Neutron scattering study of magnetic ordering and excitations in the ternary rare-earth diborocarbide Ce^{11}B_2C_2

Neutron scattering experiments have been performed on the ternary rare-earth diborocarbide Ce$^{11}$B$_2$C$_2$. The powder diffraction experiment confirms formation of a long-range magnetic order at $T_{\rm N} = 7.3$ K, where a sinusoidally modulated structure is realized with the modulation vector ${\bm q} = [0.167(3), 0.167(3), 0.114(3)]$. Inelastic excitation spectra in the paramagnetic phase comprise significantly broad quasielastic and inelastic peaks centered at $\hbar \omega \approx 0, 8$ and 65 meV. Crystalline-electric-field (CEF) analysis satisfactorily reproduces the observed spectra, confirming their CEF origin. The broadness of the quasielastic peak indicates strong spin fluctuations due to coupling between localized $4f$ spins and conduction electrons in the paramagnetic phase. A prominent feature is suppression of the quasielastic fluctuations, and concomitant growth of a sharp inelastic peak in a low energy region below $T_{\rm N}$. This suggests dissociation of the conduction and localized $4f$ electrons on ordering, and contrasts the presently observed incommensurate phase with spin-density-wave order frequently seen in heavy fermion compounds, such as Ce(Ru$_{1-x}$La$_x$)$_2$Si$_2$.Comment: accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Thermally Induced Nano-Structural and Optical Changes of nc-Si:H Deposited by Hot-Wire CVD

We report on the thermally induced changes of the nano-structural and optical properties of hydrogenated nanocrystalline silicon in the temperature range 200–700 °C. The as-deposited sample has a high crystalline volume fraction of 53% with an average crystallite size of ~3.9 nm, where 66% of the total hydrogen is bonded as ≡Si–H monohydrides on the nano-crystallite surface. A growth in the native crystallite size and crystalline volume fraction occurs at annealing temperatures ≥400 °C, where hydrogen is initially removed from the crystallite grain boundaries followed by its removal from the amorphous network. The nucleation of smaller nano-crystallites at higher temperatures accounts for the enhanced porous structure and the increase in the optical band gap and average gap

Discovery of the Tadpole Molecular Cloud near the Galactic Nucleus

In this paper, we report the discovery of an isolated, peculiar compact cloud with a steep velocity gradient at 2.′6 northwest of Sgr A*. This “Tadpole” molecular cloud is unique owing to its characteristic head-tail structure in the position–velocity space. By tracing the CO J = 3–2 intensity peak in each velocity channel, we noticed that the kinematics of the Tadpole can be well reproduced by a Keplerian motion around a point-like object with a mass of 1 × 10 ^5 M _⊙ . Changes in line intensity ratios along the orbit are consistent with the Keplerian orbit model. The spatial compactness of the Tadpole and absence of bright counterparts in other wavelengths indicate that the object could be an intermediate-mass black hole

Trim9 regulates activity-dependent fine-scale topography in Drosophila

Topographic projection of afferent terminals into 2D maps in the CNS is a general strategy used by the nervous system to encode the locations of sensory stimuli. In vertebrates, it is known that although guidance cues are critical for establishing a coarse topographic map, neural activity directs fine-scale topography between adjacent afferent terminals [1-4]. However, the molecular mechanism underlying activity-dependent regulation of fine-scale topography is poorly understood. Molecular analysis of the spatial relationship between adjacent afferent terminals requires reliable localization of the presynaptic terminals of single neurons as well as genetic manipulations with single-cell resolution in vivo. Although both requirements can potentially be met in Drosophila melanogaster [5, 6], no activity-dependent topographic system has been identified in flies [7]. Here we report a topographic system that is shaped by neuronal activity in Drosophila. With this system, we found that topographic separation of the presynaptic terminals of adjacent nociceptive neurons requires different levels of Trim9, an evolutionarily conserved signaling molecule [8-11]. Neural activity regulates Trim9 protein levels to direct fine-scale topography of sensory afferents. This study offers both a novel mechanism by which neural activity directs fine-scale topography of axon terminals and a new system to study this process at single-neuron resolution

