Search

Low-density films of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) can be used as a semi-transparent top electrode for all-solution-processed film devices; however, their semiconductor characteristics vary depending on the experimental factors in their dispersion into solvents, and the sublayers are damaged as a result of solvent incompatibility. In this study, we report a solvent-compatible filter-transfer method for SWNT films stacked with silver nanowires (AgNWs), and evaluate the semiconductor characteristics through the p/n heterojunction with a Si wafer (SWNT/Si). AgNWs and SWNTs were successively filtered through their aqueous dispersion solutions using a membrane filter. The stacked semi-transparent films (AgNW/SWNT films with controlled densities) were successfully transferred onto glass plates and Si wafers. The transmittance at 550 nm revealed a window between 60% and 80% with a narrow sheet resistance range between 11 and 23 Ω □−1. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of SWNT/Si was improved to 11.2% in a junction area of 0.031 cm2 through the use of spin-coated Nafion resins; however, the accumulated resistance of SWNTs drastically reduced the PCE to 2% as the area increased to ≥0.5 cm2. AgNWs maintained the PCE within a range of 10.7% to 8.6% for an area ranging from 0.031 cm2 to 1.13 cm2. All of the photovoltaic parameters were dependent on the junction areas, suggesting that AgNWs function as an effective current-collector layer on the semiconductor layer of SWNTs without direct contact of AgNWs with the Si surface. In addition, we report a solvent-compatible experiment for transferring AgNW/SWNT films onto a solvent-sensitive perovskite material (CH3NH3PbI3).

Abstract Here, we aimed to evaluate the clinical performance of a novel automated immunoassay HISCL SARS-CoV-2 Antigen assay kit designed to detect the nucleocapsid (N) protein of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This kit comprises automated chemiluminescence detection systems. Western blot analysis confirmed that anti-SARS-CoV antibodies detected SARS-CoV-2N proteins. The best cut-off index was determined, and clinical performance was tested using 115 serum samples obtained from 46 patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and 69 individuals who tested negative for COVID-19 through reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The HISCL Antigen assay kit showed a sensitivity of 95.4% and 16.6% in samples with copy numbers > 100 and

Investigation of interfacial proton transport is necessary to elucidate biological systems. As commonly found in biomaterials, the carboxylic acid group was proven to act as a proton-conducting group. This study investigated the influence of carboxylic acid concentration on both interfacial and internal proton transport. Several styrene-based polymers containing the carboxylic acid group were synthesized. The amount of carboxylic acid group in the polymer chain was varied to explore the effects of weak acid concentration on polymer thin films’ electrical properties. The IR p-polarized multiple-angle incidence resolution spectrometry (pMAIR) spectra show the higher ratio of the free carboxylic acid groups rather than cyclic dimers in polymers with a higher concentration of carboxylic acid group, facilitating the more hydrogen bonding networks in films. The water uptake results reveal the similar number of adsorbed water molecules per carboxylic acid group in all thin films. Remarkably, polymer thin films with high carboxylic acid concentration provide internal proton conduction because of the relative increase in the amount of the free carboxylic acid group. In contrast, interfacial proton conduction was found in low carboxylic acid concentration polymers because of the relatively large amount of cyclic dimer carboxylic acid group and poor amount of free carboxylic acid group. This study provides insight into interfacial proton transport behavior according to the weak acid concentration, which might explain proton transport in biological systems.

Abstract Background Delayed arterial hemorrhage after pancreaticoduodenectomy is a life-threatening complication. There are no reports about infected aneurysms of the superior mesenteric artery after pancreaticoduodenectomy without clinically relevant pancreatic fistula. Case presentation A 78-year-old woman with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma involving the superior mesenteric arterial nerve plexus underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with en bloc resection of the superior mesenteric vein and the superior mesenteric arterial nerve plexus after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. On postoperative day 14, she had bacteremia and sudden fever with chills. During the postoperative course, macroscopic abscesses or distinct infectious signs, including pancreatic fistula or bile fistula, were not present, but pylephlebitis was observed. After the antimicrobial treatment course, the patient was discharged. After 17 days, she was hospitalized for melena. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a ruptured aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery into the small intestine without a major intraabdominal abscess. E. coli was isolated from blood cultures. The patient was diagnosed with a ruptured infected aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery. She was treated successfully with a covered stent by the cardiology team. There was no recurrence of bleeding at the 4-month follow-up, and the stent was patent in all subsequent computed tomography scans. Conclusions Endovascular repair using a covered stent was effective in palliating acute bleeding from an infected aneurysm of the superior mesenteric artery.

