Application of precise neutron focusing mirrors for neutron reflectometry: latest results and future prospects

超精密中性子集束ミラーによる電極界面のナノ構造解析技術の実用化 --測定精度の劇的な向上に向けた大きなマイルストーン--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2020-10-28.Neutron reflectometry (NR) is a powerful tool for providing insight into the evolution of interfacial structures, for example via operando measurements for electrode–electrolyte interfaces, with a spatial resolution of nanometres. The time resolution of NR, which ranges from seconds to minutes depending on the reflection intensity, unfortunately remains low, particularly for small samples made of state-of-the-art materials even with the latest neutron reflectometers. To overcome this problem, a large-area focusing supermirror manufactured with ultra-precision machining has been employed to enhance the neutron flux at the sample, and a gain of approximately 100% in the neutron flux was achieved. Using this mirror, a reflectivity measurement was performed on a thin cathode film on an SrTiO3 substrate in contact with an electrolyte with a small area of 15 × 15 mm. The reflectivity data obtained with the focusing mirror were consistent with those without the mirror, but the acquisition time was shortened to half that of the original, which is an important milestone for rapid measurements with a limited reciprocal space. Furthermore, a method for further upgrades that will reveal the structural evolution with a wide reciprocal space is proposed, by applying this mirror for multi-incident-angle neutron reflectometry

Lipid-membrane-incorporated hydrophobic photochromic molecules prepared by the exchange method using cyclodextrins

It was found that the exchange method for the preparation of lipid-membrane-incorporated guest molecules was applicable not only to fullerenes but also to other hydrophobic molecules such as azobenzene and stilbene. Advantages of this method are that the long-term stability of lipid-membrane-incorporated azobenzene solution and the maximum ratio of [stilbene]/[lipid] were higher than those prepared by the classical method, which we call the ‘premixing method’. Photoisomerisations of these photochromic guest molecules in the lipid membranes maintained the morphology of liposomes.This file includes Electronic Supplementary Information.This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B) (Grant No. 25288037), a Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research (Grant Nos. 24655128 and 25650053) and a Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A) (Grant No. 24681028)

Spread of infection and treatment interruption among Japanese workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in treatment interruption for chronic diseases. The scale of COVID-19 in Japan has varied greatly in terms of the scale of infection and the speed of spread depending on the region. This study aimed to examine the relationship between local infection level and treatment interruption among Japanese workers.MethodsCross-sectional internet survey was conducted from December 22 to 26, 2020. Of 33,302 participants, 9,510 (5,392 males and 4,118 females) who responded that they required regular treatment were included in the analysis. The infection level in each participant's prefecture of residence was assessed based on the incidence rate (per 1,000 population) and the number of people infected. Age-sex and multivariate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) of regional infection levels associated with treatment interruption were estimated by multilevel logistic models, nested by prefecture of residence. The multivariate model was adjusted for sex, age, marital status, equivalent household income, educational level, occupation, self-rated health status and anxiety.ResultsThe ORs of treatment interruption for the lowest and highest levels of infection in the region were 1.32 [95 % confidence interval (CI) were 1.09–1.59] for the overall morbidity rate (per 1,000) and 1.34 (95 % CI 1.10–1.63) for the overall number of people infected. Higher local infection levels were linked to a greater number of workers experiencing treatment interruption.ConclusionsHigher local infection levels were linked to more workers experiencing treatment interruption. Our results suggest that apart from individual characteristics such as socioeconomic and health status, treatment interruption during the pandemic is also subject to contextual effects related to regional infection levels. Preventing community spread of COVID-19 may thus protect individuals from indirect effects of the pandemic, such as treatment interruption

A new cancer diagnostic system based on a CDK profiling technology

AbstractA series of molecular pathological investigations of the molecules that stimulate the cyclin dependent kinases (CDK1, 2, 4, and 6) have led to enormous accumulation of knowledge of the clinical significance of these molecules for cancer diagnosis. However, the molecules have yet to be applied to clinical cancer diagnosis, as there is no available technology for application of the knowledge in a clinical setting. We hypothesized that the direct measurement of CDK activities and expressions (CDK profiling) might produce clinically relevant values for the diagnosis. This study investigated the clinical relevance of CDK profiling in gastrointestinal carcinoma tissues by using originally developed expression and activity analysis methods. We have established novel methods and an apparatus for analyzing the expression and activities of the CDK molecules in lysate of tumor tissue in a clinical setting, and examined 30 surgically dissected gastrointestinal carcinomas and corresponding normal mucosal specimens. We demonstrate here that remarkably elevated CDK2 activity is evident in more than 70% of carcinoma tissues. Moreover, a G1-CDK activity profiling accurately mirrored the differences in proliferation between tumor and normal colonic tissues. Our results suggest that CDK profiling is a potent molecular–clinical approach to complement the conventional pathological diagnosis, and to further assist in the individualized medications

