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Abstract.: Adult neurogenesis in the mammalian brain is well-known to occur in the subgranular zone of the hippocampus. As the hippocampus is related to learning, memory, and emotions, adult hippocampal neurogenesis possibly contributes to these functions. Adult neurogenesis is modulated by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as docosahexaenoic and arachidonic acids that are essential for normal brain development, maintenance, and function. They are reported to improve spatial learning and memory in rodents and cognitive functions in humans. However, detailed mechanisms of PUFA effects still remain obscure. PUFA are functionally linked with chaperons called fatty acid–binding proteins (FABP). FABP uptake and transport PUFA to different intracellular organelles. Intriguingly, PUFA were determined as ligands for G protein–coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), a cell membrane receptor abundantly expressed in the brain and the pancreas of primates. While the role of GPR40 in pancreatic β-cells is associated with insulin secretion, its role in the brain is not yet clarified presumably because of its absence in the rodent brain. The purpose of this review is to discuss the role of PUFA in adult neurogenesis, considering the role of GPR40 and FABP in the hippocampal neurogenic niche. Here, the authors would like to introduce a PUFA–GPR40 signaling pathway that is specific for the primate brain. Keywords:: polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), G protein–coupled receptor 40 (GPR40), fatty acid–binding protein (FABP), hippocampus, adult neurogenesis

This paper proposes a closed-loop identification method based on an AC servo control system for permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) parameters. The parameters include the inductance of the quadrature-direct axis, resistance of the stator, and magnetic flux linkage of the rotor. First, the nonlinear factors influencing the parameter identification accuracy—the motor model error caused by non-sinusoidal flux, switch dead zone of the inverter, and rotor position feedback delay of the encoder—were analyzed to develop corresponding compensation methods. Second, an experimental system was developed, and the proposed method was implemented and evaluated. The analytical and experimental results showed that the identified inductance-current curve was consistent with the results of finite element analysis after compensation, while the estimated resistance and flux were closed to the measured values. These results confirm the validity of the proposed method.

This paper presents a novel unipolar magnetic encoder and a new Vector control method of AC servo which can enable the feedback of the rotor position with high accuracy in high speed occasion. The signal generator of encoder consists of three pairs of semiconductor hall elements and a rotor of alnico magnet with one pair of poles. This encoder is featured with the operation module and the communication module to transmit an angular data in the form of asynchronous serial transfer protocol. Besides, a delay compensation algorithm is proposed to ensure the accurate estimation of instant angular position and the estimation error is also analyzed. At last, an experimental apparatus was built for a 600W, 4 pairs of pole, at rated speed 20,000min-1, permanent-magnet synchronous motor drive and the proposed vector control scheme has been implemented. The experiment results supported the validity of the proposed magnetic encoder and vector control method for high-speed AC servo control within 0.05 % error of revolving speed.

Numerical simulation of the hydrothermal process for growing two-inch bulk single crystals of ZnO has been done. The autoclave is assumed to be axisymmetric. The heat transfer by natural convection is discussed for flat and funnel-shaped baffles. The funnel-shaped baffle leads to a significant increase in the flow rate between the raw material zone and the crystal growth zone. However, the temperature difference between the two zones does not become very small. Therefore, the funnel-shaped baffle is effective in the hydrothermal crystal growth process from the viewpoint of transport phenomena. The calculations show that the optimum baffle angle about 20°. Similar results are obtained when the raw material is considered as a porous medium.

We propose a method for biomarker discovery from mass spectrometry data, improving the common peak approach developed by Fushiki et al. (BMC Bioinformatics, 7:358, 2006). The common peak method is a simple way to select the sensible peaks that are shared with many subjects among all detected peaks by combining a standard spectrum alignment and kernel density estimates. The key idea of our proposed method is to apply the common peak approach to each class label separately. Hence, the proposed method gains more informative peaks for predicting class labels, while minor peaks associated with specifi c subjects are deleted correctly. We used a SELDI-TOF MS data set from laser microdissected cancer tissues for predicting the treatment effects of neoadjuvant therapy using an anticancer drug on breast cancer patients. The AdaBoost algorithm is adopted for pattern recognition, based on the set of candidate peaks selected by the proposed method. The analysis gives good performance in the sense of test errors for classifying the class labels for a given feature vector of selected peak values.

NaCl-type (B1) chromium oxide (CrO) has been expected to have a high hardness value and does not exist as an equilibrium phase. We report a B1-based Cr0.67O thin film with a thickness of 144 nm prepared by pulsed laser deposition as an epitaxial thin film on a MgO single crystal. The thin film contained a number of stacking faults and had a nanotwinned structure composed of B1 with disordered vacancies and corundum structures. The Cr0.67O thin film had a high indentation hardness value of 44 GPa, making it the hardest oxide thin film reported to date.

