Time-to-digital converters (TDCs) are used in various fields, including high-energy physics. One advantage of implementing TDCs in field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) is the flexibility on the ...modification of the logics, which is useful to cope with the changes in the experimental conditions. Recent FPGAs make it possible to implement TDCs with a time resolution less than 10 ps. On the other hand, various drift chambers require a time resolution of O(0.1) ns, and a simple and easy-to-implement TDC is useful for a robust operation. Herein an eight-channel TDC with a variable bin size down to 0.28 ns is implemented in a Xilinx Kintex-7 FPGA and tested. The TDC is based on a multisampling scheme with quad phase clocks synchronised with an external reference clock. Calibration of the bin size is unnecessary if a stable reference clock is available, which is common in high-energy physics experiments. Depending on the channel, the standard deviation of the differential nonlinearity for a 0.28 ns bin size is 0.13–0.31. The performance has a negligible dependence on the temperature. The power consumption and the potential to extend the number of channels are also discussed.
A novel super-compact multilayered (ML) composite-right/left-handed (CRLH) transmission line (TL) is proposed. This ML architecture consists of the periodic repetition of pairs of U-shaped parallel ...plates connected to a ground enclosure by meander lines. The parallel plates provide the left-handed (LH) series capacitance, and the meander lines provide the LH shunt inductance, while the right-handed parasitic series inductance and shunt capacitance are generated by the metallic connections in the direction of propagation and by the voltage gradient from the TL to the ground enclosure, respectively. In contrast to previously reported planar LH or CRLH TLs, the ML TL has its direction of propagation along the vertical direction, perpendicular to the plane of the substrates. This presents the distinct advantage that large electrical length can be achieved over an extremely short TL length and small transverse footprint. The LH-range characteristics of the multilayer CRLH TL are analyzed by the finite-element method and finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) full-wave simulations. In addition, the CRLH equivalent-circuit model is applied to gain simple insight into the behavior of the structure. Finally, the theoretical results are confirmed by experiments using the initial prototype with the very small length (thickness) of 0.016/spl lambda//sub g/ and footprint of 0.06/spl lambda//sub g//spl times/0.08/spl lambda//sub g/ (/spl lambda//sub g/=/spl lambda//sub 0///spl radic//spl epsiv//sub r/=235 mm at the center of the LH band, 0.4 GHz). The proposed miniaturized ML line can find applications in bandpass filters, delay lines, and numerous phase-advance components. As an example of application, a 1-GHz/2-GHz diplexer, composed of two ML CRLH TLs, is demonstrated. The ML CRLH TL proposed here presents a great potential for the development of novel microwave components taking profit of new multilayer technologies such as low-temperature co-fired ceramic technology.
Objective: Royal jelly (RJ) from honeybees (Apis mellifera) has estrogenic activity. Estrogen deficiency after menopause leads to a high risk of memory impairment and depression as well as metabolic ...syndrome and osteoporosis. We here investigated the effect of RJ on memory impairment and depression-like behaviors in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.
Methods: OVX rats were administered with RJ for 82 days. Hippocampus-dependent spatial memory and depression-like behaviors were assessed by the Morris water maze test and the forced swimming test, respectively. The weights of body, brain and uterus and the contents of protein and myelin galactolipids including galactosylceramide and sulfatide were measured.
Results: Memory impairment and depression-like behaviors in OVX rats were recovered to the levels of sham-operated rats by RJ administration. Increased body weight and decreased uterine weight in OVX rats were recovered to the levels of sham-operated rats by 17β-estradiol (E2) administration but not by RJ administration. In contrast, brain weight was slightly increased by RJ administration but not by E2 administration. The contents of protein and myelin galactolipids were higher in the brains of RJ-administered OVX rats than in the brains of E2-administered OVX rats.
Conclusion: The results suggest that RJ has a beneficial effect on neurological symptoms of a menopausal disorder.
Beneficial effects of sesame lignans, especially antioxidative effects, have been widely reported; however, its potential effects on autonomic nerves have not yet been investigated. Therefore, the ...current study aimed to investigate the effect of sesame lignans on the autonomic nervous system. The sympathetic nerve activity in rat skeletal muscle was measured using electrophysiological approaches, with blood flow determined using the laser Doppler method. Sesame lignans were administered intragastrically at 2 and 20 mg/kg, and after 60 min, the sympathetic nerve activity was observed to increase by 45.2% and 66.1%, respectively. A significant increase in blood flow (39.6%) was also observed for the 20-mg/kg dose when measured at 55 min after administration. These sympathomimetic effects were completely prevented by subdiaphragmatic vagotomy, and the increase in blood flow was eliminated in the presence of the beta2-adrenergic receptor inhibitor butoxamine. Thus, it is proposed that sesame lignans can increase the blood flow of skeletal muscle, possibly by exciting sympathetic nerve activity through the afferent vagal nerve.
AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of the effects of heat‐killed Lactobacillus brevis SBC8803 (HK‐SBC8803) on the standard physiological markers of skin health of cutaneous arterial sympathetic nerve ...activity (CASNA), cutaneous blood flow and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and to determine whether SBC8803 targets serotonin 5‐HT3 receptors in rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: A set of three experiments were conducted to examine the effects of SBC8803 on CASNA, cutaneous blood flow and TEWL using Wistar and hairless rats. Two additional experiments further attempted to determine whether HK‐SBC8803 was targeting the serotonin 5‐HT3 receptors by pretreatment with the 5‐HT3 antagonist granisetron. Administration of HK‐SBC8803 in the first three experiments caused marked inhibition of CASNA and significant elevation of cutaneous blood flow under urethane anaesthesia as well as significant decrease in TEWL on the dorsal skin of conscious hairless rats. Pretreatment with granisetron decreased the effects of HK‐SBC8803 on CASNA and cutaneous blood flow. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that HK‐SBC8803 reduces CASNA, increases cutaneous blood flow and decreases TEWL and that 5‐HT3 receptors may be involved in CASNA and cutaneous blood flow responses. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: HK‐SBC8803 could be a useful substance in the treatment/prevention of skin problems, specifically chapped or dry skin.
Summary
Background
Several gene variants identified in bronchial asthmatic patients are associated with a decrease in pulmonary function. The effects of this intervention on pulmonary function have ...not been fully researched.
Objective
We determined the effects of high‐dose inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) on decreased pulmonary function in asthmatic Japanese patients with variants of IL13 and STAT4 during long‐term treatments with low to mild doses of ICS.
Methods
In this study, 411 patients with bronchial asthma who were receiving ICSs and living in Japan were recruited, were genotyped, and underwent pulmonary function tests and fibreoptic examinations. The effects of 2 years of high‐dose ICSs administered to asthmatic patients who were homozygous for IL13 AA of rs20541 or STAT4 TT of rs925847 and who progressed to airway remodelling were investigated.
Results
High‐dose ICS treatment increased the pulmonary function of patients homozygous for IL13 AA of rs20541 but not of patients homozygous for STAT4 TT of rs925847. The increased concentrations of the mediators IL23, IL11, GMCSF, hyaluronic acid, IL24, and CCL8 in bronchial lavage fluid (BLF) were diminished after high‐dose ICS treatment in patients homozygous for IL13 AA of rs20541.
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance
IL13 AA of rs20541 and STAT4 TT of rs925847 are potential genomic biomarkers for predicting lower pulmonary function. The administration of high‐dose ICSs to asthmatic patients with genetic variants of IL13 AA may inhibit the advancement of airway remodelling. The genetic variants of STAT4 TT did not respond to high‐dose ICSs. Therefore, using medications other than ICSs must be considered even during the initial treatment of bronchial asthma. These genetic variants may aid in the realization of personalized and phenotype‐specific therapies for bronchial asthma.
Aim
To elucidate the distribution and circulation dynamics of Campylobacter and Salmonella in Japanese chicken broiler flocks.
Methods and Results
A 2‐year investigation of the distribution of ...Campylobacter and Salmonella was conducted in 25 broiler flocks at nine farms in Japan from 2013 to 2014. Campylobacter and Salmonella tested positive in 11 (44·0%) and 24 (96·0%) broiler flocks respectively. One hundred and ninety‐five Campylobacter and 184 Salmonella isolates were characterized into 12 Campylobacter (including two novel genotypes) and three Salmonella MLST genotypes. Only Salmonella isolation between caecal and environmental samples were significantly correlated. Further, one litter sample tested positive for Salmonella before new chicks were introduced. The Campylobacter strains rapidly lost culturability within 2–18 days; in contrast, the Salmonella strains survived from 64–211 days in artificially inoculated water samples.
Conclusion
No persistent circulation‐mediated Campylobacter contamination was observed. In contrast, circulation of Salmonella in broiler houses was seen, apparently due to the litter excreted from broiler flocks, as well as Salmonella‐contaminated water and feed.
Significance and Impact of the Study
This paper provides the distribution, genotypic data and circulation dynamics of Campylobacter and Salmonella as recently observed in Japanese chicken broiler farms.
Various lactobacilli have been suggested to exert beneficial effects in humans. In this study, we examined the effects of intraduodenal (ID) administration of heat-killed Lactobacillus delbrueckii ...LAB4 (LAB4) on activities of efferent sympathetic nerves innervating the liver and pancreas. Consequently, it was observed that ID administration of LAB4 significantly reduced either the efferent hepatic sympathetic nerve activity (hepatic-SNA) or pancreatic sympathetic nerve activity (pancreatic-SNA) in urethane-anaesthetised rats. Moreover, the effect of acute and chronic administration of LAB4 (1×109 cells/ml) on hyperglycaemia induced by intracranial injection of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) were examined in conscious rats. We found that LAB4 significantly inhibited 2DG-induced hyperglycaemia. These findings suggest that ID administration of heat-killed LAB4 might lower plasma glucose level via changes in the autonomic nervous system in rats.
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