We describe widely tunable lasers incorporating microring resonators. By using a double-ring-resonator-coupled filter, a wide wavelength tuning range is achieved with a low tuning current. A ...double-ring-resonator-coupled tunable laser has series-connected microring resonators in the laser cavity. A tuning range of 50 nm is achieved with injection current of less than 5.2 mA. This low injection current reduces the frequency drift caused by thermal transients to less than 5 GHz. We also describe an integrated filtered feedback tunable laser consisting of a Fabry-Perot (FP) laser and integrated filtered feedback sections. In this device, the filter section is removed from the laser cavity. The device exhibits a 24-nm tuning range with a side-mode suppression ratio of 50 dB. The frequency drift is less than 1 GHz because the longitudinal mode of the laser is mainly determined by the FP laser section. We have also developed a filter-free widely tunable wavelength converter by monolithically integrating a tunable laser and a wavelength converter based on a semiconductor optical amplifier. Wavelength conversion for a 10-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero signal is also demonstrated, tunable over a 40-nm range.
Background
In our prior randomized trial on preventing influenza, asthma attacks as a secondary outcome occurred less often in the vitamin D group than in the placebo group. We aimed to clarify ...whether low‐dose, short‐term vitamin D supplementation, in addition to standard treatments, improves control of childhood asthma.
Methods
We conducted a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial comparing vitamin D3 supplements (800 IU/day) with placebo for 2 months in schoolchildren with asthma. The primary outcomes were frequency and severity of asthma judging from changes in asthma control levels defined by the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) by collaborating doctors at 2 and 6 months.
Results
Japanese schoolchildren with asthma (n = 89) were randomly assigned to receive vitamin D (n = 54) or placebo (n = 35). At 2 months, GINA asthma control was significantly more improved in the vitamin D group compared with the placebo group (P = 0.015). Childhood asthma control test (CACT) scores, a secondary outcome, were also significantly (P = 0.004) improved in the vitamin D group compared with the placebo group at 2 months, and differences remained significant (P = 0.012) at 6 months. The proportion of patients with a peak expiratory flow rate <80% predicted was significantly less in the vitamin D group (8/54: 15%) than in the placebo group (12/35: 34%) at 6 months (P = 0.032).
Conclusions
Low‐dose, short‐term vitamin D supplementation in addition to standard treatment may improve levels of asthma control in schoolchildren.
We investigate the application of amplitude-shaped control pulses for enhancing the time and frequency resolution of multipulse quantum sensing sequences. Using the electronic spin of a single ...nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond and up to 10 000 coherent microwave pulses with a cosine square envelope, we demonstrate 0.6-ps timing resolution for the interpulse delay. This represents a refinement by over 3 orders of magnitude compared to the 2-ns hardware sampling. We apply the method for the detection of external ac magnetic fields and nuclear magnetic resonance signals of ^{13}C spins with high spectral resolution. Our method is simple to implement and especially useful for quantum applications that require fast phase gates, many control pulses, and high fidelity.
Mortality of dolphins in fishing operations is often under-estimated, as shown by studies of beach-washed carcasses. Linking evidence obtained during necropsies with fishing method is fundamental to ...understanding the extent of mortality and the manner in which animals die. The South Australian Sardine Fishery (SASF) has operated a purse-seine industry since 1991. This study characterised injuries, pathological changes and life history of 49 dead dolphins collected from SASF during 2006-2019. Histology examination was conducted on 25 animals. Neonates, calves and juveniles accounted for 63% of the sample. Of mature females (n = 14), 11 were pregnant or lactating, with cryptic mortality estimated to be 20% of dolphins studied. Body condition was robust in 48 dolphins. Net marks were seen on 82%, mostly on the head, trunk and peduncle. Broken/missing teeth were noted in 63%. All dolphins had subdermal haemorrhage (moderate to severe in 96%), particularly around the head. Deep haemorrhage was common, including around occipital and flipper condyles, and organs. Copious fluid was present in the thoracic (pleural) and abdominal (ascites) cavities of half of the dolphins. Within the lungs, watery fluid and froth were observed in 100 and 39%, respectively. Recent bone fractures were documented in 43% of dolphins, mostly associated with haemorrhage. Severe blunt trauma appeared to be the primary cause of death, and 10 dolphins also had other significant pathologies. Visceral organ congestion and mild cardiomyopathy were observed. Stomachs contained prey remains in 75% of cases. The results of this study may help identify unreported purse-seine mortalities washed up in South Australia and elsewhere.
Aims
This study was conducted to assess the presence and extent of differences in the gut microbiota of common bottlenose dolphins depending on rearing facilities.
Methods and Results
Faecal samples ...were collected from 16 common bottlenose dolphins at three aquaria in Japan. After extracting DNA from the faeces, the V3–V4 region of bacterial 16S rRNA was amplified and sequenced using Illumina MiSeq platform. The constituent phyla of the gut microbiota were similar among aquaria; however, the most dominant phylum differed depending on the facility, and the compositions of microbiota were remarkably varied at the family level among aquaria. The alpha diversity indices tended to differ among aquaria. Some bacterial families observed in terrestrial mammalian carnivores or carnivorous fish were detected, as well as several bacterial species suspected of being pathogenic in dolphins.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that captive environmental conditions including prey and housing types may contribute to differences in the gut microbiota of the dolphins.
