First Observation of an Attractive Interaction between a Proton and a Cascade Baryon

This Letter presents the first experimental observation of the attractive strong interaction between a proton and a multistrange baryon (hyperon) Ξ^{-}. The result is extracted from two-particle correlations of combined p-Ξ^{-}⊕p[over ¯]-Ξ[over ¯]^{+} pairs measured in p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV at the LHC with ALICE. The measured correlation function is compared with the prediction obtained assuming only an attractive Coulomb interaction and a standard deviation in the range [3.6, 5.3] is found. Since the measured p-Ξ^{-}⊕p[over ¯]-Ξ[over ¯]^{+} correlation is significantly enhanced with respect to the Coulomb prediction, the presence of an additional, strong, attractive interaction is evident. The data are compatible with recent lattice calculations by the HAL-QCD Collaboration, with a standard deviation in the range [1.8, 3.7]. The lattice potential predicts a shallow repulsive Ξ^{-} interaction within pure neutron matter and this implies stiffer equations of state for neutron-rich matter including hyperons. Implications of the strong interaction for the modeling of neutron stars are discussed.

Metastasis of carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma to the brain without previous metastasis to the lungs or bones: a case report

Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma is a rare type of cancer of the salivary gland that involves the malignant transformation of a primary or recurrent pleomorphic adenoma, which often metastasises to the lungs or bones, or both. To the best of our knowledge, however, nobody has reported a distant metastasis of this lesion to the brain without such previous metastasis. We report a case in a 64-year-old man.

Intravoxel incoherent motion perfusion in patients with Moyamoya disease: comparison with 15O-gas positron emission tomography

Background

Intravoxel incoherent motion magnetic resonance imaging (IVIM) enables non-invasive measurement of brain perfusion.

Purpose

To investigate whether IVIM could be used to evaluate the hemodynamic disturbance of Moyamoya disease (MMD) by comparison with the gold-standard ¹⁵O-gas positron emission tomography (PET) method.

Material and Methods

Ten consecutive patients with MMD (six women; mean age = 42.8 years) and 10 age-matched healthy controls were evaluated by diffusion-weighted images with 12 different b values in the range of 0–900 s/mm² and ¹⁵O-gas PET. Tomographic maps of IVIM parameters, perfusion fraction (f ), pseudo-diffusion coefficient (D*), and f・D*, as well as cerebral blood volume (CBV), cerebral blood flow (CBF), and mean transit time (MTT) maps obtained with PET, were normalized and hemispheric gray and white matter values were calculated. IVIM parametric values were compared with PET parameters and with clinically assessed disease severity.

Results

There was significant correlation between D* and MTT (r = –0.74, P < 0.001) and between f・D* and CBF (r = 0.52, P = 0.02) in the cortical areas. The f values in the white matter were significantly higher in symptomatic MMD patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.01).

Conclusion

IVIM may be used to non-invasively investigate cerebral hemodynamic impairment in patients with MMD. Further evaluation is needed to establish IVIM usage in clinical settings.

Azimuthal Anisotropy of Heavy-Flavor Decay Electrons in p-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

Angular correlations between heavy-flavor decay electrons and charged particles at midrapidity (|η|<0.8) are measured in p-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV. The analysis is carried out for the 0%-20% (high) and 60%-100% (low) multiplicity ranges. The jet contribution in the correlation distribution from high-multiplicity events is removed by subtracting the distribution from low-multiplicity events. An azimuthal modulation remains after removing the jet contribution, similar to previous observations in two-particle angular correlation measurements for light-flavor hadrons. A Fourier decomposition of the modulation results in a positive second-order coefficient (v_{2}) for heavy-flavor decay electrons in the transverse momentum interval 1.5<p_{T}<4  GeV/c in high-multiplicity events, with a significance larger than 5σ. The results are compared with those of charged particles at midrapidity and those of inclusive muons at forward rapidity. The v_{2} measurement of open heavy-flavor particles at midrapidity in small collision systems could provide crucial information to help interpret the anisotropies observed in such systems.

