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This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (NanoMOFdeli), ERC-2016-COG 726380, Innovate UK (104384) and EPSRC IAA (IAA/RG85685). N.R. acknowledges the support of the Cambridge International Scholarship and the TrinityHenry Barlow Scholarship (Honorary). O.K.F. and R.Q.S. acknowledge funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DE-FG02-08ER15967). R.S.F. and D.B. acknowledge funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (SCoTMOF), ERC-2015-StG 677289. Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology and Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA-0003525. The authors gratefully acknowledge funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technologies Office, through the Hydrogen Storage Materials Advanced Research Consortium (HyMARC). This paper describes objective technical results and analysis. Any subjective views or opinions that might be expressed in the paper do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government. J.D.E. acknowledges the support of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and the Center for Information Services and High Performance Computing (ZIH) at TU Dresden. S.K.G. and S.M. acknowledge SERB (Project No. CRG/2019/000906), India for financial support. K.K. and R.K. acknowledge Active Co. Research Grant for funding. S.K. acknowledges funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (COSMOS), ERC-2017-StG 756489. N.L. and J.G.M acknowledge funding from the European Commission through the H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019 program (ZEOBIOCHEM -872102) and the Spanish MICINN and AEI/FEDER (RTI2018-099504-B-C21). N.L. thanks the University of Alicante for funding (UATALENTO17-05). ICN2 is supported by the Severo Ochoa program from the Spanish MINECO (Grant No. SEV-2017-0706) S.M.J.R. and A.L. wish to thank the Fund for Scientific Research Flanders (FWO), under grant nos. 12T3519N and 11D2220N. L.S. was supported by the EPSRC Cambridge NanoDTC EP/L015978/1. C.T.Y. and T.S.N. acknowledges funds from the National Research Foundation of Korea, NRF-2017M3A7B4042140 and NRF-2017M3A7B4042235. P.F. and H. Y. acknowledge US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division under Award No. DE-SC0010596 (P.F.). R.O. would like to acknowledge funding support during his Ph.D. study from Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education-LPDP with the contract No. 202002220216006. Daniel Siderius: Official contribution of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), not subject to copyright in the United States of America. Daniel Siderius: Certain commercially available items may be identified in this paper. This identification does not imply recommendation by NIST, nor does it imply that it is the best available for the purposes described. B.V.L, S.T.E and A.M.P acknowledge funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program (Grant agreement no. 639233, COFLeaf)., Porosity and surface area analysis play a prominent role in modern materials science. At the heart of this sits the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) theory, which has been a remarkably successful contribution to the field of materials science. The BET method was developed in the 1930s for open surfaces but is now the most widely used metric for the estimation of surface areas of microand mesoporous materials. Despite its widespread use, the calculation of BET surface areas causes a spread in reported areas, resulting in reproducibility problems in both academia and industry. To prove this, for this analysis, 18 already-measured raw adsorption isotherms were provided to sixty-one labs, who were asked to calculate the corresponding BET areas. This roundrobin exercise resulted in a wide range of values. Here, the reproducibility of BET area determination from identical isotherms is demonstrated to be a largely ignored issue, raising critical concerns over the reliability of reported BET areas. To solve this major issue, a new computational approach to accurately and systematically determine the BET area of nanoporous materials is developed. The software, called “BET surface identification” (BETSI), expands on the well-known Rouquerol criteria and makes an unambiguous BET area assignment possible., European Research Council (ERC) ERC-2016-COG 726380 ERC-2015-StG 677289 ERC-2017-StG 756489 639233, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) Innovate UK 104384 UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) IAA/RG85685, Cambridge International Scholarship TrinityHenry Barlow Scholarship, United States Department of Energy (DOE) DE-FG02-08ER15967, National Nuclear Security Administration DE-NA-0003525, United States Department of Energy (DOE), Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Center for Information Services and High Performance Computing (ZIH) at TU Dresden, Department of Science & Technology (India), Science Engineering Research Board (SERB), India CRG/2019/000906, Active Co. Research Grant, European Commission through the H2020-MSCA-RISE-2019 program ZEOBIOCHEM -872102, Spanish MICINN and AEI/FEDER RTI2018-099504-B-C21, University of Alicante UATALENTO17-05, Spanish Government SEV-2017-0706 FWO 12T3519N 11D2220N, UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EP/L015978/1, National Research Foundation of Korea NRF-2017M3A7B4042140 NRF-2017M3A7B4042235, United States Department of Energy (DOE) DE-SC0010596, Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education-LPDP 202002220216006

