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Introduction Cholesterol crystal embolism is a rare microembolic disease caused by cholesterol crystals that can present with various symptoms after vascular surgery, catheterization, or anticoagulation therapy. We report a case of penile ulceration caused by cholesterol crystal embolism. Case presentation A 72‐year‐old man undergoing maintenance dialysis for end‐stage renal failure presented with penile pain and a black glans ulcer. Despite low‐density lipoprotein apheresis, he was referred to our hospital because of lack of improvement. Based on his medical history and clinical presentation, including artificial vascular replacement and right toe amputation, cholesterol crystal embolism was suspected and partial penectomy was performed, thus confirming the diagnosis. Penile pain resolved after surgery, and he was discharged on Day 10. Unfortunately, he died after small bowel perforation developed 2 months after surgery. Conclusion Penile ulcers caused by cholesterol crystal embolism may indicate the severity and progression of disease and typically require surgical intervention.

We present robust pixel design methodologies for a vertical avalanche photodiode-based CMOS image sensor, taking account of three critical practical factors: (i) “guard-ring-free” pixel isolation layout, (ii) device characteristics “insensitive” to applied voltage and temperature, and (iii) stable operation subject to intense light exposure. The “guard-ring-free” pixel design is established by resolving the tradeoff relationship between electric field concentration and pixel isolation. The effectiveness of the optimization strategy is validated both by simulation and experiment. To realize insensitivity to voltage and temperature variations, a global feedback resistor is shown to effectively suppress variations in device characteristics such as photon detection efficiency and dark count rate. An in-pixel overflow transistor is also introduced to enhance the resistance to strong illumination. The robustness of the fabricated VAPD-CIS is verified by characterization of 122 different chips and through a high-temperature and intense-light-illumination operation test with 5 chips, conducted at 125 °C for 1000 h subject to 940 nm light exposure equivalent to 10 kLux.

Stem cell therapy plays an important role in regenerative therapy; however, there is little information on the in vivo dynamics of transplanted stem cells and the influence of the inflammation of affected tissues or organs on these dynamics. In this study, we revealed real-time dynamics of transplanted adipose tissue–derived stem cells (ASCs) and the influence of the inflammatory states on these dynamics in acute liver failure mice. Quantum dots (QDs) labeling did not affect the cytokine profile of ASCs, and intravenously transplanted ASCs labeled with QDs could be detected in real time with high efficiency without laparotomy. Until 30 min after ASC transplantation, no marked differences in the behavior or accumulation of transplanted ASCs in the liver were observed among the three groups with different degrees of liver damage (normal, weak, and strong). However, significant differences in the engraftment rate of transplanted ASCs in the liver were observed among the three groups from 4 h after transplantation. The engraftment rate was inversely correlated with the extent of the liver damage. These data suggested that QDs are useful for in vivo real-time imaging of transplanted cells, and the inflammatory state of tissues or organs may affect the engraftment rate of transplanted cells.

Introduction: Cervical isometric muscle strengthening and cervical range of motion (ROM) training are recommended after laminoplasty (LP). However, their preventive effects on axial pain are unclear. We examined whether neck extension muscle strengthening and cervical ROM training from the early postoperative period effectively suppress postoperative axial pain. Methods: Sixty-one patients undergoing a muscle-preserving LP attached to C2 and C7 for cervical spondylotic myelopathy or ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament were randomly allocated to the cervical exercise (33 patients) or nonexercize (28 patients) groups. Postoperative cervical collars were not worn in any cases. The cervical exercise group underwent neck extension isometric muscle strengthening and cervical ROM exercises for 3 months starting on postoperative day 2. Changes in axial pain (visual analog scale [VAS]) from baseline at 2 weeks and 3 months after surgery were evaluated as the primary outcome. Cervical muscle strength, cervical ROM, and Japanese Orthopedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ) scores were evaluated as secondary outcomes. Results: Axial pain was significantly exacerbated at 2 weeks after LP compared with before surgery, and then, a significant improvement was observed at 3 months after surgery. No significant interaction was observed between the intervention and nonintervention groups. There was no difference in secondary outcomes between groups. The change in the VAS of axial pain from before surgery to 3 months after surgery showed a greater decreased neck extension muscle strength resulting in severer axial pain. Conclusions: Cervical muscle strengthening and cervical ROM exercise from the early postoperative period did not relieve axial pain at 2 weeks and 3 months after a muscle-preserving LP attached to C2 and C7. No significant difference in neck extension muscle and cervical movement was observed between the intervention and nonintervention groups. Therefore, a muscle-preserving LP attached to C2 and C7 is a good strategy to prevent axial pain in the early postoperative period. Clinical Trials Registration Number: UMIN000040692

