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We report a systematic study of free-space terahertz (THz) emission from photoconductive antennas (PCAs) nanodecorated with gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) deposited by using the pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technique. H-shaped dipole micro-structured PCAs fabricated on semi-insulating GaAs substrates were decorated under various PLD conditions. Thus, by increasing the number of laser ablation pulses (NLP) of the Au target, both the average size of Au-NPs and the surface loading of PCAs increase. Compared with non-decorated PCAs, those decorated with Au-NPs exhibit significant enhancement in the radiated THz pulse amplitude. A maximum enhancement of ∼2.3 was achieved at NLP = 1250. Under this optimal NLP condition, not only is the average Au-NP size (of ∼15 nm) favorable for light absorption via localized surface plasmons, but also the inter-distance between NPs, the light reflectance, and facilitated transport of photocarriers, all combine to yield a stronger THz field emission. For higher NLP (≥2000), NPs coalesce and tend to form continuous film NPs, which not only significantly limits the light scattering toward the GaAs underlying substrate, but also electrically shorts the PCA. Finally, the Au-NP decoration of GaAs PCAs was also found to improve their overall thermal conductivity, making them much more thermally stable than their non-decorated counterparts.

Objectives The aim of this AFIRE (Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Events With Rivaroxaban in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease) trial subgroup analysis was to examine rivaroxaban monotherapy benefits and their relation to the time between stenting and enrollment among patients after coronary stenting. Background Of 2,215 patients with atrial fibrillation and stable coronary artery disease in the AFIRE trial, rivaroxaban monotherapy was noninferior to rivaroxaban plus antiplatelet therapy (combination therapy) in terms of efficacy and superior for safety endpoints. However, thrombotic risk after antiplatelet therapy cessation remained a concern among 1,444 patients who had undergone coronary stenting >1 year before enrollment. Methods The benefits of rivaroxaban monotherapy in coronary stenting subgroups were assessed for efficacy (a composite of stroke, systemic embolism, myocardial infarction, unstable angina requiring revascularization, or death of any cause), safety (major bleeding defined according to International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria), ischemic endpoints, net adverse clinical event, and time between stenting and enrollment. Results Efficacy and safety endpoints for monotherapy were superior to combination therapy, with HRs of 0.70 for efficacy (95% CI: 0.50-0.98; P = 0.036) and 0.55 for safety (95% CI: 0.33-0.92; P = 0.019). For ischemic endpoints, the HR was 0.82 (95% CI: 0.58-1.15; P = 0.240). The HR became smaller with longer time between stenting and enrollment (efficacy, P for interaction = 0.158; safety, P = 0.097). Conclusions In patients with atrial fibrillation after coronary stenting, the benefits of rivaroxaban monotherapy for efficacy and safety endpoints were consistent with those in the whole AFIRE trial population. The benefits became apparent with longer time between stenting and enrollment. (Atrial Fibrillation and Ischemic Events With Rivaroxaban in Patients With Stable Coronary Artery Disease Study [AFIRE]; UMIN000016612 , NCT02642419 )

To realize safe mobile sensing in spaces around people, a flapping-wing robot with a weight of 1.15 g, wingspan of 115 mm, and three paired actuators is designed and fabricated in this study. The paired-wing actuators enable the suppression of wing–body and wing–wing coupling vibrations, as well as enhance the lift force. A model-based design of a stable flight controller was considered, where the lift force was assumed to work at an acting point on spatio-temporal average. Furthermore, an adaptive control law was employed for parameters that could not be measured. The effectiveness of the proposed controller was demonstrated through flight experiments.

We have developed a terahertz source with innovative dual-focus optics for emission collection. With a record conversion efficiency at room temperature, this source combines an average power of 74 mW and a field strength of 400 kV/cm.