Following the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants in 2011, a large evacuation zone was imposed in an area where residents had historically managed forests and farmlands. Thus, the human activities that had maintained biodiversity and ecosystem services in the zone were discontinued. Such change can affect insects, a biodiversity component that is relatively tolerant to radiation exposure. In this study, we investigated flying insects, including pollinators, important ecosystem providers inside and outside the zone, using Malaise traps. The results showed that the number of individuals of Xylocopa appendiculata, the largest Apidae species in the region, was significantly lower inside the evacuation zone than outside it, whereas those of other insects were not lower significantly. Although we suggest that flying insects and their ecosystem services (i.e., benefits from them such as pollination) 3 years after the disaster were not critically impacted, it is important to monitor the long-term effects of the evacuation in the future.

Deficits in attentional-inhibitory control have been reported to correlate to anger, hostility, and aggressive behavior; therefore, inhibitory control appears to play an important role in prosocial behavior. Moreover, recent studies have demonstrated that oxytocin (OT) exerts a prosocial effect (e.g., decreasing negative behaviors, such as aggression) on humans. However, it is unknown whether the positively valenced effect of OT on sociality is associated with enhanced attentional-inhibitory control. In the present study, we hypothesized that OT enhances attentional-inhibitory control and that the positively valenced effect of OT on social cognition is associated with enhanced attentional-inhibitory control. In a single-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial, we tested this hypothesis using 20 healthy male volunteers. We considered a decrease in the hostility detection ratio, which reflects the positively valenced interpretation of other individuals' facial expressions, to be an index of the positively valenced effects of OT (we reused the results of our previously published study). As a measure of attentional-inhibitory control, we employed a modified version of the flanker task (i.e., a shorter conflict duration indicated higher inhibitory control). These results failed to demonstrate any significant behavioral effects of OT (i.e., neither a positively valenced effect on facial cognition nor an effect on attentional-inhibitory control). However, the enhancement of attentional-inhibitory control after OT administration significantly correlated to the positively valenced effects on the interpretation of uncertain facial cognition (i.e., neutral and ambiguous facial expressions).

We experienced two cases of atypical lateral dislocations of meniscal bearing in UKA (unicompartmental knee arthroplasty) without manifest symptoms. The dislocated bearing, which jumped onto the wall of tibial components, was found on radiographs in periodic medical examination although they could walk. Two thicker size bearing exchanges were promptly performed before metallosis and loosening of components. Continual examination is important to mobile bearing type of UKA because slight or less symptoms may disclose such unique dislocation. One case showed malrotation of the femoral component on 3D image. Anteroposterior view hardly disclosed the malrotation of the femoral component. Epicondylar view is an indispensable view of importance, and it can demonstrate the rotation of the femoral component. The the femoral distal end is wedge shaped and is wider posteriorly. If the femoral component is set according to the shape of medial condyle, the femoral component shifts to medial site compared with tibial component in flexion. It can account for such rare dislocation as follows. If excessive force applies on most medial side of the bearing during flexion, the lateral part of the bearing pops and the force squeezes it laterally simultaneously. Finally, the bearing jumps onto the lateral wall of the tibial component.

To quantitatively predict leakage rates through gasket/flange interface, it is important to observe contact conditions at seal surfaces because the leakage path consists of the non-contact portions between the flange and gasket surfaces. The contact surfaces of the flanges were finished by lathe turning. In this study, we observed real contact area on gasket surfaces using a laser microscope with a wide field of view. The observations indicated that the leakage paths on the gasket surfaces were in the radial direction perpendicular to a lathe-turned groove and the circumferential direction along the groove. As the closing loads increased, the leakage paths in the radial direction disappeared and only the leakage path in the circumferential direction remained. The critical contact pressure where the leakage paths in the radial direction disappear was determined from the observation of the contact surface of the gasket. Over the critical contact pressure, the leakage rates obtained from the experiments showed good agreement with the calculated values under the assumption of laminar flow along the turned groove. Under the critical contact pressure, the recalculated values considered the leakage paths in both the radial and circumferential directions approached the experimental values.

