Ice thikness measurement on glaciers in Suntar Khayata, Eastern Siberia (A preliminary result)

第3回極域科学シンポジウム/特別セッション「これからの北極研究」11月28日（水） 国立極地研究所 2階大会議

Monte Carlo study of cuprate superconductors in a four-band dd-pp model: Role of orbital degrees of freedom

Understanding the complex phase diagram of cuprate superconductors is a long-standing challenging problem. Recent studies have shown that orbital degrees of freedom, both Cu $e_g$ orbitals and O $p$ orbitals, are a key ingredient for a unified understanding of cuprate superconductors, including the material dependence. Here we investigate a four-band $d$-$p$ model derived from the first-principles calculations with the variational Monte Carlo method, which allows us to elucidate competing orders on an equal footing. The obtained results can consistently explain the doping dependence of superconductivity, antiferromagnetic and stripe phases, phase separation in the underdoped region, and also novel magnetism in the heavily-overdoped region. Our four-band $d$-$p$ model with neighbouring intersite interactions is a minimal model to describe the phase diagram comprehensively. The presence of $p$ orbitals is critical to the charge-stripe features, which induce two types of stripe phases with $s'$-wave and $d$-wave bond stripe. On the other hand, the presence of $d_{z^2}$ orbital is indispensable to material dependence of the superconducting transition temperature ($T_{\mathrm{c}}$), and enhances local magnetic moment as a source of novel magnetism in the heavily-overdoped region as well. These findings beyond one-band description could provide a major step toward a full explanation of unconventional normal state and high $T_{\mathrm{c}}$ in cuprate supercondutors.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Research. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2105.1166

Quantitative evaluation method of swallowing hypofunctionby aging using Impedance Pharyngography (IPG)

インピーダンス咽頭図(Impedance Pharyngography, 以下IPG)は嚥下活動中の頸部電気インピーダンスを測定するもので,嚥下機能評価を簡便かつ無侵襲に行うことができる手法である｡IPG波形は嚥下機能を反映するものであるが嚥下機能の減退による波形への影響はその原因により様々である｡すなわち嚥下機能の状態が異なる被験者のIPG波形を直接比較･診断することは測定者の主観に依存することになり客観性に欠ける｡本研究では,まず青年健常者のNormal IPGをもとに嚥下機能が反映される波形の特徴を評価するパラメータとして,咽頭通過時間,インピーダンス変化率,類似度,嚥下音タイミングの4つを採用し,IPCを定量的に評価する手法を提案した｡また,この評価法を高齢者のIPGに適用し,青年健常者に比べて嚥下活動に関与する器官が円滑に活動を履行する能力に減退が生じる様子を定量的に示した｡Impedance Pharyngography (IPG) measures neck electrical impedance during swallowing. IPG method is simple procedures and the technique which can perform noninvasive evaluation of swallowing function. IPG waveform reflects swallowing function. However, the influence on IPG waveform by swallowing hypofunction is various by the causes. That is, it will be dependent on a measurement person's subjectivity to compare directly IPG waveforms of subjects whose states of swallowing function differs, and objectivity is missing

Down-regulation of GATA1-dependent erythrocyte-related genes in the spleens of mice exposed to a space travel

Secondary lymphoid organs are critical for regulating acquired immune responses. The aim of this study was to characterize the impact of spaceflight on secondary lymphoid organs at the molecular level. We analysed the spleens and lymph nodes from mice flown aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in orbit for 35 days, as part of a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency mission. During flight, half of the mice were exposed to 1 g by centrifuging in the ISS, to provide information regarding the effect of microgravity and 1 g exposure during spaceflight. Whole-transcript cDNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis of the spleen suggested that erythrocyte-related genes regulated by the transcription factor GATA1 were significantly down-regulated in ISS-flown vs. ground control mice. GATA1 and Tal1 (regulators of erythropoiesis) mRNA expression was consistently reduced by approximately half. These reductions were not completely alleviated by 1 g exposure in the ISS, suggesting that the combined effect of space environments aside from microgravity could down-regulate gene expression in the spleen. Additionally, plasma immunoglobulin concentrations were slightly altered in ISS-flown mice. Overall, our data suggest that spaceflight might disturb the homeostatic gene expression of the spleen through a combination of microgravity and other environmental changes

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 variant

SARS-CoV-2オミクロンBA.2.75株（通称ケンタウロス）のウイルス学的性状の解明. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-10-12.The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 variant emerged in May 2022. BA.2.75 is a BA.2 descendant but is phylogenetically distinct from BA.5, the currently predominant BA.2 descendant. Here, we show that BA.2.75 has a greater effective reproduction number and different immunogenicity profile than BA.5. We determined the sensitivity of BA.2.75 to vaccinee and convalescent sera as well as a panel of clinically available antiviral drugs and antibodies. Antiviral drugs largely retained potency but antibody sensitivity varied depending on several key BA.2.75-specific substitutions. The BA.2.75 spike exhibited a profoundly higher affinity for its human receptor, ACE2. Additionally, the fusogenicity, growth efficiency in human alveolar epithelial cells, and intrinsic pathogenicity in hamsters of BA.2.75 were greater than those of BA.2. Our multilevel investigations suggest that BA.2.75 acquired virological properties independent of BA.5, and the potential risk of BA.2.75 to global health is greater than that of BA.5