Testing Lorentz Invariance with a Double-Pass Optical Ring Cavity

We have developed an apparatus to test Lorentz invariance in the photon sector by measuring the resonant frequency difference between two counterpropagating directions of an asymmetric optical ring cavity using a double-pass configuration. No significant evidence for the violation was found at the level of $\delta c /c \lesssim 10^{-14}$. Details of our apparatus and recent results are presented.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure. Presented at the Sixth Meeting on CPT and Lorentz Symmetry, Bloomington, Indiana, June 17-21, 201

Kompenzacija trenja u mikrosustavima upravljanja na daljinu

In this project, we construct micro tele-operation systems which enable human operators to performe micro tasks, such as assembly or manufacturing, without feeling a stress. We introduce haptic interfaces that give operators the impression as if he/she were touching the expanded micro objects with his/her fingers. We construct simulator systems modeled on remote environment. In this paper we give an outline and concept of this project. This research project can not only extend bilateral tele-operation to many other industries, it can also extend this human-friendly technique and thus help realize savings in resources, energy, costs and human support.Opisana je izvedba mikrosustava za rad na daljinu koji omogućava bez stresa obavljanje mikroradnji, kao što su montaža i proizvodnja. Prikazano je haptičko sučelje kojim se oponaša dodir uvećanog mikroobjekta prstima rukovatelja. Također je opisan koncept sustava i simulator sustava. Istraživanje izloženo u ovome radu, osim što može uvesti daljinsko upravljanje na mikro razini u mnogim granama industrije, otvara i mogućnosti primjene za štednju resursa, energije i troškova

Comparative Study between Nude Mice and Immunosuppressed Hamsters as Recipients of Human Tumor Xenografts

We comparatively examined nude mice and hamsters as to their suitability as recipients of human cancers. CD-1 nude mice and golden hamsters immunosuppressed with anti-hamster thymocyte serum were used. Nude mice were superior in the areas of primary transplantation and subsequent transfer and maintenance. However, growth of tumors transplantable to both animals (a lung cancer line LC-1, a colon cancer line RPMI4788) tends to be better in hamsters than in nude mice. The better development of LC-1 and RPMI4 788 cells in hamsters than in nude mice appears to be related to the superior gain in body weight shown by hamsters

ヒガシニホンダイシンサイ ニ オケル ジイン ノ ヒナンジョ カイセツ ヨウイン ノ テイリョウテキ ブンセキ

2011年の東日本大震災では多くの宗教施設が避難所として活用され、仏教寺院もまた例外ではなかった。避難所としての寺院の研究は、個別の事例研究をはじめ豊富に存在する一方で、如何なる寺院が避難所として開設したかを実証する研究はまだ十分になされていない。この問いに答えるために、本稿では、行政に対するアンケート調査やGIS を用いてデータを収集し、二項ロジットモデルで避難所開設要因の定量的な検討を行った。そこで明らかになったのは、行政による避難所としての指定それ自体が大きな影響を持っているということである。この結果は、災害時における行政の役割の重要性を示唆するものである。When the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred in 2011, many religious facilities, including Buddhist temples, were utilized as evacuation shelters. Although a large number of studies have been made on temples as shelters, there is little analysis determining what factors caused these temples to become shelters. To answer this question, this paper adopted binary logistic regression analysis using a dataset gathered by questionnaires distributed to each local government, and GIS. What the analysis makes clear is that government guidance played an important role in making temples become shelters

Variation of Pressure-Induced Valence Transition with Approximation Degree in Yb-Based Quasicrystalline Approximants

We have synthesized new Tsai-type Yb-based intermediate-valence approximant crystals (ACs) with different degree of approximation to quasicrystal, Zn--Au--Yb 1/1 and 2/1 AC, and studied the external pressure effect on their Yb mean-valence $\nu$. Whereas 1/1 AC distinctly exhibits a first-order-like jump in $\nu$ at a transition pressure $P_{\rm v}$, 2/1 AC only shows an indistinct anomaly at $P_{\rm v}$. We have also studied the pressure dependence of the $\nu$ of Au--Al--Yb 1/1 AC, which is a prototypal AC exhibiting pressure-induced quantum criticality. It shows a continuous valence anomaly at a critical pressure $P_{\rm c}$ where the magnetic susceptibility diverges toward zero temperature, in contrast to the valence jump in the Zn--Au--Yb 1/1 AC. These results are discussed based on a theoretical model of quantum critical valence fluctuation