The striatum plays an important role in linking cortical activity to basal ganglia outputs. Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) are densely expressed in the medium spiny projection neurons and may be a therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease. The group I mGluRs are known to modulate the intracellular Ca(2+) signaling. To characterize Ca(2+) signaling in striatal cells, spontaneous cytoplasmic Ca(2+) transients were examined in acute slice preparations from transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the astrocytes. In both the GFP-negative cells (putative-neurons) and astrocytes of the striatum, spontaneous slow and long-lasting intracellular Ca(2+) transients (referred to as slow Ca(2+) oscillations), which lasted up to approximately 200 s, were found. Neither the inhibition of action potentials nor ionotropic glutamate receptors blocked the slow Ca(2+) oscillation. Depletion of the intracellular Ca(2+) store and the blockade of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors greatly reduced the transient rate of the slow Ca(2+) oscillation, and the application of an antagonist against mGluR5 also blocked the slow Ca(2+) oscillation in both putative-neurons and astrocytes. Thus, the mGluR5-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate signal cascade is the primary contributor to the slow Ca(2+) oscillation in both putative-neurons and astrocytes. The slow Ca(2+) oscillation features multicellular synchrony, and both putative-neurons and astrocytes participate in the synchronous activity. Therefore, the mGluR5-dependent slow Ca(2+) oscillation may involve in the neuron-glia interaction in the striatum.

Exposure of neonates to oxidative stress may increase the risk of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia in adulthood. However, the effects of moderate oxidative stress on the adult brain are not completely understood. To address this issue, we systemically administrated 2-cyclohexen-1-one (CHX) to adult rats to transiently reduce glutathione levels. Repeated administration of CHX did not affect the acquisition or motivation of an appetitive instrumental behavior (lever pressing) rewarded by a food outcome under a progressive ratio schedule. In addition, response discrimination and reversal learning were not affected. However, acute CHX administration blunted the sensitivity of the instrumental performance to outcome devaluation, and this effect was prolonged in rats with a history of repeated CHX exposure, representing pro-depression-like phenotypes. On the other hand, repeated CHX administration reduced immobility in forced swimming tests and blunted acute cocaine-induced behaviors, implicating antidepressant-like effects. Multivariate analyses segregated a characteristic group of behavioral variables influenced by repeated CHX administration. Taken together, these findings suggest that repeated administration of CHX to adult rats did not cause a specific mental disorder, but it induced long-term alterations in behavioral and cognitive functions, possibly related to specific neural correlates.

Many drugs of abuse and most neuropharmacological agents regulate G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in the central nervous system (CNS)_ENREF_1. The striatum, in which dopamine D1 and D2 receptors are enriched, is strongly innervated by the ventral tegmental area (VTA), which is the origin of dopaminergic cell bodies of the mesocorticolimbic dopamine system_ENREF_3 and plays a central role in the development of psychiatric disorders_ENREF_4. Here we report the comprehensive and anatomical transcript profiling of 322 non-odorant GPCRs in mouse tissue by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), leading to the identification of neurotherapeutic receptors exclusively expressed in the CNS, especially in the striatum. Among them, GPR6, GPR52, and GPR88, known as orphan GPCRs, were shown to co-localize either with a D2 receptor alone or with both D1 and D2 receptors in neurons of the basal ganglia. Intriguingly, we found that GPR52 was well conserved among vertebrates, is Gs-coupled and responsive to the antipsychotic drug, reserpine. We used three types of transgenic (Tg) mice employing a Cre-lox system under the control of the GPR52 promoter, namely, GPR52-LacZ Tg, human GPR52 (hGPR52) Tg, and hGPR52-GFP Tg mice. Detailed histological investigation suggests that GPR52 may modulate dopaminergic and glutamatergic transmission in neuronal circuits responsible for cognitive function and emotion. In support of our prediction, GPR52 knockout and transgenic mice exhibited psychosis-related and antipsychotic-like behaviors, respectively. Therefore, we propose that GPR52 has the potential of being a therapeutic psychiatric receptor. This approach may help identify potential therapeutic targets for CNS diseases.

A large full-thickness chest wall defect over 10 cm in diameter requires skeletal reconstruction and soft tissue coverage. Use of various flaps for soft tissue coverage was previously reported, but en bloc resection in each case affects these flap pedicles and sizes. We present a case of a 74-year-old man with a soft tissue tumor involving the left lateral chest wall. We performed an en block resection and skeletal reconstruction using a mesh, free tensor fascia lata (TFL) flap for soft tissue coverage. This procedure could be performed in one position. A fixed fascia lata of the flap was also useful for tight reconstruction with the mesh. We suggest that free TFL and/or anterior lateral thigh flap is a useful technique to reconstruct anterior to posterior lateral chest wall defects.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in worldwide including Japan. Several studies have identified common genetic variants to be associated with the risk of breast cancer. Due to the complex linkage disequilibrium structure and various environmental exposures in different populations, it is essential to identify variants associated with breast cancer in each population, which subsequently facilitate the better understanding of mammary carcinogenesis. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) as well as whole-genome imputation with 2,642 cases and 2,099 unaffected female controls. We further examined 13 suggestive loci (P

