Design method for large-scale wide field-of-view monochromatic metalenses

We propose a novel design method for wide field-of-view monochromatic metalenses. The proposed technique partitions the outer region of a metalens into supercells, which are generated by dividing the outer region into intervals along the radial direction, where the target phase changes by 2π, and along the angular direction with a constant angular periodicity. Therefore, the shape of each supercell can be approximated as a rectangle with its size comparable to a wavelength. The arrangement of pillars within this supercell is determined by metagrating optimization via the adjoint method. The optimization process considers both inter-pillar couplings and the range of incidence angles. This makes the design of large-scale wide field-of-view high-efficiency metalenses more tractable than the conventional unit-cell-based method, which is prone to efficiency decrease especially near the lens periphery. Furthermore, it has a potential advantage in terms of computational cost over other recently proposed optimization-based methods

Laryngotracheal separation for a type 4 laryngotracheoesophageal cleft with multiple significant malformations

AbstractLaryngotracheoesophageal cleft (LTEC) is an extremely rare congenital malformation that is difficult to treat. We present a female patient with type 4 LTEC associated with multiple significant malformations. She suffered from a severe asthma attack due to aspiration of saliva, and it was determined that she should undergo surgery for associated congenital heart disease as early as possible to ensure long-term survival. Therefore, we performed laryngotracheal separation with an end-tracheostomy to completely and immediately prevent aspiration. She was then able to undergo radical surgery for her congenital heart disease. She recovered well postoperatively, and long-term survival is expected

アデノ随伴ウイルスベクターを用いた成熟プルキンエ細胞におけるRAR関連オーファン受容体αのノックダウンは脊髄小脳失調症の小脳異常表現型を再現する および アデノ随伴ウイルスベクターとCRISPR-dSaCas9システムを用いた脊髄小脳失調症1型ノックインマウスの新規治療戦略

学位記番号：医博甲178

Host bone microstructure for enhanced resistance to bacterial infections

Watanabe R., Matsugaki A., Gokcekaya O., et al. Host bone microstructure for enhanced resistance to bacterial infections. Biomaterials Advances 154, 213633 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213633.Postoperative bacterial infection is a serious complication of orthopedic surgery. Not only infections that develop in the first few weeks after surgery but also late infections that develop years after surgery are serious problems. However, the relationship between host bone and infection activation has not yet been explored. Here, we report a novel association between host bone collagen/apatite microstructure and bacterial infection. The bone-mimetic-oriented micro-organized matrix structure was obtained by prolonged controlled cell alignment using a grooved-structured biomedical titanium alloy. Surprisingly, we have discovered that highly aligned osteoblasts have a potent inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli adhesion. Additionally, the oriented collagen/apatite micro-organization of the bone matrix showed excellent antibacterial resistance against Escherichia coli. The proposed mechanism for realizing the antimicrobial activity of the micro-organized bone matrix is by the controlled secretion of the antimicrobial peptides, including β-defensin 2 and β-defensin 3, from the highly aligned osteoblasts. Our findings contribute to the development of anti-infective strategies for orthopedic surgeries. The recovery of the intrinsically ordered bone matrix organization provides superior antibacterial resistance after surgery

Host bone microstructure for enhanced resistance to bacterial infections

Postoperative bacterial infection is a serious complication of orthopedic surgery. Not only infections that develop in the first few weeks after surgery but also late infections that develop years after surgery are serious problems. However, the relationship between host bone and infection activation has not yet been explored. Here, we report a novel association between host bone collagen/apatite microstructure and bacterial infection. The bone-mimetic-oriented micro-organized matrix structure was obtained by prolonged controlled cell alignment using a grooved-structured biomedical titanium alloy. Surprisingly, we have discovered that highly aligned osteoblasts have a potent inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli adhesion. Additionally, the oriented collagen/apatite micro-organization of the bone matrix showed excellent antibacterial resistance against Escherichia coli. The proposed mechanism for realizing the antimicrobial activity of the micro-organized bone matrix is by the controlled secretion of the antimicrobial peptides, including β-defensin 2 and β-defensin 3, from the highly aligned osteoblasts. Our findings contribute to the development of anti-infective strategies for orthopedic surgeries. The recovery of the intrinsically ordered bone matrix organization provides superior antibacterial resistance after surgery.Watanabe R., Matsugaki A., Gokcekaya O., et al. Host bone microstructure for enhanced resistance to bacterial infections. Biomaterials Advances 154, 213633 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioadv.2023.213633

Potential of Genomic Selection in Mass Selection Breeding of an Allogamous Crop: An Empirical Study to Increase Yield of Common Buckwheat

To evaluate the potential of genomic selection (GS), a selection experiment with GS and phenotypic selection (PS) was performed in an allogamous crop, common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench). To indirectly select for seed yield per unit area, which cannot be measured on a single-plant basis, a selection index was constructed from seven agro-morphological traits measurable on a single plant basis. Over 3 years, we performed two GS and one PS cycles per year for improvement in the selection index. In GS, a prediction model was updated every year on the basis of genotypes of 14,598–50,000 markers and phenotypes. Plants grown from seeds derived from a series of generations of GS and PS populations were evaluated for the traits in the selection index and other yield-related traits. GS resulted in a 20.9% increase and PS in a 15.0% increase in the selection index in comparison with the initial population. Although the level of linkage disequilibrium in the breeding population was low, the target trait was improved with GS. Traits with higher weights in the selection index were improved more than those with lower weights, especially when prediction accuracy was high. No trait changed in an unintended direction in either GS or PS. The accuracy of genomic prediction models built in the first cycle decreased in the later cycles because the genetic bottleneck through the selection cycles changed linkage disequilibrium patterns in the breeding population. The present study emphasizes the importance of updating models in GS and demonstrates the potential of GS in mass selection of allogamous crop species, and provided a pilot example of successful application of GS to plant breeding