Feasibility study of high-resolution coherent diffraction microscopy using synchrotron x rays focused by Kirkpatrick-Baez mirrors

High-flux coherent x rays are necessary for the improvement of the spatial resolution in coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy (CXDM). In this study, high-resolution CXDM using Kirkpatrick-Baez (KB) mirrors is proposed, and the mirrors are designed for experiments of the transmission scheme at SPring-8. Both the photon density and spatial coherence of synchrotron x rays focused by the KB mirrors are investigated by wave optical simulation. The KB mirrors can produce nearly diffraction-limited two-dimensional focusing x rays of ∼1 μm in size at 8 keV. When the sample size is less than ∼1 μm, the sample can be illuminated with full coherent x rays by adjusting the cross-slit size set between the source and the mirrors. From the estimated photon density at the sample position, the feasibility of CXDM with a sub- 1-nm spatial resolution is suggested. The present ultraprecise figuring process enables us to fabricate mirrors for carrying out high-resolution CXDM experiments.Yukio Takahashi, Yoshinori Nishino, Hidekazu Mimura, Ryosuke Tsutsumi, Hideto Kubo, Tetsuya Ishikawa, and Kazuto Yamauchi, "Feasibility study of high-resolution coherent diffraction microscopy using synchrotron x rays focused by Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors", Journal of Applied Physics 105, 083106 (2009) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3108997

Development of incident X-ray flux monitor for coherent X-ray diffraction microscopy

An incident X-ray flux monitor for coherent X-ray diffraction microscopy was developed. The intensities of x-rays passing through the sample were measured using an X-ray photodiode, with the simultaneous measurement of the X-ray diffraction intensities of the sample. As a result of the normalization of the X-ray diffraction intensities by the incident X-ray flux determined from the monitor, the fluctuation of the speckle intensities was successfully suppressed. © 2009 IOP Publishing Ltd.Takahashi Y., Kubo H., Furukawa H., et al. Development of incident X-ray flux monitor for coherent X-ray diffraction microscopy. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 186, , 012060. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/186/1/012060.9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON X-RAY MICROSCOPY 21–25 July 2008, Zürich, Switzerlan

An experimental procedure for precise evaluation of electron density distribution of a nanostructured material by coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy

We developed a coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy (CXDM) system that enables us to precisely evaluate the electron density of an isolated sample. This system enables us to determine the dose per surface unit of x rays illuminated onto an isolated sample by combining incident x-ray intensity monitoring and the CXDM of a reference sample. By using this system, we determined the dose of x rays illuminated onto a nanostructured island fabricated by focused-ion-beam chemical vapor deposition and derived the electron density distribution of such a nanostructured island. A projection image of the nanostructured island with a spatial resolution of 24.1 nm and a contrast resolution higher than 2.3× 107 electrons/pixel was successfully reconstructed. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.Yukio Takahashi, Hideto Kubo, Yoshinori Nishino, Hayato Furukawa, Ryosuke Tsutsumi, Kazuto Yamauchi, Tetsuya Ishikawa, and Eiichiro Matsubara, "An experimental procedure for precise evaluation of electron density distribution of a nanostructured material by coherent x-ray diffraction microscopy", Review of Scientific Instruments 81(3), 033707 (2010) https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3361265

Adiponectin receptor-1 expression is associated with good prognosis in gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adiponectin is inversely related to BMI, positively correlates with insulin sensitivity, and has anti-atherogenic effects. In recent years, adiponectin has been well studied in the field of oncology. Adiponectin has been shown to have antiproliferative effects on gastric cancer, and adiponectin expression is inversely correlated with clinical staging of the disease. However, no studies have reported the correlation between serum adiponectin and receptor expression with disease progression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we evaluated expression levels of 2 adiponectin receptors--AdipoR1 and AdipoR2--and attempted to correlate their expression with prognosis in gastric cancer patients. AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 expression in gastric cancer cell lines (MKN45, TMK-1, NUGC3, and NUGC4) was evaluated by western blotting analysis, and the antiproliferative potential of adiponectin was examined in vitro. Serum adiponectin levels were evaluated in 100 gastric cancer patients, and the expression of AdipoR1 and AdipoR2 was assessed by immunohistochemical staining.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>MKN45 and NUGC3 expressed higher levels of AdipoR1 compared to NUGC4, even though there was no significance in AdipoR2 expression. The antiproliferative effect of adiponectin was confirmed in MKN45 and NUGC3 at 10 μg/ml. No significant associations were observed between serum adiponectin levels and clinicopathological characteristics, but lymphatic metastasis and peritoneal dissemination were significantly higher in the negative AdipoR1 immunostaining group (24/32, <it>p </it>= 0.013 and 9/32, <it>p </it>= 0.042, respectively) compared to the positive AdipoR1 group (lymphatic metastasis, 33/68; peritoneal dissemination, 8/68). On the other hand, AdipoR2 expression was only associated with histopathological type (<it>p </it>= 0.001). In survival analysis, the AdipoR1 positive staining group had significantly longer survival rates than the negative staining group (<it>p </it>= 0.01). However, multivariate analysis indicated that AdipoR1 was not an independent prognostic factor on patient's survival on gastric cancer.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In gastric cancer, adiponectin has the possibility to be involved in cell growth suppression via AdipoR1. The presence of AdipoR1 could be a novel anticancer therapeutic target in gastric cancer.</p

