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Two-phase flow is an important and common phenomenon in reactor systems, and there are significant differences in the heat and mass transfer characteristics of two-phase flow under different flow patterns. Researchers have proposed a variety of flow pattern transition mechanisms to predict the two-phase flow. But limited by the means of measurement, the critical void fraction for flow pattern transition can’t be determined. Two types of bubbly-slug flow transition criteria in vertical circular tubes are studied in this paper and a wire mesh sensor (WMS) was manufactured to measure the critical void fraction for bubbly-slug transition. One hundred forty-seven visualization tests were carried out for validation.

We investigated the difficulties involved in assessing post prostatectomy voiding according to 20 nurses working in urology and dermatology wards. Problems they encountered included completing a urination (frequency/volume) chart and performing an assessment. We constructed a hourly urination chart for basic nursing education in urinary incontinence. This was used for a 76-year-old male patient with hypertension and diabetes mellitus who underwent a prostatectomy. Urination was recorded for 17 consecutive days after catheter removal. Detailed pathological findings were more distinct in the hourly rather than daily recordings of voluntary micturition. Voluntary micturition appeared 12 h after catheter removal, but it was very scanty. After the onset of urination, frequency and amount of daily voluntary micturition was inversely related to incontinence during the 17 days after catheter removal. We drafted a set of urination recovery stages to enable the analysis of a patient's urination status. Nurses understood its importance and were able to reach a consensus on how to manage patients with postoperative incontinence. We have constructed a practical system for use by specialist urology nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responsive polymer-based sensors have attracted considerable attention due to their ability to detect the presence of analytes and convert the detected signal into a physical and/or chemical change. High responsiveness, fast response speed, good linearity, strong stability, and small hysteresis are ideal, but to gain these properties at the same time remains challenging. This paper presents a facile and efficient method to improve the photonic sensing properties of polymeric gels by using non-close-packed monolayer colloidal crystals (ncp MCCs) as the template. Poly-(2-vinyl pyridine) (P2VP), a weak electrolyte, was selected to form the pH-responsive gel material, which was deposited onto ncp MCCs obtained by controlled O2 plasma etching of close-packed (cp) MCCs. The resultant ultrathin photonic polymer gel film (UPPGF) exhibited significant improvement in responsiveness and linearity towards pH sensing compared to those prepared using cp MCCs template, achieving fast visualized monitoring of pH changes with excellent cyclic stability and small hysteresis loop. The responsiveness and linearity were found to depend on the volume and filling fraction of the polymer gel. Based on a simple geometric model, we established that the volume increased first and then decreased with the decrease of template size, but the filling fraction increased all the time, which was verified by microscopy observations. Therefore, the responsiveness and linearity of UPPGF to pH can be improved by simply adjusting the etching time of oxygen plasma. The well-designed UPPGF is reliable for visualized monitoring of analytes and their concentrations, and can easily be combined in sensor arrays for more accurate detection.

