Protective effect of the tunneling nanotube-TNFAIP2/M-sec system on podocyte autophagy in diabetic nephropathy

Podocyte injury leading to albuminuria is a characteristic feature of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Hyperglycemia and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are major determinants of DN. However, the underlying mechanisms of podocyte injury remain poorly understood. The cytosolic protein TNFAIP2/M-Sec is required for tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) formation, which are membrane channels that transiently connect cells, allowing organelle transfer. Podocytes express TNFAIP2 and form TNTs, but the potential relevance of the TNFAIP2-TNT system in DN is unknown. We studied TNFAIP2 expression in both human and experimental DN and the renal effect of tnfaip2 deletion in streptozotocin-induced DN. Moreover, we explored the role of the TNFAIP2-TNT system in podocytes exposed to diabetes-related insults. TNFAIP2 was overexpressed by podocytes in both human and experimental DN and exposre of podocytes to high glucose and AGEs induced the TNFAIP2-TNT system. In diabetic mice, tnfaip2 deletion exacerbated albuminuria, renal function loss, podocyte injury, and mesangial expansion. Moreover, blockade of the autophagic flux due to lysosomal dysfunction was observed in diabetes-injured podocytes both in vitro and in vivo and exacerbated by tnfaip2 deletion. TNTs allowed autophagosome and lysosome exchange between podocytes, thereby ameliorating AGE-induced lysosomal dysfunction and apoptosis. This protective effect was abolished by tnfaip2 deletion, TNT inhibition, and donor cell lysosome damage. By contrast, Tnfaip2 overexpression enhanced TNT-mediated transfer and prevented AGE-induced autophagy and lysosome dysfunction and apoptosis. In conclusion, TNFAIP2 plays an important protective role in podocytes in the context of DN by allowing TNT-mediated autophagosome and lysosome exchange and may represent a novel druggable target.Abbreviations: AGEs: advanced glycation end products; AKT1: AKT serine/threonine kinase 1; AO: acridine orange; ALs: autolysosomes; APs: autophagosomes; BM: bone marrow; BSA: bovine serum albumin; CTSD: cathepsin D; DIC: differential interference contrast; DN: diabetic nephropathy; FSGS: focal segmental glomerulosclerosis; HG: high glucose; KO: knockout; LAMP1: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1; LMP: lysosomal membrane permeabilization; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; PI3K: phosphoinositide 3-kinase; STZ: streptozotocin; TNF: tumor necrosis factor; TNFAIP2: tumor necrosis factor, alpha-induced protein 2; TNTs: tunneling nanotubes; WT: wild type.

Influence of using history of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy for neutropenia caused by combination therapy of ramucirumab and docetaxel

Recently, pretreatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been shown to enhance the therapeutic effects of the combination therapy of ramucirumab (RAM) and docetaxel (DTX); however, its influence on the drug's side effects remains unclear. This study investigated the influence of pretreatment with ICIs on the incidence of neutropenia caused by RAM + DTX therapy in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients with NSCLC who received RAM + DTX therapy at Gifu Prefectural General Medical Center between April 2016 and December 2020 were enrolled. Retrospective data regarding age, sex, performance status and detailed treatment history, among others, at treatment initiation were collected from the patients' electronic medical records. Additionally, data on the course number of RAM + DTX therapy, supportive therapy and blood biochemical parameters, including leukocyte and neutrocyte counts, during the treatment period were collected. We identified 41 patients receiving RAM + DTX therapy. Among the more than grade 3 adverse events caused by this therapy, neutropenia was the most common (78.1%). Despite the fact that all previous risk factors influencing this incidence rate had corresponded, the only factor influencing the incidence rate of neutropenia more than grade 3 was ICI treatment history. A difference in the incidence of neutropenia more than grade 3 in the Kaplan-Meier curve was observed between patients with and without ICI pretreatment history (p = 0.037). The pretreatment history of ICI therapy affects the incidence of neutropenia caused by RAM + DTX therapy in patients with NSCLC.