Correlation between musculoskeletal structure of the hand and primate locomotion: Morphometric and mechanical analysis in prehension using the cross- and triple-ratios

Biometric ratios of the relative length of the rays in the hand have been analyzed between primate species in the light of their hand function or phylogeny. However, how relative lengths among phalanges are mechanically linked to the grasping function of primates with different locomotor behaviors remains unclear. To clarify this, we calculated cross and triple-ratios, which are related to the torque distribution, and the torque generation mode at different joint angles using the lengths of the phalanges and metacarpal bones in 52 primates belonging to 25 species. The torque exerted on the finger joint and traction force of the flexor tendons necessary for a cylindrical grip and a suspensory hand posture were calculated using the moment arm of flexor tendons measured on magnetic resonance images, and were compared among\ua0Hylobates\ua0spp.,\ua0Ateles\ua0sp., and\ua0Papio hamadryas. Finally, the torques calculated from the model were validated by a mechanical study detecting the force exerted on the phalanx by pulling the digital flexor muscles during suspension in these three species. Canonical discriminant analysis of cross and triple-ratios classified primates almost in accordance with their current classification based on locomotor behavior. The traction force was markedly reduced with flexion of the MCP joint parallel to the torque in brachiating primates; this was notably lower in the terrestrial quadrupedal primates than in the arboreal primates at mild flexion. Our mechanical study supported these features in the torque and traction force generation efficiencies. Our results suggest that suspensory or terrestrial quadrupedal primates have hand structures that can exert more torque at a suspensory posture, or palmigrade and digitigrade locomotion, respectively. Furthermore, our study suggests availability of the cross and triple-ratios as one of the indicators to estimate the hand function from the skeletal structure

タンカンナイ シュヨウセン オ ミトメ ゲンパツセイ カンナイ タンカンガン トノ カンベツ オ ヨウシタ イジセイ ダイチョウガン カンテンイ ノ 1セツジョレイ

The patient was a 68-year-old man who had undergone right hemicolectomy for ascending colon cancer, and pulmonary resection for lung metastases. After 10 months of operations, abdominal computed tomograms revealed a liver tumor with a biliary tumor thrombus in the segment 5 and a localized dilation of the intrahepatic bile duct. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed obstruction, 2cm long, of the intrahepatic bile duct （B5） and dilation of the peripheral duct. Cytological examination of extracted bile showed adenocarcinoma. A right hepatic lobectomy was performed under the diagnosis of metastatic liver tumor with tumor development in the intrahepatic bile duct or intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. The resected specimen showed massive infiltration of the tumor into intrahepatic bile duct （B5） with forming a tumor thrombus. Histologically, the tumor was moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma, similar to the ascending colon cancer. The final diagnosis was liver metastasis of ascending colon cancer with intrabiliary tumor growth

Fundamental physics activities with pulsed neutron at J-PARC(BL05)

"Neutron Optics and Physics (NOP/ BL05)" at MLF in J-PARC is a beamline for studies of fundamental physics. The beamline is divided into three branches so that different experiments can be performed in parallel. These beam branches are being used to develop a variety of new projects. We are developing an experimental project to measure the neutron lifetime with total uncertainty of 1 s (0.1%). The neutron lifetime is an important parameter in elementary particle and astrophysics. Thus far, the neutron lifetime has been measured by several groups; however, different values are obtained from different measurement methods. This experiment is using a method with different sources of systematic uncertainty than measurements conducted to date. We are also developing a source of pulsed ultra-cold neutrons (UCNs) produced from a Doppler shifter are available at the unpolarized beam branch. We are developing a time focusing device for UCNs, a so called "rebuncher", which can increase UCN density from a pulsed UCN source. At the low divergence beam branch, an experiment to search an unknown intermediate force with nanometer range is performed by measuring the angular dependence of neutron scattering by noble gases. Finally the beamline is also used for the research and development of optical elements and detectors. For example, a position sensitive neutron detector that uses emulsion to achieve sub-micrometer resolution is currently under development. We have succeeded in detecting cold and ultra-cold neutrons using the emulsion detector.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings of International Conference on Neutron Optics (NOP2017

Change in brain plasmalogen composition by exposure to prenatal undernutrition leads to behavioral impairment of rats.

