Discrimination of Frailty Phenotype by KinectTM-Based Stepping Parameters

Background

Frailty increases the risk of falling, hospitalization, and premature death, necessitating practical early-detection tools.

Objectives

To examine the discriminative ability of KinectTM-based stepping parameters for identifying frailty phenotype.

Design

Population-based cross-sectional study.

Setting

Eighteen neighborhoods near Tokyo Metropolitan Institute for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Itabashi, Tokyo, Japan.

Participants

In total, 563 community-dwelling older adults aged ≥75 years without mobility limitations, neurological disease, or dementia were included.

Measurements

Step number (SN) and knee total movement distance (KMD) during a 20-s stepping test were evaluated using the KinectTM infrared depth sensor.

Results

The number (%) of participants with frailty were 51 (9.1). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (95% confidence interval) of a parameter consisting of SN and KMD for frailty was 0.72 (0.64, 0.79).

Conclusions

Stepping parameters evaluated using KinectTM provided acceptable ability in identifying frailty phenotype, making it a practical screening tool in primary care and home settings.

First case of successful eradication of the sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Fabricius), using the sterile insect technique

This paper presents the first case of the successful eradication of a Coleoptera pest species over a wide area using a combination of male annihilation technique (MAT) and sterile insect technique (SIT) application. The sweet potato weevil, Cylas formicarius, is one of the most destructive and widely distributed pests of sweet potato, Ipomoea batatas. A project to eradicate it was launched in 1994 on Kume Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The MAT application was first used from November 1994 to January 1999 to reduce the density of wild populations. The distribution and densities of weevils were assessed by trapping them and surveying infestation rates in wild hosts and sweet potatoes in the field. The C. formicarius populations were suppressed by approximately 90% and plant infestations were reduced from 9.5% to less than 0.1% by using the MAT. Then, hundreds of thousands to millions of sterile weevils were released each week (ca. 460 million in total from 1999 to 2012). As a result, based on an analysis of 12748 stems and 48749 tubers, no weevil infections were detected in the stems or tubers of sweet potato since 1997. Since 2009, almost no wild weevils were captured in traps, and in wild host and sweet potato surveys no weevils have been found in any of the 580 locations and 8833 samples since October 2011. As of 28 December, 2012, C. formicarius is considered to have been eradicated from Kume Island. This paper describes the process of eradicating C. formicarius using SIT application integrated with MAT application for the first time and discusses some of the main challenges associated with the weevil eradication campaignl.

Synthesis and activity of 3-oxo-α-ionone analogs as male attractants for the solanaceous fruit fly, Bactrocera latifrons (Diptera: Tephritidae)

A series of 3-oxygenated α-ionone analogs have been developed as highly specific male lures for the solanaceous fruit fly Bactrocera latifrons, a pest of solanaceous fruits. We compared the attractant and phagostimulant activities of analogs with or without (i) unsaturations at the 4,5- and/or 7,8-positions and (ii) oxygen moieties at the 3- and/or 9-positions of the ionone molecule. Since naturally occurring vomifoliol (V2) was found to induce a highly potent phagostimulant activity in B. latifrons males, related analogs including, dehydrovomifoliol (V1), 6-hydroxy-α-ionone (U1) and 6-hydroxy-α-ionol (U2) were synthesized to evaluate their attractant and phagostimulant activities. Synthetic V1, V2, U1 and U2 exhibited low attractant activity, but their phagostimulant activity was relatively high. Optical isomers of 3-oxo-7,8-dihydro-α-ionone (P3) and V1 were prepared to examine the stereochemical specificity of attractants. (+)-(6R)-P3 and (+)-(6S)-V1 exhibited the corresponding activities, while their respective antipodal enantiomers were found entirely inactive.

Development of Simple, Objective Chair-Standing Assessment of Physical Function in Older Individuals Using a KinectTM Sensor

BACKGROUND

With increasing interest in addressing quality of life of older individuals, tests such as the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) are widely used measures of infirmity and burden of care. However, these scales are largely qualitative and especially problematic when assessing movement-based tasks. While effective, reliable analysis of human movement is technically complicated and expensive; an infrared depth sensor is potentially a low-cost, portable devise which may provide a quantitative aspect to clinical testing.

OBJECTIVE

to assess the utility of the KinectTM sensor in providing an objective evaluation of human movement using an oft measured ADL (chair stand).

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Community, geriatric day-care center in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Men (n=136) and women (n=266) between 50 and 93 years of age, consisting of healthy (HE; n=312) and physically frail (FR; n= 90) individuals.

MEASUREMENTS

Subjects completed two trials of the chair stand, conducted without assistance. Trials were timed and recorded with KinectTM v2. Coronal plane angle (CPA) was determined by a line transecting the shoulder-center and waist relative to the vertical axis and was used to assess quality of the chair stand movement pattern.

