Perturbative expansion of irreversible work in symmetric and asymmetric processes.

The systematic expansion method of the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation is developed by generalizing the formulation proposed in [J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 50, 325001 (2017)10.1088/1751-8121/aa7af4]. Using this method, we obtain an alternative formula to calculate the mean work perturbatively which is applicable to systems with degeneracy in the eigenvalues of the Fokker-Planck operator. This method enables us to study how the geometrical symmetry affects thermodynamic description of a Brownian particle. To illustrate the application of the derived theory, we consider the Fokker-Planck equation with a two-dimensional harmonic potential. To investigate the effect of symmetry of the potential, we study thermodynamic properties in symmetric and asymmetric deformation processes of the potential: the rotational symmetry of the harmonic potential is held in the former, but it is broken in the latter. Optimized deformations in these processes are defined by minimizing mean work. Comparing these optimized processes, we find that the difference between the symmetric and asymmetric processes is maximized when the deformation time of the potential is given by a critical time which is characterized by the relaxation time of the Fokker-Planck equation. This critical time in the mean work is smaller than that of the change of the mean energy because of the hysteresis effect in the irreversible processes.

Memory effect in the upper bound of the heat flux induced by quantum fluctuations.

Thermodynamic behaviors in a quantum Brownian motion coupled to a classical heat bath is studied. We then define a heat operator by generalizing the stochastic energetics and show the energy balance (first law) and the upper bound of the expectation value of the heat operator (second law). We further find that this upper bound depends on the memory effect induced by quantum fluctuations and hence the maximum extractable work can be qualitatively modified in quantum thermodynamics.

Ammonia sensing for enzymatic urea detection using organic field effect transistors and a semipermeable membrane.

Organic Field Effect Transistors (OFETs) are used to measure ammonia in solution via ammonia diffusion into the OFET channel. An increase in ammonia concentrations results in a decrease in transistor currents. The regeneration of the OFET current after ammonia uptake is slow, which allows us to read out the maximum ammonia dose which was applied. A 100 nm parylene-C layer serves as a semipermeable top gate dielectric. The parylene layer is functionalized with the covalently attached enzyme urease. The enzyme catalyses the hydrolysis of urea to ammonia and carbon dioxide, i.e. urea can be detected via its hydrolysis product ammonia. The sensitivity covers a range of physiological concentrations of urea, which are several mM.

Segregation of a QTL cluster for home-cage activity using a new mapping method based on regression analysis of congenic mouse strains.

Recent genetic studies have shown that genetic loci with significant effects in whole-genome quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses were lost or weakened in congenic strains. Characterisation of the genetic basis of this attenuated QTL effect is important to our understanding of the genetic mechanisms of complex traits. We previously found that a consomic strain, B6-Chr6C(MSM), which carries chromosome 6 of a wild-derived strain MSM/Ms on the genetic background of C57BL/6J, exhibited lower home-cage activity than C57BL/6J. In the present study, we conducted a composite interval QTL analysis using the F2 mice derived from a cross between C57BL/6J and B6-Chr6C(MSM). We found one QTL peak that spans 17.6 Mbp of chromosome 6. A subconsomic strain that covers the entire QTL region also showed lower home-cage activity at the same level as the consomic strain. We developed 15 congenic strains, each of which carries a shorter MSM/Ms-derived chromosomal segment from the subconsomic strain. Given that the results of home-cage activity tests on the congenic strains cannot be explained by a simple single-gene model, we applied regression analysis to segregate the multiple genetic loci. The results revealed three loci (loci 1-3) that have the effect of reducing home-cage activity and one locus (locus 4) that increases activity. We also found that the combination of loci 3 and 4 cancels out the effects of the congenic strains, which indicates the existence of a genetic mechanism related to the loss of QTLs.

Selection for reluctance to avoid humans during the domestication of mice.

