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Background Balloon pulmonary angioplasty (BPA) improves hemodynamics and exercise capacity in inoperable patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). However, some symptoms, such as dyspnea on exertion, had remained in more than half of the patients even after BPA could decrease mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) Purpose The purpose of this study was to elucidate the determinants of residual symptom in patients who had achieved mean PAP Methods Among 310 CTEPH patients who received BPA in our center, 217 patients (70.0%) could achieve mean PAP Results Additional BPA had been underwent in 67 patients (30.9%). No significant differences in mean PAP were identified between the additional and non-additional BPA groups (20.4±2.5 mmHg vs. 19.7±2.7 mmHg, p=0.106). In additional BPA group, cardiac index (CI), heart rate (HR) and percutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2) was lower than non-additional BPA group, and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) was higher than non-additional BPA group (CI, 2.51±0.41 L/min/m2 vs. 2.72±0.56 L/min/m2, p=0.016, HR, 62.9±9.7 bpm vs. 67.8±10.8 bpm, p=0.003, SpO2, 94.3±3.7% vs. 95.9±3.5%, p Conclusion Low CI and SpO2 and High PVR were determinants for residual symptoms in CTEPH patients who could achieve mean PAP Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

In this paper, numerical calculations were made for Ar loop-type inductively coupled thermal plasma (loop-ICTP). The loop-ICTP was developed originally by the authors’ group for rapid surface modification of large areas. Loop-ICTP is sustained with a unique three-dimensional (3D) configuration inside a circular loop quartz tube and on the substrate. A 3D and two-temperature thermofluid thermal plasma model was adopted for this calculation. Mass, momentum, and energy conservation equations were solved using a Maxwell equation for vector potential, an electron energy transport equation, and Saha’s equation in the 3D space. Results indicate that Ar loop-ICTP can be sustained and formed in the loop tube and also on the substrate. Moreover, the heavy particle temperatures reaches 1800–2000 K, whereas the electron temperature is about 10,000 K. Loop size effects on the gas temperature and gas flow field were also investigated using the developed model. Results show that adoption of a larger loop tube can be expected to improve the plasma uniformity on the substrate when applied to rapid surface modification.

The rare decay $K_L \!\to\! \pi^0 \nu \overline{\nu}$ was studied with the dataset taken at the J-PARC KOTO experiment in 2016, 2017, and 2018. With a single event sensitivity of $( 7.20 \pm 0.05_{\rm stat} \pm 0.66_{\rm syst} ) \times 10^{-10}$, three candidate events were observed in the signal region. After unveiling them, contaminations from $K^{\pm}$ and scattered $K_L$ decays were studied, and the total number of background events was estimated to be $1.22 \pm 0.26$. We conclude that the number of observed events is statistically consistent with the background expectation. For this dataset, we set an upper limit of $4.9 \times 10^{-9}$ on the branching fraction of $K_L \!\to\! \pi^0 \nu \overline{\nu}$ at the 90% confidence level.

The rare decay K_{L}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] was studied with the dataset taken at the J-PARC KOTO experiment in 2016, 2017, and 2018. With a single event sensitivity of (7.20±0.05_{stat}±0.66_{syst})×10^{-10}, three candidate events were observed in the signal region. After unveiling them, contaminations from K^{±} and scattered K_{L} decays were studied, and the total number of background events was estimated to be 1.22±0.26. We conclude that the number of observed events is statistically consistent with the background expectation. For this dataset, we set an upper limit of 4.9×10^{-9} on the branching fraction of K_{L}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] at the 90% confidence level.

We report the first search for the KL→π0γ decay, which is forbidden by Lorentz invariance, using the data from 2016 to 2018 at the J-PARC KOTO experiment. With a single event sensitivity of (7.1±0.3stat±1.6syst)×10−8, no candidate event was observed in the signal region. The upper limit on the branching fraction was set to be 1.7×10−7 at the 90% confidence level.

