Quantum Feature Extraction for THz Multi-Layer Imaging

A learning-based THz multi-layer imaging has been recently used for contactless three-dimensional (3D) positioning and encoding. We show a proof-of-concept demonstration of an emerging quantum machine learning (QML) framework to deal with depth variation, shadow effect, and double-sided content recognition, through an experimental validation.Comment: 2 pages, 5 figures, IRMMW-THz202

Free-carrier dynamics and band tails in Cu[2] ZnSn (S[x]Se[1−x] )[4] : Evaluation of factors determining solar cell efficiency

We investigated the composition-dependent photocarrier dynamics in Cu[2] ZnSn(S[x]Se[1−x])[4] (CZTSSe) single crystals using various types of steady-state and time-resolved optical spectroscopy. Photoluminescence spectroscopy shows that the band-tail states formed below the band edge decrease monotonically with increasing Se content. THz time-resolved spectroscopy clarifies that an increase in the Se content leads to a shorter lifetime of the free photocarriers. A trade-off between the composition-dependent band-tail density and the free-carrier lifetime occurs in CZTSSe single crystals. Our experimental results provide insights into the physics behind the low and composition-dependent conversion efficiency of CZTSSe-based solar cells

Clinicopathological Significance of FOXP3 Expression in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The expression of transcription factor forkhead box protein 3 (FOXP3), a master control gene for regulatory T cells, has been reported to influence patient survival. However, there have been few reports of the relationship between FOXP3 positive cells and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic value of FOXP3 expression in ESCC. Ninety-five patients who were diagnosed with primary ESCC and underwent subtotal esophagectomy during 2009 and 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Deepest sections from each tumor were selected for immunohistochemistry and the number of FOXP3 positive cells was counted. The median number was used as a cutoff to divide into FOXP3 positive and FOXP3 negative subgroups. Relationships between FOXP3 expression and clinicopathological features, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined. Statistical values of p < 0.05 were considered significant. FOXP3 positive cells were found in all 95 cases and the number of FOXP3 positive cells was significantly higher in the peri-tumor compartment than in the intra-tumor compartment (p = 0.0006). For this reason, the peri-tumor compartment numbers were used for all of the association studies. Results showed that the FOXP3 positive group had a significantly larger mean tumor size (43.8 ± 4.1mm vs 29.1 ± 4.0mm, p = 0.0055), and the FOXP3 negative group had a significantly higher percentage of deep invasion (T2, T3, T4)(p = 0.0399). There was no significant association for DFS, however, for OS the FOXP3 positive group demonstrated a significantly better prognosis (p = 0.0024). Multivariate analysis showed that peri-tumor FOXP3 expression is an independent prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.0035). Peri-tumoral FOXP3 expression is an independent and favorable prognostic factor for ESCC

A multi-ethnic meta-analysis identifies novel genes, including ACSL5, associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating progressive motor neuron disease that affects people of all ethnicities. Approximately 90% of ALS cases are sporadic and thought to have multifactorial pathogenesis. To understand the genetics of sporadic ALS, we conducted a genome-wide association study using 1,173 sporadic ALS cases and 8,925 controls in a Japanese population. A combined meta-analysis of our Japanese cohort with individuals of European ancestry revealed a significant association at the ACSL5 locus (top SNP p = 2.97 × 10−8). We validated the association with ACSL5 in a replication study with a Chinese population and an independent Japanese population (1941 ALS cases, 3821 controls; top SNP p = 1.82 × 10−4). In the combined meta-analysis, the intronic ACSL5 SNP rs3736947 showed the strongest association (p = 7.81 × 10−11). Using a gene-based analysis of the full multi-ethnic dataset, we uncovered additional genes significantly associated with ALS: ERGIC1, RAPGEF5, FNBP1, and ATXN3. These results advance our understanding of the genetic basis of sporadic ALS

Effect of sevoflurane anesthesia on neuromuscular blockade produced by rocuronium infusion in dogs