Kaho Akimoto,1 Kuniaki Hirai,1 Tomohiro Matsunaga,2 Keisuke Kaneko,3 Hatsuko Mikuni,4 Tomoko Kawahara,5 Tomoki Uno,1 Akiko Fujiwara,6 Yoshito Miyata,1 Shin Ohta,1 Tetsuya Homma,1 Hideki Inoue,1 Fumihiro Yamaguchi,7 Sojiro Kusumoto,1 Shintaro Suzuki,1 Akihiko Tanaka,1 Hironori Sagara1 1Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; 2Division of Allergology and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Medicine, Showa University Koto Toyosu Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; 3Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Health and Hospitals Corporation Ebara Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; 4Department of Respiratory Medicine, Asahi General Hospital, Chiba, Japan; 5Department of Respiratory Medicine, Yamanashi Red Cross Hospital, Yamanashi, Japan; 6Department of Respiratory, Odawara Municipal Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan; 7Department of Respiratory Medicine, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Kanagawa, JapanCorrespondence: Kuniaki HiraiDivision of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142-8666, JapanTel +81-3-3784-8000Fax +81-3-3784-8742Email hiraik@med.showa-u.ac.jpPurpose: Inhaler therapy is the mainstay of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management. Poor adherence causes disease exacerbation and affects patient mortality. Although the Adherence Starts with Knowledge-20 (ASK-20) questionnaire is a reliable tool for assessing medication adherence, the relationship between the ASK-20 and clinical factors in patients with COPD remains unknown. We investigated the relationship between the ASK-20 and clinical factors, and assessed real-world inhaler therapy use.Patients and Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study of outpatients with COPD undergoing inhaler treatment who completed the ASK-20 questionnaire was performed. We investigated COPD-related health status using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), psychological status using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-anxiety and HADS-depression), respiratory function, patient satisfaction levels, and real-world inhaler therapy use.Results: Of the total 319 patients, 87% were male with a median age of 74 years. Most patients had mild or moderate COPD, according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage. The total ASK-20 scores correlated significantly with the CAT, HADS-anxiety, and HADS-depression scores (r = 0.27, 0.33, and 0.29, respectively, p < 0.01). Multivariable analysis showed that CAT and HADS-anxiety scores had an independent and significant impact on the ASK-20 scores [β, standardized regression coefficient: 0.18 (95% CI, 0.03– 0.35; p = 0.02), and 0.29 (95% CI, 0.17– 0.42; p < 0.01), respectively]; however, the ASK-20 scores were not correlated with age, sex, body mass index, cohabitation, modified Medical Research Council Dyspnea Scale score, pulmonary function, disease duration, number of COPD exacerbations per year, comorbidities, inhaler numbers, nor inhaler components.Conclusion: The ASK-20 scores in patients with COPD were significantly associated with CAT and HADS scores. In Japan, Respimat was prescribed to younger patients and patients with lower CAT scores. The ASK-20, a simple evaluation method, is useful for identifying clinical factors affecting adherence in patients with COPD.Keywords: COPD, adherence, ASK-20, inhaler

Dravet syndrome (DS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder due to pathogenic variants in SCN1A encoding the Nav1.1 sodium channel subunit, characterized by treatment-resistant epilepsy, temperature-sensitive seizures, developmental delay/intellectual disability with features of autism spectrum disorder, and increased risk of sudden death. Convergent data suggest hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) pathology in DS (Scn1a+/-) mice. We performed two-photon calcium imaging in brain slice to uncover a profound dysfunction of filtering of perforant path input by DG in young adult Scn1a+/- mice. This was not due to dysfunction of DG parvalbumin inhibitory interneurons (PV-INs), which were only mildly impaired at this timepoint; however, we identified enhanced excitatory input to granule cells, suggesting that circuit dysfunction is due to excessive excitation rather than impaired inhibition. We confirmed that both optogenetic stimulation of entorhinal cortex and selective chemogenetic inhibition of DG PV-INs lowered seizure threshold in vivo in young adult Scn1a+/- mice. Optogenetic activation of PV-INs, on the other hand, normalized evoked responses in granule cells in vitro. These results establish the corticohippocampal circuit as a key locus of pathology in Scn1a+/- mice and suggest that PV-INs retain powerful inhibitory function and may be harnessed as a potential therapeutic approach toward seizure modulation.

Reduced transition probabilities have been measured for the neutron-rich Ni73,74,75 nuclei with relativistic Coulomb excitation performed at the RIKEN Nishina Center. For the even-even Ni isotope the determined B(E2;0+→2+) value is compatible within errors with the result of a previous intermediate energy Coulomb excitation experiment, although being somewhat larger. For the odd Ni isotopes B(E2) values have been determined for the first time. In the middle νg9/2 shell nucleus Ni73 three peak candidates have been observed and tentatively assigned to the (5/2+), (13/2+), and (11/2+) excitations. Two peak candidates have been observed in Ni75 and tentatively assigned to the (13/2+) and (11/2+) levels. The measured B(E2) values are in line with the large B(E2) reported in Ni70 and at variance with the small strength measured in Ni72. Excitation energies compare well with the result of large-scale shell-model calculations, while B(E2) values are larger than predicted. This could indicate an increasing contribution of proton excitations across the Z=28 shell closure when approaching Ni78.

8 pags., 2 figs., 2 tabs., Reduced transition probabilities have been measured for the neutron-rich Ni73,74,75 nuclei with relativistic Coulomb excitation performed at the RIKEN Nishina Center. For the even-even Ni isotope the determined B(E2;0+→2+) value is compatible within errors with the result of a previous intermediate energy Coulomb excitation experiment, although being somewhat larger. For the odd Ni isotopes B(E2) values have been determined for the first time. In the middle νg9/2 shell nucleus Ni73 three peak candidates have been observed and tentatively assigned to the (5/2+), (13/2+), and (11/2+) excitations. Two peak candidates have been observed in Ni75 and tentatively assigned to the (13/2+) and (11/2+) levels. The measured B(E2) values are in line with the large B(E2) reported in Ni70 and at variance with the small strength measured in Ni72. Excitation energies compare well with the result of large-scale shell-model calculations, while B(E2) values are larger than predicted. This could indicate an increasing contribution of proton excitations across the Z=28 shell closure when approaching Ni78., The excellent work of the Riken-Nishina Center accelerator staff is acknowledged. We acknowledge the support of Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Italy. We also acknowledge the National Research, Development, and Innovation Fund of Hungary (Project No. K128947); the European Regional Development Fund (Contract No. GINOP-2.3.3-15- 2016-00034); and the National Research, Development, and Innovation Office (NKFIH Contract No. PD124717).

