Measurement of the radial mode spectrum of photons through a phase-retrieval method

We propose and demonstrate a simple and easy-to-implement projective-measurement protocol to determine the radial index 'p' of a Laguerre-Gaussian (LGlp) mode. Our method entails converting any specified high-order LG0p mode into a near-Gaussian distribution that matches the fundamental mode of a single-mode fiber (SMF) through the use of two phase-screens (unitary transformations) obtained by applying a phase-retrieval algorithm. The unitary transformations preserve the orthogonality of modes and guarantee that our protocol can, in principle, be free of crosstalk. We measure the coupling efficiency of the transformed radial modes to the SMF for different pairs of phase-screens. Because of the universality of phase-retrieval methods, we believe that our protocol provides an efficient way of fully characterizing the radial spatial profile of an optical field

A Theory of the Transition to Critical Period Plasticity: Inhibition Selectively Suppresses Spontaneous Activity

SummaryWhat causes critical periods (CPs) to open? For the best-studied case, ocular dominance plasticity in primary visual cortex in response to monocular deprivation (MD), the maturation of inhibition is necessary and sufficient. How does inhibition open the CP? We present a theory: the transition from pre-CP to CP plasticity arises because inhibition preferentially suppresses responses to spontaneous relative to visually driven input activity, switching learning cues from internal to external sources. This differs from previous proposals in (1) arguing that the CP can open without changes in plasticity mechanisms when activity patterns become more sensitive to sensory experience through circuit development, and (2) explaining not simply a transition from no plasticity to plasticity, but a change in outcome of MD-induced plasticity from pre-CP to CP. More broadly, hierarchical organization of sensory-motor pathways may develop through a cascade of CPs induced as circuit maturation progresses from “lower” to “higher” cortical areas

Correlation optics in progress: introduction to the feature issue

This feature issue of Applied Optics contains a series of selected papers reflecting recent progress of correlation optics and showing, in part, the trend from micro-optics to nano-optics

Behavioral impairment in SHATI/NAT8L knockout mice via dysfunction of myelination development

We have identified SHATI/NAT8L in the brain of mice treated with methamphetamine. Recently, it has been reported that SHATI is N-acetyltransferase 8-like protein (NAT8L) that produces N-acetylaspatate (NAA) from aspartate and acetyl-CoA. We have generated SHATI/NAT8L knockout (Shati−/−) mouse which demonstrates behavioral deficits that are not rescued by single NAA supplementation, although the reason for which is still not clarified. It is possible that the developmental impairment results from deletion of SHATI/NAT8L in the mouse brain, because NAA is involved in myelination through lipid synthesis in oligodendrocytes. However, it remains unclear whether SHATI/NAT8L is involved in brain development. In this study, we found that the expression of Shati/Nat8l mRNA was increased with brain development in mice, while there was a reduction in the myelin basic protein (MBP) level in the prefrontal cortex of juvenile, but not adult, Shati−/− mice. Next, we found that deletion of SHATI/NAT8L induces several behavioral deficits in mice, and that glyceryltriacetate (GTA) treatment ameliorates the behavioral impairments and normalizes the reduced protein level of MBP in juvenile Shati−/− mice. These findings suggest that SHATI/NAT8L is involved in myelination in the juvenile mouse brain via supplementation of acetate derived from NAA. Thus, reduction of SHATI/NAT8L induces developmental neuronal dysfunction

A Synthetic Multidomain Peptide That Drives a Macropinocytosis-Like Mechanism for Cytosolic Transport of Exogenous Proteins into Plants

Direct delivery of proteins into plants represents a promising alternative to conventional gene delivery for probing and modulating cellular functions without the risk of random integration of transgenes into the host genome. This remains challenging, however, because of the lack of a protein delivery tool applicable to diverse plant species and the limited information about the entry mechanisms of exogenous proteins in plant cells. Here, we present the synthetic multidomain peptide (named dTat-Sar-EED4) for cytosolic protein delivery in various plant species via simple peptide-protein coincubation. dTat-Sar-EED4 enabled the cytosolic delivery of an active enzyme with up to ∼20-fold greater efficiency than previously described cell-penetrating peptides in several model plant systems. Our analyses using pharmacological inhibitors and transmission electron microscopy revealed that dTat-Sar-EED4 triggered a unique endocytic mechanism for cargo protein internalization. This endocytic mechanism shares several features with macropinocytosis, including the dependency of actin polymerization, sensitivity to phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase activity, and formation of membrane protrusions and large intracellular vesicles (>200 nm in diameter), even though macropinocytosis has not been identified to date in plants. Our study thus presents a robust molecular tool that can induce a unique cellular uptake mechanism for the efficient transport of bioactive proteins into plants

カテイナイ ニオケル コミュニケーション ノウリョク ノ イクセイ オ メザシタ ショウガッコウ カテイカ ノ ジュギョウ ジッセン

家庭内における児童のコミュニケーション能力の育成をめざし,小学校家庭科で「自分の気持ちを率直に伝える大切さに気づき,生活に生かそうとする態度を身につける」ことを目的とした授業実践を行った。その結果,ほとんどの児童が家族を対象としたコミュニケーションの生活実践を行い,事後調査におけるコミュニケーションの正解率も高かったため,授業で取り上げたコミュニケーションスキルは児童に定着したといえる。コミュニケーションスキルを活用できなかった児童に対する支援・指導の工夫が今後の課題である。This report analyzed the effect of learning of communication with family in home economics education in elementary school. The learning items were awareness of importance of communication and to get practical attitude. The results were as follows: 1) Most of students practiced on communication with family in their lives. 2) Level of post test of students on communication was high. 3) Learning of communication with family in home economics education was proven to be effective. The problem to be solved is to support for students without practice on communication with family.国立情報学研究所『研究紀要公開支援事業』により電子化

The first Japanese MDPL case

Mandibular hypoplasia, deafness, progeroid features and lipodystrophy (MDPL) syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder caused by heterozygous POLD1 mutations. To date, 13 patients affected by POLD1 mutation-caused MDPL have been described. We report a clinically undiagnosed 11-year-old male who noted joint contractures at 6 years of age. Targeted exome sequencing identified a known POLD1 mutation [NM_002691.3:c.1812_1814del, p.(Ser605del)] that diagnosed him as the first Japanese/East Asian MDPL case