Optimal brain sensitivity to the fundamental frequency (F0) contour changes in the human voice is important for understanding a speaker's intonation, and consequently, the speaker's attitude. However, whether sensitivity in the brain's response to a human voice F0 contour change varies with an interaction between an individual's traits (i.e., autistic traits) and a human voice element (i.e., presence or absence of communicative action such as calling) has not been investigated. In the present study, we investigated the neural processes involved in the perception of F0 contour changes in the Japanese monosyllables "ne" and "nu." "Ne" is an interjection that means "hi" or "hey" in English; pronunciation of "ne" with a high falling F0 contour is used when the speaker wants to attract a listener's attention (i.e., social intonation). Meanwhile, the Japanese concrete noun "nu" has no communicative meaning. We applied an adaptive spatial filtering method to the neuromagnetic time course recorded by whole-head magnetoencephalography (MEG) and estimated the spatiotemporal frequency dynamics of event-related cerebral oscillatory changes in beta band during the oddball paradigm. During the perception of the F0 contour change when "ne" was presented, there was event-related de-synchronization (ERD) in the right temporal lobe. In contrast, during the perception of the F0 contour change when "nu" was presented, ERD occurred in the left temporal lobe and in the bilateral occipital lobes. ERD that occurred during the social stimulus "ne" in the right hemisphere was significantly correlated with a greater number of autistic traits measured according to the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), suggesting that the differences in human voice processing are associated with higher autistic traits, even in non-clinical subjects.

Socio-communicative impairments are salient features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from a young age. The anterior prefrontal cortex (aPFC), or Brodmann area 10, is a key processing area for social function, and atypical development of this area is thought to play a role in the social deficits in ASD. It is important to understand these brain functions in developing children with ASD. However, these brain functions have not yet been well described under conscious conditions in young children with ASD. In the present study, we focused on the brain hemodynamic functional connectivity between the right and the left aPFC in children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children and investigated whether there was a correlation between this connectivity and social ability. Brain hemodynamic fluctuations were measured non-invasively by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in 3- to 7-year-old children with ASD (n = 15) and gender- and age-matched TD children (n = 15). The functional connectivity between the right and the left aPFC was assessed by measuring the coherence for low-frequency spontaneous fluctuations (0.01-0.10 Hz) during a narrated picture-card show. Coherence analysis demonstrated that children with ASD had a significantly higher inter-hemispheric connectivity with 0.02-Hz fluctuations, whereas a power analysis did not demonstrate significant differences between the two groups in terms of low frequency fluctuations (0.01-0.10 Hz). This aberrant higher connectivity in children with ASD was positively correlated with the severity of social deficit, as scored with the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. This is the first study to demonstrate aberrant brain functional connectivity between the right and the left aPFC under conscious conditions in young children with ASD.

Many assistive robots for elderly and disabled people have been developed in the past few decades. However, very few of them became commercially available. The major cause of the problem is that the cost-benefit ratio and the risk-benefit ratio of them are not good or not known. The evaluation of them should be done in the light of the impacts of assistive technologies on users’ whole life, both in short-term and long-term. In this paper, we propose a framework of evaluation and design of assistive robots using ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health). The goal of the framework is the realization of the life design and the improvement of the quality of life using assistive technologies. We describe the concept of utilizing ICF in the development process of assistive robots, and demonstrate its utility by using some examples of practical application such as the analysis of daily living, the design of assistive robots and the evaluation of assistive robots. We also show the issues of using ICF for further development of the framework.

Background. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between the change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urinary albumin by antihypertensive treatment. Methods. We randomized 611 treated patients with morning hypertension into either an added treatment group, for whom doxazosin was added to the current medication, or a control group, who continued their current medications. We compared the change in eGFR and urinary albumin creatinine ratio (UACR) between the groups. Results. The extent of the reduction in eGFR was significantly greater in the added treatment group than in the control group (−3.83 versus −1.08 mL/min/1.73 m2, P=0.001). In multivariable analyses, the change in eGFR was positively associated with the change in UACR in the added treatment group (β=0.20, P=0.001), but not in the control group (β=−0.002, P=0.97). When the changes in eGFR were divided by each CKD stage, eGFR was significantly more decreased in stage 1 than in the other stages in the added treatment group (P

