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Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women worldwide. Similarly, Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) are mostly diagnosed as spontaneous diseases in female dogs. Many studies have suggested that CMTs serve as good models for human breast cancer. However, comparative approaches to histone modifications are still lacking. This study aimed to compare the canine mammary tumor Histone H3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3) landscape with that in human breast cancer. Our H3K4me3 ChIP-seq data from CMTs revealed a significant enrichment of H3K4me3 in the ALYREF gene promoter in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues. Furthermore, our study and publicly available RNA-sequencing data revealed that ALYREF expression was elevated in malignant tissues and breast cancer cell lines, and its upregulation was associated with poor prognosis in humans. Depletion of ALYREF resulted in changes in cellular phenotypes, including increased proliferation and colony formation, as well as decreased apoptosis. ALYREF increased cell viability and anchorage-independent growth while decreasing apoptosis by regulating the mRNA expression and protein levels of enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2), which promotes hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and CMTs via epigenetic modifications. This suggests that ALYREF may function as a contributing factor to malignant transformation in both CMT and human breast cancer.

Introduction: Doxifluridine (DF), an oral 5-FU prodrug, has been used for various solid cancers due to its efficacy and low toxicity. We aim to evaluate the effect of DF as adjuvant monotherapy in advanced gastric cancer. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 263 patients with advanced gastric cancer who underwent curative gastrectomy between January 2010 and December 2013 at our institute. Since previous randomized control trials have confirmed the efficacy of S-1 as adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer, we analyzed the oncologic effect and patient compliance of the DF group compared to the S-1 group. After propensity score matching, 48 patients were included in each group. Results: There was no significant difference in 5-year overall survival (OS) and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) between DF and S-1 groups (5-year OS; 77.1% vs 75.0%; p = 0.729, 5-year DFS; 76.6% vs 73.9%; p = 0.748). The completion rates of the DF and S-1 groups were 60.4% and 72.9%, respectively (p = 0.194). The mean relative dose intensity of the DF and S-1 groups were 76.2% and 84.2%, respectively (p = 0.195). After multivariate analysis, the chemotherapy regimen was not a risk factor for OS and DFS, whereas relative dose intensity and pathologic stage were independent prognostic factors. Conclusion: There was no significant difference in the oncologic effect and patient compliance between DF and S-1 groups. DF could be an alternative option for adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced gastric cancer. In addition, we confirmed that relative dose intensity is an important independent prognostic factor for survival.

Breast cancer (BC) remains a significant global health threat, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) standing out as a particularly aggressive subtype lacking targeted therapies. Addressing this gap, we propose Quiescin Q6 sulfhydryl oxidase 2 (QSOX2) as a potential therapeutic target, a disulfide bond-forming enzyme implicated in cancer progression. Using publicly available datasets, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of QSOX2 expression in BC tumor and non-tumor tissues, assessing its specificity across different molecular subtypes. We further explored correlations between QSOX2 expression and patient outcomes, utilizing datasets like TCGA and METABRIC. In addition, we performed in vitro experiments to evaluate QSOX2 expression in BC cell lines and investigate the effects of QSOX2 knockdown on various TNBC cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis resistance, migration, and the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our results reveal significantly elevated QSOX2 expression in BC tumor tissues, particularly in TNBC, and establish an association between high QSOX2 expression and increased patient mortality, cancer progression, and recurrence across various BC subtypes. Notably, QSOX2 knockdown in TNBC cell lines reduces cell proliferation, enhances apoptosis, and suppresses migration, potentially mediated through its influence on the EMT process. Furthermore, we identify a significant link between QSOX2 and integrin β1 (ITGB1), suggesting that QSOX2 enhances ITGB1 stability, subsequently exacerbating the malignancy of TNBC. In conclusion, elevated QSOX2 expression emerges as a key factor associated with adverse patient outcomes in BC, particularly in TNBC, contributing to disease progression through various mechanisms, including the modulation of ITGB1 stability. Our findings underscore the potential of targeting QSOX2 as a therapeutic strategy for improving patient prognoses not only in TNBC but also in other BC subtypes.