We present a long range (~250 m) time-of flight (TOF) system with suppressed (nearly-free) mutual-interference. The system is based on a $1296\times960$ pixels vertical avalanche photodiodes (VAPD) CMOS image sensor (CIS). Real-time long-range 3D-imaging with 30 fps speed (450 fps for 2D imaging) is demonstrated. Designs and operation principles of the core circuits, i.e., a photon counting circuit and a global shutter driver, are fully described. The ranging method is based on a sub-range synthesis (SRS) where a range is set by the phase of exposure pulses with respect to that of the light source of the system. The depth resolution is configurable in that the minimum sub-range width limited by the light source pulse width of 10 ns or 1.5 m can be reduced to a 10 cm by introducing an indirect-TOF operation. Furthermore, by employing a random flight timing (RFT), mutual-interference in raw signal level is suppressed by 35 dB when 2 cameras are simultaneously operated. By simulation, the present system is estimated to be tolerant up to a case of 27 cameras operation.

Overexpression of human dynactin‐associated protein isoform a (dynAPa) transforms NIH3T3 cells. DynAPa is a single‐pass transmembrane protein with a carboxy‐terminal region exposed to the outside of cells. According to the NCBI RefSeq database, there may be two other splicing variants of the encoding gene (dynAPb and c). DynAPa and c differ in some amino‐terminal residues (NH2‐MVA in dynAPa and NH2‐MEYQLL in dynAPc). DynAPb has the same amino‐terminal residues as dynAPc, but lacks 55 residues in the intracellular region. All three isoforms have the same carboxy‐terminal region, including the transmembrane domain. Expression of mRNAs of three splicing variants was found in human cancer cell lines ACHN and Caki‐1. The subcellular localization and in vitro cell transformation ability of the three isoforms were examined using NIH3T3 cells overexpressing each respective isoform. All isoforms were found to be localized to the Golgi apparatus and plasma membrane, where the carboxy‐terminal region was exposed to the outside of cells. Cell transformation was tested using focus formation due to loss of contact inhibition of cell proliferation, and colony formation was examined on soft agar and spheroid formation in ultralow U‐bottomed wells. DynAPa robustly formed foci and colonies on soft agar and spheroid, whereas these abilities were considerably decreased for dynAPb and completely lost in dynAPc. These findings warrant dissection studies to identify the dynAP domain that is required for cell transformation.

Objectives: Increasing attention has been paid to pelvic incidence (PI) as a potential parameter related to low back pain. However, little knowledge exists regarding potential anthropometric landmarks specialized for the estimation of PI. This study aimed to examine the inter- and intra-examiner reliability of potential anthropometric landmarks applicable to estimate PI. Methods: Twenty healthcare workers were recruited as participants. Three were experienced physiotherapists for more than 5 years in clinical practice. Eight anatomical landmarks were selected: (1) the acromion, (2) the upper edge of the iliac crest, (3) the posterior superior iliac spine (PSIS), (4) the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS), (5) the upper edge of the greater trochanter, (6) the coccyx, (7) the lateral joint space of the knee, and (8) the lateral malleolus. Photographs of the right-side view of the subjects were used to determine the two-dimensional (x, y) coordinates of the landmarks. Results: Most landmark measurements reached acceptable levels for intra-examiner (ICC1, 0.64 to 0.98) and inter-examiner reliability (ICC3, 0.71 to 0.97). However, as possible anatomical landmarks, the PSIS (ICC1 0.65, ICC3 0.48), acromion (ICC3 0.66), and coccyx (ICC1 0.64) tended to have relatively low ICCs. Conclusions: Our study suggests that potential anthropometric landmarks on the body surface examined on palpation have acceptable intra- and inter-examiner reliability; however, identifying the acromion, PSIS, and coccyx as anatomical landmarks using the measurement method in this study remain difficult to be considered reliable.

