Optimization temperature sensitivity using the optically detected magnetic resonance spectrum of a nitrogen-vacancy center ensemble

Temperature sensing with nitrogen vacancy (NV) centers using quantum techniques is very promising and further development is expected. Recently, the optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) spectrum of a high-density ensemble of the NV centers was reproduced with noise parameters [inhomogeneous magnetic field, inhomogeneous strain (electric field) distribution, and homogeneous broadening] of the NV center ensemble. In this study, we use ODMR to estimate the noise parameters of the NV centers in several diamonds. These parameters strongly depend on the spin concentration. This knowledge is then applied to theoretically predict the temperature sensitivity. Using the diffraction-limited volume of 0.1 micron^3, which is the typical limit in confocal microscopy, the optimal sensitivity is estimated to be around 0.76 mK/Hz^(1/2) with an NV center concentration of 5.0e10^17/cm^3. This sensitivity is much higher than previously reported sensitivities, demonstrating the excellent potential of temperature sensing with NV centers.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, 1 tabl

Proteasome-dependent decrease in Akt by growth factors in vascular smooth muscle cells

AbstractAkt is activated by growth factors to regulate various aspects of vascular smooth muscle cell function. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 activated Akt in vascular smooth muscle cells with a rapid reduction of total Akt protein that lasted for several hours. The downregulation of Akt required phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity, but not intrinsic Akt activity. The downregulation of Akt was abrogated by MG-132, a proteasome inhibitor, but not by inhibitors of calpain or cathepsins. Akt was found in ubiquitin immune complex after PDGF treatment. Proteasome-dependent degradation of Akt may provide a counter-regulatory mechanism against overactivation of Akt

Encrusted Ureteral Stent Retrieval Using Flexible Ureteroscopy with a Ho: YAG Laser

A 23-year-old female had bilateral ureteral stents placed due to bilateral renal stones and hydronephrosis. The bilateral ureteral stents were changed every 3 months. A kidney ureter bladder (KUB) film showed left encrustation along the ureteral stent thus necessitating removal; however, the ureteral stent could not be removed cystoscopically. The ureteral stent was, therefore, extracted using flexible ureteroscopy (URS) with a holmium (Ho): yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser

Endogenization and excision of human herpesvirus 6 in human genomes

Sequences homologous to human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) are integrated within the nuclear genome of about 1% of humans, but it is not clear how this came about. It is also uncertain whether integrated HHV-6 can reactive into an infectious virus. HHV-6 integrates into telomeres, and this has recently been associated with polymorphisms affecting MOV10L1. MOV10L1 is located on the subtelomere of chromosome 22q (chr22q) and is required to make PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs). As piRNAs block germline integration of transposons, piRNA-mediated repression of HHV-6 integration has been proposed to explain this association.In vitro, recombination of the HHV-6 genome along its terminal direct repeats (DRs) leads to excision from the telomere and viral reactivation, but the expected "solo-DR scar" has not been describedin vivo. Here we screened for integrated HHV-6 in 7,485 Japanese subjects using whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Integrated HHV-6 was associated with polymorphisms on chr22q. However, in contrast to prior work, we find that the reported MOV10L1 polymorphism is physically linked to an ancient endogenous HHV-6A variant integrated into the telomere of chr22q in East Asians. Unexpectedly, an HHV-6B variant has also endogenized in chr22q; two endogenous HHV-6 variants at this locus thus account for 72% of all integrated HHV-6 in Japan. We also report human genomes carrying only one portion of the HHV-6B genome, a solo-DR, supporting in vivo excision and possible viral reactivation. Together these results explain the recently-reported association between integrated HHV-6 and MOV10L1/piRNAs, suggest potential exaptation of HHV-6 in its coevolution with human chr22q, and clarify the evolution and risk of reactivation of the only intact (non-retro)viral genome known to be present in human germlines

Evaluation of Setup Errors at the Skin Surface Position for Whole Breast Radiotherapy of Breast Cancer Patients

