Effects of 20-Minute Intensive Exercise on Subjects with Different Working Memory Bases.

Continuous moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves cognitive function including working memory (WM). We aimed to determine the differences in the effects of exercise on WM based on pre-exercise WM function and oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) changes. We enrolled 12 healthy adult males who, after a 4-min rest and warm-up, performed a 20-min exercise regime at a workload corresponding to 50% of maximal oxygen consumption. They performed a pre- and postexercise two-back test, and the reaction times were recorded. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor the O2Hb concentration in the left prefrontal cortex during the exercise. Based on the pre-exercise reaction time, the subjects were allocated into either a fast group (FG) or a slow group (SG). The pre- and postexercise changes in the reaction time and time-to-peak O2Hb were compared. Further, we determined the relationship between the change in the reaction time and time-to-peak O2Hb. There was no significant change in the reaction time of the FG; however, that in the SG decreased significantly. The time-to-peak O2Hb in the FG was significantly less than that in the SG. These results showed differences in the changes of reaction time and O2Hb changes between the FG and SG.

Supine Cycling Exercise Enhances Cerebral Oxygenation of Motor-Related Areas in Healthy Male Volunteers.

It has been reported that the cardiovascular response in the supine position is different from that in the sitting position. However, there are few reports on the effects of posture on cerebral oxygenation during exercise. Cycling exercises change oxygenated hemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) levels in motor-related areas. Therefore, this study compared O2Hb levels at motor-related areas during recumbent versus supine cycling. Eleven healthy young male performed a 30-min cycling exercise protocol at 50% of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) in the recumbent and supine positions. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to measure exercise-induced O2Hb and HHb changes in the right (R-PMA) and left premotor areas (L-PMA), supplementary motor area (SMA), and primary motor cortex (M1). In R-PMA, L-PMA and SMA, the O2Hb obtained during supine cycling was significantly higher than that during recumbent cycling (R-PMA, 0.031 ± 0.01 vs. 0.693 ± 0.01; L-PMA, 0.027 ± 0.01 vs. 0.085 ± 0.013; SMA, 0.041 ± 0.011 vs. 0.076 ± 0.008 mM·cm, recumbent vs. supine position; p < 0.05). These results suggest that supine cycling exercise increases R-PMA, L-PMA, and SMA O2Hb levels in healthy young men.

g Factor of the

The gyromagnetic factor of the low-lying E=251.96(9) keV isomeric state of the nucleus ^{99}Zr was measured using the time-dependent perturbed angular distribution technique. This level is assigned a spin and parity of J^{π}=7/2^{+}, with a half-life of T_{1/2}=336(5) ns. The isomer was produced and spin aligned via the abrasion-fission of a ^{238}U primary beam at RIKEN RIBF. A magnetic moment |µ|=2.31(14)µ_{N} was deduced showing that this isomer is not single particle in nature. A comparison of the experimental values with interacting boson-fermion model IBFM-1 results shows that this state is strongly mixed with a main νd_{5/2} composition. Furthermore, it was found that monopole single-particle evolution changes significantly with the appearance of collective modes, likely due to type-II shell evolution.

Solution structure analysis of the periplasmic region of bacterial flagellar motor stators by small angle X-ray scattering.

The bacterial flagellar motor drives the rotation of helical flagellar filaments to propel bacteria through viscous media. It consists of a dynamic population of mechanosensitive stators that are embedded in the inner membrane and activate in response to external load. This entails assembly around the rotor, anchoring to the peptidoglycan layer to counteract torque from the rotor and opening of a cation channel to facilitate an influx of cations, which is converted into mechanical rotation. Stator complexes are comprised of four copies of an integral membrane A subunit and two copies of a B subunit. Each B subunit includes a C-terminal OmpA-like peptidoglycan-binding (PGB) domain. This is thought to be linked to a single N-terminal transmembrane helix by a long unstructured peptide, which allows the PGB domain to bind to the peptidoglycan layer during stator anchoring. The high-resolution crystal structures of flagellar motor PGB domains from Salmonella enterica (MotBC2) and Vibrio alginolyticus (PomBC5) have previously been elucidated. Here, we use small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). We show that unlike MotBC2, the dimeric conformation of the PomBC5 in solution differs to its crystal structure, and explore the functional relevance by characterising gain-of-function mutants as well as wild-type constructs of various lengths. These provide new insight into the conformational diversity of flagellar motor PGB domains and experimental verification of their overall topology.

