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Background: Self-care and professional care of implants may prove difficult for elderly people who require nursing care. However, the actual state of care and problems remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the actual state of implant problems in elderly people living in their own home or in a nursing home who received visiting dental treatment. Methods: We mailed questionnaire survey forms to 2339 representatives or specialists who were members of the Japanese Society of Oral Implantology, the Japanese Society of Gerodontology or the Japan Prosthodontic Society. We narrowed down the respondents to those who provided visiting dental treatment, and analyzed the actual state of implants observed during visiting dental treatment (type, care, problems, countermeasures, etc.). Results: Of the 924 dentists who responded to the questionnaire survey, 291 (22%) provided visiting dental treatment. While the majority of implant types encountered in the previous 12 months were root-form implants, there were still a certain number of blade and subperiosteal implants. Daily implant care involved mostly cleaning with a toothbrush + auxiliary tools. The most frequent implant problems encountered in the past were difficulty in cleaning and peri-implantitis. Medication and antiphlogistic treatment were most frequently adopted as countermeasures to implant problems, followed by observation. When we classified the results into those for the dentists who provided implant treatment and those for the dentists who did not, we found that many of the dentists who did not provide implant treatment opted for observation or medication, while those who provided implant treatment also implemented removal of superstructure, retightening of screws, repair and so forth. Conclusions: We found that many of the implant troubles encountered by dentists who provided visiting dental care were difficulty in cleaning or peri-implantitis, and that the actions taken against these troubles varied depending on the experience of the dentist performing the implant treatment. Our study also revealed that dentists who provide visiting dental care need to acquire knowledge and skills of implant treatment, to have actions prepared in case they encounter such cases, or to closely coordinate with dentists who specialize in implants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite advances in bone regenerative medicine, the relationship between stress-induced premature senescence (SIPS) in cells and bone regeneration remains largely unknown. Herein, we demonstrated that the implantation of a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) sustained-release gelatin sponge (LS-G) increases the number of SIPS cells and that the elimination of these cells promotes bone formation in critical-sized bone defects in the rat calvaria. Histological (hematoxylin–eosin and SA-β-gal) and immunohistological (p16 and p21 for analyzing cellular senescence and 4-HNE for oxidation) staining was used to identify SIPS cells and elucidate the underlying mechanism. Bone formation in defects were analyzed using microcomputed tomography, one and four weeks after surgery. Parallel to LS-G implantation, local epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) administration, and systemic senolytic (dasatinib and quercetin: D+Q) administration were used to eliminate SIPS cells. After LS-G implantation, SA-β-gal-, p16-, and p21-positive cells (SIPS cells) accumulated in the defects. However, treatment with LS-G+EGCG and LS-G+D+Q resulted in lower numbers of SIPS cells than that with LS-G in the defects, resulting in an augmentation of newly formed bone. We demonstrated that SIPS cells induced by sustained stimulation by LPS may play a deleterious role in bone formation. Controlling these cell numbers is a promising strategy to increase bone regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 are well-known gelatinases that disrupt the extracellular matrix, including gelatin. However, the advantages of modulating MMP expression in gelatin-based materials for applications in bone regenerative medicine have not been fully clarified. In this study, we examined the effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a major polyphenol catechin isolated from green tea, on MMP expression in gelatin sponges and its association with bone formation. Four gelatin sponges with or without EGCG were prepared and implanted into bone defects for up to 4 weeks. Histological and immunohistological staining were performed. Micro-computed tomography was used to estimate the bone-forming capacity of each sponge. Our results showed that EGCG integration attenuated MMP-2 (70.6%) and -9 expression (69.1%) in the 1 week group, increased residual gelatin (118.7%), and augmented bone formation (101.8%) in the 4 weeks group in critical-sized bone defects of rat calvaria compared with vacuum-heated gelatin sponges without EGCG. Moreover, vacuum-heated gelatin sponges with EGCG showed superior bone formation compared with other sponges. The results indicated that integration of EGCG in gelatin-based materials modulated the production and activity of MMP-2 and -9 in vivo, thereby enhancing bone-forming capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to clarify the distinctive features of stem cells for effective cell-based therapy strategies in regenerative medicine. The expression levels of cytokines secreted from stem cells from exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs), and bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) were examined to identify the details of their characteristics. A total of 174 cytokines were analyzed using cytokine antibody array, and their expression levels were confirmed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. These results indicated that 11 cytokines that were related to tissue regeneration, including growth factors, chemokines, and inflammatory cytokines, were identical in SHED, DPSCs, and BMMSCs. The comparative analyses between SHED and BMMSCs revealed that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), matrix metalloproteinase-3, and stromal cell derived factor 1 (SDF-1) were expressed 6.7-, 2.5-, and 2.1-fold higher, respectively, in SHEDs. HGF was also expressed 3.4-fold higher in DPSCs than BMMSCs. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and-3 were expressed more strongly in BMMSCs. SHED contained significantly higher SDF-1 levels than DPSCs. The distinct cytokine secretion indicated that they had different character besides basic MSC features. This knowledge of diagnostic cytokines analysis secreted from SHED, DPSCs, and BMMSCs extends our understanding, and can provide a novel therapeutic paradigm shift for functional cell-based therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a systematic study of the 3.0 μm H2O ice and the 3.4 μm aliphatic carbon absorption features toward 48 local ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) using spectra obtained by the AKARI Infrared Camera to investigate the UV environment in their star-forming regions. All the ULIRGs in our sample exhibit a ratio of optical depth of H2O ice to silicate dust (τ3.0/τ9.7) that is lower than that in the Taurus dark cloud. This implies that ULIRGs cannot be described as an ensemble of low-mass star-forming regions and that a significant amount of high-mass star-forming regions contribute to star-forming clouds in local ULIRGs. The results also show that the ratios of optical depth of aliphatic carbon to silicate dust, τ3.4/τ9.7, exhibit diverse values. We investigate two effects that can affect this ratio: the geometric temperature gradient (which increases the ratio) and the intense UV environment (which decreases it). The geometric temperature gradient is typically considered as a sign of active galactic nuclei (AGN). ULIRGs with AGN signs (optical classification, near-infrared color, and a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission strength of |$3.3\, \mu$| m) indeed tend to exhibit a large τ3.4/τ9.7 ratio. However, we find that the presence of buried AGN is not the only cause of the geometric temperature gradient, because the enhancement of the ratio is also evident in pure starburst-like ULIRGs without these AGN signs. Regarding the intense UV environment in star-forming regions, the correlation between the aliphatic carbon ratio and the ratio of the [C   ii ] 158 μm line luminosity to the far-infrared luminosity (⁠|$L_{[\mathrm{C}\,\,\small {ii}]}/L_{\mathrm{FIR}}$|⁠), which represents the UV environment in photodissociation regions, implies that the intense UV environment causes the decrease of the aliphatic carbon ratio. We find that an intense UV environment (G / n H > 3) in star-forming regions is needed for the aliphatic carbon ratio to be suppressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) are mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that have multipotent differentiation and a self-renewal ability. They have been useful not only for dental diseases, but also for systemic diseases. Extensive studies have suggested that DPSCs are effective for various diseases, such as spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, cerebral ischemia, myocardial infarction, muscular dystrophy, diabetes, liver diseases, eye diseases, immune diseases, and oral diseases. DPSCs have the potential for use in a cell-therapeutic paradigm shift to treat these diseases. It has also been reported that DPSCs have higher regenerative potential than the bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells known as representative MSCs. Therefore, DPSCs have recently gathered much attention. In this review, the therapeutic potential of DPSCs, the latest progress in the pre-clinical study for treatment of these various systemic diseases, and the clinical applications of DPSCs in regenerative medicine, are all summarized. Although challenges, including mechanisms of the effects and establishment of cell processing and transplantation methods for clinical use, still remain, DPSCs could be promising stem cells sources for various clinical applications, because of their easy isolation by a noninvasive procedure without ethical concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new calibration for the second-order light contamination in the near-infrared grism spectroscopy with the Infrared Camera aboard AKARI, specifically for the post-cryogenic phase of the satellite (Phase 3). Following our previous work on the cryogenic phase (Phases 1 and 2), the wavelength and spectral response calibrations were revised. Unlike Phases 1 and 2, during Phase 3 the temperature of the instrument was not stable and gradually increased from 40 to 47 K. To assess the effect of the temperature increase, we divided Phase 3 into three sub-phases and performed the calibrations separately. As in Phases 1 and 2, we confirmed that there was contamination