The KOTO experiment at J-PARC, Japan, aims to observe the rare neutral kaon decay mode $K_{L}\rightarrow \pi ^{0}\nu \bar {\nu }$ . After the first experimental run in May 2013 at a 24-kW beam power, the KOTO data acquisition (DAQ) system was upgraded in 2015 to provide efficient and reliable data collection at higher beam intensities. Lossless data compression in the analog-to-digital converter modules was implemented to reduce the size of data packets, resulting in a threefold increase in data collection rate. A new software trigger on a 47-node cluster was designed to use Infiniband hardware with message passing interface protocol to establish a mesh network inside the computer clusters for parallel data processing. The upgrade to the KOTO DAQ system was commissioned in 2015 and successfully collected data with a beam intensity of up to 42 kW. In preparation for increasing beam intensities in future runs, the hardware trigger upgrades using the reconfigurable clustering element platform technology are under development.

A search for the rare decay K_{L}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] was performed. With the data collected in 2015, corresponding to 2.2×10^{19} protons on target, a single event sensitivity of (1.30±0.01_{stat}±0.14_{syst})×10^{-9} was achieved and no candidate events were observed. We set an upper limit of 3.0×10^{-9} for the branching fraction of K_{L}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] at the 90% confidence level (C.L.), which improved the previous limit by almost an order of magnitude. An upper limit for K_{L}→π^{0}X^{0} was also set as 2.4×10^{-9} at the 90% C.L., where X^{0} is an invisible boson with a mass of 135 MeV/c^{2}.

At a high-power proton synchrotron, betatron tune shifts induced by space charge effects cause beam loss which limits the beam intensity. To achieve further high beam intensity at the main ring of the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex, precise control of the tune shift is indispensable. When carrying out multi-bunch measurements, we observed that the dependence of the tune shift intensity on the number of bunches follow opposite slope trends for the horizontal and vertical directions. The influence of the bunch spacing was also observed. We report on a simplified tune shift model reconstruction for understanding the origin of these phenomena and present a correction of the tune shifts for reducing beam loss up to 30 %., Proceedings of the 10th Int. Particle Accelerator Conf., IPAC2019, Melbourne, Australia

This report presents our numerical study of a simple system in which a shock wave generated by the explosion of 10 mg of AgN3 propagates through water inside a rectangular tube. In such a system, the reflection of the shock wave from the water surface and from the tube wall can be neglected, facilitating the discussion of how water mitigates the shock wave. The shock wave propagates through the tube and compresses the fluid adiabatically. The high-temperature air in the shock wave makes thermal contact with the ambient-temperature water, allowing thermal energy to transfer through the air-water interface. The simulation results show that the speed of the shock wave inside the tube is significantly decreased when water is present. The results show that (i) thermal-energy transfer at the interface between water and air is a dominant factor in mitigating the shock wave, and (ii) water absorbs approximately 10–30% of the energy released by the explosion inside the tube.

This article gives an outline of the features that different brazing methods and materials share in common, and discusses the mechanism, materials, special features and conditioning factors of vacuum brazing in particular.

A search for the rare decay K_{L}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] was performed. With the data collected in 2015, corresponding to 2.2×10^{19} protons on target, a single event sensitivity of (1.30±0.01_{stat}±0.14_{syst})×10^{-9} was achieved and no candidate events were observed. We set an upper limit of 3.0×10^{-9} for the branching fraction of K_{L}→π^{0}νν[over ¯] at the 90% confidence level (C.L.), which improved the previous limit by almost an order of magnitude. An upper limit for K_{L}→π^{0}X^{0} was also set as 2.4×10^{-9} at the 90% C.L., where X^{0} is an invisible boson with a mass of 135 MeV/c^{2}.

A pulse shape difference between photons and neutrons was observed in the output signals of scintillation light from the un-doped CsI calorimeter of the KOTO experiment for the K L → π 0 ν ν decay. We developed a discrimination method to reject neutrons and to accept photons in the deposited energy range from 0.1 to 2 GeV. The method rejects 67% of neutron-induced single hadronic clusters and 86% of neutron-induced two-cluster events while keeping more than 90% of photon-induced single electromagnetic clusters and two-photon events.