We investigated the effects of adipose-derived extract (AE) on cultured chondrocytes and in vivo cartilage destruction. AE was prepared from human adipose tissues using a nonenzymatic approach. Cultured human chondrocytes were stimulated with interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) with or without different concentrations of AE. The effects of co-treatment with AE on intracellular signaling pathways and their downstream gene and protein expressions were examined using real-time PCR, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining. Rat AE prepared from inguinal adipose tissues was intra-articularly delivered to the knee joints of rats with experimental osteoarthritis (OA), and the effect of AE on cartilage destruction was evaluated histologically. In vitro, co-treatment with IL-1 beta combined with AE reduced activation of the p38 and ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), and subsequently downregulated the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS)-4, IL-6, and IL-8, whereas it markedly upregulated the expression of IL-1 receptor type 2 (IL-1R2) in chondrocytes. Intra-articular injection of homologous AE significantly ameliorated cartilage destruction six weeks postoperatively in the rat OA model. These results suggested that AE may exert a chondroprotective effect, at least in part, through modulation of the IL-1 beta-induced inflammatory signaling pathway by upregulation of IL-1R2 expression.

The γ-ray detector CATANA (CAesium iodide array for γ-ray Transitions in Atomic Nuclei at high isospin Asymmetry) has been constructed to detect γ-rays from nuclear reaction with radioactive ion beams at RIKEN RIBF. CATANA consists of 100 square frustum-shaped CsI(Na) crystals coupled with photomultiplier tubes. The crystal shapes and positions are arranged to minimize the distance between the crystals so as to have better calorimetric properties and Doppler-shift correction capability. The CATANA array was employed to measure the dipole response of the neutron-rich calcium isotopes 50,52Ca, and the γ-rays from several known transitions were observed.

A kinematically complete quasifree (p,pn) experiment in inverse kinematics was performed to study the structure of the Borromean nucleus ^{17}B, which had long been considered to have a neutron halo. By analyzing the momentum distributions and exclusive cross sections, we obtained the spectroscopic factors for 1s_{1/2} and 0d_{5/2} orbitals, and a surprisingly small percentage of 9(2)% was determined for 1s_{1/2}. Our finding of such a small 1s_{1/2} component and the halo features reported in prior experiments can be explained by the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum, revealing a definite but not dominant neutron halo in ^{17}B. The present work gives the smallest s- or p-orbital component among known nuclei exhibiting halo features and implies that the dominant occupation of s or p orbitals is not a prerequisite for the occurrence of a neutron halo.

A kinematically complete quasi-free $(p,pn)$ experiment in inverse kinematics was performed to study the structure of the Borromean nucleus $^{17}$B, which had long been considered to have neutron halo. By analyzing the momentum distributions and exclusive cross sections, we obtained the spectroscopic factors for $1s_{1/2}$ and $0d_{5/2}$ orbitals, and a surprisingly small percentage of 9(2)$\%$ was determined for $1s_{1/2}$. Our finding of such a small $1s_{1/2}$ component and the halo features reported in prior experiments can be explained by the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum, revealing a definite but not dominant neutron halo in $^{17}$B. The present work gives the smallest $s$- or $p$-orbital component among known nuclei exhibiting halo features, and implies that the dominant occupation of $s$ or $p$ orbitals is not a prerequisite for the occurrence of neutron halo., Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters,8 pages, 4 figures

