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This study aimed to analyse whether initiating nintedanib treatment at a reduced dose could improve the treatment continuation rate while maintaining efficacy in patients with connective tissue disease (CTD)-associated interstitial lung disease. In total, 51 patients (age 61.6 ± 13.2 years; 38 women, 13 men) were retrospectively analysed. The primary endpoint was the cumulative discontinuation rate due to adverse events. Secondary endpoints included changes in drug dosage, efficacy evaluated based on annual changes in forced vital capacity (FVC), and safety assessed based on the frequency of adverse events. Eighteen patients who started treatment at the standard dose of 300 mg (standard dosage group) were compared with 33 patients who started treatment at a reduced dose (reduced dosage group). Systemic sclerosis was the most common CTD (n = 32), followed by idiopathic inflammatory myopathies and, rarely, rheumatoid arthritis. Both groups exhibited comparable cumulative discontinuation rates due to adverse events and similar frequencies of adverse events. No significant differences were observed in maintenance doses between the two groups; however, patients in the reduced dosage group had a lower cumulative dose for up to 52 weeks than those in the standard dosage group. No significant differences were observed in changes in FVC between the two groups. There was no evidence for a difference between the two groups in terms of discontinuation rates, efficacy, and safety. To provide further evidence, future studies using more precise dose-escalation protocols are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Backgrounds: Anastomotic leakage (AL) represents a major complication after rectal low anterior resection (LAR). Transanal drainage tube (TDT) placement offers a potential strategy for AL prevention; however, its efficacy and safety remain contentious. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were used to evaluate the influence of TDT subsequent to LAR as part of the revision of the surgical site infection prevention guidelines of the Japanese Society of Surgical Infectious Diseases (PROSPERO registration; CRD42023476655). We searched each database, and included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies (OBSs) comparing TDT and non-TDT outcomes. The main outcome was AL. Data were independently extracted by three authors and random-effects models were implemented. Results: A total of three RCTs and 18 OBSs were included. RCTs reported no significant difference in AL rate between the TDT and non-TDT groups [relative risk (RR): 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.42–1.15]. OBSs reported that TDT reduced AL risk [odds ratio (OR): 0.45, 95% CI 0.31–0.64]. In the subgroup excluding diverting stoma (DS), TDT significantly lowered the AL rate in RCTs (RR: 0.57, 95% CI 0.33–0.99) and OBSs (OR: 0.41, 95% CI 0.27–0.62). Reoperation rates were significantly lower in the TDT without DS groups in both RCTs (RR: 0.26, 95% CI 0.07–0.94) and OBSs (OR: 0.40, 95% CI 0.24–0.66). TDT groups exhibited a higher anastomotic bleeding rate only in RCTs (RR: 4.28, 95% CI 2.14–8.54), while shorter hospital stays were observed in RCTs [standard mean difference (SMD): −0.44, 95% CI −0.65 to −0.23] and OBSs (SMD: −0.54, 95% CI −0.97 to −0.11) compared with the non-TDT group. Conclusions: A universal TDT placement cannot be recommended for all rectal LAR patients. Some patients may benefit from TDT, such as patients without DS creation. Further investigation is necessary to identify the specific beneficiaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though the risk of a negative encounter with a large and potentially dangerous shark species (e.g. white sharks—Carcharodon carcharias) is exceedingly rare, some localities implement indiscriminate shark culls to minimize this risk.Due to the negative ecological impact that these lethal shark control measures can have, the present study aimed to test a novel and eco‐friendly shark barrier system, known as the Shark Exclusion Barrier. The Shark Exclusion Barrier is a shark deterrent technology that is composed of a combination of interconnected and telescoping vertical barrier elements (i.e. the visual stimulus) and electromagnetic stimuli (e.g. electromagnets and Barium Ferrite (BaFe12O19) permanent magnets). Using this system, two separate C. carcharias swim pattern manipulation studies were conducted over the course of two research seasons.In the first season (i.e. 2021), 9, 1‐h trials were conducted where 9–13 different C. carcharias interacted with the barrier.In the second season (i.e. 2023), 35, 2‐h trials were conducted where 6–10 C. carcharias interacted with the barrier.Throughout experimentation, C. carcharias exhibited a significantly greater entrance frequency (p < 0.05) and a significantly reduced pass around frequency (p < 0.05) towards the control region when compared to the Shark Exclusion Barrier region.Furthermore, the barrier exhibited the ability to maintain its structural integrity during swells of ≥2.13 m, breaking waves of ≥1.52 m and a current of ≥1.12 m/s.Due to the promising results, this technology warrants further investigation to determine if it is a plausible alternative to lethal culling measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the correlation of design parameters of the counter-flow jet in addition to the complexity of the flow field, understanding the mechanism of the counter-flow jet for drag reduction and flow control remains challenging. Furthermore, to satisfy the demands of the space transportation system, investigating the counter-flow jet's suitability for a range of flight conditions is critical. To solve these problems, a study was performed by varying the pressure ratio (PR) and exit Mach number of the counter-flow jet at hypersonic low-Reynolds number regime. For numerical simulations, laminar, axisymmetric Navier–Stokes equations were solved by the total variation diminishing scheme with second-order accuracy in space and the explicit strong stability preserving the Runge–Kutta method. With given numerical conditions, the flow field was categorized as the long penetration mode (LPM) based on the penetration length and the fluctuation of the flow field at the high-Reynolds number