Significance and Impact of the Study
This is the first study revealing the differences in gut microbiota of captive dolphins among facilities. Our findings will provide valuable information for improving the health management of dolphins.
Summary
We compared the effectiveness of promoting bone healing between two teriparatide preparations for atypical femoral fracture (AFF). A total of 45 AFFs were included in this study, and we ...compared the duration of bone union. Teriparatide administered by daily injection enhanced bone union more than weekly administration in complete AFFs.
Introduction
The efficacy of teriparatide for atypical femoral fracture (AFF) has been recently reported. Although two different teriparatide preparations can be used to treat osteoporosis in Japan, daily or weekly injection, all previous reports on the effectiveness of teriparatide for AFF only examined daily injection formulations. Therefore, we compared the promotion of bone healing between the two teriparatide preparations for AFF.
Methods
A total of 45 consecutive AFFs in 43 Japanese patients were included in this study. They received either a daily 20-μg teriparatide injection (daily group;
n
= 32) or a once-a-week 56.5-μg teriparatide injection (weekly group;
n
= 13). We compared the clinical background and duration of bone union between these two groups.
Results
When all patents were included, the fracture healing time was not significantly different between the two groups. Only patients with complete AFFs had significantly fewer daily bisphosphonate or denosumab injections than the weekly group (
P
< 0.05). The fracture healing time in the daily group (6.1 ± 4.1 months) was significantly shorter than that in the weekly group (10.1 ± 4.2 months) (
P
< 0.05). Even if the influence of bisphosphonate or denosumab usage was excluded, a similar significant difference was observed in the fracture healing time (
P
< 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups among patients with incomplete AFFs.
Conclusions
Daily teriparatide injections enhance bone union more than weekly injections in complete AFF patients.
Please cite this paper as: Masuyama H, Segawa T, Sumida Y, Masumoto A, Inoue S, Akahori Y, Hiramatsu Y. Different profiles of circulating angiogenic factors and adipocytokines between early‐ and ...late‐onset pre‐eclampsia. BJOG 2010;117:314–320.
Objective Circulating angiogenic factors have been shown to be important in the pathophysiology of pre‐eclampsia. Blood levels of adipocytokines differ in pre‐eclampsia relative to controls and may also play an important role in disease pathogenesis. Differences in the circulating levels of these molecules were compared between matched normotensive controls and women with pre‐eclampsia with onset before or at/after 32 weeks, and according to whether the women were of normal weight (18.5 < body mass index < 25) or overweight.
Design A cross‐sectional study of 110 pregnant Japanese women who visited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan.
Setting Tertiary referral centre serving 2000 births.
Methods Serum concentrations of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt‐1), placental growth factor (PlGF), soluble endoglin (sEng), adiponectin and leptin were measured in women with pre‐eclampsia and in normotensive controls matched for age, gestational week, parity and body mass index.
Main outcome measures Serum levels of sFlt‐1, PlGF, the sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio, sEng, adiponectin and leptin.
Results The sFlt‐1/PlGF ratio in early‐onset pre‐eclampsia was significantly higher than that in late‐onset pre‐eclampsia (112.0 ± 30.2 versus 45.4 ± 43.8, P = 0.037). There was a significant elevation of leptin in both subtypes relative to controls (early: 58.6 ± 18.3 ng/ml versus 26.0 ± 6.7 ng/ml, P = 0.001; late: 39.5 ± 9.2 ng/ml versus 22.0 ± 4.3 ng/ml, P = 0.005), but adiponectin was increased only in late‐onset pre‐eclampsia (36.5 ± 13.4 μg/ml versus 12.0 ± 4.3 μg/ml, P = 0.003). Significant differences in angiogenic factors and adiponectin were found between normal and overweight women only in late‐onset pre‐eclampsia.
Conclusions These data suggest that there are different profiles of angiogenic factors and adipocytokines between women who develop early‐ and late‐onset pre‐eclampsia.
Hinode Flare Catalogue Watanabe, K.; Masuda, S.; Segawa, T.
Solar physics,
07/2012, Letnik:
279, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We describe a catalogue of solar flares observed by the three instruments (SOT, XRT, EIS) onboard the
Hinode
satellite. From the launch of the
Hinode
satellite in September 2006 until late 2011, ...about 5000 solar flares (larger than A-class in the GOES classification) occurred during the five-year period of
Hinode
observations, and more than half of them were captured by the
Hinode
telescopes. Observation information for RHESSI and Nobeyama Radioheliograph are also included in the catalogue. This catalogue is distributed to users through the Internet. It will be useful and helpful for scientists in surveying flares to be analyzed, facilitate access to
Hinode
data, and help advance data analysis activities among the world solar community.
PDF
