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QUEST (Q-shu university experiment with steady state spherical tokamak) is a midsize spherical tokamak capable of steady-state operation, comprising all-metal plasma-facing walls and a hot wall (HW) to address issues pertaining to fuel particle balance. The HW was installed summer 2014. Quantitative analysis pertaining to the HW at 373 K is carried out, and clarify the quantitative impact of shot history that obviously appears in wall stored hydrogen just before the discharge at the wall temperature. The model indicates the plasma-induced deposition layer play an essential role in fuel particle balance. A clear temperature dependence of fuel recycling was observed using outgassing just after plasma termination and played an essential role in regulation of particle balance. Consequently, long duration discharges lasting more than 1 h has been obtained at wall temperature, TW

This research investigated fuel particle balance during long duration discharge in an all-metal plasma facing wall (PFW) through intensive QUEST execution. A simple wall model including the plasma-induced deposition layer that creates hydrogen (H) barriers, called the H barrier model, was established. A simple calculation, based on a combination of H state rate equations and the H barrier model, was applied to real plasma in the early phase of its longest discharge. The model accurately reconstructed the evolutions of electron density and wall-stored H over time, proper values are chosen for the parameters that are difficult to determine experimentally. Comparative calculations that used the H barrier and a fully reflective models, predicted significant impacts of wall models on the plasma density time response and value of electron density, indicating that a proper wall model should be developed for all-metal PFW devices. Keywords: Fuel particle balance, steady state operation, Hydrogen barrier model, QUEST

This research numerically investigates the behavior of plasma flow in GAMMA 10/PDX. The impact of impurity gases seeding into the divertor region on the plasma parameters and the energy loss processes has been investigated numerically by using the multi-fluid code “LINDA”. The neutral particles are injected into the bulk hydrogen plasma and the upstream plasma parameters on the z-axis are ni=1.0×1019m−3, Ti=100eV,Te=30eV. A reduction in the plasma temperature has been observed with the increasing H neutral injection. The ionization and Charge-exchange (CX) power loss increase almost linearly with the increasing H neutral density, which induce a reduction in the plasma temperature. During H seeding, Ar and Ne are seeded simultaneously to observe the influence of Ar and Ne on the electron and ion energy loss mechanism. In this study, the fraction of impurity density to upstream plasma density (nz/ni) is used to be 10%. A comparison between Ar and Ne shows that Ar is effective on the electron cooling. The radiation power loss of Ar is found to be higher than that of Ne. The radiation cooling effect and CX loss significantly reduces the electron and ion temperature, respectively. A slight influence of Ar and Ne seeding on the ion energy loss terms has been observed. The electron energy loss terms increase significantly during impurity gas Ar and Ne seeding. These outcomes represent the impact of gas seeding for reducing the plasma energy on the divertor target plates. Keywords: GAMMA 10/PDX, Divertor simulation, Multi-fluid LINDA code, Plasma detachment

The transition of a detached to attached plasma experiment has been performed in GAMMA 10/PDX by applying an additional plasma heating pulse of electron cyclotron heating (ECH). In a plasma detachment experiment, a short pulse (25 ms) of ECH was applied at the east plug-cell to examine the effects of electron heating on the plasma parameters in the D-module. It was found that the ion flux increased significantly during ECH injection. In the ECH injection period, the ion flux increased with the increasing impurity injection, which indicates the impurity ion components are enhanced by ionization in the D-module due to the application of ECH. During ECH injection period, the increase of the ion flux near the corner of the target plate shows a clear dependence on the gas species. The 2D visible emission has been captured by the high-speed camera and a bright emission near the corner of the target has been observed. The spectroscopic measurement in the D-module shows that the impurity ion emission increases remarkably during ECH injection. These results indicate the detached plasma change to the attached state. Keywords: GAMMA 10/PDX, Divertor simulation experiment, Plasma detachment, Detached to attached transition

Abstract Staphylococcus pseudintermedius has been isolated from dogs, cats, and horses and is also known as an emergent zoonotic agent. We administered orbifloxacin, a fluoroquinolone, to treat bacterial infections of cutaneous wounds caused by excessive grooming of the skin in contact with the subcutaneous port of the subcutaneous ureteral bypass (SUB) system in a cat. However, after 80 days of treatment, a severe abscess was observed in the wound and fluoroquinolone-resistant S. pseudintermedius was isolated from the abscess. The isolate was identified as a novel sequence type (ST) 2660 and contained genes for leukocidins (lukS and lukF), exfoliative toxin (siet), and biofilm regulation (icaA and icaD). The isolate was resistant to macrolide, lincosamide, fluoroquinolone, and tetracycline classes. In addition, the isolate had strong biofilm-forming ability which significantly increased with culturing at 39 °C compared with that at 37 °C, suggesting that the isolate prefers a cats’ body temperature as the optimal biofilm growth condition. Notably, the biofilms were increased in the presence of doxycycline with culturing at 39 °C. This study is the first report in Japan on the new sequence type of S. pseudintermedius isolated from a companion animal and clarifies the distinctive virulence of S. pseudintermedius.