Background:: In our previous paper, we determined rskin208(exp)=0.278±0.035 fm from measured reaction cross sections σRfor p+208Pb scattering, using the Kyushu (chiral) g-matrix folding model with the densities calculated with the Gogny-D1S Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov (D1S-GHFB) with the angular momentum projection (AMP). The value agrees with that of PREX2. Reaction cross sections σRare available for p+48Ca scattering, whereas interaction cross sections σI(≈σR)are available for 48Ca + 12C scattering. As for 48Ca, the high-resolution E1polarizability experiment (E1pE) yields rskin48(E1pE)=0.14∼0.20fm. Purpose:: We determine rskin48(exp)from the data on σRfor p+48Ca scattering and from the data on σIfor 48Ca+12C scattering. Methods:: We use the Kyushu g-matrix folding model with the densities calculated with the D1M-GHFB+AMP densities. The D1M-GHFB+AMP proton and neutron densities are scaled so as to reproduce the data under the condition that the radius rpof the scaled proton density equals the data rp(exp)determined from the electron scattering. We deduce skin values rskin=rn(exp)−rp(exp)from the resulting rn(exp)and the rp(exp)determined from electron scattering. The same procedure is taken for D1S-GHFB+AMP. Results:: We regard rskin48(E1pE)as a reference skin value. Using the reference skin value and taking D1M-GHFB+AMP, we determine rskin48(exp)=0.158±0.025 fm for p+48Ca scattering and 0.160±0.058 fm for 48Ca + 12C scattering. Conclusion:: We take the weighted mean and its error for the two skin values. The result is rskin48(exp)=0.158±(0.023)exp±(0.012)thfm.

Tanihata et al. (1988) determined matter radii rm(σI)for 4,6,8He from interaction cross sections σIof 4,6,8He+12C scattering at 790 MeV per nucleon, using the optical limit of the Glauber model. Lu et al. (2013) determined proton radii rp(AIS)for 4,6,8He with the atomic isotope shifts (AIS). We investigate whether the Love-Franey t-matrix folding model is good for 4,6,8He+12C scattering at 790 MeV per nucleon.

Background:: In the previous paper, we predicted reaction cross sections σRfor 40−60,62,64Ca+12C scattering at 280 MeV/nucleon, using the chiral g-matrix folding model with the densities calculated with the Gogny-D1S Hartree–Fock–Bogoliubov (GHFB) with and without the angular momentum projection (AMP), since Tanaka et al. measured interaction cross sections σI(≈σR)for 42−51Ca in RIKEN and determined neutron skin rskin(RIKEN)using the optical limit of the Glauber model with the Woods–Saxon densities. Purpose:: Our purpose is to reanalyze the rskinfrom the σIusing the chiral g-matrix folding model. Our analysis is superior to theirs, since the chiral g-matrix folding model (the GHFB and GHFB+AMP densities) is much better than the optical limit of the Glauber model (the Woods–Saxon densities). Methods:: Our model is the chiral g-matrix folding model with the densities scaled from the GHFB and GHFB+AMP densities. Results:: We scale the GHFB and GHFB+AMP densities so that the σRof the scaled densities can agree with the central values of σIunder the condition that the proton radius of the scaled proton density equals the data determined from the isotope shift based on the electron scattering. The rskinthus determined are close to their results rskin42−51(RIKEN), except for 48Ca. For 48Ca, our value rskin48is 0.105 ± 0.06 fm, while their value is rm48(RIKEN)=0.146±0.06 fm. We then take the weighted mean and its error of our result rskin48(σI)=0.105±0.06 fm and the result rskin48(E1pE)=0.17±0.03 fm of the high-resolution E1polarizability experiment (E1pE). Our final result is rskin48=0.157±0.027 fm. Conclusion:: Our conclusion is rskin48=0.157±0.027 fm for 48Ca. For 42−47,49−51Ca, our results on rskinare similar to theirs. Our result for 48Ca is related to CREX.