An electromagnetic calorimeter made of undoped CsI crystals is used in the J-PARC KOTO experiment to search for new physics beyond the standard model with the K L → π 0 ν ν decay. The calorimeter is designed to operate in vacuum of 0.1 Pa and in a high-rate environment where the counting rate due to K L decays is O ( 100 ) kHz. A special method to calibrate the calorimeter during the data taking without using a tracking system for charged particles is reported. The energy, position, and timing resolutions of the calorimeter were evaluated in several beam tests, and the resolutions satisfy the required performance. The energy resolution with the total energy E is 0 . 66 ⊕ 1 . 81 ∕ E [ GeV ] % in the inner region of the calorimeter.

The Outer-Edge Veto (OEV) counter subsystem for extra-photon detection from the backgrounds for the? $K^0_L\rightarrow\pi^0\nu\bar{\nu}$ decay is located at the outer edge of the endcap CsI calorimeter of the KOTO experiment at J-PARC. The subsystem is composed of 44 counters with different cross-sectional shapes. All counters are made of lead and scintillator plates and read out through wavelength-shifting fibers. In this paper, we discuss the design and performances of the OEV counters under heavy load ($\sim8$ tons/m$^2$) in vacuum. For 1-MeV energy deposit, the average light yield and time resolution are 20.9 photo-electrons and 1.5 ns, respectively. Although no pronounced peak by minimum-ionizing particles is observed in the energy distributions, an energy calibration method with cosmic rays works well in monitoring the gain stability with an accuracy of a few percent., Comment: 23 figures, To be published in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section A

The organ impairment and drug-drug interaction (OI-DDI) database is the first rigorously assembled database of pharmacokinetic drug exposure data from publicly available renal and hepatic impairment studies presented together with the maximum change in drug exposure from drug interaction inhibition studies. The database was used to conduct a systematic comparison of the effect of renal/hepatic impairment and pharmacologic inhibition on drug exposure. Additional applications are feasible with the public availability of this database.

The performance of the CsI electromagnetic calorimeter to be used for the J-PARC E14 KOTO experiment for a rare decay K L → π 0 ν ν ¯ was studied by using a positron beam from an accelerator. The energy, timing, and position resolutions for energies up to 800 MeV were measured. We also developed a new method to reconstruct the incident angle of photons based on the shower shape recorded with the calorimeter, and evaluated the method to suppress possible backgrounds for K L → π 0 ν ν ¯ decay signals.

We developed a high voltage system for the electromagnetic calorimeter of the KOTO detector. The system is designed around a low noise, low power Cockcroft–Walton (CW) photomultiplier tube base with a high gain preamplifier. The low power makes it suitable for operations in vacuum. The low noise and high gain allow detecting signals in the 1 MeV range. We achieved a final noise level below 180 μ V rms for a preamplifier gain of more than 40. A vacuum tolerant control system for the CW bases power distribution was also designed. This system is able to control and monitor the high voltage of each individual base.

The temperature and the DC biasing field dependences of dielectric permittivities, along the [001]-, [011]-, and [111]-directions of the cubic coordinate in 70.5%Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3- 29.5%PbTiO3 (PMN-29.5%PT) have been investigated. The temperature-field phase diagrams have been constructed in the field range below 5 kV/cm. The critical end point has been found at 1.2 kV/cm and 141°C under the electric field applied along the [001]-direction. It has been confirmed that the field induced orthorhombic phase appears in the electric field applied along the [011]-direction.