Purpose: Corticosteroids are widely used in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) to ameliorate post-operative pain. This study compared the effects of intravenous administration (IVA) and periarticular injection (PAI) of dexamethasone on pain, nausea, and blood glucose levels following TKA. Methods: An institutional database was used to retrospectively examine two cohorts of patients who had undergone unilateral TKA from August 2018 to September 2020. The IVA group (n ​= ​50) received 10 ​mg dexamethasone 1 ​h before surgery and 24 ​h after surgery. The PAI group (n ​= ​50) received 10 ​mg dexamethasone during surgery. Pain scores at rest and during walking as well as nausea scores were recorded using the 0–10 numerical rating scale after surgery. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were measured post-operatively. Results: A total of 100 patients were enrolled (mean age, 71 years; 86% female). The rest pain score 24 ​h post-operatively was significantly lower in the PAI group than in the IVA group (3.3 vs. 4.3; absolute difference 1.0, 95% confidence interval, 0.4–1.3; P ​= ​0.007). The nausea score did not differ markedly between groups. FBG was significantly higher in the PAI group than in the IVA group in the morning of post-operative Day 1. Conclusion: PAI with dexamethasone was found to control pain more effectively at 24 ​h than IVA. FBG on the morning of post-operative Day 1 was significantly higher in the PAI group. Level of evidence, III; retrospective cohort.

Introduction Thrombosis is a major complication of COVID-19. D-dimer (DD) is an important coagulation fibrinolysis marker in COVID-19 and has been extensively studied. However, very little is known about the role of other fibrinolysis markers, plasmin-plasmin inhibitor complex (PIC), and fibrin monomer complex (FMC) in COVID-19. This study investigated and compared the associations of DD, PIC, and FMC with COVID-19 severity. Methods Archived plasma samples from patients with COVID-19 (n = 50) were assessed for DD, FMC, and PIC levels. We compared the levels between patients with mild (n = 36) and moderate (n = 14) COVID-19 and evaluated their correlation with other COVID-19 severity markers, including lactate dehydrogenase (LD), serum albumin (Alb), C-reactive protein (CRP), and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Results Patients with moderate COVID-19 had significantly higher DD and PIC levels than those with mild disease, while FMC levels were comparable. DD and PIC levels significantly correlated with LD, Alb, and NLR. Additionally, PIC levels significantly correlated with CRP levels. However, FMC levels correlated only with Alb but not with LD, NLR, or CRP. Conclusions COVID-19 severity was significantly associated with PIC and DD levels but not with FMC levels. PIC was the variable with the most clearly significant difference between patients with moderate disease and those with mild disease, highlighting its potential as an indicator of coagulation and fibrinolysis imbalance in patients with COVID-19. Further studies with larger sample sizes and more diverse severity groups are required to confirm these findings.

Abstract Background Sprengel’s deformity is a congenital abnormality of the shoulder girdle. Because scapular retraction, such as the Green procedure, is usually performed during childhood to improve esthetics and shoulder function, Sprengel’s deformity is rarely found in older patients. Case presentation We presented a unique case of a Japanese female cadaver with Sprengel’s deformity at the age of 80 years. Anatomical dissection and radiological imaging revealed musculoskeletal anomalies associated with Sprengel’s deformity, including Klippel–Feil syndrome, presence of an omovertebral bone, and absence of the trapezius muscle. In addition, bilateral cervical ribs were in contact with the brachial plexus. These anomalies may lead to numbness, pain, and limited range of motion of the neck and upper girdle with aging. Conclusions Because most adult patients with Sprengel’s deformity experience neck pain and limited movement of the shoulder, the presented case is a rare case of neglected Sprengel’s deformity in an 80-year-old cadaver.

