Ultrasound-assisted middle thoracic epidural catheter placement utilizing the most dorsal sites of bilateral transverse process roots as anatomical landmarks: A cadaveric observational study and a clinical randomized controlled trial.

Study Objective: We developed an innovative method for ultrasound-assisted thoracic epidural catheter placement and assessed its potential to reduce procedural duration for trainees.

Design: A cadaveric observational study and a clinical randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Sapporo Medical University Hospital.

Cretaceous to early Paleogene sediment provenance transition from continental to magmatic arc systems in the Northwestern Pacific Region.

Unraveling the Paleo-Kuril Arc's origins is key to understanding northwest Pacific tectonics. The Paleo-Kuril Arc is viewed as an intraoceanic arc from trench subduction between the Izanagi and Pacific Plates. Alternatively, several studies suggest the Paleo-Kuril Arc as a continental magmatic arc, hypothesizing the existence of a mid-oceanic ridge and Paleogene subduction, placing the Paleo-Kuril Arc near the Okhotsk Block's southern edge.

U-Pb dating for zircons from granitic rocks in southwestern Cambodia.

U-Pb dating was conducted for zircons from a total of 14 samples from 13 granite bodies in southwestern Cambodia using LA-ICP-MS. The granitic rock samples were collected from southwestern Cambodia, southwest of the Mae Ping Fault extending from northwest Cambodia via Tonle Sap Lake to southern Vietnam. The studied rock bodies belong to the ilmenite-series, except for three granitic rock bodies.

Maternal heated tobacco product use during pregnancy and allergy in offspring.

Background: Little is known about the association between maternal use of heated tobacco products (HTPs) during pregnancy and the onset of allergy among offspring. This study aimed to determine whether maternal HTP smoking is associated with allergy in their offspring and to evaluate the potential dose-response association.

Methods: In this web-based, cross-sectional survey conducted in July and August 2021 in Japan, we investigated 5688 pairs of postpartum women and infants (<3 years).

Delayed perforation after cold snare polypectomy for small colonic polyps in a patient receiving oral corticosteroids.

This case report describes a fatal outcome due to delayed perforation after cold snare polypectomy in a patient with bullous pemphigoid receiving oral corticosteroids. Cold snare polypectomy has become the standard treatment for small colorectal polyps because of the procedure's safety and simplicity. In this case, however, corticosteroid therapy and vasculitis may have caused local necrosis and tearing of the intestinal wall.

Impacts of KF Post-Deposition Treatment on the Band Alignment of Epitaxial Cu(In,Ga)Se Heterojunctions.

In this study, we investigated band alignments at CdS/epitaxial CuInGaSe (epi-CIGSe) and epi-CIGSe/GaAs heterointerfaces for solar cell applications using ultraviolet, inverse, and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (UPS, IPES, and XPS) techniques. We clarified the impacts of KF postdeposition treatment (KF-PDT) at the CdS/epi-CIGSe front heterointerfaces. We found that KF-PDT changed the conduction band alignment at the CdS/epi-CIGSe heterointerface from a cliff to flat configuration, attributed to an increase in the electron affinity () and ionization potential () of the epi-CIGSe surface because of a decrease in Cu and Ga contents.

Regulation of coordinated muscular relaxation in Drosophila larvae by a pattern-regulating intersegmental circuit.

Typical patterned movements in animals are achieved through combinations of contraction and delayed relaxation of groups of muscles. However, how intersegmentally coordinated patterns of muscular relaxation are regulated by the neural circuits remains poorly understood. Here, we identify Canon, a class of higher-order premotor interneurons, that regulates muscular relaxation during backward locomotion of Drosophila larvae.

Zircon U-Pb chronology on plutonic rocks from northeastern Cambodia.

Zircon U-Pb geochronology was carried out on plutonic rocks from Phnom Daek, Phnom Koy Rmeas, Svay Chras, Kon Mom, Koh Nheak, Andong Meas, Oyadav South, Svay Leu, and Phnom Soporkaley. The zircon U-Pb ages from the plutonic rocks determined in this study can be roughly divided into two groups. One is the Late Permian to Triassic ages of 278-202 Ma for the Phnom Daek, Phnom Koy Rmeas, Oyadav South, Svay Leu, and Phnom Soporkaley, and the other is the early Cretaceous ages of 118-98 Ma for the Svay Chras, Kon Mom, Koh Nheak, and Andong Meas samples.