RESULTS

Age, height, and body mass were not different between groups. CPA was significantly greater in FR (29.3 ± 8.3°) than HE (19.5 ± 6.5°). CPA and age were significantly related (r=0.148, p<0.01). An optimal threshold for CPA identifying frailty was determined by a receiver-operator characteristic curve with a CPA of 23.1° providing the greatest combination of sensitivity (79%) and specificity (73%).

CONCLUSION

During the chair stand, frail older adults adopted a forward lean position (increased CPA) compared to healthy older adults. This compensatory posture appears to facilitate torso rotation while reducing lower-limb muscular effort during standing. As such, CPA serves as an indicator of reduced lower-body function in older, frail adults.

Effects of Irradiation Dose on Sperm Production, Insemination, and Male Mating Possible Period in the Sweetpotato Weevil (Coleoptera: Brentidae)

The sterile insect technique (SIT) has been used for the control or eradication of target insect pests. To successfully apply SIT, it is very important to clarify the effect of irradiation on male reproduction in the target pest, because their mating and spermiogenesis abilities affect the success of eradication program. The sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Brentidae) is a notorious and worldwide pest of sweet potato. We investigated the effect of irradiation at five doses ranging from 0 (control) to 150 Gy on 9-d-old males. Survival rate of the control (no treatment) remained high from day 10 to 20 of adult life, whereas higher doses of irradiation reduced it, maximally by approximately 70%. Mating rates showed a similar tendency. Radiation dose neither affected sperm production nor sperm transfer at any dose, although spermiogenesis is active during the adult stage. However, radiation dose affected the lifetime total of ejaculated sperm number, likely because of fewer matings by irradiated males. These results suggest that use of a dose of 150 Gy or higher is appropriate for the final step of eradication of this weevil. At least, lower dose of irradiation may arise the inadequate sterilization, resulting in a failure of eradication program. We conclude that weekly release of sweetpotato weevil sterilized with high dose, achieving complete sterilization, could be useful for eradication program after reducing the population by male annihilation method.

Assessment of effect of partial sterility on mating performance in sweetpotato weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used to suppress or eradicate target pest insect populations. Although the effectiveness of SIT depends on the ability of released sterile males to mate with and inseminate wild females, the use of gamma radiation to induce sterility negatively impacts reproductive cells as well as somatic cells. Consequently, sterilization by irradiation drastically diminishes mating performance over time. In the current study, we evaluated the effect of irradiation dose intensity on fertility, mating propensity, and mating competitiveness in sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), for 16 d after irradiation. Although the mating propensity of males irradiated with 200 Gy, the dose currently used to induce complete sterility of C. f. elegantulus in the SIT program in Okinawa Prefecture, was equal to that of nonirradiated weevils for the first 6 d, the mating propensity of males irradiated with doses between of 75 and 150 Gy was maintained for the first 12 d. The potential fertilization ability of weevils was highly depressed compared with the control weevils, even in those treated with 75 Gy. Mating performance was severely compromised in weevils that were irradiated with a dose of 100 Gy or more. These results demonstrate that partial sterilization can be highly advantageous in eradication programs for the sweetpotato weevil. We discuss the advantages of the application of partial irradiation in insect eradication programs.

Sperm storage and viability within females of Euscepes postfasciatus: effect of irradiation on sperm abundance and viability within female

Irradiation has been widely used in suppression or eradication programs that use the sterile insect technique (SIT) or in studying sperm competition. Although it is well known that irradiation has negative impacts on reproductive (sperm) cells, previous studies have assumed that sperm from irradiated males behave identically to normal sperm in the female reproductive tract after mating. In this study, we used the West Indian sweetpotato weevil Euscepes postfasciatus to investigate the effect of irradiation on the abundance and viability of sperm in female spermatheca for 14 days after copulation. The abundance of sperm in females did not change throughout the experimental period, and sperm viability gradually decreased regardless of irradiation. In this weevil, irradiated sperm appear to behave identically to normal sperm in females for 14 days following irradiation/copulation. Therefore, the effect of irradiation on sperm viability within the female spermatheca is considered to be insignificant.

Effect of irradiation on mating ability in the male sweetpotato weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used for suppressing or eradicating target pest insect populations. The effectiveness of SIT depends on the ability of released sterile males to mate with and inseminate wild females. Irradiation is the effective manner to sterilize mass-reared insects. The negative impacts of this procedure are not limited to damage on reproductive cells. Gamma-radiation damages the epithelial tissue of midgut, which affects the alimentation in insects. Irradiated males alter their mating behavior over time because of the depression of metabolic activity by sterilization. In this study, we evaluated the male mating performance and sexually compatibility of irradiated male Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) with a 200-Gy dose, as currently used in the SIT program in Okinawa Prefecture, throughout 16 d after irradiation in the laboratory. The mating ability of irradiated males did not differ from that of control males for about a week. However, the mating ability of irradiated male drastically decreased thereafter. We consider that irradiated male C. formicarius elegantulus with a 200-Gy dose had no major effect on male mating behavior approximately for a week after irradiation.