regime. By reducing the free-stream flow Reynolds number while keeping other parameters unchanged, the flow field transitioned from the LPM to a stable LPM, short penetration mode, or long penetration with periodically oscillation mode. The critical Reynolds number for the transition of the flow field is highly dependent on the exit Mach number of the counter-flow jet and PR. The extended jet layer was the primary reason for the fluctuation of the drag coefficient. Furthermore, with the counter-flow jet at certain flight conditions, drag can be reduced by up to 78% regardless of the stability of the flow field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strontium titanate [SrTiO3 (STO)], a perovskite oxide with an extremely high gate-tunable dielectric constant (ε) due to quantum paraelectric phases, is attracting considerable attention for yielding various physical phenomena when two-dimensional (2D) layers are integrated. Superconductivity is such a typical phenomenon. However, the influence of the STO substrates on enhancing transition temperatures (Tc) for (atomically) thin 2D flakes attached to them has been rarely investigated. Here, we report gate-tunable and gradual four-terminal resistance drops with critical onset T (TCR) and scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) spectra in devices comprising thin TaS2 flakes attached on monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) spacer/STO substrates. Observation of STS spectra confirms the presence of local superconducting gaps Δ (∼1.5 meV) with transition T (TΔC) three-times higher than previous reports of Tc under absent pressure and strong position dependence of Δ. Depending on Δ on back gate voltages (Vbg) and magnetic fields, there is a strong correlation between TCR and the onset Tc of superconductivity, implying an enhancement of approximately five times compared with the previous highest-onset Tc values without pressure as the applied Vbg increases. The high onset Tc and Δ are discussed based on screening of the long-range Coulomb interaction (CI) due to the high-ε of SrTiO3, while the short-ranged CI remains strong in the 2D limit, causing the superconductivity. Using a monolayer hBN/SrTiO3 substrate with Vbg opens doors to Tc enhancement in thin superconducting layers integrated on it and wide application due to the solid-state high-ε substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A clear air turbulence (CAT) occurred on 30 December 2020 over Tokyo, Japan. The CAT was largely generated by breaking Kelvin‐Helmholtz (KH) instability waves in the free atmosphere. A regional numerical weather prediction model simulated the event with fine resolution (35 m). Onboard‐recorded flight data and a flight simulation were utilized to validate the meteorological simulation. The locations of the reproduced strong turbulence agree well with the regions where flights encountered turbulence on that day. In a simulation with the finest resolution, the KH waves and their breaking were resolved. When the resolution was finer, the turbulent eddies were stronger, causing meteorological effects on the airplanes. The response of a virtual airplane to the simulated turbulence was estimated using a flight simulation. By comparing onboard‐recorded data with virtual flight data, we confirm that turbulent eddies are reasonably reproduced. Plain Language Summary: Clear air turbulence (CAT) is a threat to aviation safety. CAT occurs outside clouds, making it difficult to detect by pilots and onboard radars. When an airplane encounters strong CAT, changes in aerodynamic forces and moments cause significant shaking of the airplane. Although CAT generation in the free atmosphere has been studied by high‐resolution numerical simulations, few studies simulated aircraft‐scale turbulence eddies and validated them with high‐frequency airborne observation. We investigate a past CAT event in Japan using a very high resolution (35 m) simulation based on a regional weather prediction model of daily weather forecasts. The simulated turbulence was verified by comparing the virtual flight in simulated wind fields with realistic flight data recorded by airplanes during the event. Simulated aircraft responses in finer weather simulations match flight records better. Key Points: Clear air turbulence in a real case is reproduced by the use of a numerical weather prediction modelIf the resolution is fine enough for a large eddy simulation (LES), turbulent eddies associated with Kelvin‐Helmholtz instability are reproducedTurbulence eddies are shown to be realistic because virtual flight data in the LES data agree well with real flights [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Preserving sufficient oral function and maintaining adequate nutrition are essential for preventing physical frailty and the following long-term care. We recently developed the 6-month Comprehensive Awareness Modification of Mouth, Chewing And Meal (CAMCAM) program, in which participants gather monthly to learn about oral health and nutrition while eating a textured lunch together. This study examined whether the CAMCAM program could improve attitude and behavior towards oral health, mastication, and diet as well as ameliorate oral frailty in community-dwelling older adults. Design: Single-arm pre-post comparison study. Setting and Participants: A total of 271 community-dwelling adults (72.3 ± 5.7 years of age; 159 women [58.7%]) in 4 Japanese municipalities were recruited, of which 249 participants (92%) were assessed at the final evaluation. Intervention: Participants gathered once a month at community centers to learn about oral health and nutrition while eating a "munchy" textured lunch containing proper nutrition. Measurements: Oral frailty, frailty, and eating behavior were evaluated with the Oral Frailty Index-8 (OFI-8), Kihon checklist (KCL), and CAMCAM checklist, respectively. Participants were divided into Oral frailty (OF) and Robust groups according to OFI-8 scores. The differences in KCL and CAMCAM checklist results between the OF and Robust groups were statistically tested along with changes in scores after the program. Results: KCL and CAMCAM checklist scores were significantly lower in the OF group at the initial assessment. OFI-8 and KCL findings were significantly improved in the OF group after