Note: Near-field imaging of thermal radiation at low temperatures by passive millimeter-wave microscopy.

Imaging of thermal radiation with a spatial resolution below the diffraction limit is demonstrated with a passive millimeter-wave microscope. This technique utilizes a sensitive radiometric receiver in combination with a scanning near-field microscope. Experiments were performed at 50 GHz (λ = 6 mm) with sample temperatures ranging from room temperature down to 160 K, and the performance was shown to be superior to that achieved with passive imaging systems in the infrared region. The images are affected by non-uniformities in the transmission of thermal radiation from the sample to the receiver via the near-field probe and the reflection of thermal radiation back to the receiver from the probe. The effects of these non-uniformities were successfully removed using a sample image acquired by active measurements using a vector network analyzer.

Edge effect and phenology in Erythroxylum tortuosum (Erythroxylaceae), a typical plant of the Brazilian Cerrado.

The edge of a forest fragment can be considered a zone of transition between the interior of the fragment and the surrounding habitat matrix. Plants along the edge are more exposed to disturbance and microclimate variation than interior plants, resulting in the so-called edge effect. In this study, we compared leaf area, fluctuating asymmetry and chemical (water, nitrogen and tannins) leaf traits between Erythroxylum tortuosum plants inhabiting the edge with those growing in the interior of a cerrado fragment in Brazil. We also describe the temporal variation in the vegetative and reproductive phenological events of E. tortuosum plants throughout the season. Nitrogen, leaf area and fluctuating asymmetry did not differ between the two plant groups. Young leaves of the edge plants had significantly higher levels of tannins and lower levels of water than those of interior plants. We suggest that differences in leaf chemical concentrations between edge and interior plants may occur due to factors such as light intensity, wind, temperature and leaf age rather than plant stress. With respect to plant phenology, most reproductive events occurred during the spring. Leaf buds and young leaves prevailed during the rainy season. In the dry season, however, the vegetative events decreased due to leaf senescence followed by leaf abscission.

Submicrometer-resolution in situ imaging of the focus pattern of a soft x-ray laser by color center formation in LiF crystal.

We demonstrate high quality, single-shot in situ imaging of the focused Ag x-ray laser (XRL) at 13.9 nm with 700 nm spatial resolution by color center formation in LiF. The flux and intensity for the color center formation in LiF are evaluated from the experimental data. Comparisons with previous reports show that the threshold x-ray flux for the color center formation in LiF for the 13.9 nm, 7 ps Ag XRL is 3 orders of magnitude less than that with the 46.9 nm, 2 ns capillary discharge Ar XRL.

Identical rearrangement of NSP3 genes found in three independently isolated virus clones derived from mixed infection and multiple passages of Rotaviruses.

Three rotavirus variants with a rearranged RNA segment derived from the NSP3 gene were isolated in three independent experiments of coinfection and multiple passages of simian rotavirus strain SA11 and single-VP7-gene- or NSP1-gene-substitution reassortants having genetic background of SA11. Sequence analysis indicated that the three rearranged NSP3 genes had almost identical sequences and genomic structures organized by partial duplication of the open reading frame in a head-to-tail orientation following the termination codon. The junction site of the original NSP3 gene (first copy) and the duplicated portion (second copy) was identical among the three rearranged genes, while a direct repeat, i.e., a homologous sequence between the first copy and second template for duplication, typically located at the junction site, was not detected. However, short similar sequences were present at the end of the first copy and beginning of the second copy. These findings suggest that rearrangement of the NSP3 gene may occur at a certain preferential site which is related to sequence similarity between 3'-untranslated region and a region near the 5'-end of ORF.

Nuclear-matter modification of decay widths in the phi-->e+e- and phi-->K+K- channels.

The invariant mass spectra of phi-->K+K- are measured in 12 GeV p+A reactions in order to search for the in-medium modification of phi mesons. The observed K+K- spectra are well reproduced by the relativistic Breit-Wigner function with a combinatorial background shape in three betagamma regions between 1.0 and 3.5. The nuclear mass number dependence of the yields of the K+K- decay channel is compared to the simultaneously measured e+e- decay channel for carbon and copper targets. We parameterize the production yields as sigma(A)=sigma0Aalpha and obtain alphaphi-->K+K- -alphaphi-->e+e- to be 0.14+/-0.12. Limits are obtained for the partial decay widths of the phi mesons in nuclear matter.

Evidence for in-medium modification of the phi meson at normal nuclear density.

