Excited-State Half-Lives in

The known I^{π}=8_{1}^{+}, E_{x}=2129-keV isomer in the semimagic nucleus ^{130}Cd_{82} was populated in the projectile fission of a ^{238}U beam at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory at RIKEN. The high counting statistics of the accumulated data allowed us to determine the excitation energy, E_{x}=2001.2(7) keV, and half-life, T_{1/2}=57(3) ns, of the I^{π}=6_{1}^{+} state based on γγ coincidence information. Furthermore, the half-life of the 8_{1}^{+} state, T_{1/2}=224(4) ns, was remeasured with high precision. The new experimental information, combined with available data for ^{134}Sn and large-scale shell model calculations, allowed us to extract proton and neutron effective charges for ^{132}Sn, a doubly magic nucleus far-off stability. A comparison to analogous information for ^{100}Sn provides first reliable information regarding the isospin dependence of the isoscalar and isovector effective charges in heavy nuclei.

Proton Shell Evolution below

The ß-delayed γ-ray spectroscopy of neutron-rich ^{123,125}Ag isotopes is investigated at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory of RIKEN, and the long-predicted 1/2^{-} ß-emitting isomers in ^{123,125}Ag are identified for the first time. With the new experimental results, the systematic trend of energy spacing between the lowest 9/2^{+} and 1/2^{-} levels is extended in Ag isotopes up to N=78, providing a clear signal for the reduction of the Z=40 subshell gap in Ag towards N=82. Shell-model calculations with the state-of-the-art V_{MU} plus M3Y spin-orbit interaction give a satisfactory description of the low-lying states in ^{123,125}Ag. The tensor force is found to play a crucial role in the evolution of the size of the Z=40 subshell gap. The observed inversion of the single-particle levels around ^{123}Ag can be well interpreted in terms of the monopole shift of the π1g_{9/2} orbitals mainly caused by the increasing occupation of ν1h_{11/2} orbitals.

Immune response against 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like clinical manifestation is suppressed by spermidine in NC/Nga mice.

Of the biogenic polyamines, spermidine is a natural constituent of living cells and organisms. Spermidine is associated with regulation of cell growth, proliferation and differentiation, and with the suppression of oxidation and inflammation. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that has a complex and multiple pathogenesis, which includes genetic abnormality, modified or abnormal immune response and the production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species. We investigated whether spermidine can relieve AD-like clinical manifestation induced by the continual application of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) in NC/Nga mice. Spermidine at concentrations of 1 or 10 mg/kg reduced increasing ear swelling and attenuated oedema, haemorrhage and hyperkeratosis in AD-like skin lesions. Repetitive application of DNFB induced inflammatory cell infiltration to skin lesions, whereas intraperitoneal injection of spermidine inhibited DNFB-evoked infiltration of eosinophils, mast cells and T lymphocytes. Furthermore, spermidine suppressed mast cell degranulation and production of interferon-gamma by activated CD4(+) T cells in AD-like skin lesions. Spermidine may be a potential therapeutic agent for treatment of AD.

ß-Decay Half-Lives of 110 Neutron-Rich Nuclei across the N=82 Shell Gap: Implications for the Mechanism and Universality of the Astrophysical r Process.

The ß-decay half-lives of 110 neutron-rich isotopes of the elements from _{37}Rb to _{50}Sn were measured at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. The 40 new half-lives follow robust systematics and highlight the persistence of shell effects. The new data have direct implications for r-process calculations and reinforce the notion that the second (A≈130) and the rare-earth-element (A≈160) abundance peaks may result from the freeze-out of an (n,γ)⇄(γ,n) equilibrium. In such an equilibrium, the new half-lives are important factors determining the abundance of rare-earth elements, and allow for a more reliable discussion of the r process universality. It is anticipated that universality may not extend to the elements Sn, Sb, I, and Cs, making the detection of these elements in metal-poor stars of the utmost importance to determine the exact conditions of individual r-process events.

Yrast 6⁺ seniority isomers of (136,138)Sn.

Delayed γ-ray cascades, originating from the decay of (6⁺) isomeric states, in the very neutron-rich, semimagic isotopes (136,138)Sn have been observed following the projectile fission of a ²³8U beam at RIBF, RIKEN. The wave functions of these isomeric states are proposed to be predominantly a fully aligned pair of f(7/2) neutrons. Shell-model calculations, performed using a realistic effective interaction, reproduce well the energies of the excited states of these nuclei and the measured transition rates, with the exception of the B(E2;6⁺→4⁺) rate of ¹³6Sn, which deviates from a simple seniority scheme. Empirically reducing the νf(7/2)(2) orbit matrix elements produces a 41⁺ state with almost equal seniority 2 and 4 components, correctly reproducing the experimental B(E2;6⁺→4⁺) rate of ¹³6Sn. These data provide a key benchmark for shell-model interactions far from stability.

