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A simple and environmentally friendly method to prepare S-heterocycles by cyclization of aromatic thiols and diols with H2O as a byproduct is described. The Sc(OTf)3-catalyzed dehydrative cyclizations of aromatic thiols and diols provided the corresponding thiopyran and thiophene derivatives. Control experiments were also performed to obtain insights into the reaction pathway

Periodic structure change of semi-crystalline polyethylene induced by the temperature modulation was studied with temperature modulated X-ray diffractometry. Attention was paid to the changes of the long spacing, the crystal thickness and the amorphous thickness at temperatures up to 122 °C. An annealed sample and a quenched sample were measured. It was found that in the annealed sample the periodic changes of the long spacing and the amorphous thickness occur in-phase with the temperature modulation, but the crystal thickness changed anti-phase to the temperature modulation. On the other hand, in the quenched sample, all of the long spacing, the crystal thickness and the amorphous thickness changed in-phase to the temperature modulation. Two types of models for the structure changes, the insertion mode (model-i) and the surface crystallization and melting (model-s), were proposed. The difference of structure changes between the quenched and annealed samples was explained by transition of the type of the structure change from the model-i to the model-s with the annealing time.

Dew is a frequently observed meteorological phenomenon and its importance to the water balance in arid and semi-arid regions has been recognized. The focus of our study was to evaluate the potential significance of leaf wetting by dew on semi-arid crop production in terms of its effects on plant physiological functions. We conducted a field experiment in a maizefield in northwest China. Leaf wetting by dew occurred on 45% of days during cultivation periods, and leaf water potential was higher for leaves wetted by dew than for those not wetted during the morning. In addition, we conducted a potted maize control experiment consisting of four treatments (two different soil water treatments: water-stressed and well-watered, and two different leaf wetting treatments: with and without leaf wetting). The water-stressed treatment strongly inhibited plant physiological functions (decrease in leaf water potential, stomatal closure, decrease in photosynthetic rate); therefore, growth rate decreased. However, in the water-stressed with leaf wetting plot, the maize leaves absorbed water from their surfaces during nighttime, which significantly increased pre-dawn leaf water potential. Consequently, this plot showed a higher photosynthetic rate than did the water-stressed without leaf wetting plot during daytime. The positive effects of leaf wetting on plant physiological functions were not explicit in the well-watered plots. We assumed that the positive effects of leaf wetting were mainly manifest as effects on plant–water relations; such effects may be limited when plants have sufficient water. As a result, water-stressed plants with leaf wetting showed greater water use efficiency. Our results indicate the importance of leaf wetting by dew as a water resource in semi-arid crop production owing its effects on plant physiological functions.

