Detection of the thermal component in GRB 160107A

We present the detection of a blackbody component in gamma-ray burst GRB 160107A emission by using the combined spectral data of the CALET Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (CGBM) and the MAXI Gas Slit Camera (GSC). MAXI/GSC detected the emission ∼45 s prior to the main burst episode observed by the CGBM. The MAXI/GSC and the CGBM spectrum of this prior emission period is fitted well by a blackbody with temperature 1.0 +0.3-0.2 keV plus a power law with a photon index of -1.6 ± 0.3. We discuss the radius of the photospheric emission and the main burst emission based on the observational properties. We stress the importance of coordinated observations via various instruments collecting high-quality data over a broad energy coverage in order to understand the GRB prompt emission mechanism

Spin current between buckled atomic layers with a twist generated by locally broken inversion symmetry

Current-induced spin polarization (CISP), which appears when the inversion symmetry is broken, has been experimentally shown to generate spin currents. We have demonstrated in our recent theory that the antiparallel CISP in a double-quantum-well structure with the inversion symmetry can also create spin currents. In this paper we consider the sublattice-staggered CISP in a group-IV buckled atomic layer and theoretically study the spin current extracted from the spin-polarized atomic layer into another with identical structure. We derive a formula for the interlayer spin current in both the presence and the absence of the inversion symmetry and show that the interlayer spin current, in the inversion-symmetric case, additionally has a contribution from intersubband spin matrix elements due to spin degeneracy which is comparable in magnitude to that from intrasubband matrix elements. We calculate the interlayer spin current as a function of the interlayer twist angle using the tightbinding model and the Boltzmann equation in the relaxation-time approximation and choosing silicene as an example atomic layer. We show that the interlayer spin current created by the sublattice-staggered CISP in inversion-symmetric silicene is comparable in magnitude to that obtained from silicene with a 1 V/nm out-ofplane electric field applied to break the inversion symmetry. We find that the calculated interlayer spin current exhibits various features by twisting two layers. Most interesting is that the twist, which breaks the mirror symmetry to make the system chiral, gives rise to the component of the interlayer spin current with in-plane spin direction perpendicular to the CISP in addition to that parallel to the CISP

Spin-current generation from local spin polarization induced by current through local inversion asymmetry : Double quantum well structure

The current-induced spin polarization (CISP) in a system without the inversion symmetry is known to efficiently generate the spin current. In this paper we propose another approach, generating the spin current from the CISP locally arising in a system with the inversion symmetry in the form of the antiparallel CISP in sublattice structure. In this approach the local CISP is extracted from one of sublattices by a selective contact between the sublattice and an electrode. As the simplest system with such antiparallel CISP, we consider a symmetric double-quantum-well structure (DQWS) and calculate the antiparallel CISP and the spin current to a metallic layer in parallel contact with one well of the DQWS using the Boltzmann equation in the relaxation time approximation. When the Fermi energy is large enough that the first-excited sub-band is occupied, the magnitude of the spin current, which is proportional to that of the antiparallel CISP, increases with the interwell tunnel coupling and reaches twice the value of the decoupled quantum well with the broken inversion symmetry. Such an estimate suggests that inversion-symmetric systems can be useful in generating the spin current if the inversion symmetry is locally broken

Recent Development toward the Next Clinical Practice of Primary Aldosteronism: A Literature Review

For the last seven decades, primary aldosteronism (PA) has been gradually recognized as a leading cause of secondary hypertension harboring increased risks of cardiovascular incidents compared to essential hypertension. Clinically, PA consists of two major subtypes, surgically curable and uncurable phenotypes, determined as unilateral or bilateral PA by adrenal venous sampling. In order to further optimize the treatment, surgery or medications, diagnostic procedures from screening to subtype differentiation is indispensable, while in the general clinical practice, the work-up rate is extremely low even in the patients with refractory hypertension because of the time-consuming and labor-intensive nature of the procedures. Therefore, a novel tool to simplify the diagnostic flow has been recently in enormous demand. In this review, we focus on recent progress in the following clinically important topics of PA: prevalence of PA and its subtypes, newly revealed histopathological classification of aldosterone-producing lesions, novel diagnostic biomarkers and prediction scores. More effective strategy to diagnose PA based on better understanding of its epidemiology and pathology should lead to early detection of PA and could decrease the cardiovascular and renal complications of the patients

Surgical strategy for an adult patient with a catecholamine-producing ganglioneuroblastoma and a cerebral aneurysm: a case report

Abstract Background Ganglioneuroblastomas, particularly those that produce catecholamine, are extremely rare in adults. Here, we report an interesting surgical case of an adult patient with a catecholamine-producing ganglioneuroblastomas in her adrenal gland, suspected to be a pheochromocytoma, and with a cerebral aneurysm. Case presentation The patient was a 73-year-old woman under treatment for hypertension. During a health check-up, a cystic retroperitoneal tumor was incidentally found in the superior pole of her right kidney. Her blood adrenaline level was slightly elevated, and her urinary adrenaline, noradrenaline, and dopamine levels were above the upper reference limits. In addition, 24-h urinary excretion of metanephrine, normetanephrine, and vanillylmandelic acid were all increased. 123I-Meta-iodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy showed an abnormal accumulation of the marker in the cyst wall. She was, therefore, diagnosed with a pheochromocytoma and scheduled for tumor resection. However, preoperatively, 8-mm-diameter cerebral aneurysm was incidentally found in her basilar artery. This required careful preoperative discussion. The aneurysm was difficult to approach and treat, and based on its position, shape, and size, the risk of rupture was low. Because hypertension is a major risk factor for aneurysmal rupture, we decided to proceed with the tumor resection. A lumbar catheter was placed to monitor the cerebral aneurysm for intraoperative rupture, and her transcranial motor-evoked potential and somatosensory-evoked potentials were monitored to track her intraoperative neurological function. During surgery, we carefully monitored fluctuations in blood pressure and resected the tumor with minimal mobilization. Postoperatively, head computed tomography confirmed that there was no sign of rupture. Histopathologically, the tumor was diagnosed as a catecholamine-producing ganglioneuroblastoma. The postoperative course was good, and the patient’s blood pressure improved. Conclusions Careful perioperative management is needed for a patient with both a catecholamine-producing tumor and cerebral aneurysm