Fabrication of a 64-Pixel TES Microcalorimeter Array with Iron Absorbers Uniquely Designed for 14.4-keV Solar Axion Search

If a hypothetical elementary particle called an axion exists, to solve the strong CP problem, a 57Fe nucleus in the solar core could emit a 14.4-keV monochromatic axion through the M1 transition. If such axions are once more transformed into photons by a 57Fe absorber, a transition edge sensor (TES) X-ray microcalorimeter should be able to detect them efficiently. We have designed and fabricated a dedicated 64-pixel TES array with iron absorbers for the solar axion search. In order to decrease the effect of iron magnetization on spectroscopic performance, the iron absorber is placed next to the TES while maintaining a certain distance. A gold thermal transfer strap connects them. We have accomplished the electroplating of gold straps with high thermal conductivity. The residual resistivity ratio (RRR) was over 23, more than eight times higher than a previous evaporated strap. In addition, we successfully electroplated pure-iron films of more than a few micrometers in thickness for absorbers and a fabricated 64-pixel TES calorimeter structure.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, published in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity on 8 March 202

An assessment of the characteristics and quality of diagnostic accuracy studies for positron emission tomography conducted in Japan:a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Systematic evaluations of the diagnostic accuracy of positron emission tomography (PET) imaging have been widely conducted in many countries. Although Japan’s total number of PET units is the second highest in the world, very limited effort has been made to systematically assess the methodological quality of PET studies in Japan. We performed a systematic review to assess the characteristics and quality of PET diagnostic accuracy studies conducted in Japan and to analyze the factors related to their quality. METHODS: All PET studies conducted in Japan were identified using MEDLINE and the Japan Medical Abstract Society Database. The characteristics of the Japanese studies were examined and their methodological quality evaluated by the standardized quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS) tool. We compared the quality of studies indexed in MEDLINE with non-indexed studies, followed by a comparison of the studies’ conclusions with those of international health technology assessment (HTA) reports. RESULTS: A total of 138 studies were identified. Half of them were not indexed in MEDLINE. The mean quality score of the Japanese studies was 6.7 and the proportion of high-quality studies (with a quality score higher than 8) was 32.6%. A significant difference was observed in several quality items between MEDLINE-indexed and non-indexed studies, although there was no difference in total quality score. Three variables (i.e., target diseases, publication year, and study type) were identified as factors related to the quality of the studies. Conclusions of Japanese studies relating to several target diseases were relatively consistent with international assessments. CONCLUSIONS: Although a considerable number of diagnostic accuracy studies of PET have been conducted in Japan, a substantial proportion of high-quality studies were not indexed in international databases. High-quality Japanese studies, therefore, should be searched using Japanese databases and assessed by systematic reviews and HTA conducted internationally. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13550-015-0084-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Effectiveness of community-based health services by nurse practitioners:Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION: To realise universal health coverage in an ageing society, adequate provision of appropriately trained human resources is essential. The nurse practitioner (NP) is an autonomous and independent, advanced practice nurse capable of providing treatment and care that can be substituted for some aspects of a medical doctor's (MD's) role, especially in a community setting. Previous systematic reviews found higher levels of patient satisfaction with services provided by NPs than those provided by MDs. As non-communicable diseases become a major health burden requiring long-term healthcare in community settings, this systematic review aims to assess the equivalence of NP services to standard care provided by MDs, and to determine whether their practice is an effective alternative to that of MDs in community settings. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and cluster RCTs will be searched in the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the British Nursing Index. We will assess patient and health system utilisation outcomes of interventions comparing treatment and care provided by NPs in community settings with that provided by MDs. Two authors will independently screen studies for inclusion, consulting with a third author where necessary to resolve discrepancies. The risk of bias of included studies will be assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration risk of bias tool, and quality of evidence using the GRADE approach. Meta-analysis of included studies will be conducted using fixed-effect or random-effects models depending on the degree of between-study heterogeneity. Results will be presented using risk ratios with 95% CI for dichotomous outcomes and standardised mean differences with 95% CI for continuous outcomes. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol does not require ethical approval. We will disseminate the findings of this systematic review and meta-analysis via publications in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPEROCRD42014009627

Thienyl-Substituted α‑Ketoamide: A Less Hydrophobic Reactive Group for Photo-Affinity Labeling

Photoaffinity labeling (PAL) is an important tool in chemical biology research, but application of α-ketoamides for PAL has been hampered by their photoinstability. Here, we show that 2-thienyl-substituted α-ketoamide is a superior photoreactive group for PAL. Studies with a series of synthetic mannose-conjugated α-ketoamides revealed that 2-thienyl substitution of α-ketoamide decreased the electrophilicity of the keto group and reduced the rate of photodegradation. Mannose-conjugated thienyl α-ketoamide showed greater concanavalin A labeling efficiency than other alkyl or phenyl-substituted α-ketoamides. In comparison with representative conventional photoreactive groups, 2-thienyl ketoamide showed reduced labeling of nontarget proteins, probably owing to its lower hydrophobicity