Thermodynamics of Quantum Ultra-cold Neutron Gas under Gravity of The Earth

The stored ultra-cold neutrons have been developed. A high density ultra-cold neutron gas has been recently produced by using the nuclear spallation method. We investigate the thermodynamic properties of the quantum ultra-cold neutron gas in the Earth's gravitational field. We find that the quantum effects increase temperature dependence of the chemical potential and the internal energy in the low temperature region. The density distribution of quantum ultra-cold neutron gas is modified by the Earth's gravitational field.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, Submitted to Progress of Theoretical Physic

Gene Selection using a High-Dimensional Regression Model with Microarrays in Cancer Prognostic Studies

Mining of gene expression data to identify genes associated with patient survival is an ongoing problem in cancer prognostic studies using microarrays in order to use such genes to achieve more accurate prognoses. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (lasso) is often used for gene selection and parameter estimation in high-dimensional microarray data. The lasso shrinks some of the coefficients to zero, and the amount of shrinkage is determined by the tuning parameter, often determined by cross validation. The model determined by this cross validation contains many false positives whose coefficients are actually zero. We propose a method for estimating the false positive rate (FPR) for lasso estimates in a high-dimensional Cox model. We performed a simulation study to examine the precision of the FPR estimate by the proposed method. We applied the proposed method to real data and illustrated the identification of false positive genes

Chemical properties of surface waters in the limestone regions of western Japan: Evaluation of chemical conditions for the deposition of tufas

In order to understand the chemical conditions for the depositionof tufas, chemical properties of were investigated for the 201 surface waters collected from the limestone regions including newly discovered localities of tufas. The collected waters were categorized, according to the association with tufas, mainly into; category N (waters without tufa deposition), category T (waters depositing tufas), and category S (spring waters of tufa-depositing streams). These three categories clearly differ in Ca contents, equilibrium CO 2 partial pressure (PCO2), and saturation index for calcite (SIC); all of which are the most important chemical properties for the deposition of tufas. The waters of the category N are characterized by small Ca contents (mainly 15～35 ppm) and low PCO2(350～1,000 µatm) which indicate that they are basically flowing on a limestone substrate without an efficient CO2 uptake from soils. Their SIC never exceeds +0.5. The waters depositing tufas (category T) normally exhibitCa contents more than 45 ppm and PCO2 ranging 500～2,000 µatm. The waters of category S show comparable or slightly larger Ca contents than category T, however their PCO2 is considerably higher (than 2,000 µatm). Their raised values of Ca contents and PCO2 are ascribed to efficient CO2 uptake in a soil layer and subsequent dissolution of CaCO3. Furthermore, their SIC around 0.0 indicates that the waters dissolve CaCO3 until they reach the saturation in underground water systems. The large difference in PCO2 between categories T and S results from degassing of CO2 during flowing on the streams. The degassing increases pH and SIC of the waters. The SIC of category T mostly exceeds +0.5, that is probably the most important chemical condition for an efficient deposition of tufas. This study indicates that tufas are not very rare, but also that their distribution tends to be concentrated in a certain area, such as northwestern Okayama Prefecture. Local geological and hydrological conditions can be also important controls for deposition of tufas

On-chip constructive cell-network study (II): on-chip quasi-in vivo cardiac toxicity assay for ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation measurement using ring-shaped closed circuit microelectrode with lined-up cardiomyocyte cell network

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Backgrounds</p> <p>Conventional <it>in vitro </it>approach using human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) assay has been considered worldwide as the first screening assay for cardiac repolarization safety. However, it does not always oredict the potential QT prolongation risk or pro-arrhythmic risk correctly. For adaptable preclinical strategiesto evaluate global cardiac safety, an on-chip quasi-<it>in vivo </it>cardiac toxicity assay for lethal arrhythmia (ventricular tachyarrhythmia) measurement using ring-shaped closed circuit microelectrode chip has been developed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The ventricular electrocardiogram (ECG)-like field potential data, which includes both the repolarization and the conductance abnormality, was acquired from the self-convolutied extracellular field potentials (FPs) of a lined-up cardiomyocyte network on a circle-shaped microelectrode in an agarose microchamber. When Astemisol applied to the closed-loop cardiomyocyte network, self-convoluted FP profile of normal beating changed into an early afterdepolarization (EAD) like waveform, and then showed ventricular tachyarrhythmias and ventricular fibrilations (VT/Vf). QT-prolongation-like self-convoluted FP duration prolongation and its fluctuation increase was also observed according to the increase of Astemizole concentration.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results indicate that the convoluted FPs of the quasi<it>-in vivo </it>cell network assay includes both of the repolarization data and the conductance abnormality of cardiomyocyte networks has the strong potential to prediction lethal arrhythmia.</p