International audience; Reduced transition probabilities have been measured for the neutron-rich Ni73,74,75 nuclei with relativistic Coulomb excitation performed at the RIKEN Nishina Center. For the even-even Ni isotope the determined B(E2;0+→2+) value is compatible within errors with the result of a previous intermediate energy Coulomb excitation experiment, although being somewhat larger. For the odd Ni isotopes B(E2) values have been determined for the first time. In the middle νg9/2 shell nucleus Ni73 three peak candidates have been observed and tentatively assigned to the (5/2+), (13/2+), and (11/2+) excitations. Two peak candidates have been observed in Ni75 and tentatively assigned to the (13/2+) and (11/2+) levels. The measured B(E2) values are in line with the large B(E2) reported in Ni70 and at variance with the small strength measured in Ni72. Excitation energies compare well with the result of large-scale shell-model calculations, while B(E2) values are larger than predicted. This could indicate an increasing contribution of proton excitations across the Z=28 shell closure when approaching Ni78.

We report first precision mass measurements of the $1/2^-$ isomeric and $9/2^+$ ground states of $^{101}$In. The determined isomeric excitation energy continues a smooth trend of odd-$A$ indium isotopes up to the immediate vicinity of $N=50$ magic number. This trend can be confirmed by dedicated shell model calculations only if the neutron configuration mixing is considered. We find that the single particle energies are different for different states of the same isotope. The presented configuration-dependent shell evolution, type II shell evolution, in odd-$A$ nuclei is discussed for the first time. Our results will facilitate future studies of single-particle neutron states., Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, submitted to physical review C, under review

2017 ISRM Young Scholars’ Symposium on Rock Mechanics (YSRM 2017) & 2017 International Conference on New Development in Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering (NDRMGE 2017).10-13 May, 2017,Jeju,Korea

We investigate a striking example of mirror asymmetry in Gamow-Teller (GT) β-decay using the nuclear shell-model including isospin-nonconserving (INC) forces in the sd-shell region. We show that the large mirror asymmetry between 26 P and 26 Na GT β-decay can be accurately reproduced by introducing T=1, J≠0 INC forces related to the s 1/2 orbit, while the usual J=0 INC force, commonly adopted to describe isospin-symmetry breaking, does not work. We further show that the calculated distribution of summed GT strength for the 26 P β-decay is in good agreement with the experimental data. Our results support the conclusion that 26 P is a nucleus with proton-halo structure.

Approaching a quantum critical point (QCP) has been an effective route to stabilize superconductivity. While the role of magnetic QCPs has been extensively discussed, similar exploration of a structural QCP is scarce due to the lack of suitable systems with a continuous structural transition that can be conveniently tuned to 0~K. Using inelastic X-ray scattering, we examine the phonon spectrum of the nonmagnetic quasi-skutterudite (Ca$_{x}$Sr$_{1-x}$)$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$, which represents a precious system to explore the interplay between structural instabilities and superconductivity by tuning the Ca concentration $x$. We unambiguously detect the softening of phonon modes around the M point on cooling towards the structural transition. Intriguingly, at $x=0.85$, the soft mode energy squared at the M point extrapolates to zero at $(-5.7 \pm 7.7)$~K, providing the first compelling microscopic evidence of a structural QCP in (Ca$_{x}$Sr$_{1-x}$)$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$. The enhanced phonon density-of-states at low energy provides the essential ingredient for realizing strong-coupling superconductivity near the structural QCP., 6 pages, 4 figures

Approaching a quantum critical point (QCP) has been an effective route to stabilize superconductivity. While the role of magnetic QCPs has been extensively discussed, similar exploration of a structural QCP is scarce due to the lack of suitable systems with a continuous structural transition that can be conveniently tuned to 0~K. Using inelastic X-ray scattering, we examine the phonon spectrum of the nonmagnetic quasi-skutterudite (Ca$_{x}$Sr$_{1-x}$)$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$, which represents a precious system to explore the interplay between structural instabilities and superconductivity by tuning the Ca concentration $x$. We unambiguously detect the softening of phonon modes around the M point on cooling towards the structural transition. Intriguingly, at $x=0.85$, the soft mode energy squared at the M point extrapolates to zero at $(-5.7 \pm 7.7)$~K, providing the first compelling microscopic evidence of a structural QCP in (Ca$_{x}$Sr$_{1-x}$)$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$. The enhanced phonon density-of-states at low energy provides the essential ingredient for realizing strong-coupling superconductivity near the structural QCP.

The Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-millimeter Array (ALMA) is already revolutionising our understanding of the Universe. However, ALMA is not yet equipped with all of its originally planned receiver bands, which will allow it to observe over the full range of frequencies from 35-950 GHz accessible through the Earth's atmosphere. In particular Band 2 (67-90 GHz) has not yet been approved for construction. Recent technological developments in cryogenic monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) amplifier and orthomode transducer (OMT) design provide an opportunity to extend the originally planned on-sky bandwidth, combining ALMA Bands 2 and 3 into one receiver cartridge covering 67-116 GHz. The IF band definition for the ALMA project took place two decades ago, when 8 GHz of on-sky bandwidth per polarisation channel was an ambitious goal. The new receiver design we present here allows the opportunity to expand ALMA's wideband capabilities, anticipating future upgrades across the entire observatory. Expanding ALMA's instantaneous bandwidth is a high priority, and provides a number of observational advantages, including lower noise in continuum observations, the ability to probe larger portions of an astronomical spectrum for, e.g., widely spaced molecular transitions, and the ability to scan efficiently in frequency space to perform surveys where the redshift or chemical complexity of the object is not known a priori. Wider IF bandwidth also reduces uncertainties in calibration and continuum subtraction that might otherwise compromise science objectives. Here we provide an overview of the component development and overall design for this wideband 67-116 GHz cryogenic receiver cartridge, designed to operate from the Band 2 receiver cartridge slot in the current ALMA front end receiver cryostat., Comment: 8 pages, proceedings from the 8th ESA Workshop on Millimetre-Wave Technology and Applications (https://atpi.eventsair.com/QuickEventWebsitePortal/millimetre-wave/mm-wave)

Oblate-prolate shape-coexistence is well-known in the N=Z nucleus 72Kr. Furthermore, recent experimental data implies that there is a rapid shape transition at very low spins in this nucleus. We reinvestigate this problem by using large-scale shell-model calculations with the monopole interactions derived from the monopole-based universal force that contains the tensor force in the Hamiltonian. We show that in 72Kr, states with nucleon-quartet excitation from the pf shell to the - orbits, which favor large prolate deformation, compete with those having the pf shell as the main configuration with oblate deformation. These shapes can coexist if the two types of states reside closely in excitation energy. In 72Kr the tensor force is found to provide precisely such a coexistence condition near the ground state. As the tensor effect changes dynamically with orbital occupation when the nucleus rotates, a rapid shape transition can occur.

International audience; The $\beta$ decay of the odd-odd nucleus $^{70}$Br has been investigated with the BigRIPS and EURICA setups at the Radioactive Ion Beam Factory (RIBF) of the RIKEN Nishina Center. The $T=0$ ($J^{\pi}=9^+$) and $T=1$ ($J^{\pi}=0^+$) isomers have both been produced in in-flight fragmentation of $^{78}$Kr with ratios of 41.6(8)\% and 58.4(8)\%, respectively. A half-life of $t_{1/2}=2157^{+53}_{-49}$ ms has been measured for the $J^{\pi}=9^+$ isomer from $\gamma$-ray time decay analysis. Based on this result, we provide a new value of the half-life for the $J^{\pi}=0^+$ ground state of $^{70}$Br, $t_{1/2}=78.42\pm0.51$ ms, which is slightly more precise, and in excellent agreement, with the best measurement reported hitherto in the literature. For this decay, we provide the first estimate of the total branching fraction decaying through the $2^+_1$ state in the daughter nucleus $^{70}$Se, $R(2^+_1)=1.3\pm1.1\%$. We also report four new low-intensity $\gamma$-ray transitions at 661, 1103, 1561, and 1749 keV following the $\beta$ decay of the $J^{\pi}=9^+$ isomer. Based on their coincidence relationships, we tentatively propose two new excited states at 3945 and 4752 keV in $^{70}$Se with most probable spins and parities of $J^{\pi}=(6^+)$ and $(8^+)$, respectively. The observed structure is interpreted with the help of shell-model calculations, which predict a complex interplay between oblate and prolate configurations at low excitation energies.

The $��$ decay of the odd-odd nucleus $^{70}$Br has been investigated with the BigRIPS and EURICA setups at the Radioactive Ion Beam Factory (RIBF) of the RIKEN Nishina Center. The $T=0$ ($J^��=9^+$) and $T=1$ ($J^��=0^+$) isomers have both been produced in in-flight fragmentation of $^{78}$Kr with ratios of 41.6(8)\% and 58.4(8)\%, respectively. A half-life of $t_{1/2}=2157^{+53}_{-49}$ ms has been measured for the $J^��=9^+$ isomer from $��$-ray time decay analysis. Based on this result, we provide a new value of the half-life for the $J^��=0^+$ ground state of $^{70}$Br, $t_{1/2}=78.42\pm0.51$ ms, which is slightly more precise, and in excellent agreement, with the best measurement reported hitherto in the literature. For this decay, we provide the first estimate of the total branching fraction decaying through the $2^+_1$ state in the daughter nucleus $^{70}$Se, $R(2^+_1)=1.3\pm1.1\%$. We also report four new low-intensity $��$-ray transitions at 661, 1103, 1561, and 1749 keV following the $��$ decay of the $J^��=9^+$ isomer. Based on their coincidence relationships, we tentatively propose two new excited states at 3945 and 4752 keV in $^{70}$Se with most probable spins and parities of $J^��=(6^+)$ and $(8^+)$, respectively. The observed structure is interpreted with the help of shell-model calculations, which predict a complex interplay between oblate and prolate configurations at low excitation energies.

