Nucleus ^{26}O: A Barely Unbound System beyond the Drip Line

The unbound nucleus ^{26}O has been investigated using invariant-mass spectroscopy following one-proton removal reaction from a ^{27}F beam at 201  MeV/nucleon. The decay products, ^{24}O and two neutrons, were detected in coincidence using the newly commissioned SAMURAI spectrometer at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. The ^{26}O ground-state resonance was found to lie only 18±3(stat)±4(syst)  keV above threshold. In addition, a higher lying level, which is most likely the first 2^{+} state, was observed for the first time at 1.28_{-0.08}^{+0.11}  MeV above threshold. Comparison with theoretical predictions suggests that three-nucleon forces, pf-shell intruder configurations, and the continuum are key elements to understanding the structure of the most neutron-rich oxygen isotopes beyond the drip line.

Electrospray droplet impact secondary ion mass spectrometry using a vacuum electrospray source

RATIONALE

In electrospray droplet impact (EDI) developed in our laboratory, an atmospheric pressure electrospray source has been used. To increase the ion beam intensity and reduce the evacuation load, a vacuum electrospray cluster ion source using a silica capillary was developed.

METHODS

A silica capillary with a tip inner diameter of 8 µm was used for vacuum electrospray using aqueous 10% methanol. To stabilize the flow rate of the liquid for nano-electrospray, a home-made constant pressure liquid pump was also developed.

RESULTS

By using the silica tip nano-electrospray emitter and a constant pressure pump, stable electrospray with flow rate of 22 nL/min was realized without using any heating system such as laser irradiation. Comparative study of mass spectra obtained by atmospheric pressure EDI (A-EDI) and vacuum EDI (V-EDI) was made for various samples such as thermometer molecule, peptide, polystyrene, Alq(3), NPD, C(60), indium, and SiO(2). V-EDI showed slightly milder ionization than A-EDI.

CONCLUSIONS

Because V-EDI gave higher target current (5-10 nA) than A-EDI (a few nA at most), V-EDI secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) would be a useful technique for the surface and interface analysis.

Features of the Japanese national dementia strategy in comparison with international dementia policies: How should a national dementia policy interact with the public health- and social-care systems?

BACKGROUND

The Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of the Japanese national government announced a "Five-Year Plan for Promotion of Measures Against Dementia (Orange Plan)" in September 2012. This article described features of the Japanese dementia strategy in comparison with international dementia policies.

METHODS

An international comparative study was implemented on national dementia policies to seek suggestions for Japanese national strategy. The study consisted of a bibliographical survey, a field survey, and an online case vignette survey in several countries.

RESULTS

The Japanese health- and social-care system had multiple access points in the dementia care pathway, as did Australia, France, South Korea, and the Netherlands. Contrary to Japan, a simplified access point was observed in Denmark, England, and Sweden. The Orange Plan aimed to establish specific health-care services, social-care services, and the coordination of agencies for persons with dementia. However, fragmentation remains in the dementia care pathway.

CONCLUSION

The national government should examine fundamental revisions in health, social-care services, and advocacy in joint initiatives with Alzheimer's Association Japan to improve the national dementia strategy.

Community-based system, reports, and substantiated cases of elder abuse: disparities between municipalities and relating factors in Japan

This study examines (1) the staffing and financial characteristics of systems for elder abuse detection and intervention in the municipal governments of Japan and (2) the relationship among the development of detection and intervention systems, the reporting rates of suspected elder abuse cases, and substantiated abuse rates in 927 municipalities across Japan. Progressive systems for the detection and intervention of elder abuse were significantly associated with a larger number of public officers than in non-progressive systems. Furthermore, greater rates of both suspected and substantiated cases of abuse were associated with progressive systems for elder abuse detection and intervention. Per capita annual expenditures on the comprehensive support project and the community general support center's catchment under the Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) program showed no significant association with the development of systems, the rate of suspected cases, or the number of substantiated cases. National social policy makers should examine strategies that would help municipalities assign sufficient staff to elder abuse detection and intervention programs.

Characterization of putative toxin/antitoxin systems in Vibrio parahaemolyticus

AIM

To obtain more information about the toxin/antitoxin (TA) systems in the Vibrio genus and also to examine their involvement in the induction of a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state, we searched homologues of the Escherichia coli TA systems in the Vibrio parahaemolyticus genome.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We found that a gene cluster, vp1842/vp1843, in the V. parahaemolyticus genome database has homology to that encoding the E. coli TA proteins, DinJ/YafQ. Expression of the putative toxin gene vp1843 in E. coli cells strongly inhibited the cell growth, while coexpression with the putative antitoxin gene vp1842 neutralized this effect. Mutational analysis identified Lys37 and Pro45 in the gene product VP1843 of vp1843 as crucial residues for the growth retardation of E. coli cells. VP1843, unlike the E. coli toxin YafQ, has no protein synthesis inhibitory activity, and that instead the expression of vp1843 in E. coli caused morphological change of the cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The gene cluster vp1842/vp1843 encodes the V. parahaemolyticus TA system; VP1843 inhibits cell growth, whereas VP1842 serves as an antitoxin by forming a stable complex with VP1843.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The putative toxin, VP1843, may be involved in the induction of the VBNC state in V. parahaemolyticus by inhibiting cell division.

Prediction of oral appliance treatment outcome in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: a preliminary study

OBJECTIVE

Predictors of treatment outcome of oral appliances (OAs) in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) are not known. There is a pressing need for simple, clinically useful tools to predict treatment outcome. This study aimed to identify predictors of successful OA therapy for OSAS, including evaluation of pharyngeal morphology, which can be measured during routine examination by an otorhinolaryngologist.

METHODOLOGY

This was a prospective study of 26 OSAS patients treated with OAs. A favourable outcome was obtained in 14 patients (responders) but not in 12 patients (nonresponders). The baseline patient characteristics and polysomnography and rhinopharyngeal findings were analysed.

RESULTS

Body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower in responders versus nonresponders (23.6 ± 2.8 vs. 27.9 ± 4.7 kg/m2; p < 0.05). Pharyngeal morphology, age, sex and nasal resistance did not differ between the groups. Multiple regression analysis showed that BMI was a significant predictor of improvement in the apnoea/hypopnoea index after OA treatment (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Here we demonstrated that BMI is a favourable predictor of OA treatment outcome in OSAS patients. Among the OSAS patients, responders had wider retroglossal spaces than nonresponders.