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Abstract The emission sources of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) have not yet been fully identified in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), Vietnam, presenting difficulties to authorities in controlling air pollution efficiently. To address this issue, this study explores the source apportionment of PM2.5 by the positive matrix factorization (PMF) model and identifies potential regional sources through the weighted concentration-weighted trajectory (WCWT) model based on the field observation data of PM2.5 in HCMC. 24-h PM2.5 samples were collected in central HCMC for a year (September 2019–August 2020). Herein, inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy was used to analyze trace elements, in addition to identifying PM2.5 mass and other chemical species, such as water-soluble ions and carbonaceous species, reported in our former study. The PMF results showed that PM2.5 in HCMC was dominated by anthropogenic-rich sources comprising biomass burning, coal combustion, transportation, and crustal origins (36.4% of PM2.5 mass), followed by secondary ammonium sulfate (18.4%), sea salt (13.7%), road dust (9.6%), and coal and crude oil combustion (9.4%). WCWT results suggested that the geological sources of PM2.5 were mainly from local areas and scattered to the northeast/southwest of HCMC. In addition, the long-range transport of PM2.5 from surrounding countries was revealed during the assembly restriction and lockdown period in 2020. Graphical Abstract

Abstract A simultaneous sampling method for gaseous nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrous acid (HONO) and nitric acid (HNO3) was developed by a filter-pack sampling method to measure these concentrations at low cost in areas where monitoring stations are not available or at multiple locations. HONO and HNO3 gases were collected with a conventional filter-pack method. NO2 was collected with a guaiacol-impregnated filter at a flow rate of 0.3 dm3 min−1. NO was collected using guaiacol by oxidizing it to NO2 with potassium permanganate at a 0.3 dm3 min−1 flow rate. The optimum concentration of KMnO4 in the immersion solution for the impregnated filter was 0.16 mol dm−3 (in 0.51 mol dm−3 H2SO4). The concentrations of NO and NO2 measured by the filter-pack method were in good agreement with those measured by the chemiluminescence method. It was calculated that 60 ppb NO could be oxidized to NO2 with the KMnO4-impregnated filter for 183 hours at a 0.3 dm3 min−1 flow rate. This is enough time for sampling in a real environment. This method was applied to measure NO, NO2, HONO and HNO3 in the atmosphere at three points around Osaka, Japan.

Abstract Background Additional ablation strategies after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for patients with nonparoxysmal atrial fibrillation (non‐PAF) lasting ≥2 years have not been fully effective. This is presumably because of insufficient identification of non‐PAF maintenance mechanisms. In this study, we employed a novel online and real‐time phase mapping system, ExTRa Mapping, to identify and modulate rotors as one of the non‐PAF maintenance mechanisms in patients with non‐PAF sustained after PVI. We investigated the relationship between outcomes of ExTRa Mapping‐guided rotor ablation (ExTRa‐ABL) and non‐PAF duration prior to this procedure. Methods This study consisted of 73 non‐PAF patients (63 ± 8 years, non‐PAF duration 31 ± 37 months) who underwent the first ExTRa‐ABL in patients with non‐PAF sustained after completion of PVI. Results Freedom from non‐PAF/atrial tachycardia (AT) recurrence at 12 months after ExTRa‐ABL was achieved in 50 (69%) of patients. The non‐PAF duration prior to ExTRa‐ABL was significantly longer in patients with non‐PAF/AT recurrence after ExTRa‐ABL compared with those without (56 ± 50 vs. 19 ± 22 months, p = .001). In patients with non‐PAF duration of ≤60 months prior to ExTRa‐ABL, compared with >60 months, non‐PAF/AT‐free rate was significantly higher (68.9% vs. 23.1%, p 60 months of non‐PAF duration.