Background The evolution of animal segmentation is a major research focus within the field of evolutionary–developmental biology. Most studied segmented animals generate their segments in a repetitive, anterior-to-posterior fashion coordinated with the extension of the body axis from a posterior growth zone. In the current study we ask which selection pressures and ordering of evolutionary events may have contributed to the evolution of this specific segmentation mode. Results To answer this question we extend a previous in silico simulation model of the evolution of segmentation by allowing the tissue growth pattern to freely evolve. We then determine the likelihood of evolving oscillatory sequential segmentation combined with posterior growth under various conditions, such as the presence or absence of a posterior morphogen gradient or selection for determinate growth. We find that posterior growth with sequential segmentation is the predominant outcome of our simulations only if a posterior morphogen gradient is assumed to have already evolved and selection for determinate growth occurs secondarily. Otherwise, an alternative segmentation mechanism dominates, in which divisions occur in large bursts through the entire tissue and all segments are created simultaneously. Conclusions Our study suggests that the ancestry of a posterior signalling centre has played an important role in the evolution of sequential segmentation. In addition, it suggests that determinate growth evolved secondarily, after the evolution of posterior growth. More generally, we demonstrate the potential of evo-devo simulation models that allow us to vary conditions as well as the onset of selection pressures to infer a likely order of evolutionary innovations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13227-016-0052-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The evolution of animal segmentation is a major research focus within the field of evolutionary–developmental biology. Most studied segmented animals generate their segments in a repetitive, anterior-to-posterior fashion coordinated with the extension of the body axis from a posterior growth zone. In the current study we ask which selection pressures and ordering of evolutionary events may have contributed to the evolution of this specific segmentation mode. To answer this question we extend a previous in silico simulation model of the evolution of segmentation by allowing the tissue growth pattern to freely evolve. We then determine the likelihood of evolving oscillatory sequential segmentation combined with posterior growth under various conditions, such as the presence or absence of a posterior morphogen gradient or selection for determinate growth. We find that posterior growth with sequential segmentation is the predominant outcome of our simulations only if a posterior morphogen gradient is assumed to have already evolved and selection for determinate growth occurs secondarily. Otherwise, an alternative segmentation mechanism dominates, in which divisions occur in large bursts through the entire tissue and all segments are created simultaneously. Our study suggests that the ancestry of a posterior signalling centre has played an important role in the evolution of sequential segmentation. In addition, it suggests that determinate growth evolved secondarily, after the evolution of posterior growth. More generally, we demonstrate the potential of evo-devo simulation models that allow us to vary conditions as well as the onset of selection pressures to infer a likely order of evolutionary innovations.

The recoil-β tagging technique has been used in conjunction with the Ca40(S32,2n) reaction at a beam energy of 88 MeV to identify transitions associated with the decay of the 2+ and, tentatively, 4+ states in the nucleus Kr70. These data are used, along with previously published data, to examine the triplet energy differences (TED) for the mass 70 isobars. The experimental TED values are compared with shell model calculations, performed with the JUN45 interaction in the fpg model space, that include a J=0 isospin nonconserving (INC) interaction with an isotensor strength of 100 keV. The agreement is found to be very good up to spin 4 and supports the expectation for analog states that all three nuclei have the same oblate shape at low-spin. The A=70 results are compared with the experimental and shell model predicted TED and mirror energy differences (MED) for the mass 66 and 74 systems. The comparisons clearly demonstrate the importance of the isotensor INC interaction in replicating the TED data in this region. Issues related to the observed MED values and their interpretation within the shell model are discussed.

Yuichiro Imai,1 Yasushi Adachi,2,3 Takashi Kimura,4 Chikara Nakano,5 Toshiki Shimizu,4 Ming Shi,2 Mitsuhiko Okigaki,6 Tomohiko Shimo,1 Kazunari Kaneko,1 Susumu Ikehara2 1Department of Pediatrics, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, 2Department of Stem Cell Disorders, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, 3Division of Clinical Pathology, Toyooka Hospital, Hyogo, 4First Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, 5Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, 6Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan Abstract: For immunodeficient patients, fungi are life-threatening pathogens. In this paper, we present an autopsy case of combined zygomycosis and aspergillosis. A female in her 70s on chronic hemodialysis was admitted to a hospital suffering bloody sputum, dyspnea, and fever, probably due to perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-related vasculitis. Antibiotics were administered and immunosuppressive therapy was started, resulting in an improvement in her condition. Pneumonia later developed, followed by pulmonary bleeding and intractable pneumothorax from which she ultimately died. On autopsy, the upper lobe of the left lung was found to have hemorrhagic necrosis and showed a large longitudinal fissure. Microscopically, Zygomycota were observed in both the lungs and heart, while Aspergillus was found in the middle lobe of the right lung. Zygomycosis, which usually has a poor prognosis, is assumed to have induced hemorrhagic infarction of the lungs, inducing pulmonary bleeding and necrosis, despite the use of lipid formulations of amphotericin B, which are effective medicines against Zygomycota. Keywords: pulmonary fissure, zygomycosis, aspergillosis, lung, immunosuppression