Objectives: Spectrin breakdown products 145 kDa (SBDP145) and neurofilament heavy chain (Nf-H) have been identified as potential biomarkers of neuronal injury. However, their ability to predict hypoxic-ischemic brain injury following cardiac arrest in humans is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate whether SBDP145 and Nf-H could be used as biomarkers to predict neurological outcomes after cardiac arrest. Methods: This prospective study was conducted at two academic hospitals and included adults who survived after cardiac arrest. Blood samples were collected at 0, 24, and 48 h after the return of spontaneous circulation, and biomarker analyses were performed to measure SBDP145 and Nf-H. Poor neurological outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Score of 4–6, and diagnostic performance was determined by receiver-operating characteristics analysis. Results: A total of 56 patients were included in this study. There were no significant differences in levels of SBDP145 or Nf-H between the poor and good outcome groups at any time point. Areas under the receiver-operating characteristics curve of SBDP145 and Nf-H were small, ranging from 0.51 to 0.7. At 0, 24, and 48 h, SBDP145 showed very low sensitivity (18.61 %, 13.89 %, and 13.79 %, respectively) and accuracy (33.93 %, 36.74 %, and 39.02 %, respectively) at a cut-off value for 100 % specificity. Nf-H also showed very low sensitivity (9.30 %, 16.67 %, and 0 %, respectively) and accuracy (29.09 %, 36.74 %, and 30.95 %, respectively). Conclusions: SBDP145 and Nf-H were found to be poor predictors of poor neurological outcomes six months after cardiac arrest.

Background & Aims: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a leading cause of cirrhosis, strongly associates with the metabolic syndrome, an insulin-resistant proinflammatory state that disrupts energy balance and promotes progressive liver degeneration. We aimed to define the role of Smoothened (Smo), an obligatory component of the Hedgehog signaling pathway, in controlling hepatocyte metabolic homeostasis and, thereby, susceptibility to NASH. Methods: We conditionally deleted Smo in hepatocytes of healthy chow-fed mice and performed metabolic phenotyping, coupled with single-cell RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), to characterize the role of hepatocyte Smo in regulating basal hepatic and systemic metabolic homeostasis. Liver RNA-seq datasets from 2 large human cohorts were also analyzed to define the relationship between Smo and NASH susceptibility in people. Results: Hepatocyte Smo deletion inhibited the Hedgehog pathway and promoted fatty liver, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance. We identified a plausible mechanism whereby inactivation of Smo stimulated the mTORC1-SREBP1c signaling axis, which promoted lipogenesis while inhibiting the hepatic insulin cascade. Transcriptomics of bulk and single Smo-deficient hepatocytes supported suppression of insulin signaling and also revealed molecular abnormalities associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Analysis of human bulk RNA-seq data revealed that Smo expression was (1) highest in healthy livers, (2) lower in livers with NASH than in those with simple steatosis, (3) negatively correlated with markers of insulin resistance and liver injury, and (4) declined progressively as fibrosis severity worsened. Conclusions: The Hedgehog pathway controls insulin sensitivity and energy homeostasis in adult livers. Loss of hepatocyte Hedgehog activity induces hepatic and systemic metabolic stress and enhances susceptibility to NASH by promoting hepatic lipoxicity and insulin resistance.

