Fabrication of submicron La2−x_{2-x}Srx_{x}CuO4_{4} intrinsic Josephson junction stacks

Intrinsic Josephson junction (IJJ) stacks of cuprate superconductors have potential to be implemented as intrinsic phase qubits working at relatively high temperatures. We report success in fabricating submicron La$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$ (LSCO) IJJ stacks carved out of single crystals. We also show a new fabrication method in which argon ion etching is performed after focused ion beam etching. As a result, we obtained an LSCO IJJ stack in which resistive multi-branches appeared. It may be possible to control the number of stacked IJJs with an accuracy of a single IJJ by developing this method.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Thermoluminescence characteristics and chemical compositions of mesostases in ordinary chondrites

Induced thermoluminescence (TL) images of ordinary chondrites, ALH-77214 (L3.4-3.5), Y-74191 (L3.6), ALH-77216 (L3.8) and ALH-78043 (L6), were measured by the TL spatial distribution readout system combined with a microscope and TL characteristics [peak temperature and peak width] of mesostases were analyzed. Their chemical compositions were also analyzed by an electron probe X-ray microanalyzer. We found that; (1) The mesostasis was responsible for much of the TL in the ordinary chondrites, (2) A mesostasis of normative anorthite compositions showed low peak temperature (∿90℃) and narrow width (∿65℃), while a mesostasis of normative albite compositions showed high peak temperature (∿125℃) and wide width (∿100℃), (3) A main phosphor in a low petrologic grade chondrite 3.5 was a high albite mesostasis, (4) Some chondrules in the same fragments of the type 3 chondrites showed no or weak TL emission and these mesostases had high normative albite. These facts suggest that in type 3 ordinary chondrites; (1) The post-accretional metamorphism cannot account for the coexistence of high albite mesostases with TL emission and no emission and a high anorthite mesostasis with TL emission, (2) Low petrologic grade chondrites 3.5 have a large population of slowly cooled chondrules

Pedalitin from Isodon japonica, an inactivation of soybean lipoxygenase-1

Pedalitin, isolated from the aerial part of Rabdosia japonica (Labiatae), inhibited soybean lipoxygenase-1 (EC 1.13.11.12, Type I) with an IC50 of 152.5 M. The progress curves for an enzyme reaction, pedalitin inactivate the lipoxygenase-1 in a time dependent, irreversible manner, exhibiting kinetics with a kinact/KI of 59.6 ± 10 mM-1min-1. In the pseudoperoxidase activity, pedalitin is very slowly oxidized by the soybean lipoxygenase-1 catalyzed decomposition of lipid hydroperoxides

Quantum chemical study on the oxidation process of a hydrogen terminated Si surface

科研費報告書収録論文(課題番号:09450296・基盤研究(B)(2)・H9～H10/研究代表者:宮本, 明/新しい高速化第一原理分子動力学計算プログラムの開発と金属超微粒子触媒への応用

Alcohol Intake and Serum Lipids–Genetic Modification

Background: Although beneficial associations have been reported between moderate alcohol intake and the serum lipid profile, it is unclear whether polymorphisms in alcohol-metabolizing enzymes can modify these associations. Here, we assessed the effects of ADH1B His48Arg (rs1229984), ALDH2 Glu504Lys (rs671), and their combination on these associations. Furthermore, we examined if the findings for ALDH2 could be replicated. Methods: We categorized 889 male participants in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study into two groups based on presence or absence of minor allele(s) or four groups based on genotype combinations. We performed regression analyses of serum lipid concentrations on alcohol intake, with multivariable adjustment. The replication study was conducted among 2,562 men in the Shizuoka part of the J-MICC Study. Results: The ALDH2 Glu/Lys or Lys/Lys groups showed significant decreases in serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol with increasing alcohol consumption; the coefficient per intake increase of 10 g/day was −2.49 mg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI], −3.85 to −1.13), and a significant interaction with the polymorphism was confirmed (P for interaction = 0.006). This inverse correlation was more evident among the ADH1B His/His + ALDH2 Glu/Lys or Lys/Lys groups (−3.24 mg/dL, 95% CI, −5.03 to −1.45). Serum triglycerides were positively associated with alcohol consumption in the ADH1B His/His group (P for interaction = 0.020). The stronger association between serum LDL cholesterol and alcohol consumption in the ALDH2 Glu/Lys or Lys/Lys groups was replicated. Conclusions: The ALDH2 Glu504Lys polymorphism can modify the association between alcohol intake and serum LDL cholesterol in Japanese men

Genetic variants of SLC17A1 are associated with cholesterol homeostasis and hyperhomocysteinaemia in Japanese men

Hyperuricaemia is an undisputed and highly predictive biomarker for cardiovascular risk. SLC17A1, expressed in the liver and kidneys, harbours potent candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms that decrease uric acid levels. Therefore, we examined SLC17A1 polymorphisms (rs1165196, rs1179086 and rs3757131), which might suppress cardiovascular risk factors and that are involved in liver functioning, via a large-scale pooled analysis of the Japanese general population in a cross-sectional study. Using data from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study, we identified 1842 participants of both sexes, 35–69-years-old, having the requisite data and analysed their SLC17A1 genotypes. In men, logistic regression analyses revealed that minor alleles in SLC17A1 polymorphisms (rs1165196 and rs3757131) were associated with a low-/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio >2.0 (rs1165196: odds ratio [OR], 0.703; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.536–0.922; rs3757131: OR, 0.658; 95% CI, 0.500–0.866) and with homocysteine levels of >10.0 nmol/mL (rs1165196: OR, 0.544; 95% CI, 0.374–0.792; rs3757131: OR, 0.509; 95% CI, 0.347–0.746). Therefore, these polymorphisms had dominant negative effects on cholesterol homeostasis and hyperhomocysteinaemia, in men, independent of alcohol consumption, physical activity, or daily energy and nutrition intake. Thus, genetic variants of SLC17A1 are potential biomarkers for altered cholesterol homeostasis and hyperhomocysteinaemia in Japanese men

Amendment of the Japanese Consensus Guidelines for Autoimmune Pancreatitis, 2013 II. Extrapancreatic lesions, differential diagnosis

Published online: 25 March 2014ArticleJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. 49(5):765-784 (2014)journal articl