In Orbit Performance of the MAXI/SSC onboard the ISS

We report here the in orbit performance of the CCD camera (MAXI/SSC) onboard the International Space Station (ISS). It was commissioned in August, 2009. This is the first all-sky survey mission employing X-ray CCDs. It consists of 32 CCDs each of which is 1 inch square. It is a slit camera with a field of view of 1deg.5x 90deg and scans the sky as the rotation of the ISS. The CCD on the SSC is cooled down to the working temperature around -60degC by the combination of the peltier cooler, a loop heat pipe and a radiator. The standard observation mode of the CCD is in a parallel sum mode (64-binning). The CCD functions properly although it suffers an edge glow when the Sun is near the field of view (FOV) which reduces the observation efficiency of the SSC down to about 30%. The performance of the CCD is continuously monitored both by the Mn-K X-rays and by the Cu-K X-rays. There are many sources detected, not only point sources but extended sources. Due to the lack of the effective observation time, we need more observation time to obtain an extended emission analysis extraction process.Comment: 15 pages 11 figure

Establishment of a new method for precisely determining the functions of individual mitochondrial genes, using Dictyostelium cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Disruption of mitochondrial genes may become a powerful tool for elucidating precisely the functions of individual mitochondrial genes. However, it is generally difficult to manipulate genetically mitochondrial genes, because 1) a mitochondrion is surrounded by inner and outer membranes, and 2) there are a large number of mtDNA copies in a single cell. This is the reason why we tried to establish a novel method for disrupting a certain mitochondrial gene (<it>rps4</it>), using <it>Dictyostelium </it>cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we have developed a new method for specifically disrupting a mitochondrial gene (<it>rps4 </it>; ribosomal protein subunit S4), by a combination of homologous recombination and delivery of an appropriate restriction endonuclease (<it>Sfo</it>I) into mitochondria. First, mitochondrially targeted <it>Sfo</it>I whose expression is under control of the tetracycline (Tet)-regulated gene expression system was introduced into cells heteroplasmic with respect to the <it>rps4 </it>gene. Then, the heteroplasmic cells were produced by homologous recombination by use of the construct in which the unique <it>Sfo</it>I site and the 5'-half of the <it>rps4 </it>coding region were deleted not to be digested by <it>Sfo</it>I, and therefore their mitochondria have both the wild-type mtDNA and the mutant mtDNA with the disrupted <it>rps4 </it>gene. In response to removal of Tet from growth medium, <it>Sfo</it>I was selectively delivered into mitochondria and digested only the wild-type mtDNA but not the mutated <it>rps4</it>. Thus one can gain <it>rps4</it>-null cells with only the mutated mtDNA, under the Tet-minus condition.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The mitochondrial gene-disruption method presented here must be widely useful for precisely determining the functions of individual mitochondrial genes. This is the first report to demonstrate complete and specific mitochondrial gene disruption.</p

A Cross-Whiskers Junction as a Novel Fabrication Process for Intrinsic Josephson Junction

A Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d cross-whiskers junction has been successfully discovered as a novel intrinsic Josephson junction without using any technique for micro-fabrication. Two Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+d whisker crystals were placed crosswise on a MgO substrate and heated at 850C for 30 min. They were electrically connected at their c-planes. The measurement terminals were made at the four ends of the whiskers. The I-V characteristics of the cross-whiskers junction at 5K were found to show a clear multiple-branch structure with a spacing of approximately 15 mV that is a feature of the intrinsic Josephson junction. The critical current density Jc was estimated to be 1170 A/cm2. The branch-structure was strongly suppressed by the magnetic field above 1kOe.Comment: 4 pages, PDF fil

Sinus floor elevation with platelet-rich fibrin alone : a clinical retrospective study of 1-7 years

Several sinus floor elevation procedures for implant placement have been introduced. The present study aimed to evaluate the implants placed with Platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) alone in atrophic posterior maxillae and survival rates and the potential factors associated with implant loss. This retrospective study evaluated 71 implants in 34 patients after 1-7 years? follow-up time. Statistical models were used to determine the implant survival and the potential factors associated with loss. Overall, 7 implants were lost, and the cumulative survival rate at 7 years by implant-based and patient-bases analyses were 85.5% and 85.7%, respectively. The mean residual bone height (RBH) was 4.26 mm. The implant survival rate was significantly lower at RBH < 4 mm than RBH ? 4 mm. This retrospective study showed that sinus floor elevation with PRF alone could be applied in cases of lower RBH. However, it should be carefully performed in cases of RBH < 4 mm before surgery

A Feasibility Study on the Simultaneous Sensing of Turbidity and Chlorophyll a Concentration Using a Simple Optical Measurement Method

We have been developing a wireless sensor network system to monitor the quality of lake water in real time. It consists of a sensor module and a system module, which includes communication and power modules. We have focused on pH, turbidity and chlorophyll a concentration as the criteria for qualifying lake water quality. These parameters will be detected by a microfluidic device based sensor module embedded in the wireless sensor network system. In order to detect the turbidity and the chlorophyll a concentration simultaneously, we propose a simple optical measurement method using LED and photodiode in this paper. Before integrating a turbidity and chlorophyll a concentration sensor into the microfluidic device based pH sensor, we performed feasibility studies such as confirmation of the working principle and experiments using environmental water samples. As a result, we successfully verified our simultaneous sensing method by using a simple optical setup of the turbidity and the chlorophyll a concentration

Verrucous carcinoma of the esophagus with complete response after chemoradiotherapy

Background : Verrucous carcinoma of the esophagus (VCE) is a rare tumor that is difficult to diagnose. In most cases, biopsies show nonspecific inflammatory and hyperkeratotic changes and do not show malignant findings. Most VCEs are slowly growing, locally advanced tumors with few metastases. Treatments for VCE are the same as for normal esophageal cancer, involving combined chemotherapy, surgical resection, and radiation therapy. However, it has been reported that VCE has a poor response to radiation or chemoradiotherapy (CRT). A case of VCE with complete response (CR) after CRT is presented. Case presentation : A 70-year-old man was found to have white, irregular esophageal mucosa 4 years earlier. He had been followed up as an outpatient as having candidal esophagitis. However, his tumor grew gradually, and biopsy was performed by endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). He was finally diagnosed with VCE. He had no metastases to distant organs, but some lymph node metastases were suspected. The tumor invaded his left bronchus. The esophagostomy and gastrostomy were constructed as emergent procedures. The patient then underwent definitive CRT. 4 weeks after the end of CRT, two-stage esophagectomy was performed. First, he underwent esophagectomy with thoracic lymph node dissection. A latissimus dorsi flap was patched to the bronchus after primary suture of the hole. 6 weeks later, reconstruction of the gastric tube was performed through the antethoracic route. The pathological findings showed CR to CRT, with no proliferative cancer cells in the specimen. The patient has had no recurrence for three and half years after the resection. Conclusions : We presented a locally advanced VCE that achieved CR to CRT. In cases that have some difficulty for local resection, CRT might be an appropriate treatment for VCE