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Akinori Kanzaki,1,2 Kiyoshi Matsui,3 Tadahiko Sukenaga,1,2 Koushi Mase,1 Aya Nishioka,1 Tomoharu Tamori,4 Seiko Kataoka,1 Hiroyuki Konya,1 Shin Mizutani,4 Akira Takeda,1 Masato Koseki,1 Tetsuo Nishiura,1 Hidenori Koyama,2 Hajime Sano3 1Department of Internal Medicine, Ashiya Municipal Hospital, Ashiya, Hyogo, Japan; 2Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan; 3Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hyogo College of Medicine, Nishinomiya, Hyogo, Japan; 4Department of Surgery, Ashiya Municipal Hospital, Ashiya, Hyogo, Japan Abstract: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a disease commonly seen in elderly individuals, however, the etiology has not been reported. Typical clinical features include bilateral shoulder pain and morning stiffness, while serologic autoantibody test findings are negative. Approximately 40%–50% of affected patients present with low-grade fever, fatigue, and appetite loss, which we often experience in the field of general medicine, and thus, the condition should not be given low priority. However, knowledge regarding such constitutional manifestations is also limited. We encountered an elderly woman with a fever of unknown origin that developed following a parathyroidectomy for a single parathyroid adenoma, after which severe shoulder pain and morning stiffness emerged, leading to a diagnosis of PMR. The fever developed several days prior to appearance of severe pain, which is an uncommon presentation in PMR cases. Our patient had low-grade inflammation without pyrexia prior to the surgery, which might have been an important reason for the accelerated immoderate immune activation leading to PMR induced by surgery in this case. Furthermore, she was infected with the influenza A virus 3 weeks before coming to us. Some reports have suggested a relationship between the influenza virus or vaccine and PMR. It is difficult to conclude regarding the definite trigger in our patient, though the details of this case should be helpful for a better understanding of the disease. Keywords: polymyalgia rheumatica, fever of unknown origin, immoderate immune activation, parathyroidectomy, influenza A viral infection, single parathyroid adenoma

Context. The Shower Database (SD) of the Meteor Data Center (MDC) has been operating for 15 yr and is used by the entire community of meteor astronomers. It contains meteor showers categorised in individual lists on the basis of their status. Since the inception of the SD, no objective rules for moving showers between individual lists have been established. The content of the SD has not yet been checked for the correctness of the meteor data contained therein. Aims. Our aims are (1) to formulate criteria for nominating meteor showers for established status, (2) to improve the rules for the removal of showers, (3) to verify and enhance the content of the SD, and (4) to improve the user area of the MDC SD. Methods. The criteria for moving showers from the Working list to the Lists of established or removed showers were generated using an empirical evaluation of their impact on the registered showers. The correctness of the parameters of each stream included in the SD was checked by comparing them with the values given in the source publications. Results. We developed a set of criteria for nominating showers to be established. We objectified rules for the temporary and permanent removal of meteor showers from the Working list. Both of our proposed new procedures were approved by a vote of the commission F1 of the IAU in July 2022. We verified more than 1350 data records of the MDC SD and introduced ~1700 corrections. We included new parameters for shower characterisation. As a result of our verification procedure, 117 showers have been moved to the List of removed showers. As of October 2022, the SD contains 923 showers, 110 of which are in the List of established showers and 813 are in the Working list. We also improved the user area of the SD and added a simple tool to allow a quick check of the similarity of a new shower to those in the database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of salvage endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as an alternative treatment option for locally advanced rectal cancer patients who have undergone chemoradiation therapy (CRT). The study compared the long-term clinical outcomes of salvage ESD to surgical proctectomy after CRT. The results showed that salvage ESD was a viable option for carefully selected patients who demonstrated a clinical response to CRT. Although the salvage ESD group had a lower rate of complete resection (R0 resection), most of the lesions in this group were no longer adenocarcinomas after CRT. The two-year follow-up showed similar recurrence rates between the salvage ESD and proctectomy groups. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the safety and efficacy of duodenal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for superficial non-ampullary duodenal epithelial tumors (SNADETs) in the United States. SNADETs are duodenal adenomas with malignant potential, and it is recommended that they be resected. However, the technique for duodenal ESD is challenging and rarely performed in the U.S. This study reports on a retrospective analysis of 30 ESD procedures in 24 patients, showing a 53% en bloc resection rate and low complication rates. The authors conclude that ESD is a safe option for SNADETs in the U.S., but further studies are needed to determine the most effective approach for North American patients. [Extracted from the article]

The article discusses how low-income and minority students with disabilities are deprived of the benefits provided by Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the U.S., and proposes solutions for mitigating the same. Topics include history of special education law in the country; amendment to the IDEA for addressing the same; and Board of Education v. Rowley case on the same.

A new semiquantitative enumeration system was developed to detect Streptococcus mutans in saliva. Using species-specific monoclonal antibodies, the system quickly detected salivary S. mutans in 30 min and classified the results into three levels. In this study, saliva samples collected from 28 young adults aged between 22 and 24 years were subjected to the monoclonal antibody-based detecting system and selective medium-based detecting methods. The results generated from the PCR-confirmed culture method indicated the mean salivary S. mutans counts at level 1, 2 and 3 were 5.7 × 104, 1.3 × 105 and 3.4 × 106 CFU/ml, respectively. The differences between level 3 and 1 and level 3 and 2 were statistically significant (one-way ANOVA; p < 0.01). The results generated from the system were consistent with the data generated from two culture-based commercial products. Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BSTRACT: The sensory evaluation of alkali-ion water and bottled mineral water was performed by panelists and their preferences for the taste of alkali-ion water was surveyed. Consequently, alkali-ion water made from tap water was found to taste better than any bottled mineral water; however, the activated carbon filtration water, which was also made from tap water, was found to taste better than alkali-ion water. Furthermore, smell, taste, feeling in the throat, aftertaste, and general impression of the mineral water, alkali-ion waters, and activated carbon filtration water were evaluated using the 1-pair comparison method. Consequently, alkali-ion water and activated carbon filtration water were more highly rated than commercial bottled mineral water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the progress of chiral symmetry on lattice and how this exact chiral symmetry is realized. Gauge theory; Effective gauge symmetry; Renormalization group; Block-spin transformation; Ginsparg-Wilson Relation; Lattice fermions.

Objectives This study aimed to assess the use of three-dimensional hysterosalpingo-contrast sonography (3D-HyCoSy) as a routine outpatient procedure for evaluating infertile women. Methods In 25 unselected infertile patients, tubal patency and uterine cavity were investigated by 3D-HyCoSy with saline as a contrast medium. The efficacy of the procedure was evaluated with X-ray hysterosalpingography (XHSG) as reference. Results The positive predictive value, negative predictive value, sensitivity, and specificity of predicting tubal patency by 3D-HyCoSy were 100, 33.3, 84.4, and 100%, respectively. The full contour of the uterine cavity was depicted in 96% of cases by 3D-HyCoSy and 64% by XHSG (P < 0.005). The uterine cavity area measured on 3D-HyCoSy correlated well with the volume of contrast medium required on XHSG (r² = 0.8166). Conclusions 3D-HyCoSy provided advantages of better assessment of uterine cavity over XHSG. Compared with conventional XHSG, the efficacy of 3D-HyCoSy to assess tubal patency was acceptable. In addition, the procedure of 3D-HyCoSy appears to be better tolerated, requiring no sedation or anesthesia and a reduced examination time. Thus, 3D-HyCoSy with saline as a contrast medium is feasible and could comprise a routine outpatient procedure in the initial evaluation of infertile women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pH dependence of the taste of alkaline electrolyzed water (AEW) made by electrolyzing bottled mineral waters was examined by sensory evaluation. For water with a calcium concentration of 79 or 93 mg/L, the taste of AEW with a pH of 9.5 was considered better than that of the unelectrolyzed water. In contrast, for water with a calcium concentration of 10 mg/L, the taste of the unelectrolyzed water was preferred to that of AEW with a pH of 9.5. Electrolysis reduced the calcium concentrations in waters with calcium concentrations of 79 or 93 mg/L, but did not change the calcium concentration in water with a calcium concentration of 10 mg/L. Electrolysis probably improved the taste of water with a higher calcium concentration by reducing the calcium concentration; however, the effect of electrolysis on water with a calcium concentration of 10 mg/L is likely to be the result of the pH increase alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A lithium secondary battery (Type II cell) for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) was developed on the basis of previous battery techniques (Type I cell with amorphous carbon/Li1+ x Mn2O4). It used an improved cathode material and more advanced electrolyte. Cell performances of the Type II cell were evaluated and compared with a Type I cell of the same cell size, i.e. 40ϕ (diameter) ×108mm (length). The Type II cell discharged 5.9Ah, which was 1.5 times higher than the amount discharged by the Type I cell (3.8Ah). The former had an input–output power of 800W at 45% SOC (state of charge) and 25°C, which was 1.3 times higher than that of the latter (600W at around 40%). Moreover, the former had an input–output power of more than 100W at −30°C, though the Type I cell output power was only 50W. A pulse charge–discharge cycle test with 167W input and 260W output for a 30–70% SOC range and a storage test at 50% SOC were carried out at various temperatures for the Type II cell. Less than a 15% DCR (direct current resistance) increase was observed in the pulse mode cycle test after 450K cycles at 50°C. No more than a 25% DCR increase was detected after 240 days in the 50% SOC storage test even at 65°C. The activation energies for capacity change and DCR change in the storage test were also estimated for the Type II cell. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In 2003, we developed a new type of lithium ion battery for the light vehicle application, in which 14 cells of 7Ah were integrated into a battery pack. It has the high rate discharge capability up to 5C rate (35A), a energy density of 74Whkg−1, and the low temperature discharge capacity at −5°C more than 90% of that at 25°C. The life cycle test of 100% depth of discharge (DOD) at 35°C showed the capacity fading around 10% after 500 cycles, which confirmed much longer practical life than 2 years. Recently, we have developed a new high power cell. It has the capacity of 5.5Ah, and has the output power density of 3000Wkg−1 at 50% state of charge (SOC) and at 25°C for 5s discharge basis, and the input power density of 2200Wkg−1 at the same conditions. The new cells showed much less increase in direct current resistance (DCR) in both the cycle life test and the storage life test than the cells developed before, which consequently implied much longer calendar life than our previous ones developed in 2000. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: 3D biomechanical simulation including patient specific FEM based on Cone Beam X-ray CT data was developed for planning of individual treatment goal in Orthodontic treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A manganese-based lithium ion battery was developed for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) applications. The cell consists of an improved manganese spinel as the positive electrode and hard carbon for the negative electrode. The Mn-based Li ion cell for HEVs was developed by adding a high power density modification to a pure-EV (EV) cell of high energy density specification. It has a power density as high as 2000 W/kg at 50% depth of discharge (DOD) and 25 °C. Storage tests at various temperatures suggest a practical calendar life of more than 5 years. The 48-cell battery module was developed for use in an HEV. It also proved to have an excellent output power density of 1350 W/kg at 50% DOD. Based on the excellent characteristics of the lithium ion battery, it seems very promising to apply this battery not only to EV, HEV and other motor-assisting drive systems but also to other high power applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]