completing the program (all P <0.05). Regarding the CAMCAM checklist, awareness of chewing improved significantly in the Robust group (P=0.009), with a similar tendency in the OF group (P=0.080). Conclusion: The findings of this pilot study suggest that the CAMCAM program may improve both oral and systemic frailty in addition to attitudes towards chewing, oral health, and meals, especially in individuals with oral frailty. The CAMCAM program merits expansion as a community-based frailty prevention program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermal properties of methane hydrate (MH)‐bearing sediments are necessary for developing gas production technologies (e.g., gas production rate prediction). The direct thermal property measurement of a general MH reservoir is difficult because it demands an advanced coring and measuring technology. Therefore, a good thermal property value estimation model for a system containing sediment grains, water, MH, and gas is necessary. In 2018, the pressure core samples were recovered from the AT‐CW1 and AT‐CW2 wells in Nankai Trough of Japan. Using a single‐sided transient plane source method, we measure herein the thermal property values of those core samples and estimate their thermal conductivity by improving existing models. The measured thermal conductivity (λ), specific heat (ρCp), and thermal diffusivity (α) of the MH‐bearing sediments before and after MH dissociation are obtained. The de Vries model agrees well with the measured thermal conductivity values before and after the MH dissociation. For the random distribution (geometric mean) model, the difference between the estimation values and the data after the MH dissociation increases as the gas saturation Sg′ increases. In the worst case, the distribution model shows an 87.6% error, while the de Vries model yields 5.2% of the same. We propose and use an estimation method of the thermal property values in an MH reservoir, which requires classical thermophysical models and well log data. The in‐situ thermal property values can be estimated when the log data are highly accurate. Plain Language Summary: In recent years, several countries and organizations have conducted research projects on gas production from methane hydrate (MH) sediments under the ocean floor. One of the key technologies of these projects is the gas production simulator that requires physical parameter determination and models for accurate prediction. The required physical parameters remain scarce because MH dissociates under atmospheric pressure and normal temperature conditions. In this study, we measure the thermal property values of MH‐bearing sediment cores recovered from the Nankai Trough area in Japan. Various prospective models for estimating the thermal conductivity of MH‐bearing sediments have been developed, but a universally applicable unified model has not yet been created. We test classical estimation models for thermal conductivity and show that the de Vries model agrees well with the measured values of MH‐bearing sediment before and after MH dissociation. The random distribution model agrees well before dissociation, but does not agree after it. In the worst case, the random distribution model shows an 87.6% error. We propose and test an estimation method of the thermal property values obtained from an MH reservoir. The results will help in improving gas production technologies for MH deposit recovery. Key Points: The thermal property values of 29 core samples retrieved from a gas hydrate reservoir were measuredThe thermal property values before and after methane hydrate (MH) dissociation can be estimated using a classical modelWe proposed and used an estimation method for thermal property values in a MH reservoir [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocrystalline alloy samples with the same chemistry (Fe86B13Cu1) but with a range of mean grain sizes were prepared in order to investigate the effect of the grain size (D) on the core losses in nanocrystalline alloys. The core loss was measured on an Epstein frame in a frequency range between 10 Hz and 30 kHz. The measured core loss was separated into 3 parts, i.e. the hysteresis loss, classical eddy current loss and the excess loss. The classical eddy current loss is only a minor component due to the small thickness and moderately high electrical resistivity of the samples. Both the coercivity and the cycle hysteresis loss are found to follow roughly a D3 dependence. The excess loss at the maximum polarization (Jm) between 0.6 and 1.0 T is described universally by a simple power dependence of (Jm·f)n with an exponent of about 1.4 over a wide frequency (f) range between 10 Hz to 30 kHz. The excess loss at low frequencies appears almost independent of the grain size. Thus, the grain size effect on the total loss at low frequencies is attributable to the change in the hysteresis loss which reflects the static coercivity. However, the excess loss at 30 kHz shows a clear increase with an increase in D, indicating that the excess loss also becomes influential to the grain size dependence of the total core loss at high frequencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussion In this patient, emergency lower limb angiography revealed a localized dissection of the left EIA, which coincided with the site of compression by the robotic arm. In this patient, excessive mechanical pressure in the area of the left external iliac artery (EIA) caused an arterial dissection and required emergency lower limb angioplasty to resolve the resultant acute limb ischemia (ALI). [Extracted from the article]

