Construction and commissioning of mid-infrared self-amplified spontaneous emission free-electron laser at compact energy recovery linac.

The mid-infrared range is an important spectrum range where materials exhibit a characteristic response corresponding to their molecular structure. A free-electron laser (FEL) is a promising candidate for a high-power light source with wavelength tunability to investigate the nonlinear response of materials. Although the self-amplification spontaneous emission (SASE) scheme is not usually adopted in the mid-infrared wavelength range, it may have advantages such as layout simplicity, the possibility of producing a single pulse, and scalability to a short-wavelength facility.

Deconvolution of multi-Boltzmann x-ray distribution from linear absorption spectrometer via analytical parameter reduction.

Accurate characterization of incident radiation is a fundamental challenge for diagnostic design. Herein, we present an efficient spectral analysis routine that is able to characterize multiple components within the spectral emission by analytically reducing the number of parameters. The technique is presented alongside the design of a hard x-ray linear absorption spectrometer using the example of multiple Boltzmann-like spectral distributions; however, it is generally applicable to all absorption based spectrometer designs and can be adapted to any incident spectral shape.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Correlations between fluid biomarkers of NfL, TDP-43, and tau, and clinical characteristics.

Objectives: We previously reported the diagnostic and prognostic performance of neurofilament light chain (NfL), TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), and total tau (t-tau) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) biomarkers. The present study aimed to elucidate associations between clinical characteristics and the markers as well as mutual associations of the markers in ALS patients using the same dataset.

Methods: NfL, TDP-43, and t-tau levels in CSF and plasma in 75 ALS patients were analyzed.

A design of forceps-type coincidence radiation detector for intraoperative LN diagnosis: clinical impact estimated from LNs data of 20 esophageal cancer patients.

Purpose: To reduce postoperative complications, intraoperative lymph node (LN) diagnosis with F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) is expected to optimize the extent of LN dissection, leading to less invasive surgery. However, such a diagnostic device has not yet been realized. We proposed the concept of coincidence detection wherein a pair of scintillation crystals formed the head of the forceps.

The natural sulfoglycolipid derivative SQAP improves the therapeutic efficacy of tissue factor-targeted radioimmunotherapy in the stroma-rich pancreatic cancer model BxPC-3.

α-Sulfoquinovosylacyl-1,3-propanediol (SQAP) is a semi-synthetic derivative of natural sulfoglycolipid that sensitizes tumors to external-beam radiotherapy. How SQAP affects internal radiotherapy, however, is not known. Here, we investigated the effects of SQAP for radioimmunotherapy (RIT) targeting tissue factor (TF) in a stroma-rich refractory pancreatic cancer mouse model, BxPC-3.

Particle therapy using protons or carbon ions for cancer patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED): a retrospective multi-institutional study.

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of particle therapy in cancer patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs).

Materials And Methods: From April 2001 to March 2013, 19,585 patients were treated with proton beam therapy (PBT) or carbon ion therapy (CIT) at 8 institutions. Of these, 69 patients (0.

PARP Inhibitors in Combination with Radiotherapy: To Do or Not to Do?

Background: Despite the large use of inhibitors of Poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP-I), the feasibility and safety of their combination with radiotherapy (RT) is unclear.

Aim: We conducted a literature analysis with the aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of a combination with RT and PARP-I.

Method: The key issues for the current review were expressed in two questions according to the Population, Intervention, Control, Outcome (PICO) criteria: 1.

Dirac semimetal phase and switching of band inversion in XMgBi (X = Ba and Sr).

Topological Dirac semimetals (TDSs) offer an excellent opportunity to realize outstanding physical properties distinct from those of topological insulators. Since TDSs verified so far have their own problems such as high reactivity in the atmosphere and difficulty in controlling topological phases via chemical substitution, it is highly desirable to find a new material platform of TDSs. By angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy combined with first-principles band-structure calculations, we show that ternary compound BaMgBi is a TDS with a simple Dirac-band crossing around the Brillouin-zone center protected by the C symmetry of crystal.

Birth order and prosociality in the early adolescent brain.

Birth order is a crucial environmental factor for child development. For example, later-born children are relatively unlikely to feel secure due to sibling competition or diluted parental resources. The positive effect of being earlier-born on cognitive intelligence is well-established.

An Enriched Environment Alters DNA Repair and Inflammatory Responses After Radiation Exposure.

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident, there is growing concern about radiation-induced carcinogenesis. In addition, living in a long-term shelter or temporary housing due to disasters might cause unpleasant stress, which adversely affects physical and mental health. It's been experimentally demonstrated that "eustress", which is rich and comfortable, has beneficial effects for health using mouse models.

Th Balance-Related Host Genetic Background Affects the Therapeutic Effects of Combining Carbon-Ion Radiation Therapy With Dendritic Cell Immunotherapy.

Purpose: The goal of this study is to clarify the underlying mechanisms of metastasis suppression by carbon-ion radiotherapy combined with immature dendritic cell immunotherapy (CiDC), which was shown previously to suppress pulmonary metastasis in an NR-S1-bearing C3H/He mouse model.

Methods And Materials: Mouse carcinoma cell lines (LLC, LM8, Colon-26, and Colon-26MGS) were grafted into the right hind paw of syngeneic mice (C57BL/6J, C3H/He, and BALB/c). Seven days later, the tumors on the mice were locally irradiated with carbon ions (290 MeV/n, 6 cm spread-out Bragg peak, 1 or 2 Gy).