Sphingosine kinase-1 is a downstream regulator of imatinib-induced apoptosis in chronic myeloid leukemia cells

We examined the involvement of sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1), which governs the ceramide/sphingosine-1-phosphate balance, in susceptibility to imatinib of either sensitive or resistant chronic myeloid leukemia cells. Imatinib-sensitive LAMA84-s displayed marked SphK1 inhibition coupled with increased content of ceramide and decreased pro-survival sphingosine-1-phosphate. Conversely, no changes in the sphingolipid metabolism were observed in LAMA84-r treated with imatinib. Overcoming imatinib resistance in LAMA84-r with farnesyltransferase or MEK/ERK inhibitors as well as with cytosine arabinoside led to SphK1 inhibition. Overexpression of SphK1 in LAMA84-s cells impaired apoptosis and inhibited the effects of imatinib on caspase-3 activation, cytochrome c and Smac release from mitochondria through modulation of Bim, Bcl-xL and Mcl-1 expression. Pharmacological inhibition of SphK1 with F-12509a or its silencing by siRNA induced apoptosis of both imatinib-sensitive and -resistant cells, suggesting that SphK1 inhibition was critical for apoptosis signaling. We also show that imatinib-sensitive and -resistant primary cells from chronic myeloid leukemia patients can be successfully killed in vitro by the F-12509a inhibitor. These results uncover the involvement of SphK1 in regulating imatinib-induced apoptosis and establish that SphK1 is a downstream effector of the Bcr-Abl/Ras/ERK pathway inhibited by imatinib but upstream regulator of Bcl-2 family members.

Effect of irradiation on dispersal ability of male sweetpotato weevils (Coleoptera: Brentidae) in the field

We used the mark-and-recapture method in the field to test the effect of gamma radiation on the dispersal ability of the male sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus (Summers) (Coleoptera: Brentidae), a serious sweetpotato pest in Japan. To evaluate the dispersal ability of male sweetpotato weevil, we released 27,218 males (13,302 males irradiated with a dose of 200 Gy and 13,916 nonirradiated males) in two replications (September and October 2005). Each replication lasted 5 d from the release of weevils to the removal of traps, and male weevils were released twice (1 and 3 d before trap setting). Forty pheromone traps were placed in lines corresponding to eight compass directions and five distance classes (20, 50,100, 200, and 500 m) in each replication. We captured 2,263 irradiated males (17.0%) and 2,007 nonirradiated males (14.4%) in the two replications. Six irradiated and eight nonirradiated males were captured in the traps 500 m far from the release point. All parameters to evaluate the dispersal ability of irradiated male sweetpotato weevil (recapture rate, dispersal distance, and dispersal direction) were similar to nonirradiated males in three of the four trials. However, parameters were different between irradiated males and nonirradiated males in one trial. Because the majority of parameters consistently show that the similarity of the dispersal ability, we considered that male sweetpotato weevil irradiated with a dose of 200 Gy possessed equal dispersal ability to that of nonirradiated males in the field.

Evidence for a long-range component in the pion emission source in Au+Au collisions at sqrt sNN=200 GeV

Emission source functions are extracted from correlation functions constructed from charged pions produced at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The source parameters extracted from these functions at low k(T) give first indications of a long tail for the pion emission source. The source extension cannot be explained solely by simple kinematic considerations. The possible role of a halo of secondary pions from resonance emissions is explored.

Overcoming MDR-associated chemoresistance in HL-60 acute myeloid leukemia cells by targeting sphingosine kinase-1

We examined the involvement of sphingosine kinase-1, a critical regulator of the sphingolipid balance, in susceptibility to antineoplastic agents of either sensitive or multidrug-resistant acute myeloid leukemia cells. Contrary to parental HL-60 cells, doxorubicin and etoposide failed to trigger apoptosis in chemoresistant HL-60/Doxo and HL-60NP16 cells overexpressing MRP1 and MDR1, respectively. Chemosensitive HL-60 cells displayed sphingosine kinase-1 inhibition coupled with ceramide generation. In contrast, chemoresistant HL-60/ Doxo and HL-60/VP16 had sustained sphingosine kinase-1 activity and did not produce ceramide during treatment. Enforced expression of sphingosine kinase-1 in chemosensitive HL-60 cells resulted in marked inhibition of apoptosis that was mediated by blockade of mitochondrial cytochrome c efflux hence suggesting a control of apoptosis at the pre-mitochondrial level. Incubation with cell-permeable ceramide of chemoresistant cells led to a sphingosine kinase-1 inhibition and apoptosis both prevented by sphingosine kinase-1 over-expression. Furthermore, F-12509a, a new sphingosine kinase inhibitor, led to ceramide accumulation, decrease in sphingosine 1-phosphate content and caused apoptosis equally in chemosensitive and chemoresistant cell lines that is inhibited by adding sphingosine 1-phosphate or overexpressing sphingosine kinase-1. F-12509a induced classical apoptosis hallmarks namely nuclear fragmentation, caspase-3 cleavage as well as downregulation of antiapoptotic XIAP, and release of cytochrome c and SMAC/Diablo.