Monopole-driven shell evolution below the doubly magic nucleus 132Sn explored with the long-lived isomer in 126Pd.

A new isomer with a half-life of 23.0(8) ms has been identified at 2406 keV in (126)Pd and is proposed to have a spin and parity of 10(+) with a maximally aligned configuration comprising two neutron holes in the 1h(11/2) orbit. In addition to an internal-decay branch through a hindered electric octupole transition, ß decay from the long-lived isomer was observed to populate excited states at high spins in (126)Ag. The smaller energy difference between the 10(+) and 7(-) isomers in (126)Pd than in the heavier N=80 isotones can be interpreted as being ascribed to the monopole shift of the 1h(11/2) neutron orbit. The effects of the monopole interaction on the evolution of single-neutron energies below (132)Sn are discussed in terms of the central and tensor forces.

1p3/2 proton-hole state in 132Sn and the shell structure along N = 82.

A low-lying state in 131In82, the one-proton hole nucleus with respect to double magic 132Sn, was observed by its γ decay to the Iπ=1/2- ß-emitting isomer. We identify the new state at an excitation energy of Ex=1353 keV, which was populated both in the ß decay of 131Cd83 and after ß-delayed neutron emission from 132Cd84, as the previously unknown πp3/2 single-hole state with respect to the 132Sn core. Exploiting this crucial new experimental information, shell-model calculations were performed to study the structure of experimentally inaccessible N=82 isotones below 132Sn. The results evidence a surprising absence of proton subshell closures along the chain of N=82 isotones. The consequences of this finding for the evolution of the N=82 shell gap along the r-process path are discussed.

First Report of Bacterial Leaf Blight of Carrot Caused by Xanthomonas hortorum pv. carotae in Korea.

In December 2012, symptoms of typical bacterial leaf blight were observed on carrot plants (Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus) cultivated in commercial fields in Kujwa, Jeju, Korea. The disease was detected in 40% of 50 fields surveyed with an incidence of 10% on average. The bacterial leaf blight lesions on leaf blades were elongated, dark brown to black with water-soaked edges and chlorotic halos. Lesions were also crescent-shaped to V-shaped on leaflets. Four bacterial isolates were recovered on trypticase soy agar from leaf lesions that were surface-sterilized in 70% ethyl alcohol for 20 s. Identity of the isolates was confirmed by PCR product (1,266-bp) using a specific primer set for Xanthomonas hortorum pv. carotae (Kendrick 1934) Vauterin et al. 1995, XhcPP03 (1). All isolates were gram-negative, aerobic rods with a single polar flagellum. Isolates were positive for catalase and negative for oxidase. In phenotypic tests for differentiation of Xanthomonas (2), the isolates positive for mucoid growth on yeast extract-dextrose-calcium carbonate agar, growth at 35°C, hydrolysis of esculin, protein digestion, alkaline in litmus milk, acid production from arabitol, and utilization of glycerol and melibiose. The isolates were negative for growth on SX medium, hydrolysis of starch, and ice nucleation. The gyrB gene (863 bp) and the rpoD gene (870 bp) were sequenced to aid identification of the original isolates using published PCR primer sets, Xgyr1BF/Xgyr1BR and XrpoD1F/XrpoD1R (4), respectively. Sequences of the gyrB gene (GenBank accessions KC920729 to KC920732) from the carrot isolates shared 100% sequence identity with that of the X. hortorum pv. carotae strain NCPPB 425 (EU285243). In phylogenetic analyses based on the partial sequences of the gyrB and the rpoD genes for Xanthomonas spp. available at NCBI (4), and sequences of the carrot isolates (KC920734 to KC920737 for rpoD gene) using the Neighbor-joining method in MEGA Version 5.1 (3), the isolates were clustered in the X. hortorum-cynarae-garnderi group. Pathogenicity of the isolates was tested by spray inoculation with a bacterial suspension (106 CFU/ml) prepared in sterile distilled water at 6 to 7 true-leaf stage (three plants per isolate). Sterile distilled water was used as negative control. The inoculated plants were incubated in a growth chamber (25°C and 95% relative humidity [RH]) for 15 hr, and then transferred to a greenhouse at 24 to 28°C and 65% RH. Characteristic leaf blight symptoms developed on inoculated carrot plants, while no symptoms were observed on the negative control plants 14 days after inoculation. The bacterium was re-isolated from symptomatic tissue and the identity confirmed through gyrB gene sequence analysis (4). Based on PCR, morphological and phenotypic tests, sequence analysis, and pathogenicity assays, the isolates were identified as X. hortorum pv. carotae. To our knowledge, this is the first report of bacterial leaf blight of carrot caused by X. hortorum pv. carotae in Korea. The detection of this pathogen could have a significant economic impact due to yield losses from disease development. Consolidation of quarantine inspection on imported carrot seeds needs to control an outbreak of the disease. Crop rotation and plowing are recommended to reduce incidence of the disease in the infested fields. References: (1) J. A. Kimbrel et al. Mol. Plant Pathol. 12:580, 2011. (2) N. W. Schaad et al. Page 189 in: Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. 3rd ed. N. W. Schaad et al., eds. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 2001. (3) K. Tamura et al. Mol. Biol. Evol. 28:2731, 2011. (4) J. M. Young et al. Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 31:366, 2008.