In this study, a clear-air turbulence event was reproduced using a high-resolution (250 m) large-eddy simulation in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Model, and the resulting wind field was used in a flight simulation to estimate the vertical acceleration changes experienced by an aircraft. Conditions were simulated for 16 December 2014 when many intense turbulence encounters (and one accident) associated with an extratropical cyclone were reported over the Tokyo area. Based on observations and the WRF simulation, the turbulence was attributed to shear-layer instability near the jet stream axis. Simulation results confirmed the existence of the instability, which led to horizontal vortices with an amplitude of vertical velocity from +20 to −12 m s−1. The maximum eddy dissipation rate was estimated to be over 0.7, which suggested that the model reproduced turbulence conditions likely to cause strong shaking in large-size aircraft. A flight simulator based on aircraft equations of motion estimated vertical acceleration changes of +1.57 to +0.08 G on a Boeing 777-class aircraft. Although the simulated amplitudes of the vertical acceleration changes were smaller than those reported in the accident (+1.8 to −0.88 G), the model successfully reproduced aircraft motion using a combination of atmospheric and flight simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mn-based hard magnets are potentially suitable for advanced ultra-high frequency spintronics applications because they exhibit the Larmor precession of magnetization at THz wave-range frequencies with low magnetic relaxation. However, the low magnetic relaxation properties are not well understood; thus, a more detailed study is necessary. In this study, magnetization precessions in L10 Mn1.54Ga, D022 Mn2.12Ga, and C38 MnAlGe epitaxial films grown on MgO substrates were investigated using an all-optical pump-probe method under a magnetic field of ~20 kOe. The coherent magnetization precessions at frequencies of more than 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 THz for the C38 MnAlGe, L10 Mn1.54Ga, and D022 Mn2.12Ga films, respectively, were clearly measured. The effective damping constant for the C38 MnAlGe film was smaller than the previously reported value measured at 10 kOe by a factor of 2, whereas those showed a large angular dependence. The effective damping constants for the L10 Mn1.54Ga and D022 Mn2.12Ga films were independent of the field angle and approximately identical to the values measured at 10 kOe. Thus, it was concluded that the values for the Gilbert damping constant, α, were 0.008 and 0.012 for the L10 Mn1.54Ga and D022 Mn2.12Ga films, respectively. The possible origin of the discrepancy between the experimental and theoretical a values for these films is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainties in cloud feedback remain stubbornly significant in global climate models, disrupting the credibility of climate projections. This study examined the impacts of the prognostic treatment of precipitation on cloud feedback using the Model for Interdisciplinary Research on Climate version 6 (MIROC6). In a prognostic precipitation scheme, precipitating hydrometers are explicitly predicted, allowing a more sophisticated representation of their microphysical and radiative effects than that of traditional diagnostic schemes. The introduction of the prognostic scheme in MIROC6 increases cloud feedback associated with the elevated altitude of clouds in warming climates. Moreover, the equilibrium climate sensitivity increases by about 20%. Because associated high‐level clouds are better represented in the prognostic scheme, climate projections with larger altitude feedback are considered more credible. Additional analyses of Coupled Model Intercomparison Project models suggests that their altitude cloud feedback would be higher if their underestimation of high‐level clouds were mitigated. Plain Language Summary: Uncertainties in global mean temperature projections are primarily associated with the spread in cloud feedback across models, which accelerate or decelerate global warming through cloud sunshade and/or greenhouse effects. A possible reason for the spread in cloud response is the overly simplified treatment of precipitation in models, where rain and snow particles immediately fall from the atmosphere down to the surface within a single model time interval of about 10 min. Here, we introduced a more sophisticated precipitation scheme that explicitly calculates the physical processes of falling rain and snow particles, thus preserving their "memory" in the atmosphere with their sunshade and greenhouse effects incorporated. As a result, the representation of clouds is significantly improved in this model, and greenhouse effects by clouds in warming climates are significantly enhanced. This study lends credence to higher cloud feedback and climate sensitivity if models incorporate the missing feedback processes in line with observational constraints. Key Points: Acceleration of global warming by cloud altitude feedback is enhanced in MIROC6 when a prognostic precipitation scheme is introducedCloud altitude feedback is associated with high clouds in the present climate, which is better represented by prognostic precipitationCloud altitude feedback in CMIP models is suggested to increase when their underestimation of high‐level clouds is mitigated [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An n n Λ , which consists of two neutrons and a Lambda hyperon, is a multi-baryon system with no charge. Studying the n n Λ state would provide information about the Λ n interaction which has not been directly measured by a scattering experiment. The experiment (E12-17-003) was performed in order to search for the n n Λ state at Jefferson Lab. The n n Λ is expected to be produced by the (e , e ′ K +) reaction, which has sensitivity to both bound and resonance states if the natural width of the n n Λ is narrow enough to be observed as a peak. The experiment used gas targets of hydrogen and tritium for mass calibration and the n n Λ production, respectively. The mass calibration with H (e , e ′ K +) Λ / Σ 0 reactions gave the mass resolution of the Λ and Σ 0 each 3.5 MeV / c 2 FWHM, for the elementary reaction. A spectrum of 3 H (e , e ′ K +) X was obtained, and a simple model with a Λ n final state interaction was applied to reproduce the spectrum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra-Rapid Annealing (URA) is an effective means of producing Fe-rich nanocrystalline soft magnetic materials with desirable soft magnetic properties. However, compared to existing annealing techniques, URA presents many unique processing challenges that have so far limited its scalability. In this study, a novel Continuous Ultra-Rapid Annealing (CURA) technique is introduced. This technique is based on a reel-to-reel process and is considered suitable for industrial-scale production. The effectiveness of CURA is evaluated by comparing the microstructural and magnetic properties