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Highly sensitive detection method of dibenzyl disulfide (DBDS) in insulation oil was realized using solid phase extraction (SPE) with active alumina adsorbent followed by gas chromatography equipped with a mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The detection limit of DBDS is around 0.1 ppm. This method is also useful for detecting bibenzyl (BiBZ) and dibenzyl sulfide (DBS). The good relationship between the weight change of copper strip and BiBZ /DBS formation was obtained under heating with insulating oil containing DBDS and copper strip, so it was clarified that BiBZ and DBS are the byproducts of the copper sulfide generation with the chemical reaction between DBDS and copper. The chemical reaction formula between DBDS and copper was proposed based on the assumption that copper sulfide should be generated via Cu-DBDS complex. The temperature dependence of the weight change of copper strip before and after the heating in the insulating oil containing DBDS was quantitatively explained with the chemical reaction formula. Index Terms--Copper, copper compounds, oil insulation, paper insulation, sulfur, sulfur compounds, transformers, transformer oil, chromatography.

Effects of oil brand, temperature and atmosphere conditions on copper sulfide deposition on insulating paper were investigated by thermal aging test. Copper sulfide deposition occurred in a certain oil brand and dibenzyi disulfide (DBDS) was found in the oil. There was an incubation period observed before copper sulfide deposition occurred. Copper sulfide deposition was accelerated by temperature. The deposition rate after the incubation period became twice when the heating temperature was increased by approximately 10 [degrees]C. The incubation period and the deposition rate were the same at 140 [degrees]C whether the thermal aging test was done in air or nitrogen atmosphere. On the other hand, the incubation period in air was shorter than that in nitrogen at 120 [degrees]C. The deposition rate was not affected by atmosphere condition at 120 [degrees]C. Intermediate substances due to copper dissolution into oil are introduced to explain the incubation period and the atmosphere dependence of incubation period observed at 120 [degrees]C. Index Terms--Copper, copper compounds, oil insulation, paper insulation, sulfur, sulfur compounds, transformers.

The suppressive effect of triazole-based passivators such as 1,2,3-benzotriazole (BTA) and Irgamet 39[TM] (CIBA Specialty, Basel, Switzerland) on the deposition of copper sulfide on insulating paper in transformers and reactors was investigated by heating test with bare and paper-wrapped copper plates. Commercially available mineral oil meeting the specification of IEC 60296 was used. This oil contained 136 ppm wt./wt, of dibenzyl disulfide (DBDS). The deposition of copper sulfide occurred after 144 h of heating at 140 [degrees]C without these passivators. However, little deposition of copper sulfide occurred even after 432 h of heating when either of these passivators was added to the oil. The concentration of dissolved copper significantly decreased when either of these passivators was added to the oil, which reflects the formation of complex layers on the copper surface caused by the reaction between these passivators and copper. The complex layers were confirmed by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer (TOF-SIMS). The suppressive effect was derived from retarding copper from dissolving into the oil due to the reaction inhibition between DBDS and copper by the complex layers. The duration of these passivators can be determined by the durability of the complex layers. Index Terms--Copper, copper compounds, oil insulation, paper insulation, sulfur, sulfur compounds, transformers, transformer oil.

Reports on the design and fabrication for a thin-film head. Number of coil turns for the head; Data on the measured parameters of 48- and 30-turn heads; Disk properties and read/write conditions; Information on noise levels and signal-to-noise ratios.

