The Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder-2 (SMILES-2) is a satellite mission for observation of the stratosphere, mesosphere, and lower thermosphere with superconducting submillimeter-wave receivers, being proposed to the announcement of opportunity for M-class missions run by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The SMILES-2 notable features are extremely high sensitivity and observation capability of atmospheric diurnal cycles. Those are requested from a scientific requirement for the investigation of the 4-D space-time structure of diurnal variations in the whole atmosphere. Such features require SMILES-2 to have 4–K cooled superconducting devices for high sensitivity and to be aboard a satellite platform on a non-sunsynchronous orbit. The mechanical 4–K cooling system is a power consuming instrument. Satellite on a non- sunsynchronous orbit gets a large sun-shade ratio in most of season, and has limitations of power supply to the mission instrument. The issue of the SMILES-2 mission design is mainly to fit the 4–K cooling system to the limited power resource of M-class satellite. This paper discusses our development status on designing the SMILES-2 mission payload. SMILES-2 will be proposed to JAXA in the beginning of the next year.

Background There have been extensive studies regarding which types of T lymphocytes are involved in psoriasis vulgaris (PV). However, it has remained unclear which types of T lymphocytes might directly contribute to psoriasiform epidermal and vascular hyperplasia. Objectives To understand the role of T-cell receptor (TCR)Vα24+ invariant natural killer (iNK)T cells in the development of PV. Methods Seventeen patients were enrolled in this study. Using biopsy samples of PV plaques, TCRVα24+ iNKT cells were investigated regarding their cytokine production to understand their roles in development of disease. Results The number of interferon (IFN)-γ+ iNKT cells correlated with the length of the psoriasiform hyperplasia rete ridge and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index. IFN-γ+ iNKT cells in psoriatic skin exhibited higher C-C chemokine receptor (CCR)5 expression, and the amount of C-C chemokine ligand (CCL)5, a ligand for CCR5, was increased in capillary veins of psoriasis plaques. CCR5+ iNKT-cell numbers significantly correlated with the number of capillary vein endothelial cells expressing CCL5 in PV. Furthermore, the number of CCL5+ capillary veins correlated with the maximum rete ridge length. Conclusions IFN-γ/CCR5 expression in iNKT cells and CCL5 expression in vessels of dermal papillae correlate with the development of psoriasiform hyperplasia and microabscess. We propose that these iNKT cells may become useful targets for development of novel therapeutic approaches to PV.

This paper investigates the detectability performance of a breadboard model of a ground penetrating radar (GPR) for subsurface sounding of solid bodies in the Solar System up to a depth of tens of meters. The developed GPR uses a linear FM chirp signal whose frequency is linearly swept from 300 MHz to 900 MHz for 330 μs and can produce a narrower pulse of greater peak amplitude by applying a pulse compression technique. Vivaldi antennas are selected as the antennas of the radar system and designed by a particle swarm optimization (PSO) method to minimize the S11 parameter in the operational frequencies. A laboratory experiment for the radar electronics demonstrates that amplitude modulation of a transmitted signal by specific window functions could increase its dynamic range. The S11 parameter of the developed antenna is found to be very close to the desired value. Finally, subsurface sounding is simulated by modeling the two-layer subsurface structure. The simulation results reveal that the GPR could observe the subsurface structures up to a depth of 10-20 m from the air and a depth of 15-25 m from the ground.

We observed ozone (O3) in the vertical region between 250 and 0.0005 hPa (~ 12–96 km) using the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) on the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) of the International Space Station (ISS) between 12 October 2009 and 21 April 2010. The new 4 K superconducting heterodyne receiver technology of SMILES allowed us to obtain a one order of magnitude better signal-to-noise ratio for the O3 line observation compared to past spaceborne microwave instruments. The non-sun-synchronous orbit of the ISS allowed us to observe O3 at various local times. We assessed the quality of the vertical profiles of O3 in the 100–0.001 hPa (~ 16–90 km) region for the SMILES NICT Level 2 product version 2.1.5. The evaluation is based on four components: error analysis; internal comparisons of observations targeting three different instrumental setups for the same O3 625.371 GHz transition; internal comparisons of two different retrieval algorithms; and external comparisons for various local times with ozonesonde, satellite and balloon observations (ENVISAT/MIPAS, SCISAT/ACE-FTS, Odin/OSIRIS, Odin/SMR, Aura/MLS, TELIS). SMILES O3 data have an estimated absolute accuracy of better than 0.3 ppmv (3%) with a vertical resolution of 3–4 km over the 60 to 8 hPa range. The random error for a single measurement is better than the estimated systematic error, being less than 1, 2, and 7%, in the 40–1, 80–0.1, and 100–0.004 hPa pressure regions, respectively. SMILES O3 abundance was 10–20% lower than all other satellite measurements at 8–0.1 hPa due to an error arising from uncertainties of the tangent point information and the gain calibration for the intensity of the spectrum. SMILES O3 from observation frequency Band-B had better accuracy than that from Band-A. A two month period is required to accumulate measurements covering 24 h in local time of O3 profile. However such a dataset can also contain variation due to dynamical, seasonal, and latitudinal effects.

In this paper frequency diversity as a recovery technique against the rainfall attenuation occurred between satellites to earth links is concerned. The target is to improve the communication capacity of a satellite with the simultaneous use of Ku, Ka-band and millimeter-wave frequencies (40 GHz).

Chlorine monoxide (ClO) is the key species for anthropogenic ozone losses in the middle atmosphere. We observed ClO diurnal variations using the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) on the International Space Station, which has a non-sun-synchronous orbit. This includes the first global observations of the ClO diurnal variation from the stratosphere up to the mesosphere. The observation of mesospheric ClO was possible due to 10–20 times better signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the spectra than those of past or ongoing microwave/submillimeter-wave limb-emission sounders. We performed a quantitative error analysis for the strato- and mesospheric ClO from the Level-2 research (L2r) product version 2.1.5 taking into account all possible contributions of errors, i.e. errors due to spectrum noise, smoothing, and uncertainties in radiative transfer model and instrument functions. The SMILES L2r v2.1.5 ClO data are useful over the range from 0.01 and 100 hPa with a total error estimate of 10–30 pptv (about 10%) with averaging 100 profiles. The SMILES ClO vertical resolution is 3–5 km and 5–8 km for the stratosphere and mesosphere, respectively. The SMILES observations reproduced the diurnal variation of stratospheric ClO, with peak values at midday, observed previously by the Microwave Limb Sounder on the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS/MLS). Mesospheric ClO demonstrated an opposite diurnal behavior, with nighttime values being larger than daytime values. A ClO enhancement of about 100 pptv was observed at 0.02 to 0.01 hPa (about 70–80 km) for 50° N–65° N from January–February 2010. The performance of SMILES ClO observations opens up new opportunities to investigate ClO up to the mesopause.

In this paper, we have shown two-year-long measurement results of rain attenuation for four geostationary satellite links differing in their azimuthal angles to show the effects of orbital diversity. The orbital diversity gain is found to increase linearly a a function of the angular separation of two satellites for cumulative probabilities less than 0.01 % while the increase of the diversity gain is not appreciable for cumulative probabilities higher than 0.05 %. This indicates that we can achieve the orbital diversity gain higher than 2 dB for heavy rains for which the cumulative probability is lower than 0.01 % when we take the azimuthal separation of two satellites wider than about 50°.

The Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) was launched in September 2009 and has successfully observed the stratosphere for half a year. Before launch we measured the receiver gain nonlinearity. The gain compression of the SMILES receiver is estimated to be 2.6 to 4.3% from the measurement. The nonlinearity correction is applied to the observed data in space. Data are satisfactory corrected in the stratosphere but not in the higher altitude. The reason of the unsuccessful correction is discussed and attributed to our overestimation of the broadband nonlinearity.