Nanosecond Random Telegraph Noise in In-Plane Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

We study the timescale of random telegraph noise (RTN) of nanomagnets in stochastic magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). From analytical and numerical calculations based on the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert and the Fokker-Planck equations, we reveal mechanisms governing the relaxation time of perpendicular easy-axis MTJs (p-MTJs) and in-plane easy-axis MTJs (i-MTJs), showing that i-MTJs can be made to have faster RTN. Superparamagnetic i-MTJs with small in-plane anisotropy and sizable perpendicular effective anisotropy show relaxation times down to 8 ns at negligible bias current, which is more than 5 orders of magnitude shorter than that of typical stochastic p-MTJs and about 100 times faster than the shortest time of i-MTJs reported so far. The findings give a new insight and foundation in developing stochastic MTJs for high-performance probabilistic computers.

White-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium metabolizes chloropyridinyl-type neonicotinoid insecticides by an N-dealkylation reaction catalyzed by two cytochrome P450s

We previously identified a cytochrome P450 (CYP) derived from the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium as involved in degradation of acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid (NEO) insecticide. In the present study, we investigated biodegradation of other NEOs by P. chrysosporium, and attempted to identify the CYP enzyme responsible for NEO degradation. P. chrysosporium was able to degrade some NEOs (acetamiprid, clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiacloprid) in nutrient-rich medium. Two CYPs in P. chrysosporium (PcCYPs), CYP5037B3 and CYP5147A3, were identified as major isozymes involved in metabolism of three neonicotinoids that have in common a chloropyridinyl moiety (acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and thiacloprid) by screening yeast that heterologously express PcCYPs. Both PcCYPs catalyzed cleavage of the chloropyridinyl moiety and side chain of the three NEOs by N-dealkylation, resulting in 6-chloro-3-pyridinemethanol and respective side chain fragments. In a culture of P. chrysosporium, 97 % and 74 % of imidacloprid and thiacloprid were modified to form degradation products, and one of these, 6-chloro-3-pyridinemethanol, was further degraded. These two PcCYPs catalyzed almost the same reaction but their substrate specificity and expression pattern are slightly different. Altogether, we found that P. chrysosporium degrades NEOs via the activity of at least two different CYP isozymes.

Spin-orbit torque switching of an antiferromagnetic metallic heterostructure

The ability to represent information using an antiferromagnetic material is attractive for future antiferromagnetic spintronic devices. Previous studies have focussed on the utilization of antiferromagnetic materials with biaxial magnetic anisotropy for electrical manipulation. A practical realization of these antiferromagnetic devices is limited by the requirement of material-specific constraints. Here, we demonstrate current-induced switching in a polycrystalline PtMn/Pt metallic heterostructure. A comparison of electrical transport measurements in PtMn with and without the Pt layer, corroborated by x-ray imaging, reveals reversible switching of the thermally-stable antiferromagnetic Néel vector by spin-orbit torques. The presented results demonstrate the potential of polycrystalline metals for antiferromagnetic spintronics.

Biotransformation and detoxification of the neonicotinoid insecticides nitenpyram and dinotefuran by Phanerochaete sordida YK-624

Neonicotinoid insecticides have been widely used throughout the world over the last two decades. In the present study, we investigated the degradation of neonicotinoid insecticides nitenpyram (NIT) and dinotefuran (DIN) by the white-rot fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624. While NIT was completely degraded by P. sordida YK-624 under ligninolytic conditions, only a 20% decrease was observed under nonligninolytic conditions. On the other hand, P. sordida YK-624 degraded 31% of DIN under ligninolytic conditions after a 20-day incubation, while it did not degrade DIN under nonligninolytic conditions. We found that cytochromes P450 played a key role in the biotransformation of NIT and DIN by P. sordida YK-624. A novel NIT metabolite (E)-N-((6-chloropyridin-3-yl)methyl)-N-ethyl-N'-hydroxy acetimidamide (CPMHA) and a novel DIN metabolite N-((4aS,7aS,E)-1-methylhexahydrofuro[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2(1H)-ylidene)nitramide (PHPF) were identified in this study. In addition, to evaluate neurotoxicity, the effects of NIT, DIN and their metabolites on the viability of human neuroblastoma cells SH-SY5Y were determined. PHPF showed higher neurological toxicity than DIN, whereas the metabolite of NIT, CPMHA, showed no toxic effect. Our results indicated that the neurological toxicity of NIT could be effectively removed by P. sordida YK-624.