This study evaluated the effect of sevoflurane anesthesia on neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium in dogs. Six healthy beagle dogs were anesthetized four times with a minimum 14-day washout period. On each occasion, the dogs were administered 1.25-, 1.5-, 1.75-, or 2.0-fold of the individualized minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane and received an infusion of rocuronium (0.5 mg/kg followed by 0.2 mg/kg/hr) for 120 min. Neuromuscular function was monitored with acceleromyography and train-of-four (TOF) stimulation of the left hind limb. Time to achieve TOF count 0 (onset time), time from the onset of neuromuscular blockade to the reappearance of TOF count 4 (blockade period), and time from the onset of rocuronium infusion to attaining a 70 or 90% TOF ratio (TOFR70 or TOFR90) were recorded. There were no significant differences in the onset time, blockade period, and plasma rocuronium concentration between the sevoflurane MAC multiples. The TOFR70 and TOFR90 were dose-dependently prolonged with the sevoflurane MAC multiples. There were significant differences in the TOFR70 and TOFR90 between the 1.25 sevoflurane MAC (median: 55 and 77.5 min, respectively) and 1.75 sevoflurane MAC (122.0 and 122.6 min; P=0.020 and P=0.020, respectively), 1.25 sevoflurane MAC and 2.0 sevoflurane MAC (126.0 and 131.4 min; P=0.020 and P=0.020), and 1.5 sevoflurane MAC (97.5 and 121.3 min) and 2.0 sevoflurane MAC (P=0.033 and P=0.032). In dogs, sevoflurane anesthesia produced dose-dependent prolongation of recovery from neuromuscular blockade produced by rocuronium

Multiexciton Lifetime in All-Inorganic CsPbBr₃ Perovskite Nanocrystals

A lot of research has been lately conducted on perovskites, which show promising properties for many applications, ranging from optoelectronics to photovoltaics. Recently, a new class of perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) has been synthesized, namely all-inorganic cesium lead halide perovskite NCs (CsPbX₃, X = Cl, Br, I), showing high photoluminescence quantum yields (50–90%), narrow emission bands, and tunable emission. In this study, we investigate the ultrafast carrier dynamics in CsPbBr₃ perovskite NCs using pump–probe transient-induced absorption spectroscopy. We demonstrate that depending on the excitation fluence, hot carriers with carrier temperatures up to 800 K are created upon photon excitation. We also report, for the first time, lifetimes of higher order multiexciton complexes, next to that of the biexciton. These results have implications for the application prospects of these materials for lasers, light-emitting devices, and photovoltaic devices, among others

Clinicopathological and biochemical findings of thyroid amyloid in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis with and without liver transplantation

<p>Hereditary transthyretin (TTR) amyloidosis is a fatal disease causing systemic organ dysfunctions. Histopathological studies revealed that thyroid glands are major target tissues. However, details about thyroid functions remain to be fully elucidated in this disease. For patient treatment, liver transplantation (LT) reportedly prolongs patient survival, but thyroid gland function after LT still remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the thyroid functions in 101 patients with hereditary TTR amyloidosis and the effects of LT on thyroid functions in those patients. In addition, we investigated histopathological and biochemical findings of thyroid specimens obtained at autopsy. Disease duration and age at examination inversely correlated with serum levels of free triiodothyronine (fT3) in hereditary TTR amyloidosis. On the contrary, in patients who underwent transplantation, time from disease onset to transplantation and age at transplantation clearly correlated with serum fT3and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels. In autopsy studies, amounts of thyroid amyloid deposits in patients with transplantation were significantly lower than those in patients without transplantation. Mass spectrometric analyzes also revealed that proportions of wild-type (WT) TTR in thyroid amyloid deposits in patients with hereditary TTR amyloidosis who underwent transplantations were higher than those in patients without transplantation. Thyroid hormone functions may diminish according to the disease progression. LT could prevent thyroid dysfunction in hereditary TTR amyloidosis.</p