We investigated the expression and localization of the receptor activator nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) in cartilage from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) of relevance to cartilage degeneration. We also examined the role of exogenous lymphotoxin (LT)-α on RANKL expression in human chondrocytes and its effect on in vitro osteoclast differentiation. Cartilage and synovial fluid samples were obtained from 45 patients undergoing total joint replacement surgery or joint puncture, including 24 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 21 patients with RA. RANKL expression in articular cartilage was examined by immunohistochemistry. LT-α concentrations in synovial fluid were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Normal human chondrocytes were stimulated with LT-α, and the relative mRNA levels of RANKL, osteoprotegerin (OPG), matrix metalloproteinase-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor were examined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Soluble RANKL protein in culture media was measured using ELISA, and membrane-bound RANKL protein in cells was examined by western blotting. Co-cultures of human chondrocytes with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were stimulated with macrophage-colony stimulating factor and LT-α, and osteoclast differentiation was evaluated by staining for tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. LT-α concentrations were higher in RA synovial fluid than in OA samples. The population of RANKL-positive chondrocytes of RA cartilage was higher than that of OA cartilage, and correlated with cartilage degeneration. Stimulation of cultured human chondrocytes by LT-α increased RANKL expression, the RANKL/OPG ratio, and angiogenic factors. Membrane-bound RANKL in chondrocytes was up-regulated after stimulation of LT-α, whereas soluble RANKL in culture medium did not increase. Co-cultures of human chondrocytes and PBMCs demonstrated that LT-α stimulated human chondrocytes to produce RANKL and induced osteoclastic differentiation of PBMCs. RANKL produced by chondrocytes may contribute to cartilage destruction during RA and LT-α could promote the expression of RANKL in human chondrocytes.

The formation of a dineutron in the nucleus $^{11}$Li is found to be localized to the surface region. The experiment measured the intrinsic momentum of the struck neutron in $^{11}$Li via the $(p,pn)$ knockout reaction at 246 MeV/nucleon. The correlation angle between the two neutrons is, for the first time, measured as a function of the intrinsic neutron momentum. A comparison with reaction calculations reveals the localization of the dineutron at $r\sim3.6$ fm. The results also support the density dependence of dineutron formation as deduced from Hartree-Fock-Bogoliubov calculations for nuclear matter.

Background Polymer- and carrier-free Biolimus-A9-coated stent (DCS) is expected better vascular healing compared with conventional durable polymer drug-eluting stents (DES). Moreover, DCS had been demonstrated in clinical trials to allow one-month short dual antiplatelet therapy, which might achieve sufficient healing at only 1 month after implantation. However, the process of vascular healing after DCS implantation has not been elucidated by angioscopic observation. Purpose To evaluate the process of vascular healing at 1 month and 12 months after DCS implantation. Methods This study included 57 patients treated with DCS or durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (EES) in our hospital from April 2017 to April 2019. Firstly, the angioscopic findings of DCS at 1 month (n=16) and 12 months (n=14) after implantation were respectively compared with EES at 12 months after implantation (EES-12, n=35) as a standard healing status of DES. Secondary, angioscopic findings of DCS at 1 month and 12 months after implantation were compared among the serially observed eight patients. Neointimal coverage (NIC) grade, yellow colour grade, and the presence of thrombus were evaluated. NIC grade was classified as grade 0 (no neointimal coverage), grade 1 (struts were bulged into lumen but covered), grade 2 (struts were embedded in the neointima but visible), or grade 3 (struts were fully embedded and invisible). Yellow colour grade was classified as grade 0 (white), grade 1 (light yellow), grade 2 (yellow), or grade 3 (intensive yellow). Results At 1 month after DCS implantation, dominant NIC grade was lower (0.3±0.5 vs. 1.5±0.7, p Conclusion Compared with EES-12, vascular healing of DCS was inferior at 1 month but superior at 12 months. Figure 1 Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Detailed spectroscopy of the neutron-unbound nucleus 28 F has been performed for the first time following proton/neutron removal from 29 Ne / 29 F beams at energies around 230 MeV / nucleon . The invariant-mass spectra were reconstructed for both the 27 F ( * ) + n and 26 F ( * ) + 2 n coincidences and revealed a series of well-defined resonances. A near-threshold state was observed in both reactions and is identified as the 28 F ground state, with S n ( 28 F ) = − 199 ( 6 ) keV , while analysis of the 2 n decay channel allowed a considerably improved S n ( 27 F ) = 1620 ( 60 ) keV to be deduced. Comparison with shell-model predictions and eikonal-model reaction calculations have allowed spin-parity assignments to be proposed for some of the lower-lying levels of 28 F . Importantly, in the case of the ground state, the reconstructed 27 F + n momentum distribution following neutron removal from 29 F indicates that it arises mainly from the 1 p 3 / 2 neutron intruder configuration. This demonstrates that the island of inversion around N = 20 includes 28 F , and most probably 29 F , and suggests that 28 O is not doubly magic.

