Analysis of azimuthal magnetorotational instability of rotating magnetohydrodynamic flows and Tayler instability via an extended Hain-Lüst equation.

We consider a differentially rotating flow of an incompressible electrically conducting and viscous fluid subject to an external axial magnetic field and to an azimuthal magnetic field that is allowed to be generated by a combination of an axial electric current external to the fluid and electrical currents in the fluid itself. In this setting we derive an extended version of the celebrated Hain-Lüst differential equation for the radial Lagrangian displacement that incorporates the effects of the axial and azimuthal magnetic fields, differential rotation, viscosity, and electrical resistivity. We apply the Wentzel-Kramers-Brillouin method to the extended Hain-Lüst equation and derive a comprehensive dispersion relation for the local stability analysis of the flow to three-dimensional disturbances. We confirm that in the limit of low magnetic Prandtl numbers, in which the ratio of the viscosity to the magnetic diffusivity is vanishing, the rotating flows with radial distributions of the angular velocity beyond the Liu limit, become unstable subject to a wide variety of the azimuthal magnetic fields, and so is the Keplerian flow. In the analysis of the dispersion relation we find evidence of a new long-wavelength instability which is caught also by the numerical solution of the boundary value problem for a magnetized Taylor-Couette flow.

Community structure of denitrifying and total bacteria during nitrogen accumulation in an ammonia-loaded biofilter.

AIMS: To obtain insight into the complex behaviour of denitrifying and total bacterial groups during the nitrogen accumulation process in an ammonia-loaded biofiltration system. METHODS AND RESULTS: Denitrifying and total bacterial communities in a laboratory-scale rockwool biofilter with intermittent water recirculation were analysed by using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis targeting nosZ and metabarcoding sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Gene abundance was evaluated by quantitative PCR. The nosZ number increased from 6·59 × 106 to 3·33 × 108 copies per gram dry sample over the 436 days of operation, during which nitrogen mass balance errors increased to 39%. The nosZ sequences associated with the genera Castellaniella, Hyphomicrobium and Pseudomonas were detected. Metabarcoding sequencing analysis indicated that the proportions of the genera for which at least one denitrifying strain or species possessing nosZ had been characterized corresponded well to the nitrogen loss. In addition, the genus Nitrosococcus (γ-proteobacteria) increased its relative abundance at days 317 and 436. CONCLUSIONS: The increased proportion of denitrifying bacteria in this ammonia-loaded biofiltration system could be related to the nitrogen loss. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These results will help to clarify the complex behaviour of nitrifiers and denitrifiers within ammonia-loaded biofiltration systems.

Effectiveness of Cardiac Rehabilitation for Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenia in Patients with Cardiovascular Disease - A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength, with the risk of frailty and poor quality of life. This study aimed to clarify the clinical characteristics of sarcopenia and to investigate the effects of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CCR), including nutrition, physical exercise and medication, in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). METHODS: We retrospectively studied 322 inpatients with CVD (age 72±12 years). Muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance were assessed before and after exercise training in patients with and without sarcopenia, which was defined as either a gait speed of <0.8 m/s or reduced handgrip strength (<26 kg in males and <18 kg in females), together with lower skeletal muscle index (SMI) (<7.0 kg/m2 in males and <5.7 kg/m2 in females). The actual daily total calorie and nutrient intake was also calculated. RESULTS: Sarcopenia was identified in 28% of patients with CVD, these patients having a higher prevalence of symptomatic chronic heart failure and chronic kidney disease. SMI was significantly associated with protein intake and statin treatment. The ratio of peak VO2 and SMI was significantly higher in the statin treatment group. Handgrip strength, gait speed, leg weight bearing index, and nutritional intake improved after exercise training in patients both with and without sarcopenia. CONCLUSIONS: The present findings suggest that CCR is a promising strategy for prevention and treatment of sarcopenia in patients with CVD.