Optical and Structural Properties of High-Efficiency Epitaxial Cu(In,Ga)Se Grown on GaAs.

Photovoltaic devices based on Cu(In,Ga)Se (CIGS) typically employ polycrystalline thin films as the absorber layer. This is because, to date, the highest conversion efficiencies have been attained with polycrystalline CIGS films. Recently, Nishinaga et al.

Improving the Open Circuit Voltage through Surface Oxygen Plasma Treatment and 11.7% Efficient CuZnSnSe Solar Cell.

The photovoltaic performance of CuZnSnSe (CZTSe) solar cells subjected to surface oxygen plasma treatments is investigated. The observed improvements are related to an enhancement of the open circuit voltage V, that is, the suppression of the V deficit. The V monotonically increases with treatment time up to 0.

Band Alignment of the CdS/CuZn(SnGe )Se Heterointerface and Electronic Properties at the CuZn(SnGe )Se Surface: x = 0, 0.2, and 0.4.

The surface electronic properties of the light absorber and band alignment at the p/n heterointerface are key issues for high-performance heterojunction solar cells. We investigated the band alignment of the heterointerface between cadmium sulfide (CdS) and Ge-incorporated CuZnSnSe (CZTGSe), with Ge/(Ge + Sn) ratios ( x) between 0 and 0.4, by X-ray photoelectron, ultraviolet, and inversed photoemission spectroscopies (XPS, UPS, and IPES, respectively).

Divergent Connectivity of Homologous Command-like Neurons Mediates Segment-Specific Touch Responses in Drosophila.

Animals adaptively respond to a tactile stimulus by choosing an ethologically relevant behavior depending on the location of the stimuli. Here, we investigate how somatosensory inputs on different body segments are linked to distinct motor outputs in Drosophila larvae. Larvae escape by backward locomotion when touched on the head, while they crawl forward when touched on the tail.

Cu(In,Ga)Se Solar Cells with Amorphous InO-Based Front Contact Layers.

Amorphous (a-) InO-based front contact layers composed of transparent conducting oxide (TCO) and transparent oxide semiconductor (TOS) layers were proved to be effective in enhancing the short-circuit current density (J) of Cu(In,Ga)Se (CIGS) solar cells with a glass/Mo/CIGS/CdS/TOS/TCO structure, while maintaining high fill factor (FF) and open-circuit voltage (V). An n-type a-In-Ga-Zn-O layer was introduced between the CdS and TCO layers. Unlike unintentionally doped ZnO broadly used as TOS layers in CIGS solar cells, the grain-boundary(GB)-free amorphous structure of the a-In-Ga-Zn-O layers allowed high electron mobility with superior control over the carrier density (N).

Long-term clinical outcomes after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation for unprotected left main coronary artery disease.

Previous studies reporting long-term (≥5 year) clinical outcome in patients with unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease undergoing drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation are currently limited, although late adverse events beyond 1 year are one of the major concerns of DES. We evaluated long-term clinical outcomes in 134 consecutive patients who underwent sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) for unprotected LMCA lesion in a single center from 2004 to 2009. The median follow-up duration was 3.

Interfacial alkali diffusion control in chalcopyrite thin-film solar cells.

Alkali elements, specifically sodium (Na), are key materials to enhance the energy conversion efficiencies of chalcopyrite and related thin-film photovoltaic solar cells. Recently, the effect of potassium (K) has also attracted attention because elemental K has unique effects different from Na as well as a similar beneficial effect in improving device performance. In this study, the control of selective alkali K and Na diffusion into chalcopyrite thin-films from soda-lime glass substrates, which serve as the monolithic alkali source material and contain both K and Na, is demonstrated using ternary CuGaSe2.