Our purpose was to reveal potential regional variations in water molecular diffusivity within each cerebral hemisphere and across the right and left hemispheres. Diffusion-weighted images of 44 healthy right-handed adult male subjects were obtained using a diffusion tensor imaging sequence. Mean diffusivity (MD) values in subcortical white matter (WM) within 39 regions in each hemisphere were measured using an automated method. Intrahemispheric comparisons of MDs in subcortical WM were performed among six brain regions (frontal, parietal, occipital and temporal lobes and pre- and postcentral gyri). Interhemispheric comparisons of MDs were performed between the right and left counterparts of the 39 regions. In both hemispheres, diffusivity in the precentral gyrus was lower than those in other regions, while diffusivity in the parietal lobe was higher than others. MD asymmetry in which the left was lower than the right was found in the parietal lobe, middle occipital gyrus, and medial and orbital aspects of the frontal lobe. The converse asymmetry was revealed in the frontal operculum, supplementary motor cortex, temporal lobe, limbic cortices, precuneus and cuneus. Our results revealed significant intra- and interhemispheric regional variations in MD in subcortical WM, which may be related to different densities of axons and myelin sheaths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine whether arterial spin labelling (ASL) at 3-T MR imaging can be used to discriminate individuals with Alzheimer's disease (AD) from cognitively normal subjects. Twenty AD patients and 23 cognitively normal control subjects were studied using ASL on a 3-T MR imager. Absolute regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) maps were calculated. In addition, normalized rCBF maps were obtained using CBF in the sensorimotor cortex for normalization. A voxel-wise comparison of these rCBF maps between the AD and control groups was performed using the two-sample t test. Individuals with AD were discriminated from control subjects based on mean rCBF values within a region-of-interest defined by the t test, and the discriminating performance was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Comparisons of both absolute and normalized rCBF maps revealed areas of significant hypoperfusion caused by the effects of AD in the bilateral precunei and posterior cingulate gyri. ROC analyses resulted in area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.861 to 0.877 for absolute and 0.910 to 0.932 for normalized rCBF. Our results suggest that ASL at 3-T MR imaging can be used to help discriminate individuals with AD from normal subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An oral protist Trichomonas tenax ATCC 30207 was investigated for the ability to lyse erythrocytes of sheep, rabbits, horses and humans. Five fractions, including intact cells, culture supernatant, culture filtrate, cell debris and lipid-enriched fractions, were prepared from the protozoan cells, and their hemolytic activities were assayed under various conditions. All the samples except culture supernatant had hemolytic activities, which were due to two different kinds of hemolysins. One hemolysin was protein-like and mainly found in cell-free fractions: culture supernatant and culture filtrate. It was heat-labile and inhibited by various cysteine-proteinase inhibitors. The other hemolysin was lipid-like and found in cell-associated fractions: intact cells, cell-debris and lipid- enriched fractions. It was heat-stable, organic solvent-tolerant and unaffected by various proteinase inhibitors and stimulators. These results suggested that T. tenax ATCC 30207 possessed two distinct hemolysins, protein and lipid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An oral parasite Trichomonas tenax ATCC 30207 synthesizes and secretes various proteinases. By gelatin-SDS-PAGE, we found five proteinases bands (30, 37, 46, 51 and 60 kDa) in cell lysate and four bands (37, 45, 52 and 60 kDa) in culture filtrate. The proteinases hydrolyzed acid soluble type I collagen as well as gelatin. The enzymes were suggested to possess typical characteristics of cysteine proteinases based on the patterns of inhibition and activation by various factors. Based on relative efficiencies of synthetic substrates, most of them were most likely cathepsin B-like enzymes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We aimed to identify patients who would benefit from basal insulin-supported oral therapy (BOT) with a glinide and an α-glucosidase inhibitor (a fixed-dose combination tablet of mitiglinide 10 mg and voglibose 0.2 mg) in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients., Methods: Patients who were hospitalized to improve hyperglycemia received basal-bolus insulin therapy. After the reduction of glucose toxicity, a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test and a glucagon test were performed. Thereafter, the basal-bolus insulin therapy was switched to BOT with mitiglinide, followed by further addition of voglibose. Interstitial glucose levels were continuously monitored throughout the study period. Diurnal glucose profile was recorded and analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether their percentage of time in range (TIR, 70-180 mg/dL) under BOT with mitiglinide/voglibose was higher than 70% or not, and the differences in clinical characteristics between the groups were analyzed., Results: Twenty patients were enrolled, and 19 of them completed the study. BOT with mitiglinide/voglibose achieved ≥ 70% of TIR in thirteen patients. The area under the curve of serum C-peptide levels during the oral glucose tolerance test was significantly higher in the patients with ≥ 70% of TIR. The daily insulin dosages and blood glucose profiles were comparable between the two groups., Conclusions: The efficacy of BOT with mitiglinide/voglibose depended on residual insulin secretory abilities. This therapy would be a useful therapeutic option for patients with type 2 diabetes., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestHideki Kamiya: lecture fees: Novo Nordisk Pharma, Sanofi, Sumitomo Pharma, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly Japan, Daiichi Sankyo, Ono Pharmaceutical, Kissei Pharmaceutical, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Kowa, Novartis Pharma, MSD, Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Ltd., Terumo, Taisho Pharmaceutical. Research funding: Ono Pharmaceutical, Eli Lilly Japan, Kissei Pharmaceutical. Subsidies or donations: Ono Pharmaceutical, Taisho Pharmaceutical, Sumitomo Pharma, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Japan Tobacco, Novo Nordisk Pharma. Endowed departments by commercial entities: Ono Pharmaceutical, Abbott Japan, Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Kowa, Terumo. Jiro Nakamura: lecture fees: Novo Nordisk Pharma, Sanofi, Daiichi Sankyo, Ono Pharmaceutical, Novartis Pharma, MSD, Taisho Pharmaceutical, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Terumo. Research funding: Eli Lilly Japan, Ono Pharmaceutical, Kissei Pharmaceutical. Subsidies or donations: MSD, Ono Pharmaceutical, Sumitomo Pharma, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, Japan Tobacco, Novo Nordisk Pharma, Taisho Pharmaceutical. Endowed departments by commercial entities: Ono Pharmaceutical, Abbott Japan, Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Kowa, Terumo. The other authors declare no conflict of interest., (© The Japan Diabetes Society 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