Spectroscopic factors of neutron-hole and proton-hole states in 131Sn and 131In, respectively, were measured using one-nucleon removal reactions from doubly magic 132Sn at relativistic energies. For 131In, a 2910(50)-keV γ ray was observed for the first time and tentatively assigned to a decay from a 5=2− state at 3275(50) keV to the known 1=2− level at 365 keV. The spectroscopic factors determined for this new excited state and three other single-hole states provide first evidence for a strong fragmentation of singlehole strength in 131Sn and 131In. The experimental results are compared to theoretical calculations based on the relativistic particle-vibration coupling

Background Although transthoracic Doppler echocardiography is widely used for estimating left ventricular stroke volume (SV), accelerated blood flow in the left ventricular (LV) outflow tract may lead to overestimation. SV can be calculated accurately from left ventricular end-systolic and end-diastolic volume determined by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT). However, radiation exposure as well as the use of contrast medium hampers its routine use. Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine whether the correction of SV measured by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography (SVdop) can accurately predicts SV obtained by MDCT (SVct). Methods： We enrolled consecutive 61 patients who underwent both MDCT and transthoracic echocardiography. Patients with moderate or severe valvular diseases and valve replacement surgery were excluded. Correction of SV was explored with SVct as a reference. Results： Univariate analysis showed that SVdop (r = 0.42, P = 0.0007) and patient age (r=-0.50, P Conclusion： The new correction formula of SVdop may correct the overestimation of SV obtained by pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography, although the formula remains to be validated in a separate cohort of patients. Abstract P92 Figure

Spectroscopy of 16B plays an essential role in understanding the halo structure in 17B, but very limited knowledge has so far been obtained. We have carried out a kinematically complete measurement on the spectroscopy of 16B by using quasi-free (p,pn) reaction on 17B. The level scheme of 16B up to 5 MeV was made clear for the first time.

Summary Objective FGFR3 chondrodysplasia is caused by a gain-of-function mutation of the FGFR3 gene. The disease causes abnormal growth plate cartilage and lacks effective drug treatment. We sought to establish an in vivo model for the study of FGFR3 chondrodysplasia pathology and drug testing. Design We created cartilage from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and transplanted the cartilage into the subcutaneous spaces of immunodeficient mice. We then created cartilage from the hiPSCs of patients with FGFR3 chondrodysplasia and transplanted them into immunodeficient mice. We treated some mice with a FGFR inhibitor after the transplantation. Results Xenografting the hiPSC-derived cartilage reproduced human growth plate cartilage consisting of zones of resting, proliferating, prehypertrophic and hypertrophic chondrocytes and bone in immunodeficient mice. Immunohistochemistry of xenografts using anti-human nuclear antigen antibody indicated that all chondrocytes in growth plate cartilage were human, whereas bone was composed of human and mouse cells. The pathology of small hypertrophic chondrocytes due to up-regulated FGFR3 signaling in FGFR3 skeletal dysplasia was recapitulated in growth plate cartilage formed in the xenografts of patient-specific hiPSC-derived cartilage. The mean diameters of hypertrophic chondrocytes between wild type and thanatophoric dysplasia were significantly different (95% CI: 13.2–26.9; n = 4 mice, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA)). The pathology was corrected by systemic administration of a FGFR inhibitor to the mice. Conclusion The patient-specific growth plate cartilage xenograft model for FGFR3 skeletal dysplasia indicated recapitulation of pathology and effectiveness of a FGFR inhibitor for treatment and warrants more study for its usefulness to study disease pathology and drug testing.

To develop a novel cough ability evaluation system through cough sounds, this study verified the effects of three types of microphones (bone conduction mic, mini speech mic, and smartphone mic) on the estimated cough peak flow. From the results of the non-linear regression analysis, the determination coefficients showed high values (greater than 0.7) for the three types of microphones investigated. Furthermore, for the cough sounds recorded with the bone conduction mic and the smartphone mic, including the height variable in the revised prediction equation of the cough peak flow improved the accuracy of the estimated cough peak flow.