The Japanese Clinical Practice Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2020 (J-SSCG 2020), a Japanese-specific set of clinical practice guidelines for sepsis and septic shock created as revised from J-SSCG 2016 jointly by the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the Japanese Association for Acute Medicine, was first released in September 2020 and published in February 2021. An English-language version of these guidelines was created based on the contents of the original Japanese-language version. The purpose of this guideline is to assist medical staff in making appropriate decisions to improve the prognosis of patients undergoing treatment for sepsis and septic shock. We aimed to provide high-quality guidelines that are easy to use and understand for specialists, general clinicians, and multidisciplinary medical professionals. J-SSCG 2016 took up new subjects that were not present in SSCG 2016 (e.g., ICU-acquired weakness [ICU-AW], post-intensive care syndrome [PICS], and body temperature management). The J-SSCG 2020 covered a total of 22 areas with four additional new areas (patient- and family-centered care, sepsis treatment system, neuro-intensive treatment, and stress ulcers). A total of 118 important clinical issues (clinical questions, CQs) were extracted regardless of the presence or absence of evidence. These CQs also include those that have been given particular focus within Japan. This is a large-scale guideline covering multiple fields; thus, in addition to the 25 committee members, we had the participation and support of a total of 226 members who are professionals (physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, clinical engineers, and pharmacists) and medical workers with a history of sepsis or critical illness. The GRADE method was adopted for making recommendations, and the modified Delphi method was used to determine recommendations by voting from all committee members.As a result, 79 GRADE-based recommendations, 5 Good Practice Statements (GPS), 18 expert consensuses, 27 answers to background questions (BQs), and summaries of definitions and diagnosis of sepsis were created as responses to 118 CQs. We also incorporated visual information for each CQ according to the time course of treatment, and we will also distribute this as an app. The J-SSCG 2020 is expected to be widely used as a useful bedside guideline in the field of sepsis treatment both in Japan and overseas involving multiple disciplines., other authors: Satoru Hashimoto,Daisuke Hasegawa,Junji Hatakeyama,Naoki Hara,Naoki Higashibeppu,Nana Furushima,Hirotaka Furusono,Yujiro Matsuishi,Tasuku Matsuyama,Yusuke Minematsu,Ryoichi Miyashita,Yuji Miyatake,Megumi Moriyasu,Toru Yamada,Hiroyuki Yamada,Ryo Yamamoto,Takeshi Yoshida,Yuhei Yoshida,Jumpei Yoshimura,Ryuichi Yotsumoto,Hiroshi Yonekura,Takeshi Wada,Eizo Watanabe,Makoto Aoki,Hideki Asai,Takakuni Abe,Yutaka Igarashi,Naoya Iguchi,Masami Ishikawa,Go Ishimaru,Shutaro Isokawa,Ryuta Itakura,Hisashi Imahase,Haruki Imura,Takashi Irinoda,Kenji Uehara,Noritaka Ushio,Takeshi Umegaki,Yuko Egawa,Yuki Enomoto,Kohei Ota,Yoshifumi Ohchi,Takanori Ohno,Hiroyuki Ohbe,Kazuyuki Oka,Nobunaga Okada,Yohei Okada,Hiromu Okano,Jun Okamoto,Hiroshi Okuda,Takayuki Ogura,Yu Onodera,Yuhta Oyama,Motoshi Kainuma,Eisuke Kako,Masahiro Kashiura,Hiromi Kato,Akihiro Kanaya,Tadashi Kaneko,Keita Kanehata,Ken-ichi Kano,Hiroyuki Kawano,Kazuya Kikutani,Hitoshi Kikuchi,Takahiro Kido,Sho Kimura,Hiroyuki Koami,Daisuke Kobashi,Iwao Saiki,Masahito Sakai,Ayaka Sakamoto,Tetsuya Sato,Yasuhiro Shiga,Manabu Shimoto,Shinya Shimoyama,Tomohisa Shoko,Yoh Sugawara,Atsunori Sugita,Satoshi Suzuki,Yuji Suzuki,Tomohiro Suhara,Kenji Sonota,Shuhei Takauji,Kohei Takashima,Sho Takahashi,Yoko Takahashi,Jun Takeshita,Yuuki Tanaka,Akihito Tampo,Taichiro Tsunoyama,Kenichi Tetsuhara,Kentaro Tokunaga,Yoshihiro Tomioka,Kentaro Tomita,Naoki Tominaga,Mitsunobu Toyosaki,Yukitoshi Toyoda,Hiromichi Naito,Isao Nagata,Tadashi Nagato,Yoshimi Nakamura,Yuki Nakamori,Isao Nahara,Hiromu Naraba,Chihiro Narita,Norihiro Nishioka,Tomoya Nishimura,Kei Nishiyama,Tomohisa Nomura,Taiki Haga,Yoshihiro Hagiwara,Katsuhiko Hashimoto,Takeshi Hatachi,Toshiaki Hamasaki,Takuya Hayashi,Minoru Hayashi,Atsuki Hayamizu,Go Haraguchi,Yohei Hirano,Ryo Fujii,Motoki Fujita,Naoyuki Fujimura,Hiraku Funakoshi,Masahito Horiguchi,Jun Maki,Naohisa Masunaga,Yosuke Matsumura,Takuya Mayumi,Keisuke Minami,Yuya Miyazaki,Kazuyuki Miyamoto,Teppei Murata,Machi Yanai,Takao Yano,Kohei Yamada,Naoki Yamada,Tomonori Yamamoto,Shodai Yoshihiro,Hiroshi Tanaka,Osamu Nishida, Guidelines