Background:: The neutron skin thickness RskinPVof PREX-II is presented in Adhikari et al. (2021). The reaction cross section σRis useful to determine the matter radius Rmand Rskin. For proton scattering, the reaction cross section σRare available for Elab˜>400MeV. Methods and results:: We determine Rnexp=5.727±0.071fm and Rmexp=5.617±0.044fm from Rpexp= 5.444 fm and RskinPV. The RpGHFBcalculated with Gongny-D1S HFB (GHFB) with the angular momentum projection (AMP) agrees with Rpexp. The neutron density calculated with GHFB+AMP is scaled so as to Rnscaling=5.727fm. The Love-Franey t-matrix model with the scaled densities reproduces the data on σR. Aim:: Our aim is to find the σRof proton scattering consistent with RskinPV. Conclusion:: The σRof proton scattering consistent with RskinPVare σRexpat Elab=534.1,549,806MeV.

Introduction Given an increasing use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors to treat patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the real-world setting, we conducted a prospective observational study (Japan-based Clinical Research Network for Diabetes Registry: J-BRAND Registry) to elucidate the safety and efficacy profile of long-term usage of alogliptin.Research design and methods We registered 5969 patients from April 2012 through September 2014, who started receiving alogliptin (group A) or other classes of oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs; group B), and were followed for 3 years at 239 sites nationwide. Safety was the primary outcome. Symptomatic hypoglycemia, pancreatitis, skin disorders of non-extrinsic origin, severe infections, and cancer were collected as major adverse events (AEs). Efficacy assessment was the secondary outcome and included changes in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin and urinary albumin.Results Of the registered, 5150 (group A: 3395 and group B: 1755) and 5096 (3358 and 1738) were included for safety and efficacy analysis, respectively. Group A patients mostly (>90%) continued to use alogliptin. In group B, biguanides were the primary agents, while DPP-4 inhibitors were added in up to ~36% of patients. The overall incidence of AEs was similar between the two groups (42.7% vs 42.2%). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed the incidence of cancer was significantly higher in group A than in group B (7.4% vs 4.8%, p=0.040), while no significant incidence difference was observed in the individual cancer. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that the imbalanced patient distribution (more elderly patients in group A than in group B), but not alogliptin usage per se, contributed to cancer development. The incidence of other major AE categories was with no between-group difference. Between-group difference was not detected, either, in the incidence of microvascular and macrovascular complications. HbA1c and fasting glucose decreased significantly at the 0.5-year visit and nearly plateaued thereafter in both groups.Conclusions Alogliptin as a representative of DPP-4 inhibitors was safe and durably efficacious when used alone or with other OHAs for patients with type 2 diabetes in the real world setting.

Many causative genes are known for epileptic or developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (EE/DEE) yet a genetic diagnosis cannot be made for many patients. Here, the authors analyse whole exome sequencing data from a Japanese case−control cohort to identify common, rare and ultra-rare coding variants associated with EE/DEE.

Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) shows durability against termites and wood decay-causing fungi and is used as a construction material in Japan. However, the effects of the material are still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether Hinoki cypress has antimicrobial effects against airborne microorganisms. We examined the influence of Hinoki cypress on the growth of airborne bacteria and fungi using culture-based methods. The growth of bacterial colonies was observed after day 3 in the control group without Hinoki material. In contrast, the growth of bacterial colonies was observed after day 13 in the experimental group containing Hinoki material. In the experimental group, the number of fungal colonies was smaller than that in the control group, suggesting the antifungal effect of Hinoki cypress to some extent. In addition, we characterized the community structure of airborne bacteria in two rooms with and without cypress wood by the culture-independent method of PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. This also suggested differences in the community structure of airborne bacteria depending on the presence or absence of Hinoki cypress wood. These results indicate that Hinoki cypress might be a useful functional material in building environments.

