Classification of bifurcation diagrams for semilinear elliptic equations in the critical dimension

We are interested in the global bifurcation diagram of radial solutions for the Gelfand problem with the exponential nonlinearity and a radially symmetric weight $0<a(|x|)\in C^2(\overline{B_1})$ in the unit ball. When the weight is constant, it is known that the bifurcation curve has infinitely many turning points if the dimension $N\le 9$, and it has no turning points if $N\ge 10$. In this paper, we show that the perturbation of the weight does not affect the bifurcation structure when $N\le 9$. Moreover, we find specific radial singular solutions with specific weights and study the Morse index of the solutions. As a consequence, we prove that the perturbation affects the bifurcation structure in the critical dimension $N=10$. Moreover, we give an optimal classification of the bifurcation diagrams in the critical dimension.Comment: 24 page

Multi-omics computational analysis unveils the involvement of AP-1 and CTCF in hysteresis of chromatin states during macrophage polarization

Macrophages display extreme plasticity, and the mechanisms and applications of polarization and de-/repolarization of macrophages have been extensively investigated. However, the regulation of macrophage hysteresis after de-/repolarization remains unclear. In this study, by using a large-scale computational analysis of macrophage multi-omics data, we report a list of hysteresis genes that maintain their expression patterns after polarization and de-/repolarization. While the polarization in M1 macrophages leads to a higher level of hysteresis in genes associated with cell cycle progression, cell migration, and enhancement of the immune response, we found weak levels of hysteresis after M2 polarization. During the polarization process from M0 to M1 and back to M0, the factors IRFs/STAT, AP-1, and CTCF regulate hysteresis by altering their binding sites to the chromatin. Overall, our results show that a history of polarization can lead to hysteresis in gene expression and chromatin accessibility over a given period. This study contributes to the understanding of de-/repolarization memory in macrophages

Immune Cell-Epithelial/Mesenchymal Interaction Contributing to Allergic Airway Inflammation Associated Pathology

The primary function of the lung is efficient gas exchange between alveolar air and alveolar capillary blood. At the same time, the lung protects the host from continuous invasion of harmful viruses and bacteria by developing unique epithelial barrier systems. Thus, the lung has a complex architecture comprising a mixture of various types of cells including epithelial cells, mesenchymal cells, and immune cells. Recent studies have revealed that Interleukin (IL-)33, a member of the IL-1 family of cytokines, is a key environmental cytokine that is derived from epithelial cells and induces type 2 inflammation in the barrier organs, including the lung. IL-33 induces allergic diseases, such as asthma, through the activation of various immune cells that express an IL-33 receptor, ST2, including ST2+ memory (CD62LlowCD44hi) CD4+ T cells. ST2+ memory CD4+ T cells have the capacity to produce high levels of IL-5 and Amphiregulin and are involved in the pathology of asthma. ST2+ memory CD4+ T cells are maintained by IL-7- and IL-33-produced lymphatic endothelial cells within inducible bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (iBALT) around the bronchioles during chronic lung inflammation. In this review, we will discuss the impact of these immune cells-epithelial/mesenchymal interaction on shaping the pathology of chronic allergic inflammation. A better understanding of pathogenic roles of the cellular and molecular interaction between immune cells and non-immune cells is crucial for the development of new therapeutic strategies for intractable allergic diseases

99mTc-GSA scintigraphy for assessing the functional volume ratio of the future liver remnant in the routine practice of liver resection

BackgroundThe significance of incorporating regional functional heterogeneity assessment by liver scintigraphy into the calculation of the future liver remnant has been reported. However, liver scintigraphy entails additional costs and radiation exposure. Nevertheless, studies describing when liver scintigraphy demonstrates an actual benefit over computed tomography liver volumetry are lacking. Thus, we evaluated the degree of agreement between future liver remnant % values calculated by technetium 99mTc diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy (galactosyl human serum albumin–based future liver remnant %) and those by computed tomography volumetry and investigated the practical impact of performing regional functional heterogeneity assessment.MethodsThe Bland–Altman method was used to retrospectively analyze the agreement between computed tomography– and galactosyl human serum albumin–based future liver remnant % measurements in 84 patients.ResultsIn ordinary patients with a computed tomography–based future liver remnant % greater than 50%, there was a good agreement between both measurements. However, in cases with a computed tomography–based future liver remnant % less than 40%, galactosyl human serum albumin–based measurements were significantly smaller than computed tomography–based values, with 88% of these patients exhibiting a galactosyl human serum albumin–based future liver remnant % less than 30%. After portal vein embolization, galactosyl human serum albumin–based measurements were primarily greater than or in agreement with computed tomography–based values, even in cases with a computed tomography–based future liver remnant % less than 40%.ConclusionAdding 99mTc diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy to computed tomography liver volumetry is advised when deciding on hepatectomy in patients with a computed tomography–based future liver remnant % less than 50%. If the computed tomography–based future liver remnant % is smaller than 40%, it is strongly recommended to check future liver remnant % by 99mTc diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin scintigraphy. In other cases, computed tomography–based future liver remnant % calculation alone can be regarded as the gold standard of safe hepatectomy

