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Magnetic reconnection in laser-produced magnetized plasma is investigated by using optical diagnostics. The magnetic field is generated via Biermann battery effect, and the inversely directed magnetic field lines interact with each other. It is shown by self-emission measurement that two colliding plasmas stagnate on a mid-plane forming two planar dense regions, and that they interact later in time. Laser Thomson scattering spectra are distorted in the direction of the self-generated magnetic field, indicating asymmetric ion velocity distribution and plasma acceleration. In addition, the spectra perpendicular to the magnetic field show different peak intensity, suggesting an electron current formation. These results are interpreted as magnetic field dissipation, reconnection, and outflow acceleration. Two-directional laser Thomson scattering is, as discussed here, a powerful tool for the investigation of microphysics in the reconnection region., 13 pages, 12 figures, Physical Review E, in press

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Grant-in-aid from.jpgu Prefecture Background The newly developed Cardiac Rehabilitation.jpgu Network (CR-GNet) has been implemented to create a regional alliance network and to provide periodic follow-up examinations to enhance the disease management in patients with cardiovascular disease. The effectiveness of a network like this support system has not yet been evaluated in Japan. Purpose We aimed to examine the feasibility of the CR-GNet in disease management, assisting patients in attaining physical fitness and its impact on long-term outcomes after acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Methods We enrolled 47 patients with ACS in the CR-GNet between February 2016 and September 2019; of these, 37, 29, and 21 patients underwent follow-up assessments for exercise capacity (peak oxygen uptake) at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after discharge, respectively. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were defined as the composite of death from cardiac causes, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, and rehospitalization due to unstable or progressive angina. MACE were compared with controls who were not registered in the CR-GNet. Results The coronary risk factors, except blood pressure, improved at 3 and 6 months, and 1 year after discharge. These risk factors in each patient significantly reduced from 2.9 at admission to 1.6, 1.4, and 1.9 at 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year after discharge (p Conclusions The CR-GNet is a feasible option for long-term management of ACS patients. The prognostic impact of the CR-GNet needs further investigation with a larger sample size and longer follow-up. Table1 At admission 3 months 6 months 1 year Average number 2.9 1.6* 1.4** 1.9*** † Average number of coronary risk factors for all patients (n = 21) p = 0.004, vs. at admission; **p = 0.001, vs. at admission; ***p = 0.011, vs. at admission; †p = 0.035, vs. at 6 months

Fluid flow inside a supersonic nozzle with a rectangular cross-section induces secondary flow due to the shape of the upper wall curvature. The secondary flow forms longitudinal vortices near the wall of the nozzle corner which destabilizes the nozzle outlet flow due to the early transition of the flow from laminar to turbulent. It is known that non-equilibrium homogeneous condensation occurs in a supersonic rectangular nozzle due to the rapid expansion of the condensable fluid with large latent heat such as water vapor. Homogeneous condensation takes place through the formation of water nuclei from its vapor when foreign nuclei are absent in the flow. The irreversibility of the non-equilibrium condensation process causes loss in flow transportation energy in the form of total pressure loss. Although numerous researches have been conducted about the effect of non-equilibrium condensation process in supersonic nozzles, however, the interactions between nozzle shape, non-equilibrium condensation, and longitudinal vortices have not been studied convincingly. Therefore, numerical simulations have been carried out for two supersonic three-dimensional rectangular nozzles in order to understand the effect of nozzle shape and non-equilibrium condensation on the longitudinal vortices at the nozzle corner. Furthermore, total pressure distribution in the nozzle was analysed to understand the effect of degree of supersaturation and expansion rate on the total pressure loss. In this research, characteristics of simulated flow fields including total pressure loss were in good agreement with the published literature.

Dormancy in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) spears depends on the growing temperature. It is crucial to understand the mechanism of the induction and break of dormancy related with bud sprouting of asparagus. During periods with low temperatures, the contents of several components; e.g. plant hormones in asparagus buds change and the plants acquire dormancy. Similarly, higher temperatures suppress sprouting. In this study, we investigated the effects of incubation temperatures on the sprouting rate of buds, growth of spears, ABA concentration and sex. During 22 days of low-temperature incubation, sprouting was not inhibited at 25°C, but it was almost inhibited at 16°C. The ABA concentrations of white bud clusters were higher at 16°C than at 25°C at the end of the incubation period, but they were not significantly different between male and female plants. The ABA concentrations were higher in brown than in white bud clusters, and they were similar among brown bud clusters at both 25 and 16°C. In the high-temperature incubation experiment, sprouting was slightly suppressed and growth rate of spears was significantly decreased at 38°C compared to those at 25°C. The ABA concentration of white bud clusters decreased gradually during the incubation at both 38 and 25°C, but that of brown bud clusters increased at both temperatures. Moreover, the ABA levels in both white and brown bud clusters from male plants fluctuated and they were higher compared to their levels in bud clusters from female plants. These results suggest that sprouting varied with the incubation temperature and may or may not be regulated by ABA.

