TDLAS-based water vapor monitoring in narrow channels of polymer electrolyte fuel cells using a single-ended fiber-optic sensor.

The dehydration of electrolyte membranes in polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) operating under low-humidity conditions is a critical issue for achieving their high efficiency and high power density. To reduce the membrane dryout, it's necessary to investigate and control the water transport within working fuel cells. This study developed a single-ended fiber-optic sensor based on tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) and applied it to the real-time monitoring of the water vapor concentration in the narrow flow channel of a PEFC. The newly proposed wavelength modulation spectroscopy (WMS) technique enabled to quantify the mole fraction of water in the channel over the wide concentration range with high accuracy. The in-situ TDLAS measurement in the PEFC during a low-humidity and load-change operation revealed that the dynamic change of cell voltage is strongly correlated to the dry-wet transition in the anode channel.

NANOGrav Results and LIGO-Virgo Primordial Black Holes in Axionlike Curvaton Models.

We discuss a possible connection between the recent NANOGrav results and the primordial black holes (PBHs) for the LIGO-Virgo events. In particular, we focus on the axionlike curvaton model, which provides a sizable amount of PBHs and gravitational waves (GWs) induced by scalar perturbations around the NANOGrav frequency range. The inevitable non-Gaussianity of this model suppresses the induced GWs associated with PBHs for the LIGO-Virgo events to be compatible with the NANOGrav results. We show that the axionlike curvaton model can account for PBHs for the LIGO-Virgo events and the NANOGrav results simultaneously.

Genetics education program to help public health nurses improve their knowledge and enhance communities' genetic literacy: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: As human genetics knowledge develops, public genetic literacy needs to be increased, though the educational capacity for this purpose has not yet been fully developed. Under this circumstance, the daily work of public health nurses can be viewed as an opportunity to enhance public genetic literacy. However, in Japan, there is not only a lack of public knowledge of human genomics but also a lack of public health nurses' recognition about genomic literacy. A short-term education program was implemented as a pilot study. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the program to support public health nurses' activity aimed at promoting health services-related genetic literacy. METHODS: The genetics education program was implemented in December 2019, in Kagoshima, Japan. Twenty-three public health nurses cooperated with the research. The program was composed of a case study on consultation, a lecture on hereditary diseases, and a discussion on the role of public health nurses. Familial hypercholesterolemia was used as the topic of the case study. We evaluated scores for cognition, affect, and psychomotor characteristics related to their learning goals before and after the program using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Answers in the consultation were qualitatively analyzed. RESULTS: The mean cognitive score, capturing provision of explanations of hereditary disease, was 6.3 before the program but increased significantly to 9.3 after the program (p < 0.001). For the affective score, the goal of which was deepening interest in human genetics, the mean score increased significantly from 8.5 before to 11.0 after (p < 0.001). For the psychomotor score, addressing the need for genetic consultation, the mean score increased significantly from 4.4 before to 8.1 after (p < 0.001). Prominent themes extracted from descriptions on the worksheet post training included, "providing advice and accurate information on genetic disorders" and "referral to a specialized organization." CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that this education program helps public health nurses be positively involved in human genetic disorders. Thus, they may connect to their local community to provide accurate genetics knowledge and advice for health management and promoting genetic literacy.

Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) Mapping and In-situ Observation of Carbonization of Culms of Bambusa Multiplex.

Green culms of bamboo and charcoal of Bambusa multiplex were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) mapping. A dynamic observation of the initial stage of carbonization was also performed in-situ by heating a radial longitudinal section of the bamboo culm at a rate of 20°C/min up to 500°C. EDS mapping of the green bamboo culms detected Si signals in the harder cells such as the epidermis (Ep), cortex (Cor) and vascular bundle sheath (Bs) and between these cells as silicon oxide particles. Appreciable morphological change of the cells occurred in a temperature range of about 300-400°C due to the decomposition of cellulose that is the main component of the bamboo cells. The charcoal of the bamboo culm has a skin layer which originates from the Ep and Cor and the main central cylinder with many openings that originate from the expanded xylem and phloem holes. During carbonization, the Si atoms in the Ep and Cor were segregated as thin silicon oxide layers onto both the sides of the skin layer and the Si included in the Bs fibers and parenchyma cells accumulated near the walls of the openings.

Structural Investigation of AlN/SiOx Nanocomposite Hard Coatings Fabricated by Differential Pumping Cosputtering.

