We searched for the 6α-condensed state in 24Mg by measuring the C12+12C scattering with the SAKRA Si detector array at Ecm=17.5–25.0 MeV. By using the invariant-mass method for the detected 3α ...particles, the inclusive cross sections for the C12+12C→12C(02+)+X and C12(31−)+X reactions were determined. In addition, the missing-mass spectroscopy was successfully utilized to determine the excitation energy of the residual C12 nucleus and the exclusive cross sections for the C12+12C→12C(02+)+12C(01+), C12(02+)+12C(21+), and C12(02+)+12C(02+) reactions. In both the inclusive C12(02+)+X channel and the exclusive C12(02+)+12C(01+) channel, the cross section peaked at Ecm=19.4 MeV, which correspond to the excitation energy of Ex=33.3 MeV in 24Mg. This 19.4-MeV state is a candidate for the 6α-condensed state because of the agreement of the excitation energy with the theoretical value and its decay property. In the exclusive C12(02+)+12C(02+) channel, a broad state was observed at Ecm=22.5 MeV, which correspond to the excitation energy of Ex=36.4 MeV in 24Mg. From the angular distribution of the differential cross section, the spin and parity of this 22.5-MeV state was assigned to be 4+. In addition, a 2+ state was suggested at the low-energy side of the 22.5-MeV state. Because their excitation energies are higher than the theoretical value of the 6α-condensed state, these states might be excited states of the 6α-condensed state such as the 22+ and 41+ states in C12.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
We previously reported that lithium had a significant impact on Ca(2+) regulation and induced unfolded protein response (UPR) in yeast cells grown on galactose due to inhibition of phosphoglucomutase ...(PGM), however the exact mechanism has not been established yet. In this study, we analysed lithium's effect in galactose-fed cells to clarify whether these ER-related changes are the result of a relative hypoglycemic state. Furthermore, we investigated whether the alterations in galactose metabolism impact protein post-translational modifications. Thus, Jurkat cells were incubated in glucose or galactose containing media with or without lithium treatment. We found that galactose-fed and lithium treated cells showed better survivability than fasting cells. We also found higher UDP-Hexose and glycogen levels in these cells compared to fasting cells. On the other hand, the UPR (X-box binding protein 1 mRNA levels) of galactose-fed and lithium treated cells was even greater than in fasting cells. We also found increased amount of proteins that contained N-linked N-acetyl-glucosamine, similar to what was reported in fasting cells by a recent study. Our results demonstrate that lithium treatment of galactose-fed cells can induce stress responses similar to hypoglycemia, however cell survival is still secured by alternative pathways. We propose that clarifying this process might be an important addition toward the better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that regulate ER-associated stress response.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Abstract
The J-PARC E16 experiment measures mass spectra of low-mass vector mesons,
ρ
,
ω
, and
ϕ
, in nuclei via
e
+
e
-
decays. Vector mesons are produced in
p
A reactions. A spectrometer with ...a large acceptance and a high-intensity beam up to 1
× 10
10
protons per ∼2-sec duration pulse are utilized to collect a sufficient number
of vector mesons. We have developed a spectrometer, which has two types of electron
identification detectors: a hadron blind detector (HBD) and a lead-glass calorimeter.
Commissioning runs have been performed at the J-PARC high-momentum beam line. The HBD
successfully observed on average 11 ± 1 photoelectrons for an incident electron. We achieved
the pion rejection of 0.9 ± 0.2% with the electron detection efficiency of 61 ± 4% for
the HBD, which was consistent of the expected performance.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) produces vacuolating cytotoxin (VacA), a potent protein toxin, which is associated with gastric inflammation and ulceration. Recent studies demonstrated that connexins ...(Cxs), which are responsible for intracellular communication at gap junctions (GJs) as well as cell homeostasis, participate in VacA-induced cell death. We now demonstrate in AZ-521 cells that VacA increased cytoplasmic Cx43, accompanied by LC3-II generation in a time- and dose-dependent manner without induction of Cx43 mRNA expression. Inhibition of VacA-induced Rac1 activity prevented ERK phosphorylation and the increase in Cx43. Suppression of ERK activity and addition of N-acetyl-cysteine inhibited VacA-dependent increase in Cx43 and LC3-II. DIDS, an anion-selective inhibitor, suppressed VacA-dependent increase in Cx43, suggesting that VacA channel activity was involved in this pathway. By confocal microscopy, Cx43 increased by VacA was predominately localized in cholesterol-rich, detergent-resistant membranes including GJs, and a fraction of Cx43 was incorporated in endocytotic vesicles and autophagolysosomes. Accumulation of Cx43 was also observed in gastric mucosa from H. pylori-infected patients compared with healthy controls, suggesting that the pathogen caused a similar effect in vivo. Our findings show that VacA-mediated effects on autophagy inhibits turnover of Cx43, resulting in increased levels in the cytoplasm, leading eventually to apoptotic cell death.
The cluster-knockout reaction project, ONOKORO, has been launched to elucidate the formation mechanism of clusters in atomic nuclei. For the inverse-kinetics cluster-knockout reaction experiments, a ...new detector array is under development to measure energies and angles of light ions emitted in the reactions. The silicon tracker tracks the particles with good angular and energy-loss resolutions. A performance test of the silicon strip detectors with a thickness of 100μm and a strip width of 100μm was performed using prototype silicon detectors. The mono-energetic proton and α-particle beams were irradiated on the silicon detectors. The energy-loss spectra in silicon detectors showed a good signal-to-noise ratio. The threshold level for signal detection is seven sigma of noise level. Their dynamic ranges were optimized wide enough to detect charge number Z= 1 and Z= 2 ions emitted in the cluster-knockout reactions.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
We have launched a new research project named “ONOKORO” to elucidate the formation mechanism of clusters in atomic nuclei. The project comprehensively investigates clustering phenomena in the ...medium-to-heavy mass region with inverse-kinematics cluster-knockout reactions at the intermediate energy facilities. The new detector array named “TOGAXSI” is under construction for this purpose. It measures scattering angles and the energies of deuterons, tritons, 3He, and α particles emitted at forward angles from the cluster-knockout reactions. It also measures the recoil protons emitted from the scattering events at large angles. High-angular and high-energy resolutions with wide solid angles are required to achieve a good cluster separation energy resolution and a reasonably high yield. The designed telescope consists of silicon trackers and GAGG:Ce calorimeters. This paper shows the required conditions and design concepts of TOGAXSI.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The vacuolating cytotoxin VacA produced by Helicobacter pylori causes massive cellular vacuolation in vitro and gastric tissue damage in vivo, leading to gastric ulcers, when administered ...intragastrically. Here we report that mice deficient in protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z (Ptprz, also called PTP-ζ or RPTP-β, encoded by Ptprz) do not show mucosal damage by VacA, although VacA is incorporated into the gastric epithelial cells to the same extent as in wild-type mice. Primary cultures of gastric epithelial cells from Ptprz+/+ and Ptprz−/− mice also showed similar incorporation of VacA, cellular vacuolation and reduction in cellular proliferation, but only Ptprz+/+ cells showed marked detachment from a reconstituted basement membrane 24 h after treatment with VacA. VacA bound to Ptprz, and the levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase-interactor 1 (Git1), a Ptprz substrate, were higher after treatment with VacA, indicating that VacA behaves as a ligand for Ptprz. Furthermore, pleiotrophin (PTN), an endogenous ligand of Ptprz, also induced gastritis specifically in Ptprz+/+ mice when administered orally. Taken together, these data indicate that erroneous Ptprz signaling induces gastric ulcers.
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DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK