Cavity optomechanical mass sensor in water with sub-femtogram resolution

Sub-femtogram resolution of an in-liquid cavity optomechanical mass sensor based on the twin-microbottle glass resonator is demonstrated. An evaluation of the frequency stability using an optomechanical phase-locked loop reveals that this cavity optomechanical sensor has the highest mass resolution of $(7.0\times2.0)\times 10^{-16}$ g in water, which is four orders of magnitude better than that in our first-generation setup [Sci. Adv. 8, eabq2502 (2022)]. This highly sensitive mass sensor provides a free-access optomechanical probe in liquid and could thus be extended to a wide variety of in-situ chemical and biological metrology applications

Specific Heats of Fe-Ni (fcc) Alloys at High Temperature

Specific heats at constant pressure, C_p, of Fe-Ni (fcc) alloys have been measured a temperatures 300～1000 K. For alloys containing more than 50%Ni, the C_p-T curve shows a sharp λ-type peak at ferromagnetic Curie temperature. For the alloys less in concentration of nickel, however, only a dull peak is observed. The C_p-T curve is analyzed using the values of thermal expansion coefficient and of compressibility measured on the same conditions, separating the magnetic contribution from total specific heats

Cavity optomechanical liquid level meter using a twin-microbottle resonator

Cavity optomechanical devices can be made to have good compatibility with optical fiber technology by utilizing fiber-based waveguides and cavities and can be used in high-performance optical sensor applications. Such optomechanical microsensors have a great potential for exploring the properties of liquids, such as density, viscosity, and masses of included nanoparticles. However, as yet, there is no cavity optomechanical architecture that can be used to sense the liquid's shape, e.g., liquid level. In this paper, we report a demonstration of a liquid-level meter using a twin-microbottle resonator that can make measurements at arbitrary positions and depths in the liquid. The twin-microbottle resonator has a maximum diameter of 68 $\mu$m and length of 800 $\mu$m. By immersing one part of it in water and keeping the other part in air, the mechanical radial breathing mode can be read out sensitively while maintaining a high optical quality factor of the optical whispering gallery mode regardless of the water immersion. This high mechanical displacement sensitivity provides a frequency resolution that is high enough to measure the mechanical frequency shift due to the water immersion and resolves the water level to 2.6$\pm$0.9 pm. This unique liquid-level meter based on a highly sensitive cavity optomechanical setup can be used to detect tiny fluctuations of various air-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces

Protective Effects of Bacterial Immunostimulants, OK-432 and LC 9018 on Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection in Tumor-Bearing Mice

Survival rates among sarcoma-180 bearing mice against Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection were fewer than those among normal mice. However, the mortality of tumorbearing mice against the infection was reduced in case of administration of bacterial immunostimulants such as OK-432 and LC 9018

Suppressive activity of macrolide antibiotics on nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide stimulation in mice.

BACKGROUND: Low-dose and long-term administration of macrolide antibiotics into patients with chronic airway inflammatory diseases could favorably modify their clinical conditions. However, the therapeutic mode of action of macrolides is not well understood. Free oxygen radicals, including nitric oxide (NO), are well recognized as the important final effector molecules in the development and the maintenance of inflammatory diseases. PURPOSE: The influence of macrolide antibiotics on NO generation was examined in vivo. METHODS: Male ICR mice, 5 weeks of age, were orally administered with either roxithromycin, clarithromycin, azithromycin or josamycin once a day for 2-4 weeks. The mice were then injected intraperitoneally with 5.0 mg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the plasma NO level was examined 6 h later. RESULTS: Although pre-treatment of mice with macrolide antibiotics for 2 weeks scarcely affected NO generation by LPS injection, the administration of macrolide antibiotics, except for josamycin, for 4 weeks significantly inhibited LPS-induced NO generation. The data in the present study also showed that pre-treatment of mice with macrolide antibiotics for 4 weeks significantly suppresses not only production of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, but also inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expressions, which are enhanced by LPS injection. CONCLUSION: These results strongly suggest that suppressive activity of macrolide antibiotics on NO generation in response to LPS stimulation in vivo may, in part, account for the clinical efficacy of macrolides on chronic inflammatory diseases

Questionnaire survey on the continuity of home oxygen therapy after a disaster with power outages

AbstractBackgroundAfter the Great East Japan Earthquake, oxygen-dependent patients in areas experiencing power outages could not continue home oxygen therapy (HOT) without oxygen cylinders. The purpose of this study was to examine use of oxygen cylinders in areas experiencing power outages and the effects of HOT interruption on patients' health.MethodsQuestionnaires were mailed to 1106 oxygen-dependent patients and HOT-prescribing physicians in Akita, near the disaster-stricken area. We investigated patients' actions when unable to use an oxygen concentrator and classified the patients based on oxygen cylinder use. Patients who experienced an interruption of or reduction in oxygen flow rate by their own judgment were assigned to the “interruption” and “reduction” groups, respectively; those who maintained their usual flow rate were assigned to the “continuation” group. Differences were tested using analysis of variance and the χ2 tests.ResultsIn total, 599 patients responded to the questionnaire. Oxygen cylinders were supplied to 574 patients (95.8%) before their oxygen cylinders were depleted. Comparison of the continuation (n=356), reduction (n=64), and interruption (n=154) groups showed significant differences in family structure (p=0.004), underlying disease (p=0.014), oxygen flow rate (p<0.001), situation regarding use (p<0.001), knowledge of HOT (p<0.001), and anxiety about oxygen supply (p<0.001). There were no differences in changes in physical condition.ConclusionsMost patients could receive oxygen cylinders after the disaster. Some patients discontinued their usual oxygen therapy, but their overall health status was not affected

Bilateral Upper Arm Granulomas Induced by Leuprorelin Acetate Injection Mimicking Malignant Soft Tissue Tumors: A Case Report

Leuprorelin acetate is a common anticancer medication used for prostate cancer treatment. One of the local adverse reactions after leuprorelin injection is the development of reactive granulomas, typically presenting as subcutaneous nodules. In this case report, we describe a 73-year-old patient with prostate cancer who developed unusually large sized intramuscular reactive granulomas, which mimicked malignant soft tissue tumors. The patient, who had been receiving leuprorelin acetate treatment for the past 12 months, noticed painful masses in both upper arms. Based on the findings of magnetic resonance imaging and fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography, a diagnosis of malignant soft tissue tumor was strongly suggested. However, further investigation through needle biopsy ultimately led us to the final diagnosis of reactive granuloma. The masses spontaneously resolved after discontinuation of leuprorelin injection. While reactive granulomas after leuprorelin injections are not rare, intramuscular cases are relatively uncommon. Despite using imaging studies as a rational initial approach in the diagnostic process, as we did in our case, their results turned out to be indistinguishable from those of malignant soft tissue tumors, thus highlighting the importance of pathological examination in confirming diagnosis, especially when a patient presents with atypical clinical manifestations