Invariant mass spectra of e(+) e(-) pairs have been measured in 12 GeV p + A reactions to detect possible in-medium modification of vector mesons. Copper and carbon targets are used to study the nuclear-size dependence of e(+) e(-) invariant mass distributions. A significant excess on the low-mass side of the phi meson peak is observed in the low betagamma(= beta/square root(1-beta(2))) region of phi mesons (betagamma < 1.25) with copper targets. However, in the high betagamma region (betagamma > 1.25), spectral shapes of phi mesons are well described by the Breit-Wigner shape when experimental effects are considered. Thus, in addition to our earlier publications on rho/omega modification, this study has experimentally verified vector meson mass modification at normal nuclear density.

Genetic analysis of an ADRV-N-like novel rotavirus strain B219 detected in a sporadic case of adult diarrhea in Bangladesh.

An unusual human rotavirus strain B219 was detected in a stool specimen from a 65-year old patient with diarrhea in Bangladesh during April 2002. Cloning and sequence analysis of five genes of the B219 strain indicated that this virus is genetically closely related to the ADRV-N strain, which caused an adult diarrhea outbreak in China, but distinct from groups A, B, and C rotaviruses known to cause diarrheal diseases in humans. Accordingly, rotavirus strains B219 and ADRV-N were considered to belong to a novel group of human rotavirus, and the ADRV-N-like novel human rotaviruses were suggested to be distributed to a geographically wider area.

Analysis of genetic factors related to preferential selection of the NSP1 gene segment observed in mixed infection and multiple passage of rotaviruses.

Reassortment is one of the major evolutionary mechanisms of the rotavirus genome. Preferential selection (assortment) of the NSP1 gene segment from either of the parental viruses after coinfection of these viruses has been reported as a notable finding in reassortment. To analyze genetic factors which are associated with preferential selection of the rotavirus NSP1 gene segment into progeny viruses, mixed infection and multiple passages were performed using two panels of rotaviruses, i.e., bovine rotavirus A5 clones, and simian rotavirus SA11 and five strains of SA11-based single NSP1 gene-substitution reassortants. In the first experiment, three A5 clones (A5-10, A5-13, and A5-16) that had genetically distinct NSP1 genes in the same genetic background were used. In coinfection of these A5 clones, it was noted that the A5-10 NSP1 gene, which encodes an incomplete protein product due to presence of a nonsense codon at an unusual position, was selected more preferentially than the A5-13 NSP1 gene with intact length and structure. The A5-16 NSP1 gene, with a deletion of 500 bp, was least efficiently selected. In the second experiment, we prepared two reassortants, SOF and SRF, which have NSP1 genes from rotavirus strains OSU and RRV, respectively, in the genetic background of SA11, which were used together with previously prepared reassortants SKF, SDF, and SNF, which had NSP1 genes from strains KU, DS1, and K9, respectively. Among the 6 NSP1 genes analyzed, the NSP1 gene from SKF was most preferentially selected, followed by SNF, SOF, SDF, SA11, and SRF, in that order. Although SOF exhibited less growth efficacy than SA11, the growth rates of other reassortants were similar to that of SA11. These findings suggest that for the occurrence of preferential selection of the NSP1 gene, production of the intact NSP1 protein may not be involved, but the presence of intact length of the NSP1 gene may be required. Furthermore, it was also found that genetic similarity based on primary structure of this gene is not related to the selectivity of the NSP1 gene.

Experimental signature of medium modifications for rho and omega mesons in the 12 GeV p+A reactions.

The invariant mass spectra of e+e- pairs produced in 12 GeV proton-induced nuclear reactions are measured at the KEK Proton Synchrotron. On the low-mass side of the meson peak, a significant enhancement over the known hadronic sources has been observed. The mass spectra, including the excess, are well reproduced by a model that takes into account the density dependence of the vector meson mass modification, as theoretically predicted.

Comparison of NSP4 protein between group A and B human rotaviruses: detection of novel diarrhea-causing sequences in group B NSP4.

The human group B rotavirus is a causative agent of severe adult diarrhea. In this study, we analyzed the NSP4 structure of a group B rotavirus strain, CAL-1, and determined whether enterotoxin activity was present in CAL-1 NSP4. CAL-1 NSP4 was comprised of 219 amino acids which was longer than group A and C rotavirus NSP4, and the primary structures of their sequences differed considerably. However, CAL-1 NSP4 had an enterotoxin-like sequence (residues 106-127) that was only 27% identical to the enterotoxin region of NSP4 of KUN (a group A rotavirus strain) at residues 114-135. Interestingly, both of the synthetic peptides, one (residues 99-128) containing the enterotoxin-like sequence and the other (residues 191-219) containing 29 C-terminal amino acids of CAL-1 NSP4, induced diarrhea in 5.5-day-old mice, but not in 17.5-day-old mice, when administered parenterally. Thus, rotavirus "enterotoxin" sequences could be considerably divergent.