Chiral Phase Transition Temperature in (2+1)-Flavor QCD

We present a lattice-QCD-based determination of the chiral phase transition temperature in QCD with two degenerate, massless quarks and a physical strange quark mass using lattice QCD calculations with the highly improved staggered quarks action. We propose and calculate two novel estimators for the chiral transition temperature for several values of the light quark masses, corresponding to Goldstone pion masses in the range of 58  MeV≲m_{π}≲163  MeV. The chiral phase transition temperature is determined by extrapolating to vanishing pion mass using universal scaling analysis. Finite-volume effects are controlled by extrapolating to the thermodynamic limit using spatial lattice extents in the range of 2.8-4.5 times the inverse of the pion mass. Continuum extrapolations are carried out by using three different values of the lattice cutoff, corresponding to lattices with temporal extents N_{τ}=6, 8, and 12. After thermodynamic, continuum, and chiral extrapolations, we find the chiral phase transition temperature T_{c}^{0}=132_{-6}^{+3}  MeV.

Identification of the cytochrome P450 involved in the degradation of neonicotinoid insecticide acetamiprid in Phanerochaete chrysosporium

We previously reported that cytochrome P450 s play critical roles in neonicotinoid insecticide biodegradation by white-rot fungi. Here, we investigated the biodegradation of acetamiprid (ACET) by Phanerochaete chrysosporium to identify the cytochrome P450 involved in this degradation process. During a 20-day incubation period, P. chrysosporium degraded 21% and 51% of ACET in ligninolytic and nonligninolytic media, respectively. The degradation rate of ACET was markedly decreased by the addition of cytochrome P450 inhibitors. Recombinant cytochrome P450s in P. chrysosporium (PcCYP) were heterologously expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain AH22, and the PcCYP involved in ACET degradation was identified. The results showed that CYP5147A3 can degrade ACET, and two ACET metabolites, N'-cyano-N-methyl acetamidine and 6-chloro-3-pyridinemethanol, were identified. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first characterization of the fungal cytochrome P450 that is responsible for the degradation and detoxification of ACET.

[Interlaboratory Study on Evaporation Residue Test for Food Contact Products (Report 1)]

An interlaboratory study was performed to evaluate the equivalence between an official method and a modified method of evaporation residue test using three food-simulating solvents (water, 4% acetic acid and 20% ethanol), based on the Japanese Food Sanitation Law for food contact products. Twenty-three laboratories participated, and tested the evaporation residues of nine test solutions as blind duplicates. For evaporation, a water bath was used in the official method, and a hot plate in the modified method. In most laboratories, the test solutions were heated until just prior to evaporation to dryness, and then allowed to dry under residual heat. Statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between the two methods, regardless of the heating equipment used. Accordingly, the modified method provides performance equal to the official method, and is available as an alternative method.

[Interlaboratory Study on Evaporation Residue Test for Food Contact Products (Report 2)]

An interlaboratory study was performed to evaluate the equivalence between an official method and a modified method of evaporation residue test using heptane as a food-simulating solvent for oily or fatty foods, based on the Japanese Food Sanitation Law for food contact products. Twenty-three laboratories participated, and tested the evaporation residues of nine test solutions as blind duplicates. In the official method, heating for evaporation was done with a water bath. In the modified method, a hot plate was used for evaporation, and/or a vacuum concentration procedure was skipped. In most laboratories, the test solutions were heated until just prior to dryness, and then allowed to dry under residual heat. Statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference between the two methods. Accordingly, the modified method provides performance equal to the official method, and is available as an alternative method. Furthermore, an interlaboratory study was performed to evaluate and compare two leaching solutions (95% ethanol and isooctane) used as food-simulating solvents for oily or fatty foods in the EU. The results demonstrated that there was no significant difference between heptane and these two leaching solutions.

Hydrated ionic liquids as a liquid chaperon for refolding of aggregated recombinant protein expressed in Escherichia coli

We have succeeded in refolding of aggregated recombinant protein from Escherichia coli in hydrated ionic liquids. In cholinium dihydrogen phosphate containing a limited amount of water molecules, aggregated solid cellulase was dissolved and refolding was successfully carried out without further processing.

Risk Factors for Ischemic Heart Disease in an Urban Area of Japan: A Case-Control Study in AMHTS

Objectives: In Japan controversy exists as to whether or not the risk factors for ischemic heart disease (IHD) are the same as in western countries. We conducted a case-control study on IHD to clarify the risk factors in males in an urban area of Japan using our automated multiphasic health testing and services (AMHTS) system. Method: Cases were the clients who took the health check-up between January 1987 and July 1994 and had onset of IHD after the check-up. For each case five clients were selected as controls by conditional matching. The check-up data were compared between cases and controls 11 years, 6 years and just before the onset of the heart diseases. Results: The statistically significant items were as follows: (1) Eleven years before the onset: Total cholesterol (T-Chol) for myocardial infarction (MI), and fasting blood sugar (FBS) for angina pectoris (AP). (2) Six years before the onset: T-Chol, electrocardiographic (ECG) findings and the complaint of palpitation or breathlessness for MI, and FBS and palpitation or breathlessness for AP. (3) Just before the onset: T-Chol, the complaint of chest pain, FBS, smoking index and hypertensive status for MI and palpitation or breathlessness, ECG findings, chest pain, systolic blood pressure and erythrocyte sedimentation rate at 60 minutes for AP. In conclusion, the risk factors for MI in males in an urban area of Japan are the same as in western countries. The most significant risk factor for AP in males in an urban area of Japan is fasting blood sugar.

Orbital Fat Volumetry and Water Fraction Measurements Using T2-Weighted FSE-IDEAL Imaging in Patients with Thyroid-Associated Orbitopathy

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The quantitative evaluation of orbital fat proliferation and edema and the assessment of extraocular muscles are useful for diagnosing and monitoring thyroid-associated orbitopathy. To evaluate therapy-induced quantitative changes in the orbital fat of patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy, we performed volumetric and water fraction measurements by using T2-weighted FSE iterative decomposition of water and fat with echo asymmetry and least-squares estimation (FSE-IDEAL) imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Orbital FSE-IDEAL images of 30 volunteers were acquired twice within 1 week. Nine patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy underwent FSE-IDEAL imaging before and after methylprednisolone pulse therapy, and the treatment results were assessed by using their pre- and post-methylprednisolone pulse therapy clinical activity scores. We performed volumetric and water fraction measurements of orbital fat by using FSE-IDEAL imaging and evaluated interscan differences in the volunteers. In patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy, we compared pre- and posttherapy orbital fat measurements and assessed the correlation between the pretherapy values and clinical activity score improvement.

RESULTS

The reproducibility of results obtained by the quantitative evaluation of orbital fat in volunteers was acceptable. After methylprednisolone pulse therapy, the water fraction in the orbital fat of patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy was significantly decreased (P < .001). There was a significant positive correlation between the pretherapy water fraction and clinical activity score improvement (right, r = 0.82; left, r = 0.79) and a significant negative correlation between the pretherapy volume and clinical activity score improvement (bilateral, r = -0.84).

CONCLUSIONS

Volumetric and water fraction measurements of orbital fat by using FSE-IDEAL imaging are feasible and useful for monitoring the effects of therapy and for predicting the response of patients with thyroid-associated orbitopathy to methylprednisolone pulse therapy.

