Visualization of spin-polarized surface resonances in Pb-based ternary topological insulators.

The formation of the topological surface state originates from bulk band inversion at the top of the valence band and the bottom of the conduction band. The transition between normal and topological insulators is known as a topological phase transition. Here we show spin-polarized electronic states of Pb-based ternary topological insulators Pb(BiSb)Te (x = 0.

Assessment of Cardiovascular Events Caused by New-Generation Androgen Receptor Pathway Inhibitors Used for Prostate Cancer: A Real-World Study in Japan.

Introduction: Androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) that significantly improve the prognosis of patients with prostate cancer include abiraterone acetate (androgen synthesis inhibitor) and enzalutamide (androgen receptor inhibitor). A recent analysis of ARPI and cardiovascular events using the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) has been reported; however, the evidence on cardiovascular events for abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide in real-world clinical practice is insufficient. Using a large Japanese database of medical institutions, the Japanese Medical Data Center (JMDC) medical institution database (JMDC Inc.

Impact of Polypharmacy and Risk Factors for Exacerbation of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Patients with Urological Conditions: A Retrospective Study in a Japanese Municipal Hospital.

Polypharmacy exacerbates lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). Japan exhibits a higher prevalence of concomitant medication use in drug therapy than other countries. Previous age- and sex-specific reports exist; however, none include patients of all ages.

Visualization of Alternating Triangular Domains of Charge Density Waves in 2H-NbSe_{2} by Scanning Tunneling Microscopy.

The charge density wave (CDW) state of 2H-NbSe_{2} features commensurate domains separated by domain boundaries accompanied by phase slips known as discommensurations. We have unambiguously visualized the structure of CDW domains using a displacement-field measurement algorithm on a scanning tunneling microscopy image. Each CDW domain is delimited by three vertices and three edges of discommensurations and is designated by a triplet of integers whose sum identifies the types of commensurate structure.

Squeezed Abrikosov-Josephson Vortex in Atomic-Layer Pb Superconductors Formed on Vicinal Si(111) Substrates.

Unlike bulk counterparts, two-dimensional (2D) superconductors are sensitive to disorder. Here, we investigated superconductivity of Pb atomic layers formed on vicinal substrates to reveal how surface steps with an interval shorter than the coherence length ξ affect it. Electrical transport showed reduced critical temperature and enhanced critical magnetic field.

Effect of Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors vs. Metformin on Major Cardiovascular Events Using Spontaneous Reporting System and Real-World Database Study.

Background: Metformin had been recommended as the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes since 2006 because of its low cost, high efficacy, and potential to reduce cardiovascular events, and thus death. However, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors are the most commonly prescribed first-line agents for patients with type 2 diabetes in Japan. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the effect of DPP-4 inhibitors on preventing cardiovascular events, taking into consideration the actual prescription of antidiabetic drugs in Japan.

Proteome analysis of high affinity mouse saliva proteins to hydroxyapatite.

Caries sensitivity varies between the two strains of inbred mice, BALB/cA has high sensitivity and C3H/HeN has low sensitivity. One potential reason seems to be a difference in pellicle-forming saliva protein composition. Here, we performed a proteomic analysis in order to identify differences of hydroxyapatite (HAP) adsorbed saliva proteins between these two mouse strains.

Verification of the "Upward Variation in the Reporting Odds Ratio Scores" to Detect the Signals of Drug-Drug Interactions.

The reporting odds ratio (ROR) is easy to calculate, and there have been several examples of its use because of its potential to speed up the detection of drug-drug interaction signals by using the "upward variation of ROR score". However, since the validity of the detection method is unknown, this study followed previous studies to investigate the detection trend. The statistics models (the Ω shrinkage measure and the "upward variation of ROR score") were compared using the verification dataset created from the Japanese Adverse Drug Event Report database (JADER).

Orbital Angular Momentum Induced Spin Polarization of 2D Metallic Bands.

The electrons in 2D systems with broken inversion symmetry are spin-polarized due to spin-orbit coupling and provide perfect targets for observing exotic spin-related fundamental phenomena. We observe a Fermi surface with a novel spin texture in the 2D metallic system formed by indium double layers on Si(111) and find that the primary origin of the spin-polarized electronic states of this system is the orbital angular momentum and not the so-called Rashba effect. The present results deepen the understanding of the physics arising from spin-orbit coupling in atomic-layered materials with consequences for spintronic devices and the physics of the superconducting state.

Allantoin and hydantoin as new protein aggregation suppressors.