This article investigates a bearingless motor with passive electrodynamic axial suspension. The axial suspension force is generated by a specific coil configuration called a figure-eight coil. Radial directions and tilting angles are stabilized by passive permanent magnet bearings. Since axial electrodynamic force increases with rotational speed, it must overcome a certain minimum threshold speed to compensate for the rotor weight and the unstable axial force caused by the permanent magnet bearing. Theoretical equations are derived for the braking torque caused by the suspension current and for the steady-state axial equilibrium position at constant rotational speed. A method based on the braking torque equation is proposed for correcting the mismatch between the magnetic center of the bearingless motor and the middle point of the axial clearance. This method sets the middle point between upper and lower touchdown positions in the same place where the motor current is minimum during passive axial suspension. Axial suspension is confirmed in the experiment with a noncontact laser sensor.

This study experimentally investigates the acoustic noise, vibration, and power consumption in a one-degree-of-freedom actively positioned single-drive bearingless motor, which has radial passive magnetic bearings (RPMBs) and compared to an identical stator part and rotor shaft with radial mechanical ball bearings. For the experiment, three test motors were set up: (a) a bearingless motor with two RPMB, (b) a motor with two ball bearings without an axial preload, and (c) a motor with two ball bearings with an axial preload. Motor (a) under test had one-axis active positioning and the radial movements were supported by RPMB made of cylindrical permanent magnets. Conversely, in motors (b) and (c), the radial and axial movements were supported by ball bearings, and there was no production of active axial force. The experimental results confirmed that the levels of acoustic noise, stator vibration, and input power consumption were significantly lower in motor (a) than those in motors (b) and (c). In the analysis section, dynamic models of the bearingless motor with RPMB and motor with ball bearings were designed and simulated using MATLAB $\backslash$ Simulink. The low radial stiffness in RPMB was found to contribute to acoustic noise and vibration reductions. Thus, this article presents an example of a one-degree-of-freedom actively positioned bearingless motor with RPMB that realizes reductions of acoustic noise, stator vibration, and input power consumption.

The torque density improvement of a low-speed high-torque swirling actuator is presented in this article. The swirling actuator is driven by the electromagnetic radial force and integrated mechanical gears. The electromagnetic radial force generates the circular motion of the swirler, which is converted into the low-speed rotor rotation by the mechanical gears. First, the dimensions of the swirler with 12-pole permanent magnets are optimized to enhance the electromagnetic radial force by analytical calculation and three-dimensional finite-element analysis. Second, an improved gear set with a reduced pressure angle and an increased transmission ratio is designed. The gear efficiency and torque are investigated analytically considering the friction loss. Two prototypes are designed, and the experimental results exhibit that the peak torque density is improved from 27 to 64 Nm/L with a small volume of 0.16 L.

This article presents a novel method for vibration and acoustic noise reduction in a three-phase 6/10 switched reluctance motor (SRM). The test machine has major vibration and acoustic noise at the 2${\text{nd}}$, 4${\text{th}}$, 5${\text{th}}$, 7${\text{th}}$, and 8${\text{th}}$ harmonics. Accordingly, a novel method called “selective radial force harmonics reduction” is proposed. The proposed method selectively reduces the specific radial force harmonics at the stator teeth. By reducing the specific radial force harmonics such as 2${\text{nd}}$, 4${\text{th}}$, 5${\text{th}}$, 7${\text{th}}$, and 8${\text{th}}$, the corresponding vibration and acoustic noise can be reduced significantly in the test machine. In this study, a current calculation for the proposed method is introduced. In addition, finite element analysis and experiments are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. Compared with a conventional square current, the experimental results show that the overall sound pressure level is reduced by 7.1 dBA using the proposed method at the rated speed and torque. The dynamic conditions of the test machine using the proposed method are also presented. As a result, the proposed method is effective in reducing vibration and acoustic noise in the three-phase 6/10 SRM.