Many animal species have been domesticated over the course of human history and became tame as a result of domestication. Tameness is a behavioral characteristic with 2 potential components: (1) reluctance to avoid humans and (2) motivation to approach humans. However, the specific behavioral characteristics selected during domestication processes remain to be clarified for many species. To quantify these 2 different components of tameness separately, we established 3 behavioral tests: the 'active tame', 'passive tame' and 'stay-on-hand' tests. We subjected genetically diverse mouse strains to these tests, including 10 wild strains (BFM/2Ms, PGN2/Ms, HMI/Ms, BLG2/Ms, NJL/Ms, KJR/Ms, SWN/Ms, CHD/Ms, MSM/Ms and CAST/Ei), a fancy strain (JF1/Ms) and 6 standard laboratory strains (C3H/HeNJcl, CBA/J, BALB/cAnNCrlCrlj, DBA/2JJcl, 129(+Ter) /SvJcl and C57BL/6JJcl). To analyze the effects of domestication, these 17 strains were divided into 2 groups: domesticated strains (fancy and laboratory strains) and wild strains. Significant differences between strains were observed in all traits, and the calculated estimates of broad-sense heritability were 0.15-0.72. These results illustrate that tameness in mice is significantly influenced by genetic background. In addition, they clearly show the differences in the features of tameness in domesticated and wild strains. Most of the domesticated strains showed significantly greater reluctance to avoid humans than wild strains, whereas there was no significant difference in the level of motivation to approach humans between these 2 groups. These results might help to clarify the genetic basis of tameness in mice.

Influence of sumatriptan on gastric accommodation and on antral contraction in healthy subjects assessed by ultrasonography.

BACKGROUND: Oral sumatriptan administration has been reported to delay gastric emptying after liquid meals. The aim of this study was to determine whether delayed gastric emptying is caused by enhanced gastric accommodation, impaired antral contractions, or both using ultrasonography. METHODS: Ten healthy volunteers were enrolled in this randomized two-way crossover study. After overnight fasting, the subjects received the liquid meal 60 min after ingesting a 50 mg sumatriptan tablet with 50 mL of water or 50 mL of water alone (control). The cross-sectional area of the proximal stomach was measured in a supine position after every 100 mL. The frequency and amplitude of the antral contractions were measured in a slightly backward sitting position. The intragastric distribution of the liquid meal was assessed by calculating the proximal stomach/distal stomach ratio (prox/distal ratio). KEY RESULTS: The cross-sectional area after drinking 100, 200, and 300 mL of the liquid meal (oral sumatriptan vs control) was 34.49 vs 15.11 cm(2) (P = 0.0051), 48.00 vs 30.61 cm(2) (P = 0.0166), and 58.67 vs 47.19 cm(2) (P = 0.0125), respectively. There was no significant difference in the amplitude of contractions, contraction cycle, motility index, and prox/distal ratio (97.15 vs 97.93%, P = 0.0745; 19.42 vs 19.5 s, P= 0.8590; and 887.58 vs 889.22, P = 0.5751; 9.75 vs 8.41, P = 0.8785; respectively). CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Oral sumatriptan administration enhanced gastric accommodation after the ingestion of liquid nutrients, but had no significant effect on antral contractions or intragastric distribution in healthy subjects.

Clinical associations and risk factors for bleeding from colonic angiectasia: a case-controlled study.

AIM: A case-controlled study was performed to investigate the association of colonic angiectasia with other conditions and to identify risk factors for bleeding. METHOD: Information was collected from all patients who underwent colonoscopy at our hospital between January 2008 and December 2010. Data on 90 individuals with angiectasia [58 men; median age 69 (26-92) years] were compared with those of 180 individuals without angiectasia, matched for gender and age. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis showed that occult gastrointestinal bleeding [odds ratio (OR) 2.523; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.238-5.142], liver cirrhosis (OR 13.195; 95% CI 3.502-49.711), chronic renal failure (OR 6.796; 95% CI 1.598-28.904) and valvular heart disease (OR 6.425; 95% CI 1.028-40.165) were identified as significant predictors of the presence of colonic angiectasia. Eight patients were diagnosed with bleeding from angiectasia. Cardiovascular disease (OR 22.047; 95% CI 1.063-457.345) and multiple angiectasias (P-value 0.0019) were identified as significant risk factors for active bleeding. Medication and a large size were not associated with an increased risk of bleeding. CONCLUSION: The presence of colonic angiectasia was associated with valvular heart disease, liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure. Valvular heart disease and multiple lesions increased the risk of bleeding.

