First-principles method justifying the Dieke diagram and beyond

We present a method to determine the model Hamiltonians to treat rare-earth multiplets in solids from the results of the quasiparticle self-consistent \textit{GW} (QSGW) method. We apply the method to trivalent Eu compounds EuCl$_3$, EuN, and Eu-doped GaN after examining free rare-earth ions. We solve the model Hamiltonian by the exact diagonalization. Our results justify applying the Dieke diagram to ions in solid, while its limitation is clarified. In particular, we show that the crystal fields cause sizable breaking of the Russell-Saunders coupling.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 2 table

Discovery of gene expression-based pharmacodynamic biomarker for a p53 context-specific anti-tumor drug Wee1 inhibitor

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Wee1 is a tyrosine kinase regulating S-G2 cell cycle transition through the inactivating phosphorylation of CDC2. The inhibition of Wee1 kinase by a selective small molecule inhibitor significantly enhances the anti-tumor efficacy of DNA damaging agents, specifically in p53 negative tumors by abrogating S-G2 checkpoints, while normal cells with wild-type p53 are not severely damaged due to the intact function of the G1 checkpoint mediated by p53. Since the measurement of mRNA expression requires a very small amount of biopsy tissue and is highly quantitative, the development of a pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarker leveraging mRNA expression is eagerly anticipated in order to estimate target engagement of anti-cancer agents.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In order to find the Wee1 inhibition signature, mRNA expression profiling was first performed in both p53 positive and negative cancer cell lines treated with gemcitabine and a Wee1 inhibitor, MK-1775. We next carried out mRNA expression profiling of skin samples derived from xenograft models treated with the Wee1 inhibitor to identify a Wee1 inhibitor-regulatory gene set. Then, the genes that were commonly modulated in both cancer cell lines and rat skin samples were extracted as a Wee1 inhibition signature that could potentially be used as a PD biomarker independent of p53 status. The expression of the Wee1 inhibition signature was found to be regulated in a dose-dependent manner by the Wee1 inhibitor, and was significantly correlated with the inhibition level of a direct substrate, phosphorylated-CDC2. Individual genes in this Wee1 inhibition signature are known to regulate S-G2 cell cycle progression or checkpoints, which is consistent with the mode-of-action of the Wee1 inhibitor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We report here the identification of an mRNA gene signature that was specifically changed by gemcitabine and Wee1 inhibitor combination treatment by molecular profiling. Given the common regulation of expression in both xenograft tumors and animal skin samples, the data suggest that the Wee1 inhibition gene signature might be utilized as a quantitative PD biomarker in both tumors and surrogate tissues, such as skin and hair follicles, in human clinical trials.</p

Estimation of Optical Flow for Occlusion Using Extrapolation

National audienc

Extraction and Removal of Eyeglasses Frame Region in Facial Images Using Parametric Model of Eyeglasses Frame

National audienc

Intersection Control Systems with Dynamic Wait Time Applying Vehicle to Vehicle Communication

Although automated vehicles are becoming more popular due to the development of technology, semi-automated vehicles with auxiliary devices such as automatic braking and Adaptive Cruise Control(ACC) are now the mainstream. On the other hand, fully automated vehicles are expected to improve safety and fuel economy by providing optimal driving by a machine compared to semi-automated vehicles. This paper (1) compares previous traffic method, Autonomous Intersection Management(AIM) and Virtual Traffic Light(VTL), and (2) proposes a new traffic control scheme Dynamic Virtual Traffic Light (D-VTL), which could be replaced to VTL and improve 29% traffic efficiency in AIM4 simulation.リサーチレポート（北陸先端科学技術大学院大学先端科学技術研究科融合科学系

Facial expression analysis from 3D range images; comparison with the analysis from 2D images and their integration

International audienc