Room-temperature calorimeter for x-ray free-electron lasers

We have developed a room-temperature calorimeter for absolute radiant power measurements of x-ray free-electron lasers. This room-temperature calorimeter is an electrical substitution device based on the equivalence of electrical and radiant heating. Consequently, the measured radiant powers are traceable to electrical standards, i.e., the International System Units (SI). We demonstrated the performance of the room-temperature calorimeter by electrical power measurements (offline tests). In the offline tests, the room-temperature calorimeter was proven to be able to measure external powers up to at least 6.9 mW, which exceeds the upper limit (∼4 mW) of a cryogenic radiometer (the primary standard detector in Japan). In addition, measurement uncertainties of the room-temperature calorimeter were evaluated to be less than 1.0%, which is adequate for the radiant power measurements of x-ray free-electron lasers. An indirect comparison with the cryogenic radiometer was performed using a synchrotron radiation source to confirm the validity of the absolute radiant powers measured with the room-temperature calorimeter. The absolute radiant powers measured by the calorimeter agreed with those measured by the cryogenic radiometer within 0.6%, which is less than the relative standard uncertainty of the comparison (1.0%).

Salivary Gland Epithelial-Myoepithelial Carcinoma with High-Grade Transformation in a Dog

An 8-year-old male neutered standard dachshund was presented with a slowly growing mass in the left submandibular salivary gland. Histopathological examination revealed a tumour that was composed of bilayered duct-like structures with an inner layer of ductal cells and an outer layer of clear cells. Both inner and outer cells in the greater part of the tumour exhibited low to moderate atypia and low mitotic activity. However, a focal area towards the periphery showed enhanced cellular atypia and mitotic activity in tumour cells. Immunohistochemically, the outer layer of clear cells expressed myoepithelial markers, while the inner layer cells were positive for a luminal epithelial marker. No local recurrence or lymph node or distant metastasis was observed 18 months following surgery. Based on the morphology and immunohistochemical findings, a final diagnosis of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma with high-grade transformation was made.

Thermal plasma treatment of stormwater sediments: comparison between DC non-transferred and partially transferred arc plasma

The disposal of enormous amount of stormwater sediments becomes an emerging worldwide problem. Stormwater sediments are contaminated by heavy metals, phosphorus, trace organic and hydrocarbons, and cannot be disposed without treatment. Thermal plasma decontamination technology offers a high decomposition rate in a wide range of toxic organic compound and immobilization of heavy metal. In this study, we compared the treatment results between two different modes of thermal plasma: (1) a non-transferred direct current (DC) mode and (2) a partial DC-transferred mode. The reductions of total organic carbon (TOC) were, respectively, 25% and 80% for non-transferred and partially transferred plasma, respectively. Most of the toxic organic compounds were converted majorly to CxHy. In the gaseous emission, the accumulated CxHy, CO, NO and H2S were significantly higher in partially transferred mode than in non-transferred mode. The solid analysis demonstrated that the concentrations of Ca and Fe were enriched by 500% and 40%, respectively. New chemical compositions such as KAlSi3O8, Fe3O4, NaCl and CaSO4 were formed after treatment in partially DC-transferred mode. The power inputs were 1 and 10 kW, respectively, for non-transferred DC mode and a partially DC-transferred mode. With a lower energy input, non-transferred plasma treatment can be used for decontamination of sediments with low TOC and metal concentration. Meanwhile, partially transferred thermal plasma with higher energy input is suitable for treating sediments with high TOC percentage and volatile metal concentration. The organic compounds are converted into valuable gaseous products which can be recycled as an energy source.

Successful pregnancy outcomes in a patient with type A insulin resistance syndrome

BACKGROUND

The management of severe insulin resistance during pregnancy is challenging because of the increased risk of perinatal complications for both mother and fetus. We describe two consecutive pregnancies in a patient with severe insulin resistance caused by a mutation in the β subunit of the insulin receptor.

CASE REPORT

A non-obese Japanese woman was diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus during her first pregnancy at age 31 years. She presented at 6 weeks' gestation with a fasting plasma glucose concentration of 15.1 mmol/l and an HbA(1c) level of 95 mmol/mol (10.8%). Fasting insulin concentration was high at 68.8 μU/ml, suggesting severe insulin resistance. Anti-insulin and insulin-receptor antibodies were both negative. Genetic analysis revealed an in-frame heterozygous deletion mutation (∆Leu(999)) in the insulin receptor gene. Despite large daily doses (up to 480 units per day) of insulin aspart and isophane, the patient's postprandial plasma glucose level exceeded 11.1 mmol/l. In the patient's second pregnancy, the addition of metformin at a dose of 2250 mg per day achieved tighter glycaemic control, with lower doses of insulin lispro and isophane (up to 174 units/day). Both newborns, who were found to carry the same mutation, were small for gestational age and developed transient hypoglycaemia after birth.