Tbx1, a gene encoded in 22q11.2 copy number variant, is a link between alterations in fimbria myelination and cognitive speed in mice.

Copy number variants (CNVs) have provided a reliable entry point to identify the structural correlates of atypical cognitive development. Hemizygous deletion of human chromosome 22q11.2 is associated with impaired cognitive function; however, the mechanisms by which the CNVs contribute to cognitive deficits via diverse structural alterations in the brain remain unclear.

Hypofractionated Proton Beam Therapy for cT1-2N0M0 Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients With Interstitial Lung Disease.

Background/aim: To evaluate the outcomes of proton beam therapy (PBT) for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Patients And Methods: Between 2002 and 2017, 110 patients receiving hypofractionated PBT for cT1-2N0M0 NSCLC were reviewed.

Results: Of the 110 patients, 17 were diagnosed with ILD.

Neopentyl Glycol as a Scaffold to Provide Radiohalogenated Theranostic Pairs of High Stability.

The high stability of 2,2-dihydroxymethyl-3-[F]fluoropropyl-2-nitroimidazole ([F]DiFA) prompted us to evaluate neopentyl as a scaffold to prepare a radiotheranostic system with radioiodine and astatine. Three DiFA analogues with one, two, or without a hydroxyl group were synthesized. While all I-labeled compounds remained stable against nucleophilic substitution, only a I-labeled neopentyl glycol was stable against cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated metabolism and showed high stability against deiodination.

High-density magnetic-vacancy inclusion in CoMnGa single crystal probed by spin-polarized positron annihilation spectroscopy.

CoMnGa is a Weyl semimetal exhibiting giant anomalous Hall and Nernst effects. Using spin-polarized positron annihilation spectroscopy, we examined a Bridgman-grown CoMnGa single crystal with a nearly perfect2-ordered structure and a reference CoMnAl polycrystal with a Mn-Al-disordered2 structure. We found that a large amount of magnetic vacancies (more than 100 ppm) were included in the CoMnGa crystal but not the CoMnAl crystal.

The potential for reducing alcohol consumption to prevent esophageal cancer morbidity in Asian heavy drinkers: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for esophageal cancer. In Asia, heavy drinkers are considered to have a higher risk of esophageal cancer than nondrinkers and light drinkers. However, no study has shown an association between alcohol reduction and the morbidity of esophageal cancer in Asian heavy drinkers.

Applicability of composite materials for space radiation shielding of spacecraft.

Energetic ion beam experiments with major space radiation elements, H, He, O, Si and Fe, have been conducted to investigate the radiation shielding properties of composite materials. These materials are expected to be used for parts and fixtures of space vehicles due to both their mechanical strength and their space radiation shielding capabilities. Low Z materials containing hydrogen are effective for shielding protons and heavy ions due to their high stopping power and large fragmentation cross section per unit mass.

Preclinical Evaluation of Podoplanin-Targeted Alpha-Radioimmunotherapy with the Novel Antibody NZ-16 for Malignant Mesothelioma.

Unlabelled: The prognosis of advanced mesothelioma is poor. Podoplanin (PDPN) is highly expressed in most malignant mesothelioma. This study aimed to evaluate the potential alpha-radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with a newly developed anti-PDPN antibody, NZ-16, compared with a previous antibody, NZ-12.

Evaluation of Aminopolycarboxylate Chelators for Whole-Body Clearance of Free Ac: A Feasibility Study to Reduce Unexpected Radiation Exposure during Targeted Alpha Therapy.

Actinium-225 (Ac) is a promising radionuclide used in targeted alpha therapy (TAT). Although Ac labeling of bifunctional chelating ligands is effective, previous in vivo studies reported that free Ac can be released from the drugs and that such free Ac is predominantly accumulated in the liver and could cause unexpected toxicity. To accelerate the clinical development of Ac TAT with a variety of drugs, preparing methods to deal with any unexpected toxicity would be valuable.

Tensile Properties and Damping Capacity of Cold-Rolled Fe-20Mn-12Cr-3Ni-3Si Damping Alloy.

The tensile properties and damping capacity of cold-rolled Fe-20Mn-12Cr-3Ni-3Si alloys were investigated. The martensitic transformation was identified, including surface relief with a specific orientation and partial intersection. Besides, as the cold rolling degree increased, the volume fraction of ε-martensite increased, whereas α'-martensite started to form at the cold rolling degree of 15% and slightly increased to 6% at the maximum cold rolling degree.

Evaluation of Cu-Labeled New Anti-EGFR Antibody NCAB001 with Intraperitoneal Injection for Early PET Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer in Orthotopic Tumor-Xenografted Mice and Nonhuman Primates.

Objectives: To improve the prognosis of pancreatic cancer, new imaging methods to identify tumor lesions at a size of <1 cm are urgently needed. To approach this clinical issue, we developed a new method to detect small tumor lesions in the pancreas (≥3 mm) by positron emission tomography (PET) using an intraperitoneally (ip)-administered Cu-labeled new anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibody (encoded as NCAB001), called Cu-NCAB001 ipPET.

Methods: NCAB001 was manufactured under cGMP conditions and labeled with Cu.

How do protein domains of low sequence complexity work?

This review covers research findings reported over the past decade concerning the ability of low complexity (LC) domains to self-associate in a manner leading to their phase separation from aqueous solution. We focus our message upon the reductionist use of two forms of phase separation as biochemical assays to study how LC domains might function in living cells. Cells and their varied compartments represent extreme examples of material condensates.