Administration of platelet concentrates suspended in bicarbonated Ringer's solution in children who had platelet transfusion reactions.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Adverse reactions to platelet transfusions are a problem. Children with primary haematological and malignant diseases may experience allergic transfusion reactions (ATRs) to platelet concentrates (PCs), which can be prevented by giving washed PCs. A new platelet additive solution, using bicarbonated Ringer's solution and acid-citrate-dextrose formula A (BRS-A), may be better for platelet washing and storage, but clinical data are scarce. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective cohort study for consecutive cases was performed between 2013 and 2017. For 24 months, we transfused washed PCs containing BRS-A to children with primary haematological and malignant diseases and previous adverse reactions. Patients transfused with conventional PCs (containing residual plasma) were assigned as controls, and results were compared in terms of frequency of ATRs, corrected count increment (CCI) and occurrence of bleeding. We also studied children transfused with PCs washed by a different system as historical controls. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients received 377 conventional PC transfusions. ATRs occurred in 12 (37·5%) patients from transfused with 18 (4·8%) bags. Thirteen patients, who experienced reactions to regular PCs in plasma, then received 119 transfusion bags of washed PCs containing BRS-A, and none had ATRs to washed PCs containing BRS-A. Before study period, six patients transfused 137 classical washed PCs with different platelet additive solution, under same indication, ATRs occurred in one (16·7%) patient from transfused with one (0·7%) bags. CCIs (24 h) in were lower with classical washed PCs (1·26 ± 0·54) compared to regular PCs in plasma (2·07 ± 0·76) (P < 0·001), but there was no difference between washed PCs containing BRS-A (2·14 ± 0·77) and regular PCs (2·21 ± 0·79) (P = 0·769), and we saw no post-transfusion bleeding. CONCLUSION: Washed PCs containing BRS-A appear to prevent ATRs without loss of transfusion efficacy in children with primary haematological and malignant diseases. Their efficacy should be further evaluated through larger prospective clinical trials.

Tongue-palatal contact changes in patients with skeletal mandibular prognathism after sagittal split ramus osteotomy: an electropalatography study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in tongue-palatal contact patterns using electropalatography (EPG) before and after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) in patients with mandibular prognathism. Nine clients who underwent SSRO for mandibular setback and seven control subjects were participated in this study. Tongue-palatal contact patterns for /t/, /s/ and /k/ production were investigated using EPG before surgery and 3 months after surgery. The mean value of whole total of palate contact (WT) in the maximum contact frame was examined before and after SSRO. The correlation quantity between the change of center of gravity (COG) value and the amount of mandibular setback was also evaluated. The mean value of WT for /t/ and /s/ significantly increased after SSRO, and the EPG pattern became normal. However, a remarkable change in WT for /k/ was not observed, and the mean value was significantly larger in the SSRO group before and after surgery than in the control group. A negative correlation between COG variation and the amount of mandibular setback for /t/ and positive correlation for /s/ was observed. This study demonstrated that tongue-palatal contact patterns for /t/ and /s/ articulation improved clearly after SSRO. There was a significant correlation between COG variation and the amount of mandibular setback. However, no significant change was detected through perceptual assessment before and after SSRO. Further investigation is needed to determine whether these results will change over time.

Factors related to allergic transfusion reactions and febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions in children.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Allergic transfusion reactions (ATRs) and febrile non-haemolytic transfusion reactions (FNHTRs) are the two major types of transfusion-related adverse reactions (TRARs). Although prestorage leucocyte reduction and diversion of the first aliquot of blood (LR/D) could reduce FNHTRs and bacterial contamination in adult transfusion, ATRs are still problematic. In addition, there is little information about TRARs in paediatric population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a single-centre retrospective analysis of all transfusions, except washing products, and TRARs for 153 months to evaluate related factors such as delivery of treatment and the characteristics of recipients. RESULTS: Most TRARs were FNHTRs and/or ATRs in children. In delivering blood products with LR/D, the frequencies of not only FNHTRs but also ATRs were significantly reduced with both platelet concentrates (PCs) and red cell concentrates (RCCs). TRARs of fresh-frozen plasma were infrequent in children. In addition, even after the introduction of LR/D, ATRs were significantly more frequent in patients with primary haematological and malignant diseases who received PCs and RCCs, older patients who received PCs and patients who received frequent RCCs. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that leucocytes or mediators from leucocytes are underlying cause of ATRs in addition to FNHTRs in children. Furthermore, particular characteristics of patients would be other risk factors for ATRs.