Helicobacter pylori infections are usually established in early childhood and continuously stimulate immunity, including T-helper 1 (Th1), Th17, and regulatory T-cell (Treg) responses, throughout life. Although known to be the major cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer, disease occurs in a minority of those who are infected. Recently, there has been much interest in beneficial effects arising from infection with this pathogen. Published data robustly show that the infection is protective against asthma in mouse models. Epidemiological studies show that H. pylori is inversely associated with human allergy and asthma, but there is a paucity of mechanistic data to explain this. Since Th1 and Treg responses are reported to protect against allergic responses, we investigated if there were links between the human systemic Th1 and Treg response to H. pylori and allergen-specific IgE levels. The human cytokine and T-cell responses were examined using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 49 infected and 58 uninfected adult patients. Concentrations of total and allergen-specific plasma IgE were determined by ELISA and ImmunoCAP assays. These responses were analyzed according to major virulence factor genotypes of the patients' colonizing H. pylori strains. An in vitro assay was employed, using PBMCs from infected and uninfected donors, to determine the role of Treg cytokines in the suppression of IgE. Significantly higher frequencies of IL-10-secreting CD4(+)CD25(hi) Tregs, but not H. pylori-specific Th1 cells, were present in the peripheral blood of infected patients. Total and allergen-specific IgE concentrations were lower when there was a strong Treg response, and blocking IL-10 in vitro dramatically restored IgE responses. IgE concentrations were also significantly lower when patients were infected with CagA(+) strains or those expressing the more active i1 form of VacA. The systemic IL-10(+) Treg response is therefore likely to play a role in H. pylori-mediated protection against allergy in humans.

International audience; The recoil-β tagging technique has been used in conjunction with the 40 Ca(32 S ,2n) reaction at a beam energy of 88 MeV to identify transitions associated with the decay of the 2 + and, tentatively, 4 + states in the nucleus 70 Kr. These data are used, along with previously published data, to examine the triplet energy differences (TED) for the mass 70 isobars. The experimental TED values are compared with shell model calculations, performed with the JUN45 interaction in the fpg model space, that include a J = 0 isospin nonconserving (INC) interaction with an isotensor strength of 100 keV. The agreement is found to be very good up to spin 4 and supports the expectation for analog states that all three nuclei have the same oblate shape at low-spin. The A = 70 results are compared with the experimental and shell model predicted TED and mirror energy differences (MED) for the mass 66 and 74 systems. The comparisons clearly demonstrate the importance of the isotensor INC interaction in replicating the TED data in this region. Issues related to the observed MED values and their interpretation within the shell model are discussed.

2017 MMIJ Spring Meeting of Hokkaido Branch. June 16 2017, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan., Lignite seams of the Tempoku coalfield in Hokkaido, Japan, are being considered to produce biomethane by subsurface cultivation and gasification method (SCG, Aramaki et al., 2015). Formation of low-molecularweight- organic-acids (LMWOC) by induced oxidation using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is the first stage of this method. Subsequent stages include methanogen cultivation to produce biomethane, using the LMWOC as a substrate, and the last stage corresponds to gas recovery. This study focuses on the influence of the formation of LMWOC via chemical reactions on the tensile strength of the lignite, from an engineering perspective.

In this opinion piece, we discuss how to place evolution in the context of origin-of-life research. Our discussion starts with a popular definition: ‘life is a self-sustained chemical system capable of undergoing Darwinian evolution’. According to this definition, the origin of life is the same as the origin of evolution: evolution is the ‘end’ of the origin of life. This perspective, however, has a limitation, in that the ability of evolution in and of itself is insufficient to explain the origin of life as we know it, as indicated by Spiegelman’s and Lincoln and Joyce’s experiments. This limitation provokes a crucial question: What conditions are required for replicating systems to evolve into life? From this perspective, the origin of life includes the emergence of life through evolution: evolution is a ‘means’ of the origin of life. After reviewing Eigen’s pioneering work on this question, we mention our ongoing work suggesting that a key condition might be conflicting multi-level evolution. Taken together, there are thus two questions regarding the origin of life: how evolution gets started, and how evolution produces life. Evolution is, therefore, at the centre of the origin of life, where the two lines of enquiry must meet.This article is part of the themed issue ‘Reconceptualizing the origins of life’.

Article, JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCE. 14(10): 997-1000 (2007)

Objective In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), destruction of articular cartilage by the inflamed synovium is considered to be driven by increased activities of proteolytic enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential of selective inhibition of membrane type 1 MMP (MT1‐MMP) and its combination with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockage in mice with collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA). Methods CIA was induced in DBA/1 mice by immunization with bovine type II collagen. From the onset of clinical arthritis, mice were treated with MT1‐MMP selective inhibitory antibody DX‐2400 and/or TNFR‐Fc fusion protein. Disease progression was monitored daily, and serum, lymph nodes, and affected paws were collected at the end of the study for cytokine and histologic analyses. For in vitro analysis, bone marrow–derived macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide for 24 hours in the presence of DX‐2400 and/or TNFR‐Fc to analyze cytokine production and phenotype. Results DX‐2400 treatment significantly reduced cartilage degradation and disease progression in mice with CIA. Importantly, when combined with TNF blockade, DX‐2400 acted synergistically, inducing long‐term benefit. DX‐2400 also inhibited the up‐regulation of interleukin‐12 (IL‐12)/IL‐23 p40 via polarization toward an M2 phenotype in bone marrow–derived macrophages. Increased production of IL‐17 induced by anti‐TNF, which correlated with an incomplete response to anti‐TNF, was abrogated by combined treatment with DX‐2400 in CIA. Conclusion Targeting MT1‐MMP provides a potential strategy for joint protection, and its combination with TNF blockade may be particularly beneficial in RA patients with an inadequate response to anti‐TNF therapy.

