Multi-energy reconstructions, central electron temperature measurements, and early detection of the birth and growth of runaway electrons using a versatile soft x-ray pinhole camera at MST.

A multi-energy soft x-ray pinhole camera has been designed, built, and deployed at the Madison Symmetric Torus to aid the study of particle and thermal transport, as well as MHD stability physics. This novel imaging diagnostic technique employs a pixelated x-ray detector in which the lower energy threshold for photon detection can be adjusted independently on each pixel. The detector of choice is a PILATUS3 100 K with a 450 µm thick silicon sensor and nearly 100 000 pixels sensitive to photon energies between 1.6 and 30 keV. An ensemble of cubic spline smoothing functions has been applied to the line-integrated data for each time-frame and energy-range, obtaining a reduced standard-deviation when compared to that dominated by photon-noise. The multi-energy local emissivity profiles are obtained from a 1D matrix-based Abel-inversion procedure. Central values of Te can be obtained by modeling the slope of the continuum radiation from ratios of the inverted radial emissivity profiles over multiple energy ranges with no a priori assumptions of plasma profiles, magnetic field reconstruction constraints, high-density limitations, or need of shot-to-shot reproducibility. In tokamak plasmas, a novel application has recently been tested for early detection, 1D imaging, and study of the birth, exponential growth, and saturation of runaway electrons at energies comparable to 100 × Te,0; thus, early results are also presented.

Measurement of axial phase difference of density fluctuations owing to spontaneously excited waves by using microwave reflectometer on GAMMA 10/PDX.

In the GAMMA 10/PDX tandem mirror, plasma with strong ion-temperature anisotropy is produced by using the ion cyclotron range of frequency waves. This anisotropy of ion temperature causes several Alfvén-Ion-Cyclotron (AIC) waves to spontaneously excite in the frequency range just below the ion cyclotron frequency. In addition, difference-frequency (DF) waves are excited in the radial inner region of the plasma by wave-wave coupling among the AIC waves. The radial density profiles were measured at multi-axial positions using a frequency-modulation reflectometer with an axial array of microwave antennas, and an axial variation of the density was found to be significant. In addition, a relative phase difference of the DF wave between axially separated two points was first obtained by finely choosing the probing frequency of the reflectometers with a maximum coherence used as a measure, indicating that the DF wave is a propagating wave, while the pump AIC waves are standing waves in the axial region of measurement.

Longitudinal association between polypharmacy and development of pruritus: a Nationwide Cohort Study in a Japanese Population.

BACKGROUND: Although polypharmacy is known to cause side-effects due to drug-drug interactions, dermatological symptoms triggered by polypharmacy are not fully addressed. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether polypharmacy is associated with the risk of pruritus. METHOD: A cohort study was performed to examine cross-sectional and longitudinal relationships between polypharmacy and pruritus in a general population. Data were collected from the Norm Study conducted in 2016 and 2017, which is a nationwide survey based on a self-administered questionnaire with Japanese representative participants aged 16-84 years. Presence of polypharmacy which was defined as concurrent use of ≥5 prescribed drugs. Primary outcomes were the presence of severe pruritus at baseline for the cross-sectional analysis and the development of severe pruritus after one year for the longitudinal analysis. Multivariable modified Poisson regression analyses were performed to estimate risk ratios (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) with adjustment for potential confounders (age, gender, smoking habits, drinking habits, depressive symptoms, moderate activities based on IPAQ score and presence of 11 comorbid conditions including skin disease). RESULTS: The study included 3126 participants (mean age, 48.7 years); nearly half (49.8%) were male. In all, 332 participants (10.3%) had polypharmacy in the cross-sectional analysis. Participants with polypharmacy were more likely to present with severe pruritus at baseline than those who were not using drugs (adjusted RR = 1.52 [95%CI 1.15-2.01, P = 0.003]). The longitudinal analysis (n = 1803) was limited to those without severe pruritus at baseline; participants with polypharmacy at baseline were more likely to develop severe pruritus after a one-year follow-up period than those not using drugs (adjusted RR = 1.46 [95%CI 1.14-1.87, P = 0.002]). CONCLUSION: Polypharmacy was associated with the presence of pruritus at baseline and may predict the future risk of developing pruritus.