AlN/SiO x nanocomposite coatings fabricated by differential pumping cosputtering (DPCS) were investigated by analytical electron microscopy. The DPCS system consists of two halves of a Chamber, A and B, for radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering deposition of different materials, and a substrate holder that rotates through the chambers. Al and SiO2 were sputtered in gas environments with a flow mixture of N2 and Ar gases at RF power of 200 W in the Al Chamber A and a flow of Ar gas at RF powers of 49 W in the SiO2 Chamber B. The substrates of (001) Si wafers heated at 250°C were rotated for 1,080 min at 3 rpm and alternately deposited by AlN and SiO2. AlN columnar crystals grew at a rate of ~0.3 nm/revolution preferentially along the hexagonal [0001] axis. Amorphous silicon oxide (a-SiO x ), deposited at a rate of ~0.2 nm/revolution, was coagulated preferentially along the boundaries between the AlN columns and also the interfaces between the subgrains within the AlN columns. The a-SiO x played an important role in the increase in mechanical hardness of the AlN/SiO x composite coating by disturbing deformation of AlN crystal lattices.

Neural dynamics in motor preparation: From phase-mediated global computation to amplitude-mediated local computation.

Oscillatory activity plays a critical role in the brain. Here, we illustrate the dynamics of neural oscillations in the motor system of the brain. We used a non-directional cue to instruct participants to prepare a motor response with either the left or the right hand and recorded electroencephalography during the preparation of the response. Consistent with previous findings, the amplitude of alpha-band (8-14Hz) oscillations significantly decreased over the motor region contralateral to the hand prepared for the response. Prior to this decrease, there were a number of inter-regional phase synchronies at lower frequencies (2-4Hz; delta band). Cross-frequency coupling was quantified to further explore the direct link between alpha amplitudes and delta synchrony. The cross-frequency coupling of showed response-specific modulation, whereby the motor region contralateral to the preparation hand exhibited an increase in coupling relative to the baseline. The amplitude of alpha oscillations had an unpreferred and a preferred delta phase, in which the amplitude was modulated negatively and positively, respectively. Given the amplitude of alpha-band oscillations decreased over the analyzed period, the alpha amplitude might be down-regulated by the phase-amplitude coupling, although we do not have direct evidence for that. Taken together, these results show global-to-local computation in the motor system, which started from inter-regional delta phase synchrony and ended at an effector-specific decrease in the amplitude of alpha-band oscillations, with phase-amplitude coupling connecting both computations.

Retrieval and analysis of atmospheric XCO2 using ground-based spectral observation.

Atmospheric CO2 column concentration (column-averaged dry air mole fractions of atmospheric carbon dioxide) data obtained by ground-based hyperspectral observation is an important source of data for the verification and improvement of the results of CO2 retrieval based on satellite hyperspectral observation. However, few studies have been conducted on atmospheric CO2 column concentration retrieval based on ground-based spectral hyperspectral observation in China. In the present study, we carried out the ground-based hyperspectral observation in Xilingol Grassland, Inner Mongolia of China by using an observation system which is consisted of an optical spectral analyzer, a sun tracker, and some other elements. The atmospheric CO2 column concentration was retrieved using the observed hyperspectral data. The effect of a wavelength shift of the observation spectra and the meteorological parameters on the retrieval precision of the atmospheric CO2 concentration was evaluated and analyzed. The results show that the mean value of atmospheric CO2 concentration was 390.9 microg x mL(-1) in the study area during the observing period from July to September. The shift of wavelength in the range between -0.012 and 0.042 nm will generally lead to 1 microg x mL(-1) deviation in the CO2 retrievals. This study also revealed that the spectral transmittance was sensitive to meteorological parameters in the wavelength range of 6 357-6 358, 6 360-6 361, and 6 363-6 364 cm(-1). By comparing the CO2 retrievals derived from the meteorological parameters observed in synchronous and non-synchronous time, respectively, with the spectral observation, it was showed that the concentration deviation caused by using the non-synchronously observed meteorological parameters is ranged from 0.11 to 4 microg x mL(-1). These results can be used as references for the further improvement of retrieving CO2 column concentration based on spectral observation.

