Science News | January 8(2), 2008

# 溜めすぎたので、一気に放出

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乳酸菌：アレルギーの抑制力解明　東大など、症状緩和に可能性 - 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)

Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-92 induces apoptosis of antigen-stimulated T cells by modulating dendritic cell function.
Hiroki Kanzato, Shigeru Fujiwara, Wataru Ise, Shuichi Kaminogawa, Ryuichiro Sato, Satoshi Hachimura.
Immunobiology, Articles in press | doi:10.1016/j.imbio.2007.10.001

Beneficial effects of lactobacilli have been reported for patients with allergic diseases and intestinal disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease. However, it is not fully understood how such bacteria influence the immunologic response. For this purpose, we investigated the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-92 (L-92) on antigen-stimulated T cell responses in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, L-92 decreased the proliferation of CD4⁺ T cells stimulated with antigen, and also induced apoptosis of antigen-stimulated T cells. On the other hand, interferon (IFN)-γ secretion from naïve T cells was increased while interleukin (IL)-4 secretion was decreased by L-92. Co-culture with L-92 induced apoptosis of differentiated Th1 and Th2 cells. The degree of apoptosis induction was higher in Th2 cells. Moreover, L-92 up-regulated the expression of B7-H1 and down-regulated that of B7-H2 on dendritic cells (DCs), and DCs exposed to L-92 also induced apoptosis of antigen-stimulated T cells. Finally, orally administered L-92 induced apoptosis of OVA-specific TCR Tg T cells. These results indicate that L-92 attenuates the CD4⁺ T cell response by inducing DC-mediated apoptosis and that it might exert beneficial effects in patients with diseases resulting from a hyper-response of CD4⁺ T cells.

　# 腸内「善玉」細菌のアレルギー抑制機構の一端が見えてきました

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【科学】宇宙での夢舞台　衣食住も快適に (1/2ページ) - MSN産経ニュース
　# ノーマルスーツを海外のどこかが開発してませんでしたっけ？

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asahi.com： ピロリ菌から発がんたんぱく質　北大、マウスで実証 - サイエンス

「ピロリ菌で胃がん」確認、北大グループがマウス実験で : 科学 : YOMIURI ONLINE（読売新聞）

ピロリ菌：やっぱりがん誘発　北大がマウス実験で初証明 - 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)
　# まだ8日付速報は掲載されていないんですけど…
　# こちらに載せました(1/15追加)

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万能細胞「お分けします」…内外の研究者に理研が３月から : 科学 : YOMIURI ONLINE（読売新聞）

asahi.com： マウスｉＰＳ細胞分配へ　理研バイオリソースセンター - サイエンス (1/9追加)

万能細胞：理研センター、３月から「マウス製」配布 - 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞) (1/10追加)
　# 細胞1×10⁶個で実費12,000円とは太っ腹…

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絶縁被覆した規則配列ナノワイヤーの開発に成功 | 独立行政法人 理化学研究所プレスリリース

Supramolecular Insulating Networks Sheathing Conducting Nanowires Based on Organic Radical Cations.
Hiroshi M. Yamamoto, Yosuke Kosaka, Ryoko Maeda, Jun-ichi Yamaura, Akiko Nakao, Toshikazu Nakamura, Reizo Kato.
ACS Nano, Articles ASAP | doi:10.1021/nn700035t

Six materials, (EDT-TTF)₄BrI₂(TIE)₅ (1, where EDT-TTF = ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalene and TIE = tetraiodoethylene), (EDST)₄I₃(TIE)₅ (2, where EDST = ethylenedithiodiselenadithiafulvalene), (MDT-TTF)₄BrI₂(TIE)₅ (3, where MDT-TTF = methylenedithiotetrathiafulvalene), (HMTSF)₂Cl₂(TIE)₃ (4, where HMTSF = hexamethylenetetraselenafulvalene), (PT)₂Cl(DFBIB)₂ (5, where PT = bis(propylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene and DFBIB = 1,4-difluoro-2,5-bis(iodoethynyl)benzene), and (TSF)Cl(HFTIEB) (6, where TSF = tetraselenafulvalene and HFTIEB = 1,1',3,3',5,5'-hexafluoro-2,2',4,4'-tris(iodoethynyl)-biphenyl), consisting of conducting nanowires were obtained by galvanostatic oxidation of the donor molecules in the presence of the corresponding halide anions and iodine-containing neutral molecules. We report their characterizations using single-crystal crystallography, electrical resistance measurements, and electron spin resonance. The structures are built on stacks of planar cations of the donors that are isolated electrically by an insulating network consisting of supramolecular assemblies of the halide anions and neutral molecules held together by a halogen bond. The size and shape as well as the orientation (tilt) of the donors are matched by the self-organization of the insulating sheaths in all cases, providing a pea-in-a-pod example in the field of supramolecular chemistry. The observed resistivities, resistivity anisotropies, and electron spin resonance behaviors of these salts are analyzed by tight-binding band calculations and resistance-array modeling. Crystal 6 with insulating layer of 1 nm thickness exhibits 8 orders of magnitude anisotropy in its resistivity, indicating high potential of the supramolecular network as sheathing material. The observation of such networks leads us to propose a roadmap for future development toward multidimensional memory devices.