The KOTO experiment at J-PARC in Tokai, Ibaraki, Japan, aims to observe rare neutral kaon decay mode K L → π0νν. Followed by the first KOTO physics run in May 2013 with 24 kW beam power, we upgraded the KOTO data acquisition system in 2015 to accommodate efficient and reliable data collection with higher beam intensities. Lossless data compression inside the ADC modules was implemented to reduced the size of data packets. The lossless data compression enhanced the data collection rate by a factor of three. We designed a new software trigger, which consists of 47 computer nodes. It uses Infiniband hardware with MPI protocol to establish mesh network within the computer cluster and parallel data processing. The upgrades of the KOTO data acquisition system were commissioned in 2015 and used to successfully collect data with beam intensity up to 42 kW. In preparation for increasing beam intensities in 2016 runs, we are developing the hardware trigger upgrades using the RCE Platform Technology (RPT).

We describe the K L 0 flux measurements performed at the J-PARC neutral-kaon beam line. This beam line was constructed for an experiment aiming to observe the CP-violating rare decay K L 0 → π 0 ν ν ¯ . The primary proton energy was 30 GeV and the K L 0 production angle was 16°. Prior to the physics run, the K L 0 flux and spectrum were measured by counting K L 0 → π + π − π 0 decays with a simple setup, which was composed of an electromagnetic calorimeter and a hodoscope system. Results from these measurements are presented and compared with various hadron-interaction simulations.

The responses to vestibular stimulation of brain stem neurons that regulate sympathetic outflow and blood flow have been studied extensively in decerebrate preparations, but not in conscious animals. In the present study, we compared the responses of neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), a principal region of the brain stem involved in the regulation of blood pressure, to whole body rotations of conscious and decerebrate cats. In both preparations, RVLM neurons exhibited similar levels of spontaneous activity (median of ∼17 spikes/s). The firing of about half of the RVLM neurons recorded in decerebrate cats was modulated by rotations; these cells were activated by vertical tilts in a variety of directions, with response characteristics suggesting that their labyrinthine inputs originated in otolith organs. The activity of over one-third of RVLM neurons in decerebrate animals was altered by stimulation of baroreceptors; RVLM units with and without baroreceptor signals had similar responses to rotations. In contrast, only 6% of RVLM neurons studied in conscious cats exhibited cardiac-related activity, and the firing of just 1% of the cells was modulated by rotations. These data suggest that the brain stem circuitry mediating vestibulosympathetic reflexes is highly sensitive to changes in body position in space but that the responses to vestibular stimuli of neurons in the pathway are suppressed by higher brain centers in conscious animals. The findings also raise the possibility that autonomic responses to a variety of inputs, including those from the inner ear, could be gated according to behavioral context and attenuated when they are not necessary.

The inhibitory effect of human placenta on ADP-induced platelet aggregation was examined. Placental extracts were purified by chromatography and gel filtration. The eluted fractions were subjected to affinity chromatography with Bestatin AH-Sepharose to obtain a more purified substance. A substance markedly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP, and also exhibited high placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) activity. Preincubation of sample with ADP abolished the platelet aggregatory effect. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis revealed that the substance hydrolyzed ADP to AMP. The potent anti-platelet aggregating activity of placental extracts appears to be due to ADPase-like action. This action may be one of the controlling factors of hemostasis in fetoplacental circulation.

We have investigated the nanofabrication for glass-like carbon molds with electron cyclotron resonance oxygen ion beam etching technologies using polysiloxane [-R2SiO-]n as an electron beam mask and a room-temperature imprint resist material. The maximum etching selectivity of polysiloxane film against glass-like carbon was 27, which was obtained with ion energy of 400 eV. It was found that the optimum etching time to fabricate dots of 500 nm in height was 5 min, which was explored according to the computer simulation. The glass-like carbon molds with square pole and cylinder dots were fabricated with 500 nm in width and diameter, respectively. The optimum imprinting pressure and its depth obtained after the press for 5 min were 0.5 MPa and 0.5 μm, respectively. We carried out the room-temperature nanoimprint lithography process using glass-like carbon molds. The resulting width of imprinted polysiloxane patterns was obtained in good agreement with that of the mold.