Background Computed tomography is the best noninvasive imaging modality for evaluating valve leaflet calcification. Objective To evaluate the association of aortic valve leaflet calcification with instantaneous valve opening and closing using dynamic multidetector computed tomography (MDCT). Methods We retrospectively evaluated 58 consecutive patients who underwent dynamic MDCT imaging. Aortic valve calcification (AVC) was quantified using the Agatston method. The aortic valve area (AVA) tracking curves were derived by planimetry during the cardiac cycle using all 20 phases (5% reconstruction). da/dt in cm 2 /s was calculated as the rate of change of AVA during opening (positive) or closing (negative). Patients were divided into 3 three groups according to Agatston score quartile: no AVC (Q2, Score 0, n = 18), mild AVC (Q3, Score 1–2254, n = 24), and severe AVC (Q4 Score >2254, n = 14). Results In multivariable linear regression, compared to the non AVC group, the mild and severe AVC groups had lower maximum AVA (by −1.71 cm 2 and −2.25 cm 2 , respectively), lower peak positive da/dt (by −21.88 cm 2 /s and −26.65 cm 2 /s, respectively), and higher peak negative da/dt (by 13.78 cm 2 /s and 18.11 cm 2 /s, respectively) (p Conclusions AVA and its opening and closing were influenced by leaflet calcification. The present study demonstrates the ability of dynamic MDCT imaging to assess quantitative aortic valve motion in a clinical setting.

The flapping flight of tiny insects such as flies or larger insects such as butterflies is of fundamental interest not only in biology itself but also in its practical use for the development of micro air vehicles (MAVs). It is known that a butterfly flaps downward for generating the lift force and backward for generating the thrust force. In this study, we consider a simple butterfly-like flapping wing–body model in which the body is a thin rod and the rectangular rigid wings flap in a simple motion. We investigate lift and thrust generation of the model by using the immersed boundary–lattice Boltzmann method. First, we compute the lift and thrust forces when the body of the model is fixed for Reynolds numbers in the range of 50–1000. In addition, we estimate the supportable mass for each Reynolds number from the computed lift force. Second, we simulate free flights when the body can only move translationally. It is found that the expected supportable mass can be supported even in the free flight except when the mass of the body relative to the mass of the fluid is too small, and the wing–body model with the mass of actual insects can go upward against the gravity. Finally, we simulate free flights when the body can move translationally and rotationally. It is found that the body has a large pitch motion and consequently gets off-balance. Then, we discuss a way to control the pitching angle by flexing the body of the wing–body model.

BackgroundInsulin resistance (IR) is characterized as a metabolic disorder syndrome that is upstream of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes mellitus (DM). This study investigated exercise training effects on the exercise tolerance and heart rate dynamics in patients with IR or pancreatic β-cell dysfunction.MethodsSeventy patients (mean age, 60.1 years) with myocardial infarction (MI) participating in a phase II cardiac rehabilitation program were studied. Patients diagnosed with DM were excluded. Homeostasis model-assessment indices were used to divide patients into three groups – A: IR; B: normal; and C: β-cell dysfunction.A cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPX) was performed and peak oxygen uptake (V˙O2) was measured. After baseline testing, subjects participated in a supervised, combined aerobic and resistance exercise program.ResultsPeak V˙O2 at baseline was comparable among the three groups, and it improved after training in all groups (p

Background: Exercise-induced pulmonary hypertension (EIPH) can be caused not only by pulmonary vas‐ culopathy, but also by a significant increase in left ventricular (LV) filling pressure. This study evaluated the influence of LV diastolic function on EIPH in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Methods: The study included 222 SSc patients (age 58.9 ± 13.1 years, 85% female) and 30 controls with similar age distribution. In all patients, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) and the ratio of early diastolic transmitral flow velocity to early diastolic mitral annular velocity (E/e’), as an index of LV filling pressure, were measured before and after exercise Doppler echocardiography using a Master’s two-step. Results: The patients with SSc were classified into either the non-EIPH (SPAP < 50 mmHg, n = 123, 56%) or EIPH (SPAP ≥ 50 mmHg, n = 97, 44%) group. No significant change from E/e’ at rest to E/e’ post exercise was found in the controls (8.8 and 9.6), whereas significant changes were found in the non-EIPH (8.7 and 9.5 p < 0.0001) and EIPH groups (10.3 and 12.6, p < 0.0001). In addition, significant differences in E/e’ at rest and post exercise were found between the non-EIPH and EIPH groups (p

Surgical timing of chronic aortic regurgitation (AR) remains a matter of debate because of limited data. This study assessed the prognostic value of exercise echocardiography in asymptomatic AR. This prospective study included 60 consecutive asymptomatic patients with isolated moderate or severe AR (mean regurgitant volume 56.7 ± 11.8 ml) and preserved ejection fraction who underwent exercise echocardiography. The clinical outcomes were defined by the presence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and the indication for aortic valve replacement (AVR) with class I or IIa classification in the current guidelines. During the average follow-up of 731 days, 12 patients suffered from the clinical events, including two patients developing MACE (3%) and ten patients indicating for AVR (17%). No difference in left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction at rest was found between the patients with and without the clinical events. The indexed LV diameters and LV volumes were significantly dilated in the patients with the clinical events. The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis resulted that the exercise LV end-systolic volume index (LVESVi) was significantly associated with the clinical outcomes [hazard ratio, 1.116; 95% CI (1.032–1.205); p = 0.006]. The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that exercise LVESVi was clearly stratified the event-free survival. Exercise LVESVi might be an independent predictor of prognosis in patients with asymptomatic moderate or severe AR.