Specific clinical signs and symptoms are predictive of clinical course in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Akinetic mutism is thought to be an appropriate therapeutic end-point in patients with sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (sCJD). However, prognostic factors for akinetic mutism are unclear and clinical signs or symptoms that precede this condition have not been defined. The goal of this study was to identify prognostic factors for akinetic mutism and to clarify the order of clinical sign and symptom development prior to its onset. METHODS: The cumulative incidence of akinetic mutism and other clinical signs and symptoms was estimated based on Japanese CJD surveillance data (455 cases) collected from 2003 to 2008. A proportional hazards model was used to identify prognostic factors for the time to onset of akinetic mutism and other clinical signs and symptoms. RESULTS: Periodic synchronous discharges on electroencephalography were present in the majority of cases (93.5%). The presence of psychiatric symptoms or cerebellar disturbance at sCJD diagnosis was associated with the development of akinetic mutism [hazard ratio (HR) 1.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-1.99, and HR 2.15, 95% CI1.61-2.87, respectively]. The clinical course from cerebellar disturbance to myoclonus or akinetic mutism was classified into three types: (i) direct path, (ii) path via pyramidal or extrapyramidal dysfunction and (iii) path via psychiatric symptoms or visual disturbance. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of psychiatric symptoms or cerebellar disturbance increased the risk of akinetic mutism of sCJD cases with probable MM/MV subtypes. Also, there appear to be sequential associations in the development of certain clinical signs and symptoms of this disease.

The effect of magnetic field during freezing and thawing of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Previous studies showed that a programmed freezer with magnetic field can maintain a high survival rate of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influences of magnetic field during freezing and thawing on the survival of MSCs isolated from rat bone marrow. The cells were frozen by a normal programmed freezer or a programmed freezer with magnetic field (CAS-LAB1) and cryopreserved for 7 days at -150 °C. Then, the cells were thawed in the presence or absence of magnetic field. Immediately after thawing, the number of surviving or viable cells was counted. The cell proliferation was examined after 1-week culture. Cryopreserved MSCs which were frozen by a normal freezer or a CAS freezer were transplanted into bone defects artificially made in calvaria of 4-week-old rats. Non-cryopreserved MSCs were used as a control. The rats were sacrificed at 8, 16, or 24 weeks after transplantation and the bone regeneration area was measured. Proliferation rates of MSCs after 1 week were significantly higher in the CAS-freezing-thawing group than in the CAS-freezing group. The extent of new bone formation in the CAS-freezing-thawing group tended to be larger than in CAS-freezing group 24 weeks after transplantation. These results suggest that a magnetic field enhances cell survival during thawing as well as freezing.

Function of insulin in snail brain in associative learning.

Insulin is well known as a hormone regulating glucose homeostasis across phyla. Although there are insulin-independent mechanisms for glucose uptake in the mammalian brain, which had contributed to a perception of the brain as an insulin-insensitive organ for decades, the finding of insulin and its receptors in the brain revolutionized the concept of insulin signaling in the brain. However, insulin's role in brain functions, such as cognition, attention, and memory, remains unknown. Studies using invertebrates with their open blood-vascular system have the promise of promoting a better understanding of the role played by insulin in mediating/modulating cognitive functions. In this review, the relationship between insulin and its impact on long-term memory (LTM) is discussed particularly in snails. The pond snail Lymnaea stagnalis has the ability to undergo conditioned taste aversion (CTA), that is, it associatively learns and forms LTM not to respond with a feeding response to a food that normally elicits a robust feeding response. We show that molluscan insulin-related peptides are up-regulated in snails exhibiting CTA-LTM and play a key role in the causal neural basis of CTA-LTM. We also survey the relevant literature of the roles played by insulin in learning and memory in other phyla.

Virological analysis of inherited chromosomally integrated human herpesvirus-6 in three hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients.

We analyzed 3 hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients with inherited chromosomally integrated human herpesvirus-6 (inherited CIHHV-6). Cases 1 (inherited CIHHV-6A) and 2 (inherited CIHHV-6B) were inherited CIHHV-6 recipients. Case 3 received bone marrow from a donor with inherited CIHHV-6B. Following HSCT, HHV-6B was isolated from Case 1. HHV-6A and -6B messenger RNAs were detected in Cases 1 and 3.