Simultaneous Fluorescent Identification of Odontoblasts and Ameloblasts.

The tooth is mainly composed of dentin and enamel. Identification of dentin-producing odontoblasts and enamel-producing ameloblasts using reporter techniques is useful to study tooth development and regeneration with tissue engineering. Ameloblasts express Amelogenin, Ameloblastin, Enamelin, and Amelotin, whereas odontoblasts express Dentin sialophosphoprotein (Dspp) and Dentin matrix protein1 (Dmp1). Although there are several transgenic lines using promoter elements or bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) to label odontoblasts and ameloblasts, there is a possibility that the expression patterns vary from the endogenous genes. Here, we established 2 lines of mice where tdTomato was knocked into the second exon of X-chromosomal Amelogenin (Amelx), and green fluorescent protein (GFP) was knocked into the second exon of Dspp. tdTomato and GFP were highly expressed on secretory ameloblasts and secretory and fully differentiated odontoblasts, respectively. In addition, DSPP and AMELX were not produced in the dentin matrix and enamel matrix of DsppGFP/GFP and AmelxtdTomato male mice (as representative of AmelxtdTomato/Y hemizygous male mice), respectively. Moreover, micro-computed tomography analysis of AmelxtdTomato male mice revealed a notable reduction in enamel volume but increased dentin mineral density. DsppGFP/GFP mice had reduced dentin mineral density. To identify odontoblasts and ameloblasts from developing tooth, we examined the expression of mesenchymal cell surface molecules CD90, CD166 and epithelial cell surface molecules CD49f, Epcam1 with fluorescence on odontoblasts and ameloblasts in these mice. We found that GFP+ odontoblasts and tdTomato+ ameloblasts in tooth germ from 0.5-d-old DsppGFP/+ mice and AmelxtdTomato male mice were enriched in CD45-/Ter119-/Epcam1-/CD90+/Integrin α4+cell fractions and CD45-/Ter119-/Epcam1+/CD49f+/CD147+ cell fractions, respectively. By using antibodies against mesenchymal and epithelial cell surface molecules and fluorescence, we can easily distinguish odontoblasts from ameloblasts and isolate each cell for further studies. These mice would serve as useful models for tooth development and regeneration as well as provide concurrent observation for the differentiation processes of odontoblasts and ameloblasts in vivo and in vitro.

Histopathological study of carcinoma showing thymus-like differentiation (CASTLE).

INTRODUCTION: Carcinoma showing thymus-like differentiation (CASTLE) is a rare tumour that mainly arises from the thyroid gland, or occasionally, from the head and neck. Although the 10-year survival rate of patients with CASTLE is approximately 80%, local recurrence and distant metastasis are observed in some cases. A recent systematic review for CASTLE indicated that the prognostic factors are treatment-dependent, and postoperative radiotherapy significantly improves patient survival. CASE REPORT: Herein, we describe and compare three cases of CASTLE, including a case with distant metastasis despite administering postoperative chemotherapy. Thus, the mechanisms underlying metastasis of CASTLE are unclear. This case study helps to elucidate the histopathological risk factors of metastasis in CASTLE. DISCUSSION: We found that prominent lymphovascular invasion and higher proliferative activities might be risk factors of metastasis in CASTLE. In addition, we have summarised the cytological, morphological, and immunohistochemical features of CASTLE for an accurate diagnosis.

g Factor of the

The gyromagnetic factor of the low-lying E=251.96(9) keV isomeric state of the nucleus ^{99}Zr was measured using the time-dependent perturbed angular distribution technique. This level is assigned a spin and parity of J^{π}=7/2^{+}, with a half-life of T_{1/2}=336(5) ns. The isomer was produced and spin aligned via the abrasion-fission of a ^{238}U primary beam at RIKEN RIBF. A magnetic moment |µ|=2.31(14)µ_{N} was deduced showing that this isomer is not single particle in nature. A comparison of the experimental values with interacting boson-fermion model IBFM-1 results shows that this state is strongly mixed with a main νd_{5/2} composition. Furthermore, it was found that monopole single-particle evolution changes significantly with the appearance of collective modes, likely due to type-II shell evolution.

