EVALUATION OF ELBOW AND FOREARM MOTION BETWEEN SIDEARM AND OVERHAND PITCHING

This study is to analyze the differences in kinematics, electromyography (EMG) and ultrasonography between two types of pitchers. We intend to observe and simulate the muscles around glenohumeral and elbow joints in different pitching motions and hope to discover the connections and differences in between. 12 pitchers from the top level were recruited. Larger elbow flexion was found in sidearm pitchers during the acceleration phase. Decrease of the distance of nerve to medial epicondyle was also found as the elbow moved to a more flexed position. More anterior translation of the ulnar nerve might occur during acceleration phase. Slightly lower flexor carpi radialis (FCR) activity was displayed in sidearm pitchers, showing that FCR might play a less crucial role in protecting medial elbow by providing less varus torque

Controlling Frequency-Domain Hong-Ou-Mandel Interference via Electromagnetically Induced Transparency

Hong-Ou-Mandel (HOM) interference is a compelling quantum phenomenon that demonstrates the nonclassical nature of single photons. Herein, we investigate an electromagnetically induced transparency-based double-Lambda four-wave mixing system from the perspective of quantized light fields. The system can be used to realize efficient HOM interference in the frequency domain. By using the reduced density operator theory, we demonstrate that, although the double-Lambda medium does not exhibit phase-dependent properties for the closed-loop case of two incident single photons, frequency-domain HOM two-photon interference occurs. For experimentally achievable optical depth conditions, our theory indicates that this double-Lambda scheme can perform high-fidelity Hadamard gate operations on frequency-encoded single-photon qubits, and thereby generate HOM two-photon NOON states with a fidelity greater than 0.99. Furthermore, we demonstrate that this scheme can be used to realize arbitrary single-qubit gates and two-qubit SWAP gates by simply controlling the laser detuning and phase, exhibiting its multifunctional properties and providing a new route to scalable optical quantum computing.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

The modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α/plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 axis in human gingival fibroblasts stimulated with cyclosporine A

Background/PurposeThe prominent side effect of the immunosuppressive drug cyclosporine A (CsA) is gingival overgrowth. Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α regulates a wide variety of profibrogenic genes, which are closely associated with tissue fibrosis. The aim of this study was to compare HIF-1α expression in normal gingival tissues and CsA-induced gingival overgrowth specimens and further explore the potential mechanisms that may lead to induction of HIF-1α expression.MethodsFifteen CsA-induced gingival overgrowth specimens and five normal gingival tissues were examined by immunohistochemistry. Western blot was used to investigate the effects of CsA on the expression of HIF-1α in cultured human gingival fibroblasts. The effects of CsA on plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 expression were evaluated in environmental hypoxia.ResultsHIF-1α staining in gingival tissue was stronger in CsA-induced gingival overgrowth group than normal gingival group (p < 0.05). The expression of HIF-1α was significantly higher in CsA-induced gingival overgrowth specimens with higher levels of inflammatory infiltrates (p = 0.041). CsA was found to upregulate HIF-1α protein in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Hypoxia increased CsA-induced PAI-1 protein expression than normoxic conditions (p < 0.05).ConclusionThese results suggest that HIF-1α expression is significantly upregulated in CsA-induced gingival overgrowth specimens. The activation of HIF-1α may promote fibrogenesis by an increase of PAI-1 expression and a subsequent elevation of extracellular matrix production in gingival tissues

Invited; CMOS inverters and circuits based on oxide thin-film transistors

Thin-film transistors (TFTs) based on oxide semiconductors have the advantage of promising carrier mobilities and good switching characteristics, and they can be fabricated by low-temperature and scalable processes. Complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) technology employing oxide TFTs shows great potential in enabling flexible electronics with versatile functionalities and low-static power consumptions. Here flexible CMOS inverters comprising p-type SnO TFTs and n-type ZnO or IGZO TFTs integrated in three different configurations were implemented and compared, as shown in Fig. 1. First, the planar inverter comprising bottom-gated SnO and ZnO TFTs with a geometric aspect ratio, (W/L)p / (W/L)n, of 5 had a static voltage gain of ~ 10 V/V at a supplied voltage (VDD) of 10 V [1]. However, the gain decreased as the inverter was subjected to a mechanical tensile strain, which may be ascribed to the degradation of TFT mobilities. Please click Download on the upper right corner to see the full abstract

Klebsiella pneumoniae Bacteremia and Capsular Serotypes, Taiwan

Capsular serotypes of 225 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates in Taiwan were identified by using PCR. Patients infected with K1 serotypes (41 isolates) had increased community-onset bacteremia, more nonfatal diseases and liver abscesses, lower Pittsburgh bacteremia scores and mortality rates, and fewer urinary tract infections than patients infected with non–K1/K2 serotypes (147 isolates)

Association of ORAI1 Haplotypes with the Risk of HLA-B27 Positive Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammation of the sacroiliac joints, spine and peripheral joints. The aetiology of ankylosing spondylitis is still unclear. Previous studies have indicated that genetics factors such as human leukocyte antigen HLA-B27 associates to AS susceptibility. We carried out a case-control study to determine whether the genetic polymorphisms of ORAI1 gene, a major component of store-operated calcium channels that involved the regulation of immune system, is a susceptibility factor to AS in a Taiwanese population. We enrolled 361 AS patients fulfilled the modified New York criteria and 379 controls from community. Five tagging single nucleotides polymorphisms (tSNPs) at ORAI1 were selected from the data of Han Chinese population in HapMap project. Clinical statuses of AS were assessed by the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Global Index (BAS-G). Our results indicated that subjects carrying the minor allele homozygote (CC) of the promoter SNP rs12313273 or TT homozygote of the SNP rs7135617 had an increased risk of HLA-B27 positive AS. The minor allele C of 3′UTR SNP rs712853 exerted a protective effect to HLA-B27 positive AS. Furthermore, the rs12313273/rs7135617 pairwise allele analysis found that C-G (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.27, 2.25; p = 0.0003) and T-T (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.36, 2.27; p<0.0001) haplotypes had a significantly association with the risk of HLA-B27-positive AS in comparison with the T-G carriers. This is the first study that indicate haplotypes of ORAI1 (rs12313273 and rs7135617) are associated with the risk of HLA-B27 positive AS

Zebrafish Her8a Is Activated by Su(H)-Dependent Notch Signaling and Is Essential for the Inhibition of Neurogenesis

Understanding how diversity of neural cells is generated is one of the main tasks of developmental biology. The Hairy/E(spl) family members are potential targets of Notch signaling, which has been shown to be fundamental to neural cell maintenance, cell fate decisions, and compartment boundary formation. However, their response to Notch signaling and their roles in neurogenesis are still not fully understood. In the present study, we isolated a zebrafish homologue of hairy/E(spl), her8a, and showed this gene is specifically expressed in the developing nervous system. her8a is positively regulated by Su(H)-dependent Notch signaling as revealed by a Notch-defective mutant and injection of variants of the Notch intracellular regulator, Su(H). Morpholino knockdown of Her8a resulted in upregulation of proneural and post-mitotic neuronal markers, indicating that Her8a is essential for the inhibition of neurogenesis. In addition, markers for glial precursors and mature glial cells were down-regulated in Her8a morphants, suggesting Her8a is required for gliogenesis. The role of Her8a and its response to Notch signaling is thus similar to mammalian HES1, however this is the converse of what is seen for the more closely related mammalian family member, HES6. This study not only provides further understanding of how the fundamental signaling pathway, Notch signaling, and its downstream genes mediate neural development and differentiation, but also reveals evolutionary diversity in the role of H/E(spl) genes