Spatial correlation characteristics of rainfall are crucial in predicting rain attenuation statistics and various diversity characteristics for wireless communication links operating at frequencies above 10 GHz. In this paper, we propose a method for estimating the spatial correlation coefficient of rainfall intensity from the ground rainfall intensity data measured by a satellite-borne precipitation radar and a ground-based rain-gauge. By applying this method to the data measured by the Precipitation Radar of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission satellite and those of ground-based rain-gauges provided by Japan Meteorological Agency, the estimated spatial correlation characteristics for Kanto region around Tokyo are found to be consistent with those reported in literatures. In addition, the result revealed that the spatial correlation characteristics showed regional dependence in central and western Japan. dependence.

This paper describes the algorithms of the level-2 research (L2r) processing chain developed for the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES). The chain has been developed in parallel to the operational chain for conducting researches on calibration and retrieval algorithms. L2r chain products are available to the scientific community. The objective of version 2 is the retrieval of the vertical distribution of trace gases in the altitude range of 18–90 km. A theoretical error analysis is conducted to estimate the retrieval feasibility of key parameters of the processing: line-of-sight elevation tangent altitudes (or angles), temperature and ozone profiles. While pointing information is often retrieved from molecular oxygen lines, there is no oxygen line in the SMILES spectra, so the strong ozone line at 625.371 GHz has been chosen. The pointing parameters and the ozone profiles are retrieved from the line wings which are measured with high signal to noise ratio, whereas the temperature profile is retrieved from the optically thick line center. The main systematic component of the retrieval error was found to be the neglect of the non-linearity of the radiometric gain in the calibration procedure. This causes a temperature retrieval error of 5–10 K. Because of these large temperature errors, it is not possible to construct a reliable hydrostatic pressure profile. However, as a consequence of the retrieval of pointing parameters, pressure induced errors are significantly reduced if the retrieved trace gas profiles are represented on pressure levels instead of geometric altitude levels. Further, various setups of trace gas retrievals have been tested. The error analysis for the retrieved HOCl profile demonstrates that best results for inverting weak lines can be obtained by using narrow spectral windows.

This paper describes the algorithms of the level2 research (L2r) processing chain developed for the Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES). The chain has been developed in parallel to the operational chain for conducting researches on calibration and retrieval algorithms. L2r chain products are available to the scientific community. The objective of version 2 is the retrieval of the vertical distribution of trace gases in the altitude range of 18–90 km. A theoretical error analysis is conducted to estimate the retrieval feasibility of key parameters of the processing: line-of-sight elevation tangent altitudes (or angles), temperature and ozone profiles. While pointing information is often retrieved from molecular oxygen lines, there is no oxygen line in the SMILES spectra, so the strong ozone line at 625.371 GHz has been chosen. The pointing parameters and the ozone profiles are retrieved from the line wings which are measured with high signal to noise ratio, whereas the temperature profile is retrieved from the optically thick line center. The main systematic component of the retrieval error was found to be the neglect of the non-linearity of the radiometric gain in the calibration procedure. This causes a temperature retrieval error of 5–10 K. Because of these large temperature errors, it is not possible to construct a reliable hydrostatic pressure profile. However, as a consequence of Correspondence to: P. Baron (baron@nict.go.jp) the retrieval of pointing parameters, pressure induced errors are significantly reduced if the retrieved trace gas profiles are represented on pressure levels instead of geometric altitude levels. Further, various setups of trace gas retrievals have been tested. The error analysis for the retrieved HOCl profile demonstrates that best results for inverting weak lines can be obtained by using narrow spectral windows.

Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES) has been operated on orbit since late September 2009. The on-orbit performance of the SMILES submillimeter receiver satisfied the specifications and demonstrated a high capability of superconducting technology for atmospheric science by providing an invaluable low-noise atmospheric limb-emission spectral data in 640-GHz band. The accuracy of the limb spectral data are going to be improved by radiometric calibration based on the instrumental knowledge measured on the ground and measurements on orbit. The observation by SMILES was unfortunately halted because of a failure of the submillimeter-wave local oscillator on 21 April 2010.