Summary: Here, we present fixation-driven chemical crosslinking of exogenous ligands, a protocol to visualize the distribution of exogenously administered small molecules in the mouse brain. We first describe the probe design of the small molecules of interest and the probe microinjection into a live mouse brain in detail. We then detail procedures for paraformaldehyde-perfusion fixation. This approach is especially useful for imaging-based evaluation of the small-molecule ligands distribution in mouse brain tissue relying on their interaction with endogenous proteins.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Nonaka et al.1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Although wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) of Ti alloys using gas metal arc yields a high deposition rate, cathode spots exhibit unstable behavior. In this study, the cold-metal-transfer process and an electrode-negative (EN) polarity were used in the WAAM process of the Ti–6Al–4V alloy. High-speed imaging was performed to investigate the mechanisms to stabilize cathode plasma jets, arc plasma, and molten metal transfer in the EN polarity. Arc plasma and cathode jets had the same direction, and sound cathode jets were shrouded by arc plasma in the EN mode. The metal transfer was also stabilized by balanced plasma formation under the EN mode, and inconsistent wire melting under the electrode-positive (EP) mode was mitigated. In the deposition test using the EN mode, distributed heating of the substrate and depressed molten pool were observed, which resulted in a 21.0% increase in the bead width and 27% decrease in the wetting angle compared with the EP mode. This study demonstrated that the instability of the gas metal arc WAAM process of Ti alloys can be overcome with the EN-mode cold metal arc process.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: We conducted an in vitro investigation of the activity of rifamycins against planktonic and biofilm states of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from patients with prosthetic joint infections (PJIs), characterised their rpoB gene mutations, and analysed the clinical outcomes of rifampicin-resistant isolates. Methods: A total of 110 staphylococcal isolates were collected from patients with PJI. Antimicrobials tested using the broth microdilution method included rifampicin, rifabutin, rifapentine and rifaximin. We evaluated rpoB gene mutations to identify rifampicin resistance mechanisms. Clinical outcomes were assessed in rifampicin-resistant isolates. Results: The 110 staphylococcal isolates included 85 S. aureus (55% methicillin-resistant) and 25 S. epidermidis (100% methicillin-resistant). Seven S. aureus isolates and two S. epidermidis isolates were resistant to rifampicin [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥2 μg/mL] and these isolates exhibited rpoB gene mutations. Among the 78 rifampicin-susceptible S. aureus isolates and 23 S. epidermidis isolates, 76 S. aureus isolates (97.4%) and all S. epidermidis isolates (100%) were highly susceptible (MIC ≤ 0.06 μg/mL) to other rifamycins. The minimum biofilm bactericidal concentrations for ≥50% of isolates (MBBC50) to rifampicin, rifabutin, rifapentine and rifaximin were 4, 1, 2 and 4 μg/mL for S. aureus and 1, 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 μg/mL for S. epidermidis, respectively, among rifampicin-susceptible isolates. Among nine patients bearing rifampicin-resistant isolates, only three (33%) had successful outcomes. Conclusion: Rifamycins other than rifampicin show promising antistaphylococcal activity, including antibiofilm activity. Rifamycin-resistant staphylococci exhibit rpoB gene mutations.

Background: Few studies have reported the effects of simultaneous injections of corticosteroid (CS) and hyaluronic acid (HA) on adhesive capsulitis (AC) of the shoulder. This study investigated the synergistic effects of simultaneous intra-articular injections of CS and compared them to those of CS or HA alone. Method: Sixty patients with AC were enrolled in this randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The participants were divided into 4 groups: saline, CS, HA, and CS with HA groups. The primary outcome measure was changes in the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) scores at one month. The secondary outcome measures included changes in pain, range of motion, muscle strength, and additional shoulder functional scores at 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months after injection. Results: After 1 month, changes of the SPADI scores were significantly higher in the CS with HA group (−58.4%) than those in the saline (−7.7%) and HA (−14.4%) groups. The score changed more in the CS with HA group than that in the CS group (−43.7%), but there was no significant difference. In the changes in pain, the CS with HA group showed significantly better and faster effects than the saline and HA groups. In the changes of range of motion, functional scores, the CS with HA group showed better results than the saline and HA groups. Conclusion: In the treatment of AC, the simultaneous injection of CS and HA was more effective in improving SPADI scores at one month after injection than a single injection of CS or HA.

Objectives: This study evaluated the incidence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of complications of candidaemia in adults, with a focus on endophthalmitis, endocarditis, and osteoarticular infections. Methods: All patients ≥18 years old with candidaemia in two Korean tertiary hospitals from 2007 to 2016 were investigated. Complications of candidaemia were defined as the presence of endophthalmitis, endocarditis, or osteoarticular infections documented in patients with candidaemia. The clinical characteristics and risk factors for candidaemia with complications were analysed in the patients who underwent ophthalmological examinations. Results: Of 765 adult patients with candidaemia, 34 (4.4%) met the definition of complications, including endophthalmitis in 29 (3.8%), endocarditis in 4 (0.5%), and osteoarticular infections in 3 (0.4%). Of the 225 patients who underwent ophthalmological examinations, 29 (12.9%) had endophthalmitis. Candida albicans was an independent risk factor for complicated candidaemia (OR, 5.12; 95% CI, 2.17–12.09; P < 0.001). Although the mortality rate was no higher in complicated candidaemia, the duration of antifungal therapy was longer (23.1 ± 17.6 vs. 16.4 ± 10.8 days, P = 0.042), and 13 patients (39.3%) underwent additional procedures or surgery. Conclusions: Complications of candidaemia occurred in 4.4% of adult patients. C. albicans was an independent risk factor for complicated candidaemia in adults. Complications of candidaemia might need prolonged treatment and additional procedures or surgery. Therefore, careful evaluation and active treatment of candidaemia with complications should be encouraged. Keywords: Candidaemia, Complication, Candida albicans

