Yoshino Kogyosho (Japan)

Abstract This study aimed to explore the curvature distribution in the posterior eye among school-aged children using distortion-corrected optical coherence tomography (OCT) images and its relationship with biometric variables and choroidal vascular parameters. We conducted a prospective, observational, cross-sectional study involving 88 children aged 6 to 15 years. After comprehensive ocular examinations, widefield OCT volumes with a 68×68 degrees were captured utilizing a high-speed, wide-field SS-OCT prototype system. The distortion of the captured OCT volume was geometricallycorrected, and Gaussian curvature maps were derived from Bruch’s membrane segmentation lines. The mean curvature was assessed across four square regions of 19×19 degrees each, where axial length (AL), refractive error, age, and choroidal thickness (ChT) were statistically analyzed. Additionally, the entry site of the long posterior ciliary artery (LPCA) into the choroid were assessed from the same OCT volume. Analysis of 169 OCT images demonstrated bilateral symmetry in choroidal vascular patterns and posterior eye curvature. Mean curvature exhibited asignificant correlation with AL, refractive error, and ChT in the superior, macular, and inferior regions. Conversely, the temporal region showed a weak negative correlation. Notably, a local maximum curvature point was commonly observed in the temporal region for the first time in this study, suggesting a potential reversal of correlation in this area. The rationale for this observation remains unclear; however, the proximity of the local maximum curvature point to the long posterior ciliary artery (LPCA) entry site may suggest a link. Further investigation is necessary to elucidate the origins and implications of these findingsfor ocular development.

ABSTRACT A simple method for controlling the aggregation and oxidation of metallic zinc (Zn) nanoparticles has been developed. Metallic Zn nanoparticles were fabricated from Zn(CH₃COO)2·2H2O by electrolysis under ultrasonic irradiation in water exposed to air. The metallic Zn nanoparticles were silica-coated by adding ethanol, a silane coupling agent (SCA)/ethanol, tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), and NaOH aqueous solution to the metallic Zn nanoparticle colloid solution, which perfectly prevented the metallic Zn nanoparticles from aggregating due to the physical barriers that were provided by the silica shells. (3-Mercaptopropyl)trimethoxysilane was suitable as the SCA for ensuring the nonaggregation of the silica-coated metallic Zn nanoparticles. Oxidation of the metallic Zn nanoparticles even with annealing in air was controlled by the silica shells due to their function as physical barriers.

AimTo clarify older adults' preferences for and actual situations of artificial hydration and nutrition (AHN) in end‐of‐life care in a care home.MethodsParticipants were residents of a care home who had completed advance directives regarding preferred methods of AHN from 2009 to 2018. Advance directives alone were available from April 2009 to June 2016 (Wave 1), and advance care planning for AHN including advance directives was introduced in July 2016 (Wave 2). AHN preferences included (i) intensive methods (percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, nasogastric tube feeding and total parenteral nutrition), (ii) drip infusion, and (iii) oral intake only. Participants were followed until the end of 2020, and we checked whether decisions about AHN were based on older adults' preferences.ResultsIn total, 272 participants had completed advance directives. Most participants preferred “oral intake only” (59.5%), followed by drip infusion (32.0%) and intensive methods (8.5%) in advance directives. Ninety of the 272 participants completed advance directives twice; 83.3% did not change their AHN preferences from Wave 1 to Wave 2. By the end of 2020, 93 of the 272 participants died in the care home. AHN was provided according to older adults' preferences in 48.9% (oral intake only), in 51.4% (drip infusion) and in 55.6% (intensive methods) of cases respectively.ConclusionsMost participants preferred oral intake only, and their preferences were reflected in decisions about actual situations of AHN in end‐of‐life care. To prepare for advanced dementia and senility, early advance care planning for AHN should be promoted. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2022; 22: 581–587.

The preceding paper Part 1 showed that the service life of urea grease in angular contact ball bearings, determined on FAG FE9 rolling bearing grease testers, considerably differed depending on the type of thickeners. Further, it reasoned that insufficient “Feed” of the base oil to the bearing raceway led to seizure limiting the service life on the basis of the results obtained by tracing infiltration of the base oil through re-distributed grease in the bearing. In order to provide a logical rationale for these findings, the present paper Part 2 analyzes the “Feed” behavior. The equivalent radius characterizing the infiltration rate of the base oil through grease with different thickener concentration is determined with a newly developed methodology using filter paper as the medium. A chart is introduced to show the change in the equivalent radius of grease during an operation and the limiting condition leading to the failure is discussed. Finally, the means to make relative comparison of the service life of grease without conducting bearing tests is proposed.