Inter- and intra-observer variability for assessment of the synergy between percutaneous coronary intervention with TAXUS and cardiac surgery (SYNTAX) score and association of the SYNTAX score with clinical outcome in patients undergoing unprotected left main stenting in the real world.

Background: The Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With TAXUS and Cardiac Surgery (SYNTAX) score was proposed as a method to evaluate the complexity of coronary anatomy. However, the reproducibility of assessment for the SYNTAX score in unprotected left main coronary artery (ULMCA) disease has not yet been adequately evaluated. The purpose of this study is to assess inter- and intra-observer variability for the assessment of the SYNTAX score in patients undergoing ULMCA stenting in daily clinical practice.

Formation of ionic bonds between a fatty-acid Langmuir-Blodgett monolayer and a zinc oxide substrate.

A fatty-acid Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) monolayer ionically adsorbed to the substrate has been prepared by adopting ZnO-based conductor and pure water respectively as the substrate and subphase. Ionization of the fatty-acid molecules has been detected by infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (IR-RAS), which is enabled by the condensed free electrons in the doped ZnO substrate. On the contrary, IR-RAS measurements have indicated that fatty-acid molecules transferred onto Au and indium-tin-oxide substrates from a pure-water surface are not ionized.

Menin, a product of the MENI gene, binds to estrogen receptor to enhance its activity in breast cancer cells: possibility of a novel predictive factor for tamoxifen resistance.

Multiple coactivator and corepressor complexes play an important role in endocrine processes and breast cancer; in particular, estrogen and estrogen receptor-alpha (ERalpha) promote the proliferation of breast cancer cells. Menin is a tumor suppressor encoded by Men1 that is mutated in the human-inherited tumor syndrome multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1); it also serves as a critical link in the recruitment of nuclear receptor-mediated transcription. Here, we show that menin expressed in breast cancer cell line MCF-7 is colocalized with ERalpha and functions as a direct coactivator of ER-mediated transcription in breast cancer cells.

Highly accurate Michelson type wavelength meter that uses a rubidium stabilized 1560 nm diode laser as a wavelength reference.

We investigated the accuracy limitation of a wavelength meter installed in a vacuum chamber to enable us to develop a highly accurate meter based on a Michelson interferometer in 1550 nm optical communication bands. We found that an error of parts per million order could not be avoided using famous wavelength compensation equations. Chromatic dispersion of the refractive index in air can almost be disregarded when a 1560 nm wavelength produced by a rubidium (Rb) stabilized distributed feedback (DFB) diode laser is used as a reference wavelength.

Environmentally stable, simple passively mode-locked fiber ring laser using a four-port circulator.

We present here a self-starting passively mode-locked fiber ring laser with a novel cavity configuration using a four-port optical circulator. Our special ring cavity design enables highly stable mode-locked operation between 25 and 60 degrees C to be maintained without the need for any polarization-adjusting devices. The pulse width and the integrated timing jitter from 10 Hz to 10 MHz of our fiber ring laser were measured to be 120 fs and 39.

Coronary endothelial dysfunction and impaired microcirculation response to atrial natriuretic peptide in hyperinsulinemia.

Endothelial dysfunction occurs in hyperinsulinemia (HI). Coronary microcirculation responses to vasoactive agents are examined in 57 patients with angiographically normal coronary arteries. Patients were divided into 2 groups, 37 with normoinsulinemia (NI) and 20 with HI based on results of a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.

Influence of meals on variations of ST segment elevation in patients with Brugada syndrome.

Background: Glucose-induced insulin secretion is one of the contributing factors to fluctuation of ST segment elevation in Brugada syndrome.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of meals on variations of ST elevation in Brugada syndrome.

Methods: We assessed changes of ST segment elevation in lead V1-3 on ECG before and after taking meals, at midnight, and at 3:00 a.

Examination of the microcirculation damage in smokers versus nonsmokers with vasospastic angina pectoris.

Endothelial dysfunction is considered one of the mechanisms underlying vasospastic angina pectoris (VSA). It is also known that smokers have abnormalities in endothelial dysfunction. Although smoking is a major risk factor for coronary artery disease, microvascular abnormalities have not been well shown.