Dense-medium modifications to jet-induced hadron pair distributions in Au+Au collisions at sqrt s NN=200 GeV

Azimuthal correlations of jet-induced high-p(T) charged hadron pairs are studied at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The distribution of jet-associated partner hadrons (1.0<p(T)<2.5 GeV/c) per trigger hadron (2.5<p(T)<4.0 GeV/c) is found to vary with collision centrality, in both shape and yield, indicating a significant effect of the nuclear collision medium on the jet fragmentation process.

Common suppression pattern of eta and pi0 mesons at high transverse momentum in Au + Au collisions at square root S(NN) = 200 GeV

Inclusive transverse momentum spectra of eta mesons have been measured within p(T) = 2-10 GeV/c at midrapidity by the PHENIX experiment in Au + Au collisions at square root S(NN) = 200 GeV. In central Au+Au the eta yields are significantly suppressed compared to peripheral Au + Au, d + Au, and p + p yields scaled by the corresponding number of nucleon-nucleon collisions. The magnitude, centrality, and p(T) dependence of the suppression is common, within errors, for eta and pi0. The ratio of eta to pi0 spectra at high p(T) amounts to 0.40 < R(eta/pi)0 < 0.48 for the three systems, in agreement with the world average measured in hadronic and nuclear reactions and, at large scaled momentum, in e+e- collisions.

Single electrons from heavy-flavor decays in collisions at

The invariant differential cross section for inclusive electron production in p+p collisions at [FORMULA: SEE TEXT] has been measured by the PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider over the transverse momentum range 0.4<or=pT<OR=5.0 GeV/c in the central rapidity region ([FORMULA: SEE TEXT]). The contribution to the inclusive electron spectrum from semileptonic decays of hadrons carrying heavy flavor, i.e., charm quarks or, at high , bottom quarks, is determined via three independent methods. The resulting electron spectrum from heavy-flavor decays is compared to recent leading and next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations. The total cross section of charm quark-antiquark pair production is determined to be [FORMULA: SEE TEXT].

Measurement of identified and inclusive photon second-harmonic parameter and implications for direct photon production in [FORMULA: SEE TEXT] Au+Au

The azimuthal distribution of identified pi0 and inclusive photons has been measured in [FORMULA: SEE TEXT] Au+Au collisions with the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). The second-harmonic parameter (nu2) was measured to describe the observed anisotropy of the azimuthal distribution. The measured inclusive photon is consistent with the value expected for the photons from hadron decay and is also consistent with the lack of direct photon signal over the measured pT range 1-6 GeV/c. An attempt is made to extract nu2 of direct photons.

Nuclear modification of electron spectra and implications for heavy quark energy loss in Au+Au collisions at [FORMULA: SEE TEXT]

The PHENIX experiment has measured midrapidity ([FORMULA: SEE TEXT]) transverse momentum spectra ([FORMULA: SEE TEXT]) of electrons as a function of centrality in Au+Au collisions at [FORMULA: SEE TEXT]. Contributions from photon conversions and from light hadron decays, mainly Dalitz decays of pi0 and eta mesons, were removed. The resulting nonphotonic electron spectra are primarily due to the semileptonic decays of hadrons carrying heavy quarks. Nuclear modification factors were determined by comparison to nonphotonic electrons in p+p collisions. A significant suppression of electrons at high pT is observed in central Au+Au collisions, indicating substantial energy loss of heavy quarks.

Measurement of transverse single-spin asymmetries for midrapidity production of neutral pions and charged hadrons in polarized p + p collisions at square root(s) = 200 GeV

Transverse single-spin asymmetries to probe the transverse-spin structure of the proton have been measured for neutral pions and nonidentified charged hadrons from polarized proton-proton collisions at midrapidity and square root(s) = 200 GeV. The data cover a transverse momentum (pT) range 1.0-5.0 GeV/c for neutral pions and 0.5-5.0 GeV/c for charged hadrons, at a Feynman-x value of approximately zero. The asymmetries seen in this previously unexplored kinematic region are consistent with zero within errors of a few percent. In addition, the inclusive charged hadron cross section at midrapidity from 0.5 < pT < 7.0 GeV/c is presented and compared to next-to-leading order perturbative QCD (pQCD) calculations. Successful description of the unpolarized cross section above approximately 2 GeV/c suggests that pQCD is applicable in the interpretation of the asymmetry results in the relevant kinematic range.

Saturation of azimuthal anisotropy in Au + Au collisions at (square root)s(NN) = 62-200 GeV

New measurements are presented for charged hadron azimuthal correlations at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at (square root)s(NN) = 62.4 and 200 GeV. They are compared to earlier measurements obtained at (square root)s(NN) = 130 GeV and in Pb + Pb collisions at (square root)s(NN) = 17.2 GeV. Sizeable anisotropies are observed with centrality and transverse momentum (pT) dependence characteristic of elliptic flow (upsilon2). For a broad range of centralities, the observed magnitudes and trends of the differential anisotropy, upsilon2(pT), change very little over the collision energy range (square root)s(NN) = 62-200 GeV, indicating saturation of the excitation function for upsilon2 at these energies. Such a saturation may be indicative of the dominance of a very soft equation of state for (square root)s(NN) approximately 60-200 GeV.

Centrality dependence of direct photon production in (square root)S(NN) = 200 GeV Au + Au collisions

The first measurement of direct photons in Au + Au collisions at (square root)S(NN) = 200 GeV is presented. The direct photon signal is extracted as a function of the Au + Au collision centrality and compared to next-to-leading order perturbative quantum chromodynamics calculations. The direct photon yield is shown to scale with the number of nucleon-nucleon collisions for all centralities.

Deuteron and antideuteron production in Au+Au collisions at square root of s(NN)=200 GeV

The production of deuterons and antideuterons in the transverse momentum range 1.1<p(T)<4.3 GeV/c at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at square root of s(NN)=200 GeV has been studied by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. A coalescence analysis, comparing the deuteron and antideuteron spectra with that of proton and antiproton, has been performed. The coalescence probability is equal for both deuterons and antideuterons and it increases as a function of p(T), which is consistent with an expanding collision zone. Comparing (anti)proton yields, p /p=0.73+/-0.01, with (anti)deuteron yields, d /d=0.47+/-0.03, we estimate that n /n=0.64+/-0.04. The nucleon phase space density is estimated from the coalescence measurement.

Centrality dependence of charm production from a measurement of single electrons in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV

The PHENIX experiment has measured midrapidity transverse momentum spectra (0.4<p(T)<4.0 GeV/c) of single electrons as a function of centrality in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV. Contributions from photon conversions and Dalitz decays of light neutral mesons are measured by introducing a thin (1.7% X0) converter into the PHENIX acceptance and are statistically removed. The subtracted nonphotonic electron spectra are primarily due to the semileptonic decays of hadrons containing heavy quarks, mainly charm at lower p(T). For all centralities, the charm production cross section is found to scale with the nuclear overlap function, T(AA). For minimum-bias collisions the charm cross section per binary collision is N(cc )/T(AA)=622+/-57(stat)+/-160(syst) microb.

Bose-Einstein correlations of charged pion pairs in Au + Au collisions at square root sNN = 200 GeV

Bose-Einstein correlations of identically charged pion pairs were measured by the PHENIX experiment at midrapidity in Au + Au collisions at square root s(NN)=200 GeV. The Bertsch-Pratt radius parameters were determined as a function of the transverse momentum of the pair and as a function of the centrality of the collision. Using the standard core-halo partial Coulomb fits, and a new parametrization which constrains the Coulomb fraction as determined from the unlike-sign pion correlation, the ratio R(out)/R(side) is within 0.8-1.1 for 0.25< <k(T)> <1.2 GeV/c. The centrality dependence of all radii is well described by a linear scaling in N(1/3)(part), and R(out)/R(side) for <k(T)> approximately 0.45 GeV/c is approximately constant at unity as a function of centrality.

Measurement of nonrandom event-by-event fluctuations of average transverse momentum in square root of (sNN)=200 GeV Au+Au and p+p collisions

Event-by-event fluctuations of the average transverse momentum of produced particles near midrapidity have been measured by the PHENIX Collaboration in square root of (sNN)=200 GeV Au+Au, and p+p collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The fluctuations are observed to be in excess of the expectation for statistically independent particle emission for all centralities. The excess fluctuations exhibit a dependence on both the centrality of the collision and on the pT range over which the average is calculated. Both the centrality and pT dependence can be well reproduced by a simulation of random particle production with the addition of contributions from hard-scattering processes.

J/psi production from proton-proton collisions at square root of s=200 GeV

J/psi production has been measured in proton-proton collisions at square root of s=200 GeV over a wide rapidity and transverse momentum range by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Distributions of the rapidity and transverse momentum, along with measurements of the mean transverse momentum and total production cross section are presented and compared to available theoretical calculations. The total J/psi cross section is 4.0+/-0.6(stat)+/-0.6(syst)+/-0.4(abs) mu b. The mean transverse momentum is 1.80+/-0.23(stat)+/-0.16(syst) GeV/c.

Midrapidity neutral-pion production in proton-proton collisions at square root s = 200 GeV

The invariant differential cross section for inclusive neutral-pion production in p+p collisions at sqrt[s]=200 GeV has been measured at midrapidity (|eta|<0.35) over the range 1<p(T) less, similar 14 GeV/c by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Predictions of next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculations are consistent with these measurements. The precision of our result is sufficient to differentiate between prevailing gluon-to-pion fragmentation functions.