Objective. We investigated the possible factors related to the birth weight (BW) using the Japanese perinatal database. Methods. The live infants born at 37 to 41 weeks of gestation were enrolled in this study. Cases with diabetic pregnancy, preeclampsia, an anomalous fetus, and a fetus with chromosomal abnormalities were excluded. A multiple regression analysis for confounding factors and an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for comparing the BW in 2006 and 2010 were used for the statistical analysis. Results. The BW significantly decreased from 2950.8 g in 2006 (n=27,723) to 2937.5 g in 2010 (n=38,008) in the overall population, and this decrease was similar for male and female neonates. All confounding factors, except for the mode of delivery, affected the BW. Primiparity, smoking, and a female gender were related to the decrease in BW, whereas maternal age, maternal height, weight gain during pregnancy, BMI, the use of in vitro fertilization, induction of labor, and gestational duration were related to an increased BW. The ANCOVA showed that no significant change of the BW was seen between 2006 and 2010 (the difference was 2.164 g, P=0.414). Conclusion. The gestational duration is the most important factor affecting the BW in singleton term infants.

Although macrophages are thought to be crucial for the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases, how they are involved in disease progression from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is poorly understood. Here we report the unique histological structure termed "hepatic crown-like structures (hCLS)" in the mouse model of human NASH; melanocortin-4 receptor deficient mice fed a Western diet. In hCLS, CD11c-positive macrophages aggregate to surround hepatocytes with large lipid droplets, which is similar to those described in obese adipose tissue. Histological analysis revealed that hCLS is closely associated with activated fibroblasts and collagen deposition. When treatment with clodronate liposomes effectively depletes macrophages scattered in the liver, with those in hCLS intact, hepatic expression of inflammatory and fibrogenic genes is unaffected, suggesting that hCLS is an important source of inflammation and fibrosis during the progression of NASH. Notably, the number of hCLS is positively correlated with the extent of liver fibrosis. We also observed increased number of hCLS in the liver of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/NASH patients. Collectively, our data provide evidence that hCLS is involved in the development of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis, thereby suggesting its pathophysiologic role in disease progression from simple steatosis to NASH.

We herein report a case of primary lymphoma of the prostate, which arose in an 85-year-old male with dysuria. CT and MRI examinations demonstrated a large mass in the prostate. A transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy of the prostate was performed. The histological examination showed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The large lesion in the prostate showed spontaneous regression. Spontaneous regression of primary lymphoma of the prostate has not been reported previously. The spontaneous regression of primary lymphoma of the prostate observed in this patient suggests that observation may represent a viable treatment option following a biopsy that has provided a histopathological diagnosis.

We describe two cases of early toxic shock syndrome, caused by the superantigen produced from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and diagnosed on the basis of an expansion of T-cell-receptor Vβ2-positive T cells. One case-patient showed atypical symptoms. Our results indicate that diagnostic systems incorporating laboratory techniques are essential for rapid, definitive diagnosis of toxic shock syndrome.

Leukocytes, such as lymphocytes and macrophages, predominantly express delayed rectifier K+ channels (Kv1.3), and the channels play crucial roles in the activation and proliferation of the cells. Since lymphocytes are activated in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), the channels expressed in those cells would contribute to the progression of renal fibrosis in advanced-stage chronic renal failure (CRF). In the present study, using a rat model with advanced CRF that underwent 5/6 nephrectomy followed by a 14-week recovery period, we examined the histopathological features of the kidneys and the leukocyte expression of Kv1.3-channels and cell cycle markers. Age-matched sham-operated rats were used as controls. In the cortical interstitium of advanced CRF rat kidneys, leukocytes proliferated in situ and overexpressed Kv1.3 channel protein in their cytoplasm. Treatment with margatoxin, a selective Kv1.3-channel inhibitor, significantly suppressed the number of leukocytes and the progression of renal fibrosis with a significant decrease in the cortical cell cycle marker expression. This study demonstrated for the first time that the number of leukocytes was dramatically increased in rat kidneys with advanced CRF. The overexpression of Kv1.3 channels in the leukocytes was thought to contribute to the progression of renal fibrosis by stimulating cell cycling and promoting cellular proliferation.

Many researchers have established the utility of the dynamic contrast enhanced-magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) in the differential diagnosis in the head and neck region, especially in the salivary gland tumors. The subjective assessment of the pattern of the time-intensity curve (TIC) or the simple quantification of the TIC, such as the time to peak enhancement () and the wash-out ratio (WR), is commonly used. Although the semiquantitative evaluations described above have been widely applied, they do not provide information on the underlying pharmacokinetic analysis in tissue. The quantification of DCE-MRI is preferable; therefore, many compartment model analyses have been proposed. The Toft and Kermode (TK) model is one of the most popular compartment models, which provide information about the influx forward volume transfer constant from plasma into the extravascular-extracellular space (EES) and the fractional volume of EES per unit volume of tissue is used in many clinical studies. This paper will introduce the method of pharmacokinetic analysis and also describe the clinical application of this technique in the head and neck region.

