Synthesis of ordered mesoporous ruthenium by lyotropic liquid crystals and its electrochemical conversion to mesoporous ruthenium oxide with high surface area

In ordered to prepare high capacitance pseudo-capacitive oxides, it is important to design nanostructures with appreciable mesopores. Supramolecular templating has become a popular method to synthesize ordered mesoporous metals; however, the application of the same technique to synthesis of high surface area oxides is more demanding. We present here, the synthesis of ordered mesoporous ruthenium metal by lyotropic liquid crystal templating and its electrochemical conversion to ordered mesoporous ruthenium oxide by a simple, room temperature procedure. The bulk, unsupported metallic ordered mesoporous ruthenium exhibits high surface area of 110 m(2) g(-1), which is comparable to typical supported Ru nanoparticles. The oxide analogue gives a high specific capacitance of 376 Fg(-1), owing to the porous structure. These results demonstrate a possible facile and generic process to synthesize oxides with ordered nanostructures by utilization of the various phases that can be obtained with lyotropic liquid crystalline templates such as cubic, hexagonal, lamellar, etc.ArticleJOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES. 204:244-248 (2012)journal articl

Sensitivity Improvement of Infrared Imaging Video Bolometer for Divertor Plasma Measurement

The sensitivity of an infrared imaging video bolometer (IRVB) was improved for the measurement of relatively low energy plasma radiation from the viewpoint of the metal foil absorber material. The photon energy of the radiation was considered up to 1 keV for the divertor plasma measurement. The thickness of the foil absorber was evaluated not only for conventional heavy elements, e.g., platinum, but also for light elements by the relation between the photon energy and attenuation length and by mechanical strength. A heat-transfer calculation using ANSYS suggested that light elements with practical foil thickness provide a higher temperature rise of the foil absorber compared with heavier elements with practical foil thickness. The maximum of the temperature rise was evaluated using He–Ne laser irradiation onto absorber samples. The material dependence of the temperature rise has a similar tendency between calculations and experiments. Experimentally, the sensitivity of the IRVB improved from 280 to 110 µW/cm2 using titanium with 1 µm thickness compared with conventional platinum with 2.5 µm thickness. Consequently, the signal-to-noise ratio of the IRVB could be improved from 2.8 to 9.1

Diagnostic value of texture analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient maps for differentiating fat-poor angiomyolipoma from non-clear-cell renal cell carcinoma

Purpose: To investigate the feasibility of texture analysis of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps for differentiating fat-poor angiomyolipomas (fpAMLs) from non-clear-cell renal cell carcinomas (non-ccRCCs). Methods: In this bi-institutional study, we included two consecutive cohorts from different institutions with pathologically confirmed solid renal masses: 67 patients (fpAML = 46; non-ccRCC = 21) for model development and 39 (fpAML = 24; non-ccRCC = 15) for validation. Patients underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including diffusion-weighted imaging. We extracted 45 texture features using a software with volumes of interest on ADC maps. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to compare the diagnostic performance between the random forest (RF) model (derived from extracted texture features) and conventional subjective evaluation using computed tomography and MRI by radiologists. Results: RF analysis revealed that grey-level zone length matrix long-zone high grey-level emphasis was the dominant texture feature for diagnosing fpAML. The area under the curve (AUC) of the RF model to distinguish fpAMLs from non-ccRCCs was not significantly different between the validation and development cohorts (p = .19). In the validation cohort, the AUC of the RF model was similar to that of board-certified radiologists (p = .46) and significantly higher than that of radiology residents (p = .03). Conclusions: Texture analysis of ADC maps demonstrated similar diagnostic performance to that of board-certified radiologists for discriminating between fpAMLs and non-ccRCCs. Diagnostic performances in the development and validation cohorts were comparable despite using data from different imaging device manufacturers and institutions

Single-Cell Transcriptome Analysis Dissects the Replicating Process of Pancreatic Beta Cells in Partial Pancreatectomy Model

膵臓ベータ細胞の増殖プロセスを時系列解析 --糖尿病の新規治療開発に期待--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2020-12-24.Heterogeneity of gene expression and rarity of replication hamper molecular analysis of β-cell mass restoration in adult pancreas. Here, we show transcriptional dynamics in β-cell replication process by single-cell RNA sequencing of murine pancreas with or without partial pancreatectomy. We observed heterogeneity of Ins1-expressing β-cells and identified the one cluster as replicating β-cells with high expression of cell proliferation markers Pcna and Mki67. We also recapitulated cell cycle transition accompanied with switching expression of cyclins and E2F transcription factors. Both transient activation of endoplasmic reticulum stress responders like Atf6 and Hspa5 and elevated expression of tumor suppressors like Trp53, Rb1, and Brca1 and DNA damage responders like Atm, Atr, Rad51, Chek1, and Chek2 during the transition to replication associated fine balance of cell cycle progression and protection from DNA damage. Taken together, these results provide a high-resolution map depicting a sophisticated genetic circuit for replication of the β-cells