Interlaboratory Study on Volatiles Test for Food-Contacting Polystyrene Products

Using polystyrene, acrylonitrile-styrene resin and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene resin pellets as samples, an interlaboratory study was performed to evaluate the volatiles test method, based on the specifications described in the Japanese Food Sanitation Law for food-contacting polystyrene products. The study was conducted with the participation of twenty-one laboratories. Each laboratory quantified the contents of styrene, toluene, ethylbenzene, isopropylbenzene and propylbenzene in three test pellets using GC-FID, GC-MS or headspace-GC-FID. Statistical analysis revealed that the repeatability (RSDr) and reproducibility (RSDr) were 1.0-2.6 and 2.5-5.5% for the GC-FID method. The values of the performance parameters fulfilled the requirements (RSDr: 10%, RSDr: 25%), and the performance is sufficient for specifications testing. The RSDr and RSDr of results obtained using the GC-MS and HS-GC methods were 1.4-7.8 and 4.9-13%(GC-MS), and 2.0-2.6 and 3.3-6.9%(HS-GC-FID), respectively. The quantified levels were similar to those obtained with GC-FID. The study suggests that the GC-MS and HS-GC methods can be employed as alternative methods to the GC-FID method.

A spin-orbit torque switching scheme with collinear magnetic easy axis and current configuration

Spin-orbit torque, a torque brought about by in-plane current via the spin-orbit interactions in heavy-metal/ferromagnet nanostructures, provides a new pathway to switch the magnetization direction. Although there are many recent studies, they all build on one of two structures that have the easy axis of a nanomagnet lying orthogonal to the current, that is, along the z or y axes. Here, we present a new structure with the third geometry, that is, with the easy axis collinear with the current (along the x axis). We fabricate a three-terminal device with a Ta/CoFeB/MgO-based stack and demonstrate the switching operation driven by the spin-orbit torque due to Ta with a negative spin Hall angle. Comparisons with different geometries highlight the previously unknown mechanisms of spin-orbit torque switching. Our work offers a new avenue for exploring the physics of spin-orbit torque switching and its application to spintronics devices.

[Interlaboratory Study on Zinc Test for Food-Contact Rubber Products]

Using six kinds of zinc solution in water and 4% acetic acid as samples, an interlaboratory study was performed to evaluate a zinc (Zn) test method for food-contact rubber products, based on the Japanese Food Sanitation Law. Eighteen laboratories participated, and quantified Zn in six test solutions as blind duplicates using flame atomic absorption spectrometry, induced coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry or induced coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis revealed that the trueness, repeatability (RSDr) and reproducibility (RSDr) were 97-103%, 0.7-4.9% and 1.7-8.9% by all measuring methods. The values of the performance parameter fulfilled the target value (trueness: 80-110%, RSDr: 10%, RSDr: 25%). The performance of these methods is sufficient for testing the adherence of samples to the specifications.

[Interlaboratory study on migration test of antimony and germanium for food-contact polyethylene terephthalate]

An interlaboratory study was performed to evaluate a migration test method of antimony (Sb) and germanium (Ge), based on the Japanese Food Sanitation Law for food- contact polyethylene terephthalate. Eighteen laboratories participated, and quantified Sb and Ge in three test solutions as blind duplicates using graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GF-AAS), inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) or induced coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Statistical analysis revealed that the trueness, repeatability and reproducibility were 98-107%, 1.7-7.5% and 2.0-18.8% by using GF-AAS and ICP-OES. The performance of these methods is sufficient for testing the specifications. The performance parameters of ICP-MS were 99-106%, 0.7-2.2% and 2.2-10.5%, respectively. ICP-MS is available as an alternative measuring method. However, in some laboratories, the quantitative values of Sb were higher than the addition levels. We found that Sb in working solutions is absorbed on glass vessels. Careful control of concentration in working solutions is required for Sb analysis.

Macrophage deficiency in osteopetrotic (op/op) mice inhibits activation of satellite cells and prevents hypertrophy in single soleus fibers