Observation of rho/omega meson modification in nuclear matter.

We measured the invariant mass spectra of electron-positron pairs in the target rapidity region of 12-GeV p+A reactions. We have observed a significant difference in the mass spectra below the omega meson between p+C and p+Cu interactions. This difference indicates that the spectral shape of mesons is modified at normal nuclear-matter density.

Precision measurement of cosmic-Ray antiproton spectrum

The energy spectrum of cosmic-ray antiprotons ( &pmacr;'s) has been measured in the range 0.18-3.56 GeV, based on 458 &pmacr;'s collected by BESS in a recent solar-minimum period. We have detected for the first time a characteristic peak at 2 GeV of &pmacr;'s originating from cosmic-ray interactions with the interstellar gas. The peak spectrum is reproduced by theoretical calculations, implying that the propagation models are basically correct and that different cosmic-ray species undergo a universal propagation. Future BESS data with still higher statistics will allow us to study the solar modulation and the propagation in detail and to search for primary &pmacr; components.

Phosphorylation of Hic-5 at tyrosine 60 by CAKbeta and Fyn.

Hic-5 is a CAKbeta-binding protein localized at focal adhesions. Here we show that overexpression of CAKbeta or Fyn, but not FAK, enhanced the tyrosine phosphorylation of coexpressed Hic-5 in COS-7 cells. These phosphorylations were further augmented by stimulating cells with osmotic stress. The Y60F mutant of Hic-5 was not phosphorylated, and Hic-5 phosphorylated on tyrosine 60 was bound specifically to the SH2 domain of Csk. Coexpression experiments revealed that the phosphorylation of Hic-5 by CAKbeta required the kinase activation of CAKbeta and binding of Hic-5 by CAKbeta. Specific phosphorylation of Hic-5 by CAKbeta and Fyn may activate a signaling pathway mediated by Hic-5.

Social images of medicine and dentistry in Japan. An exploratory study using correspondence analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate social images associated with dentistry in comparison with nine other medical disciplines. DESIGN: A questionnaire survey among members of the general public. Subjects were asked to state, in not more than five words, the images which they associated with each of the ten disciplines. SETTING: Komaki City, Shikatsu Town and Nagoya City in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: 261 respondents from a convenience sample of 300 residents, not associated with any branch of medicine. OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequency distribution of word images used on at least five occasions and a correspondence analysis of the responses for the ten disciplines. RESULTS: Of the 163 coded image items, 60 were related to internal medicine, 56 to dentistry, 55 to dermatology, 51 to orthopaedic surgery, 51 to ophthalmology, 50 to surgery, 47 to obstetrics and gynaecology, 43 to otolaryngology, 40 to paediatrics and 33 to psychiatry. Correspondence analysis applied to the 163 items and 10 medical disciplines indicated that three similar paired image groups were found, namely between dermatology and ophthalmology, surgery and orthopaedic surgery, and between dentistry and internal medicine, which were the more commonly encountered disciplines across all age groups. However, compared with the other specialities, dentistry had a significantly greater association with pain, this response being four times more common than for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This group of members of the public in Japan perceived dentistry-associated images in a similar way to internal medicine, but the negative associations with pain need to be addressed by the dental profession and health educators alike.

Dot far-western blot analysis of relative binding affinities of the Src homology 3 domains of Efs and its related proteins.

The Src homology 3 (SH3) domains are a modular structure of about 60 amino acid residues found in many proteins important in signal transduction. Each SH3 domain has a binding specificity to sequences containing a PXXP motif in ligand proteins. We found that a focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-related protein, cell adhesion kinase beta (CAKbeta), was bound in vitro by the SH3 domain of embryonal Fyn-associated substrate (Efs), a docking protein structurally related to p130Cas (Cas) and HEF1. Here, we employed a dot far-Western blotting technique to evaluate the affinity and specificity of the binding by the SH3 domains of Efs and its related proteins. The SH3 domains and their ligands were prepared as glutathione S-transferase fusion proteins, and one of the binding components was immobilized on membranes while the other was labeled with 32P to use as a probe. The amount of the bound probe was determined by autoradiography using an imaging plate and a bioimaging analyzer. A competitive binding assay showed that Efs, compared with Cas and HEF1, had a SH3 domain with a lower relative affinity to CAKbeta and FAK and with a preference to interact with FAK rather than CAKbeta. Our assay based on dot far-Western blotting is a simple and sensitive method to evaluate fine differences in the binding affinity of SH3-mediated interactions.

