A Calibration Method for Wide Field Multicolor Photometric System

The purpose of this paper is to present a method to self-calibrate the spectral energy distribution (SED) of objects in a survey based on the fitting of an SED library to the observed multi-color photometry. We adopt for illustrative purposes the Vilnius (Strizyz and Sviderskiene 1972) and Gunn & Stryker (1983) SED libraries. The self-calibration technique can improve the quality of observations which are not taken under perfectly photometric conditions. The more passbands used for the photometry, the better the results. This technique has been applied to the BATC 15-passband CCD survey.Comment: LateX file, 1 PS file, submitted to PASP number 99-025 The English has been improved and some mistakes have been correcte

Imaging Neural Activity in the Primary Somatosensory Cortex Using Thy1-GCaMP6s Transgenic Mice

The mammalian brain exhibits marked symmetry across the sagittal plane. However, detailed description of neural dynamics in symmetric brain regions in adult mammalian animals remains elusive. In this study, we describe an experimental procedure for measuring calcium dynamics through dual optical windows above bilateral primary somatosensory corticies (S1) in Thy1-GCaMP6s transgenic mice using 2-photon (2P) microscopy. This method enables recordings and quantifications of neural activity in bilateral mouse brain regions one at a time in the same experiment for a prolonged period in vivo. Key aspects of this method, which can be completed within an hour, include minimally invasive surgery procedures for creating dual optical windows, and the use of 2P imaging. Although we only demonstrate the technique in the S1 area, the method can be applied to other regions of the living brain facilitating the elucidation of structural and functional complexities of brain neural networks

Prediction of stroke risk in patients with transient ischemic attack: ABCD score and its derived scores

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is a high-risk signal of acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease, indicates a significant increase in the risk of ischemic stroke, especially within 7 days. Risk assessment and stratification are important in patient with TIA. A variety of simple prediction scales were developed based on the risk factors for stroke in patients with TIA, such as the California scale, ABCD scale, and ABCD2 scale. Among them, the ABCD scale score is used most commonly, but as its application becomes more and more common, the defects of this scale are also increasingly apparent. In recent years, some derived scales of ABCD score were introduced in order to improve the sensitivity and specificity of prediction. This article reviews the evolution, contents, characteristics, and predictive value of the ABCD score and its derived scales in the prediction of the stroke risk in patients with TIA

Circadian Clock Gene Regulation in Aging and Drug Discovery

The circadian clock is an endogenous timer in prokaryotes and mammals. Resting and adjusting the internal clock can assist in pacing the daily routine. Growing evidence indicates that the circadian clock and aging process are closely associated. The disruption of the circadian clock leads to accelerated aging and increased incidence of various diseases. In particular, elderly people are more vulnerable and have a higher risk of diseases than do young people. In this study, we reviewed studies on aging and circadian rhythms over the last decade, with a focus on circadian clock gene regulation in aging and drug discovery for targeting the circadian clock in diseases