Numerical Investigation of a Kretschmann-Type Surface Plasmon Resonance Waveguide Sensor

A Kretschmann-type surface plasmon resonance waveguide sensor is analyzed using the wide-angle beampropagation method (BPM) with the complex Pade approximant and the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) methods based on the recursive convolution (RC) and piecewise linear RC (PLRC) techniques. The wavelength responses of the sensor are calculated, and a detailed comparison of the numerical results is made. The BPM results are validated through a comparison with the FDTD results, in which the PLRC technique is required in terms of accuracy. The waveguide sensor shows a maximum absorption wavelength shift from 0.609 to 0.623 μm, as the refractive index of an analyte is increased from 1.330 to 1.334, which is comparable to the sensitivity of the conventional Kretschmann configuration

Effects on the radiation characteristics of using a corrugated reflector with a helical antenna and an electromagnetic band-gap reflector with a spiral antenna

An axial-mode helical antenna backed by a perfect electric conductor (PEC reflector) is optimized to radiate a circularly polarized (CP) wave, using the finite-difference time-domain method (FDTDM). After the optimization, the PEC reflector is replaced with a corrugated reflector. The effects of the corrugated reflector on the current distribution along the helical arm and the radiation pattern are investigated. A reduction in the backward radiation is attributed to the reduction in the current flowing over the rear surface of the corrugated reflector. A spiral antenna backed by a PEC reflector of finite extent is also analyzed using the FDTDM. As the antenna height decreases, the reverse current toward the feed point increases, resulting in deterioration of the axial ratio. To overcome this deterioration, the PEC reflector is replaced with an electromagnetic band-gap (EBG) reflector composed of mushroom-like elements. Analysis reveals that the spiral radiates a CP wave even when the spiral is located close to the reflector (0.06 wavelength above the EBG surface). The input impedance for the EBG reflector is more stable over a wide frequency band than that for the PEC reflector

Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic study of oligomers of the haemolytic lectin CEL-III from the sea cucumber Cucumaria echinata

CEL-III is a Ca2+-dependent haemolytic lectin isolated from the marine invertebrate Cucumaria echinata. This lectin binds to Gal/GalNAc-containing carbohydrate chains on the cell surface and, after conformational changes, oligomerizes to form ion-permeable pores in cell membranes. CEL-III also forms soluble oligomers similar to those formed in cell membranes upon binding of specific carbohydrates in high-pH and high-salt solutions. These soluble and membrane CEL-III oligomers were crystallized and X-ray diffraction data were collected. Crystals of soluble oligomers and membrane oligomers diffracted X-rays to 3.3 and 4.2 Å resolution, respectively, using synchrotron radiation and the former was found to belong to space group C2. Self-rotation functional analysis of the soluble oligomer crystal suggested that it might be composed of heptameric CEL-III

Effect of Methotrexate Plus Adalimumab on the Achievement of Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapeutic Goals : Post Hoc Analysis of Japanese Patients (MELODY Study)

Introduction: There is insufficient evidence regarding the appropriate dose of methotrexate (MTX) required to achieve specific treatment goals in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) receiving biologic drugs in Japan. The present study aimed to assess the dose-response effect of MTX in combination with adalimumab (ADA) to achieve low disease activity (LDA) and/or remission at 24 weeks in RA patients. Methods: This analysis used data of the ADA all-case survey in Japan (n = 7740), and 5494 patients who received ADA and MTX were classified into five groups by weighted average MTX dose (>0-3.2 were analyzed for effectiveness by MTX dose. Results: In biologic-naive patients (n = 1996/3097), LDA/remission rates increased with MTX up to 6-<8 mg/week and then plateaued at higher doses (LDA, p = 0.0440; remission, p = 0.0422). In biologic-exposed patients (n = 1101/3097), LDA/remission rates increased with MTX dose (LDA, p = 0.0009; remission p = 0.0143). The incidences of serious adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and serious infections did not differ by MTX dose, but total ADRs and infections were significantly higher (p < 0.05) with increased MTX doses. Conclusion: The appropriate MTX doses in combination with ADA to achieve LDA and/or remission at week 24 were different between biologic-naive and biologic-exposed patients with RA, suggesting that 8 mg/week of MTX would be enough for biologic-naive patients