Ion beam irradiation was adopted for surface treatment of the micro punch manufactured by precision machining. Ar plasma was used for the ion irradiation process, which was generated by the electron cyclotron resonance(ECR) equipment. The surface finish processes of micro punch were carried out at irradiation angles of 45° and 10°, respectively. The surface roughness and topography were measured to estimate the quality of surface finish. The results show that the ion irradiation is very effective to reduce the surface roughness, which can be improved more significantly at irradiation angle of 10° than at 45°. The technology of surface finish with ion beam irradiation is suitable for the surface treatment of micro die.

We examined the role of cumulus cells regarding in vitro maturation of canine oocytes, and investigated estrogen and epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor gene expression and action on nuclear maturation. Canine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COC) were collected from anestrous and diestrous bitches; only COC with vitelline diameter >100 microm were used. In Experiment 1, expression of estrogen receptor (ER) alpha, ERbeta and EGF-receptor (EGF-R) were determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), using mRNA from the oocyte or cumulus cell. Transcripts for the ERbeta and EGF-R were detected in oocytes and cumulus cells, but no message was detected for ERalpha. In Experiment 2, intact COC and the denuded oocytes were cultured in TCM199 medium supplemented with various concentrations of estradiol-17beta (E(2); 0-10 microg/mL) or EGF (0-100 ng/mL) for 72 h; nuclear maturation was then evaluated. In oocytes cultured within intact COC, the rate of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) was higher in the 1 microg/mL E(2) supplemented group (P

Nicotinic cholinergic receptors play a role in cardiovascular regulation in the lower brain stem. Herein, we present evidence that l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), a putative neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, is involved in the depressor response to microinjection of nicotine into the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). Microinjection of nicotine into the medial area of the NTS led to decreases in arterial blood pressure and heart rate in anesthetized rats. Mecamylamine, a nicotinic receptor antagonist, microinjected into NTS, blocked the depressor and bradycardic responses to nicotine. Nicotine-induced depressor and bradycardic responses were blocked by DOPA cyclohexyl ester (DOPA CHE), an antagonist for DOPA. DOPA CHE did not modify the action of carbachol on excitatory postsynaptic potential in rat cortical slices. These results suggest that endogenous DOPA is involved in nicotine-induced depressor responses in the NTS of anesthetized rats.

Bulk MgB2 containing nano-particles of Ag–Mg alloys were sintered from the mixtures of Mg-, B- and Ag2O-powder with the mole ratio of Mg:B:Ag2O = 1.6 (1−x):2(1−x):x/2, where x was the nominal concentration of Ag from 0 to 0.1. The solid reaction of the powder mixture was performed in the electric furnace at 900 °C for 30 min under Ar-atmosphere with 10% H2 gas. The X-ray diffraction patterns and images of transmission electron microscope showed the production of Ag–Mg nano-particles in bulk MgB2, except for MgO impurity. For x = 0.01 and 0.02 samples, the enhancement of Jc was observed without Tc reduction, which means the efficiency of the nano-particles of Ag–Mg as the pinning centers in MgB2.

The small angle neutron scattering diffraction patterns from the flux line lattice state in the layered hexagonal superconductor CaAlSi are observed. Under an applied magnetic field (H) parallel to the crystalline c-axis, a hexagonal vortex structure is observed over the entire temperature/field regions. On the other hand, the vortex configuration under H∥a shows an ellipsoidal arrangement of the first-order Bragg peaks due to the anisotropic penetration depth. It was inferred from these results that the vortex state characterized by penetration depth and coherence length in CaAlSi may be described by that of anisotropic uniaxial superconductor using London theory.

Sintered MgB 2 system was prepared under 3.5 GPa in the WC cubic anvil cell above 1100 °C for 1 h from the commercial MgB 2 . In this system, a few large flux jumps (FJ) were observed in the magnetization curve at 5 K on the field increasing process. Especially, the complete FJ occurred near 0 field. The number of large FJ decreased at higher temperature of 20 K. We estimated the flux density difference between the center and surface of the sample from the extended critical state model and magnetization data. The generation condition of FJ was discussed using Schwartz–Bean’s theory and Wipf’s theory. The FJ was suppressed at 20 K by the MgCu 2 doping. We assumed that the present large FJ’s were induced by the enlarged sample thickness by high pressure sintering. A few mol% of MgCu 2 impurities reduced the thickness of MgB 2 phase or enhanced the thermal conductivity of HP sample.