Combination of apodized pupil and phase mask coronagraph for SCExAO at Subaru Telescope

Subaru telescope has been operating a high-contrast imaging instruments called Subaru coronagraphic extreme adaptive optics (SCExAO) which is used for exoplanet research. We are developing phase mask coronagraphs using photonic crystal wave plates inside the SCExAO. An eight-octant phase mask (8OPM) of three-layer achromatic structure has been fabricated as a second generation. It was designed for J and H band to reach 10⁻⁵ contrast, and Ks band to 10⁻⁴. A retardation and a coronagraphic performance of the 8OPM were confirmed almost as designed at 1550nm. An apodised (binary shaped) pupil to be used with the 8OPM was also studied to suppress diffracted light by the secondary shadow and spiders. We confirmed a performance of the combination of the apodizer and the 8OPM at visible wavelengths in a lab. We optimized the apodizer for a pupil of the SCExAO where we obtained a transmission of 50 % and a contrast of 10⁻⁴ the center and 10⁻⁶ at outer region. We manufactured the designed apodizer to be installed in SCExAO for infrared observations

Development and Practice of Introductory Teaching Materials for Mathematics "Problem- Based Learning" on the Theme of "Removal of Roadside Utility Poles"

P(論文)平成30 年に改訂された高等学校学習指導要領では，教育課程編成において「総合的な学習の時間」を中心にカリキュラム設計をすることを目標としている．本稿では，新・逆向き設計に基づき，「総合的な学習の時間」でSDGs に関連した政策，特に「無電柱化政策」の評価を行うこととし，そのサブ課題を「数学」探究活動で行うための導入を支援するゲーミング教材の開発と実践を行った．開発した教材は，「無電柱化政策」の施策を検討している東京都江戸川区一之江7丁目を舞台として，どのように無電柱化を行えば，投入した税金を回収できるのかを考える問題を扱う．開発は，東京工業大学松田研究室が開発しているIAGシステムを用いて行い，実践は東京工業大学附属科学技術高等学校の1年生178名を対象とした．その結果，生徒は教材の題材について把握することはできていたが，開発した教材の目的である問題解決の手法の習得については改善の余地があることがわかった．departmental bulletin pape

Efficacy and safety of single-dose ivermectin in mild-to-moderate COVID-19: the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled CORVETTE-01 trial

BackgroundTo investigate whether ivermectin inhibits SARS-CoV-2 proliferation in patients with mild-to-moderate COVID-19 using time to a negative COVID-19 reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test.MethodsCORVETTE-01 was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study (August 2020–October 2021) conducted in Japan. Overall, 248 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 using RT-PCR were assessed for eligibility. A single oral dose of ivermectin (200  μg/kg) or placebo was administered under fasting. The primary outcome was time to a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid, assessed using stratified log-rank test and Cox regression models.ResultsOverall, 112 and 109 patients were randomized to ivermectin and placebo, respectively; 106 patients from each group were included in the full analysis set (male [%], mean age: 68.9%, 47.9 years [ivermectin]; 62.3%, 47.5 years [placebo]). No significant difference was observed in the occurrence of negative RT-PCR tests between the groups (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.70–1.32; p = 0.785). Median (95% CI) time to a negative RT-PCR test was 14.0 (13.0–16.0) and 14.0 (12.0–16.0) days for ivermectin and placebo, respectively; 82.1% and 84% of patients achieved negative RT-PCR tests, respectively.ConclusionIn patients with COVID-19, single-dose ivermectin was ineffective in decreasing the time to a negative RT-PCR test.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04703205

A dehydrated space-weathered skin cloaking the hydrated interior of Ryugu

Without a protective atmosphere, space-exposed surfaces of airless Solar System bodies gradually experience an alteration in composition, structure and optical properties through a collective process called space weathering. The return of samples from near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu by Hayabusa2 provides the first opportunity for laboratory study of space-weathering signatures on the most abundant type of inner solar system body: a C-type asteroid, composed of materials largely unchanged since the formation of the Solar System. Weathered Ryugu grains show areas of surface amorphization and partial melting of phyllosilicates, in which reduction from Fe3+ to Fe2+ and dehydration developed. Space weathering probably contributed to dehydration by dehydroxylation of Ryugu surface phyllosilicates that had already lost interlayer water molecules and to weakening of the 2.7 µm hydroxyl (–OH) band in reflectance spectra. For C-type asteroids in general, this indicates that a weak 2.7 µm band can signify space-weathering-induced surface dehydration, rather than bulk volatile loss