Dual-frequency injection-locked continuous-wave near-infrared laser

We report a dual-frequency injection-locked continuous-wave near-infrared laser. The entire system consists of a Ti:sapphire ring laser as a power oscillator, two independent diode-lasers employed as seed lasers, and a master cavity providing a frequency reference. Stable dual-frequency injection-locked oscillation is achieved with a maximum output power of 2.8 W. As fundamental performance features of this laser system, we show its single longitudinal/transverse mode characteristics and practical power stability. Furthermore, as advanced features, we demonstrate arbitrary selectivity of the two frequencies and flexible control of their relative powers by simply manipulating the seed lasers.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

Improving the Research Environment of High Performance Computing for Non-Cluster Experts Based on Knoppix Instant Computing Technology

Abstract. We have designed and implemented a new portable system that can rapidly construct a computer environment where highthroughput research applications can be performed instantly. One challenge in the instant computing area is constructing a cluster system instantly, and then readily restoring it to its former state. This paper presents an approach for instant computing using Knoppix technology that can allow even a non-computer specialist to easily construct and operate a Beowulf cluster . In the present bio-research field, there is now an urgent need to address the nagging problem posed by having highperformance computers. Therefore, we were assigned the task of proposing a way to build an environment where a cluster computer system can be instantly set up. Through such research, we believe that the technology can be expected to accelerate scientific research. However, when employing this technology in bio-research, a capacity barrier exists when selecting a clustered Knoppix system for a data-driven bioinformatics application. We have approached ways to overcome said barrier by using a virtual integrated RAM-DISK to adapt to a parallel file system. To show an actual example using a reference application, we have chosen InterProScan, which is an integrated application prepared by the European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI) that utilizes many database and scan methods. InterProScan is capable of scaling workload with local computational resources, though biology researchers and even bioinformatics researchers find such extensions difficult to set up. We have achieved the purpose of allowing even researchers who are non-cluster experts to easily build a system of "Knoppix for the InterProScan4.1 High Throughput Computing Edition." The system we developed is capable of not only constructing a cluster computer environment composed of 32 computers in about ten minutes (as opposed to six hours when done manually), but also restoring the original environment by rebooting the pre-existing operating system. The goal of our instant cluster computing is to provide an environment in which any target application can be built instantly from anywhere

A case of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the duodenum and literature review of 16 cases reported in Japan

　Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the duodenum is rare. Here we report a case we recently encountered, and we review 16 cases reported in Japan. An 82-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of abdominal pain and heartburn. An endoscopic examination revealed a Type 2 tumor in the descending limb of the duodenum, and endoscopically obtained specimens revealed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. We performed a curative pancreatoduodenectomy with lymph node resection, and the surgical specimen revealed that the duodenum was the primary site of the mucinous adenocarcinoma. The patient is currently alive ＞ 1 year after the operation without any evidence of recurrence. Of the 16 patients reviewed, all patients had advanced tumors those depth were T3-T4. 9 patients had lymph node metastasis and 4 patients had peritoneal dissemination at the time of surgery. Since mucinous adenocarcinoma of the duodenum is often progressive cancer at a diagnosis, which is tend to have a worse prognosis than other histological types

Serum phosphate levels modify the impact of parathyroid hormone levels on renal outcomes in kidney transplant recipients

Separate assessment of mineral bone disorder (MBD) parameters including calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone (PTH), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25D) predict renal outcomes in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), with conflicting results. To date, data simultaneously evaluating these parameters and interwoven relations on renal outcomes are scarce. We conducted a prospective long-term follow-up cohort study included 263 KTRs with grafts functioning at least 1 year after transplantation. The outcome was a composite of estimated GFR halving and graft loss. Cox regression analyses were employed to evaluate associations between a panel of six MBD parameters and renal outcomes. The outcome occurred in 98 KTRs during a median follow-up of 10.7 years. In a multivariate Cox analysis, intact PTH (iPTH), phosphate, and 1,25D levels were associated with the outcome (hazard ratio, 1.60 per log scale; 95% confidence interval, 1.19–2.14, 1.60 per mg/dL; 1.14–2.23 and 0.82 per 10 pg/mL; 0.68–0.99, respectively). Competing risk analysis with death as a competing event yielded a similar result. After stratification into four groups by iPTH and phosphate medians, high risks associated with high iPTH was not observed in KTRs with low phosphate levels (P-interaction < 0.1). Only KTRs not receiving active vitamin D, poor 1,25D status predicted the worse outcome (P-interaction < 0.1). High iPTH, phosphate, and low 1,25D, but not FGF23, levels predicted poor renal outcomes. Simultaneous evaluation of PTH and phosphate levels may provide additional information regarding renal allograft prognosis.Doi Y., Hamano T., Ichimaru N., et al. Serum phosphate levels modify the impact of parathyroid hormone levels on renal outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. Scientific Reports 10, 13766 (2020); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-70709-4

M153R Mutation in a pH-Sensitive Green Fluorescent Protein Stabilizes Its Fusion Proteins

BACKGROUND: Green fluorescent protein (GFP) and its fusion proteins have been used extensively to monitor and analyze a wide range of biological processes. However, proteolytic cleavage often removes GFP from its fusion proteins, not only causing a poor signal-to-noise ratio of the fluorescent images but also leading to wrong interpretations. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here, we report that the M153R mutation in a ratiometric pH-sensitive GFP, pHluorin, significantly stabilizes its fusion products while the mutant protein still retaining a marked pH dependence of 410/470 nm excitation ratio of fluorescence intensity. The M153R mutation increases the brightness in vivo but does not affect the 410/470-nm excitation ratios at various pH values. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Since the pHluorin(M153R) probe can be directly fused to the target proteins, we suggest that it will be a potentially powerful tool for the measurement of local pH in living cells as well as for the analysis of subcellular localization of target proteins

Implementation of the Fourier Transform Method for Geodynamo Simulation on the Earth Simulator

Abstract Most of the computer codes for the recent simulation studies of geodynamo are based on a spectral transform method in which variables are expanded in spherical harmonics. This method, however, is not suit-able for high-resolution simulations because of a large amount of computation for spectral transform with respect to Legendre functions. In this study, we developed a modified code based on the Fourier transform method in which the Legendre transform is avoided and the remaining two-dimensional differential equations in the meridional plane are solved by finite differences. The details of the implementation technique of the Fourier transform method on the Earth Simulator are described. The performance tests of the developed code are also reported