Denka (Japan)

Abstract Satellites charge up due to incoming electrons and ions, resulting in an electrical potential difference (Δ V ) between the satellite and outer space. This can cause electrostatic discharge (ESD) events, damaging electronic devices. To reduce failures due to ESD, sensors monitoring the Δ V can be helpful. Due to spacecraft’s restrictions, the sensors should be as small as possible. While small potential sensors in terrestrial applications are often based on electrical conduction in semiconductors, such sensors are not suitable for space application due to a weak resistance to cosmic radiation and ESD. Here, we report a compact sensor based on another sensing method: the utilization of light absorption in a silicon photonic waveguide. We performed experiments in a vacuum chamber simulating the space plasma environment to demonstrate that the light attenuation in the waveguide is depends on the Δ V . Our results further indicate that our sensor exhibits a high resistance to ESD.

Language learning is daunting for many learners particularly when they do not have the appropriate exposure to the target language and culture. For some learners, they mistakenly believe that they can get by in life by just mastering a few common phrases. However, this is unwise. In the workplace, it is necessary to be highly proficient in a language especially English and Mandarin as the latter is found to emerge as an important language as China is fast emerging as one of the world's major superpowers. This study focuses on language learning and the way gamification and artificial intelligence (AI) enhance motivation and engagement of the language learners. This study focuses on library research which involves a systematic examination of the relevant literature related to language learning, gamification and AI. This study will discuss the advantages, drawbacks and the future of AI and gamification in language learning. The findings revealed that AI and gamification have a positive influence on language learning particularly on student engagement and motivation. Nevertheless, there are certain challenges of AI and gamification to the language learners.

I established Kaska Dena Designs to reflect my First Nation and where I was raised.

Abstract Background It remains unclear which is more important for long-term secondary prevention of coronary artery disease (CAD), the glycemic control represented by the glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level or predominance of small dense LDL (sdLDL) that is a feature of diabetic dyslipidemia. Purpose This study was aimed to investigate how sdLDL cholesterol (sdLDL-C) and poor diabetic management could predict long-term CAD events in patients with stable CAD. Methods sdLDL-C measured using homogenous assay were evaluated in 744 male and 230 female patients with stable CAD who did not need urgent coronary revascularization. CAD events defined as sudden cardiac death, onset of acute coronary syndrome, and/or need for coronary revascularization were monitored for 12 years. According to receiver operating characteristic curves for CAD events, the most and the second most predictors were HbA1c and sdLDL-C, respectively. Cut-points of sdLDL-C were 32.1 mg/dL. Patients were classified into four groups based on HbA1c levels of 7.0% and sdLDL-C. Multivariable hazards model was used to examine the relationship between high HbA1c and high sdLDL-C for incident risk of CAD. Results HbA1c levels in 50% of 407 diabetic patients were above 6.9%. The first CAD events were observed in 238 male and 67 female patients. The Kaplan–Meier event-free survival curves showed that patients with either sdLDL-C ≥32.1 mg/dL or HbA1c ≥7.0% had an increased risk for CAD events. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were 1.901, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.261-2.866 in patients with both high sdLDL-C and high HbA1c, These results were somewhat potentiated in 654 patients treated with lipid-lowering agents (HR 2.321, 95%CI 1.414-3.809 in patients with both high HbA1c and high sdLDL-C). Conclusions Combination of non-optimal diabetic control and high levels of sdLDL-C can predict long-term recurrence of CAD in stable CAD patients independently of other coronary risk factors.

Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are the cornerstone of modern antiretroviral therapy (ART), achieving durable plasma HIV-1 suppression in most people living with HIV (PLWH). Previous comparisons of INSTI- and non-INSTI-based regimens have largely focused on HIV reservoir proviral assessments— typically total HIV DNA —without assessing reservoir activity. In this first functional comparison, we measured cell-associated (CA) short HIV-1 RNA transcripts, a marker of active transcription, alongside HIV-1 DNA in white blood cells from 92 virally suppressed individuals on INSTI-based (n = 73) or non-INSTI-based (n = 19) ART. CA short RNA transcripts were detected in all participants and HIV-1 DNA in 99 %, despite undetectable plasma viremia in >93 %. Individuals with prior “blips” — defined as a maximum of two episodes with 20–200 copies/mL plasma HIV-1 RNA over more than two years — had significantly higher CA RNA and HIV DNA than non-blip participants, confirming our previous findings. However, reservoir size and transcriptional activity did not differ significantly between INSTI and non-INSTI groups. These findings indicate that while INSTIs effectively block new integration events, they do not suppress ongoing transcription from the latent reservoir. Therapeutic strategies directly targeting HIV transcription should therefore be prioritized in cure-oriented research for PLWH on long-term suppressive ART.

ABSTRACT The recent discovery of autoantibodies against slit diaphragm proteins in idiopathic podocytopathies suggest an etiology of podocyte-directed autoimmunity. However, the immune mechanisms underlying the heterogeneity in disease phenotypes remain unknown. By examining the autoantibody and B cell profiles of children and adults with idiopathic podocytopathies, we identify anti-CRB2 as a prevalent autoantibody across disease phenotypes, with preferential accumulation in adults. Anti-CRB2 can occur alongside anti-Nephrin in humans, and mouse models showing epitope spreading as a potential mechanism for their emergence. In children, both autoantibodies correlated with T-bet+ CD21low atypical B cell expansion in blood. In adults, elevated frequencies of classical memory B cells indicated a greater degree of B cell dysregulation than in children. Further profiling in children revealed a broadly dysregulated B cell pool poised for activation and the preferential accumulation of VH4-39+ B cell clonotypes within the repertoire. These findings provide rationale for the heterogeneity in idiopathic podocytopathies and highlights the importance of identifying biomarkers for advancing care.

De novo protein design is of fundamental interest to synthetic biology, with a plethora of computational methods of various degrees of generality developed in recent years. Here, we introduce AlphaDesign, a hallucination-based computational framework for de novo protein design developed with maximum generality and usability in mind, which combines AlphaFold with autoregressive diffusion models to enable rapid generation and computational validation of proteins with controllable interactions, conformations and oligomeric state without the requirement for class-dependent model re-training or fine-tuning. We apply our framework to design and systematically validate in vivo active inhibitors of a family of bacterial phage defense systems with toxic effectors called retrons, paving the way towards efficient, rational design of novel proteins as biologics.

生石灰に表面炭酸化処理を施した膨張材をモルタルに混和し、長さ変化、圧縮強度の測定と膨張材単体の水和速度を評価した。モルタルの膨張率は、CaCO3（CC）含有率を一定とし、生石灰の粉末度を変えた場合、粉末度が小さいほど材齢1日の膨張量が減り、材齢7日の膨張量は増加した。生石灰の粉末度を一定とし、CC含有率を変化させた場合、材齢1日の膨張量は、CCの含有率の増加に伴い低下する傾向が観察された一方、それ以降の膨張量は増加した。これらの現象は炭酸化処理によって生石灰の表層にCCが生成し、水和反応を遅らせた事によると考察した。

Tujuan : penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis faktor yang berhubungan dengan keberhasilan pengobatan TB Paru di Puskesmas Bangkala Kota Makassar. Metodologi : desain penelitian ini adalah analisis korelasional dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan pada tanggal 25 Mei – 20 Juli 2024 dengan jumlah sampel sebanyak 41 responden dengan menggunakan purposive sampling. Instrumen yang digunakan adalah kuesioner. Hasil Penelitian : Hasil Uji Chi-Square menunjukkan bahwa ada hubungan faktor kepatuhan minum obat dengan keberhasilan pengobatan TB Paru dengan p-value 0,000. Tidak Ada hubungan faktor PMO dengan keberhasilan pengobatan TB Paru dengan p-value 0,708. Tidak Ada hubungan faktor ketersediaan obat dengan keberhasilan pengobatan TB Paru dengan p-value 0,708.