An observational study of oral functions in patients aged from 20 to 49 years.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze oral functions (MOF: maximum occlusal force; MTP: maximum tongue pressure; and MF: masticatory function) in Eichner A subjects aged from 20 to 49 years. METHODS: The data of three oral functions in Eichner A patients aged from 20 to 49 years were extracted. The mean values, subjects with lower values than the thresholds, and the differences among ages, and between sexes were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: Although the mean values of these oral functions in 183 subjects were higher than the thresholds, the numbers of the subjects with lower values than the thresholds were 30 in MTP, 19 in MOF, and only three in MF. No significant effects of ages on all oral functions were identified and all functions in males were significantly higher than those in females. The subjects whose two functions were lower than the thresholds were nine females, eight of whom were associated with malalignment. CONCLUSION: Although the mean values of oral functions were higher than the thresholds, some patients showed lower values, especially in MOF and MTP, even though they were unaware of any inconvenience. Patients with malalignment might be associated with declined oral functions.

Brainwave activities reflecting depressed mood: a pilot study.

Early diagnosis and treatment of depression are desirable but currently difficult due to a lack of established biomarkers. Although biomarkers for depression based on electroencephalogram (EEG) data have long been explored, most existing methods are thought to capture cognitive decline caused by depression and are unsuccessful in detecting signs of depression. Here we report that some brainwave activities involving phase resetting reflect the depressed mood at the time, which can be easily monitored by measuring the resting EEG with eyes closed for 1 min with a few electrodes. We instructed 10 participants (nine healthy and one diagnosed with depression, aged 18-34) to record their EEG for 14-26 days. We found that indicators of depressed mood were correlated with the occurrence frequency of EEG phase resetting. For most participants, the correlation coefficients swung systematically between large positive and large negative values with respect to EEG frequency; however, the frequencies at which they were maximum or minimum differed among participants. Although this study is in the pilot phase and needs further experimentation, the results are expected to lead to innovative biomarkers for early detection of depression and may contribute to a better understanding and treatment of depression.

Comprehensive Analyses of Masticatory Function in Maxillectomy Patients with Functioning Removable Prostheses: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study.

The aim of this retrospective cross-sectional study was to comprehensively assess masticatory function in maxillectomy patients with functioning removable prostheses. Their general and oral profiles, the measurement values of their oral functions, including masticatory function, and the history of tumor therapy were extracted from medical charts. The correlations of masticatory function with numerical data and the effects of tumor therapy-related factors on masticatory function were evaluated. In addition, a stepwise conditional logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the potential predictive factors comprehensively. The data from 55 maxillectomy patients revealed that the median value of masticatory function (138.0 mg/dL) was higher than the threshold (100.0 mg/dL) based on the concept of oral hypofunction. Moderate correlations of masticatory function with the number of remaining teeth, the number of functioning occlusal supports, and maximum occlusal force were found, as well as a weak correlation with maximum tongue pressure. These variables also showed statistically significant coefficients (p < 0.01). No significant effect of each tumor therapy-related factor on masticatory function was detected. A logistic regression analysis identified the number of functioning occlusal supports as a significant predictive factor. These results implied the crucial interactions of masticatory function with various factors and the specificities of maxillectomy patients.

Measurements of the lateral cerebellar hemispheres using near-infrared spectroscopy through comparison between autism spectrum disorder and typical development.

The cerebellum plays a vital role in cognition, communication with the cerebral cortex, and fine motor coordination. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a portable, less restrictive, and noninvasive functional brain imaging method that can capture brain activity during movements by measuring the relative oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations in the blood. However, the feasibility of using NIRS to measure cerebellar activity requires discussion. We compared NIRS responses between areas assumed to be the cerebellum and the occipital lobe during a fine motor task (tying a bow knot) and a visual task. Our results showed that the oxy-Hb concentration increased more in the occipital lobe than in the cerebellum during the visual task (p =.034). In contrast, during the fine motor task, the oxy-Hb concentration decreased in the occipital lobe but increased significantly in the cerebellum, indicating a notable difference (p =.015). These findings suggest that we successfully captured cerebellar activity associated with processing, particularly fine motor coordination. Moreover, the observed responses did not differ between individuals with autism spectrum disorder and those with typical development. Our study demonstrates the meaningful utility of NIRS as a method for measuring cerebellar activity during movements.

Effects of subjective preference of colors on attention-related occipital theta oscillations.