due to the wavelength dependence of the refractive index of the grism material in every sub-phase. The wavelength calibration curves for the three sub-phases coincided with each other and did not show any significant temperature dependence. The response decreased with temperature by ∼10% from the beginning to the end of Phase 3. We approximated the temperature dependence of the response at a linear relation and derived a correction factor as a function of temperature. The relative fraction of the second-order light contamination to the first-order light was found to be 25% smaller than that in Phases 1 and 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AKARI/IRC is capable of conducting slit-less spectroscopy in the mid-infrared (5–13 μm) over a 10΄ × 10΄ area with a spectral resolution of 50, which is suitable for serendipitous surveys. The data reduction is, however, rather complicated by the confusion of nearby sources after dispersing the spectra. To achieve efficient and reliable data reduction, we first compiled a point-source list from the reference image in each field of view and checked the overlaps of the spectra using their relative positions and fluxes. Applying this procedure to 886 mid-infrared slit-less spectroscopic data taken in the cryogenic phase, we obtained 862 mid-infrared spectra from 604 individual non-overlapping sources brighter than 1.5 mJy. We find a variety of objects in the spectroscopic catalogue, ranging from stars to galaxies. We also obtained a by-product catalogue of 9 μm point sources containing 42837 objects brighter than 0.3 mJy. The spectroscopic and point-source catalogues are available online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a novel model to spectroscopically constrain the mid-infrared (MIR) extinction/attenuation curve from 3–17 μ m, using polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission drawn from an AKARI–Spitzer extragalactic cross-archival data set. Currently proposed MIR extinction curves vary significantly in their slopes toward the near-infrared, and the variation in the strengths and shapes of the 9.7 μ m and 18 μ m silicate absorption features make MIR spectral modeling and interpretation challenging, particularly for heavily obscured galaxies. By adopting the basic premise that PAH bands have relatively consistent intrinsic ratios within dusty starbursting galaxies, we can, for the first time, empirically determine the overall shape of the MIR attenuation curve by measuring the differential attenuation at specific PAH wavelengths. Our attenuation model shows PAH emission in most (ultra)luminous infrared galaxies is unambiguously subjected to attenuation, and we find strong evidence that PAH bands undergo differential attenuation as obscuration increases. Compared to preexisting results, the MIR attenuation curve derived from the model favors relatively gray continuum absorption from 3–8 μ m and silicate features with intermediate strength at 9.7 μ m but with stronger than typical 18 μ m opacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cost-effective and functionalized scaffolds are in high demand for stem-cell-based regenerative medicine to treat refractory bone defects in craniofacial abnormalities and injuries. One potential strategy is to utilize pharmacological and cost-effective plant polyphenols and biocompatible proteins, such as gelatin. Nevertheless, the use of chemically modified proteins with plant polyphenols in this strategy has not been standardized. Here, we demonstrated that gelatin chemically modified with epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the major catechin isolated from green tea, can be a useful material to induce bone regeneration in a rat congenial cleft-jaw model in vivo when used with/without adipose-derived stem cells or dedifferentiated fat cells. Vacuum-heated gelatin sponges modified with EGCG (vhEGCG-GS) induced superior osteogenesis from these two cell types compared with vacuum-heated gelatin sponges (vhGS). The EGCG-modification converted the water wettability of vhGS to a hydrophilic property (contact angle: 110° to 3.8°) and the zeta potential to a negative surface charge; the modification enhanced the cell adhesion property and promoted calcium phosphate precipitation. These results suggest that the EGCG-modification with chemical synthesis can be a useful platform to modify the physicochemical property of gelatin. This alteration is likely to provide a preferable microenvironment for multipotent progenitor cells, inducing superior bone formation in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and Objectives: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a lethal vascular disease. Although several vasoreactive drugs such as prostacyclin have improved its prognosis, the long-term outcome of the patients still remains poor. Several studies indicate that mitochondria dysfunction is a key factor of the progression of PAH. Recently, mitochondria-ER contact sites (MERCs) has been revealed to play crucial roles to maintain mitochondria function. However, it largely remains unclear whether MERCs tethering proteins, including newly-identified PDZD8, contribute to disrupted MERCs and then PH. Methods: We used two different rat models of PH: monocrotaline (60 mg/kg)-induced pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in male Sprague-Dawley rats (age: 6 weeks; n=8 for each group) and left atrium stenosis-induced PH (LAS-PH) in male Sprague-Dawley rats (age: 5weeks; n=4 for each group) that has been reported by Fujimoto et al. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2017). Rats were analyzed with echocardiography and subsequently excised to examine PDZD8 and other mitochondria tethering proteins. Results: Histological analysis and echocardiographic examination showed that monocrotaline treatment caused PAH (estimated systolic pulmonary artery pressure was 79mmHg). In monocrotaline-injected PAH rats, the expression of PDZD8 mRNA was significantly downregulated in the lung of monocrotaline group and LAS-PH group. In addition, the expression of mitofusin-2 (MFN2) that plays an important role in mitochondria fusion and MERCs tethering was significantly reduced at transcriptional levels in the lung. On the other hand, nogo-a and b were not affected in monocrotaline and LAS-PH groups, although nogo-b, a negative regulator of MERCs, is previously reported to increase in hypoxia-induced PAH. Furthermore, PDZD8 and MFN2 proteins were significantly reduced in the lung of monocrotaline group. Conclusions: Both PDZD8 and MFN2 are reported as the ER-mitochondria tethers, whereas MFN2 affects mitochondrial fusion but PDZD8 does not. We found that PDZD8 and MFN2 were significantly downregulated in the lung of two different rat PH models, suggesting that impaired MERCs are involved in pathogenesis of PH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The objective of this study was to ascertain the situation relevant to implants, the status of oral self-care, the status of aftercare provided by the dentist who placed the implant, and the usage status of the implant card, in homebound or institutionalized older adults who are receiving home-visit dental care due to the inability to visit a dental clinic on their own.Methods: A survey questionnaire was sent by post mail to 2339 people who are representative members or dental specialists belonging to any of the following three academic societies: Japanese Society of Oral Implantology, Japanese Society of Gerodontology, and Japan Prosthodontic Society. The survey questions asked were about provision/no provision of implant treatment, provision/no provision of home-visit dental care, the situation of patients after implant treatment, the situation of implants in the context of home-visit dental care, and the usage status and recognition of the implant card.Results: No less than 30% of the dentists had patients who were admitted to the hospital or became homebound after receiving implant treatment at their clinic. Twenty-two percent of the dentists had been consulted about the implants. Dentists who continued to provide post-operative implant care through home-visit dental care accounted for approximately 80%. On the other hand, however, 40% of the dentists did not know the post-implantation status of their implant patients. Of the patients receiving home-visit dental care, approximately 3% had implants (identified mainly by visual inspection). It was found that more than 50% of the dentists offering implant treatment did not use the implant card, and even in cases where it was used, most of the cards were not in the standardized format.Conclusions: Within the limitation of low response rate to the questionnaire in this preliminary study, we concluded that many of practitioners including specialists indicated the need of universal record of implant for dependent elderly cares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a large sample of 2.5–38 μm galaxy spectra drawn from a cross-archival comparison in the AKARI–Spitzer Extragalactic Spectral Survey, and investigate a subset of 113 star-forming galaxies with prominent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emission spanning a wide range of star formation properties. With AKARI's extended 2.5–5 μm wavelength coverage, we self-consistently model for the first time all PAH emission bands using a modified version of Pahfit. We find L PAH 3.3/L IR ∼ 0.1%, and the 3.3 μm PAH feature contributes ∼1.5%–3% to the total PAH power—somewhat less than earlier dust models have assumed. We establish a calibration between 3.3 μm PAH emission and star formation rate, but also find regimes where it loses reliability, including at high luminosity and low metallicity. The 3.4 μm aliphatic emission and a broad plateau feature centered at 3.47 μm are also modeled. As the PAH feature with the shortest wavelength, the one at 3.3 μm is susceptible to attenuation, leading to differences of a factor of ∼3 in the inferred star formation rate at high obscuration with different assumed attenuation geometries. Surprisingly, L PAH 3.3/LΣ PAH shows no sign of decline at high luminosities, and the low-metallicity dwarf galaxy II Zw 40 exhibits an unusually strong 3.3 μm band; both results suggest either that the smallest PAHs are better able to survive under intense radiation fields than presumed, or that PAH emission is shifted to shorter wavelengths in intense and high-energy radiation environments. A photometric surrogate for 3.3 μm PAH luminosity using JWST/NIRCam is provided and found to be highly reliable at low redshift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Xenogenous bone has been proposed as an alternative to overcome the disadvantages of autogenous grafting. The aim of the present study was to study bone dynamics at inlay and onlay xenografts used for bone augmentation applying a ring technique. Methods: The bone at the lateral surface of the mandibular angle of 12 adult