Spallation reaction study has been performed for the long-lived fission products 137Cs, 90Sr and 107Pd. Isotopic cross sections on proton and deuteron were obtained by using the inverse kinematics technique at the RIKEN Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory. It was found that the deuteron-induced cross sections are larger than the proton-induced ones for the light-mass products. The experimental data were compared with the SPACS semi-empirical parameterization and a theoretical calculation including both the intra-nuclear cascade and evaporation models by the PHITS transport code. It was found that the spallation reaction could be a promising mechanism for the transmutation of 137Cs and 90Sr due to the large total cross section.

Dorsal dislocation of metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joints of the lesser toe frequently occurs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and may cause painful and uncomfortable plantar callosities and ulceration. The current study examined the reliability and clinical relevance of a novel radiographic parameter (the MTP overlap distance [MOD]) in evaluating the severity of MTP joint dislocation. The subjects of the current study were 147 RA patients (276 feet, 1104 toes). MOD, defined as the overlap distance of the metatarsal head and the proximal end of the phalanx, was measured on plain radiographs. The relationship between the MOD and clinical complaints (forefoot pain and/or callosity formation) was analyzed to create a severity grading system. As a result, toes with callosities had a significantly larger MOD. ROC analysis revealed that the MOD had a high AUC for predicting an asymptomatic foot (−0.70) and callosities (0.89). MOD grades were defined as follows: grade 1, 0 ≤ MOD &lt, 5 mm, grade 2, 5 ≤ MOD &lt, 10 mm, and grade 3, MOD ≥ 10 mm. The intra- and inter-observer reliability of the MOD grade had high reproducibility. Furthermore, the MOD and MOD grade improved significantly after joint-preserving surgeries for lesser toe deformities. Our results suggest that MOD and MOD grade might be useful tools for the evaluation of deformities of the lesser toe and the effect of surgical intervention for MTP joints in patients with RA.

The isospin characters of low-energy dipole excitations in neutron-rich unstable nucleus 20O were investigated, for the first time in unstable nuclei. Two spectra obtained from a dominant isovector probe (View the MathML sourceO20+Au) and a dominant isoscalar probe (View the MathML sourceO20+α) were compared and analyzed by the distorted-wave Born approximation to extract independently the isovector and isoscalar dipole strengths. Two known 1−1− states with large isovector dipole strengths at energies of 5.36(5) MeV (View the MathML source11−) and 6.84(7) MeV (View the MathML source12−) were also excited by the isoscalar probe. These two states were found to have different isoscalar dipole strengths, 2.70(32)% (View the MathML source11−) and 0.67(12)% (View the MathML source12−), respectively, in exhaustion of the isoscalar dipole-energy-weighted sum rule. The difference in isoscalar strength indicated that they have different underlying structures. ispartof: Physics Letters B vol:768 pages:387-392 status: published

Spectroscopic factors of neutron-hole and proton-hole states in ^{131}Sn and ^{131}In, respectively, were measured using one-nucleon removal reactions from doubly magic ^{132}Sn at relativistic energies. For ^{131}In, a 2910(50)-keV γ ray was observed for the first time and tentatively assigned to a decay from a 5/2^{-} state at 3275(50) keV to the known 1/2^{-} level at 365 keV. The spectroscopic factors determined for this new excited state and three other single-hole states provide first evidence for a strong fragmentation of single-hole strength in ^{131}Sn and ^{131}In. The experimental results are compared to theoretical calculations based on the relativistic particle-vibration coupling model and to experimental information for single-hole states in the stable doubly magic nucleus ^{208}Pb.