Proteolysis by MMP20 Prevents Aberrant Mineralization in Secretory Enamel.

The present study was conducted to investigate the role of proteolysis by matrix metalloproteinase 20 (MMP20) in regulating the initial formation of the enamel mineral structure during the secretory stage of amelogenesis, utilizing Mmp20-null mice that lack this essential protease. Ultrathin sagittal sections of maxillary incisors from 8-wk-old wild-type (WT), Mmp20-null (KO), and heterozygous (HET) littermates were prepared. Secretory-stage enamel ultrastructures from each genotype as a function of development were compared using transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, and Raman microspectroscopy. Characteristic rod structures observed in WT enamel exhibited amorphous features in newly deposited enamel, which subsequently transformed into apatite-like crystals in older enamel. Surprisingly, initial mineral formation in KO enamel was found to proceed in the same manner as in the WT. However, soon after a rod structure began to form, large plate-like crystals appeared randomly within the developing KO enamel layer. As development continued, observed plate-like crystals became dominant and obscured the appearance of the enamel rod structure. Upon formation of these plate-like crystals, the KO enamel layer stopped growing in thickness, unlike WT and HET enamel layers that continued to grow at the same rate. Raman results indicated that Mmp20-KO enamel contains a significant portion of octacalcium phosphate, unlike WT enamel. Although normal in all other respects, large, randomly dispersed mineral crystals were observed in secretory HET enamel, although to a lesser extent than that seen in KO enamel, indicating that the level of MMP20 expression has a proportional effect on suppressing aberrant mineral formation. In conclusion, we found that proteolysis of extracellular enamel matrix proteins by MMP20 is not required for the initial development of the enamel rod structure during the early secretory stage of amelogenesis. Proteolysis by MMP20, however, is essential for the prevention of abnormal crystal formation during amelogenesis.

A computational tool for simulation and design of tangential multi-energy soft x-ray pin-hole cameras for tokamak plasmas.

A new tool has been developed to calculate the spectral, spatial, and temporal responses of multi-energy soft x-ray (ME-SXR) pinhole cameras for arbitrary plasma densities (n e,D), temperature (T e), and impurity densities (n Z). ME-SXR imaging provides a unique opportunity for obtaining important plasma properties (e.g., T e, n Z, and Z eff) by measuring both continuum and line emission in multiple energy ranges. This technique employs a pixelated x-ray detector in which the lower energy threshold for photon detection can be adjusted independently. Simulations assuming a tangential geometry and DIII-D-like plasmas (e.g., n e,0 ≈ 8 × 1019 m-3 and T e,0 ≈ 2.8 keV) for various impurity (e.g., C, O, Ar, Ni, and Mo) density profiles have been performed. The computed brightnesses range from few 102 counts pixel-1 ms-1 depending on the cut-off energy thresholds, while the maximum allowable count rate is 104 counts pixel-1 ms-1. The typical spatial resolution in the mid-plane is ≈0.5 cm with a photon-energy resolution of 500 eV at a 500 Hz frame rate.

Simulation, design, and first test of a multi-energy soft x-ray (SXR) pinhole camera in the Madison Symmetric Torus (MST).