In multi-hop wireless networks, broadcasting with flooding causes significant packet loss and battery power consumption, which is referred to as the broadcast storm problem. In this paper, we consider the broadcast storm problem in a broadcasting system in which each node generates a new packet periodically as in routing protocols. In order to resolve the problem, we apply network coding, which can reduce the number of forwarded packets by encoding several packets into a single packet at intermediate nodes. We propose a broadcasting system called asynchronous multiple-source network coding (AMSNC), where nodes encode received packets asynchronously generated from different source nodes. In order to apply multiple-source network coding to large multi-hop wireless networks, AMSNC has two mechanisms: timer-based coding scheduling and packet header format with compressed coding vector. With the timer-based coding scheduling, AMSNC effectively encodes packets asynchronously generated at source nodes. Further, with the packet header format with a compressed coding vector, we resolve the overhead problem, where the length of coding vectors becomes long in large multi-hop wireless networks. Simulation results show that AMSNC reduces the number of forwarded packets significantly and improves packet loss rate, end-to-end delay, and radio resource consumption.

Synchrotron X-ray microtomography was used to observe the shrinkage and annihilation behaviors of hydrogen micropores in three dimensions during hot and cold plastic deformation of an Al–Mg alloy. Whether complete healing of micropores is achieved after plastic deformation was examined by exposing the material to a high temperature after plastic deformation. Although micropores generally show a pattern of shrinking and closing, closer inspection of a single specimen revealed a variety of geometrically variable behaviors. It is noteworthy that some of the micropores are reinitiated in positions identical to those before their annihilation, even after an 8–22% macroscopic strain has been further applied after annihilation. We attribute local variations such as these to significant local strain variation, which we measured in a series of tomographic volumes by tracking the microstructural features.

Synchrotron X-ray microtomography has been utilized for the ex-situ observation of micro-pore growth/annihilation behaviors of a 2024 aluminum alloy at a high temperature. High-resolution experimental configurations have enabled the 3D reconstruction of micro-pore and intermetallic compound particle images with isotropic voxels with 0.088–0.474 μm edges. The variations in micro-pore shape, size and spatial distribution at the high temperature are readily observed, with the tomographic volumes then being provided for the quantitative image analysis of such quantities. It has been clarified that micro-pores, that appear to be nucleated heterogeneously on particles, exhibit the Ostwald growth behavior during the high temperature exposure. Three-dimensional finite element meshes have been generated to monitor distributions of local stress and strain in real materials with such micro-pores. Since micro-pores tend to lie along (former) grain boundary, there seems to be some anisotropic effect on the strain redistribution due to the existence of micro-pores. Since local strain elevation is predicted by 50–200% in the vicinity of micro-pores aligned along grain boundary, it can be inferred that ductile fracture would be promoted considerable by the growth of pre-existing micro-pores.

A Ce0.64Zr0.16Bi0.20O1.90 solid solution supported on La-stabilized γ-alumina was prepared by an impregnation method using citrate aqueous solutions. The low-temperature redox activity was demonstrated by the Ce0.64Zr0.16Bi0.20O1.90/Al2O3 catalyst, which is effective at low temperatures below 100 °C even after calcination at 1000 °C. Furthermore, the redox activity of the catalyst was promoted by the addition of silver, which is an oxygen permeable component. Partial dissolution of silver ions into the Ce0.64Zr0.16Bi0.20O1.90 lattice and the surface deposition of metallic silver were observed for the Ag/Ce0.64Zr0.16Bi0.20O1.90/Al2O3 catalyst. By detailed characterization of Ag-supported catalysts using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the reason for the promotion of the redox activity was attributed to both the increase in the defect oxygen species in the near-surface region and the oxygen withdrawal behavior from silver to Ce0.64Zr0.16Bi0.20O1.90/Al2O3.