Objective: To present the case of a 46-year-old woman with basal cell carcinoma, odontogenic cysts, brain anomalies and skeletal abnormalities. Method: Design: Case Report Setting: Tertiary National University Hospital Patient: One Results: A 46-year-old woman consulted for a non-healing, necrotic left orbital ulcer that started as a skin-colored, papilla-like lesion on the upper eyelid. There were also hyperpigmented lesions with ill-defined borders over both paranasal areas. Tissue biopsies revealed basal cell carcinoma. Radiologic imaging showed cystic lesions in the mandible, straightening of cervical vertebrae and calcifications of the falx cerebri, tentorium cerebelli, pineal gland and choroid plexus. Based on established major and minor clinical and radiologic criteria, we arrived at a diagnosis of Gorlin Goltz Syndrome or Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome (NBCCS). She underwent wide excision of the left orbital mass with exenteration, excision of left and right paranasal masses, left total parotidectomy with facial nerve preservation, enucleation of mandibular cyst, and cervicofacial reconstruction with skin grafts of the left orbital area and ala. Conclusion: NBCCS is a rare autosomal dominant disorder with a high tendency for neoplasms and developmental anomalies. Diagnosis can easily be missed if the physician is unaware of its classic but bizarre presentation. Early recognition and prompt specialist referral is very important in order to prevent complications and provide better prognosis. Patients should be reminded of the importance of follow-up as other presentations of the syndrome may manifest later in life, and family genetic screening and counseling should be undertaken. Keywords: Gorlin Goltz Syndrome; Nevoid Basal Cell Carcinoma Syndrome; odontogenic keratocyst

Left ventriculocoronary artery fistulae can cause deterioration of postoperative outcomes in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. We successfully performed the Norwood operation with right ventricle-pulmonary artery shunt without a cardiac arrest in an infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and large coronary artery fistulae. Temporary postoperative right ventricular dysfunction gradually improved, and left ventricular volume decreased by the time of bidirectional Glenn shunt procedure. Left ventriculocoronary artery fistulae regressed after the Norwood operation, illustrating that large coronary artery fistulae can regress over time following right ventricular decompression.

This special issue includes 19 papers on InP integrated photonics capturing some of the most important recent advances, and providing a reference point for current state of the art.

Structural materials used in radiation environments require radiation tolerance and sufficient mechanical properties in the controlled state. In order to offer SUS316L austenitic stainless steel with the assumed requirements, nanostructured SUS316L with TiC addition of 2% (SUS316L-2TiC) that is capable of exhibiting enhanced tensile ductility and flow strength sufficient for structural applications was fabricated by advanced powder metallurgical methods. The methods include MA (Mechanical Alloying), HIP (Hot Isostatic Pressing), GSMM (Grain boundary Sliding Microstructural Modification) for ductility enhancement, cold rolling at temperatures below M d (the temperature where the martensite phase occurs by plastic deformation) for phase transformation from austenite to martensite and heat treatment for reverse transformation from martensite to austenite. It is shown that the developed SUS316L-2TiC exhibits ultrafine grains with sizes of 90–270 nm, accompanied by TiC precipitates with 20–50 nm in grain interior and 70–110 nm at grain boundaries, yield strengths of 1850 to 900 MPa, tensile strengths of 1920 to 1100 MPa and uniform elongations of 0.6–21%, respectively, depending on the heat treatment temperature after rolling at −196 °C.

The effect of grain orientation, heat-treatment temperature and test temperature on the mechanical properties of tungsten (W), which vary depending on plastic working and fabrication process, was investigated by mechanical testing of tensile or bending. Heavily worked W samples (1.5–2.0 mm in the final thickness) exhibit degradation of fracture strength due to recrystallization embrittlement after heat-treatment at 1240 °C (temperature of diffusion bonding between W and a candidate material of the Fe base support structure). On the other hand, W samples with lower thickness reduction rates do not suffer degradation of fracture strength after heating up to around 1300 °C, and show somewhat higher fracture strength by heat-treatment below 1300 °C than the samples in the as-received state. The observed behavior is a reflection of recovery of dislocations introduced by plastic working. High temperature tensile testing of ITER grade W with an anisotropic grain structure and S-TUN with an equiaxed grain structure revealed that both W grades exhibit plastic elongation at temperatures higher than 200 °C with essentially the same temperature dependence of yield strength, which is relatively insensitive to grain orientation in the structure at 200–1300 °C.