　# ナノワイヤーを絶縁被覆しちゃいました

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国立遺伝学研究所＜プレスリリース＞生きた細胞で生体分子1個を観る新しい顕微鏡法を開発 –従来の落射照明法の８倍もの高画質を実現–

Highly inclined thin illumination enables clear single-molecule imaging in cells.
Makio Tokunaga, Naoko Imamoto, Kumiko Sakata-Sogawa.
Nature Methods, Advance online publication | doi:10.1038/nmeth1171

We describe a simple illumination method of fluorescence microscopy for molecular imaging. Illumination by a highly inclined and thin beam increases image intensity and decreases background intensity, yielding a signal/background ratio about eightfold greater than that of epi-illumination. A high ratio yielded clear single-molecule images and three-dimensional images using cultured mammalian cells, enabling one to visualize and quantify molecular dynamics, interactions and kinetics in cells for molecular systems biology.

　# 何故にムービーをアップせぬ…

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植物プランクトン：台風の通過で増殖突き止め　東海大 - 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)
　# つまり、台風の大型化も地球が急激な変化を抑制しようという働きの一環なのか？

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米数学賞：初代受賞者に東大・大栗氏ら - 毎日ｊｐ(毎日新聞)
　# 「小さいブラックホールが高い熱を持っている原因を最新の幾何学を使って解明した業績」…はぁ…これまた小難しいことを…

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35時間無睡眠のサルも元気に――脳内ホルモンを鼻内にスプレー | WIRED VISION

Systemic and Nasal Delivery of Orexin-A (Hypocretin-1) Reduces the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Performance in Nonhuman Primates.
Sam A. Deadwyler, Linda Porrino, Jerome M. Siegel, Robert E. Hampson.
The Journal of Neuroscience 27, 14239-14247 (2007) | doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3878-07.2007

Hypocretin-1 (orexin-A) was administered to sleep-deprived (30–36 h) rhesus monkeys immediately preceding testing on a multi-image delayed match-to-sample (DMS) short-term memory task. The DMS task used multiple delays and stimulus images and effectively measures cognitive defects produced by sleep deprivation (Porrino et al., 2005). Two methods of administration of orexin-A were tested, intravenous injections (2.5–10.0 µg/kg, i.v.) and a novel method developed for nasal delivery via an atomizer spray mist to the nostrils (dose estimated 1.0 µg/kg). Results showed that orexin-A delivered via the intravenous and nasal routes significantly improved performance in sleep-deprived monkeys; however, the nasal delivery method was significantly more effective than the highest dose (10 µg/kg) of intravenous orexin-A tested. The improvement in performance by orexin-A was specific to trials classified as high versus low cognitive load as determined by performance difficulty under normal testing conditions. Except for the maximum intravenous dose (10 µg/kg), neither delivery method affected task performance in alert non-sleep-deprived animals. The improved performance in sleep-deprived animals was accompanied by orexin-A related alterations in local cerebral glucose metabolism (CMRglc) in specific brain regions shown previously to be engaged by the task and impaired by sleep deprivation (Porrino et al., 2005). Consistent with the differential effects on performance, nasal delivered orexin-A produced a more pronounced reversal of sleep deprivation induced changes in brain metabolic activity (CMRglc) than intravenous orexin-A. These findings provide strong evidence for the effectiveness of intranasal orexin-A in alleviating cognitive deficits produced by loss of sleep.

　# マジでOrexin-Aを点鼻すると眠気が覚めるの？