Isotope-production cross sections for p-, d-, and C-induced spallation reactions on Nb93 at 113 MeV/nucleon were measured using the inverse-kinematics method employing secondary targets of CH2, CD2, and C. The measured cross sections for Mo90, Nb90, Y86,88 produced by p-induced reactions were found to be consistent with those measured by the conventional activation method. We performed benchmark tests of the reaction models INCL-4.6, JQMD, and JQMD-2.0 implemented in the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System (PHITS) and of the nuclear data libraries JENDL-4.0/HE, TENDL-2017, and ENDF/B-VIII.0. The model calculations also showed generally good agreement with the measured isotope-production cross sections for p-, d-, and C-induced reactions. It also turns out that, among the three nuclear data libraries, JENDL-4.0/HE provides the best agreement with the measured data for the p-induced reactions. We compared the present Nb93 data with the Zr93 data, that were measured previously by the same inverse kinematics method (Kawase et al., Prog. Theor. Exp. Phys. 2017, 093D03 (2017)2050-391110.1093/ptep/ptx110), with particular attention to the effect of neutron-shell closure on isotope production in p- and d-induced spallation reactions. The isotopic distributions of the measured production cross sections in the Zr93 data showed noticeable jumps at neutron number N=50 in the isotopic chains of ΔZ=0 and -1, whereas no such jump appeared in isotopic chain of ΔZ=0 in the Nb93 data. From INCL-4.6 + GEM calculations, we found that the jump formed in the evaporation process is smeared out by the intranuclear cascade component in Nb91 produced by the Nb93(p,p2n) and (d,d2n) reactions on Nb93. Moreover, for Nb93, the distribution of the element-production cross sections as a function of the change in proton number ΔZ is shifted to smaller ΔZ than for Zr93, because the excited Nb prefragments generated by the cascade process are more likely to emit protons than the excited Zr prefragments, due to the smaller proton-separation energies of the Nb isotopes.

We present an investigation of the structure of 13Be obtained via a kinematically complete measurement of the (p,pn) reaction in inverse kinematics at 265 MeV/nucleon. The relative energy spectrum of 13Be is compared to Transfer-to-the-Continuum calculations which use as structure inputs the overlaps of the 14Be ground-state wave function, computed in a three-body model, with the unbound states of the 13Be residual nucleus. The key role of neutron p-wave orbital in the interpretation of the low-relative-energy part of the spectrum is discussed. Keywords: Quasi-free scattering, Borromean nuclei, Three-body model, Resonances

We conducted fast heating of a core plasma produced by counter-illumination of two beam bundles of implosion lasers for two incident directions of the heating laser. For the axial heating configuration, wherein the heating laser was incident along the coaxial direction of the implosion lasers, the size and density of the counter-imploded core plasma were estimated. The incident timing of the heating laser was determined. Although the heating laser was incident during the stagnation of the core plasma, there were no considerable increases in the intensity of X-rays with energies beyond 1 keV and the yield of the thermonuclear fusion neutrons. Effective core heating did not occur due to the interaction of the heating laser with the low-density ablated plasma far from the core. On the other hand, for the transverse heating configuration, wherein the heating laser was incident from the transverse direction of the implosion laser axis, optimization of the incident timing of the heating laser was not achieved. However, two-dimensional radiation-hydrodynamic simulation revealed that a heating laser can directly interact with a core plasma and effective heating is expected. In our scheme, transverse heating configuration appears to be significant.

A Monte Carlo (MC) code simulating the kinetics of two-particle collisions has shown to have certain advantages in the spectral analysis of neutrons from fast-ignition inertial confinement fusion (ICF). The MC code quickly displays neutron spectra produced in the expected fusion plasma kinetics (incl. ion energy spectrum, anisotropy, and collision geometry). This allows to explore various potential mechanisms of neutron production without using time-consuming hydrodynamic or particle simulations and makes it possible to give a feedback to ongoing experiments. The validity of this model was demonstrated in the ”cone-free-shell” fast ignition experiment at the GEKKO-XII - LFEX laser facility, where the model provided a clear explanation for the significant spectral modulation of D(d, n)3He neutrons generated through the interaction between a high-power laser and a long-scale plasma.