of a heating-rate-sensitive nanocrystalline (Fe0.8Co0.2)86B14 alloy produced by URA and CURA. It is seen that both techniques produce comparable soft magnetic properties and that the continuous annealing process is stable after a short settling time. A proof-of-concept electric motor containing a CURA prepared nanocrystalline stator core is also demonstrated and compared to an equivalent motor with a Fe-Si steel stator core. It is shown that the CURA production process can be used to produce magnetically soft nanocrystalline materials with complex geometries and that they can deliver increased performance in existing commercial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A device to detect and visualize periodic mechanical vibrations is presented. The device is realized by a mechanical resonance frequency tuner, a laser source, and a screen. The mechanical vibration frequency of a target machine can be searched by rotating adjustment screw in the tuner. The tuner except the laser source, consists of leaf spring, magnets, screw, mirror, and cupper plate which are passive and thus is robust to environmental stresses, reliable and explosion proof. The vibration is amplified both by the tuner and an optical system. The laser beam is irradiated to the vibrating mirror in the tuner, the direction of the beam reflected by the mirror changes in synchronization with the vibration, and the laser beam finally draws the magnified laser spot trajectory the on the screen. A small solar cell and phosphorescent tape are set on the screen. The solar cell irradiated by the laser beam generates periodic pulse voltage with the frequency of twice of the vibration frequency. The phosphorescent tape memorizes the maximum amplitude as the afterglow even if the vibration frequency of machine fluctuates around the tuned frequency. A theoretical model of the tuner was built. The tuning frequencies calculated by the model and those experimentally obtained showed good agreement. The frequency was tuned in the range from 31Hz and 115Hz. A laser spot trajectory by vibration velocity of 0.9 mm $/\text{s}$ (peak displacement of 0.013 mm) had the amplitude of 0.74 m. The displacement was 114,000 times magnified. Further magnification is possible by adjusting the laser beam elevation angle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chiral susceptibility, or the first derivative of the chiral condensate with respect to the quark mass, is often used as a probe for the QCD phase transition since the chiral condensate is an order parameter of SU (2) L × SU (2) R symmetry breaking. However, the chiral condensate also breaks the axial U (1) symmetry, which is usually not studied as it is already broken by the anomaly and apparently has little impact on the transition. We investigate the susceptibilities in the scalar and pseudoscalar channels in order to quantify how much the axial U (1) breaking contributes to the chiral phase transition. Employing a chirally symmetric lattice Dirac operator and its eigenmode decomposition, we separate the axial U (1) breaking effects from others. Our result in two-flavor QCD indicates that both of the connected and disconnected chiral susceptibilities are dominated by axial U (1) breaking at temperatures T ≳ 190 MeV after the quadratically divergent constant is subtracted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhodococcus equi was isolated from the gastrointestinal contents of earthworms (family Megascolecidae) and their surrounding soil collected from pastures of two horse‐breeding farms in Aomori Prefecture, outdoor pig pens, forest in Towada campus, orange groves and forest where wild boars (Sus scrofa) are established in Tanabe, Wakayama Prefecture. The number of R. equi in the lower gastrointestinal contents of 23 earthworms collected from our campus was significantly larger than that of the upper gastrointestinal content. The mean numbers of R. equi from the gastrointestinal contents of earthworms collected from the various places were 2·3‐fold to 39·7‐fold more than those of the surrounding soil samples. In all, 1771 isolates from the earthworms and 489 isolates from the soil samples were tested for the presence of vapA and vapB genes using polymerase chain reaction. At the horse‐breeding farm N, 9 of the 109 isolates (8·3%) from the earthworms and 7 of the 106 isolates (6·6%) from the soil samples were positive for the vapA gene. At the University's forest, one of the 250 isolates (0·4%) from the gastrointestinal contents of the earthworm was positive for the vapB gene. These results revealed that R. equi can be found in significant quantities in the gastrointestinal contents of earthworms, suggesting that they act as an accumulator of R. equi in the soil environment and as a source or reservoir of animal infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small binding energy of the hypertriton leads to predictions of the non-existence of bound hypernuclei for isotriplet three-body systems such as nn Λ. However, invariant mass spectroscopy at GSI has reported events that may be interpreted as the bound nn Λ state. The nn Λ state was sought by missing-mass spectroscopy via the (e, e ′ K +) reaction at Jefferson Lab's experimental Hall A. The present experiment has higher sensitivity to the nn Λ-state investigation in terms of better precision by a factor of about three. The analysis shown in this article focuses on the derivation of the reaction cross-section for the 3H(γ*, K +)X reaction. Events that were detected in an acceptance, where a Monte Carlo simulation could reproduce the data well (⁠|$|\delta p/p| \lt 4\%$|⁠), were analyzed to minimize the systematic uncertainty. No significant structures were observed with the acceptance cuts, and the upper limits of the production cross-section of the nn Λ state were obtained to be 21 and |$31 \, \rm {nb} \, \rm {sr}^{-1}$| at the |$90\%$| confidence level when theoretical predictions of (− B Λ, Γ) = (0.25, 0.8) MeV and (0.55, 4.7) MeV, respectively, were assumed. The cross-section result provides valuable information for examining the existence of nn Λ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Factory machine diagnosis is important for preventive maintenance. Diagnosis equipment needs to be reliable and easy to handle, and the diagnostic results should be easily