male New Zealand White rabbits was exposed bilaterally. The cortical layer received multiple perforations on one side of the mandible, and a xenograft block of collagenated cancellous equine bone, 7 mm in diameter and 3 mm in width, was fixed on the prepared surface using an implant (onlay group). On the opposite side, a defect 7 mm in diameter and 3 mm in depth was prepared, and the xenograft block was adapted to the defect and fixed with an implant (inlay group). Results: After ten weeks of healing, in the onlay grafts, new bone was mainly formed on the trabeculae surface, reaching in some specimens the most coronal regions of the block. In the inlay grafts, new bone was found arranged on the trabecular surfaces but also occupying the spaces among the trabeculae. The entrance of the defect was often found close to the top of the block by newly formed bone. A higher percentage of new bone was found in the inlay (19.0 ± 9.3%) compared to the onlay (10.4 ± 7.4%) groups (p = 0.031). The mean gain in osseointegration at the implant in relation to the base of the original 3 mm deep defect was 0.95 ± 1.05% in the onlay group and 0.78 ± 0.71% in the inlay group (p = 0.603). Conclusion: The inlay grafts exhibited a higher new bone percentage than the onlay block grafts possibly due to the defect conformation that presented more sources for bone growth. The trabecular conformation and the composition of the grafts made possible the expression of the osteoconductive properties of the material used. This resulted, in several specimens, in the growth of bone on the graft trabeculae toward the most superior regions in both groups and in the closure of the coronal entrance of the defects in the inlay group. The clinical relevance of this experiment is that the ring technique applied as an inlay method could be suitable for bone augmentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The conformation of the recipient site for an inlay graft presents an increased contact with the parent bone compared to an onlay graft. This might favor bone growth within the inlay compared to onlay grafts. Hence, the objective of this study was to compare the bone incorporation and remodeling processes of xenogeneic en bloc grafts placed using two bone grafting techniques, i.e., onlay vs. inlay. Methods: In this prospective, randomized, split-mouth study (test and control sides in the same animal), two bone grafting techniques were comparatively evaluated. The lateral aspect of the rabbit mandible was used as the recipient site, bilaterally. On one side of the mandible, the cortical bone was perforated with drills to allow a better bone formation from the bone wound and the marrow spaces. A xenogeneic bone block was fixed in the center of the prepared region, representing the onlay site. On the other side of the mandible, a 7 mm wide and 3 mm deep circumferential defect was prepared using trephines and drills. A xenogeneic bone block was fixed in the center of the defect, representing the inlay site. Two healing periods were applied in the study: 2 and 10 weeks, each represented by 10 rabbits (n = 10 for each period). Results: After 2 weeks of healing, the mean percentage of new bone was 10.4% and 23.3% at the onlay and inlay grafts, respectively (p = 0.022). After 10 weeks of healing, new bone increased to 13.2% at the onlay sites and 25.4% at the inlay sites (p = 0.080). In the 10-week period, the inlay grafts presented a homogeneous growth of new bone in all regions, while in the onlay grafts, low percentages of new bone were observed in the external regions. Conclusion: The percentage of new bone increased faster and was higher in the inlay grafts than in the onlay grafts. This outcome might be related to the self-contained conformation of the recipient site in the inlay group, which offered more sources for new bone formation compared to the one-wall conformation of the recipient sites in the onlay group. The osteoconductive properties of the biomaterial allowed the newly formed bone to reach the most peripheral regions in both groups. The osteoconductive properties of the biomaterial, together with the protection offered by the collagen membrane, allowed marginal closure of the defects by newly formed bone in the inlay group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: to evaluate bone formation in close contact with the sinus mucosa after different periods from sinus augmentation and the influence on healing of the presence of an inward dis-placed bone window. Material and Methods: Eighteen rabbits were included in the experiment. A trap-door technique was applied at the test sites, and the bony window was elevated inward (inward window; IW) together with the sinus mucosa. At the control sites, the bony window was removed before the elevation of the sinus mucosa. The elevated space was filled with deproteinized bovine bone mineral (DBBM) and both access windows were covered with a collagen membrane. Histometric measurements were performed subjacent the sinus mucosa after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of healing. Results: Very few sinuses presented small percentages of new bone in close contact with the sinus mucosa in the various period examined. The presence of bone in the neighbor areas might have influenced bone formation close to the sinus mucosa. The inward displaced bone window supported bone formation close to the sinus mucosa only in the earliest period of healing, while the bone walls increased their