Unraveling Specific Brain Microstructural Damage in Moyamoya Disease Using Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Positron Emission Tomography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Chronic ischemia may induce brain microstructural damage and lead to neurocognitive dysfunction in patients with Moyamoya disease (MMD). We applied neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) and ¹⁵O-gas positron emission tomography (PET) to elucidate the specific ischemic brain microstructural damage of MMD in the cortex and the white matter.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-one patients (16-63years old, 9 males) and 20 age- and sex-matched normal controls were enrolled in this study. NODDI evaluates quantitative parameters reflecting neurite and axonal density, network complexity and the interstitial fluid in all participants. Of 31 patients, 12 newly diagnosed patients were evaluated with PET, also. We evaluated correlations between the microstructural parameters of NODDI and the hemodynamic and metabolic parameters of PET, the relationship between NODDI and clinical severity of each hemisphere (Normal, Asymtpomatic, Symptomatic, and Infarcted) as well as neurocognitive performance.

RESULTS

All NODDI parameters significantly correlated with PET parameters (absolute r = 0.46-0.83, P ≤ .048) and clinical severity (P < .001), suggesting that neurite and axonal density and network complexity decreased, and the interstitial fluid increased, as the ischemic burden became severe. NODDI parameters reflecting neurite and axonal density and network complexity significantly correlated with neurocognitive profiles (r = 0.36-0.64, P ≤ .048), but the interstitial fluid component did not.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic ischemia in patients with MMD may induce decreased neurite and axonal density, simplified network complexity, and may lead to neurocognitive dysfunction. The increased interstitial fluid accompanying hemodynamic impairment may not be identical to the decreased neurite density and might be driven by another mechanism.

Effect of adenovirus E1A on ICAM-1 promoter activity in human alveolar and bronchial epithelial cells

In previous studies we demonstrated that the E1A DNA and proteins of group C adenovirus are present in excess in the lungs of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Because adenovirus EIA gene products are known to regulate the expression of many genes by interacting with cellular transcription factors, we postulated that E1A enhances the production of inflammatory mediators and exacerbates the inflammatory process in smokers' lungs. We reported that LPS-induced ICAM-1 expression in A549 cells is upregulated by E1A. In the current study we investigated whether this regulation is mediated through the ICAM-1 promoter. A549 cells and primary human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells were transiently cotransfected with a plasmid containing the ICAM-1 enhancer-promoter linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene (pBS-CAT-P) and either a plasmid carrying the adenovirus 5 E1A gene (pE1Aneo) or a control plasmid (pneo). To compare the effect of transient versus stable E1A expression on the activity of this promoter, we also transiently transfected stable E1A-expressing A549 cells with pBS-CAT-P. Transient cotransfection of pE1Aneo and pBS-CAT-P had no effect on basal ICAM-1 promoter activity in A549 or HBE cells. After stimulation of A549 cells with TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, or LPS, promoter activity was increased by two- to threefold in the presence of adenovirus EIA. In HBE cells, on the other hand, E1A repressed the ICAM-1 promoter after stimulation with IFN-gamma and LPS with little change after TNF-alpha stimulation. In stable E1A transfectants, ICAM-1 promoter activity was 2 to 2.5 times higher than in control transfectants with or without stimulation with TNF-alpha or LPS. These findings suggest that EIA can modulate the activity of the ICAM-1 promoter in lung epithelial cells and this modulation is different in cells of alveolar origin compared to bronchial epithelial cells.