The flow structures of a submerged vortex that appears in a model pump sump have been fully clarified by performing large eddy simulation (LES) of a model vortex in a simplified computational model. The computational model had a sufficiently fine grid that could resolve the vortex core. The model sump is composed of a 2,500 mm-long water channel of rectangular cross section with a width of 300 mm and a water height of 150 mm and a vertical suction pipe with a 100 mm diameter installed at its downstream end. Our previous large eddy simulations (LES), which used approximately 2 billion grids and were applied to the whole pump sump, has fully clarified the origin and formation mechanism of a submerged vortex and an air-entrained vortex. In these computations, however, the static pressure in the vortex core decreased by only 5 kPa at a channel velocity of 0.37 m/s. The decrease in the static pressure was far smaller than the one for which one can expect initiation of cavitation in the vortex core. In the corresponding experiment, however, appearance of a submerged vortex was confirmed by the occurrence of cavitation in the vortex core. Therefore, the decrease in the static pressure is most likely to be underpredicted in our previous LES. Insufficient grid resolution was assumed to be one of the reasons for this underprediction. In the present study, LES with a sufficiently fine grid was applied to a simplified computational model that represents the stretch of a submerged vortex under a constant acceleration of the vertical velocity. Vertical and tangential velocities obtained by averaging those profiles of a submerged vortex computed in the previous LES were prescribed at the bottom wall of the computational domain as the inflow boundary conditions. In the present LES, the static pressure has decreased by more than 100 kPa. In addition, parametric studies with different initial swirl numbers varied from 0.08 to 10.9 have fully clarified the behavior of a submerged vortex. It is found that a strong submerged vortex appears only at a relatively small range of the swirl-number from 0.8 to 2.

The origin and formation mechanism of a submerged vortex and an air-entraining vortex have been fully clarified by large-eddy simulation (LES) that used approximately 2 billion hexahedral elements with maximum resolution of 0.255 mm and was applied to the internal flows of a model pump sump. The model pump sump is composed of a 2,500 mm-long water channel of rectangular cross section with a width of 300 mm and a water depth of 100 mm and a vertical suction pipe with a 100 mm diameter installed at its downstream end with an offset of 10 mm from the centerline of the rectangular channel. At the upstream end of the channel, a uniform velocity of 0.37 m/s is given. LES with different wall boundary conditions have revealed that the origin of a submerged vortex is the mean shear of the approaching boundary layers that develop on the bottom and side walls of the pump sump. From detailed investigations of LES computed for a long time period of 16 seconds have revealed that deviation of the mean flow that approaches the suction pipe triggers conversion of the axis of the vorticity that was originally aligned to the lateral direction in the approaching boundary layers to that aligned to the vertical direction. The local acceleration of the vertical flow stretches the afore-mentioned vertical vortex, which results in formation of a submerged vortex. The separated flows downstream of the suction pipe generate vertical vorticity, and forms an air-entraining vortex when such a vortex is sucked into the suction pipe. Computations with a different bellmouth height and a different water-surface height have supported the above mentioned origin and formation mechanism of these vortices.

Conjugated donor–acceptor molecules with intramolecular charge transfer absorption are employed for single-component organic solar cells. Among the five types of donor–acceptor molecules, the strong push–pull structure of DTDCPB resulted in solar cells with high JSC, an internal quantum efficiency exceeding 20%, and high VOC exceeding 1 V with little photon energy loss around 0.7 eV. The exciton binding energy (EBE), which is a key factor in enhancing the photocurrent in the single-component device, was determined by quantum chemical calculation. The relationship between the photoexcited state and the device performance suggests that the strong internal charge transfer is effective for reducing the EBE. Furthermore, molecular packing in the film is shown to influence photogeneration in the film bulk.