The diagnosis of the dynamics, accumulation, and engraftment of transplanted stem cells in vivo is essential for ensuring the safety and the maximum therapeutic effect of regenerative medicine. However, in vivo imaging technologies for detecting transplanted stem cells are not sufficient at present. We developed nanohybrid particles composed of dendron-baring lipids having two unsaturated bonds (DLU2) molecules, quantum dots (QDs), and magnetic nanoparticles in order to diagnose the dynamics, accumulation, and engraftment of transplanted stem cells, and then addressed the labeling and in vivo fluorescence and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of stem cells using the nanohybrid particles (DLU2-NPs). Five kinds of DLU2-NPs (DLU2-NPs-1-5) composed of different concentrations of DLU2 molecules, QDs525, QDs605, QDs705, and ATDM were prepared. Adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ASCs) were labeled with DLU2-NPs for 4 h incubation, no cytotoxicity or marked effect on the proliferation ability was observed in ASCs labeled with DLU2-NPs (640- or 320-fold diluted). ASCs labeled with DLU2-NPs (640-fold diluted) were transplanted subcutaneously onto the backs of mice, and the labeled ASCs could be imaged with good contrast using in vivo fluorescence and an MR imaging system. DLU2-NPs may be useful for in vivo multimodal imaging of transplanted stem cells.

Biological hydroxyapatite (HA) contains the different minor ions which favour its bio-reactivity in vivo. In this study, the preparation of HA particles containing both silicate and carbonate ions under the presence of sodium silicate was investigated, and the physicochemical properties were evaluated according to the contents and states of silicate and carbonate ions. The increment in the silicate ion reduced the crystallinity and expanded the crystalline size along with a-axis. Solid-state 29Si–NMR spectra indicated the increase in the adsorption of oligomeric silicate species on the HA particle surfaces in addition to the substitution state of silicate ions, suggesting the occurrence of the surface coating of silicates on the surfaces. The possible states of carbonate and silicate ions at the HA surfaces will provide the bioactivity.

Unnatural glycolipids possessing the diyne moiety in their acyl groups were successfully biosynthesized in the green sulfur photosynthetic bacterium Chlorobaculum (Cba.) tepidum by cultivation with supplementation of 10,12-heptadecadiynic acid. Monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and rhamnosylgalactosyldiacylglycerol (RGDG) esterified with one 10,12-heptadecadiynic acid were primarily formed in the cells, and small amounts of glycolipids esterified with the two unnatural fatty acids can also be detected. The relative ratio of these unnatural glycolipids occupied in the total glycolipids was estimated to be 49% based on HPLC analysis using a evaporative light scattering detector. These results indicate that the acyl groups in glycolipids, which play important roles in the formation of extramembranous antenna complexes called chlorosomes, can be modified in vivo by cultivation of green sulfur photosynthetic bacteria with exogenous synthetic fatty acids. Visible absorption and circular dichroism spectra of Cba. tepidum containing the unnatural glycolipids demonstrated the formation of chlorosomes, indicating that the unnatural glycolipids in this study did not interfere with the biogenesis of chlorosomes.

We have developed a real time ultraviolet (UV) imaging system that can visualize both invisible UV light and a visible (VIS) background scene in an outdoor environment. As a UV/VIS image sensor, an organic photoconductive film (OPF) imager is employed. The OPF has an intrinsically higher sensitivity in the UV wavelength region than those of conventional consumer Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) image sensors (CIS) or Charge Coupled Devices (CCD). As particular examples, imaging of hydrogen flame and of corona discharge is demonstrated. UV images overlapped on background scenes are simply made by on-board background subtraction. The system is capable of imaging weaker UV signals by four orders of magnitude than that of VIS background. It is applicable not only to future hydrogen supply stations but also to other UV/VIS monitor systems requiring UV sensitivity under strong visible radiation environment such as power supply substations.