A multi-energy soft x-ray pinhole camera has been designed and built for the Madison Symmetric Torus reversed field pinch to aid the study of particle and thermal-transport, as well as MHD stability physics. This novel imaging diagnostic technique combines the best features from both pulse-height-analysis and multi-foil methods employing a PILATUS3 x-ray detector in which the lower energy threshold for photon detection can be adjusted independently on each pixel. Further improvements implemented on the new cooled systems allow a maximum count rate of 10 MHz per pixel and sensitivity to the strong Al and Ar emission between 1.5 and 4 keV. The local x-ray emissivity will be measured in multiple energy ranges simultaneously, from which it is possible to infer 1D and 2D simultaneous profile measurements of core electron temperature and impurity density profiles with no a priori assumptions of plasma profiles, magnetic field reconstruction constraints, high-density limitations, or need of shot-to-shot reproducibility. The expected time and space resolutions will be 2 ms and <1 cm, respectively.

Guillain-Barré syndrome in a local area in Japan, 2006-2015: an epidemiological and clinical study of 108 patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Many epidemiological studies of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and Fisher syndrome (FS) have been conducted in Europe and America. In contrast, epidemiological studies are rare in Asia where the GBS subtypes differ from those in Western countries. This study was undertaken to clarify the incidence of GBS and FS in a local area in Japan as well as their seasonal trends. METHOD: Seventy-one GBS and 37 FS patients were recorded from 2006 to 2015 in an area of approximately 1.5 million inhabitants in Japan. The incidence, seasonal trends and clinical features of GBS and FS were examined. RESULTS: The incidence rate of GBS was 0.42 cases per 100 000 person-years and that of FS was 0.22 cases per 100 000 person-years. The incidence of GBS increased with age and FS affected predominantly patients aged from 45 to 64 years old. There was some seasonal clustering of acute motor axonal neuropathy (AMAN) and FS in spring and summer, but it was not significant. AMAN and FS patients had a high frequency of preceding infection (AMAN, 68% gastrointestinal infection; FS, 65% upper respiratory infection). Antecedent respiratory infection was significantly associated with FS as an outcome. Serum antibodies to ganglioside GM1 were detected in 71% of AMAN patients and antibodies to GQ1b were detected in 81% of FS patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our study offers evidence of a lower incidence of GBS and a higher incidence of FS in a local area in Japan than in Western countries.

Development of genotyping method for functionally relevant variants of cytochromes P450 in cynomolgus macaques.

In cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), widely used in drug metabolism studies, CYP2C9, CYP2C76, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5, important drug-metabolizing enzymes, are abundantly expressed in liver and metabolize cytochrome P450 substrates. CYP2C9 (c.334A>C), CYP2C76 (c.449TG>A), CYP2D6 (c.891A>G), CYP3A4 (IVS3 + 1G>del), and CYP3A5 (c.625A>T) substantially influence metabolic activity of enzymes, and thus are important variants in drug metabolism studies. In this study, a real-time PCR method was developed for genotyping these variants. The validity of the methods was verified by genotyping two wild type, two heterozygous, and two homozygous DNAs and was used to genotype 41 cynomolgus macaques (from Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines, or Vietnam) for the five variants, along with another important variant CYP2C19 (c.308C>T). The CYP2C9 and CYP2C19 variants were found only in Cambodian and Vietnamese animals, while the CYP2C76 and CYP2D6 variants were found only in Indonesian and Philippine animals. The CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 variants were not found in any of the animals analyzed. Mauritian animals, genotyped using next-generation sequencing data for comparison, possessed the CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 variants, but not the other variants. These results indicated differences in prevalence of these important variants among animal groups. Therefore, the genotyping tool developed is useful for drug metabolism studies using cynomolgus macaques.

Common and separate origins of the left and right inferior phrenic artery with a review of the literature.

In a 94-year-old male cadaver, upon which routine dissection was being conducted, a rare variation was found in the gastrophrenic trunk (GPT), the common trunk of the left gastric artery (LGA), right inferior phrenic artery (RIPA), and left inferior phrenic artery (LIPA); the GPT arises from the abdominal aorta. A hepatosplenic trunk accompanied the variation. In this variation, the RIPA first branched from the GPT and then to the LIPA and LGA. Variations in the common trunk of the LIPA and RIPA in the GPT are common, but to our knowledge, a variation (separate inferior phrenic artery in the GPT) similar to our findings has not been previously reported. We discuss the incidence and developmental and clinical significance of this variation with a detailed review of the literature. Knowledge of such a case has important clinical significance for invasive and non-invasive arterial procedures. Therefore, different variations concerning the LGA and inferior phrenic artery should be considered during surgical and non-surgical evaluations.