Herein, a theory for modeling the problem of scattering pulse-induced temporal contrast degradation in chirped-pulse amplification (CPA) lasers is introduced. Using this model, the temporal evolutions of the scattering and signal pulses were simulated, the temporal contrasts for different cases were compared, and finally the theoretical prediction was verified by an experimental demonstration. The result shows that the picosecond and the nanosecond temporal contrast is mainly determined by the scattering pulses generated in the stretcher and the compressor, respectively. In addition, the B-integral accumulation will further degrade the temporal contrast, especially the picosecond temporal contrast. We believe it is helpful for solving the problem of the picosecond pedestal contrast (i.e., noise limit). With reference to these results, some suggestions for the temporal contrast improvement are presented.

Plasma-facing materials and components in a fusion reactor are the interface between the plasma and the material part. The operational conditions in this environment are probably the most challenging parameters for any material: high power loads and large particle and neutron fluxes are simultaneously impinging at their surfaces. To realize fusion in a tokamak or stellarator reactor, given the proven geometries and technological solutions, requires an improvement of the thermo-mechanical capabilities of currently available materials. In its first part this article describes the requirements and needs for new, advanced materials for the plasma-facing components. Starting points are capabilities and limitations of tungsten-based alloys and structurally stabilized materials. Furthermore, material requirements from the fusion-specific loading scenarios of a divertor in a water-cooled configuration are described, defining directions for the material development. Finally, safety requirements for a fusion reactor with its specific accident scenarios and their potential environmental impact lead to the definition of inherently passive materials, avoiding release of radioactive material through intrinsic material properties. The second part of this article demonstrates current material development lines answering the fusion-specific requirements for high heat flux materials. New composite materials, in particular fiber-reinforced and laminated structures, as well as mechanically alloyed tungsten materials, allow the extension of the thermo-mechanical operation space towards regions of extreme steady-state and transient loads. Self-passivating tungsten alloys, demonstrating favorable tungsten-like plasma-wall interaction behavior under normal operation conditions, are an intrinsic solution to otherwise catastrophic consequences of loss-of-coolant and air ingress events in a fusion reactor. Permeation barrier layers avoid the escape of tritium into structural and cooling materials, thereby minimizing the release of tritium under normal operation conditions. Finally, solutions for the unique bonding requirements of dissimilar material used in a fusion reactor are demonstrated by describing the current status and prospects of functionally graded materials.

Steady state (1973 K, 180 s) and repeated (723 K–1524 K, 380 times) heat loading experiments of ITER grade W and toughened, fine-grained, recrystallized W–1.1TiC (TFGR W–1.1TiC) have been performed using an electron beam irradiation system. In ITER grade W, the irradiation around 1973 K causes recrystallization and grain growth up to the average diameters of 50–100 μm. Repeated irradiations cause significant surface roughening, cracking at grain boundaries and surface exfoliation. On the other hand, TFGR W–1.1TiC does not exhibit any surface roughening or cracking after repeated heat loading although grain boundaries on the surface of TFGR W–1.1TiC can be observed after irradiation at around 1973 K 180 s by steady state heat loading.

A diffusion bonding (DB) technique to reduce thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between tungsten (W) and oxide dispersion strengthened ferritic steel (ODS-FS) was developed by applying a vanadium (V) alloy as an insert material. In order to suppress · phase precipitation at the interface, DB of ODS-FS and V­4Cr­4Ti was carried out by introducing a Ti insert as a diffusion barrier between V­4Cr­4Ti and ODS-FS, and examined feasibility of W/V/Ti/ODS-FS joint for application to fusion reactor components by comparing the three-point bending strength and microstructure between the joints with and without a Ti diffusion barrier layer. It is shown that the fracture strength of the joint without a Ti insert was decreased by 25% after aging at 700°C for 100h, but that with a Ti insert shows no change after the aging treatment up to 1000h. The result indicates that the introduction of a Ti insert leads to the prevention of the formation of · phase during aging and resultant control of the degradation of the bonding strength. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.MG201213]

The temperature-dependent time-resolved reflectance spectra of the organic superconductors (OSs) κ- and λ-(BETS)2MCl4 (M=Fe, Ga) and κ-(ET)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br are reported. The π electrons of the organic molecules (BETS or ET) are responsible for the electrical conduction in these salts, while only the Fe-containing salts have localized spins on the d electrons in the Fe atoms (S=5/2) with π–d interaction. Analysis of the spectra provided the relaxation time τ of the carriers, as well as information concerning the number of carriers at the Fermi energy N(E F). The carrier dynamics were classified in terms of high-T C and low-T C OSs. In these salts, the results indicate that (1) the electron-phonon interaction is important in the occurrence and stability of the superconducting phase, and (2) electron correlation can be related to the enhancement of T C.