Background: Non-motor symptoms (NMS) are important factors when selecting treatments for patients with advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). We sought to elucidate the prescribing practices for advanced PD patients with NMS in Japanese clinical practice., Methods: We examined the prescription rates and doses of anti-PD drugs, and the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in post hoc analyses of a 52-week observational study of 996 PD patients with wearing-off on levodopa-containing therapy and ≥1 NMS., Results: Dopamine agonists were the most frequently prescribed drugs combined with levodopa-containing drugs, followed by entacapone, zonisamide, istradefylline, selegiline, and amantadine. The daily dose of levodopa-containing drugs, rotigotine, entacapone, istradefylline, and droxidopa, and the levodopa-equivalent dose increased during the observation period. In a subgroup analysis of patients stratified by NMS status (improved/unchanged/deteriorated), the deteriorated group had higher prescription rates of entacapone and istradefylline, whereas the improved group had higher prescription rates of NSAIDs and zonisamide at Week 52. Prescriptions varied by geographical region for anti-PD drugs and by NMS status for NSAIDs., Conclusions: There were significant changes in the prescriptions and dosing of selected anti-PD drugs, especially newer drugs. Anti-PD drug and NSAID prescriptions also varied by changes in NMS status and geographic region., Competing Interests: Masahiro Nomoto reported research funds from Kyowa Kirin in relation to this study; and reported employment by The Social Welfare Organization Imperial Gift Foundation Inc. Saiseikai Imabari Hospital; honoraria from Ehime University, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Kyowa Kirin, Eisai, and Ono Pharmaceutical; consultancies for Kissei Pharmaceutical and SNLD; and has served on advisory boards for the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency and Ehime Prefecture. Yoshio Tsuboi reported research funds from Kyowa Kirin in relation to this study; and reported lecture fees from Sumitomo Pharma, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Novartis Pharma, Ono Pharmaceutical, and Eisai; and contributes to courses organized by SUNWELS and Nipro Corporation. Kenichi Kashihara reported research funds from Kyowa Kirin in relation to this study; and reported employment by Okayama Neurology Clinic; and honoraria from Kyowa Kirin, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Ono Pharmaceutical, Sumitomo Pharma, FP Corporation, AbbVie GK, and Eisai. Shih-Wei Chiu reported research funds from Kyowa Kirin in relation to this study. Tetsuya Maeda reported research funds from Kyowa Kirin in relation to this study; and reported lecture fees and scholarship donations from Sumitomo Pharma, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company, Ono Pharmaceutical, Eisai, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, and Japan Medtronic; lecture fees from AbbVie, FP Corporation, Biogen, and Chugai Pharmaceutical; scholarship donations from Bayer Yakuhin, Teijin, and CSL Behring; and consulting fees from Kyowa Kirin and Ono Pharmaceutical. Hidemoto Saiki reported editorial support from Kyowa Kirin in relation to this study; and reported honoraria from Eisai, Sumitomo Pharma, Ono Pharmaceutical, Takeda Pharmaceutical, and Medtronic Japan; and grants from Otsuka Pharmaceutical and PDRadiopharma Inc. Hirohisa Watanabe reported research funds from Kyowa Kirin in relation to this study; and reported honoraria from Takeda Pharmaceutical, AbbVie, Kyowa Kirin, Sumitomo Pharma, Novartis Pharma, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, and FP Corporation. Yasushi Shimo reported honoraria from Takeda Pharmaceutical, Abbott Japan, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Medtronic Japan, Kyowa Kirin, Eisai, MDS, Boston Scientific Japan, Sumitomo Pharma, Daiichi Sankyo, Nihon Medi-Physics, and EA Pharma; and a grant from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS KAKENHI no. 21K07282). Nobutaka Hattori reported research grants, support for attending advisory boards, and support for a joint research department from Kyowa Kirin; and reported research contracts with Sumitomo Pharma and CellSource; consultancy fees from PARKINSON Laboratories; honoraria from Sumitomo Pharma, AbbVie, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Novartis Pharma, Ono Pharmaceutical, FP Pharmaceutical, Eisai, and Daiichi Sankyo; support for attending advisory boards from Sumitomo Pharma, Novartis Pharma, Ono Pharmaceutical, Teijin Pharma, and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation; support for an endowed department from Nippon Boehringer Ingelheim, FP Pharmaceutical, Teijin Pharma, Fujifilm Wako Pure Chemical Corporation, and Meiji Seika Pharma; support for a joint research department from Kyowa Kirin, Sumitomo Pharma, Parkinson Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Ono Pharmaceutical, Nihon Medi-Physics, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, and Sunwels; scholarship donations from FP Pharmaceutical; holds stock in Parkinson Laboratories; honoraria for a team leader role at RIKEN Center for Brain Science; and is a coauthor on patent applications by Juntendo University. Takuhiro Yamaguchi reported grants from Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Solasia Pharma, Japan Tobacco Inc., Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, and Cordis Corporation; and personal fees from Intellim Corporation, Chugai Pharmaceutical, SONIRE Therapeutics Inc., Merck and Co Inc., EPS Corporation, Japan Tobacco Inc., Ono Pharmaceutical, Kowa Company, Daiichi Sankyo, Eisai, 3H Clinical Trial Inc., and Incyte Biosciences Japan. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials., (Copyright: © 2024 Nomoto et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Nicotine, an addictive compound found in tobacco, functions as an agonist of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain. Interestingly, nicotine has been reported to act as a cognitive enhancer in both human subjects and experimental animals. However, its effects in animal studies have not always been consistent, and sex differences have been identified in the effects of nicotine on several behaviors. Specifically, the role that sex plays in modulating the effects of nicotine on discrimination learning and cognitive flexibility in rodents is still unclear. Here, we evaluated sex-dependent differences in the effect of daily nicotine intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration at various doses (0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mg/kg) on visual discrimination (VD) learning and reversal (VDR) learning in mice. In male mice, 0.5 mg/kg nicotine significantly improved performance in the VDR, but not the VD, task, while 0.5 mg/kg nicotine significantly worsened performance in the VD, but not VDR task in female mice. Furthermore, 0.25 mg/kg nicotine significantly worsened performance in the VD and VDR task only in female mice. Next, to investigate the cellular mechanisms that underlie the sex difference in the effects of nicotine on cognition, transcriptomic analyses were performed focusing on the medial prefrontal cortex tissue samples from male and female mice that had received continuous administration of nicotine for 3 or 18 days. As a result of pathway enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction analysis using gene sets of differentially expressed genes, decreased expression of postsynaptic-related genes in males and increased expression of innate immunity-related genes in females were identified as possible molecular mechanisms related to sex differences in the effects of nicotine on cognition in discrimination learning and cognitive flexibility. Our result suggests that nicotine modulates cognitive function in a sex-dependent manner by alternating the expression of specific gene sets in the medial prefrontal cortex., (© 2024 The Author(s). Journal of Neurochemistry published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society for Neurochemistry.)

A 72-year-old man presented with a 6-month history of decreased voluntary speech. Sparse speech and decreased word fluency were observed. Articulation, naming, comprehension, and repetition were preserved. Agrammatism and paraphasia were not observed. These characteristics matched those reported as dynamic aphasia. Other findings were mild behavioral symptoms, recent memory impairment, and right hemiparkinsonism. The patient's voluntary speech continued to reduce and behavioral symptoms progressed. Brain MRI including voxel-based morphometric analysis showed left-dominant white matter volume reduction in the frontal lobe including those between the left supplementary motor area (SMA)/preSMA and the frontal operculum, likely involving the frontal aslant tract (FAT). The patient became completely mute after two years from disease onset and died of aspiration pneumonia. The neuropathological diagnosis was corticobasal degeneration (CBD). This case suggests that dynamic aphasia may be the initial sign of CBD and that early involvement of left FAT may be responsible for this feature., Competing Interests: None., (© 2024 The Authors.)