Under a parallel magnetic field, after long-term copper deposition from an acidic copper sulfate solution, numerous spherical secondary nodules of 10 to 100 μm diameters were formed one upon another in dendritic mode. This is a new type of micro-magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) effect arising from the unstable growth of three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) nuclei by specific adsorption of hydrogen ions (second micro-MHD effect). From the viewpoint of instability in electrodeposition, though 3D nucleation in the diffusion layer is always unstable, with ionic specific adsorption such as hydrogen ions, stable 2D nucleation turns unstable after long-term deposition. The resultant competitive growth of 3D and 2D nuclei produces spherical nodules as their composite, leading to their dendritic growth. Furthermore, though negligibly small, nonequilibrium fluctuations occurring in 2D nucleation migrate with the laminar solution flow caused by Lorentz force (MHD flow). Depending on whether the ionic adsorption is specific or nonspecific, the traveling asymmetrical fluctuation changes the direction to the upstream or downstream side, respectively.

This paper presents the first laboratory-based study to measure the azimuthal velocities of ions in the beam of a gridded ion thruster. Through the operation of gridded ion thrusters in space, it has been confirmed that these thrusters cause an unexpected roll torque about the ion beam axis. To reveal the physical mechanism that produces this torque, laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy has been applied to a microwave ion thruster that was installed in Japanese asteroid probes. This technique can be used to measure the azimuthal velocity by estimating the Doppler shift of the Xe II 5p4()6p 5/2 to Xe II 5p4()6s 3/2 transition at 834.659 nm. The measurement was conducted without a neutralizer cathode to avoid the possibility of the cathode affecting the trajectory of the ion beam. The measured velocity functions are the sum of the spectra of the high velocity beam ions and those of charge exchange ions. By deconvolving these spectra, the azimuthal velocities were successfully measured and were found to range from −700 to 620 m s−1 with an accuracy of ±25%. The measured azimuthal velocity profile was accurately reproduced by the simulated velocity profile obtained using a model, which includes the effects of the maximum possible misalignment of the accelerator grid with respect to the screen grid and the Lorentz force produced by the magnetic field leaked from the discharge chamber. A roll torque of 0.5 ± 0.1 μN m about the thrust axis was calculated from the velocity profile, which is lower than that reported in flight data, but additional mechanisms are suggested to explain this discrepancy.

Introduction: Plostagrandin E 1 (PGE 1 ) is essential for maintaining the ductus arteriosus (DA) in ductal-dependent congenital heart disease. Recently, relatively long-term administration of PGE 1 became common, especially in patient with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) . Staged Norwood approach which consists of bilateral pulmonary artery banding, PGE 1 infusion, and Norwood procedure beyond newborn period provided excellent survival benefit. However, microstructural changes of DA after long-term PGE 1 administration remain unknown. Therefore, we sought to investigate their features of DA after long-term PGE 1 administration using synchrotron based X-ray phase-contrast tomography (XPCT), a novel modality to inspect biological soft tissue, and pathological scrutiny including DA specific immunostaining. Methods: Seventeen DA tissues of HLHS were obtained during Norwood procedure. The median duration of PGE 1 was 48 days (Range 3-123). Radiographic microstructural analysis of DA was performed using X-ray phase contrast tomography at SPring-8 (Hyogo, Japan). Histological changes focused on elastic fiber and smooth muscle formation were evaluated by Elastica van Gieson staining, and expression of prostaglandin E2 receptor EP4 was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. Results: XPCT study showed a sclerotic changes of ductal media. There was a significant correlation between the duration of PGE 1 infusion and the mass density of ductal media (R: 0.723, p=0.001). Histological study showed that the duration of PGE1 infusion was positively correlated with the elastic fiber formation (R: 0.795, P=0.002), and negatively correlated with smooth muscle formation (R: -0.83, P<0.001). The EP4 expression was disappeared in all DA. Conclusion: Long-term administration of PGE 1 induced elastogenesis and density growth of the ductal media. In addition, downregulation of EP4 was observed. These results suggested that dosage of PGE 1 could be decreased after definite period of administration.