Cranial suture-like gap and bone regeneration after transplantation of cryopreserved MSCs by use of a programmed freezer with magnetic field in rats.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used for regeneration of various organs and tissues. A previous study revealed that cryopreserved MSCs, which were frozen by a programmed freezer with a magnetic field (Cells Alive System: CAS) and cryopreserved for 7 days in a -150°C deep freezer, can maintain high survival and proliferation rates while retaining both adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation abilities. The purpose of this study was to examine MSC viability and tissue regenerative ability after long-term cryopreservation using a CAS freezer. MSCs were isolated from rat femora bone marrow and cryopreserved in a -150°C deep freezer (CAS group) or directly cryopreserved in a deep freezer (Direct group). After 3 years, the cells were thawed and the number of viable cells was counted. Cell proliferation was also examined after 14 days in culture. For histological examination, forty 4-week-old Fischer 344 male rats received bone and sagittal suture defects with a diameter of 6.0mm, and MSCs (CAS or Direct group) cryopreserved for 1 year were grafted with membranes. Non-cryopreserved MSCs (Control group) were transplanted to an additional twenty rats. The rats were sacrificed at 4, 8, 16, and 24 weeks after surgery. The parietal bones, including the sagittal suture, were observed under a light microscope and the extent of bone regeneration was measured. Our results indicate that MSCs survival and proliferation rates were significantly higher in the CAS group than in the Direct group. In the Control and CAS groups, a large amount of new bone formation and a suture-like gap was identified 24 weeks after transplantation, whereas only a small amount of new bone formation was observed in the Direct group. These results suggest that the CAS freezer is amenable to long-term cryopreservation of MSCs, which can be applied to the regeneration of various tissues, including bone tissue with suture-like gap formation.

Effects of occlusal hypofunction and its recovery on PDL structure and expression of VEGF and bFGF in rats.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to clarify whether occlusal hypofunction and its recovery affect the structure of the periodontal ligament (PDL) and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-eight Wistar rats aged 5 weeks were used and randomly divided into three groups: the hypofunctional group (HG), recovery group (RG), and control group (CG). In HG and RG, appliances were attached to the maxillary and mandibular incisors. In HG, appliances were set for 11 weeks. In RG, appliances were set for 7 weeks. Appliances were then removed at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, and 28 days. Untreated rats served as CG. Histological sections were prepared and immunohistochemically stained for VEGF and bFGF. Three groups were evaluated for PDL area and the number of VEGF and bFGF immunopositive cells in PDL. RESULTS: The number of immunopositive cells and PDL area in CG and RG were significantly larger when compared with HG, and PDL area in RG was similar to that in CG. In the recovery process, PDL area and number of VEGF-positive cells in PDL increased from days 0 to 7 and decreased from days 7 to 28. Conversely, the number of bFGF-positive cells in PDL increased significantly after day 1 and peaked at 28 days. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that occlusal stimuli regulate PDL area through expression of VEGF and bFGF in rat PDL. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Occlusal stimuli are able to regulate the expression of VEGF and bFGF in PDL cells, and these growth factors may lead to alveolar bone remodeling in PDL.

Real-time processing system of a two-color CO2 laser interferometer for density feedback control in JT-60SA.

A real-time processing system for the two-color CO2 laser interferometer on the JT-60SA has been developed for density feedback control. The system has a novel feature that can detect fringe jumps due to off-normal events, such as loss detection due to displacement of the beam axis and changes in the laser wavelengths. Because a phase change due to the JT-60SA plasma is smaller than π/2, corresponding to the line-integral electron density NL of ∼6×1019 m-2 in a short interval of 500 ns, the threshold of the fringe jump detection is decided to be π/2. Hence, off-normal events can be detected from a fringe jump, leading to the abort of the real-time feedback control. In the density feedback control of the JT-60SA plasma, the system is employed as a density monitor, with NL being successfully controlled at 16.8% ± 6.6% lower than the reference.

Cryopreservation of osteoblasts by use of a programmed freezer with a magnetic field.

In order to determine a suitable condition for osteoblasts cryopreservation, murine osteoblasts were freezed by programmed freezer with a magnetic field (CAS freezer). After 7 days cryopreservation at -150°, the number of survival cells immediately after thawing and the growth rate of cultured cells for 48 hours were examined. Gene and protein expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), osteopontin (OPN) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) were compared between cryopreserved and non-cryopreserved groups. As a result, a plunging temperature of -30°, a hold-time at -5° for 15 minutes and a 0.1 mT of magnetic field led to the largest survival and growth rate. Moreover, there was no significant difference in ALP, OPN and BSP mRNA and protein expression between cryopreserved and control groups. From these results, it was suggested that the CAS freezer is available for osteoblast cryopreservation and bone tissue banking can be established in the future.

