Shell-Driven Localized Oxide Nanoparticles Determine the Thermal Stability of Microencapsulated Phase Change Material.

Not all encapsulation techniques are universally apt for every type of phase change material (PCM), highlighting the imperative for methodological precision. This study addresses the challenges of microencapsulated PCM (MEPCM) arising from the immiscible pairing of α-AlO nanoparticles with Sn microparticles. The high-speed impact blending (HIB) dry synthesis technique is employed, facilitating large-volume production of Sn@α-AlO MEPCMs.

Molecular epidemiological analyses of isolates in a university hospital in Japan.

Background: We performed molecular epidemiological analyses of isolates in a university hospital in Japan to reveal the risk of infection.

Methods: Cultured isolates from 919 stool samples from 869 patients obtained from July 2015 to August 2016 were subjected to toxin gene detection, ribotyping, multilocus sequence typing, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction testing for toxin gene expression.

Results: Of the 919 stool samples from 869 patients, was isolated from 153 samples (16.

Enterococcal Linear Plasmids Adapt to Enterococcus faecium and Spread within Multidrug-Resistant Clades.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of bacterial pathogens, including enterococci, is a global concern, and plasmids are crucial for spreading and maintaining AMR genes. Plasmids with linear topology were identified recently in clinical multidrug-resistant enterococci. The enterococcal linear-form plasmids, such as pELF1, confer resistance to clinically important antimicrobials, including vancomycin; however, little information exists about their epidemiological and physiological effects.

Optimized Preparation of a Low-Working-Temperature Gallium Metal-Based Microencapsulated Phase Change Material.

Gallium has been considered for application in the thermal management of electronic equipment because of its high heat transfer ability and heat storage density. To address the issues of metal corrosion and leakage, a microencapsulation method, through which a stable corrosion-resistant ceramic shell can be formed from the liquid metal, is proposed. In this study, an optimized fabrication method for a microencapsulated phase change material (MEPCM) consisting of liquid-state Ga droplets, possessing high durability and heat storage density, is presented.

Periodic Stretching of Cultured Myotubes Enhances Myofibril Assembly.

The effects of mechanical stress on cultured muscle cells were examined with particular interest in myofibril assembly by using a cell-stretching system. We observed that formation and maintenance of cross-striated myofibrils in chick muscle cell cultures was suppressed in the media containing higher concentration of KCl, tetrodotoxin, or ML-9 (an inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase), but periodic stretching of myotubes for several days enabled formation of striated myofibrils just as in standard muscle cultures. However, ryanodine (a blocker of the Ca channel in sarcoplasmic reticulum) and BDM (an inhibitor of myosin-actin interaction) suppressed the stretch-induced myofibrillogenesis.

Purine content of hospital meals and its effect on serum uric acid, urine pH, and urinary uric acid excretion.

Hospital meals are prepared with the nutrients required by the patient's medical condition in consideration. However, no research on the purine content of hospital meals has been conducted, and it is not shown on the purine content. The recommended purine consumption for patients with gout and hyperuricemia is 400 mg/day based on the Japanese guidelines for the management of hyperuricemia and gout.

Elucidation of host diversity of the VanD-carrying genomic islands in enterococci and anaerobes.

Background: VanD is a rare type of vancomycin resistance worldwide. However, the host diversity of the gene cluster and the structural similarity of their genomic islands are not well understood.

Methods: Three VanD-type strains (AA620, AA622 and AA624) isolated from a Japanese patient who underwent vancomycin treatment in 2017 were analysed.

Catalyst-loaded micro-encapsulated phase change material for thermal control of exothermic reaction.

CO methanation is a promising technology to enable the use of CO as a resource. Thermal control of CO methanation, which is a highly active exothermic reaction, is important to avoid thermal runaway and subsequent degradation of the catalyst. Using the heat storage capacity of a phase change material (PCM) for thermal control of the reaction is a novel passive approach.

Isolation of Serratia fonticola Producing FONA, a Minor Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL), from Imported Chicken Meat in Japan.

Five novel strains of Serratia fonticola that produce FONA, a minor extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), were isolated during routine surveillance of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae in imported chicken meat in Japan in 2017 and 2018. These strains exhibited a clear ESBL phenotype in susceptibility tests carried out in the presence of clavulanic acid; however, all strains tested negative in a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay used to detect TEM, SHV, and CTX-M β-lactamase genes. After identification of the bacterial species as S.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement for bicuspid aortic valve regurgitation in a 17-year-old patient with congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries: a case report.

Background: Limited research has been conducted on the surgical management of the aortic valve in congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries (ccTGA) and to our knowledge there have been no reports on the treatment of bicuspid aortic regurgitation (AR) in ccTGA. We report on a ccTGA patient with bicuspid AR and systemic right ventricule (SRV) dysfunction who underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

Case Summary: A 17-year-old male with a history of ccTGA and cerebral palsy diagnosed at birth presented with heart failure.

Co-appearance of superconductivity and ferromagnetism in a CaRuO nanofilm crystal.

By tuning the physical and chemical pressures of layered perovskite materials we can realize the quantum states of both superconductors and insulators. By reducing the thickness of a layered crystal to a nanometer level, a nanofilm crystal can provide novel quantum states that have not previously been found in bulk crystals. Here we report the realization of high-temperature superconductivity in CaRuO nanofilm single crystals.