influence over time. The lack of increased new bone percentage over time in the most central regions of the elevated sinus mucosa do not support the hypothesis that the sinus mucosa may express its potential in bone formation. It can be speculated that the new bone found in the intermediate and middle regions of the control sites in the earliest period of healing might be due to residual of bone from the osteotomy. Conclusions: Very small amounts of new bone were found subjacent to the sinus mucosa, mostly formed from the bone walls, the inward displaced bone window or from possible bone residues from the osteotomy procedures. The lack of increased new bone percentage over time in the most central regions of the elevated sinus mucosa indicates that the contribution to bone formation provided by the sinus mucosa is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Static random access memories (SRAMs) are prone to a single-event upset (SEU), also known as soft errors, due to transient noise caused by a single strike of radiation. Beam testing has been extensively used to measure the SEU cross section of SRAMs as a function of the linear energy transfer (LET) of charged particle radiation. The evolution of the cross section as a function of LET is called the cross section curve, which plays a vital role in upset rate analysis for hardness assurance. Various analytical models have been developed to describe SRAM SEU cross section curves, and they have proven to be useful in reducing the cost of beam testing as well as revealing the physics behind test results. However, they involve arbitrary parameters, which make it challenging to predict cross section curves without any beam results. Moreover, the current method of analyzing cross section curves or the LET dependence of cross sections relies on a model different from that is used in the analysis of power-supply-voltage dependence, which is becoming increasingly important because of the demand for low-power operation. To overcome these problems, this article proposes a unified equation that describes both LET and the power-supply-voltage dependence of SRAM SEU cross sections. It comprises only parameters that are physically clear and familiar to SEU researchers. As well as giving possible constraints, comparisons with data from the literature suggest it can be applied to SRAMs fabricated in bulk and silicon-on-insulator (SOI) processes across generations from the early 1000-nm-scale to the current 10-nm-scale technology nodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of ALMA ∼2 mm, ≲1″-resolution observations of 10 (ultra)luminous infrared galaxies ([U]LIRGs; infrared luminosity ≳1011.7L⊙) at z < 0.15, targeting dense (>104 cm−3) molecular (HCN, HCO+, and HNC J = 2–1) and 183 GHz H2O 31,3–22,0 emission lines. Active galactic nucleus (AGN)-important ULIRGs tend to show higher HCN/HCO+J = 2–1 flux ratios than starburst-classified sources. We detect 183 GHz H2O emission in almost all AGN-important ULIRGs, and elevated H2O emission is found in two sources with elevated HCN J = 2–1 emission, relative to HCO+J = 2–1. Except one ULIRG (the Superantennae), the H2O emission largely comes from the entire nuclear regions (∼1 kpc), rather than an AGN-origin megamaser at the very center (≪1 kpc). Nuclear (∼1 kpc) dense molecular gas mass derived from HCO+J = 2–1 luminosity is ≳ a few × 108M⊙, and its depletion time is estimated to be ≳106 yr in all sources. Vibrationally excited J = 2–1 emission lines of HCN and HNC are detected in a few (U)LIRGs, but those of HCO+ are not. It is suggested that in mid-infrared-radiation-exposed innermost regions around energy sources, HCO+ and HNC are substantially less abundant than HCN. In our ALMA ∼2 mm data of 10 (U)LIRGs, two continuum sources are serendipitously detected within ∼10″, which are likely to be an infrared-luminous dusty galaxy at z > 1 and a blazar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the absorption features of CO lines against the continuum originating from the heated dust in the obscuring tori around active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We investigated the formation of absorption lines corresponding to the CO rotational transitions using three-dimensional non-LTE line transfer simulations considering the dust thermal emission. As in Papers I–III of this series, we performed post-processed radiative transfer calculations using the "radiation-driven fountain model" (Wada et al. 2016), which yields a geometrically thick obscuring structure around the nucleus. This model is consistent with the spectral energy distribution of the nearest type-2 Seyfert galaxy, the Circinus galaxy. We found that the continuum-subtracted channel maps of J = 4−3 and higher transitions show absorption regions along the disk midplane for an edge-on viewing angle. The spectra consist of multiple absorption and emission features, reflecting the internal inhomogeneous and turbulent structure of the torus. The deepest absorption feature is caused by the gas on the near side of the torus between r = 10 and 15 pc, which is located in front of the AGN-heated dust inside r ≃ 5 pc. We also found that a spatial resolution of 0.5–1.0 pc is necessary to resolve the absorption features. Moreover, the inclination angle must be close to the edge-on angle (i.e., ≳85°) to observe the absorption features. The findings of the present study imply that combining our radiation-hydrodynamic model with high-resolution observations of