Usefulness of 11C-Methionine Positron Emission Tomography for Monitoring of Treatment Response and Recurrence in a Glioblastoma Patient on Bevacizumab Therapy: A Case Report

Recently developed molecular targeted therapies such as bevacizumab (BEV; Avastin) therapy have therapeutic efficacy for glioblastoma. However, it is difficult to distinguish between a tumor response and nonenhancing tumor progression with conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after BEV administration. Here we present a recurrent glioblastoma case in which ¹¹C-methionine positron emission tomography (MET-PET) provided useful information for detecting tumor recurrence after complete remission, as assessed by the Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology criteria. A 47-year-old male with a left frontal lobe glioblastoma experienced recurrence 6 months postoperatively. We administered BEV concomitantly with temozolomide, subsequent to gamma knife surgery. Two months after starting BEV, complete remission was obtained. MET uptake on PET gradually decreased and had nearly disappeared 4 months after initiating BEV. No enhanced area was seen on MRI for 17 months after BEV initiation. Nevertheless, MET-PET revealed recurrence, visualized as nonenhancing tumor progression. MET-PET provides useful information for detecting glioblastoma recurrence, which lacks contrast enhancement on MRI after BEV therapy.

Unique Angiographic Appearances of Moyamoya Disease Detected with 3-Dimensional Rotational Digital Subtraction Angiography Imaging Showing the Hemodynamic Status

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to identify the unique morphological arterial features in patients with moyamoya disease on 3-dimensional rotational digital subtraction angiography.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

One hundred seven hemispheres of 58 consecutive patients with moyamoya disease that were analyzed with fused 3-dimensional images of internal carotid angiograms and vertebral angiograms that were marked with different colors were reviewed. Angiographic findings in the posterior watershed area were classified, and the utility of the classification was analyzed by comparing it with clinical presentations and quantitative hemodynamic parameters obtained with positron emission tomography.

RESULTS

Two unique angiographic appearances were identified. A vacant vessel appearance (no arterial inflow despite absence of cortical infarction) was observed mostly in transient ischemic attack hemispheres. In hemispheres with a vacant vessel appearance, cerebral blood flow was decreased, cerebral blood volume was increased, and mean transit time was prolonged significantly (P = .00017, P = .0061, and P = .00026, respectively). A cocktail vessel appearance (mixture of carotid and vertebral arterial flow) was most commonly observed in asymptomatic cases, as well as in ischemic hemispheres. Cerebral blood volume increased and mean transit time was prolonged significantly (P = .036 and P = .014, respectively) in hemispheres with a cocktail vessel appearance. The trend of progression in hemodynamic severity in the order of normal appearance, cocktail vessel appearance, and vacant vessel appearance in the watershed area was statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Fused 3-dimensional digital subtraction angiography demonstrated unique angiographic features in the watershed area, and this represented the degree of cerebral hemodynamic impairment in moyamoya disease.

D-Meson Azimuthal Anisotropy in Midcentral Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s]_{NN}=5.02 TeV

The azimuthal anisotropy coefficient v_{2} of prompt D^{0}, D^{+}, D^{*+}, and D_{s}^{+} mesons was measured in midcentral (30%-50% centrality class) Pb-Pb collisions at a center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV, with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The D mesons were reconstructed via their hadronic decays at midrapidity, |y|<0.8, in the transverse momentum interval 1<p_{T}<24  GeV/c. The measured D-meson v_{2} has similar values as that of charged pions. The D_{s}^{+} v_{2}, measured for the first time, is found to be compatible with that of nonstrange D mesons. The measurements are compared with theoretical calculations of charm-quark transport in a hydrodynamically expanding medium and have the potential to constrain medium parameters.

J/ψ Elliptic Flow in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV

We report a precise measurement of the J/ψ elliptic flow in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV with the ALICE detector at the LHC. The J/ψ mesons are reconstructed at midrapidity (|y|<0.9) in the dielectron decay channel and at forward rapidity (2.5<y<4.0) in the dimuon channel, both down to zero transverse momentum. At forward rapidity, the elliptic flow v_{2} of the J/ψ is studied as a function of the transverse momentum and centrality. A positive v_{2} is observed in the transverse momentum range 2<p_{T}<8  GeV/c in the three centrality classes studied and confirms with higher statistics our earlier results at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76  TeV in semicentral collisions. At midrapidity, the J/ψ  v_{2} is investigated as a function of the transverse momentum in semicentral collisions and found to be in agreement with the measurements at forward rapidity. These results are compared to transport model calculations. The comparison supports the idea that at low p_{T} the elliptic flow of the J/ψ originates from the thermalization of charm quarks in the deconfined medium but suggests that additional mechanisms might be missing in the models.

