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Anomalous left coronary artery arising from the noncoronary cusp (LCANCC) is a rare congenital disorder. We herein describe a 17-year-old female patient with sudden cardiac arrest followed by refractory cardiogenic shock. LCANCC-induced acute myocardial infarction with left main coronary artery involvement was subsequently diagnosed, and the patient required a durable left ventricular assist device. < Learning objective: Anomalous left coronary artery arising from the noncoronary cusp is extremely rare, but poses a life-threatening condition. Coronary computed tomography angiography plays a crucial role for the assessment of high-risk anatomic features and decision-making for surgical repair.> [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors investigate the effects of double-axis electromagnetic stirring (DAEMS) in continuous casting process, which is composed of a rotational electromagnetic stirrer and a vertical electromagnetic stirrer, using unsteady 3-D hydrodynamic calculation of the molten gallium model. To evaluate the free-surface stability, averaged standard deviation of the free surface is calculated. From the calculation results, it is found that there is an optimum intensity balance between a vertical magnetic stirrer and a rotational magnetic in order to stabilize the free surface. Index Terms--Continuous casting, electromagnetic stirring, free surface, 3-D magnetohydrodynamic calculation.

Basic characteristic of electromagnetic force in induction heating application of single-sided linear induction motor (SLIM) which uses electromagnetic AC field is investigated by means of 2-D and 3-D numerical electromagnetic FEM calculation. The electromagnetic force in the normal direction consists of the attractive force caused by magnetization and the repelling force caused by Lorentz force. Although the normal force is canceled by them and becomes zero at crossover frequency, the value is different, which is 2 kHz in 2-D model and is 5 kHz in 3-D one respectively. Since 2-D model expresses only center section of 3-D model and can not express the complex behavior of the eddy current in the whole model, the repelling force caused by Lorentz force is considered to be overestimated when the electromagnetic force value of 2-D model is converted into 3-D one. As a result, the crossover frequency of 3-D model becomes large in comparison with 2-D one. This means that an evaluation by using 3-D model is demanded in order to correctly evaluate the crossover frequency. On the other hand, at low frequency in which the attractive force caused by magnetization becomes dominant, the normal forces of the 2-D and 31D model are in good agreement. This means that the evaluation by using 2-D model is effective at low frequency. Index Terms--Crossover frequency, electromagnetic force, finite element method (FEM), induction heating, linear induction motor, thin steel plate.

A new method to evaluate timing jitter based on a time-to-digital converter (TDC) with high time- or current-resolution which showed the jitter to originate from thermal noise generated at the shunt resistor of the junction is presented.

Abnormal glucagon secretion is often associated with diabetes mellitus. However, the mechanisms by which nutrients modulate glucagon secretion remain poorly understood. Paracrine modulation by [beta]- or [delta]-cells is among the postulated mechanisms. Herein we present further evidence of the paracrine mechanism. First, to activate cellular metabolism and thus hormone secretion in response to specific secretagogues, we engineered insulinoma INS-1E cells using an adenovirus-mediated expression system. Expression of the N[a.sup.+]-dependent dicarboxylate transporter (NaDC)-1 resulted in 2.5- to 4.6-fold (P < 0.01) increases in insulin secretion in response to various tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. Similarly, expression of glycerol kinase (GlyK) increased insulin secretion 3.8-or 4.2-fold (P < 0.01) in response to glycerol or dihydroxyacetone, respectively. This cell engineering method was then modified, using the Cre-loxP switching system, to activate [beta]-cells and non-[beta]-cells separately in rat islets. NaDC-1 expression only in non-[beta]-cells, among which [alpha]-cells are predominant, caused an increase (by 1.8-fold, P < 0.05) in glucagon secretion in response to malate or succinate. However, the increase in glucagon release was prevented when NaDC-1 was expressed in whole islets, i.e., both [beta]-cells and non-[beta]cells. Similarly, an increase in glucagon release with glycerol was observed when GlyK was expressed only in non-[beta]-cells but not when it was expressed in whole islets. Furthermore, dicarboxylates suppressed basal glucagon secretion by 30% (P < 0.05) when NaDC-1 was expressed only in [beta]-cells. These data demonstrate that glucagon secretion from rat [alpha]-cells depends on [beta]-cell activation and provide insights into the coordinated mechanisms underlying hormone secretion from pancreatic islets. pancreatic islet; paracrine regulation; glucagon secretion; cell activation

