American Ordinariness Hidden Behind the Spectacle of Digital Technologies : An Analysis of Sports Symbolism in Don DeLillo's The Silence

こちら側とあちら側のレトリック : メタファー・翻訳・認

ハイボク ヲ ニギリシメテ Don DeLillo ノ Underworld ニ オケル ジコ ナイセイ ノ ショクバイ ト シテノ ヤキュウ

論文Article

In situ study of oxidation states of platinum nanoparticles on a polymer electrolyte fuel cell electrode by near ambient pressure hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy

We performed in situ hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) measurements of the electronic states of platinum nanoparticles on the cathode electrocatalyst of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC) using a near ambient pressure (NAP) HAXPES instrument having an 8 keV excitation source. We successfully observed in situ NAP-HAXPES spectra of the Pt/C cathode catalysts of PEFCs under working conditions involving water, not only for the Pt 3d states with large photoionization cross-sections in the hard X-ray regime but also for the Pt 4f states and the valence band with small photoionization cross-sections. Thus, this setup allowed in situ observation of a variety of hard PEFC systems under operating conditions. The Pt 4f spectra of the Pt/C electrocatalysts in PEFCs clearly showed peaks originating from oxidized Pt(II) at 1.4 V, which unambiguously shows that Pt(IV) species do not exist on the Pt nanoparticles even at such large positive voltages. The water oxidation reaction might take place at that potential (the standard potential of 1.23 V versus a standard hydrogen electrode) but such a reaction should not lead to a buildup of detectable Pt(IV) species. The voltage-dependent NAP-HAXPES Pt 3d spectra revealed different behaviors with increasing voltage (0.6 → 1.0 V) compared with decreasing voltage (1.0 → 0.6 V), showing a clear hysteresis. Moreover, quantitative peak-fitting analysis showed that the fraction of non-metallic Pt species matched the ratio of the surface to total Pt atoms in the nanoparticles, which suggests that Pt oxidation only takes place at the surface of the Pt nanoparticles on the PEFC cathode, and the inner Pt atoms do not participate in the reaction. In the valence band spectra, the density of electronic states near the Fermi edge reduces with decreasing particle size, indicating an increase in the electrocatalytic activity. Additionally, a change in the valence band structure due to the oxidation of platinum atoms was also observed at large positive voltages. The developed apparatus is a valuable in situ tool for the investigation of the electronic states of PEFC electrocatalysts under working conditions

Role of IL-12B Promoter Polymorphism in Adamantiades–Behcet's Disease Susceptibility: An Involvement of Th1 Immunoreactivity against Streptococcus Sanguinis Antigen

Adamantiades–Behcet's disease (ABD) is a chronic inflammatory multisystem disorder. Although the precise etiology is unclear, high prevalence of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B51 predisposition and predominantly involved T-helper type 1 cells (Th1)-type proinflammatory cytokines and extrinsic Streptococcal infection suggest a substantial association with an immunogenetic basis and strengthens the hypothesis that IL-12, a potent inducer of Th-1 immune reaction, is a putative candidate in its pathogenesis. These clinicopathological findings led us to examine interleukin 12 p40 (IL-12B) promoter polymorphism, for which the 4-base pair (bp) heterozygous insertion has been shown to affect the gene transcription and subsequent protein production. We analyzed IL-12B promoter genotypes in 194 Japanese subjects (92 with ABD and 102 normal controls) by PCR-based restriction enzyme digestion. The frequency of the insertion heterozygosity was significantly higher in patients than in controls (49/92, 53.3% vs 39/102, 38.2%, respectively). Comparing these with HLA haplotype data, this trend was more significant in HLA-B51-negative patients (29/42, 69.0% vs 20/50, 40.0%; P=0.005). As assessed by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR and ELISA, stimulation with Streptococcal antigens specifically increased expression of IL-12 p40 mRNA and protein, in conjunction with IL-12 p70 induction, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from heterozygous patients. Our results provide evidence for anti-bacterial host response toward Th1-immunity mediated by IL-12 in patients with ABD, and the possible insight into the genetic susceptibility that is independent of HLA background

Intrinsic insulating transport characteristics in low-carrier density EuCd2As2 films

Searching for an ideal magnetic Weyl semimetal hosting only a single pair of Weyl points has been a focal point for systematic clarification of its unique magnetotransport derived from the interplay between topology and magnetization. Among the candidates, triangular-lattice antiferromagnet EuCd$_2$As$_2$ has been attracting special attention due to the prediction of the ideal Weyl semimetal phase in the ferromagnetic state, however, transport properties of low-carrier density samples have remained elusive. Here we report molecular beam epitaxy growth of EuCd$_2$As$_2$ films, achieving low-hole density in the range of $10^{15}$-$10^{16}$ cm$^{-3}$ at low temperature. Transport measurements of such low-carrier density films reveal an insulating behavior with an activation gap of about 200 meV, which persists even in the field-induced ferromagnetic state. Our work provides an important experimental clue that EuCd$_2$As$_2$ is intrinsically insulating, contrary to the previous prediction.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

Trial of Brain Redox Imaging and Estimation of Radiation-Induced Redox Change in Mouse Brain