A novel automated microchip flow-chamber system to quantitatively evaluate thrombus formation and antithrombotic agents under blood flow conditions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In the present study, we describe a newly developed microchip-based analytical system to evaluate white thrombus formation (WTF). Efficacies of various antithrombotic agents were compared under different flow conditions. METHODS: Whole blood containing corn trypsin inhibitor was perfused over a microchip coated with collagen and tissue thromboplastin at the lower and higher shear rates of 240 and 600 s(-1) , and WTF process inside the microchip was quantified by monitoring a flow pressure. Parameters of T(10) (time to 10 kPa), T(10-80) (time from 10 to 80 kPa) and OT (occlusion time; time to 80 kPa) were used to evaluate the onset and the growth rate of WTF, and the capillary occlusion, respectively. RESULTS: After perfusion was started, white thrombus composed of activated platelets and fibrin was formed on the coated surface. Thrombus gradually increased in size and eventually occluded the capillary. Among anticoagulants, heparin (0.5-1.0 U mL(-1)) potently prolonged T(10) at both shear rates, whereas low molecular weight heparin (1.0-2.0 IU mL(-1)) inhibited the growth of WTF at the lower shear rate. Among antiplatelet agents, abciximab (1-2 µg mL(-1)) significantly reduced the size and number of thrombi, which was additively enhanced in the presence of heparin (0.5 U mL(-1) ). OS-1 (specific GPIbα-antagonist) prevented the complete capillary occlusion. CONCLUSION: The novel monitoring system of WTF may be useful in preclinical and clinical evaluations of different types of antithrombotic strategies, and their effects in combination.

Thermodynamic laws and equipartition theorem in relativistic Brownian motion.

We extend the stochastic energetics to a relativistic system. The thermodynamic laws and equipartition theorem are discussed for a relativistic Brownian particle and the first and the second law of thermodynamics in this formalism are derived. The relation between the relativistic equipartition relation and the rate of heat transfer is discussed in the relativistic case together with the nature of the noise term.

Dissipative relativistic fluid dynamics: a new way to derive the equations of motion from kinetic theory.

We rederive the equations of motion of dissipative relativistic fluid dynamics from kinetic theory. In contrast with the derivation of Israel and Stewart, which considered the second moment of the Boltzmann equation to obtain equations of motion for the dissipative currents, we directly use the latter's definition. Although the equations of motion obtained via the two approaches are formally identical, the coefficients are different. We show that, for the one-dimensional scaling expansion, our method is in better agreement with the solution obtained from the Boltzmann equation.

Serum factors that suppress cytotoxic effect of methotrexate.

AIM: To study the phenomenon that human erythroid leukemia K-562 cells are more sensitive to cytotoxic effect of antimetabolites when cultured in a serum-free medium than in a conventional medium containing fetal calf serum (FCS). METHODS: Cytotoxic effects of methotrexate, azaserine and 5-fluorouracil were estimated by accessing the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity of viable tumor cells. Proteins of FCS were separated using two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry analysis. RESULTS: Addition of 10% FCS attenuated anti-tumor activity of methotrexate and azaserine against K-562 cells compared with serum-free medium. Such an activity of FCS was different for each serum lot. Comparison of the proteins in active serum lot with those in not active one using two-dimensional electrophoresis showed that in the active serum there were proteins 150 kDa, which were absent in the not active serum lot. Mass spectrometry indicated that all those proteins had the amino acid sequence of albumin. Sera of one healthy volunteer and two patients with thyroid cancer also attenuated the activity of the agent. CONCLUSION: Several lots of FCS and human serum demonstrated the ability to attenuate the cytotoxic effect of methotrexate in vitro, possibly due to the formation of albumin dimers/MTX complexes.

Shear viscosity coefficient and relaxation time of causal dissipative hydrodynamics in QCD.

The shear viscosity coefficient and the corresponding relaxation time for causal dissipative hydrodynamics are calculated based on the microscopic formula proposed in T. Koide and T. Kodama [Phys. Rev. E 78, 051107 (2008)10.1103/PhysRevE.78.051107]. Here, the exact formula is transformed into a more compact form and applied to evaluate these transport coefficients in the chiral perturbation theory and perturbative QCD. It is shown that in the leading order calculation, the causal shear viscosity coefficient eta reduces to that of the ordinary Green-Kubo-Nakano formula, and the relaxation time tau(pi) is related to eta and pressure P by a simple relationship, tau(pi)=eta/P.

In vivo anti-tumor activities of gelatin.

AIM: As reported previously, porcine skin gelatin exerted direct anti-tumor effect in vitro and induced anti-tumor peritoneal macrophages in vitro. The present study investigated whether or not the gelatin exerted anti-tumor effect in vivo. METHODS: In vitro anti-tumor activities of peritoneal macrophages and the gelatin were evaluated with tritium thymidine uptake by target tumor cells. In vivo anti-tumor activity was evaluated with the survival of tumor-bearing animals and the size of the tumor. RESULTS: Intraperitoneal daily administration of 12.5 mg of the gelatin prolonged the survival of mice which had been intraperitoneally inoculated with MH134 (hepatic cell carcinoma cell line) or Colon 26 (colon carcinoma cell line) tumor cells, and there were no tumors in case of MH134 cells inoculation. Intraperitoneal daily administration of 12.5 mg of the gelatin did not affect growth of subcutaneous MH134 tumor. The gelatin administered subcutaneously did not affect the survival of mice with intraperitoneal MH134 tumor. On the other hand, bovine skin gelatin administered subcutaneously achieved statistically significant prolongation of the survival. The contact of MH134 cells with porcine skin gelatin for 5 min was required for the gelatin to exert its anti-tumor activity in vitro. Porcine skin gelatin of 12.5 mg injected intraperitoneally was detected as protein in the peritoneal cavity 5 min after the injection. Peritoneal macrophages elicited by intraperitoneal injection with porcine skin gelatin suppressed tritium thymidine uptake by MH134 cells more strongly than those elicited by thioglycollate injection. CONCLUSION: Porcine skin gelatin administered intraperitoneally prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice via activation of peritoneal macrophages and involvement of direct anti-tumor activity of porcine skin gelatin. Key Words: porcine skin, gelatin, dissemination.

Raman scattering study of multiferroic Ho(3)Fe(5)O(12) thin films.

Ho(3)Fe(5)O(12) crystallizes in a body-centered cubic lattice and shows no ferroelectricity because of its highly symmetric (centrosymmetric) crystal structure. However, in heteroepitaxially grown thin films, Ho(3)Fe(5)O(12) may exhibit ferroelectricity because of lattice strains induced by the substrate. In this work, heteroepitaxial films of Ho(3)Fe(5)O(12) were grown with different thicknesses of 50-160 nm and studied by x-ray diffraction and Raman scattering. The results were compared with those of bulk polycrystals to characterize residual strains. At room temperature, Raman spectra of films revealed a phonon frequency shift from those of bulk samples, showing lattice distortion. There was a difference in the lattice distortion scheme between the thinner and thicker films. Results of x-ray diffraction were well correlated with the Raman data. Raman measurements at 300-800 K showed the existence of lattice strain up to ∼650 K. This suggests a remanent-polarization character of Ho(3)Fe(5)O(12) films up to this temperature. Closeness between the magnetic ordering temperature T(N) = 567 K and T(C)∼650 K may bring us the ideal multiferroic material with an enhanced magnetoelectric effect at room temperature.

Transport coefficients of non-Newtonian fluid and causal dissipative hydrodynamics.

A formula to calculate the transport coefficients of the causal dissipative hydrodynamics is derived by using the projection operator method (Mori-Zwanzig formalism) [T. Koide, Phys. Rev. E 75, 060103(R) (2007)]. This is an extension of the Green-Kubo-Nakano (GKN) formula to the case of non-Newtonian fluids, which is the essential factor to preserve the relativistic causality in relativistic dissipative hydrodynamics. This formula is the generalization of the GKN formula in the sense that it can reproduce the GKN formula in a certain limit. In this work, we extend the previous work so as to apply to more general situations.

Anti-tumor activity of murine peritoneal macrophages induced by porcine skin gelatin.

AIM: To study the induction of anti-tumor activity of murine peritoneal macrophages in vitro by porcine skin gelatin. METHODS: Anti-tumor activity of the macrophages was evaluated with tritium thymidine uptake by target tumor cells. ELISA was used to measure amounts of cytokines secreted in culture medium. RESULTS: The ability of the gelatin to induce anti-tumor activity of the macrophages was stronger than that of lipopolysaccharide of E. coli. Combination of the lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma synergistically stimulated the macrophages but that of the gelatin and interferon-gamma additionally did. The culture supernatant of the macrophages incubated with the gelatin also showed higher anti-tumor activity than that with the lipopolysaccharide though the lipopolysaccharide was more excellent than the gelatin in stimulating secretion of anti-tumor cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma) by the macrophages. Anti-TNF-alpha antibody partially suppressed the anti-tumor activity of the culture supernatant of the macrophages incubated with the lipopolysaccharide but not with the gelatin. The gelatin induced anti-tumor activity of the macrophages of C3H/HeJ as well as C3H/HeN mice whereas the lipopolysaccharide did only in C3H/HeN mice. The macrophages stimulated in vitro by the gelatin exerted anti-tumor activity in vivo. Moreover, the gelatin stimulated peritoneal exudates cells in vivo when subcutaneously administered with them. CONCLUSIONS: Porcine skin gelatin induces anti-tumor activity of macrophages in mice and its magnitude is greater than that of lipopolysaccharide of E. coli. Its mechanism is different from that of the lipopolysaccharide but not fully clarified.