Human daily behaviors are often affected by subjective preferences. Studies have shown that physical responses are affected by unconscious preferences before conscious decision making. Accordingly, attention-related neural activities could be influenced by unconscious preferences. However, few neurological data exist on the relationship between visual attention and subjective preference. To address this issue, we focused on lateralization during visual attention and investigated the effects of subjective color preferences on visual attention-related brain activities. We recorded electroencephalograph (EEG) data during a preference judgment task that required 19 participants to choose their preferred color from 2 colors simultaneously presented to the right and left hemifields. In addition, to identify oscillatory activity during visual attention, we conducted a control experiment in which the participants focused on either the right or the left color without stating their preference. The EEG results showed enhanced theta (4-6 Hz) and decreased alpha (10-12 Hz) activities in the right and left occipital electrodes when the participants focused on the color in the opposite hemifield. Occipital theta synchronizations also increased contralaterally to the hemifield to which the preferred color was presented, whereas the alpha desynchronizations showed no lateralization. The contralateral occipital theta activity lasted longer than the ipsilateral occipital theta activity. Interestingly, theta lateralization was observed even when the preferred color was presented to the unattended side in the control experiment, revealing the strength of the preference-related theta-modulation effect irrespective of visual attention. These results indicate that subjective preferences modulate visual attention-related brain activities.

Iodine emission in the presence of humic substances at the water's surface.

Humic substances that preferentially adsorb at the air/water interfaces of water or aerosols consist of both fulvic and humic acid. To investigate the chemical reactivity for the heterogeneous reaction of gaseous ozone, O(3)(g), with aqueous iodide, I(-)(aq), in the presence of standard fulvic acid, humic acid, or alcohol, cavity ring-down spectroscopy was used to detect gaseous products, iodine, I(2)(g) and an iodine monoxide radical, IO(g). Fulvic acid enhanced the I(2)(g) production yield, but not the IO(g) yield. Humic acid, n-hexanol, n-heptanol, and n-octanol did not affect the yields of I(2)(g) or IO(g). We can infer that the carboxylic group contained in fulvic acid promotes the I(2)(g) emission by supplying the requisite interfacial protons more efficiently than water on its surface.

Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome in the breech presentation managed by ex utero intrapartum treatment procedure after intraoperative external cephalic version.

Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) caused by laryngeal atresia was diagnosed by prenatal ultrasound in a male fetus at 26 weeks of gestation. Findings included massive ascites, subcutaneous edema, enlarged hyperechogenic lungs with diaphragmatic inversion, dilated trachea, polyhydramnios, and breech presentation. Those findings of CHAOS spontaneously returned to normal by 33 weeks of gestation. However, the placenta was localized to the anterior uterine wall. In addition, the fetal position had been breech until delivery. At 36 weeks of gestation, a planned ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure was performed following intraoperative external cephalic version (ECV) in which the fetus was approached from the posterior wall of the uterus. Laryngoscopy revealed the predicted laryngeal obstruction, and tracheostomy was placed. Intraoperative ECV may be a useful technique in breech presentation before EXIT procedure.

Photobiochemical mechanisms of biomolecules relevant to germicidal ultraviolet irradiation at 222 and 254 nm.

To inactivate viruses and microorganisms, ultraviolet light in the short wavelength region is a promising candidate for mitigating the infection of disease. Germicidal mercury lamps emitting at 254 nm and KrCl excimer lamps emitting at 222 nm have sterilisation properties. In this work, wavelength dependence of the photobiochemical mechanisms was investigated with 222- and 254-nm irradiation to analyze the underlying damage mechanisms of DNA/RNA and proteins, using Escherichia coli, a protease, an oligopeptide, amino acids, plasmid DNA and nucleosides. The photorepair of damaged DNA and the "dark" reversion of the hydrates of uracil phosphoramidite coupling blocks were also investigated.

A case of tricuspid valvular nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis associated with advanced ovarian cancer.

Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is characterized by the deposition of thrombi on the heart valves without bacteremia and predominantly affects patients with hypercoagulable state. Since the lesion of NBTE often exists in the left-sided valves, involvement of the tricuspid valve (TV) is rare. We herein report a 34-year-old woman with advanced ovarian cancer and pulmonary embolization showing NBTE on the TV. Plasma D-dimer level was markedly elevated and echocardiography showed highly mobile masses on the TV with moderate to severe regurgitation. After the initiation of heparin therapy, reduction of plasma D-dimer levels along with shrinkage of the TV vegetations was observed. However, she was forced to discontinue the heparin because its supply was interrupted in association with coronavirus disease 2019. Coupled with systemic metastasis of ovarian cancer, elevated plasma D-dimer level and exacerbation of NBTE were observed. Thereafter, she resumed subcutaneous injection of heparin, resulting in re-improvement. Learning objective: Involvement of tricuspid valve (TV) by nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) is rare, especially when they are associated with advanced cancer. Our case underlines the importance of listing the NBTE as a differential diagnosis in cancer patients showing valve vegetations even in the TV.