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate an image reconstruction algorithm, including a new maximum-likelihood attenuation correction factor (ML-ACF) for time of flight (TOF) brain positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: The implemented algorithm combines an ML-ACF method that simultaneously estimates both the emission image and attenuation sinogram from TOF emission data, and a scaling method based on anatomical features. To evaluate the algorithm's quantitative accuracy, three-dimensional brain phantom images were acquired and soft-tissue attenuation coefficients and emission values were analyzed. Results: The heterogeneous distributions of attenuation coefficients in soft tissue, skull, and nasal cavity were sufficiently visualized. The attenuation coefficient of soft tissue remained within 5% of theoretical value. Attenuation-corrected emission showed no lateral differences, and significant differences among soft tissue were within the error range. Conclusion: The ML-ACF-based attenuation correction implemented for TOF brain PET worked well and obtained practical levels of accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the safety of triptan use during pregnancy in a Japanese population, we descriptively analyzed the data on pregnancy and fetal outcomes from 128 pregnant women using triptans for migraine treatment at two Japanese facilities that provided counseling on drug exposure in pregnancy between 2001 and 2017. The risks of miscarriage, low birth weight, and preterm birth were similar to those reported in the demographic statistics in Japan. The incidence proportion of malformation was also within the baseline risk range. Accumulated data suggest that exposure to triptans during pregnancy does not clearly increase the risk of negative pregnancy and fetal outcomes. This finding can help reduce anxiety in pregnant women with migraines who are taking triptans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic structure and optical properties of NaSi were investigated using first-principles calculations and diffuse reflectance measurements. The calculation indicates that NaSi is an indirect band gap semiconductor whose valence band maxima and conduction band minima are located at a k-point between the Γ and X points and at the Y point, respectively. NaSi has several direct band gaps, which are approximately 0.1 eV larger than the indirect band gap, leading to its large optical absorption coefficient near the indirect band gap. The valence bands originate from Si-3p states and the conduction bands from the Si-3s, Si-3p, Na-3s, and Na-3p states. Diffuse reflectance measurements revealed that NaSi has a band gap of 1.63 eV, which is comparable to the band gap calculated using HSE06 (1.68 eV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

NaAlSi is a quasi-two-dimensional semimetal with superconductivity below Tc = 6.8 K and a band structure characterized by nodal lines near the Fermi level and potential topological surface states. Electrical resistivity measurements on its superconducting transitions in magnetic fields were made using plate-like single crystals. In the magnetic field–temperature phase diagram, we observed a substantial reduction in resistivity in a pre-transitional zone above the bulk superconducting regime only when the magnetic fields were perpendicular to the plane, rather than parallel to it. Significant sample (thickness) dependence, reentrant behavior, and sensitivity to electrode configurations all indicate that a portion of the crystal has an upper critical field greater than the bulk superconductivity in the pre-transitional region. This fractional superconductivity may occur on the side surface of the crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An analysis is made of the rate coefficients for the gas-phase reaction of the hydroxyl radical (OH) with 1,1 - dichloroethylene (k1) and trans- 1,2 - dichloroethylene (k2) over an extended temperature range at 740 plusmn 10 Torr in a He bath gas. Predictions are made that H abstraction is likely to be the dominant reaction channel for both k1 and k2 at flame temperatures.

Research is presented demonstrating the rate coefficients for the gas-phase reaction of C2Cl4(k1) with the hydroxyl radical over an extended temperature range of 298-720 K.

G2(MP2) composite calculations were undertaken to determine thermodynamic properties of 2-fluoro-2-methylpropane.

Research was conducted to examine the thermodynamic properties (Delta-H(sub f)(298), S(298), and C(sub p)(T) (300

Background: Chemoimmunotherapy has become a standard treatment option for patients with untreated advanced non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, numerous patients with advanced NSCLC develop disease progression. Therefore, the selection of second‐line treatment after chemoimmunotherapy is crucial for improving clinical outcomes. Methods: Of 88 enrolled patients with advanced NSCLC who received chemoimmunotherapy, we retrospectively evaluated 33 who received second‐line chemotherapy after progression of chemoimmunotherapy at six centers in Japan. Among them, 18 patients received docetaxel plus ramucirumab and 15 patients received single‐agent chemotherapy. Results: The objective response rate in patients treated with docetaxel plus ramucirumab was significantly higher than that in patients treated with a single‐agent chemotherapy regimen (55.6% vs. 0%, p < 0.001). The median progression‐free survival (PFS) of patients who received docetaxel plus ramucirumab and single‐agent chemotherapy was 5.8 months and 5.0 months, respectively (log‐rank test p = 0.17). In the docetaxel plus ramucirumab regimen group, patients who responded to chemoimmunotherapy for ≥8.8 months had a significantly longer response to docetaxel plus ramucirumab than those who responded for <8.8 months (not reached vs. 4.1 months, log‐rank test p = 0.003). In contrast, in the single‐agent chemotherapy group, there was no significant difference in PFS between the ≥8.8‐ and <8.8‐month PFS groups with chemoimmunotherapy (5.0 vs. 1.6 months, log‐rank test p = 0.66). Conclusion: Our retrospective observations suggest that the group with longer PFS with chemoimmunotherapy might be expected to benefit from docetaxel plus ramucirumab treatment in second‐line settings for patients with advanced NSCLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new ternary sodium magnesium bismuthide, NaMgBi, has been synthesized from the constituent metals, and its crystal structure was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. NaMgBi crystallizes in a tetragonal PbFCl-type structure corresponding to the space group P4/nmm, where Z = 2, a = 4.7123(4) and c = 7.8158(7) Å. The structure is composed of layers formed by edge-sharing Bi tetrahedra centered with Mg stacked in the c-axis direction, and these layers sandwich the Na atoms. First-principles computations based on density functional theory calculations have verified that the most stable atomic configuration is the one in which the Na and Mg atoms occupy the 2a and 2c sites, respectively. The electrical resistivity measured for a sintered polycrystalline sample of NaMgBi with a relative density of 70% was found to gradually decrease from 868 to 26.4 mΩ cm upon increasing the temperature from 297 to 506 K, and the Seebeck coefficient decreased from 273 to 180 μV K−1 upon increasing the temperature from 298 to 496 K. Electronic structure calculations have revealed that NaMgBi must be a semiconductor with a small band gap of ∼0.1 eV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]