Feasibility of totally laparoscopic hemi-hepatectomies for liver tumor, with consideration of correspondence for difficult cases

Aim: Laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has been recognized as a minimally invasive surgery offering disease curability for liver tumors. Moreover, recent publications suggest that the systematic liver resections including hemi-hepatectomies have been performed safely in high volume centers. We describe our indication, standardized technique, and surgical outcome for totally laparoscopic hemi-hepatectomy (TLHH). Moreover, we hypothesize that TLHHs can be performed feasibly, as well as discuss the technical correspondence of technically difficult cases which have marginal indication for TLHHs.Methods: From September 2008 to July 2020, in total, 488 cases of liver resections including 222 cases of LLR were performed in our institution. We invented the favorable indication of TLHHs of locally resectable tumors without involvement of tumor to hepatic hilus, confluence of hepatic veins, inferior vena cava, or extrahepatic organs, in patients with sufficient hepatic functional reserve for hemi-hepatectomies. Among 21 TLHHs for liver tumors performed during study period, there were cases which derogate favorable indications; however, they might have been able to undergo TLHHs. We divided these cases into “difficult indication group (DIG)” (10 of 21 cases) and “favorable indication group (FIG)”; compared them on perioperative background, surgical outcome; and discussed the technical correspondence of TLHHs on DIG.Results: There were no significant differences in patient’s background and operative outcome. Operative duration, blood loss, and postoperative morbidity tended to be larger in DIG, mainly due to tumor factor, than in FIG. However, TLHHs were performed without any severe perioperative complications beyond Clavien-Dindo grade IIIb or mortality.Conclusion: We believe that hemi-hepatectomies can safely be stylized by totally laparoscopic fashion and correspondence for difficulty can be made through technical standardization

Phylogenetic position of the Atlantic Gnomefish, Scombrops oculatus (Teleostei: Scombropidae), within the genus Scombrops, inferred from the sequences of complete mitochondrial genome and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I genes

We determined the complete mitochondrial genome of the Atlantic Gnomefish, Scombrops oculatus (Scombropidae). The total length of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was 16,515 bp and included 13 protein-coding genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, and one control region. The gene arrangement of S. oculatus was identical to those of three Japanese scombropid species and those of other teleosts. The phylogenetic analysis using the whole mtDNA, excluding the control region, indicates the Atlantic species is distinct from the Japanese clade, whereas that using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene showed the Atlantic species is most closely related to the African species

Associations of nonrestorative sleep and insomnia symptoms with incident depressive symptoms over 1-2 years: Longitudinal results from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos and Sueño Ancillary Study.

Background:Nonrestorative sleep (NRS), defined as insufficiently rested or refreshed sleep, is considered to play an important role in the development of depression. The aim of this study is to investigate the predictive ability of insomnia-related symptoms, including NRS, for incident depressive symptoms (DEPs) in a longitudinal manner.Methods:We used data of 1196 samples aged 18–64 years who participated in both the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos conducted in 2008–2010 and the follow-up study (Sueño Ancillary Study) conducted in 2010–2013. DEPs and insomnia-related symptoms (difficulty initiating sleep [DIS], difficulty maintaining sleep [DMS], early morning awakening [EMA], difficulty returning to sleep [DRS], and NRS) were evaluated by the 10-item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the Women\u27s Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale, respectively. A logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the predictive ability of each insomnia-related symptom at baseline for incident DEPs in couple-years.Results:In the univariate logistic regression analysis, all insomnia-related symptoms had significant associations with incident DEPs (DIS, odds ratio [OR] = 1.6; DMS, OR = 1.6; EMA, OR = 1.5; DRS, OR = 1.9; NRS, OR = 2.5). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors and the confounding effects of other insomnia-related symptoms, only NRS (OR = 2.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.4–3.5, p = .001) was significantly associated with incident DEPs.Conclusions:NRS was a risk factor for incident DEPs, which includes a predictive ability for other insomnia-related symptoms. Our results suggest that focusing on NRS is an effective strategy for preventing depression in public health promotions