The cognitive deficits of schizophrenia appear to be associated with altered cortical GABA neurotransmission in the subsets of inhibitory neurons that express either parvalbumin (PV) or somatostatin (SST). Identification of molecular mechanisms that operate selectively in these neurons is essential for developing targeted therapeutic strategies that do not influence other cell types. Consequently, we sought to identify, in the human cortex, gene products that are expressed selectively by PV and/or SST neurons, and that might contribute to their distinctive functional properties. Based on previously reported expression patterns in the cortex of mice and humans, we selected four genes: KCNS3, LHX6, KCNAB1, and PPP1R2, encoding K(+) channel Kv9.3 modulatory α-subunit, LIM homeobox protein 6, K(+) channel Kvβ1 subunit, and protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 2, respectively, and examined their colocalization with PV or SST mRNAs in the human prefrontal cortex using dual-label in situ hybridization with (35)S- and digoxigenin-labeled antisense riboprobes. KCNS3 mRNA was detected in almost all PV neurons, but not in SST neurons, and PV mRNA was detected in >90% of KCNS3 mRNA-expressing neurons. LHX6 mRNA was detected in almost all PV and >90% of SST neurons, while among all LHX6 mRNA-expressing neurons 50% expressed PV mRNA and >44% expressed SST mRNA. KCNAB1 and PPP1R2 mRNAs were detected in much larger populations of cortical neurons than PV or SST neurons. These findings indicate that KCNS3 is a selective marker of PV neurons, whereas LHX6 is expressed by both PV and SST neurons. KCNS3 and LHX6 might be useful for characterizing cell-type specific molecular alterations of cortical GABA neurotransmission and for the development of novel treatments targeting PV and/or SST neurons in schizophrenia.

We report the case of a 72-year-old woman whose pseudoaneurysm was difficult to diagnose and treat. The patient had a history of congenital dislocated hip and was undergoing anticoagulation therapy with warfarin due to the mitral valve replacement. Her chief complaint was pain and enlargement of the left buttock, and the laboratory tests revealed severe anemia. However, her elderly depression confused her chief complaint, and she was transferred to a psychiatric hospital. Two months after the onset of the symptoms, she was finally diagnosed with a pseudoaneurysm by contrast-enhanced CT and angiography. IDC coils were used for embolization. A plain CT showed hemostasis as well as a reduced hematoma at 2 months after the embolization. The possible contributing factors for the pseudoaneurysm included bleeding due to warfarin combined with an intramuscular hematoma accompanied by Crowe type IV developmental dysplasia of the hip that led to an arterial rupture by impingement between pelvis and femoral head. Since the warfarin treatment could not be halted due to the valve replacement, embolization was chosen for her treatment, and the treatment outcome was favorable.

Objectives: Increased arterial stiffness is associated with the progression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH); however, the endocardial layer (End) contracts more than the epicardial layer (Epi), and it is unclear whether increased arterial stiffness affects regional wall deformation in both the End and Epi in LVH. Methods: We performed echocardiography and measured the radial augmentation index (rAIx) in 41 patients with LVH. We evaluated the longitudinal strain, and early diastolic strain rate (SRdia) (measures of regional wall deformation) in both End and Epi in addition to measures of global diastolic function. The ratios of End strain to Epi strain (End/Epi strain) and End SRdia to Epi SRdia (End/Epi SRdia) were also calculated. Results: All of the patients had a decreased LV diastolic function (E/e′>8) and preserved ejection fraction (>45%). The rAIx was slightly related to the End/Epi SRdia (r=0.29, P=0.063); the relationship of rAIx to End/Epi SRdia (beta=0.52, P=0.034) was significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors. The rAIx at heart rate 75 beats per minute (rAIx@HR75) was significantly related to End/Epi SRdia (r=0.36, P=0.023); the relationship of rAIx@HR75 to End/Epi SRdia remained significant even after the adjustment (P=0.032). The relationships of rAIx@HR75 to End/Epi strain did not reach the level of statistical significance (r=0.30, P=0.06) in this study. Conclusion: Increased rAIx, a measure of aortic wave reflection, may be associated with a regional diastolic function in the ratio of endocardial to epicardial layer of the left ventricular wall in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy.