Effects of macrophage on the responses of soleus fiber size to hind limb unloading and reloading were studied in osteopetrotic homozygous (op/op) mice with inactivated mutation of macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) gene and in wild-type (+/+) and heterozygous (+/op) mice. The basal levels of mitotically active and quiescent satellite cell (-46 and -39% vs. +/+, and -40 and -30% vs. +/op) and myonuclear number (-29% vs. +/+ and -28% vs. +/op) in fibers of op/op mice were significantly less than controls. Fiber length and sarcomere number in op/op were also less than +/+ (-22%) and +/op (-21%) mice. Similar trend was noted in fiber cross-sectional area (CSA, -15% vs. +/+, P = 0.06, and -14% vs. +/op, P = 0.07). The sizes of myonuclear domain, cytoplasmic volume per myonucleus, were identical in all types of mice. The CSA, length, and the whole number of sarcomeres, myonuclei, and mitotically active and quiescent satellite cells, as well as myonuclear domain, in single muscle fibers were decreased after 10 days of unloading in all types of mice, although all of these parameters in +/+ and +/op mice were increased toward the control values after 10 days of reloading. However, none of these levels in op/op mice were recovered. Data suggest that M-CSF and/or macrophages are important to activate satellite cells, which cause increase of myonuclear number during fiber hypertrophy. However, it is unclear why their responses to general growth and reloading after unloading are different.

Additional strange hadrons from QCD thermodynamics and strangeness freezeout in heavy ion collisions

We compare lattice QCD results for appropriate combinations of net strangeness fluctuations and their correlations with net baryon number fluctuations with predictions from two hadron resonance gas (HRG) models having different strange hadron content. The conventionally used HRG model based on experimentally established strange hadrons fails to describe the lattice QCD results in the hadronic phase close to the QCD crossover. Supplementing the conventional HRG with additional, experimentally uncharted strange hadrons predicted by quark model calculations and observed in lattice QCD spectrum calculations leads to good descriptions of strange hadron thermodynamics below the QCD crossover. We show that the thermodynamic presence of these additional states gets imprinted in the yields of the ground-state strange hadrons leading to a systematic 5-8 MeV decrease of the chemical freeze-out temperatures of ground-state strange baryons.

Development of cultured dermal substitute composed of hyaluronic acid and collagen spongy sheet containing fibroblasts and epidermal growth factor

The present study aimed to develop a two-layered cultured dermal substitute (CDS). The upper layer is a hyaluronic acid (HA) and collagen (Col) spongy sheet with or without epidermal growth factor (EGF). The lower layer is a HA spongy sheet and Col gel containing fibroblasts. The CDS is prepared in serum-free medium, followed by placing on the wound surface. Corresponding to clinical application, CDS was incubated in serum-free medium for a period of 1, 3 or 5 days, followed by placing onto the air and culture medium interface (wound surface model), and culture for 6 days using conventional culture medium supplemented with serum. Metabolic activity and cytokine production were considerably higher in EGF-incorporating CDS, as compared with EGF-free CDS. Metabolic activity of EGF-incorporating CDS was maintained for a period of 3 days, but decreased slightly after 5 days. EGF-incorporating CDS is able to effectively stimulate fibroblasts within CDS to release increased amounts of vascular endothelial growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor, which are essential for wound healing. CDS is promising for wound therapy, because there is no risk of cellular damage caused by cryopreservation, thawing and rinsing processes. The critical issue is how to reduce the cellular damage during a prolonged period of incubation in serum-free medium. EGF-incorporating CDS can be used after a period of 3-5 days incubation in serum-free medium. This period is sufficient for transport of CDS from manufacturing facilities to hospitals.

Design and fabrication of a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction based nonvolatile programmable switch achieving 40% less area using shared-control transistor structure

A compact nonvolatile programmable switch (NVPS) using 90 nm CMOS technology together with perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (p-MTJ) devices is fabricated for zero-standby-power field-programmable gate array. Because routing information does not change once it is programmed into an NVPS, high-speed read and write accesses are not required and a write-control transistor can be shared among all the NVPSs, which greatly simplifies structure of the NVPS. In fact, the effective area of the proposed NVPS is reduced by 40% compared to that of a conventional MTJ-based NVPS. The instant on/off behavior without external nonvolatile memory access is also demonstrated using the fabricated test chip.

Depinning probability of a magnetic domain wall in nanowires by spin-polarized currents

Current-induced magnetic domain wall motion is attractive for manipulating magnetization direction in spintronics devices, which open a new era of electronics. Up to now, in spite of a crucial significance to applications, investigation on a current-induced domain wall depinning probability, especially in sub-nano to a-few-nanosecond range has been lacking. Here we report on the probability of the depinning in perpendicularly magnetized Co/Ni nanowires in this timescale. A high depinning probability was obtained even for 2-ns pulses with a current density of less than 10¹² A m⁻². A one-dimensional Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert calculation taking into account thermal fluctuations reproduces well the experimental results. We also calculate the depinning probability as functions of various parameters and found that parameters other than the coercive field do not affect the transition width of the probability. These findings will allow one to design high-speed and reliable magnetic devices based on the domain wall motion.