CONCLUSION

Adding metformin to the conventional insulin regimen effectively achieved tight glycaemic control with a lower dose of insulin. The mutation of the insulin receptor gene might underlie the intrauterine growth retardation of the newborns. To our knowledge, this is the first report of successful management of diabetes mellitus in a pregnant woman with type A insulin resistance syndrome.

Measurement of Long-Range Angular Correlation and Quadrupole Anisotropy of Pions and (Anti)Protons in Central d+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV

We present azimuthal angular correlations between charged hadrons and energy deposited in calorimeter towers in central d+Au and minimum bias p+p collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV. The charged hadron is measured at midrapidity |η|<0.35, and the energy is measured at large rapidity (-3.7<η<-3.1, Au-going direction). An enhanced near-side angular correlation across |Δη|>2.75 is observed in d+Au collisions. Using the event plane method applied to the Au-going energy distribution, we extract the anisotropy strength v_{2} for inclusive charged hadrons at midrapidity up to p_{T}=4.5 GeV/c. We also present the measurement of v_{2} for identified π^{±} and (anti)protons in central d+Au collisions, and observe a mass-ordering pattern similar to that seen in heavy-ion collisions. These results are compared with viscous hydrodynamic calculations and measurements from p+Pb at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV. The magnitude of the mass ordering in d+Au is found to be smaller than that in p+Pb collisions, which may indicate smaller radial flow in lower energy d+Au collisions.

Comparison of the NMIJ and the ARPANSA standards for absorbed dose to water in high-energy photon beams

The authors report the results of an indirect comparison of the standards of absorbed dose to water in high-energy photon beams from a clinical linac and (60)Co radiation beam performed between the National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ) and the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA). Three ionisation chambers were calibrated by the NMIJ in April and June 2013 and by the ARPANSA in May 2013. The average ratios of the calibration coefficients for the three ionisation chambers obtained by the NMIJ to those obtained by the ARPANSA were 0.9994, 1.0040 and 1.0045 for 6-, 10- and 15-MV (18 MV at the ARPANSA) high-energy photon beams, respectively. The relative standard uncertainty of the value was 7.2 × 10(-3). The ratio for (60)Co radiation was 0.9986(66), which is consistent with the results published in the key comparison of BIPM.RI(I)-K4.

Prophylactic intra-arterial administration of fasudil hydrochloride for vasospasm following subarachnoid haemorrhage

PURPOSE

We evaluated patients treated with prophylactic intra-arterial administration of fasudil hydrochloride (IAF) after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between August 1998 and December 2012, 92 patients with aneurysmal SAH were treated with IAF for angiographic vasospasm without ischemic symptoms after their follow-up angiography. Patients comprised 50 women and 42 men, aged 24-83 (mean 56.6) years. IAF consisted of 15 mg of fasudil hydrochloride dissolved in 20 ml physiological saline and injected through a catheter during approximately 15 min, after diagnostic angiography. The clinical outcome was evaluated using the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) at discharge and ischemic lesions resulting from vasospasm were assessed on computed tomography (CT) scan at discharge.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients underwent surgical clipping and 44 patients underwent endovascular coiling. Angiographic improvement was observed in all patients (100 %). At discharge, 76 (83.0 %) of 92 patients showed good recovery on GOS. Nine patients developed progression of delayed ischemic neurological deficits (DIND) and three of these patients had ischemic lesions on CT scans. No patient had any significant changes in vital signs or any other adverse effects resulting from IAF.

CONCLUSION

IAF therapy was safe and effective for patients with vasospasm following SAH. Prophylactic IAF therapy may prevent symptomatic vasospasm.

Randomized clinical trial of skin closure by subcuticular suture or skin stapling after elective colorectal cancer surgery

Background

The best suture method to prevent incisional surgical-site infection (SSI) after clean-contaminated surgery has not been clarified.

Methods

Patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer surgery at one of 16 centres were randomized to receive either subcuticular sutures or skin stapling for skin closure. The primary endpoint was the rate of incisional SSI. Secondary endpoints of interest included time required for wound closure, incidence of wound problems, postoperative length of stay, wound aesthetics and patient satisfaction.

