The effect of several vitamin K homologs on plasma vitamin K concentration was determined to assess their potential as a vitamin K supplement for adult horses. Sixteen Thoroughbred horses consisting of 8 mares and 8 geldings, aged 8.4 ± 3.6 yr and weighing 520.8 ± 36.1 kg, were allocated to 4 groups (n = 4). Each group was given phylloquinone, menaquinone-4, or menadione at 58 µmol/d, or no vitamin K supplement for 7 d. Plasma samples were collected before feeding, and 2, 4, and 8 h after feeding on d 7, and plasma concentrations of phylloquinone and menaquinone-4 were determined. Plasma phylloquinone concentration was greater in the phylloquinone group than in the other groups (P < 0.001). The phylloquinone concentration quadratically increased (P < 0.001) after feeding in the phylloquinone group but no changes in the plasma phylloquinone concentration were observed after feeding in the other groups. Plasma menaquinone-4 concentration was greater (P < 0.001) in the menadione group than the other groups, including the menaquinone-4 group. Menaquinone-4 concentration did not change (P = 0.192) after feeding in each group. Menaquinone-4 has been considered the most potent vitamin K homolog for bone metabolism; therefore, the present experiment indicates that menadione is a good source of vitamin K for bone health in horses because it is the only vitamin K homolog that increased the plasma concentrations of menaquinone-4.

Menadione

Vitamin K2

Blood plasma

10.2527/jas.2009-2759

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Dimethyl sulfoxide–induced DNA demethylation during vitrification of early cleavage-stage embryos and possible countermeasures

Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (2025)

Masako Shida Jun Ito Yuki Inoue Satoshi Hara Koumei Shirasuna

Cryoprotectant

DNA demethylation

Propidium iodide

10.1007/s10815-025-03415-7

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DOA estimation in consideration of the array element pattern

Yuki Inoue Keiichiro Mori Hiroyuki Arai

We clarify the cause of error for Direction-Of-Arrival (DOA) estimation by MUSIC and ESPRIT algorithm. In MUSIC, using a measured steering vector could compensate for these errors, however accurate measurement of antenna complex radiation pattern is difficult and often an ideal steering vector is used in DOA estimation. In ESPRIT, two identical subarrays, a linear uniform array composed of overlapping subarrays, are often used. These ideal assumptions are seriously affected by the mutual coupling between elements and the inaccuracy of the element position, and the resulting estimation errors. Computer simulations and measurements using an 8.45 GHz DBF antenna system give a quantitative discussion for the DOA estimation error.

Direction of arrival

Position (finance)

Multiple signal classification

10.1109/vtc.2002.1002586

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Deployment of Polarbear-2A

Journal of Low Temperature Physics (2020)

Daisuke Kaneko S. Adachi P. A. R. Ade M. Aguilar Faúndez Y. Akiba

10.1007/s10909-020-02366-w

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Input optics systems of the KAGRA detector during O3GK

Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics (2022)

T. Akutsu Masaki Ando K. Arai Y. Arai S. Araki

KAGRA, the underground and cryogenic gravitational-wave detector, was operated for its solo observation from February 25th to March 10th, 2020, and its first joint observation with the GEO 600 detector from April 7th -- 21st, 2020 (O3GK). This study presents an overview of the input optics systems of the KAGRA detector, which consist of various optical systems, such as a laser source, its intensity and frequency stabilization systems, modulators, a Faraday isolator, mode-matching telescopes, and a high-power beam dump. These optics were successfully delivered to the KAGRA interferometer and operated stably during the observations. The laser frequency noise was observed to limit the detector sensitivity above a few kHz, whereas the laser intensity did not significantly limit the detector sensitivity.

10.1093/ptep/ptac166

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POS1396 DAMAGE PROGRESSION OF FINGER JOINT CARTILAGE EVALUATED BY ULTRASOUND AND X-RAY IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2021)