Functional performance of female patients more than 6 months after total hip arthroplasty shows greater improvement with weight-bearing exercise than with non-weight-bearing exercise. Randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Impaired functional performance and decreased muscle strength and muscle atrophy generally persist for a long period after total hip arthroplasty (THA). AIM: To investigate the effects of weight-bearing (WB) and non-weight-bearing (NWB) exercises on functional performance, Harris hip score (HHS), muscle strength and muscle thickness in women after THA. DESIGN: A randomised, controlled trial. SETTING: Community. POPULATION: Sixty-five women who had undergone unilateral or bilateral THA at least 6 months before enrolment in the study. METHODS: Participants were randomly allocated to the following groups: WB (n = 22), NWB (n = 21) and control (n = 22) groups. Participants in the WB and NWB groups performed daily home exercise programs for 8 weeks. Functional performance (timed up and go, sit-to-stand, stair climbing, walking speed and 3-min walk test), HHS, isometric muscle strength of the hip and knee muscle and gluteus and quadriceps muscle thickness were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. RESULTS: An intention-to-treat analysis revealed that both the intervention groups exhibited significant improvements in almost all functional performance measures compared with the control group. Furthermore, the WB group showed significantly greater pre-post changes in the sit-to-stand and 3-min walk test compared with the NWB group. In terms of HHS, only the WB group showed significantly greater improvement compared with the control group. Relative to the control group, improvements in all isometric strength measures were observed in both the intervention groups. Significant improvement in quadriceps muscle thickness was observed in the WB group compared with the control group. However, no significant difference was observed among the three groups in pre-post changes in gluteus muscle thickness. CONCLUSION: WB and NWB home exercise programs were both effective for improving functional performance and muscle strength in women after THA. However, the WB exercise was more effective than the NWB exercise for improving sit-to-stand ability and walking endurance. CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: In this study, we demonstrated that the WB exercise was more effective than the NWB exercise for improving functional performance in patients after THA.

Responses of community structure of amoA-encoding archaea and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria in ammonia biofilter with rockwool mixtures to the gradual increases in ammonium and nitrate.

AIMS: To investigate community shifts of amoA-encoding archaea (AEA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in biofilter under nitrogen accumulation process. METHODS AND RESULTS: A laboratory-scale rockwool biofilter with an irrigated water circulation system was operated for 436 days with ammonia loading rates of 49-63 NH(3) g m(-3) day(-1). The AEA and AOB communities were investigated by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, sequencing and real-time PCR analysis based on amoA genes. The results indicated that changes in abundance and community compositions occurred in a different manner between archaeal and bacterial amoA during the operation. However, both microbial community structures mainly varied when free ammonia (FA) concentrations in circulation water were increasing, which caused a temporal decline in reactor performance. Dominant amoA sequences after this transition were related to Thaumarchaeotal Group I.1b, Nitrosomonas europaea lineages and one subcluster within Nitrosospira sp. cluster 3, for archaea and bacteria, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The specific FA in circulation water seems to be the important factor, which relates to the AOB and AEA community shifts in the biofilter besides ammonium and pH. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: One of the key factors for regulating AEA and AOB communities was proposed that is useful for optimizing biofiltration technology.

Bacterial community dynamics in aerated cow manure slurry at different aeration intensities.

AIMS: This study aimed to characterize microbial community dynamics in aerated cow manure slurry at different aeration intensities. METHODS AND RESULTS: Batch aerobic treatments were set up in 5-l jar fermentor, each containing 3 l of manure slurry; the slurries were subjected to low, medium and high (50, 150 and 250 ml min(-1), respectively) aeration for 9 days. Microbial community composition was determined using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism and a clone library targeting 16S rRNA genes. High and medium aeration accelerated organic carbon degradation in parallel with the degree of aeration intensity; however, 90% of the initial total organic carbon was retained during low-aeration treatment. During the active stages of organic carbon decomposition, clones belonging to the class Bacilli accumulated. Moreover, Bacilli accumulation occurred earlier under high aeration than under medium aeration. CONCLUSIONS: Organic matter degradation was mainly governed by a common microbial assemblage consisting of many lineages belonging to the class Bacilli. The timing of community development differed depending on aeration intensity. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study reports on changes in several environmentally important parameters and the principal microbial assemblage during the pollution-reducing phase of cattle manure aeration treatment.

[Reconstruction of the left common carotid artery for dissective occlusion detected by intra-operative ultrasonography].