Effect of curing time on the physicochemical and sensory properties of beef jerky replaced salt with soy sauce, red pepper paste and soybean paste.

This study was done to investigate the quality properties of beef jerky with soy sauce, red pepper paste, and soybean paste replacing salt. Sliced beef samples were cured in salt (control), soy sauce, red pepper paste, and soybean paste for 24 or 48 h and then dried at 70°C for 8 h. Treatments showed higher final moisture content and lower Na(+) concentration than the control after drying for 8 h. The lightness and shear force values were lower in all treatment samples than in the control during 48 h of curing time. In particular, lower lipid oxidation was found in the jerky cured with red pepper paste than in the control. Sensory evaluation showed that color, flavor, and tenderness of jerky samples were improved by replacing salt with soy sauce, red pepper paste and soybean paste, and higher likeability scores of the beef jerky were obtained among those treatments after 48 h of curing time.

Isomers in 128Pd and 126Pd: evidence for a robust shell closure at the neutron magic number 82 in exotic palladium isotopes.

The level structures of the very neutron-rich nuclei 128Pd and 126Pd have been investigated for the first time. In the r-process waiting-point nucleus 128Pd, a new isomer with a half-life of 5.8(8) µs is proposed to have a spin and parity of 8(+) and is associated with a maximally aligned configuration arising from the g(9/2) proton subshell with seniority υ=2. For 126Pd, two new isomers have been identified with half-lives of 0.33(4) and 0.44(3) µs. The yrast 2(+) energy is much higher in 128Pd than in 126Pd, while the level sequence below the 8(+) isomer in 128Pd is similar to that in the N=82 isotone 130Cd. The electric quadrupole transition that depopulates the 8(+) isomer in 128Pd is more hindered than the corresponding transition in 130Cd, as expected in the seniority scheme for a semimagic, spherical nucleus. These experimental findings indicate that the shell closure at the neutron number N=82 is fairly robust in the neutron-rich Pd isotopes.

Comparison of live performance and meat quality parameter of cross bred (korean native black pig and landrace) pigs with different coat colors.

Five hundred and forty crossbred (Korean native black pig×Landrace) F2 were selected at a commercial pig farm and then divided into six different coat color groups: (A: Black, B: White, C: Red, D: White spot in black, E: Black spot in white, F: Black spot in red). Birth weight, 21st d weight, 140th d weight and carcass weight varied among the different coat color groups. D group (white spot in black coat) showed a significantly higher body weight at each weigh (birth weight, 140th d weight and carcass weight) than did the other groups, whereas the C group (red coat color) showed a significantly lower body weight at finishing stage (140th d weight and carcass weight) compared to other groups. Meat quality characteristics, shear force, cooking loss and meat color were not significantly different among the different coat color groups, whereas drip loss was significantly higher in F than in other groups. Most blood characteristics were not significantly different among the different groups, except for the red blood cells.

Development of Allison scanner to measure transverse emittance at low energy beam transport of rare-isotope accelerator complex for ON-line experiments.

The Rare-isotope Accelerator complex for ON-line experiments is a heavy-ion accelerator facility that accelerates a stable or rare isotope beam up to 400 kW with an energy of 200 MeV/u. Various heavy-ion beams are generated from the Electron Cyclotron Resonance Ion Source, with an energy of 10 keV/u and separated according to A/Q at the first dipole magnet (DM). To measure beam transverse emittance at the Low Energy Beam Transport section, two Allison scanners are installed behind the DM for the X and Y directions. It consist of a servo motor for driving, a Faraday cup for current measurement, deflection plates, and electronic device. The measurable range of beam angle in of the Allison scanner is determined by the structure of the deflection plate and designed based on mathematical calculations. Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) is adopted to integrate and control a variety of devices. To control the complex measurement sequence of the Allison scanner, an EPICS sequencer module was used. Normalized emittance is calculated by python code with Pyepics module using phase space distribution data. In this paper, we present the detailed design of the Allison scanner, the configuration of the control system, and the experimental results using an Ar9+ 30 µA beam.