We used image-processing software to analyze the setup errors at the skin surface position of breast cancer patients (n=66) who underwent post-operative whole breast irradiation at our hospital in 2014-2015. The sixty-six digital reconstructed radiographs (DRR) were created at the treatment planning for each patient. The lineacgraphies (n=377) were taken after the patients’ setup during radiotherapy. The lineacgraphies and DRR were superimposed at the skin surface position for each patient with the image-processing software. We measured the deviations of the isocenters for the nipple-lung (X) direction and craniocaudal (Y) direction and the deviation of the rotation angle of the XY axes between the lineacgraphy and DRR on the superimposed images. The systematic error (μ, Σ) and random error (σ) were calculated from the X and Y deviations and rotation angle deviation. The μ of X, Y, and rotation angle were 0.01 mm, −1.2 mm, and 0.05°, respectively. The Σ of X, Y, and rotation angle were 1.8 mm, 1.5 mm, and 0.9°, respectively. The σ of X, Y, and rotation angle were 2.0 mm, 1.5 mm, and 1.0°, respectively. Our analyses thus revealed that evaluations using image-processing software at the skin surface position in routine breast radiotherapy result in sufficiently small setup errors

偏光分解顕微鏡を用いたアルコール性肝線維症の線維化の量的・質的評価系の開発

Liver fibrosis is assessed mainly by conventional staining or second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy, which can only provide collagen content in fibrotic area. We propose to use polarization-resolved SHG (PR-SHG) microscopy to quantify liver fibrosis in terms of collagen fiber orientation and crystallization. Liver samples obtained from autopsy cases with fibrosis stage of F0–F4 were evaluated with an SHG microscope, and 12 consecutive PR-SHG images were acquired while changing the polarization azimuth angle of the irradiated laser from 0° to 165° in 15° increments using polarizer. The fiber orientation angle (φ) and degree (ρ) of collagen were estimated from the images. The SHG-positive area increased as the fibrosis stage progressed, which was well consistent with Sirius Red staining. The value of φ was random regardless of fibrosis stage. The mean value of ρ (ρ-mean), which represents collagen fiber crystallinity, varied more as fibrosis progressed to stage F3, and converged to a significantly higher value in F4 than in other stages. Spatial dispersion of ρ (ρ-entropy) also showed increased variation in the stage F3 and decreased variation in the stage F4. It was shown that PR-SHG could provide new information on the properties of collagen fibers in human liver fibrosis

Evaluation of 14 questions detecting malnutrition in newly hospitalized patients

Malnutrition of patients is an important factor of poor prognosis and outcome and long stay in hospital. Nutrition screening is of course necessary for detecting underand malnutrition. However, appropriate rapid and easy screening tools for only acute and emergent hospitalized patients are not known. In this study, 14 questions composed with reported and new items were prepared and the utility of those questions for detecting malnutrition in novel hospitalized patients was evaluated. Combined questions on disturbance of swallowing, diarrhea and fever, and also on ageing, food intake and history of fall are very important for detecting malnutrition in newly hospitalized patients, although further study will be absolutely required

NARP-related alterations in the excitatory and inhibitory circuitry of socially isolated mice: developmental insights and implications for autism spectrum disorder

BackgroundSocial isolation during critical periods of development is associated with alterations in behavior and neuronal circuitry. This study aimed to investigate the immediate and developmental effects of social isolation on firing properties, neuronal activity-regulated pentraxin (NARP) and parvalbumin (PV) expression in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), social behavior in juvenile socially isolated mice, and the biological relevance of NARP expression in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).MethodsMice were subjected to social isolation during postnatal days 21–35 (P21–P35) and were compared with group-housed control mice. Firing properties in the PFC pyramidal neurons were altered in P35 socially isolated mice, which might be associated with alterations in NARP and PV expression.ResultsIn adulthood, mice that underwent juvenile social isolation exhibited difficulty distinguishing between novel and familiar mice during a social memory task, while maintaining similar levels of social interaction as the control mice. Furthermore, a marked decrease in NARP expression in lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from adolescent humans with ASD as compared to typically developing (TD) humans was found.ConclusionOur study highlights the role of electrophysiological properties, as well as NARP and PV expression in the PFC in mediating the developmental consequences of social isolation on behavior