The recently-proposed effective shell-model interaction, the pairing-plus-multipole Hamiltonian with the monopole interaction obtained by empirical fits starting from the monopole-based universal force (PMMU), is systematically applied to nuclei of the pf5/2g9/2 shell region. It is demonstrated that the calculation describes reasonably well a wide range of experimental data, including not only the low-lying and high-excitation spectra, E2 transitions, quadrupole moments, and magnetic moments, but also the binding energies, for Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, As, and Se isotopes with A=64-80. In particular, a structure of the neutron-rich Ge and Se isotopes is discussed in detail., Comment: 21 pages, 31 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. C

Contemporary approaches for vaccination and immunotherapy are often capable of eliciting strong T-cell responses against tumor antigens. However, such responses are not parallel to clinical tumor regression. The development of evasion mechanisms within tumor microenvironment may be responsible for poor therapeutic responses. We report here that constitutive or inducible expression of B7-H1, a B7 family molecule widely expressed by cancers, confers resistance to therapeutic anti-CD137 antibody in mice with established tumors. The resistance is accompanied with failure of antigen-specific CD8+ CTLs to destroy tumor cells without impairment of CTL function. Blockade of B7-H1 or PD-1 by specific monoclonal antibodies could reverse this resistance and profoundly enhance therapeutic efficacy. Our findings support that B7-H1/PD-1 forms a molecular shield to prevent destruction by CTLs and implicate new approaches for immunotherapy of human cancers.

経済生産過程ネットワークの新しいモデルを説明する。このモデルでは、生産過程は化学反応ネットワークを模して表されている。このシステムでは各生産過程は大域的に結合しており、互いに競合して、その結果外部環境に適応する。このシステムでは、どのパスを用いるかのスイッチが生じ、それを通して経済活動は多様な時間スケールからなるダイナミクスを示す。, この論文は国立情報学研究所の電子図書館事業により電子化されました。

(Ca$_{0.5}$Sr$_{0.5}$)$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ is a member of the substitution series (Ca$_{x}$Sr$_{1-x}$)$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ which has recently been argued to feature a structural quantum critical point at $x_c$ = 0.9. In the stoichiometric compound Sr$_{3}$Rh$_{4}$Sn$_{13}$, the structural transition at $T^*$ $\approx$ 138 K has been shown to be a second-order phase transition. Moving towards xc, we examine the character of the structural transition in (Ca$_{0.5}$Sr$_{0.5}$)$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ (i.e. $x$ = 0.5, $T^*$ $\approx$ 55 K) using electrical resistivity, heat capacity and X-ray scattering. The absence of the thermal hysteresis in specific heat around $T^*$, and the continuous evolution of the superlattice reflection detected by X-ray diffraction are consistent with the scenario that the structural transition associated with a modulation vector $q$ = (0.5, 0.5, 0) in (Ca$_{0.5}$Sr$_{0.5}$)$_3$Rh$_4$Sn$_{13}$ remains second-order on approaching the quantum critical point.

Revolution frequency measurements of individual ions in storage rings require sophisticated timing detectors. One of common approaches for such detectors is the detection of secondary electrons released from a thin foil due to penetration of the stored ions. A new method based on the analysis of intensities of secondary electrons was developed which enables determination of the charge of each ion simultaneously with the measurement of its revolution frequency. Although the mass-over-charge ratios of $^{51}$Co$^{27+}$ and $^{34}$Ar$^{18+}$ ions are almost identical, and therefore, the ions can not be resolved in a storage ring, by applying the new method the mass excess of the short-lived $^{51}$Co is determined for the first time to be ME($^{51}$Co)=-27342(48) keV. Shell-model calculations in the $fp$-shell nuclei compared to the new data indicate the need to include isospin-nonconserving forces.

GSI Scientific Report 2013 - GSI Report 2014-1

As the endpoints of massive star evolution, neutron stars are enigmatic celestial objects characterized by extremely dense and exotic nuclear matter, magnetospheres with positrons (antimatter), rapid rotation and ultra-strong magnetic fields. Such an extreme environment has provided an accessible astrophysical laboratory to study physics under conditions unattainable on Earth and to tackle a range of fundamental questions related to: the aftermath of stellar evolution and the powerful explosions of massive stars, the equation of state and physics of some of the most exotic and magnetic stars in the Universe, the workings of the most powerful particle accelerators in our Galaxy and beyond, and the sources of gravitational waves that are yet to be detected. Recent observations revealed a great diversity of neutron stars, including ultra-strongly magnetized pulsars, referred to as "magnetars", and unusual types of accreting X-ray pulsars. In this white paper, we highlight the prospects of the upcoming X-ray mission, ASTRO-H, in studying these highly magnetized neutron stars., Comment: 40 pages, 28 figures, ASTRO-H White Paper