Elastic, optoelectronic and photocatalytic properties of semiconducting CsNbO3: first principles insights.

The cubic phase of CsNbO3 (CNO) perovskite has been hypothesized to investigate the elastic, electronic, photocatalytic, and optical properties for various technological applications using first-principles method. The pressure dependent structural stability has been confirmed from computed elastic constants. Relatively high value of elastic moduli, large hardness and toughness suggested that CNO would be applicable to design industrial machineries. The ductile to brittle transition is noticed at 20 GPa. The indirect bandgap of CNO proclaims its suitability for photovoltaic and IR photodetector applications. The total and partial density of states are calculated to show in evidence the contribution of individual atomic orbitals in the formation of bands. The pressure changes orbitals hybridization which can be substantiated by the change in the bandgap. Strong covalency of the Nb-O bond and antibonding character of Cs-O have been anticipated by the Mulliken population analysis and by the contour maps of electron charge density. The low carrier effective mass and high mobility carriers predict the good electrical conductivity of the material. The calculated values of conduction and valance band edge potential illustrate the excellent water-splitting and environmental pollutants degradation properties of CNO.

Tumour suppressors miR-1 and miR-133a target the oncogenic function of purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Our recent analyses of miRNA expression signatures showed that miR-1 and miR-133a were significantly reduced in several types of cancer. Interestingly, miR-1 and miR-133a are located on the same chromosomal locus in the human genome. We examined the functional significance of miR-1 and miR-133a in prostate cancer (PCa) cells and identified the novel molecular targets regulated by both miR-1 and miR-133a. METHODS AND RESULTS: The expression levels of miR-1 and miR-133a were significantly downregulated in PCa compared with non-PCa tissues. Restoration of miR-1 or miR-133a in PC3 and DU145 cells revealed significant inhibition of proliferation, migration, and invasion. Molecular target identification by genome-wide gene expression analysis and luciferase reporter assay showed that purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) was directly regulated by both miRNAs. Silencing of the PNP gene inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion in both PC3 and DU145 cells. Immunohistochemistry detected positive staining of PNP in PCa specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Downregulation of miR-1 and miR-133a was a frequent event in PCa and both function as tumour suppressors. The PNP is a novel target gene of both miRNAs and potentially functions as an oncogene. Therefore, identification of novel molecular networks regulated by miRNAs may provide new insights into the underlying causes of PCa oncogenesis.

Broken local symmetry in paraelectric BaTiO3 proved by second harmonic generation.

Precursor dynamics of a cubic to tetragonal ferroelectric phase transition in BaTiO3 is studied by the accurate measurement of the second harmonic generation (SHG) integral intensities. A finite signal holds for the SHG integrated intensity above the ferroelectric Curie temperature T(c)=403 K. Above the Burn's temperature T(d)≈580 K, the power law with the exponent γ=1 shows normal SHG nature originating from the hyper-Raman scattering by dynamical polar excitations, while, below T(d), a SHG signal from polar nanoregions becomes dominant with the larger exponent γ=2. Such a crossover of the power law exponent near T(d) is discussed on the basis of the effective Hamiltonian method and Monte Carlo simulation.

Analysis of rotavirus antigenemia in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.

Systemic rotavirus infection, such as rotavirus antigenemia, has been found in immunocompetent rotavirus gastroenteritis patients. However, the pathogenesis of rotavirus infection in immunocompromised transplant recipients remains unclear. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure rotavirus antigen levels in serially collected serum samples obtained from 62 pediatric patients receiving allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCT). Rotavirus antigen was detected in 43 (6.8%) of 633 serum samples (8 of 62 patients). The duration of rotavirus antigenemia ranged between 1 and 10 weeks, and diarrhea was concurrent with rotavirus antigenemia in Cases 3, 6, 7, and 8. The level of viral antigen in the transplant recipients (0.19 ± 0.20) was significantly lower than that observed in serum samples collected from immunocompetent patients on either day 1 (0.49 ± 0.18, P = 0.0011) or day 3 (0.63 ± 0.09, P = 0.0005). A patient who received a graft from a human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-mismatched donor was at significant risk for rotavirus antigenemia (P = 0.024; odds ratio = 9.44) in comparison to patients who received grafts from HLA-matched donors. Although the duration of antigenemia was clearly longer in HSCT patients than in immunocompetent rotavirus gastroenteritis patients, the levels of viral antigen were not as high. Therefore, mismatched HLA may be a risk factor for rotavirus antigenemia after HSCT.