Takeshi Ogura A. Hirata Yuki Inoue Takaharu Kagtagiri Yuto Takakura

Background: Cartilage damage in RA has been evaluated by joint space narrowing (JSN) in X-ray, while it is not a direct evaluation of cartilage. Previously we have confirmed the usefulness of the direct imaging of finger joint cartilage by ultrasound (US) in patients with RA [1]. Objectives: We aimed to examine the temporal changes of US cartilage thickness in RA patients. Methods: We enrolled 53 RA patients in whom the cartilage thickness of finger joints was measured by US and had radiographs of both hands at baseline and 1-year later. The cartilage of metacapophalangeal and proximal interphalangeal joints of 2nd to 5th fingers were bilaterally visualized at the middle portion from a longitudinal dorsal view. Cartilage thickness was measured from the base of the cartilage to the interface artefact at the cartilage surface by static images. In addition, the JSN of the corresponding joints was scored using a hand X-ray by van der Heijde-modified Sharp method. Continuous variables from the two groups were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test or Wilcoxon signed-rank test. The relationships among the continuous variables were assessed using the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Results: The median age of the patients was 68 years and the median disease duration was 6.3 years. The sum of total cartilage thickness from 16 joints per patient ranged from 3.1 to 9.1mm (median 6.5 mm) at baseline, and it was significantly correlated with total JSN score of the same joints (ρ=-0.63, p<0.001). The cartilage thickness was inversely correlated with disease duration (rho=-0.40, p=0.003), but not associated with age nor height. The decrease in cartilage thickness over 1 year was evident in patients with persistent moderate to high disease activity by the DAS28-CRP (n=10; median -6.2%) as compared with other patients (n=43; median -1.2%, p=0.004 versus active patients). Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrated the progression of cartilage damage by sustained RA activity, supporting the validity and usefulness of joint cartilage thickness evaluation by ultrasound in patients with RA. References: [1]Ogura T, et al. Arthritis Care Res 2019 Oct 25. Table 1. SALIENT FEATURES OF THE 9 PATIENTS PRESENTING WITH RETINAL TOXICITY DUE TO HCQ Sl.No Age Gender Weight (Kg) Primary Diagnosis Dose Duration (Years) Detection Method Used Recommended Dose (mg/Day) Received Dose (mg/Day) Cumulative Dose (grams) FUNDUS EXAM. SD-OCT HVF 10-2 F AF 1 47 F 58 SLE 290 400 438 3 RPE Changes Thinning/Photoreceptor Loss Defects seen - 2 20 F 46 SLE 230 200 146 2 Multiple Small Drusens In Paramacular Area Multiple Drusens Normal Perifoveal autofluorescence spots- drusens 3 23 F 50 SLE 250 400 146 1 RPE Changes RPE Disruptions Defects seen - 4 30 F 55 SLE 275 200 73 1 Normal Normal Paracentral Scotoma - 5 50 F 49 RA 245 200 511 7 Early Bull’s Eye Maculopathy RPE Atrophy Defects seen - 6 72 F 60 RA 300 200 730 10 RPE Atrophy FR Absent RPE Atrophy General reduction in sensitivity - 7 65 M 57.4 RA 287 200 146 2 RPE Changes RPE Disruptions & Thinning Noted Defects seen - 8 62 F 70 RA 350 200 219 3 Chorioretinal Atrophy Altered RPE Membrane Defects seen - 9 59 M 71.6 RA 358 200 292 4 RPE Changes RPE Disruptions Normal - F:Female; M:Male; SLE:Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; RA: Rheumatoid Arthritis, FUNDUS EXAM.: Fundus Examination; SD-OCT:Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography, HVF 10-2:Humphrey Visual Field 10-2; FAF: Fundus Autofluorescence, RPE:Retinal Pigment Epithelium; FR:Foveal Reflex Disclosure of Interests: None declared

Interphalangeal Joint

Cartilage damage

Finger joint

10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.2784

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Mirror actuation design for the interferometer control of the KAGRA gravitational wave telescope

Classical and Quantum Gravity (2017)

Yuta Michimura Tomofumi Shimoda Takahiro Miyamoto A. Shoda K. Okutomi

KAGRA is a 3-km cryogenic interferometric gravitational wave telescope located at an underground site in Japan. In order to achieve its target sensitivity, the relative positions of the mirrors of the interferometer must be finely adjusted with attached actuators. We have developed a model to simulate the length control loops of the KAGRA interferometer with realistic suspension responses and various noises for mirror actuation. Using our model, we have designed the actuation parameters to have sufficient force range to acquire lock as well as to control all the length degrees of freedom without introducing excess noise.

Atom interferometer

10.1088/1361-6382/aa90e3

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Procyanidin B1 Purified fromCinnamomi CortexSuppresses Hepatitis C Virus Replication

Antiviral chemistry & chemotherapy (2010)

Shenwei Li Eiichi Kodama Yuki Inoue Hideki Tani Yoshiharu Matsuura

Background: A combination of pegylated interferon and ribavirin is the current standard therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, but this combination provides relatively low efficacy, especially in some patients with HCV genotype 1 infection; therefore, the development of novel therapeutic agents is required for further improvement in the treatment of chronic HCV infection. Methods: HCV pseudotype and subgenomic replicon assays were used in this study. The interaction of compounds with HCV receptors was examined using flow cytometry. Intracellular RNA levels were determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR. Results: Procyanidin B1 (PB1), a dimer of (−)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin, purified from Cinnamomi cortex, inhibits infection by vesicular stomatitis virus and HCV pseudotype virus in Huh-7 cells, with 50% effective concentrations of 29 and 15 μM, respectively. No inhibitory effects were observed in each component of PB1. We found that PB1 does not interfere with viral entry or receptor expression, but inhibits HCV RNA synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusions: These results indicate that PB1 suppresses HCV RNA synthesis, possibly as a HCV RNA polymerase inhibitor. Our results might contribute towards the development of more effective inhibitors for HCV infection from natural plants.

10.3851/imp1597

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Citations (30)