Determination of the point resolution of high-resolution transmission electron microscope using the through-focus technique.

From the viewpoint of evaluating the instrumental performance of high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM), the Scherzer condition was investigated using information theory. As a result, the optimum defocus amount Δf can be expressed based on [Formula: see text] , and the formula [Formula: see text] is obtained. Furthermore, a procedure for measuring point resolution using the through-focus technique is developed, and a new method for determining the spherical aberration coefficient using the variance of Δf is introduced in the procedure.

Linking antigen specific T-cell dynamics in a microfluidic chip to single cell transcription patterns.

A new non-invasive screening profile has been realized that can aid in determining T-cell activation state at single-cell level. Production of activated T-cells with good specificity and stable proliferation is greatly beneficial for advancing adoptive immunotherapy as innate immunological cells are not effective in recognizing and eliminating cancer as expected. The screening method is realized by relating intracellular Ca intensity and motility of T-cells interacting with APC (Antigen Presenting Cells) in a microfluidic chip.

A web-based questionnaire survey on the influence of coronavirus disease-19 on the care of patients with muscular dystrophy.

To clarify the influence of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) on the care of muscular dystrophy patients, we performed a questionnaire survey that was posted on the internet on May 11, 2020. By the end of July 2020, 542 responses had been collected. Approximately 30% of patients postponed regular consultations, and one-quarter of patients who received consultation more than once a month used telephone consultations.

Spatial frequency domain imager based on a compact multiaperture camera: testing and feasibility for noninvasive burn severity assessment.

Significance: Spatial frequency domain imaging (SFDI) is a wide-field imaging technique that provides quantitative maps of tissue optical properties. We describe a compact SFDI imager that employs a multispectral compound-eye camera. This design enables simultaneous image acquisition at multiple wavelengths.

[The psychological process and its longitudinal of family caregivers involved in associations for families of dementia patients].

Aim: This study aimed to explore the psychological and dynamic process of modification and evaluate its time-series peculiarity in family caregivers involved in associations for the families of dementia patients.

Methods: The current study included 39 family caregivers involved in two associations for the families of dementia patients. Five-year free group conversations in the family caregivers were recorded and converted into a verbatim record.

Fluorescence detection of deep intramucosal cancer excited by green light for photodynamic diagnosis using protoporphyrin IX induced by 5-aminolevulinic acid: an ex vivo study.

Significance: The diagnostic depth of photodynamic diagnosis (PDD) for gastric cancer with protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is limited, which leads to missing intramucosal cancers in screening and surgery.

Aim: The reason is that the excitation light, whose wavelength is determined by the highest absorption peak of PpIX (∼405  nm), is strongly attenuated by mucosal tissues. We investigated an excitation wavelength that can extend the diagnostic depth of PpIX fluorescence at the mucosal subsurface.

Visible-wavelength two-photon excitation microscopy with multifocus scanning for volumetric live-cell imaging.

Two-photon excitation microscopy is one of the key techniques used to observe three-dimensional (3-D) structures in biological samples. We utilized a visible-wavelength laser beam for two-photon excitation in a multifocus confocal scanning system to improve the spatial resolution and image contrast in 3-D live-cell imaging. Experimental and numerical analyses revealed that the axial resolution has improved for a wide range of pinhole sizes used for confocal detection.

A Powderization Process for Encapsulating with Functional Biomaterials Using Nozzleless Electrostatic Atomization.

Powderization of oils has been used as a method to enhance the stability of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Previously, we successfully powderized soybean oil via nozzleless electrostatic atomization. The process of nozzleless electrostatic atomization process was applied to the one-step process of encapsulating oil in wall materials.

Single-molecule rectifiers based on voltage-dependent deformation of molecular orbitals in carbazole oligomers.

Current-voltage characteristics of single molecule junctions are governed both by the energy level alignment of molecular orbitals with respect to the Fermi level of the electrodes and by the hybridization of electronic structures at the interface between the molecule and the electrodes. While there have been many studies on tuning the former, only a few works intended to control the latter. In the present study, we demonstrate that molecular junctions based on carbazole oligomers showed a current rectification behavior due to asymmetric-symmetric control of electronic hybridization between the molecule and electrodes at the both terminals.

Determination of optical properties of human brain tumor tissues from 350 to 1000 nm to investigate the cause of false negatives in fluorescence-guided resection with 5-aminolevulinic acid.

The optical properties of human brain tumor tissues, including glioblastoma, meningioma, oligodendroglioma, and metastasis, that were classified into "strong," "vague," and "unobservable" fluorescence by a neurosurgeon were measured and compared. The optical properties of the tissues were measured with a double integrating sphere and the inverse Monte Carlo technique from 350 to 1000 nm. Using reasons of ex-vivo measurement, the optical properties at around 420 nm were potentially affected by the hemoglobin content in tissues.

Biochemical and Clinical Predictive Approach and Time Point Analysis of Hepatobiliary Phase Liver Enhancement on Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MR Images: A Multicenter Study.