Structural evidence of glycoprotein assembly in cellular membrane compartments prior to Alphavirus budding.

Membrane glycoproteins of alphavirus play a critical role in the assembly and budding of progeny virions. However, knowledge regarding transport of viral glycoproteins to the plasma membrane is obscure. In this study, we investigated the role of cytopathic vacuole type II (CPV-II) through in situ electron tomography of alphavirus-infected cells. The results revealed that CPV-II contains viral glycoproteins arranged in helical tubular arrays resembling the basic organization of glycoprotein trimers on the envelope of the mature virions. The location of CPV-II adjacent to the site of viral budding suggests a model for the transport of structural components to the site of budding. Thus, the structural characteristics of CPV-II can be used in evaluating the design of a packaging cell line for replicon production.

Ab initio theoretical calculations of the electronic excitation energies of small water clusters.

A direct ab initio molecular dynamics method has been applied to a water monomer and water clusters (H(2)O)(n) (n = 1-3) to elucidate the effects of zero-point energy (ZPE) vibration on the absorption spectra of water clusters. Static ab initio calculations without ZPE showed that the first electronic transitions of (H(2)O)(n), (1)B(1)←(1)A(1), are blue-shifted as a function of cluster size (n): 7.38 eV (n = 1), 7.58 eV (n = 2) and 8.01 eV (n = 3). The inclusion of the ZPE vibration strongly affects the excitation energies of a water dimer, and a long red-tail appears in the range of 6.42-6.90 eV due to the structural flexibility of a water dimer. The ultraviolet photodissociation of water clusters and water ice surfaces is relevant to these results.

Surface abundance change in vacuum ultraviolet photodissociation of CO2 and H2O mixture ices.

Photodissociation of amorphous ice films of carbon dioxide and water co-adsorbed at 90 K was carried out at 157 nm using oxygen-16 and -18 isotopomers with a time-of-flight photofragment mass spectrometer. O((3)P(J)) atoms, OH (v = 0) radicals, and CO (v = 0,1) molecules were detected as photofragments. CO is produced directly from the photodissociation of CO(2). Two different adsorption states of CO(2), i.e., physisorbed CO(2) on the surface of amorphous solid water and trapped CO(2) in the pores of the film, are clearly distinguished by the translational and internal energy distributions of the CO molecules. The O atom and OH radical are produced from the photodissociation of H(2)O. Since the absorption cross section of CO(2) is smaller than that of H(2)O at 157 nm, the CO(2) surface abundance is relatively increased after prolonged photoirradiation of the mixed ice film, resulting in the formation of a heterogeneously layered structure in the mixed ice at low temperatures. Astrophysical implications are discussed.

Conversion of gaseous nitrogen dioxide to nitrate and nitrite on aqueous surfactants.

The hydrolytic disproportionation of gaseous NO(2) on water's surface (2 NO(2) + H(2)O → HONO + NO(3)(-) + H(+)) (R1) has long been deemed to play a key, albeit unquantifiable role in tropospheric chemistry. We recently found that (R1) is dramatically accelerated by anions in experiments performed on aqueous microjets monitored by online electrospray mass spectrometry. This finding let us rationalize unresolved discrepancies among previous laboratory results and suggested that under realistic environmental conditions (R1) should be affected by everpresent surfactants. Herein, we report that NO(2)(g) uptake is significantly enhanced by cationic surfactants, weakly inhibited by fulvic acid (FA, a natural polycarboxylic acid) and anionic surfactants, and unaffected by 1-octanol. Surfactants appear to modulate interfacial anion coverage via electrostatic interactions with charged headgroups. We show that (R1) should be the dominant mechanism for the heterogeneous conversion of NO(2)(g) to HONO under typical atmospheric conditions throughout the day. The photoinduced reduction of NO(2) into HONO on airborne soot might play a limited role during daytime.