Abstract Background The optimal surveillance period and frequency after curative resection for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unclear, and current guidelines are mainly based on traditional Kaplan–Meier analyses of cumulative incidence rather than risk analysis. The aim of this study was to determine a suitable follow-up surveillance program following oesophagectomy for OSCC using the hazard function. Methods A total of 1187 patients who underwent curative resection for OSCC between 2000 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The changes in the estimated hazard rates (HRs) of recurrence over time were analyzed according to tumour-node-metastasis stage. Results Four hundred seventy-eight (40.2%) patients experienced recurrence during the follow-up period (median, 116.5 months). The risk of recurrence peaked at 9.2 months after treatment (HR = 0.0219) and then decreased to half the peak value at 24 months post-surgery. The HRs for Stage I and II patients were low (

Esophageal carcinosarcoma (EC) is a rare malignant tumor, accounting for 0.5–2.8% of esophageal cancers. Most are advanced cancers that are detected as polypoid lesions and are treated with multidisciplinary therapy with a focus on surgery. However, endoscopic findings, pathological findings, and long-term outcomes of early-stage EC are often unclear because there are very few reported cases. This paper reports three cases of EC confined to the mucosal layer. The macroscopic type of all tumors was polypoid lesion with a slightly depressed lesion. All cases were clinically diagnosed as invasive cancer before treatment. Pathological diagnosis of tumor depth showed that one case had invaded the lamina propria mucosae, and two cases had invaded the muscularis mucosae (MM). One case of diagnosed MM had lymphoid invasion and lymph node metastasis to the upper mediastinum. After 1 year, although adjuvant treatment had been administered, there was lymph node recurrence in the left upper clavicle, and thus chemoradiation therapy was performed. Two other cases survived without recurrence. Early-stage EC is characterized by polypoid lesions with a slightly depressed lesion, and it is challenging to predict the histology on biopsy. Furthermore, it is difficult to determine the depth of invasion in the MM and submucosal layer in squamous cell carcinoma by endoscopy alone, and hence depth diagnosis by multiple modalities should be considered.

Abstract Background Non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia (NICTH) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome that secretes incompletely processed high molecular weight insulin growth factor 2 (big-IGF2), which results in stimulation of the insulin receptor and subsequently induces hypoglycemia. Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a common intestinal mesenchymal neoplasm of the gastrointestinal tract. The most frequent site of GIST is the stomach; NICTH induced by IGF2-producing stomach GISTs is rare. Case presentation An 84-year-old man was admitted to the hospital due to impaired consciousness (JCS II-10) in the morning. At the time of admission, his serum glucose was 44 mg/dL; his consciousness was restored with 20 ml of 50% glucose. To avoid hypoglycemia, a continuous intravenous infusion of glucose as well as dietary intervention was required. At the time of hypoglycemia, the levels of insulin and C-peptide were suppressed. Additionally, IGF1 levels were below the normal range. Abdominal computed tomography revealed that he had a large lobulated mass (116 × 70 × 72 mm) around the gastric corpus. Pathological analysis of biopsy specimens identified disarray of spindle cells and positivity for c-kit as well as strong positivity for DOG-1. Further analysis revealed high levels of Ki-67 (Mib-1 index: 15.5%) and mitotic index (7/50HPF); the tumor was diagnosed as high-risk GIST, and complete surgical resection was performed. Hypoglycemia resolved immediately after tumor resection. The resected tumor specimen was positive for IGF2 staining, and big-IGF2 (11–18 kDa) was detected in preoperative serum and tumor samples; the patient was diagnosed with NICTH due to an IGF2-producing tumor. Conclusions NICTH is rare in GIST of the stomach; however, the large GIST could produce big-IGF2 and subsequently cause severe hypoglycemia, requiring prompt evaluation and complete tumor resection.

Abstract Background It is unclear whether the toe grip force (TGF) of the dominant foot (DF) and the lower limb function asymmetry (LLFA) in older adults are associated with fall risk. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of lower limb properties (such as TGF, muscle strength, and plantar sensation) on the risk of falls in older adults, while considering the foot dominance and asymmetry of lower limb function. Methods This study was a cross‐sectional study. We determined whether the lower limb function of the DF and non‐dominant foot (non‐DF) and LLFA had any effect on the fall risk in 54 older adults (mean ± standard deviation: 72.2 ± 6.0, range: 60–87 years). We examined the participants' fall history, Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, lower limb function, and LLFA. To determine fall risk factors, we performed logistic regression analysis, with presence or absence of falls as the dependent variable. Results The independent variables were age, sex, MMSE score, two‐point discrimination of the heel (non‐DF) as plantar sensation index, and the TGF of both feet. Only the TGF of the DF was identified as a risk factor for falls (p