Investigation of Computed-Tomography Based Predictors of Acute Stroke Related to Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Aortic Wall Plaque Thickness Might be a Predictive Parameter of Stroke.

Objectives: Little information is available on computed tomography (CT)-based predictors of stroke related to transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The objective of this study was to determine whether anatomical features of the aortic valve and aorta visualized by CT are predictive parameters of stroke.

Methods: The study included 1270 patients who underwent preprocedural contrast-enhanced CT assessment and TAVR for severe aortic valve stenosis.

Novel Multidrug-Resistant Enterococcal Mobile Linear Plasmid pELF1 Encoding and Gene Clusters From a Japanese Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci Isolate.

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci are troublesome pathogens in clinical settings because of few treatment options. A VanA/VanM-type vancomycin-resistant clinical isolate was identified in Japan. This strain, named AA708, harbored five plasmids, one of which migrated during agarose gel electrophoresis without S1 nuclease treatment, which is indicative of a linear topology.

Clinical Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Patients With Extremely Large Annulus and SAPIEN 3 Dimensions Based on Post-Procedural Computed Tomography.

Background: Patients with severe aortic stenosis (AS) and an extra-large annulus (ELA) area (>683 mm) can rarely be treated by transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) because of the size limitation of the transcatheter heart valves. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of TAVR using a 29-mm SAPIEN3 (S3) valve in patients with ELA and S3-dimensions by post-procedural computed tomography (post-CT).

Methods and results: We included 261 patients undergoing TAVR using a 29-mm S3: 30 patients with ELA and 231 with non-ELA were identified.

Prognostic Impact of Permanent Pacemaker Implantation in Patients With Low Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Data are limited regarding the clinical impact of permanent pacemaker implantation (PPI) in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The aim of this study was to determine the impact of new PPI in patients with baseline low LVEF at 2-year follow-up after TAVR.

Methods: A total of 659 patients undergoing TAVR between January 2013 and December 2015 were included in the study.

Dissemination and genetic analysis of the stealthy vanB gene clusters of Enterococcus faecium clinical isolates in Japan.

Background: VanB-type vancomycin (VAN) resistance gene clusters confer VAN resistances on Enterococcus spp. over a wide range of MIC levels (MIC = 4-1000 mg/L). However, the epidemiology and the molecular characteristics of the VAN susceptible VanB-type Enterococcus still remain unclear.

Early Clinical Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Left Ventricular Outflow Tract Calcification: New-Generation Device vs Early-Generation Device.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in cases with left ventricular outflow tract calcification (LVOT-CA) remains a challenging procedure. The aim of this study was to compare the early outcomes of patients undergoing TAVR in LVOT-CA with new-generation devices vs early-generation devices.

Methods: Between January 2014 and December 2016, a total of 433 patients with severe aortic stenosis who had a preprocedural multidetector computed tomography underwent TAVR in a LVOT-CA.

Genetic diversity and persistent colonization of Enterococcus faecalis on ocular surfaces.

Purpose: Enterococcus faecalis causes severe acute endophthalmitis and often leads to poor visual outcomes. Conjunctival bacterial cultures occasionally grow atypical bacteria including E. faecalis, which can potentially contribute to the development of postoperative endophthalmitis.

Outcomes of Self-Expanding vs. Balloon-Expandable Transcatheter Heart Valves for the Treatment of Degenerated Aortic Surgical Bioprostheses - A Propensity Score-Matched Comparison.

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve-in-valve (VIV) replacement within failed bioprosthetic surgical aortic valves is a feasible therapeutic option. However, data comparing the hemodynamic and clinical outcomes of VIV replacement with supra-annular self-expanding and balloon-expandable transcatheter heart valves (THV) are limited.

Methods and results: Outcomes of 40 and 95 patients treated with supra-annular self-expanding and balloon-expandable THV, respectively, were compared after propensity score matching, which yielded 37 pairs of patients with similar baseline characteristics.

Diagnosis and Outcomes of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation in Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis.

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital cardiac malformation. Aortic valve replacement is often required in older patients but the surgical risk is often extremely high. As Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is an established therapy for intermediate and high surgical risk patients with symptomatic severe aortic valve stenosis (AS).

Ultrafast Iron-Making Method: Carbon Combustion Synthesis from Carbon-Infiltrated Goethite Ore.

Carbon-infiltrated iron ores were prepared from a coal-tar solution and selected calcined iron sources (i.e., goethite (FeOOH) ore, high-grade hematite ore, and FeO reagent grain).

Formation of Different SiN Nanostructures by Salt-Assisted Nitridation.

Silicon nitride (SiN) products with different nanostructure morphologies and different phases for SiN ceramic with high thermal conductivity were synthesized by a direct nitriding method. NaCl and NHCl were added to raw Si powders, and the reaction was carried out under a nitrogen gas flow of 100 mL/min. The phase composition and morphologies of the products were systemically characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy.

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement in bicuspid aortic valve stenosis: where do we stand?

Bicuspid aortic valve is the most common congenital cardiac defect in adults, and symptom typically develops in adulthood. In the majority of cases, bicuspid aortic valve disease progress with ages and surgical aortic valve replacement is performed with excellent operative outcomes. However, with the relatively slow progression of disease, surgical aortic valve replacement is required in elderly patients but the surgical risk often deemed extremely high due to old age and multiple comorbidities.