Embedded Planar Power Inductor in an Organic Interposer for Package-Level DC Power Grid

To realize the basic technology of a package-level dc power grid for the next generation power delivery to large scale integrated circuits (LSIs), two types of planar spiral inductors embedded in an organic interposer, for several tens of megahertz switching power supply integrated in LSI package, have been proposed. One is a Zn-Fe ferrite core spiral inductor, and another is a hybrid core spiral inductor, with quasi closed magnetic circuit consisting of the bottom Zn-Fe ferrite core and top carbonyl-iron/epoxy composite core. In this paper, the two types of planar spiral inductors have been fabricated and evaluated. From the experimental results, it was found that the hybrid core planar spiral inductor exhibited higher Q-factor and larger rating dc current than the Zn-Fe ferrite core inductor.ArticleIEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS. 50(11):8401304 (2014)journal articl

SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain is internalized and promotes protein ISGylation in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes

Although an increased risk of myocarditis has been observed after vaccination with mRNA encoding severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein, its underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. This study investigated the direct effects of spike receptor-binding domain (S-RBD) on human cardiomyocytes differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-CMs). Immunostaining experiments using ACE2 wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) iPSC-CMs treated with purified S-RBD demonstrated that S-RBD was bound to ACE2 and internalized into the subcellular space in the iPSC-CMs, depending on ACE2. Immunostaining combined with live cell imaging using a recombinant S-RBD fused to the superfolder GFP (S-RBD-sfGFP) demonstrated that S-RBD was bound to the cell membrane, co-localized with RAB5A, and then delivered from the endosomes to the lysosomes in iPSC-CMs. Quantitative PCR array analysis followed by single cell RNA sequence analysis clarified that S-RBD-sfGFP treatment significantly upregulated the NF-kβ pathway-related gene (CXCL1) in the differentiated non-cardiomyocytes, while upregulated interferon (IFN)-responsive genes (IFI6, ISG15, and IFITM3) in the matured cardiomyocytes. S-RBD-sfGFP treatment promoted protein ISGylation, an ISG15-mediated post-translational modification in ACE2-WT-iPSC-CMs, which was suppressed in ACE2-KO-iPSC-CMs. Our experimental study demonstrates that S-RBD is internalized through the endolysosomal pathway, which upregulates IFN-responsive genes and promotes ISGylation in the iPSC-CMs.Okuno S., Higo S., Kondo T., et al. SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor-binding domain is internalized and promotes protein ISGylation in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Scientific Reports 13, 21397 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-48084-7

認知症高齢がん患者の看護実践の関連要因

The purpose of this study was to clarify the current status of nursing practice for elderly cancer patients with dementia receiving treatment in acute care hospitals and related factors. An anonymous， self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted from May to July 2021， involving 400 people with experience of providing nursing care for elderly cancer patients with dementia. Factor analysis identified and as factors of self-evaluation of nursing practice for elderly cancer patients with dementia receiving treatment in acute care hospitals. Such evaluation was influenced by ， ， ， ， ， and

High-level expression by tissue/cancer-specific promoter with strict specificity using a single-adenoviral vector

Tissue-/cancer-specific promoters for use in adenovirus vectors (AdVs) are valuable for elucidating specific gene functions and for use in gene therapy. However, low activity, non-specific expression and size limitations in the vector are always problems. Here, we developed a ‘double-unit’ AdV containing the Cre gene under the control of an α-fetoprotein promoter near the right end of its genome and bearing a compact ‘excisional-expression’ unit consisting of a target cDNA ‘upstream’ of a potent promoter between two loxPs near the left end of its genome. When Cre was expressed, the expression unit was excised as a circular molecule and strongly expressed. Undesired leak expression of Cre during virus preparation was completely suppressed by a dominant-negative Cre and a short-hairpin RNA against Cre. Using this novel construct, a very strict specificity was maintained while achieving a 40- to 90-fold higher expression level, compared with that attainable using a direct specific promoter. Therefore, the ‘double-unit’ AdV enabled us to produce a tissue-/cancer-specific promoter in an AdV with a high expression level and strict specificity

Community-based clinical education increases motivation of medical students to medicine of remote area : comparison between lecture and practice

In this study, we administered a questionnaire to medical students to evaluate the effect of community-based clinical education on their attitudes to community medicine and medicine in remote area. Questionnaires were given 4 times to all the students from first-year to sixth-year. Of 95 students, 65 students (68.4%) who completed all questionnaires, were used in this study. The intensity of students’ attitudes was estimated by using visual analogue scale. The intensity of interest, a sense of fulfillment and passion in medicine of remote area was significantly increased　after the community-based practice. On the other hand, the level of understanding in medicine in remote area was increased by the lecture not by the practice. The intensity of desire both to become a generalist and a specialist was significantly increased when the grade went up. Most of sixth-year students desired to have abilities of a generalist and a specialist simultaneously. This study shows that the community-based practice is more meaningful in increasing motivation in medicine in remote area than the lecture, and suggests that it is　important to prepare more courses to　experience community medicine to increase the number of physicians who desire to work in remote area

A Report on Overseas Teaching Practicum by Graduate Students in Elementary/Secondary Schools in the United States（Ⅺ）

This paper reports on the 11th overseas teaching practicum in the U.S. 12 students joined this year’s program and they observed and conducted lessons in English in three local public schools in North Carolina after careful and repeated preparation sessions in Japan. Many of them did lessons on crosscultural understandings and a few taught subject contents. Through the trail to convey messages in English, their foreign language, students learned the role of verbal and nonverbal language and the more universal way to explain topics to children who are unfamiliar with what re taught. And they also learned and noticed the cultural differences and similalities between the two countries. It seemed that students realized that the two countries share many things in common such as what chidren are like, teachers’ attitude toward children and challenges they are facing, and people’s kindness. These learning was no substitute experience for the participants and it is hoped that their experience will be passed to the next generation when they become teachers