Using a shell model which is capable of describing the spectra of upper g{sub 9/2}-shell nuclei close to the N=Z line, we study the structure of two isomeric states 7{sup +} and 21{sup +} in the odd-odd N=Z nucleus {sup 94}Ag. It is found that both isomeric states exhibit a large collectivity. The 7{sup +} state is oblately deformed, and is suggested to be a shape isomer in nature. The 21{sup +} state becomes isomeric because of level inversion of the 19{sup +} and 21{sup +} states due to core excitations across the N=Z=50 shell gap. Calculation of spectroscopic quadrupole moment indicates clearly an enhancement in these states due to the core excitations. However, the present shell model calculation that produces the 19{sup +}-21{sup +} level inversion cannot accept the large-deformation picture of Mukha et al. [Nature (London) 439, 298 (2006)].

The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com., Article, CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY. 26(10): 1761-1763 (2007)

An in-beam study has been performed to further investigate the known isomeric decays and to identify T = 1 excited states in the medium-heavy N = Z = 33 nucleus As-66. The fusion-evaporation reaction Ca-40(Si-28,pn)As-66 was employed at beam energies of 75 and 83 MeV. The half-lives and ordering of two known isomeric states in As-66 have been determined with improved accuracy. In addition, several prompt gamma-ray transitions from excited states, both bypassing and decaying to the isomeric states in As-66, have been observed. Most importantly, candidates for the 4(+) -> 2(+) and 6(+) -> 4(+) transitions in the T = 1 band have been identified. The results are compared with shell-model calculations using the modern JUN45 interaction in the pf(5/2)g(9/2) model space.

An in-beam study has been performed to further investigate the known isomeric decays and to identify T = 1 excited states in the medium-heavy N = Z = 33 nucleus 66As. The fusion-evaporation reaction 40Ca(28Si,pn) 66As was employed at beam energies of 75 and 83 MeV. The half-lives and ordering of two known isomeric states in 66As have been determined with improved accuracy. In addition, several prompt γ -ray transitions from excited states, both bypassing and decaying to the isomeric states in 66As, have been observed. Most importantly, candidates for the 4+ → 2+ and 6+ → 4+ transitions in the T = 1 band have been identified. The results are compared with shell-model calculations using the modern JUN45 interaction in the pf5/2g9/2 model space. peerReviewed

We investigate 2d gravity quantized in the ADM formulation, where only the loop length $l(z)$ is retained as a dynamical variable of the gravitation, in order to get an intuitive physical insight of the theory. The effective action of $l(z)$ is calculated by adding scalar fields of conformal coupling, and the problems of the critical dimension and the time development of $l$ are addressed.

Excited states of the N=Z=33 nucleus 66As have been populated in a fusion-evaporation reaction and studied using γ-ray spectroscopic techniques. Special emphasis was put into the search for candidates for the T=1 states. A new 3+ isomer has been observed with a lifetime of 1.1(3) ns. This is believed to be the predicted oblate shape isomer. The excited levels are discussed in terms of the shell model and of the complex excited Vampir approaches. Coulomb energy differences are determined from the comparison of the T=1 states with their analog partners. The unusual behavior of the Coulomb energy differences in the A=70 mass region is explained through different shape components (oblate and prolate) within the members of the same isospin multiplets. This breaking of the isospin symmetry is attributed to the correlations induced by the Coulomb interaction.

To discuss whether an enhanced isomer decay is a preferred process in a plasma environment it is required to know the structure of the isomer as well as the nearby states. The spin-21/2, 6.85-hour high-spin isomer in 93Mo is investigated within a shell model which well describes nuclei in this mass region. By using the obtained wave-functions which correctly reproduce the observed B(E2), B(E4), and B(M1) transitions, characteristics of the isomer are shown in comparison with the isomeric states in neighboring nuclei. Calculations suggest that these high-spin isomers are formed with almost pure single-particle-like configurations. The 93Mo 21/2^+ isomer has the predominant configuration $\pi (g_{9/2})^2_{8} \otimes \nu d_{5/2}$ lying below the 15/2^+, 17/2^+, and 19/2^+ states due to neutron-proton interaction, which is the physical origin of its long lifetime. The key E2 transition that connects the 21/2^+ isomer to the upper 17/2^+ level is predicted to be substantial (3.5 W.u), and therefore there is a real prospect for observing induced isomer deexcitation., Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, accepted by Phys. Lett. B

Recent experimental data have revealed large mirror energy differences (MED) between high-spin states in the mirror nuclei 67Se and 67As, the heaviest pair where MED have been determined so far. The MED are generally attributed to the isospin symmetry breaking caused by the Coulomb force and by the isospin nonconserving part of the nucleon-nucleon residual interaction. The different contributions of the various terms have been extensively studied in the fp shell. By employing large-scale shell model calculations, we show that the inclusion of the g9/2 orbit causes interference between the electromagnetic spin-orbit and the Coulomb monopole radial terms at high spin. The large MED are attributed to the aligned proton pair excitations from the p3/2 and f5/2 orbits to the g9/2 orbit. The relation of the MED to deformation is discussed., Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. C