Photon correlation in GaAs self-assembled quantum dots

We report on photon coincidence measurement in a single GaAs self-assembled quantum dot (QD) using a pulsed excitation light source. At low excitation, when a neutral exciton line was present in the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum, we observed nearly perfect single photon emission from an isolated QD at 670 nm wavelength. For higher excitation, multiple PL lines appeared on the spectra, reflecting the formation of exciton complexes. Cross-correlation functions between these lines showed either bunching or antibunching behavior, depending on whether the relevant emission was from a biexciton cascade or a charged exciton recombination.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Association of paraoxonase 1 gene polymorphism with Intima-Media Thickness (IMT) of the carotid arteries in japanese type 2 diabetic patients

Purpose: We investigated the association between paraoxonase 1 (PON1)-192 genotypes and intimamedia thickness (IMT) of carotid arteries in diabetic patients. Methods: One hundred and fifty-five Japanese type 2 diabetic patients aged from 40 to 79 years were enrolled in this study. Genotypes of the patients were determined using the PCR-RFLP method. The IMT of carotid arteries of the subjects was measured by ultrasound imaging. Results: The PON1 genotypes frequencies were as follows: 18QQ (0.116), 70QR (0.452) and 67RR (0.432). IMT values of the RR group were significantly greater (1.08±0.41 mm, n=67) than those of the Q group, which consisted of patients carrying one or two Q alleles (0.95±0.27 mm, n=88, P=0.023). There were no significant difference in the clinical characteristics between the two groups. Conclusion: The results indicate that the PON1-192RR genotype is associated with intima media thickening of the carotid arteries in diabetic patients

Cytokine biomarkers to predict antitumor responses to nivolumab suggested in a phase 2 study for advanced melanoma

Promising antitumor activities of nivolumab, a fully humanized IgG4 inhibitor antibody against the programmed death-1 protein, were suggested in previous phase 1 studies. The present phase 2, single-arm study (JAPIC-CTI #111681) evaluated the antitumor activities of nivolumab and explored its predictive correlates in advanced melanoma patients at 11 sites in Japan. Intravenous nivolumab 2 mg/kg was given repeatedly at 3-week intervals to 35 of 37 patients enrolled from December 2011 to May 2012 until they experienced unacceptable toxicity, disease progression, or complete response. Primary endpoint was objective response rate. Serum levels of immune modulators were assessed at multiple time points. As of 21 October 2014, median response duration, median progression-free survival, and median overall survival were 463 days, 169 days, and 18.0 months, respectively. The overall response rate and 1- and 2-year survival rates were 28.6%, 54.3%, and 42.9%, respectively. Thirteen patients remained alive at the end of the observation period and no deaths were drug related. Grade 3–4 drug-related adverse events were observed in 31.4% of patients. Pretreatment serum interferon-γ, and interleukin-6 and -10 levels were significantly higher in the patients with objective tumor responses than in those with tumor progression. In conclusion, giving repeated i.v. nivolumab had potent and durable antitumor effects and a manageable safety profile in advanced melanoma patients, strongly suggesting the usefulness of nivolumab for advanced melanoma and the usefulness of pretreatment serum cytokine profiles as correlates for predicting treatment efficacy

<原著>神経外膜を利用した神経再建方法 : 神経断端の大きさが異なる場合の神経修復

We report a new method of nerve Reconstruction, wrap-around neurorrhaphy, in which the funicular suture site is wrapped with the epineurium of the larger stump. The specific applications of this procedure in brachial plexus reconstruction are described and the clinical results presented. The method was applied in intercostal nerve transfer to the musculocutaneous nerve in 21 patients and in 12 patients with axillary nerve injury who underwent reconstruction with autografts using wrap-around neurorrhaphy. Rigid fixation of the neurorrhaphy site could be obtained using this method, and the clinical results were satisfactory.神経再建にあたって, その縫合方法には神経外膜縫合, 神経周膜縫合, 神経外膜・周膜縫合などがある. 実際には神経の種類・部位・状態などによって, その縫合方法を変えているのが現状である. 神経外膜を温存・利用して, 神経再建した場所を包みこむ神経再建の方法(wrap-around neurorrhaphy)を記述し, その適用と臨床結果を発表したこの神経再建方法は, 神経周膜縫合部位の緊張を防止し, 神経束の整然とした包み込み(packing), そして強固な神経連結を目的とする. 神経断端の大きさが著しく異なる時の神経縫合, あるし、は関節可動威か大きくて縫合部位に緊張が推定される時の神経縫合には, この方法(大きい方の神経外膜で縫合部位を包む方法)の良い適用がある. この方法で神経を再建し, 術後2年以上経過している臨床症例の結果をまとめた. 症例は, 肋間神経移行術(互いの神経断端の大きさが著しく異なる例として)の21症例と, 版窟神経再建術(関節可動域が大きい場所での神経再建例として)の12症例である. 神経外膜を利用して, 神経縫合した場所を包みこむ神経再建方法は, このような症例にきわめて良好な適用かある

都市排雪の雪山を活用した米倉庫の冷却

A Low-temperature storage system for rice in which grain temperature is maintained below 15℃ during storage has been commercially used for brown rice storage in Japan. The low-temperature storage system requires an electric cooling system and electric energy to cool rice in summer. The objective of this study was to determine whether snow removed from streets can be used to replace the electric cooling system and electric energy for cooling a rice low-temperature storehouse. About 27% of the electric energy for cooling the rice storehouse could be replaced by using snow piles removed from downtown streets. The quality of rice stored in the storehouse was preserved at a level almost similar to that of freshly harvested rice. The results of this study indicate that a snow pile can be utilized for cooling a rice storehouse as a high-quality rice storage system without electric energy consumption