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This study aimed to (1) develop the physical fitness age, which is the biological age based on physical function, (2) evaluate the validity of the physical fitness age for the assessment of sarcopenia, and (3) examine the factors associated with the difference between physical fitness age and chronological age.Cross-sectional study.Community-dwelling older adults and outpatients.A formula for calculating the physical fitness age was created based on the usual walking speed, handgrip strength, one-leg standing time, and chronological age of 4,076 older adults from the pooled data of community-dwelling and outpatients using the principal component analysis. For the validation of the physical fitness age, we also used pooled data from community-dwelling older adults (n = 1929) and outpatients (n = 473). Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus. The association of D-age (the difference between physical and chronological ages) with cardiovascular risk factors, renal function, and cardiac function was examined.The receiver operating characteristic analysis, with sarcopenia as the outcome, showed that the area under the curve (AUC) of physical fitness age was greater than that of chronological age (AUC 0.87 and 0.77, respectively, p0.001). Binomial logistic regression analysis revealed that the D-age was significantly associated with sarcopenia after adjustment for covariates (odds ratio 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.19-1.26; p0.001). In multivariate linear regression analysis with D-age as the dependent variable, D-age was independently associated with a history of diabetes mellitus (or hemoglobin A1c as a continuous variable), obesity, depression, and low serum albumin level. D-age was also correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate derived from serum cystatin C, brain natriuretic peptide, and ankle-brachial index, reflecting some organ function and arteriosclerosis.Compared to chronological age, physical fitness age calculated from handgrip strength, one-leg standing time, and usual walking speed was a better scale for sarcopenia. D-age, which could be a simple indicator of physical function, was associated with modifiable factors, such as poor glycemic control, obesity, depressive symptoms, and malnutrition.

We present 850um imaging of the XMM-LSS field observed for 170 hours as part of the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope SCUBA-2 Large eXtragalactic Survey (S2LXS). S2LXS XMM-LSS maps an area of 9 square degrees, reaching a moderate depth of 1-sigma ~ 4 mJy/beam. This is the largest contiguous area of extragalactic sky mapped by JCMT at 850um to date. The wide area of the S2LXS XMM-LSS survey allows us to probe the ultra-bright (S_850um > 15 mJy), yet rare submillimetre population. We present the S2LXS XMM-LSS catalogue, which comprises 40 sources detected at >5-sigma significance, with deboosted flux densities in the range of 7 mJy to 48 mJy. We robustly measure the bright-end of the 850um number counts at flux densities >7 mJy, reducing the Poisson errors compared to existing measurements. The S2LXS XMM-LSS observed number counts show the characteristic upturn at bright fluxes, expected to be motivated by local sources of submillimetre emission and high-redshift strongly lensed galaxies. We find that the observed 850um number counts are best reproduced by model predictions that include either strong lensing or source blending from a 15 arcsec beam, indicating that both may make an important contribution to the observed over-abundance of bright single dish 850um selected sources. We make the S2LXS XMM-LSS 850um map and >5-sigma catalogue presented here publicly available., Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Physical chemistry, chemical physics 25(19), 13784 - 13791 (2023). doi:10.1039/D2CP05942H, We present a study on molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions (MFPADs) of small molecules using circularly polarized synchrotron light. We find that the main forward-scattering peaks of the MFPADs are slightly tilted with respect to the molecular axis. This tilt angle is directly connected to the molecular bond length by a simple, universal formula. We apply the derived formula to several examples of MFPADs of C 1s and O 1s photoelectrons of CO, which have been measured experimentally or obtained by means of ab initio modeling. In addition, we discuss the influence of the back-scattering contribution that is superimposed over the analyzed forward-scattering peak in the case of homo-nuclear diatomic molecules such as N2., Published by RSC Publ., Cambridge