Abstract Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST), the most mature phase-change materials (PCM), functions as a recoding layer in nonvolatile memory and optical discs by contrasting the physical properties upon phase transition between amorphous and crystalline phases. However, GST faces challenges such as a large extinction coefficient (k) and low thermal stability of the amorphous phase. In this study, we introduce RuSbTe as a new PCM to address the GST concerns. Notably, the crystallization temperature of the amorphous RuSbTe is approximately 350 °C, significantly higher than GST. A one-order-of-magnitude increase in the resistivity contrast was observed upon phase transition. The crystalline (0.35–0.50 eV) and amorphous (0.26–0.37 eV) phases exhibit relatively small band gap values, resulting in substantial k. Although RuSbTe demonstrates a k difference of approximately 1 upon crystallization at the telecommunications C-band, the refractive index (n) difference is negligible. Unlike GST, which induces both phase retardation and amplitude modulation in its optical switch device, RuSbTe exhibits amplitude-only modulation. This study suggests that RuSbTe has the potential to enable new photonic computing devices that can independently control the phase and amplitude. Combining RuSbTe with phase-only modulators could open avenues for advanced applications.

Abstract Peritoneal membrane dysfunction in peritoneal dialysis (PD) is primarily attributed to angiogenesis; however, the integrity of vascular endothelial cells can affect peritoneal permeability. Hyaluronan, a component of the endothelial glycocalyx, is reportedly involved in preventing proteinuria in the normal glomerulus. One hypothesis suggests that development of encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is triggered by protein leakage due to vascular endothelial injury. We therefore investigated the effect of hyaluronan in the glycocalyx on peritoneal permeability and disease conditions. After hyaluronidase-mediated degradation of hyaluronan on the endothelial cells of mice, macromolecules, including albumin and β2 microglobulin, leaked into the dialysate. However, peritoneal transport of small solute molecules was not affected. Pathologically, hyaluronan expression was diminished; however, expression of vascular endothelial cadherin and heparan sulfate, a core protein of the glycocalyx, was preserved. Hyaluronan expression on endothelial cells was studied using 254 human peritoneal membrane samples. Hyaluronan expression decreased in patients undergoing long-term PD treatment and EPS patients treated with conventional solutions. Furthermore, the extent of hyaluronan loss correlated with the severity of vasculopathy. Hyaluronan on endothelial cells is involved in the peritoneal transport of macromolecules. Treatment strategies that preserve hyaluronan in the glycocalyx could prevent the leakage of macromolecules and subsequent related complications.

Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD) has highly heterogeneous clinical presentations, in which encephalitis is an important phenotype. Moreover, MOGAD has been reported to exhibit diverse imaging findings. However, there have been no previous reports of cases with perivascular radial gadolinium enhancement in periventricular regions, commonly reported in autoimmune glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) astrocytopathy. In this paper, we present two cases of MOGAD with this MRI feature, both of which underwent brain biopsy for the lesions. Brain biopsies revealed perivenous demyelination and inflammation consistent with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), with pronounced axonal damage in Case 1 and minimal axonal involvement in Case 2. Case 1 exhibited more severe cerebral atrophy than Case 2, correlating with the extent of axonal damage. Through these cases, we highlight the heterogeneity of radiological manifestations of MOGAD, expanding the spectrum beyond previously defined MRI patterns. Furthermore, histopathological analysis revealed distinct axonal involvement as a potential prognostic marker of brain atrophy. These observations emphasize the importance of considering MOGAD in the differential diagnosis, even in cases with atypical imaging findings, and highlight the significance of brain biopsy in guiding both diagnosis and prognosis.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the effect of untreated medial meniscal ramp lesions (MMRLs) on the tendon graft after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction and histological findings of medial meniscus (MM) in a porcine a model. Methods A total of 17 pigs were divided into two groups: (1) the untreated MMRL group (UM group, n = 9) and (2) intact MM group (n = 8) and euthanized 12 weeks after surgery. The specimens were then tested cyclically and loaded to failure. Side‐to‐side differences (SSDs) in translation under cyclic loading and structural properties were analyzed. Histological evaluation of the MM was also performed. Results No significant differences in the SSD in translation during the cyclic testing (UM group, 0.3 ± 0.4 mm; intact MM group, 0.1 ± 1.4 mm), upper yield load (UM group, 476.3 ± 399.9 N; intact MM group, 643.2 ± 302.9 N), maximum load (UM group, 539.5 ± 265.8 N; intact MM group, 705.8 ± 282.6 N), linear stiffness (UM group, 63.5 ± 39.0 N/mm; intact MM group, 73.7 ± 60.1 N/mm) and elongation at failure (UM group, −4.6 ± 16.3 mm; intact MM group, 2.3 ± 6.6 mm) were observed. However, the UM group had significantly worse Modified Mankin's histological grading scores (1.8 ± 0.4 [1–2] vs. 0 ± 0 [0]; p