Congenital Web-like Tracheal Stenosis Cured Surgically in Adult

A 60-year-old, Japanese woman, with congenital web-like tracheal stenosis surgically treated. Successful relief from tracheal stenosis was obstained. Detection in adulthood and chance of the treatment for congenital tracheal stenosis is very rare. As far as this case is concerned, delay in detection and treatment is discussed of congenital tracheal stenosis

Rice Direct Seeding Method with Recycled-paper Mulching

We developed a new direct hill seeding method, paper-mulched direct seeding (PMDS). In this method, recycled-paper sheets with rice (Oryza Sativa L.) seeds affixed are spread over a flooded paddy field just after puddling and leveling. Three or five rice seeds were sandwiched between biodegradable gauze or non-woven mesh, fixed to a hole (25 mm diameter) arranged on the sheet at a distance corresponding to the planting density. The sheet gave a very high percentage (98.3%) of germination in water culture of cultivar, Koshihikari. Koshihikari sown by the PMDS method showed a relatively high percentage of seedling establishment, ranging from 70 to 80%. Moreover, a high stability of seedling establishment was obtained by the PMDS method as compared with lowland hill seeding of non-germinated seeds without use of the oxygen supplying chemical, calcium peroxide. Frequencies of vacant hills in the PMDS plot of 5 cultivars, Akitakomachi, Dontokoi, Hinohikari, Hitomebore and Koshihikari, were very low, ranging from 0.40 to 2.33%. Although no herbicide was applied in the PMDS plot, only a few weeds, i.e., Scripus juncoides Roxb. var. ohwians T. koyama and Eleocharis kuroguwai Ohwi were observed, indicating that herbicides are not required in the PMDS. Little lodging was seen in the PMDS plot. The brown rice yield by the PMDS was 615 g m−2. These results clearly demonstrate that the PMDS is useful for hill seeding in flooded paddy fields

Genetic analysis of modifiers for the hooded phenotype in the rat

The hooded phenotype is one of the coat color phenotype seen peculiarly in the rat. The hooded locus showing autosomal recessive inheritance is mapped to chromosome (Chr) 14 and that the hooded phenotype receives modification by hooded-modifier gene showing the linkage to the hooded locus. However, a gene responsible for either the hooded or hooded-modifier gene is not yet identified. To clarify genetic control of hooded phenotype, we carried out genetic linkage studies using BN and LEA rats. For determination of phenotypic variation, we measured ratio of pigmented coat area in parental and their F1 and F2 rats. We, then, conducted a genome-wide scan on 152 F2 rats for linkage with ratio of pigmented coat area for the dorsal, ventral, and total regions. A major quantitative trait locus (QTL), D14Got40, showing highly significant linkage contributing 70-90% of the variance for hooded phenotype was detected on Chr 14, which may be correspondent to the hooded locus. In addition, another QTL, D17Rat2, showing highly significant linkage was also detected on Chr 17 in dorsal region phenotype as well as a QTL showing suggestive linkage on Chr15 in ventral region phenotype. We, further, investigated a genome-wide scan for epistatic interactions and detected significant interactions between D14Got40 and D20Mit1, and between D14Got40 and D17Rat2 in the dorsal region phenotype. These results suggest that a major QTL in Chr 14, which is possibly correspondent to the hooded locus, mainly regulates the hooded phenotype with some modifier loci, two of which show epistatic interactions with the hooded locus