Late Graft Rejection in Association With T-Large Granular Lymphocyte Expansion of Recipient Origin After Human Leukocyte Antigen-Haploidentical Stem Cell Transplantation: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Large granular lymphocyte (LGL) expansion occasionally occurs after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT), and is thought to be a good prognostic sign that is associated with a lower relapse rate. However, there have been no reports of late graft failure (LGF) due to graft rejection in association with oligoclonal LGL expansion. We herein report a case of LGF associated with the transient expansion of recipient-derived T-LGL after allo-SCT. CASE REPORT: A 65-year-old man underwent peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) from his human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-haploidentical son for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia, which had evolved from a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Neutrophil engraftment occurred on day 20. A chimerism analysis on day 29 showed both granulocytes and mononuclear cells in the peripheral blood to be completely of donor origin. However, his neutrophil count gradually decreased and a chimerism analysis on day 61 showed that 84% of the patient's T cells were of recipient origin while the granulocytes were 100% donor-derived. His LGLs rapidly increased to 4.01 × 109/L on day 113 and decreased thereafter. The percentage of donor cells in his granulocytes gradually decreased, and the patient's leukocytes were completely replaced by recipient cells on day 177. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical course suggests that the expansion of recipient-derived T-LGLs after allo-SCT can be a sign of graft rejection. Early intervention may be needed if the LGL expansion is recipient-derived.

A model of plasma current through a hole of Rogowski probe including sheath effects.

In TST-2 Ohmic discharges, local current is measured using a Rogowski probe by changing the angle between the local magnetic field and the direction of the hole of the Rogowski probe. The angular dependence shows a peak when the direction of the hole is almost parallel to the local magnetic field. The obtained width of the peak was broader than that of the theoretical curve expected from the probe geometry. In order to explain this disagreement, we consider the effect of sheath in the vicinity of the Rogowski probe. A sheath model was constructed and electron orbits were numerically calculated. From the calculation, it was found that the electron orbit is affected by E × B drift due to the sheath electric field. Such orbit causes the broadening of the peak in the angular dependence and the dependence agrees with the experimental results. The dependence of the broadening on various plasma parameters was studied numerically and explained qualitatively by a simplified analytical model.

Allopregnanolone increases mature excitatory synapses along dendrites via protein kinase A signaling.

Allopregnanolone (APα; 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one) is synthesized in both the periphery and central nervous system and is known to be a potent positive allosteric modulator of the GABAA receptor. Because APα was suggested to improve the symptoms of depression and Alzheimer's disease (AD), which involve synaptic dysfunction and loss, we examined whether APα affects excitatory synapses. Drebrin, which is an actin-binding protein, forms a unique stable actin structure in dendritic spines, and drebrin levels correlate positively with cognitive levels in AD and mild cognitive impairment. We investigated whether APα increases excitatory synapse density along dendrites of mature hippocampal neurons using drebrin-imaging-based evaluation of mature synapses. We prepared primary cultures of hippocampal neurons and either transfected them with GFP or immunostained them against drebrin. Morphological analysis of GFP-transfected neurons revealed that a 24-h exposure to 0.3 or 1 µM APα significantly increased dendritic spine density without any morphological changes to spines. Drebrin cluster density was also increased by 0.3 and 1 µM APα. The protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89 inhibited the APα-induced increase in drebrin cluster density. These data demonstrate that APα increases mature excitatory synapses via activation of PKA. Therefore, the PKA-cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling pathway is likely to be involved in the APα-induced increase of mature excitatory synapses. Another possibility is that the PKA-dependent increase in AMPA receptors at dendritic spines mediates the APα function. In conclusion, our study indicates that APα may improve neuropsychiatric disorder outcomes via increasing the numbers of mature excitatory synapses.

