Stereographical visualization of a polarization state using weak measurements with an optical-vortex beam

We propose a stereographical-visualization scheme for a polarization state by two-dimensional imaging of a weak value with a single setup. The key idea is to employ Laguerre-Gaussian modes or an optical vortex beam for a probe state in weak measurement. Our scheme has the advantage that we can extract information on the polarization state from the single image in which the zero-intensity point of the optical vortex beam corresponds to a stereographic projection point of the Poincare sphere. We experimentally perform single-setup weak measurement to validate the stereographical relationship between the polarization state on the Poincare sphere and the location of the zero-intensity point.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

Temperature gradient sensor based on a long-fiber Bragg grating and time-frequency analysis

© [2014 Optical Society of America.]. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modifications of the content of this paper are prohibited.A photonic sensor based on a 10-cm-long fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is presented and experimentally validated that is dedicated to detect the presence and the position of a temperature gradient. The system is based on the measurement of the central frequency distribution of the grating based on time-frequency domain analysis. A short optical pulse, having duration much shorter than the transit time along the grating, is coupled into the FBG, and the back-reflected pulse is scanned by means of an oscilloscope. A spatial resolution of 1 mm, given by half the input pulse duration, is achieved. The proposed sensor is based on a simple configuration and presents a sensing range of 10 cm, which could be further enhanced by fabricating a longer grating. (C) 2014 Optical Society of AmericaThe authors wish to acknowledge the Infraestructura FEDER UPVOV08-3E-008, FEDER UPVOV10-3E-492, the Spanish MCINN through the project TEC2011-29120-C05-05, the Valencian Government through the Ayuda Complementaria ACOMP/2013/146 and the financial support given by the Research Excellency Award Program GVA PROMETEO 2013/012.Ricchiuti, AL.; Barrera Vilar, D.; Nonaka, K.; Sales Maicas, S. (2014). Temperature gradient sensor based on a long-fiber Bragg grating and time-frequency analysis. Optics Letters. 39(19):5729-5731. https://doi.org/10.1364/OL.39.005729S572957313919Culshaw, B. (2004). Optical Fiber Sensor Technologies: Opportunities and—Perhaps—Pitfalls. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 22(1), 39-50. doi:10.1109/jlt.2003.822139Kersey, A. D., Davis, M. A., Patrick, H. J., LeBlanc, M., Koo, K. P., Askins, C. G., … Friebele, E. J. (1997). Fiber grating sensors. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 15(8), 1442-1463. doi:10.1109/50.618377Li, S. Y., Ngo, N. Q., Tjin, S. C., Shum, P., & Zhang, J. (2004). Thermally tunable narrow-bandpass filter based on a linearly chirped fiber Bragg grating. Optics Letters, 29(1), 29. doi:10.1364/ol.29.000029Uno, H., Kojima, A., Shibano, A., & Mikami, O. (1999). Optical wavelength switch using strain-controlled fiber Bragg gratings. Optical Engineering for Sensing and Nanotechnology (ICOSN ’99). doi:10.1117/12.347816Azana, J., & Muriel, M. A. (2001). Temporal self-imaging effects: theory and application for multiplying pulse repetition rates. IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics, 7(4), 728-744. doi:10.1109/2944.974245Volanthen, M., Geiger, H., & Dakin, J. P. (1997). Distributed grating sensors using low-coherence reflectometry. Journal of Lightwave Technology, 15(11), 2076-2082. doi:10.1109/50.641525Hotate, K., & Kajiwara, K. (2008). Proposal and experimental verification of Bragg wavelength distribution measurement within a long-length FBG by synthesis of optical coherence function. Optics Express, 16(11), 7881. doi:10.1364/oe.16.007881Sancho, J., Chin, S., Barrera, D., Sales, S., & Thévenaz, L. (2013). Time-frequency analysis of long fiber Bragg gratings with low reflectivity. Optics Express, 21(6), 7171. doi:10.1364/oe.21.007171Ricchiuti, A. L., Barrera, D., Sales, S., Thevenaz, L., & Capmany, J. (2013). Long fiber Bragg grating sensor interrogation using discrete-time microwave photonic filtering techniques. Optics Express, 21(23), 28175. doi:10.1364/oe.21.028175Thévenaz, L., Chin, S., Sancho, J., & Sales, S. (2014). Novel technique for distributed fibre sensing based on faint long gratings (FLOGs). 23rd International Conference on Optical Fibre Sensors. doi:10.1117/12.2059668Barnoski, M. K., Rourke, M. D., Jensen, S. M., & Melville, R. T. (1977). Optical time domain reflectometer. Applied Optics, 16(9), 2375. doi:10.1364/ao.16.00237