Anomalous Evolution of the Near-Side Jet Peak Shape in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76 TeV

The measurement of two-particle angular correlations is a powerful tool to study jet quenching in a p_{T} region inaccessible by direct jet identification. In these measurements pseudorapidity (Δη) and azimuthal (Δφ) differences are used to extract the shape of the near-side peak formed by particles associated with a higher p_{T} trigger particle (1<p_{T,trig}<8  GeV/c). A combined fit of the near-side peak and long-range correlations is applied to the data allowing the extraction of the centrality evolution of the peak shape in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76  TeV. A significant broadening of the peak in the Δη direction at low p_{T} is found from peripheral to central collisions, which vanishes above 4  GeV/c, while in the Δφ direction the peak is almost independent of centrality. For the 10% most central collisions and 1<p_{T,assoc}<2  GeV/c, 1<p_{T,trig}<3  GeV/c a novel feature is observed: a depletion develops around the center of the peak. The results are compared to pp collisions at the same center of mass energy and ampt model simulations. The comparison to the investigated models suggests that the broadening and the development of the depletion is connected to the strength of radial and longitudinal flow.

Radiological and clinical comparison of kinematically versus mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasty

AIMS

The aim of this study was to compare the post-operative radiographic and clinical outcomes between kinematically and mechanically aligned total knee arthroplasties (TKAs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 60 TKAs (30 kinematically and 30 mechanically aligned) were performed in 60 patients with varus osteoarthritis of the knee using a navigation system. The angles of orientation of the joint line in relation to the floor, the conventional and true mechanical axis (tMA) (the line from the centre of the hip to the lowest point of the calcaneus) were compared, one year post-operatively, on single-leg and double-leg standing long leg radiographs between the groups. The range of movement and 2011 Knee Society Scores were also compared between the groups at that time.

RESULTS

The angles of orientation of the joint line in the kinematic group changed from slight varus on double-leg standing to slight valgus with single-leg standing. The mechanical axes in the kinematic group passed through a neutral position of the knee in the true condition when the calcaneus was considered. The post-operative angles of flexion and functional activity scores were significantly better in the kinematic than in the mechanical group (p < 0.003 and 0.03, respectively).

CONCLUSION

A kinematically aligned TKA results in a joint line which has a more parallel orientation in relation to the floor during single- and double-leg standing, and more neutral weight-bearing in tMA than a mechanically aligned TKA. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:640-6.

Energy dependence of forward-rapidity [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] production in pp collisions at the LHC

We present results on transverse momentum ([Formula: see text]) and rapidity ([Formula: see text]) differential production cross sections, mean transverse momentum and mean transverse momentum square of inclusive [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] at forward rapidity ([Formula: see text]) as well as [Formula: see text]-to-[Formula: see text] cross section ratios. These quantities are measured in pp collisions at center of mass energies [Formula: see text] and 13 TeV with the ALICE detector. Both charmonium states are reconstructed in the dimuon decay channel, using the muon spectrometer. A comprehensive comparison to inclusive charmonium cross sections measured at [Formula: see text], 7 and 8 TeV is performed. A comparison to non-relativistic quantum chromodynamics and fixed-order next-to-leading logarithm calculations, which describe prompt and non-prompt charmonium production respectively, is also presented. A good description of the data is obtained over the full [Formula: see text] range, provided that both contributions are summed. In particular, it is found that for [Formula: see text] GeV/c the non-prompt contribution reaches up to 50% of the total charmonium yield.