Elliptic flow of identified hadrons in Au+Au collisions at sqrt sNN =200 GeV

The anisotropy parameter (v(2)), the second harmonic of the azimuthal particle distribution, has been measured with the PHENIX detector in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV for identified and inclusive charged particle production at central rapidities (|eta|<0.35) with respect to the reaction plane defined at high rapidities (|eta|=3-4 ). We observe that the v(2) of mesons falls below that of (anti)baryons for p(T)>2 GeV/c, in marked contrast to the predictions of a hydrodynamical model. A quark-coalescence model is also investigated.

Scaling properties of proton and antiproton production in sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV Au+Au collisions

We report on the yield of protons and antiprotons, as a function of centrality and transverse momentum, in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV measured at midrapidity by the PHENIX experiment at the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In central collisions at intermediate transverse momenta (1.5<p(T)<4.5 GeV/c) a significant fraction of all produced particles are protons and antiprotons. They show a centrality-scaling behavior different from that of pions. The pmacr;/pi and p/pi ratios are enhanced compared to peripheral Au+Au, p+p, and e(+)e(-) collisions. This enhancement is limited to p(T)<5 GeV/c as deduced from the ratio of charged hadrons to pi(0) measured in the range 1.5<p(T)<9 GeV/c.

Suppressed pi(0) production at large transverse momentum in central Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV

Transverse momentum spectra of neutral pions in the range 1<p(T)<10 GeV/c have been measured at midrapidity by the PHENIX experiment at BNL RHIC in Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The pi(0) multiplicity in central reactions is significantly below the yields measured at the same sqrt[s(NN)] in peripheral Au+Au and p+p reactions scaled by the number of nucleon-nucleon collisions. For the most central bin, the suppression factor is approximately 2.5 at p(T)=2 GeV/c and increases to approximately 4-5 at p(T) approximately 4 GeV/c. At larger p(T), the suppression remains constant within errors. The deficit is already apparent in semiperipheral reactions and increases smoothly with centrality.

Flow measurements via two-particle azimuthal correlations in Au + Au collisions at sqrt [s(NN)]=130 GeV

Two-particle azimuthal correlation functions are presented for charged hadrons produced in Au+Au collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (sqrt [s(NN)]=130 GeV). The measurements permit determination of elliptic flow without event-by-event estimation of the reaction plane. The extracted elliptic flow values (v2) show significant sensitivity to both the collision centrality and the transverse momenta of emitted hadrons, suggesting rapid thermalization and relatively strong velocity fields. When scaled by the eccentricity of the collision zone epsilon, the scaled elliptic flow shows little or no dependence on centrality for charged hadrons with relatively low p(T). A breakdown of this epsilon scaling is observed for charged hadrons with pT >1.0 GeV/c.

Measurement of Lambda and Lambda(macro) particles in Au+Au collisions at the square root of S(NN) = 130 GeV

We present results on the measurement of Lambda and Lambda(macro) production in Au+Au collisions at square root of (S (NN) = 130 GeV with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The transverse momentum spectra were measured for minimum bias and for the 5% most central events. The Lambda;/Lambda ratios are constant as a function of p(T) and the number of participants. The measured net Lambda density is significantly larger than predicted by models based on hadronic strings (e.g., HIJING) but in approximate agreement with models which include the gluon-junction mechanism.

Net charge fluctuations in Au + Au interactions at sqrt[s(NN)]=130 GeV

Data from Au + Au interactions at sqrt[s(NN)]=130 GeV, obtained with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider, are used to investigate local net charge fluctuations among particles produced near midrapidity. According to recent suggestions, such fluctuations may carry information from the quark-gluon plasma. This analysis shows that the fluctuations are dominated by a stochastic distribution of particles, but are also sensitive to other effects, like global charge conservation and resonance decays.

Centrality dependence of pi(+/-), K(+/-), p, and (-)p production from sqrt[s(NN)] = 130 GeV Au + Au collisions at RHIC

Identified pi(+/-), K(+/-), p, and (-)p transverse momentum spectra at midrapidity in sqrt[s(NN)] = 130 GeV Au+Au collisions were measured by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC as a function of collision centrality. Average transverse momenta increase with the number of participating nucleons in a similar way for all particle species. Within errors, all midrapidity particle yields per participant are found to be increasing with the number of participating nucleons. There is an indication that K(+/-), p, and (-)p yields per participant increase faster than the pi(+/-) yields. In central collisions at high transverse momenta (p(T) > or =2 GeV/c), (-)p and p yields are comparable to the pi(+/-) yields.

Transverse-mass dependence of two-pion correlations in Au+Au collisions at square root[s(NN)] = 130 GeV

Two-pion correlations in square root[s(NN)] = 130 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC have been measured over a broad range of pair transverse momentum k(T) by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. The k(T) dependent transverse radii are similar to results from heavy-ion collisions at square root[s(NN)] = 4.1, 4.9, and 17.3 GeV, whereas the longitudinal radius increases monotonically with beam energy. The ratio of the outwards to sidewards transverse radii (R(out)/R(side)) is consistent with unity and independent of k(T).

