Optical Measurements of High-Density Helicon Plasma by Using a High-Speed Camera and Monochromators * )

Electric propulsion is an established high-efficiency method in deep space explorers. However, most of the applied methods feature electrodes in direct contact with the plasma, thus its lifetime is limited by the electrodes' erosion. We developed electrodeless electric propulsion systems in order to overcome this problem, and performed optical measurements to estimate the high-density helicon plasma performance of the systems. The electron and neutral particle density profiles were measured by a high-speed camera, and the velocity of the singly-charged Ar ions was determined by a high-resolution monochromator. Additionally, a preliminary experiment of a spectroscopic method using an intensity ratio based on a collisional radiative model with a CCD monochromator was performed. The plasma parameters were in good agreement with the results obtained by an electrostatic probe, and the non-invasive optical measurements presented here can constitute an effective tool for evaluating an electric propulsion system

Study of Thin Iron Films for Polarization Analysis of Ultracold Neutrons

The TUCAN (TRIUMF Ultra-Cold Advanced Neutron) collaboration aims to search for the neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) with unprecedented precision. One of the essential elements for the nEDM measurement is a polarization analyzer of ultracold neutrons (UCNs), whose main component is a magnetized thin iron film. Several thin iron films were deposited on aluminum and silicon ubstrates and were characterized by vibrating sample magnetometry and cold-neutron reflectometry. A magnetic field required to saturate the iron film is $\sim$12 kA/m for those on the aluminum substrates and 6.4 kA/m for the silicon substrates. The magnetic potential of the iron films on the Si substrate was estimated to be 2 T by the neutron reflectometry, which is sufficient performance for an UCN polarization analyzer of the nEDM measurement.Comment: Proceedings of the 24th International Spin Symposium (SPIN 2021), 18-22 October 2021, Matsue, Japa

The Precision nEDM Measurement with UltraCold Neutrons at TRIUMF

The TRIUMF Ultra-Cold Advanced Neutron (TUCAN) collaboration aims at a precision neutron electric dipole moment (nEDM) measurement with an uncertainty of $10^{-27}\,e\cdot\mathrm{cm}$, which is an order-of-magnitude better than the current nEDM upper limit and enables us to test Supersymmetry. To achieve this precision, we are developing a new high-intensity ultracold neutron (UCN) source using super-thermal UCN production in superfluid helium (He-II) and a nEDM spectrometer. The current development status of them is reported in this article.Comment: Proceedings of the 24th International Spin Symposium (SPIN 2021), 18-22 October 2021, Matsue, Japa

Met Is the Most Frequently Amplified Gene in Endometriosis-Associated Ovarian Clear Cell Adenocarcinoma and Correlates with Worsened Prognosis

<div><p>Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary (OCC) is a chemo-resistant tumor with a relatively poor prognosis and is frequently associated with endometriosis. Although it is assumed that oxidative stress plays some role in the malignant transformation of this tumor, the characteristic molecular events leading to carcinogenesis remain unknown. In this study, an array-based comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis revealed Met gene amplification in 4/13 OCC primary tumors and 2/8 OCC cell lines. Amplification of the AKT2 gene, which is a downstream component of the Met/PI3K signaling pathway, was also observed in 5/21 samples by array-based CGH analysis. In one patient, both the Met and AKT2 genes were amplified. These findings were confirmed using fluorescence <i>in situ</i> hybridization, real-time quantitative PCR, immunoblotting, and immunohistochemistry. In total, 73 OCC cases were evaluated using real-time quantitative PCR; 37.0% demonstrated Met gene amplification (>4 copies), and 8.2% had AKT2 amplification. Furthermore, stage 1 and 2 patients with Met gene amplification had significantly worse survival than patients without Met gene amplification (p<0.05). Met knockdown by shRNA resulted in reduced viability of OCC cells with Met amplification due to increased apoptosis and cellular senescence, suggesting that the Met signaling pathway plays an important role in OCC carcinogenesis. Thus, we believe that targeted inhibition of the Met pathway may be a promising treatment for OCC.</p> </div

Summary of the histological features and genomic changes in samples applied to the array-based comparative genomic hybridization.

<p>aCGH: array-based comparative genomic hybridization, qPCR: real-time quantitative PCR, nc: no change.</p

QPCR confirmation of Met and AKT2 amplification.

<p><b>A.</b> Copy number change analysis of Met in 13 ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma samples are shown. Four samples (cc1, cc2, cc8, cc13) had a Met/hTERT ratio greater than 1.5. <b>B.</b> Copy number change analysis of Met in 8 ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma cell lines are shown. Two cell lines (JHOC-5 and JHOC-8) had a Met/hTERT ratio greater than 1.5. <b>C.</b> Copy number change analysis of AKT2 in 13 ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma samples are shown. Three samples (cc5, cc11, cc13) had an AKT2/hTERT ratio greater than 1.5. <b>D.</b> The qPCR results for the copy number change analysis of AKT2 in 8 ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma cell lines are shown. Two cell lines (RMG-II and JHOC-8) had a Met/hTERT ratio greater than 1.5.</p

AKT1 and AKT2 expression in ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma.

<p><b>A.</b> Western blot analyses of protein expression using AKT antibodies in ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma cell lines. Various intensities are observed by immunoblotting with AKT1, AKT2, and pan-AKT phosphorylated antibodies (serine 473 phosphorylated-AKT). <b>B.</b> A qRT-PCR analysis revealed relatively higher expression of AKT2 compared to AKT1 at the mRNA level.</p