CO (7–6) by ALMA can provide new information about the internal structure of the molecular tori in nearby AGNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a supermassive black hole (SMBH) mass measurement in the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 7469 using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations of the atomic-[CI](1–0) and molecular-12CO(1–0) emission lines at the spatial resolution of ≈0 |${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$| 3 (or ≈100 pc). These emissions reveal that NGC 7469 hosts a circumnuclear gas disc (CND) with a ring-like structure and a two-arm/bi-symmetric spiral pattern within it, surrounded by a starbursting ring. The CND has a relatively low σgas/ V ≈ 0.35 (r ≲ 0 |${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$| 5) and ≈0.19 (r > 0 |${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$| 5), suggesting that the gas is dynamically settled and suitable for dynamically deriving the mass of its central source. As is expected from X-ray dominated region (XDR) effects that dramatically increase an atomic carbon abundance by dissociating CO molecules, we suggest that the atomic [CI](1–0) emission is a better probe of SMBH masses than CO emission in active galactic nuclei (AGNs). Our dynamical model using the [CI](1–0) kinematics yields a |$M_{\rm BH}=1.78^{+2.69}_{-1.10}\times 10^7$|  M⊙ and |$M/L_{\rm F547M}=2.25^{+0.40}_{-0.43}$| (M⊙/L⊙). The model using the 12CO(1–0) kinematics also gives a consistent M BH with a larger uncertainty, up to an order of magnitude, i.e. |$M_{\rm BH}=1.60^{+11.52}_{-1.45}\times 10^7$|  M⊙. This newly dynamical M BH is ≈2 times higher than the mass determined from the reverberation mapped (RM) method using emissions arising in the unresolved broad-line region (BLR). Given this new M BH, we are able to constrain the specific RM dimensionless scaling factor of |$f=7.2^{+4.2}_{-3.4}$| for the AGN BLR in NGC 7469. The gas within the unresolved BLR thus has a Keplerian virial velocity component and the inclination of |$i\approx {11.0^\circ }_{-2.5}^{+2.2}$|⁠ , confirming its face-on orientation in a Seyfert 1 AGN by assuming a geometrically thin BLR model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array [C ii ] 158 μm line and underlying far-infrared (FIR) continuum emission observations (0.″70 × 0.″56 resolution) toward HSC J124353.93+010038.5 (J1243+0100) at z = 7.07, the only low-luminosity (M1450 > −25 mag) quasar currently known at z > 7. The FIR continuum is bright (1.52 mJy) and resolved with a total luminosity of LFIR = 3.5 × 1012L⊙. The spatially extended component is responsible for ∼40% of the emission. The area-integrated [C ii ] spectrum shows a broad wing (FWHM = 997 km s−1, L[C ii ] = 1.2 × 109L⊙), as well as a bright core (FWHM = 235 km s−1, L[C ii ] = 1.9 × 109L⊙). This wing is the first detection of a galactic-scale quasar-driven outflow (atomic outflow rate >447 M⊙ yr−1) at z > 7. The estimated large mass-loading factor of the total outflow (e.g., ≳9 relative to the [C ii ]-based star formation rate) suggests that this outflow will soon quench the star formation of the host. The core gas dynamics are governed by rotation, with a rotation curve suggestive of a compact bulge (∼3.3 × 1010M⊙), although it is not yet spatially resolved. Finally, we found that J1243+0100 has a black hole mass–to–dynamical mass (and –to–bulge mass) ratio of ∼0.4% (∼1%), consistent with the local value within the uncertainties. Our results therefore suggest that the black hole–host coevolution relation is already in place at z ∼ 7 for this object. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array [C ii ] 158 μm line and far-infrared (FIR) continuum emission observations toward HSC J120505.09−000027.9 (J1205−0000) at z = 6.72 with a beam size of ∼0.″8 × 0.″5 (or 4.1 kpc × 2.6 kpc), the most distant red quasar known to date. Red quasars are modestly reddened by dust and are thought to be in rapid transition from an obscured starburst to an unobscured normal quasar, driven by powerful active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback that blows out a cocoon of interstellar medium. The FIR continuum of J1205−0000 is bright, with an estimated luminosity of LFIR ∼ 3 × 1012L⊙. The [C ii ] line emission is extended on scales of r ∼ 5 kpc, greater than that of the FIR continuum. The line profiles at the extended regions are complex and broad (FWHM ∼ 630–780 km s−1). Although it is not practical to identify the nature of this extended structure, possible explanations include (i) companion/merging galaxies and (ii) massive AGN-driven outflows. For the case of (i), the companions are modestly star-forming (∼10 M⊙ yr−1) but are not detected by our Subaru optical observations (yAB,5σ = 24.4 mag). For the case of (ii), our lower limit to the cold neutral outflow rate is ∼100 M⊙ yr−1. The outflow kinetic energy and momentum are both much lower than predicted in energy-conserving wind models, suggesting that the AGN feedback in this quasar is not capable of completely suppressing its star formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We used the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array to map 12CO(J = 1–0), 12CO(J = 2–1), 12CO(J = 3–2), 13CO(J = 2–1), and [C i ](3P1–3P0) emission lines around the type 1 active galactic nucleus (AGN) of NGC 7469 (z = 0.0164) at ∼100 pc resolutions. The CO lines are bright in both the circumnuclear disk (central ∼300 pc) and the surrounding