The in vivo T1-weighted contrasting abilities and signal decay behaviors of several nitroxyl contrast agents, which have been used as redox responsive contrast agents in several magnetic resonance-based imaging modalities, in mouse brain were compared. In addition, daily variations of redox behavior in mouse brain after irradiation of X-ray or carbon-ion beams (C-beam) were tried to estimate based on the in vivo reduction rate of amphiphilic nitroxyl contrast agents.Injection solutions of five types of five-membered-ring nitroxyl contrast agents, i.e. 3-carboxy-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-N-oxyl (CxP), 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-N-oxyl (CmP), 3-methoxy-carbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-N-oxyl (MCP), acetoxymethyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-N-oxyl-3-carboxylate (CxP-AM), and 4-(N-methylpiperidine)-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrroline-N-oxyl (23c), and a six-membered-ring nitroxyl contrast agent, i.e. 4-hydroxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPOL), were prepared. The nitroxyl contrast agent was i.v. injected to a mouse through tail vein. Then, the distributions and pharmacokinetics of nitroxyl contrast agents were compared based on the time course of T1-weighted MRI. The MRI experiments using CMP or TEMPOL were repeated for mice irradiated by X-ray or C-beam to their head on several deferent timings, i.e. 1, 2, 4, 8 day(s) after irradiation. C-beam was irradiated at Heavy-Ion Medical Accelerator in Chiba (HIMAC, National Institute of Radiological Sciences/ National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology).The blood-brain-barrier (BBB)-impermeable CxP could not be distributed in the brain. The slightly lipophilic CmP showed slight distribution only in the ventricle, but not in the medulla and cortex. The amphiphilic MCP and TEMPOL had good initial uniform distribution in the brain and showed typical 2-phase signal decay profiles. A brain-seeking nitroxyl probe, CxP-AM, showed an accumulating phase, and then its accumulation was maintained in the medulla and ventricle regions, but not in the cortex. The lipophilic 23c was well distributed in the cortex and medulla, but slightly in the ventricle, and showed relatively rapid linear signal decay.Decay rates of MCP in mouse brain after irradiation of 8 Gy X-ray, 8 Gy C-beam or 16 Gy C-beams did not show marked clear changes, however relatively little decreasing were observed at day 1 and day 2 after irradiation. Decay rates of TEMPOL was increased 1 after irradiation then gradually recovered to the control level. MCP and TEMPOL showed opposite responses but the timing of redox change may be 1 or 2 days after irradiation.Nitroxyl contrast agents equipped with a suitable lipophilic substitution group could be BBB-permeable functional contrast agents. MR redox imaging, which can estimate not only the redox characteristics but also the detailed distribution of the contrast agents, is a good candidate for a theranostic tool. Irradiation of ionized radiation to head could cause alternation of redox status in the brain. Detail of redox mechanisms were still in progress.第7回国際放射線神経生物学会大

オオサカダイガク ガイコクガク トショカン ニ オケル LS カツドウ カイゼン ノ タメノ アカデミック ライティング スキル ガクシュウ ト ソノ シドウ ノ ジッタイ チョウサ ノ ケッカ ホウコク

調査報告Researchz Reports大阪大学外国学図書館では，2012年より大学院生ラーニング・サポーター（LS）を配置し，学習支援を行ってきたが，相談利用者や講習会参加者数の低迷に悩まされてきた．こうした現状を打破すべく，外国語学部の学部生と教員に向けて，アカデミック・ライティング・スキル（AWS）学習とその指導に関するアンケート調査を実施した．本報告は，本調査の結果を概観するとともに，結果から得られた示唆をもとに，LS活動の改善策を考察したものである．まず，学部生の多くは，AWS学習の意義を理解しつつも，実際には学べていないと分かった．対して，大多数の教員は意識的に学生へAWS指導を行う一方で，学生のAWSに不満が残る者も多いことが明らかになった．また，図書館利用中に学生がLSを知る可能性が高いこと，広報において授業担当教員からの情報発信が有効と思われること，LS活動についてより詳細かつ具体的な情報発信が必要であることなども明らかになった．Osaka University International Studies Library has assigned graduate students as Learning Supporters (LS) in its Learning Commons to offer academic support since 2012, but this service has not been well-known and has been suffering from the low number of participants in consultation sessions and workshops on academic skills. To overcome this situation, the author carried out a survey to investigate the actual conditions of the undergraduate students and the faculty members in the School of Foreign Studies and to explore how the students learn and the teachers teach academic writing skills. This paper reviews the results of this survey and, based on the insights gained from them, considers some effective measures to improve the LSs’activities. First, the findings reveal that, while understanding the significances of learning academic writing skills, many of the undergraduate students do not take time to study them. As for the teachers, it has become clear that they proactively teach the skills to the students, but that they are not satisfied with their students’achievements in academic writing skills. The survey has also made explicit the following tendencies related to the LSs’ publicity: 1) the students are most likely to get to know about the LSs when they are using the library, 2) the students think hearing information about the LSs from the faculty members are the most effective, and 3) both the students and the teachers want to know about the LSs in more detail

キソク ニ ソッテ イキル コト アメリカ ブンガク ニ オケル ヤキュウ キソク ヲ ヨム

レトリックと文

Information Leakage Threats for Cryptographic Devices Using IEMI and EM Emission

In this paper, we present a new information leakage threat combining intentional electromagnetic interference (IEMI) and observations of EM leakage. In previous studies, the analysis of secret key information in cryptographic modules using fault injection has led to methods whereby faults can be injected via low-voltage IEMI. However, the timing of fault injections cannot be controlled with this approach, and it is difficult to obtain faulty ciphertexts for use in secret key analysis by differential fault analysis (DFA). To overcome this problem, we propose a method for estimating the fault-injection timing by detecting characteristic fluctuations in the EM leakage from the device. As a result, it may be possible to implement a realistic secret information analysis method applicable to a wide range of devices. First, to show the feasibility of the proposed method, we describe an experiment using an on-chip fault-injection circuit that can control the injection timing. Furthermore, we apply a fault analysis method that combines the injection timing estimation method and fault injection by IEMI in a practical experimental environment. We select useful faulty ciphertexts using the proposed method, and then perform secret key analysis by DFA. Experimental results demonstrate that the secret key can be successfully analyzed