We analyse the molecular and atomic emission lines of 71 bright Herschel-selected galaxies between redshifts 1.4 to 4.6 detected by the Atacama Large Millimetre/submillimetre Array. These lines include a total of 156 CO, [C I], and H2O emission lines. For 46 galaxies, we detect two transitions of CO lines, and for these galaxies we find gas properties similar to those of other dusty star-forming galaxy (DSFG) samples. A comparison to photo-dissociation models suggests that most of Herschel-selected galaxies have similar interstellar medium conditions as local infrared-luminous galaxies and high-redshift DSFGs, although with denser gas and more intense far-ultraviolet radiation fields than normal star-forming galaxies. The line luminosities agree with the luminosity scaling relations across five orders of magnitude, although the star-formation and gas surface density distributions (i.e., Schmidt-Kennicutt relation) suggest a different star-formation phase in our galaxies (and other DSFGs) compared to local and low-redshift gas-rich, normal star-forming systems. The gas-to-dust ratios of these galaxies are similar to Milky Way values, with no apparent redshift evolution. Four of 46 sources appear to have CO line ratios in excess of the expected maximum (thermalized) profile, suggesting a rare phase in the evolution of DSFGs. Finally, we create a deep stacked spectrum over a wide rest-frame frequency (220-890 GHz) that reveals faint transitions from HCN and CH, in line with previous stacking experiments., Comment: 30 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Main Journal. Comments are warmly welcomed

Physical chemistry, chemical physics 24(44), 27121 - 27127 (2022). doi:10.1039/D2CP02408J special issue: "Ions, electrons, coincidences and dynamics: Festschrift for John H.D. Eland", During the last decade, X-ray free-electron lasers (XFELs) have enabled the study of light–matter interaction under extreme conditions. Atoms which are subject to XFEL radiation are charged by a complex interplay of (several subsequent) photoionization events and electronic decay processes within a few femtoseconds. The interaction with molecules is even more intriguing, since intricate nuclear dynamics occur as the molecules start to dissociate during the charge-up process. Here, we demonstrate that by analyzing photoelectron angular emission distributions and kinetic energy release of charge states of ionic molecular fragments, we can obtain a detailed understanding of the charge-up and fragmentation dynamics. Our novel approach allows for gathering such information without the need of complex ab initio modeling. As an example, we provide a detailed view on the processes happening on a femtosecond time scale in oxygen molecules exposed to intense XFEL pulses., Published by RSC Publ., Cambridge

Background While advances in PAH-specific therapies have substantially improved survival, there is still an unmet need to improve long-term outcomes in PAH. Purpose The UNISUS study is the first head-to-head superiority study in PAH, comparing the time to morbidity or mortality (M/M) with macitentan 75 mg vs macitentan 10 mg in PAH patients. Methods UNISUS, an ongoing multicentre, prospective, double-blind (DB), adaptive, event-driven superiority study randomises PAH patients 1:1 to receive macitentan 75 mg or macitentan 10 mg, with a target enrolment of ∼900 patients. Efficacy and safety are continuously assessed by an independent data monitoring committee (IDMC), who advises on pre-specified adaptive changes in study conduct, including expansion of the study population. An independent clinical event committee adjudicates all M/M events. The initial population was restricted to patients in functional class (FC) II/III, aged 18–75 years and excluded those with portopulmonary hypertension (PoPH) and those who were PAH treatment-naïve or receiving a prostanoid analogue. Stable (≥3 months) background PAH-therapy may be maintained, except for endothelin receptor agonists (ERAs), which must be stopped the day before initiating study drug. The study is comprised of a screening period, a 4-week run-in period (if ERA treatment-naïve or on sub-optimal ERA dose), and an event-driven DB treatment period, followed by a 2-year open-label extension with macitentan 75 mg. Initiation of macitentan 75 mg occurs after a 4-week up-titration step with macitentan 37.5 mg (Figure 1). The primary endpoint is time to first on-treatment M/M event, defined as first of: all-cause death, PAH-related hospitalisation, or PAH-related disease progression (confirmed ≥15% decrease in 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and either FC worsening or addition of PAH therapy). Other endpoints include change from baseline to Week 24 in 6MWD and PAH-SYMPACT symptom scores; time to PAH-related hospitalisation or death; time to all-cause death (may be supplemented with data from an external control arm derived from the CARE PAH study [NCT04955990]); and the safety and tolerability of the study drugs. Figure 2 shows planned assessments and sub-studies. To maximise patient retention, add-on PAH therapies are allowed after a M/M event and, for patients at risk of withdrawing and unable to attend visits, the investigator may consider options for reduced follow-up. Results After 60 patients had been exposed for ≥8 weeks, the IDMC reviewed unblinded safety/tolerability data and recommended to expand recruitment from the restricted population to the target population (i.e., including patients: with PoPH, in FC II–IV, from any PAH therapy background [including naïve], aged ≥18 years). Conclusion UNISUS is the first head-to-head superiority study in PAH; with over 200 patients enrolled, it is currently recruiting the target population. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd., a Janssen pharmaceutical company of Johnson & Johnson.