Arthroscopic assistance does not improve the functional or radiographic outcome of unstable intra-articular distal radial fractures treated with a volar locking plate: a randomised controlled trial.

There is no consensus on the benefit of arthroscopically assisted reduction of the articular surface combined with fixation using a volar locking plate for the treatment of intra-articular distal radial fractures. In this study we compared the functional and radiographic outcomes of fluoroscopically and arthroscopically guided reduction of these fractures. Between February 2009 and May 2013, 74 patients with unilateral unstable intra-articular distal radial fractures were randomised equally into the two groups for treatment. The mean age of these 74 patients was 64 years (24 to 92). We compared functional outcomes including active range of movement of the wrist, grip strength and Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand scores at six and 48 weeks; and radiographic outcomes that included gap, step, radial inclination, volar angulation and ulnar variance. There were no significant differences between the techniques with regard to functional outcomes or radiographic parameters. The mean gap and step in the fluoroscopic and arthroscopic groups were comparable at 0.9 mm (standard deviation (SD) 0.7) and 0.7 mm (SD 0.7) and 0.6 mm (SD 0.6) and 0.4 mm (SD 0.5), respectively; p = 0.18 and p = 0.35). Arthroscopic reduction conferred no advantage over conventional fluoroscopic guidance in achieving anatomical reduction of intra-articular distal radial fractures when using a volar locking plate.

New activation cross section data on longer lived radio-nuclei produced in proton induced nuclear reaction on zirconium.

The excitation functions of (96)Nb, (95m)Nb, (95g)Nb, (92m)Nb, (91m)Nb, (90)Nb, (95)Zr, (89)Zr, (88)Zr, (86)Zr, (88)Y, (87m)Y, (87g)Y, (86)Y were measured up to 70MeV proton energy by using the stacked foil technique and the activation method. The new data were compared with the critically analyzed experimental data in the literature and with the TALYS based model results in TENDL-2013 library. The possible role of the investigated reactions in the production of medically relevant (90)Nb, (95m)Nb, (89)Zr, and (88)Y radionuclides is discussed.

Influence of patent ductus arteriosus and ventilators on electrical velocimetry for measuring cardiac output in very-low/low birth weight infants.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated electrical velocimetry, a noninvasive method for continuous cardiac output measurement, in very-low and low birth weight infants and the influence of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and ventilators on this method. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study compared 81 pairs of simultaneous cardiac output measurements by electrical velocimetry and transthoracic echocardiography in 28 patients. Data were compared by correlation, Bland-Altman analysis and two-way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The two methods exhibited a high correlation (r=0.859, P<0.0001). The bias (mean difference of the methods) and percent error (100 × 1.96 × s.d./mean cardiac output) were -6 ml min(-1) and 29.2%, respectively. PDA significantly affected the bias (P=0.0004), but ventilators did not (P=0.14). Hemodynamically significant PDA had a larger bias (-36 ml min(-1)) and higher percent error (38.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Although influenced by PDA, electrical velocimetry was generally interchangeable with transthoracic echocardiography even using ventilators.

Successful hyperbaric oxygen therapy for refractory BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis after cord blood transplantation.

BK virus-associated hemorrhagic cystitis (BKV-HC) is a common and major cause of morbidity in recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. A 32-year-old woman developed severe BKV-HC on day 24 after cord blood transplantation (CBT). Despite supportive therapies - such as hyperhydration, forced diuresis, and urinary catheterization - macroscopic hematuria and bladder irritation persisted for over a month. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy at 2.1 atmospheres for 90 min per day was started on day 64 after CBT. Macroscopic hematuria resolved within a week, and microscopic hematuria was no longer detectable within 2 weeks. Hematuria did not recur after 11 sessions of HBO therapy, and no significant side effects were observed during or after treatment. HBO therapy could thus be useful in controlling refractory BKV-HC after CBT.