Systematic investigations of transient response of nuclear spins in the presence of polarized electrons

We electrically probed the transient response of nuclear spins in an n-GaAs channel by performing Hanle signal and spin-valve signal measurements on an all-electrical spin-injection device having a half-metallic spin source of Co2MnSi. Furthermore, we simulated the Hanle and spin-valve signals by using the time evolution of nuclear-spin polarization under the presence of polarized electron spins by taking both T-1e and T-1 into consideration, where T-1e(-1) is the polarization rate of nuclear spins through the transfer of angular momentum from polarized electron spins and T-1(-1) is the depolarization rate of nuclear spins through the interaction with the lattice. The simulation results reproduced our experimental results on all the nuclear-spin-related phenomena appearing in the Hanle and spin-valve signals at different measurement conditions, providing quantitative explanation for the transient response of nuclear spins in GaAs to a change in magnetic fields and an estimate of the time scales of T-1e and T-1. These experimental and simulated results will deepen the understanding of nuclear-spin dynamics in semiconductors

Factors Associated With Pain in Youth Soccer Players

Background: Soccer is played by many children younger than 12 years. Despite its health benefits, soccer has also been linked to a high number of sport-related injuries. Purpose: To investigate the relationship between clinical factors and knee or heel pain in youth soccer players. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Study participants included 602 soccer players aged 8 to 12 years who were asked whether they had experienced episodes of knee or heel pain. Data were collected on age, body mass index, years of playing soccer, playing position, and training hours per week. Associations of clinical factors with the prevalence of knee or heel pain were examined by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: Episodes of knee and heel pain were reported by 29.4% and 31.1% of players, respectively. Multivariate analyses revealed that older age and more years of playing soccer were significantly and positively associated with the prevalence of knee pain (P = .037 and P = .015 for trend, respectively) but did not identify any significant associations for heel pain. Conclusion: In this study of youth soccer players, knee pain was associated with older age and more years of play, but heel pain was not significantly associated with any factor

Vaccination with liposome-coupled glypican-3-derived epitope peptide stimulates cytotoxic T lymphocytes and inhibits GPC3-expressing tumor growth in mice

AbstractBecause therapeutic manipulation of immunity can induce tumor regression, anti-cancer immunotherapy is considered a promising treatment modality. We previously reported that glypican-3 (GPC3), an oncofetal antigen overexpressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a useful target for cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL)-mediated cancer immunotherapy, and we have performed clinical trials using the GPC3-derived peptide vaccine. Although vaccine-induced GPC3-peptide-specific CTLs were often tumor reactive in vitro and were correlated with overall survival, no complete response was observed. In the current study, we synthesized liposome-coupled GPC3-derived CTL epitope peptide (pGPC3-lipsome) and investigated its antitumor potential. Vaccination with pGPC3-liposome induced peptide-specific CTLs at a lower dose than conventional vaccine emulsified in incomplete Freund's adjuvant. Coupling of pGPC3 to liposomes was essential for effective priming of GPC3-specific CTLs. In addition, immunization with pGPC3-liposome inhibited GPC3-expressing tumor growth. Thus, vaccination with tumor-associated antigen-derived epitope peptides coupled to the surfaces of liposomes may be a novel therapeutic strategy for cancer