recognizable. An equipment that meets the above conditions is developed; it comprises a laser beam source, leaf spring with a mirror and a magnet as a position-adjustable mass, a copper plate, and a remote switch, if necessary. The principle is based on optical lever and mechanical vibration resonance. The laser spot vibration trajectory is irradiated onto the wall, ceiling, floor of a factory, or the housing of a machine as a screen. An equipment (29 mm $\times35$ mm $\times22$ mm) placed on the vibrating machine irradiates a laser beam and the magnified vibration is displayed on the screen. In this paper, the theoretical model and the equipment are presented, and the measured vibrations for a test vibrator and an actual machine are shown. A peak-to-peak vibration of 0.006 mm measured by a vibrometer is magnified to the 115 mm laser beam spot trajectory. The magnification is 38,333 times (91.6 dB), which is even larger on screens placed farther away. The calculation results by the theoretical model are in good agreement with the measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Bowel wall enhancement on CT imaging is considered one of the useful features for the prediction of the presence of irreversible ischemic change in patients with small bowel obstruction. However, the applicability of CT imaging in patients with incarcerated hernias has not been investigated in detail. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the feasibility of preoperative CT findings for the prediction of the presence of irreversible ischemic change in patients with incarcerated hernias containing small bowel.Methods: Included in this study were 76 patients who underwent surgery for preoperatively diagnosed incarcerated hernias containing small bowel (27 inguinal hernias, 37 femoral hernias and 12 obturator hernias) at our hospital between January 2011 and June 2020. The preoperative clinicoradiological features were compared between the groups, and predictors for intestinal resection were evaluated.Results: Nineteen patients required intestinal resection (Resection group), and the other 57 patients did not require intestinal resection (Nonresection group). Multivariate analyses revealed that age ≥ 80 years (p = 0.018, odds ratio = 6.604) and the absence of bowel wall enhancement (p = 0.032, odds ratio = 51.200) were independent predictors for intestinal resection. In resected specimens, all patients with an absence of bowel wall enhancement on preoperative enhanced CT had ischemic changes extending beyond the muscularis propria.Conclusions: Preoperative enhancement CT yields useful information for the prediction of the presence of irreversible ischemic change in patients with incarcerated hernias containing small bowel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-pressure stability, ambient metastability, and high-pressure crystal chemistry of chemical bonds of marcasite-type RhN2 have been investigated using a laser-heated diamond-anvil cell up to a pressure of 70.6 GPa. High-pressure in-situ X-ray diffraction and Raman scattering measurements revealed that the marcasite-type RhN2 structure is stable up to 70.6 GPa and exhibited an order of axial compressibility of βc > βb > βa. This indicates that single bonded nitrogen dimer (N-N) plays an important role in the incompressibility of a- and b-axes than in that of the c-axis and stabilizes the marcasite-type structure at high-pressure. Field emission scanning electron microscopic analysis in combination with the energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopic measurements and the result of our previous study indicates that the marcasite-type RhN2 can be quenched to ambient pressure when the grain size is less than 100 nm. Our study together with other previous studies indicates that the ambient metastability of 4d platinum group pernitrides (RuN2, RhN2, and PdN2) decreases from ruthenium to palladium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-destructive determination of lithium distribution in a working battery is key for addressing both efficiency and safety issues. Although various techniques have been developed to map the lithium distribution in electrodes, these methods are mostly applicable to test cells. Here, we propose the use of high-energy x-ray Compton scattering spectroscopy to measure the local lithium concentration in closed electrochemical cells. A combination of experimental measurements and parallel first-principles computations is used to show that the shape parameter S of the Compton profile is linearly proportional to lithium concentration and thus provides a viable descriptor for this important quantity. The merits and applicability of our method are demonstrated with illustrative examples of LixMn2O4 cathodes and a working commercial lithium coin battery CR2032. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the crystal structure and magnetic properties of Manganese-germanium (Mn3Ge) films having the tetragonal D022 structure, with varied thicknesses (5-130 nm) prepared on chromium (Cr)-buffered single crystal MgO(001) substrates. A crystal lattice elongation in the in-plane direction, induced by the lattice mismatch between the D022-Mn3Ge and the Cr buffer layer, increased with decreasing thickness of the D022-Mn3Ge layer. The films exhibited clear magnetic hysteresis loops with a squareness ratio close to unity, and a step-like magnetization reversal even at a 5-nm thickness under an external field perpendicular to the film's plane. The uniaxial magnetic anisotropy constant of the films showed a reduction to less than 10 Merg/cm³ in the small thickness range (⩽20 nm), likely due to the crystal lattice elongation in the in-plane direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We fabricated Fe-Co films from a deep eutectic solvent (DES)-based plating bath and investigated magnetic properties of the plated films. The plating baths were obtained by stirring the mixture of choline chloride, ethylene glycol, FeCl2·4H2O, and CoCl2·6H2O. The composition of the plated films depended on the amount of FeCl2·4H2O in the plating bath, and Fe content of the films was varied from 0 to 100 at. %. Depending on the Fe content, the saturation magnetization and the coercivity of the films varied. The Fe76Co24 film shows high saturation magnetization and smooth