We characterize fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emitted from Indonesian peatland fires using ground-based source-dominated samplings of PM2.5 near peatland fire sources at two Regencies in Riau, Sumatra, Indonesia (number of samples = 13). Organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon, water-soluble OC (WSOC), the carbon content of humic-like substances (HULIS-C), and biomass burning tracers are determined. The carbon mass ratios of WSOC to OC (0.085 ± 0.015) and HULIS-C to WSOC (0.55 ± 0.085) are fairly constant and independent of the peatland fire sampling sites. By comparing diagnostic ratios using OC, WSOC, and HULIS-C at the peatland fire source and the receptor site (Malaysia) during peatland fire-induced haze periods, secondary WSOC and HULIS-C formation during transport from the source to the receptor site is highly possible. Interestingly, the mass ratio of syringic acid to levoglucosan (0.045 ± 0.0075) is fairly constant at Indonesian peatland fire sources. Because syringic acid is less stable than levoglucosan, this ratio is an aging indicator for Indonesian peatland fires at receptor sites. By comparing the mass fraction of each organic compound in the present study and previous studies, it is evident that the source profile for the coburning of peat with surface vegetation is significantly different compared with the burning of peat alone. Further knowledge of peat burning emissions is needed, particularly with respect to burning conditions, peat composition, and the effects of vegetative burning on peatland. Improved knowledge of these factors would lead to more reliable speciated emission inventories of Indonesian peatland fires, advancing chemical transport and radiative forcing modeling, as well as health risk assessment.

Abstract Background The number of patients who are undergoing laparoscopic gastrectomy for treating gastric cancer is increasing. Although prophylactic drains have been widely employed following the procedure, there are few studies reporting the efficacy of prophylactic drainage. Therefore, this study assessed the efficacy of prophylactic drains following laparoscopic gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Methods Data of patients who received laparoscopic gastrectomy for treating gastric cancer in our institution between April 2011 and March 2017 were reviewed, and the outcomes of patients with and without a prophylactic drainage were compared. Propensity score matching was used to minimize potential selection bias. Results A total of 779 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer were reviewed; of these, 628 patients who received elective laparoscopic gastrectomy were included in this study. After propensity score matching, data of 145 pairs of patients were extracted. No significant differences were noted in the incidence of postoperative complications between the drain and no-drain groups (19.3% vs 11.0%, P = 0.071). The days after the surgery until the initiation of soft diet (6.3 ± 7.4 vs 4.9 ± 2.9 days, P = 0.036) and the length of postoperative hospital stay (15.7 ± 12.9 vs 13.0 ± 6.3 days, P = 0.023) were greater in the drain group than those in the no-drain group. Conclusions This study suggests that routinely using prophylactic drainage following laparoscopic gastrectomy for treating gastric cancer is not obligatory.

Abstract Background Negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) is a widely accepted technique to treat local infectious wounds of the skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia, or muscle. Recently, several reports describing the efficacy of NPWT for various types of fistulas and anastomotic leaks have been published. We herein describe a patient with an open abdominal wound due to colonic anastomotic leakage and diffuse peritonitis, in whom abdominal vacuum sealing (AVS) as a modified NPWT was useful for the management of this complex wound. Case presentation A 32-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with late presenting traumatic diaphragmatic hernia and strangulated ileum complicated by necrosis of the ileum and transverse colon. He had a history of cervical spinal cord injury due to suicide attempt 14 years earlier and, as a result of cervical spinal cord injury, he was paralyzed in the lower body. The patient underwent an urgent hernia repair and bowel resection. Postoperatively, he developed severe septic shock. On postoperative day (POD) 6, wound dehiscence due to colonic anastomotic leakage with diffuse peritonitis was diagnosed, but he was unable to undergo re-operation because of refractory severe septic shock combined with neurogenic shock due to the cervical cord injury. The patient was treated with AVS therapy. He gradually recovered from septic shock, and the anastomotic leakage healed after a 2-month period. The wound dehiscence was also reduced. The patient resumed oral intake on POD 112 and was discharged on POD 190. Conclusions Although surgical repair would be the best method for the treatment of diffuse peritonitis due to gastrointestinal perforation or anastomotic leakage, our case suggests that AVS with ‘conventional’ drainage is a treatment of choice for open abdominal wounds even in the presence of diffuse peritonitis caused by intestinal anastomotic leakage, especially in patients with poor general medical condition.