Patients with panic disorder (PD) have a bias to respond to normal stimuli in a fearful way. This may be due to the preactivation of fear-associated networks prior to stimulus perception. Based on EEG, we investigated the difference between patients with PD and normal controls in resting state activity using features of transiently stable brain states (microstates). EEGs from 18 drug-naive patients and 18 healthy controls were analyzed. Microstate analysis showed that one class of microstates (with a right-anterior to left-posterior orientation of the mapped field) displayed longer durations and covered more of the total time in the patients than controls. Another microstate class (with a symmetric, anterior-posterior orientation) was observed less frequently in the patients compared to controls. The observation that selected microstate classes differ between patients with PD and controls suggests that specific brain functions are altered already during resting condition. The altered resting state may be the starting point of the observed dysfunctional processing of phobic stimuli.

To eliminate hepatitis C virus (HCV) from infected hepatocytes, we generated two therapeutic molecules specifically activated in cells infected with HCV. A dominant active mutant of interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) and a negative regulator of HCV replication, VAP-C (Vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein subtype C), were fused with the C-terminal region of IPS-1 (IFNβ promoter stimulator-1), which includes an HCV protease cleavage site that was modified to be localized on the ER membrane, and designated cIRF7 and cVAP-C, respectively. In cells expressing the HCV protease, cIRF7 was cleaved and the processed fragment was migrated into the nucleus, where it activated various IFN promoters, including promoters of IFNα6, IFNβ, and IFN stimulated response element. Activation of the IFN promoters and suppression of viral RNA replication were observed in the HCV replicon cells and in cells infected with the JFH1 strain of HCV (HCVcc) by expression of cIRF7. Suppression of viral RNA replication was observed even in the IFN-resistant replicon cells by the expression of cIRF7. Expression of the cVAP-C also resulted in suppression of HCV replication in both the replicon and HCVcc infected cells. These results suggest that delivery of the therapeutic molecules into the liver of hepatitis C patients, followed by selective activation of the molecules in HCV-infected hepatocytes, is a feasible method for eliminating HCV.

BACKGROUND: Theoretical studies predict that Lévy walks maximizes the chance of encountering randomly distributed targets with a low density, but Brownian walks is favorable inside a patch of targets with high density. Recently, experimental data reports that some animals indeed show a Lévy and Brownian walk movement patterns when forage for foods in areas with low and high density. This paper presents a simple, Gaussian-noise utilizing computational model that can realize such behavior. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We extend Lévy walks model of one of the simplest creature, Escherichia coli, based on biological fluctuation framework. We build a simulation of a simple, generic animal to observe whether Lévy or Brownian walks will be performed properly depends on the target density, and investigate the emergent behavior in a commonly faced patchy environment where the density alternates. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Based on the model, animal behavior of choosing Lévy or Brownian walk movement patterns based on the target density is able to be generated, without changing the essence of the stochastic property in Escherichia coli physiological mechanism as explained by related researches. The emergent behavior and its benefits in a patchy environment are also discussed. The model provides a framework for further investigation on the role of internal noise in realizing adaptive and efficient foraging behavior.

Insulin degrading enzyme (IDE) degrades amyloid 𝛽 (A𝛽), which may inhibit the accumulation of A𝛽 in a brain affected with dementia of Alzheimer's type (DAT). A decrease in the activity of IDE results in changes in glucose utilization in the brain, which could affect the cognitive and psychiatric symptoms of DAT. We investigated a possible association of IDE gene polymorphism and the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in mild DAT. The genotyping for IDE and apolipoprotein E (ApoE) was determined in 207 patients with mild DAT and 215 controls. The occurrence of BPSD was demonstrated using the Behavioral Pathology in Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale (BEHAVE-AD). IDE gene polymorphism is unlikely to play a substantial role in conferring susceptibility to DAT, but it may be involved in the development of affective disturbance through the course of mild DAT, regardless of the presence of an ApoE 𝜀4 allele. The present data could be the result of a small sample size. Further investigations using larger samples are thus required to clarify the correlation between IDE gene polymorphism, susceptibility to DAT, and emergence of BPSD.

Underdense plasma produced in gas jets by low intensity laser prepulses in the presence of a static magnetic field, B∼0.3 T, is shown experimentally to become an optical element allowing steering of tightly focused high power femtosecond laser pulses within several degrees along with essential enhancement of pulse’s focusability. Strong laser prepulses form a density ramp perpendicularly to magnetic field direction and, owing to the light refraction, main laser pulses propagate along the magnetic field even if it is tilted from the laser axis. Electrons generated in the laser pulse wake are well collimated and follow in the direction of the magnetic field; their characteristics are measured to be not sensitive to the tilt of magnetic field up to angles ±5°.