Summary: Cellular cholesterol is regulated by at least two transcriptional mechanisms involving sterol-regulatory-element-binding proteins (SREBPs) and liver X receptors (LXRs). Although SREBP and LXR pathways are the predominant mechanisms that sense cholesterol in the endoplasmic reticulum and nucleus to alter sterol-regulated gene expression, evidence suggests cholesterol in plasma membrane can be sensed by proteins in the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway which regulate organ self-renewal and are a morphogenic driver during embryonic development. Cholesterol interacts with the G-protein-coupled receptor Smoothened (Smo), which impacts downstream Hh signaling. Although evidence suggests cholesterol influences Hh signaling, it is not known whether Smo-dependent sterol sensing impacts cholesterol homeostasis in vivo. We examined dietary-cholesterol-induced reorganization of whole-body sterol and bile acid (BA) homeostasis in adult mice with inducible hepatocyte-specific Smo deletion. These studies demonstrate Smo in hepatocytes plays a regulatory role in sensing and feedback regulation of cholesterol balance driven by excess dietary cholesterol.

ABSTRACT: In recent years, crowdfunding has attracted the attention of tech startups. It has become a good alternative way to readily raise funds, especially during the early startup stages. However, in the case of mass intelligence, it is quite difficult to ensure the accuracy and reliability of knowledge. Individual investors who are not experts in science and technology often face difficulties investing in technology companies. In this regard, a new type of collective intelligence formed by accredited professionals needs to be attempted. This paper explores an alternative crowdfunding model for enhancing access to technology investments by the general population through an investor acceptance model. We developed an investor acceptance model to examine how the crowdfunding model involving scientists and engineers is adopted by individual investors using survey data from the general population. The results revealed that individual investors have a positive attitude towards investing through the crowdfunding model when they perceive that the information provided by a group of scientific experts is useful. We found that the perceived usefulness of the information from scientists and engineers is affected by the perceived quality of the information and perceived credibility of the scientists and engineers. We also suggest a basic concept for the crowdfunding model utilizing the collective intelligence of scientists and engineers for tech startups. The results could suggest a policy direction for promoting innovation.

From a total of 71 laboratory-confirmed cases, three presymptomatic patients and 10 patients with entirely asymptomatic infections were identified. In two of the three incubation period patients, the viral titer in the presymptomatic period was very high (Ct value 35 within 14 days after diagnosis. Patients who have COVID-19 may already be infectious before there are symptoms, and 14 days of isolation after diagnosis may be sufficient in entirely asymptomatic cases.

This study aims to improve the sensitivity of sensors using porous structures and cone-shaped patterns in the composition of a capacitive pressure sensor. A simple and rapid fabrication method for the production of porous structures and cone-shaped patterns using microwave irradiation of emulsions containing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and a sacrificial solvent is introduced in this study. Through this method, a porous PDMS dielectric layer could be simply fabricated within a few minutes. The sensitivity was greatly improved by both enhancing deformability and increasing the dielectric constant under the external pressure. The effect of pattern distance was investigated, and the sensor with the pattern distance of 600 μm showed a remarkably high sensitivity of approximately 5 kPa−1. Moreover, the effect of aspect ratio and sharpness of the patterns were also studied through a finite element analysis. Finally, we demonstrated the performance of the sensor using a sensor array and finger attached sensors, and they showed sufficient performance for use in wearable devices applicable to artificial skin, surgical robots, and pressure monitoring systems, among others.