Arterial stiffness is reported to be able to cause axonal demyelination or degeneration. The present study aimed to use advanced MR imaging techniques to examine the effect of arterial stiffness on the WM microstructure among older adults.Arterial stiffness was measured using the cardio-ankle vascular elasticity index (CAVI). The high-CAVI (mean CAVI ≥ 9 points) and the low-CAVI groups (mean CAVI 9 points) were created. The neuronal fiber integrity of the WM was evaluated by neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging and magnetization transfer saturation imaging. Tract-Based Spatial Statistics and the tracts-of-interest analysis were performed. Specific WM regions (corpus callosum, internal capsule, anterior thalamic radiation, corona radiata, superior longitudinal fasciculus, forceps minor, and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus) were selected in the tracts-of-interest analysis.In Tract-Based Spatial Statistics, the high-CAVI group showed a significantly lower myelin volume fraction value in the broad WM and significantly higher radial diffusivity and isotropic volume fraction values in the corpus callosum, forceps minor, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, internal capsule, corona radiata, and anterior thalamic radiation than the low-CAVI group. In tracts-of-interest analysis using multivariate linear regression, significant associations were found between the mean CAVI and radial diffusivity in the anterior thalamic radiation and the corona radiata; isotropic volume fraction in the anterior thalamic radiation and the corona radiata; and myelin volume fraction in the superior longitudinal fasciculus (Arterial stiffness could be associated with demyelination rather than axonal degeneration.

Tumor-to-tumor metastasis is a rare phenomenon. We present a rare case of an 83-year-old man with pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma and thymoma. Thymectomy and superior segmentectomy of the left lower lobe were successfully performed on the patient. This thymoma had a region of lung cancer. Metastasis from other tumors to thymoma is rare, and we found a report that described a pancreatic carcinoma metastasizing to thymoma. We report an extremely rare case of metastasis from lung cancer to a thymoma.

Calibration of an illuminance meter is indispensable for accurate measurement of the illuminance of indoor lighting and daylight. In recent years, because of the phasing-out of incandescent lamps and their replacement with LED lamps, it has become difficult to obtain an incandescent type standard lamp to calibrate an illuminance meter. To replace the standard lamp method, we constructed an illuminance meter calibration system based on an LED-based spectrally tunable light source. The approximate CIE Illuminant A spectrum realized by the LED-based spectrally tunable light source was controlled at various illuminance values (800–10,000 lx). A test illuminance meter was calibrated by comparison against a reference photometer with the realized approximate Illuminant A spectrum. The illuminance values measured using the reference photometer and using the test illuminance meter in the calibration system agreed within 2.5% without reference plane correction of the test illuminance meter, and within 1% with reference plane correction. Reference plane correction depends strongly on the measurement distance and the illuminance meter structure. This study demonstrated that it can be improved. Therefore, we infer that an illuminance meter calibration method using an LED-based spectrally tunable light source is a promising means of overcoming difficulties posed by the phasing-out of incandescent standard lamps.

We present analytical expressions of momentum-resolved core-level photoemission time delay in a molecular frame of a heteronuclear diatomic molecule upon photoionization by a linearly polarized soft x-rays attosecond pulse. For this purpose, we start to derive a general expression of photoemission time delay based on the first order time dependent perturbation theory within the one electron and single channel model in the fixed-in-space system (atoms, molecules and crystals) and apply it to the core-level photoemission within the electric dipole approximation. By using multiple scattering theory and applying series expansion, plane wave and muffin-tin approximations, the core-level photoemission time delay $t$ is divided into three components, $t_{\rm abs}$, $t_{\rm path}$ and $t_{\rm sc}$, which are atomic photoemission time delay, delays caused by the propagation of photoelectron among the surrounding atoms and the scattering of photoelectron by them, respectively. We applied single scattering approximation to $t_{\rm path}$ and obtained $t_{\rm path}^{(1)}(k,\theta)$ with polarization vector parallel to the molecular axis for a heteronuclear diatomic molecule, where $\theta$ is the angle of measured photoelectron from the molecular axis. $t$ is approximated well with this simplified expression $t_{\rm path}^{(1)}(k,\theta)$ in the high energy regime ($k\gtrsim 3.5\,\, {\rm a.u.}^{-1}$), and the validity of this estimated result is confirmed by comparing it with multiple scattering calculations for C 1$s$ core-level photoemission time delay of CO molecules. $t_{\rm path}^{(1)}(k,\theta)$ shows characteristic dependence on $\theta$, it becomes zero at $\theta=0$, exhibits EXAFS type oscillation with $2kR$ at $\theta=\pi$, where $R$ is the bondlength, and gives just the travelling time of photoelectron from the absorbing atom to the neighbouring atom at $\theta=\pi/2$., Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures

In the present study, effects of panel shapes on wind-induced vibrations of solar wing system under various wind environments were investigated through conducting a series of wind tunnel te...

Summary Background Nosocomial infections by respiratory viruses undetected by rapid tests are not often diagnosed. For paediatric patients with background diseases, nosocomial infection could be fatal. Aim To determine the relationship between developing symptoms by respiratory viruses undetectable by rapid tests and respiratory risks and to improve the management of infection control. Methods Two episodes of nosocomial infection by human bocavirus (HBoV) and human rhinovirus (HRV) were retrospectively investigated in a tertiary hospital paediatric ward in Japan. Viruses were identified by polymerase chain reaction to determine infection control management. When viruses of the same species were detected from different patients, the virus homology was investigated. The relationship between respiratory risks and developing symptoms was statistically investigated. Findings Three and four patients with respiratory risks in the HBoV and HRV outbreaks, respectively, developed respiratory symptoms. The nucleotide sequences of two patients in the HBoV outbreak and all four patients in the HRV outbreak were phylogenetically close. In both outbreaks, the patients with respiratory risks developed significantly more symptoms than those without any risk (P = 0.035 and 0.018, respectively). After the patients with respiratory infection were separated from those with respiratory risks, no additional nosocomial infection occurred. Conclusion Patients with respiratory risks easily develop respiratory symptoms and acquire severe symptoms of nosocomial infection by those viruses. In a paediatric ward, we should adopt not only standard precautions but also isolation management of the patients with respiratory symptoms, even if they have negative results in rapid tests.