Study of structural and magnetic properties and heat induction of gadolinium-substituted manganese zinc ferrite nanoparticles for in vitro magnetic fluid hyperthermia.

This article outlines the synthesis of gadolinium (Gd)-doped manganese zinc ferrite magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) as potential magnetic carriers for magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH). MNPs with high specific loss power (SLP; 146 W/g) have been developed and used for an in vitro hyperthermia study. The treatment of MFH is fruitful if there is an adequate number of MNPs in tumor cells with the highest SLP to rapidly generate heat while minimizing thermal injury to surrounding healthy tissue. X-ray diffraction patterns of the studied particles confirm the formation of a cubic spinel structure. Field emission scanning electron micrographs showed homogeneous distributions of particles with some agglomerates with a granular appearance. Transmission electron microscopy analysis showed the presence of agglomerated spherical particles at the surface. The substitution of Gd resulted in superparamagnetism at room temperature as confirmed by vibrating sample magnetometer analysis. The estimated saturation magnetization reduced from 48.6 to 28.2 emu/g with an increase in Gd concentration. However, the coercivity increased from 1093 Oe to 1597 Oe. Field cooled and zero field cooled measurements showed Curie temperatures from 315 to 326 K, as required for MFH applications. Cell viability measurements indicated that the MNPs are nontoxic to A549 cells for the studied concentrations of particle fraction and a contact time of up to 24 h. The interaction of the MNPs with A549 cells was highlighted from an image captured by an inverted microscope. In order to treat cancer in vivo, an in vitro hyperthermia study has initially been carried out with A549 cells.

KLF6 contributes to myeloid cell plasticity in the pathogenesis of intestinal inflammation.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with dysregulated macrophage responses, such that quiescent macrophages acquire a pro-inflammatory activation state and contribute to chronic intestinal inflammation. The transcriptional events governing macrophage activation and gene expression in the context of chronic inflammation such as IBD remain incompletely understood. Here, we identify Kruppel-like transcription factor-6 (KLF6) as a critical regulator of pathogenic myeloid cell activation in human and experimental IBD. We found that KLF6 was significantly upregulated in myeloid cells and intestinal tissue from IBD patients and experimental models of IBD, particularly in actively inflamed regions of the colon. Using complementary gain- and loss-of-function studies, we observed that KLF6 promotes pro-inflammatory gene expression through enhancement of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) signaling, while simultaneously suppressing anti-inflammatory gene expression through repression of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling. To study the in vivo role of myeloid KLF6, we treated myeloid-specific KLF6-knockout mice (Mac-KLF6-KO) with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and found that Mac-KLF6-KO mice were protected against chemically-induced colitis; this highlights the central role of myeloid KLF6 in promoting intestinal inflammation. Collectively, our results point to a novel gene regulatory program underlying pathogenic, pro-inflammatory macrophage activation in the setting of chronic intestinal inflammation.

Concurrent specific immunological detection of both primate and rodent forms of the guanine nucleotide binding protein G11 alpha following their coexpression.

The phosphoinositidase C-linked G proteins Gq alpha and G11 alpha are highly similar and comigrate in 10% (w/v) acrylamide SDS-PAGE. Antisera generated against regions common between these G proteins thus detect a composite of the two polypeptides following resolution in such gels. Using SDS-PAGE conditions which allow resolution of Gq alpha and G11 alpha in rodent brain and neuroblastoma cell lines it was observed that primate frontal cortex and neuroblastoma cell lines did not express a polypeptide which comigrated with rodent G11 alpha. Species diversity in G-protein sequences is extremely limited; however, immunoblotting primate cells and frontal cortex with a G11 alpha-specific antiserum demonstrated this to be due to a difference in mobility of rodent and primate G11 alpha under these conditions rather than lack of expression of G11 alpha by primates. A cDNA encoding mouse G11 alpha was transiently expressed in monkey COS-1 cells and membranes from these cells were immunoblotted with antisera able to identify primate and rodent G11 alpha equally, following SDS-PAGE under the resolving conditions. Both mouse and monkey G11 alpha could be detected concurrently and unambiguously following transfection. This is the first demonstration that species variants of the same G protein expressed in a single cell can be detected simultaneously.

Effect of enzymatic pretreatment on solubilization and volatile fatty acid production in fermentation of food waste.

