Lymphatic vessels (LVs) play critical roles in the maintenance of fluid homeostasis and in pathological conditions, including cancer metastasis. Although mutations in ALK1 , a member of the ...transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor family, have been linked to hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, a human vascular disease, the roles of activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK-1) signals in LV formation largely remain to be elucidated. We show that ALK-1 signals inhibit LV formation, and LVs were enlarged in multiple organs in Alk1 -depleted mice. These inhibitory effects of ALK-1 signaling were mediated by BMP-9, which decreased the number of cultured lymphatic endothelial cells. Bmp9 -deficient mouse embryos consistently exhibited enlarged dermal LVs. BMP-9 also inhibited LV formation during inflammation and tumorigenesis. BMP-9 downregulated the expression of the transcription factor prospero-related homeobox 1, which is necessary to maintain lymphatic endothelial cell identity. Furthermore, silencing prospero-related homeobox 1 expression inhibited lymphatic endothelial cell proliferation. Our findings reveal a unique molecular basis for the physiological and pathological roles of BMP-9/ALK-1 signals in LV formation.
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We have searched for proton decay via p→e+π0 and p→μ+π0 using Super-Kamiokande data from April 1996 to March 2015, 0.306 megaton·years exposure in total. The atmospheric neutrino background rate in ...Super-Kamiokande IV is reduced to almost half that of phase I-III by tagging neutrons associated with neutrino interactions. The reach of the proton lifetime is further enhanced by introducing new signal criteria that select the decay of a proton in a hydrogen atom. No candidates were seen in the p→e+π0 search. Two candidates that passed all of the selection criteria for p→μ+π0 have been observed, but these are consistent with the expected number of background events of 0.87. Lower limits on the proton lifetime are set at τ/B(p→e+π0)>1.6×1034 years and τ/B(p→μ+π0)>7.7×1033 years at 90% confidence level.
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The full tungsten divertor qualification program was defined for the R&D activity in domestic agencies. The qualification program consists of two steps: (i) technology development and validation and ...(ii) a full-scale demonstration. Small-scale mock-ups were manufactured in Japanese and European industries and delivered to the ITER divertor test facility in Russia for high heat flux testing. In parallel activity to the qualification program, both domestic agencies demonstrated that W monoblock technologies withstanding up to 20 MW m−2 were available.
Distal transradial approach (dTRA) for neuroendovascular procedures has received much attention in recent years as a newer and less invasive alternative to the conventional transfemoral or ...transradial approaches. We present the case of an 89-year-old woman with a basilar artery aneurysm requiring simultaneous catheterization of the bilateral vertebral arteries who was successfully embolized using bilateral dTRA. The aneurysm was accessed from the right vertebral artery using the right dTRA. Control angiograms during the procedure were performed from the left vertebral artery via the left dTRA. The operator's posture was ergonomically comfortable, and the catheters were easy to handle during the procedure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a bilateral dTRA used for neuroendovascular procedures. Bilateral dTRA is a safe and minimally invasive method for patients and ergonomically comfortable for operators.
We present early phase observations in optical and near-infrared wavelengths for the extremely luminous Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) 2009dc. The decline rate of the light curve is DELTAm{sub 15}(B) = ...0.65 +- 0.03, which is one of the slowest among SNe Ia. The peak V-band absolute magnitude is estimated to be M{sub V} = -19.90 +- 0.15 mag if no host extinction is assumed. It reaches M{sub V} = -20.19 +- 0.19 mag if we assume the host extinction of A{sub V} = 0.29 mag. SN 2009dc belongs to the most luminous class of SNe Ia, like SNe 2003fg and 2006gz. Our JHK{sub s} -band photometry shows that this SN is also one of the most luminous SNe Ia in near-infrared wavelengths. We estimate the ejected {sup 56}Ni mass of 1.2 +- 0.3 M{sub sun} for the no host extinction case (and of 1.6 +- 0.4 M{sub sun} for the host extinction of A{sub V} = 0.29 mag). The C II lambda6580 absorption line remains visible until a week after the maximum brightness, in contrast to its early disappearance in SN 2006gz. The line velocity of Si II lambda6355 is about 8000 km s{sup -1} around the maximum, being considerably slower than that of SN 2006gz. The velocity of the C II line is similar to or slightly less than that of the Si II line around the maximum. The presence of the carbon line suggests that the thick unburned C+O layer remains after the explosion. Spectropolarimetric observations by Tanaka et al. indicate that the explosion is nearly spherical. These observational facts suggest that SN 2009dc is a super-Chandrasekhar mass SN Ia.
•Air–treated V–based alloy membranes without catalytic Pd overlayer are found to possess excellent hydrogen permeability.•They also exhibit good durability at high temperature.•Alloying effects are ...discussed in view of the new description of hydrogen permeation based on hydrogen chemical potential.
Hydrogen permeability of air–treated V–based alloy membranes without Pd coating have been investigated. The diffusion–limiting hydrogen permeation reaction takes place even without catalytic Pd overlayer on the surface. It is shown that pure V and its alloy membranes without Pd overlayer possess excellent hydrogen permeability and good durability at high temperature. The new description of hydrogen permeation based on hydrogen chemical potential has been applied and the hydrogen flux is analyzed in terms of the mobility of hydrogen atom and the PCT factor, fPCT.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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