Allantoin is widely used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products, and is composed of a hydantoin ring and a ureido group. Recent reports showed that allantoin suppresses thermal aggregation of hen egg white lysozyme (LYZ). However, structural insight into the properties of allantoin on protein aggregation and whether allantoin controls the aggregation of other proteins under different stress conditions remain unclear.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) is a counteracting solute of benzyl alcohol for multi-dose formulation of immunoglobulin.

Multi-dose formulation of biopharmaceuticals contains an antimicrobial preservative, which may facilitate aggregation of the proteins due to their hydrophobic protein binding. Here, we have investigated the effects of co-solvents on heat-induced protein aggregation in the presence of an antimicrobial preservative. Human immunoglobulin G (IgG) and benzyl alcohol were chosen because of their wide usage as a pharmaceutical protein and a preservative.

Thermal aggregation of human immunoglobulin G in arginine solutions: Contrasting effects of stabilizers and destabilizers.

Arginine is widely used as aggregation suppressor of proteins in biotechnology and pharmaceutics. However, why the effect of arginine depends on the types of proteins and stresses, including monoclonal antibodies, is still unclear. Here we investigated the precise processes of the thermal aggregation of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the presence of additives.

Controlled Modification of Superconductivity in Epitaxial Atomic Layer-Organic Molecule Heterostructures.

Self-assembled organic molecules can potentially be an excellent source of charge and spin for two-dimensional (2D) atomic-layer superconductors. Here we investigate 2D heterostructures based on In atomic layers epitaxially grown on Si and highly ordered metal-phthalocyanine (MPc, M = Mn, Cu) through a variety of techniques: scanning tunneling microscopy, electron transport measurements, angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, X-ray magnetic circular dichroism, and ab initio calculations. We demonstrate that the superconducting transition temperature (T) of the heterostructures can be modified in a controllable manner.

Effect of counter ions of arginine as an additive for the solubilization of protein and aromatic compounds.

Arginine is widely used in biotechnological application, but mostly with chloride counter ion. Here, we examined the effects of various anions on solubilization of aromatic compounds and reduced lysozyme and on refolding of the lysozyme. All arginine salts tested increased the solubility of propyl gallate with acetate much more effectively than chloride.

Charge state of arginine as an additive on heat-induced protein aggregation.

Arginine (Arg) is one of the most versatile solvent additives, such as suppressing protein aggregation, increasing solubility of small aromatic compounds and peptides, and preventing protein binding on solid surfaces. In this study, we investigated the role of the charged state of α-amino group of Arg for the prevention of protein aggregation. As expected, Arg effectively suppressed thermal aggregation of hen egg-white lysozyme at neutral pH, whereas the suppression effect diminished at and above pH 9.

Current-Driven Supramolecular Motor with In Situ Surface Chiral Directionality Switching.

Surface-supported molecular motors are nanomechanical devices of particular interest in terms of future nanoscale applications. However, the molecular motors realized so far consist of covalently bonded groups that cannot be reconfigured without undergoing a chemical reaction. Here we demonstrate that a platinum-porphyrin-based supramolecularly assembled dimer supported on a Au(111) surface can be rotated with high directionality using the tunneling current of a scanning tunneling microscope (STM).

Imaging Josephson vortices on the surface superconductor Si(111)-(√7×√3)-In using a scanning tunneling microscope.

We have studied the superconducting Si(111)-(√7×√3)-In surface using a ³He-based low-temperature scanning tunneling microscope. Zero-bias conductance images taken over a large surface area reveal that vortices are trapped at atomic steps after magnetic fields are applied. The crossover behavior from Pearl to Josephson vortices is clearly identified from their elongated shapes along the steps and significant recovery of superconductivity within the cores.

Dependence of ethanol effects on protein charges.

Ethanol is used as a conventional disinfectant solution. It is highly effective against enveloped viruses due to its effects on virus membranes. It also confers inactivation of non-enveloped viruses, which can be ascribed to conformational changes or changes in association state of the viral proteins induced by ethanol.

Robust protection from backscattering in the topological insulator Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.7Se1.3.

Electron scattering in the topological surface state (TSS) of the topological insulator Bi1.5Sb0.5Te1.

Synergistic solubilization of porcine myosin in physiological salt solution by arginine.

Myosin is an important protein resource for food industries and has a bipolar filamentous structure that is composed of subfilaments that occur in vivo. It has been shown that a high ionic strength is required to prevent myosin from forming filamentous structures and to solubilize the protein in aqueous solution. In the presence of 100-200 mM NaCl, 50 mM arginine was more effective than other additives tested, including NaCl, in myosin solubilization.