A VARIATION IN THE PRESENT STAR FORMATION ACTIVITY OF SPIRAL GALAXIES

TOMITA AKIHIKO,TOMITA YOSHIO,SAITO MAMORU The Korean Astronomical Society 1996 Journal of The Korean Astronomical Society Vol.29 No.suppl1

We show that the star formation activity of spiral galaxies has a great variety. The star formation variation in a time scale of $10^8$ yr and the mechanism responsible for the variation are discussed.

Risk Relationship of Cataract and Epilation on Radiation Dose and Smoking Habit

Tomita, Makoto,Otake, Masanori,Moon, Sung-Ho Korean Data and Information Science Society 2006 한국데이터정보과학회지 Vol.17 No.4

An analytic approach that provides explicit estimates of risk on cataract and epilation data is evaluated by reasonableness of conceivable relative risk models regarding a simple, odds, logistic or Gompertz regression method, assuming a binomial distribution. In these analyses, we apply relative risk models with two thresholds between epilators and nonepilators from a highly characteristic lesion of which radiation cataract does not occur around 2 gray for a single acute exposure. The risk models are fitted to the data assuming 10 as a constant relative biological effectiveness of neutron. The likelihood of observing the entire data set in these models fitted is evaluated by an individual binary-response array. Estimation of a threshold with or without severe epilation and the 100 ($1-\alpha$)% confidence limits are derived from the maximum likelihood approach. The relative risk model with two thresholds can be expressed as a formula with structure of Background $\times$ RR, where RR includes threshold models with or without epilation. The radiosensitivity of ionizing radiation to cataracts has been examined for the relationship between epilators and nonepilators.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations in Japanese Men with Lung Adenocarcinomas

Tomita, Masaki,Ayabe, Takanori,Chosa, Eiichi,Kawagoe, Katsuya,Nakamura, Kunihide Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2014 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.15 No.24

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations play a vital role in the prognosis of patients with lung adenocarcinoma. Such somatic mutations are more common in women who are non-smokers with adenocarcinoma and are of Asian origin. However, to our knowledge, there are few studies that have focused on men. Materials and Methods: One hundred and eighty-four consecutive patients (90 men and 94 women) of resected lung adenocarcinoma were studied retrospectively. Results: EGFR mutations were positive in 48.9% and negative (wild type) in 51.1%. Overall mutation was significant in women (66.0% vs. 32.2%) compared with men (p<0.001). For overall patients, EGFR mutation status was associated with gender, pStage, pT status, lepidic dominant histologic subtype, pure or mixed ground-glass nodule type on computed tomography and smoking status. However, in men, EGFR mutation status was only associated with lepidic dominant histologic subtype and not the other variables. Interestingly, the Brinkman index of men with mutant EGFR also did not differ from that for the wild type ($680.0{\pm}619.3$ vs. $813.1{\pm}552.1$ p=0.1077). Conclusions: The clinical characteristics of men with lung adenocarcinoma related to EGFR mutation are not always similar to that of overall patients. Especially we failed to find the relationship between EGFR mutations and smoking status in men.

Radiosensitivity and the Occurrence of Radiation-related Cataract and Epilation

Tomita, Makoto,Otake, Masanori,Moon, Sung-Ho Korean Data and Information Science Society 2006 한국데이터정보과학회지 Vol.17 No.3

Our purpose is to ascertain, if possible, whether atomic bomb survivors with cataracts and epilation were more radiosensitive than those survivors with cataracts but without epilation. A major ophthalmologic survey was conducted in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1963-64. At that time, 2125 individuals were examined. Among these individuals, estimated eye organ doses, based on the DS86 dosimetry system, and information on the occurrence of epilation within the first 60 days following the bombings are available on 1742. In the analysis of these data we have assumed that each individual represents a sample of one from a binomial distribution, and that the occurrence of cataracts and epilation are independent biological phenomena. We got following results. The threshold for cataract induction and its 95% confidence limits have been estimated from data on the occurrence of cataract and epilation. Among the 1742 study subjects, 40 had both cataracts and severe epilation. The estimated threshold based on these cases is 0.98 sievert(Sv), with 95% lower and upper confidence bounds of 0.72, and 1.32 Sv, respectively, and is highly statistically significant. Among the 27 cases of cataracts where severe epilation was not reported, the estimated threshold is 1.74 Sv with 95% lower and upper confidence bounds of 1.21 Sv, and "not estimable". The difference between these two estimates is not statistically significant although the effect of dose is highly significant in both instances. The potential importance of biases in the DS86 dose estimates is discussed. The difference between the threshold estimated from cataract cases with epilation and that from cases without epilation is not statistically significant at the 5% or 10% level, and thus affords no support for the notion of increased radiosensitivity.