Measurement of single electrons and implications for charm production in Au+Au collisions at square root[s(NN)] = 130 GeV

Transverse momentum spectra of electrons from Au+Au collisions at square root[s(NN)] = 130 GeV have been measured at midrapidity by the PHENIX experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. The spectra show an excess above the background from photon conversions and light hadron decays. The electron signal is consistent with that expected from semileptonic decays of charm. The yield of the electron signal dN(e)/dy for p(T) > 0.8 GeV/c is 0.025+/-0.004(stat)+/-0.010(syst) in central collisions, and the corresponding charm cross section is 380+/-60(stat)+/-200(syst) microb per binary nucleon-nucleon collision.

Suppression of hadrons with large transverse momentum in central Au+Au collisions at root square[s(NN)] = 130 GeV

Transverse momentum spectra for charged hadrons and for neutral pions in the range 1 GeV/c<p(T)<5 GeV/c have been measured by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC in Au+Au collisions at root square[s(NN)] = 130 GeV. At high p(T) the spectra from peripheral nuclear collisions are consistent with scaling the spectra from p+p collisions by the average number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions. The spectra from central collisions are significantly suppressed when compared to the binary-scaled p+p expectation, and also when compared to similarly binary-scaled peripheral collisions, indicating a novel nuclear-medium effect in central nuclear collisions at RHIC energies.

Two-kaon correlations in central Pb+Pb collisions at 158 a GeV/c

Two-particle interferometry of positive kaons is studied in Pb+Pb collisions at mean transverse momenta <p(T)> approximately 0.25 and 0.91 GeV/c. A three-dimensional analysis was applied to the lower p(T) data, while a two-dimensional analysis was used for the higher p(T) data. We find that the source-size parameters are consistent with the m(T) scaling curve observed in pion-correlation measurements in the same collisions, and that the duration time of kaon emission is consistent with zero within the experimental sensitivity.

Measurement of the midrapidity transverse energy distribution from square root of [(s)NN] = 130 GeV Au + Au collisions at RHIC

The first measurement of energy produced transverse to the beam direction at the Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider at Brookhaven National Laboratory is presented. The midrapidity transverse energy density per participating nucleon rises steadily with the number of participants, closely paralleling the rise in charged-particle density, such that <E(T)>/<N(ch)> remains relatively constant as a function of centrality. The energy density calculated via Bjorken's prescription for the 2% most central Au+Au collisions at square root[s(NN)] = 130 GeV is at least epsilon(Bj) = 4.6 GeV/fm(3), which is a factor of 1.6 larger than found at sqrt[s(NN)] = 17.2 GeV ( Pb+Pb at CERN).

Identification of monoclonal insulin autoantibodies in insulin autoimmune syndrome associated with HLA-DRB1*0401

We have characterized HLA and insulin autoantibodies in a Japanese female patient with insulin autoimmune syndrome. Serological HLA typing demonstrated the patient had HLA-DR4, and DNA typing showed she had HLA-DRB1*0401 which has not been reported in patients with insulin autoimmune syndrome in Japan. A single binding affinity of insulin autoantibodies was demonstrated by Scatchard analysis and immunoglobulin class of insulin autoantibodies was exclusively IgG-kappa. HLA-DRB1*0406 is strikingly associated with patients with insulin autoimmune syndrome who have polyclonal insulin autoantibodies. The present report demonstrated the first Japanese patient with insulin autoimmune syndrome carrying HLA-DRB1*0401 who was revealed to have monoclonal insulin autoantibodies. The present results indicate that HLA molecules are the major determinants of polyclonal insulin autoantibodies and monoclonal insulin autoantibodies in insulin autoimmune syndrome.

S-15183a and b, new sphingosine kinase inhibitors, produced by a fungus

In the course of our screening for inhibitors of sphingosine kinase, we found two active compounds in a culture broth of a fungus, Zopfiella inermis SANK 15183. The structures of the compounds, named S-15183a and b, were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses to be new azaphilone-type metabolites. S-15183a and b inhibited sphingosine kinase from rat liver with IC50 values of 2.5 and 1.6 microM, respectively. S-15183a also inhibited endogenous SPH kinase activity in intact platelets.

Centrality dependence of charged particle multiplicity in Au-Au collisions at square root of (s)NN = 130 GeV

We present results for the charged-particle multiplicity distribution at midrapidity in Au-Au collisions at square root of [s(NN)] = 130 GeV measured with the PHENIX detector at RHIC. For the 5% most central collisions we find dN(ch)/d eta(vertical line eta = 0) = 622+/-1(stat)+/-41(syst). The results, analyzed as a function of centrality, show a steady rise of the particle density per participating nucleon with centrality.