Abstract: In order to get homogeneous layered oxide Li[Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3]O2 as a lithium insertion positive electrode material, we applied carbonate co-precipitation. The oxide compounds were synthesized under different annealing temperature. XRD experiment revealed that the layered Li[Ni1/3Mn1/3Co1/3]O2 material can be synthesized at lower temperature of 750°C, and the oxidation state of Ni, Mn and Co in the cathode confirmed by XPS were 2+, 4+ and 3+, respectively. SEM observation shows that the synthesized materials have spherical particle morphology and the morphology could be controlled by carbonate co-precipitation method. The cathode synthesized at 800°C showed small irreversible capacity loss of 10.72% and high discharge capacity of 186.7mAhg-1 as well as stable cycling performance in the voltage range 2.8–4.5. In spite of difference in specific surface area, rate capability of the samples synthesized in the temperature range 750–900°C showed similar rate capability and all these cathodes delivered high discharge capacity of over than 143mAhg-1 at 2.5C (450mAg-1). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Lithium-rich and Al-doped spinel materials with good capacity retention when cycled at high temperature have been synthesized. These materials have been studied in comparison with oxygen-deficient spinel using X-ray diffraction at room temperature (RT, 25°C) and low temperature (LT, −30°C). The XRD spectra at LT and RT showed that Al-doped spinel materials have superior structural stability against oxygen loss during heat treatment at 660°C under Ar atmosphere. The in situ XRD spectra collected during cycling at high temperature (HT, 55°C) showed that Al-doped spinel materials had better cycle performances and it was closely related to the structural stability against oxygen loss during charge–discharge cycling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Well-defined orthorhombic LiMnO2 was synthesized using LiOH and γ-MnOOH starting materials at 1000 °C in an argon flow by quenching process. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the compound showed an orthorhombic phase of a space group with Pmnm (a=2.806 A˚, b=5.750 A˚, and c=4.593 A˚). The prepared compound was composed of particles of about 5–15 μm diameter with a bar-shape and small spherical one of about 1–2 μm. It showed very small initial discharge capacity of about 34 mA h g−1 in the (3+4) V region at room temperature. However, after 12 h grinding, the LiMnO2 delivered 201 mA h g−1 in the first cycle and still delivered 200 mA h g−1 after 50 cycles at room temperature. We found that the initial discharge capacity of LiMnO2 agreed well with its specific surface area by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET) analysis. Especially, the grinding treatment played an important role to activate the lithium insertion–extraction into the LiMnO2 layer in the 3 V region. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 has been synthesized using two different synthetic methods; a sol–gel method and a composite carbonate process. LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 obtained by the sol–gel method showed a nickel oxide impurity in the XRD diagram and two voltage plateaus at 4.1 and 4.7 V upon cycling. However, the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 compound obtained by the composite carbonate process exhibited a pure cubic spinel structure (Fd3¯ m) without any impurities and only one voltage plateau at 4.7 V in the charge/discharge curves. Furthermore, it showed an excellent cycling retention rate of over 96% in the high temperature test. The well-developed LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 obtained by the composite carbonate process contained many spherical particles of about 3–4 μm, made up of small nano-sized particles (50–100 nm). It was a unique powder characterization and these nano-sized particles improved the cycling performance of the LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 obtained by composite carbonate process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present the development of free-standing ionic liquid crystal-polymer composite electrolyte films aimed at achieving high-frequency response electromechanical actuators. Our approach entails designing novel layered ionic liquid-crystalline (LC) assemblies by complexing a mesomorphic dimethylphosphate with either a lithium salt or a room-temperature ionic liquid through the formation of ion-dipole interactions or hydrogen bonds. These electrolytes, exhibiting room-temperature ionic conductivities on the order of 10 -4 S cm -1 and wide LC temperature ranges up to 77 °C, were successfully integrated into porous polymer networks. We systematically investigated the impact of ions and electrodes on the performance of ionic electroactive actuators. Specifically, the Li + -based liquid crystal-polymer composite actuator with PEDOT:PSS electrodes demonstrated the highest bending deformation, achieving a strain of 0.68% and exhibiting a broad frequency response up to 110 Hz, with a peak-to-peak displacement of 3 μm. In contrast, the ionic-liquid-based liquid crystal-polymer composite actuator with active carbon electrodes showcased a bending response at a maximum frequency of 50 Hz and a force generation of 0.48 mN, without exhibiting the back relaxation phenomenon. These findings offer valuable insights for advancing high-performance electromechanical systems with applications ranging from soft robotics to haptic interfaces.

We report columnar liquid-crystalline thiophene-oxadiazole molecules, which can be oriented by electric field and exhibit photodiode properties with an open-circuit voltage of 1 V. Their yellow luminescence can be excited by UV-visible or infrared light. Their room-temperature phosphorescence turns brighter upon heating.