Abstract Background Insomnia has a high prevalence in modern society. Various tools have been developed to assess insomnia. We performed a direct comparison between the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) and the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) in a Japanese population. Methods A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted in September 2017 as part of the Night in Japan Home Sleep Monitoring Study. In addition to insomnia, assessed using the AIS and ISI, depression, sleepiness, quality of life, and work performance were assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9, a Japanese version of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Short Form-8 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-8), and the World Health Organization Health and Work Performance Questionnaire, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to compare the outcomes of the AIS and the ISI. Results A total of 1685 (81.9%) of all eligible employees were enrolled. The total scores of the AIS and ISI had a Pearson correlation coefficient (r) of 0.80 (p

Abstract Background An ideal tumor marker should be capable of being detected at any stage of the disease. However, gastric cancer patients do not always have elevated serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels, even in advanced cases. Recently, several studies have investigated the associations between preoperative PNI and postoperative long-term outcomes. In this study, we focused on the significance of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) as a potential predictor of survival in resectable gastric cancer patients with normal preoperative serum CEA levels. Methods We retrospectively conducted cohort study to evaluate the PNI as a predictor of survival in 368 resectable gastric cancer patients who underwent potentially curative gastrectomy at our institute between January 2010 and December 2016. We selected 218 patients by propensity score matching to reduce biases due to the different distributions of co-variables among the comparable groups. Results In the multivariate analysis, pStage (hazard ratio [HR]: 14.003, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.033–44.487; p

Abstract Background Gastrointestinal perforation is known as a serious adverse event, but, for breast cancer, there are very few reports of gastrointestinal perforation. This report highlights gastrointestinal perforation caused by bevacizumab for breast cancer, which is of special interest because gastrointestinal perforations caused by bevacizumab are very rare in breast cancer. Case presentation We describe the case of 54-year-old Japanese woman. She was diagnosed as having inoperable breast cancer T2 N1 M1 (pleura, peritoneum), Stage IV, and received chemotherapy by paclitaxel. There was reduction in the primary tumor and disappearance of the pleural effusion; however, the ascites did not change. We performed diagnostic laparoscopy which revealed that her whole peritoneum was thickened, and her small intestine, colon, and her omentum were grouped and formed an omental cake. We submitted a part of her peritoneum to pathological examination and diagnosed the peritoneum dissemination of breast cancer. On the basis of these results, paclitaxel and bevacizumab combination chemotherapy was started, and a decrease in ascites was seen. However, a gastrointestinal perforation occurred on 26th day of second cycle of bevacizumab + paclitaxel, and we performed an emergency operation. In the operation, the omental cake was resolved, and we could search the full length of the gastrointestinal tract. Two small perforations of her small intestine were seen. We performed simple closures for perforations, and peritoneal lavage and drainage. She was in a state of septic shock, but it improved. It was thought that the small intestinal perforations were caused by the bevacizumab-additional chemotherapy which was very effective. Conclusions We report a very rare and valuable case. This case suggests that the risk of gastrointestinal perforation must be considered in a case of bevacizumab administration, and it is necessary to determine carefully the patient administered bevacizumab, regardless of the type of cancer.

With increasing interest in understanding the contribution of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) to particulate air pollution in urban areas, an exploratory study was carried out to determine levels of carbonaceous aerosols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. PM2.5 samples were collected using a high-volume sampler for 24 h in several areas in Kuala Lumpur during the north-easterly monsoon from January to March 2019. Samples were analyzed for water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), organic carbon (OC), and elemental carbon (EC). Secondary organic carbon (SOC) in PM2.5 was estimated. Particle-bound PAHs were analyzed using gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID). Average concentrations of WSOC, OC, and EC were 2.73 ± 2.17 (range of 0.63–9.12) µg/m3, 6.88 ± 4.94 (3.12–24.1) µg/m3, and 3.68 ± 1.58 (1.33–6.82) µg/m3, respectively, with estimated average SOC of 2.33 µg/m3, contributing 34% to total OC. The dominance of char-EC over soot-EC suggests that PM2.5 is influenced by biomass and coal combustion sources. The average of total PAHs was 1.74 ± 2.68 ng/m3. Source identification methods revealed natural gas and biomass burning, and urban traffic combustion as dominant sources of PAHs in Kuala Lumpur. A deterministic health risk assessment of PAHs was conducted for several age groups, including infant, toddler, children, adolescent, and adult. Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of PAH species were well below the acceptable levels recommended by the USEPA. Backward trajectory analysis revealed north-east air mass brought pollutants to the studied areas, suggesting the north-easterly monsoon as a major contributor to increased air pollution in Kuala Lumpur. Further work is needed using long-term monitoring data to understand the origin of PAHs contributing to SOA formation and to apply source-risk apportionment to better elucidate the potential risk factors posed by the various sources in urban areas in Kuala Lumpur.

The human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) potassium current (IHERG) has been shown to decrease in amplitude following stimulation with Gq protein-coupled receptors (GqRs), such as α1-adrenergic and M1-muscarinic receptors (α1R and M1R, respectively), at least partly via the reduction of membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PI(4,5)P2). The present study was designed to investigate the modulation of HERG channels by PI(4,5)P2 and phosphatidylinositol4-phosphate 5-kinase (PI(4)P5-K), a synthetic enzyme of PI(4,5)P2. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were used to examine the activity of HERG channels expressed heterologously in Chinese Hamster Ovary cells. The stimulation of α1R with phenylephrine or M1R with acetylcholine decreased the amplitude of IHERG accompanied by a significant acceleration of deactivation kinetics and the effects on IHERG were significantly attenuated in cells expressing PI(4)P5-K. The density of IHERG in cells expressing GqRs alone was significantly increased by the coexpression of PI(4)P5-K without significant differences in the voltage dependence of activation and deactivation kinetics. The kinase-deficient substitution mutant, PI(4)P5-K-K138A did not have these counteracting effects on the change in IHERG by M1R stimulation. These results suggest that the current density of IHERG is closely dependent on the membrane PI(4,5)P2 level, which is regulated by PI(4)P5-K and GqRs and that replenishing PI(4,5)P2 by PI(4)P5-K recovers IHERG.

Age-dependent formation of macular drusen caused by the focal accumulation of extracellular deposits beneath the retinal pigment epithelium precede the development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide. It is established that inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of drusen and AMD. However, development of a preemptive therapeutic strategy targeting macular drusen and AMD has been impeded by the lack of relevant animal models because most laboratory animals lack macula, an anatomic feature present only in humans and a subset of monkeys. Reportedly, macular drusen and macular degeneration develop in monkeys in an age-dependent manner. In this study, we analyzed blood test results from 945 Macaca fascicularis, 317 with and 628 without drusen. First, a trend test for drusen frequency (the Cochran-Armitage test) was applied to the quartile data for each parameter. We selected variables with an increasing or decreasing trend with higher quartiles at P < 0.05, to which multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied. This revealed a positive association of age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.10 per year, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07-1.12) and white blood cell count (OR: 1.01 per 1 × 103/μl, 95% CI: 1.00-1.01) with drusen. When the monkeys were divided by age, the association between drusen and white blood cell count was only evident in younger monkeys (OR: 1.01 per 1 × 103/μl, 95% CI: 1.00-1.02). In conclusion, age and white blood cell count may be associated with drusen development in M. fascicularis. Systemic inflammation may contribute to drusen formation in monkeys.

This paper focuses on realization of both the one-degree-of-freedom (one-DOF) active magnetic suspension and motor operation of a three-phase permanent magnet motor using only one three-phase voltage source inverter. The suspension winding of the electromagnet for the one-DOF magnetic suspension is connected between the neutral point of the Y-connected three-phase winding and the middle point of the dc voltage sources, and the resulting zero-phase current is utilized to control the suspension force. The control method of the zero-phase current is theoretically derived to avoid interference with the motor performance. Experimental apparatus was built and tested, which consists of an iron ball magnetic suspension system and a three-phase interior permanent magnet motor. The experimental results demonstrated stable magnetic suspension and motor rotation using only one three-phase inverter.

In this study, we aim to develop a narrow-diameter and long-bore device for minimally invasive surgery that achieves the simultaneous cutting and suction of body tissue such as the diseased part of an organ. In this paper, we propose a screw made of a thin metal plate, and we developed a prototype device using this screw. For smooth operation, the suction performance must be superior to the cutting performance. Therefore, we performed experiments and evaluated the suction performance of the developed device assuming the crushed tissue pieces correspond to a highly viscous fluid. From the results, we confirmed that the suction volume is almost proportional to the rotation speed of the screw in the low speed range, and the device has an upper limit of suction volume at a certain rotation speed. Considering practical use, its proportional speed range is suitable for the device controllability of cutting and suction volume, and the size of the device tip needs to be 1 mm or more. Based on these conditions, we are planning to examine the shape of the cutting edge for realizing efficient cutting and suction and we will complete the device.

PURPOSE: A proton beam therapy (PBT) system has been designed which dedicates to spot-scanning and has a gating function employing the fluoroscopy-based real-time-imaging of internal fiducial markers near tumors. The dose distribution and treatment time of the newly designed real-time-image gated, spot-scanning proton beam therapy (RGPT) were compared with free-breathing spot-scanning proton beam therapy (FBPT) in a simulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In-house simulation tools and treatment planning system VQA (Hitachi, Ltd., Japan) were used for estimating the dose distribution and treatment time. Simulations were performed for 48 motion parameters (including 8 respiratory patterns and 6 initial breathing timings) on CT data from two patients, A and B, with hepatocellular carcinoma and with clinical target volumes 14.6 cc and 63.1 cc. The respiratory patterns were derived from the actual trajectory of internal fiducial markers taken in X-ray real-time tumor-tracking radiotherapy (RTRT). RESULTS: With FBPT, 9/48 motion parameters achieved the criteria of successful delivery for patient A and 0/48 for B. With RGPT 48/48 and 42/48 achieved the criteria. Compared with FBPT, the mean liver dose was smaller with RGPT with statistical significance (p

Background: Online adaptation during intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT) can minimize the effect of inter-fractional anatomical changes, but remains challenging because of the complex workflow. One approach for fast and automated online IMPT adaptation is dose restoration, which restores the initial dose distribution on the updated anatomy. However, this method may fail in cases where tumor deformation or position changes occur. Purpose: To develop a fast and robust IMPT online adaptation method named "deformed dose restoration (DDR)" that can adjust for inter-fractional tumor deformation and position changes. Methods: The DDR method comprises two steps: (1) calculation of the deformed dose distribution, and (2) restoration of the deformed dose distribution. First, the deformable image registration (DIR) between the initial clinical target volume (CTV) and the new CTV were performed to calculate the vector field. To ensure robustness for setup and range uncertainty and the ability to restore the deformed dose distribution, an expanded CTV-based registration to maintain the dose gradient outside the CTV was developed. The deformed dose distribution was obtained by applying the vector field to the initial dose distribution. Then, the voxel-by-voxel dose difference optimization was performed to calculate beam parameters that restore the deformed dose distribution on the updated anatomy. The optimization function was the sum of total dose differences and dose differences of each field to restore the initial dose overlap of each field. This method only requires target contouring, which eliminates the need for organs at risk (OARs) contouring. Six clinical cases wherein the tumor deformation and/or position changed on repeated CTs were selected. DDR feasibility was evaluated by comparing the results with those from three other strategies, namely, not adapted (continuing the initial plan), adapted by previous dose restoration, and fully optimized. Results: In all cases, continuing the initial plan was largely distorted on the repeated CTs and the dose-volume histogram (DVH) metrics for the target were reduced due to the tumor deformation or position changes. On the other hand, DDR improved DVH metrics for the target to the same level as the initial dose distribution. Dose increase was seen for some OARs because tumor growth had reduced the relative distance between CTVs and OARs. Robustness evaluation for setup and range uncertainty (3 mm/3.5%) showed that deviation in DVH-bandwidth for CTV D95% from the initial plan was 0.4% ± 0.5% (Mean ± S.D.) for DDR. The calculation time was 8.1 ± 6.4 min. Conclusions: An online adaptation algorithm was developed that improved the treatment quality for inter-fractional anatomical changes and retained robustness for intra-fractional setup and range uncertainty. The main advantage of this method is that it only requires target contouring alone and saves the time for OARs contouring. The fast and robust adaptation method for tumor deformation and position changes described here can reduce the need for offline adaptation and improve treatment efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simultaneous sampling method for gaseous nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrous acid (HONO) and nitric acid (HNO3) was developed by a filter-pack sampling method to measure these concentrations at low cost in areas where monitoring stations are not available or at multiple locations. HONO and HNO3 gases were collected with a conventional filter-pack method. NO2 was collected with a guaiacol-impregnated filter at a flow rate of 0.3 dm³ min-1. NO was collected using guaiacol by oxidizing it to NO2 with potassium permanganate at a 0.3 dm³ min-1 flow rate. The opti mum concentration of KMnO4 in the immersion solution for the impregnated filter was 0.16 mol dm-3 (in 0.51 mol dm-3 H2SO4). The concentrations of NO and NO2 measured by the filter-pack method were in good agreement with those measured by the chemiluminescence method. It was calculated that 60 ppb NO could be oxidized to NO2 with the KMnO4-impregnated filter for 183 hours at a 0.3 dm³ min-1 flow rate. This is enough time for sampling in a real environment. This method was applied to measure NO, NO2, HONO and HNO3 in the atmosphere at three points around Osaka, Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new press-forming technique using in-plane shear deformation was developed for suppressing fractures and wrinkles of curved shapes in the height direction, for automobile body parts such as the front-side member rear. The developed technique is a two-step processes, drawforming to induce in-plane shear strain and bending into a curved shape. From experiments on a simplified curve part, in-plane shear deformation which is effective for suppressing fractures and wrinkles occurred in the first process when the press stroke changed along the longitudinal direction of the part. When the induced in-plane shear deformation was increased, a part with a higher curved angle in the height direction could be formed in the second process. Then, we conducted press trials of a front-side member rear model using a 1180 MPa-grade ultrahigh-strength steel sheet to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed technique. The results suggested that a complex curved part could be formed without fractures or wrinkles when in-plane shear deformation was induced in the first process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of oral administration of Lactobacillus acidophilus strain L-55 (LaL-55) to chickens inoculated with a Newcastle disease virus (NDV)-based live-attenuated vaccine by examining the mRNA expression of several genes related to viral infection in the spleen and ileum by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In the spleen, interferon (IFN)-α was significantly higher in the low- and middle-dose LaL-55 groups at 6 weeks than at 4 weeks. IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-3 and IRF-7 expression was significantly higher in the low-dose LaL-55 group than in the middle- and high-dose LaL-55 groups. In the ileum, melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 showed a dose-dependent increase at 4 weeks. IFN-γ and IRF-7 showed dose-dependent increases at 6 weeks. These results suggested that LaL-55 boosts the immune response to the NDV vaccine, albeit by different mechanisms in the spleen and ileum. Key words : Lactobacillus acidophilus, Newcastle disease virus, MDA5, IRF, ileum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early stage of electrochemically-induced Fe(001) passivation is investigated via a sub-second resolution real-time X-ray reflectivity technique. Static measurements clearly demonstrate that the passive layer is composed of two distinct layers comprising a dense inner oxide layer and a loosely packed outer layer. The growth of the inner passive layer is mostly completed within 1 s, while the growth rate in the later process is much slower and is qualitatively consistent with typical growth models such as the high-field model and point defect model. The rate-determining mechanism in the early stage is clearly different from that in the later stage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]