratory investigation and normalized after the removal of the tumor. We suggest that a 'true' vasculitic mechanism contributes to the pathogenesis of pseudovasculitis in cardiac myxoma.

A case of delayed brain abscess due to a retained intracranial wooden foreign body: a case report and review of the last 20 years.

A 13-year-old female is presented. When she was six years old, she had fallen, holding wooden chopsticks and got stuck with a chopstick in the right upper eyelid. She was brought to a physician immediately, but a residual foreign body was missed and no particular symptom had developed during 7 years. She visited our department with fever and headache, and a brain abscess and an intracranial foreign body were found on computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance image (MRI) 7 years after the penetrating injury. She underwent removal of the object and abscess by craniotomy and recovered without neurological abnormalities. Since intracranial retained wooden foreign bodies frequently cause delayed complications of severe central nervous system infection, surgical removal is necessary even in the absence of symptoms.