A Unique Gene-Silencing Approach, Using an Intelligent RNA Expression Device (iRed), Results in Minimal Immune Stimulation When Given by Local Intrapleural Injection in Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Background: We have recently introduced an intelligent RNA expression device (iRed), comprising the minimum essential components needed to transcribe short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in cells. Use of iRed efficiently produced shRNA molecules after transfection into cells and alleviated the innate immune stimulation following intravenous injection. Methods: To study the usefulness of iRed for local injection, the engineered iRed encoding luciferase shRNA (Luc iRed), complexed with cationic liposomes (Luc iRed/liposome-complexes), was intrapleurally injected into an orthotopic mesothelioma mouse model. Results: Luc iRed/liposome-complexes markedly suppressed the expression of a luciferase marker gene in pleurally disseminated mesothelioma cells. The suppressive efficiency was correlated with the expression level of shRNA within the mesothelioma cells. In addition, intrapleural injection of iRed/liposome-complexes did not induce IL-6 production in the pleural space and consequently in the blood compartment, although plasmid DNA (pDNA) or dsDNA (the natural construct for iRed) in the formulation did. Conclusion: Local delivery of iRed could augment the in vivo gene silencing effect without eliciting pronounced innate immune stimulation. Our results might hold promise for widespread utilization of iRed as an RNAi-based therapeutic for intracelial malignant cancers

Gene Silencing Using 4′-thioDNA as an Artificial Template to Synthesize Short Hairpin RNA Without Inducing a Detectable Innate Immune Response

The development of a versatile technique to induce RNA interference (RNAi) without immune stimulation in vivo is of interest as existing approaches to trigger RNAi, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and plasmid DNA (pDNA) expressing short hairpin RNA (shRNA), present drawbacks arising from innate immune stimulation. To overcome them, an intelligent shRNA expression device (iRed) designed to induce RNAi was developed. The minimum sequence of iRed encodes only the U6 promoter and shRNA. A series of iRed comprises a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified 4′-thioDNA in which any one type of adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), or thymine (T) nucleotide unit was substituted by each cognate 4′-thio derivatives, i.e., dSA iRed, dSG iRed, dSC iRed, and ST iRed respectively. Each modified iRed acted as a template to transcribe shRNA with RNAi activity. The highest shRNA yield was generated using dSC iRed that exerted gene silencing activity in an orthotopic mouse model of mesothelioma. Reducing the minimal structure required to transcribe shRNA and the presence of the 4′-thiomodification synergistically function to abrogate innate immune response induced by dsDNA. The iRed will introduce a new approach to induce RNAi without inducing a detectable innate immune response

重症心身障害児に対する喉頭気管分離・気管食道吻合術と喉頭気管分離術の臨床的効果

Objective: Outcomes of tracheoesophageal diversion and laryngotracheal separation were evaluated in 15 neurologically impaired children treated for intractable aspiration. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the hospital records was carried out in 15 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent either tracheoesophageal diversion or laryngotracheal separation with trumpet-shaped tracheotomy from 1999 to 2006 in Kagawa Children’s Hospital. Results: The number of hospital admissions for aspiration pneumonia after surgery was significantly decreased in 6 patients who were cared for at home. The parent-reported number of secretion suctioning was decreased after surgery especially in patients with pre-operative tracheotomy or intubation. Four patients fed through naso-gastric tube progressed with oral diet post-operatively, whereas 3 patients who had pre-operative tracheotomy developed temporary post-operative tracheocutaneous fistula that was managed by local wound care. Conclusion: It is suggested that tracheoesophageal diversion and laryngotracheal separation decrease the morbidity of pediatric patients and improve their quality of life and that of their parents. It is suggested that the risk of developing post-operative fistula is higher in pediatric patients with than without pre-operative tracheotomy

The association of C-reactive protein with an oxidative metabolite of LDL and its implication in atherosclerosis

C-reactive protein (CRP) is one of the strongest independent predictors of cardiovascular disease. We have previously reported that oxidized LDL (oxLDL) interacts with beta 2-glycoprotein I (beta 2GPI), implicating oxLDL/P2GPI complexes as putative autoantigens in autoimmune-mediated atherosclerotic vascular disease. In this study, we investigated the interaction of CRP with oxLDL/beta 2GPI complexes and its association with atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). CRP/oxLDL/R2GPI complexes were predominantly found in sera of DM patients with atherosclerosis. In contrast, noncomplexed CRP isoforms were present in sera of patients with acute/chronic inflammation, i.e., various pyrogenic diseases, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and DM. Immunohistochemistry staining colocalized CRP and beta 2GPI together with oxLDL in carotid artery plaques but not in synovial tissue from RA patients, strongly suggesting that complex formation occurs during the development of adierosclerosis. Serum levels of CRP correlated with soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and oxLDL/beta 2GPI complexes correlated with total cholesterol and hemoglobin Al c. Thus, the generation of CRP/oxLDL/beta 2GPI complexes seems to be associated with arterial inflammation, hyperglycemia, and hypercholesterolemia. CRP/oxLDL/R2GPI complexes can be distinguished from pyrogenic noncomplexed CRP isoforms and may represent a more specific and predictive marker for atherosclerosis