surface, and the change in the saturation magnetization shows good agreement with the expected change by the Slater-Pauling curve. High current efficiency (>90%) could be obtained in the wide film composition. From these results, we concluded that the DES-based plating bath is one of effective baths for the Fe-Co films with high current efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) is a well-established thermo-mechanical processing technique. This technique allows virtually unlimited strain and manipulation of texture by processing route, while the cross-section of the sample remains unchanged during processing. In order to clarify the effectiveness of ECAP on preparing anisotropic permanent magnets, the microstructure and magnetic properties of a melt-spun Nd13.5Fe73.8Co6.7B5.6Ga0.4 alloy processed at 773K for 300 s by ECAP were investigated. Macrotexture analysis carried out for the exit channel of ECAP shows that the basal plane of the tetragonal Nd2Fe14B crystal aligns parallel to the shear band, i.e., the c-axis texture formation normal to the shear band induced by the ECAP process. Due to this texture formation, the technical magnetization behaviour becomes anisotropic, and the remanent magnetization is clearly enhanced along the direction perpendicular to the shear band. This anisotropic microstructure is realized at a relatively low processing temperature of 773 K, well below the melting point of the Nd-rich intergranular phase. As a consequence of this lower processing temperature, the nanostructure of the melt-spun alloy remains approximately 20 to 30 nm, considerably smaller than the typical grain size obtained after conventional die-upsetting. Our study demonstrates that equal-channel angular pressing has a potential for realising anisotropic nanostructured magnets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have fabricated bilayer films of tetragonal Heusler-like D022 Mn3Ga and cubic Heusler Co2FeZ (Z=Si and Al) on (100) single-crystalline MgO substrates and investigated their structural and interfacial exchange coupling. The coupling in the Mn3Ga/Co2FeAl bilayer was either ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic, depending on annealing temperature, whereas only antiferromagnetic exchange coupling was observed in the Mn3Ga/Co2FeSi bilayers. The effects of annealing on the structure and coupling strength in the bilayers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to better understand the origin of field-induced anisotropy (Ku) in Si-free nanocrystalline soft magnetic alloys, the lattice spacing of the bcc-Fe phase in nanocrystalline Fe94-xNb6Bx (x=10, 12, 14) alloys annealed under an applied magnetic field has been investigated by X-ray diffraction in transmission geometry (t-XRD) with the diffraction vector parallel and perpendicular to the field direction. The saturation magnetostriction (λs) of nanocrystalline Fe94-xNb6Bx was found to increase linearly with the volume fraction of the residual amorphous phase and is well described by taking into account the volume-weighted average of two local λs values for the bcc-Fe nanocrystallites (-5±2 ppm) and the residual amorphous matrix (+8±2 ppm). The lattice distortion required to produce the measured Ku values (~100 J/m³) was estimated via the inverse magnetostrictive effect using the measured λs values and was compared to the lattice spacing estimations made by t-XRD. The lattice strain required to produce Ku under the magnetoelastic model was not observed by the t-XRD experiments and so the findings of this study suggest that the origin of magnetic field induced Ku cannot be explained through the magnetoelastic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe-Ni films were electroplated in a citric-acid-based plating bath, focusing on the current efficiency of the plating process. We prepared the plating baths with various citric acid contents, and evaluated the magnetic properties of the films and the current efficiency. The film with Fe content of approximately 22 at.% was obtained by adjusting the iron sulfate content in the plating bath, and we found that the Fe-Ni films with low coercivity (<30 A/m) could be obtained in the baths with various citric acid contents. For the current efficiency, we found that the baths with low citric acid content are effective to obtain high efficiency. The bath with the citric acid content of 10 g/l showed high current efficiency (85%), and the high efficiency enables us to increase the plating rate. The maximum plating rate was 186 μm/h, and we obtained 1.3 times higher rate compared to that for our previous study. Therefore, we concluded that the bath with low citric acid content is a suitable plating bath to obtain thick Fe-Ni films in a short time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Over 30% of the population of Okinawa Prefecture have a high body mass index. The incidence of hypertension and dyslipidaemia has also increased in recent years. We found that Ooitabi (Ficus pumila L.), a plant native to Okinawa, was useful for hypertension. During ancient times, the extracts of Ooitabi leaves were used for making Ishimaki tea in some areas of Okinawa Prefecture. The plants in Okinawa are rich in antioxidants, and four flavonoid glycosides, including rutin, have been identified in Ooitabi. Methods: In the present study, we conducted clinical verification tests on the effects of drinking Ishimaki tea on outpatients with hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Of 3814 Japanese patients who underwent medical check‐ups in Okinawa, 38 individuals with high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, liver dysfunction and gout visited our hospital as outpatients and were asked to drink Ishimaki tea. Results: After 3 months, there were significant reductions in body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, γ‐glutamyltrans peptidase, uric acid and ratio of blood vessel insulin resistance. Conclusions: Ooitabi extract can lower blood pressure and improve lipid abnormalities and has likely contributed to the well‐known health and longevity of the population in Okinawa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a neutrinoless double-beta decay ($0\nu \beta \beta $) experiment, energy resolution is important to distinguish between $0\nu \beta \beta $ and background