Background: Irritation of the sinuvertebral nerve by a posterior or posterolateral disk desiccation can cause somatic referred pain that can mimic a lumbar radiculopathy. We present a case of a patient presenting with this condition and the positive result in pain improvement after endoscopic radiofrequency ablation of the sinuvertebral nerve. Case Description: An 18-year-old Olympic runner presented to our clinic with back pain and left leg pain in a clear L5 distribution. He did not have a history of trauma. His imaging did not demonstrate any lesion causing compression of the left L5 nerve root as expected. He was found to have a left healing L5 pedicle fracture and ipsilateral chronic L5 pars interarticularis fracture. He was also found to have an ipsilateral minor left L5-S1 disk desiccation. His visual analog scale (VAS) score was 7. After a positive provocative diskogram, the patient underwent percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic radiofrequency ablation of the left L5 sinuvertebral nerve, which was irritated by the left L5-S1 disk desiccation. At his 6-month follow-up visit, the patient's VAS score was 1. Conclusions: It is important for clinicians to remember that back-associated leg pain can be caused by somatic referred pain because of irritation of the sinuvertebral nerve. Endoscopic radiofrequency of this nerve can be beneficial in pain control, but further randomized prospective trials are needed to study these techniques further. Key words: Back pain, Endoscopic spine surgery, Pars interarticularis fracture, Radiofrequency ablation, Sinuvertebral nerve

Background: The beneficial effects of ginsenoside species have been well demonstrated in a number of studies. However, the function of ginsenoside Ro (GRo), an oleanane-type saponin, has not been sufficiently investigated. Thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of GRo in vitro using the Raw 264.7 mouse macrophage cell line treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and to clarify the possible mechanism of GRo involving heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which itself plays a critical role in self-defense in the presence of inflammatory stress. Methods: Raw 264.7 cells were pretreated with GRo (up to 200μM) for 1 h before treatment with 1 μg/mL LPS, and both cell viability and inflammatory markers involving HO-1 were evaluated. Results: GRo significantly increased cell viability in a dose dependent manner following treatment with LPS, and decreased levels of reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide. GRo decreased inflammatory cytokines such as nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 induced by LPS. Moreover, GRo increased the expression of HO-1 in a dose dependent manner. Cotreatment of GRo with tin protoporphyrin IX, a selective inhibitor of HO-1, not only inhibited upregulation of HO-1 induced by GRo, but also reversed the anti-inflammatory effect of GRo in LPS treated Raw 264.7 cells. Conclusion: GRo induces anti-inflammatory effects following treatment with LPS via upregulation of HO-1.

A 64-year-old man complained of difficulty with far vision in the right eye after blunt trauma by his hand during sleep. He had undergone uneventful phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation of both eyes one week before the event. On slit lamp examination, the anterior chamber was shallow compared to postoperative one day or the left eye. After mydriasis, IOL position was perfect, within the capsulorrhexis margin, and no haptics were protruded. SE of his right eye was −4.00 diopter after trauma, although spherical equivalent (SE) of both eyes was near emmetropia one day after cataract surgery. We decided on IOL reposition or exchange. Intraoperatively, we pushed the IOL posteriorly; the IOL was vaulted posteriorly, as expected. After surgery, his SE was +0.25 with the same diopter IOL. We report the case on the possibility of 4-point haptic IOL vaulting anteriorly by blunt trauma within the capsular bag.

The pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) derived from proteolytic processing of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). APP undergoes post-translational modification including N- and O-glycosylation. O-GlcNAcylation is a novel type of O-glycosylation, mediated by O-GlcNAc transferase attaching O-β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to serine/threonine residues of the target proteins. O-GlcNAc is removed by O-GlcNAcase. We have previously reported that increasing O-GlcNAcylated APP using the O-GlcNAcase inhibitor, PUGNAc, increases its trafficking rate to the plasma membrane and decreases its endocytosis rate, resulting in decreased Aβ production. However, O-GlcNAc modification sites in APP are unknown. In this study, we mutated three predicted O-GlcNAc modification threonine residues of APP into alanines (T291A, T292A, and T576A) and expressed them in HeLa cells. These APP mutants showed reduced O-GlcNAcylation levels, indicating that these sites were endogenously O-GlcNAcylated. Thr 576 was the major O-GlcNAcylation site when cell was treated with PUGNAc. We also showed that the effects of PUGNAc on APP trafficking to the plasma membrane and Aβ production were prevented in the T576A mutant. These results implicate Thr 576 as the major O-GlcNAcylation site in APP and indicate that O-GlcNAcylation of this residue regulates its trafficking and processing. Thus, specific O-GlcNAcylation of APP at Thr 576 may be a novel and promising drug target for AD therapeutics., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Zinc toxicity is one of the key factors responsible for the neuronal injuries associated with various neurological conditions. Zinc accumulation in some cells is accompanied by the increase of blood stress hormone levels, which might indicate a functional connection between stress and zinc toxicity. However, the cellular mechanism for the effect of stress on zinc toxicity is not known. Recently, it was reported that the zinc permeable transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channel may represent a novel target for neurological disorders where zinc toxicity plays an important role. To investigate the effect of stress hormone on zinc-induced cell death, neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with urocortin, a corticotropin releasing factor (CRF)-related peptide. Urocortin potentiated zinc-induced cell death at μM range of extracellular zinc concentrations. It significantly increased TRPM7 channel expression, and zinc influx into cytosol. Moreover, application of TRPM7 channel blockers and RNA interference of TRPM7 channel expression attenuated the zinc-induced cell death in urocortin-pretreated cells, indicating that TRPM7 channel may serve as a zinc influx pathway. These results suggest that TRPM7 channel may play a critical role for zinc toxicity associated with stress., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the brain is the main culprit of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ is derived from sequential proteolytic cleavage of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP). Newly synthesized APP is transported from endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane via trans-Golgi network (TGN) after post-translational modification including N- and O-glycosylation. APP is internalized through clathrin-dependent endocytosis from the plasma membrane to the early endosomes. In this study, we investigated the regulation of APP trafficking and processing by mutating three threonine residues known as O-glycosylation sites. We separately mutated three threonine residues of APP695 into alanines (T291A, T292A, and T576A) and expressed them in HeLa cells. Among these APP mutants, only T576A mutant showed reduced cell surface levels, indicating this residue regulates its trafficking. We also confirmed that trafficking from TGN to the plasma membrane was decreased in T576A mutant. Consistent with these observations, T576A mutant accumulated in the early endosomes, and the secreted Aβ level was increased. Thus, these results indicate that threonine 576 residue of APP regulates its trafficking and processing., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In four-dimensional (4D) ultrafast electron microscopy (UEM), timed-pulse electron imaging and selected-area diffraction are used to study structural dynamics with space- and time-resolutions that allow direct observation of transformations affecting the fundamental properties of materials. Only recently, the UEM studies have begun to reveal a variety of dynamic responses of nanoscale specimens to material excitation, on ultrafast time scales and up to microseconds. Here, we give an account of some of these results, including imaging and diffraction dynamics of gold and graphite single crystal films, revealing atomic motions and morphology change in the former and two forms of acoustic resonance in the latter. We also report, for the first time, dynamic changes upon lattice excitation of moiré fringes in graphite, recorded in bright- and dark-field images. Oscillations that are seen in moiré fringe spacing and other selected-area image properties have the same temporal period as observed in Bragg spot changes in diffraction patterns from the same specimen areas. This period is shown to vary linearly with the local thickness of the specimen, thus establishing that the oscillations are due to excitation of a resonant elastic modulation of the film thickness and allowing derivation of a value of the Young's modulus (c(33)) of 36 GPa for the c-axis strain. The second form of resonance dynamics observed in graphite, on much longer time scales, corresponds to an out-of-plane drumming vibration of the film consistent with a 0.94 TPa elastic modulus for in-plane (a-axis) stretching. For the latter, the nanoscale membrane motion appears complicated ("chaotic") at early time and builds up to a resonance at longer times. Finally, electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) in the UEM provides a unique domain of study of chemical bonding on the time scale of change (femtoseconds), and its application to graphite is discussed.

Magnetic resonance current density imaging (MRCDI) is a useful method for measuring electrical current density distribution inside a subject. Due to the requirement of subject rotations in MRCDI, MRCDI has not been widely applied to in vivo studies. In this paper, we propose a new current density image (CDI) reconstruction method by which a single component of the current density can be imaged by MRCDI without subject rotations. After measuring one of the two magnetic field components, produced by the current density component passing through the measurement plane, we have reconstructed the current density component images in the spatial frequency domain. Even though the proposed method has a limitation that the area of magnetic field measurement should be much larger than that of the current density, the proposed method is expected to expedite MRCDI applications to in vivo studies.