The paper attempts to give a physical explanation of the mechanism behind the so-called destabilizing effect of small internal damping in the dynamic stability of Beck's column. Both internal (material) and external (viscous fluid) damping are considered. An energy equation is derived for the balance between the work done by the non-conservative ‘follower force’ and the energy dissipated by the internal and external damping forces. Evaluated at the critical load, where a flutter instability is initiated, this equation explicitly shows the influence of damping upon flutter frequency, phase angle, and vibration amplitude. The gradient of the phase angle, evaluated at the free end of the column, is found to be the ‘valve’, which controls how much work the follower force can do on the column during each period of oscillation. And a large change in this gradient with increasing—but still small—internal damping is found to be responsible for the destabilizing effect.

timated to be 0:13 0:115= p e[GeV] 0:005=e[GeV] ns. The energy resolution and position resolution of the CsI calorimeter with the total energy E are estimated to be E=E = 0:99% 1:74%= p E[GeV] and po s = 2:50 4:40= p E[GeV] [mm], respectively. These results are comparable to the design values which were assumed in the KOTO proposal. One of the advantages of the KOTO CsI calorimeter is its capability to record shower shapes with its segmentation. By using shower shape information, we can suppress kinds of backgrounds involving showers made by particles other than a single photon.

The KOTO experiment [1] is a rare kaon decay experiment at J-PARC in Ibaraki. The goal of KOTO experiment is to discover the KL → πνν decay, and measure its branching ratio. The standard model predicts its branching ratio to be 2.4 × 10 [2], while the current upper limit of the branching ratio is 2.6×10(90%CL)[3]. KOTO is designed to improve the sensitivity by 3 orders of magnitude from the current upper limit. KOTO experiment took the first physics run in May 2013. With the high intensity proton beam from J-PARC, the counting rate of detectors will become a few MHz. If two or more pulses arrive at detector within a short period of time, those pulses will merge into one pulse. In order to get energy and timing information of each pulse from such an overlapped waveform, we record waveform of each detector pulse with 125 MHz ADC. The inputs to the ADC chip are widened to be in gaussian-shape with the 10 pole Bessel filter in advance of the sampling to get enough data points with detector signals (Figure1). This technique also increases probability of overlapping. Overlapped waveform is observed even in KOTO physics run in 2013 (Figure 2) and pulse shape analysis is necessary for analysis. I developed a new method to identify pulses from overlapped waveform. In this presentation, pulse identification method and its performance will be reported.

A Brief Account of the Social Life of Hanuman Langurs

The KOTO ($K^0$ at Tokai) experiment aims to observe the CP-violating rare decay $K_L \rightarrow \pi^0 \nu \bar{\nu}$ by using a long-lived neutral-kaon beam produced by the 30 GeV proton beam at the Japan Proton Accelerator Research Complex. The $K_L$ flux is an essential parameter for the measurement of the branching fraction. Three $K_L$ neutral decay modes, $K_L \rightarrow 3\pi^0$, $K_L \rightarrow 2\pi^0$, and $K_L \rightarrow 2\gamma$ were used to measure the $K_L$ flux in the beam line in the 2013 KOTO engineering run. A Monte Carlo simulation was used to estimate the detector acceptance for these decays. Agreement was found between the simulation model and the experimental data, and the remaining systematic uncertainty was estimated at the 1.4\% level. The $K_L$ flux was measured as $(4.183 \pm 0.017_{\mathrm{stat.}} \pm 0.059_{\mathrm{sys.}}) \times 10^7$ $K_L$ per $2\times 10^{14}$ protons on a 66-mm-long Au target., Comment: 27 pages, 16 figures. To be appeared in Progress of Theoretical and Experimental Physics