Cardiovascular diseases, particularly ischemic heart disease, area leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Myocardial infarction (MI) results in extensive cardiomyocyte loss, inflammation, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, fibrosis, and ultimately, adverse ventricular remodeling associated with impaired heart function. While heart transplantation is the only definitive treatment for end-stage heart failure, donor organ scarcity necessitates the development of alternative therapies. In such cases, methods to promote endogenous tissue regeneration by stimulating growth factor secretion and vascular formation alone are insufficient. Techniques for the creation and transplantation of viable tissues are therefore highly sought after. Approaches to cardiac regeneration range from stem cell injections to epicardial patches and interposition grafts. While numerous preclinical trials have demonstrated the positive effects of tissue transplantation on vasculogenesis and functional recovery, long-term graft survival in large animal models is rare. Adequate vascularization is essential for the survival of transplanted tissues, yet pre-formed microvasculature often fails to achieve sufficient engraftment. Recent studies report success in enhancing cell survival rates in vitro via tissue perfusion. However, the transition of these techniques to in vivo models remains challenging, especially in large animals. This review aims to highlight the evolution of cardiac patch and stem cell therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, identify discrepancies between in vitro and in vivo studies, and discuss critical factors for establishing effective myocardial tissue regeneration in vivo.

IntroductionEarly detection of depression is important for preventing depression-related suicides and reducing the risk of recurrence. This study explored the association between depression and intestinal microbiota and developed a depression risk-estimation method based on this.MethodsThe intestinal microbiota of Japanese patients with depression (33 males and 35 females) and disease-free controls (246 males and 384 females) in their 20’s to 60’s were compared by sex using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. A depression-risk estimation method was developed using structural equation modeling.ResultsIntestinal bacteria taxa that differed between depression and control groups were identified based on effect size (absolute value greater than 0.2). Neglecta was more abundant, while Coprobacter, Butyricimonas, Clostridium_XlVb, and Romboutsia were less abundant in the male depression group compared to the male control group. In the female depression group, Massilimicrobiota, Merdimonas, and Sellimonas were more abundant, whereas Dorea and Agathobacter were less abundant compared to the female control group. Several of the intestinal bacterial taxa that were less abundant in depression were associated with butyrate or hydrogen production. Using these depression-associated intestinal bacteria as indicators, risk-estimation models using structural equation modeling for depression were developed. In the risk-estimation models for males and females, the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.72 and 0.70, respectively, indicating that these models can distinguish between individuals with and without depression.ConclusionsThis study provides insights into depression etiology and aids in its early detection and treatment.

Abstract Background The successful integration of resin-based dental adhesives significantly impacts restorative dentistry, providing efficient and aesthetically pleasing caries treatments. Among various adhesives, one-step self-etching adhesives (1-SEAs) have gained popularity due to their simplicity and short application time. However, concerns have been raised regarding their bonding performance and marginal adaptation characteristics, which differ from two-step self-etching adhesives (2-SEAs) and three-step etch-and-rinse adhesives. Additionally, light-cured bonding materials may encounter challenges in deep cavities and inaccessible areas, necessitating extended light irradiation time. Autocured bonding materials are a potential solution, but limited comparative studies have been conducted on their performance. Methods In this in vitro study, we evaluated a new autocured universal bonding material (Bondmer Lightless 2) and compared the results with recent light-cured bonding materials. Microshear bond strength (μSBS) tests were performed on 25 human molars using five different combinations of adhesives and composite resins: Bondmer Lightless 2 with Estelite Bulk Fill Flow (BE group), Bondmer Lightless 2 with a prototype composite resin (BO group), Prime&Bond Universal with SDR flow + (PS group), Scotchbond Universal with Filtek Bulk Fill (SF group), and G-Premio Bond with Gracefil BulkFlo (GG group). The bond strengths and failure modes were assessed using a universal testing machine and scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. Marginal adaptation was evaluated using swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) on 40 sound bovine maxillary incisors. Results The μSBS test showed no significant differences in bond strength among the tested groups. Most failure modes were observed at the bond interface between the adhesive and the dentin. The autocured bonding material demonstrated significantly higher marginal adaptation (SI%) than PS, SF, and GG. The CLSM images corresponded with gaps observed in the SS-OCT images, indicating improved marginal sealing in the autocured group. Conclusions The new autocured universal bonding material exhibited comparable bond strength to a conventional light-cured material while demonstrating a superior marginal adaptation level. This finding suggested that the autocured material could be a valuable alternative, especially when extended light irradiation would pose a challenge. Further clinical studies would be warranted to evaluate the performance of the autocured bonding material in actual restorative dental practice.