The rights-of-way of urban railway systems contain many sharp curves. Since sharp curves can contribute to wheel and rail wear, the ability to predict the development of wheel wear is crucial to maintaining safe operation of such systems. Observation of wear development in practical railway systems is inefficient and time consuming. In order to efficiently predict wheel wear, numerical analysis using multi-body dynamics software, such as Simpack, is proposed. Contact pressure, slip ratio, and other necessary parameters are determined from Simpack's vehicle motion analysis. Wear depth is derived to create a worn wheel profile. The current wheel profile is updated using the wear profile, and is then adopted as the new wheel profile in Simpack. The rail vehicle modeled in our numerical analysis is based on a typical Japanese commuter rail vehicle. Wear depth is calculated based on the Archard wear theory. Wear development in the wheel/rail contact area is calculated, and nodes are replaced by calculated wear depth. Validity of the wear coefficient used in the simulation is discussed. The results of the numerical analysis are compared with experimental results to assess the amount of wear from the viewpoint of mechanical and tribological contact problems.

Efficiency of a centrifugal pump is known to drop rapidly with a decrease of specific speed ns in the range of ns ≤ 100 [m,m3/min,min-1]. However, below ns = 60, the pump efficiency is not yet clear, and the spiral angle of a volute casing becomes too small to manufacture. To solve this problem, a circular casing is considered appropriate in the very low ns range. The present study is aimed to reveal the relation between pump efficiency and a specific speed in the range of ns ≤ 60, when a circular casing is used. The results show that a circular casing gives higher efficiency than a spiral casing, and that radial thrust is considerably small in both casings compared with that of ordinary specific speed pump.

ABSTRACT: Objective: Fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus (FT1DM), a distinct subtype of type 1 diabetes, is characterized by a rapid onset of severe hyperglycemia and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). DKA sometimes induces severe rhabdomyolysis, which causes renal failure, and it requires permanent hemodialysis (HD), especially in elderly patients. Some cases of FT1DM progress to rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI).Methods: We report the case of an 81-year-old male with rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI, the oldest patient reported to date, associated with acute FT1DM onset.Results: Although the patient required HD, he was successfully withdrawn from HD within 2 months.Conclusion: Even in such advanced age patients, prompt renal replacement therapy gives the prospect for recovering kidney function and circumvents the need for permanent renal replacement therapy.Abbreviations: AKI acute kidney injury CHDF continuous hemodiafiltration CK creatinine kinase DKA diabetic ketoacidosis FT1DM fulminant type 1 diabetes mellitus HD hemodialysis HLA human leukocyte antigen RRT renal replacement therapy

The affinity of an 8-bromodeoxyguanosine- (8-BrdG-) substituted thrombin-binding aptamer (TBA-Br), which has the 1st and 10th guanosine residues replaced with 8-BrdG, was estimated using reflectometric interference spectroscopy (RIfS). When comparing TBA-Br with unmodified TBA (TBA-H), it was demonstrated that the modification effectively improved the affinity of TBA; dissociation constants (KD) of TBA-H and TBA-Br were 45.4 nM and 1.99 nM, respectively. These values, which were obtained by direct observation of thrombin binding using RIfS, have the same order of magnitude as those obtained in our previous study utilizing conformational changes in TBA to detect thrombin binding, thus confirming the validity of the obtained KD values. RIfS measurements also revealed that the 8-BrdG modification resulted in a lower dissociation rate constant (kd), which suggests that the enhancement of affinity can be attributed to the stabilization of the G-quadruplex structure on introduction of 8-BrdG.

Introduction: The therapeutic strategy for superficial nonampullary duodenal epithelial tumors remains controversial. We developed a novel surgical technique for superficial nonampullary duodenal epithelial tumors. We report the initial two cases managed with this method. Materials and surgical technique: We endoscopically confirmed the tumor location and circumferentially incised the seromuscular layer of the duodenum along it. After circumferential seromyotomy, the submucosal layer was expanded by endoscopic insufflation, and the target lesion was sufficiently lifted. The submucosal layer, including the target lesion, was stapled and resected after confirming the absence of problems with endoscopic passage. The seromuscular layer was continuously sutured to bury and reinforce the stapler line. Single-incision laparoscopic surgery was performed in one case. The resected specimens measured 52 x 32 mm and 50 x 26 mm with negative surgical margins. Both patients were discharged without complications and demonstrated no evidence of stenosis. Discussion: Compared with previously reported procedures, this method of partial duodenectomy with seromyotomy for superficial nonampullary duodenal epithelial tumors is promising, simple, and safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]