A spin-1/2 triangular-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet (TLHAF) is a prototypical frustrated quantum magnet, which exhibits remarkable quantum many-body effects that arise from the synergy between spin frustration and quantum fluctuation. The ground-state properties of a spin-1/2 TLHAF are theoretically well understood. However, the theoretical consensus regarding the magnetic excitations is limited. The experimental study of the magnetic excitations in spin-1/2 TLHAFs has also been limited. Here we show the structure of magnetic excitations in the spin-1/2 TLHAF Ba3CoSb2O9 investigated by inelastic neutron scattering. Significantly different from theoretical expectations, the excitation spectrum has a three-stage energy structure. The lowest-energy first stage is composed of dispersion branches of single-magnon excitations. The second and third stages are dispersive continua accompanied by a columnar continuum extending above 10 meV, which is six times larger than the exchange interaction J = 1.67 meV. Our results indicate the shortcomings of the current theoretical framework.

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Vasohibin-1 (VASH1) is isolated as an endothelial cell (EC)-produced angiogenesis inhibitor. We questioned whether VASH1 plays any role besides angiogenesis inhibition, knocked-down or overexpressed VASH1 in ECs, and examined the changes of EC property. Knock-down of VASH1 induced premature senescence of ECs, and those ECs were easily killed by cellular stresses. In contrast, overexpression of VASH1 made ECs resistant to premature senescence and cell death caused by cellular stresses. The synthesis of VASH1 was regulated by HuR-mediated post-transcriptional regulation. We sought to define the underlying mechanism. VASH1 increased the expression of (superoxide dismutase 2) SOD2, an enzyme known to quench reactive oxygen species (ROS). Simultaneously, VASH1 augmented the synthesis of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), an anti-aging protein, which improved stress tolerance. Paraquat generates ROS and causes organ damage when administered in vivo. More VASH1 (+/−) mice died due to acute lung injury caused by paraquat. Intratracheal administration of an adenovirus vector encoding human VASH1 augmented SOD2 and SIRT1 expression in the lungs and prevented acute lung injury caused by paraquat. Thus, VASH1 is a critical factor that improves the stress tolerance of ECs via the induction of SOD2 and SIRT1.

We trained songbirds and humans in go/no-go discriminations among 27 tones. In the compact discrimination, S + s formed a contiguous middle range (3080-4040 Hz), and S-s formed contiguous lower (2000-2960 Hz) and upper (4160-5120 Hz) ranges. In the distributed discrimination, S + s were spread across all 3 ranges. Songbirds acquired the compact discrimination more quickly and with higher accuracy than humans. Songbirds acquired the distributed discrimination only after much extended training; humans did not acquire the distributed discrimination. Compact groups (birds and humans) accurately classified test tones spaced 60 Hz from the training tones, but the distributed groups did not. A single reversal in discrimination between tones on the boundary between the lower S- and middle S + ranges did not propagate to all the tones in either range. A neural network model provided an account of the classification of tones in songbirds and humans.

Cerium oxide nanocrystalline particles are synthesized and monodispersed in the size range from 2 to 8nm in diameter. The dependence of the lattice parameters on particle size is obtained by x-ray and electron diffraction analyses. The size dependence well coincides with the estimation based on the assumption that the surface is composed of one layer of Ce2O3 and the inside consists of CeO2. The effect of particle size on lattice parameters is discussed from the differences in the fabrication method and the surface structure.