events. CAlcium fluoride for studies of Neutrino and Dark matters by Low Energy Spectrometer (CANDLES) discerns the $0\nu \beta \beta $ of 48Ca using a CaF2 scintillator as the detector and source. Photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) collect scintillation photons. At the $Q$ value of 48Ca, the current energy resolution (2.6%) exceeds the ideal statistical fluctuation of the number of photoelectrons (1.6%). Because of CaF2’s long decay constant of 1000 ns, a signal integration within 4000 ns is used to calculate the energy. The baseline fluctuation ($\sigma _{\mathrm{ baseline}}$) is accumulated in the signal integration, thus degrading the energy resolution. This article studies $\sigma _{\mathrm{ baseline}}$ in the CANDLES detector, which severely degrades the resolution by 1% at the $Q$ value of 48Ca. To avoid $\sigma _{\mathrm{ baseline}}$ , photon counting can be used to obtain the number of photoelectrons in each PMT; however, a significant photoelectron signal overlapping probability in each PMT causes missing photoelectrons in counting and reduces the energy resolution. “Partial photon counting” reduces $\sigma _{\mathrm{ baseline}}$ and minimizes photoelectron loss. We obtain improved energy resolutions of 4.5%–4.0% at 1460.8 keV ($\gamma $ -ray of 40K) and 3.3%–2.9% at 2614.5 keV ($\gamma $ -ray of 208Tl). The energy resolution at the $Q$ value is estimated to be improved from 2.6% to 2.2%, and the detector sensitivity for the $0\nu \beta \beta $ half-life of 48Ca can be improved by 1.09 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scanning tunneling microscopy for semiconductor carrier profiling is simulated in three dimensions. By solving the tunnel currents between a probe tip and a sample consistently with the current continuity equations, current-voltage characteristics in good agreement with measurements are obtained. Critical differences from potential-based calculations are observed under depletion and inversion conditions. By preparing a current-concentration table from samples with uniform concentrations, the carrier profile in p-n junction samples can be extracted by estimating the concentrations at each position. It is revealed that the tunnel current is spread around the depletion region of a p-n junction, which affects the results dramatically. When a proposed simulation is iteratively used with measurements, impurity profile extraction is possible even in the depletion region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hydrocephalus or papilledema has rarely been reported in patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). Methods: We report a 65‐year‐old woman with a 12‐year history of CIDP presenting with progressive dementia, hallucination and deterioration of gait. Results: Neurological examination revealed cognitive impairment, symmetric proximal and distal weakness with areflexia and muscle atrophy in the distal four limbs. The cerebrospinal fluid examination showed marked elevation of protein concentration. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed hydrocephalus and marked enlarged cervical and lumbar roots and plexus. The cervical cord and cauda equina were compressed by the swollen roots. A ventriculoperitoneal shunt resulted in reduction of the ventricles size along with improvement of her cognitive impairment. Conclusion: In our patient with CIDP, hydrocephalus was likely caused by hypertrophic nerve roots. Our findings suggest that CIDP patients with pronounced hypertrophic nerve roots require careful observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite many studies on seafloor hydrothermal systems conducted to date, the generation mechanism of seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits is not yet fully understood. To elucidate this mechanism, this study clarifies the three‐dimensional regional temperature distribution and fluid flow of a seafloor hydrothermal system of the Iheya North Knoll, middle Okinawa Trough. Lateral flow and boiling of hydrothermal fluids below a caprock were the main features found by the simulation. A caprock formation generated by anhydrite precipitation and hydrothermal alteration is the most plausible cause of these features, because caprocks can increase the temperature and induce boiling of fluids by preventing seawater inflow. Such a formation also gradually makes the top of the conduit less permeable; thus, lateral flow occurs. Consequently, vapor‐rich hydrothermal fluids poor in metals are discharged from vents as white smokers, whereas liquid‐dominated hydrothermal fluids rich in metals flow laterally below the caprocks, forming subseafloor SMS deposits. Plain Language Summary: In seafloor hydrothermal systems, the seawater heated by magma circulates under the seafloor and forms seafloor massive sulfide (SMS) deposits. Recently, SMS deposits have attracted interest as a new metal resource, the generation mechanism and model of which must be established for accurate resource exploration. However, the mechanism is not yet fully understood. To address this problem, we applied a hydrothermal flow simulation and clarified the temperature distribution and fluid flow in the Iheya North Knoll, southwestern Japan. The result revealed that lateral flow and boiling of hydrothermal fluids occur below the seafloor. A low permeability caprock formation generated by anhydrite and clay mineral development is the most plausible cause of these occurrences, because a caprock can increase the temperature and induce boiling of fluids by suppressing the seawater inflow. This formation also makes fluid outlets less permeable, thus induces lateral flow. Consequently, vapor‐rich hydrothermal fluids poor in metals are discharged from vents, while liquid‐dominated hydrothermal fluids rich in metals flow laterally below the caprocks, forming subseafloor SMS deposits. Key Points: Numerical simulation of multiphase fluid flow revealed regional temperature, fluid‐flow patterns, and physical property distributionsIntegration of results with geologic interpretations provided a plausible generation mechanism of seafloor massive sulfide depositsFormation of caprocks below the seafloor induces boiling and lateral flow of hydrothermal fluid and, consequently, the deposit generation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]