Results

A total of 1264 patients were enrolled. The cumulative incidence of incisional SSI by day 30 after surgery was similar after subcuticular sutures and stapled closure (8·7 versus 9·8 per cent respectively; P = 0·576). Comparison of cumulative incidence curves revealed that SSI occurred later in the subcuticular suture group (P = 0·019) (hazard ratio 0·66, 95 per cent c.i. 0·45 to 0·97). Wound problems (P = 0·484), wound aesthetics (P = 0·182) and postoperative duration of hospital stay (P = 0·510) did not differ between the groups; subcuticular sutures took 5 min longer than staples (P &lt; 0·001). Patients in the subcuticular suture group were significantly more satisfied with their wound (52·4 per cent versus 42·7 per cent in the staple group; P = 0·002).

Conclusion

Compared with skin stapling, subcuticular sutures did not reduce the risk of incisional SSI after colorectal surgery. Registration number: UMIN000004001 (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr).

Cyclic mechanical pressure-loading alters epithelial homeostasis in a three-dimensional in vitro oral mucosa model: clinical implications for denture-wearers

Denture-wearing affects the quality and quantity of epithelial cells in the underlying healthy oral mucosa. The physiologic mechanisms, however, are poorly understood. This study aimed to compare histologic changes and cellular responses of an epithelial cell layer to cyclic mechanical pressure-loading mimicking denture-wearing using an organotypic culture system to develop a three-dimensional in vitro oral mucosa model (3DOMM). Primary human oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts were serially grown in a monolayer culture, and cell viability was measured under continuous cyclic mechanical pressure (50 kPa) for 7 days (cycles of 60 min on, 20 s off to degas and inject air). Upon initiation of an air-liquid interface culture for epithelial stratification, the cyclic pressure, set to the mode above mentioned, was applied to the 3DOMMs for 7 days. Paraffin-embedded 3DOMMs were examined histologically and immunohistochemically. In the monolayer culture, the pressure did not affect the viability of oral keratinocytes or fibroblasts. Few histologic changes were observed in the epithelial layer of the control and pressure-loaded 3DOMMs. Immunohistochemical examination, however, revealed a significant decrease in Ki-67 labelling and an increase in filaggrin and involucrin expression in the suprabasal layer of the pressure-loaded 3DOMMs. Pressure-loading attenuated integrin β1 expression and increased matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity. Incomplete deposition of laminin and type IV collagen beneath the basal cells was observed only in the pressure-loaded 3DOMM. Cyclic pressure-loading appeared to disrupt multiple functions of the basal cells in the 3DOMM, resulting in a predisposition towards terminal differentiation. Thus, denture-wearing could compromise oral epithelial homeostasis.

Cold-nuclear-matter effects on heavy-quark production at forward and backward rapidity in d + Au collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV

The PHENIX experiment has measured open heavy-flavor production via semileptonic decay over the transverse momentum range 1 < p(T) < 6  GeV/c at forward and backward rapidity (1.4 < |y| < 2.0) in d+Au and p + p collisions at √sNN = 200  GeV. In central d+Au collisions, relative to the yield in p + p collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, a suppression is observed at forward rapidity (in the d-going direction) and an enhancement at backward rapidity (in the Au-going direction). Predictions using nuclear-modified-parton-distribution functions, even with additional nuclear-p(T) broadening, cannot simultaneously reproduce the data at both rapidity ranges, which implies that these models are incomplete and suggests the possible importance of final-state interactions in the asymmetric d + Au collision system. These results can be used to probe cold-nuclear-matter effects, which may significantly affect heavy-quark production, in addition to helping constrain the magnitude of charmonia-breakup effects in nuclear matter.

Azimuthal-angle dependence of charged-pion-interferometry measurements with respect to second- and third-order event planes in Au+Au collisions at √[S(NN)]=200 GeV

Charged-pion-interferometry measurements were made with respect to the second- and third-order event plane for Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200  GeV. A strong azimuthal-angle dependence of the extracted Gaussian-source radii was observed with respect to both the second- and third-order event planes. The results for the second-order dependence indicate that the initial eccentricity is reduced during the medium evolution, which is consistent with previous results. In contrast, the results for the third-order dependence indicate that the initial triangular shape is significantly reduced and potentially reversed by the end of the medium evolution, and that the third-order oscillations are largely dominated by the dynamical effects from triangular flow.