Biological hydroxyapatite (HA) contains the different minor ions which favour its bio-reactivity in vivo. In this study, the preparation of HA particles containing both silicate and carbonate ions under the presence of sodium silicate was investigated, and the physicochemical properties were evaluated according to the contents and states of silicate and carbonate ions. The increment in the silicate ion reduced the crystallinity and expanded the crystalline size along with α-axis. Solid-state 29Si-NMR spectra indicated the increase in the adsorption of oligomeric silicate species on the HA particle surfaces in addition to the substitution state of silicate ions, suggesting the occurrence of the surface coating of silicates on the surfaces. The possible states of carbonate and silicate ions at the HA surfaces will provide the bioactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backlash, also known as mechanical play, is a piecewise differentiable nonlinearity which exists in several actuated systems, comprising, e.g., rack-and-pinion drives, shaft couplings, toothed gears, and other machine elements. Generally, the backlash is nested between the moving parts of a complex dynamic system, which handicaps its proper detection and identification. A classical example is the two-mass system which can approximate numerous mechanisms connected by a shaft (or link) with relatively high stiffness and backlash in series. Information about the presence and extent of the backlash is seldom exactly known and is rather conditional upon factors such as wear, fatigue, and incipient failures in the components. This paper proposes a novel backlash identification method using one-side sensing of a two-mass system. The method is based on the delayed relay operator in feedback that allows stable and controllable limit cycles to be induced and operated within the (unknown) backlash gap. The system model, with structural transformations required for the one-side backlash measurements, is given, along with the analysis of the delayed relay in velocity feedback. Experimental evaluations are shown for a two-inertia motor bench that has coupling with backlash gap of about 1deg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroholography enables the projection of three-dimensional (3-D) images using a spatial-light modulator. The extreme computational complexity and load involved in generating a hologram make real-time production of holograms difficult. Many methods have been proposed to overcome this challenge and realize real-time reconstruction of 3-D motion pictures. We review two real-time reconstruction techniques for aerial-projection holographic displays. The first reduces the computational load required for a hologram by using an image-type computer-generated hologram (CGH) because an image-type CGH is generated from a 3-D object that is located on or close to the hologram plane. The other technique parallelizes CGH calculation via a graphics processing unit by exploiting the independence of each pixel in the holographic plane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

d-Aspartate oxidase (DDO) is a degradative enzyme thatis stereospecific for acidic d-amino acids, including d-aspartate, a potential agonist of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor. Dysfunction of NMDA receptor-mediatedneurotransmission has been implicated in the onset of various mentaldisorders, such as schizophrenia. Hence, a DDO inhibitor that increasesthe brain levels of d-aspartate and thereby activates NMDAreceptor function is expected to be a useful compound. To search forpotent DDO inhibitor(s), a large number of compounds were screened in silico, and several compounds were identified as candidates.They were then characterized and evaluated as novel DDO inhibitors in vitro(e.g., the inhibitor constant value of 5-aminonicotinicacid for human DDO was 3.80 μM). The present results indicatethat some of these compounds may serve as lead compounds for the developmentof a clinically useful DDO inhibitor and as active site probes toelucidate the structure–function relationships of DDO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hydrogen bond (H-bond) is one of the most fundamental and important noncovalent interactions in chemistry, biology, physics, and all other molecular sciences. Especially, the dynamics of a proton or a hydrogen atom in the H-bond has attracted increasing attention, because it plays a crucial role in (bio)chemical reactions and some physical properties, such as dielectricity and proton conductivity. Here we report unprecedented H-bonddynamics- based switching of electrical conductivity and magnetism in a H-bonded purely organic conductor crystal, κ-D3(Cat-EDTTTF)2 (abbreviated as JC-D). This novel crystal κ-D, a deuterated analogue of κ-H3(Cat-EDT-TTF)2 (abbreviated as JC-H), is composed only of a H-bonded molecular unit, in which two crystallographically equivalent catechol-fused ethylenedithiotetrathiafulvalene (Cat-EDTTTF) skeletons with a +0.5 charge are linked by a symmetric anionic [O--D---O]-1-type strong H-bond. Although the deuterated and parent hydrogen systems, κ-D and jc-H , are isostructural paramagnetic semiconductors with a dimer-Mott-type electronic structure at room temperature (space group: C2/c), only κ-D undergoes a phase transition at 185 κ, to change to a nonmagnetic insulator with a charge-ordered electronic structure (space group: P1). The X-ray crystal structure analysis demonstrates that this dramatic switching of the electronic structure and physical properties originates from deuterium transfer or displacement within the H-bond accompanied by electron transfer between the Cat-EDT-TTF π-systems, proving that the H-bonded deuterium dynamics and the conducting TTF π-electron are cooperatively coupled. Furthermore, the reason why this unique phase transition occurs only in κ-D is qualitatively discussed in terms of the H/D isotope effect on the H-bond geometry and potential energy curve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]