Tunable tunnel coupling in a double quantum antidot with cotunneling via localized state

Controlling tunnel coupling between quantum antidots (QADs) in the quantum Hall (QH) regime is problematic. We propose and demonstrate a scheme for tunable tunnel coupling between two QADs by utilizing a cotunneling process via a localized state as a third QAD. The effective tunnel coupling can be tuned by changing the localized level even with constant nearest-neighbor tunnel couplings. We systematically study the variation of transport characteristics in the effectively triple QAD system at the Landau level filling factor $\nu =2$. The tunable tunnel coupling is clarified by analyzing the anti-crossing of Coulomb blockade peaks in the charge stability diagram, in agreement with numerical simulations based on the master equation. The scheme is attractive for studying coherence and interaction in QH systems.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

A New Candidate Cultivar of Brachiaria Grass \u27Br-203\u27 Developed with Apomixis Marker Assisted Selection, through a Collaborative Breeding Activity of Thailand and Japan

Brachiaria grass (Brachiaria spp.) is one of most important tropical forage grass which belongs to family Poaceae, subfamily Panicoideae, tribe Paniceae, genus Brachiaria. Brachiaria grass has attracted attention because of a leading ‘Green Revolution’ over tens of millions of hectares in the Central Brazilian Cerrado in the 1970s. Breeding programs for Brachiaria grass have been conducted mainly by the International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) and the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA). Careful and effective recurrent selection of tetraploid sexual lines for vigor, growth habit, leafiness, and spittlebug resistance have spawned several successful hybrid cultivars: ‘Mulato’, ‘Mulato II’, and ‘Caiman’ (Miles et al., 2004). Research activities on tetraploid sexual lines of Brachiaria spp. (Ishigaki et al., 2010) have been also continued in tropical and subtropical Japan and Southeast Asia. Our recent breeding program for Brachiaria spp. has also got underway in the tropical monsoon region, particularly areas of Indo-China. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) for breeding population has been previously done with some important crops and forages. Apomixis is one of important trait for breeding, which can lead eternal asexual propagation through seed. Previous report (Ebina et al., 2005) revealed that the apomixis co-segregated marker could assist breeding selection. In this paper, we report a new candidate cultivar ‘Br-203’ bracharia grass crossed with a sexual maternal tetraploid parent of ‘Miyaokikoku’ and an apomixis paternal tetraploid parent of ‘Mulato’. After pre-selection by MAS for apomixis trait in Japan, effective and compact breeding populations have been transferred to Department of Livestock Development (DLD) Thailand. Major agronomical traits selections have been successfully performed in Thailand. The result shows the combination of MAS and conventional breeding method is a powerful and effective way of breeding of a new apomixis bracharia grass cultivar

An observational study to identify causative factors for not using hydroxychloroquine in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use is indicated for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nevertheless, reports discussing the reasons for not prescribing HCQ are limited. We identified the factors that interfere with HCQ use in patients with SLE. This observational, single-center study included data from 265 patients with SLE in 2019. The patients were categorized into groups with and without a history of HCQ use. Between these groups, clinical characteristics were compared using univariate analysis and logistic regression models. Among the 265 patients, 133 (50.2%) had a history of HCQ use. Univariate analysis identified older age; longer disease duration; lower prednisolone dose, clinical SLE disease activity index 2000, and estimated glomerular filtration rate; higher C3 level; and lower anti-double-stranded DNA antibody concentration as HCQ non-use-related variables. Logistic regression models identified a positive association between HCQ non-use and longer disease duration (odds ratio [OR] 1.08), prednisolone dose ≤ 7.5 mg/day (OR 4.03), C3 level ≥ 73 mg/dL (OR 2.15), and attending physician having graduated > 10 years prior (OR 3.19). In conclusion, a longer disease duration, lower prednisolone dose, higher C3 level, and longer time since attending physicians’ graduation correlated with HCQ non-use. Physicians and patients should be educated to facilitate HCQ use despite these factors

Potential Benefit Associated With Delaying Initiation of Hemodialysis in a Japanese Cohort

Late referral to a nephrologist, the type of vascular access, nutritional status, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at the start of hemodialysis (HD) have been reported as independent risk factors of survival for patients who begin HD. The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of the HD-free interval from the time of an eGFR of 10 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (IGFR10-HD) on patient outcome. Methods: We enrolled 124 patients aged older than 20 years who had HD initiated in a general hospital. The predictive factor was the HD-free IGFR10-HD. The primary outcome was the relationship of the HD-free interval on death or the onset of a cardiovascular event. Survival analysis was performed using the Cox regression model. Results: The median IGFR10-HD was 159 days (range: 2–1687 days). The median eGFR at the initiation of HD was 5.48 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Sixty-seven of 124 patients (54.0%) reached the primary outcome. Of these, 29 died and 38 experienced a cardiovascular event. In univariate analysis, older age, a history of cardiovascular disease, nephrologic care for <6 months, higher modified Charlson comorbidity index score, poor performance status, temporary catheter, edema, diabetic retinopathy, and nonuse of erythropoiesis-stimulating agent were statistically related to the primary outcome. The unadjusted hazard ratio per log-transformed IGFR10-HD was 0.393 (95% confidence interval [CI]; 0.244−0.635; P < 0.001) and the hazard ratio adjusted for confounding factors was 0.507 (95% CI: 0.267−0.956; P = 0.036). Discussion: A longer HD-free IGFR10-HD was associated with a lower risk of death or a cardiovascular event. The interval could be considered an independent prognostic factor for outcomes in patients on HD

Hyperglycemia Induces Cellular Hypoxia through Production of Mitochondrial ROS Followed by Suppression of Aquaporin-1.

We previously proposed that hyperglycemia-induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) generation is a key event in the development of diabetic complications. Interestingly, some common aspects exist between hyperglycemia and hypoxia-induced phenomena. Thus, hyperglycemia may induce cellular hypoxia, and this phenomenon may also be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. In endothelial cells (ECs), cellular hypoxia increased after incubation with high glucose (HG). A similar phenomenon was observed in glomeruli of diabetic mice. HG-induced cellular hypoxia was suppressed by mitochondria blockades or manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) overexpression, which is a specific SOD for mtROS. Overexpression of MnSOD also increased the expression of aquaporin-1 (AQP1), a water and oxygen channel. AQP1 overexpression in ECs suppressed hyperglycemia-induced cellular hypoxia, endothelin-1 and fibronectin overproduction, and apoptosis. Therefore, hyperglycemia-induced cellular hypoxia and mtROS generation may promote hyperglycemic damage in a coordinated manner