The First Very Long Baseline Interferometry Image of 44 GHz Methanol Maser with the KVN and VERA Array (KaVA)

We have carried out the first very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) imaging of 44 GHz class I methanol maser (7_{0}-6_{1}A^{+}) associated with a millimeter core MM2 in a massive star-forming region IRAS 18151-1208 with KaVA (KVN and VERA Array), which is a newly combined array of KVN (Korean VLBI Network) and VERA (VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry). We have succeeded in imaging compact maser features with a synthesized beam size of 2.7 milliarcseconds x 1.5 milliarcseconds (mas). These features are detected at a limited number of baselines within the length of shorter than approximately 650 km corresponding to 100 Mlambda in the uv-coverage. The central velocity and the velocity width of the 44 GHz methanol maser are consistent with those of the quiescent gas rather than the outflow traced by the SiO thermal line. The minimum component size among the maser features is ~ 5 mas x 2 mas, which corresponds to the linear size of ~ 15 AU x 6 AU assuming a distance of 3 kpc. The brightness temperatures of these features range from ~ 3.5 x 10^{8} to 1.0 x 10^{10} K, which are higher than estimated lower limit from a previous Very Large Array observation with the highest spatial resolution of ~ 50 mas. The 44 GHz class I methanol maser in IRAS 18151-1208 is found to be associated with the MM2 core, which is thought to be less evolved than another millimeter core MM1 associated with the 6.7 GHz class II methanol maser.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figure

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Most heat flux sensors have a large thickness of thermal resistance materials, and hence the sufficient temperature gradients along the thicknesses. They also require heat sinks and cooling methods to maintain the temperature gradients. In this work, we presents a small chip sized radiation heat flux sensor which is composed of two Pt-RTDs where one is gold-coated and the other is not. The gold film reflects radiation heat flux, so that the steady state temperature of the temperature sensor is different from that of the sensor without the gold film. This temperature difference can be correlated with radiation heat flux. Micro-fabricated Pt-RTDs showed an approximate TCR (Temperature Coefficient of Resistance; between 100 oC and 300 oC) of 2830 (??/??/oC). The sensors can be used up to 350 oC, and the heat flux of 3.5 kW/m2 with a convection heat transfer coefficient of 10 W/m2K at 50 oC. This heat flux sensor can be attached to smart clothes for firefighters and measure temperature as well as the radiation heat flux with a fast response time in a harsh environment

Outcomes of Peptide Vaccine GV1001 Treatment in a Murine Model of Acute Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is primarily caused by damage to cochlear hair cells, associated with synaptopathy. The novel cell-penetrating peptide GV1001, an antitumor agent, also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and is otoprotective in a murine model of kanamycin-induced ototoxicity. Here, we explored whether GV1001 attenuated NIHL, and the underlying mechanism at play. We established an NIHL model by exposing 4- to 6-week-old C57/BL6 mice to white noise at 120 dB SPL for 2 h, resulting in a significant permanent threshold shift (PTS). We then subcutaneously injected saline (control), GV1001, or dexamethasone immediately after cessation of PTS-noise exposure and evaluated the threshold shifts, structural damages to outer hair cells (OHCs), and ribbon synapses. We also verified whether GV1001 attenuates oxidative stress at the level of lipid peroxidation or protein nitration in OHCs 1 h after exposure to white noise at 120 dB SPL. GV1001-treated mice exhibited significantly less hearing threshold shifts over 2 weeks and preserved OHCs and ribbon synapses compared with controls. Similarly, dexamethasone-treated mice showed comparable protection against NIHL. Importantly, GV1001 markedly attenuated oxidative stress in OHCs. Our findings suggest that GV1001 may protect against NIHL by lowering oxidative stress and may serve as preventive or adjuvant treatment.Y

Outcomes of Peptide Vaccine GV1001 Treatment in a Murine Model of Acute Noise-Induced Hearing Loss

Noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is primarily caused by damage to cochlear hair cells, associated with synaptopathy. The novel cell-penetrating peptide GV1001, an antitumor agent, also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and is otoprotective in a murine model of kanamycin-induced ototoxicity. Here, we explored whether GV1001 attenuated NIHL, and the underlying mechanism at play. We established an NIHL model by exposing 4- to 6-week-old C57/BL6 mice to white noise at 120 dB SPL for 2 h, resulting in a significant permanent threshold shift (PTS). We then subcutaneously injected saline (control), GV1001, or dexamethasone immediately after cessation of PTS-noise exposure and evaluated the threshold shifts, structural damages to outer hair cells (OHCs), and ribbon synapses. We also verified whether GV1001 attenuates oxidative stress at the level of lipid peroxidation or protein nitration in OHCs 1 h after exposure to white noise at 120 dB SPL. GV1001-treated mice exhibited significantly less hearing threshold shifts over 2 weeks and preserved OHCs and ribbon synapses compared with controls. Similarly, dexamethasone-treated mice showed comparable protection against NIHL. Importantly, GV1001 markedly attenuated oxidative stress in OHCs. Our findings suggest that GV1001 may protect against NIHL by lowering oxidative stress and may serve as preventive or adjuvant treatment

Clinical efficacy of combined topical 0.05% cyclosporine A and 0.1% sodium hyaluronate in the dry eyes with meibomian gland dysfunction

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of combined topical 0.05% cyclosporine A (CsA; Restasis®, Allergan pharmaceuticals, USA) and 0.1% sodium hyaluronate treatment in dry eyes with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). METHODS: In a retrospective analysis, 53 patients (106 eyes) with MGD were enrolled and performed lid warm massage for 10min daily and be instilled preservative free sodium hyaluronate 0.1% eye drops 4 times daily. Patients were divided into subjects treated with topical 0.05% CsA and preservative free sodium hyaluronate vehicle (experimental group, n=74 eyes) and subjects treated with the preservative free sodium hyaluronate vehicle (control group, n=32 eyes). They were evaluated at baseline and 1, 2, and 3mo for subjective symptoms and objective signs including tear film break-up time (tBUT), Schirmer test, corneal staining (CS) score, lid margin telangiectasia (LMT), meibomian gland secretion (MGS), and conjunctival injection (CI). RESULTS: In the short-term treatment, the experimental group showed a statistically significant improvement in the ocular surface disease index (OSDI; P<0.001), tBUT (P=0.004), Schirmer test score (P=0.008) and LMT (P=0.021) by repeated measure ANOVA. Additionally, mean changes from baseline in OSDI (P<0.001), tBUT (P=0.001), Schirmer test score (P=0.029), CS score (P=0.047), LMT (P=0.002), CI (P=0.030) were improved better in the experimental group than in the control group at 3mo. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in MGS (P=0.67). CONCLUSION: In dry eyes with MGD, 0.05% CsA improves the tear film stability as well as subjective ocular discomfort, and is effective in controlling lid margin inflammation