RISING beamline (BL28XU) for rechargeable battery analysis

The newly installed BL28XU beamline at SPring-8 is dedicated to in situ structural and electronic analysis of rechargeable batteries. It supports the time range (1 ms to 100 s) and spatial range (1 µm to 1 mm) needed for battery analysis. Electrochemical apparatus for battery charging and discharging are available in experimental hutches and in a preparation room. Battery analysis can be carried out efficiently and effectively using X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption fine-structure analysis and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Here, the design and performance of the beamline are described, and preliminary results are presented.

Strangeness at high temperatures: from hadrons to quarks

Appropriate combinations of up to fourth order cumulants of net strangeness fluctuations and their correlations with net baryon number and electric charge fluctuations, obtained from lattice QCD calculations, have been used to probe the strangeness carrying degrees of freedom at high temperatures. For temperatures up to the chiral crossover, separate contributions of strange mesons and baryons can be well described by an uncorrelated gas of hadrons. Such a description breaks down in the chiral crossover region, suggesting that the deconfinement of strangeness takes place at the chiral crossover. On the other hand, the strangeness carrying degrees of freedom inside the quark gluon plasma can be described by a weakly interacting gas of quarks only for temperatures larger than twice the chiral crossover temperature. In the intermediate temperature window, these observables show considerably richer structures, indicative of the strongly interacting nature of the quark gluon plasma.

[Simultaneous determination of pesticide residues in agricultural products by LC-MS/MS]

A method for the simultaneous determination of multiple pesticide residues in agricultural products was developed by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The sample was extracted with acetonitrile. Co-extractives were removed by GPC/graphitized carbon column SPE, and silica gel/PSA cartridge column SPE. Pesticides in the test solution were determined by LC-MS/MS using scheduled MRM. Recoveries of 124 pesticides from spinach, brown rice, soybean, orange and tomato were tested at the level of 0.1 µg/g, and those of 121 pesticides ranged from 70 to 120% (RSD≤15%). Pesticide residues in 239 agricultural products were investigated by this method, and residues of 49 pesticides were detected in 98 agricultural products.

Protein sorting by tyrosine-based signals: adapting to the Ys and wherefores

The endocytic and secretory pathways of eukaryotic cells consist of an array of membrane-bound compartments, each of which contains a characteristic cohort of transmembrane proteins. Understanding how these proteins are targeted to and maintained within their appropriate compartments will be crucial for unravelling the mysteries of organelle biogenesis and function. A common event in the sorting of many transmembrane proteins is the interaction between a sorting signal in the cytosolic domain of the targeted protein and a component of an organellar protein coat. Here, we summarize recent findings on the mechanism of sorting by one type of signal, characterized by the presence of a critical tyrosine (Y) residue, and attempt to integrate these findings into a hypothetical model for protein sorting in the endocytic and late (post-Golgi) secretory pathways.

[Multiresidue analysis of PCB, organochlorine pesticides and chlordanes in marine products by GC-micro ECD]

A multiresidue method using dual-injection, dual-column, and dual-micro electron capture detection gas chromatography (dual-column GC-µECD) was developed for the determination of PCB, organochlorine pesticides and chlordanes in marine products. The sample was extracted with hexane-acetone (2 : 1), and the extract was cleaned up by gel permeation chromatography(GPC)/solid-phase extraction (SPE). The GPC fraction was selectively collected, and loaded directly onto a graphitized carbon/PSA 2-layered column. After fractionation by 4% hydrated silica-gel column chromatography, each fraction was determined by dual-column GC-µECD. Recoveries of PCB, organochlorine pesticides and chlordanes were in the ranges of 84-109% (RSD ≤ 21.6%), 74-117% (RSD ≤ 14.6%) and 69-114% (RSD ≤ 12.9%), respectively. This method is superior to single chromatography for the determination of total PCB, and should be useful for monitoring of these pollutants in marine products.