The Superconducting Submillimeter-Wave Limb-Emission Sounder (SMILES), which was developed jointly by JAXA and NICT, has been successfully launched and attached to the Japanese Experiment Module (JEM) on the International Space Station (ISS). It has been doing observations in the Earth's atmosphere since October 12, 2009 with the aid of 4-K mechanical cooler and superconductive mixer for the submillimeter limb-emission sounding.The high sensitivity measurement on weak submillimeter waves emitted from minor species can be performed on the basis of a receiver using superconductor-insulator-superconductor (SIS) mixers under the cryogenic conditions that can be achieved by a compact mechanical cooler down to 4.5 K. The cryostat with a Joule-Thomson circuit and a two-stage Stirling refrigerator has been developed and equipped for the atmospheric observation for the first time from space.

In order to block peritoneal metastasis of pancreatic cancer cells, we have attempted to block the signal transduction pathway involving hyaluronan (HA), Src, phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K) and Akt. We examined the effects of Src, PI3K and Akt inhibitors on pancreatic cancer cell motility, invasion and metastasis. The pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990, known to cause peritoneal metastasis efficiently in nude mice, was used in this study. SW1990 cells were stimulated by HA to induce Akt phosphorylation. Then, the inhibitory effects of PI3K and Src kinase inhibitors were examined. Cell motility and cell migration assays were adopted to assess the cancer cell motility and its migration capability. We also examined the therapeutic efficacies of PI3K inhibitor wortmannin on peritoneal metastasis of SW1990 cells in the nude mouse model. Stimulation of SW1990 cells by HA markedly induced the Src‐PI3K‐Akt signaling, thus enhancing cancer cell motility and its migration. Significantly, we found that wortmannin could exert marked inhibition of the peritoneal metastasis of SW1990 in nude mice in vivo. These findings indicate that the PI3K‐Akt signaling pathway plays an essential role in peritoneal metastasis and PI3K inhibitors such as wortmannin can be novel modalities to prevent peritoneal metastasis of invasive cancers such as pancreatic cancer. (Cancer Sci 2009; 100: 770–777)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are characterized by remarkable variability in their differentiation potential, but most of these lesions do not display convincing smooth muscle or neuronal differentiation. Here we report the case of a 65-year-old woman who underwent a perfect resection of a large submucosal tumor that displayed extragastric growth. The specimen was revealed to be an elastic soft tumor, 18 x 25 x 11 cm in size. Histologically, the tumor consisted of spindle-shaped cells, with a mitotic rate of 12 per 10 high-power fields. Immunohistochemically, the tumor showed positive staining for CD34 and c-kit but negative staining for alpha-smooth muscle actin, Desmin, and s-100 protein. From these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as an uncommitted type of GIST with high-grade malignancy. This case needs careful and long-term follow-up to monitor for signs of local recurrence or distant metastasis.

Cetuximab, a chimeric monoclonal antibody to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), has been proved to have clinically significant antitumor activity against advanced colorectal cancers, but its therapeutic activity for gastric cancers remains unclear. In the present study, we investigated the antitumor effect and action mechanism of cetuximab using EGFR high‐expressing (MKN‐28) and EGFR low‐expressing (GLM‐1) gastric cancer cell lines without gene amplification. Cetuximab showed neither significant growth inhibition nor induction of apoptosis in either cell line in vitro , and only slightly inhibited ligand‐induced phosphorylation of protein kinase B and extracellular signal‐regulated kinase in MKN‐28 cells. In contrast, cetuximab significantly inhibited subcutaneous and intraperitoneal tumor growth of MKN‐28 cells, but not GLM‐1 cells, in nude mice. This antitumor activity was significantly enhanced and diminished in nude mice by treatment with interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) and antiasialo GM1 antibody, which can expand and deplete natural killer (NK) cells, respectively. Antibody‐dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) of cetuximab, as measured by 51 Cr release assay, was significantly higher in MKN‐28 than in GLM‐1 cells. This ADCC activity was enhanced by IL‐2 and reduced by heat‐aggregate of human immunoglobulin G, an inhibitor for FcR‐III of NK cells. These results suggest that cetuximab in combination with IL‐2 shows significant antitumor activity against EGFR high‐expressing gastric cancer mainly through NK cell‐mediated ADCC. Combination therapy with cetuximab and IL‐2 would thus offer a new potential therapeutic approach for a subset of EGFR‐overexpressing gastric cancers. ( Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1471–1478)