Mutations in the small heterodimer partner gene are associated with mild obesity in Japanese subjects

Mutations in several genes encoding transcription factors of the hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF) cascade are associated with maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), a monogenic form of early-onset diabetes mellitus. The ability of the orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP, NR0B2) to modulate the transcriptional activity of MODY1 protein, the nuclear receptor HNF-4alpha, suggested SHP as a candidate MODY gene. We screened 173 unrelated Japanese subjects with early-onset diabetes for mutations in this gene and found five different mutations (H53fsdel10, L98fsdel9insAC, R34X, A195S, and R213C) in 6 subjects as well as one apparent polymorphism (R216H), all present in the heterozygous state. Interestingly, all of the subjects with the mutations were mildly or moderately obese at onset of diabetes, and analysis of the lineages of these individuals indicated that the SHP mutations were associated with obesity rather than with diabetes. Therefore, an additional group of 101 unrelated nondiabetic subjects with early-onset obesity was screened for mutations in the SHP gene. Two of the previously observed mutations (R34X and A195S) and two additional mutations (R57W and G189E) were identified in 6 subjects, whereas no mutations were identified in 116 young nondiabetic lean controls (P = 0.0094). Functional studies of the mutant proteins show that the mutations result in the loss of SHP activity. These results suggest that genetic variation in the SHP gene contributes to increased body weight and reveal a pathway leading to this common metabolic disorder in Japanese.

Large uterine myoma with erythropoietin messenger RNA and erythrocytosis

BACKGROUND

Myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome (erythrocytosis associated with a uterine myoma) has multiple proposed etiologies, one of which is altered erythropoietin production.

CASE

A 28-year-old woman, gravida 0, para 0, presented with a solitary, degenerated uterine myoma that was 34-36 weeks' gestational size and erythrocytosis. After GnRH agonist treatment and myomectomy, the tumor was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Specific erythropoietin primer with erythropoietin messenger RNA was noted.

CONCLUSION

Erythropoietin production by myomata might cause erythrocytosis in myomatous erythrocytosis syndrome.

Antideuteron production in 158A GeV/c Pb + Pb collisions

The invariant cross section as a function of transverse momentum for antideuterons produced in 158A GeV/c per nucleon Pb+Pb central collisions has been measured by the NA44 experiment at CERN. This measurement, together with a measurement of antiprotons, allows for the determination of the antideuteron coalescence parameter. The extracted coalescence radius is found to agree with the deuteron coalescence radius and radii determined from two particle correlations.

Characterization of B-5354c, a new sphingosine kinase inhibitor, produced by a marine bacterium

B-5354c is a new inhibitor of sphingosine kinase from a novel marine bacterium, SANK 71896. Kinetic study revealed that B-5354c inhibits sphingosine kinase with a Ki value of 12/microM. The inhibition is noncompetitive with respect to sphingosine. The compound also inhibits sphingosine-1-phosphate formation in human platelets. Experiments using synthetic derivatives of B-5354c indicate that all the three functional groups, i.e., the long unsaturated aliphatic chain, 4-amino and 3-hydroxyl groups are necessary to inhibit sphingosine kinase.

B-535a, b and c, new sphingosine kinase inhibitors, produced by a marine bacterium; taxonomy, fermentation, isolation, physico-chemical properties and structure determination

In the course of our screening for inhibitors of sphingosine kinase, we found a series of active compounds in a culture broth of a novel marine bacterium, SANK 71896. The structures of the compounds, named B-5354a, b and c, were elucidated by a combination of spectroscopic analyses to be new esters of 4-amino-3-hydroxybenzoic acid with long-chain unsaturated alcohols. B-5354a, b and c inhibit sphingosine kinase activity with IC50 values of 21, 58 and 38 microm, respectively.

Extensive lymphopenia due to apoptosis of uninfected lymphocytes in acute measles patients

Infection with measles virus induces a transient immunosuppression, which occasionally results in fatal opportunistic infections. To obtain fundamental information about the mechanism, we examined peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from acute measles patients aged from infants to 35 years old, obtained at various times from incubation periods to 103 days after onset of rash, for the number of lymphocyte subsets by flowcytometry. The data were analyzed for relationships between aging of the patients and the severity of immunosuppression. In classical measles cases, infected lymphocytes detected as a minor population during the incubation period disappeared soon after onset of rash, whereas in the cases of serious illness, the infected cells persisted longer after the rash. At the onset of rash, remarkable lymphopenia had already occurred in all measles cases with reduction in cell numbers of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, neutrophils, and monocytes. In contrast, natural killer (NK) cells were increased in number and activated, which might be a response compensatory for the lymphopenia. Apoptosis-associated molecules such as CD95(Fas) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand-receptor (TRAIL-R) were highly expressed on the cell surface of most surviving non-infected lymphocytes, and DNA fragmentation was also observed upon incubation in vitro. These results suggested that the profound lymphopenia was primarily due to extended death of non-infected blood cells caused by apoptosis. The severity and duration of the lumphopenia were age-dependent; less severe in young children whereas much severer in infants under one year of age as well as adolescents and adults. From these results, it was suggested that remarkable lymphopenia due to apoptosis of uninfected cells is one of the principal causes for immunosuppression induced by measles virus infection, and is correlated with the age-dependent severity of the disease.