We describe a case of Stanford type A acute aortic dissection. Replacement of the ascending aorta and aortic arch was performed using an "arch 1st technique". Following the completion of replacement, hypotension of the left superficial temporal artery pressure was detected. Ultrasonography revealed dissection of the left common carotid artery (LCCA) and compressive occlusion of the true lumen. Reconstruction of the LCCA was performed in the neck. The patient did well after the operation without any neurological abnormalities.

Generation of ribbons, helicoids, and complex Scherk surfaces in laser-matter interactions.

Motivated by a diversity of the shape instability phenomena in condensed-matter physics, we study the formation of elastic ribbon structures and transformation into helicoidal structures. Using the multipulse laser-matter interaction with the Co-coated surface, a one-dimensional high-density vortex-filament array has been created. Increasing the number of pulses, the oscillatory strain field causes the cascade of the shape transformations into structures of increasing topological complexity: vortex filaments into ribbons, into ribbon helicoids and tubular-ribbon helicoids, and then into short ribbon structures with the complex Scherk surface being identified. The cascade of transformations follows the scenario in which the topological complexity of the new structure increases with the number of pulses, thus, realizing configurations with more efficient energy relaxation. Above a critical number of pulses, the system is catastrophically disintegrated into small-scale wrinkled and crumpled surfaces. We show that the critical parameter for the ribbon transformations is the number of laser pulses which is equivalent to some critical oscillatory frequency.

Inverse correlation between NKG2D expression on CD8+ T cells and the frequency of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in patients with esophageal cancer.

Although malignant diseases are known to be associated with immune suppression, detailed mechanisms of this phenomenon are still unknown. NKG2D is an activating cell surface receptor expressed by natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells, and it has been reported that NKG2D engagement is extremely important for T cell activation. In the current study, NKG2D expression on CD8+ T cells and the frequency of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells were determined by multicolor flow cytometry to investigate one of the mechanisms responsible for immune evasion in esophageal cancer patients. NKG2D expression on CD8+ T lymphocytes in esophageal cancer patients was significantly lower than in those of normal controls. NKG2D expression in T3/T4 esophageal cancer was significantly lower than that in T1/T2 esophageal cancer. CD8+ T cells from patients with lymph node metastasis expressed significantly lower NKG2D than those without lymph node metastasis. Moreover, significantly lower NKG2D expression was observed in stage III/IV cancer in comparison with stage I/II. The frequency of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in esophageal cancer patients was significantly higher than those in normal controls. NKG2D expression on CD8+ T cells was significantly inversely correlated with the frequency of CD4+CD25+ Treg cells in esophageal cancer patients. Our data indicates that decreased NKG2D expression on CD8+ T cells is correlated with disease severity. Decreased NKG2D expression and an increase in Treg cells may be one of the key mechanisms responsible for immune evasion in esophageal cancer.

Supercomplex wave-vortex multiscale phenomena induced in laser-matter interactions.

The interaction of laser light with a metal surface yields a complex configuration of point defects, e.g., droplets and holes and vortex microfilaments. When a single filament interacts with a defect it "winds" around the defect and can form loops, and rings. Interaction of a single filament with a single defect gives rise to arc deformation bending, formation of loops and rings, while its interaction with a two-dimensional (2D) random lattice of defects gives rise to the vortex filament splitting and breaking which occur at nodal points of the Voronoi lattice. Interaction of one-dimensional (1D) vortex filament lattice with 2D lattice of defects results in the formation of knotted structures such as the Hopf links as well as 1D and 2D Hopf link crystals, knotted along the sides of the Voronoi lattice. We observed that configurations of vortex filaments are organized at three hierarchical levels of growing complexity. Every level is comprised of the elements of the lower complexity one, indicating the presence of a supercomplexity.

[Anaphylactic shock related to aprotinin induced by anti-aprotinin immunoglobulin G antibody alone; report of a case].

