High transmission in 120-degree sharp bends of inversion-symmetric and inversion-asymmetric photonic crystal waveguides.

Bending loss is one of the serious problems for constructing nanophotonic integrated circuits. Recently, many works reported that valley photonic crystals (VPhCs) enable significantly high transmission via 120-degree sharp bends. However, it is unclear whether the high bend-transmission results directly from the valley-photonic effects, which are based on the breaking of inversion symmetry.

Serial changes of systemic ventricular function and atrioventricular valve function in patients with failing Fontan.

Objectives: This study investigated the longitudinal changes in ventricular function and atrioventricular valve function to clarify the timing and the mechanisms of failing Fontan.

Methods: Patients who underwent total cavopulmonary connection between 1994 and 2023 were reviewed, and longitudinal echocardiographic examinations of ventricular function and atrioventricular valve regurgitation were analyzed.

Results: A total of 650 patients were included.

FRPR-1, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) in the FMRFamide-related peptide receptor family, modulates larval development as a receptor candidate of the FMRFamide-like peptide FLP-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans.

FMRFamide-like peptides (FLPs) and their receptors FMRFamide-related peptide receptors (FRPRs) are widely conserved in free-living and parasitic nematodes. Herein, we identified FRPR-1 as a of FLP-1 receptor candidate involved in larval development and diapause in the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Our molecular genetic study, supported by in silico research, revealed the following: 1) frpr-1 loss-of-function completely suppresses the promotion of larval diapause caused by flp-1 overexpression; 2) AlphaFold2 analysis revealed the binding of FLP-1 to FRPR-1; 3) FRPR-1 as well as FLP-1modulates the production and secretion of the predominant insulin-like peptide DAF-28, which is produced in ASI neurons; and 4) the suppression of larval diapause by frpr-1 loss-of-function is completely suppressed by a daf-28 defect.