starburst (SB) ring (∼1 kpc diameter), with two bright peaks on either side of the AGN. By contrast, the [C i ](3P1–3P0) line is strongly peaked on the AGN. Consequently, the brightness temperature ratio of [C i ](3P1–3P0) to 13CO(2–1) is ∼20 at the AGN, as compared to ∼2 in the SB ring. Our local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) and non-LTE models indicate that the enhanced line ratios (or C i enhancement) are due to an elevated C0/CO abundance ratio (∼3–10) and temperature (∼100–500 K) around the AGN as compared to the SB ring (abundance ratio ∼1, temperature ≲100 K), which accords with the picture of the X-ray-dominated region. Based on dynamical modelings, we also provide CO(1–0)-to- and [C i ](3P1–3P0)-to-molecular mass conversion factors at the central ∼100 pc of this AGN as αCO = 4.1 and αC i = 4.4 M⊙ (K km s−1 pc2)−1, respectively. Our results suggest that the C i enhancement is potentially a good marker of AGNs that could be used in a new submillimeter diagnostic method toward dusty environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report spatial distributions of the Fe–Kα line at 6.4 keV and the CO(J = 2–1) line at 230.538 GHz in NGC 2110, which are, respectively, revealed by Chandra and Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) at ≈0.″5. A Chandra 6.2–6.5 keV to 3.0–6.0 keV image suggests that the Fe–Kα emission extends preferentially in a northwest to southeast direction out to ≈3″, or ∼500 pc, on each side. Spatially resolved spectral analyses support this by finding significant Fe–Kα emission lines only in the northwest and southeast regions. Moreover, their equivalent widths are found to be ∼1.5 keV, indicative for the fluorescence by nuclear X-ray irradiation as the physical origin. By contrast, CO(J = 2–1) emission is weak therein. For quantitative discussion, we derive ionization parameters by following an X-ray dominated region (XDR) model. We then find them high enough to interpret the weakness as the result of X-ray dissociation of CO and/or H2. Another possibility also remains that CO molecules follow a superthermal distribution, resulting in brighter emission in higher-J lines. Further follow-up observations are encouraged to draw a conclusion on what predominantly changes the interstellar matter properties and whether the X-ray irradiation eventually affects the surrounding star formation as active galactic nucleus (AGN) feedback. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Advances in regenerative medicine with stem cells have led to clinical trials. Dental/oral tissues are emerging as promising cellular sources of human mesenchymal stem cells. Recently, dental tissue-derived cells have been used clinically due to their great potential, easy accessibility, and ability to be obtained via methods with low invasiveness. The aim of this study is to systematically assess the clinical effectiveness of dental cell-mediated therapies compared to current evidence-based methods in human patients. Methods: The electronic databases MEDLINE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to December 2019 for clinical trials. Clinical trials with any intervention using stem cells/cells derived from dental tissue were included. Results: A total of 815 studies were identified by the electronic search, and 38 articles qualified for full-text evaluation. Finally, 20 studies (10 clinical trials using dental pulp-derived cells, 3 clinical trials using periodontal ligament-derived cells, and 7 studies using gingiva-derived cells) were included in this review. No clinical trials using dental follicle- or apical papilla-derived cells were selected in this review. Dental pulp-derived cells were used in clinical trials for bone regeneration, periodontitis, and dental pulp regeneration. All clinical trials using periodontal ligament-derived cells and gingiva-derived cells were conducted for periodontal disease treatment and gingival augmentation, respectively. Among the 20 selected studies, 16 showed clinical benefits of cell transplantation therapies. In addition, no study reported adverse events that may have been associated with cell transplantation. Conclusions: These findings indicate that dental tissue-derived cells would be useful for cell-based regenerative medicine for various diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-event upset (SEU) hardness varies across dies, wafers, and lots—even just after fabrication and further across time. Mechanisms of postfabrication variations include total ionizing dose (TID) effects, which are caused by long-term radiation exposure. This synergistic effect of TID on SEU hardness is a particular concern in integrated circuits used in space and nuclear radiation environments. This article shows that an electrical parameter called the data-retention voltage is useful in dealing with such TID effects on the SEU hardness of static random access memories (SRAMs), which are known to be particularly radiation-sensitive. Experiments showed that TID-induced variations in SRAM SEU hardness, i.e., variations in SEU cross sections, were predicted by measuring the data-retention voltage. In addition, these variations were canceled out by adjusting the power supply voltage according to its interesting relationship to the data-retention voltage. Results suggest that it might be possible in flight to predict and cancel out SEU hardness variations caused by TID and other synergistic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]