This study investigates whether the measurement of glucocorticoid metabolites (GCMs) in feces is a useful method for the noninvasive evaluation of stress in the endangered Tsushima leopard cats ( Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus ). Feces were collected from six seemingly healthy and five diseased (renal dysfunction, adrenal tumor, hernia, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukemia virus (FeLV)) Tsushima leopard cats in captivity. Fecal GCMs were measured by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for cortisol. Individuals that experienced a physical examination under anesthesia showed increased fecal GCMs 1-2 days after the event. An individual diagnosed with disk herniation showed decreased fecal GCMs after medical administration. The mean fecal GCM concentrations for six healthy animals and five diseased animals were 0.66 ± 0.08 and 2.65 ± 0.76 μg/g, respectively, which was significantly different. Cortisol and corticosterone were not clearly detected in the feces examined by the use of the HPLC-EIA analysis. GCMs may be excreted in the feces; however, the exact identification of these substances is not achieved. The results suggest that the measurement of fecal GCMs is useful for the husbandry and health management of this species.

Aims/introduction: Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are traditionally regarded as microvascular complications. However, these complications may share similar neurodegenerative pathologies. Here we evaluate the correlations in the severity of DPN and changes in the thickness of neuroretinal layers to elucidate whether these complications exist at similar stages of progression., Materials and Methods: A total of 43 patients with type 2 diabetes underwent a nerve conduction study (NCS), a macular optical coherence tomography, and a carotid artery ultrasound scan. Diabetic polyneuropathy was classified according to Baba's classification using NCS. The retina was automatically segmented into four layers; ganglion cell complex (GCC), inner nuclear layer/outer plexiform layer (INL/OPL), outer nuclear layer/photoreceptor inner and outer segments, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The thickness of each retinal layer was separately analyzed for the fovea and the parafovea., Results: Fourteen patients were classified as having moderate to severe diabetic polyneuropathy. The thicknesses of the foveal and parafoveal INL/OPL increased in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy compared with patients without. The thickness of the parafoveal retinal pigment epithelium decreased in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. The thinning of parafoveal ganglion cell complex and foveal and parafoveal retinal pigment epithelium were positively correlated with deterioration of nerve functions in the nerve conduction study, but the thickening of INL/OPL was positively correlated with the nerve function deterioration. The thinning of parafoveal ganglion cell complex and foveal retinal pigment epithelium were positively correlated with the thickening of the carotid intima-media., Conclusions: Depending on the progression of diabetic polyneuropathy, the ganglion cell complex and retinal pigment epithelium became thinner and the INL/OPL became thicker. These retinal changes might be noteworthy for pathological investigations and for the assessment of diabetic polyneuropathy and diabetic retinopathy., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Diabetes Investigation published by Asian Association for the Study of Diabetes (AASD) and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Aims/introduction: Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) develops in the early stage of diabetes. However, no common diagnostic protocol has yet been established. Here, to verify that the flicker electroretinogram using a hand-held device can detect the early dysfunction of the peripheral nervous system in patients with diabetes, we investigated the correlation between the progression of DPN and neuroretinal dysfunction., Materials and Methods: In total, 184 participants with type 1 or 2 diabetes underwent a flicker electroretinogram (ERG) using a hand-held device RETeval™ and nerve conduction study. Participants were also evaluated for intima-media thickness, ankle-brachial index, toe brachial index and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity. Parameters of the nerve conduction study were used to diagnose the severity according to Baba's classification. A multiple regression analysis was used to examine the associations of ERG parameters with the severity of DPN categorized by Baba's classification. Diagnostic properties of the device in DPN were evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve., Results: A multiple regression model to predict the severity of DPN was generated using ERG. In the model, moderate-to-severe DPN was effectively diagnosed (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.692, sensitivity 56.5%, specificity 78.3%, positive predictive value 70.6%, negative predictive value 66.1%, positive likelihood ratio 2.60, negative likelihood ratio 0.56). In the patients without diabetic retinopathy, the implicit time and amplitude in ERG significantly correlated with the parameters of the nerve conduction study, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity and intima-media thickness., Conclusions: Electroretinogram parameters obtained by the hand-held device successfully predict the severity of DPN. The device might be useful to evaluate DPN., (© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Diabetes Investigation published by Asian Association for the Study of Diabetes (AASD) and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)