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Polyaniline-based atomic switches are material building blocks whose nanoscale structure and resultant neuromorphic character provide a new physical substrate for the development next-generation, nanoarchitectonic-enabled computing systems. Metal ion-doped devices consisting of a Ag/metal ion doped polyaniline/Pt sandwich structure were fabricated using an in situ wet process. The devices exhibited repeatable resistive switching between high (ON) and low (OFF) conductance states in both Ag+ and Cu2+ ion-doped devices. The threshold voltage for switching was>0.8 V and average ON/OFF conductance ratios (30 cycles for 3 samples) were 13 and 16 for Ag+ and Cu2+ devices, respectively. The ON state duration was determined by the decay to an OFF state after pulsed voltages of differing amplitude and frequency. The switching behaviour is analagous to short-term (STM) and long-term (LTM) memories of biological synapses. Memristive behaviour and evidence of quantized conductance were also observed and interpreted in terms of metal filament formation bridging the metal doped polymer layer. The successful realization of these properties within physical material systems indicate polyaniline frameworks as suitable neuromorphic substrates for in materia computing.

Hiromi Asada,1 Yoshimitsu Takahashi,1 Yuka Ono,2 Noriko Kishi,2 Yukinori Matsuo,2 Takashi Mizowaki,2 Takeo Nakayama1 1Department of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan; 2Department of Radiation Oncology and Image-Applied Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, JapanCorrespondence: Hiromi Asada, Department of Health Informatics, Kyoto University School of Public Health, Yoshida Konoe-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan, Tel/Fax +81-75-753-9479, Email asada.hiromi.62a@st.kyoto-u.ac.jpPurpose: Patients undergoing radiotherapy often have their skin marked. Previous studies on skin markings examined the durability and physical effects of the markings, but no study has focused on patients’ emotional experiences toward the markings. This study aimed to clarify how patients undergoing radiotherapy feel about skin markings, as well as factors that affect patients’ emotional experiences.Patients and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a self-administered questionnaire and medical records. Participants were patients aged ≥ 20 years undergoing cancer radiotherapy at a designated cancer care hospital. The primary outcome was the level of uncomfortable emotions toward skin markings, and the secondary outcome was the level of favorable ratings on skin markings. To examine factors related to uncomfortable emotions, ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed.Results: Questionnaire forms were distributed to 153 patients, and responses were collected from 132 (86%). Among 108 patients included in the analysis, 56% (59/105, excluding 3 who did not answer this question) responded that they were uncomfortable with skin markings. The proportion of patients who favorably rated skin markings was 63% (59/93, excluding 15 who did not answer this question). No factors were significantly associated with the primary outcome.Conclusion: Many patients accepted skin markings with resignation, as they understood the necessity of the markings in their treatment. Medical staff should understand the emotional experiences of patients toward skin markings and take sufficient care to ensure that they are provided with explanations, including the impact of skin markings on their daily lives, as well as a sense of security that treatment is being performed in a precise manner.Keywords: radiotherapy, marking, emotional experiences, questionnaire survey

Background: The successful installation of linear accelerators (LINACs) depends on operator skill and experience, and its optimization can be further improved using vendor commissioning support. To facilitate the introduction of LINAC, Elekta provides commissioning support through Accelerated Go Live (AGL) using representative beam data. This study aimed to evaluate the effective commissioning of LINAC-assisted AGL complemented by additional measurements conducted by a user. Materials and Methods: Output doses were measured within a field size of > 3 cm2 using a single chamber with AGL and within a field size of > 2 cm² using three types of optimal chambers based on the field size adopted by the user. In all cases, the differences between the measured and calculated output doses were maintained at < 2%. Results: The accuracy of couch modeling was evaluated by measuring arc irradiation for three different field sizes, with the electron density value assigned as a dose difference of <2% between the measured and calculated values at 2% for all energies and field size of >3 cm2. Additionally, imaging scan parameters for cone beam computed tomography were optimized to reduce the radiation dose, in comparison to the initial vendor settings, by referencing IEC 60601-2-44 standards and examining results from neighboring facilities. Conclusions: AGL proved to be effective as a temporary check, but additional commissioning efforts by the user were necessary for a more thorough evaluation and more appropriate initiation, aligning with established clinical practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yosuke Kameoka,1 Fukuko Kishi,1 Minako Koura,2 Yoshio Yamakawa,1 Rora Nagasawa,1 Fuyu Ito,3 Junichiro Matsuda,2 Osamu Suzuki,2 Toshinori Nakayama,4 Kazuo Suzuki1,3–5 1Department of Research and Development, A-CLIP Institute, Ltd., Chiba, Japan; 2Laboratory of Animal Models for Human Diseases, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Osaka, Japan; 3Asia International Institute of Infectious Disease Control, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan; 4Department of Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan; 5Department of Immunology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan Background: Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibodies (ANCA) associated vasculitis is a pauci-immune disease with the inflammation of the small blood vessels. The efficacies of antibody drugs for induction therapies of vasculitis vary among cases. Here, we developed a novel clone of a single chain Fv region (ScFv) with vasculitis-specific therapeutic potential.Materials and methods: The clone, termed VasSF, was selected from our Escherichia coli expression library of recombinant human ScFv based on the therapeutic efficacy in an SCG/Kj mouse model of MPO-ANCA-associated vasculitis (MAAV), such as improvement of the urinary score and decreased crescent formation in glomeruli, granulomatous in lung, MPO-ANCA biomarkers, the anti-moesin antibody, and some cytokine levels.Results: We identified vasculitis-associated apolipoprotein A-II (VAP2) as a target molecule of the clone and confirmed the independently-established VAP2 antibodies were also therapeutic in SCG/Kj mice. In MAAV, MPO-ANCA and cytokines stimulate neutrophils by facilitating heterodimer formation of VAP2 with apolipoprotein A-I in HDL. Conclusion: VasSF would constitute a novel antibody drug for vasculitis by suppressing the heterodimer formation of the apolipoproteins. Keywords: VasSF, ANCA antibody drug, apolipoprotein, HDL, myeloperoxidase, MPO, SCG/Kj, vasculitis