Purpose To identify biochemical factors associated with liver enhancement over time on gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance (MR) images and predict the optimal time point of the hepatobiliary phase in various clinical settings. Materials and Methods This study was approved by the institutional review boards, and written informed consent was obtained from the 1903 patients enrolled. Simple and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the biochemical factors associated with liver-to-spleen contrast (LSC) of at least 1.

X-ray STM: Nanoscale elemental analysis & Observation of atomic track.

Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) combined with brilliant X-rays from synchrotron radiation (SR) can provide various possibilities of original and important applications, such as the elemental analysis on solid surfaces at an atomic scale. The principle of the elemental analysis is based on the inner-shell excitation of an element-specific energy level "under STM observation". A key to obtain an atomic locality is to extract the element-specific modulation of the local tunneling current (not emission that can damage the spatial resolution), which is derived from the inner-shell excitation [1].

Furan fused V-shaped organic semiconducting materials with high emission and high mobility.

We report a facile synthetic protocol for preparation of dinaphtho[2,3-b:2',3'-d]furan (DNF-V) derivatives. DNF-V derivatives showed high emissive behaviour in solid. A solution-crystallized transistor based on alkylated DNF-V derivatives showed an excellent carrier mobility of up to 1.

A proposal for a new HIV-1 DLS structural model.

The dimer initiation site/dimer linkage sequence (DIS/DLS) region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA genome is suggested to play essential roles at various stages of the viral life cycle. Through a novel assay we had recently developed, we reported on the necessary and sufficient region for RNA dimerization in the HIV-1 virion. Using this system, we performed further detailed mapping of the functional base pairs necessary for HIV-1 DLS structure.

Cholinergic modulation of response gain in the primary visual cortex of the macaque.

ACh modulates neuronal activity throughout the cerebral cortex, including the primary visual cortex (V1). However, a number of issues regarding this modulation remain unknown, such as the effect and its function and the receptor subtypes involved. To address these issues, we combined extracellular single-unit recordings and microiontophoretic administration of ACh and measured V1 neuronal responses to drifting sinusoidal grating stimuli in anesthetized macaque monkeys.

Variants of the RELA gene are associated with schizophrenia and their startle responses.

The pathogenesis of schizophrenia is thought to involve aberrant immune and inflammatory responses. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) has important roles in the immune and inflammatory responses. The v-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (RELA) gene encodes the major component of the NF-κB complex.

Heterogeneous activity level of jaw-closing and -opening muscles and its association with arousal levels during sleep in the guinea pig.

Exaggerated jaw motor activities during sleep are associated with muscle symptoms in the jaw-closing rather than the jaw-opening muscles. The intrinsic activity of antagonistic jaw muscles during sleep remains unknown. This study aims to assess the balance of muscle activity between masseter (MA) and digastric (DG) muscles during sleep in guinea pigs.

An effective mobile sensor control method for sparse sensor networks.

In this paper, we propose an effective mobile sensor control method, named DATFM (Data Acquisition and Transmission with Fixed and Mobile node) for sparse sensor networks. DATFM uses two types of sensor nodes, fixed node and mobile node. The data acquired by nodes are accumulated on a fixed node before being transferred to the sink node.

An evolutionary neural network approach for module orientation problems.

A novel neural network approach called "Evolutionary Neural Network (ENN)" is presented for the module orientation problem. The goal of this NP-complete problem is to minimize the total wire length by flipping circuit modules with respect to their vertical and/or horizontal axes of symmetry. In order to achieve high quality VLSI systems, it is strongly desired to solve the problem as quickly as possible in the design cycle.

A further result on the Markov chain model of genetic algorithms and its application to a simulated annealing-like strategy.

This paper shows a theoretical property on the Markov chain of genetic algorithms: the stationary distribution focuses on the uniform population with the optimal solution as mutation and crossover probabilities go to zero and some selective pressure defined in this paper goes to infinity. Moreover, as a result, a sufficient condition for ergodicity is derived when a simulated annealing-like strategy is considered. Additionally, the uniform crossover counterpart of the Vose-Liepins formula is derived using the Markov chain model.

A gradual neural network approach for FPGA segmented channel routing problems.

A novel neural network approach called gradual neural network (GNN) is presented for segmented channel routing in field programmable gate arrays (FPGA's). FPGA's contain predefined segmented channels for net routing, where adjacent segments in a track can be interconnected through programmable switches for longer segments. The goal of the FPGA segmented channel routing problem, known to be NP-complete, is to find a conflict-free net routing with the minimum routing cost.

Superresolution modeling using an omnidirectional image sensor.

Recently, many virtual reality and robotics applications have been called on to create virtual environments from real scenes. A catadioptric omnidirectional image sensor composed of a convex mirror can simultaneously observe a 360-degree field of view making it useful for modeling man-made environments such as rooms, corridors, and buildings, because any landmarks around the sensor can be taken in and tracked in its large field of view. However, the angular resolution of the omnidirectional image is low because of the large field of view captured.

An application of a computational ecology model to a routing method in computer networks.

The paper proposes a network routing method based on a computational ecology model. The computational ecology model is a mathematical model proposed by B.A.