Anaphylactic shock related to aprotinin has been reported to be induced exclusively in the presence of IgE antibody. And the possibility of anaphylactic shock induced by anti-aprotinin IgG antibody alone was controversial. In this paper, we describe the first case of anaphylactic shock induced by aprotinin-specific IgG antibody alone. A 55-year-old man underwent surgical repair of the descending aorta with the use of aprotinin at 2 months after first aprotinin usage. Immediately after initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass with the continuous infusion of aprotinin, clinical symptoms of anaphylactic reaction were found. Postoperative drug lymphocyte stimulation test for aprotinin and aprotinin-specific IgE antibody were negative, but aprotinin-specific IgG antibody was 163 mg/l and positive.

An ex vivo evaluation of a new root canal irrigation technique with intracanal aspiration.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of a new root canal irrigation technique with intracanal aspiration in removing the smear layer and to assess irrigant extrusion ex vivo. METHODOLOGY: Thirty-five instrumented canals of extracted human canine teeth that had been resected apically by removing 3 mm of the root tip were divided into one control and four experimental groups of seven teeth each. The roots were fixed in a plastic case and surrounded with normal saline agar coloured with 1% acid red. No irrigation was performed in the control teeth. Each root canal in the experimental groups was irrigated with 9 mL of 14% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid for 3 min, and then with 6 mL of 6% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) for 2 min. In the intracanal aspiration technique, the irrigant was delivered from the tip of an injection needle placed 12 mm from the apical root-end and an aspiration needle that was connected to a Root ZX apex locator placed 2 and 3 mm short of the apical root-end in groups 1 and 2, respectively. In the conventional method, the tip of an injection needle used for delivery of the irrigant and as an active electrode was placed 2 and 3 mm short of the apical root-end in groups 3 and 4, respectively, the tip of the aspiration needle was placed 12 mm from the apical root-end in these groups. The readings of the Root ZX during irrigation were recorded. The cleanliness of the canal was evaluated by scoring smear layer from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the canal. Extrusion of NaOCl was detected by measuring the discoloured area of the agar around the apical root-end. The data obtained were statistically analysed by one-way anova, the Kruskal-Wallis test and Friedman's test. RESULTS: In the SEM study, the canals in groups 1-3 were significantly cleaner than those in the control and group 4 (P < 0.05). The mean Root ZX readings in groups 1-3 were approximately "0.5". The discoloured area in group 3 was significantly larger than the other groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Irrigation using the intracanal aspiration technique allowed more effective removal of the smear layer than that performed by the conventional method in an apically resected canine tooth. The intracanal aspiration technique produced limited extrusion of the irrigant beyond the apical foramen.

Preoperative measurement of the intrathrombotic pressure of a thrombosed popliteal artery aneurysm for decision of surgical indication.

To evaluate the risk of rupture of a 77 mm thrombosed popliteal artery aneurysm (PAA) in an 82-year-old woman, the aneurysm was percutaneously punctured and the intrathrombotic pressure (ITP) was measured preoperatively. The percentage of the mean ITP to the mean brachial artery pressure was 80%. The aneurysm was judged to have the risk of rupture, and replacement with a prosthetic graft was performed. The percentages of the mean ITP to the mean radial artery pressure and to the mean femoral artery pressure measured intraoperatively were 83% and 71%, respectively, which approximated to the percentage measured preoperatively. PAA may have the risk of rupture even though thrombosed, and preoperative measurement of the ITP might be useful to decide surgical indication.

[Arch first technique using handmade branched graft].

We created a method using handmade branched graft to do the aortic arch surgery easier and safer. We made the branched graft using 12 and 8 mm vascular graft. A 77-year-old man with Stanford type A aortic dissection was operated with this method under deep hypothermia. After aortic root manipulation, perfusion of the aortic arch was stopped and selective cerebral perfusion was established. Left subclavian artery (LSCA) was anastomosed to one of the branches. The perfusion of the LSCA was re-started via one of its branches. Respectively, left common carotid artery and brachiocephalic artery reconstruction and reperfusion were performed in a same fashion. After distal anastomosis, anastomosis between the branched graft and main graft was performed consecutively. Postoperative course was uneventful and there was no complication. The treatment of our branched graft was easier than that of ready-made 4-branched graft. We could perform the operation under clear view for its movability with minimal cerebral ischemic time.

Stent placement for severe stenosis in the deep femoral artery with the occluded superficial femoral and popliteal arteries.