Inverted ductal papilloma arising from the buccal minor salivary gland: A case report and immunohistochemical study

AbstractOral inverted ductal papilloma is a rare, benign epithelial tumor that exhibits an endophytic growth pattern and is found almost exclusively in the minor salivary glands. We report on a case of inverted ductal papilloma in the buccal mucosa. We also performed an immunohistochemical study. The tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin and epithelial membrane antigen, while negative for calponin, S-100 protein, α-SMA, vimentin, and desmin. This result indicated that the lesion arises from the excretory duct near the oral mucosal surface but not the myoepithelial cells. In addition, Ki-67 labeling index of 3.96% indicated the low level of proliferation

The Role of Dorsal Raphe Serotonin Neurons in the Balance between Reward and Aversion

Background: Reward processing is fundamental for animals to survive and reproduce. Many studies have shown the importance of dorsal raphe nucleus (DRN) serotonin (5-HT) neurons in this process, but the strongly correlative link between the activity of DRN 5-HT neurons and rewarding/aversive potency is under debate. Our primary objective was to reveal this link using two different strategies to transduce DRN 5-HT neurons. Methods: For transduction of 5-HT neurons in wildtype mice, adeno-associated virus (AAV) bearing the mouse tryptophan hydroxylase 2 (TPH2) gene promoter was used. For transduction in Tph2-tTA transgenic mice, AAVs bearing the tTA-dependent TetO enhancer were used. To manipulate the activity of 5-HT neurons, optogenetic actuators (CheRiff, eArchT) were expressed by AAVs. For measurement of rewarding/aversive potency, we performed a nose-poke self-stimulation test and conditioned place preference (CPP) test. Results: We found that stimulation of DRN 5-HT neurons and their projections to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) increased the number of nose-pokes in self-stimulation test and CPP scores in both targeting methods. Concomitantly, CPP scores were decreased by inhibition of DRN 5-HT neurons and their projections to VTA. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that the activity of DRN 5-HT neurons projecting to the VTA is a key modulator of balance between reward and aversion

Unveiling charge dynamics of visible light absorbing oxysulfide for efficient overall water splitting

Oxysulfide semiconductor, Y2Ti2O5S2, has recently discovered its exciting potential for visible-light-induced overall water splitting, and therefore, imperatively requires the probing of unknown fundamental charge loss pathways to engineer the photoactivity enhancement. Herein, transient diffuse reflectance spectroscopy measurements are coupled with theoretical calculations to unveil the nanosecond to microsecond time range dynamics of the photogenerated charge carriers. In early nanosecond range, the pump-fluence-dependent decay dynamics of the absorption signal is originated from the bimolecular recombination of mobile charge carriers, in contrast, the power-law decay kinetics in late microsecond range is dominated by hole detrapping from exponential tail trap states of valence band. A well-calibrated theoretical model estimates various efficiency limiting material parameters like recombination rate constant, n-type doping density and tail-states parameters. Compared to metal oxides, longer effective carrier lifetime ~6 ns is demonstrated. Different design routes are proposed to realize efficiency beyond 10% for commercial solar-to-hydrogen production from oxysulfide photocatalysts

Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis of primary ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma

BACKGROUND: It remains unknown whether primary ocular adnexal extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) is a homogeneous entity, as there are few reports of the results of cytogenetic or molecular analyses of these tumors. METHODS: We performed interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis to detect translocations and aneuploidy in 34 cases of primary ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma, and reviewed the histopathological findings. Correlations between the results of FISH analysis, the histopathological features and the clinical data were also analyzed. RESULTS: Among the 34 cases, FISH analysis revealed t(14;18)(q32;q21) in one case, trisomy 3 in 21 cases (62%), and trisomy 18 in 16 cases (47%). The cases with trisomy 18 had significantly more prominent lymphoepithelial lesions (LELs) and less nodularity in the tumors. In regard to the clinical correlations, tumors with trisomy 18 were observed predominantly in females and younger patients; also, in the majority of the cases, the tumor was of conjunctival origin. All the cases with recurrence showed trisomy 18 in the tumor. CONCLUSION: Primary ocular adnexal MALT lymphoma is a significantly heterogeneous entity. Cases with trisomy 18 may have unique clinicopathological features