Müller glial responses compensate for degenerating photoreceptors in retinitis pigmentosa

Tomita Yohei,Qiu Chenxi,Bull Edward,Allen William,Kotoda Yumi,Talukdar Saswata,Smith Lois E. H.,Fu Zhongjie 생화학분자생물학회 2021 Experimental and molecular medicine Vol.53 No.-

Photoreceptor degeneration caused by genetic defects leads to retinitis pigmentosa, a rare disease typically diagnosed in adolescents and young adults. In most cases, rod loss occurs first, followed by cone loss as well as altered function in cells connected to photoreceptors directly or indirectly. There remains a gap in our understanding of retinal cellular responses to photoreceptor abnormalities. Here, we utilized single-cell transcriptomics to investigate cellular responses in each major retinal cell type in retinitis pigmentosa model (P23H) mice vs. wild-type littermate mice. We found a significant decrease in the expression of genes associated with phototransduction, the inner/outer segment, photoreceptor cell cilium, and photoreceptor development in both rod and cone clusters, in line with the structural changes seen with immunohistochemistry. Accompanying this loss was a significant decrease in the expression of genes involved in metabolic pathways and energy production in both rods and cones. We found that in the Müller glia/astrocyte cluster, there was a significant increase in gene expression in pathways involving photoreceptor maintenance, while concomitant decreases were observed in rods and cones. Additionally, the expression of genes involved in mitochondrial localization and transport was increased in the Müller glia/astrocyte cluster. The Müller glial compensatory increase in the expression of genes downregulated in photoreceptors suggests that Müller glia adapt their transcriptome to support photoreceptors and could be thought of as general therapeutic targets to protect against retinal degeneration.

Structural Insights into the CotB2-Catalyzed Cyclization of Geranylgeranyl Diphosphate to the Diterpene Cyclooctat-9-en-7-ol

Tomita, Takeo,Kim, Seung-Young,Teramoto, Kazuya,Meguro, Ayuko,Ozaki, Taro,Yoshida, Ayako,Motoyoshi, Yudai,Mori, Naoki,Ishigami, Ken,Watanabe, Hidenori,Nishiyama, Makoto,Kuzuyama, Tomohisa AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2017 ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY Vol.12 No.6

<P>The diterpene cyclase CotB2 catalyzes the cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) to the tricyclic cyclooctat-9-en-7-ol, which is characterized by a 5-8-5-fused ring skeleton. We have previously proposed a cyclization cascade involving a unique carbon-carbon bond rearrangement combined with multiple hydride shifts, all occurring at a single active site. Here, we report the first high-resolution X-ray crystal structure of CotB2 with bound substrate analog geranylgeranyl thiodiphosphate (GGSPP). In the GGSPP-bound form, GGSPP folds into a unique S-shaped conformation that probably reflects the substrate-bound state prior to ionization of the substrate GGPP. The folded framework of GGSPP is surrounded by hydrophobic residues and several aromatic and asparagine residues that are well-positioned to stabilize a series of reactive carbocation intermediates through a combination of cation−π and dipole charge interactions. The combined crystal structures and mutagenesis-based biochemical assays provide a structural basis for exquisite control of ring formation and stereochemistry during CotB2 catalysis.</P> [FIG OMISSION]</BR>

Progress in development of neutron energy spectrometer for deuterium plasma operation in KSTAR.

