Resonant Visible Light Modulation with Graphene

Fast modulation and switching of light at visible and near-infrared (vis-NIR) frequencies is of utmost importance for optical signal processing and sensing technologies. No fundamental limit appears to prevent us from designing wavelength-sized devices capable of controlling the light phase and intensity at gigaherts (and even terahertz) speeds in those spectral ranges. However, this problem remains largely unsolved, despite recent advances in the use of quantum wells and phase-change materials for that purpose. Here, we explore an alternative solution based upon the remarkable electro-optical properties of graphene. In particular, we predict unity-order changes in the transmission and absorption of vis-NIR light produced upon electrical doping of graphene sheets coupled to realistically engineered optical cavities. The light intensity is enhanced at the graphene plane, and so is its absorption, which can be switched and modulated via Pauli blocking through varying the level of doping. Specifically, we explore dielectric planar cavities operating under either tunneling or Fabry-Perot resonant transmission conditions, as well as Mie modes in silicon nanospheres and lattice resonances in metal particle arrays. Our simulations reveal absolute variations in transmission exceeding 90% as well as an extinction ratio >15 dB with small insertion losses using feasible material parameters, thus supporting the application of graphene in fast electro-optics at vis-NIR frequencies.Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures, 54 reference

An Endoscopic Case Report of Jejunal Leiomyosarcoma and Review of the Japanese Literature

Jejunoscopy for a small intestinal leiomyosarcoma was performed on a 73-year-old male. The patient was admitted because of a palpable abdominal mass. A barium meal study, abdominal ultrasonography, computed tomography and angiography suggested a leiomyogenic tumor with a central cavity arising from the jejunal loop extraluminally. Enteroscopy with a pediatric colonofiberscope (PCF) enabled us to observe a mucosal ulcer and a part of the cavity of the tumor. Histology of the resected tumor revealed it to be a leiomyosarcoma with a large central hollow connected to the mucosal ulcer. The authors discussed the endoscopic findings of 17 previously reported Japanese cases of jejunal leiomyosarcoma and the present case

Screening of clock gene polymorphisms demonstrates association of a PER3 polymorphism with morningness-eveningness preference and circadian rhythm sleep disorder.

A system of self-sustained biological clocks controls the 24-h rhythms of behavioral and physiological processes such as the sleep-wake cycle. The circadian clock system is regulated by transcriptional and translational negative feedback loops of multiple clock genes. Polymorphisms in circadian clock genes have been associated with morningness-eveningness (diurnal) preference, familial advanced sleep phase type (ASPT), and delayed sleep phase type (DSPT). We genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphisms in circadian clock genes in 182 DSPT individuals, 67 free-running type (FRT) individuals, and 925 controls. The clock gene polymorphisms were tested for associations with diurnal preference and circadian rhythm sleep disorder (CRSD) phenotypes. The PER3 polymorphism (rs228697) was significantly associated with diurnal preference and the FRT phenotype. The minor allele of rs228697 was more prevalent in evening types than in morning types (sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR), 2.483, Bonferroni-corrected P = 0.012) and in FRT individuals compared with the controls (age- and sex-adjusted OR, 2.021, permutated P = 0.017). Our findings support the notion that PER3 polymorphisms could be a potential genetic marker for an individual\u27s circadian and sleep phenotypes

Neonatal Mortality Levels for 193 Countries in 2009 with Trends since 1990: A Systematic Analysis of Progress, Projections, and Priorities

Mikkel Oestergaard and colleagues develop annual estimates for neonatal mortality rates and neonatal deaths for 193 countries for 1990 to 2009, and forecasts into the future

聖隷クリストファー大学看護学部における国際交流事業の歴史的経緯 : 交流協定校との協定締結から現在まで（2004 － 2017）

報告Reports　本稿では、本学看護学部による国際交流事業の歴史を振り返り、現在の課題について整理するために、これまで国際交流協定を結んだ大学・専門職養成機関との協定締結までの経緯と、その後の交流事業の実績と現状を検討した。看護学部は、2004 年に本学が中国の第三軍医大学との間で初めて交流協定を締結してから13 年間に、ナンヤン理工学院、サミュエルメリット大学、カトリック・サンジ大学の４校に協定校を増やし、総じて学生208 名と教職員101 名を研修・引率・研究交流の目的で派遣し、協定校からも学生171 名と教職員102 名を受け入れてきた。今後の看護学部の課題としては、１）感染対策としての予防接種の実施の必要性と、事故発生時の引率者の対応等の危機管理の問題、２）看護研修の単位認定や研修の受け入れ時期の問題等のカリキュラムの問題、３）受け入れの際の研修施設への謝礼やもてなしの経費の予算化等、組織上の問題が示唆される

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead