X-ray Measurements of the Particle Acceleration Properties at Inward Shocks in Cassiopeia A

We present new evidence that the bright non-thermal X-ray emission features in the interior of the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant (SNR) are caused by inward moving shocks based on Chandra and NuSTAR observations. Several bright inward-moving filaments were identified using monitoring data taken by Chandra in 2000-2014. These inward-moving shock locations are nearly coincident with hard X-ray (15-40 keV) hot spots seen by NuSTAR. From proper motion measurements, the transverse velocities were estimated to be in the range $\sim$2,100-3,800 km s$^{-1}$ for a distance of 3.4 kpc. The shock velocities in the frame of the expanding ejecta reach values of $\sim$5,100-8,700 km s$^{-1}$, slightly higher than the typical speed of the forward shock. Additionally, we find flux variations (both increasing and decreasing) on timescales of a few years in some of the inward-moving shock filaments. The rapid variability timescales are consistent with an amplified magnetic field of $B \sim$ 0.5-1 mG. The high speed and low photon cut-off energy of the inward-moving shocks are shown to imply a particle diffusion coefficient that departs from the Bohm regime ($k_0 = D_0/D_{\rm 0,Bohm} \sim$ 3-8) for the few simple physical configurations we consider in this study. The maximum electron energy at these shocks is estimated to be $\sim$8-11 TeV, smaller than the values of $\sim$15-34 TeV inferred for the forward shock. Cassiopeia A is dynamically too young for its reverse shock to appear to be moving inward in the observer frame. We propose instead that the inward-moving shocks are a consequence of the forward shock encountering a density jump of $\gtrsim$ 5-8 in the surrounding material.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Study of hadron interactions in a lead-emulsion target

Topological and kinematical characteristics of hadron interactions have been studied using a lead-emulsion target exposed to 2, 4 and 10 GeV/c hadron beams. A total length of 60 m $\pi^-$ tracks was followed using a high speed automated emulsion scanning system. A total of 318 hadron interaction vertices and their secondary charged particle tracks were reconstructed. Measurement results of interaction lengths, charged particle multiplicity, emission angles and momenta of secondary charged particles are compared with a Monte Carlo simulation and appear to be consistent. Nuclear fragments emitted from interaction vertices were also detected by a newly developed emulsion scanning system with wide-angle acceptance. Their emission angle distributions are in good agreement with the simulated distributions. Probabilities of an event being associated with at least one fragment track are found to be greater than 50% for beam momentum $P > 4$ GeV/c and are well reproduced by the simulation. These experimental results validate estimation of the background due to hadron interactions in the sample of $\tau$ decay candidates in the OPERA $\nu_{\mu} \to \nu_{\tau}$ oscillation experiment.Comment: 14 pages, 11 figure

Perceived Function: An Investigation into a Product Advantage between Aesthetics and Function

This study involved an empirical comparison of product competitiveness driven by aesthetic and technological innovations in a mature market. This study began with a theoretical idea that users may perceive and evaluate technology development through the visible form of a product. Statistical analyses of user reviews of digital cameras showed that the impact of technology development on competitiveness was greater than that of aesthetic changes. The results demonstrated that users did not leverage product appearance for the recognition of technology development. Moreover, the findings show that specification information had a greater influence on product advantage when users did not visually perceive technological improvement. These results may indicate that manufacturers have not yet fully exploited product design for maximising product advantage in the mature market

Ectopic Cilia: A Histopathological Study

Cilia are normally found at the eyelid margin, while ectopic cilia are one or more lash follicles appearing in an abnormal position within the eyelid. We herein report two cases of cilia located in the palpebral conjunctiva. A 31-year-old female and a 46-year-old male presented with ectopic cilia in the superior palpebral conjunctiva. Histopathological study of the excised ectopic cilia and related lesions showed the cilia-related lesion to be located in the epithelial pit that contains goblet cells, which is consistent with the crypts of Henle. The hair follicle was surrounded by granulation tissue, while a dermal papilla and a hair matrix, which are known to produce hair follicles, did not exist in the excised tissue. While anterior ectopic cilia are congenital, ectopic cilia in the palpebral conjunctiva may be acquired, and these aberrant cilia are associated with crypts of Henle and chronic inflammation

Simple generation of hairless mice for in vivo imaging

The in vivo imaging of mice makes it possible to analyze disease progress non-invasively through reporter gene expression. As the removal of hair improves the accuracy of in vivo imaging, gene-modified mice with a reporter gene are often crossed with Hos:HR-1 mutant mice homozygous for the spontaneous Hrhr mutation that exhibit a hair loss phenotype. However, it is time consuming to produce mice carrying both the reporter gene and mutant Hrhr gene by mating. In addition, there is a risk that genetic background of the gene-modified mice would be altered by mating. To resolve these issues, we established a simple method to generate hairless mice maintaining the original genetic background by CRISPR technology. First, we constructed the pX330 vector, which targets exon 3 of Hr. This DNA vector (5 ng/µl) was microinjected into the pronuclei of C57BL/6J mice. Induced Hr gene mutations were found in many founders (76.1%) and these mutations were heritable. Next, we performed in vivo imaging using these gene-modified hairless mice. As expected, luminescent objects in their body were detected by in vivo imaging. This study clearly showed that hairless mice could be simply generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and this method may be useful for in vivo imaging studies with various gene-modified mice

The ground state of Sr3Ru2O7 revisited; Fermi liquid close to a ferromagnetic instability

We show that single-crystalline Sr3Ru2O7 grown by a floating-zone technique is an isotropic paramagnet and a quasi-two dimensional metal as spin-triplet superconducting Sr2RuO4 is. The ground state is Fermi liquid with very low residual resistivity (3 micro ohm cm for in-plane currents) and a nearly ferromagnetic metal with the largest Wilson ratio Rw>10 among paramagnets so far. This contrasts with the ferromagnetic order at Tc=104 K reported on single crystals grown by a flux method [Cao et al., Phys. Rev. B 55, R672 (1997)]. We have also found a dramatic changeover from paramagnetism to ferromagnetism under applied pressure. This suggests the existence of a substantial ferromagnetic instability on the verge of a quantum phase transition in the Fermi liquid state.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. B : Rapid co

The atypical E2F transcription factor DEL1 modulates growth-defense tradeofs of host plants during root-knot nematode infection

In plants, growth–defense tradeofs are essential for optimizing plant performance and adaptation under stress conditions, such as pathogen attack. Root-knot nematodes (RKNs) cause severe economic losses in many crops worldwide, although little is known about the mechanisms that control plant growth and defense responses during nematode attack. Upon investigation of Arabidopsis thaliana infected with RKN (Meloidogyne incognita), we observed that the atypical transcription factor DP-E2F-like 1 (DEL1) repressed salicylic acid (SA) accumulation in RKN-induced galls. The DEL1-defcient Arabidopsis mutant (del1-1) exhibited excessive SA accumulation in galls and is more resistant to RKN infection. In addition, excessive lignifcation was observed in galls of del1-1. On the other hand, the root growth of del1-1 is reduced after RKN infection. Taken together, these fndings suggest that DEL1 plays an important role in the balance between plant growth and defense responses to RKN infection by controlling SA accumulation and lignifcation.http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_650

Z-shaped incision without epithelial resection in pterygium surgery

AIM: To introduce a novel surgical technique using a Z-shaped incision without epithelial resection in ophthalmic pterygia. METHODS: This was a prospective study. During pterygium surgery, all proliferative tissues were separated from the cornea and conjunctiva without resection of the tissues. The unaffected conjunctiva was incised in a Z-shape. The upper (or lower) conjunctival flap was sutured to the lower (or upper) normal conjunctiva on the limbal sclera, while the proliferative tissue was sutured to the upper conjunctiva (or lower) near the fornix. RESULTS: Ten patients with pterygia were eligible for this study. Eight patients with primary pterygia and 2 with recurrent pterygia were included. The age of patients at surgery ranged from 47 to 90y (average: 71.9y). Five patients each showed right and left-sided pterygia. The postoperative follow-up periods were from 8 to 78mo (average: 25.0mo). The surgery was successfully conducted and wounds were favorably reconstructed in all patients. The proliferative tissues sutured to the normal conjunctiva showed palor and attenuated neovessles, and never showed re-growth after surgery. Nine patients did not show recerrence. Recerrent pterygium was noted in 1 patient, but additional treatments were not required. CONCLUSION: The procedure involves the reconstruction of pterygial tissue and normal conjunctiva using a Z-shaped incision. The scleral limbal wound can be covered with non-affected conjunctiva without any excision of conjunctival epithelia in patients with primary or recurrent pterygia

Diffuse infiltrating retinoblastoma invading subarachnoid space

We report herein an unusual case of diffuse infiltrating retinoblastoma involving the brain, which caused a patient’s death 27 months after enucleation. An eight-year-old boy complained of blurred vision in his right eye (OD) in October 2006. Funduscopic examination showed optic disc swelling, dense whitish vitreous opacity, and an orange-colored subretinal elevated lesion adjacent to the optic disc. Fluorescein angiography revealed hyperfluorescence in the peripapillary region at an early-phase OD. Because the size of the subretinal lesion and vitreous opacity gradually increased, he was referred to us. His visual acuity was 20/1000 OD on June 20, 2007. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy showed a dense anterior vitreous opacity. Ophthalmoscopically, the subretinal orange-colored area spread out until reaching the mid peripheral region. A B-mode sonogram and computed tomography showed a thick homogeneous lesion without calcification. Gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging showed a markedly enhanced appearance of the underlying posterior retina. Enucleation of the right eye was performed nine months after the initial presentation. Histopathology demonstrated retinal detachment and a huge choroidal mass invading the optic nerve head. The tumor was consistent with diffuse infiltrating retinoblastoma. The patient died due to brain involvement 27 months after enucleation. Ophthalmologists should be aware that diffuse infiltrating retinoblastoma may show an unfavorable course if its diagnosis is delayed

The ASTRO-H X-ray Observatory

The joint JAXA/NASA ASTRO-H mission is the sixth in a series of highly successful X-ray missions initiated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). ASTRO-H will investigate the physics of the high-energy universe via a suite of four instruments, covering a very wide energy range, from 0.3 keV to 600 keV. These instruments include a high-resolution, high-throughput spectrometer sensitive over 0.3-2 keV with high spectral resolution of Delta E < 7 eV, enabled by a micro-calorimeter array located in the focal plane of thin-foil X-ray optics; hard X-ray imaging spectrometers covering 5-80 keV, located in the focal plane of multilayer-coated, focusing hard X-ray mirrors; a wide-field imaging spectrometer sensitive over 0.4-12 keV, with an X-ray CCD camera in the focal plane of a soft X-ray telescope; and a non-focusing Compton-camera type soft gamma-ray detector, sensitive in the 40-600 keV band. The simultaneous broad bandpass, coupled with high spectral resolution, will enable the pursuit of a wide variety of important science themes.Comment: 22 pages, 17 figures, Proceedings of the SPIE Astronomical Instrumentation "Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray