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AbstractObjectiveMethodsResultsConclusion\nPLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARYTo explore the risk factors for discontinuation of pericapsular soft tissue and pelvic realignment (PSTP-R) therapy derived from Shiatsu in the candidates with osteoarthritis for total hip replacement (THR) (i.e. candidates for total hip replacement) treated from 2017 to 2020, and to identify the effect modifiers of PSTP-R therapy for patients who continued therapy for 6 months.Exploratory analyses of data from the clinical trial for PSTP-R therapy in a prospective observational study in which the PSPT-R therapies for 6 months improved Harris Hip Score (HHS) in 193 patients with an HHS below 60 points in two study centers, even in 130 patients with complete loss of cartilage on radiography among those 193 ones. The risk factors for the discontinuation of PSTP-R therapy and the effect modifiers for PSTP-R therapy were explored statistically.The risk of discontinuation of PSTP-R therapy increased as the frequency of buttock pain at baseline increased, and was mitigated as the baseline opening angle of the hip according to the modified Patrick’s test increased. Cartilage loss on radiography was not a risk factor for withdrawal from PSPT-R therapy. Among patients who continued PSTP-R therapy for 6 months, a lower Kellgren-Lawrence grade at baseline was associated with an increase in the total score of HHS.Buttock pain at baseline was most associated with discontinuation of PSPT-R therapy. The patients that can improve with PSPT-R therapy should be selected to avoid inappropriate surgery by the detailed analysis of relevant clinical factors influencing the response for this program as well as image findings such as cartilage loss on radiography at baseline. Trial registration: Registered in the Clinical Trials Registry on 20 July 2017 (UMIN000028277).In general, patients with severe disability due to hip osteoarthritis are considered candidates for joint replacement, especially those with complete loss of cartilage on radiography. However, a previous study showed that these patients improved after pericapsular soft tissue and pelvic realignment (PSTP-R) therapy derived from Shiatsu.The present study showed that the risk of discontinuation of PSPT-R therapy increased as the frequency of buttock pain at baseline increased. Cartilage loss on radiography was not a risk factor for withdrawal from PSPT-R therapy. Among patients who continued PSPT-R therapy for 6 months, symptom improvement was increased in those with lower joint deformity on radiography at baseline. The present study identified possible predictive factors for the discontinuation of PSTP-R therapy and effect modifiers of PSTP-R therapy.The patients that can improve with PSPT-R therapy should be selected to avoid inappropriate surgery by the detailed analysis of relevant clinical factors influencing the response for this program as well as image findings such as cartilage loss on radiography at baseline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The copper vapor density after the occurrence of a magnetically stabilized high-current vacuum arc was measured by the laser absorption method. Measurements were performed in a vacuum triggered gap with oxygen-free, axial magnetic field (AMF) Cu electrodes (40-mm-diameter cathode and 60-mm-diameter anode), separated by a gap of 30 mm. The arc current was a sinusoidal wave having a half-period of approximately 10 ms and a peak value ranging from 3 to 10 kA. The arc was stabilized by a magnetic field produced by the AMF electrodes. The copper vapor density at current zero increased with peak arc current and did not depend on the current zero slope. After current zero, the copper vapor density decayed with a time constant of approximately 400 [micro]s. These results can be explained by a model based on vapor expansion from cathode spot craters. Index Terms--Cathode spot crater, copper vapor density, laser absorption method, vacuum arc.

The Line Voltage Detector is designed for the superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) system to protect the plant from momentary voltage drop. The target plant may be sensitive for the line voltage drop, a high-speed detection of voltage drop is required and a detector that uses two detect method in parallel is developed.

To develop an ionophore that is highly selective for sodium for use in an ion-selective electrode, we propose a model based on 16-crown-5 which has a cavity just the size of [Na.sup.+] and has a 'block' subunit to prevent complex formation with ions larger than [Na.sup.+]. Based on this molecular model, eight kinds of 16-crown-5 derivatives have been synthesized, and their structural ion selectivity has been evaluated in detail. The 16-crown-5 derivatives having two bulky 'block' subunits showed high [Na.sup.+] selectivity relative to [K.sup.+]. In particular, the derivative with two decalino subunits (DD16C5) exhibited the highest [Na.sup.-] selectivity of all the ionophores examined. When a phosphate ester-type membrane plasticizer, tris(ethylhexyl) phosphate, was used as the membrane solvent for the ion-sensing membrane based on poly(vinyl chloride), the electrode using DD16C5 exhibited a [Na.sup.+] selectivity of over 1000 times relative to alkali metal and alkaline earth metal ions, including [K.sup.+], which is the most serious interferant. The evaluation of the relationship between the ionophore chemical structures and the ion-selective features contributes to the host-guest chemistry to give a highly selective ionophore for an alkali metal ion.

Abstract Background Hip fracture is associated with pronounced morbidity and excess mortality in elderly women with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Many drugs have been developed to treat osteoporosis and to reduce the risk of osteoporotic fractures. We investigated the effects of combined alendronate and vitamin D3 treatment on bone mass and fracture load at the femoral neck in ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and evaluated the relationship between bone mass parameters and femoral neck strength. Methods Thirty 12-week-old female rats underwent either a sham-operation (n = 6) or OVX (n = 24). Twenty weeks later, OVX rats were further divided into four groups and received daily doses of either saline alone, 0.1 mg/kg alendronate, 0.1 μg/kg calcitriol, or a combination of both two drugs by continuous infusion via Alzet mini-osmotic pumps. The sham-control group received saline alone. After 12 weeks of treatment, femoral necks were examined using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) densitometry and mechanical testing. Results Saline-treated OVX rats showed significant decreases in total bone mineral content (BMC) (by 28.1%), total bone mineral density (BMD) (by 9.5%), cortical BMC (by 26.3%), cancellous BMC (by 66.3%), cancellous BMD (by 29.0%) and total cross-sectional bone area (by 30.4%) compared with the sham-control group. The combined alendronate and calcitriol treatments improved bone loss owing to estrogen deficiency. On mechanical testing, although OVX significantly reduced bone strength of the femoral neck (by 29.3%) compared with the sham-control group, only the combined treatment significantly improved the fracture load at the femoral neck in OVX rats to the level of the sham-controls. The correlation of total BMC to fracture load was significant, but that of total BMD was not. Conclusion Our results showed that the combined treatment with alendronate and calcitriol significantly improved bone fragility of the femoral neck in OVX osteopenic rats.