Effects of exercise training on adipogenesis of stromal-vascular fraction cells in rat epididymal white adipose tissue

AIM

Previous studies have shown that exercise training reduced white adipose tissue (WAT) mass compared to that in sedentary controls, and that the smaller mass contained fewer adipocytes. However, the effect of exercise training on adipogenesis is not completely clear. Therefore, we re-examined the effect of exercise training on adipocyte numbers in WAT and, if such an effect was found tested the adipogenic responses of stromal-vascular fraction (SVF) cells containing adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSC) in epididymal WAT from exercise-trained (TR) rats.

METHODS

Wistar male rats were divided into two groups: control (C) and TR. The TR rats were subjected to exercise on a treadmill for 9 weeks. SVF cells containing ADSC were separated from epididymal WAT by centrifugation. Expression of adipocyte differentiation-related genes and adipogenesis of SVF cells were examined.

RESULTS

In SVF cells of TR rats, the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and that of PPARγ target lipogenic genes was dramatically downregulated, whereas that of preadipocyte factor-1 gene was significantly upregulated. Lipid accumulation in SVF cells of TR rats after the induction of adipocyte differentiation was significantly suppressed in comparison with that of C rats. Moreover, increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein was observed in SVF cells of TR rats. Pre-treatment of YC-1, a potent HIF-1α inhibitor, in SVF cells of TR rats restored adipogenesis.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that exercise training suppresses the ability of SVF cells to differentiate into adipocytes, and that underlying mechanisms involve the upregulation of HIF-1α expression.

A cross-sectional survey investigating the care of the primary dentition by general dental practitioners working in Japan and England

OBJECTIVE

To compare treatment decisions about primary dentistry made by Japanese and English general dental practitioners (GDPs).

METHOD

Four clinical scenarios were used to ascertain the clinical opinions of GDPs about what treatment to offer a 6-year-old boy with a carious molar. The first and second scenarios were a single distal and a distalocclusal cavity in a vital tooth without pain. The third was a large distal-occlusal cavity in a non-vital tooth without pain. The fourth was large distal-occlusal cavity in a non-vital tooth with pain. The participants were 234 GDPs in Japan and 322 GDPs in England.

RESULTS

In the first scenario, 62.2% of Japanese GDPs preferred traditional restorative care compared with 34.7% of English GDPs. In the second scenario, Japanese participants were less likely to offer atraumatic treatment (16.5% vs. 34.9%). In the third scenario, Japanese dentists displayed a greater tendency to open the pulp chamber (55.2% vs. 7.6%). In the final scenario, 71% of Japanese GDPs would open the pulp chamber, whereas 50.3% of English GDPs favoured extraction.

CONCLUSION

Japanese and English GDPs differed substantially in their views about the best treatment for a young child with a carious molar.

Observation of the fractional quantum Hall effect in an oxide

The quantum Hall effect arises from the cyclotron motion of charge carriers in two-dimensional systems. However, the ground states related to the integer and fractional quantum Hall effect, respectively, are of entirely different origin. The former can be explained within a single-particle picture; the latter arises from electron correlation effects governed by Coulomb interaction. The prerequisite for the observation of these effects is extremely smooth interfaces of the thin film layers to which the charge carriers are confined. So far, experimental observations of such quantum transport phenomena have been limited to a few material systems based on silicon, III-V compounds and graphene. In ionic materials, the correlation between electrons is expected to be more pronounced than in the conventional heterostructures, owing to a large effective mass of charge carriers. Here we report the observation of the fractional quantum Hall effect in MgZnO/ZnO heterostructures grown by molecular-beam epitaxy, in which the electron mobility exceeds 180,000 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). Fractional states such as ν = 4/3, 5/3 and 8/3 clearly emerge, and the appearance of the ν = 2/5 state is indicated. The present study represents a technological advance in oxide electronics that provides opportunities to explore strongly correlated phenomena in quantum transport of dilute carriers.