In both superficial and deep femoral artery involvement, where angioplasty of the former is not suitable or feasible, angioplasty of the latter seems to be the method of choice and is a less invasive and efficient treatment particularly for limb threatening ischemia, an appropriate obstruction morphology provided. The authors describe a case of a 73-year-old man, with a rest pain of the foot and intermittent cyanosis of the toe, who underwent stent placement with transluminal angioplasty for severe stenosis in the deep femoral artery with the occluded superficial femoral and popliteal artery. The patient's ankle brachial index was remarkably increased from 0.25 to 0.61, and the preoperative symptoms were improved.

Detection of the second mesiobuccal canal in mesiobuccal roots of maxillary molar teeth ex vivo.

AIM: To assess the effectiveness of magnification and dentine removal (troughing) when locating the second mesiobuccal canal in mesiobuccal roots of maxillary molars. METHODOLOGY: A total of 208 extracted human maxillary molars were examined. After crown and pulp removal, the MB1 and 2 canals in the mesiobuccal root were located in three stages that were performed by two undergraduate dental students. Stage 1: canals were located with an endodontic explorer; stage 2: additional canals in the same teeth were located under magnification with a digital microscope (VH-8000, Keyence, Japan); stage 3: additional canals in the same teeth were located by removing dentine (troughing) from the pulp chamber floor within 3 mm from MB1 canal towards the palatal canal with an Enac ultrasonic tip (ST 21, Osada, Japan). In each group, the canals were prepared with Gates Glidden burs and K-files. The distal and palatal roots were then removed, and Indian ink was injected into the canal system within the mesio-buccal root. The root surfaces were washed with 6% NaOCl, and then rendered transparent to observe canal morphology. The root canal configurations were classified into five categories following the modified Weine's classification. RESULTS: More than one canal in the mesio-buccal root was observed in 48% of specimens. Detection rates of multiple canals were 7, 18 and 42% following stages 1, 2 and 3, respectively. There was a significant difference between the stages for detecting the MB2 canal (P < 0.05, Friedman test). CONCLUSIONS: Both magnification (stage 2) and dentine removal under magnification (stage 3) were effective in detecting the presence of the MB2 canal. However, MB2 canals could not be detected in 13% of the teeth because of canal calcification or branching located more apically.

PCR method is essential for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis in oral cavity samples.

Tuberculosis is a re-emerging infectious disease, and infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis has been increasing in immunocompromised hosts, including elderly persons. M. tuberculosis-infected persons may receive dental treatment. To evaluate the risk of M. tuberculosis infection in dental clinics, we examined the detection rates of M. tuberculosis in sample of mixed saliva, dental plaque, extracted teeth, caries lesions, and denture plaque by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The detection rates by PCR in samples from mixed saliva, dental plaque, caries lesions and denture plaque obtained from tuberculosis patients were 98.0%, 92.0%, 89.0%, and 100%, respectively. The detection rates by the culture method were 17.3%, 2.0%, 0%, and 0%, respectively. M. tuberculosis also was detected from the nontuberculous mycobacteria-infected group. Strains of Actinomyces naeslundii, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum inhibited the growth of clinical strains of M. tuberculosis, but strains of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguinis, and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans did not. The present study concludes that the PCR method is essential for detecting M. tuberculosis in oral samples.

The role of mast cells in the development of 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats.

BACKGROUND: The role of mast cells in Crohn disease (CD) remains to be established. The aim of this study was to elucidate this in the development of CD-like colitis in rats by the use of mast-cell-deficient Ws/Ws and their control W+/W+ rats. METHODS: CD-like colitis was induced in both groups by an enema of 10 mg of 2,4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) in 50% ethanol. Colonic damage, adhesion and colonic weight were measured at 7 and 14 days after the TNBS/ethanol enema. Rat mast cell protease-2 (RMCP-2) in the colonic tissue was also measured at 7 days after the enema. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between W+/W+ and Ws/Ws rats in terms of colonic damage, adhesion or colonic weight. The tissue content of RMCP-2 in Ws/Ws rats treated with either saline or TNBS/ethanol was only maintained at a much lower level than that in W+/W+ rats with the corresponding treatment. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that mast cells are not essential in the development of 2, 4, 6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis in rats.