Anterior Inferior cerebellar artery infarction misdiagnosed as inner ear disease.The clinicalresentation of anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) infarction may mimic that of inner ear disease. lethodology: This report presents two patients with cerebellar artery infarction initially misdiagnosed with inner ear lisease. ase Report: Both the patients presented with sudden hearing loss and vertigo. The patient in case 1 was initially liagnosed with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The patient in case 2 presented with 17 days of vertigo and iearing loss. Both were correctly diagnosed with AICA infarction after performing magnetic resonance imaging. esults and Conclusions: We differentiated AICA from inner ear disease based on the variability in degree and frequency ange of hearing loss, the duration of vertigo, and the manifestation of nystagmus. Because cases of AICA infarction and nner ear disease may present with si'milar symptoms, a detailed examination including clinical course assessments, aboratory findings, and neurological imaging is essential for appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

Introduction Chromosomal abnormalities are the most common reason for spontaneous abortion. Conventional cytogenetic analysis by G-banded karyotyping is generally performed for chromosomal analysis, but it has a problem with low-resolution, and is needed long term cell culture and enough experience for diagnosis. More recently, next generation sequencing has been introducing and improving for chromosomal analysis as an accurate, high resolution and throughput method. In this study we aimed to compare the consistency between conventional G-banding and NGS-based chromosomal copy number analysis for chorionic villus from spontaneous abortion. In addition, the frequency of each chromosomal aneuploidy was evaluated. Materials and methods From February, 2018, to April, 2018, chromosomal analysis for 7 chorionic villus samples from spontaneous abortions (from 7 to 9 weeks) were carried out both conventional G-banding and NGS (VeriSeq-PGS, Illumia). The frequency of each chromosomal aneuploidy was investigated for 110 cases from February, 2018 to December, 2018. Results NGS was able to analyze all 7 cases, but G-banding was able to detect 6 cases, and one case was cell growth failure. In 6 cases analyzed by G-banding, the results of 5 cases were consistent with the results of NGS, but one case suspected maternal cell contamination. Among 7 cases analyzed by the NGS, 2 cases were normal male karyotype (46, XY) and 5 cases were autosomal trisomy, implying that there were no cases suspected of maternal cell contamination. Among 110 cases, chorionic villus was not observed under microscope from 18 samples, NGS result was obtained from 92 cases. Seventy-one cases were found to have abnormal chromosomes (71/92, 77.2%), and 21 cases were normal karyotype (21/92, 22.8%). Aneuploidy of chromosome 22 (21.8%), chromosome 16 (17.9), chromosome 15 (11.9%), chromosome 21 (10.3%) and Chromosome X (10.3%) were more frequently, consistent with previous report. Conclusions Chromosome analysis using NGS not only obtained comparable results to conventional G-banding, but also is able to analyze more accurately and quickly.

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) and Boron Carbide (B4C) coatings are promising candidates for sliding–rolling contact parts, especially gears to increase scuffing load capacity and prolong lifetime. Generally, commercially available fully formulated oils are compatible with ferrous surfaces, but normally have not been optimised for coatings. In this study, the tribological properties of tungsten carbide containing DLC (WC-DLC), hydrogenated DLC (H-DLC) and B4C coatings against steel ball with two fully formulated oils in boundary lubrication conditions have been evaluated. They were compared with that of a Steel/Steel tribocouple. Interactions between lubricants and sliding surfaces were also investigated using surface characterisation techniques such as XPS and Raman Spectroscopy. It was found that Steel/H-DLC system provided the lowest friction coefficient for both oils.

Around intertidal coral reefs, viscous layers, flocs, and bubbles can form on the water surface, and these are collectively referred to as mucus aggregates. To assess effects of substances contained in mucus aggregates on population growth rates of autotrophic and heterotrophic organisms, aqueous materials extracted from mucus aggregates and polysaccharides collected from cultured microalgae were added to rocky intertidal reef sediments in a controlled laboratory experiment. Temporal changes in autofluorescence cell density and nonautoflorescence cell density in reef sediments were examined. Results suggested that microorganism population growth in subtropical rocky intertidal reefs is limited by low concentrations of organic carbon and nutrients in the environment, and that components of mucus aggregates can supplement these materials, leading to increased microbial population growth rates. In particular, aqueous extracts of mucus aggregates contained nutrients that likely promoted growth of autotrophic bacteria, whereas extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) contained polysaccharides that likely promoted growth of heterotrophic bacteria.