Optically Induced Rotation of Microcylinders Made of Photopolymerizable Nematic Liquid Crystal

We report for the first time the use of photopolymerizable liquid crystals in fabricating microsized cylinders that are rotated by a circularly polarized laser beam. They were fabricated by two-photon photopolymerization from liquid crystals whose molecules had been deliberately oriented on a rubbed surface. The rotational torque showed similar oscillatory structures to those observed in the intensity of light transmitted through crossed Nikols as a function of cylinder height. From the structures, the birefringence of the cylinders was estimated and the main mechanism underlying the rotational torque transfer was determined

「市民電子会議室」による直接民主制の可能性と政党機能 : マーケティング・パラダイムの視点から

We are living in the information age now. In this age, public sectors are required the sence of the management. That is called "New public management." But that is not the all. We are living in the society that each of the stakeholder supports. In this age, we must investigate the new system that will support public welfare. That system will be supported by information technology and digital network. At the digital network, we can communicate at once, and except the three dimentions. With this advantage, we must argue about the new system that will support public welfare. In recent years, we argue only about the sense of "mass-marketing". But now, we have to give this problem more careful consideration with the sense of social marketing, and relationship marketing. By this marketing sense, the society will be supported from now on. The system of "electrical meeting", the chat in the web page, is hoped. It is important that we will make spaces that we can gather on, and discuss about local problem in, and put to practical use. Political party are required the function that can have an effect to the policy making process, and can be of use for the citizens

Ventricular Septal Myectomy and Mitral and Aortic Valve Replacement in the Case of Discrete Subaortic Stenosis

We experienced a case of discrete subaortic stenosis of fibromuscular collar type, complicated with asymmetrical thicking of the ventricular septum and abnormal attachment of the tendinous cords of the mitral leaflet accompanied by mitral incompetence and aortic incompetence due to infective endocarditis. Surgical treatment comprised resection of subaortic stenotic fibrous tissues, ventricular septal myectomy and replacement of mitral and aortic valves. Preoperative pressure gradient of 120 mmHg across the left ventricular outflow tract was improved to 22 mmHg with a favorable clinical course. This was considered a rare case where fibromuscular type of DSS was accompanied not with secondary myocardial hypertrophy but with IHSS and abnormal tendinous cords of mitral leaflet

X-ray harmonic comb from relativistic electron spikes

X-ray devices are far superior to optical ones for providing nanometre spatial and attosecond temporal resolutions. Such resolution is indispensable in biology, medicine, physics, material sciences, and their applications. A bright ultrafast coherent X-ray source is highly desirable, for example, for the diffractive imaging of individual large molecules, viruses, or cells. Here we demonstrate experimentally a new compact X-ray source involving high-order harmonics produced by a relativistic-irradiance femtosecond laser in a gas target. In our first implementation using a 9 Terawatt laser, coherent soft X-rays are emitted with a comb-like spectrum reaching the 'water window' range. The generation mechanism is robust being based on phenomena inherent in relativistic laser plasmas: self-focusing, nonlinear wave generation accompanied by electron density singularities, and collective radiation by a compact electric charge. The formation of singularities (electron density spikes) is described by the elegant mathematical catastrophe theory, which explains sudden changes in various complex systems, from physics to social sciences. The new X-ray source has advantageous scalings, as the maximum harmonic order is proportional to the cube of the laser amplitude enhanced by relativistic self-focusing in plasma. This allows straightforward extension of the coherent X-ray generation to the keV and tens of keV spectral regions. The implemented X-ray source is remarkably easily accessible: the requirements for the laser can be met in a university-scale laboratory, the gas jet is a replenishable debris-free target, and the harmonics emanate directly from the gas jet without additional devices. Our results open the way to a compact coherent ultrashort brilliant X-ray source with single shot and high-repetition rate capabilities, suitable for numerous applications and diagnostics in many research fields

Prevention of hypoglycemia by intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring device combined with structured education in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus : A randomized, crossover trial

Aims: We conducted a randomized, crossover trial to compare intermittent-scanning continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) device with structured education (Intervention) to self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) (Control) in the reduction of time below range. Methods: This crossover trial involved 104 adults with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using multiple daily injections. Participants were randomly allocated to either sequence Intervention/Control or sequence Control/Intervention. During the Intervention period which lasted 84 days, participants used the first-generation FreeStyle Libre (Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, CA, USA) and received structured education on how to prevent hypoglycemia based on the trend arrow and by frequent sensor scanning (≥10 times a day). Confirmatory SMBG was conducted before dosing insulin. The Control period lasted 84 days. The primary endpoint was the decrease in the time below range (TBR; <70 mg/dL). Results: The time below range was significantly reduced in the Intervention arm compared to the Control arm (2.42 ± 1.68 h/day [10.1 %±7.0 %] vs 3.10 ± 2.28 h/day [12.9 %±9.5 %], P = 0.012). The ratio of high-risk participants with low blood glucose index >5 was significantly reduced (8.6 % vs 23.7 %, P < 0.001). Conclusions: The use of isCGM combined with structured education significantly reduced the time below range in patients with T1DM

Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling as a Potential Target for the Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis Using Antifibrotic Drugs

Cirrhosis is a form of liver fibrosis resulting from chronic hepatitis and caused by various liver diseases, including viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver damage, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and autoimmune liver disease. Cirrhosis leads to various complications, resulting in poor prognoses; therefore, it is important to develop novel antifibrotic therapies to counter liver cirrhosis. Wnt/&beta;-catenin signaling is associated with the development of tissue fibrosis, making it a major therapeutic target for treating liver fibrosis. In this review, we present recent insights into the correlation between Wnt/&beta;-catenin signaling and liver fibrosis and discuss the antifibrotic effects of the cAMP-response element binding protein/&beta;-catenin inhibitor PRI-724