Food waste can be a valuable carbon source in biological nutrient removal (BNR) systems because of the high C/N and C/P ratio. However, pretreatment is necessary to promote hydrolysis of food waste because of the high concentration of volatile solids associated with organic matter. The influence of the enzymatic pretreatment on acid fermentation of food waste was investigated in this study. Solubilization of particulate matter in food waste was carried out using commercial enzymes. The acidification efficiency and the volatile fatty acid (VFA) production potential of enzymatically pretreated food waste were examined. The highest volatile suspended solid (VSS) reduction was obtained with an enzyme mixture ratio of 1:2:1 for carbohydrase: protease: lipase. An optimum enzyme dosage for solubilization of food waste was 0.1% (V/V) with the enzyme mixture ratio of 1:2:1. In the acid fermentation of enzymatically pretreated food waste, the maximum VFA production and the highest VFA fraction in soluble COD (SCOD) were also achieved at 0.1% (V/N) of total enzyme dosage. Increase in VFA production at this level of enzyme dosage was over 300% compared with the control fermenter. The major form of VFA produced by fermentation was n-butyrate followed by acetate.

Receptor availability defines the extent of agonist-mediated G-protein down-regulation in neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid cells transfected to express the beta 2-adrenoceptor.

Sustained exposure of neuroblastoma x glioma hybrid, NG108-15, cells transfected to express the human beta 2-adrenoceptor (clone beta N22) to isoprenaline or iloprost (an agonist at the endogenously expressed IP prostanoid receptor) resulted in a substantial and selective down-regulation of the alpha subunit of the G-protein Gs. Treatment of these cells with the irreversible beta-adrenoceptor antagonist bromoacetyl alprenolol menthane diminished both the potency and the maximal ability of isoprenaline but not of iloprost to cause Gs alpha down-regulation. These results demonstrate that the extent of agonist-mediated Gs alpha down-regulation is dependent upon the availability of receptor to agonist.

Implementation of a low-cost PACS/CR for clinical use in Yonsei Cardiovascular Center.

The PACS/CR for clinical use in Yonsei Cardiovascular Center has been designed and implemented. Our system is open architecture to comply with emerging standards such as DICOM. database SQL, TCP/IP and to reduce operational and maintenance costs, PC-based low cost workstations running Microsoft Windows, database as Microsoft SQL based on Client/Server, Long-term storage using CD-ROM Jukebox are developed. Also, auto routing and image pre-fetching are implemented.

Analysis of cognition, motor performance and anxiety in young and aged tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor 1 and 2 deficient mice.

TNF-α plays important functional roles in the central nervous system during normal physiological circumstances via intricate signaling mechanisms between its receptors, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2). Although the roles of TNFR1 and TNFR2 in the diseased brain have received considerable attention, their functions on behavior and cognition in a non-inflammatory physiological aged environment are still unknown. In the present study we investigated the functional roles of TNFR1 and TNFR2 in learning and memory, motor performance and anxiety-like behavior via several behavioral and cognitive assessments in young and aged mice, deficient of either TNFR1 or TNFR2. Results from this study show that deletion of TNFR2 impairs novel object recognition, spatial memory recognition, contextual fear conditioning, motor performance and can increase anxiety-like behavior in young adult mice. Concerning the functions of TNFR1 and TNFR2 functioning in an aged environment, age caused memory impairment in spatial memory recognition independent of genotype. However, both young and aged mice deficient of TNFR2 performed poorly in the contextual fear conditioning test. These mice displayed decreased anxiety-like behavior, whereas mice deficient of TNFR1 were insusceptible to the effect of aging on anxiety-like behavior. This study provides novel knowledge on TNFR1 and TNFR2 functioning in behavior and cognition in young and aged mice in a non-inflammatory physiological environment.

Control of fresh meat quality through manipulation of muscle fiber characteristics.

Variations of fresh meat quality exist because the quality traits are affected by various intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Because the meat quality is basically dependent on muscle fiber characteristics, numerous studies have reported the relationship between quality traits and fiber characteristics. Despite intensive research, the relationship is yet to be fully established, however, the present knowledge suggests several potential ways to manipulate muscle fiber characteristics to improve meat quality. The present paper reviews the definition of fresh meat quality, meat quality traits and variations of meat quality. Also, this review presents recent knowledge underlying the relationship between fresh meat quality traits and muscle fiber characteristics. Finally, the present work proposes several potential factors including breed, genotype, sex, hormone, growth performance, diet, muscle location, exercise and ambient temperature that can be used to manipulate muscle fiber characteristics and subsequently meat quality in animals.