Direct mapping of the spin-filtered surface bands of a three-dimensional quantum spin Hall insulator

Spin-polarized band structure of the three-dimensional quantum spin Hall insulator $\rm Bi_{1-x}Sb_{x}$ (x=0.12-0.13) was fully elucidated by spin-polarized angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy using a high-yield spin polarimeter equipped with a high-resolution electron spectrometer. Between the two time-reversal-invariant points, $\bar{\varGamma}$ and $\bar{M}$, of the (111) surface Brillouin zone, a spin-up band ($\Sigma_3$ band) was found to cross the Fermi energy only once, providing unambiguous evidence for the strong topological insulator phase. The observed spin-polarized band dispersions determine the "mirror chirality" to be -1, which agrees with the theoretical prediction based on first-principles calculations

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 is highly expressed in bronchial epithelial cells of untreated asthma and it increases cell proliferation along with fibronectin production in airway constitutive cells

DPP4 mRNA showed significant correlation with iNOS mRNA in the freshly isolated BECs from snBA. (PPTX 1447 kb

Survey of Period Variations of Superhumps in SU UMa-Type Dwarf Novae

We systematically surveyed period variations of superhumps in SU UMa-type dwarf novae based on newly obtained data and past publications. In many systems, the evolution of superhump period are found to be composed of three distinct stages: early evolutionary stage with a longer superhump period, middle stage with systematically varying periods, final stage with a shorter, stable superhump period. During the middle stage, many systems with superhump periods less than 0.08 d show positive period derivatives. Contrary to the earlier claim, we found no clear evidence for variation of period derivatives between superoutburst of the same object. We present an interpretation that the lengthening of the superhump period is a result of outward propagation of the eccentricity wave and is limited by the radius near the tidal truncation. We interpret that late stage superhumps are rejuvenized excitation of 3:1 resonance when the superhumps in the outer disk is effectively quenched. Many of WZ Sge-type dwarf novae showed long-enduring superhumps during the post-superoutburst stage having periods longer than those during the main superoutburst. The period derivatives in WZ Sge-type dwarf novae are found to be strongly correlated with the fractional superhump excess, or consequently, mass ratio. WZ Sge-type dwarf novae with a long-lasting rebrightening or with multiple rebrightenings tend to have smaller period derivatives and are excellent candidate for the systems around or after the period minimum of evolution of cataclysmic variables (abridged).Comment: 239 pages, 225 figures, PASJ accepte

Predicting three categories of Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community‐based Integrated Care System 8‐items score‐based glycemic targets using the number of animal names recalled

Abstract Aims/Introduction The Dementia Assessment Sheet for Community‐based Integrated Care System 8‐items (DASC‐8) assesses memory, orientation, instrumental activities of daily living and basic activities of daily living. Category I (DASC‐8 score ≤10), category II (11 ≤ DASC‐8 score ≤16) and category III (DASC‐8 score ≥17) have been defined. Based on these categories, the glycemic targets in diabetes patients aged ≥65 years have been proposed by the Japan Diabetes Society and the Japan Geriatrics Society Joint Committee. DASC‐8 is difficult to apply to patients without family members or supportive persons. We propose a verbal fluency test as the screening tool. Materials and Methods We enrolled 69 inpatients aged ≥65 years with type 2 diabetes, who were administered the DASC‐8 and VF tests, which included recalling animal names and common nouns starting with a specified letter in 1 min. The relationship between DASC‐8 and verbal fluency test scores was investigated. Results Animal fluency correlated with DASC‐8 scores after adjustment for patient characteristics. Animal scores correlated with orientation, instrumental activities of daily living and basic activities of daily living scores of DASC‐8, and tended to show a relationship with DASC‐8 memory scores. An animal score ≥8 predicted category I with a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 57%. An animal score ≤6 predicted category III with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 67%. Conclusions Animal scores would be useful in predicting the categories of DASC‐8. Animal fluency could be a screening tool of DASC‐8 when a patient's family member or supportive person is absent

Exploring the Retinal Binding Cavity of Archaerhodopsin-3 by Replacing the Retinal Chromophore With a Dimethyl Phenylated Derivative

Rhodopsins act as photoreceptors with their chromophore retinal (vitamin-A aldehyde) and they regulate light-dependent biological functions. Archaerhodopsin-3 (AR3) is an outward proton pump that has been widely utilized as a tool for optogenetics, a method for controlling cellular activity by light. To characterize the retinal binding cavity of AR3, we synthesized a dimethyl phenylated retinal derivative, (2E,4E,6E,8E)-9-(2,6-Dimethylphenyl)-3,7-dimethylnona-2,4,6,8-tetraenal (DMP-retinal). QM/MM calculations suggested that DMP-retinal can be incorporated into the opsin of AR3 (archaeopsin-3, AO3). Thus, we introduced DMP-retinal into AO3 to obtain the non-natural holoprotein (AO3-DMP) and compared some molecular properties with those of AO3 with the natural A1-retinal (AO3-A1) or AR3. Light-induced pH change measurements revealed that AO3-DMP maintained slow outward proton pumping. Noteworthy, AO3-DMP had several significant changes in its molecular properties compared with AO3-A1 as follows; 1) spectroscopic measurements revealed that the absorption maximum was shifted from 556 to 508 nm and QM/MM calculations showed that the blue-shift was due to the significant increase in the HOMO-LUMO energy gap of the chromophore with the contribution of some residues around the chromophore, 2) time-resolved spectroscopic measurements revealed the photocycling rate was significantly decreased, and 3) kinetical spectroscopic measurements revealed the sensitivity of the chromophore binding Schiff base to attack by hydroxylamine was significantly increased. The QM/MM calculations show that a cavity space is present at the aromatic ring moiety in the AO3-DMP structure whereas it is absent at the corresponding beta-ionone ring moiety in the AO3-A1 structure. We discuss these alterations of the difference in interaction between the natural A1-retinal and the DMP-retinal with binding cavity residues