Vertebrates have achieved great evolutionary success due in large part to the anatomical diversification of their jaw complex, which allows them to inhabit almost every ecological niche. While many studies have focused on mechanisms that pattern the jaw skeleton, much remains to be understood about the origins of novelty and diversity in the closely associated musculature. To address this issue, we focused on parrots, which have acquired two anatomically unique jaw muscles: the ethmomandibular and the pseudomasseter. In parrot embryos, we observe distinct and highly derived expression patterns for Scx, Bmp4, Tgfβ2 and Six2 in neural crest-derived mesenchyme destined to form jaw muscle connective tissues. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis reveals that cell proliferation is more active in the cells within the jaw muscle than in surrounding connective tissue cells. This biased and differentially regulated mode of cell proliferation in cranial musculoskeletal tissues may allow these unusual jaw muscles to extend towards their new attachment sites. We conclude that the alteration of neural crest-derived connective tissue distribution during development may underlie the spatial changes in jaw musculoskeletal architecture found only in parrots. Thus, parrots provide valuable insights into molecular and cellular mechanisms that may generate evolutionary novelties with functionally adaptive significance. © 2012 The Author(s) Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.

Tatsuya Nakayama,1,2 Yuko Kumeda,3 Ryuji Kawahara,4 Takahiro Yamaguchi,4,5 Yoshimasa Yamamoto5 1Center for Global Initiatives, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan; 2Division of Biomedical Food Research, National Institute of Health Science, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan; 3Center for Microorganism Control, Osaka Prefecture University, Sakai, Osaka, Japan; 4Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, Osaka, Japan; 5Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan Background: Due to increasing colistin usage, the dissemination of the colistin-resistant gene mcr-1 has been increasingly investigated. The aim of this study was to determine whether a traveler on a short-term international trip to a developing country could bring mcr-1 back to their home country. Materials and methods: Thirty-four travel events from Japan to Vietnam encompassing 19 travelers were assessed. A fecal specimen was collected from each traveler before and after each travel event and was inoculated on CHROMagar containing cefotaxime (CTX). Three to seven colonies exhibiting the characteristics of Escherichia coli were collected. Susceptibility to antibiotics and extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production were determined by the disk diffusion method and the double-disk synergy test, respectively. ESBL-encoding genes were genotyped, and phylogenetic groupings were determined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of mcr-1 was also confirmed by PCR and sequencing. Results: A total of 175 ESBL-producing E. coli isolated before and up to 2 weeks after traveling to Vietnam were analyzed. Genotyping of ESBL-producing isolates showed that blaCTX-M-1/blaTEM (27.7%) and blaCTX-M-9 (45.9%) were the most prevalent genotypes, while the most frequently detected phylogenetic group was D (41.9%) followed by B2 (23.0%). In a significant number of travel events, travelers brought ESBL-producing E. coli back to Japan and three events by three travelers carried mcr-1. ESBL-producing E. coli isolates harboring mcr-1 were identified as those carrying both blaCTX-M-14 or blaCTX-M-55 and mcr-1. Conclusion: Using Vietnam as an example, we have shown that even a short-term trip to some countries may result in ESBL-producing mcr-1-positive E. coli carriage by international travelers. Keywords: traveler, ESBL-producing E. coli, mcr-1, Vietnam, Japan