This paper describes an experimental system for evaluating the sitting posture of human. This system will be able to be used to make a custom-made chair. A model for the effective support of the upper part of a human is proposed. The upper part is supported by five blocks of the chair back. Each block moves in two dimensional space of horizontal plane around the back bone of the human and is supported by an imaginary spring and an imaginary damper. This proposed model is realized by the impedance control used in the control of robots. The experimental system is developed and the model is implemented. Two types of experiment are performed and the effectiveness of the developed system is shown.

Introduction: The management of patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and low CHA2DS2-VASc scores remains controversial. Left atrial appendage (LAA) function is a known risk factor for embolisms. Hypothesis: In this study, we aimed to investigate the value of the relationship between transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) parameters and LAA function in low-risk (CHA2DS2-VASc score, 0-1) patients with NVAF. Methods: This retrospective study included 370 consecutive patients with NVAF who underwent both TTE and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The LAA emptying flow velocity was assessed using TEE. We established that an LAA emptying flow velocity of Results: Of the 370 patients, 146 (40%) had a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 0-1. These patients with low-risk NVAF were further stratified into the low-flow (LAA emptying flow velocity < 25 cm/s, n = 19) and normal-flow (LAA emptying flow velocity ≥ 25 cm/s, n = 127) groups according to LAA function (atrial fibrillation during TEE: n = 63). The age, gender, CHA2DS2-VASc score, and left ventricular ejection fraction did not differ between the two groups. The low-flow group had a significantly greater left atrial volume index (LAVI) than the normal-flow group (51.6 ± 19.8 vs. 32.3 ± 12.1 ml/m2, p < 0.01). A LAVI of 37.8 ml/m2 predicted a LAA emptying flow velocity of Conclusions: Approximately 13% of patients with NVAF and CHA2DS2-VASc score of 0-1 had reduced LAA emptying flow velocity as well as left atrial enlargement. The use of LAVI may improve the current embolism risk stratification system among these patients.

In the case of a cloud-based remote control system that enables users to control cloud-connected devices from anywhere at any time, costs tend to increase in proportion to the number of devices. Most of the costs are derived from a message broker, a key component of the system that keeps connections from devices and relays messages between users and devices. In this paper, we analyze the costs of the message broker under a typical remote-control workload and reveal that keep-alive communication costs account for a non-negligible percentage of the total. Then, we present a novel method to reduce the costs. By using the message broker as an echo back server for NAT timeout measurements initiated from devices, the method allows each device to extend the keep-alive interval adaptively by itself while keeping availability of devices and without customizing the existing message broker. The method also keeps extra resource consumption caused by the measurements under control. Finally, we evaluate our proposal on a public cloud and confirm its cost-effectiveness quantitatively.

New oxidation catalysts based on CeO2–ZrO2–Bi2O3 solid solutions were synthesized for the effective oxidation of the soot particulates in the automotive emissions. Temperature programmed reduction and O2 pulses experiments have been performed to examine the redox behavior of the CeO2–ZrO2–Bi2O3 catalysts. The CeO2–ZrO2–Bi2O3 solid solution showed both oxygen release below 300 °C and high oxygen storage capacity (OSC) over 1000 μmol O2 g−1, while those of the conventional CeO2–ZrO2 were 594 °C and 482 μmol O2 g−1, respectively. Furthermore, the low temperature reduction behavior of the CeO2–ZrO2–Bi2O3 solid solution was promoted by the addition of silver, which is an oxygen permeable component. The mechanism of the behavior was attributed to the synergetic effects of the partial solution of silver into the CeO2–ZrO2–Bi2O3 lattice and the surface deposition of silver on the solid solution. The reactivity of oxygen in the bulk of the catalyst greatly improves the soot combustion activities at low temperatures.

An X-ray microtomography combined with hard X-ray imaging microscopy, that potentially has a spatial resolution of the order of 10 to 100 nm, has been applied to the three-dimensional observation of internal microstructural features in overaged Al-Ag alloys. A Fresnel zone plate is used as an objective with a magnification of 49.3 times. Imaging of resolution test patterns has indicated spatial resolutions of around 180 and 200 nm in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. This paper reports the first impression of the microstructural imaging by means of such a high-resolution imaging microtomography. Precipitate microstructures are readily observed and quantified in terms of volume fraction and orientation. Conventional microtomography with a simple projection geometry is also applied for comparison purpose at the highest resolution level currently available at a third generation synchrotron facility. It would appear that the present technique provides a unique potential to observe the 3-D geometry and spatial distribution of nanoscopic features inside samples that are several orders of magnitude thicker than thin-foil specimens for TEM observation.

