Shape transformations of lipid vesicles by insertion of bulky-head lipids

Lipid vesicles, in particular Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs), have been increasingly important as compartments of artificial cells to reconstruct living cell-like systems in a bottom-up fashion. Here, we report shape transformations of lipid vesicles induced by polyethylene glycol-lipid conjugate (PEG lipids). Statistical analysis of deformed vesicle shapes revealed that shapes vesicles tend to deform into depended on the concentration of the PEG lipids. When compared with theoretically simulated vesicle shapes, those shapes were found to be more energetically favorable, with lower membrane bending energies than other shapes. This result suggests that the vesicle shape transformations can be controlled by externally added membrane molecules, which can serve as a potential method to control the replications of artificial cells

Ambipolar transport in bulk crystals of a topological insulator by gating with ionic liquid

We report that the ionic-liquid gating of bulk single crystals of a topological insulator can control the type of the surface carriers and even results in ambipolar transport. This was made possible by the use of a highly bulk-insulating BiSbTeSe2 system where the chemical potential is located close to both the surface Dirac point and the middle of the bulk band gap. Thanks to the use of ionic liquid, the control of the surface chemical potential by gating was possible on the whole surface of a bulk three-dimensional sample, opening new experimental opportunities for topological insulators. In addition, our data suggest the existence of a nearly reversible electrochemical reaction that causes bulk carrier doping into the crystal during the ionic-liquid gating process.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, 2 tables; significantly expanded version to fully discuss the gating process and its side effects; published in PR

Experimental investigation of pulsed entangled photons and photonic quantum channels

The development of key devices and systems in quantum information technology, such as entangled particle sources, quantum gates and quantum cryptographic systems, requires a reliable and well-established method for characterizing how well the devices or systems work. We report our recent work on experimental characterization of pulsed entangled photonic states and photonic quantum channels, using the methods of state and process tomography. By using state tomography, we could reliably evaluate the states generated from a two-photon source under development and develop a highly entangled pulsed photon source. We are also devoted to characterization of single-qubit and two-qubit photonic quantum channels. Characterization of typical single-qubit decoherence channels has been demonstrated using process tomography. Characterization of two-qubit channels, such as classically correlated channels and quantum mechanically correlated channels is under investigation. These characterization techniques for quantum states and quantum processes will be useful for developing photonic quantum devices and for improving their performances.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, in Quantum Optics in Computing and Communications, Songhao Liu, Guangcan Guo, Hoi-Kwong Lo, Nobuyuki Imoto, Eds., Proceedings of SPIE Vol. 4917, pp.13-24 (2002

Automatic Generation of Test Cases Using Document Analysis Techniques

In software maintenance, software testing consumes 55% of the total software maintenance work. The problem is how to reduce the software testing work while still insuring high quality software.nbsp Some solutions involve software execution automation tools, outsourcing the testing tasks at lower labor rates. Such solutions still depend upon individual skills in generation of the test cases. In contrast, we focused on generation of test cases rather than the skills and developed a method for the automatic generation of test cases by using our natural language document analysis techniques which use text parsers for extracting and complementing parameter values from documents. We applied the method to Internet banking system maintenance projects and insurance system maintenance projects.nbsp In this paper, we discuss our method and techniques for automatic generation of test cases and their use in these industry case studies.nbsp Our document analysis tool helped automatically generate 95% of the required test cases from the design documents. The work of creating test cases was reduced by 48% in our case studies

The Role Of Ventriculoatrial Shunts For The Shunt Placement In Modern Medicine : A Case Report

Introduction: Although Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt is one of the oldest solution for hydrocephalus, after the recognition of serious complication and operative difficulties, VA shunt procedure has fallen into disrepute. Since 1970s, most of neurosurgeons has changed their practice from VA shunt to ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. It provides a prolong relief of intracranial pressure and easy to be performed. However, shunt revision may still be expected due to shunt infection, obstruction, migration and so on. When the peritoneum is precluded and no more available owing to the intra-abdominal adhesions, local sepsis and scarring from the previous surgery, VA shunt can be one of the choices to do the shunt revision. Whenever laparotomy for VP shunt has high possibility of serious complications and operative difficulties due to preexisting peritoneal compolication, VA shunt can be a safe and effective alternative in the neurosurgeon’s armamentarium for the cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) drainage. Case Report: In this case report, we described a case of premature 6-month-old baby boy with hydrocephalus, whose abdominal cavity had the previous history of peritonitis and stoma placement.   Result: Because his abdominal condition excluded placement of a distal catheter for VP shunt, VA shunt was planned as alternative procedure for VP shunt. Conclusion: Role of VA shunt in the era of modern neurosurgery is also discussed based on the literature review

Aflatoxins in Rice Artificially Contaminated with Aflatoxin-producing Aspergillus flavus under Natural Storage in Japan

Aflatoxin (AFT) contamination is frequent in foods grown in tropical regions, including rice. Although AFTs are generally not found in temperate-region foods, global warming has affected typical temperate-region climates, potentially permitting the contamination of foods with AFT-producing Aspergillus flavus (A. flavus). Here we investigated the AFT production in rice during storage under natural climate conditions in Japan. We examined AFTs in brown rice and rough rice artificially contaminated with A. flavus for 1 year in Japan, and we subjected AFTs in white rice to the same treatment in airtight containers and examined the samples in warm and cold seasons, simulating the storage of white rice in general households. In the brown rice, AFTs increased after 2 months (March) and peaked after 9 months (October). The AFT contamination in the rough rice was minimal. After the polishing and cooking of the brown rice, AFTs were undetectable. In the white rice stored in airtight containers, AFTs increased after 1 month (August) and peaked after 2 months (September). Minimal AFTs were detected in the cold season. Thus, AFT contamination in rice may occur in temperate regions following A. flavus contamination. The storage of rice as rough rice could provide be useful for avoiding AFT contamination

Fabrication of submicron La2−x_{2-x}Srx_{x}CuO4_{4} intrinsic Josephson junction stacks

Intrinsic Josephson junction (IJJ) stacks of cuprate superconductors have potential to be implemented as intrinsic phase qubits working at relatively high temperatures. We report success in fabricating submicron La$_{2-x}$Sr$_{x}$CuO$_{4}$ (LSCO) IJJ stacks carved out of single crystals. We also show a new fabrication method in which argon ion etching is performed after focused ion beam etching. As a result, we obtained an LSCO IJJ stack in which resistive multi-branches appeared. It may be possible to control the number of stacked IJJs with an accuracy of a single IJJ by developing this method.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Intraventricular Fluid Injection as a Novel Treatment of Subdural Fluid Collection after VP Shunt Overdrainage: A Case Report

Introduction: Subdural fluid collection is one of many complications of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt. Variety of surgical procedures have been applied for the treatment of the post VP shunt subdural fluid collection, but the ideal surgical treatment remains controversial. Case Report: This is a case report of 14 years old boy who had a history of multiple VP shunt revisions for post hemorrhagic hydrocephalus with subdural fluid collections due to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) overdrainage. Result: The author performed intraventricular fluid injection via shunt valve to expand the brain mantle and drain the subdural fluid through a small craniotomy. This is the first case report using the novel “fluid infusion” technique for the treatment of intractable subdural fluid collection after the VP shunt overdrainage. Conclusion: The technique can bring potentially great impact for the future treatment of symptomatic subdural fluid collection associated with CSF overdrainage after VP shunt