ショウガオールはヒト歯肉線維芽細胞において酸化ストレス反応の調節を介してAGEs誘導性のIL-6およびICAM-1産生を抑制する

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) cause diabetes mellitus (DM) complications and accumulate more highly in periodontal tissues of patients with periodontitis and DM. AGEs aggravate periodontitis with DM by increasing the expression of inflammation-related factors in periodontal tissues. 6-Shogaol, a major compound in ginger, has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities. However, the influence of shogaol on DM-associated periodontitis is not well known. In this study, the effects of 6-shogaol on AGEs-induced oxidative and anti-oxidative responses, and IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) were investigated. When HGFs were cultured with 6-shogaol and AGEs, the activities of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant enzymes (heme oxygenase-1 [HO-1] and NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 [NQO1]), and IL-6 and ICAM-1 expressions were investigated. RAGE expression and phosphorylation of MAPKs and NF-κB were examined by western blotting. 6-Shogaol significantly inhibited AGEs-induced ROS activity, and increased HO-1 and NQO1 levels compared with the AGEs-treated cells. The AGEs-stimulated expression levels of receptor of AGE (RAGE), IL-6 and ICAM-1 and the phosphorylation of p38, ERK and p65 were attenuated by 6-shogaol. These results suggested that 6-shogaol inhibits AGEs-induced inflammatory responses by regulating oxidative and anti-oxidative activities and may have protective effects on periodontitis with DM

Suppression of Instability on Sensing Signal of Optical Pulse Correlation Measurement in Remote Fiber Sensing

Optical fiber sensing has the potential to overcome weak points of traditional electric sensors. Many types of optical fiber sensors have been proposed according to the modulation parameter of incident light. We have proposed an optical pulse correlation sensing system that focuses on the time drift values of the propagating optical pulses to monitor the temperature- or strain-induced extension along the optical fiber in the sensing region. In this study, we consider the instability in the optical pulse correlation sensing system applied to remote monitoring over a kilometer-long distance. We introduce a method to stabilize the instability of the pulse correlation signal resulting from the time drift fluctuation along a transmission line. By using this method, we can purify the response and improve the accuracy of signals at the focused sensing regions. We also experimentally demonstrate remote temperature monitoring over a 30 km-long distance using a remote reference technique, and we estimate the resolution and the measurable span of the temperature variation as (1.1/L)∘C and (5.9×10/L)°C, respectively, where L is the length of the fiber in the sensing region

AGEs increase IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression

Background and Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for periodontal diseases and may exacerbate the progression of the pathogenesis of periodontitis. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) cause DM complications relative to levels of glycemic control and larger amounts accumulate in the periodontal tissues of patients with periodontitis and DM. In the present study, we investigated the effects of AGEs on the expression of inflammation-related factors in human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) in order to elucidate the impact of AGEs on DM-associated periodontitis. Materials and Methods: HGFs were cultured with or without AGEs. Cell viability was examined, and RNA and protein fractions were isolated from AGE-treated cells. The expression of IL-6, ICAM-1, and the receptor for AGE (RAGE) was investigated using RT-PCR, quantitative real-time PCR, and ELISA, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) activity was measured using a kit with 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescin diacetate. Human monocytic cells (THP-1) labelled with a fluorescent reagent were co-cultured with HGFs treated with AGEs and IL-6 siRNA, and the adhesive activity of THP-1 cells to HGFs was assessed. The expression of IL-6 and ICAM-1 was examined when HGFs were pretreated with recombinant human IL-6 (rhIL-6), the siRNAs of RAGE and IL-6, and inhibitors of MAPK and NF-κB, and then cultured with and without AGEs. The phosphorylation of MAPK and NF-κB was assessed using Western blotting. Results: AGEs increased the mRNA and protein expressions of RAGE, IL-6, ICAM-1 and ROS activity in HGFs, and promoted the adhesion of THP-1 cells to HGFs, but had no effect on cell viability until 72 h. rhIL-6 increased ICAM-1 expression in HGFs, while the siRNAs of RAGE and IL-6 inhibited AGE-induced IL6 and ICAM1 mRNA expression, and IL-6 siRNA depressed AGE-induced THP-1 cell adhesion. AGEs increased the phosphorylation of p38 and ERK MAPKs, p65 NF-κB, and IκBα, while inhibitors of p38, ERK MAPKs, and NF-κB significantly decreased AGE-induced IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression. Conclusions: AGEs increase IL-6 and ICAM-1 expression via the RAGE, MAPK and NF-κB pathways in HGFs and may exacerbate the progression of the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases

TDP-43 stabilises the processing intermediates of mitochondrial transcripts

The 43-kDa trans-activating response region DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is a product of a causative gene for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Despite of accumulating evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction underlies the pathogenesis of TDP-43–related ALS, the roles of wild-type TDP-43 in mitochondria are unknown. Here, we show that the small TDP-43 population present in mitochondria binds directly to a subset of mitochondrial tRNAs and precursor RNA encoded in L-strand mtDNA. Upregulated expression of TDP-43 stabilised the processing intermediates of mitochondrial polycistronic transcripts and their products including the components of electron transport and 16S mt-rRNA, similar to the phenotype observed in cells deficient for mitochondrial RNase P. Conversely, TDP-43 deficiency reduced the population of processing intermediates and impaired mitochondrial function. We propose that TDP-43 has a novel role in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis by regulating the processing of mitochondrial transcripts