Interaction of two proline-rich sequences of cell adhesion kinase beta with SH3 domains of p130Cas-related proteins and a GTPase-activating protein, Graf.

Cell adhesion kinase beta (CAKbeta) is a protein tyrosine kinase closely related to focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in structure. CAKbeta contains two proline-rich sequences within its C-terminal region. Since proline-rich sequences present in the corresponding region of FAK are known to mediate protein-protein interactions by binding to SH3 domains, we investigated binding of CAKbeta to a panel of SH3 domains. Affinity precipitation from rat brain lysate revealed selective interactions of CAKbeta with glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fused SH3 domains of p130(Cas)(Cas)-related proteins and Graf. Mutational analysis indicated that the proline-rich sequences of CAKbeta mediate this interaction. Each of the two proline-rich sequences fused to GST bound directly to these SH3 domains in dot blot analysis. A competitive binding assay revealed that the first proline-rich sequence of CAKbeta preferentially associated with the SH3 domain of Cas. The second proline-rich sequence of CAKbeta bound to the SH3 domain of Graf with higher specificity than the corresponding proline-rich sequence of FAK. Finally, we showed co-immunoprecipitation of CAKbeta with Graf from rat brain lysate. These results indicate that CAKbeta associates in vivo with Graf through its SH3 domain.

Cell adhesion kinase beta forms a complex with a new member, Hic-5, of proteins localized at focal adhesions.

Cell adhesion kinase beta (CAKbeta/PYK2) is the second protein-tyrosine kinase of the focal adhesion kinase subfamily. We identified a cDNA that encodes a CAKbeta-binding protein. This cDNA clone encodes the human homologue of Hic-5, the cDNA of which was cloned in 1994 as transforming growth factor beta1- and hydrogen peroxide-inducible mRNA. We found that Hic-5 exclusively localized at focal adhesions in a rat fibroblast line, WFB. This localization of Hic-5 was confirmed in WFB cells expressing Myc-tagged Hic-5. The amino acid sequence of Hic-5 is highly similar to that of paxillin in the four LD motifs as well as in the four contiguous LIM domains. The Hic-5 N-terminal domain directly associated in vitro with the extreme C-terminal region (residue 801 to the end) of CAKbeta. CAKbeta was coimmunoprecipitated with Hic-5 from the WFB cell lysate. The coimmunoprecipitation of CAKbeta with Hic-5 was markedly inhibited by the addition of the extreme C-terminal region of CAKbeta. Coimmunoprecipitation of Hic-5 with CAKbeta, which was shown in COS-7 cells doubly transfected with cDNA constructs of CAKbeta and Myc-tagged Hic-5, was lost when the CAKbeta amino acid residues 741-903 were deleted. Hic-5 was tyrosine-phosphorylated in Src-transformed 3Y1 cells and in cells treated with pervanadate. Hic-5 associated with CAKbeta was selectively tyrosine-phosphorylated in WFB cells exposed to hypertonic osmotic stress. These results indicate that Hic-5 is a paxillin-related component of focal adhesions and binds to CAKbeta, implying possible involvement of Hic-5 in the downstream signaling of CAKbeta.

Interleukin-2 induces tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP-2 through IL-2 receptor beta chain.

Coupling of interleukin-2 (IL-2) to the IL-2 receptor (IL-2R) induces rapid increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of cellular substrates through activation of non-receptor protein tyrosine kinases. Here, we report that stimulation through the IL-2R induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the SH2-containing protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 in F7, a hematopoietic BAF-B03 transfectant clone expressing the IL-2Rbeta chain. The tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP-2 was specific since another protein-tyrosine phosphatase SHP-1, which is structurally homologous to SHP-2, was not tyrosine phosphorylated. The IL-2-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP-2 required the acidic region within the IL-2Rbeta chain where Src-family PTKs interact. Though the serine-rich region within IL-2Rbeta chain was also required for the phosphorylation of SHP-2, Jak3 activation was dispensable. In COS-7 cells, co-expression of SHP-2 with Lyn resulted in increased tyrosine phosphorylation levels of SHP-2, whereas co-expression of SHP-2 with Fyn failed to alter the levels significantly. Considering that Lyn and Fyn are major Src-family PTKs expressed in BAF-B03 cells, our data suggest that Lyn may be principally responsible for the tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP-2 in F7 cells. Furthermore, the IL-2 stimulation also induced tyrosine phosphorylation of SHP-2 in the human IL-2-dependent T-cell line ILT-Mat. Taken together, these studies demonstrate an involvement of SHP-2 in the IL-2-mediated signaling events through the activation of specific PTKs.