A CeO 2 –ZrO 2 –Bi 2 O 3 solid solution for a promoter in the automotive three-way catalysts was synthesized by the calcination of the co-precipitated oxalate powder at 1273 K. Compared with the conventional binary CeO 2 –ZrO 2 and ternary CeO 2 –ZrO 2 –Y 2 O 3 solid solutions, the present CeO 2 –ZrO 2 –Bi 2 O 3 solid solution can release and store oxygen efficiently at lower temperatures (600 K). The reason for such a behavior is attributed to the formation of oxygen vacancies to enhance the oxide anion mobility by substituting Ce 4+ or Zr 4+ site with Bi 3+ , and also to the simultaneous reduction of Ce 4+ and Bi 3+ in the CeO 2 –ZrO 2 –Bi 2 O 3 solid solution.

We report on a case of rhabdomyolysis related to sorafenib treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. A 70-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with fatigue, myalgia and an elevated creatine phosphokinase level. He was diagnosed as rhabdomyolysis related to sorafenib treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. After discontinuation of sorafenib, his fatigue and myalgia resolved and his creatine phosphokinase level returned to normal. Rhabdomyolysis related to sorafenib treatment is rare adverse effect. This is the first detailed case report of rhabdomyolysis related to sorafenib treatment.

This paper presents the system architecture of bidirectional communication for remote control of home devices. The system architecture is designed in view of the requirements such as feasibility for typical home users, scalability, and responsiveness of interactive operations. The proposed architecture, named Mediation architecture, features use of WebSocket and the hosting of connections from a home device and a user application at the same server to achieve low-latency communication. The experimental results obtained in a testbed environment indicate that the proposed system provides low latency that is practical for an actual service.

Low-temperature reduction behavior of a CeO2−ZrO2−Bi2O3 solid solution was promoted by the addition of silver, which is an oxygen permeable component. The reactivity of oxygen in the bulk of the catalyst highly improves the soot combustion activities at low temperatures.

Inflammatory fibroid polyp (IFP), which is defined as an inflammatory tumor of unknown etiology arising in the gastrointestinal organs, uncommonly occurs in the small and large intestine. Only 50 cases in the small and 10 in the large intestine can be seen in the Japanese literature as much as we can review. Case 1 was a 40-year-old woman. She was admitted to the hospital because of lower abdominal pain and constipation. A tumor of the ovary was suspected and the patient was operated on. An intussusception provoked by a tumor was found in the ileum. Partial excision of the ileum was performed. A 4×4×5cm pedunculated polyp was found. Case 2 was a 43-year-lold man. He was pointed out having a polyp of the large intestine on medical checkup. A 3×2cm sausage-like tumor was found in the sigmoid colon. Partial excision of the sigmoid colon was carried out. In both tumors hyperplasia of sparse chollagen fibers and fibroblasts, and infiltration of lymphocytes, plasmocytes, and mainly eosinophils were observed.

Free flights of the dragonfly-like flapping wing-body model are numerically investigated using the immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method. The governing parameters of the problem are the Reynolds number Re, the Froude number Fr, and the non-dimensional mass m, and we set the parameters at Re = 200, Fr = 15, and m = 51. First, we simulate free flights of the model without the pitching rotation for various values of the phase lag angle ϕ between the forewing and the hindwing motions. We find that the wing-body model goes forward in spite of ϕ, and the model with 0 and 90 goes upward against gravity. The model with goes almost horizontally, and the model with goes downward. That is, the moving direction of the model depends on the phase lag angle ϕ. Secondly, we simulate free flights with the pitching rotation for various values of the phase lag angle ϕ. It is found that in spite of ϕ the wing-body model turns gradually in the nose-up direction and goes back and down as the pitching angle increases. That is, the wing-body model cannot make a stable forward flight without control. Finally, we show a way to control the pitching motion by changing the lead–lag angle . We propose a simple proportional controller of which makes stable flights within and works well even for a large disturbance.

Microtomography combined with hard x-ray imaging microscopy has been employed to observe nanoscopic features in a material, which has, to date, only been done by the transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Here, the authors show a characteristic microstructure in an aluminum alloy, such as a slant gap between growing precipitates that impinge on each other due to the presence of a solute-depleted zone. Such observation is not possible by conventional projection microtomography even using the highest resolution available. It would appear that the present technique has a unique potential to observe nanoscopic features inside materials that are several orders of magnitude thicker than TEM specimens.