Background: Preventing the progression of dementia is a widespread challenge. However, currently there is limited evidence supporting the effectiveness of dementia rehabilitation. Methods: We practiced activity reminiscence therapy (ART) as brainactivating rehabilitation for both lucid and demented persons (n = 18) in a day-service setting as well as in a group home. The ART sessions were conducted 1 hour every week for 12 weeks (intervention period). We compared the results of three cognitive tests (the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Kana Pick-out test and the 'logical memory' component of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised) and four behavior and caregiver s burden scales (the Clinical Dementia Rating, the Multidimensional Observation Scale for Elderly Subjects, the Dementia Behavior Disturbance scale and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview) conducted during the control period with those taken during the intervention period. At the end of the intervention period, we interviewed the staff and families individually to assess whether the participants seemed to have changed after intervention and, if so, how. Results: In cognitive tests, only immediate and delayed recall of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised showed significant improvement. None of the four behavior and caregiver s burden scales showed any significant changes after intervention. However, the interviews showed improvements in subjective aspects of communication, interaction and behavior. Conclusion: ART uses old-style tools. The nostalgia brought about by using these familiar tools led to effective recall of experiences, in which the participants taught the staff how to use the tools, which were unfamiliar to the staff. Through this role-reversal, they gained a sense of self-worth and a desire to live. Due to the reconstructed relationship between participants and caregivers, we consider ART to be effective in maintaining and improving emotional functions, activities of daily living and memory. ART should be useful for both lucid and mildly demented persons as brain-activating rehabilitation therapy.

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a transmembrane protein that is highly expressed in brain tissue. Recently, APP has been implicated in some human malignancies, and its regulation by androgens has also been demonstrated. Such findings suggest the importance of APP in hormone-dependent breast carcinoma, but APP has not yet been examined in breast carcinoma tissues. Therefore, in this study, we examined the biological and clinical significance of APP in breast carcinoma using immunohistochemistry and in vitro studies. APP immunoreactivity was detected in 57 out of 117 (49%) breast carcinoma tissues examined, and it was positively associated with androgen receptor (AR) expression. APP immunoreactivity was also significantly associated with Ki-67 LI and increased risk of recurrence in the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive cases, and was an independent prognostic factor in these patients. Subsequent in vitro experiments demonstrated that APP mRNA expression was significantly induced by biologically active androgen dihydrotestosterone in both a dose-dependent and a time-dependent manner in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells, which was potently suppressed by an AR blocker hydroxyflutamide. Moreover, cell proliferation activity of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells was significantly associated with their APP expression level. These findings suggest that APP is an androgeninduced gene that promotes proliferation activity of breast carcinoma cells. Moreover, APP immunohistochemical status is considered a potent prognostic factor in ER-positive breast cancer patients. (Cancer Sci 2013; 104: 1532-1538 B reast carcinoma is known as a hormone-dependent neoplasm, and estrogens play crucial roles in the development and ⁄ or progression of breast carcinoma. In addition, androgen receptor (AR) is expressed in a great majority of breast carcinoma tissues (1,2) and bioactive androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is locally produced in the carcinoma, (3) suggesting the importance of androgens in breast carcinoma. Androgens are in general considered to suppress breast carcinoma cell proliferation, (4,5) but some divergent findings have been reported. (6,7) Therefore, it is very important to examine molecular functions of androgens, including exploration of the androgen-regulated genes, in breast carcinoma. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a type I transmembrane protein, processed by a-, b-and c-secretase. One of the processed APP products, b-amyloid, is a major component of amyloid plaque, which is frequently detected in the brain tissues with Alzheimer's disease.(8) APP is also expressed in various nonneural tissues, and it is suggested to be involved in the growth of these cells.(9) APP has been implicated in several human malignancies, including lung, colon, pancreas, parathyroid, thyroid and prostate carcinomas, (10)(11)(12)(13)(14)(15) and the soluble N-terminal ectodomain fragment (sAPP) is reported to be responsible for the pro-proliferative effects of APP on carcinoma cells. (16) In addition, Takayama et al. (15) report that APP is an andro...

Nakao A, Tatematsu M. Real-time observation of micrometastasis formation in the living mouse liver using a GFP gene-tagged rat tongue carcinoma cell line. Int. J. Cancer 2001;93:212-7.In the article cited above, a critical reference was unfortunately omitted from the Discussion section. The citation in question is given below.The authors deeply regret this oversight. Naumov GN, Wilson SM, MacDonald IC, et al. Cellular expression of green fluorescent protein, coupled with high-resolution in vivo videomicroscopy, to monitor steps in tumor metastis.