STING signalling is terminated through ESCRT-dependent microautophagy of vesicles originating from recycling endosomes

STING炎症シグナルの終結分子機構 --新規細胞内分解システムの発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-03-14.Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is essential for the type I interferon response against a variety of DNA pathogens. Upon emergence of cytosolic DNA, STING translocates from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi where STING activates the downstream kinase TBK1, then to lysosome through recycling endosomes (REs) for its degradation. Although the molecular machinery of STING activation is extensively studied and defined, the one underlying STING degradation and inactivation has not yet been fully elucidated. Here we show that STING is degraded by the endosomal sorting complexes required for transport (ESCRT)-driven microautophagy. Airyscan super-resolution microscopy and correlative light/electron microscopy suggest that STING-positive vesicles of an RE origin are directly encapsulated into Lamp1-positive compartments. Screening of mammalian Vps genes, the yeast homologues of which regulate Golgi-to-vacuole transport, shows that ESCRT proteins are essential for the STING encapsulation into Lamp1-positive compartments. Knockdown of Tsg101 and Vps4, components of ESCRT, results in the accumulation of STING vesicles in the cytosol, leading to the sustained type I interferon response. Knockdown of Tsg101 in human primary T cells leads to an increase the expression of interferon-stimulated genes. STING undergoes K63-linked ubiquitination at lysine 288 during its transit through the Golgi/REs, and this ubiquitination is required for STING degradation. Our results reveal a molecular mechanism that prevents hyperactivation of innate immune signalling, which operates at REs

Tokyo Guidelines 2018 management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis

Management bundles that define items or procedures strongly recommended in clinical practice have been used in many guidelines in recent years. Application of these bundles facilitates the adaptation of guidelines and helps improve the prognosis of target diseases. In Tokyo Guidelines 2013 (TG13), we proposed management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Here, in Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (TG18), we redefine the management bundles for acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Critical parts of the bundles in TG18 include the diagnostic process, severity assessment, transfer of patients if necessary, and therapeutic approach at each time point. Observance of these items and procedures should improve the prognosis of acute cholangitis and cholecystitis. Studies are now needed to evaluate the dissemination of these TG18 bundles and their effectiveness. Free full articles and mobile app of TG18 are available at: . Related clinical questions and references are also include

The 2020 UV emitter roadmap

Solid state UV emitters have many advantages over conventional UV sources. The (Al,In,Ga)N material system is best suited to produce LEDs and laser diodes from 400 nm down to 210 nm—due to its large and tuneable direct band gap, n- and p-doping capability up to the largest bandgap material AlN and a growth and fabrication technology compatible with the current visible InGaN-based LED production. However AlGaN based UV-emitters still suffer from numerous challenges compared to their visible counterparts that become most obvious by consideration of their light output power, operation voltage and long term stability. Most of these challenges are related to the large bandgap of the materials. However, the development since the first realization of UV electroluminescence in the 1970s shows that an improvement in understanding and technology allows the performance of UV emitters to be pushed far beyond the current state. One example is the very recent realization of edge emitting laser diodes emitting in the UVC at 271.8 nm and in the UVB spectral range at 298 nm. This roadmap summarizes the current state of the art for the most important aspects of UV emitters, their challenges and provides an outlook for future developments

Tokyo Guidelines 2018: initial management of acute biliary infection and flowchart for acute cholangitis

The initial management of patients with suspected acute biliary infection starts with the measurement of vital signs to assess whether or not the situation is urgent. If the case is judged to be urgent, initial medical treatment should be started immediately including respiratory/circulatory management if required, without waiting for a definitive diagnosis. The patient's medical history is then taken; an abdominal examination is performed; blood tests, urinalysis, and diagnostic imaging are carried out; and a diagnosis is made using the diagnostic criteria for cholangitis/cholecystitis. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed, initial medical treatment should be started immediately, severity should be assessed according to the severity grading criteria for acute cholangitis/cholecystitis, and the patient's general status should be evaluated. For mild acute cholangitis, in most cases initial treatment including antibiotics is sufficient, and most patients do not require biliary drainage. However, biliary drainage should be considered if a patient does not respond to initial treatment. For moderate acute cholangitis, early endoscopic or percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage is indicated. If the underlying etiology requires treatment, this should be provided after the patient's general condition has improved; endoscopic sphincterotomy and subsequent choledocholithotomy may be performed together with biliary drainage. For severe acute cholangitis, appropriate respiratory/circulatory management is required. Biliary drainage should be performed as soon as possible after the patient's general condition has been improved by initial treatment and respiratory/circulatory management. Free full articles and mobile app of TG18 are available at: http://www.jshbps.jp/modules/en/index.php?content_id=47 . Related clinical questions and references are also include