Production of Σ(1385)± and Ξ(1530)0 in p-Pb collisions at sNN=5.02 TeV

The transverse momentum distributions of the strange and double-strange hyperon resonances (Σ ( 1385 ) ± , Ξ ( 1530 ) 0 ) produced in p-Pb collisions at s NN = 5.02 TeV were measured in the rapidity range - 0.5 < y CMS < 0 for event classes corresponding to different charged-particle multiplicity densities, ⟨ dN ch /dη lab ⟩ . The mean transverse momentum values are presented as a function of ⟨ dN ch /dη lab ⟩ , as well as a function of the particle masses and compared with previous results on hyperon production. The integrated yield ratios of excited to ground-state hyperons are constant as a function of ⟨ dN ch /dη lab ⟩ . The equivalent ratios to pions exhibit an increase with ⟨ dN ch /dη lab ⟩ , depending on their strangeness content.

Production of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons up to high transverse momentum in pp collisions at 2.76 TeV

The invariant differential cross sections for inclusive [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] mesons at midrapidity were measured in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV for transverse momenta [Formula: see text] GeV/c and [Formula: see text] GeV/c, respectively, using the ALICE detector. This large range in [Formula: see text] was achieved by combining various analysis techniques and different triggers involving the electromagnetic calorimeter (EMCal). In particular, a new single-cluster, shower-shape based method was developed for the identification of high-[Formula: see text] neutral pions, which exploits that the showers originating from their decay photons overlap in the EMCal. Above 4 GeV/[Formula: see text], the measured cross sections are found to exhibit a similar power-law behavior with an exponent of about 6.3. Next-to-leading-order perturbative QCD calculations differ from the measured cross sections by about 30% for the [Formula: see text], and between 30-50% for the [Formula: see text] meson, while generator-level simulations with PYTHIA 8.2 describe the data to better than 10-30%, except at [Formula: see text] GeV/[Formula: see text]. The new data can therefore be used to further improve the theoretical description of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] meson production.

Flow Dominance and Factorization of Transverse Momentum Correlations in Pb-Pb Collisions at the LHC

We present the first measurement of the two-particle transverse momentum differential correlation function, P_{2}≡⟨Δp_{T}Δp_{T}⟩/⟨p_{T}⟩^{2}, in Pb-Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76  TeV. Results for P_{2} are reported as a function of the relative pseudorapidity (Δη) and azimuthal angle (Δφ) between two particles for different collision centralities. The Δϕ dependence is found to be largely independent of Δη for |Δη|≥0.9. In the 5% most central Pb-Pb collisions, the two-particle transverse momentum correlation function exhibits a clear double-hump structure around Δφ=π (i.e., on the away side), which is not observed in number correlations in the same centrality range, and thus provides an indication of the dominance of triangular flow in this collision centrality. Fourier decompositions of P_{2}, studied as a function of the collision centrality, show that correlations at |Δη|≥0.9 can be well reproduced by a flow ansatz based on the notion that measured transverse momentum correlations are strictly determined by the collective motion of the system.

Measurement of azimuthal correlations of D mesons with charged particles in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV and p-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text] TeV

The azimuthal correlations of D mesons with charged particles were measured with the ALICE apparatus in pp collisions at [Formula: see text] and p-Pb collisions at [Formula: see text] at the Large Hadron Collider. [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] mesons and their charge conjugates with transverse momentum [Formula: see text] and rapidity in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass system [Formula: see text] (pp collisions) and [Formula: see text] (p-Pb collisions) were correlated to charged particles with [Formula: see text]. The yield of charged particles in the correlation peak induced by the jet containing the D meson and the peak width are compatible within uncertainties in the two collision systems. The data are described within uncertainties by Monte-Carlo simulations based on PYTHIA, POWHEG, and EPOS 3 event generators.

