Ion current density profile of laser ablation plasma transported in multicusp magnetic field

Laser ion sources are capable of supplying ion beams with high current because a laser produced plasma has initially high number density same as that of solid. [1]..

Development of Micro-Particles Accelerator with Pulse Formation

Space debris is one of major problems for recent space developments. When micro-debris of several hundred in diameter impacts spacecrafts, it may cause mission interruption. To design a safe and reliable space craft, we have to evaluate the risk of micro-debris impact by conducting ground-based hypervelocity impact experiments. To achieve these objectives, this study deals with the development of a plasma gun in which a plasma is created by applying high current and then accelerated by its own diffusion and Lorentz force. We think that it is important for accelerating projectiles to a higher velocity to shorten the current rise time and with a high plasma density. Therefore, to increase the velocity of the projectile, we examined the influence of the rise time and the plasma density. We conducted the experiments by a plasma gun and a WCR (Weak Current Removal) circuit to shorten the rise time and a short plasma gun to obtain a high-density plasma. These experimental results showed that it is necessary for accelerating to increase the maximum electric current, to adjust shooting the plasma to the peak time of the current and to increase the density of plasma.13th Hypervelocity Impact Symposium (HVIS 2015), April 27-30, 2015, Boulder, Colorad

Development of Micro-Particles Accelerator with Pulse Formation

Space debris is one of major problems for recent space developments. When micro-debris of several hundred in diameter impacts spacecrafts, it may cause mission interruption. To design a safe and reliable space craft, we have to evaluate the risk of micro-debris impact by conducting ground-based hypervelocity impact experiments. To achieve these objectives, this study deals with the development of a plasma gun in which a plasma is created by applying high current and then accelerated by its own diffusion and Lorentz force. We think that it is important for accelerating projectiles to a higher velocity to shorten the current rise time and with a high plasma density. Therefore, to increase the velocity of the projectile, we examined the influence of the rise time and the plasma density. We conducted the experiments by a plasma gun and a WCR (Weak Current Removal) circuit to shorten the rise time and a short plasma gun to obtain a high-density plasma. These experimental results showed that it is necessary for accelerating to increase the maximum electric current, to adjust shooting the plasma to the peak time of the current and to increase the density of plasma.13th Hypervelocity Impact Symposium (HVIS 2015), April 27-30, 2015, Boulder, Colorad

Prognostic impact of pleural effusion in EGFR‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer patients without brain metastasis

Background In epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐mutant non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), brain metastasis is known as a poor prognosis factor. However, prognostic factors in the patients without brain metastasis remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to clarify the differences between metastatic site and prognosis in common EGFR‐mutant NSCLC patients without brain metastasis. Methods Chemotherapy‐naïve, advanced EGFR‐mutant NSCLC patients without brain metastasis diagnosed between January 2010 and March 2016 were enrolled. We evaluated prognosis according to the presence or absence of bone metastases, liver metastasis, and pleural effusion. Results A total of 50 EGFR‐mutant NSCLC patients without brain metastasis were enrolled. The median progression‐free survival and overall survival were significantly shorter in patients with pleural effusion than in those patients without (progression‐free survival 7.0 months, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.7–13.0 vs. 13.0 months, 95% CI 9.1–21.7, hazard ratio [HR] 2.29, 95% CI 1.11–4.73, P = 0.020; overall survival 19.5 months, 95% CI 5.7–28.8 vs. 55.3 months, 95% CI 24.0–not evaluable, HR 3.00, 95% CI 1.35–6.68, P = 0.005). Pleural effusion was an independent factor of poor prognosis for progression‐free survival (HR 3.44, 95% CI 1.50–7.88, P = 0.003) and overall survival (HR 2.34, 95% CI 1.00–5.44, P = 0.049). Conclusion Pleural effusion might be a poor prognosis factor for advanced EGFR‐mutant NSCLC patients without brain metastasis treated with first‐generation EGFR‐tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Further precision medicine according to the metastatic site is required

Cellular Functions and Gene and Protein Expression Profiles in Endothelial Cells Derived from Moyamoya Disease-Specific iPS Cells

<div><p>Background and purpose</p><p>Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a slow, progressive steno-occlusive disease, arising in the terminal portions of the cerebral internal carotid artery. However, the functions and characteristics of the endothelial cells (ECs) in MMD are unknown. We analyzed these features using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived ECs.</p><p>Methods</p><p>iPSC lines were established from the peripheral blood of three patients with MMD carrying the variant <i>RNF213 R4810K</i>, and three healthy persons used as controls. After the endothelial differentiation of iPSCs, CD31⁺CD144⁺ cells were purified as ECs using a cell sorter. We analyzed their proliferation, angiogenesis, and responses to some angiogenic factors, namely VEGF, bFGF, TGF-β, and BMP4. The ECs were also analyzed using DNA microarray and proteomics to perform comprehensive gene and protein expression analysis.</p><p>Results</p><p>Angiogenesis was significantly impaired in MMD regardless of the presence of any angiogenic factor. On the contrary, endothelial proliferation was not significant between control- and MMD-derived cells. Regarding DNA microarray, pathway analysis illustrated that extracellular matrix (ECM) receptor-related genes, including integrin β3, were significantly downregulated in MMD. Proteomic analysis revealed that cytoskeleton-related proteins were downregulated and splicing regulation-related proteins were upregulated in MMD.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Downregulation of ECM receptor-related genes may be associated with impaired angiogenic activity in ECs derived from iPSCs from patients with MMD. Upregulation of splicing regulation-related proteins implied differences in splicing patterns between control and MMD ECs.</p></div

The result of DNA microarray analysis.

<p>Panel A shows unsupervised clustering analysis of moyamoya disease (MMD)—and control—iPSECs. Panel B shows the volcano plot of all probes. The broken blue line and continuous red line denote significantly downregulated and upregulated genes in MMD-iPSECs, respectively (fold change >3, <i>P</i> < 0.01). Panels C and D show the significantly downregulated and upregulated genes in pathway analyses of MMD-iPSECs, respectively. Dotted line indicates the significance level (<i>P</i> < 0.05).</p

The results of RT-PCR analysis and Western blotting in iPSECs.

<p>Panel A shows the photographs of RT-PCR for integrin β3 (<i>ITG-β3</i>) and <i>ITG-β8</i> in MMD-iPSECs (<i>upper</i>) and the quantitative data (<i>middle</i>: <i>ITG-β3</i> and <i>lower</i>: <i>ITG-β8</i>, *<i>P</i> < 0.05, †<i>P</i> < 0.02). β-actin was used to normalize loading variations. Panel B shows the photographs of Western blotting for interin β3 in MMD-iPSECs (<i>upper</i>) and the quantitative data (<i>lower</i>, †<i>P</i> < 0.02). α-tubulin was used to normalize loading variations.</p