Epidemiological studies suggest that poor nutrition during pregnancy influences offspring predisposition to experience developmental and psychiatric disorders. Animal studies have shown that maternal undernutrition leads to behavioral impairment, which is linked to alterations in monoaminergic systems and inflammation in the brain. In this study, we focused on the ethanolamine plasmalogen of the brain as a possible contributor to behavioral disturbances observed in offspring exposed to maternal undernutrition. Maternal food or protein restriction between gestational day (GD) 5.5 and GD 10.5 resulted in hyperactivity of rat male adult offspring. Genes related to the phospholipid biosynthesis were found to be activated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), but not in the nucleus accumbens or striatum, in the offspring exposed to prenatal undernutrition. Corresponding to these gene activations, increased ethanolamine plasmalogen (18:0p-22:6) was observed in the PFC using mass spectrometry imaging. A high number of crossings and the long time spent in the center area was observed in the offspring exposed to prenatal undernutrition and was mimicked in adult rats via the intravenous injection of ethanolamine plasmalogen (18:0p-22:6) incorporated into the liposome. Additionally, plasmalogen (18:0p-22:6) increased only in the PFC, and not in the nucleus accumbens or striatum. These results suggest that brain plasmalogen is one of the key molecules to control behavior and its injection using liposome is a potential therapeutic approach for cognitive impairment.Significance Statement:Maternal undernutrition correlates to developmental and psychiatric disorders. Here, we found that maternal undernutrition in early pregnancy led to hyperactivity in rat male offspring and induced gene activation of phospholipid-synthesizing enzyme and elevation of ethanolamine plasmalogen (18:0p-22:6) level in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Intravenous injection of ethanolamine plasmalogen (18:0p-22:6) incorporated into the liposome maintained crossing activity and was circumscribed to the center area for a long time period, in prenatally undernourished offspring with aberrant behavior. Furthermore, the amount of ethanolamine plasmalogen (18:0p-22:6) increased in the PFC of the rat after injection. Our result suggests that brain plasmalogen is one of the key molecules to control behavior and that its injection using liposome is a potential therapeutic approach for cognitive impairment

B. 「海洋生物の医薬資源開発-医薬を指向した海洋生物の有用物質の探索」

海洋生物はその種100万といわれ、地上における今もなお未知な世界である。本年度も、この海洋生物から、医薬資源となりうる有用な生理活性物質を発見し、構造を明らかにし、生物活性を検討することを目的として研究を行い、この研究を始めてから9年になった。本年採集した生物は、27種であり、今までに281件を採取している。採集生物リストをTableに示した。バイオアッセイを指標に、今まで、海草、アカフジツボ、クダウミヒドラ、スポンジ、エボヤ、ユーレイボヤ、イソギンチャク、群体ボヤ、オオワレカラ、コケムシ類等につき有用成分の探索を行った。特に、付着生物コケムシ(Bryzoa)類の各種の成分に注目し、各地で採集したフサコケムシBugula neritina、ホソフサコケムシTricellaria occidentalisおよびアメリカのフロリダ産フサコケムシAmathia convolutaの活性成分を検討し、有益な知見と新しい化学物質を単離・構造決定した。すなわち、昨年度報告したconvolutamine AとF以外にconvolutamine Gを、さらにlutamide C以外に、lutamide AとBおよびconvolutamydine Eの単離を行い、構造決定した。さらに、昨年から始めたこれらの有用な天然物の全合成研究に成果が見られ、3種のconvolutamine類A、CとFおよび2種のlutamide類AとCの合計5種の天然物の全合成を完成させた。この成果には、さらにanalogsの全合成を含み、化合物の構造とその活性との相関に研究が発展している。これらの結果は1999年度の日本化学会第75回春季年会で口頭発表され、さらに一部、チェコ化学会誌に掲載されている。これらの成果は、研究成果の概要に報告する。さらにまた、去年度の第75回日本化学会春季年会には、従来発表していなかった成果を再検討し、計5題の研究発表(ポスター)を行った(研究成果の概要を参照)