Noninvasive Evaluation of CBF and Perfusion Delay of Moyamoya Disease Using Arterial Spin-Labeling MRI with Multiple Postlabeling Delays: Comparison with 15O-Gas PET and DSC-MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Arterial spin-labeling MR imaging with multiple postlabeling delays has a potential to evaluate various hemodynamic parameters. To clarify whether arterial spin-labeling MR imaging can identify CBF and perfusion delay in patients with Moyamoya disease, we compared arterial spin-labeling, DSC, and ¹⁵O-gas PET in terms of their ability to identify these parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eighteen patients with Moyamoya disease (5 men, 13 women; ages, 21-55 years) were retrospectively analyzed. CBF values of pulsed continuous arterial spin-labeling using 2 postlabeling delays (short arterial spin-labeling, 1525 ms; delayed arterial spin-labeling, 2525 ms) were compared with CBF values measured by ¹⁵O-gas PET. All plots were divided into 2 groups by the cutoff of time-based parameters (the time of the maximum observed concentration, TTP, MTT, delay of MTT to cerebellum, and disease severity [symptomatic or not]). The ratio of 2 arterial spin-labeling CBFs (delayed arterial spin-labeling CBF to short arterial spin-labeling CBF) was compared with time-based parameters: time of the maximum observed concentration, TTP, and MTT.

RESULTS

The short arterial spin-labeling-CBF values were significantly correlated with the PET-CBF values (r = 0.63; P = .01). However, the short arterial spin-labeling-CBF value dropped in the regions with severe perfusion delay. The delayed arterial spin-labeling CBF overestimated PET-CBF regardless of the degree of perfusion delay. Delayed arterial spin-labeling CBF/short arterial spin-labeling CBF was well correlated with the time of the maximum observed concentration, TTP, and MTT (ρ = 0.71, 0.64, and 0.47, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Arterial spin-labeling using 2 postlabeling delays may detect PET-measured true CBF and perfusion delay in patients with Moyamoya disease. Provided its theoretic basis and limitations are considered, noninvasive arterial spin-labeling could be a useful alternative for evaluating the hemodynamics of Moyamoya disease.

Geosmin-producing Species of Coelosphaerium (Synechococcales, Cyanobacteria) in Lake Shinji, Japan

In Lake Shinji, Japan, periodic outbreaks of musty odour have occurred since mid-May 2007. Although the substance responsible for the odour was identified as geosmin, the odour-producing organism was unknown. We cultivated an axenic unialgal strain and determined that a species of Coelosphaerium (Synechococcales) was responsible for the production of geosmin in Lake Shinji. Our analysis was conducted using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry to determine the odorous compound. To determine the algae species, it was observed by optical microscopy to describe its morphological characteristics and the polymerase chain reaction was used to characterise the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S-23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer region. In addition, we explored the relationship between the number of cells of the Coelosphaerium sp. and the concentration of geosmin. In conclusion, geosmin, the cause of the musty odour in Lake Shinji in autumn 2009, was produced by Coelosphaerium sp., and to our knowledge, this is the first report of a geosmin-producing species in the family Coelosphaeriaceae.

Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of Glycyrrhiza uralensis root extracts produced using artificial hydroponic and artificial hydroponic-field hybrid cultivation systems

Glycyrrhiza uralensis roots used in this study were produced using novel cultivation systems, including artificial hydroponics and artificial hydroponic-field hybrid cultivation. The equivalency between G. uralensis root extracts produced by hydroponics and/or hybrid cultivation and a commercial Glycyrrhiza crude drug were evaluated for both safety and efficacy, and there were no significant differences in terms of mutagenicity on the Ames tests. The levels of cadmium and mercury in both hydroponic roots and crude drugs were less than the limit of quantitation. Arsenic levels were lower in all hydroponic roots than in the crude drug, whereas mean lead levels in the crude drug were not significantly different from those in the hydroponically cultivated G. uralensis roots. Both hydroponic and hybrid-cultivated root extracts showed antiallergic activities against contact hypersensitivity that were similar to those of the crude drug extracts. These study results suggest that hydroponic and hybrid-cultivated roots are equivalent in safety and efficacy to those of commercial crude drugs. Further studies are necessary before the roots are applicable as replacements for the currently available commercial crude drugs produced from wild plant resources.