This work presents a dynamic modeling approach for analyzing the behavior of a bi-material cantilever actuator structure, consisting of a strip of filter paper bonded to a strip of tape. The actuator’s response is induced by a mismatch strain generated upon wetting, leading to the bending of the cantilever. The study delves into a comprehensive exploration of the dynamic deflection characteristics of the bilayer structure. It untangles the intricate connections among the saturation, modulus, hygro-expansion strain, and deflection, while uniquely addressing the challenges stemming from fluid–structure coupling. To solve the coupled fluid–solid differential equations, a combined numerical method is employed. This involves the application of the Highly Simplified Marker and Cell (HSMAC) technique for fluid flow analysis and the Finite Difference Method (FDM) for response deflection computation. In terms of the capillary flow model, the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations closely align with the classical Washburn relationship, depicting the wetted front’s evolution over time. Furthermore, the numerical findings demonstrate that heightened saturation levels trigger an increase in hygro-expansion strain, consequently leading to a rapid rise in response deflection until a static equilibrium is achieved. This phenomenon underscores the pivotal interplay among saturation, hygro-expansion strain, and deflection within the system. Additionally, the actuator’s response sensitivity to material characteristics is highlighted. As the mismatch strain evolving from paper hygro-expansion diminishes, a corresponding reduction in the axial strain causes a decrease in response deflection. The dynamic parameter demonstrates that the deflection response of the bilayer actuator diminishes as dynamic pressure decreases, reaching a minimal level beyond which further changes are negligible. This intricate correlation underscores the device’s responsiveness to specific material traits, offering prospects for precise behavior tuning. The dependence of paper modulus on saturation levels is revealed to significantly influence bilayer actuator deflection. With higher saturation content, the modulus decreases, resulting in amplified deflection. Finally, strong concordance is observed among the present fluidically coupled model, the static model, and empirical data—a testament to the accuracy of the numerical formulation and results presented in this study.

Chronic infection of Helicobacter pylori is considered the principal cause of gastric cancers, but evidence has accumulated regarding the impact of tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption on the development of gastric cancers. Several possible mechanisms, including the activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, have been proposed for smoking-induced gastric carcinogenesis. On the other hand, local acetaldehyde exposure and ethanol-induced mucosal inflammation have been proposed as the mechanisms involved in the development of gastric cancers in heavy alcohol drinkers. In addition, genetic polymorphisms are also considered to play a pivotal role in smoking-related and alcohol-related gastric carcinogenesis. In this review, we will discuss the molecular mechanisms involved in the development of gastric cancers in relation to tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption.

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract harbors trillions of microorganisms known to influence human health and disease, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) now enables the in-depth analysis of their diversity and functions. Although a significant amount of research has been conducted on the GI microbiome, comprehensive metagenomic datasets covering the entire tract are scarce due to cost and technical challenges. Despite the widespread use of fecal samples, integrated datasets encompassing the entire digestive process, beginning at the mouth and ending with feces, are lacking. With this study, we aimed to fill this gap by analyzing the complete metagenome of the GI tract, providing insights into the dynamics of the microbiota and potential therapeutic avenues. In this study, we delved into the complex world of the GI microbiota, which we examined in five healthy Japanese subjects. While samples from the whole GI flora and fecal samples provided sufficient bacteria, samples obtained from the stomach and duodenum posed a challenge. Using a principal coordinate analysis (PCoA), clear clustering patterns were identified; these revealed significant diversity in the duodenum. Although this study was limited by its small sample size, the flora in the overall GI tract showed unwavering consistency, while the duodenum exhibited unprecedented phylogenetic diversity. A visual heat map illustrates the discrepancy in abundance, with Fusobacteria and Bacilli dominating the upper GI tract and Clostridia and Bacteroidia dominating the fecal samples. Negativicutes and Actinobacteria were found throughout the digestive tract. This study demonstrates that it is possible to continuously collect microbiome samples throughout the human digestive tract. These findings not only shed light on the complexity of GI microbiota but also provide a basis for future research.