Tomita, H,Yamashita, F,Nakayama, Y,Morishima, K,Yamamoto, Y,Sakai, Y,Cheon, M S,Isobe, M,Ogawa, K,Hayashi, S,Kawarabayashi, J,Iguchi, T American Institute of Physics 2014 Review of scientific instruments Vol.85 No.11

<P>Two types of DD neutron energy spectrometer (NES) are under development for deuterium plasma operation in KSTAR to understand behavior of beam ions in the plasma. One is based on the state-of-the-art nuclear emulsion technique. The other is based on a coincidence detection of a recoiled proton and a scattered neutron caused by an elastic scattering of an incident DD neutron, which is called an associated particle coincidence counting-NES. The prototype NES systems were installed at J-port in KSTAR in 2012. During the 2012 and 2013 experimental campaigns, multiple shots-integrated neutron spectra were preliminarily obtained by the nuclear emulsion-based NES system.</P>

Postoperative Serum CEA Level is a More Significant Prognostic Factor than Post/Preoperative Serum CEA Ratio in Non-small Cell Cancer Patients

Tomita, Masaki,Ayabe, Takanori,Chosa, Eiichi,Nakamura, Kunihide Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2015 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.16 No.17

Background: In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with preoperative high serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, patients with a persistently high serum CEA level after surgery have been reported to have a poor prognosis. In addition, in other cancers, the post/preoperative serum CEA ratio has been reported as a useful parameter. Materials and Methods: We enrolled 123 NSCLC patients with preoperative high CEA levels (${\geq}5ng/mL$) who underwent curative surgery between 2004 and 2011. Prognostic significance of postoperative serum CEA level and the CEA ratio was examined. Results: The 5-year survival of patients with persistently high serum CEA level after surgery was poor. On the other hand, patients with normal postoperative serum CEA levels had significant favorable prognosis. The patients with CEA ratio>1 had poor prognosis, however the number was only 7 (5.7%). The 5-year survival rates of patients with other subgroup based on the CEA ratio ($0.5{\geq}CEA$ ratio and $0.5{\leq}CEA$ $ratio{\leq}1$) was similar. Multivariate analysis revealed prognostic significance for the postoperative serum CEA level but not the CEA ratio. Conclusions: For NSCLC patients with preoperative high serum CEA level, their postoperative serum CEA levels is a more significant prognostic factor than the post/preoperative serum CEA ratio.

Statistical Assessment on Cancer Risks of Ionizing Radiation and Smoking Based on Poisson Models

Tomita, Makoto,Otake, Masanori,Moon, Sung-Ho Korean Data and Information Science Society 2006 한국데이터정보과학회지 Vol.17 No.2

In many epidemiological and medical studies, a number of cancer mortalities in categorical classification may be considered as having Poisson distribution with person-years at risk depending upon time. The cancer mortalities have been evaluated by additive or multiplicative models with regard to background and excess risks based on several covariances such as sex, age at the time of bombings, time at exposure, or ionizing radiation, cigarette smoking habits, duration of smoking habits, etc. An interest herein is to examine an additive, synergistic, or antagonistic relationship between radiation exposures and cigarette smoking habits for cancer mortalities. The results revealed a highly significant antagonistic in uence for cancer mortalities from all non-hematologic findings, lung and respiratory system with negative interaction between radiation exposures and cigarette smoking amounts.

Analyzing the Evolutionary Stability for Behavior Strategies in Reverse Supply Chain

Tomita, Daijiro,Kusukawa, Etsuko Korean Institute of Industrial Engineers 2015 Industrial Engineeering & Management Systems Vol.14 No.1

In recent years, for the purpose of solving the problem regarding environment protection and resource saving, certain measures and policies have been promoted to establish a reverse supply chains (RSCs) with material flows from collection of used products to reuse the recycled parts in production of products. It is necessary to analyze behaviors of RSC members to determine the optimal operation. This paper discusses a RSC with a retailer and a manufacturer and verifies the behavior strategies of RSC members which may change over time in response to changes parameters related to the recycling promotion activity in RSC. A retailer takes two behaviors: cooperation/non-cooperation in recycling promotion activity. A manufacturer takes two behaviors: monitoring/non-monitoring of behaviors of the retailer. Evolutionary game theory combining the evolutionary theory of Darwin with game theory is adopted to clarify analytically evolutionary outcomes driven by a change in each behavior of RSC members over time. The evolutionary stable strategies (ESSs) for RSC members' behaviors are derived by using the replicator dynamics. The analysis numerically demonstrates how parameters of the recycling promotion activity: (i) sale promotion cost, (ii) monitoring cost, (iii) compensation and (iv) penalty cost affect the judgment of ESSs of behaviors of RSC members.