Medium-chain fatty acids suppress lipotoxicity-induced hepatic fibrosis via the immunomodulating receptor GPR84

食事性肥満から肝炎発症に関わる制御因子の同定 --中鎖脂肪酸油による予防・GPR84標的NASH治療薬の可能性--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2023-01-18.Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which consist of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs), are unique forms of dietary fat with various health benefits. G protein–coupled 84 (GPR84) acts as a receptor for MCFAs (especially C10:0 and C12:0); however, GPR84 is still considered an orphan receptor, and the nutritional signaling of endogenous and dietary MCFAs via GPR84 remains unclear. Here, we showed that endogenous MCFA-mediated GPR84 signaling protected hepatic functions from diet-induced lipotoxicity. Under high-fat diet (HFD) conditions, GPR84-deficient mice exhibited nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and the progression of hepatic fibrosis but not steatosis. With markedly increased hepatic MCFA levels under HFD, GPR84 suppressed lipotoxicity-induced macrophage overactivation. Thus, GPR84 is an immunomodulating receptor that suppresses excessive dietary fat intake–induced toxicity by sensing increases in MCFAs. Additionally, administering MCTs, MCFAs (C10:0 or C12:0, but not C8:0), or GPR84 agonists effectively improved NASH in mouse models. Therefore, exogenous GPR84 stimulation is a potential strategy for treating NASH

Relationship between charge redistribution and ferromagnetism at the heterointerface between perovskite oxides LaNiO3 and LaMnO

To investigate the relationship between the charge redistribution and ferromagnetism at the heterointerface between perovskite transition-metal oxides LaNiO$_3$ (LNO) and LaMnO$_3$ (LMO), we performed x-ray absorption spectroscopy and x-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) measurements. In the LNO/LMO heterostructures with asymmetric charge redistribution, the electrons donated from Mn to Ni ions are confined within one monolayer (ML) of LNO at the interface, whereas holes are distributed over 3-4 ML on the LMO side. A detailed analysis of the Ni-$L_{2,3}$ and Mn-$L_{2,3}$ XMCD spectra reveals that Ni magnetization is induced only by the Ni$^{2+}$ ions in the 1 ML LNO adjacent to the interface, while the magnetization of Mn ions is increased in the 3-4 ML LMO of the interfacial region. The characteristic length scale of the emergent (increased) interfacial ferromagnetism of the LNO (LMO) layers is in good agreement with that of the charge distribution across the interface, indicating a close relationship between the charge redistribution due to the interfacial charge transfer and the ferromagnetism of the LNO/LMO interface. Furthermore, the XMCD spectra clearly demonstrate that the vectors of induced magnetization of both ions are aligned ferromagnetically, suggesting that the delicate balance between the exchange interactions occurring inside each layer and across the interface may induce the canted ferromagnetism of Ni$^{2+}$ ions, resulting in weak magnetization in the 1 ML LNO adjacent to the interface.Comment: 22 pages, 4 figure

Association between high psychological distress and poor oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) in Japanese community-dwelling people: the Nagasaki Islands Study

Background: We investigated the association between psychological distress and oral health status/oral health-related quality of life (OHQoL) in Japanese community-dwelling people. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Nagasaki Islands Study. A total of 1183 (455 men and 728 women)has been analyzed in this study. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). Oral health status was measured by dental examination. The OHQoL was measured using the General Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). We defined the total score of ?5 points on the K6 as high psychological distress (high-K6 group). Results: The multiple linear regression analysis to identify the GOHAI showed that gender, K6, the total number of teeth, the number of dental caries, and visiting a dental clinic within the past 6 months significantly associated with the GOHAI. Among all of these variables, high-K6 (? 5)was a substantial contributing factor of the GOHAI (β = ? 0.23, 95% Cl ? 2.31 to ?1.41, p < 0.0001).Conclusions: It is likely that the individual with high psychological distress was strongly related to poor OHQoL even in the general population

Molecular analysis of the BCR-ABL1 kinase domain in chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors in practice: Study by the Nagasaki CML Study Group

An appropriate trigger for BCR-ABL1 mutation analysis has not yet been established in unselected cohorts of chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia patients. We examined 92 patients after 12 months of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) treatment in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan. Univariate analysis revealed that significant factors associated with not attaining a major molecular response (MMR) were the presence of the minor BCR-ABL1 fusion gene, a low daily dose of TKI, and the emergence of BCR-ABL1 kinase domain mutations conferring resistance to imatinib. Factors associated with the loss of sustained MMR were a low daily dose of TKI and the emergence of alternatively spliced BCR-ABL1 mRNA with a 35-nucleotide insertion. Taken together, our results suggest that the search for BCR-ABL1 mutations should be initiated if patients have not achieved MMR following 12 months of TKI treatment