Development of fast neutron pinhole camera using nuclear emulsion for neutron emission profile measurement in KSTAR

We have developed a compact fast neutron camera based on a stack of nuclear emulsion plates and a pinhole collimator. The camera was installed at J-port of Korea superconducting tokamak advanced research at National Fusion Research Institute, Republic of Korea. Fast neutron images agreed better with calculated ones based on Monte Carlo neutron simulation using the uniform distribution of Deuterium-Deuterium (DD) neutron source in a torus of 40 cm radius.

Correlated Event-by-Event Fluctuations of Flow Harmonics in Pb-Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76 TeV

We report the measurements of correlations between event-by-event fluctuations of amplitudes of anisotropic flow harmonics in nucleus-nucleus collisions, obtained for the first time using a new analysis method based on multiparticle cumulants in mixed harmonics. This novel method is robust against systematic biases originating from nonflow effects and by construction any dependence on symmetry planes is eliminated. We demonstrate that correlations of flow harmonics exhibit a better sensitivity to medium properties than the individual flow harmonics. The new measurements are performed in Pb-Pb collisions at the center-of-mass energy per nucleon pair of sqrt[s_{NN}]=2.76  TeV by the ALICE experiment at the Large Hadron Collider. The centrality dependence of correlation between event-by-event fluctuations of the elliptic v_{2} and quadrangular v_{4} flow harmonics, as well as of anticorrelation between v_{2} and triangular v_{3} flow harmonics are presented. The results cover two different regimes of the initial state configurations: geometry dominated (in midcentral collisions) and fluctuation dominated (in the most central collisions). Comparisons are made to predictions from Monte Carlo Glauber, viscous hydrodynamics, ampt, and hijing models. Together with the existing measurements of the individual flow harmonics the presented results provide further constraints on the initial conditions and the transport properties of the system produced in heavy-ion collisions.

High Moisture Permeability Polyurethane for Textile Applications

A polyurethane having both a high permeable property at warm tem peratures and a thermal insulate property at cold temperatures was developed with significantly different levels of permeability within a narrow temperature range. The development was made in order to achieve a breathable, waterproof sportswear material that would react to variations in temperature and ultimately provide a higher level of comfort.

Light-tunable Fano resonance in metal-dielectric multilayer structures

High-Q optical Fano resonances realized in a variety of plasmonic nanostructures and metamaterials are very much promising for the development of new potent photonic devices, such as optical sensors and switches. One of the key issues in the development is to establish ways to effectively modulate the Fano resonance by external perturbations. Dynamic tuning of the Fano resonance applying the mechanical stress and electric fields has already been demonstrated. Here, we demonstrate another way of tuning, i.e., photo-tuning of the Fano resonance. We use a simple metal-dielectric multilayer structure that exhibits a sharp Fano resonance originating from coupling between a surface plasmon polariton mode and a planar waveguide mode. Using a dielectric waveguide doped with azo dye molecules that undergo photoisomerization, we succeeded in shifting the Fano resonance thorough photo-modulation of the propagation constant of the waveguide mode. The present work demonstrates the feasibility of photo-tuning of the Fano resonance and opens a new avenue towards potential applications of the Fano resonance.

Characteristics of histologically confirmed endometriosis in cynomolgus monkeys

STUDY QUESTION

What are the characteristics of spontaneous endometriosis in cynomolgus monkeys?

SUMMARY ANSWER

Spontaneous endometriosis in cynomolgus monkeys exhibited similar characteristics to the human disease.

WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY

One previous report described the prevalence and the basic histopathology of spontaneous endometriosis in cynomolgus monkeys.

STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION

Endometriotic lesions that had been histologically confirmed in 8 female cynomolgus monkeys between 5 and 21 years old were subjected to study.

PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS

The monkeys died of, or were sacrificed because of, sickness consequent on endometriosis. Specimens were evaluated histopathologically with haematoxylin and eosin staining, iron staining and immunohistochemistry (CD10, CD31, α-SMA and PGP9.5), and by observing them under a microscope.

MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE

Endometriotic and stromal cells (CD10-positive) with haemorrhage and inflammation were observed. Smooth muscle metaplasia and nerve fibres were also noted in the endometriotic lesions. Endometriotic lesions in lymph nodes were incidentally found.

LIMITATIONS AND REASONS FOR CAUTION

Since laparoscopic analysis for monitoring the disease state was not set as a parameter of the current study, time course changes (progression) of the disease were not assessed.

WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS

Further investigation of spontaneous endometriosis in cynomolgus monkeys may contribute to better understanding of the disease pathobiology.

STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S)

No external funds were used for this study. A.N.K., S.M., S.H., T.I., O.K., A.K. and M.S. are full-time employees of Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. R.K. received lecture fees from Chugai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., unrelated to the submitted work. S.N., S. O., L.Y., K.Y. and T.S. have nothing to declare.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

N/A.

The impact of nutritional state on the duration of sputum positivity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

BACKGROUND

The outcome of anti-tuberculosis treatment varies according to patient factors.

OBJECTIVE

To retrospectively identify risks related to the extension of time to negative sputum culture (Tn) and to determine their clinical significance.

DESIGN

Patients with bacilli susceptible to isoniazid and rifampicin who received initial standard treatment without cessation were recruited into the study. A total of 630 consecutive in-patients were included in the risk development analysis (development cohort) and another 611 consecutive in-patients in the risk validation analysis (validation cohort).

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that Tn was related to sex, body mass index (BMI), white blood cell count (WBC), serum albumin, fasting blood sugar, haemoglobin A1c, C-reactive protein and total cholesterol levels and sputum smear positivity (SSP). Multivariate analysis showed that BMI, WBC and SSP were significant risk factors related to extended Tn. Optimal cut-offs of BMI and WBC for predicting good (Tn < 46 days) and poor responders (Tn ⩾ 46 days) according to each risk were determined by receiver operating characteristics analysis. Risks were verified with the validation cohort. Tn increased according to the number of risks; the median Tn for patients with three risks was 21 days longer than that of patients with none.

CONCLUSION

The nutritional state of a TB patient can be used to predict Tn.

Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty for Intracranial Arteriosclerotic Lesions

Recent developments of the interventional neuroradiological technique made percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) possible even for intracranial arteries1.

We report our experiences of 17 cases treated by PTA including 9 intracranial internal carotid (ICA), 4 middle cerebral (MCA) and 4 vertebro-basilar arterial (VBA) stenoses and discuss the problems of the procedure.

All patients had cerebral ischemic symptoms and stenoses more than 60% calculated angiographically. Three of them were treated by PTA for residual stenoses after thrombolytic therapy for acute occlusion. We used PTA balloon catheters 2.0 mm to 3.5 mm in diameter (Stealth, Target therapeutics) for all PTA procedures. A PTA balloon was inflated for 1 min at 6 atm as a rule. All were successfully dilated (stenosis less than 50%) except one treated by PTA for residual MCA stenosis after thrombolytic therapy.

The patient died from massive infarction due to MCA re-occlusion caused by MCA dissection. Restenosis appeared in 4 of 16 patients. Repeated PTA was successfuly carried out for the 4 patients.

However, restenosis appeared in one of them but the patient is now on follow-up because of asymptomatic course.

PTA for intracranial arteries is an effective treatment but its indication should be determined strictly because of potential risk such as acute occlusion derived from dissection.

High Prevalence of Pollinosis Symptoms among the Farmers Cultivating Japanese Pears

In a district of Japanese pear cultivators, a questionnaire survey and an IgE antibody survey were conducted on the pollinosis. A high prevalence of 36.3 % of the farmers complained of pollinosis symptoms. By the IgE antibody survey, the symptoms were found to be related to the airborne pollens in the orchard.